That which you yearn for: A heart's desire

Her appraisal, Inferno.

-------{W.C: 1320}--------

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Grim reapers are not one to sit back when a human's soul is being toyed with. There is a lot of paperwork behind the mystical appearance of a person without any former traces in a new world or rather in Great Britain.

It seemed highly unlikely that the soul was recently born, if that were the case William would have received appropriate paperwork needed to handle the collection of a soul or even the oversight of the human's life.

As it happens, none of the information he expected came to him but rather an oddly vibrant file was placed on his superior's desk when he came into the latter's office.

William found himself eyeing the flimsy dossier which was unlike the heavy, mundane life records he was so used to handling. In a monotonous voice he asks "What do you want me to do with this?"

His tone might have come off as rude but to those who worked with him regularly knew that it was just his way of speaking. "You are to investigate the appearance of this individual." His boss says, tapping the file gently as if to bring William's attention to it. 

"So I need to fill up their file? To collect information on them?" he inquires, finding no other means of what he could possibly do with such scarce information. A pleased smile plasters itself over the older of the two as he picks up said object. 

"That exactly." he says, walking towards the glass paned window in the office, looking afar. Down below one could see the human realm, nothing more than a drifting species compared to the interminable life of reapers. Adam Richards indicated by dumb show, for William to stand beside him. 

"As London grows, the amount of death also increases.." he pauses to look at his junior before continuing, "I know that the retrieval division is already severely understaffed. However, it is not every day that an unidentified soul presents itself in London."

 The man sighs looking back out the window. "The higher ups are not sure as to what to expect from this person. They may be a threat or completely harmless. That is what we want you to find William. We want you to observe this human and after sufficient time, report your analysis. Only then will we know if this person is a misfortune soul that has landed here unwillingly rather than a dangerous one." 

Now facing his senior the bespectacled reaper gives him a firm look of determination. "It will be taken care of. You need not worry Richards-san." The blonde let out the breath he didn't know he was holding, his expression relaxing. 

"That is good to hear William. You can start next week. I will inform the higher authorities and see to it that your workload is reduced thereafter."

"I shall take my leave then." William declares, turning to leave his senior's office. Before he could, the file that was to be handed to him catches his eye. The younger reaper holds out his hand which makes the other look down at his own after which he laughs realising his blunder. He gives William the file following which the brunette exits the room.

He descends the stairs wanting to get back to his duty. He would definitely have to do overtime today if he doesn't reach the allocated site soon. He pushes his spectacles further up his nose, heaving a sigh. 

The male hurriedly reaches the receivers office to collect his retrieval list for the day. After skimming the list, he finds it possible to take a detour to his room in the reapers' quarters to leave the file there. He could read it when he found the time.

—---

A beautiful teacup was placed down for her by the butler with eloquence. Though the girl sat from the child, she could clearly feel him drill holes into the top of her head as she tried to take a sip of the tea. 

The warm liquid which was brewed to perfection drew away a part of her anxiety. That was just until the earl spoke. "What, might I know, was the reason for your sudden disappearance exactly as we entered the parlour?" 

There it is, the million dollar question.

 "You see, Earl," she says, dragging the word a bit. "I had to narrow down the suspects list, so I went to do some digging." finding it a poor excuse he asks her, "Have you compiled the list then?" with confidence she affirms "I have indeed done so." 

She looks into her silk pouch, pulling out a folded piece of paper with neat handwriting. She passes the parchment to the blue haired teen whose eyes widen when he finds that the older girl had indeed been meticulous in completing her work.

A finger taps the backside of the paper Ciel was reading followed by speech "This list has all the actual possibilities of the murderers. Unlike the one Sebastian was playing around with." 

His head perks up to meet her gaze. "Murderers? There are more than one?" She draws in a sigh. Then looking at the butler who stood beside his master, she speaks," Do you want to explain?"

The demon butler smirks in return as if encouraging her to continue. "Very well. I would like to tell you a known fact that people always miss. For a murder to take place if the killer is of sane mind, they must have an intent, a means and an opportunity. As you already know Aleister is not the killer. Can you, my dear Earl, think of someone professional enough to perform this crime?" The child looks at her a little confused. 

"Someone I know? How could-" Her words serve as an eye opener to the teen. Something right before his eyes that he may have absentmindedly pushed aside. The girl drew another piece of paper whose writing was much more tardy compared to the first. A page torn from a log book or a register of some sort.

He moved to grasp the sheet of paper from her hand. She waited as he read silently, observing him in the process. The young Phantomhive took a steadying breath before putting the sheet on the table. He ponders how he must phrase his sentence and then proceeds to ask "According to this register the next target is.."

"Maria Gale." Sebastian completes for his master. This causes the earl to whip his head in his butler's direction. "What?" he sneers, "You knew about this all along didn't you? You were messing with me? with the investigation?!"

"I have been telling the truth from the very beginning. I never lied about each investigation result." The butler says, a sly smile spreading across his features. "One who is knowledgeable in medicine and human anatomy, and has connections with secret societies or black magic.

One who does not have an alibi on the day before the incident, it is true that the viscount is the only person who fulfils all these requirements." The child clenches his fist along with the list in hand, "It may be true that you did not lie to me, however.." he proceeds to stand up from his seat holding the list Sebastian had made, which he took from his pocket and tore it to shreds. "Your investigation is nothing but a cheap joke!"

Sebastian laughs. "Because you made the order that way.." Annoyed, Ciel throws his seat's cushion, towards the demon who dodges it effortlessly. "Oh dear, are you taking it out on me?" The girl gets up from her spot to help clean the mess Ciel created when the butler joins her. "Young master knows I'm like this and that is why you keep me by your side, correct?" The boy shouts, exasperated. "I know!"

"Earl!" the older lady called in a reprimanding manner, making the young earl sigh and lower his voice and his butler smile sheepishly.

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//A.N//Stay tuned for the next chapter : coming out tomorrow at 9:45 pm //A.N//