Hallo thar', hope you have fun reading this as much as I had fun writing this. This story is based on another contract Sebastian had with another person, before Ciel. The setting is in Japan, made-up village, long ago. I don't really know about Japanese titles like san, chan, sama, and stuff so much so I won't be using those and I won't be using any difficult Japanese vocabulary either, forgive me on that.

Oh, and I own nothing of the Kuroshitsuji series (boo!). I do, however, own the plot, characters, and setting (yay!). Bow down to me.

Or just continue on to read the thing.

Hotaru no Hikari

The Light of the Firefly

Escape

Shiori slipped on her wooden sandals. Gently and cautiously, the young girl made her way out of her mansion, making sure no one saw her in the process. If she got caught, it would be very troublesome. You could hear no sound except the cries of the cicadas that dissolved into the warm summer night. The stars winked at the peaceful little village of Hikari up above in the dark sky.

"I need to get away from all of this," the petite girl murmured as she pushed back the bushes and leaves that surrounded the village entirely, tiny bits of rustling could be heard as she disappeared inside the dark shades of green. Shiori was making her way to the forest, and from there she could make her way to the pond – to go to her favorite place, to meet her favorite person. The seventeen year-old smiled softly as she thought of him.

After what felt like an eternity, Shiori had finally made her way to the pond. Being at the pond felt as if the time froze completely, everything was so still – except for the lightening bugs that lingered on top of the water's surface. There was a curvy bridge on top of the body of water that allowed you to exit this particular area, but she had no intentions of doing that.

A figure stood on the bridge with his back resting on the wooden railing of it, the male being very still like the place itself. Shiori recognized the man immediately, and smiled generously to herself. It was her favorite person afterall, waiting for her. Just like he said.

"Itsuki!" Shiori called out, and almost immediately the figure turned around to reveal himself, proving the young girl's assumptions right. The man smiled softly, his face glowing as the fireflies' light shined on his face. He had messy bronze hair, and was draped in his usual attire – a kimono and the belt-pocket to hold his sword in.

---

"Shiori," the young man said her name under his breath and patted her head, her steel-blue colored wavy hair that was lying freely on her back ruffled a little but Shiori didn't mind. She had other things to worry about now. The girl giggled and blushed slightly at the touch, her face now glowing the same way as the man's.

"I'm so, so happy to see you, Itsuki! I've been very, very worried lately.. I – I don't know what to do.. I think I'm going to go really, really crazy with all of this happening," the girl said with a child-like innocence dancing in her voice as she faced the insects that played around in the air, now leaning on the railings with the brown-haired man. Even though there wasn't any detectable emotion on her face at the time, her eyes showed sadness and loneliness.

Itsuki noticed this and smiled sadly at her, his fists clenched. "Hmm, it must be really difficult for you, Shiori. Losing your father and loved ones so suddenly, in such a small amount of time. You're a very strong person, Shiori.. I really admire you and your strength."

Shiori didn't look away from the fireflies, "do you really think so? That I'm strong? Right now I feel so, so worthless and small, I'm unable to do anything. There were so, so many deaths in the village recently, I'm suppose to be their leader after father and.. I've failed them, I don't know what to --"

"But there wasn't anything you could do! There wasn't anything.. anyone could do. It just happened. Don't blame yourself, Shiori. I also feel the same as you.. But it isn't fair to put all of this blame in one person!" Itsuki voiced out his reason with a much higher tone than before, Shiori was a little taken back but she didn't let it show.

"But everyone has expectations of me.. Little children look up to me and so do their parents, wondering if I can give them a good future. I don't know what to do.. I'm a failure, Itsuki, and don't try to deny it – I am, I know it. I just.. I want to fly away, like these here fireflies and just, play and glow forever.. and then hide when winter comes," the girl's eyes now glowing even brighter as two-three fireflies approached her, but quickly decided against it and flew off. Shiori frowned.

Itsuki laughed at that. "I know. I know how much you love fireflies, which is why I brought you here. Don't worry, we're going to face all of our troubles together," the man declared as he stretched out his hand and cupped one of Shiori's. The blue-haired girl blushed again at the physical contact, this time deeper than before. Together they quietly stared at the still pond and wished the time would pause.

Then that happened.

---

Shiori tried to moved her arms, but as hard as she tried, she couldn't. Her whole body was wet, dipped with both water and blood. Lots of blood sticking to her neck and chest. The girl coughed and coughed, grasping for breath. But no matter how much she struggled, only a certain crimson liquid escaped her lips as she opened her mouth widely. The young girl was battered, with her Kimono torn in various places and bruises appearing all over her body. Yet, she couldn't give up. She musn't.

And that was when she saw a tall shadowy figure. She thought it was a black cat at first, narrowing its blood-colored eyes at her. But as she blinked again and again, trying to see properly, she saw a figure of something – a something she wasn't sure of what it was, but it was staring down at her from above and had claws and heels and the most scariest eyes ever. She could see its fangs as he grinned at her, her body trembling and shaking. She hadn't been so scared in her entire life. But even with those circumstances, she couldn't help utter these words before finally closing her eyes shut.

"Help.. me."