It's been forever since I've lasted updated, but life had gotten in the way. Plus, I had no idea what to write for the chapter. I mean I had some inkling, but Naruto is like the easiest character to write in this fanfic. All the other characters in this fic are damn hard. I just hope I did Ciel just in this chapter.

Moving on, I thank everyone reviewing, alerting, and in general standing by me. I want to give a large shoutout to Paxloria. I dedicate this chapter to you, and I hope I've given you a chapter that you enjoy.

Disclaimers and warnings from other chapters apply. My computer is on the fritz at the moment, I hope there aren't too many mistakes in this chapter.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, MY LOVELY DEARS!

Their Butler, Years

For a moment, Naruto tore his attention from his action figures to settle on one of his living room windows. Pure white snow gathered on his windowsill and it kept falling and falling from the sky in tiny unique snowflakes. A year ago, Naruto would've feared the snow as he would fear winter.

In Konoha, their winters were as bitterly cold as the sweltering summers. His heater system was utterly fickle, sometimes it worked, more often it didn't. He hadn't a winter garment in his closet, only a flimsy jacket and long-sleeved shirt. Winter meant no food. He didn't have money for the heavy price changes when winter came. He had little money for ramen and water. That was his meal for weeks upon weeks, until winter finally faded into a luscious spring.

But, his pink lips curved into a soft smile. He now understood the beauty of winter. His lovely angel, his savior, had changed his life only three months ago. His life was filled with joy and laughter. Gods, he loved life now. He was ready to explore it with a great sense of adventure. He had someone. No, someone's behind him and pushing him to greatness. They loved him.

Unknown to him, his angel's beryl-blue eye glowed a scarlet red when Naruto's irises slit, glinting a subtle maroon. Darkness previously unseen boiled up within Naruto. There were people out there that wanted to take away his happiness. He may not be the sharpest kunai in the pouch, but he knew he couldn't keep his precious angel safe in his apartment. Dog or Jiji were bound to visit soon, and in some form or another the villagers would see his angel out in public with him.

The blond frowned. If he let either of those happened, his angel would be taken away or hurt. His fingers clenched. His canine teeth sharpening, he bit on his bottom lip drawing blood. He'd never let that happen! His angel was his, his, HIS! A growl began in his throat only to be cut off with the shout of his name.

"Naruto!"

Naruto snapped toward his angel. Instead of fear written all over his angel's face, there was only shock and slight concern. "Angel?" he asked tentatively.

"Little master," his angel acknowledged. He lay back on the couch comfortably. "What ails you?"

Naruto swallowed a ball of spit. It was still a new feeling for him: concern. It meant that someone actually cared. He moved from his circle of toys over to his angel's tiny feet. His demonic aura all but gone. A few moments of silence followed his move, he was tempted to drag on the silence a little longer, but his angel didn't like for him to dawdle.

"Angel, I," he gulped. "Is there any way you can be part of the village, and be my guardian at the same time? I'm sure you can find out information on the village as a ninja too! And! And!" he was quieted with his angel's look.

"Little master, you only have to command me and I shall do your bidding," his angel said languidly. Naruto's eyes widened. He was careful not to order his angel around. It was not his nature to make his angel serve his whimsical needs. How could he? His greatest desire was already granted to him. Everything he wanted was in the very palm of his hand.

"Silly master," his angel started, a tinge of amusement in his voice. "Remember that I'm not human. For eleven years I am bound by contract to serve you infallibly."

Naruto opened his mouth, startled. "Angel, I could never – " his words were caught in his throat by the burning at the base of his neck. He hurriedly pulled down the white collar of his shirt down to reveal the intricate black Faustian contract tattooed around his neck like a gothic choker. The magical word Elyon glowing a light lavender. Meanwhile, his angel raised his right palm where a unicursal hexagram was burned.

"You rule me. I am nothing more than apiece used to benefit you, Na-ru-to. Never forget that!" his angel spoke in such a way, Naruto felt shame. He shook, bowing his head. His angel was wrong. It was he that ruled Naruto, and anything that he wished, Naruto would do his best to make sure it came true.

He sought his savior's approval.

"Do you want me to order you? Do you want to be a ninja like me?" Naruto childishly inquired.

His angel smirked, tilting his head in a rhetoric manner. "If you desire," he replied simply.

Naruto nodded hastily. His angel wanted him to do that. He would do it. "One more thing, little master, you have to use my real name. Ciel." Naruto nodded again. He understood.

"Ciel, I want you to become a ninja just like me, but remain by my side!" Naruto thundered.

"Using any means necessary?" his angel questioned.

"Using any means necessary," Naruto echoed.

His angel smirked, looking pleasantly victorious. Naruto raised himself to his feet and seated himself beside his angel. He made sure to sit close enough to feel his angel's body heat (his angel once told him it was artificial to appear more human), but he loved it.

After relaxing a little, he leaned his head toward his angel in a silent gesture. It was an unspoken craving of his to be constantly touched. To Naruto, a touch of some sort was a constant reminder that everything around him was real, and he had his angel. His angel smirked. His soft deft fingers ran through Naruto's cornsilk locks.

He sighed contentedly. Naruto loved his angel, so dearly. He'd never admit it to his angel for fear of rejection, but he did. Moments like these he hoped in vain would last forever.

"Sebastian, has your soul agreed?" Ciel asked pointedly at his kneeling demon butler.

"He has, bocchan," Sebastian replied. He stood up from his customary bow already decked out in his newest outfit. For a second, Ciel appraised the demon before him. Over a hundred or so years ago, Ciel had finally allowed him to change his human form in order to tailor to his soul's needs. With their current souls, Sebastian had turned from a tall, broad-shouldered, handsome man into an average height, ridiculously effeminate man with subtle curves and long pitch-black hair done in a complicated updo. He was still outlandishly beautiful to humans, and both genders were attracted to him like flies did to honey.

"Then, let us be off. I suspect those ruffians have caused some trouble for my soul," Ciel said. He started his slow pace from the village gates with Sebastian by his side. He walked around like some curious tourist until he felt his seal sting, and heard a piercing cry of "Help". To this he ran like insane person through a maze of unaffected villagers, subtly sneered. These heathens would pay for their intolerance to his soul.

He came about a dead-end near a crowded restaurant. His soul was on the dirt ground curled in a tight ball, screeching in pain. Four men surrounded him, brutishly kicking and punching his soul. He was dismayed with these types of mortals. He paid them to do this to his soul, and he felt some sort of regret for it. These mongrels did anything for money. Their souls were revolting. "Sebastian," Ciel turned to his servant when they were a few feet away from his little soul.

"Yes, bocchan?"

"Destroy them," Ciel ordered coldly.

Sebastian made quick work of them. By the time he was done, they were on the ground in tiny indiscernible pieces. Ciel sniffed. He knelt at Naruto's side, petting his hair. "Are you alright?" he offered his young master. Naruto nodded. He sat up, rubbing the dirt from his face. As usual any bruises he sustained were healing up right before his eyes. In two minutes, he felt as right as rain.

"I'm fine."

"Do you remember your part?"

"I do."

"Good, little master. Lean on Sebastian, and look pained."

Naruto did as he was told, with some caution; he leaned against Sebastian's right side. His face was twisted in utter agony as he moaned under his breath. Ciel stayed in the dead-alley no longer then necessary. He glared his way through the surprised crowd of people. That way they got to the bright red Hokage's tower with no obstacles. He waved his passes to the secretaries of the Hokage, and less than ten minutes of waiting they ushered into the Hokage's office.

The old man was seated at his desk dressed in his traditional robes. His liver spots were many as were the sags on his face. He appeared disgustingly weak, so ready to die, but Ciel could feel his power. The old man was strong. "Ah," he puffed from his pipe, "you've found Naruto."

"So, we have. Hokage-sama, I didn't think I would find my old friend beaten up by four guys with so many people around to put a stop to such actions!" Ciel said, outraged.

"Who are you, little girl?" the Hokage questioned. Another black cloud of smoke emitted from his wooden pipe. It seemed Ciel's small speech had struck a chord in the aging man.

"I am Kurama Robin and this is my big brother Akuma," Ciel introduced with a flourish. He swept his fake long bluish-grey hair out of his face to show his eye patch on his right eye. He fought to hide the small smile on his lips, as he expected the Hokage glanced away after a long inquisitive stare.

"I'm not offended," Ciel spoke up. "It happened when I was a child and was the for my reason for departure from this great village."

The Hokage sat up straighter. He nodded his hat at Ciel, who gave him a kind smile. "My mother died a month ago from complications regarding her health. Do not offer any condolences because my mother was in pain. I'm happy she found peace in death. Before she died though, she arranged Uchiha Hiei to take both my brother and I in. We are second cousins through our father. I haven't seen him since I was last here at four," Ciel summarized his history. Sebastian nodded along with his supposed sister's tale.

Again with the puff of smoke and the grim expression that crossed the Hokage's features. Ciel gasped softly. He placed a hand on his small chest, "Hokage! Has something happened to Hiei?"

"He regretfully died along with his other clan members except young Sasuke," the Hokage informed them. Ciel played his part well. He looked horrified with his one blue eye widening to the size of a teacup and the color that drained from his already pale skin.

"Akuma?" Ciel looked at his demon servant in pleading despair. "What do we do?" he wailed, clinging on to his servant's white shirt and burying his head into the fabric with mock sorrow. He choked out cries while Akuma ran his fingers through Ciel's long blue-tinted hair.

"Where is young Sasuke? I remember taking care of him with Itachi when he was a baby," Sebastian asked in a painfully tight voice.

"He lives in the Uchiha compound alone," the Hokage answered emotionlessly. "He requested to remain in the main house. His reasons are his own." The Hokage let out two more puffs of the toxic substance.

"Can we stay with him? He's our only family. Surely, he'd want to know that he isn't alone," Sebastian said. By now Naruto was standing up on his own comforting a distraught Ciel, whom was still crying and shaking.

"I am not sure. Sasuke is very volatile. Would it not be better to stay with your main clansmen? They're here in Konoha too."

To that Sebastian shook his head, choosing to stare into a space next to the revered man. His facial features growing sharp, "I am disgusted by the actions of the main branch. They cast my mother to the side after they learned she had consorted with an Uchiha. Only by their mercy," he spat, "did they allow my mother to keep her clan name and live in solitude instead of killing her."

The hokage rested his chin on his folded hands. He stared at the two orphaned siblings and Naruto, wondering about his next move. Obviously, the children weren't going to stay with the last of the Kurama clan. He had an inkling that no matter how much he may try to sway them, they weren't going to stray in the budge of staying with Sasuke. He frowned. This all spelled out an oncoming headache. He'd have to tell the Council sometime about this new development, and then there would be talk on possible marriage proposals to both Akuma and Robin, because with the blood of both the Uchiha and the Kurama clan running through their veins, these children had the potential to be very powerful.

"Very well." The Hokage consented. He leafed through several papers on his desk until he found the files that contained information pertaining to the children before him. "You will live with the Uchiha Sasuke. For a week you will be given a visitor's pass until all your information is screened and checked. After that you'll become a Konoha citizen, and if you'd like a shinobi."

"I'll have Cat," a shadow of person appeared in the room dressed in a standard ANBU outfit with a purple mask resembling a cat on their face, "escort you to the Uchiha Compound. Your passes and temporary pension shall be delivered to you tomorrow."

"Thank you," Sebastian bowed. His voice laced with gratitude. He petted Ciel's head, 'gently' pulling on his navy-hair, "Robin, what do we say?"

Ciel growled lowly at Sebastian in warning. He then faced the Hokage, still pained. "I'm grateful, but what about Naruto? He was an orphan the last time I saw him, is he still an orphan?"

"I'm afraid he is," the Hokage replied.

"That won't do at all! He has to be adopted by someone, if no one wants him, then we'll have him. We have enough money, right, Akuma?" Ciel turned expectedly to Sebastian who nodded in agreement. "And, if we don't we'll make it work somehow!"

The Hokage was quite taken by the little girl's proclamation. Never before had he seen someone so adamant in taking care of Naruto. Most thought of the young Uzumaki as the demon fox incarnate. Well, most who were old enough to remember the fox's destruction on the village? Most would include the little girl's brother, Akuma. "Boy, what are your thoughts on the matter? Where you around when a certain law was enacted?" he questioned.

Akuma inclined his head. "I recall it vaguely, but I was only five at the time."

The Hokage nodded. That would make sense then.

"Please, Hokage! Naruto, he's very important to me and I'd love to have him in our family. He'll have plenty of food and clothing. Akuma will take good care of us - " The Hokage held up a hand to silence his tirade. Ciel closed his mouth and eyed the old man grimly. He had taken on a childish disposition, looking like the Hokage had already rejected their offer to adopt Naruto.

The Hokage on the other hand, chuckled. The child unknowingly had given him a fantastic opening for giving Naruto a family. Many families had applied to gain custody for Naruto, in attempt to gain more power. When Naruto grew up he'd undoubtedly be a powerful shinobi with the added factor of being a jinchuuriki. Any clan would die to have that type of allegiance and tie. The Council had tried to persuade him to let Naruto be adopted by one of those clans, but he wouldn't do that to the young Uzumaki. He knew Naruto would only be used as a living weapon, much like the children in the Root. Minato and Kushina would never forgive him if he had consented to that. But here, this small family would be able to provide for Naruto a family that he knew the young boy craved for so much, and since this family would be staying with the Uchiha they would be provided with the same privileges without the old codger elders of the Uchiha clan to interfere.

Perfect.

"Little Robin, you have proven your case. Naruto will be able to be adopted by your family after you become citizens of Konoha," he said happily. Ciel stared slack-jawed, while Naruto yelped happily, jumping up and down. His were wounds forgotten. He wrapped his arms around Ciel and forced him to jump with him, all the while giggling and talking excitedly, senseless words spilling out of his mouth.

When Sebastian moved from Ciel's side to talk to the Hokage about mundane things, Naruto calmed down an iota. He hugged Ciel fiercely, grinning brightly. "Thank you, angel," he whispered into his ear. Ciel showed no outward surprise. He smiled in his own simple way at his soul.

"Little master, you're welcome."

Naruto sat with Sasuke and his angel at the Academy. He was utterly excited to get his test back. He had studied all night and had even taken a practice test on it. He knew he was going to get a one hundred on it, and then he would shove it in Sasuke's bastardy face. The righteous Uchiha had claimed he was too dumb to get a hundred on the test, but Naruto promised to prove him wrong. If he weren't in a public place, Naruto would let out a peal of evil laughter. Oh, his evil laughter would be great. So terrifying and scary, the bastard would probably curl into a ball and bawl like a baby at the sound of it.

"Idiot?" Sasuke's annoying voice broke through his thoughts.

"Bastard, what did you say?" Naruto said angrily, turning to the Uchiha.

"You heard me, idiot. The teacher's been calling your name for minutes," Sasuke hissed.

Naruto opened his mouth to retort, only to switch his attention to the teacher who happened to be standing next to his angel, his test in his hand. The blond scratched his hand, sheepishly and took the test from his teacher; happy he didn't get a scolding in return. As the teacher walked the steps to give the other children their tests he heard a few unsavory insults about him, but he brushed it off.

He excitedly stared down at his paper only to gawk when he saw the numerous amounts of red marks. "WHAT!" he screeched. He held up the paper to his face to stare at it properly. All his answers, he remembered, all of them were either magically gone or a completely different answer was written in someone else's handwriting. What mockery was this?

He felt like screaming, shouting, and even crying. How dare they? The teachers even sabotaged his work to become a worthy shinobi. He had thought that the school hated him for his previous work ethic and trickster personality, but over the year he had toned it down and turned in his homework every time it was asked. His shinobi exercises were met with constant success and he never once complained to his teachers about his torn up textbooks and such.

"Little master?" his angel touched his shoulder. Naruto merely shook his head and passed his horrendous test to his angel's hands.

"It's been tampered," his angel stated. Naruto nodded mutely.

"Give me an order," his angel demanded. Naruto shook his head. No, he would not do that. None of these bastards knew of their crimes and they wouldn't know their crimes until he wanted them to. Now wasn't the time to exact his revenge. His angel narrowed his eyes and tore the paper up in revulsion. "To not do this, little master is an act against me. How dare they assume they can continually slander you and use cheap tricks to hinder your learning."

He was warmed at his angel's anger for him, but he wouldn't order his angel to kill the stupid teacher. "No, angel," he ended the argument softly. "I've already given you the order for them to die. I don't want one soul to escape its deserved punishment."

He still kept his head bowed until he heard the uncharacteristic giggle from his angel. He stared at him in surprise, wondering what happened to cause his angel such amusement. "What?"

"Marvelous, little master. Marvelous!" his angel clapped his hands together.

"Huh?" Naruto was absolutely confused. What did he do? He merely stated his thoughts on the matter. Nothing more.

"You aren't dumb, little master. I hate the term 'huh'. Little master, listen to me and listen to me well. We each have our weaknesses and strengths. Your weakness happens to be your strength. Be an idiot, little master, play the fool and let everyone think you're dumb and stupid. Let these fools be lulled into the act of a moronic container, and then when the time is right strike like the fox we all know you are," his angel laughed yet again. "Marvelous. I can't wait to see the pain and terror on all these villagers," his angel chuckled maliciously.

"Bastard?" Naruto gave his attention to Sasuke wondering about his view on the matter.

"Ciel's right." Sasuke shrugged carelessly.

Well, if both Sasuke and his angel both thought this was a choice that he should pursue, he'd resolved to listen to them. He decided to start at this moment. He sank down to his desk, laying his head on the hardwood. He closed his eyes and snored noisily, shifting into fake sleep. The teacher was loud and demanding, stressing the importance of not missing the lesson and whatnot. He wasn't subtle in hiding his jabs toward Naruto, but he couldn't careless. He was always listening, and one day he'd use the knowledge against the teacher. One day.

There was a rarely a time Ciel saw fit to commend humans. They were disgusting, power-hungry dogs that always sought what they could not have. Throughout his long life, he had seen enough acts of human mockery to make him lose the small faith he had in humanity. But. Ciel's blue eye traveled over to where his little master was currently dueling with Sebastian's morsel, he had found a small ray of hope of good in humans. His little master, his Naruto was absolutely perfect.

Ciel would go so far as to say that Naruto would be the best meal he had ever had. Nothing could ever compare to the young Uzumaki. Naruto had seasoned well over the four years he was with him. His webs of lies and deceit fooled the civilians, his classmates, the shinobi, and the Hokage. There were times Naruto surprised Ciel with his cutthroat attitude and cold-heartedness, but he still kept the pure essence around him. Ciel wondered if this was what Sebastian saw in him, because if it was, he had to admit the demon had a worthy amount of self- restraint. It took every ounce in Ciel's being not to nibble on his little master. He just wanted a taste.

""Little master," Ciel called Naruto imperiously from his spot at the wooden table. Naruto immediately stopped fighting Sasuke and rushed over to him, panting. "Sit." he pointed to the seat closest to him.

"Yes, angel?" his little master pressed, tittering on the edge of his seat. His tired expression was replaced with a worried one. Ciel hid his smirk well. That was another thing his soul did that impressed him: he gave him the respect the former earl so rightfully deserved.

"When is the exam?" he asked.

His soul scratched his blond locks, thinking hard. "June 15th, I think. It's two days before the girls, angel." Naruto rolled his eyes up at the ceiling, squinting hard.

"Good," Ciel said simply.

"Why's that?"

"Easy, little master," Ciel rested his chin on his folded hands, staring at Naruto thoughtfully. "I think its time to show off a bit of strength to your teachers. These teachers will start rumors..." he smiled at his little master. Naruto frowned.

"How would I do that? I 'heard' from the older students, it's a simple clone test. How would I show strength that way, angel?"

Ciel hummed. "I was thinking, little master, that you'll fail the test. And then, you steal the Forbidden scroll. That teacher, Mizuki, he seems to have it out for you. I'm guessing," at that point Naruto gave him a Cheshire grin that mirrored his own, "he'll pull you aside that day, to give another alternate way to pass the test. Do you understand, little master?"

"I do." Naruto grinned brightly, his irises bright at the possible prospects of what Ciel was suggesting.

"Fantastic, little master."

Naruto jumped up from the seat, assuming that Ciel was done with him. However, Ciel ran with demon speed toward his little soul, catching him by his waist. For the moment, the blond was an inch shorter than him, but Ciel would hazard a guess that in another year he'd be much taller than him. He spun Naruto around with sudden ease, enjoying the shocked look written all over his soul's face. "Naruto," he purred, the sweet scent of Naruto's soul wafting off of him in powerful waves. How hungry he suddenly felt.

"Angel?"

Ciel snapped his eyes open. He didn't even realize his eyes had closed. He released his soul, wordlessly, disappearing in a whirlwind of leaves. Argh, he would have to grab something off the street tonight. His hunger was getting the best of him.