I wanted to make a Christmas-themed Kuro fanfic. But I also wanted to post the first part on Ciel's birthday. The other chapters will be longer, I promise!

I hereby disclaim any ownership of Black Butler and its characters. There, I said it ;~;

And before anyone notices: I am aware that, grammatically speaking, my title should read "Ciel Joyeux." But I needed to make a play-on the phrase "Joyeux Noel." Sorry for any grammar-related aneurysms ^-^.

Please review :D

All Ciel wanted to do today was to look over the sales of his Funtom Holiday lineup (which was doing even better than he expected) and eat whatever sweet thing Sebastian had prepared for tea. Then maybe go over financial reports in front of a fire and retire to bed early if he could- the gray, snowy weather was perfect for that sort of thing.

But things never went as he planned, did they?

"CIEL!"

"I'm dreadfully sorry, young master. I would have warned you, but she came unannounced-"

Ciel finds his papers scattered and flung from his desk as a mass of pink lace and blond hair throws itself at him, nearly sending him and his chair falling to the floor.

"E-Elizabeth!" He splutters, trying pitifully to shove her off his lap and spitting out the bit of her ermine cape that found its way into his mouth. "What are you doing here?!"

"I wanted to keep you company over Christmas!" Lizzie chirps brightly. "Mother said I could come over here, and you're always alone this time of year! We can spend your birthday together too! It'll be fun!"

"I don't have time for that," Ciel grumbles, desperately trying to maintain some semblance of composure. "I'm very busy."

"Don't have time for Christmas?"

Lizzie frowns, tears welling up in her big blue eyes, and Ciel instantly feels the guilt that only that look of hers can stir up inside him.

"I just want you to be happy…"

"Lizzie…"

"You haven't come around for Christmas in years." Lizzie pouts, wiping at her tears with one of her pink mittens. "And you don't even have any Christmas decorations up- it's so boring in here! Why don't you at least put up a Christmas tree?"

She turns toward Sebastian, who has been standing by silently this entire time and trying his best not to laugh at his master's predicament.

"Sebastian! Couldn't you find us a Christmas tree? A really big one that we can cover in tinsel and lights!"

Sebastian quirks an eyebrow and looks to Ciel, waiting for his answer.

Ciel sighs in resignation. There was no stopping Lizzie when she really wanted something. Particularly if it involved any sort of celebration.

"...Oh, alright." He glances over at his butler. "Sebastian, go find us a tree."

"Yes!" Elizabeth squeals in delight. "The biggest tree you can find, Sebastian!"

The look on his butler's face is rather hard to describe. Irritated? Something up that alley, anyway. But he quickly turns that look into a polite smile, and bows in his usual manner.

"Of course, my lord." He says, though notably more terse than his usual manner. He exits the room quickly, and the door clicks shut behind him. Elizabeth squeals in delight and hugs Ciel tight once more.

"Oh, Ciel! I'm gonna make this the best Christmas you ever had!" Lizzie declares, squeezing so tightly he almost couldn't breathe. "We'll have to decorate for your birthday too! I'm gonna find you the best birthday present, and we can have Sebastian make us the tastiest birthday cake in the whole wide world!"

Ciel doesn't return the hug, but he lets her do as she wants. He simply doesn't have the heart to deny Lizzie this.

He already breaks her poor heart so much. He can't say no to this request. He'll let her do as she likes for now, because that's all he can do for her anymore.

"The biggest tree I can find, eh?"

Sebastian doesn't know whether he wants to yell in frustration or to laugh at the absurdity of it all.

Christmas. What a farce.

Humans are such foolish and capricious creatures. Leave it to them to make such a pointless celebration. As if Christ gave a damn about these people who were so devoted to him. And how very much like Ciel to be at the mercy of the whims of his silly fiancée.

Nevertheless, he heads into town to fetch the giant evergreen the stupid girl wanted so badly.

Why did Ciel care so much for her, anyway? It didn't make much sense; his young Master had never shown himself to be weak or sentimental like that. That was something for ordinary humans. Boring, weak, vile creatures.

His young master is none of these things. So what about that stupid girl made Ciel so weak? No other human ever prompted such emotions within him. Nobody else brought that same light of despicable humanity into his face.

Nobody but her.

That bothers Sebastian more than it should.

Sebastian sets the tree square in the middle of the parlor, where it left barely enough space for the star on the top. Elizabeth brought boxes upon boxes of decorations she wanted to lay out, and she herself was hard at work stringing up holly in the foyer.

"Well, if it's a Christmas celebration she wants," he mutters to himself, adjusting his gloves and rolling up his sleeves, "I'll give her one Hell of a Christmas."

In the course of one afternoon, the rather gloomy Phantomhive manor had been transformed into a glittering galleria of red and green and gold. Even the statue on the garden fountain donned a Santa Claus hat.

The entire scene sickens Sebastian to his core.

"Oh, it's absolutely beautiful, Sebastian!" Elizabeth squeals, planting a Santa hat on his head as well. "Thank you so much!"

Sebastian forces a smile and gives the slightest bow.

"You flatter me, Lady Elizabeth. But if I couldn't do this much then what kind of butler would I be?"

Ciel surveys the decorations with a mingled look of disgust and boredom. Lizzie seems oblivious to this, and squeezes him with unmitigated glee.

"Oh, Ciel! Isn't it wonderful? We'll finally have a proper Christmas together!"

Ciel sighs heavily, but he won't be the one to ruin her happiness. Besides, she look so content, smiling blissfully, the cold air painting roses in her cheeks. He can't help but reach out to brush away the snowflakes that have settled in her blond ringlets. Lizzie giggles and grasps his hand in both of hers.

"Oh, Ciel, it's going to be amazing…"

Ciel forces himself to smile for her sake.

"Hey, Ciel," Lizzie chirps. "I forgot to ask- what kind of cake do you want for your birthday party?"

"P-party? Lizzie, I-"

"I was thinking maybe Sebastian could make the chocolate gateau you love so much- would that be alright?"

Ciel huffs.

"Yes, Lizzie. That's fine."

"Wonderful!"

Sebastian holds back the urge to laugh. Ciel is red in the face and obviously flustered, and Elizabeth is completely oblivious to the turmoil she is causing his young master.

This certainly would be one hell of a Christmas, indeed.