I have to thank Porcelain Huntress for getting me motivated to write this chapter. I think if it wasn't for you, I would have had writer's block for such a long time!

So to thank you, I'm dedicating this chapter to you :]

Thank you all for reviewing the last chapter(filler) and sticking with me!

Enjoy!


Blood Stained Blossom

By

Obsidian Neko

x-x-x-x

Chapter Five

Sparking an Interest: Part Two

x-x-x-x

"S-S-Sebastian!"

The familiar stuttering of Maylene caused Sebastian to jerk away from me; his eyes immediately going back to their usual red-brown colour. In the same moment the hypnosis wore off, and I blinked my eyes back into focus. I let out a choked gasp at his close proximity and began to struggle out of his grasp.

Landing non-too gracefully on my behind, I stared wide-eyed up at the black-clad butler who stared at nothing in particular with a shadowy expression. I turned my gaze to Maylene who stood in the doorway; hands on her cheeks as she tried to fight off the burning blush from catching us in such an... intimate situation.

"I-I'm sorry f-f-for barging i-in! B-but the y-y-young master was getting i-impatient w-waiting for y-you b-b-both!" The purple-haired woman stuttered erratically, and I swore I saw a small trickle of blood run from her nose. I shook my head as I pulled myself up; Sebastian still gazing at nothing.

"Tell him we'll be there in a moment, Maylene-san. I only have to finish my hair and I'll be ready. Sebastian?" I said, smiling slightly at the maid until she left the room; her face still beat red. I called Sebastian's name after, and still he made no indication he had heard me.

So with a slightly trembling hand, I tugged on his sleeve, feeling much like a child at the gesture. His gaze swept down to mine and I froze, my breath hitching in my throat at the smouldering expression he gave me; his eyes now a mix of red and pink. He looked so completely desirable that I found it hard to think coherently.

I swallowed, shifting my gaze elsewhere as I made my way back to the mirror and began combing through my long hair. There wouldn't be enough time to curl my hair as I had planned, so instead I left it hanging freely; twirling two semi-thick strands of hair at the front to curl them slightly and reaching for the head-dressing. But as I felt around I found it no longer there. Instead, I felt a small weight on top my head and saw Sebastian tying it in place from the reflection of the mirror. I sent him a tiny smile in thanks.

"We should get going; Ciel-sama will be angry if we dawdle any longer." I stated, keeping my eyes shielded by my fringe. I knew Sebastian was looking at me; his stare was like a heat crawling over my skin.

"Yes, we should." Was his only reply before placing my hand in the crook of his arm, leading me to the ball like a real gentleman.

x-x-x-x

The sight that met my eyes as we entered the ball room was really quite a shock. The last time I had been inside the mansion, it had been gloomy and zapped of life. But right now it was bright and cheerful; the once midnight blue walls now a royal blue. It was only a slight difference, but I noticed right away.

People were cluttered in small groups, laughing and talking, but I couldn't see a sign of Alois. That was a relief, and I let out a small breath I had been unconsciously holding.

"Sakura," My eyes darted up to Sebastian's when he called my name. "Young master is awaiting us." And he was, as I looked down from the staircase we descended and our eyes met. His eyes narrowed slightly at mine and Sebastian's proximity, a suspicious look that I could even see from here. Blushing, I hastily moved away from the tall butler and walked as fast and graceful as I could down the stairs without tripping in the high-heels I was acquired. They were simple; a shiny red that matched the colour of the dress I wore, with ribbons criss-crossing up and around my legs.

I could just feel the smirk radiating off of Sebastian as I fast-walked away from him, and it made me scowl. Damn, handsome butler. The different ways he made me feel I'm surprised I haven't gotten some internal, mental whiplash.

"Miss Sakura! You look b-beautiful!" Maylene stuttered as I reached them, her face flushed. I was betting she was still thinking of the position she caught Sebastian and me in. I sighed, but flashed a smile.

"Thank you." I eyed her costume with a slight raise of my eyebrows. A pale green kimono-like attire that showed quite a surprising amount of cleavage, considering Maylene was shy by nature. A headband with small pink pig ears was on her head, along with a snout on her nose. "Um…" I started, at a loss for words. Maylene flushed again, adjusting her round-framed glasses.

"We're the three Chinese monsters," She said, motioning to Finny and Bard that stood at her sides. Embarrassingly, I only just noticed them and smiled awkwardly.

"Oh, well that's something different. You all look good." I gave a nervous laugh and peered at Ciel. He paid us no heed as he looked as though he tried to block out the chattering of a pretty little blonde-haired girl in front of him. But then he looked up and we looked at each other until he sighed. The blonde looked over at us and squealed when she looked straight at me, her small heels clattering against the marble floor as she dashed to me.

"Oh wow! Are you Ciel's new maid? You're so pretty! Where are you from? How old are you? I'm Lizzy by the way; everyone calls me Elizabeth but Lizzy just sounds more casual!" I felt like I was being attacked by this little blonde fluff of a bunny, and a strange laugh left my lips.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I'm babbling aren't I?" She bit her lip before smiling, giving me a small elegant curtsy. "Let me introduce myself properly; I'm Elizabeth Middlefield, Ciel's fiancée!" Her smile brightened as she exclaimed the last part, and I felt my mouth open in shock. Ciel had a fiancé e? I shot my wide-eyed look towards the silent boy, and he looked away sharply with a small blush staining his cheeks. I began to grin until a new person came into the room in a familiar maid uniform I swear I had seen before. Long platinum hair trailed behind her.

The girl looked at me and my blood froze. It was him; I knew it was from the glint in his sky blue eyes. And he knew I knew, for he smirked at me before trailing his tongue over his lips. I trembled and couldn't seem to stop. His gaze left mine but I stood frozen to the spot, my breathing laboured but it seemed no one noticed. No one noticed him standing only a metre away.

I watched as he purposely bumped into Ciel; spilling the wine the younger boy held in his hand over his costume. It would surely stain.

"Ah, I'm sorry," He changed his voice to sound more like a female, I thought with a strange shiver. Ciel's eyes widened slightly but he remained calm, which surprised me.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it."

"N-no, it'll get stained," He stuttered slightly, and for a moment I wondered if this really was Alois.

"Please follow me." He finished softly, motioning for Ciel to follow. I could only watch as the young blue-haired boy followed, oblivious to who the blonde really was. They got to the doorway and Alois sent me a chilling smile, his eyes glinting in the candlelight.

My breathing stilled until he was out of sight. A thought struck me as odd, when I calmed down enough to think; why did Alois go to all the trouble to disguise himself to lead Ciel away? What did he want with Ciel Phantomhive? All I knew for sure was that nothing good ever came from the blue-eyed boy anymore. Not since he was taken away almost three years ago.

x-x-x-x

My feet were moving before I could think, leading me down familiar hallways and corridors without even realising. I could feel a slight breeze against my face as I ran, following the sound of distant laughter.

I half-ran until I was at the end of a hallway; a door leading to outside swinging open in the breeze. They were out there; otherwise the door wouldn't be open, right? An uneasy feeling crept into my stomach, but I ignored it as I passed through the open door. The cool air rose goose-bumps on my arms and I shivered slightly.

Before I knew it, I was surrounded by the darkness of trees in a clearing. The laughter had stopped, but no one was here. The uneasy feeling I had turned to fear; I had walked into a possible trap and I knew it. I turned and started to run back towards the mansion, but Claude appeared in front of me. His eyes were glowing much like a cat's in the dark. Human eyes didn't do such a thing. I took a few steps back until I felt the rough trunk of a tree hit my back.

"W-what do you want, C-Claude?" I hated myself for being so weak in front of this man, but I just couldn't help it. He had an aura about him that made you fear him, or at least feel intimidated.

"Master is awfully upset in your apparent betrayal, Sakura." His eyes glinted and he took a few steps so he stood in front of me, his hand reaching out towards my face. I squeezed my eyes closed and braced myself for a hit, but it never came. Instead I felt a small tug at the front of my hair and I opened my eyes hesitantly. Claude held the strands of hair I left hanging at the front against his nose and lips, inhaling softly. His golden eyes glanced up at me from behind his small, neat spectacles and I breathed in a sharp breath of air.

"You smell so much better when you're covered in blood."

His gloved hand was around my throat before I could blink, squeezing tightly until I was spluttering and gasping for breath. I batted at his hand helplessly, tears rising in my eyes.

"Claude, I want her alive." My eyes darted to the familiar voice, seeing Alois appear from behind the shadow of a tree in that lilac and white maid's uniform. His face was void of emotion, but there was something within the depths of his eyes that I couldn't fully see; he was too far away and my vision was darkening from the lack of oxygen.

The fingers around my throat loosened until they were gone, and I fell to my knees panting, greedily gulping down lungful's of air. A pair of shoes came into my view, too small to be Claude's. It was Alois.

"Sakura," I jumped but didn't dare look up, knowing that if I did I'd fall back into how I used to be. He sighed and squatted down, elbows on his knees and hands cupping his face. I peered through my fringe at him and he smiled; one of his rare boyish smiles that I hardly saw since he came back with that mysterious butler by his side.

"I'm sorry, Sakura-onee-sama. I promise I'll take better care of you, so if I do, will you come back to me?" His words shocked me so much that I lifted my head, my eyes wide as I stared back at his warm sky-blue orbs. He looked exactly like the old Jim I knew; the boy that always smiled and laughed with little Luka by his side. But he wasn't Jim anymore, he was Alois Trancy. Alois was capable of anything, down to manipulating to betrayal.

I couldn't help the longing that overtook me at that moment, and with shaky hands I reached out, placing them onto of his hands besides his face. Something flashed through his eyes upon the contact of my hands, but it was gone too quick to decipher. I ignored it and let a small smile stretch across my lips, tears gathering in my eyes.

"I wanted... I wanted so much to keep you happy. I wanted to be there for you whenever you needed me. But," The tears fell from my eyes, splashing like cold raindrops against my cheeks, "I can't go back now… You're not the same boy I knew, and," I swallowed dryly when anger began to pool into his eyes. "And Ciel's my new master now-" I stopped short as Alois stood swiftly, gasping as his foot shot out and connected with my chest; the air knocked out of me when I landed hard on my back. I rolled onto my side, coughing harshly and feeling blood in my mouth.

"You're a traitor, Sakura. No matter where you think your loyalties lie, you will always belong to me," A feral smile plastered across his face, eyes glinting as he stepped back next to Claude's side. "You will always be mine, because I have your soul in the palm of my hand." There were no words to describe the fear and dread that filled me at his words. I watched as he held his empty palm out, his fingers squeezing around nothing but I felt something inside me being squeezed. I was panting, sweat beading my face but he kept squeezing and squeezing that nothingness in his hand until my vision darkened; blackened to the point that I could no longer see and my mind blanked.

x-x-x-x

I could still hear.

I could hear panting, leaves crunching underfoot as someone made their way towards us. I couldn't see who it was but I shouted, yelled inside my own mind for someone to help me.

"What's the matter?" I heard Alois ask, an underlying sound of amusement in his voice. More leaves crunched underfoot, sounding closer than the last. Was Alois moving away? Who was he moving towards?

"Are you suffering? Does it hurt?" He was speaking in that fake feminine voice and my stomach plummeted. Ciel was out here, most likely alone. Where on earth was Sebastian?

"If it hurts, I'll lick up and heal your… wound." I could hear him lick his lips over the sound of the crunching leaves, and he stopped.

"Cut out your acting." It was Ciel. I suddenly felt sick and tried desperately to move my body, but nothing worked. It was as if my mind was cut off from my body.

"Cut out your act, Alois Trancy!" He knew. He knew it was Alois, so why wasn't he leaving? Did Ciel not know what things Alois was capable of?

"Hmph," It was Alois, "So you knew. How boring."

"I knew you would make your move if I was alone," Ciel said, and I froze. He knew what he was getting himself into, and yet he purposely walked into the trap? I fell to my knees in the depth of my dark blank mind.

I heard Alois chuckle before he spoke, "Did you follow me on purpose? Even if you did…" He trailed off, and I heard Claude next to me move. I could feel my body moving with him until we stopped, and I assumed we stopped just behind Alois.

Three more figures jumped down from the trees on the other side of Claude. My blood froze in my veins and I screamed for Ciel to run. But no one could hear me. No matter how hard or loud I tried to tell him to go, the words wouldn't leave through my body's lips.

"So you even took Sakura back. I should have known her loyalties weren't strong."

I felt a sob burst from my mouth at his words. Did he think I'd be so willing to leave the safety of his household to return to my abusive master?

"Don't you look down on me." There was amusement in Ciel's voice, along with a confidence that was far greater than an adult's.

"It is exactly as my young master says."

My heart leapt at the sound of Sebastian's deep, velvety voice, but a fear stirred inside me. If Ciel truly thought I had changed sides, then would he dispose of me? I dreaded to think what would happen, especially when I didn't have control of my body.

I could feel more than see Sebastian's eyes on me, but he spoke and his eyes left me.

"I should have warned you earlier, Claude." So even Sebastian knew they were planning something.

"It's nothing really. I just wanted to talk in a quiet place. It just so happens that my lovely Sakura found herself out here, worried about Ciel." He laughed, twirling himself around me. I could feel the brush of his clothes against mine.

"I should thank you two for making my Sakura so pretty this evening. She really does look lovely in her country's traditional clothing; just like a little doll." His cool hand skimmed across my cheek but my body didn't even flinch. On the inside I was trembling.

"Going so far for a costume ball and dressing up like that… What exactly do you want from me?" He ignored what Alois had said and got straight to the point. And although I knew Ciel had no trust for me and could care less what happened to me now, I felt that I needed to know what Alois wanted with Ciel too.

"I want you." I was shocked at Alois' blunt reply.

"What do you mean?" Ciel demanded.

I felt my hand twitch slightly and I gasped inside my mind. Was the hypnosis or whatever Alois and Claude placed on me wearing off? I tried to focus my eyes, straining until my head hurt. But it worked, if only a bit. I could see just slightly the outlines of Sebastian and Ciel.

"I want you. That's all it is, Ciel Phantomhive." I shifted my eyes discreetly so I could see Alois smirking towards the mansion. My vision was clearing and I could see almost everything clearly. I just needed full control of my body and I could help Ciel, never mind the fact that he no longer trusted me.

"If you refuse, everyone in there will be slaughtered."

I gasped and Alois' eyes darted to mine. I made a mistake in making a noise and now he knew the hypnosis had worn off. I willed my body to move and with another gasp, the feeling came back into my legs and I was running towards Sebastian. His ruby-brown eyes were narrowed and for a moment I thought he was going to attack me, but the firm grip around my wrist told me I wasn't the one he was looking at.

I turned and pushed with all my might to throw Claude off of me, but he was gone. Instead Sebastian stood in front of me, his own grip tightening around Claude's wrist.

Alois laughed but his face turned to a sneer. "Don't get big-headed just because you have a pretty good butler." He pointed to Claude who stood gripping Sebastian's unoccupied wrist. "My Claude is far better!"

He stuck out his tongue that had a strange star-like marking on it, and I gasped as it glowed along with Claude's golden eyes.

"As I thought, you're one too," Ciel exclaimed, eyes narrowed. I turned towards him but he avoided my eyes.

"Don't look so confused, Sakura! Don't you think it's strange that the two of us have unbelievably inhuman butlers?" Alois laughed and my eyes widened, thinking back to all the times Claude had done something no other human could have possibly done. Sebastian was exactly the same.

It made sense. If Claude and Sebastian were demons, which would explain so many things, then their masters would have a contracted sign. I had heard of something like this year's before I had met Alois and Luka, but I had laughed it off as some fairy-tale.

My eyes widened further as my mind clicked. The star-like sign on Alois' tongue; it was a contract. But where was Ciel's? I turned back to him and only just noticed his eye-patch was missing, his now visible eye glowing with a similar mark as Alois' contract.

I stepped back, away from them both. Sebastian's eye caught mine and I ran.

But I didn't get far before three boys jumped in front of me, each of them identical to the other. Triplets.

"Even if you run, Sakura, you're mine. As long as your soul is in my possession, there's no escaping me." He was behind me, standing so close I could feel his breath fanning my cheek.

"But maybe I should break your soul right here, and make you a forever loyal servant until we die," My breath hitched in my throat and he laughed, stepping away from me and back to Claude's side. Sebastian had moved back next to Ciel.

"You understand, don't you, Sebastian." Ciel murmured, his eyes never leaving Alois'. "The contract between you and me is for you to lend me your power and to protect me from death until my goal has been fulfilled."

Sebastian smiled, his eyes fixed on Claude. "Of course. I have been your loyal servant since then," A wind blew, sweeping my hair into my eyes but I was too frozen to the spot to push them out of my sight. "I will grant your every wish until the very day our contract completes and parts our souls."

So I was right… They really were contracted to demons. And I had… My widened eyes darted to the ground, and I felt sick. I had begun to develop feelings towards Sebastian... a demon. I fell to my knees but no one seemed to notice me there at that moment.

"That's a good answer," Ciel smirked, his mismatched eyes shifting up to look at his butler.

"Houhe o Taraluna," I heard Alois begin in a language I had never heard. I was only familiar with my native language, Japanese, and English. "Ron de Rotarel. Claude, get Ciel!"

"I order you, Sebastian; protect me no matter what!"

My heart was beating frantically; my eyes so wide they were stinging from the cold breeze blowing by.

"Yes, your highness." Claude breathed, eyes narrowing at the opposing butler standing opposite him.

"Yes, my lord." Sebastian stood smiling, but his eyes glinted with a malicious intent.

I feared being caught in the middle of the battle that was about to begin; between two demons nonetheless.


A/N: I don't think I did too well with this chapter, but I've been so busy that I haven't had time to just sit back and think. So I hope you'll forgive me if it seems a little rushed. I promise the next chapter will be more thought-out and I'll spend a longer time planning everything out.

I'm going to be writing a SakuraxAlois oneshot if anyone's interested; it's going to be a kind of alternate meeting between Alois and Sakura than what happened in this story. So if you're interested, I hope you'll stop by and check it out once I've got it uploaded :]

R&R and tell me what you think!

~Obsidian Neko