"The devil is an angel too." - Miguel de Unamuno

*Flashback*

Tired.

Hungry.

Agitated.

Impatient.

Sensitive.

Sebastian knew the signs all too well, and of all the things he just had to be in the middle of a contract. A Blood Moon was approaching any day now, and he knew the devastation that would result if he didn't take the necessary precautions.

He couldn't tell Ciel. It was his job as a butler to not only make sure that his master was taken care of, but also to protect him and make sure he didn't ruin his master's impression of him, and the form that presented itself would do more than just ruin it. It would obliterate it. Even Ciel would be afraid, and fear was not a suitable spice for that soul.

But what could he do? The walls and doors were as good as tissue paper against his demon abilities. Locks equally as weak and useless, only requiring a touch more effort to get a door open. Weapons constructed by humans prove to be ineffective at slowing him down, even if he were to be stabbed in the heart or shot in the head an innumerable amount of times.

During these times there were only five things that were efficient enough to trap him and keep the humans surrounding him safe: salt, holy water, holy relics, a trusted acquaintance, and the pistols of holy and unholy essence.

Salt was a natural cleanser. It absorbed energy, which left him feeling weak when he was exposed to it for prolonged periods of time. Sure, he could handle sprinkling it on his master's food, but a circle of salt around a human with an irresistible soul? It was like hanging meat in front of a starving tiger; so close, but still out of reach.

Everyone knew what happened to demons in the face of holy water and holy relics. They were physically, mentally, and emotionally damaging. Even though Sebastian had managed to build a tolerance for rosaries, things like crucifixes, holy bibles, and christian hymns drove him mad.

The pistols of holy and unholy essence weren't just firearms with a fancy title. These were weapons that could be used against any supernatural being; be it an angel, a demon, or a grim reaper. The bullets weren't physical in nature, necessarily. They were merely composed of the good and evil of the world, which meant there was always an infinite supply of ammunition. The one shooting the pistol could unload as many rounds as they wanted without having to worry about running out. It was pretty useful if one found themselves being stalked by a demon caught in the heat of a Blood Moon. While Sebastian used the unholy essence of the bullets to protect himself against angels between contracts, the holy essence protected his masters against him, and a bullet through the head or the heart would be more than enough to kill him. It was a last resort; a trump card against himself should he ever lose control.

A trusted acquaintance was all that he needed; someone he could trust to carry these things in the event of a Blood Moon. More importantly, it had to be someone that would have the nerve to shoot him should something go wrong and his master's life was in danger. The first person that came to mind was Bard, but despite being one of the few of them that were experienced with a gun, the chef had no knowledge of Sebastian's true nature, and coming out as a demon to someone who already feared his wrath when he messed up dinner preparations was just asking to get killed. He could ask Ciel, but it was risky. The earl was still a fragile little human, no matter how much he tried to make himself look indestructible. All it'd take was a simple swipe with a claw, and that would be the end of the Phantomhive name, and his contract.

And he knew that deep down he could never get Mey-Rin or Finny to do it.

There was Tanaka . . .

Tanaka.

When Sebastian actually thought about it, he had no idea what Tanaka's capabilities were. The man just sat around drinking tea most of the time. It was rare that he was ever in his capable servant form. He wondered, given a reason, could Tanaka stay in that form for a whole night? How good was he with a gun, and if it ever came down to it would he have it in him to shoot him? He had to know. The Blood Moon was only two nights away. If it turned out that he couldn't, that no one in this mansion could protect Ciel from him, he could always lock himself outside with Pluto.

With his options limited, Sebastian went to locate the elderly servant. He found him in the dining area sitting on his knees on a small cushion with a hot cup of green tea in his hands. Sebastian looked about him. Ciel was still in his study, and the rest of the servants were scattered throughout the estate doing their chores. The nearest person to the was Bard, and he was in the downstairs kitchen, likely burning his master's lunch; a mess that he wouldn't have to tend to for another . . . five minutes, or so. More than enough time.

"Tanaka," the butler piped up, "Can I please have a with you?"

Tanaka looked up at him and gave him a small nod as he took a fair-sized gulp of his tea. In a flash, the elderly servant was on his feet and in his most capable form.

"What can I do for you, Sebastian?" he asked, "Do you need help with something?"

Sebastian let out a sigh. He hated admitting it whenever he needed help; selfish pride, and all. But he wasn't about to lie and say he pestered Tanaka for nothing, either.

"I suppose you could say that. Yes," he replied, "but first, promise me that this will be kept strictly between us."

Tanaka chuckled, "You should know by now that I'm not one to run my mouth, sir. I promise whatever you have to say will be kept strictly between us. This is a demon problem, I take it?"

"It is, and a pretty severe one at that," Sebastian let out a sigh, "There's a Blood Moon approaching."

Tanaka tilted his head in confusion, "I'm sorry, but what exactly does that mean?"

"It means the young master is in danger."

The butler's words made Tanaka freeze. Judging from the worried expression Sebastian's face held, this could be a life or death situation; one that Ciel wouldn't be able to get himself out of.

"I'm already feeling the signs," Sebastian continued, "and as the nigh draws nearer, I find myself slowly slipping further and further away. The task of trying to act like a human grows more and more difficult. Come the night of the Blood Moon, I doubt there will even be a part of me that could be recognized as human. I'm tired, I'm hungry, and I'm frustrated. That might mean nothing if it was said by a human, but to a demon in a contract, it can spell disaster. I probably wouldn't even be able to stop myself from hurting the young master."

Tanaka was shaking. It was too easy to forget what Sebastian truly was when he acted so human, and now he had been put into a situation where the young earl would have to be physically protected against that nature; the one he hid under a convincing guise.

Sebastian took a step towards Tanaka and rested his hands on his shoulders.

"That's why I need you to do this for me," he said, "I can't protect the master from the creature that I am during the Blood Moon, so here's what I need you to do . . ."

"Remember your personal demons should be afraid of you, because you are their home, their food, and as you heal, their executioner." - Laurell K. Hamilton