Disclaimer: Toboso Yana, owner, Kuroshitsuji, BLARG!


Darkness. Blank world. An empty space void of light. Was this how a demons subconscious looked like or was it simply a dream without substance?

Sebastian was amongst the shadow world, still, breathing, vigilant.

This world started to morph and evolve slowly. Now before him there was an enormous grass prairie opposite to the crystalline sky hanging above, nothing else. Sebastian was wearing his usual butler attire, surrounded by tall forage, unable to move. He searched around with his eyes and saw something. When he focused his view on the object, the butler saw it was a strip of his Cinematic Record when he disguised as a human. Sebastian gained the strength to walk, and directed himself to the Record. Looking over it, the demon saw in it his last moment being conscience. He remembered now.

The pain in his chest felt excruciatingly real after watching and basically reliving the event. Why did Grell need to have the most dangerous Death Scythe in Shinigami history? Turning clockwise, he saw another part of his Record floating away. There was something about this one that seemed different... Shift. The Cinematic Strip swam away, shimmering slightly. The butler went after it, on instinct. The Record hid on thick barley, Sebastian following suit. Soon after, the Record zigzagged around the crop, almost escaping the demon's pursuit. Something about all this felt familiar. The Record made a quick U-turn, going past the butler chasing it and disappearing behind his back. The pasture closed Sebastian from any path visible; the sky also appeared to have vanished. Lost.

Sebastian heard shuffling to his left and rapidly hoped in the direction. Behind the cream-colored hay lied a sitting Red Reaper sobbing quietly. The red tresses of the reaper covered most of his face, knees folded under his thigh to seat him properly.

"Grell..." Said ginger lifted his head, showing his tears. "Why are you crying?"

"I...It's my fault...you were hurt..." Grell, shaking, stood up from his place. "But...why did you help me?"

There was a black lily clasped in his hands. A black lily...only appeared in his dreams. So this was what his subconscious was worrying about. For a moment, Sebastian had thought the strike from the Death Scythe was enough to end his life and that this was a demon's limbo world, to be haunted by memories and emotions.

"I did it because you were in danger, isn't it obvious?" Knowing this was only an illusion helped him relax about his words. "I did it because...because I..."

The isolated world changed up around him, everything scribbled up, smashed together and destroyed itself, like a crumbled up piece of paper. The sky turned black, so did the grass and the floor and...

Grell!


He rose from his place, which was soft and comfortable, hand extended at where Grell was falling into the darkness. Panting lightly, he gazed around with his half-closed eyes, burning from sunlight. He was in a room, body resting on a large bed, but a room characteristic of the Phantomhive household. A window to his left was bringing the light from the outside world. It must be around noon from the amount of it.

"Sebas-chan! You're awake!" Sebastian tilted his head to the familiar sound. Grell was leaning over the bed, grin large and wide. A second afterwards, the redhead was hugging the butler in relief.

"G-Grell? What are you doing here? What about the demons? And why are we at my master's home when a moment ago I was in–"

"Relax, darling, everything's been taken care of. You've been unconscious for a whole week!" The reaper trailed off, tightly squeezing Sebastian's arm.

"A week? What happened with my lord?" Sebastian was distressed. An entire week out cold was shameful, but his master is unable to even tie his own shoes!

"Oh, the brat's fine." Grell looked displeased at the question. "He's in the study drinking some tea prepared by that Tanaka."

Sigh. At least one thing is right. "Then...what about the demons, Leander and Everhardt? I remember one was taken care of, but the other was alive and mighty."

"Well~, I took care of them, you know. Hurting my dearest like that was simply unacceptable!"


The body of Sebastian slumped down onto the floor next to Grell, falling unconscious. The reaper had looked down, staring at his defenseless and heavily injured butler. The wound, although deep and deadly, wasn't enough to murder a demon, especially one of such high determination as Sebastian. He knew for certain; after all, a Grim Reaper had experience eliminating the vile creatures. The tall demon, now cackling at Sebastian's efforts to stop him, stood confident in his abilities to finally kill his prey.

"How amusing, a demon giving his life away for a reaper," he bore a stare at the lowered from of the odd reaper. "What a pity, a waste of time, really." Leander stepped forward and reached for the weapon, before Grell abruptly stood, grasping the bloodied chainsaw in his hands, making Leander tip back. His wounds healed ten times faster than it should have, his gaze lifted from the ground, anger flashed in the redhead's green eyes.

"How dare you... Using my own partner to harm him..." The demon was stumbling back, showing fear. He went too far for Grell, who laughed at his expression. "Now that you realize what you've done...it's time to punish the bad little kids."

"G-Get away from me!" He leaped back to escape, to no avail. Grell had grabbed a hold of his trousers' sleeve and threw him to the floor, stepping over him. His cherished chainsaw revved to life and impaled the demon like he had done to his beloved Sebastian. "Gah!"

"You should learn...that a Death God is not a merciful God to his enemies~." His face contorted into a mad grin, almost reaching ear-to-ear, baring his sharp teeth. Leander lifted his clawed hand to slash at the leg over his body, succeeding. Flinching, Grell retreated the still-revolving weapon and proceeded to cut off one leg off of Leander. "Ah-ah-ah~" his own leg healed in seconds, "You shouldn't have done that~. Now I will make your death veeeery painful..."

Jumping past some buildings, the reaper stopped behind the young earl who was having a discussion with the other handsome demon, Everhardt. Sebastian was firmly held on his back, resting. Ciel noticed the man behind him and turned, surprised to see Sebastian knocked out.

"What happened to him? He looks awful...and bloody." The young boy saw a glimpse of the butler's clothing soaked in his own blood.

"Little brat, your butler is incapable of helping you right now...so, in his place, I'll take care of you until he wakes!" Grell smiled, who was also soaked in blood. But it didn't look like the reaper's blood.

"Take care of me? Ha! You can't even pour a cup of tea in place, and what about the other demon?" he wondered at this thought. Was the blood he was covered in...?

"Ah, that's been taken care of...my lord~." Ciel shuddered at the words. He could trust on the ginger that the death was not pretty. "And now that Sebas-chan needs some time to heal, I think you have no choice but to bear with me until London is in front of our eyes. I just need to inform my fellow peers that I'll be busy with something."

"...You better not dress me up in red." Ciel warned at Grell with a serious voice.


Sebastian listened to the redhead's words carefully; the reaper sat back on the bed a bit close to Sebastian's left while Sebastian straightened his back sitting up. Besides his master's distaste for the clothing Grell selected for him (because he couldn't resist picking out red things), he did a good job watching for the boy.

"So, you didn't mess anything up? Anything?" It came more of a surprise to think such.

"Oh, of course not~. You might get mad but...I was sort of playing dumb as a butler for Madam Red in front of you two so I could train under you and get information for the miss. I may be incompetent with paperwork, but I'm not useless with handiwork. In fact, I'm quite dexterous with my hands~." Grell spoke with a hint of flirt. The way the ginger said it did not help the wandering mind, but Sebastian merely sighed at the self-praise.

"I must thank you for watching over my lord while I was incapacitated to do so...I...really do appreciate it, Grell." The butler resting over the bed was tempted with the idea of telling the ginger his true feelings, but a thought raced through his mind, swiping the chance away. His clothing was changed. Now he was sporting a white button shirt with gray slacks. The striped bow was still around his neck despite this.

"Um...Grell, who changed my clothes?" He touched the fabric of the nightshirt. It was a good quality of cotton. The red eyes locked with the reaper's face after doing so.

Grell's face turned a deep shade of red hearing the question, and even darker when Sebastian looked directly at him. "W-Well, your butler suit, although it looked ravishing in the crimson red, it was going to get permanently stained if it wasn't washed soon...so...I r-removed them and closed your wound with stitches and bandages back in the city Leeds, after helping the earl sleep departing back to London, and I properly washed them before putting the clothes back on... Back here I could change your clothes and properly patch you up, since the carriage arrived a day earlier..." His face and his hair couldn't be told apart by how red the reaper had turned explaining this.

'He...changed my...clothes...' Glancing down at his trousers, Sebastian could see even his underwear had been changed.

"You didn't try anything else did you?" The butler's face was cold as a stone asking this. Even if Grell was Grell, he would not forgive him for doing anything inappropriate.

"Well, even though your humanoid form is wonderful to stare at –and wash–, I wouldn't dare do such a thing while you slept! That's just bad manners." Grell turned away.

"...Yes, bad manners..." Sebastian relaxed at that. At least Grell had enough common sense to keep his hands to himself. And his master probably felt even more awkward to be cleansed by him.

"My Lord! I need to check on him!" Not waiting for a moment, Sebastian removed the sheets covering his legs and flew towards the door...before falling down due to a stinging pain in his chest. Grell ran up next to him and helped him up.

"I told you he's just fine! Sheesh...the wound hasn't entirely healed yet, Sebas-chan~. It will take another week at least; Death Scythes have a tendency to make healing slow since it's meant to be deadly, you know."

His health was still delicate? How inconvenient.


Both of them left the room, Sebastian aided by Grell, to check on the earl in the study. Grell was cradling the butler's arm, for support and for closeness, since he knew Sebastian had no choice. Sebastian was thinking about his feelings the whole way with Grell so close to him. The ginger had the right to know about it especially after so many things had happened. Grell even took care of him despite being a reaper who most affirmatively had to hide it from his superior, William. And he was willing to take a bullet and more –and he did– for Grell; did the redhead wonder at all why Sebastian had done that for him?

They reached an open window that sighted over the garden. 'Ah, that night seemed like it was an eternity ago...'

Grell stopped and turned to him, gathering words. As if he read the demon's mind he asked the question that has been on his mind for the past week.

"Sebas-chan, why did you save me from that demon?" He paused and glared at the butler's chest, "You got badly injured because of me..."

Sebastian took a moment to think his answer through. It was like the dream he awoke from not too long ago. Was it a simulation in his mind, or a premonition showed to him? Either way, he needed to answer firmly and clearly. "Truthfully, my body moved on its own, getting in the way to stop the Death scythe from hurting you. But I don't regret it."

"Oh you don't~, and why's that?" Grell asked flirting, as usual.

"...Because I love you." The ginger froze, and gawked in disbelief.

"...I'm sorry, I think I misunderstood, what did you say?"

"I said I love you, imbecile!" Frustration overcame him at the cause of repeating it. Grell stiffened at the words, almost stopped breathing. Sebastian softly patted his head in return and sighed. He removed the bow around his neck openly and tied again just as it was on Grell's neck. Checking to see that it was perfectly knotted, he smirked and stood straight. "I believe this is long overdue. Now the bowtie is back where it belongs." He said, waiting for Grell to speak. But instead, the reaper shed tears. Worrying further, Sebastian furrows his brows.

"Is something wrong?"

"N-no, nothing it's just that...I'm happy...that Sebastian likes me back, that's all." Grell reassured with a smile, a warm smile.

"Then you shouldn't cry, Grell, quite the opposite; I expected you to squeal with joy or crush me in an embrace from your brute strength." The demon butler really didn't understand love.

"...B-But...I-I can't stoooop!" Grell's knees buckled and he sat down on the floor over the window, weeping –from joy–. The tall man over him wondered how one could cry for happiness, but he didn't understand humane feelings entirely. So he did what could occur in his mind to ease the reaper's tears: he sat down next to Grell and patted his back in comfort. It only made Grell cling to his aching chest, but the pain felt strangely worth the price of having him calm down. And he wanted to hold him close, too. After finally confessing to Grell, all the doubts and worries seemed to fade away from the mind. Only one remained, and that was what was to come in the future after this. But he would worry later, now he needed to attend his love.

"Now, now...don't cry, especially because I do not know how to handle tears from others, Grell." He continued to pat the redhead, rocking him softly.

"Y-You're doing fine now." Grell chuckled, barely hearable. "It's because I finally get my affections returned...a lady needs love, and much to keep her happy. A partner to connect with, that's all...and if you feel the same way, then I won't ever feel that gnawing loneliness..." His makeup was smeared but it didn't matter now. He gained love, something irreplaceable.

"I won't allow that then, you'll just have to meet me when that happens." A soft breeze entered through the window, bringing the scent of roses inside.

"Sebas-chan...do you think I'm pretty?" The question was out of context, maybe a deep uneasiness with him. But it was an easy answer.

"Beautiful, like a rose."


Back inside the study, Ciel was thinking about his discussion with the demon. Everhardt was spared, he was no longer a looming threat. But his words irritated him...

Ciel was confronting Everhardt, still pinned on the chimney, about the current events. "So this really was all just a game for you? Nothing else besides the result matters?"

"Of course, that is how we demons reason. Some of us are smarter, others are pure animal instinct, but it's all the same. We only pursue what we want, it doesn't matter if I was once human. To me, that was as if it never happened. I've long forgotten my human nature." Everhardt was very easy to interrogate, he just gave you all the answers.

"Then...how did you become a demon? Or did you forget that as well?" This was intriguing to him, escaping death.

"Sadly, I do recall it, but it was not of my own will. As your butler had mentioned, it was an accident that caused this, I hardly remember anything about then, but I know some things about it." The amber-colored hair of the demon was floating softly with the wind.

"...Like what?"

"Like...that it was not an accident in the first place." He took a long breath. "I am unusually attached to that demon, but not as much as he is with me. When I was a human, after granting my wishes in exchange for my soul, Leander couldn't bear to eat me, or part with me. We spent only half a decade together, but my soul was more than a perfect meal to him, it was a companion. So at the moment before my contract finalized, he broke the contract by injuring me, his master."

Ciel eyes flew wide open. 'To attack the master? What good does it bring to kill the one you couldn't kill before?' he wondered.

Everhardt continued, "My last order to him, convulsing in pain, was to end the suffering, and he did so by performing a ritual were my soul was forever sealed in this body, being reborn as a demon. Like this, my body healed and would never feel pain, and the contract would remain interrupted by being unable to eat my soul." Ciel understood, even if he didn't know much about demon's rituals. The man had been forced to live forever, in the other's lonesome longing for a friend. "Leander was happy, finally having an eternal compatriot. But he changed after some time. Even though the contract is sustained, Leander long forgot about that time and sees me now as another demon, competition. It really is disheartening how, after getting what he wanted, he became tired of me. I suppose it's one of those things 'us' humans called the mystery of the unattainable. Once you gain what you long for, it loses its luster, and you find yourself searching for a different goal."

He felt a wave of pressure over his chest as he spoke. "...Something happened..." A wind flew over the buildings and swept the young earl's clothes, making them hover. "...he's dead, I see." Everhardt finished.

The familiar figure of the Red reaper carrying the demon butler appeared behind Ciel, approaching.

"Ciel Phantomhive," the boy looked attentively at Everhardt, "if your butler indeed has feelings for the Shinigami, be sure that he does not get bored of him too. Eternity is a burden."

"...I shall do so by your wisdom."


The boy came back to his reality, sitting in his study. Having seen firsthand the butler's feelings, remembering their last conversation in the matter, there was no doubt in his mind that any time now, the two immortals would fall together like a romance story. If what Everhardt told him was true, someone will end up hurt or dead. But his demon butler wasn't like most demons. He may be a sadistic, cruel and dark being but he showed actual joy and pleasure with simple creatures like cats and kittens. He had a soft side, and he was sure it was unheard of within a demonic community. Despite his hate for the demon, he truly wished nothing ill would happen between them; maybe thinking about his dear Elizabeth made him feel empathy for the two. He heard some laughter outside the panel window in the room.

Looking past it he saw the Grim reaper Grell running gleefully away from his butler wearing simple clothes, who was only following after with a walk. He could hear their conversation even from up in his study.

"Is it here? No wait, it's here!" Grell shouted at Sebastian.

"No, it's farther up north." He pointed at the bench where they had rested on weeks ago.

"Oh, I see it, I see the flower!" Ciel wondered what could be his commotion about. It was too far away to see from where he was, so he just sat back down on his chair, closing the window.

"I know it doesn't make sense to a demon, but I give you my blessings and hope for the best."


The cool weather in London was usual for the upcoming winter months: cloudy, frigid, but most of all, festive. The jolliest time of the year was nearing and many were preparing for such. In the outskirts of London, though, celebration was not prominent. The earl Phantomhive didn't care for the happy holidays or for the colder days and darkening nights. The manor's servants did, contrarily to him. The young master's birthday was around the corner and the three young servants were preparing to buy a gift for him and prepare a party, the elder steward sitting close behind, drinking tea. The head butler was also making preparations but not for the master's birthday of the coming festivities. Instead it was for the Grim Reaper's arrival, as he promised to visit once a month to avoid suspicion. The time would cut in close in between his young lord's birthdate and the Christian holiday; it did not matter. Going outside to cut the perishing flowers, he glanced at the rose bushes not far. Some of the roses were withering, but he knew one would not. There, in the bunch of fading red colors, stood one tall bright, glistening rose with a small red ribbon tied around its stem. A small spell placed on it to stay alive through the weather, he could not bear to see the precious flower wither and die in the upcoming months. He remembered a moment that occurred not long ago.

"Oh I see it, I see the flower!"

Grell bent down to see it closer. It was his rose, the red, velvety rose that lay planted once again in the garden.

"It looks a little different though." Grell tilted his head to see it more closely.

"Yes, very observant. I casted a small enchantment on it to keep it from withering in the cold winter." Sebastian slowly neared the redhead contemplating the rose like a Wonder.

"I love it! It looks so much brighter now~!" He snuggled the petals against his right cheek.

"Well, it doesn't really compare to you as you are right now, radiating warmth." He smirked as the reaper squirmed at the compliment.

"Oh?" A small blush sneaked its way onto his cheeks. "Such a gentleman, you are~."

For a moment he thought about the coming months in a different light. "...Yes, but there is something that bothers me."

"What is it, Sebas-chan?" Grell quirked a brow.

"You being a reaper, and me being a demon; won't your officers realize soon with you running off without warning? I'm sure you're already getting into trouble disappearing for an entire week."

"Oh...that...then, who about we compromise?" The ginger suggested standing from his spot. A compromise?

"What kind of compromise?" He said wearily.

"It's really simple...we just promise to meet once a month for an entire day! I could make it coincide with a day off from work~." The idea didn't seem so bad, and a tad bit smart. "And..." 'And? And what?' Sebastian couldn't help think."And we could do something we've already done before, like..." Grell pointed at his bowtie for emphasis. "Like our exchange game. Except this time, something of yours~."


Sebastian felt something drift down over his nose, cold and fragile. It had started to snow, the season was here. He needed to prepare some warm tea for his master, and left the garden be. He stared at the substitute dark-colored tie hanging from his neck for the tenth time that day. Sebastian entered the manor, taking a last look at the view behind him. Tea time was arriving.

The rose lay in the fresh snow, waiting for the spring to arrive, waiting for its mistress to wave hello and warm its pedals with his rosy cheeks. Waiting for the time when a new embarrassing moment would arise around its two appreciators and protectors. Waiting for another exchange and a good-bye after seeing something most humans will never see: a kiss. Yes, it would have to wait. It would have to wait...

It would have to wait until his Red Lady and Black Butler expressed their feelings once again.


Well, what a lovely story, eh?

Not enough Sebastian (cough King of Flufftown cough) and Grell fluffiness. Not. Enough.

But after this comes an epilogue I think you will all enjoy. One more fluffy chapter, WOO!

~Cookies