Chapter One

It's Just A Game

"CHECKMATE! Ahaha! I win! I win! I can't believe this! I've always known I was better than you, but this! This feels amazing!" The pale blonde haired boy could not contain his laughter. He fell back into the chair and held his stomach as he giggled and chuckled and cried.

"Look what you made me do! I'm crying from laughing so hard!" Tears ran down his cheeks as he continued to laugh.

After a few minutes of awkwardness as Claude, Sebastian and I all sat in silence starting at the other boy making a total ass of himself, Alois finally made some attempt at calming himself and covered his mouth. He breathed in and out a few times and then sat up straight in his chair.

"Ok! You know what this means right? I get to take something precious of yours, just as we agreed."

His big blue eyes narrowed as he shot a narrowed glance at me. He sat back once again, crossing his legs.

"I think you know exactly what I want, Ciel." Suddenly, I would have preferred the gross laughter from minutes before. His creepy smile was really off putting. I looked away so I didn't have to see his gross face anymore.

"F-fine. A win is a win, and you may have anything you ask for, as promised. I'm a man of my words after all." I never thought I would lose, which made this all the more difficult. I really disliked Alois, and the fact that I now had to surrender god knows what to him really made my blood boil.

"So what is it...that you want?" He said he though I might know, but honestly I hadn't the slightest idea of what someone so snobby and bratty might want from me.

"I want your butler." Alois said, with a clam and plain look on his face.

"I don't think so, you little brat!" I got up and walked past the table, intent on slapping some sense into him, but as I moved my hand to strike him, it was caught by Sebastian.

"I won't stand for this!" I shouted at him.

"My Lord, as you said, a win is a win. May I suggest something?"

Shocked and a little annoyed by Sebastian's interruption, I pulled my arm from his grasp and moved away from both of them.

"What exactly do you have in mind?"

"How about an exchange?" He said, smiling at me. I shivered.

"What do you mean?"

"I will go with Lord Trancy, and his butler, Claude, will stay here, with you. On the condition that, this arrangement lasts no longer than one full day; an exchange for 24 hours. At the end of the night tonight, I will leave and go to the Trancy Estate, and Claude will stay here. At the end of the night tomorrow, I will return and the exchange will be complete."

We all stayed quiet for a moment.

I had to think this through. It was obvious to me that Sebastian had something planned, or he wouldn't have said anything. But as to what those plans could be, I couldn't think of anything. All I knew, was that I'd be without him for a whole day, with a stranger in my mansion, and I couldn't imagine how this could be any good. As I kept trying to think of some reason why we should give in, Alois' obnoxious voice broke my thoughts.

"Perfect! I love it! I can't wait! I've been really looking forward to this chance." He blurted out. His lustful gaze then fell to Sebastian. He began inspecting him, and probably undressing him with his eyes.

"Would you kindly SHUT UP for a few seconds, you bastard?" Dammit he annoyed me! I still can't believe I lost! Dammit!

"I'm not happy about this. I will honor your request though. I'll go along with what Sebastian has proposed, but I have a few adjustments. I'm not comfortable with you actually leaving with MY property, which Sebastian is. I intend to honor the 24 hour exchange with you, however, you will stay here in the Phantomhive manor while you have control of my butler."

"Fine! I've always wanted the change to snoop around your dismal old place. You're always so mysterious, and full of secrets, Ciel. I guess this is as good as it gets."

I was sure he would argue the matter much more aggressively, like the child he always seemed to be, but instead he accepted rather quickly, which made me all the more uneasy.

Sebastian stepped forward.

"The hour for exchange will be 7:00PM exactly, which means we have exactly one hour before the arrangement takes place. That gives me more than enough time to make dinner for you tonight, My Lord. It shall be ready in 30 minutes. Please excuse me."

With that, he was gone, leaving me alone with Alois and his stiff butler, Claude.

"I guess that leaves me to show you to your room." I said, quite annoyed that Sebastian had left me alone with these two. I could only imagine that he has something planned for them.

"Dammit...I lost to a senseless brat..."

"I heard that, you cheeky sod." He shouted from behind me.

"Get stuffed, you damn brat!"