Greetings my guests, welcome to my humble dimension. I hope you are prepared for a journey following our two protagonists through a memory long since forgotten. They are quite an unlikely duo, perhaps not the two you would normally associate together, but bare with me while I act as your guide through this fantasy. Just a note that this is my first time unraveling their story as well, so do kindly ignore the possible mistakes I make OwO/

Without further ado, let us flow through this memory~

Moonlight Memories

Chapter 1:

He still hadn't got used to it.

It, or rather her, after such a long time. As time ticked by its usual pace, he couldn't help but feel even more uncertain than ever before.

He was sitting in the backyard of the Castle of Abbadon, tending to the Garden of Haures while trying, without much effort, to not sink his sharp, dark blue claws into the thin stems. He sighed, it was pointless. Besides, the flowers grew in every way perfect whenever he summoned them onto the battlefield. Yes, he admits that this is all to serve as a distraction.

Ever since he became Demonio, the entity of death and the lord of darkness, he endured endless days of pain. Day and night had passed by like a blur as he had no mind to care for anything else but to restrain the overflowing power coursing through his veins. When it all became too much, he completely transcended into darkness. The feared asmodian demon that annihilated everything in its path, he had earned a title he did too well to maintain.

But, it all changed.

Changed completely, when she appeared.

He still remembered when he walked downstairs one morning, only to not see Diabla, but someone else in her usual chair. He had stood quite rigid in the door frame, just staring at the figure who gracefully brought the teacup up to her supple lips and took a sip while brushing a speck of dust off her exquisite white and blue dress. When she looked up at him, the stars in her eyes, the ones that were once pure darkness, were purified and gentle. A dazzling light, completely pure settled on his dark form.

Then she smiled. And he felt something revive within his very soul.

Noblesse, as the new Lu calls herself, had explained casually that she in fact did not know why she was here in place of his usual master, but would still gladly maintain the bond between them until they found the reason to this sudden surprise. Nodding obediently, no expression crossed his features throughout the whole conversation. What he had failed to realise was the almost apologetical gaze she would occasionally direct to him, and the casual pauses in between sentences hoping to get a reply.

But he only drew his face mask even more up his chin and covered more of his face with his overgrown fringe.

Life from that day was surprisingly peaceful, mainly because Noblesse controlled her temper well and "I don't want to become barbarians like them, thank you very much." That was all in favor to him, and he frequently found himself free to do his own wishes.

This in fact, was much harder than it sounded as he found that he could not come up with any recreational activities what so ever. So, he resigned to care for his sniper rifle and planting and replanting the Garden.

Until Noblesse came to him one day and requested for a strawberry crepe.

Strawberry crepe?

Ah, yes. He did seem to possess that skill. When she peered at him as he stood with the sudden recollection of being able to cook, Lu flashed an expression of confirmation.

"You don't have to if you have other matters at hand," she said loftly.

He finally snapped out of it and knelt down on one knee.

"Your wish is my command."

His legs carried him automatically towards the kitchen, and his hands seemed to be following instinct as dough was made in front of his very eyes. How could he have forgotten? This was what Lu had praised him so much for and yet...it was like a distant dream. Diabla seemed to have matured to the point where sweets and afternoon tea wasn't the centre of the world. Noblesse, despite regaining her powers, retained that bit of innocence as the Lu he first met.

When he served the strawberry crepe, she had thanked him with a warm smile and eagerly plunged the silver fork instead. Only to make a small frown after a bite, and looking back at him.

"You forgot the sugar, Ciel." a gentle tone, wanting not to discipline but to remind.

Sugar? Of course, that sweet spice.

So he had found something elsw to do in his spare time, in the kitchen making dessert which Noblesse would gladly take the pleasure of tasting it. Just looking at her content smile, the words of gratitude and everything, he finally came to the conclusion why she was so different to Diabla despite their powers being at equal heights.

Diabla was a nightmare, a viscious lord that threatened to lash out at the slightest of things. Altar of Evil, the result of her madness always had that manic grin and chilling cackle that would haunt anyone.

But Noblesse. Noblesse was different.

She was like a dream, a paradise that allowed people to roam free. Looking like a child and yet so majestic.

Noblesse was in every way sane Diabla was madness. He only knew now that it wasn't insanity that constantly tugged on the other end of the bond, not unbearable pain. Rather, a gentle hand reaching for his grasp. But he was hesitant, so he left it hanging.

He hadn't fully transcended into darkness for quite a few days now, weeks or perhaps even a month. His mind couldn't recall a time where he had such a long break from it all. He would have hoped this would have at least reduced his syinc rate a bit but to no avail.

And this was why he was concerned.

He had only succumbed to madness due to Diabla's constant influence, it became too much and just overflowed. Remembering the first time they had cast Diabolic Disaster, the pull was too great and he almost forever retained his transcendence form. If Noblesse was now bonded to him, to Demonio who was on the brink of complete insanity, then she… she would…

Was this….fear?

Was he once again feeling this human feeling named "fear"? He didn't want Noblesse to go down the same path, not the Lu that had showed him that there was light in this world after all. Not her who so gradually lured him out of darkness. The hand held out to him, it was salvation.

She was salvation.

He wanted to be near her, to be by her side, to forever be her butler. Yet, he knew what would come of that. She deserved better, and he didn't deserve her, he came to the painful conclusion with a sadness he didn't realise.

Perhaps, it was his destiny to bath in eternal darkness…..

He sat in in the moonlit garden, just by the fountain, listenting to its running waters trying to acquire its peace. It was in the dead of night, and no movement could be seen nor heard so his rifle lay still on the empty seat beside his figure.

He couldn't sleep, not that he had to since becoming a demon signified his endurance improving to an abnormal level. It was a blessing to drift off into endless rifts of nothingness, it minimised the possible pain he could be experiencing. Considering how he had not been devoured by darkness for quite a long time, now was in fact the perfect time for him to leave everything behind.

But an uneasiness, a feeling he himself couldn't express served as a magnet, anchoring his consciousness to Elrios. Come to think of it, ever since Diabla became who she was he had never had a moment of peace. Sighing, he moved his tired form into the soft patch of flowers at his feet, staring up at the silvery moon. He remembered how he had done this before, before he became Demonio. The light was bright that time, like a whisp of fairy dust swirling through the sky. Now, it seemed to dull, fade away like his sanity. A small wetness, a trickle of heat rolled down his cheek. Then a few more followed from his darkened eye, until some became tainted with scarlet.

His eyes closed slowly, lying as if all life had abandoned him.

Then, a gentle hand brushed his cheek, wiping the blood away. The feeling, it was unfamiliar, his hand instinctively moved to his rifle but kept his body still. How could he have been so careless? As he was about to raise the weapon, another hand placed itself on his, a soothing touch that calmed his senses.

Finally, uncertainly, his eyes reflected light once more.

"Noblesse…" he breathed, no more than a murmur.

She smiled, a smile full of sadness, so heart-breaking.

"Ciel," she began.

"I am sorry."

He looked at her, puzzled by her sudden words. She had no reason to be sorry, if there was anything wrong it was with him. Perhaps he failed to please her and she decided to return to her own dimension. If that was it, then, there was nothing he could do. Nothing he would do, because this was a darkness he would accept, a pain he would bare if it was for her.

But the thought of losing that warmth, that hand, that touch...

More scarlet tears rolled down his cheek, this was a habit that he couldn't let go. If only...if only...

To be continued...

We will leave it here for today, for dear Noblesse needs some more time with Demonio. Once again you have my gratitude in joining me tonight. Just before you leave the dimension portal, spare a minute a tell me what you think, it will help a lot in crafting future memories.

I will show you a sweet dream the next night~

Sendo Erika 07.11.2016