Chapter 31
Alois had been hoping for everyone's return, but when a small group appeared suddenly inside his living room, he could only stare for a few moments. There was Ciel, which elated the blond-haired boy, along with Claude, which was also definitely good. The arrival of Grell was not a surprise since he'd left with Claude and Ciel, though the person with him certainly wasn't expected.
Alois wasn't even sure who the person wearing all black was, especially with his eyes hidden beneath the long strands of his silver hair. Then he realized that Ciel's contracted demon was not with them; Sebastian had not returned with them. "Where is Sebastian?" he questioned, more concerned for Ciel's sake than for the demon himself. He didn't want the other to be upset like he had been before, having asthma. It had been truly scary, for Alois had been afraid that Ciel was going to die. Pale blue eyes widened as the slim teenager stood from where he was sitting, walking over to stand just before Ciel.
"He's all right," Ciel assured Alois, giving him a reassuring smile. He was genuinely glad to be back in his own world, even if he had had to leave Sebastian behind. At least he'd be back as soon as he was healed. If the chance of those lashes getting infected hadn't been so high and with the way it would endanger both Sebastian's life and that of his unborn child, Ciel might have insisted on bringing him back immediately. As it was, if Sebastian was not back in this world at the end of the two days, he would go back to get him.
"Sebastian was injured, though, so he can't come back to the human world for two days. Otherwise, his wounds might get infected. He's staying with a Demon Lord to heal more and then he's coming back..." Ciel explained, speaking far more than he'd ever spoken to anyone before.
Blinking when he realized it, Ciel was slightly embarrassed; he'd just prattled on like an idiot. He'd never spoken to Alois for so long in just one reply before now. A little disconcerted, he shrugged slightly. "We- you, me, and Claude- do need to talk, though, Alois," he added, his smile fading as a more serious look appeared.
Grell glanced around, wondering where William had gone to. He couldn't see him here anywhere and debated for a moment. He knew that in a few moments, Alois, Ciel, and Claude would be going off to talk alone. "Um... Where did William go?" he asked softly, hesitantly interrupting whatever the Trancy Earl might have said in reply, but wanting to know before they headed off. Who knew how long such a conversation would take? And if it went badly, he would much rather be out of earshot. His shoulder brushed slightly against Undertaker's as he looked at the younger human, careful to be polite.
Glancing at the strangely quiet Shinigami, Alois arched a brow before sighing. Why did he have to play messenger? "He said he was going to go find... a Ronald, I think? Since he didn't know how long you would be gone and all..." Turning his attention back to Ciel, he wondered at the expression that he had; it wasn't as though Ciel looking serious was anything unusual. It was more the look in his deep blue eyes that held Alois' attention. There was reprehension, worry, and slight fear present in there, a combination he had not seen before in Ciel.
"Okay," Alois agreed slowly, beginning to think that he was not going to like whatever those two were going to tell him. Claude's face held his usual stoic expression but his gold eyes looking everywhere but at his master, which made Alois even more suspicious. It was apparent to him that Claude was not happy, either, with what Ciel was about to say.
Undertaker pondered for a few moments at Alois' response, looking to Grell. "Any thoughts on where he would go? With everything that is happening in the human world, I highly doubt that either of them would be in the Shinigami dimension right now."
"They're probably in London somewhere; that's where Ronald and I work when we're together, even if that doesn't exactly narrow it down..." Chewing on the side of his cheek, Grell considered the possibilities glumly, his teeth hidden from view as he pouted. London was so large that William and Ronald could be anywhere.
