Beyond the Old Ones

Disclaimer: I own nothing, this is purely a fanfic for enjoyment.

Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.

The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.

"Speech"

Time*

Chapter 16: Greetings

After carefully positioning my wires to rest on the ground without triggering any unintended reactions, I will switch to the Card of Door. Using this, I can create a small door in the wall, providing me with a clearer view inside rather than relying solely on sound vibrations for insight.

I get a clear view of the room from my vantage point through the small door. Ciel, fortunately, isn't too badly injured—his lip is split and bleeding, with a few scratches on his face, likely from the rough handling he endured. However, his life doesn't seem to be in immediate danger. He's tied up with a leather belt, but otherwise seems stable.

Aside from Ciel, there are only two others in the room—a man and a woman, both appearing to be in their 30s. They're dressed in stylish, expensive suits, their attire speaking to a level of wealth and refinement.

So, mere low-level grunts tasked with the dirty work, then. Though, given their appearance, they seem skilled enough to successfully take Ciel away. Alternatively, this could easily be Sebastian satisfying his whims, allowing Ciel to be captured simply for his own amusement while he busies himself elsewhere. Either scenario seems equally possible, to be honest.

I swiftly switch to the Card of White Tower, my mind racing through a series of strategic steps to formulate a plan for Ciel's rescue. Each detail is carefully thought out, and I make sure nothing is left to chance. Once the plan is in place, I switch back to the Card of Twilight Giant. I manipulate the wires I had previously spread out, setting the plan into motion with precise control.

I carefully pick up an old, dusty vase from a small table nearby, its weight familiar in my hand. With a calculated flick of my wrist, I hurl it against the door to the room where Ciel is being held. The sound of the vase shattering echoes sharply through the hallway. I pause, waiting for their response, my next move already forming in my mind.

The moment the door opens, a subtle twitch of my left pinky finger as I have the wire wrap the man's hand onto the doorknob. In an instant, I grab the man by the neck, dragging him out of the room with brutal efficiency. With the door slammed shut, I remove the wire wrapped around the man's hand on the doorknob; I buy myself precious seconds, keeping the woman inside at bay.

Without hesitation, I strike. A quick jab to his throat silences any attempt at a counterattack. I follow up with a swift, devastating punch to his chest, directly targeting his heart. The blow is fatal—blood begins to pour from his mouth, ears, eyes, and nose as life drains from his body. His death is as swift as it is unavoidable.

After a swift, efficient search of the man's body, I find a revolver in an armpit holster. Taking it, I move to the door. Standing just far enough away, I position myself with the weapon raised, aiming precisely at the spot where the woman's head would appear once she opened the door.

The door opens not a second later, revealing the middle-aged woman, her face twisted in anger—though that expression quickly shifts into sheer terror as her eyes meet the barrel of the revolver. Before she can utter a single word, I pull the trigger. The shot is clean and precise, striking her directly between the eyes. Her body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

I step over the woman's body and begin a quick search, checking her for anything useful. Another revolver is found. I remove the bullets and pocket them, tucking the now-empty weapon into my back pocket with little regard. With that task complete, I turn my attention to Ciel, who is watching me with a mix of caution and confusion in his eyes.

Without a word, I lift him by the back of his jacket, effortlessly pulling him to his feet. With swift precision, I make my way out of the motel, aware of the approaching sounds of people rushing towards the scene. Time is running short, but we'll be gone before they arrive, going by how most of them are further parts of the motel.

As we exit through the front entrance, the panic-filled shouts echo through the wires, a sign that the chaos has fully erupted behind us. With practiced efficiency, I swiftly reel the wires back into my gloves, concealing any trace of their presence. I move quickly, placing Ciel in the car's back seat before sliding into the driver's seat myself after removing the empty revolver from my back pocket and placing it on top of the box containing the other gloves. The engine hums to life, and I begin driving away.

"Well, I must admit, you're faster at rescuing the boy than I had anticipated." Alucard's tone is cold yet laced with a hint of amusement. She casually picked up the empty revolver, giving the chamber a lazy spin as her crimson eyes glanced over it with disinterest. With a slight flick of her wrist, she let it drop carelessly to the floor, clearly unconcerned with returning it to its rightful place.

Her gaze shifted to Ciel, lying bruised in the backseat. "So, now, what do you plan to do with him?" Her voice dripped with a mocking curiosity as she glanced back at the boy's battered state. "Hmm. They certainly didn't hold back, did they?" The corners of her mouth curled into a faint, detached smile as if the violence amused her more than anything else.

"Send him back home." I replied calmly, guiding the car smoothly toward the Phantomhive mansion. My voice remained steady.

Glancing at the rearview mirror, I caught his wide-eyed expression as I introduced myself. "Greetings, young master. I'm your newly hired security guard who is making your mansion a better, safer place to live in. I was hired today and scheduled to start tomorrow morning once I've gathered the necessary equipment." His face reflected pure disbelief, no doubt struggling to reconcile his rescue's chaos with the introduction's formality.

"Name's Chikao Fukui." I continued, keeping my tone straightforward. "The lovely lady beside me is Alucard. She's my partner, though not officially hired—she's just tagging along for now." As I mentioned Alucard, her presence seemed to cast a cold shadow, her quiet smirk no doubt unsettling Ciel further, though she remained characteristically silent for the moment.

"And how do you know who I am? Not many people know my identity." Ciel finally spoke, his voice cutting through the silence, though still marked with suspicion. His eyes narrowed as the initial shock began to fade into the guarded calculation. "Furthermore, you just happened to be nearby and save me from those hired thugs?"

My expression is calm and unreadable. "I do my research, young master. It's my job to know who I'm protecting and the potential risks they face. As for being nearby." I allowed a small pause. "Let's just say I prefer to be prepared, and yes, it just happened. I was nearby and saw how those people were manhandling you. Plus, I made sure to find out who my employer's face is."

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Alucard's faint, knowing smirk. She remained silent, though the air around her seemed to grow colder as if she were silently mocking the notion that anything in this world could ever truly be left to chance.

Ciel fell silent, retreating into his own thoughts as the weight of everything settled in. His eyes remained fixed ahead.

I let the quiet stretch between us, keeping my focus on the road. There was no need to press him further. Alucard, of course, seemed utterly indifferent to the awkward silence, her gaze distant yet ever watchful.

The car moved steadily toward the Phantomhive mansion, the path ahead now clear.

An hour later*

Sebastian appeared, his expression slipping into a perfect mask of concern as he laid eyes on Ciel. "Oh? Young master, I've been searching for you for quite some time, and—oh dear—you seem to have sustained injuries." His voice was smoothly laced with a hint of genuine care, though Ciel's glare made it clear that he wasn't exactly pleased with Sebastian's tone or timing.

Turning his attention to me, Sebastian's smile returned, polite but edged with amusement. "I must say, Chikao, you've exceeded my expectations. To think you managed to locate the young master and bring him back in... well, reasonably good health." His gaze flicked briefly to Ciel's injuries before returning to me. "Although, with the young master, one cannot expect less than a little trouble along the way."

The smile on his face lingered, a perfect blend of charm and subtle mockery, as though the situation entertained him more than anything else.

Sebastian's eyes landed on Alucard, his polite smile faltering ever so slightly as he noticed her smirk, cold and unsettling. "And who is this?" His tone was still smooth but laced with curiosity, perhaps even a hint of caution.

Alucard's smirk grew wider as she regarded him with a condescending air. "I am Alucard." She replied in a low, soft tone, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Though, if you're worried about your precious young master. He was hardly difficult to retrieve. A simple inconvenience, really."

Sebastian's gaze remained fixed on Alucard, his polite demeanor unwavering, though there was a flicker of interest in his eyes. "Right... so, are you planning to work here as well, alongside your companion, Chikao?"

Alucard's smile widened slightly, though her eyes remained cold and distant. "Work? Here?" She repeated, her tone dripping with disdain. "Oh, no. I have no intention of lowering myself to that level. I am merely entertaining myself by following Chikao's little adventures for the time being." Her gaze flicked dismissively from Sebastian as though she had already lost interest in him, her tone sharpened by indifference. "I have no need to dirty my hands with your affairs." She glanced back at me. "Of course, that doesn't mean I won't help out if I'm in the mood."

Sebastian's gaze lingered on Alucard for a solid minute, his eyes filled with quiet contemplation, though his smile remained ever present. After what felt like an eternity, he finally turned his attention back to me. "I see... Anyway, it's getting dark." His tone is now more casual. "Would you and Alucard care to stay the night? I'm certain the young master will want to speak with you later once he's been properly treated."

His words carried a sense of polite obligation, though there was a faint hint of expectation behind the offer as if he were subtly ensuring that we remained within his carefully orchestrated grasp, at least for the time being. I could almost feel Alucard's silent amusement beside me, no doubt already sizing up the situation with her own brand of detached superiority.

"No, it's fine." I decline Sebastian's offer with a polite shake of my head. "We still have things to pack up and other matters to take care of before we come back in the morning." Turning to Ciel, I offered a brief nod of acknowledgment. "Young master, I hope you recover well." With that, I made my way back toward the car, Alucard walking beside me.

As we moved, I could feel Sebastian's gaze lingering on us, though I paid it no mind. Alucard, of course, seemed utterly indifferent, her smirk still faintly visible.

Today was not how I quite expected it to turn out.