Crimson Butler: A Shakugan No Shana/Kuroshitsuji Fanfiction Story (Vol. 1)

Chapter 7: His Butler, Forlorn

Elizabeth's Point of View

“Ciel dissapeared for a while after his manor was burned down and his parents died. He did return eventually. . . but by then, he had stopped smiling. . . I love him. . . and his smile. . . but for some reason. . . we keep going in circles. . . and now. . . there's someone else with him. . . this girl that no one's ever seen before. . . Shana. . . which makes me wonder. . . what can I do? How can I help him? How do I get his smile back? Oh, Ciel. . . .

Main Story

Ciel was searching for Elizabeth when he encountered Sebastian. Sebastian had told him that Ciel lost his parents, his home, and he is about to lose his fiancee. “Take that back, right now!” Ciel demanded. Sebastian remained calm. “What do you mean?” he asked. “I don't like you taunting me!” Ciel yelled. “Master, earlier you informed me that you and Shana had some business to take care of.” Sebastian said, “This business of yours, did it include endangering yourself? In a misguided effort to rewrite the past, I mean.” Ciel gave Sebastian a mad look “Do you remember what you said at the Frost Fair? About your body? About your ring? What you said was both had been shattered and reborn. . . and that you no longer had any fear of being broken yourself. . .” “I remember,” Ciel said, “you don't need to remind me.” Ciel continued to give Sebastian a mad look. Then they heard some singing. “Build it up with iron and steel, iron and steel, iron and steel, build it up with iron and steel, my fair lady.” As the voice sang, the dolls busted through the door. “This means that they've defeated Grell and Shana!” Ciel said. Then Shana came in flying rapidly over the dolls. “Shana!” Ciel said. “I can't seem to destroy these dolls with my sword!” Shana said, “They're made out of iron and steel!” “Interesting,” Sebastian said, “They appear to be controlled by the singing of that song. In which case. . . Iron and steel will bend and bow, bend and bow, bend and bow, iron and steel will bend and bow, my fair lady.” As Sebastian continued to sing the song, the dolls were breaking apart. “My fair lady. . .” He sang as he bowed down to Ciel. “Who are you calling a lady?” Ciel asked. “Shana, of course.” Sebastian said, “Now, my young master, let us go.” “I don't think so,” Said the redhead man, “Ciel Phantomhive, you are now the property of my master. “Property?!” Shana asked. “Who do you think you-” Ciel began to say. “The proof is there.” The redhead man said, “You're marked by the very ring you're wearing. I know what it is. That is a hope piece, the same gem my master sends as a token to those who are destined to become his dolls.” “What master?” Sebastian asked. “It's been decided that Ciel Phantomhive is going to become a doll.” the redhead man said, “An exquisite doll made up of silver and gold.” Sebastian then smiled. “Silver and gold will be stolen away, stolen away, stolen away. . .” He sang. He picked up Ciel and jumped out of the window and Shana flew out following him. They landed on a bridge in the woods outside of the castle. “There we are, you're safe.” Sebastian said. Ciel instantly gave Sebastian a hard slap across his face. Sebastian was surprised by what his master had done to him. Shana was shocked “What about Lizzy?! She's still in there!” Ciel yelled, “Didn't I order you to solve the recent string of kidnappings?! Lizzy is one of the kiddnapped victims, saving her is the first priority!!!” “If the order negates the contract, I cannot obey it.” Sebastian explained, shrugging off the slap as if it was nothing, “Your first priority is always orders from the queen. Similarly, my first priority is your life. I've devoted myself to your service and protection. It's been more than two years now. I can't very well let someone steal you away after all this time now, can I?” “You know, Ciel does have a point.” Shana said to sebastian, “He would have actually been just fine because I was there to assist him.” “True,” Sesbastian replied, “but even so, it is still my duty to protect my young master.” Ciel took out a hope piece he had been hiding inside his coat, and put it on his left thumb where he was wearing his other ring. “Apparently, the hope pieces would mark the master's next target.” Ciel said, “And I have two of them, looks like I've been double marked. Protecting me will be a difficult task.” Sebastian smiled at his. “I'm not afraid of hard work.” Sebastian said as he gave Ciel a bow. “So, have you found Lizzy?” Shana asked. “I searched the castle top to bottom.” Sebastian replied, “I was unable to find Lady Elizabeth.” He then pointed to a tall tower. “That leaves only one place.” he said, “She must be in that tall tower over there.” He, Ciel, and Shana rushed over to the tower and saw Grell there. “That's a surprise, you're still alive?” Ciel asked. Grell got excited as he turned around and saw Sebastian. “BASSY!!~” He yelled as he went to give him a hug. Sebastian jumped up and leaped on Grell's head, causing him to tackle Shana. Shana was lying on the ground with Grell on top of her. “Hey! Get off me you freak!!” She yelled as she kicked Grell in his stomach. How rude of you! I just wanted to give Bassy a hug!” Grell said to Shana as they got up. “Now then, let's go inside this tower?” Ciel said. Everyone walked up to the door, but it was locked. “This door appears to be locked. . .” Sebastian said. He gave it a punch to see if it would break, but he was unable to break it open. He gave it more punches, but was still unable to break it open. “I can't seem to get it open.” Sebastian said, “Shana, why don't you try and breaking it open with your sword?” “All right, I'll give it a try.” Shana said. She tried to break it open using her sword. She slashed it several times, but that didn't work either. “No use, we can't get this door open!” Shana said. Ciel was looking up and down at the tower. He suddenly had an idea. “Shana, you could break that window up there and fly us through it.” Ciel told Shana as he pointed to the window above the door. Shana looked up at the window Ciel was pointing to. “Okay, I'll try.” Shana said. She sprout out her wings and flew up to the window. She was actually able to break it using the handle of her sword. “I got it!” Shana said to Ciel. “Good!” Ciel replied, “Now, lift me and bring me into the tower.” “Right.” Shana said, flying towards Ciel. “Sebastian, you carry Grell in as well.” Ciel ordered. Grell got excited. “Oooooohhh!!!~” Grell said “Oh, really?” Sebastian complained, putting his fingers on his forehead. “That's an order!” Ciel yelled. Sebastian was certainly not pleased with what his master was telling him to do, nevertheless he decided to carry out his orders, as he always would. “I guess it can't be helped,” Sebastian said, “I shall carry out any order my young master gives me.” “Oh, come here, Bassy!!~” Grell said as he was running towards him, “Carry me like you're the prince and I'm the princess.~” He then hopped into Sebastian's arms and put his arms around him. Sebastian was annoyed by Grell's perverted attitude towards him, but he leaped up into the window that Shana broke open with Grell. Shana lifted up Ciel and they flew into the window as well. When they all got in, they began to search for Elizabeth inside the tower. When they got to the top floor, they saw a door. They stopped at the door, and when Sebastian was about to open it, he glanced at Ciel, wondering if this should be the place. Ciel nodded, and then Sebastian opened the door to the empty room. It was empty, except for some uncreated dolls, art materials, and armor suits. Ciel looked around the room and found Elizabeth sitting in a chair. “Lizzy!” he exclaimed. He ran over to her and he took a close look at her. “Lizzy. . .” He said softly. He took a closer look at Elizabeth. Her eyes were closed shut, Ciel was not able if she was dead or sleeping. “Lizzy!” He spoke up in a louder voice and put his hands on her shoulders. He noticed that her body was hardened, and she was not responding at all. “Oh my, it looks like we're too late.~” Grell pointed out. However, Ciel was not about to give up. “Wake up. . .” Ciel said, “Lizzy! Wake up! Wake up! Lizzy!” Elizabeth finally opened her eyes and looked at Ciel. “Lizzy. . . thank godness you're alive. . .” Ciel said with a sigh of relief. “That's the ring.” Elizabeth said. Ciel looked at the rings we was wearing on his thumb. “So did you like it? That makes me happy. Really happy” Elizabeth said softly with a smile on her face. “That was her gift to you. The one you didn't open.” Sebastian told Ciel. “How foolish,” Ciel said soflty, “she didn't have to.” Ciel then notice a string attached to her. “Then why did she?” a voice asked. She then began to float in mid air. “Why is her body moving without her control?” the voice asked. Elizabeth was trembling with fear. Shana, Sebastian, and Grell were looking around them to see where the voice is coming from. “And why?” The voice asked as an axe was being place into Elizabeth's hand, “Why is she going to hurt the one person she loves the most in her world?” Elizabeth was trembling with fear, for she thinks she is about to kill Ciel. “What's happening to her?!” Ciel asked in rage. Lizzy, being under control like some sort of puppet, raised her axe and began to dash towards Ciel. “NOOOOOOO!!” she yelled as she was about to strike Ciel with the axe. Sebastian then moved Ciel out of the way, and she struck the floor. “NO!! NO!! NO!!! NO!!! NOOO!!!” Elizabeth cried as she was attempting to hit Ciel with the axe. “Look sharp Grell.” Sebastian said to Grell as he was dodging Elizabeth's attacks, “Can you see what's happening?” “I suppose so,” Grell replied. “but I would hate to chip one of my blades so. . .” Then Shana blocked the axe with her sword. “Why thank you, Lady Shana.” Sebastian said to Shana. Shana was using her strength to keep Elizabeth from striking Ciel with the axe. She saw that strings were attached to Elizabeth. “Grell, do something, will ya?!” Shana yelled at Grell. “I told you, I'm not going to chip my-” Grell began to say. “If you want to kiss Sebastian, you will cut these strings off for me.” Shana bribed. “Oh, how could I pass up that offer?!~” Grell exclaimed, “Well then Bassy, when we kiss, can it be just a little bit of tounge?~” “I have no idea what you're talking about.” Sebastian said, “But I can in fact tie cherry stems in knots using my tounge.” Grell made an orgasm of excitement as he fantasized about kissing Sebastian with his tongue. He then ran up to Elizabeth. “I cannot allow a little girl like you to wield a better blade than I do.” Grell said to her. “Grell! Wait!” Ciel exclaimed. Grell then cut off the strings that where attached to Elizabeth. Elizabeth fell to the ground. “Is she all right? What happened?” Ciel asked. Sebastian picked up a cut string that was attached to her. “A puppet string.” Sebastian said. “Only a death scythe would have cut it with such ease.” Grell said, “Well Sebastian, aren't I amazing? Tell me how good I am!” “Well done, perhaps you should run with scissors more often.” Sebastian said. “Oh! I am just flattered to death!~” “Now let's see. . .where do those strings lead to. . .” Sebastian asked. He looked up and saw the redhead man. “So then I began thinking to myself. . .” The redhead man said. He then used strings and wrapped them around Ciel, Shana, Sebastian, and Grell. “I have two new dolls at my disposal. What materials shall I use this time?” “Indeed,” Sebastian said, “And of what materials are you made?” “Me? I really don't know” The redhead man replied, “What am I made out of?” “Well, I'm not sure,” Sebastian replied, “But what ever materials were used don't seem to be of the highest quality.” “Oh my, so then I thought to myself. . . I have always believed I was human. . .” the redhead man said, “But lately, I often find termites crawling out of my ears, isn't that strange?” Sebastian then kicked up the axe and it hit the redhead man, causing him to release the strings. Sebastian caught the axe in his hands as it was falling down. Sebastian jumped up to the man. “You are utterly lacking in style!” He said to him, “You're no butler!” He then swung the axe and hit him dead center in the head. He fell to the ground with straw coming out of his head. “I'd never lose to someone so hopelessly inferior.” Sebastian said. Ciel and Shana looked over at the man. He saw the straw that was coming out of his head. So he was a doll too. . .” Shana said. “His name was Drossel Keinz.” Grell said, “His soul was collected five years ago, but we still detected signs of his exsistence.” “Someone must have fitted him with a makeshift soul. . .” Sebastian said, “His master maybe?” Ciel and Shana were thinking about what Sebastian said. “Ciel. . .” Elizabeth said soflty. Ciel looked at Elizabeth. “You're awake. Let's get you home.” He said. “I want to give you. . . a real birthday party. . . can I?” Elizabeth asked softly. Ciel's eyes widened. “Do you think we should have a birthday party for you?” Shana asked him. All that was on his mind was that Elizabeth was now safe, and he wants to bring her home. He decided that he would let her throw a party for him “Sure,” Ciel replied, “Let's have a party.” Elizabeth smiled, and then she closed her eyes and went to sleep with her skin reverting back to normal. “You can now rest easy, Lizzy.” Ciel said, “It's all over.” “Actually, it's not.” Sebastian said. Ciel looked over at Drossel and saw him getting up slowly. “So then I thought to myself. . . I still have a task. . . I must report. . . to my. . . master. . . “ he said as he got up and started walking with straw coming out of his head. “What's wrong with this loon?” Grell asked, “He's all torn up and he still wants to serve his master?” “Perhaps I judged him too hastly. . .” Sebastian said, “He may be. . . one hell of a butler. . .” “Master, it's me. . .” Drossel said as he opened the door to he master's room and fell to his death. Everyone else ran into the room and saw someone sitting in a chair, facing the moonlight shining through the window. “I'm terribly sorry.” an unknown voice said, “my butler's incompetence prevents me from offering you hospitality.” You're the one behind this?” Ciel asked. “Why would you want to turn little girls into dolls?” Shana asked. “Perfection is so difficult to obtain.” the unknown voice replied, “And when it is obtained, it is fleeting. Dollmaking is noble work, it perserves that which is most beautiful in this world. A doll is a perfect little person. Forever frozen in time.” “I have to disagree,” Grell said, “those little brats of yours were anything but lovely.” “Why are you after me? You won't win.” Ciel said as he took of the piece of the hope diamond he was wearing on his thumb, “I'm no one's doll, and I will never be a part of your collection. Here's your ring!” He threw the ring at the chair. “You ought to learn your place, boy.” said the unknown voice. “What?” Ciel asked. “My butler's head was filled with straw. . . with such limited intelect, I don't imagine he could understand why I wanted you.” the unknown voice replied, “Ciel Phantomhive. . . the manner of your death has been fated since the day of your birth. That body you wear. . . is UNCLEAN.” Ciel was shocked by what this person was telling him. “But how? How could you know about that?” Ciel asked. “I cannot allow someone like you to live in this world, your existence is a desecration!” the voice said, “Unclean. Unecessary. Unwanted. That is why I intend to erase you.” “What?!” Ciel asked. “What do you mean by unclean, unecessary and unwanted?” Shana asked. “Snuff him out. . . he is unclean. . . unecessary. . . unwanted! End him. End him! END HIM!!!” the voice yelled. “SHUT UP!” Ciel yelled. He and Shana ran up to the chair and looked to see who was sitting in it. It turned out that it was a scarecrow that was sitting there with a puppet sitting on its lap. It's a puppet. . .” Shana said. As the puppet began to moved, everyone got startled. The puppet then looked at them and started to laugh creeply. It jumped out of the chair and dashed out of the room. “Sebastian, go get that thing!” Ciel ordered. “The person pulling the strings is elsewhere, my lord.” Sebastian said, “It wouldn't do us any good to chase it. Though I see, there were hidden strings through out the entire room. . . very unpleasant. . .” Soon after they finally left the tower with Elizabeth being safe, Grell was excited to kiss Sebastian. “Bassy! My love!~” Grell exclaimed, “It's time for our kiss!~” Just when grell was about to kiss him, Sebastian ducked which caused Grell to crash into the ground. “Well young master, what now? Would you like for me to avenge Madam Red for you?” Sebastian asked Ciel. “Actually on second thought, the kiss can wait until next time.” Grell said, “Bye-bye, Bassy!~” And then Grell leaped off. “Wait, Grell!” Sebastian exclaimed. “No, not today.” Ciel said, “Elizabeth is here, “I don't want her to see anymore bloodshed. . .” “Well good, because that Grell guy is a total weirdo anyway!” Shana said, “Is everyone you know here a lunatic, Ciel?” “Not everyone.” Ciel replied. “Oh, wasn't that the guy that murdered your aunt recently?” Shana asked. “Yes, he actually is. . .” “I see. . .” Shana replied, “Well, lets save our worries for another day, because today is your birthday!” “Right,” Ciel said, “today is my birthday.” And then they went home.

Later that evening, Elizabeth was throwing Ciel a birthday party. “Happy Birthday Ciel!!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Happy Birthday to you, master!” Finnian, Baldroy and Mey-Rin exclaimed. “This is fun! See?!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Best birthday party ever! Hooray!” Finnian, Baldroy, and Mey-Rin exclaimed. “Ho, ho, ho,” Tanaka laughed. “Master, shall I serve the pudding now?” Sebastian asked. He cut a piece of the pudding and gave it to Ciel. “When Ciel took a bite out of it, he felt something hard in his mouth. He took it out and saw a ring with a blue diamond on it. “What is this?” Ciel asked. “Well, the season is almost upon us. So it is a traditional Christmas pudding.Whoever's piece has the ring in it is guranteed happiness throughout the new year. It seems you've found the ring, master.” Sebastian said. Elizabeth squealed with excitement. “Did you hear that? You can finally be happy again! I'm so glad!” Elizabeth said to Ciel. “I don't think-” Ciel began to say. Elizabeth turned to pay attention to Paula. “Paula! The bells!” She exclaimed. “Yes! Right away! Jingle, jingle, jingle!” Paula said as she shook the bells. Everyone seemed to be happy and having a good time, except for Ciel, who thought that it was ridiculous. Though Shana was a bit concerned about him, she was still smiling at him.

When Ciel was about to leave his office and go to bed, Shana decide to say something to Ciel. “Hey Ciel. . .” Shana said to him. “Yes, Shana?” Ciel asked. “Listen, I understand everything. About your past.” Shana said, “About your past, about your parents, about how that birthday changed your life forever. Everything you went through. It must have been very rough for you.” Ciel looked at Shana. “Yes, it was. . .” Ciel said. “But, if you ever need someone to talk to, just let me know.” Shana said, “I'm. . . . your friend. I want to help you. I don't want you to suffer.” Shana was looking at him with a smile on her face and her hand reached out to him. Ciel reluctantly smiled back and decided to hold her hand. “Sure.” Ciel replied. “Happy Birthday, Ciel.” Shana said. “Thanks.” Ciel replied. They both smiled at each other. You know, I really don't know anything about Shana. . . Ciel thought to himself, All I know is that she is a flame haze from the future and she is my friend. There's also something about her that's so amazing. Never in my life have I met someone like her. . . I really. . . like her. . .

To be continued in Volume 2 :P