Chapter 12: Back to the swing of things
A/N: I know, shame on me. It's been nearly half a year since I update but I had to go back to my notes and rewrite the rest of this story. So for those of you who still read this story, I apologize greatly and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Disclaimer: I don't own Black Butler; I just own my oc's.
Enjoy!
/
It had nearly been a week since the whole Jack the Ripper case came to a close. A whole week since they returned home.
A whole week of knowing Madam Red was dead.
Rioko didn't know if Ciel was still upset about watching his aunt die, but if he was he wasn't showing it. The young Earl was always known to mask his emotions. No one could tell when he was really happy or sad. They couldn't tell if he felt anything at all.
The young heiress decided to stay away from the Phantomhive household for a little while and let Ciel get his life back together in some way.
It was the least she could do for him, since she allowed Madan Red to die as well.
/
"I wonder how that brat is holding up" Aki said as she took a swig of Sake.
Sayuri shrugged for a moment as she worked on Rioko's tea.
"I can't say" she said.
"Lord Phantomhive is a rather complex child. He reminds me of Lady Rioko a bit"
Aki snorted. Clearly she thought differently.
"Ha! As if" she said.
"I'll admit that Rioko can be a brat sometimes, but she's got more common sense then that Phantomhive brat. I mean, who allows their aunt to get killed by a Grim Reaper? A freaky, stalker Grim Reaper at that?"
Just thinking about Grell sent shivers up the Fire Esper's spine. Why did the weird guys always come to her?
Sayuri just sighed and closed her eyes.
"That's not it" she said.
"Lady Rioko is much like Lord Phantomhive in regards that she's far more mature for her own age. She's just a young girl and yet she carries the fate of the world on her shoulders. She experiences things that no child should ever see and yet she finds it normal. It pains me to see her have to grow up so fast"
Aki had a bored yet serious look on her face. She understood what her sister was saying but she knew not to speak about it.
"She's brave, I'll give you that. But that's the fate she was born into"
She gave Sayuri the serious look.
"You and should know that very well"
Sayuri didn't say anything. She didn't want to talk about the past she couldn't remember.
"I'll be serving Lady Rioko her tea" she said.
"I made your breakfast already so if you're hungry feel free to eat it"
She picked up the serving tray and left the kitchen.
Aki just grumbled and downed the rest of her Sake.
"Everyone is crabby today"
/
Sayuri gently knocked on the door to Rioko's study.
"Lady Rioko, I have your morning tea" she called.
"Enter"
Sayuri carefully entered the room with tea tray in hand and headed over to Rioko's desk. The young girl was swamped with order forms that build up while she was away. She had to go over each shipment and make sure she had that brand of tea before she signed off that it was ok. It was a stressful job but Rioko seemed to like it.
"Today I prepared a special blend of rosemary tea and cherry scones" Sayuri said.
Rioko accepted the tea and drank it with gusto.
"Your tea is always the best Sayuri" she said.
"I don't know how you do it, but you always make the flavor richer"
Sayuri smiled and bowed to her.
"I'm honored by the compliment, my lady" she said.
Rioko smirked a little bit it didn't last long. It seemed her mind was elsewhere.
"Is something the matter, my lady?" she asked.
Rioko shook her head slowly.
"No…I mean…I don't think it is" she said.
Sayuri knelt next to Rioko's seat and took her hand.
"Lady Rioko, if there is something on your mind, please feel free to tell me" she said.
"It's better to tell someone then to keep them bottled up"
Rioko ran a hand through her hair then looked at her maid and dear friend. She knew she could always count on Sayuri to make things better.
"What's it like to see a family member die?" she asked.
Sayuri looked surprised at the question. What on earth could bring this up?
"Why ever would you ask, my lady?"
Rioko shrugged and looked at her family ring.
"I guess I'm just curious since I had to see Ciel's aunt die" she said.
"I don't know what it's like to see a family member die so I wondered what you're suppose to think and feel when that happens"
She looked out the window, not wanting Sayuri to see her emotions.
"My father died before I was born and my mother died when I was just a baby" she explained.
"Everyone in the Junshinto household isn't really close to me and they try not to. The only person who I get along with is my grandfather, but I don't really see him as much. I just wonder what would happen if someone in my family died and I was there. Would I be sad? Would I be devastated? What should I feel?"
Sayuri looked at her mistress sadly. It was obvious that Rioko didn't get along with her family. Everyone in the Junshinto clan didn't like the fact that their heir and ruler was a young girl and thought they should have control over the family business instead of her. All they cared about was money, not her. The only person who cared about her was her grandfather, but that was it.
"You shouldn't be thinking on such horrid things, my lady" she said.
"Why don't you think of more positive things?"
Rioko rest her head in her hand.
"I suppose, but what can cheer me up?" she questioned.
Sauyri thought for a moment.
"Well, we have a very busy schedule today since we've been on holiday" she said.
Rioko snorted.
"How will that cheer me up?" she joked.
Sayuri stood up and had a sly smile on her face.
"Because it's we're practicing one of your favorite hobbies: ballet"
/
"Keep your legs straighter, my lady. You want to look like a graceful swan, not a scraggly goose"
Rioko huffed and did a pirouette.
Being a female of noble birth, that meant they were entitled to be experts at feminine activities. Such things included sewing, tea parties, luncheons with friends, music, etc.
Rioko was forced to do such horrid acts, but she didn't mind doing ballet. She always got a thrill as she twirled and jumped through the air gracefully. It was like she was free to be herself without anyone judging her.
Sayuri smiled as she watched her mistress practice. Her mother, Lady Megumi always loved ballet and thought it was like watching a piece of art coming to life. She always wanted to take ballet, but with her horrible health, she was unable to accomplish that dream. Instead, she passed it on to Sayuri who then passed it on to Rioko. It was like her daughter was living out her dream.
"You would be so proud to see how much Lady Rioko has accomplished, Lady Megumi" Sayuri thought.
Rioko spun around the room flawlessly and performed the final pose of the dance.
Sayuri clapped at her mistress.
"Well done, My Lady" she said.
"With a little more practice, I would say you would become a professional ballerina"
Rioko smiled and wiped her forehead.
"That would be an interesting notion" she said.
"If the tea business doesn't go well, I can always go into ballet. I can see it now: Rioko Junshinto; the world famous ballerina. It would be a sight to see"
"More like a nightmare if you ask me"
The young noble turned when she heard Ciel's voice. The young Earl stood near the doorway with his trusted butler at his side.
"It's been a while, Lady Rioko" Ciel said.
Rioko looked flustered and angered at the same time.
"What in the world are you doing here?" she said.
Ciel simply took his coat off and handed it to Sebastian.
"You haven't barged into my home for nearly a week and I was starting to wonder if you were sick or dead" he said.
"I'm surprised you haven't even sent me a nasty letter demanding the rest of the fee I owe you for your tea"
Rioko huffed and crossed her arms.
"I have a lot of work backed up thanks to me tagging along with you and your stupid little holiday" she said.
"I'm trying to catch up"
Ciel wore an amused look.
"Oh I can tell. Although, I dare say that pastel isn't your color"
Rioko's face went red with agitation.
"I'm practicing my ballet, you buffoon!" she snapped.
"I have other things that I need to catch up other than paperwork!"
Sayuri rest her hand on her shoulder.
"Now, now, My Lady" she said.
"There's no need to cause a scene. I'm sure Lord Phantomhive is just surprised that you do ballet"
Rioko grumbled and looked away.
"Stupid Phantomhive"
Sayuri looked at their guests.
"And to what do we have the honor of your surprised visit?" she asked.
Sebastian smirked and bowed.
"The Young Master wishes to speak to Lady Rioko over something utmost important" he said.
Rioko raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really? The Queen has you cleaning up her messes again?"
Ciel pulled out the letter he was given with a solemn look on his face.
"Something to that nature" he said.
Rioko sighed.
"Let me change before I listen to anything" she said.
Aki came into the room, hoping to tease Rioko about her dancing when she saw Sebastian and Ciel.
"Aw shit, now I have to go drink again"
/
"So what is the Queen making you do now?" Rioko asked.
"I thought after the events dealing with Jack the Ripper, she would give you a break"
Ciel flinched at the mention of their last mission but kept his mask on.
"As the Queen's dog, I never rest" he said.
"Surely you understand that?"
Rioko fiddled with her family ring.
"I may be the Queen's messenger bird, but I don't always do her biddings. I have my own problems to deal with after all"
Ciel rolled his eyes. How he was saddled with this annoying girl was beyond him.
Sayuri carried in a tray of tea for the two of them.
"I prepared a small blend of Jasmine tea along with raspberry scones" she said.
As she was approaching the table, her arm started to flare up. Her injuries from her fight with Grell were still sore and wasn't completely healed.
The flare of pain caused her arm to act up and nearly made her drop the entire tray. There would have been a huge mess to clean up had it not been for Sebastian to catch it in time. The demon held the tray in one hand professionally.
"Sayuri, are you ok?" Rioko asked worriedly.
Sayuri smiled nervously as she rubbed her arm.
"Nothing to worry about, My Lady" she said.
"Just be glad you didn't get a lap full of hot tea"
Sebastian placed the tray on the table and looked at her.
"Not fully healed yet, I see" he said.
Sayuri blushed and smiled weakly.
"Espers don't heal nearly as fast as demons do" she said.
"The wound has closed up, but it's still a little sore"
Sebastian didn't say anything but kept that knowledge with him.
"Alright, so what do you want from me now?" Rioko asked.
"This better not be another mass murder, otherwise I'll double the amount that you owe me"
Ciel pulled out the letter and gave it to her.
"It's nothing of the sort" he said.
"It's simple but complicated at the same time"
Rioko took the letter and read it over.
"So you need to investigate a little village? How is that bothering the Queen?"
"It bothers her Majesty because of what's going on in that town…particularly to certain animals"
Rioko raised an eyebrow.
"Animals?" she repeated.
Ciel nodded and let a creepy smirk spread across his lips.
"Tell me, are you allergic to dogs?"
/
A/N: Uh oh, we're heading into the next arch and that means we meet a certain hound. How will Sayuri and everyone react when they find out they have to deal with dogs? I know Sebastian won't be so happy about it.
I found it funny that Ciel went to go bug Rioko instead of the other way around. Looks like he's starting to miss her presence.
I know this wasn't a lot but I'll try to get the next chapter up soon.
Please review and tell me what you think!
Ja ne!