Day 1 – Curiosity

Ciel sat in his chair, his eyes closed, in his study room as he waited for his guest to come. He opened one eye and peered down the window to see a tall figure wearing black and white attire walking towards the manor's front doors.

"Sebastian."

"Yes, my Lord. Are you sure you wan—"

"Didn't I say it was an order from the beginning? It's just one of Trancy's requests. I need to fulfil his request to keep him interested in my business. Stop asking me." Ciel grunted.

"I think he would be interested no matter wha—"

"Sebastian. That's enough. It's your time to leave now."

Sebastian blinked and leaned towards Ciel, kissing him. "Yes, my Lord. You seem in a rather bad mood today. I shall not disturb you."

Ciel blushed, glaring at Sebastian's back, but licked his lips where he had made contact with him. Why does he taste only of sweetness…? Do all demons taste like this? He shook his head, and got rid of the thought quickly.

Ciel stood up and faced the window, looking outside at the grey clouds. He took the letter from Alois, which he left on the windowsill earlier that day. "One week…butler swap…Claude will come around eleven o'clock, hm? How childish…"

He heard footsteps near the door of his study room, but did not turn around. Why did he have to put up with the bastard?

"Claude Faustus, at your service, your..." Claude bowed at the entrance of the room.

"Just call me 'Lord'. It's disgusting to share the same reference as that Trancy."

"Yes, my Lord." The tall demon stood up. "I apologize for being a minute late."

"Claude, I have a guest visit tomorrow, you know that, do you?"

"Yes, I do. Sebastian has given me your schedule for the next two days."

"List the events out."

"Tomorrow, you have a guest visit, and violin class. The following day, you have dance, Latin, and history class."

Ciel frowned, glaring outside the window. Claude noticed the sudden tenseness coming from Ciel and spoke: "If you dislike taking your lessons with your tutors, I do not mind teaching you myself."

"Are your ways of teaching different from Sebastian's?" Ciel continued frowning, remembering Sebastian slapping his palms the other day for not taking notes.

"You will see if you let me try." Claude's blank gaze seared onto Ciel's back.

"I'll consider it. Postpone the appointments to next week. What time is it?"

Claude whipped out his pocket watch. "It is already ten past eleven. Shall I prepare for your rest?"

"Alright. After that, prepare the mansion for tomorrow." Ciel paused. "Actually, prepare the mansion now. I would like to see how fast and neat you are compared to Sebastian." Ciel spoke as he walked towards the kneeling Claude.

"Yes, my Lord."

Compared to Sebastian, Claude seemed a taller, larger, and more mature demon. How curious. Claude suddenly thought heard a noise behind him and quickly turned around. However, it was only imagination and he turned his head back. He turned back, and his lips accidentally brushed against Ciel's who was about to question why he had turned around. Claude's eyes widened as he moved his head slightly backwards, looked at Ciel, and quickly stood up. "I apologize. I shall start preparing now." He spoke and turned around, holding back his stutter. Ciel's eyes stayed widened as he stared into Claude's back, his tongue quickly darting to his lips. Claude tasted…different. How strange…

Claude went to the guest room first and started cleaning. Ciel observed him from the couch, his arm resting on the armrest. Claude soundlessly produced a duster and dusted the cabinets, the tables, the desks, and quickly mopped the wooden floor. He hastily walked out and continued for the next few rooms. Finally, he went to the dining room. He walked over to the end of the rug, which cushioned the table and chairs from the marble floor. Throwing his glasses high in the air, he suddenly grabbed it and somersaulted, flipping it over, sending chairs and table into the air. Ciel gazed in shock, his jaw dropped open, at Claude. The demon jumped up and produced plates and cutlery, evenly throwing them out to each seat. He evened everything out as the tables and chairs landed onto the floor with a rather soft thud. Claude keeled and looked up, his glasses slipping back onto his face.

Ciel continued staring at him. Does he do that every time?

Claude walked towards Ciel. "Are there any colours or specific patterns your guest prefers?"

Ciel blinked and returned to reality. "Y-yes. They like gold and red, I believe. Why?"

"I can change the colour of this room, if you'd like."

"S-show me." Ciel stuttered, still amazed from what Claude had just done.

Claude walked over to a corner of the room and jumped up, and softly tapped his clean shoes onto the wall and pushed himself forwards. Not even within a blink, the colours of the walls changed from blue to red, the highlights from silver to gold. Even the marble floor changed from black and white to beige and dark crimson.

Ciel took a few steps backwards. "I…I can't…what…" He stuttered.

Claude looked up at Ciel with a blank face. "I apologise if I have shocked you."

"No…No, it's alright." He blinked and heaved a sigh. "I'll be going to bed now."

"Yes, my Lord." He bowed as they both exited the dining room.

As they reached the room, Ciel sat down on his bed and lay down.

"Young master, would you like me to change your clothes?"

"Um…" Ciel hesitated.

"If you feel embarrassed or feel that you would need some privacy, I will stop."

"Alright."

Claude took the nightwear and moved towards Ciel, the young boy stood up, stretching his arms. Claude unbuttoned Ciel's vest and shirt, easing them off Ciel's shoulders as the younger one looked aside, obviously ashamed of the mark on his side. However, Claude only blinked and took no notice of it, and kept calm. Ciel crossed his arms. "It's cold, hurry up."

"Yes, my Lord."

Claude took off Ciel's boots and socks, and began to unfasten Ciel's belt buckle when a hand stopped him. Claude paused, looked up, and stood back.

Ciel looked up at the larger man and signalled him to put his nightwear on first. Claude did so, and Ciel took his pants off for the butler to wash after that. He then pulled back the sheets, letting Ciel climb onto his bed, then tucked him in. "Well then, good-night, my Lord." He blew out the candles and prepared to leave.

"…Wait."

Claude stopped in his tracks, holding the clothes in one arm. He walked back towards Ciel.

"What is the matter?"

"…Hm…do demons not only have one taste?"

Claude blinked and looked at Ciel with confusion, putting down the clothes on the end of the bed. Surely he wouldn't mean…

"I mean, can they change the way they taste? What do they truly taste like, I wonder?"

Claude kneeled before Ciel. "I believe there are some demons who regularly change their taste in order to hide their true taste. But for us, regular demons, we can change our taste at will, however, our true taste will be revealed when we are either shocked, surprised, confused, or have a sudden wave of emotion."

"I see…"

"May I enquire as to why you asked me this?"

Ciel snatched Claude's glasses off and yanked the collar of Claude's white shirt. Claude froze, as he tasted pure sweetness, spreading across his lips. He slightly hesitated, but then took control and taking his gloves off, he placed his warm fingers at the nape of Ciel's soft neck. Claude slipped his tongue into Ciel's mouth, caressing each other slowly as they took their scents in. Ciel placed one hand on Claude's shoulder as the demon pushed him down onto the bed, leaning over the other, and Ciel's small body between his legs. Claude broke the kiss suddenly, looking down at Ciel's red lips. "I'm sorry."

"There is no need to apologise…" Ciel blushed, as he spoke quietly.

Claude only gave a quick, small smile and bid his master goodnight.

"Goodnight, Claude."

Ciel curled up in his bed, putting his nimble fingers to his lips. Claude tasted…rather sweet…sort of bitter…yet somehow salty. The sweetness and bitterness reminded him of chocolate, but nothing explained the saltiness. To tell the truth, he didn't really hate it. He was satisfied that he had taken advantage of a demon. Ciel blushed, pulling the bed sheets close and nuzzled his face against the fragrant scent.

Claude licked his lips as he sat in the guest room. He took off his glasses as the tasted the pure sugariness, which lingered on his soft lips. Pure sugariness he could never have. Whatever. Fate was a twisted thing, anyway. It was a twisted fate where freedom is nothing but a lie. Living a lie. What is freedom? What is happiness? What is sadness? What is love? …Love? Demons do not need love. They have nothing but cruelty and lonesomeness. Being rejected from the world…at least, he knew he was. What is…

Claude suddenly blinked, and everything became slightly red. He blinked again, and felt something warm and salty sliding down the corner of his eye. His hand reached up, smudging the red trail, and he lifted his finger to look at the deep crimson tear. Demons cry blood.

"I should stop thinking of such things."