The sunlight, the little that there was in the basement, leaked through the dusty window all covered in cobwebs. Alois was enjoying his sleep, imagining a world where Hannah and he could be free and live somewhere covered in flowers with a white picket fence and a lake filled with ducks and lily pads with those tiny, aromatic pink buds. It would be a nice house, the house Hannah would love, and Hannah would be happy and smiling. The Viscount and he would be married, all would be fine, and Alois's real family would come to claim him. He imagined them as a homely but lovable pair with a light sand color to their skin, the mother would have freckles and his electric blue eyes and his father would have dirty blonde hair.

They would be dressed in rags and have many other kids running behind them calling out "brother, brother how we missed you." Yes there would be four sisters, and two brothers, one older, one younger. All of them would embrace him and there would be dogs, yes a lot of dogs and puppies and bunnies, he would have a menagerie of animals. The mystery of his past would be solved his new name, he named himself Lucas McGabriel, and his parents, Francesca and Louis McGabriel, with Hannah would find all be one big happy family. If only fate wasn't so cruel.

"ALOIS! Get your lazy ass up, the sin has risen and it's almost time to open up shop. Come on boy, time to make something of yourself…ha, I mean if that's even possible."

Alois leaped out of bed, rubbing his eyes. He felt groggy, today was going to be worse than any other day. Reality hit him like a ton of bricks. Cold, rust-colored, sharp bricks. He wished he could live in his dreams forever, or live them out but there was no way. As he walked up the stairs he felt Grell's foot kick him sharply in his rear end and back, pushing his small body to the ground.

"Oh get up, you big good for nothing."

The floor was cold, like his life, like everything he knew. Grell stepped on his back, a sickening crack was heard then a spluttering cough, blood drizzled from Alois's lips. He wished he could sink into the floor, into the dirt that lay beneath it, to the center of the earth, to hell and its fiery core. He welcomed hell, embraced it, it would be better than where he was or maybe he was already in hell. Yes, this was his hell, ever day of his life.

There was a knife, right there, teasingly out of reach. Alois groaned in dismay. If only he could reach it and end his life. He wanted death, now more than ever, and if he died then he could dream forever.

"Get up I said! Hurry up boy, we open in an hour and this place is a catastrophe…Oh my name will be tossed into the mud like a squealing pig, covered in the coffee colored ick and grime if someone were to see my glorious little boutique looking like a tornado just blew here. Oh, I feel weak, no faint! Somebody catch me!"

Paula was ready to catch her mistress but Ash beat her to it. Ash didn't like the mistress all too much, but because he was a humble gentleman of sorts he would humor the gender-confused man. He pushed his hand through his short, messy, layered bangs and looked sharply at Alois.

"Now look what you've done, you've gone and made the Mistress faint. Have you no heart? Do what she said and clean this place, right now or you will suffer at my hand."

Alois struggled to get up and stood up, if only for a moment, for he collapsed again. When he finally was able to stand his eyes met Drocell's; he was now standing in front of him, tilting his head left and right to the melody of his music box he was winding. He opened his mouth to sing, probably in a sing-song way to the tune of "my fair lady" as always but something noticeably put him off. His eyes got round and his hands fell at his side, his mouth went slack and his head cranked back slightly.

"Drocell what's wrong with you? Are you sick? You better not be, I need you to run the haberdashery," complained Grell with his hands on his hips.

His head whipped forward and his purple eye seemed to glow with unknown rapture. He smiled wide, mouth open and eyes rounder than the full moon. He licked his bottom lip carefully, closing his mouth in a seductive smirk that was oh so smug. Finally, his smile changed to one that was complexly joyous- a kid on Christmas night.

"He's coming."

That was all he said and Grell's hairs stuck up on his neck. It was chilling, daunting, and the room had gotten cold yet Grell smiled.

"Oh that means my beloved is coming too! Oh this is going to be a good day. Shit, Alois! Alois, go to your room."

"But, what about the cleaning?"

He raised his blonde eyebrow at the suggestion. He was thoroughly confused. Who was coming? Who was Grell's beloved? Well it could be anyone knowing Grell's flirtatious attitude toward men. Why should he go to his room when he was instructed to clean? Was Grell hiding him? Why? Who was this HE? Alois had a nagging feeling in his chest, right in his heart, that this HE was important.

"I don't care what I said, listen to me now, you wretched boy, go to your room and you'll have extra food for today and clean sheets, maybe I'll throw in a bath if you hurry up!"

It was too good to be true. Something was up and Alois would find out. He scurried down into the basement, glad he didn't have to clean but was mystified. He watched the silent triplets tidy up the room; he watched Ash tidy up himself- the cocky, self-centered prick, thought Alois, He watched the ladies prepare the stuff and Grell opened up shop. The shop wasn't to open for another hour, why open it now? Alois was befuddled; his brain was throbbing inside his skull when suddenly there came the jingle of the door bells and the happy squeal from Paula.

The HE was here. Alois lifted up the hatch slightly, enough to see, nobody noticed him, they were all too busy to notice him, but the hatch had been covered up, they just didn't lock it, Alois hated it when they did. His eyes roamed the store; there was a tall, rather fine looking man in butler's attire, white gloves and all, with reddish eyes and black hair. Certainly this wasn't the HE, right? He was a common butler, sure he looked like he was a polished servant, and his voice gave him grace and calm, but he was still a butler. Grell seemed to know him…and like him…a lot.

"Oh Bassy, you're here! I knew you would come to visit you're sexy devil in red!"

Grell ran, open arms, to the man who stepped to the side allowing Grell to fall to the floor with his arms open. The butler looked back at Grell.

"Don't touch me, I'm not here to play with you, nor will I ever be."

"You're so black-hearted and cold, Bassy. That's why I like you. We could, make beautiful babies together; I'm thinking at least seven."

The butler twitched, his skin which was a lovely ecru color, turned slightly green with disgust most likely.

"Sorry, you're not my type."

"Oh come now, you know you want me. You can't resist me, I'm your drug and you know it. This isn't you're first visit here…speaking of which, where's the brat? I know he's with you, you can't hide him. Although, I really don't want to see his ugly face, he gives me the creepies."

The butler lashed out, in a complete fury, his hands upon Grell's throat. He snarled at the red-headed male.

"Don't you ever speak that way about my young lord or his countenance ever again or I swear by the fires of hell I will slit your throat and you shall be covered in that color which you love so much. I will not tolerate that kind of talk about the master, Understand?"

Grell didn't feel pain; in fact he was aroused by the man's show of force upon him. He writhed happily in his grasp, blushing and smiling.

"My beloved Bassy, you're so rough with me, oh yes, I love it! Now tie me down and whip me, Oh I've been a bad kitty!"

The butler sighed, releasing Grell, making him plummet to the floor. It was obvious he wouldn't get anywhere with him.

"You're no cat, cats are wonderful creatures of nature, pure perfection, and you are….an abomination, and I wish you would stop calling me Bassy."
"Fine I'll call you my you're real name…Se-Bas-Tian."

Grell then shrieked gaily, stroking the obviously ticked off butler on the cheek and neck. Before Grell could put the moves on the man, who obviously despised Grell, the little bells chimed. Paula "Jingle-Jingled" excitably. The door swung open rather fast, almost shattering the glass and smashing the poor bells, to Paula's dismay. Alois stood up a little for a better look, his heart was racing. Surely, this must be the HE and the butler must belong to him. But the sunlight coming in from behind him cast a godly glow around him and a dark shadow. Imaginary wings formed from behind him.

"SEBASTIAN! I told you to wait for me!"

"But my lord, you also said to get here as fast as possible and so I did, I didn't mean to leave you behind but unless you were to ride on my back or allow me to carry you there was no way, and seeing that you wouldn't comply to either I simply had to move forward, as were you're commands. I have displeased you, yet again, my master? I am an un-courteous, air-headed, blinded ignoramus. I should think more about you than me."

"Never you mind…I should be more clear with my orders…"

"It's not your fault, don't blame yourself, this foolish butler has disobeyed you more times in one day than any has in a week's time. You must punish me thoroughly master, I need more training."

"Shut up Sebastian, god I hate when you wallow in your own self-loathing and pity that kind of thing really sets me off, you know. Have a bit of backbone, Damnit. Well, since you're already here I suppose you and Grell have…gotten reacquainted shall we say?"

"Unfortunately."

Yes, now was the time, the HE was stepping out of the light of the sun and into the shop. Alois was on his tippy toes with enthrallment, he was ready for anything but when the HE was revealed he wasn't ready for what he saw: A mirror image f himself, in blue with dark blue hair. Alois rubbed his eyes, surely he was seeing things. But upon closer inspection the answer was a solid no. This boy had a stern face, an air of dominance and power about him, he called the shots, he wasn't afraid of anything, his resolve was ever icy and true, his eyes, electric blue just like Alois told a story, his mouth in a permanent straight line, as if he never smiled.

How could it be? That a person could look so much like him? True the little features here and there that Alois noticed did make them different but they also looked strikingly similar. All too similar to be a coincidence, especially those eyes. Alois had to know more about him, he has to find out his name. He could only sit there, out of breath, heart speeding faster than a train off the rails, in shock, staring at the boy.

"Grell Sutcliff, we meet again."

"What a displeasure to be seeing you again, Ciel Phantomhive."

A name! Alois was ever thankful for a name and what a name it was. Alois rather liked it but he swore he heard that last name before and the first name rang a bell in the memory he swore he lost.

"Ciel," He whispered, trying it out. It sounded right, it was a nice name, and it reminded him of bitter tea and banana bread for some odd reason. Why? Was it a memory?

The boy turned his head, looking around. Had he heard Alois? Alois almost prayed he did. He thought, for some reason, this Ciel would help him, or least be disgusted by Alois's living conditions enough to shut down the place and set him free. Alois was too frightened to make any more noise though, frightened of the man dressed in red. Red...the color was familiar. Alois hated red, so why did a flash of blinding red light appear in his brain. Another memory? He was glad of it, perhaps he was finally remembering.

"We have a bone to pick with you, How is it you're still alive, still legally here?"

"I have ways of slipping through the system, oh young earl."

"Watch your tone, Sutcliff," Sebastian growled under his breath.

"Sebastian…uncalled for. We came to talk business, not make empty threats."

"Forgive me for my impudence, but, it wasn't empty at all, I never make empty promises or threats. I mean what I say, as a Phantomhive butler I must be true."

"If you are to threaten him and see through it then do it on your own time if you must, or if I request you too, other than that, stand down."

"Yes, My lord."

Alois liked the power this boy held, he liked his firm voice, his smooth complexion, his physique, and he had a beautiful visage, pleasing to the eye yet held ascendancy in every feature. His butler was very faithful and loyal, something Alois didn't know about unless it was with Hannah. Hannah would make a lovely maid, she would do it too, be his maid, Hannah was just that nuts over Alois.

"Poor Bassy, always getting pistol whipped by his runty ruler. Why do you bow down to him, when you can bow down to me?"

"Because, you sicken me to the core, my dear fellow, and I would rather eat shit than serve you. Serving the young lord gives me purpose and fulfillment that can only be described as nirvana. My lord is one of the finest creatures to walk upon this earth, such hatred and pain in his eyes…like I've never seen…this is what makes him so favorable, to me. You could never understand the complex relationship of a butler and his master, or the elaborate labyrinth that is the relationship between this butler and his diverse master."

The boy was noticeably taken aback, he en stepped back a little, eyes trembling just a tad. Alois was taken aback too, this butler as very educated in the English language and he was a gifted speech giver. His monologue touched the boy's heart. They certainly did seem to have a certain, noticeable bond. A deep connection that could, no matter what, never be broken. Alois wanted something like that, something special. He knew it wasn't exclusive to this butler or to any butlers but anybody could build this, with time, patience, and understanding. All of which the Viscount Druitt, his favorite, his lover, his crush, his heart, didn't seem to have. Alois let go of the Viscount at that moment, in favor of somebody who would treat him right and love him…Like the way this Sebastian loved his master, Ciel.

"My Bassy is such a poet! Better than Shakespeare, I'd say. Well if you've come to speak business let's get on with it. I do have a shop to run."

"That is precisely why I'm here. How is it you are legally running a shop or even alive? After last time I would suspect to see you behind bars for life."

"Can't we just forgive and forget? I said I was sorry/"

"It's what you said that is the reason I'm here. I could care less how you 'Slipped through the system', but what did you mean by you have something I need?"

Grell turned, grinned a toothy Cheshire grin at Drocell who nodded, winding up his music box. Ciel looked at him with detest and shivered.

"Drocell Cainz…How you ever got through the system is no mystery, you and Grell are murderers but not only that you two are wanted men, both of you are equally blood thirsty but If I were a woman walking the cold, dark streets of London's less desirable parts I'd be more frightened of somebody of your background and caliber."

Drocell tiled his head mechanically and smiled.

"And so I said to myself, to see him again brings the joy of a child into my heart for no sight is more blessed then seeing my art, my work, my precious, special Earl and his curt frown. You are the material I use, my silver and gold. The perfect material. Finer than silk, he who douses himself in blue like the sky deserves and no less, says I."

Ciel shuddered, making Sebastian com closer to his side, protecting him. From his pockets came knives and forks, polished and sharp.

"If we must fight both of you again, we shall. You will not take my master, no not again. He will not be another one of your puppets. He's no toy, he's much better than that, and I permit you to step down and bow down, for my master is no play thing and shall not be accused or used in such a despicable manor."

"I shall put him on the highest pedestal, clean and perfect. How lovely his hair will be, how fine and straight, how smooth his skin underneath my fingertips and I gently put him in place with the others. Succumb, he will, to me, only."

"You will not put you're filthy hands on my master. Nobody touches him especially in such a disgraceful, shameful approach."

Ciel touched Sebastian's back and he moved silently, begrudgingly away from Ciel's form. Ciel looked up at Drocell then at Grell who sniggered.

"I mean it, Sutcliff, tell me what you meant or I will report you to the authorities."

"Why haven't you already, my sweet little prince? Are you too noble? Nay, you're nobility is the reason you went after me in the first place. So much attitude and fire in such a young soul and body, no wonder Sebastian hangs around with you so much. If only fires weren't so easily put out. If you do have me arrested I'll just escape again, you know that, besides, you need me for information and if I go to jail I'll do time, hard time, probably death, and as much as I'd die to die I simply can't die yet, I'm much too fabulous you see. A supple young fruit like me needs time to mature and ripen then plant her seed before she can die. So, until I give you what you want, all you can do is beat the crap out of me like the little bastard you are. I'll never tell you, no matter how much you hurt me, cuz baby…I'll hurt you right back in the place that's the most painful…you're pride…or perhaps that fragile memory you try to let go yet cling to so much. I suggest you turn tail and get the hell out of my shop. We don't allow stray dogs in here…unless they work to become our pets."

Ciel snarled at Grell, his cane trembling in his small hands. Grell filed his nails with a smirk of content coyness. He had won. All he needed now was a prize. Sebastian would do nicely, if only he would succumb.

"To hell with you Grell, don't tell me then, see if I care. I have something you want too, you know…Sebastian."

Grell's mouth dropped as Ciel tugged on Sebastian's tie, bringing him to his knees.

"He's mine, all mine, and you can't have him. I get to wake up to him every day and you don't."

Sebastian chuckled then leaned over to Ciel's face, grabbing it slightly. Alois watched with bated breath. What would happen next? It was too suspenseful for the young boy to take. Sebastian kissed Ciel's cheek sweetly then said to the surprised and stunned Grell,

"That's right, I'm all his. His butler, his servant, I kiss the ground my master walks upon; I treat him as one should treat somebody of his status. You can only dream of having such a time with one as me, and I'd have nightmares about it. I'd never serve you…but I suppose if we devised a trade suitable to the young master then I'd have no choice…sadly, but to be you're slave. Too bad you don't want to comply though…but if you should then seek us out."

Grell stammered, so did Ciel, as did Alois. These guys could get anything they wanted with a look and a whisper. Professional smooth talkers, business was their business and they used people in the best way but as they left Alois wondered about Grell and Drocell's past. Were they really murderers? Who did they murder? What did they mean by Ciel being a doll for Drocell? What did Drocell do that was so disgusting? Alois closed the hatch; he had a lot to think about. Ciel, Ciel, Ciel. The boy who looked like his double, his twin even. Was there more to that than just appearances? Could this HE, this Ciel Phantomhive be the key to his freedom and forgotten past? Or was it honestly some coincidence? Alois was unsure but one thing was sure, he had to find out more about him. He had to see him again, and he knew just where to find him.