Episode 2 - Murder on Elle Street
"Master, I brought you dinner," I said, stepping in the room.
Yumi waved off my response, scribbling into her notebook on her desk. "I don't want dinner right now. Just leave me be."
I just sighed and set the tray of food on a nearby table. "You've been on this case for ages, it seems. Won't you need a break soon?"
"Don't scold me," she replied, "I've only been working on this for two hours."
"Twelve hours, master," I corrected.
"Shut it," she snapped. "I'm trying to figure out what's missing, so let me think for a second, okay?"
"Master, you haven't eaten breakfast or lunch," I told her, lashes lowering. "You need to eat something at the very least."
"I'm not hungry," she answered.
"Master." I sighed.
"Leave me alone," she said then. "I'm busy."
"Master, I brought you dinner," I told her, gazing up. "Eat, my lord... please."
"I told you I'm not hungry."
I smiled then. "Even for sushi?"
Her pencil broke, and she gazed up immediately. "Sushi?"
I picked up the tray. "I made it. Especially for you, master."
"Well..." she cleared her throat, "I guess it wouldn't hurt to eat for a couple minutes."
I knew that would work.
My smile widened, and I stepped over to her with the tray, setting it down on her desk.
Her eyes sparkled as she picked up the first roll, and ate is casually, chewing seconds later.
I looked over her ruffled hair and sighed, stepping away to grab the brush from her bookshelf. "You look a mess, my lord. Have you no time for brushing your hair, even?"
She kept chewing the sushi, and I stopped next to her, gently running the brush through her black locks.
It seemed as if her eyes softened, but she kept quiet.
I watched curiously as she picked up another roll and ate it casually, and I continued brushing her hair until it was calmed.
"Did you even sleep at all last night?" I asked her.
She scoffed, wiping her mouth. "Sleeping is for crying babies."
"I guess that answers my question." I sighed, shaking my head when I stood, now catching some rubber bands. "I guess I do need to escort you to bed every night, don't I?"
"You did." She smiled up at me sarcastically as I used the brush to split her hair in two sections. "And you dressed me for bed too."
"Yes, but I guess I also need to make sure you're asleep before I leave." I pulled one section into a ponytail.
"Don't be daft," she answered as I pulled the other side into a ponytail. "I'm not four."
I gave her a look as I placed the brush back in place. "Then don't make me treat you like you're four."
Her cheeks shaded a slight red, signifying her anger. "I'm eighteen. I don't need you to baby me."
I just pulled the empty tray of food off her desk. "Then maybe you should sleep and eat and I might comply."
"I'm not a child!" she answered angrily. "So don't treat me like one!"
"Master," I gave her a look, red eyes glowing dangerously as I glared, "do you remember our deal?"
Her anger faltered at mine, and she looked away, touching her eye patch. "How could I not?"
"I will not allow you to die, master," I replied angrily, gritting my teeth. "If you die, I will not get your soul. Humans are such weak creatures! You KNOW this! And do you seriously think that not sleeping and eating is going to strengthen your health?! You are so arrogant!"
She avoided eye-contact. "You just want my soul. Why do you care?"
I was silent, but I gritted my teeth.
"Oh, that's right," she chuckled darkly, "because if I am weak, it's not a good soul."
"No," I snapped, blood boiling, "because if you are weak, you'll die. Do you seriously want to die before you get your revenge, master? If you are so keen on it, then give me your soul now."
She remained silent then and avoided eye-contact. "I never said that."
"Then act like it. You and I had a deal, act like it."
I then left the room, closing the door behind me.
*****
"Sebastian," someone said as I wiped off the kitchen knives.
"Yes, master?" I replied, still facing away from her.
"I require a bath," she said then, voice oddly timid. "And then... a nap."
I smiled, setting the knife back on the clothed table. "Changed your mind, I recon?"
"Shut up," she said then. "Just... bath and nap. That's all."
I turned and bowed before her, smiling still. "Yes, master, right away."
She turned and started out the door, and I followed behind her.
"Master," I said then, making her glance back, "I shall apologize... I shouldn't yell at my master."
She just looked backward. "Don't. I needed it, and you know it."
A small smile formed on my lips.
"What good am I if I'm weak? It's like having an actual child policing the underground." She scoffed. "I am Yumi Phantomhive! The leader of the Phantomhive manor! I am not weak! I will not allow myself to be weak. That's just careless."
My smile widened.
The same confidence as Ciel, too. It's almost like she's his equal.
Oh, well... perhaps she is.
"Oh, and Sebastian," she said then, still facing away from me, "after the bath. I require sushi before my nap."
I chuckled a little. "Yes, my lord."
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