AN: Hope you guys enjoy this story with a gender bent, female Ciel Phantimhive! I'm jumping right into the storyline at the ending of episode 12, season 2 of Black Butler when they are in the carriage ride away from the Phantomhive estate. Let's get right to it!
Disclaimer: The amazing work of Black Butler does not belong to me, but to the awesome Yana Toboso.

Ciel observed the demon that sat across from her in the coach. He did well in hiding his emotions, he always has, but the look on his face was something the young noble woman could not distinguish. She could never do a good job in interpreting emotions on another person, but her keen eyes could at least detect that there was something wrong. He was like this the entire day, from the moment she woke up and got dressed, it was as if a shadow was cast over his normally dutiful, morning narrations. Until later on in the afternoon, where they said their final goodbyes to Finnian, Baldroy, Mey-Rin, Snake, and Tanaka, he was as he is now. Her single blue eye glowed in a demonic crimson for a moment, her pupils once round elongated into slits. She smiled, and blinked it away, as they returned back to their original state.

"What seems to be the matter, Sebastian?" she inquired, growing tired of riding in silence. But, she could venture a guess as to what was bothering him. Her smile did not waver as she continued, "Are you really that upset about not being able to consume my soul?"

Sebastian smiled, looking up at his now demon mistress, "Only slightly disappointed that I cannot taste what was meant to be mine, my lady… I'm sure your soul would have been quite delicious… But given a century or two, I shall move past." He teased back, "And I am not upset that I am still under your command either, mistress, if that was your next question."

Ciel frowned. She was so sure that either one of those reasons was making him so downcast, "Then what is the matter?"

The carriage jostled slightly as they carried on the unpaved road. The smile molded back to a look of concern on his face as he examined her. "In this world, I can protect you for any man, bullet, or sword… But in the realm of the demons, there are some whose powers I myself can't rival."

This definitely shocked her, and she didn't try to hide it on her face. It wasn't disappointment, or anger that he was feeling because she was a new demon… "You believe you cannot protect me as you were able to before?"

Sebastian down to avoid his mistress's gaze, placing his hand to his chest, "Yes, my lady…"

"Well.." Ciel really didn't know how to reply to this. "That's a bit discouraging." Through all of their adventures, she could always count on him to protect her. He was the strongest person she's ever known… And to hear that…

He looked out the window, the setting sun cast an soft orange glow on the scenery outside, "Also, the transition between being a human to being a demon is a difficult one… You are more powerful than you were as a human, but at the same time you are very vulnerable if you do not learn how to use your abilities correctly." He looked back at her, seeing that beautiful sapphire eye observing him as he spoke, "Not only that, the psychological aspect of the change can be the most difficult…" He opened his mouth, as if wanting to elaborate further, but decided against it.

"You do not believe that I am capable of handling the stressors of being a demon?" she asked him, frowning.

"They are not simply 'stressors', my lady." Her servant argued, "With enough training, I can teach you how to hone your new abilities. The worst are the negative emotions… Along with strength and speed, they become amplified to the extreme. You will feel uncontrollable rage, and the worst the crippling sadness."

Ciel looked out the window stubbornly. What she hated the most was being questioned in her capabilities. Emotions, she was able to handle her emotions as a human, she can do it again as a demon. Her pride was one of the strongest that Sebastian has ever seen, and he knew he angered her even with the suggestion of help.

"I'm sorry to have offended you my lady, but what I say is true." He said, willing her to look at him again, "Please, allow me to assist you… It is in our mutual best interest that you survive this difficult transition." Sebastian leaned back against his seat, never taking his eyes off of hers. I've had to suffer it alone, with no one willing to guide me."

He never shared these things with her… Though, she never asked, she was sure that even if she were curious, he would simply change the subject or find a way to dance around it. Instead of turning her nose up at the idea of help from the demon, she paid attention. She sighed, "If it's really as difficult as you say… Then yes, you may help me however you see fit."

Sebastian smile looked as if a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. "I'm glad to hear you say so, my lady."

Ciel just stared at him, as if thinking of something. They sat in silence for a minute or two, before the lady finally spoke up, "As for the challenge of defending me…" Sebastian tore looked away from the outside when he felt her gloved hand on his. He looked up at her in shock, locking onto her visible eye, an expression of sternness in her face, "I believe you can, and WILL defend me when 'push comes to shove', as they say." Her stern look softened, and she smiled encouragingly.

"Mistress…"

"You are my butler, you swore an oath to protect me, and you have." She gauged his expression, and relished in the look of surprise on his face. It takes a lot to shock him, so on the few occasions she does she feels a rush of accomplishment, "You've defended me against humans AND demons alike. You fought and won against Claus, against Hannah and the three identical demons that were subservient to Alois." She lifted her hand from his and leaned back against her seat, smiling as she rested her other hand on the handle of her closed parasol. "Do not underestimate yourself… I do not underestimate you. You are still my butler. I trust you with my life, Sebastian."

Sebastian exhaled, smiling at his young mistress, "Of course, mistress…"

Ciel looked out the window when she noticed that the carriage had stopped. She was shocked to see that the sky was pitch black, and the only light was a soft white light that came from the ground. She had not even noticed the transition from the human plane into this one. She saw that the source of light were the white roses that had some sort of bioluminescence, and with each white rose there was a black rose beside it. And with every gust of wind, the beautiful black and white petals colored the black sky.

Sebastian got out of the carriage first, keeping the door open and offering a hand to Ciel. She opened her black lace parasol, taking the hand that Sebastian offered as she stepped down from the carriage. The noblewoman was about to ask where they were, but as she moved forward she still felt Sebastian's hand grip hers. She looked back to see him on his knees.

"My lady." He began, looking up at her with those familiar ruby red eyes. He bowed his head, still gently grasping her delicate fingers, his other hand on his chest. "You were right, I'm sorry to have discouraged you… I would like to renew my vows."

Ciel raised her eyebrow at him, opening her mouth to ask what he was on about, before he looked up at her again. His eyes were filled with a renewed determination, "I am your butler, your servant, now and always. I will protect you in this life as I have in your past one." Though he smiled many times before, this one was rare in that it was genuine, "For now and always.."

"Hmmm… I accept your vows." She smiled, nodding for him to stand. "I have every faith in you, Sebastian…" She gestured for him to follow her as they continued on. She wanted to say more, that she was touched by his renewed commitment. The young noblewoman was glad her encouraging words had such an effect on him, who knew she could move the demon just by smiling and touching his hand. As they walked closer to what seemed like the edge of the world, she smirked at the idea of him renewing his vows, "Vow renewal… What are we, an old married couple looking to rekindle a lost flame?" She teased.

She gasped when in one fluid motion; he swept her up into his arms like a groom carrying his bride over a new threshold. He smiled down at her look of disapproval, "If I might say, now that you bring it up my dear, I HAVE been feeling a bit neglected in this marriage."

"Heh, as if." She looked away from him. She looked around at the empty world, the world with only the glowing white and black roses. She didn't mind still being carried, his arms provided an odd amount of comfort. "This place… It seems familiar…"

"It's the 'World between Worlds.' It's familiar because you've been here." He explained as he continued to carry her, for she no longer had a look if disapproval on her face. "When I first heard your cry for help, I brought you here, I let you choose whether or not you'd like to seek revenge, or if you'd rather pass on to the next life…"

Ciel vaguely remembered this. She remembered floating above the roses, finally away from the cage those men kept her in, still in her tattered clothes. "I remember now… I was so young…"

"You chose the former." He finally stopped, and Ciel looked over to see that he had stopped right before a giant cliff, below seemed to be blacker than the sky itself. The wind picked up again, blowing a large number of those black and white petals around them. "Now, where do you wish to go now, my young mistress?" he asked. "If you wish to return to the human world, I'm sure we can still access your funds and we can travel in comfort. As long as we do not travel anywhere where you will be recognized." He stopped and considered the options, looking up at the dark sky, "China is quite impressive, the food, the culture, the clothing. My lady, you would enjoy yourself very much."

Ciel looked up at him, a solemn expression on her face as he spoke. She leaned against his chest and rested her head on his shoulder, feeling a bit tired. Looking out into the abyss, past the beautiful black and glowing white flowers, she thought about his question and his suggestions. She considered telling him that she doesn't quite care where they go, but that would have been a lie. She clutched onto the handle of her parasol tighter, thinking about all of the faces she had left behind in the human world. By now, they would have gotten the letter of her passing... She shook her head, trying not to imagine their faces once they've all read… "No, not the human world." She said, "Let us go to my new life… I was heading there after my revenge was fulfilled anyway… The place where humans go to suffer, and where demons live..."

"Are you sure?" Sebastian asked, as he stepped closer to the precipice.

"Yes. Take me there, Sebastian." She ordered.

Sebastian smiled, before making the leap. She closed her eyes tightly; the only thing real to her at that moment was his voice, as it seemed to echo among the blackness.

"Yes, my lady…"

Hope you like it so far! Please leave a review, I'd love to hear your feedback!