Whisper (Kuroshitsuji Fanfiction)

II

"Here, Girl!" I tried not to grimace at the slop that was my dinner, but was still thankful. At least I got dinner.

It was, sometimes, worse to have dinner, however- because it reminded me what eating felt like, and meant that the hunger pains returned. But at least it would give me strength to carry my Mistress' bags home.

It had been a relatively quick three days, and I was sad to see the end arrive, but I had known it was coming. Despite my no-attachments policy, I felt, quite irritatingly, that I would miss the bubbly bright smile of the young Phantomhive boy. However, it did not quite go as I thought it would.

"Ronnieee!!" I turned just in time to have a small boy catapult into me. Luckily, I held steadfast, and we did not topple. I blinked.

"Master Phantomhive, is something wrong?" I asked quietly, all-too-aware of the noblemen and women also in the room, watching. I had been serving my Mistress at the time.

"I don't wanna leave!" he sniffled into the clean shirt I had been put in after a cold bath, "I'm g'na miss you!"

I stared at him, then smiled. "I'll miss you too, Master Phantomhive. But unfortunately, we both have our jobs to do."

"But- but- why do you have to go? I don't want you to!" I patted his hair gently.

"Seems your son has grown quite attached to my... maid." I heard my Mistress say, and my back stiffened. I kneeled down in front of the teary boy.

"Tell you what. How about one last game of hide and seek before I leave? Would you like that?" Ciel's expression brightened considerably. He grabbed my hand and pulled me outside.

We were ten minutes into the game when I heard the carriages begin to pull away. I rocketed out of my hiding place, fearing that I would be punished for keeping my Mistress waiting. But she wasn't there.

I searched and searched, but to no avail. Had I been forgotten? I began to panic. I had been a slave so long that I didn't know how to survive by myself. I had no food left from that which Mistress fed me on. What on Earth would I do?

"Ah, Veronica, correct?" I froze, and slowly turned to face Vincent Phantomhive and his wife. I drew backwards, fearing the mellow smile on his face. I nodded quickly. "Madame Harrison has left you in our care. You are a Phantomhive maid now." I stared at him, uncomprehending. "You will be bathed and adequately clothed, and then Tanaka here will inform you of your duties and show you to your room." this all sounded too good to be true. "I sincerely hope you will enjoy working here. Our Ciel seems to have grown rather fond of you, so your chief responsibility will be his care. Tanaka, if you please."

I blinked as a man with greying hair and a monacle appeared at my side, speaking cordially as he led me to a bathroom. I didn't hear a word he said. I was in too much of a daze.

"Miss Veronica?" I jumped, and my eyes widened as I acknowledged the steaming bathtub full of hot water. I stared at the butler. He smiled at me, and I became slightly distracted by his moustache.

"I will be back in twenty minutes with some new clothes for you. Please bathe yourself and use this time to get used to being here." with that, he left. I bit my lip, and then a full blown smile broke across my face. I stripped down, and slid into the bath, curling up into a ball as I grew accustomed to the feeling. There was a small curtain hung above it, so I pulled it around and sank further into the water.

"Miss Veronica?" I was pulled out of my daze by Tanaka's voice. "Your clothes are on the side. Would you like me to dispose of your old ones?"

I bit my lip, then sat up. This was an opportunity to start a new life for myself, forget the old. I pulled the curtain back just enough to poke my head around, and nodded. Tanaka smiled again.

"Very well." he left once more, and I got out of the bath and dressed quickly. I was slightly worried about just what they would turn out like, but thankfully, it was just a simple pastel blue dress and apron ensemble. I dried my hair as best I could and fluffed it out, smiling at the feel of the silky strands. My body felt somewhat raw from the hot water since I was unused to it, but I still relished the feeling of the soft material. It was nice to feel fresh and clean for once, and wear clothes that didn't itch unbearably. My hair, with a little extra help, dried reasonably quickly.

I exited the bathroom to find Tanaka standing outside it. He gently reached over, brushing my white hair out of my face and tying it back with a strange hairband thing. It felt weird, but not entirely unpleasant. I liked feeling tidy. I laced my fingers together behind my back, and watched him expectantly.

"Come this way. I will show you where you will be sleeping." he said briskly. The room was small, with two narrow bunk beds, one on either side, a chest of drawers, and a small window. I was informed that I would get one bed and one drawer; the others belonged to the three other female members of staff. I was grateful- it was more than I 'd had before.

My duties would be, as Lord Phantomhive had said, mostly centred around attending Ciel. Tanaka himself would be the one to dress and bathe the young Master, but I would deliver his meals to him and watch him around the clock, as well as doing extra cleaning around the house and washing clothes and such as required. Tanaka would also change Ciel into his nightclothes, but I would be the one to settle Ciel into his bed and get him to sleep. The butler told me that, since Ciel liked me so much, it shouldn't be a problem. That made me wary- it sounded as though Master Phantomhive did not take kindly to being told to go to bed. Fortunately, I was well in practice with these sorts of situations.

"Well, since the young Master is already prepared for bed, the only thing you must do is get him to sleep. then you may get some rest. Sleep well- you have an early start in the morning." with that, Tanaka left. I knew my way around fairly well- he had pointed things out to me on the way back to the servants quarters. I found Ciel's room with ease. He was sat in the corner, playing with a big wooden model of Noah's ark. I smiled.

"Master Phantomhive, it is time for bed." he froze, and then span around. He jumped on me immediately.

"Ronnie! You stayed!" he exclaimed, hugging me tightly.

"Yes. Lord Phantomhive offered me a job, I'm going to be your personal maid from now on." I told him. He squealed in delight.

"Yay! That means we can play together all day! The old maid was such a meanie, I'm so glad!" I squinted at him, not liking the mischievous smile he wore. Something told me that this position was only vacant because the little rascal had chased the old maid away.

"Yes, but tomorrow. Now it is time for you to sleep, a young boy needs his rest." I said sternly. He stared up at me with wide, innocent eyes, looking hurt.

"But I want to play a game!" he pleaded, and I closed my eyes (in resistance of his begging eyes- this boy would make a very good street urchin) and held firm.

"We can play tomorrow, okay?" I promised, "But now you must sleep, or you will be too tired to do so."

He looked so saddened that I picked him up, cuddling him warmly as I carried him over to his bed. He was a slight young thing, slender, though small amounts of baby-ish roundness still clung to him. His eyelids drooped- he was quite obviously tired.

I placed him gently in his bed, and tucked the covers over him, smiling. "Snug as a bug in a rug." I whispered, tweaking his button nose affectionately. He giggled sleepily.

"Goodnight, Master Phantomhive." I murmured, and blew out the candle by his bedside. He rolled onto his side, his thumb creeping into his mouth.

"G'night, Ronnie..." he mumbled, sighing softly as sleep claimed him. I watched him for a moment, then retired to my own bed. The mattress felt like a dream- this was all too good to be true. I was asleep in seconds.