Author's Note: I'm honestly considering rewriting the earlier chapters. Any objections?
Ciel Phantomhive looked around his large bedroom, a familiar feeling of emptiness growing inside him. It was almost as if the boy only lived when he was in the presence of his beloved, going in to a lonesome slumber as soon as he noticed the demon's absence. Now was one of those darker times, the times that made him feel as if life wasn't worth living. The diary, the book that Ciel had hidden for so long, was now gone, and he knew exactly who took it. The only thing he was unsure of was what the culprit - Edward - intended to do with it. Would he immediately turn it over to his parents, or would he use it to blackmail Ciel? Such questions made the boy's head spin and his chest ache. If Edward turned the book in to his parents, Ciel's life was completely over. Elizabeth would make sure that he was properly humiliated, in order to get revenge for her broken heart, and this would result in the disgrace of the Phantomhive name, or perhaps Ciel's fall from nobility. The boy clenched his teeth in anger, contemplating his future actions. Should he directly confront Edward? No, that would give him an advantage over me. If he sees how crucial it is that the diary isn't made public, he'll use it as a blackmail tool, thus resulting in further humiliation for both me and Sebastian. Should he simply act as if nothing happened? He could always lie to the Midfords, tell them that Edward wrote the whole diary himself in an attempt to stop the marriage of Elizabeth and Ciel. That diary is rather long... Would they believe that that troublesome son of theirs would go to such lengths in order to humiliate me? Not only that, but it is my handwriting. Ciel slammed his fist down against the table, his anger taking over.
"Damn it!" he cried, and, as soon as the words were out of his mouth, the demon was once again by his side.
"Ciel?" Sebastian cast a concerned look towards the shaking child, wondering just what the hell was going on.
"It's Edward" Ciel hissed through clenched teeth, turning to face the demon with rage in his eyes.
"He's taken the diary." Sebastian was momentarily shocked.
"Are you sure you haven't misplaced it?"
"You know yourself that it was in here only a few moments ago." Sebastian reached out and grabbed Ciel's thin wrist, pulling the child alongside him as he began to walk angrily towards the door.
"What are you thinking!?" Ciel exclaimed.
"If we show up like this and demand the diary back, we'll seem desperate. It'd give him power over us!" Although Ciel resisted the strong hand that continued to pull him down the hallway, it did not slow Sebastian down. The two continued at their brisk pace towards the rooms where the Midford's were staying. Sebastian only stopped when the doors of said rooms became visible. He knelt down to Ciel's level and put both of his hands on the child's shoulders, looking in to his deep-blue eyes.
"Which is more important: Seeming desperate or losing the social status that both you and your family has worked so hard for?" The way that Sebastian said these two things made Ciel feel as if neither was important, but, feeling obligated to choose, he began to mumble.
"My social status..."
"Then it's settled. We're going to retrieve that diary, and Edward is going to cooperate." Ciel leaned forward and planted a sweet kiss against Sebastian's lips.
"Thank you" he whispered, his voice sounding nasally from the tears welling up in his eyes. Sebastian stood up, pulling the boy along with him, and proceeded to knock against Edward's bedroom door.
Meanwhile...
Edward froze as a sudden knock on the door ended the silence of Phantomhive manor that he'd become accustomed to. No one would come at such a late hour, save for -
"Phantomhive" the blonde whispered. He'd apparently noticed the diary's absence already. My, isn't he an observant one! Edward couldn't help but to realize that he was beginning to panic a bit, though why he did not know. In a fistfight with Ciel (If it were to come to this), Edward would obviously win. He was the stronger and taller of the two, meaning he had an advantage over the young boy. But if it were Sebastian who was knocking against the door... Edward chewed his bottom lip, thinking things over. The butler was far taller and a great deal more muscular than both Edward and Ciel. How was Edward to succeed with a devilish giant fighting against him? He glanced towards the raging flames in the fireplace, sitting down upon his bed and crossing his legs in an attempt to look perfectly calm.
"Do come in." The door opened, confirming Edward's worst fears. Both Ciel and Sebastian stood in the doorway, and they looked livid with anger. It was Edward who who dared to speak first.
"And to what do I owe this visit?" It was a daft line under these circumstances, but Edward still said it in anyway, as he was lost for words. Ciel smirked deviously, which, Edward hated to admit, frightened him just a bit. The two visitors in his bedchamber looked quite evil, dark glares plastered upon their pale, handsome faces.
"Spare me the common pleasantries, Midford. We both know what I'm here for" Both Edward and Sebastian looked towards Ciel as if waiting for him to say more, but not another word escaped his lips. Edward suddenly felt the need to speak up.
"Indeed. But would you be willing to say your purpose for being here, I wonder? Or are you just too proud for such a thing?" Ciel's hand went instinctively to the area where his gun lay, but Sebastian shot him a warning glance.
"I never took you for a fool, boy, but you certainly are behaving like one." It was Sebastian who spoke. Edward raised his eyebrows, trying his best to look amused.
"I never thought you were one to speak to your betters this way, butler." Before Edward could praise himself for what he considered to be an excellent comeback, Ciel began talking once again.
"Stop behaving childishly and just tell us where the damned book is!" Edward couldn't help but to laugh. It further angered both Ciel and Sebastian, and it looked as if they were just about to kill Edward with their bare hands when he decided to confess.
"You needn't worry about that little book of yours, Phantomhive." Ciel and Sebastian exchanged a confused glance.
"Pray, what do you mean?"
"Have you forgotten that we grew up together? Do you really think that I'd shame a friend?" He's lying. He must be! This is too good to be true.
"Friend?"
"All of these challenges have been just harmless fun, Ciel. Though I've always dreamed of finding an excuse to end this marriage, I knew that it was merely because I wanted to win this game. Now I have won, and I am content to leave it at that. I have my excuse, but I shall never use it." Ciel was practically gaping at Edward.
"You mean you're not going to tell Elizabeth about all of this?"
"She may be my sister, but I look at you as a brother."
"Then there is still going to be a wedding between the two of us?" Ciel asked, dreading the answer.
"Only if you want there to be." Sebastian looked toward Ciel worriedly. He'd always been angered by Elizabeth's being a threat to the two's happiness, but what if it was Elizabeth that Ciel wanted to be with and not him? She was of the opposite sex, meaning that such a relationship would be appropriate, whereas Ciel and Sebastian's relationship would be frowned upon by basically everyone in England. Now was the moment that would decide both Sebastian and Ciel's future. The noble looked towards Edward, a genuine small upon his face.
"I love Sebastian, not Elizabeth." Edward was a bit surprised that Ciel had confessed out loud, but nevertheless, he accepted his answer.
"So what shall I tell them?"
"Tell them what you told me."
"What do you mean?"
"Tell them that we look at each other as siblings, and it would be rather disgraceful to marry a sibling, would it not?" Ciel's smile was contagious, infecting everyone in the room.
"Indeed I shall."
"But I do have another question, Edward."
"And what is that?"
"What did you do with the diary?" Edward extended his pointer finger towards the roaring flames in the fireplace. Ciel watched the flames, realizing that not only were they burning the evidence that could have ruined his life, but the alternate fate he would have suffered if he had had to marry the woman he did not love.
"You have my blessing, Ciel."
"And for that I thank you" he whispered.
The boy slipped his hand in to Sebastian's, watching his past burn.
Author's Note: This chapter will be followed by an epilogue, and then this story shall end! I have enjoyed writing it, and I thank you all for reading and offering suggestions to help me and further improve my writing skills. Like I said in my previous author's note, I may edit the earlier chapters a bit. I hope that no one minds! Did I make any errors with this chapter? Did it turn out the way you thought it would? If you have the time, please leave a review! After I'm done writing and tweaking this story, I may start a "Resident Evil / Biohazard" or "Death Note" fanfiction, as I already have two "Kuroshitsuji" stories on this website and I'd like to have a variety of different fanfictions available for readers. I'll still post "Kuroshitsuji" fanfictions though, so don't worry! Once again, I thank you!
