The sleeping ash. Black Butler various x reader

At midnight: The Butler, Substituted

*3rd pov*

*At the town house*

"Prince Somaaa! Your meal is ready–" Agni opens the door to see Soma by the window. "Prince Soma?" Agni calls out. "It certainly is pouring. It doesn't rain like this in Bengal even during the rainy season." Soma said. "You are right. Surya– The sun– hasn't deigned to show his face either. The divine protection of vishu' will be weakened thus..." Agni said. "I feel a gloomy foreboding. We were put out because guests were coming, but...I'm worried about Ciel." Soma said. Agni smiles at Some. "All will be well.. There is nothing to worry about–" Agni reassures him.

*At the Phantomhive manor*

"What on earth is going on in this manor!? Two people have been murdered in the space of one night!!" Grimsby shouts. "A-And he was killed in such a..." Irene said, scared. "Tell me about it. Runnin' him through with a fireplace poker... ...Was just too much, man." Bard holds his head. "! There are signs of trauma to the head. He may have been struck from behind while stoking the fire." Arthur explains as he lifts Sebastian's head. "And 'cos that didn't do him in, they finished him off with another blow to the chest, huh?" Bard said. "Or maybe they didn't wait to see if he was dead and instead attacked him twice in quick succession... Rather than a single attack, two attacks would have been sure to kill him. ...How strange. Eh?" Charles Grey looks at Arthur.

"If he did not die from the blow to the back of his head... ...Why did the murderer go to the trouble of stabbing him from the front?" Arthur questions which caught the guests attention. "Yeah, normally you'd attack from the same direction if you're attackin' twice." Bard said. "Then maybe... ...There are multiple perpetrators." Arthur theorized. "Eeh!?" The servants except Bard and Joker were shocked.

"For example, one spoke to him from the front to catch his attention, while... ...The second snuck up from behind and bludgeoned him in the head. Then the one in front delivered the finishing blow without pause." Arthur creates a scenario. "In any case, it is a fact that I sense not a shred of mercy or hesitation. The culprit or culprits managed to kill that butler, so they must be very–" Lau gets cut off. "Please just stop now!!" Finny shouts and hugs Ciel. "How could you talk like that when the young master's right here...! Please consider the young master's feelings!" Finny shouts.

"Finny! P-Please excuse our rudeness, please do!!" Mey-Rin bows. "...Well. He does have a poiiint! We can stand around the corpse bandying theories about all we like, but it won't get us anywhere. So let's first carry this to the cellar. The discussion of the murderer's identity and the like can be continued afterward, perhaps over a meal or something." Charles Grey suggests. "How could you take this so leisurely–!" Woodley is shocked by Charles Grey's response. "You're right. No good will come of rushing things." Lau agrees. "Meee too! I'm starving!" Alois also agrees.

"That's that, then! We'll leave you servants to handle the disposal of that thing. Oh, and... ...have breakfast ready for us as well, hm?" Charles Grey orders. The servants don't say anything as Tanaka bows. "I'm heading to the dining room first! I'm starving." Charles Grey leaves first. "We're going too." Grimsby and Irene leave. The rest leave as Claude takes (Y/n) away.

"......Do as they said. Take Sebastian to the cellar. ...I apologize for losing my composure." Ciel apologize. "Not at all–!" Mey-Rin reassures. "We on't blame you." Joker said. "Ye 'ave every reason." Dagger tells him. "Young master..." Finny looks at Ciel. "Tanaka." Ciel calls for him. "Yes, sir." Tanaka said. "Sebastian is dead. You are my butler from this day forth. I entrust you with the management of the manor and the supervision of the servants. ...And this pin too... ...I return to your keeping." Ciel hands him the pin. "The pin of the head butler... This does brings back memories. Will an old man like me be equal to the duties, I wonder?" Tanaka said. "You need only do it until a replacement arrives." Ciel tells him. "As you wish, sir." Tanaka bows. "I shall by all means accept it." Tanaka takes the pin and places it on his butler coat then claps. "Then let us first prepare for the morning baths. Mey-Rin, please see to the hot water. Finny and Bard, please move Sebastian. As for you two, Joker and Dagger, please carry hot water to the young master's bathroom. Quickly now!" Tanaka orders. "Y–Yes, sir/Arf!" The servants said in union.

"Now young master, you will catch cold if you stay dressed like that. Let us first see to getting you a change of clothing. The head of the Phantomhive Family must not be shaken by the death of a mere servant. The master was never once seen to be losing his composure over such a trifle." Tanaka lectures Ciel. "You are strict as usual... ...Old man." Ciel said while Tanaka smiled at him.

Arthur sees Bard and Finny carry Sebastian away. "Professor." Tanaka placed a pair of slippers in front of him. "I sincerely apologize that such events have taken–" Tanaka apologized. "No, no... He is far more in need of you than I... Please stay with the Earl." Arthur tells Tanaka. "I am deeply touched by your concern. ...Now then... Let us go, young master. You must not keep your guests waiting." Tanaka guides Ciel out of the room.

*Breakfast*

Everyone is seated as (Y/n) is on Alois's head. "It's a great help that he took care of the meals in advance." Ciel puts the napkin on his lap. "Smells yummy! Let's eaaat! I didn't eat this morning, so I'm famished!" Charles Grey begins to eat. Claude took me from Alois and started to feed her.

Meanwhile, Joker holds Dagger back from trying to go and attack Claude since he took her.

"What's wrong, Irene? You've barely touched your plate!" Grimsby looks at Irene with worry. "I'm sorry. I don't have much of an appetite..." Irene covers her mouth with her napkin. "Hey, if that's gonna go to waste, can I help myself to it?" Charles Grey said. (I'm the same with him. I love to eat and I don't like food to go to waste.) "Yes, here yo..." Irene was about to hand over her plate. "No! Not yours... ...But the one next to you." Charles Grey points next to her. "Eh?" Irene looks to see an empty seat. "Oh... You are right. There is an extra place here. Did the chef prepare one too many?" Irene asked. "The one who prepared breakfast was Sebastian. He would never get the number of place settings wrong." Ciel explains to them. "Eh? Then whose is it?"

"Everyone is present and— Oh! Mister Phelps is missing." Irene realized. (I don't know who said this in the manga, so I picked the anime on who said this.) "Hahaha! I didn't even realize he was here that I forgot about him." Alois said. "You're right. I failed to notice because he doesn't have much of a presence. Ah ha ha!" I think Lau said this. "Now that you mention it, I haven't seen him all morning. It seems he's really sleeping in! Haha..." Woodley said. "......" Arthur looks at the empty seat. "If I may!!!" Arthur stood up. "What do you say... We go look... ...In the Earl's bedroom?"

"!" They all look at Arthur. "–I'll show you the way." Ciel stands up. "Turn right there!!" They all rush to Ciel's bedroom. "Mister Phelps!! Mister Phelps, please respond if you're there!!" Arthur bangs on the door, but there's no response. "Kuh...! The lock, it's–!!" Arthur tries the doorknob. "My lord! Where is the key?" Arthur asks. "I don't know." Ciel answers. "Eh!?" Arthur is confused. "Sebastian is the keeper of the key to my room, and only he knows where it is stored. Now that he's dead, even I couldn't tell you where to find it..." Ciel explains. "...! Please stand back, young master! I'll–!" Finny steps in, but gets cut off. "Claude!" Alois orders. "Yes, your highness." Claude kicks the door off.

"I would've done it myself to make this quick since I haven't had my dessert yet." Charles Grey holds a plate as a fork is in his mouth. (Y/n) actually has a cream puff as she eats it on Claude's head.

Arthur rushes in and bursts into Cie's bedroom. "Mister Phelps!! Eh...!?" Arthur looks down as his foot is by his hand. "Mister Phelps!!" Arthur shouts as Phelps was laying on the floor with the blanket under him. Arthur crouches down to check on him.

Outside of the Manor shows the owl flying away, but screeches and gets pulled down as one of the feathers goes down to a puddle, which shows a footprint next to it.