Hello, I'm back. This chapter I'm just blabbering about games and stuff so if you don't like it you could wait until I update next chapter! _Yami_

Chapter 9

"Arghhhhhhh!" Ciel falls again. This is the sixth trial that they have attempted to do three-legged together. Sebastian helps him up.

"…Again?" He asks. "But you are way too tall! I can't ever do it with you! I'll just fall again!"

"But if you don't try to work it out now what will become of you on the day we compete?" Sebastian says. "Come on, try to get up once more." He reaches out his hand.

"…" Ciel hesitantly takes his hand and they start off again at the starting line. Legs being tied together is like eating with your arms bounded. Ciel sighs and they start over again.

"Whoa!" He nearly tripped. Luckily Sebastian caught his arm and Ciel falls into him. He blushes a little.

"Thank…thanks." Says Ciel. Sebastian notices and smirk.

"If you can't do this we can just give up on Sunday, you know…" He grabs onto Ciel's shoulder. "Since you're so weak and bad at doing this…" He is just planning on teasing the boy a little.

"Whaaat? You think I'm that easy to give up?" Ciel snaps. "C'mon. I'll try not to fall again, you wait!" He pouts. Somehow he doesn't like being mocked by people, especially Sebastian.

Hm… I intended to tell him that there is another way…but oh well, let's see him struggling…Sebastian grins. They have about…ten more trials when Ciel has finally caught up with Sebastian's pace and was able to have a complete route around the track field.

"Ah! Now I'm all ached over again! My leg!" Ciel sits onto his bunk bed. His leg is swollen red from being tied to Sebastian's leg. He was just planning to visit the infirmary and borrow some bandages when Sebastian walks in.

"Where are you going? Sit down, I'm going to put some aids on you." He says.

"No need, I was just heading to the infirmary on my own."

Sebastian glares at him. "Sit down or what?"

"…" Ciel intends to argue back, but words seem to be swallowed inside. "F-fine."

Sebastian rubs some alcohol onto the bruise and he flinches a little bit.

"Careful." Says Sebastian.

"Why-why do you have to do this for me?" He asks. "Why are you…suddenly being kind?"

Sebastian looks at Ciel and leans closer. "Because as I told you-I like you." He whispers.

"Not like that!" Ciel touches his ear where Sebastian has spoken into. Apparently it has gone so red. "I mean why, really…"

Sebastian laughs. "What is there to it? Another reason might be…maybe you were born to be taken care off?"

"Argh! Stop it, you! I thought I was your target at first?!"

"Yeah, you were. And you are, still. I am going to attack you, until you can't fight back anymore."

"…!" Ciel blushes. "Enough nonsense! I am going to sleep! I still don't get it why they have to put you and me into a same room with a bunk bed? Geez…" And he climbs up.

The next day Ciel is able to walk faster without falling next to Sebastian. But still the bruise on his leg still hasn't recovered, yet it seems like getting worse. By the night of Saturday, it has hurt so much, Ciel has to wobble to walk.

"Hm…what should we do…" "We can't race with a hurt leg…" Sebastian says.

"I tried not to walk too much, but I still don't get it why the wound keeps hurting!" Ciel answers. "I'm sorry…"

"What are you sorry for? It's not your fault that it happened! Why didn't you tell me right from the start that your leg was already injured?" Sebastian says. "Let us see till tomorrow…maybe I'll ask the manager…"

People are assembling in front of the academy field. Students, who wear the same aquamarine color sit on the right side, while visitors and parents sit on the other side. It's oddly how the seats are arranged.

The teams walk out on the field, Ciel feels better with his leg, but he is still shaking from the nerve off being unable to run fast, and that he might fail their team. Ms. Dalles, the headmistress, wears her bright red clothes, walks onto the podium and speaks into the microphone.

"Welcome everybody, to the sixty-sixth AkuMarine Marathon Tournament! I am very glad to announce our start on this sports event right now, and so starting with our traditional race one-complete circle around the Great Lake! But, this year…" She snaps her fingers and her assistant shows everyone a rope. "We-are going to change it, into a three-legged race throughout the trail!"

People gasps, for they did not know about this, beside the participated competitors. Then Ciel hears lots of reactions-oohs, aahs, or cheers, whistling sounds. It is their turn to walk onto the starting line. Meldera, Canterbury, Iolite, and AkuMarine. Ciel glances over to Sebastian, the guy nods with a serious look. Ms. Dalles holds her gun, and points it into the sky.

"Ready…set…"

"Ciel, I'm sorry, but I have to do this…" Sebastian says at the last minute.

"Eh?"

"GO!" And BAAAANG! Sebastian suddenly…lifts Ciel up and drags him beside his waist, and away they, no, Sebastian alone, run, holding Ciel.

"Ehhhh?! What is the meaning of this?" Ciel is afraid they had broken the rule, and the crowd might object, but…no, they seem to be…cheering? He looks around…and weirdly, no team is running like normal.

Meldera team, while Bluer and his partner, Clayton, go on…roller skates?! And team Canterbury, Redmond with Harcourt, they are walking on stilts to expand their walking distances. Weirdly, team Iolite, with Violet and Cheslock, barely moved at all. They are enjoying their walk, as if strolling on the streets.

"What the heck? Is this a competition anymore?" Ciel yells out. Sebastian sighs.

"In case you don't know… AkuMarine has a very unique way of doing things…that's why a lot of people come here to see it. There…are basically no rules at all, except for the little one thing, that, no team shall interfere with the others, and the rest, is up to the teams to decide on their own, as long as they complete the task." He keeps running. Soon enough the crowds are far away, they make their way through the trail that has been set up, through the trees.

"Tsk!" Apparently Ciel's team is in second place. Team Meldera, leader Bluer with his roller skates…they are moving way faster than Sebastian's running pace.

"Huh, if that's the case… Grell! Give me that!" He yells.

"What do you mean?" Ciel says. "She's not here!" They are running through the trees around the lakeside, there is no way Grell could possibly 'fly' across such a big lake!

"Roger~ Sebas-chan! You made me wait so long!" It comes Grell's voice above.

"What the-" She jumps down from a tree…riding a motorcycle? Grell lands and passes it into Sebastian.

"Sebastian-darling~" She cheers. "You better thank me~"

"Later. Thanks!" Then Sebastian jumps onto it, holding Ciel simultaneously, he sits behind him, and run the engine. They pass Bluer's team easily.

"I-am-so-confused!" Ciel yells, feeling like throwing up. They keep running, no, rather than that, riding their ways through the track.

After about thirty minutes of riding around the lake, since the road is a bit bumpy and slippery, the finishing line is ahead of them, and Sebastian's team is currently in first place. Next up is Bluer's team, Redmond's, and team Iolite…they somehow caught up with the teams, despite they seem like strolling. A weird point is…although the partner's legs are tied together, no one seemed to be tripping nor falling at all.

"Hang on, Ciel, we are gonna win this for sure!" And Sebastian rides his motor to the finishing line.

"Hah!" A voice calls out. "Not so fast!" It was Cheslock from Iolite. He has a rope with a hook at the end. The guy swings it and the hook catches a tree on the side. Both of them swing themselves up too and they landed over the finishing line before Sebastian was there.

"So that's how they aren't running at all?! They are swinging themselves up like that!" Ciel says, so stunned. Are they some sort of ninjas?

"…You!" Sebastian grits his teeth. The crowds are already cheering for them. Ciel could finally free himself from the rope. It still throbs. Violet and Cheslock do a V sign with their fingers, the students from their Academy laugh and cheer. Sebastian pats Ciel's back.

"Good job. At least we're second place."

"What in the world are you talking about? I did not do anything. It's for me to apologize…"

"It wouldn't make any difference if your leg hurts or not. I would always lift you and go on that motorbike eventually. Luckily you are so light."

"…Dunno if I should feel grateful or not...you…" Ciel glares and also flushing.

"Kyaaaa~ Sebas-chan! It was better if it was me! Sure I'd suit you better!" Grell joins them.

"But how in the world you manage to get that motor up there?" Ciel asks horrified.

"Secret 3" Grell winks. "But I'm so jealous. Wish I could be sitting behind him like that…" She pouts to Ciel.

"Eh heh heh… I couldn't help it…it was Sebastian who did the drawing."

"If it was you we'd sure to lose…since you are much heavier than him…" Sebastian mocks at Grell.

"How dare you speak to a girl in such that manner!" Grell gets pissed off that she is showing her shark-like teeth again. The other teams are doing quite as well. Girls are assembling around Bluer. It seems like most students from Meldera are girls. They are encouraging him, although he was in third place.

The headmistress walks onto the podium again and announces. "Well done everyone! This year we were able to see several different methods of racing from the teams! Congratulations to team Iolite, who got in first place!" The people clap, there is cheering, and also with the disappointment of the other teams.

"This afternoon…we are going to hold yet another race. This part…is for bonus points in order for teams to increase their ranks. We may do another draw to decide new competitors, and so, each Academy may choose amongst the students two new students. Whatever the task might be…shall be a surprise!" The crowd cheers. And Ciel joins his friends.

"Hey, Ciel! I wanna join the team!"

"What about me?"

"Do I look 'sporty' enough?"

"Wait…wait…I think it's not my choice only, but the whole team's agreement. However, I think we ought to have lunch, have we not?" Ciel tries to find an excuse to sneak out. He slips out and gets to the infirmary to take a look at his foot.

Creak.

Hm? Noone's here? The nurse isn't around. So then Ciel sits down and helps himself.

Creak. Creak.

What is that sound? Ciel wonders. Sounds like the bed is creaking. He walks further to the end of the room, since the infirmary is quite big. Ciel lifts the curtain, and see Alois being pinned down by… ?

"Ah…!" He goes red and pushes Mr. Faustus away. "Ciel, this is-"

Ciel goes red too. What bad timing. "So-sorry! I don't mean to disturb! I'm terribly sorry!" And he rushes away.

Geez! I'm so…rude! Ciel closes his eyes getting out. But…can they do that inside school?! His leg hurt again, so he walks slower. This always happens when he runs so hard.

"Ouch!" Ciel bumps into Sebastian.

"What are you doing here? The cafeteria's down there?" Sebastian looks at him. "Oh yeah…how's your foot?"

"Not bad." Ciel lies. Too much trouble with Sebastian.

"Liar. It's swollen." And as he says he carries Ciel.

"I said I'm fine! I can walk by myself-"

"Do you want it to get worse?! Remember: you are part of the tournament! What happens if you can't run again? What happens if you are paired with another person? I can't possibly carry you every time! Think about the team! Don't be so selfish!"

Ciel falls silent. He has a point. So then Ciel remembers what he saw in the infirmary earlier.

"Whoa-wait! I think there's someone in there-" He stops Sebastian.

"…So what? It's the infirmary, duh?"

"No but…I, saw….you know…" He flushes. "In there…on the bed…"

Sebastian grins. "That happens a lot. If you caught them they'd probably gone by now. I get that all the time…"

Huh…so you're saying you're fooling with other girls as well? Ciel feels irritated.

"Say, do you recognize who they were?"

"Er…I think I'd better not tell." He's promised Alois not to tell anyone. Just like Sebastian has predicted. When they return Alois was long gone.

Well…it's better for me to have discovered it at first. If I hadn't caught him and Sebastian or someone else saw it…Ciel blushes. He just remembers he is now alone with Sebastian again.

The guy helps him with his injured leg, and Ciel tries to avoid eye contact at best he can.

"Ciel…"

"Hu-huh?!" He jolts.

"…" "Anyway, I think…you should not eat too much lunch now."

"Why?"

"Just follow what I said. I mean you can eat, but-just not too much."

"Why can't you tell me?"

"…" "Because you will be fat and ugly." He says.

"As if!" Ciel snorts. "Ah!" They catch eye contact, and Ciel looks away.

"Hey, are you okay?" Sebastian leans his forehead against Ciel's. "You've been acting strange."

"Gah! I'm fine!" Ciel jerks back.

"Then why is your face all red?" "And this, too-" Sebastian catches Ciel's arm and pulls him closer. "I assume your heart is beating faster, no?" He smirks.

"…!" Ciel swallows. If Sebastian does anything more, he was scared that the thing he was afraid to happen is going to happen. "Stop it! It's your fault! " Ciel puts his hands over his face.

"What do you mean, my fault?" Sebastian smirks. "Why am I making you blush?"

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh! Get lost! Ciel thinks. "I-I don't know! I don't know yet!"

"Then…" Sebastian leans closer and whispers. "If we win this tournament, will you be able to know?"

"Tsk! Know what?"

"Don't lie. You know what I am talking about, and I was talking about it for the whole time."

"…" Ciel blushes. "I…I don't know anymore. I'm a guy. I'm a GUY! You heard me? But I like yo-"

"So what? I'm a guy too. Is that wrong?"

"…" "If…if we win…I might…I might…"

"Might…?" Sebastian is now nearly pinning him onto the bed.

"Get off!" Ciel pushes him away. "I know already! Just-give me some time, it's too much!" And he runs, but then realizes he can't with his leg like that, so he tries to walk fast. But Sebastian didn't pull him back, neither did he say anything.

In the evening, the academy is holding their Special Bonfire Night that happens every year on the first night of the tournament. Students from every academy out of the fours can all join. And then they make their second drawing for the next task.

At least Ciel listened to Sebastian not to eat anything too much, although he wouldn't anyway. His mind is already too messed up that he hardly finds anything of his appetite.

Speaking of him…

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHH! This is not NORMAL at all! Not. Normal. At. All!" Ciel buries his head between his knees. He was just particularly admitting that he liked Sebastian.

What was I thinking? No. I must have been too tired that I blabbered nonsense! I couldn't have possibly said that! He thinks.

One second. Two seconds. Three seconds…

"ARGHHHHH! I can't stand this anymore! I gotta tell him now!" And he decides to reconfirm with Sebastian before there is a huge misunderstanding.

"And welcome everyone~ To the late Bonfire Night!" The headmistress is speaking on the microphone. Suddenly Grell grabs his arm.

"C'mon! It's starting! This way!" And they make their way through the crowds, closer to the fire. People start gathering around too, and soon enough Ciel was already trapped amidst a bunch of students.

"Alrighty~ As you may know we always start our second task right now, so, team Captains! Come on up~" And four people make their way through. Ciel wouldn't take a look of Sebastian, for sure.

"And to your surprise! This task is…an Eating Contest!"

"WAHHHH?!" The crowd bursts into conversation.

"Really?" Grell says. "I hardly had anything for lunch! Wonderful~~"

"No way! I just ate too much!"

"My stomach is full!"

"I…don't know if I could do this or not…."

Murmurs fly around. The team members start to worry.

"Whoa. So Sebastian did know about this…" That's why he told Ciel not to eat too much. Ciel flushes as if sensing the gaze of Sebastian upon him.

"And…" Ms. Dalles walks towards the tables. "We are going to compete on…eating chocolates!" Her assistant pulls the cover clothes off and reveals TONS of chocolate candy bars.

"What kind of food to eat is this now?!" Ciel gasps. AkuMarine is sure weird.

"But-these are not normal chocolate bars at all! They are made…from a 90% of dark cocoa in it!" People gasps in horror. "That's why… whosoever team members eat the most, is going to win!"

Ciel feels despair. He was always afraid of dark chocolate. Too bitter for him, and everyone. They start the drawing up stage. The other teams go first, and everytime a name was picked, that person automatically groans of desperation.

It was Sebastian's turn, and Ciel was shaking. Grell next to him seems excited. She likes chocolate? Sebastian pulls out the first, second, third and fourth name.

"Ronald…

…Undertaker...

…Eric…and…" Ciel is shaking.

"And Grell."

"KYAAAAAA~~~~~ Chocolaties! Here I come!" Grell jumps onto stage. Ciel breathes out. He might have another heart attack if he eats those.

"Who's Eric?" He asks Elizabeth next to him.

"Him? He's chosen by Sebastian, as the headmistress told us to pick another two members. Oh, right, you went off somewhere, so you didn't know." She points to another guy next to Eric, with short brown, silky hair.

"That's Alan. And Eric is that tall guy with cornrows hair."

"Oh…"

"Okay~ Since everyone is all set, we shall count down to eat!" She holds a red flag in her hand and raises it horizontally. The expression on the competitor's faces is nothing more but pain. Ciel even feels sorry for them. Grell looks exceptionally excited and licking her lips.

"Three. Two….and ONE!" She lifts her flag. People start eating chocolate. Grell looks happy, she chews and hums simultaneously in a funny tune.

"…Does she like chocolate that much?"

"Can't blame her. Her father works for a French food branch, so she always eats sweet cakes and pies. Her father rarely buys her anything outside of their family product, so she really likes those kinds of bitter food."

"I see…"

"Hey, Ciel, while they eat, why don't we go over there?" She points to a group of friends sitting. "I'll go get some food for us, you just go there first~"

"Thank you." Ciel smiles. And so, he sees Alois sitting there. Wanting to apologize, he approaches him. Alois spots him too, and blushes.

"Alois…I'm sorry for earlier. I mean-I didn't mean to…"

"That's alright. Besides, Mr. Faustus was going to stop, because I told him we were inside the infirmary, so…yeah. Luckily it was you. I wonder what I would be like if we were discovered…" He sighs.

"Don't worry. But by the way, I wanna ask you…something…"

"Hm? Go ahead."

Ciel fidgets a bit, then says. "Um…if you yourself just realized that you love someone…but then you tell yourself that it is not true…who do you listen to?"

Alois chuckles. "Hah! Isn't that 'you' are just the same person? It is not important who you should listen to. I think…you should do whatever you feel like. If you feel glad…when that person is around, and he or she always cares for you, and you feel happy when you are beside him or her…I guess it wouldn't make any difference if you lie to yourself that you don't like that person." He looks at Ciel.

"…Have you found someone that you really like?"

"Wha-what? No! Of course not!" Ciel peeks behind him to check if Sebastian was around. "No! Never!"

"Hah! You are lying! You always squeeze your shirt when you aren't telling the truth." Alois glances over Ciel's shoulders and grins. "I know…you've fallen for Sebastian! Haven't you not?"

"Whaaaaaaaat?! No way! How can I possibly-" Ciel blushes. "Sebastian is just-"

"I am just a what?" His voice comes from behind Ciel.

"Gah!" Ciel jumps. "I mean-you are-a friend. Yup! A good friend, that's all!" He gulps.

"A good friend…huh…" Sebastian smirks and looks at Ciel, who is squeezing his shirt.

"Aw…I gotta go looking for Mr. Faustus…you can continue on, okay?" Alois winks, and he runs off.

"Hey!"

…Only him and Sebastian. Ciel is trapped in this awkward silence. Sebastian sits next to him, and Ciel moves abit further.

"…are you still avoiding me?"

"What? No?"

Sebastian leans forward to look at Ciel's face. He averts it.

"See? You're not even looking at me."

"Not for now!" Ciel says. "I still haven't digested it in mind. I mean-forget what I said earlier? Okay? I was just messing up my mind!"

"…" "Really?"

"Wha-why are you suddenly serious?" Ciel turns away. "I-"

"Do you think I am joking?" Sebastian says and grabs Ciel's arm.

"I-"

"Ciel~~~ Here is your food! I'm sorry I chat with my friend a bit so it took long~" Elizabeth comes over. Ciel snatches his hand from Sebastian and accepted the dish.

"Look! Our team is winning!" Elizabeth points to the stage. Apparently Ciel had forgotten about that until she mentioned it. The other teams have fallen sick, Undertaker, Ronald and Eric gave up. Only Grell seems extremely amused. With those shark-like teeth she bites and chews off the chocolate quickly.

"Ah~ Looks like I can't eat anymore! Eating too much is not like a girl at all!" Then Grell wipes her mouth with a handkerchief.

"…It's not a difference if you decide to or not to eat anymore, ughhh! Just..look…around…" Ronald mumbles and faints.

"So it is decided that team AkuMarine has won with a total of 148 candy bars!" Ms. Dalles announces. The people cheers. Grell comes and hugs Sebastian's neck.

"Seeeee? I told ya I was going to win~ Sebas-dear!"

"Yeah…get off!" He says as Grell keeps clinging onto his shoulders.

That night they eat and had time together around the fire, getting ready for the next day. But Ciel did not forget what Sebastian said earlier.

"If we win this tournament, will you be able to know?"

"Do you think I am joking?"

Have I…really fallen into him?