£~Third Person~£

Karma returned soon after with a cut on his left cheek. When he opened the door to the office, he was meet with confused looks from everyone, even Sebastian. "Sorry, you had to see that. The mistress is just off enjoying her 'prize'", Karma stated with a barely noticeable shiver.

"What do you mean by prize? And how did you get that cut in your cheek?", Ciel asked, skeptical. "Oh right. About that...", Karma trailed off. "The Mistress has a ...how should I put this...she is basically is obsessed with tasting blood. Mine in particular", Karma hesitantly revealed. "That is disturbing. She wasn't like that two years ago", Madam Red uttered out, starting to get over her shock. "People change, Madam Red. I assure you, the Lady I know and the Lady you knew are different. By how much, though, I don't know", Karma monotonously stated.

"She definitely seems more... psychotic than when we were younger", Ciel hesitantly stated. "Look, all I know about the Mistress's past is that her home burned down. Along with the fact that, other than you and Madam Red, she was hated for being an illegitimate child", Karma said. "I came to her roughly two weeks after your old home burned down and she doesn't talk much about her past. Now, can we get back to the task at hand?", Karma questioned, slightly irritated.

"How about we take a break. This whole situation has been stressful. Besides, all work and no play makes Ciel a dull boy!", Madam Red exclaimed, trying to lift the mood. "What say you take a break for a round of this? ", Madam Red questioned, pulling out a chess set.

"The chess set, eh? That takes me back", Ciel said. "Doesn't it just? I got it out of the storeroom because Ciel was coming", she cheerily said. "Now, break time, break time!", she said childishly, pushing all the papers off the desk. Ciel sweat dropped from his aunt acting so childish, while Karma looked a little suspicious. Grell brought in tea soon after, then Madam Red yelled at him about how herbal tea could be salty. Y/N had come back by this point, just going back to her seat while Karma gave her some fresh tea.

"By contrast, your butler is really rather competent, or should I say a hard worker, or...?", Madam Red trailed off. "Not particularly? Certainly not to that extent. What about Karma, though. He seems like he's pretty competent", Madam Red said. "Hmm? Oh, he can be when he needs to, but other than that, he's actually pretty lazy. I don't care, really, as long as he gets done what needs to be done", Y/N said, sipping her tea, while startling most people I the room at her sudden appearance.

"Where did you come from?! Thin air?!", Lau shouted in shock. "The ceiling. Where do you think", Y/N retorted, sarcasm heavy in her words.

"Well, if Sebastian and Karma are that able, you may as well even leave the investigation of the Viscount's residents and all the rest to them", Madam Red stated. "No. I refuse to work with that old geezer unless absolutely necessary", Karma glared at the other resident demon in the room. Sebastian glared right back, but only Ciel caught it. Y/N raised an eyebrow at Karma.

"Sebastian is but a 'chessman'. And only I, the 'horseman', can move the 'horse'. If I were to defeat my opponent with an 'automaton of a chessman', the achievement could not be considered 'my own'", Ciel stated, a concentrated look in his eye. "I always give the orders and without them, he has been disciplined to move not so much as a muscle", he continued, smirking subtly. "However, you might say the sole difference between Sebastian and this 'knight' is that he is a 'knight' who can move to any square in one fell swoop. Like this", he said, moving his horse piece and taking out Madam Red's knight piece. "But that's against the rules!", Madam Red exclaimed.

"Indeed. That is if we are playing a 'game of 'chess'. But this world is no chess game, where we cannot win if not playing by the rules", Ciel said, putting his hand to his chin. "Without fail, players will break the rules and chessmen will betray the players", Ciel compared. "That's true. Unless you know for certain your pawns, you can never be too careful. Trust me, I've had connections turn on me before to lead me into traps", Y/N added in, bringing the room's attention to her.

"If one is to play games with their like on equal footing, they'd have no chance at victory if they don't break rules themselves, right?", Y/N rhetorically asked. "On the chessboard called Great Britain that we call our home, letting one's guard down immediately amounts to checkmate", Ciel said, at the same time, moving Madam Red into checkmate. "Surely there must've been another way for you two to live, one that didn't involve the two you becoming the Underworld's watchdog and assassin. I'm certain my elder sister-your mother-would've wished for it too", Madam Red pleaded. "Despite that, here you are...have you returned after all, to the Underworld because you wish to avenge my murdered sister and her husband?", Madam Red questioned, sounding slightly desperate. Both Y/N and Ciel remained silent. "Neither my sister and brother-in-law nor Lizzie and I, would want that", Madam Red said.

"Look, Madam Red, I never did care about my mother and her husband, nor have I once to think about avenging them. Rachel not being able to stomach it is the only reason Vincent didn't throw me in the river", Y/N half sneered, her bangs shadowing her eyes.

"I have never once thought to avenge my parents or anything of the sort, either", Ciel started, nothing but grim truth could be heard in his voice. "Were I to avenge them, the dead still would not come back to life, much less be able to enjoy the sweet taste of revenge. Calling it 'vengeance' or a 'battle of revenge' is just glossing over the truth. Such utterances amount to nothing more than the selfishness of the survivors, after all. A luxury of the living, wouldn't you say?", Ciel pointed out. "I did not return to Phantomhive for the sake of the previous head. I returned for myself", Ciel declared his voice stern. "All I want is to give those who betrayed and defiled the name of Phantomhive a taste of the humiliation ...and pain...that I have suffered. Checkmate", Ciel declared.

"Aw, gosh! That makes forty-six losses in a row for me", Madam Red sighed, scratching the back of her head. "Wow. You actually count your losses", Y/N asked, exasperated. "You've always been good at this kind of thing, and I've been losing to you since way back when. Fufu!", Madam Red said.

"I still remember the days you two were born as if it were yesterday. I'd just started out as a nurse...and I didn't know what to do during your delivery, Ciel. I was about halfway through my lessons, but I was allowed to get some first-hand experience watching as other nurses delivered you, Y/N.", Madam Red nostalgically started. "As newborns, you both were tiny and precious and I felt I had to protect you two. Though, in the end, I couldn't bear any children of my own, to me, you're like my real daughter and son. And as a mother to her son and daughter, I want to wash your hands of the Underworld", she finished, gently caressing Ciel's head.

"I'm here now because I wished for it. I made the choice", Ciel responded, sweeping Madam Red's hand off his head. "So, I have no regrets, and I do not wish to depend on anyone", Ciel firmly stated, eyes stone cold and calculating.

"I, too, am here of my own free will. You cant make me change my mind", Y/N said, standing up from her seat. "Maybe if I had grown up differently, I would be like a normal eighteen-year-old, but I'm not a fan of normal. I'd rather live in the excitement of being an assassin than live the life of a prissy noble", she finally lifted her bangs, looking directly at everyone in the room.

Her eyes held an insane, yet pained and angered, look, scaring everyone in the room except Karma and Sebastian. Ciel wasn't exactly scared, more like highly unnerved, from the look.

It was silent for several minutes before Y/N broke it. "Now if you'll excuse me. I'll be headed to my nightly quarters. Good night", she said briskly, walking out the doors. Karma was right on her heels, closing the door behind her.

"I think I'm right behind her. If you'll excuse me as well. It's been fun Madam", Ciel said gently. "I won't lose next time, Ciel", Madam Red gently shot back. "Heh, good night", Ciel bid before heading to the door.

Before he got to the door, however, it was opened, revealing Grell. "I made so more tea-awah!?", Grell shouted in surprise.

"Why does he... Why must those small children...shoulder something so heartbreaking and painful?", Madam Red muttered, resting her head on her hands. "My master always carries out his word. Even if the path he walks is long, dark... and cold", Sebastian said, getting the papers Madam Red scattered earlier back in order. "That is why I have vowed to serve by the Young Master's side", Sebastian said.

"I suppose he'll keep on going even if I try to stop him", Madam Red sighed. "I couldn't be there for them when they were suffering most", she admitted.

"Sebastian", she called. Said man glanced at her in response to continue. "I know I shouldn't ask this of you when we barely know each other, but please don't ever leave Ciel's side so he doesn't stray off his path and wander alone", she asked the aforementioned butler. "Yes... I shall stand by him and protect him until the very end", Sebastian vowed, bowing to Madam Red like she was royalty.

"Madam?", Grell hesitantly questioned at his Mistress's silence. When he turned to look at her, he was met with an intense gaze from Madam Red. Lightning crashed outside and thunder boomed. "... Madam..."

"What a frightful night. It would seem a storm is brewing", Lau muttered to himself in the corner, leaning on the window and looking straight out into the impending storm. Though what no one noticed was a figure hiding right outside the door, watching and listening to everything.

£~~£

"Status report", Y/N's voice rang out while she was changing into her full black jacket with a blood red shirt underneath and black leggings. There were blood red gloves that went to her wrist and she had the sheaths for her knives striped to her upper thigh, one on each. She had her hair in a ponytail to keep it out of the way as well.

"They should be here soon and the preparations are finished", Karma reported. Just as he finished, there was a knock at the window. Looking up, they saw Nagisa, Kayano, and Rio waiting outside, dressed in similar black stealth clothes and completely dry, despite the rain.

Karma opened the window to let the trio into the room. Once they were in, they lined up and Nagisa walked forward, an envelope in hand. He opened the envelope, pulling out a stack of papers.

"I've already read through this batch. There is one that might pique your interest, though", Nagisa said, handing a sheet of paper to Y/N. "Thank you, Nagisa."

"Hmm. So the queen got word. This is very convenient. Alright everyone, we all ready", Y/N questioned. She was met with vigorous nods. "Then let's move out", she commanded.

With that, Y/N, Karma, Nagisa, Rio, and Kayano all jumped out the window, all dressed in their respective stealth outfits.