AN: because if my calculations are correct, today is the day they first met…

Please read and review and enjoy chapter 2! (haha see what I did there? It rhymed? No? …okay...)

I don't own Kuro… sadly :(

Chapter Two: Reunion

Monotonous decades dragged on into incessant centuries, each day rolling into the next like the never-ending tick of a clock. My surroundings changed rapidly throughout the years as I walked aimlessly on the streets of a new town, a new country, a new world that brought forth more opportunities than the last. Yet I stood there, unchanging, watching the equally tired moon wax and wane, the sun rise and fall, and the stars flicker in the sky until we were the only constants left. Soon, the little voice that called to me even during sleep faded, almost as if it never truly existed in the first place. For the foggy memories of my beginnings blurred and distorted into fleeting images that weakened over time, and if I did not try hard enough to remember, the moments were swiftly forgotten in the purple haze.

What was point of living if there wasn't anything left to satisfy you? If mortality was just a notion, and time does not affect you, then what was there to look forward to? When you are stuck in a perennial life of greed, with nothing to compensate for the amount of time still left in purgatory, then what did this "life" really have to offer? I was to watch the world wither away into nothing, to stand on the sidelines and observe events, that had little significance to me, unfold. I searched for reasons, a purpose for my time on earth. But it was unwarranted. The truth was that there wasn't a point to my existence. I was simply there because no one had cause to dispose of me.

This life made it impossible to find something that could entertain me. I was to serve a sentence that would end indefinitely, and finding valuable ways to pass the time rarely ever came.

A thirst grew within me, one that could only be quenched by consuming souls. And so, I binged on soul after soul, until I no longer found pleasure in killing.

There was a time I lived off their screams, their inner fears, and the way life drained slowly from their dilating pupils. I preyed on those filled with false confidence, an electrifying thrill shooting through me as I followed them home, concealed by the shadows.

When their once proud features groveled and begged me to let them live, the same exhilarating pulse urged me to kill, beckoning me to rip their throats apart. The shadowy hands they so desperately ran from always found a way to their chest. And, before they could even blink, those same fingers slipped into the cadaver's newly formed crevice. Taking hold of their heart, I would squeeze until the last drop of crimson fell, the final, fluttering heartbeat- their body stiffening, cold, and limp- putting an end to their struggles.

Yet over time that sensation, the excitement in possessing so much power, enfeebled me. This life became so dull, so repetitive, so boring, that I found myself wishing for it to end. So, I did the only thing I felt entitled to do to pass the time. I consumed more than my fill of souls. Each day I collected far more than yesterday, and more than the day before that. I feasted and feasted until a mountain pile of corpses fell to my feet, until I could not recall how long it had been since I had last felt anything.

A careless part of me, however small, longed for one of many souls to distract me. I yearned for one of them to stir within me, or give me something meaningful to fill the void of endless time. But souls were weak creatures, their fleeting protests silenced immediately. And much to my disappointment, none of them satisfied me for long. So I slaughtered them, one after the other, the same way a butcher slaughtered livestock for food. I desired something intangible, something lost, something incorporeal and out of my grasp.

I was often called a monster, but I do not consider the things I did as awful as they played out to be. My actions only mirrored the same corruption found all over the world. Wherever I looked, humanity found more ways to hurt one another. How I spent my time might seem unforgivable, but they were certainly not worse than what humans did when no one was looking. At least I did not feign innocence. No, I did not look the other way and pretend as if I did not feel pleasure in what I saw. I knew what I was and I only acted accordingly. Humans pointed their fingers and accused me of causing problems, but they were perfectly capable of spreading their own vices without me.

Overtime I found that I was not the only one jaded by this immortal life. Eventually demons began forming 'contracts' with humans out of boredom. A human was to summon a demon whether consciously or not, and together they made a vow to serve one another.

It was simple, really. A demon grants a human one wish, and in return, once the contract is fulfilled, the human offers the only thing they have left. In the end, the demon consumes their soul, preventing them from ever reaching heaven, and leading them down a path of eternal damnation. Should both accept the arrangement, the demon will brand the human with an insignia so that the human can never escape its inevitable death. The more prominently the mark is placed on the body, the more each side is entitled to each other. While the terms of the contract differed from each individual, it was in fact up to the demon how long he allowed his little game to last. These agreements between humans and demons were rather common, but rarely did the result of the wish turn out in favour of the human.

I too, was no exception. From the moment I made my first contract, I knew that I was an abandoned creature. There was no complicated twist in my being. If I did not feast on human souls, I would gradually shrivel away into oblivion. I was forced to violate the beloved humans made by God, but was unable to stop myself from doing otherwise. There was no punishment befitting for me in Heaven, and so I was forbidden to enter. I was fabricated from dust, a true beast thrown together in darkness.

Trapped in this ever decaying world, demons were pushed aside and neglected. We would never come to know the joys that heaven promised, and we feared the trials waiting for us in hell. If I were given a choice, I would not choose this purgatory. However, there was no hope for someone like me. I was one of many forsaken.

So, to regain what little dignity I had before this discovery, I did what all else did. I created contracts with these equally hopeless beings.

Like a puppet master, I skillfully maneuvered my way into a human's life. I quickly gained their trust and deceived them with my sweet, hollow words. Once a covenant was made, I played the role I was given until I was frustrated, and quickly granted their wish. There was brief joy in seeing the betrayal in their eyes, as they realized I had given them a split second of happiness, only to drag them off into the darkest pits of hell. What pitiful creatures, pleading for me to let them live. It was like they had completely forgotten that they would die eventually, regardless of my interference.

Most of the time I found keeping up a façade and taking the time to complete a contract was more trouble than it was worth. Associating with a human was extremely vexing indeed. Nevertheless, a soul filled with accomplishment was unquestionably more delicious than a soul only soaked with fear. So I fed on the desires of plenty, and for a while, that was enough for me.

But as time progressed, the requests echoed ones from the past until I could no longer differentiate one soul from the other. It was the same command to avenge a death that happened so long ago, or force love on another individual. More often than not, they bid me of my own affections. Their needy and tedious pleas of 'grant me immortality', or 'make me rich' drained me of my patience. Their way of exacting revenge was not even interesting enough for me to hear out their entire wish. Moreover, each soul turned out to be as plain as the last, not quite filling my appetite, and leaving me to crave so much more. Because of this, I always felt like something was missing. The little voice nudging at the back of my mind seemed to know what it was, but my interest in it was lost. I had grown old of caring, and I pacified that voice, not knowing how to reach it in the fuzziness of my own mind. I was a demon. Amongst humans, I manipulated their lives as I pleased. I could not feel anymore than I already did, nor did I want to.

I wanted nothing more than this life to end, but I feared what awaited for me beyond the depths of hell.

. . .

Nightfall came the same way thousands before it did. The eerie lack-luster of the sky made me decide that I didn't have the patience to wait for a quality soul to appear. The taste I came to acquire was rarely encountered, so I constantly settled for what was before me.

A delicate specimen of a lady was standing before me. Her long russet hair framed her face as she moved to pick up a fallen metal basin, and dust her hands off on her threadbare apron. She wiped the glistening sweat off her face before turning to enter her shop through a back door. I decided she would do, and waited for her to disappear from the sight of the casual observer. She hummed to herself in a high pitched voice and moved sideways to grasp the doorknob, innocent of the situation she walked right into. I reached out towards her, my hands ghostly wrapped themselves around her thin neck. Pulling her towards me, I could almost taste the sickeningly sweetness of her soul, when I was unexpectedly summoned.

Materializing into a large cement room devoid of windows, the stale, carnal scents attacked my senses. Light was provided by several lit candles evenly spread in a circle on the ground. Cracked walls dripping with unknown liquids enclosed a group of people dressed in long, flowing black robes. They covered their faces with expensive renaissance masks, crowding around an odd metal cage. I smelled something similar to burnt flesh, and I turned in disgust at the accumulation of tiny, lifeless creatures they had carelessly thrown into a heap. In the farthest corner, their rotting, still fleshy bodies had attracted blowfly maggots, that were slowly eating their way out.

'How degrading,' I thought. Somehow I found myself in the middle of a devil worshipping cult. The smell of sweat and blood hovered in the musty air, moving along with the sounds of shuffling feet. I was surprised they didn't choke on it, as it seemed too thick to be tolerable. The crowd's beady eyes darted back and forth when they saw me come into view. As if to mock me further with their attire, they continued to chant their incantations under their breath, waving their hands from side to side.

"It showed up! It really showed up!" They cheered in disbelief. To celebrate my coming, they applauded enthusiastically, until a portly man pushed his way through the crowd. As he continued hobbling over in my direction, huffing as he did so, he knocked others blocking his path. He took no notice of them as he made his way to me, desperately trying to gain my attention. When he stood before the rest, he arrogantly pointed his finger at me and commanded,

"Demon, grant me eternal life and wealth! I'll give you anyth-"

"No," I snapped, interrupting him before he could continue, "It wasn't you."

I scanned the room in search of my true master, the one who called upon me. 'You're not the one either… was it…? Ah, I see… it's this one…' I grinned.

As my eyes fell on him, something stirred from within me. In the crowdedness of the room, he created a sense of undeniable clarity.

This could prove to be very entertaining indeed.

Nestled tightly in the middle of the large, rusted cage, he sat quietly. His tiny hands hugged his legs to his frame. Even with the commotion of my arrival, he did not flinch. I stepped closer to the cage, slightly curious to meet the sort of person who could unconsciously summon a demon. He was a little thing who hadn't been properly fed in a while, with slick, blue-grey hair that stuck out untidily. His porcelain skin was covered with yellowing bruises which overlapped burnt umber ones. What was left of his clothing hung loosely on him, covering a branded mark that seared into the small of his back. Still bloody and new, it stained the rags with dried blood and sweat. His calloused hands were covered in grime, and shallow gashes stretched from every inch of his body. The look on his face was detached and unemotional, but his cerulean eyes burned deeply into mine as he watched me approach. While he was without a doubt a child, his features still soft and frail, his captivating eyes said otherwise.

"My, my…what a small master you are," I announced as he stood up to face me, desperately clinging onto the bars. Out of all people, I was called here by a little boy; a meek, filthy child who could barely hold his own weight. He trembled slightly, tears brimming in his eyes. Lifting his head to look at me properly, he smiled and his tears flowed freely.

'Oh my... is he honestly crying?' I thought. But as I gazed into his cobalt eyes, I realized he was not crying out of sadness. No, this one was overjoyed by the belief that someone was finally here to save him. He believed I was his salvation. I have met with others like him before. Did he plead for his pain to end until he realized his prayers would never be heard? Did he feel lost and empty when he understood that he was trapped in this cage until they decided to kill him? Was that enough to make him curse his faith and asked for a devil's help?

"You have summoned me. This fact will not change for eternity. However, it is up to you to decide which path to take. Will you make a contract with a demon, and have your wish come true?" My voice unwittingly softened, hoping he would calm down. How unusual. Here we were, a demon lowering his voice to comfort a boy. Even without creating a contract, I had changed myself for him. This had never happened before.

Despite his physical state, I could not take my eyes off of this scrawny, insignificant human. Had he been one living on the streets, I was sure I would have taken no interest in him. Nonetheless, I was drawn to him without being conscious of it, enthralled by every word he had yet to speak. He called me in midst of all his unbearable emotions. A child forsaken, forgotten by all. He was too young to have been exposed to the real world, and yet his lifeless eyes promised me that he has seen the direst cruelty that one could ever witness.

He did not need a moment to consider what such a deal entailed. He was feverishly nodding his head even before I had finished speaking. An unnatural sound came from his throat, and the tears he had previously shed vanished from his face. His eyes widened and his lips parted slightly as he struggled to regain his voice. How pitiable. It seemed that the only time he was ever heard from was when he was crying for help. He had completely forgotten how to converse like a normal person.

Tightening his grip on the bars, he glared at me and cleared his throat.

"Demon!" He abruptly shouted, his voice resonating in the air. "I will make a deal with you!"

What a strange boy. Although I had given him the opportunity to forget about making a deal, without hesitation he charged blindly into the darkness and deliberately turned his back on the light. Not many humans could agree to a contract with the same unwavering resolve. Through his words I was given a glimpse of his tortured soul. So beautiful and refined, it shimmered brightly within him. While the edges were slightly dirtied by hatred, there was an undeniable bright light, pure and unharmed, that lay in the center.

Even without being cultivated properly, his soul would be wonderful to eat. Oh, I could already taste it as I imagined it trickling down my…yes, yes. You will be my new master, no matter how small you are. I have waited a millennia to meet you and yet… I couldn't fight off the feeling that there was something wrong. Why did I feel a jab at my chest when I have finally caught you?

"Then let us mark our bodies with the contract's seal. The more visible the seal is, the more control you have over me. Where would you like me to place it?"

"It doesn't matter! Anywhere is fine, as long as I have more power than anyone else!" he spouted recklessly, the look of pure determination on his face. What an imprudent child. Was he planning on his greed to be the death of him? It didn't matter to me how he died, as long as I could have his soul in the end. So I extended my arm, the palm of my hand forcefully grabbing the right side of his head. He thrashed under me, shaking violently as an invisible pair of shackles clasped onto our wrists, intertwining us together.

"Well then, I shall put the seal on that big eye of yours, filled with hatred and despair," I told him, smiling at his gasps of pain. The shackles clamped on tighter as I made the seal, further entangling our fates with each other.

I released his head and moved my hand aside to see the mark created. A pair of newly mismatched eyes stared back at me, as the embedded insignia flashed on his right eye.

Yes…He was mine.

"What is your name?" I asked him.

"My name is Ciel… Ciel Phantomhive, who will inherit the house of Earl Phantomhive." His pride oozed from his words. I couldn't help but chuckle at his self-proclaimed title. How amusing to see a little boy playing Earl. Should I take shape of someone more suitable to be in service of a person like him?

Lifting my arms out to my side, a black tail coat and double breasted vest emerged from thin air. Along with it was the rest of my uniform: a white button-up blouse, black tie and trousers, and a pair of pallid cotton gloves. I admired my new form for a while, pleased by my attire.

"Give me any order, my little lord," I said teasingly, lowering my head to meet his fixed, glowering stare. Clenching his jaw, he gave me an impish smile. Shooting me one last, cold glance, the lines of the insignia started to glow, and he gave me his first order.

"Kill them… kill them all! Show them no mercy for disgracing the Phantomhive name!" He screamed, eyes burning with rage. I smiled before turning to the crowd who had witnessed the formation of our contract. Their terrified looks were beginning to excite me.

"Yes, master," I answered courteously, taking a step closer to the crowd.

"I have been ordered me to kill all of you. It's nothing personal, I promise…" I murmured condescendingly. Then, before any of them could cry out for help, I charged towards them. They were too slow to move away in time, their torsos crashing into my fists. Blood spurted on the walls and floor, their bodies dropping to the ground with a loud, uncanny thud. I turned back to look at my new master who was unfazed by the massacre that had just taken place.

Rather than cowering away from me, he motioned behind the cage and whispered, "Fire."