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

Chapter Seventeen: Curiosity and Popcorn

Chapter Seventeen: Curiosity and Popcorn

Lau Tau was bored. It was a definite fact. He'd gone to call on the little earl, Ciel Phantomhive, just yesterday, only to find out that he'd been called away on some urgent business or other. Imagine, not being told or even given the chance to help out! It was almost insulting in a way.

Lau puffed away at his hookah; smoke billowing around him and his companion, Ran Mao. "I can't believe he didn't even talk to me before going," he complained. "Where was he headed again?" He tilted his head one way, then the other, as if trying to remember, but the truth of the matter was, no one had really known, other than that he'd headed towards London, but the horses and carriage had been returned earlier than anticipated.

The Chinese man's own intelligence on the matter had discovered that Ciel had never gone to London, nor had his carriage been seen near town at all. That, of course, either meant the little earl was trying to go about in secrecy to some unknown place, or something terrible had happened to him. But knowing that Sebastian had gone with him made it more likely that he was going for secrecy, or at least the appearance of it.

He rolled over to his stomach, hookah still in one hand as Ran Mao stood to fan him. "Where on earth could he have gone? It's not really fair for him to leave me behind!"

Ran Mao patted his shoulder consolingly. "We go find," she said succinctly.

Lau perked up. "Now that's the best suggestion I've heard all day." He rolled back over and stood in one fluid motion. After all, he wasn't just an opium dealer, but the leader of the Chinese mafia. And even though he often acted the fool, enjoying his own wares, he was usually more aware than most people realized, and far more agile than all but a few knew.

Without so much as a goodbye to the rest of his employees, he and Ran Mao took the first available ride towards the little earl's estate, bent on finding out just where he had gone off to, starting from square one.

xXxXxXxXx

Sebastian flitted from shadow to shadow, practically melting into them in his secrecy. It would not do to be detected prematurely by his quarry. He was still uncertain as to her nature, though he was more than suspicious. It was almost a bit disconcerting that he'd only caught some vague traces of her "scent" intertwined with many others. And there were the occasional dead ends where the scent went cold. But he was thorough if nothing else, and he would not leave any stone unturned in his search for his prey.

He started back at the spot where the rip in time had spewed them into Japan. The trail had been old, of course, but since there were less scents to confuse with it, he'd easily followed it into town, where it had become much more difficult. Of course, there had been other scents on the road, those of their now companions, the Sohmas, and Miss Tohru's friend. However, for some reason, the scent of his quarry had become stronger on the road, coming and going in the direction of Shigure's house. He would definitely have to look into that a bit later. But first, trying to find where the trail was most concentrated, if possible.

xXxXxXxXx

Ciel had nodded off. He was almost afraid to admit it when he woke near the end of the movie. He could only remember the first ten minutes, a few minutes past when Sebastian had left them, but that was all. He mentally bereted himself for being so stupid as to do something so weak. He wasn't sure if the others had noticed his falling asleep or not, but now he could not tell Sebastian about the movie.

The end credits began to roll up the screen, the music almost blaring in its soft, gentle way. Even though it was louder than he was used to hearing, it was not unpleasant. He tried to stretch, which was hard, considering his one arm was in a sling and still hurt like nothing else. He turned briefly to the aisle seat where Sebastian had been at the start of the movie, unsurprised to see the butler had returned.