[She's not going to admit it to anybody, but Ciel has begun to quietly stalk the "dropoff area" the moment Arcueid went missing from her home. Not before, because the most painful fact she realized once all these surgeries began was that healing is useless against these secondary effects. Unlike the reopening of old wounds that occurred previously, the new "modifications" could not be healed or soothed. She's tried what little she could, but...

No. As much of an idiot the blonde is, Arcueid's not stupid enough to be out and about when there's so much chaos in the town once more. She didn't comment, but she heard the conversations with Ms. Johnson over the phones.

No one volunteered for this.

But if they're taken, there's a chance for the worst. She's seen and heard more minor ones, but...

It took a conscious effort for her face to not contort at the sight. Of course she knew what this was. She might've been able to meet Tohno Shiki personally that day, if circumstances were differently aligned. The sight is pitiful. Indeed, the first thought that would come is to kill it, one may argue that such a thought is only natural when faced with a sight as gruesome as this.

However.

Her eyelids droop. The weak pleas bearing her own name pass right through her. There's a soft "thud" near the writhing blonde. She didn't need to say anything, Arcueid probably has already taken notice.

...

As grotesque and monstrous as her shape is, she forces herself to accept and comprehend it, logically picking out the areas of the body where it would be easiest to carry her from. Whether she fulfills that lament or not may be uncertain, but she certainly doesn't intend on leaving her there.]

Conserve your strength. Talk only when you must.

[Her tone isn't imperious or chiding. It's quiet and neutral, a solid disguise to hide any emotion that she may be feeling towards this entire display right now.

That said, she doesn't hesitate to gingerly lift Arcueid up before kicking off the ground to take the airs.]

I'll be the judge of that. You're still lucid and trying, aren't you? I won't disregard that effort.

[She briskly replies. The wind is strong, it's whipping hard at both their hair. It may give Arcueid an indication of just how fast Ciel is going. She's not wasting her time.]

I'll fix it. [She doesn't know if she has enough Burial Cloth. But if limbs in disarray is the only thing done to Arcueid, then she'd definitely be able to do something. Those revolting wires can be cut. With the True Ancestor's regenerating abilities and her boost in power once night falls, this should still be salvageable.

If not, if not...

She doesn't allow her thoughts to stray further. She can think of nowhere suitable at her own house. Her "husband" isn't the most savory of individuals, the kitchen and basement are both too cluttered. There's no way she's heading back to the hospital.

Then the Church it is.

She's no certified physician. But after being cut up enough times, you'll get to know the joints to a human body well enough. Honestly, she's not wholly sure if she can pull this through. Here, a True Ancestor can be rendered just as vulnerable as an ordinary human. What if she does fail? What if she does only make it worse? Do painkillers and hypnotism even work on her? How may she render her unconscious so she'd feel the least amount of pain possible?

All of it clawed at her, but she can't waver. Because the one thing she cannot do is leave Arcueid Brunestud in her current state as she is. And if there was one thing Ciel still fiercely clung onto after all these years, it's her stubborn will.

That's why she can utter those words coolly with flawless conviction. "I'll fix it." As if declaring an incontestable fact, she continues to advance towards the church with her eyes purely focused on what's ahead.

God help her that she makes a difference - a good one.]

[If Ciel had to look at herself into a mirror now and ask herself the question, she would not deny it. Without batting a single eyelash, she would effortlessly affirm it.

She understands and cares for Arcueid Brunestud. The very same White Princess of the True Ancestors whom she coldly opposed when they first met (once more) in Misaki City, during their mutual yet distinctively separate pursuit of Michael Roa Valdamjong, the Serpent of Akasha. They've since fought each other mercilessly and childishly over big and little things, but it is after she arrived here to Mayfield with Arcueid and Shiki already present, the latter having taken another lover that is NOT Arcueid, that things began to visibly change.

Maybe because for once, they were in the same situation. Without the pressure of the Church or the inevitable progression of succumbing to bloodlust, they both had to face the distance that time and vastly different laws of this place create. Equally rendered helpless along with having to acknowledge the boy they both love finding happiness in another, each day was its own struggle no matter how cheerfully they tried living inside the boundaries of their limited freedom. Having witnessed countless others of their world arrive and leave - Ciel especially, who's seen Arc become droned, come back with a blank state, become droned again, then return with vague memories of her first stay, lucid realization has already hit her a while ago.

Arcueid, as the will of the planet, harbored a level of understanding that surpassed humanity. But at the same time, how she functioned previously contrasted next to the "extras" that she's learned to experience since her last awakening nevertheless make it so her mentality is comparable to that of a child's. She's by no means young nor innocent, but she needs someone to establish and clarify some form of order when she's dealing with 'extras' that get out of hand. To reign her in when Arc herself is going overboard, and of course, to help her when she can't do anything against a new situation that she never needed to know, hence prepare for, before. These were the things that cause pain and sorrow during "living", something all human beings go through.

Everyone inevitably end up contributing some to her growth, but Shiki and Ciel probably had the most hand at it, at least when they were all back in Misaki City.

Here, it somehow ended up being just her - or rather, mostly her. Not that she wished it, not that any other wished it. It simply became this way because that's how various events under jarring circumstances met. This is the end result.

They have to rely on each other, so they've come to do just that. The time for petty old rivalries have long lost their purpose, leaving only a trace of faint nostalgia behind in memory of how things were, only to be occasionally rekindled for the sake of humor. Here, if they wish to keep going, if they do not want to lose more than they already have, then they must do all that they can...

In the end.]

You idiot, it's not your fault. Don't waste more energy saying needless things, you'll be okay. Just... Give me a bit more time.

[They race through the sky. It won't be long before the altitude shifts back to ground level, once the Church's front doors come into sight.]

[She can feel the body stiffen in her arms.

She'll answer quietly, but firmly and confidently as always.]

There's no room in my house. With all that's been going on, there should be no one here. Don't concern yourself with it, this is nothing more than a building more decorated than some others.

[That said, she swiftly makes her way to one of the rooms in the back, a plain room that she nevertheless administered medicare to others previously under various circumstances. Arcueid will then be very carefully deposited on a clean bed.]

...Try to calm down and continue to take deep breaths. I'll be right back, I need to get some supplies and materials. Can you hang in there by yourself? [Nothing in her expression or body language leaks an ounce of doubt. She can't afford to, not now.]

[She bites her tongue. Since her expression is still solid from the outside, nothing leaks through her mask of steel.]

Her eyes are staring down at Arcueid, but it's as if she's not seeing her.

Which is all but the complete opposite of what she is witnessing. She hasn't had to directly behold such a contorted and unbearable sight for a long time. But if she allows herself to acknowledge this figure, then she won't be able to maintain her facade anymore.

For that cause, she can't see her no matter what.]

I can't treat you like this. ... ... Seven!

[With narrowed eyes, she falls on the last resort she has. Within moments, something seems to be settling besides her, but Arc may be too weak now to perceive the familiar.]

...Arcueid. [There's a definite edge in her tone now. "You have to let me go." You won't be alone, but...

Granted, she herself should be much more firm in her denial. Fixing Arc as soon as possible is more important than to cater to her childish pleas. She knew this full well, but then why--??

...

Ah.

This is what it must mean, to be human.]

[...

It can't be helped.

Grasping the blonde's hand without looking down (she doesn't need to be reminded of where it's place) and giving it a gentle squeeze, she pulls away but doesn't let go.]

I'll... I won't go anywhere. Just focus on calming yourself. I already told you to not waste any more of your strength, haven't I?

[She managed to sound chiding despite everything. Because that's how she always spoke to her, and now more than ever, she needs to maintain it because it's a form of stability that was always established between them.

Just...]

Seven. [She addresses her familiar quietly. Arc won't be able to pick it up weakened that she is, but the severity of her tone is like none than she's ever heard.]

A pitcher of water and a glass from the kitchen. The painkillers and laxatives are on the top shelf in the medical cabinet down the hall. [The list goes on; the instructions are precise and firm. Uttered in a mechanical tone that may sound like droning to any other whom these orders are NOT addressed to, she's tasking her familiar to get the tools for her.

Nanako is normally clumsy and only served as a weapon, but understanding how much Master needed this done, she simply nods. Ciel isn't entirely heartless either, she stops after naming off a short list. There's more, but she'll wait for Seven to be done with the first trip before briefing her with more. Either way, looks like it can't be helped; she'll stay by that idiot vampire's side, now that an alternative has been found.]

[Ciel has barely finished her list and sent Seven scurrying when Arcueid began to violently act up, felt most keenly though the squeeze of her hand.]

A-arcueid-- [She feels her back stiffen, as if already aware of a bad premonition.] Please...!

[she can't even ask her what's wrong. That'd just be a waste of breath and strength for the already weak True Ancestor. She knows the possibility of Arcueid losing control here is very real. But that's not the worrisome part.

As Arcueid is now, it'll be easy for Ciel to overpower her and kill her even if she went crazy.

It's the killing her part that she will do her best to avoid.]

I know I have no right to ask this of you, but please. You have to trust me this once. [She swallows, making an effort now to keep staring intensely at the blonde's pupils that are dilating and slowly turning golden.

These eyes are not even strong enough to intimidate her, if anything they just reminded her of the gravity of the situation.

What is she doing? What is she hoping to achieve?

Why...] I can't do it through any other means, so... please--!

[Ah.

Of course.

Her strength is almost completely gone. Those golden eyes are at the end of their rope. If this keeps up...

Arcueid might just spring off to bite her at the neck and lose complete control, and that would be worse than anything Ciel can do to her, to provide what she needs to completely lose her sanity.

Gritting her teeth, she's raking her brains now for any and every method of energy/mana/strength transfer that she can think of. And for once, she's willingly digging through Roa's knowledge that she normally refuses to touch out of personal principle.

Because to avoid witnessing/experiencing another tragedy right in front of her own two eyes, she must go back to the source to find SOME way to prevent it.]

You dumb airhead... I've already told you, haven't I?! [Forcing herself to mute the emotional turmoil - or at least, channel it to better avenues such as doing her utmost best to expel a mana circle around them so that she may BEGIN to do something to remedy the situation.]