Dark Crow's Jewel ~Kuroshitsuji Fan Fiction~

Chapter Sixteen

"Sebastian!! Come read this!!" Sebastian heard the sound of the servant's chattering voices and went to see what they wanted.

"What is it?" He snapped at them as he strolled into the kitchen. They had interrupted his cleaning of the chimney so this has better be good.

"Come look at what came for you in the mail." Finnian smiled leading him over to the counter.

"Eh? For me?" He cocked his head to the side as he was handed an official letter. He produced a letter opener from the inside of his tailcoat and tore the top of the letter. He began to read the letter to himself. "Huh..interesting..."

"What does it say, Sebastian?" Bard asked.

Sebastian began to read it aloud.

"To the Phantomhive butler, Sebastian Michaelis, you hereby are cordially invited to attend and participate in our annual butler tournament two weeks from now. You have been elected due to legends of your impeccable service. The tournament will be held at Her Majesty's palace in the main ballroom. Please send your correspondence as soon as possible. We wish you luck and hope you will compete. May the best butler win. Signed by Her Majesty's advisor, Charles Grey."

"Ey, whadda ya win if you win the tournament, Sebastian?" Bard asked him.

Mey-Rin took the letter from his hands. "A cruise around Europe!" They all began to chatter excitedly.

"With the kind of butler he is, we're sure to win!" Finnian cheered.

"I'm not competing."

"WHAT?!!" They all turned in bewilderment towards their head servant.

"You heard me.." He said as he went to the sink and rinsed a few dishes.

"But why, Sebastian?" Mey-Rin asked frowning.

"Must I have a reason for everything I do? If you're all finished wasting my time here, I know of a couple chimneys that could use a cleaning." He picked up a rag on the way out of the kitchen.

"This can't be. Sebastian loves to compete." Finnian frowned.

"Maybe he's embarrassed or he doesn't want to show off.." Mey-Rin suggested.

"This ain't over yet. I know one person who can make him compete whether he wants to or not..." Bard remarked. The four of them instantly scrambled up to Ciel's study.

Ciel was building a house of cards while he was supposed to be "working." His eyes ache from all the financial reports he had read so he gave himself the luxury of a tranquil rest. That was interrupted when the servants barged into the study. Ciel's card house fell evoking an irritated sigh.

"What the hell do you all want?!! I was working!! Don't you ever knock?!!" He was standing up from his chair with fists balled on either side of him by the time he stopped scolding them.

"Forgive us, master Ciel. We had to show this to you." Finnian breathed hurriedly as they tried to catch their breath due to racing upstairs.

"What's so important that you come in here like madmen?!" Ciel exclaimed still agitated.

"It's a letter from the queen to Sebastian." Mey-Rin said.

"Oh? Let me see.." Ciel's mood has lessened and his eye began to scan the letter. "So what's the problem?"

"He won't compete. He says he's not going to participate." Bars replied.

Ciella had been walking around the manor looking for something to entertain her. She was afraid to go outside because of their recent addition to the manor, Pluto and Ciel and the servants were working so they wouldn't be able to play with her. Her illness had left her days before so she was well again. She'd only sneeze at most. As she sighed lengthily, she turned on a curve then her small frame bumped into a much leaner one. Sebastian had been going back down the hall to finish his chores.