Reader One-Shots {Anime}

Black Butler: Ash Landers {"Purely Circumstantial"}

☆WRITTEN 2016☆

"I don't think so." You crossed your arms and leaned against the stone wall of the gothic cathedral in which you attended mass, every Sunday, at high noon, when the sun was at its brightest and the day was still fully ahead of you.

"Come on! Everyone does it." A young man with light brown hair mirrored your action, folding his arms together as he huffed before continuing to badger you. "You're almost twenty! How can you still believe the hypocrisy here? Everyone else knows it's a big lie!"

"Oh, everyone does, now?" You hissed, narrowing your eyes, trying to obscure the image of one of your old friends from the church. One that now was pressuring you into doing something you had no plans of engaging in in the foreseeable future, at least not until you were married that is.

"Yes!" He continued, moving an arm in frustration, tousling his own hair, forgetting his composure entirely. "It's common! Everyone has se-"

"Don't say it. Just leave me alone." You cut him off and at your dismissal, he walked away without another word.

You sighed in relief and looked around you, the summer sun brightly filtering through the huge trees shielding the cathedral from the intense heat of the season.

"That's something you don't see every day."

You jumped a tiny bit in fright at the sound of another man's voice, though this one wasn't like the one you'd previously been so annoyed with. This was different. Somehow you knew it. You turned and left your place on the wall, and as you did the man who had spoken to you moved into sight.

His white hair set the tone for his entire persona. He wore white trousers, a white jacket- everything was ivory and clean save for his accessories: his vest and cuffs lavender, his gloves dark, and the buttons on his coat shiny and metallic. He had a medallion affixed to his chest and at his side, he held a golden sword, glimmering brilliantly in the sunlight. He smiled as he approached you.

You hesitated but allowed him to do so. He intrigued you. "Who are you?" You asked.

"Ash Landers." He extended his hand and with a quick bow he was shaking yours. You smiled nervously as he turned to glance back toward the street, where your previous gentleman caller had just angrily stormed off after being denied what he wanted: you. "Again, I commend you. You seem to cherish things in an uncommonly devoted manner. It is most admirable."

"What do you mean by that?" You spat back. Was he mocking you? How much did he hear? Why was he here? Really, who was this man?

"I meant exactly what I said." He went on. "I don't believe I've met anyone so quick to deny their desires. Sins of the flesh are more common than the peasants who so enjoy them. Humans are simple in that way."

You laughed. "Humans?" The man's smile fell as you did so. "What of it? Are you telling me you're not human, Master Landers?"

He smiled again, and laughed lightly, politely, formally. "No I wasn't insinuating that. I was merely having a go at you. It's been a long while since I've had any fun of my own."

"Of your own?" You replied. "You're someone's-"

He cut you off. "Aide. I work for the Queen."

Your eyes widened in surprise. "The Queen?" He nodded as you continued to speak. "What are you doing so far from the Palace?"

"That is an interesting story. Perhaps you'd allow me to explain? I would love to have the opportunity to speak with a young woman such as yourself about my work, and of my faith."