Side note: To the person (Stella) who reviewed anonymously to Here, Kitty Cat, I have to say thank you. It's rare, but sometimes there's someone who tells me that the story has good points and flaws. I just want you to know that I know perfectly what I did. I even know what the story story is missing, I just can't bring myself to go back and do it all over again.

"Front" note (Lol.): Even though I started this new story, I'm going to see if I can continue Screwed Up or My Babysitter. I'm going to be on college vacation soon, so I'll be able to write more.

I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Eiko.

Chapter 1

It was a sunny day, a day that Ciel knew would turn into a nightmare. He ran along the hallway as the guards bolted into and out of the rooms. Every valuable thing had to be taken to the basement.

"You, be careful with that vase—It's a family treasure," Claude shouted. Claude Faustus was Ciel's bodyguard. He was a strict man, but Ciel relied on him completely, especially in this case.

Ciel panted, leaned down with his hands on his knees. One of the maids came to him. "How are things going?" he asked her.

"We have a problem," she said in fear, gripping her black and white dress. "He's here—Just around the corner."

He gulped at that statement. "Run away. Now!" he ordered and she went to get all of the other maids. No one could stay here besides him. Ciel took a few steps back and leaned on the wall before he slid down and sat on the red carpet.

His parents were long gone, away from this place with whatever they could carry with them. They had left their only son in this mansion by himself with debts years ago, but with Claude's guidance he built his own empire. And that empire was one of the best chocolate recipes in the world.

While playing around a couple of years ago, Ciel had come up with a mixture so well done that every sweet or pastry with the chocolate that he'd made would come out amazing. Thus, Ciel was able to keep his mansion and his staff.

However, that man was coming his way. One of the most menacing pirates of the seas had announced publicly that he was going to come for the youngest and richest young man in the country. Ciel didn't want him to steal anything, so everything had to go to the basement before he got here.

Claude approached Ciel and got on the carpet on one knee. "Young master, we weren't able to take everything to the basement. What would you like me to do?" he asked in concern and helped Ciel up.

Ciel leaned on the wall and turned his eyes down. "You should go like everyone else," he answered. "The backdoor leads up the mountain. Since the front of the mansion is facing the ocean, I'm sure that he will come through the front door."

"But I can't leave you here by yourself and—"

"That's an order," Ciel retorted and looked up at the other man. "I don't want him to hurt any of you because of me. The maids and most of the guards have already left." He let out a prolonged sigh. "I'll try to return someday. Hopefully, no one will have sold this place by then."

Claude shook his head. "I won't allow it."

A sudden pound on the door was heard, startling Ciel. "Go, Claude," he told the other man and made his way toward the door. "Please lock the basement and take the key with you before you leave." He smiled briefly before he continued on his way.

Ciel glanced over at Claude running through the hallway and taking a few paintings on the way. He appreciated that he had such loyal people working for him and helping him keep his empire up.

Taking a deep breath, Ciel fixed his black dress shirt, and opened the door. He looked up at one of the most feared men in the world. It was Sebastian Michaelis. The man grinned down at him. "Is there something I can help you with?" Ciel asked, pretending that he didn't know who the man was.

The pirate wore a black and white striped shirt, brown pants and boots, and a blood-red pirate hat with the image of a crow in the front. For a pirate, his skin was fair and clean. The long, black strands of hair came down around the man's handsome face. The problem was that Ciel didn't like him one bit.

"You're coming with me." Sebastian leaned down and pulled Ciel by the arm. He draped the young man over his shoulder. "I'm surprised that you're not struggling."

Ciel kept quiet. And with that, he was carried toward the shore, where a large, robust ship had parked. He turned his eyes down at Sebastian's boots scrunching on some rocks of the dry dirt road. They walked by a few people next to a tree by the road, but they just stared in concern. Ciel was glad that they didn't risk their lives to help him.

Ciel needed his hands to work, so he couldn't get in any kind of fights or he could injure himself, even in a simple struggle. His hands and knowledge were what helped him survive and have the live that he had now.

He looked up at his mansion as he bounced against Sebastian's broad back. At least the man smelled good, a combination between the sea and strawberry. However, he didn't want to leave his home or leave all of his people without a job. If only he was stronger, he could go against this man. Thinking of him, Ciel knew that it was a dangerous man, but he'd only heard rumors about Michaelis.

One of those rumors were about the pirate gathering a group of ten female escorts and then kill them after he'd satisfied himself. Another one was about Michaelis killing a king and bring down a whole army with just his crew. But these were just things that spread around. There was no assurance of these happenings.

Ciel didn't want to take this matter lightly, so he cooperated with the pirate. He still wanted to know why this man needed a petite, fragile young man like himself. All he could do was sweets and pastries with his chocolate recipe. And since he was the only Phantomhive around and with the recipe, everyone wanted a piece of him. Maybe Michaelis wanted to steal his knowledge, so he better be careful.

"We're almost there," Sebastian said, and patted Ciel's thigh.

"Why do you want me?" Ciel finally asked. Sebastian stopped in his tracks, which made Ciel's heart pound in his chest. But instead of answering, the man walked across the wooden dock to his ship.

A large group of pirates awaited their captain. "Is this him?" a man asked as he followed the other two. "He looks like he won't last at sea."

Ciel looked away when Sebastian put him down. He didn't show it, but he was shaking, and his legs were about to give out. He looked up at the ship. Surprisingly, it was almost as big as his mansion. The word "Crow" was written on the side in black ink over the brown wood.

"You," Sebastian uttered with a serious expression, which drew Ciel's attention, "Anyone who gets in my ship survives or dies whenever I want them to." He raised his foot and kicked the smaller man in the chest and off of the dock.

Ciel stared as the man fell in the water and disappeared for a short moment under the calm waves. It seemed that Michaelis was cruel even to his own crew.

Without any warning, Sebastian got a hold of Ciel's small forearm and dragged him up the bridge of the ship. The bridge was so steep that Ciel had to hold on to the supporting rope next to him.

They were followed by the other pirates, who looked nothing like their captain. They were dirty and their torn clothes were in desperate need of being washed. Their eyes were on Ciel as if he were a rare treasure.

Ciel got aboard the ship and looked down. The wooden floor was unexpectedly clean. Moreover, it looked freshly clean, as if they've been waiting for him to arrive.

He feared that he would say something he shouldn't if he opened his mouth, so he remained quiet. As a nobleman himself, he knew when to speak or not. He turned his eyes down to Sebastian's hand, which still held his forearm firmly, as if Ciel could escape at any moment.

It was obvious that he wouldn't run away. It would be stupid to make such an attempt in the ship of one of the most dangerous group of pirates in the seas.

"Now, you're going to stay here. You're part of this crew now," Sebastian said and turned to Ciel. "Your room is next to mine." He then regarded the other pirates. "It's time to set sail!"

Ciel wanted to close his ears at how loud Sebastian shouted the order. He stared as the crew ran around, but they got things done in a matter of a few minutes. While they were doing that, Sebastian took him to a staircase that led under the deck.

They went inside and Sebastian closed the door. The man then led Ciel down another flight of stairs. From a row of doors, they stopped at the last one. "This is going to be where you're going to stay from now on. Wait here," Sebastian told him and pushed Ciel into the room.

Ciel didn't expect a push, so he stumble forward before he tripped on his own feet and fell on a fluffy black carpet. Sighing, Ciel put his hands on the carpet and got on his feet. When he turned around, the door had already been closed.

He didn't dare try to open it and went to sit on the large bed by the round window. There was nothing else in the room but the bed, a small nightstand with an old lamp, and the carpet.

What should he do? What would happen to his empire without him around? No one else knew about the secret to make the chocolate, not even Claude Faustus, who knew him for years.

Ciel stood and looked out the window. The moment he saw the ocean waves, the door opened. He turned around to look at who it was. "Yes?" he asked when a half-bald, poorly dressed man looked at him.

"It's time for your to take a bath," the man said and motioned Ciel after him.

His eyebrows twitched. Ciel wanted to frown. "Thank you, but I already took one this morning." He quickly took a step back when the man barged into the room and grabbed him by the shirt collar.

"You're gonna do as you're told," the man spat. "Do you understand that, boy?"

Ciel tilted his head back and tried to not make a face of disgust at the pungent smell of alcohol. "Well, I'm not a boy, I'm an eighteen-year-old adult." He clenched his jaw when the man's calloused hand closed into a fist and swung toward his face. However, Ciel dodged it easily.

The man was drunk, so his movements were rather limited. Even so, he cackled and dragged Ciel out of the room. He had strength for that, since Ciel could barely keep himself on his feet.

They stomped by the stairs that led to the deck and entered another room. In the center was a wooden cylinder filled with steaming water. Unfortunately, Ciel didn't do very well with hot temperatures.

The man gripped Ciel's shirt and threw him into the water. Ciel submerged face first and hit his head on the bottom of the tub. Dizziness almost took over, but he struggled to keep himself awake. Ciel put his feet on the bottom and quickly stood. He took a deep breath of hot, moist air.

And there stood Sebastian at the exit, his nearly crimson eyes staring at him. The captain then looked at the pirate. "Throw yourself overboard and then go back to your room. Immediately," he said and the man ran out of the room.

Sebastian watched as Ciel panted. The young man's navy-blue hair dripped with water and framed his face, steam flowed steadily from delicate, pale skin, and the shirt stuck to a slender torso.

Before anything else could happen, Ciel staggered and fell over the edge of the tub. The petite body splatted on the wooden floor like a fish that landed on the floor of a boat. Sebastian approached the unconscious young man slowly.