A Demons Mate

Gifts all around

Years of being the Phantomhive butler had ingrained an early waking in Tanaka that carried even into his retirement. The man was surprised that he felt more rested than he had in years. He was even more surprised by the package that was resting on the nightstand next to his monocle.

The flat box was wrapped with plain paper that had been decorated with cherry blossoms. A shiny, green ribbon was wound around the package and tied with a simple bow. He opened it slowly, a part of him not wanting to rip the paper. When he finally lifted the top, he found a black and white sketch of a Japanese temple set with a backdrop of Mt. Fuji. Cherry blossom trees shown on the sides as though the viewer was looking through them to see the building.

There was a small SW in the bottom right corner.

Tanaka touched the drawing carefully, memories of his home country filling his mind.

Sebastian walked into Bard and Finny's room to wake the men and saw two boxes on the nightstand. Both were always slow to wake and he spent a minute or two shaking each of them.

"Don't forget your gifts." The butler shook his head as he walked back out.

That woke them. Each grabbed for the boxes and saw the personalized wrapping paper. Bard's was filled with sketches of various kitchen utensils and Finny's had feathers all over the paper. The former soldier was the first to open his, excitement running through him. He let out a whistle at the beautiful woman smiling back at him.

She was dressed in modified soldier's uniform, saluting the viewer. Below her was the name, Betty Grable. He picked up the paper and another was underneath it. The woman was named Rita Hayworth. Each had a small SW in the bottom corner. A small note fell out of the box.

'I thought that you would appreciate these ladies.'

"Bard, look!"

Finny held up a picture of a flying bird. He held up another that showed the same bird in a forest, wings ready to take off. The younger man looked at them again.

"They're so pretty." Finny looked to the man. "What did you get?"

"Nothing!" Bard put the lid back on the box quickly. He didn't want to explain the sketches to the gardener that still carried a child's innocence and carefree attitude.

"Oh, come on."

"No! You don't need to see them."

Sebastian's knock on Mei-Rin's door signaled the beginning of another day. The maid rubbed her eyes as she stretched. Turning to the side to get her glasses, she felt something else. A box rested on the nightstand with the book that she had been reading on top. She was slightly worried that someone had been in her room while she slept and she hadn't noticed.

The paper around the box was decorated with blooming flowers and a smile pushed away her suspicion. Lifting up the top, she was greeted with Sebastian's face. The sketch was a portrait of the butler from the chest up. He was looking out of the page with a gentle smile on his beautiful face. She picked it up and saw another paper below it with a short note written on it.

'If anyone finds this, I will deny all knowledge of it.'

She turned the page over, confused, and got an instant nosebleed. It was Sebastian again, only this time the butler was lying in bed, his clothes in disarray. His tie was gone and the black waistcoat was open. His shirt was partially unbuttoned and the man was pulling off one of his gloves with his teeth.

"Oh my!"
Snake woke from the sun warm on his face. His pets were already awake and coiled around a small package on the ground. Pulling it away, Emily used the arm to curl around his shoulders as he inspected the box. Drawn on the wrapping paper was a snake that looked to be wrapped around the box.