This is the first chapter of War of 1,000 Years (obviously, I mean, did you read that BEAUTIFUL title before you clicked on it?). BECAUSE there are other characters in this fic that helps it roll along (because an ENTIRE fic with only two characters will be boring) it is reccomended that you read the prologue, The Pulses, which explains things a bit furthur, otherwise you will understand NOTHING. This is your LAST WARNING.
AHHHHHH! This week has been HELL! I mean, okay, I had a 5 day weekend off for Memorial day, but do you KNOW what there is to do when all your friends go away and your family is too cheap to go on vacation? NOTHING! So I spent my time listening to a lot of SHINee and watching TobyGames videos on YouTube. Evidently, I became so lost in the music that I... kinda... forgot to upload. *throws boxes of cookies into the crowd* LEAVE ME ALONE! DDDX
Disclaimer: I don't own Ciel or Sebastian.
Ciel was in a bad mood when he woke up. Sebastian's mood, however, was that of clear skies before a storm. Waking up from his nap, the ex-butler made his way to the kitchen with an after-sex smile on his face. Cleaning up Ciel's cum on the floor and putting away the breakfast for when the master woke up, he felt simply at ease. This easiness was reflected in Delilah, who perched herself happily on Sebastian's shoulder, cooing into his ear. Sebastian stroked her beak before letting her take her leave to dig her talons into the couch.
Sebastian decided that it would make due to pass the time to go outside and take a walk instead of being cramped inside the small house. He would feel guilty for leaving his master—lover—alone in the house with no protection, so he quietly made his way to the young demon's room. He turned the knob slowly while creaking the door open. His efforts, however, were in vain, as the boy was already wide awake, sitting atop his bed with his legs crossed, his arms folded on his chest, and his eyes glaring deeply into his butler.
"Oh, my, you're awake," Sebastian said, smiling broadly. "I was going to wake you. I'm going outside for a wa—" Sebastian was cut off by a pillow to the face. Ciel would have thrown something harder, maybe the lamp on his desk, but his ass hurt too much to walk. "… Master? Have I displeased you?" The ex-butler put on his innocent face.
Ciel crossed his arms, grimacing as he noticed he should be trying to pull his white shirt down more to hide his no-longer-virgin privates. "Yes, very much," the young demon snapped. "Thanks to you, if I move a single leg muscle, my entire backside hurts. It's all your fault for going so rough without giving me the slightest insight as to what we were doing! You're SO going to be punished for being so cheeky about this." Ciel narrowed his eyes and glowered at his butler. Said butler, however, chuckled to himself and leaned graciously against the door frame. Crossing his arms over his chest, ruffling his tie a bit, he looked back at his master with a jesting glint in his dark maroon eyes.
"I told you I would not hurt you on purpose, didn't I?" Sebastian mused. "Every ounce of pain you are currently feeling is completely natural, and should be gone in an hour or two. That sour look you have doesn't suit your adorable face, so please, Master, be happy, for things could have gone much worse." At the end of it all, the butler looked down sorrowfully, as he would have accepted any sort of punishment for displeasing his master. The master, though still frustrated to a point of almost madness, simply sighed and stopped frowning.
The master could not meet the gaze of the older demon, but, keeping a remorseful look, he said, "I could not be mad at the man who only kills me because he loves me." His head snapped up to look at the man, but his face was twisted and his eyes had a menacing look. Sebastian felt as if he had been shot down on the spot. "But if you ever go rough on me again without my consort, even if you cannot help yourself, then consider yourself a dead man, Michaelis. A dead man indeed. Got it, dog?" Ciel snapped. Sebastian smiled and bowed at the door.
"Yes, my lord." Sebastian got up and look at his master in the eyes. "It is a nice day outside, and I figured I would go out for a walk. With your permission, I'd like to—"
"Yeah, yeah. Go ahead," Ciel waved him off, laying down on his stomach to protect his throbbing arse. "It's not like I'm going to be captured by some pedophile with no life here anyway. Breakfast is in the fridge, right? Off with you then." The young demon closed his eyes and pretended to fall asleep while the older demon bowed again and left the room. Whistling between his fingers, Delilah perched herself on his shoulder comfortably like a queen, and they left without another word.
As soon as they were out of the house, Sebastian called forth a surge of energy and transformed into his demon form. He thought it was much more comfortable to be in his old skin rather than his human form. He felt more powerful, like he could do anything. There was no suit to constrict his movements—only the tight leather shorts and spandex tube top that covered the top of his chest were protecting his body. The long knee high boots with the witch's tip were popular among the demons, as it made them feel closer to the negative energy of their king, Beelzebub. Flapping his pitch noire wings once or twice to stretch them out and ruffling his usually crisp hair, Sebastian walked into town. Delilah flew off her perch and landed on the cracked sidewalk next to him as they left the fenced in property.
Usually, sentinels stay in their animal form throughout most of their lives, but, due to recent mutation and experimenting on some, a few were able to become demons, but only if their masters allow them to. Sebastian didn't particularly care, as Delilah could do many things in her human form. The old crow fell back into a portal of swirling darkness that appeared out of nowhere. Lasting for seconds, Sebastian did not want to be kept waiting. Walking away from the portal, he must have been halfway down the road before Delilah's head and large breasts popped out from the swirling terror.
Delilah looked much like a woman version of Sebastian, except for a few aspects. Her hair was curly and long, so she tied it up and let it hang over her left shoulder. She had no tan whatsoever, like her master, but for some reason, her face always looked like she had heavy makeup on. Her lips were always the color of rouge roses and her narrow, wise eyes were dark like galaxies. She, however, did not have wings like her master. The beauty at a ball, no less.
"Wait for me!" Delilah snapped. Her voice was mature and soothing like velvet. She could command an army with her voice alone, for when she barked, everyone listened. "I didn't take that long, did I?" Sebastian rolled his eyes and ruffled his feathers.
"Of course you did," Sebastian answered. "Otherwise I wouldn't have left." Delilah crossed her arms over her massive chest and huffed. They continued on in silence for a mile or two until they crossed into a heavily populated area. The grey sidewalk became jagged with edges threatening to trip passersby. The children of sin, as young demons were called, were surprisingly not out playing. 'That's strange,' Sebastian thought. 'Usually they're out pulling pranks on the police. I wonder what's going on, making the town so solemn.' Passing by many colorful houses, ever growing bigger and taller, the two noticed that many were home. There were not a lot of others about. How strange. Demons who were out frolicked to and fro from their jobs just to pass time. They need not money, nor do they need to buy food. They did those things just because they could, and the king would have it no other way. The sentinel-demon was more than obviously getting closer and closer to the winged demon as they crossed paths with the police that were chilling in an alleyway.
Donning black dark-magic proof cargo vests and jeans, they were the serious part of Hell. They serve the king and only the king, which is why they need to be attentive at all times. Glaring their ice cold eyes with thick eyebrows knitted, the pedestrians ignored them, as they had no business with them. The authorities, however, only kept staring at them. Delilah bolstered her dignity by keeping her head high and steadied her fast pace. 'Running away is for imbeciles,' the crow thought stubbornly. Turning her head away so she could space out, she explored the vast cavern of her mind and gasped inwardly. How could she not think of it before? "Where are we going, anyways?" Delilah asked, turning herself to face her master. Sebastian shrugged.
"Wherever the wind takes us, I guess," the demon answered simply. Delilah pressed onward. "Maybe we could visit Yamane and her husband Kendrick. It's been a while since we've visited, and they were so nice to us when they let their son show Ciel around so I could attend to… other matters." Sebastian's face went dark at the memory, but soon shook it off. "I wonder how they're doing." Delilah oh'ed and faced the sidewalk. They were a block away from the busy house of dolls.
Upon arriving, the two found themselves in a questionable situation. The front door to their baby blue colored house was wide open and they could pick up screaming with their sensitive ears, and immediately, the two sprang into action. Running up the path and bursting through the entrance, they looked around. Nothing seemed to be harmed. There was no broken glass from the creepy porcelain dolls hanging by their necks on the white ceiling or the pictures on the green walls. A loud weeping was heard from the other room. On a calmer note, Sebastian and Delilah made their way to the weeping Yamane.
The old she-demon had greying hair that was braided down her back. Had she been a human, she would be in her 50's. Her usually smiling face was stuffed into the palms of her hands as she sat on a couch with a midnight blue cover. Her family was around her, comforting her through their own tears. Only Kendrick, an old male demon with a short beard and skunk eyes, noticed the two enter. He placed an arm around his wife and pulled her into a hug. Their son, Eli, who sat on the floor with a dark look on his face, turned to see Sebastian and Delilah looking aghast. The child had wavy caramel brown hair, like his father, and looked only 15.
"What happened, Lady Yamane?" Sebastian asked, truly sincere in his words. He had known the old woman since she had been a nanny for him as a child of sin. It hurt to see her so withdrawn, so hurt. Yamane looked up from her hands and wiped her eyes before blinking at the speaker. Her soft face was red and streaked with tears.
The lady sniffed and reached behind her before pulling back and handing an opened letter to the demon before breaking down crying again. Kendrick massaged circles on her back and cooed her out of her state. Delilah peeked over Sebastian's shoulder and read the letter.
Dear Sermons family,
Due to recent activity in the Interdimension, we have suffered a great loss of soldiers to fight for our sanctifying sin. Angels have called on a war for crossing into their dimension for our loved ones, and we are paying for it. If Hell doesn't do anything soon, we will be destroyed. Our census counts that your family has a man and a male C.O.S. (child of sin). Have them ready in a week. A branch of our militia will pick them up for training, and if you try to refuse, we will have you at the throat. We will see you then. Uniforms and food will be provided on the ride.
Sincerely, your king,
Satan
"You two are going to war?" Delilah asked, astonished. She could not imagine that the old Mr. Sermons would be able to survive such pandemonium. As for Eli, he was just a child. The stress of war would ruin him for good. His childhood, his precious childhood, would be gone, and so would the rest of this generation's boys. Yamane nodded, not taking her face out of her hands. Sebastian did not pay attention, though. His mind was on other things.
"Do you know the age of the youngest one who's joining the army?" Sebastian asked hastily. Maybe they wouldn't… They couldn't…
Kendrick started to talk this time, as Yamane wasn't able to. "I believe that someone down the street had that question and asked the king. The king replied, 'All those who have already entered the heat should be old enough.' Oh what should we do? Eli only entered just half a year ago!" Eli's face turned red for a moment, but he soon saw how tender the situation was and pushed his thoughts aside. That was enough Sebastian needed to hear. He took off in a dash out of the house, dodging all the hanging dolls, and down the street.
"Wait for me!" Delilah commanded. She could feel her master's fear taking over. What could he be so worried about? She took up a run, as changing into her bird form would only waste time. Then again, running in heels wasn't her best idea…
Ciel woke up again to a knock on the door. Grumbling, he pushed himself off the bed and started to leave his bedroom before he noticed that the only thing he was wearing was a white shirt. The young demon sighed and grabbed his pajama pants from earlier that morning and slipped them on, ignoring his boxers. 'What he doesn't know won't hurt him,' Ciel thought, thinking of Sebastian while approaching the door. Upon opening it, Ciel started strictly, "You know, you could have just used the keys—and you… aren't… Sebastian…" Ciel examined the two men in grey uniforms standing at his door, each carrying a satchel at his waist. One was a wolf demon, complete with grey ears and a big fluffy tail, and the other was a bear, brown ears and a big stomach, though his tail wasn't visible. Both held solemn faces. "Well? What is it you want?" Ciel snapped at the two men.
The wolf immediately took out a letter from his satchel and held it out to Ciel, who grabbed it with a ferocious glower. "Are you by the name Ciel Phantomhive?" he asked. Ciel yupped and went to shut the door on the two creeps before the bear demon put his foot in the way, ultimately stopping the door. "By jurisdiction of law, we are to watch you read the letter." Ciel quirked an eyebrow, but said nothing. Beelzebub had strange ways of ruling his kingdom. Instead of inviting them inside—in case they wanted something out of the fridge, he wasn't obliged to show them hospitality—the young cat demon opened the letter with one sharp nail and took the single piece of paper from the envelope. He read it silently as the distracting glances from the cops pierced Ciel through the paper. The young demon looked up after a while.
"A war?" Ciel asked. "What about it? Th-there's no way I'm going to war." The young demon couldn't believe his eyes. He couldn't fight. He couldn't do anything to protect himself. He always relied on Sebastian for help, and his every beck and call were always answered. He was way below the average strength and endurance for his age group. A sting in his memory and pride remembered a time when he went to the park and got dog piled by a toddler with a menacing intent to break his bones. He had fought long and hard with the baby and survived until the toddler's mother had broken them up. Ciel shivered at the thought of being pinned down by a force that was supposed to be so much weaker than you while screaming bloody murder for someone to help.
"It is required," the bear demon answered with a lisp. He pointed to the ex-earl. "One week. Have Omen and yourself ready. We will pick you up." Ciel stopped listening, looking dumbfounded. The name Omen confounded him. The bear carrier saw this and said, "Your registered roommate? Omen Macabre?"
"My only roommate is Sebastian Michaelis," Ciel said in a bored fashion. Something suddenly sparked in his brain and he had a surge of memory, much like a flashback. He was young and human, and dressed in filthy clothes. He was standing before a burning building and was being overshadowed by a young looking demon butler. He was about to walk away but the earl had grabbed him by his tailcoat and looked up into his burning eyes.
"Demon, what is your name?" his younger self asked. He was innocent, and even though he was doing his best to look tough, he was shaking in his shorts. The demon looked back at him and smiled kindly.
"Whatever it is you wish to name me," the elder said. Ciel thought and thought. 'What should be my butler's name? I can't possibly name him "Dog", even though he practically is one as far as I am concerned. Dog…'
"Then… Sebastian. Your name will be Sebastian."
Ciel snapped back to reality. 'That's right. I gave him that name. He didn't have that name before, of course.' The young demon felt stupid. All this time he spent with his butler and he always assumed his one and only name was Sebastian Michaelis. He shook it off and looked back at the two soldiers at his door. "Yes. I shall tell Se—Omen. Thank you." He stepped back and put his hand on the door.
"No, thank y—" the bear would have said, but the child shut the door in his face. He knew he shouldn't have been so rude to the men, they were only doing their jobs. But, Ciel had other things on the mind. Sitting on the couch, accompanied by a curious Jasmine, Ciel was getting ready to give his butler a mouthful.
Omen arrived home soon after. He had seen the soldiers leaving, and took this as a sign to spur on. Cold air blew his bangs and the cracked pools of cement clack-clacked below him, smacking his heels each and every time. People looked at him weirdly, but Sebastian didn't care the slightest. He was too focused on getting to his Hell House and protect Ciel, his little lover, from reading the letter, even though it was useless, and he knew. This wasn't the first gathering-for-war season he had been through, and this certainly wasn't the last. He knew. Yet, he continued on, the endless and relentless sidewalk separating himself from the child he calls his own.
"Ciel!" Sebastian called as he burst through the doors. He was shocked to find said demon sitting on the coffee colored couch, one leg crossing the other, arms folded across his chest. The stern master narrowed his eyes, and he would have looked more threatening, had Jasmine not been sleeping atop his teal hair or the fact he donned pants that had many shades of pink on them, forming a plaid pattern. Sebastian cringed nonetheless.
What took you so long, Sebastian?" the ex-earl asked. "Or should I say, Omen Macabre?" It had been quite a while since Sebastian had been called "that name". It was only used to address him properly. Sebastian shook it off. His master was more important than his thoughts. Closing the door behind him, he walked over and stood before his master, casting a large shadow over the boy from the lack of light. The boy did not waver.
"Did you read the letter?" Sebastian asked. Ciel narrowed his eyes to a squint.
"Your master asked you a question first, dog," the young demon snapped, yet not disturbing Jasmine. "Stop being so glib and answer me already." Sebastian's eyes started to glow out of rage toward the child, which caused a chain effect and Ciel's eyes glowed in counter. The room had a haunting presence, and the room had quickly darkened before fluctuating as Sebastian blinked his eyes and sighed earnestly. Their eyes returned to normal.
"This is very important, my lord," Sebastian almost yelled. "You have no idea how risky opening that letter is. Families have been ruined by it in the past. A war is about to happen, and—"
"I know," Ciel answered. He seemed almost depressed. "I know. I read the letter." Sebastian's heart sank with those words. He rose the young demon for so long, and had grown attached to the boy. The boy was fragile, like the burgeoned white roses he used to love so much. The child of sin was beautiful, Sebastian loved his bittersweet personality, and he couldn't imagine a life without the boy. But, he was certain of one thing—the boy would die if he was called to war. The angels held the power. Before he could let his tears fall, the demon butler got on his knees and pulled the younger into a hug. Jasmine slid down Ciel's back and would have woken up, but she was just too tired, so she limply snored in a vast darkness of the dream dimension. Sebastian buried his head in his master's shoulder, pulling him closer.
"Oh my lord," Sebastian whispered softly. "What have you done? You have put yourself at death's row. I just… I couldn't bear to lose you." The young demon was touched by the words that poured from the elder's heart. He had never felt so touched, so loved, so wanted. He wanted to hold his butler close, to hold and never let go. He started to lower his head and lifted his arms around Sebastian's back. Wrapping him in an embrace, Ciel's eyes fluttered shut.
After a while, a tension accumulated and both were aware. They were, though uncomfortable, afraid to move away from each other. Sebastian, though apprehensive, pulled away, but just enough to look at his master in the eye, The earl had a spark in his azure eyes, something Sebastian had only seen during lessons a week ago, when the child was introduced to the heat. 'He wants me,' Sebastian thought. 'But, he's shy.' Slowly and steadily, Sebastian half-lidded his eyes and got closer and closer to his master. After seeing what his butler was doing, the young demon mimicked his movements and slowly but surely made his way to his butler, With slightly parted lips, the two could not see each other's mouth over their cheekbones. Closing by the millimeters, their lips just brushed, grazed the skin, and that was all time allowed.
"SOMEBODY IS GOING TO DIE!" The door banged against the wall sharply, resonating throughout the house. And angry Delilah with a murderous intent strewn across her face looked right at the butler, who by the way, stood up from his master so fast, you could almost see his ghost still kissing the young master. Jasmine woke up with a start and looked around, wondering how he got from her master's head to the couch. Everyone then focused on Delilah. "You left me alone in the city! Then, the police thought I was an astray human, so they put me in a cage and brought me to Beelzebub! Yes, Satan! He started yelling at me, and because the cage had a stupid dark magic barrier, I couldn't transform into a raven. Then I told them that I had a sentinel tracking chip in my back. So—and here's the good part—they had me put on a stripping show in front of everyone! Even the king! I have never felt so humiliated in my LIFE!" Delilah continued to whine as she fell to the floor, violated. Sebastian puckered his lips and smirked, the big and inevitable question on the tip of his tongue. Should he play THAT card?
"I take it you enjoyed the attention like the whore you are?" Sebastian bluntly asked. Yes. He played THAT card. If Ciel had to sum up the events thereafter until the next day, he would say that all Hell broke loose and the war was momentarily forgotten in the piles of broken glass and drops of blood Sebastian had shed with jesting laughter.