Disclaimer:I do not own Kuroshitsuji (sadly). It belongs to Yana Toboso and its other rightful owners.
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Ciel's POV
I wonder momentarily why Sebastian had stepped out so quickly. Though after a moment, I realize it's none of my business, so I sigh contently as I lower myself into the bath and the hot water welcomes my body. I'd always enjoyed bathing. It felt like the only time of the day when I could get away from the overload of paperwork, the endless meetings and guests, the stupidity of my servants.
Most of the time, at least.
There had, of course, been occasions in which that stupid chef Bard would barge in blabbering unidentifiably about some random new dish that he probably couldn't even prepare, but nonetheless bragged about how great it would be, and wouldn't go away until either I listened or Sebastian had to makehim leave. And there were also the instances when Finny sat at the washroom door and whined about how he had nothing to do. I always told him to go plant something, but after repeated "I've already planted everything I know of, young masterrrr!", I'd adapted to just ignoring him until he got hungry and left. Maylene wasn't usually a worry. She'd faint before she could even step within five feet of this room when she knew there was a male occupying it. And Tanaka? Well... no one ever knows what goes through his head, but he knows not to bother me.
Ah, yes. Such apalling behavior was what I dealt with daily.
Perhaps, would that be one of your dreams, young master? To attain more efficient servants?
I wouldn't say it'd be my first choice as a dream. I mean, they may be idiots, but a sort of... attachment to them has grown on me, and...
I blink multiple times before looking at the patterned walls around me to make sure I was still sane.
... What was that voice just now? It had sounded like Sebastian's... but as I scan the room, I conclude that he isn't anywhere to be seen. Could he have maybe... sent it in some kind of psychic way to me? Tch, no, of course not, what was I thinking... I'd always told him not to freak me out with any of his little demon tricks or abilities. I had said he was to be a butler, and only a butler, unless in a case in which I ordered his... otherworldly... assistance. He knew not to joke around like the other brainless beings in this mansion. Besides, how did I know it was actually him? And seeing as I wasn't exactly myself lately...
How could I be sure I had even just heard that?
I lean back instinctively to dunk my hair in the water before realizing that I haven't even been washed yet. A frown crosses my face. Sebastian really had just left without bathing me.
"Of all the nerve..." I mumble to myself, then open my mouth to yell for him. Before I can even take a breath, though, the smell of shampoo wafts past me and I feel soft fingers running soap through my hair. Startled, I jolt.
"Forgive me for my absence, young master," His voice melts past me and suddenly my senses dull. "I had to attend to something quickly." I want to scold him like I usually would. "You should know not to leave your master's side at any time without permission. It's disrespectful. I expect no more of these 'absences' from this point on."
"...It's alright." is all that comes out.
For some reason I feel like it's almost impossible to say anything else right now.
Although I'm not looking at him, I can sense he's smiling. His hands are gently washing my neck and shoulders, and some kind of shiver travels from my spine to my toes, even though the warm water is wrapped around my body. I cast my eyes downwards as my heartbeat quickens slightly. What was wrong with me? He did this every night, was I ill or something?
"..ng master?" I hear his words fade in. I return to earth.
"Ah, uhm. I'm sorry. Yes?"
His head appears over my shoulder, and with a smile he moves a few locks of my still-soapy hair into my line of sight. "Please lean back so I may rinse the shampoo from your hair." I blush in embarrassment. Huh, I was irritated at him... look at me, spacing out yet again. He'd always said patience wasn't one of his virtues, but I couldn't help but wonder, if that was true, how he could put up with me lately.
"R-right. Sorry." I lean back and immerse myself, leaving only my face above the water. The shampoo slips from my hair and floats around me as Sebastian beckons it out with his fingers, and I hear him humming something. It might be a song I'm learning in my violin lessons or something of the sort, but if it is, I can't concentrate on it. I can only think of his creamy pale-skinned hands washing along me. I breathe in, a redness spreading across my face. What is it about this all of a sudden that I'm enjoying so deeply, like I'm some lovestruck girl being bathed by her prince? I flinch as I feel his fingertips run along my legs, and that shiver shoots down my body again. My breath hitches in my throat. Sebastian glances over at me, but I dart my eyes aside.
"Wh-what?" I snap automatically. He wears a slight look of concern.
"My apologies, young master, but... are you perhaps ill?" He raises the back of his hand to my forehead, and I squeeze my eyes shut. "It may just be the bath water, but your face is quite red, and I cannot help but notice you seem fidgety."
"Fidgety? Tch. I'm fine..." I retort and pull my head away, trying to seem normal. "I'm ready to get out."
I probably shouldn't have said that just then. My heartbeat hasn't slowed, and I still feel slightly tingly. Sebastian stares at me a moment longer, then stands with a nod. I wait until he has turned around to fetch my towel to rise from the bathtub.
As he dries me off, I stare blankly ahead of me, trying to keep my head clear.
Then, I realize something.
Perhaps, that would be one of your dreams, young master?
Dreams. The voice had said "dreams".
I'm about to scream. The thoughts of dreams, they're now not only on my mind...
They are haunting me.
Dreams don't come true... But now, I'm doubting that.
