"As you have made every other moment with you memorable." Sebastian almost laughed. "I am sure I will never forget, in a thousand years."
"but you will live longer..." the boy reminded with a yawn.
"I will continue to live, yes.. and you will always be on my mind, despite whatever happens. No matter what choices are made." He let his fingers drag along the back of his neck. "You are quite the interesting human, Bocchan.. I do not believe I will ever have another contract with someone quite like you."
"I suppose that's a good thing..." the boy shrugged, "I don't want to be forgotten..."
"You won't be. Naturally you would never allow it." He smirked a little. "I do hope nothing is going on downstairs.. those two fools are making you soup."
The earl groaned loudly, " and you are letting them!"
"It distracted them.. Finny was crying." The butler frowned. "And it appeared each time I left you grew ill, so I chose to stay here with you."
"crying?" the young master looked up at his demon butler with a frown "what ever for?"
"They worry about you." Sebastian explained. "He was sure you were dead.. and he is rather upset you are so sick." He said. "They care greatly for you. As do I."
"then I suppose I should go downstairs and talk to them, if only to ensure there well being"
"Are you sure you are well enough to walk?" He asked, raising thin brows.
"if I do not make an appearance they will grow more and more upset until I do. They will likely burn this place to the ground in there attempts to help..."
"Ah, that is correct.." He muttered. "Perhaps I can carry you downstairs to speak with them? You shouldn't exhaust yourself."
"okay." ciel smiled, taking a deep breath.
Sebastian nodded and clambered out of the bed with the Earl in his arms. He kept him close to his chest and carried him downstairs and to the kitchen. "You two aren't burning the place down are you? The young Master won't appreciate that very much."
"sebastian?" the blond looked shocked to see the butler again so soon.
Sebastian nodded to the blonde and pursed his lips slightly. "No flamethrowers?" He muttered, carrying the boy into the kitchen and looking around as Bard used a large knife to cut up vegetables. "Surprising."
"Sebastian put me down." the boy ordered, not wanting to appear to weak.
"Yes my Lord." He said, kneeling down and setting the boy on his feet. He straightened again then and stood patiently by him.
Bard looked up and beamed. "Young Master! You're alright!"
"I am" the boy held himself with his usual dignified air. "I came because I heard that you and finny had become upset?"
Bard ruffled at Finny's hair and chuckled, nudging a flamethrower under the table and yanking the cloth non-chalontly so it was hidden. "Finny here was crying crocodile tears thinkin' ya were dead!"
The young earl gave a small nod and turned his lips slightly upwards in a half smile. "then there is nothing to worry about."
"Of course ya made it through. I told him our Master is way too strong!" Bard said, putting his hands on his hips and nodding knowingly. "we're making you the most powerful soup known to man so you are back to full strength, right Fin'?"
"yeah!" the shorter smiled, his eyes still a little puffy from the tears.
Sebastian chuckled quietly and gave Finny a small sympathetic look. "He is fine, Finny.. and you helped of course."
"I did?" the boy looked a little shocked.
"yes, but never do that to my chest again." the young earl had to resist the urge to yell it, but his gardener only meant well, he knew that.
"At least wait until the young Master is wearing armor." The demon teased. "But nevertheless you did keep him safe when it was needed, and for that I am grateful."
"I'm sorry." the boy looked at his feet, "dose it hurt?
"yes, badly." ceil was as blunt as ever, "but don't think on it."
"He didn't mean it Boss!" Bard said, defending the little blonde. "You know Finny.. he doesn't know his own strength."
"which is why he is irreplaceable." the earl stated, nodding.
Bard nodded and grinned at Finny. "Come on Finny, I still need help with this soup!"
"right, I'm sorry again little lord, I didn't mean to hurt you."
"appoligiese aren't nesasery."
"Well your soup is gonna be ready in a few minutes, Master, and then you'll be cured!" The chef bellowed proudly. "Why don't.. you go wait in the dining hall!"
This, the small boy had to admit was some what worrisome. "I will wait in bed, I am still unwell."
Sebastian huffed a little at the chef. "If I see any explosives or flame throwers in here Bard, you will scrub this kitchen spotless with a toothbrush. Your toothbrush." He muttered, turning then to Ciel. "Are you alright to walk, Bocchan?"
The boy nodded but only took two steps out of the sight of his other servants before he sighed.
Sebastian followed the boy out of the kitchen and hummed softly, looking at him. "Are you alright?"
"no." the boy huffed, "i can't move... I'm in pain..."
Sebastian frowned and pulled Ciel from his feet and into his arms. "You're pushing yourself too much.." He said. "You need to rest.. and have some herbal tea for the pain."
"I cannot look weak, sebastian." Ciel reminded him, frowning.
"You don't, Bocchan." He replied, nuzzling into him fondly. "You are very strong. Despite being ill you saw to it to talk with your servants, and you have proved your strength."
"I will not collapse in front of them..." the young boy sighed, "they will feel worse and act accordingly."
"Well... Finny would, yes." He mumbled. "He's very soft hearted for someone with such incredible strength. At least as far as humans go."
This made the queens guard dog snort. "do you mean to tell me demons have softer or somehow more pure hearts? With Pluto... Well... I can see that he indeed is somewhat pure, in a loyal yet base way..."
Sebastian let out a quiet laugh and shook his head. "No, young Master, I meant that he is surprisingly kind for someone with such strength. Is it not customary for humans who are strong to be.. vile?" He said. "We demons do not have this.. purity nor do we have hearts do we?" He said, passing his hand through his hair. "We don't normally need any emotions you humans possess and depend upon."
"I suppose things would be much simpler that way, are they not?"
"In a way." He responded, bowing slightly. "But things will always be complicated in one way or another."
"I'm not even truly sure that you are alive... I have seen you take bullets and remain standing... If you cannot be killed then are you really alive?"
"I suppose that depends on one's definitions of alive." He replied, blinking long lashes and frowning. "By human standards, I probably am not."
"if you feel sadness and pain... If you are born, and you die..." the earl mused, " that is how most people define life..."
"I see." Sebastian nodded, taking in what the boy was saying. "I do not believe I am alive then. I do not feel most things you say one should, and I do not die.."
"then, by those same standards trees are also not alive, for they do not feel such emotions... Yet they are... And Pluto, he would be alive where you are not, he feels many things and shows it clearly... Jealousy, happiness, excitement... And you have said that it would be possible to... Slay him..."
"You are correct.. that bloody demon dog is by definitions of your people, alive. Perhaps it is indeed possible I am. Though I stifle these.. feelings." He mumbled, recalling being jealous and possessive on many occasions. And perhaps the previous night he had felt other things. He pursed his lips. "Hm."
"it is something to think on I am sure." the earl smirked slightly.
"Indeed it is." The demon said, still pondering the idea as he carried the Earl. "Perhaps it is the company one keeps that gives one life." he muttered.
"then with me you are definitely not alive." the boy looked saddened, "I fear I died a long time ago..."
"On the contrary you are very much alive. You simply aren't experiencing the pleasant emotions humans normally do. It does not mean, however, that you are incapable of them still.. i'm sure certain experiences will produce those feelings."
"if life simply means you draw breath, then your right..."
"You humans are far too interesting for it to mean just that.." He said. "There are so many things that make you alive. That's why I think we demons are so intrigued.. normally we don't have the capacities to feel, but you do, and a lot of you live fully by your emotions. It's funny.. it's strange."
"I don't know what it means... I'm not sure life truly means anything..."
"I do not know if I can help with that.. unearthing the meaning of life is rather difficult is it not?" he said. "And as I have read, for each human, the answer is different."
"I don't care. I have a goal, and you will help me reach it, no matter what."
Sebastian nodded slowly, a small way to bow while he could not with his arms full. "Of course, Bocchan.. I will help you to reach any goal you ever have. There is nothing you cannot have."
"until I have my revenge at least..." the boy raised up his arms, "undress me."
"Yes Sir." He mumbled, carefully setting him on his bed. He knelt down in front of him and unbuttoned his shirt, unlatching each button from its place until his chest was exposed. He discarded his shirt and looked up at him. "Your trousers as well? Do you want replacement clothes or do you plan on a bathe?"
"I intend to rest in bed, but I do not wish to be covered right now. Decent or not."
"As it is your own home and have no company I do not believe you have to worry about decency." He said, stripping the noble down to just his underwear, even stealing away his socks.
Ciel lay himself back into the pillows, still feeling weak and not himself but trying his damnedest to appear as strong willed as ever. stubborn as ever.
