lili

You watched as he stepped into your bedroom, clothes in one hand, the other behind his back. “My apologies, my lady, I assumed you had heard me knocking,” Sebastian Michaelis bows before walking toward the curtains, pulling them back with just one hand. You flinched, expecting a bright sun to hug the room, not noticing a change in brightness behind your eyelids you opened your eyes to see the gloomy outdoors. 

Still clutching the duvet to your chest, you swung your legs over the side of the bed, one exposed after the other. You stood up, letting the duvet fall and follow you as you make your way to the window. Sebastian stood aside, eyes following every move you made. He was mesmerized by the way your body moved, the sinful thought that you were completely bare beneath that duvet hovered over. He smirked at the thought.

“What an ugly day.” 

“Now, now, my lady. You’ve just seen a brief glance of the day, the clouds could move and it could be the most beautiful day you could’ve ever wished to see,” Sebastian’s smooth voice made your eyelids flutter in the slightest. He was a charming man, every word was captivating. 

You gaze out of the window, Phantomhive manor stood tall, the view breathtaking no matter the weather. Sebastian took brief glances at you as you did, he had admired the outside view one too many times, the sight of you, a fresh faced natural woman standing before him, a man could never complain. 

Though the day was much too busy to be standing around gazing at beauty. Sebastian clears his throat, “We do have a big day ahead of us, my lady,” he offers his gloved unoccupied hand to you, “Shall we get you dressed?” 

You hesitated, “Where’s Mey-Rin?” 

“She is downstairs preparing for tonight’s ball like I asked. If you so desire, I will be more than happy to send her upstairs for you,” Sebastian still held his hand out for you. This wouldn’t be the first time he has dressed you, though the thought of it made your whole body flush every time. 

“No, it’s alright,” You rested your hand on top of his, he tightens his grip slightly, you look up to meet his eyes, “I won’t look.” The soft gesture could’ve made you melt right at the spot. He lead you over to your bed, he stood tall in front of you blocking your view of the window. He started to close his eyes, placing the other clothing items other than your dress and undergarments on the bed behind you. 

“Whenever you’re ready, my lady.”

You shyly drop the duvet onto the floor, you watched as it fell to your feet leaving your body exposed in front of the man. You gaze up at him, eyes wide, mouth open slightly. Just open them, you thought. Gazing at him for just a few more moments, you took in a breath, heart beating slightly faster. 

“Open your eyes, Sebastian.” 

The room was silent, the word slipped from your tongue. Your eyes never leaving his stoic facial expression, eyes still remained closed. Sebastian leaned closer to you, his right cheek brushed against yours, he stopped just before he passed your ear, “Is that an order?” 

Your breath hitched, eyelids fluttered closed. 

“M’lady! Oh m’lady! I’ve come to dress you!” The shrill excited voice of the hand maiden Mey-Rin surrounds the silent room. Sebastian quickly reaches for the duvet that fell to the floor, covering it around your frame just before Mey-Rin reached the entrance. 

“M’lady! Oh, Sebastian!” Sebastian slowly opens his red eyes, Mey-Rin stands at the doorway with her mouth agape not expecting to see Sebastian there with you. She paid no mind to your covered frame, her gaze focused on the handsome butler. 

“Mey-Rin, have you finished what I asked you to do?” You gaze up at him, Sebastian kept his gaze on Mey-Rin, you flushed as you thought he was slightly annoyed that Mey-Rin had fulfilled her duties so quickly. 

“Yes, Sebastian! I finished what you asked for, yes I did!” 

Sebastian leaned closer to you, shocking you, he made eye contact as he set down the dress and undergarments on top of the rest of your clothing. He was so close to you, you had almost completely forgot your hand maiden stood just a few feet away. 

“Quickly dress Ms. Phantomhive. We have a busy day ahead of us, in fact it’s almost time for tea.” Sebastian walked away from you leaving your body feeling slightly cold, you watched as he left. He walked by a flustered Mey-Rin giving you one last glance before leaving the ladies’ sight. 

Mey-Rin lets out a deep breath, “Oh, that man is the most gorgeous man.” Realizing what she had just said in front of her majesty, she tenses up. “M’lady! Let’s get you all dressed up for the day shall we? Yes, we shall!” She shuts your bedroom door and begins to dress you, you were comfortable in front of her. You couldn’t help but zone off as she dressed you, had she not interrupted your explicit intentions, what bizarre thing could’ve happened? 

-

As you offer to help Mey-Rin, Bardroy and Finny with decorating and prepping for tonight’s ball, Sebastian Michaelis and Ciel Phantomhive migrate to his office. Sebastian held a sealed letter in his gloved hand, already knowing the contents withheld inside the envelope. 

“Young master, you have received the official guest list for tonight’s ball. While you overlook the list may I offer you some tea?” 

“What kind?”

“Jackson’s Earl Grey, my lord.” 

Sebastian starts to pour a glass of tea for his master as the boy skims over the list he was given. Tonight’s ball held a new look on some new toys created within the Funtom company. He skims over each and every name, Sebastian patiently stood in front of his desk, gazing at the boy. His mind trailed off as he continued to watch his master.

The sinful thought of him given the opportunity to see Ms. Phantomhive bare in front of him. A dangerous woman, he thought. The older sister peaked the demon’s interest from day one though respectful of his master, he never intended on making any not so smart choices. However, recently it’s been difficult, you were growing, you were graving every need a growing girl could muster and Sebastian knew it. It thrilled him. 

“Edward Adley, where have I heard that name before?” The young master’s voice broke Sebastian’s dirty trailing thoughts. 

“Edward Adley was a common bidder who was favored by Aleister Chamber, viscount of Druitt.” Sebastian’s words seep into the young master’s head. The words disgusting him, a human trafficking bidder was attending tonight’s ball. 

Ciel Phantomhive did not bother reading the rest of the list after this man’s name. He impatiently tapped his finger against the desk, he pondered what should be done about this. Taking a few sips of his tea, he thought of what Edward Adley would want to do with Funtom toys. 

“If you’ll excuse me young master, I must see to it that Lady Phantomhive gets her tea.”

Ciel stopped tapping his fingers. That’s it. He mumbled your name to himself.

“Pardon me, my lord?”

“Sebastian. This man is not just attending this ball without a purpose, this man is after something, or rather someone. We must be fully alert during tonight’s ball. This man is not to be underestimated.” 

Sebastian smiled at his young master, “Of course, my lord.”

-

The evening has begun, after much too long of corset tightening, you were finally tidying things up before heading downstairs to greet your guests along with your younger brother. You met both Ciel and Sebastian outside as soon as the first few guests had arrived. You greeted them politely, Sebastian stands at your side watching you greet them but trying his best not to be too distracted. He was on the lookout for this Edward Adley, there was no time to be in another place. 

One of the last few cars had arrived, a handsome man just a tad shorter than Sebastian had stepped out of a nice carriage. His attention immediately set to the gorgeous woman greeting her guests. He stood awestruck by your beauty, Aleister Chamber’s words not false in the slightest bit. Ignoring the two men that stood beside you, he focused his attention on you. 

Out of nowhere the man grabs your hand almost too roughly for your liking, “Good evening, my love. My name is Edward Adley, I must say I am absolutely mesmerized by your beauty.” His predator eyes made you extremely uncomfortable but there were other guests around, you didn’t want to cause a scene. 

“Oh, well thank you, Mr. Adley,” You politely curtseyed, you tried to lightly tug your hand from his but his grip seemed to tighten. “Please, my love, call me Edward,” The man placed his lips over your hand. 

“Mr. Adley, I do hate to intrude but please do not touch Lady Phantomhive without her permission.” 

Sebastian’s deep, stern voice made Edward Adley jump in his place, he released your hand. Deciding this weird man was the last guest you would greet before heading inside you announced you were departing to the young master and his butler. They made sure to keep you until after Mr. Adley had been long gone into the manor. 

You were uncomfortable to say the least, you had felt grimy after that man had kissed your hand. Finding time to distract yourself by chatting with numerous guests inside the ballroom, the thought of that man had simply left your mind. 

Ciel Phantomhive stood near the food display with his butler, his mind strictly focused on Edward Adley. He did not let the man leave his sight for one second. He began to feel uneasy, the way that man had grabbed your hand, confirming his earlier assumptions about him being there for you and you only. 

“Sebastian.” 

“Yes, my lord?”

“Do not let (Y/N) out of your sight, you are to be near her at all times. Should you see that something strange is going on you act on it immediately. You take her away from here if need be. I do not trust that man.” 

There was a pause, Sebastian smirked to himself waiting for his young master to finish.

“That’s an order.”

“Yes, my lord.”

-

You were exhausted, the impact of not getting enough rest the night before has you losing your energy for this ball fast. As the guests quickly make their way to the dance floor, you found this the perfect opportunity to sneak away and catch some air. You were sure if Ciel or Sebastian had seen you they would be upset, you were extra careful making sure their attention was elsewhere. 

Exiting through the kitchen to the back door, you caught your breath once you hit the outdoor air, gazing up at the beautiful sunset laid out before you. It was stunning, Sebastian’s words from earlier this morning were remarkably true. You slowly make your way toward the gardens, you loved coming to the gardens when things became too much to handle. It was something you had carried on from your parents. Both of them loved the gardens, they told stories so your father would put it. 

You closed your eyes listening to the ambient sounds of the outside. They were closed for just a few moments. Opening them once more you noticed a man standing far from you, you couldn't quite see who he was but you could make out an object in his hand. The sound of a gunshot pierced through the soft ambient noise. There was an immediate impact of pain searing through your right shoulder. Your hands start to shake, your knees had given in from the sudden weakness surrounding your body. Blood cascaded down your exposed chest into the small crease of your dress. 

You were shocked at the sudden turn of events, you noticed three men running toward you, their faces covered with masks. One of the men lifts you up and carries you to a familiar carriage just behind the manor where no one would see. You tried to scream or fight back but it seemed nothing was happening. 

The man who carried you to the carriage roughly shoved you inside, he shut the door harshly. Expecting him and the three other men to pile inside and take advantage of you, you sobbed and awaited your untimely death. You looked around the carriage, the three men were talking outside, they were muffled but as they spoke you started to recognize this carriage, it was Adley’s. 

Sobbing even more once you realized who was behind this, you lay on the carriage floor. It took nearly all of the strength you had in you to rip a piece of your dress to create a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. Painfully, you tied the fabric around your shoulder as best as you could. You noticed that it was quiet outside of the carriage, you sat up and peeked out of the window. 

You jumped and screamed as you saw a bloody hand press against the window, Sebastian’s face appeared in front of you, his eyes soft once he realized you were okay. His beautiful face was covered in blood spatter he was almost unrecognizable. 

“S-Sebastian?” 

“My lady, may I ask a favor of you?” Sebastian’s voice muffled through the glass window. Confused by what was happening, you merely sat there looking at his stoic face. 

“Cover your eyes and ears. Please, my lady.” 

You nodded slowly, obeying his request, you lay back down on the carriage floor. Covering your eyes and ears, you waited patiently, you counted to ten before you felt soft hands remove your hands away from your ears. 

“Keep your eyes closed, love.” 

Sebastian carried you bridal style away from the three dead men, you rested your head against his neck making sure to keep your eyes closed knowing fully well what was beneath you. 

He carried you through the manor careful not to run into any guests along the way. He hummed as he walked up the stairs making his way to your bedroom. He was gentle with laying you down on your bed, untying the pathetic excuse for a tourniquet, he placed the blood stained cloth on the nightstand. He reached underneath your nightstand to find a kit with gauze and thread. He had asked you to sit up so he could see the wound better, he let you lean against him as he proceeded to fix the wound. 

You could’ve slept being leaned against him like you were. You were almost numb to the pain now, not too worried about it since there was no worry from Sebastian. 

“I’m going to have to undress you, my lady.”

You nodded, he helped you stand, turning you around he unzipped the back of your dress, letting it fall to the ground. It was faint, faint enough to where you could've sworn you were feeling things but a soft kiss was pressed lightly to your injured shoulder. Sebastian gently untied many tightened strings until your corset was limp, he took off the corset, your back still facing him. 

He closed his eyes waiting for you to get comfortable in your bed. He gathered the dirty clothes on the floor and started to make his way out of your bedroom. 

“Sebastian.”

“Yes, my lady?”

“You want the truth or the lie about that statement?” You teased him, he closed his eyes and shook his head. You bit your lip, tilting your head toward your left shoulder. You were getting on his nerves slowly but surely. 

Growing up with Neji, he never seemed to have any patience for immaturity and sly comments. He’s grown now, recently named a jounin of the leaf village. The more grown, the less patient. All the more reason to aggravate him as a way of passing time. Neji crosses his arms, gazing back at you, “He would be very upset with you right now, your lack of motivation to keep training would be bothersome to someone as busy as him.” 

“Come on, Neji. He’s been my sensai since I was a kid-.” He cuts you off, “You are still a kid in his eyes, especially with this behavior. He left you to me to train.” 

“Well he doesn’t have very much insight on just who he let train with me now does he?” You stood up, brushing the dirt from your pants. You started to walk toward him, his arms stayed crossed over his chest. 

You stood very close to him at this point, you slightly pouted while resting your chin on his firm chest. Keeping his arms crossed over his chest, he leaned down to press a light kiss on your nose. It was short and sweet, the gesture causing you to flush. You stood lightly on your tip toes, just before your lips attempted to meet his, you heard rustling in the bushes. 

“Neji.” You pulled away from him fast, he seemed to notice the rustling too. Grabbing your hand, he pulled you behind him as he focused on one area of the small forest surrounding the training grounds. 

“Byakugan!” 

You rested your hand against his back as he looked around, the strain in his eyes visible as he turned to the side. You looked closely behind the both of you. Straining your own eyes it didn’t take the eyes that held the Byakugan or the Sharingan to spot a bright blonde tuft of hair peeking through the bushes. 

“This chakra.” 

You walked away from Neji and started to make your way over to the bushes. The blonde genin didn’t seem to notice that you had spotted him. You folded your arms over your chest.

“Naruto.” 

He froze at the sound of your voice. Neji stood behind you when the genin sheepishly stood from hiding. Naruto scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, a beaming smile of guilt on his face. 

“Uhh, hey guys!” 

“So you lied about going on a mission,” Naruto nervously giggled, “Spill it, Naruto.” You raised your fist up at him causing his blue eyes to widen.

 “O-Okay, okay! I noticed something...strange. When I returned to the leaf village from my training, you and Neji were oddly close,” You could feel Neji’s eyes on the back of your head, “I asked Sakura and Kakashi-sensei about it and they didn’t have any idea what I was on about. So I uh...I followed both of you here, when I saw that you were just training I figured I’d just leave but then.” He stopped rambling, looking between the both of you. 

You sighed, disappointed was the most simple word to explain your feelings. You and Neji tried to keep your public displays of affection for times when you were alone, it was a surprise nobody noticed him sneaking out of the main house of the Hyuga clan to be with you. It wasn’t the smartest idea to tease Neji like you had today in an open training ground. How were you to know there was a perv spying on you both? 

Neji had stepped closer to you, he noticed how tense you were. Though he wasn’t too happy with the situation either, it was only Naruto that saw. He had just hoped that the loud idiot would keep their secret to himself. Neji gently placed his hand on your lower back as a sign of comfort. 

“Naruto.” 

His big blue eyes had turned to look at Neji’s light lavender ones. Neji’s gaze was stern, he narrowed his eyes at Naruto in warning.

“You are to tell no one about what you saw. For obvious reasons, we have kept this a secret. You will deeply regret telling a soul.” 

There was a pause, Naruto blinked once and smiled real big, “Ah don’t worry, your secret is safe with me!” He gives both of you a thumbs up to which you responded with a facepalm and a sigh from Neji. 

“Oh! Bushy brow wanted me to find you both anyway to tell you that we’re having a get together with everyone at the bathhouse. He rambled on and on about relaxing after endless missions and caring for ourselves...or something like that. It’s been awhile since we’ve all hung out, so come on, let’s go!” 

You started to follow Naruto, Neji had grabbed your hand,”(Y/N), we’re not done training.” 

You groaned, by now Naruto had skipped ahead and left you two by yourselves, “Neji, we’ve been training all day, let’s take a break, we need it. Please, please.” You bounced on the balls of your feet. Neji responded with a huff, he crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes. You took the opportunity to look around you, straining your eyes yet again to see if you could find a soul nearby. 

Calling it safe, you rested your hands on his arms, leaning up on your tiptoes you gave him a simple peck on the lips. Neji was worrisome after the pure action, panicked, he looked around. You grabbed the sides of his face, pressing his forehead against yours. 

“It’s alright, I promise.” 

-

You and Neji arrived at the bathhouse separately like normal. You arrived at the same time Tenten did, she shared some mission stories as you walked into the area where ladies only stayed and relaxed in the bath. You both undressed and playfully pushed each other to get to the bath. Sakura, Ino and Hinata already getting into the hot water. 

You and the girls made small talk here and there about missions until the subject of boys popped up. This was no surprise, you’ve been to dinner get togethers with just the girls and this is the one topic that pops up. Hinata blushed as usual talking about her very obvious crush on Naruto, Ino and Sakura putting a damper on their mood talking about Sasuke Uchiha, Tenten didn’t really say much about it, she only made a sly comment that boys were stressful.

Then they all looked to you, “I agree with Tenten, boys have cooties.” You pucker your lips and make kissy noises at all of them causing an eruption of laughter. 

On the other side of the wall is a room full of guys relaxing in the water slyly listening in on the girls as they talk. Neji can’t help but smile a little at your comment, he cleared his throat, sinking deeper into the water, hoping nobody had seen him. 

“Those girls sure are noisy,” Shikamaru groans, leaning his head back on the tile surrounding the bath. All six guys murmur in agreement. 

“Hey Neji, how’s training going with (Y/N) anyway?” Kiba scrubs Akamaru’s head as he directs his question to the flushed jounin. 

“Oh, well. She’s quite a handful, she’s incredibly strong but she seems distracted which is causing her actions to be slower. I’m not sure why she is.” 

“Haha, sure you know why she is, Neji!” 

The guys turn to look at the beaming Naruto who sits on top of the tile with his legs in the water. After realizing shortly what he had said, he made immediate eye contact with Neji who was glaring at him. 

“Uh, I mean. Hey, I think I hear bushy brow, I’ll go meet him!” Naruto swiftly jumps up, wraps his towel around his waist and quickly walks out of the bathing area. 

That idiot, Neji thought. 

“What was he on about?” Shikamaru glances from where Naruto had just left and back to Neji. Neji shrugs nonchalantly, “He’s been acting strange. He could be going on about anything.” 

A few minutes of the dropped subject had passed as the boys finally sat back and relaxed. 

A loud crash next door startles them, Neji being the first to jump out of the water, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his waist. He ran next door, shortly followed by everyone else, “Naruto, you perv!” Neji spots a stunned Naruto standing in the doorway of the women’s bathing area, “No, wait, it wasn’t me!”

“Don’t act all innocent Rock Lee!” 

“Rock Lee.” 

Neji and the others scatter into the bathing area, “What the hell is going on here?” A small part of the roof had collapsed, the dust cleared and he sees all of the girls dressed except for you who held a kunai knife in one hand and a towel that barely covered your body in the other. 

“Rock Lee has been peeping on us,” Tenten points over to where Ino has grabbed onto Lee’s collar screaming insults at him, Lee is helpless and panicking as the girl screams in his face about being a pervert. 

“He did what?! How improper!” Neji wanted so bad to run and find your clothes so weren’t so exposed to all of the guys in the room but his focus was on Lee. 

Lee had managed to escape Ino’s grasp, with tears in his eyes he ran as fast as he could away from the angry shinobi. 

‘Don’t let him get away!’

‘That pervert!’

‘He’s gonna pay for this!”

You and Naruto were the only ones left behind as you frantically looked for your clothes but couldn’t find certain items that could be under the rumble that Lee fell through. 

“Naruto, come on.” 

“He didn’t do it,” Naruto mumbled.

“What? What do you mean?” 

“He wasn’t peeping, he was training on the rooftops and he must’ve-.” You cut him off, believing him you grabbed his hand, “Well come on then, we can’t let him get beat up, he’s scared. Come on! Let’s go!”

You and Naruto had made it just in time to break through the forming circle around a frantic Rock Lee who was trying to defend himself. 

“Wait, stop! Bushy brows isn’t that kind of person, so if he says he’s innocent then I believe he’s innocent. Don’t judge him when you don’t have any proof that he’s guilty. Trust in your comrade.” 

You glanced over the guilty faces of your friends, “Maybe you’re right.” 

“Have a big heart and an open mind.” Naruto starts to turn to Lee, Lee seemed nervous as he did.

“Naruto, wait!”

The formed circle of shinobi all gasp as they spot a laced bra hanging out of Naruto’s towel. Neji glared at the provocative item, he thought he recognized it. 

“Hey, that’s mine.” You self consciously wraps your arms around your chest. Naruto had taken your bra? 

“Naruto, you underwear thief!” Sakura, Ino and Tenten all glare at Naruto. You were pulled behind a soaked Neji in only his towel who was fuming with anger. 

“What?” 

Sakura was the first to get her punch on Naruto, her strength idling him enough to where no one else needed to take a hit on him. 

You leaned your forehead on Neji’s bare shoulder.