Subject 13-97 (Black Butler)

Yon

Recap: What in the name of bloody hell is wrong with me?

Two days have passed since 13-97 was admitted to the hospital-like building, where Cynthia and another doctor she had failed to catch the name of have been treating her. Well, not so much physically, more mentally. She complained to them about the things that were happening to her, yet when Cynthia ran her hand across 13-97's "burned" arm, nothing seemed out of the usual to her. But when she touched it, she cried out in pain. Unbearable pain that of which made her cringe just thinking about it. Most likely because she wasn't getting proper treatment for her burns.... that didn't seem to show up on the surface.

"Darling, I still haven't caught your name," Cynthia realizes one day, her pen pushing up her glasses. She smiles down at 13-97. It's gentle, like one a mother would give to her daughter, which caused 13-97 to think about her mother. You know, the one who thought she wasn't special enough.... No, 13-97 commanded herself, you mustn't think like that.

"Oh, my name. It's 13-97," She replied like she would in the facility. Cynthia cocked an eyebrow before looking down into her notebook. The one she had never come into the room without. Not once.

"Honey, that's not a name. Those are numbers."

"What's the difference?"

A long pause. "A name consists of letters and normally no numbers."

"So, 13-97 isn't a name?" The question sent a shock up Cynthia's spine, as she looked as if she had been put off-guard. 13-97 didn't even think Cynthia noticed the slight second of disturbance. A thing she was noticing from the drug The Doctor gave her is that she can sense a person's emotions better than the person themself.

"No, it is not. A proper lady like yourself should be given a true name."

"What is your definition of a 'true name'?"

"W-well," Cynthia hesitated, "something that does not include numbers, that's for sure!"

"What name would you give me?"

The response was almost immediate, like she had thought about it before. "Azur." Azur, the one word pounded through her head like she had been given yet another drug from the sick, sick Doctor.

"Azur..." She repeated aloud, her voice holding reflection and with a slight echo. Cynthia confusedly looked at her, wondering how she got her voice to echo in such a room. After a knock on the door, Cynthia shook her head, relieved of the previous daze.

Cracking the door just slightly, 13-97- No, Azur- could see Cynthia opening up her notebook and mumbling something to another one of Azur's doctors. She nodded a few times, understanding what he was saying, and then closed the door gently, so careful for some unknown reason. From the back, Azur could see Cynthia lift an arm to her eyes, wiping away something - a tear?

Turning towards Azur with a smile, Cynthia tried to mask her crying face, but, remember, Azur could sense emotions better than the average human. She jumped up and ran to Cynthia, hugging her despite the burning sensation that was caused in her arms. She wiped away another tear and began to speak.

"Azur, err, 13-97, it is time for you to evacuate the complex." A shocked look crossed her petite, skinny features as she removed her arms from around Cynthia and stared up into her green eyes.

"W-what?" Azur stuttered out, barely able to stand. Cynthia was the only mother-like figure she had ever had in her life and now she was being plucked away from her. Azur wanted to cry, she could barely handle the betrayal of her own mother all those years ago, but now she was about to lose Cynthia too....?

Sniffling a tear, Cynthia opened her mouth, by quickly closed it and held Azur close to her body. "I'm going to miss you, Azur...."

"You too, Cynthia...."

*Several hours later*

"Alright," One of Azur's doctors began speaking, "it doesn't appear you have any non-deceased family, or at least, nearby. And we can't send you all the way to America. No, that would not be optimal in the situation you're in right now." Stopping to ponder for a moment, he tapped his finger against the wooden table. "You told Cynthia that Vincent Phantomhive was the one who shut down the sick program, correct?"

"Y-yes," Azur tried to remember correctly, but her brain was fuzzy, as if she hadn't slept in weeks. She knew she did, as Cynthia would tell her a story about her family every night before she passed out. Dizziness swept over her like a broom cleaning up the floors of a manor. Azur could feel herself shaking, and no, she didn't enjoy it.

"Then it's settled! You are going to go live with Vincent Phantomhive, his wife, and his son. You're leaving in about an hour, so I'd pack your things quickly if I was you."

*1 hour and 30 minutes later*

As Azur sat calmly in the back of the carriage, she picked up a recent newspaper and began to read. In caps, the headline was PHANTOMHIVE BOY LEFT ORPHANED AFTER TRAGIC FIRE BURNS DOWN MANOR. Immediately, this draws her attention, as she was going to live with Vincent Phantomhive and his family.....

Skimming the article, Azur saw several things, words that stuck out more than others. Such as fire, dead, orphan.... After barely starting on it, she crumbles it up and tosses it off the carriage, wasting the valuable paper she could have saved. She hadn't even completed reading the article..... Thinking it through, it became clear. She was going to have to stay with a boy her age. Alone. In that big manor. Or.... that pile of ashes? Azur was still confused, but she knew the basics...

"Ma'am, do you have a fever?" The driver turned and asked her, obviously aware of the bright red blush on her face.

"N-no, I don't believe so...."

~~~

Okay! So, I know there was a lot, and when I say 'a lot', I mean a lot, of timeskips in this chapter, and I can guarantee there won't be as many in the next chapter, as Ciel is finally going to be introduced into the story! I'm quite excited to write it, and I hope you enjoy reading it.

As always, I hope you enjoyed my newest chapter! Thank you for reading! DictatorSilver~