Black Butler: Demons in our Hearts

Oh, Lord, why do I feel so achy?

Kat forced her eyes open, wondering for a moment why she was so warm. Only realizing where she was when Pluto let loose with a snore that startled the horses. Did I really fall asleep in the stable? I wonder what time it is…

Pushing Pluto’s tail off of her lap Kat stretched and got to her feet. She could see now that the rain had stopped, the clouds having pulled away to reveal a midnight sky of twinkling stars. My Goodness did I really fall asleep for that long? Maybe I should get back in, who knows someone might need my help. Pluto whined once and then settled back into his bed of straw why Kat made her way back towards the kitchen where a candle flickered in the window.

"You are late."

Kat jumped, Gah, did he HAVE to be that…surprising? "Sorry, I must have fell asleep, is there something you need done?"

Sebastian regarded her carefully, his eyes narrowing in thought, "How much did you get done with the garden?"

Oh, crepes, I didn’t finish the mulching!

"I need to finish the mulching, other than that it’s done." Kat chewed her lip, how on earth had she forgotten something like that, it really wasn’t like her.

Once again he regarded her shrewdly, "If you feel you must, Vinny can always finish that tomorrow morning. Good night." He snuffed the candle and left the room, heading in the direction of his quarters, leaving Kat alone in the dark.

I wonder if I should finish the mulching real quick, it would be nice if I didn’t have to worry about it in the morning.

She hesitated a moment longer before quietly slipping back outside into the cool damp air of the morning. That’s right, it will only take a few minutes, nothing drastic.

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How could she have been so foolish, How could he have been so foolish? Leaving Kat alone with work undone? It was only natural to her to finish it, how on earth had he missed that? You thought she would show some common sense and go to bed like every other normal human being.

But then again, lay the problem, Kat wasn’t normal not at all. Maybe that’s what had the Phantomhive butler so flustered, he couldn’t rely on her to be like an human he had met before, always leaving him confused about what she was going to do next.

And now she is missing.

He had gotten up early that morning to prepare the Earl’s breakfast, only to find it done for him. Scrambled eggs, with thick slabs of bacon, all next to toast. So it was simple for him to assume who did it correct?

It seemed though finding that person was currently above his ability, she wasn’t anywhere she normally haunted, even Pluto appeared to be in search of the wayward little thing. Where on earth is she?

"Sebastian, perhaps you could come here for a moment?"

Tramping down his annoyance Sebastian went to do as the Young Master bid, he may have been on the other side of the house, but he could hear him perfectly. He entered the bedroom to find the Earl still in bed, but gazing out his window, "What is it sir?"

Ciel pointed, "I believe there may be a problem."

Sebastian looked to where the Earl was pointing, no, it couldn’t be.

"Should I go fetch her ?"

"I believe you should, its rather unsightly to see that first thing in the morning." The butler bowed before taking his leave, quietly fuming over Kat’s stupidity, and to his own dismay his own.

The morning air was cool and crisp on his skin as he left the cozy interior of the manor, a cloud of vapor misting with every breath he took. Why on earth did she have to fall asleep outside? If she was tired she should have just gone to bed.

Sebastian grumbled mentally a few more things as he approached where his previously missing assistant lay against the wall outside the Earl’s room, for all appearance’s fast asleep. Impatiently he nudged her boot with his foot, "I believe your room is inside, might you accompany me there?"

Kat blinked up at him slowly, then nodded slowly, "Yes, I will, I’m sorry." She stood only to stumble forward, being easily caught in Sebastian’s arms. What on earth? It was only then that Sebastian noticed the rosy red tint on her face, and the glazed look in her eye. "Kat are sick by any chance?"