Kuro Kishi : Akuma no Joō - Dark Knight: Dark Queen (A Fruits Basket x Kuroshitsuji Crossover)

Chapter Ten: Breakfast and Intrigue

Chapter Ten: Breakfast and Intrigue

Tohru yawned and stretched before sliding out from under her bed covers. Today was going to be a good day, she decided as she moved to her closet to find some clothes. With luck, Ciel would be conscious again and they could show them the city. It was her turn to play hostess, after all. And after Shigure's reassurances last night, she felt sure that Kyo would return soon, under his own power.

Dressed, she went downstairs to the kitchen where she started pulling out pots and pans to make breakfast, humming to herself as she worked.

"Good morning."

She turned around swiftly, one hand to her heart. "Oh! Sebastian! I didn't see you there. I forgot how quiet you can be." She turned back to the pot she was filling with water to make porridge. "How's Ciel today?"

Sebastian watched her work from the doorway. He had to mentally remind himself that this was not the Manor and that he did not have to move in and take over on the cooking. Tohru was not Bard. "I believe he is doing better," he answered her as he moved into the kitchen. "Is there anything I might do to assist you?"

Tohru turned the stove on, holding the knob until the gas lit, then set the temperature. "Oh, no! It's fine! I do pretty much all the cooking here. It's part of my job. I do the household chores in exchange for my room and board, you see. I wouldn't be earning my keep if I didn't."

"Ah." The butler moved further into the room, watching as she sliced up a daikon radish. "I take it you are not of an influential family then." He'd rather thought as much. And the information he'd recently received about her made for a very interesting picture.

She turned to face him a little hesitantly. "You're not mad, are you? I mean, I didn't mean to deceive you. I never did say I came from a wealthy family, but oh! Did I give that impression! If so, I apologize! I never meant-!"

Sebastian held up a hand. "There is no need for you to apologize to me, Miss Tohru. Not all who are rich are of nobility, and not all who are nobility are rich. I believe it goes along with the saying, "all that is gold does not glitter". You have the heart of a noble woman, and as such, I shall treat you as one. I am sure Master Ciel would say the same thing."

Tohru sighed in relief. "I'm glad. I mean, after mom's accident, I didn't know what I'd do. It's been over a year, you know. And I was trying to live on my own, but it didn't work out well. I was really very lucky that Shigure and the others said I could live here. I'm probably the luckiest person in the whole world."

Sebastian couldn't help but smile at that. She definitely behaved as one of noble heart. And her heart was as pure as ever, he noted, tasting the air. "I'm glad to see that you suffered no lasting ill effects from your visit to the master's manor."

Tohru stirred something in a bowl. "I'm fit as a fiddle!" She thumped herself in the chest with her bowl. "Once Kyo found me, everything was wonderful. And I'm glad for it. I wouldn't forget any of it for a minute, or trade it for anything in the world."

The butler began to idly inspect the kitchen, memorizing where everything was being kept. He moved over to a cupboard and peered inside. "Has master Kyo treated you well?"

She turned to check on her porridge. "You bet! I mean, sometimes he loses his temper, but he's always so nice to me. And he's quick to apologize if he's hurt my feelings, even if it was by accident."

Sebastian nodded. "Good." He would not forget the promise he'd made to his master, about making sure those two were all right, and that Kyo never hurt her, at least not intentionally. All seemed well there. "I wondered if, perhaps, later, when my master is awake, if you would be so good as to show us around the area. I believe it would be wise for him to acquire some clothes that would be more suitable to the time period."