the end

"From here on, as before, you have only one answer. You know it, don't you?" I look up at Sebastian, clutching his shoulders.

For a few moments, he says nothing, but he does finally answer.

"Yes, my Lord." He answers. Holding me tightly in his arms, he starts walking, slowly bringing his pace to a run, and jumps over the edge, into the black waters below.


one

My eyes slid open, and I squinted at the sudden brightness. Once my eyes adjusted, the first thing I saw was Sebastian, looking down at me.

"So," I said, "Where are we?" My voice sounded different; Well, not my voice, per se, but my way of speaking… I couldn't place it.
Sebastian raises an eyebrow, as if amused. "We're at home. Where else would we be?" He sounds different, as well.

"Home... The Manor?" I sat up, rubbing my eyes. "But, we left the manor. I left Tanaka, and those other idiots to do as they pleased with it. Not only that, we told them I died, just after we left. How can we be at the Manor?"

Sebastian chuckled. "Jeez, Ciel, what kind of weird dreams are you having? The only manor that I can come up with is Malfoy Manor, and last I checked, that was in a book."

Malfoy? What the hell is a Malfoy? And why was Sebastian talking to me in such an informal way? We both sound different. It sounded like an accent... American, perhaps?

"Anyway, it's time to get up. Any later, and you'll be late."

I huffed angrily. This was getting increasingly frustrating. "Late to what, exactly?" I growled.

Sebastian looked at me, obviously concerned. "You know, I thought it was a joke, at first. But now you're seriously starting to worry me. Are you feeling okay?" He pressed the back of his hand to my forehead. "You do feel a little warm... Does your head hurt? Stomach?" He pressed his fist to his lips, thought for a moment then turned his head away from me. "Rachel!" He yelled.

From the direction of his call, came a woman's muffled reply. "Yes, what is it?"

"Could you come here? I think something's wrong with Ciel!"

There were a few moments of silence, then I hear footsteps, and a person appeared from behind a wall. They took a few more steps, getting taller every time. Stairs, I assume. But I gasped when I see exactly who the person is.

"Mother?" I gaped. "This isn't even possible! How are you still−" I paused for a second, searching for a non-offensive word for my apparently still-alive mother. "Here?" I finished with wide eyes.

She placed a hand on her hip. "I happen to live here, thank you very much." She turned to Sebastian. "So what's wrong with him? As far as I can tell, he's just fine. Physically, least." She tapped her chin in thought then covered her mouth in mock horror. "Oh, my God! Don't tell me that my little Ciel has finally become a teenager!"

"I highly doubt that, Rachel. But he's acting a little stra-"

"Mother, how do you know Sebastian?" I inquired, suspicion growing. But then a realization hit me- The pentacle on my eye had been left for my Mother to see. I inhaled sharply, and slapped my hand over my right eye, turning to the bedside table for my eye-patch. But instead, all that there was, was a short table, completely covered in who-knows-what? I muttered a few curses, and turned to my other side, but the only thing there was a rather large bookshelf.

"You see? That's what's wrong. The second he woke up, he asked me where we were, and when I told him we were at home, he started talking about a manor, and a bunch of servants. And when I told him that he was going to be late, he said: 'Late to what, exactly?'"

Mother nodded, and reached out her hand to me; "Is something wrong with your eye, Sweetie? Does it hurt?" She gently grasped my wrist, and attempted to pry my hand from my face.

"No, it does not!" I snapped. "Now, answer my question. How do you know Sebastian?"

Mother let out a sigh, and said to Sebastian, "I see what you mean." Then she turned back to me. "Sweetie, he's your Dad's brother. That makes him my brother-in-law, and your uncle."

For a minute, I was stunned, but I simply sighed, and rubbed my forehead. "Mother, that is impossible. A demon such as Sebastian wouldn't be..." I trailed off, as an idea hit me.

I pulled my knees under me, and made a lunge for Sebastian's right hand.

"Demon? Really, Ciel? I'm not that mean."

I ignored him, however, and examined the back of his hand. "It's not there," I muttered to myself incredulously. The Pentacle that bound Sebastian to me was not there. I slid my feet off the bed and to the floor, and quickly glanced around me, looking for some sort of reflective surface. Across the room, I saw a mirror, and dashed to it.

"Ciel, honey, maybe you should stay in bed, if you're not feeling well-"

"Not there. Dear, God, it's not there, either. Wait- nails, too, my nails should be black. And the eyes! Sebastian's eyes should be red!" I looked down at my hands and feet. All of the nails were a light peach color. I ran back to Mother and Sebastian, and put both of my hands on Sebastian's cheeks to pull him closer. I held his face directly in front of mine, and looked into his eyes.

"No," I whispered. "It can't be." Instead of the fiery red I've gotten used to, a rich, chocolate-brown welcomed me. "That's just... Impossible..." I sank onto the bed, stunned. "Sebastian isn't a demon, and Mother isn't dead; honestly, what's next?"

Both Mother and Sebastian looked shocked. "Ciel, what gave you the impression I was dead?"

I dropped my head into my hands, rubbing my forehead. "This is all so frustrating!" I yelled.

"Rachel? What's going on up there?" Another voice that should not have been there called. More footsteps, and this time, my Father appeared.

"I guess that answers my rhetoric question," I muttered under my breath.

"Is something wrong?" He asked. My companions turned to him.

"That's what we're trying to figure out." Mother said.

While my mother and Sebastian talk to Father, I got an idea, and stood up again. I started to search the room, looking for something, and when I found it, I rushed over to it.

"Dear, God," I breathed, looking at the calendar. Today's date: March 19, 2012. "Well, that definitely explains a lot."

"Ciel, what's the matter?"

"That," I started, turning around. "Is what I have just figured out. I am not me."

"Ciel, honey, what do you mean, you're not you?" My mother voiced her confusion.

"Does the name 'Phantomhive' ring a bell?"

They all thought, but in the end, they all shook their heads.

"Tell me. What is my last name?"

"Our last name is McLencia."

I nodded, and proceeded to ask another question. "And, tell me. What country is this?"

"America. Ciel, what are you trying to prove?" My father crossed his arms.

"That, dear father, is how I'm confirming that I am not me. I am the Earl, Ciel Phantomhive. I live in the countryside of London, in the year 1889. I'm the head of Funtom Toy Company. You two," I pointed to my parents. "Both died in a fire when I was ten, and soon after that, I took Sebastian, into my service, as my butler."

Father took something out of his pocket, and tapped it quickly. He looks at something on it, then laughs.

"Planning on going as 'The Earl Phantomhive' to your next convention?" He said to me, and then turned to Mother and Sebastian. "I just looked up 'Phantomhive,' and it popped up with an anime character, from…" He squinted at the object. "…Kuroshitsuji. Black Butler, translated."

I was startled by this assumption, but I went along with it, and forced laughter with a grimace like smile. "Yes, you caught me. I was merely pretending." I stood up and shooed the three adults to the stairs they all came up."Excuse me, I'll get dressed, now."

All seemed a little reluctant to leave, but grudgingly did so, after many not-so-gentle nudges from me. As soon as they were down the stairs, I flung the door closed, and locked it.

America. McLencia. 2012. All of this was rather difficult to fathom, but considering what I'd been through, nothing should have surprised me, at that point. So, surprising? No. Hard to fathom? A little. Hard to readjust, after living in a time filled with demons, crimes, and no parents to gripe about dangerous lines of work? Definitely.

Well, that was my first impression, at least. It would definitely be hard to readjust to the lack of demons (Or at least, I hoped, the lack of demons), and getting used to being a—I hate to say it—A child. Of course, for all I knew at the time, I could have been the best form of "Police" in the world, or had the intelligence level (But not strength) of Finny.

The latter was probably more likely, considering his lack of education after turning thirteen. Although, that was this Ciel; Ciel McLencia, not the Earl Phantomhive, who just so happened to be a genius, even if not in the arts.

"Ciel! If you don't hurry up, you're going to be late for school!" I jumped, pulled out of my thoughts by my mother's voice.

Slightly startled and a little flustered, I responded, "I- um- Yes, one moment, please!" I quickly busied myself and searched for clothing suitable to wear in public, and yet, failed to find any.

Damn it! Sebastian usually did this. Where would they be? I thought hard, for a moment, wracking my memories in an attempt to recall. Yes, that's right! A dresser, or a closet!

With a new target, I searched the room again, and found a short dresser underneath a window. Upon pulling open various drawers, I unearthed different articles of clothing, yet nothing even close to what I normally wore. But upon yanking open another door behind the mirror, I discovered multiple shirts and pants, all identical. When I took down a coat for further examination, I saw a crest, on the left breast.

Weston Academy of Higher Learning. So, I was a schoolboy. What had my mother said? I'd be late for school? I guess this was the school she was talking about.

I hate it when I'm right.

Another round of loud banging from my door made me jump, and my mother's muffled voice came again. "Come on, Ciel, if you're any later, you won't have any time to eat breakfast!"

"Coming, Mother!"

"Mother? What's with this 'Mother' business? What happened to, 'Mom?'" She muttered, voice growing fainter as she descended.

As soon as I could no longer hear her footsteps, I turned back to the closet and tugged down a white button down shirt, and a pair of black trousers. With the shirt fell down a tie, much like the one Sebastian wears- sorry, used to wear. I quickly changed out of my night-clothes, and dressed myself in the uniform. Although I had a bit of trouble with the tie, I managed to successfully prepare myself for the day.

Beside the door was a bag, containing, upon a further inspection, books and notebooks on various subjects that every respectable should know about: Maths, Science, World Studies, History, English Grammar, French, and - Was that a Violin book? If I didn't know better, I would think that that damned Violin is following me. Though it did have a Violin book in it, I grabbed the bag anyway, and hung it on my right shoulder.

The walls around the staircase were completely covered in photographs ("They're in color? Amazing!"), posters ("I feel sorry for whoever had to become the Lady of Gaga. Such an unfortunate name.") and various pieces of artwork ranging from bizarre to beautiful; however, there was just a little too much going on for my tastes... When I finally reached the bottom, I was greeted with the delightful aroma of baked rolls with butter, and a view of a bright, though small, kitchen with a circular table off to one side. My mother was in front of the sink, wearing an apron, apparently washing a dish.

I cleared my throat, catching her attention. "Good... Good morning."

"Good morning," She smiled, and reached for the plate of baked goods. "Would you like some?"

"Ah- Thank you." I reached for a roll and took a bite, allowing myself bask in the warmth of the freshly baked item. On the stove, a kettle began to whistle; my mother took it and carefully poured some of the scalding water into a mug, placing a little white bag with a string in it. After setting it on the counter, she held the the kettle up to her ear and shook it, then turned to me;

"Have you ever had tea? You haven't, have you? Do you want to try it?"

"Um- yes, please. Earl Grey, if you don't mind." Mother raised an eyebrow at this, but poured another mug. A few rolls later, she handed me the mug, and sipped her own. I took a tentative sip of my 'Tea,' and was pleasantly startled by the flavor, that was oddly familiar.

Perhaps this modern day wasn;t as bad as I initially thought.


Author's Note: Okay, so this is my very first fanfic, so if anybody actually reads this, could you give me feedback on how I did? Anything grammar, or punctuation-wise, or something I might have spelled wrong. I'm trying to make this as lighthearted as I can, since I've been working on some darker stuff, too... I'm also trying to keep this as reliant to the Anime as I can, but since my main resource is the Manga, I might get some things mixed up. Brownie Points if you can figure out how I got Ciel's new last name! HAPPY NEW YEAR! (Bay Area time)