Black Swan Rising - A Black Butler Fan-Fic

9 - Then I'll Raise You

The young lord looked terrified beyond words, mouth agape and teeth threatening to chatter as the man before us stared us down with intensity. I felt like he was boring into our skin and digging out our true identities and motives for these disguises.

"The Phoenix!!" he cried back, responding with a similar pose. "Welcome to the Aurora Society!" Three badges were placed in the young lord's hand, clinking together softly. "These are your membership badges."

With trembling hands, the young lord took the badges and gave a timid thanks to the man who promptly walked off. Sebastian then proceeded to clip the badge on himself and the master's jacket while I did my own for my dress. It pained me to put a hole in the fabric, but it had to be done.

"I'm not doing that ever again..." grumbled the young master. I didn't blame him. I felt rather mortified as well. I walked closer to their side, looking around and hugging myself. I wasn't used to such grandeur.

Faint laughter started up, and the young lord's eyes opened wide with shock. I spun around to see a man dressed in black robes, a hat adorning his head and covering his eyes. His long white hair bounced with his now roaring laughs. "To think you'd ever do something like that!! That was the best!!" he cried, guffawing and clutching his stomach.

"U-Undertaker?!" the young lord stuttered, his hands shaking a little. The poor thing...

"Saying 'The Phoenix!!' with such a serious face aha ha!!" he continued, tears rolling down his cheeks. I walked to Sebastian's side and slid my arm through his, listening as the young master cursed and his butler rebuked him lightly. He put a hand over mine to keep the act.

"Moreover," Sebastian diverted, "what are you doing here?"

"My job," he replied with a wicked grin. "The hospital is a regular customer of mine."

I shuddered at the thought, clutching his arm tighter. I sighed.

"Remember what the young lord told you," whispered Sebastian in my ear. I blushed and turned to look at him. "Hold yourself as if you were meant to be here."

I nodded and smiled up at him. "Thank you," I whispered.

Before he could respond, a man screeched out the Phoenix call. He had his leg sticking out, hands pointed off to the right in a rather stylish pose. "Sorry, I arranged the pose in my own style," he explained without remorse.

I felt a nervous sweat break out on my forehead, and Sebastian looked rather sheepish at my side.

"Is that the Viscount of Druitt?!" screamed the young lord, his eyes wild and face pale with fear. "What is he doing here?!"

"Come to think of it, he had a doctor's license, didn't he?" Sebastian mumbled, tense beside me. I held his arm tighter.

"I forgot about that..." I whispered.

Ciel jumped with adrenaline. "He's coming over!" He ran behind us and hid, back pressed against ours.

"Oh, my. Are you beginners?" asked the Viscount.

Sebastian clinked his glass against his, trying to act casual. "Yes. We saw the article in the newspaper." The young lord trembled and ducked even more noticeably behind us. I wanted to facepalm.

"Oh, Madam Samuel's light-lippedness is quite troublesome," said the Viscount, pressing his hand to his forehead dramatically. "To think she'd leak our secrets so easilyque." He opened an eye and almost immediately spotted the young lord. "Oh? Have I met you before somewhere?"

"NO!!" he yelled all too quickly. I let my head fall.

'This child...' I thought.

"I'm sure this is our first meeting!!"