"My lady, we will be leaving shortly," Sebastian told you. "It seems Agni and Prince Soma will arrive shortly to watch over you." You pouted at the butler.

"Sebastian, you know I don't want to stay here," you replied, folding your arms.

"And the young master ordered that you stay here," Sebastian replied calmly.

"Mew?" you said, and he shook his head furiously, ignoring your perfect impression of a cat.

"That won't work this time, my lady. You very nearly died during the Madam Red case, and your brother was furious with me."

"Come onnn, Soma's such a pest... Besides; you're a big powerful demon; you don't mind protecting two, do you?"

"My lady," Sebastian said with a sigh. "To be frank, you get into more trouble than the young master."

"But I also figured out Madam Red; you need me," you replied.

"I am very well aware of your intellect, my lady, you need not remind me," Sebastian replied, the red of his eyes flashing. "But an order is an order."

"That's not fair! I'm your master too!" you complained, stamping your foot like a child.

"Sebastian! What on Earth is taking you so long?!" an impatient voice shouted, and your brother pushed past his butler as he was answering you.

"You are not bound by the contract," Sebastian replied smoothly, finishing with that stupid smirk of his.

"F/N, you are not coming with, and that is final!"

"But Ciel—"

"No!" he said furiously before he dragged Sebastian out and practically slammed your door behind him, and you folded your arms again.

Then you smirked.

Plan B it is.

<><><>

"What might be yer special'y, lass?" the orange-haired man whose name you had learned was Joker asked. He seemed a bit skeptical, given your small, almost sickly appearance.

"Tightrope," you replied, seeming to surprise the male, but he only smiled.

"Doll! We've got a trainee comin' in with the tightrope; make sure she doesn't slip up and 'urt 'erself!" A girl in white walked to you and beckoned that you follow, and it was moments after that you saw Ciel and Sebastian approach Joker as well.

You were soon many feet off the ground, Doll securing a rope to your waist very tightly, though you said nothing even though you would probably be left with bruises.

The rope was easy to walk with your exceptional balance, although you almost lost it when you saw the pair enter the tent, who seemed to immediately spot you. However, the pair only continued testing. Granted, you were wearing a disguise, but that would never thwart a demon's acute senses, which meant you needed to pull him aside quickly and do some persuading.

Your test was concluded, but just as you were making to draw Sebastian away, you were met by Joker, who congratulated on the spectacular show of balance.

"I thought with that sickly appearance ya wouldn't be cut out for this place, but it seems like we might need some'un like ya. What's yer name?"

"F/N." Joker placed his prosthetic hand against his chin.

"Hmm, F/N? Pretty name if you ask me, but some of us can't remember things like that. So fer yer stage name..." Joker looked you up and down. "Kitty."

"Wha—"

"Everyone, this 'ere is Kitty; treat 'er well won't ya?" Sebastian had turned towards you and soundlessly asked what the hell you thought you were doing, and you gestured to the side, and slowly, you were able to break away from the crowd. The demon seemed irritated.

"How did you get out?" he asked. "I very specifically told those two to keep you at the townhouse."

"I told them how mean Ciel was being," you replied simply. "Of course Soma sympathized. Agni tried to insist that Ciel had his reasons, but he broke when I said it for the love and concern I held for my little brother." Sebastian groaned, nursing his face.

"You are, indeed, more trouble than the young master." Sebastian sighed. "And what exactly makes you think I won't take you back?"

"That," you replied, pointing to the gold-sequined back of the reaper you had met a month ago. "I already know you're bitter enemies, and he's already said about your kind indiscriminately feeding. Judging by his character, he won't trust you without Ciel, isn't that right?" Sebastian stared at you for a long moment.

"You will be a formidable force that I would never want to clash with when you're older," Sebastian muttered. You smiled with closed eyes. "However, I can carry both of you and run back with only one."

"You're a fun-killer."

"And you're the master's sister."

"Ara ara? Are me new recruits not gettin' along 'ere?" Joker asked, and the next thing you knew, an arm was draped around your shoulder. Sebastian glanced at the prosthesis on his own before he glanced back at Joker, keeping a poker face.

"I was just telling Sebby here that he can't make me go back to my old life," you replied, appealing to Joker. "It was ever so horrible, working under that master of his. He says I'm too weak to be here, but I beg to differ!"

"Oh, the two of ya worked under the same master? Trust me, Black; she's a keeper, just like a little cat on that rope an' she really must 'ave nine lives 'cause she looks so frail! Go an' practice; I want'a have a li'l chat with Kitty."

"Please don't call me that outside of work," you grumbled as Sebastian reluctantly left—like your brother, you preferred dogs. Mimicry was something you had learned precisely because the butler was a huge cat person, and it had already gotten you far.

"Mmm, how 'bout no?" Joker asked, patting your shoulder happily. "You ain't already taken, are ya?"

"Pardon?" you asked, confused. He couldn't possibly be asking...

"Y'know, ya got a boyfriend."

You looked at Joker for a few moments. A large part of you was tempted to inquire about his boldness and chastise him; however, this was the head of the troupe. You could get information by posing to be his lover. The strategy wasn't something you were fond of, but it was effective.

"No, I don't have one," you replied.

"So, ya wouldn't mind if I did this?" Joker asked, quickly pecking your cheek, stunning you for a few seconds before you regained your composure.

"No, I suppose not."

"Pretty words ya speak there," Joker complimented, letting his hand wrap around your waist. A part of you liked the touch, the part of you that wasn't a noblewoman. That part wanted to furiously scold Joker and tell him to keep his common hands away from your noble body.

"I did once serve an earl," you replied with a soft grin.

"How's about we get ta know each other a l'il better, eh? You can come to my—"

"Joker!" a loud woman's voice said, and you glanced over to see Beast, the one who had been embarrassed by Sebastian during their show. "How could you let that guy come into our circus?"

"Beast, ya know 'e's got the talent." Beast had stopped paying attention to Joker, her eyes focusing on where his hand was. Anger like fire seemed to illuminate her already-red orbs, and for a brief moment, you thought she was a demon before you realized she didn't give you the same feeling of disorientation that Sebastian did.

She turned on her heel without a word, clearly fuming, and Joker sighed.

"Sorry, Kitty; I think I just gave ya a problem. I 'ope she doesn't do anythin' to ya."

"I'm sure I can manage," you said, giving Joker a reassuring smile. "But, there is something that bothers me..."

"What is it, lass?"

"In the papers, I read there were children missing around here. Other places your troupe has been too. You don't have any idea of who those kidnappers might be, do you? I'm scared; lord knows what's happened to them." For the briefest of moments, Joker's eyes darkened before he gave you a grin and lightly slapped your back.

"Hah, F/N, yer a funny one aren't cha? I'm sure it's just a 'appy l'il accident."

So he's directly involved then.

"Yes, you're right," you replied, chuckling to yourself. "I must be silly to think such a little jokester like you would have anything to do with kidnapping!"

<><><>

"F/N?" Sebastian asked from several yards away, looking surprised as you walked out of Joker's tent. His eyes widened considerably as he darted closer to you, taking a swift inhale, seeming considerably relieved when he leaned away. "Good, you still smell pure."

You slapped him, although you doubted he felt it.

"What kind of noblewoman do you think I am?!" you asked hotly.

"I beg your pardon, my lady, but your will is not what concerns me, it is the leader's."

"And you think I would let that happen?!"

"I think you are more adept at entrenching yourself in trouble than anyone else I've met." You sighed exasperatedly, folding your arms, letting the silence sit for a few moments.

"In any case, I have some information you would probably like to know if and only if you swear to have no hand in making Ciel aware that I am here. If he finds out, it should be by my own fault."

Sebastian seemed to weigh what you had said for a long few moments. It was a gamble; he could just say that he could find out on his own, but if you knew your brother, he would want this be over as quickly as possible. It was a gamble based on what Sebastian was prioritizing.

For a long moment, you thought he was going to say no.

"Very well; what have you gleaned from the troupe leader?"

"He is unmistakably part of the cases we've been discussing, and while he is a key player, he is being used, for what I'm not sure. Also, that man in the wheelchair is not to be trusted; it would seem he can walk perfectly fine, and Joker is unaware of this. Additionally, it would seem the main members of the circus have a connection to a certain Baron Kelvin—"

"Ahhh, Kitty~!" Joker called, waving to you with a bright grin on his face.

"Just don't kill Joker; is that clear?" you said under your breath as you started to pass him. You could feel the demon's inquiring look as you walked towards the orange head, mirroring his smile.

Earlier...

"Ya know, F/N... I know it sounds kinda funny, but ya remind me a some of the folks back 'ome. One of 'em, 'er name was Charlotte. She was always so sick, but everyone loved 'er 'cause she was real nice an' beautiful. Fact, I fell for 'er, 'ead o'er 'eels. But, next thing I know, she's gone to the next world. 'Er body just couldn't take no more. Ya remind me of a lot, ya know."

"I am afraid the dead cannot come back," you replied, closing your eyes. "I cannot be your 'Charlotte'." Joker only shook his head.

"I said she reminded me o' ya, didn't say I wanted ya to replace 'er. Yer a different woman, Kitty, and I like that. I guess it's silly to say it, but I think it was love at first sight."

Joker held your face and looked at you with such an uncharacteristically serious expression, and you could see the sincerity in his blue eyes. Initially, you had dismissed the fact that Joker was attractive in favor of paying attention to the kidnapping case, but you were becoming attached all too quickly.

He closed your lips together, and you did not protest.

He was a murderer, that much was clear, and he was most certainly among your brother's enemies. However, a forming soft spot for the man encouraged mercy.

He will be source of information, and he will help close this case.

But that didn't mean you couldn't get to know him better.

"To a long and complicated relationship," you said under your breath as he toasted your health at the welcoming feast that night. "Yet it is one I enter with all my heart."