Ebony Roses (Black Butler)

~ Chapter 1 ~

Why do you wear such a sad smile?...

Is it because she's gone....?

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"Midnight! It's time!" Papa calls. I jump up from my drawing, my short 5-year-old legs carrying me down the stairs and into papa's arms, his long silver hair cloaking his eyes as usual "papa!" I squealed. He chuckles, but it sounded hollow "are you ready to go?" He asks me, I nod "yeah! Do you think she'll like the picture I drew!?" I asked excitedly, showing papa the Rose picture. Everyone said I was an exceptional drawer, papa even agreed with them. He smiled at the dark blue Rose, but it was strained "yes! I think she'll love it" he says, setting me down and taking my hand in his. I fold the paper up and he leads me out of the shop and down the crowded streets. I stared up at the falling snow, my eyes covered by my own hair but I could see the flakes perfectly. Papa smiled down at me as I looked up at him excitedly.

Once we got to the Phantomhive manor, papa knocked on the door. A man in black opened it and he smiled "undertaker! It's great to see you, and if it isn't little midnight" the man says, smiling brightly. I remembered him "hello bastion!" I said, my adorable voice not able to say his full name so I called him bastion. He sidestepped and papa led me inside, Ciel and Lizzie stood at the top of the stairs, they were what papa called teenagers, but they looked like adults. Lizzie ran down the steps and picked me up quickly and spun around with me in her arms "Midnight! You look adorable!" She says, I giggle brightly "Lizzie!" I squealed. My paper fell out of my hand and Ciel picked it up, opening it "and what might this be?" He asks curiously, I look at him "it's for mummy! Papa said she liked blue roses!" I say sweetly. Bastion nods "yes she did, it's a beautiful drawing, midnight" he says, Ciel nods and hands the paper back to me. Lizzie sets me down and I take the paper "well, since we're all here do you mind if we join you?" Ciel asks papa. He shrugs "I don't mind, besides she is buried in your garden" his attempt at a joke had failed, I smiled to brighten the mood "let's go, let's go! We can't keep muma waiting!" I say.

Bastion chuckles and Lizzie giggles. We make our way out of the mansion once more and I run down the garden steps, racing over to an empty patch that was always filled with flowers during the spring and summer. I sat on my knees in front of a beautiful gravestone wrapped in Rose vines and thorns. The name on the stone reading 'Luna Star Crevan', I smiled "hi mummy! I'm back! Look what I drew for you! Do you like it!?" I asked, an innocent smile on my face as usual. Papa rested a hand on my head, a solemn smile on his face "I'm sure she thinks it's perfect" he says, I nod vigorously and set it by the grave, the snow had stopped so the paper wouldn't get wet. Bastion traced one of the vines before pulling at it, the vines covering the name on the stone broke, it revealed a crescent moon etched into the smooth stone above and below the words. Papa sighs, his hand moving from my head as he kneels down beside me, his long nails running across the etched name, the wind blows in our direction which causes both papa's hair and my own to wave in the air. I smiled brightly "see, mum likes it" he tells me, his smile never leaving as he turns to me. I stand and jump around clapping happily, Lizzie watches me with a sad smile as Ciel watches with a quiet expression, bastion just smiles normally though his eyes hold a hollow sadness.

I didn't understand why they were sad. In fact, I didn't even know what the word death meant. It was sad, really. A little girl thinking the wind was her mother telling her she liked a drawing said little girl drew for said mother. She didn't even know her mother was killed.

She had no idea and yet....she kept smiling.

Just like momma. Just like papa.