"Please, Grell. I need you to do this for me."

The reaper stared in shock, unable to comprehend what was being asked of him; what he had foolishly agreed to before knowing exactly what he would have to do.

"But-but Sebastian...!"

How could he ask such a thing of him? Knowing how he felt-knowing everything he did-how could he ask-demand-such a thing?

"You said it yourself," The demon says, his words soft but quick. "We don't have the time to debate it-Grell, you swore you would do this."

"You didn't tell me what it was I was swearing to...!" He was whining now, acting petulant and childish, but he didn't care. There was no feasible way he could ever do what Sebastian wanted.

"I'll give you something in return." He lifted a hand and gently touched the reaper's cheek. "...How about the kiss you've always wanted...?"

Grell blinks twice in rapid succession; to offer that? He had never expected that to come into play. He wanted very badly indeed for Grell to fulfill his side of the bargain.

The reaper bit his lip, unconsciously turning his face into Sebastian's hand, a tear leaking from one brilliantly green eye.

"You said it yourself, Grell..." Sebastian murmurs, kissing away the tear; The reaper gasps softly, but Sebastian continues. "...I don't expect you to follow. But please. Do this for me."

How could he deny him...? But how could he oblige...?

"Well~what on earth are the two of you doing hanging around here~?"

The little brat had looked at him with bored, dismissive eyes, but he wasn't interested in the boy. No, his attention-as always-was focused on his butler.

"I wasn't sure I'd be able to find you again~" He was pouting as he spoke, pressing close to Sebastian, as he always did. "But true love will never lead you astray~!"

The demon said nothing, looking to his master. The boy was smirking-something about his demeanor catches Grell's attention. Hadn't his eyes been blue...? And...

"...A demon...?"

The red flashed to the virulent glow as the boy's smirk grew wider.

"Sebastian."

"Yes, my lord."

"Take care of this nuisance."

"...Yes, my lord."

Grell sniffs, pulling away.

"And I don't even get a hello? How rude of you, Sebas~chan...!"

Still, the demon said nothing, only gazing at him with steady, impassive eyes.

"...Sebastian...?"

The boy laughs.

"What's wrong, Sebastian? Cat got your tongue?"

There was no visible change in his expression, save for his eyes closing for a moment. The boy laughs again. Grell looks between the two; Sebastian meets his gaze as the boy was still lost in his twisted mirth...

The red eyes held his for a long moment, then flicked to his master and back. There was a subtle pleading behind them that was so unlike his usual demeanor...

Ciel was calming; the red eyes grew impassive again.

"...Sebastian..."

The demon looked to his master, the boy suddenly composed and demanding.

"You heard me," The boy says. "Get. Rid. Of him. Now."

"...Yes, my lord."

Cracking his knuckles, he took a step forward, met the green gaze for a moment, the plea behind his eyes again.

Grell could barely dodge as he lunged, trying desperately to understand what Sebastian was trying to convey, at a loss for why he could say nothing other than the three words he'd already repeated.

His distraction resulted in much more damage dealt by Sebastian's hand than usual, and after a long while he still had yet to make a single attack. The pleading in Sebastian's eyes had changed to frustration; his lip was pulled back in a sneer, and his actions were growing sloppy. It didn't stop him, however, from managing to grab hold of the reaper's scythe and flinging it away.

"Oi-!" The brat cried out as he dodged the flying object. "Be more careful, you idiot!"

The red eyes were burning into the green as he growled his response.

"...Yes...my lord..."

Grell leaps away, knowing he stood no chance without his weapon-even with it, he hadn't faired well today...it had skittered across the ground and was resting behind the boy.

Sebastian was inches behind as he grabbed it again-but as he whirled to try and parry a blow, the demon didn't attack at all; he took the reaper's wrists, guiding them in an arc that brought the heavy casing of the chainsaw in direct contact with the boy's head, striking before he could turn to watch again.

As the small body crumpled, unconscious, Sebastian dragged him away, the scenery flashing by...finally, he stopped. Grell pulls away, trying to compose himself.

"I'm sorry. I can't speak in front of him."

Grell looks up at Sebastian's voice, surprised.

"What-?"

"'Yes, my lord'," he spits. "The three words I'm allowed to say in his presence. I don't have the time to explain. Grell, I need a favor."

He'd used only his first name, and he was asking a favor? Grell felt the blush creeping into his cheeks.

"...What...?"

"Will you do it?"

"What do you need me to-?"

"Yes or no, Grell. Will you do it?"

"...Yes...?"

"Do you swear to it? I can't have you backing out. I may not get this chance-no, I will not get this chance again."

"I-I swear-Sebastian-?"

"Thank you..."

"...What do you need me to do...?"

He meets the reaper's gaze, his own steady and resigned.

"...I need you to kill me."

The words didn't register. He shakes his head, as if doing so would toss the words around into a sensible order.

"...What?"

"You heard me, Grell. You swore! Now please-I don't know how long he'll be unconscious, he won't tolerate me losing to you otherwise-"

"I can't-! How could you-? I can't-!"

"Please, Grell. I need you to do this for me."

"You...don't expect me to follow...?"

"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, isn't that what you said? The star-crossed lovers are fated to die in the end, aren't they?" He passes his thumb over the high cheekbone. "Don't mourn so for Romeo...Juliet."

The tears begin in earnest as he says the words.

"Why...?"

"Because I can't stand to be near that damned brat any longer, and there's no other way. You can do it, can't you?"

He couldn't lie to him, as much as he wanted to.

"...Yes...I...I can..."

"You must. You can't go back on your word."

"...I won't..."

"Then..." A small, sad smile plays across the demon's lips. "What was it you said? 'Let us part with a passionate kiss'...?"

True to his word, the demon pressed his lips tenderly to the reaper's; it was the touch he always wanted, yes, but that made it even worse; had it just been an emotionless touch of the lips, it would have made his task more bearable, but-false or true-there was affection behind this, an intimacy as the soft tongue ran over his lip and made its careful way between his teeth, gently exploring the dips and curves of his mouth...he couldn't help himself from returning the kiss, flinging his arms around the demon's neck, some irrational part of his brain telling him that this might convince him to change his mind...

After a bittersweet eternity, Sebastian gently pulls away, letting a hand trail through the silken locks of red hair.

"...Now...please..."

Blinking back tears, Grell picks up his scythe again.

"...Please, Sebastian..."

The demon shakes his head.

"You swore to me, Grell."

Biting his lip, hoping the pain there would distract him from the pain in his heart, he lunges and swings at the demon, who makes no move to dodge.

An arc of blood; the clean white of Sebastian's shirt blossoms with red as his memories spill out of the wound. A small, serene smile was on his lips as he watched them play out.

"A thousand...no, ten thousand times...farewell..." He breathes as Grell swings again; the words almost made him falter, making Sebastian jerk with a cry as the blade cut his skin again; but then the last strand was severed and he fell soundlessly to the ground.

A whimper fell from the reaper's lips as he inched slowly closer, gently arranging the demon's limbs in a more noble position and resting his head on his lap. The red eyes were blank and dull, but the smile was still on his lips.

"...The star-crossed lovers...yes, their passion ill-fated..." He brushes a lock of black hair off the cooling cheek. "...Juliet...driven mad with grief...at the sight of Romeo..."

"...astian!"

He looks up; the brat was on his way to finding them, most likely furious that his butler wasn't answering his call...

His hands play over the demon's chest, slipping into the coat...he withdraws it when he finds what he wants; one of knives he used as a weapon.

"...O, happy dagger...this is thy sheathe..." He runs a finger along the blade, taking the handle in both hands as he rested the tip against his chest. "There rust...and let me...die..."

A strangled noise escapes his lips, a trickle of blood coming from the corner of his mouth.

"...Ten...thousand...times...farewell..."