Hello again! I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed and followed my last fics, your support is always greatly appreciated!

I'd also like to let you know I'm not sure how long this story will go on for, but if you all review and follow it would be a great help and encouragement for me. :) Thanks also goes to Fullmetal224 for the request :). Also, you won't have to read any of my other stories to understand this one, it takes place early in Ciel and Sebastian's contract, somewhere a little after the time of Ciel and Sebastian's contract.

Now, with all that out of the way, on with the story!

Warning-If you disagree with possible corporal punishment of adults or children in this story please turn back now.

Disclaimer-I do not own Kuroshituji :'(

Chapter 1-Learning

Sebastian Michaelis, Butler of Phantomhive manor, loyal, strong, level-headed, obedient, calm...the list is endless. Sebastian was a perfect butler, through and through.

But he wasn't always.

Oh yes, looking back, Sebastian had been completely unaware of just how much work it would be to care for Ciel. He couldn't feel temperature or taste flavors, he couldn't tell if his master liked chocolate more than vanilla, or if he was getting sick. He was a complete ameteur, that much was certain. He had to learn how to do things step by step, instead of instantly creating lavish dinners out of nothing, he had to actually go and do it himself, which annoyed him to no end.

His temper was even worse.

More often than not, Sebastian was usually found in the kitchen after a particularly annoying temper tantrum from his master, smashing pots down on the stove or flinging knives at random targets. Oh but he'd never strike the young master out of anger no matter how much the boy annoyed him.

That didn't mean he didn't want to though.

This went on for a while before Sebastian started confiding in the one person who knew how to deal with Ciel besides his parents: Tanaka.

It hard been hard, his temper was near uncontrollable, and he had suffered for it numerous times. Tanaka was the only one who knew about it. Sebastian always made an excuse to leave the room before he blew his top in front of the young master. However, Tanaka was not the overly forgiving type.

"This is getting a bit ridiculous, don't you think Sebastian?"

Sebastian frowned and stared up at the disapproving eyes of the former butler, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. He'd really done it this time. Even the young master was angry at him now. He hadn't been able to calm himself down before he all but forced the boy into the bath he had been avoiding for the past hour. Ciel had almost swallowed too much water before Sebastian caught hold of his senses and pulled him out. Tanaka then took over and-with a well known gesture-sent Sebastian to wait in his room. He normally would be lectured for a long, long time, but now he knew he wouldn't get off that easily. Not with Tanaka at least.

"If you really want to be the Phantomhive butler, we have to do some serious work on that temper of yours." Said Tanaka, his normally kind eyes replaced with disappointment.

"We?" Sebastian questioned.

"You obviously don't know how to control yourself when around humans." Tanaka stated simply. He'd long figured out Sebastian was a demon, but it was not his place to bring the matter up with the young master. He trusted the child to have a reason for his decisions, he had grown up quite fast for his age after all.

"I control myself just fine when the human in question isn't an impertinent brat." Sebastian snapped, his anger from earlier coming back full force.

He knew it wasn't his place to speak of the young master behind his back, but the idiotic child wouldn't pay attention during lessons, wouldn't eat what he deemed disgusting, wouldn't rest when he was ill, Sebastian was at his demonic wits end!

"While that may be true, as the saying goes-you can't punish someone for something you do yourself." Tanaka countered, sighing. It was like living with two children in the manor instead of one. Sebastian was just an adult version of Ciel really, their tempers could light a frozen room on fire. And their determined stubbornness was even worse. Sebastian's especially. Ciel had at least a minimal amount of respect for adults, while in Sebastian's case, he often drew out arguments for longer than necessary.

"Yes, but-"

"I expect you to apologize to the young master after this, Sebastian." Tanaka said, searching his breast pocket for something.

"He earned it. If I were to apologize he'd lose what little respect for me he has" Sebastian argued, watching confusedly as Tanaka pulled a ring out of his pocket.

"What the young master would have for you is not respect, but fear." Tanaka said, his usually calm eyes growing serious. "I cannot let this happen again, and without anyone else to drive the matter home to you, I suppose it'll have to be me."

The ring was held out to Sebastian, who looked at it strangely.

"What is this?" He asked, taking it in his hand. His hand tingled upon contact and he twirled the band of silver in his hand. It almost seemed to be...glowing.

"I dug that out when I figured out your true nature." Came Tanaka's voice. "Put it on."

The curiosity getting the better of him, he peeled off his glove with his teeth and tossed it aside, slipping on the ring.

He instantly felt heavy, like he'd been weighed down by chains, and his mouth stung for a moment before he ran his tongue over it, finding not sharp, deadly fangs, but plain human teeth.

That's it, that's what he felt like-human. Utterly, terribly, human.

"What...did you do?" Sebastian gasped. "I'm...!"

"Oh stop being so melodramatic." Tanaka said, rolling his eyes. "It's only temporary."

"Why?!"

"I can't punish you if you don't feel pain, even you should figure that out." Tanaka replied, his face showing clear amusement.

"What do you mean punish me?!" Sebastian demanded, shooting out of the chair to stand. He felt so much heavier now, it was depressing. Was this really how humans felt all the time? He had a whole new respect for humans now, this must be torture! How do they run as fast as they do?!

"I told you, I cannot let this happen again, you could've put the young master's life in grave danger Sebastian."

Sebastian's stomach churned uncomfortably. He knew the old butler was right, but for Tanaka to go so far as to punish him? There was no way he'd just let himself be harmed, not that the man could do anything harsh to him-he was old after all.

"Tanaka please, while I appreciate your help with understanding the young master, it has nothing to do with me personally. I can promise you it won't happen again, I'll reflect upon my actions today." There. That sounded convincing enough, surely Tanaka would have a change of heart now. Sebastian was trying really hard to look remorseful. It was so terribly obvious he was bluffing now that he was human. No wonder Sebastian could see through all their lies! It's impossible to lie with-with this-guilt!

Tanaka was never that easily swayed either. Years with the previous earl Phantomhive had taught him to tell when one was lying.

"Oh, I'm quite sure you'll reflect upon what you've done today. I will make sure of it." Tanaka said, reaching out with lightening fast speed and snatching Sebastian's wrist, his iron grip tight.

"What-wait You have no right!" Sebastian barely had enough time to gasp before Tanaka sat down in his once occupied chair, flinging him over his lap with strength Sebastian had no idea the elder butler possessed. If only he was a demon-he wouldn't have been flipped like a pancake! He really needed to eat more-he'd be harder to lift if he was heavier...

"Looks like you need a bit of attitude adjustment as well." Tanaka said lightly, pulling Sebastian's wrists behind his back and holding them both with one hand.

"Surely you didn't think that a previous Phantomhive butler such as I was just a helpless old man did you?" He continued, seeing Sebastian's shocked face.

Sebastian murmured something that sounded distinctly like 'Old man' and Tanaka looked down at the younger man on his lap disapprovingly, deciding that he'd stalled long enough.

Tanaka brought his hand down with an impressive 'SMACK!' on the demon's backside, the younger male going rigid.

"Stop! I'm not a child! I'm far older than you are!"

"Oh really? I was under the impression that you were five."

'Smack!'

Sebastian pulled against Tanaka's grip on his wrists, cursing the ring he couldn't pull off and cursing Tanaka for making him wear it. If he'd only known what it would do, he never would have put it on! No, he would've thrown it across the room indefinitely!

'Smack!'

"Enough! Didn't I say I'd reflect on my previous actions?!" Sebastian argued, kicking his legs up and down, which only served to amuse Tanaka more. The perfect Sebastian Michaelis squirming at the lightest tap-it was almost laughable.

"A child's way of getting out of punishment. Or trying to at least." Tanaka replied, bringing his hand down right on Sebastian's under curve. "I am no fool Sebastian, you've earned this."

"I have not!"

This time Tanaka ignored the demon's arguments and focused simply on smacking that wriggling, soft target. Goodness, Sebastian was dead set on fighting him to the bitter end wasn't he?

"Hold 'Smack!' still." Tanaka ordered, his tone no longer pleasant.

"No!"

'Smack!'

"Stop moving or I'll pull down your pants." Tanaka threatened, "I am not afraid to humiliate you after endangering the young master Sebastian."

Sebastian froze at the mention of his pants and stopped wiggling, choosing instead to clench his fists and bear it. He was a demon, he could handle something so trivial as a spa-no-a smacking. He refused to call it the latter. he was not being spanked.

'Smack!'

Although the sting in his backside was beginning to protest otherwise.

"Alri-ah!-Alright!" Sebastian gave in. "I'll apologize!"

"Really?"

'Smack!'

"YES!"

"A good start, but that doesn't mean I'll stop." Tanaka said, his voice one of pure amusement.

Sebastian groaned and laid his forehead on Tanaka's thigh in despair. It was really starting to hurt now, without his demonic abilities to heal him, he was feeling the full effects of Tanaka's hand.

'Smack!' 'Smack!' 'Smack!' 'Smack!' 'Smack!'

"Agh! Don't you think you've done enough?!"

Sebastian was beginning to tear up, mortified, he shook his head violently, trying to rid his face of the horrible wet drops. It did not hurt. He would not feel pain.

After about ten more hard spanks Sebastian gave in and let the tears flow down his cheeks silently, still refusing to show the man he was having an effect on him.

"Almost done, Sebastian." Came Tanaka's voice.

Almost?!

Sebastian was ready to start praying for it to end, praying. He just hoped Tanaka would get this over with quickly. He was on the verge of a breakdown. How these humans dealt with these conflicting emotions every day, he'd never know.

Sebastian's thoughts were interrupted by the clink of metal and leather sliding through cloth.

'No...no, no, no, no!'

"Wait, you don't have to do this! I'll apologize! I'll never do it again!" Sebastian cried, ignoring his pride, his age, or even who it was that was punishing him. All he felt was pain, and he hated it. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd been in so much pain. To any other human, it might've been trivial, but to a demon who's lived hundreds of years without so much as feeling the prick of a finger, it was terrible.

"Are you a creature of the devil or aren't you?" Tanaka taunted, doubling up his belt. "I thought demons liked pain."

"Inflicting pain! Not receiving it!" Sebastian argued.

"And you sincerely felt the need to inflict pain on the young master?"

Sebastian frowned and squeezed his eyes shut, more tears escaping his eyes. Tanaka was right of course, he was rarely ever wrong. But Sebastian was still refusing to understand exactly how he had done wrong.

Sebastian heard a soft hiss as the leather flew through the air and he braced himself, although he knew it would do little to stop the pain.

'CRACK!'

Sebastian grit his teeth hard, refusing to make a sound.

'CRACK!' 'CRACK!'

A whimper escaped is throat and he gripped the leg of the chair, his legs starting to kick again.

'CRACK!' 'CRACK!' 'CRACK!'

Soft sobs escaped the demon's mouth, his eyes squeezed shut in a futile attempt to stop the tears.

"Enough! I'm sorry!" Sebastian pleaded.

"I know." Was Tanaka's only response.

'CRACK!' 'CRACK!'

Sobs freely escaped Sebastian's mouth, he didn't even bother to muffle them. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been punished like this, or if this was the first time. Previous master had been ruthless enough to bet him every once in a while, but it never lasted long. Sebastian would always scare them into never doing do again...however it was obvious that Tanaka wouldn't be so easily scared. Not to mention the fact that if he gave the man a heart attack the young master would kill him, or try to anyways.

Two more swats later and Sebastian was righted, standing in front of Tanaka with his eyes cast downward. He'd surely get lectured now, Tanaka was never one to not make sure he'd understood completely. After several moments, the former butler broke the uncomfortable silence:

"You can take that ring off now." Tanaka said, gesturing to Sebastian's hand.

Sebastian quickly yanked the silver band off his finger and a wave of relief flooded through him as the pain quickly started to fade and he felt light and fast again. He would never take being a demon for granted again, he wanted to hug himself now that he was back to normal.

"I believe you have an apology to make, correct?" Came Tanaka's kind voice, without a single hint of disappointment.

"Y-yes sir."

Tanaka sighed, shaking his head amusedly "Don't be so dramatic. you're forgiven, Sebastian."

Sebastian's eyes widened and his eyes snapped up to meet Tanaka's, his eyes searching for any hint of a lie. Finding none, he raised his head hesitantly. He was...forgiven? He'd never been formally forgiven before. There were those who no longer hated him for past offenses, but he'd never been told he was 'forgiven'.

He suddenly found himself smiling slightly and nodded, turning obediently towards the door when Tanaka shooed him off. He didn't care if he had to apologize. He'd do better, no way would he let this happen again. Even if his master was an insufferable brat sometimes. Sebastian would the best butler ever.

One hell of a butler indeed.

Thank you so much for reading! I'd really appreciate a review or favorite! Also, if you have any ideas or requests, you can pm me anytime! I love challenges and I love hearing your opinions! Thanks again for all your support!

-Priscilla