AN; So, my first chaptered Kuroshitsuji fic, after writing more than enough one-shots. I came up with the idea after listening to The Beatles in the car today. Yeah, I know. WOW YOU WERE INSPIRED BY THE BEATLES NO ONE'S EVER DONE THAT. Okay, shut up. I'm not even going to say what song. Anyways, I wanted to write an AU. So I could write something good, I'd have to base the AU around something I'm already familiar with; music. Granted, I know close to NOTHING technical about music, know even less about vocals (even though I'm the lead singer in my band…shut up) and know NOTHING AT ALL about classical music. I know a lot more about guitar, but guitar just doesn't suit anyone in the Kuro universe, except maybe Ronald…I digress

But, I know enough about music to write and describe it, as opposed to say…Baking. So I chose to center my AU around music. Anyways, enjoy a prologue.

Hope you guys dig the story. Reviews and flames appreciated, thought please, TRY to be insightful…

Rated M for future chapters, swearing, child abuse. Yaoi, shota relationship.

I'm not sure how often this will be updated, as often as I can, hopefully.

A Phantom's Canon

Written by Freedom To Rhyme

Track Zero; Overture

"Happy birthday, dear Annie! Happy birthday to you!" The assembled family and friends clapped and cheered loudly as the flames atop the number-shaped candles were blown out. "32", the candles read.

"Ciel, you put the candles on the cake backwards!" Anne had tried to say to her nephew. He merely stared back blankly, not finding anything humorous in his aunt's joke.

"Years don't turn backwards, Aunt Anne," He removed the candles from the cake, absentmindedly licking the frosting off the base of the 3 before sheathing a knife to slice the dessert into equal parts.

Anne eyed her nephew wearily.

"And I can't believe you didn't sing with everyone else!" She tried once more to lighten Ciel's permanently dark demeanor. "Now where's the fun in that?" Anne shook her finger in mock-scolding.
"Yeah, Ciel!" Lizzy, the elder cousin of one year, chirped eagerly. "You HAVE to sing Happy Birthday to someone on their birthday, it's like, a rule!" Ciel cringed. He didn't sing. He refused to sing, even something as simple as "Happy Birthday".

"We should all sing again, so Ciel can join in this time!" Lizzy tugged on her younger cousin's sleeve. "Right Ciel?"

"No, Elizabeth," The dining room silenced. A singular cold, blue eye stared up at the physically elder cousin. Mentally, Ciel was far older than Lizzy would ever be.

Lizzy stared back, hurt plastered on her porcelain face.

"B-but, why?" She whimpered, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.

"I don't sing,"
"Yes you do! You have the voice of an ang-"

"Enough, Elizabeth!" The small, twelve year old child scolded with the authority of an adult, glare boring harshly at the innocent girl before him. Without faltering, Ciel said darkly, "I will never sing again," He stood from the table, the eyes of his family following every movement. Turning to his aunt, Ciel said, "I apologize for spoiling your birthday, Aunt Anne. If you'll excuse me, I shall be retiring for the night. A child such as myself should not be up at such ungodly hours," Before Anne, or any person situated at the table could respond, Ciel had already ascended the staircase to his bedroom. At the sound of the door locking, conversation in the dining room escalated back to it's original level.

Ciel moved rigidly to his bed. Stiffly, he situated himself beneath the covers, curling into ball, hugging his knees to his chest. Behind this closed door, nobody could see. Nobody could see how childish he really was. Nobody could see how cowardly he really was.

"Sing for me, little boy. You have the voice of an angel,"

Behind this closed door, nobody could help him. Ciel shifted beneath the sheets.
I don't need their help, he thought to himself. They didn't help me last time.

"Ciel….are you asleep?"

"No," Anne sighed. She assumed so. It was rare for Ciel to sleep more than five hours a night. It was unheard of for him to willingly go to bed before midnight. The clock read 3:30. Ciel had not closed his eyes, yet alone slept since he had excused himself from the party 4 hours prior.

Anne crossed her nephew's room and sat on the edge of his bed. She reached one hand out to stroke his hair, but the boy immediately turned away. Anne sighed once more. Her nephew was more than difficult.

"Ciel…I would say I'm sorry for tonight, for bringing up singing. But…I'm not. Especially when I don't understand why you will not sing. You had such a beautiful voice before-"

"My voice is disgusting now,"

"Why is that?"

"I'm rather tired now, Aunt Anne. I think I'd like to sleep now,"

"Ciel, don't do this to me. I know I'm no replacement for your parents, but I am still your aunt. Don't turn me away, I just want to help," Anne waited for a response. And waited. And waited. She was greeted by silence. Anne frowned. Abruptly, she stood from the bed.

"Fine then. Don't say anything. Remain miserable, drown in the past."Ciel heard the door click closed as his aunt left.

Alone again, he mused. Maybe it's best I stay this way.

AN;

Canon; A piece of music in which a main melody (the leader) is mimicked by additional voices (the follower) be it identical or with variation. The title makes way more sense than I realized, and I'm almost proud of what used to be a lame title.

Overture- the opening to a musical composition