"I never expected to see you in this place, my delicate butterfly."

"Stop calling me that," you grumbled. "And anyway, I'm not here for me; I'm here for a friend of mine. They said they didn't want to confront you." Lau smiled and took a breath on his pipe. His sister, Ran Mao, was looking at you strangely, making you anxious.

"Is that so?"

"Yes," you replied shortly, slightly irritated with the smoke in the room. "My friend says she wants you to let go of her daughter." Interestingly, Lau's eyes opened slightly, revealing the irises to be a dark brown color.

"That's funny..." he commented, resting his head on a few fingers. "As I recall, the person you speak of sold off her daughter to me. I am not keeping her against her will; in fact she quite likes it here. I think your friend has a dark side that you do not know about. But then again... I suppose you do as well, now don't you, F/N?" Unconsciously, you backed up; Lau's eyes were piercing, as if he could see into your deepest depths.

"Can I see her daughter?" you asked, and Lau laughed.

"Ran Mao?" The black-haired woman nodded in response, getting off Lau's lap to walk out of your sight. "How's life?" Lau asked, breathing another cloud of smoke into the air.

"Trying to make small talk? Life has never been exceptional, Lau. I have told you the same on many occasions. But I'm not desperate enough to stoop to using your foul methods to make life more pleasant." Lau smiled, putting his hands on either side of him with the palms up.

"Ah, forgive my memory; it is quite terrible. It seems Ran Mao has returned with your friend's daughter. See for yourself." As he said, Ran Mao was pulling along a young woman slightly shorter than her with her hair done in small buns on either side of her head.

"You. Speak to, her," Ran Mao spoke in her odd way of pausing between certain words, pointing at you. She then walked away from you two to sit on Lau's armrest.

"What is it, Miss L/N?" the young woman asked curiously.

"Your mother wants you back," you said softly, and her expression hardened.

"I do not call her my mother any more. She sold me like livestock to this man—ehm, no offense, Mr. Lau..." Lau chuckled and waved away her apology.

"Forgotten already; don't worry, little flower."

"So what do you want me to tell her?" you questioned her instead.

"Tell her that I am happy here. That'll piss her off to no end." With that, the young woman turned her back and disappeared back around the corner.

"See, didn't I tell you?" Lau asked even as you also turned your back.

"See you, Lau," you called over your shoulder as you walked out. Time to confront a liar.

<><><>

"What? She was happy there?" Your friend asked incredulously, and you noted her fingers curling into fists. She was angry, all right. Your friend was a noblewoman, unlike you. She did not show her emotions as much as 'peasantry'.

"Yes. She also said that you sold her to Lau," you responded, your eyes narrowing, wondering how she would respond.

"F/N, I do everything for a reason."

"Did you?" you repeated, already knowing the answer.

"Yes, I sold my daughter to Lau to settle a temporary debt. Her father and I have had... a few money troubles lately." You growled.

"And was there no better way to go about it? Your own flesh and blood has renounced you for what you have done." Your friend's eyes widened.

"That little ingrate," she snarled. "I've given her everything, and yet she does this to me? Me? The Blue Baroness?!"

"So, your true colors have shown, huh?" you asked flippantly, mimicking Lau.

"What?" your friend questioned disbelievingly. You closed the distance between you two and grabbed the woman by the collar of her fancy dress.

"Do you know about the Phantomhives?" you asked as you drew a dagger out of your pocket. Not waiting for her to respond, you continued. "I'm a bit worse. See, I don't trust the Queen, so I go by my own judgement. You might know me by this name: The Mad Wolf of England's Underworld." Your target's eyes widened in fear and then further in pain because your dagger was already deep within her chest. It wasn't long before the Blue Baroness was no more. You sighed. "Great; I just remembered I have to deal with her husband too. What a—bore." You flicked the blood off your weapon and replaced it in the pocket it had come from. "I suppose no one is quite who they seem," you muttered as you walked out of the room to wait for the other one.

<><><>

"Five, six, seven, eight hundred pounds..." you muttered, flicking your fingers over the money you'd stolen from your target's husband. Anyone who didn't know you (which was pretty much everyone except Lau and Undertaker) would call you a dirty thief. However...

"Big sis?" a small voice weakly called, and you smiled. This was what you lived for. You ventured over to the sick boy's bed and knelt to look him in the eye. "Did you beat up bad people again?"

"Yes, O/N. It was a rich couple this time. I'll be able to pay your medical fees twice over." O/N smiled.

"I'm glad..." He took a few laboured breaths. "Then... can you take care of my siblings?" you smiled kindly.

"Of course. I'll take care of everyone at the orphanage; I promise."

This was why you were still poor and not living the 'good life'. But you didn't mind. It was a small price to pay for those precious children to live.

<><><>

"Have you heard of the Mad Wolf?"

"No; is it some animal from the forest or somethin'?"

"No, no, the Mad Wolf is a human. A woman, even. They say she kills on a whim and without reason."

"Woah, scary... I hope I don't run into her on the street. Ah, I'm sorry miss."

"It's fine," you mumbled as you walked past the man. Oh, the irony was killing you. Then you saw Lau wandering around with a child and a butler, and you quickly concealed yourself; you had a sense of danger about those three together.

"She's killed two yesterday," the boy said.

"I see. Quite skilled," Lau replied cheerfully.

"She must have been to escape from Sebastian's search."

"Perhaps she is watching us right now."

"I should hope not... Have you heard of her, Lau?"

"Sorry, but who are we talking about?" he asked cluelessly, and you suppressed a laugh.

"The damned Mad Wolf of England's Underworld! Have you not been paying attention?!" the boy shouted irritatedly at the Chinese man as he held up two hands in a seeming surrender. Suddenly, as unsettlingly as before, Lau's eyes opened, pinpointed on your exact location. You quickly hid again, your heart pounding.

"Terribly sorry, dear Earl, but I've no idea who you're talking about!" he replied with a laugh. You were just relaxing when a new voice broke into the conversation.

"I do not know whether or not it is the Mad Wolf, but there is someone watching us from afar, my lord," you heard the butler speak, and you froze as the butler turned to look back at you. Your breath caught, but you decided you needed to relax. If they caught you tense, they would know something was up.

You strode into view, feigning shyness.

"H-Hi. U-Um, I'm sorry to stalk you like this b-but..." You rifled around in your satchel, glad that you had chosen today to bring your notepad and pen with you today. "I'm a huge fan of yours, Mr. Phantomhive! Please give me your autograph!" You were just thinking that perhaps you overdid it when the boy took your notepad and signed it.

"I didn't know I had fans," Ciel muttered. You grinned, holding the notepad close to your chest.

"I still have your toys to this day! They hold a lot of special memories! They may not be a soul who doesn't know about the Funtom Company, but precious little people know about the genius behind it all."

"Thank you very much," Ciel said, beginning to walk away.

"No, no; thank you!" The butler's eyes narrowed at you suspiciously, but he shortly followed his master, leaving you with Lau.

"Quite a convincing act, F/N," he said with a slight grin before also following Ciel. You sighed; that had been far too dangerous.

<><><>

"There; nice and snug," you said with a slight giggle as you fastened the bandages on O/N's chest. The boy winced as you patted him a little roughly on the shoulder. "Oh, be a man!" You laughed at his offended expression.

"J-Just you wait, sis! I'll be stronger than you someday!" he retorted, trying to flex his nonexistent muscles. You chuckled and ruffled his hair.

"Sure, sure, little warrior." You gave him one last smile before you left the room, about to play with the orphans downstairs when you froze.

"The Mad Wolf is here? I find that hard to believe."

"From the information I have gathered, the Mad Wolf is not rich because she spends most of the money she steals. It seems she has a great affection for these orphans."

"What do you think would happen if we threatened one?" All of your muscles were tight as a bowstring, waiting to move. If they harmed a hair on their heads...

"They are what she loves," Lau interjected. "And I imagine she would do absolutely anything to keep them safe."

"Young master, if I may, there is someone listening from the stairway. Would you like me to investigate?" You were ready to bolt the other way and leap out of O/N's window, but you soon realized you couldn't leave them be with those three. Lau wasn't reliable enough for that.

"Go ahead. It's better than waiting around here waiting for her to come in." You were about to hide in an alcove when you felt a whisper by your ear.

"Did no one educate you that eavesdropping is rude, Miss Fan?"

"I-I-I'm really sorry!" you apologized, playing your previous role. "I come here every other day and—"

"Oh, please do stop acting so innocent...Mad Wolf."

"T-T-That killer?! You must be mistaken! I'm not—" a hand clamped over your mouth.

"Your act was very convincing, though. It took me a little longer than usual." You continued saying protests to his hand even as your hand was snaking for the knife. "Agh!" the butler cried in pain as you drove the knife into his side. You were about to go downstairs when you were trapped again. "Not. Toys like this can't kill me, I'm afraid." You then saw the knife land on the floor, soaked in blood. You snarled and forcefully elbowed the place where you'd stabbed him.

"Oh? I see you're struggling, my little butterfly. Want me to help?"

"The last time you said that, you nearly recruited me as one of your girls," you growled, slamming the butler on the floor with quite a lot of effort. "I can handle this bastard."

"Really?" Lau asked, tilting his head, and right on cue, you were slammed against the wall with a knife to your throat. "You seem like you're in a bit of a pickle."

"Shut up, Lau." You kicked the butler between the legs, but he didn't even wince.

"So sorry," the butler said with a smile, many of his teeth seeming overly sharp. "Afraid you're going to have to try harder if you want to debilitate me." The knife cut into your neck slightly, and you held back a scream. You weren't injured often, especially not in an area where it could potentially kill you from just a small scratch.

"Just say the word, F/N," Lau spoke cheerfully. "I can make him stop right away."

"And how would you manage that?" you asked, trying to tilt your head away from the knife.

"Oh, several ways... For example, EARL? EARL, YOUR BUTLER IS TRYING TO RAPE SOMEONE!"

"He's trying to what?" Ciel asked, coming up the stairs. Thank god O/N was asleep; you really didn't want to deal with the aftermath of this conversation.

"Let's keep one thing clear; I am not enough of a mongrel to resort to rape, Mad Wolf," the butler said with a sigh and a glare at Lau. Lau laughed, and you rolled your eyes.

"Then let me go and we'll be on our way," you growled at the butler.

"You struck first," the butler replied. "And I'm afraid I can't let you go until you answer to my master." You groaned, stamping your foot in frustration.

"Get on with it then." The boy stepped forward.

"Why do you kill people randomly?" he asked, his voice emotionless. You sighed.

"It's not random. I kill the corrupt, usually only people of the underworld, but it sometimes goes to the surface world. I take their money and care for these orphans."

"In other words, it's money you want, correct?" Ciel asked, and to your surprise, it was Lau who answered for you.

"No. It's something more complicated than that. Something that cannot be bought—a peace of mind, right, my little butterfly?"

"I suppose," you muttered.

"Would you be willing to take orders from me then?" Ciel asked.

"No. I do not trust the Queen herself; what makes you think I would trust her puppy?" Clearly, the puppy jeer irritated him.

"I see. If there is nothing I can do to make you stop your killings, then I will have to kill you. Sebastian, see to it."

"Wait a moment," Lau interjected, and before you were aware of it, you were in Lau's arms.

"How...?" you asked confusedly as you looked at the spot where you had been only moments before.

"My dear Earl, I think you are being rather hasty. After all, you agreed with most of the deaths F/N inflicted."

"Lau," Ciel said warningly.

"Don't worry; I'll keep her on a leash," Lau said with a slight laugh as he left the room through the window.

"Put me down, Lau," you grumbled.

"No," he replied.

"Why not?"

"You'll run away and start killing people."

"Decent point, but you don't have to carry me.

"Yes, I do."

"W-Where are you touching?!" you stuttered as one of his hands strayed to a place it shouldn't have gone.

"Mm, your thigh?"

"Let go of me already!"

"No, you're quite nice to hold." This argument continued long into the night, where you soon fell asleep, still in Lau's arms.