Chapter Three – Here In Pairs

Pairs, the city of love. Ciel scoffed, not believing in the idea of romance. But he did feel a slight happiness that he was here with Sebastian. But there was a slight dampness on the situation – he had ordered Sebastian to accompany him here. What was there to like about that?
He looked down at his small, feminie-like body. He was short, for a man. Only 5"11. It didn't help that his skin was flawless, smooth and a pale cream colour, or that his eye was a stunning bright blue.
He sighed deeply, unaware that the demon was looking at him, before letting his mind focus on the task ahead of him. He let his eye roam around the area, searching for something that only he would recognize. He wouldn't recognize it from sight, but from how it made him feel. He shuddered as images from the last time he had had to do this came crawling back into his mind. He mentally put up the barricade preventing the images from making him miss anything.

Sebastian, being a demon, couldn't help but know that Ciel was once again getting the images from the last time they had been here. It had been a horrible experience. The demon had found his master tied and gagged, being held hostage underground while a group of men and woman beat him to near death.

Even the demon had shuddered when he had found the boy. Ciel; livid with bruises of all shapes, sizes, and colours throughout his body. An angry red cut on the side of his neck, and another down his thigh. The only good thing that had came out of the situation was that Ciel had allowed Sebastian to take his time killing the offenders for marring his precious Master. And the butler had even let Grell help.

But it was time to stop thinking like that. Ciel had clearly found the place that he was looking for, and off they went, though the demon butler had no idea what they were searching for.

CP-SM

It was two hours later when Sebastian heard the cry of victory from the man. He turned to find Ciel holding two rings on a chain – the blue Phantomhive diamond, and the other a silver band, engraved with vines and leaves.

Sebastian's eyes widened as he realized that they had been missing they whole time they had been in London, and that he had thought that Ciel had carelessly lost them. He bowed his head, ashamed that he had thought of his master so careless, especially of the only thing that he had left of his Mother and Father. Yet, he didn't recognize the silver band, though it was clearly an expensive ring.

Is it a gift from Lizzy? Why is it around the chain with the Phantomhive ring? Is the trinket that special to him? Thoughts that circled around the butlers' head, not leaving nor stopping, no matter how hard he tried to think of other things. If not Lizzy, then who gave him that ring? What is the significance of it?

He sighed, realizing that his master wanted to go. With a small smiled, he gently cradled the grown man in his arms and made the jump up to the surface, where he put Ciel firmly on his feet.

"I am glad to see that My Lord is so cheerful."

Ciel laughed, a deep rumbling laugh that Sebastian hadn't heard in years. He couldn't help but smile as he watched the Lord, but there were still the unanswered questions in his head. But his thoughts were broken by a quick reply.

"I am not cheerful, as you call it. I am relived. Part of me has been restored, and maybe now I can forget this awful place." He had put more emphasis on the words 'cheerful' and 'relived', Sebastian noticed. But he smiled, and he knew that Ciel knew that the demon didn't believe the explanation.

But he didn't say anything, so that he didn't cause offence to his master. He smiled once again at the man before going back to his private thoughts. He remembered the nine-year-old boy that had summoned and formed a contract with him, perhaps without fully understanding the consequences of his actions. The 14-year-old calmly dealing with the White Lady. Then going through the ages, growing mentally and physically through the years. And now he was a man of 25.

Sebastian couldn't help but be proud. For it was the demon whom had raised him from the time that Sebastian had been summoned. It was Sebastian whom had taken care of the lessons, and the protection of the boy.

Though the relationship was one of Master and Servant, Sebastian was mostly allowed to do as he saw fit. Apart from the occasional orders and commands, he was treated as an equal. There was a lot of respect in their relationship, something that had grown as Ciel had.

But the demon wanted more. They were in Paris! The beautiful city of love! And all Ciel could do was focus on work. He knew that his Master was probably clueless about the demons feelings, but even so, Sebastian kept them hidden, waiting for the day…

SM-CP

Ciel glanced down at the chain carrying the rings in his hand, upset that Sebastian had not recognized the ring that the demon himself had given him as a present. That the butler hadn't realized both the Phantomhive ring and the silver band were missing in the first place.

But he would not show Sebastian his tears, or confide his fears in the demon. He couldn't help but think back to the moment when Sebastian had given him the beautiful gift.

Flashback

It was Ciel's 22nd birthday, and both the butler and the Phantomhive heir had taken a walk around the beautiful gardens, taking time to enjoy the sunshine and the company of the other. They had been by the huge oak tree at the back of the house, watching Pluto run around the estate, enjoying the freedom, when Sebastian had broken the silence.

"Happy Birthday, Master. I hope that you have a pleasant day."

With this whispered words, his gloved hand gently took Ciel's, turned it so that it lay palm up, and placed a small box with a blue ribbon down.

Ciel blushed, and removed his hand from the demons. He looked down at the box and pulled the ribbon, and removed the top. He then watched the box fall outwards, and nestled in the middle was the beautiful engraved silver band.

Ciel looked up at the butler with tears in his eyes, and Sebastian answered the unspoken question in them. "It will serve to remind you that you need only to call to me, in any time of need, and I will be there."

Sebastian watched as the man in front of him gently took the ring and undid the clasp on the delicate silver chain that held the Phantomhive ring, and slip the silver band next to it. The demon was shocked when he felt a warm body meshed to his, and he quickly put his arms around the man holding onto him. He almost missed the muffled "Thank-you Sebastian," that Ciel muttered before letting go.

End Flashback

Sebastian noticed a change in Ciel's feelings, but was oblivious to what caused it. He sighed deeply as he watched the delicate-looking man walking away from him, a frown on his face. But after another moment, he followed dutifully.