I'm so sorry for the really late update. Blame school, family and sickness. Sickness suck ass…seriously, it does.

Be prepared for OOC-ness… and Ciel's inner voice.

I've gotten positive reviews about the fluffiness in chapter 9 so I'll keep with it. Thank you all so much for reviewing and I hope you enjoy this chapter. It was hard for me to write because I'm sick and stuff…

L lawliet vs Kira © Meikori & Shikowa

Enjoy chapter 10 anyways!

Show Me You Love Me, Forever

Kuroshitsuji / Beauty and the Beast

Chapter X: Pleasant Greetings

xMiss Shizaya Michealisx

The calming strokes of his thumb lulled me into a tired state. The suffocating feeling in my chest eased with each soothing motion. The fingers on his other hand were still playing with the white material of my shirt. It made my back tickle so I arched and leaned backwards on the desk, fighting the laughs that wanted to so desperately erupt from my lips. I heard a low gasp and felt warm breaths on my stomach through my shirt. Arms wrapped around my middle. Hands connected at the small of my back. They pressed my hips in close to his own firm stomach. My legs wrapped around either side of his waist. I could feel his forehead resting against my rising chest. There was something desperate in the way he held me close, like I was going to disappear.

I felt strangely at peace.

He whispered something but I couldn't quite hear it let alone understand it.

"Nunquam licentia mihi."

I gently placed my small, slender hands around his neck, offering him a warm smile as I looked up at the high ceiling, even though he probably didn't see it.

A content mewl left my lips as I felt his arms tighten around my middle. I could feel his soothing presence behind me as I slowly and reluctantly woke from my slumber. I wouldn't consider myself a morning person and by the looks of it, I could tell it was pretty early, much to my dismay.

"Just a little while longer…" I grumbled, snuggling back into the welcoming warmth behind me.

I could hear a low chuckle emanating from the demon holding me close as he pressed his lips into the crook of my neck and began gently nipping at my skin.

I felt slightly shocked by how my body responded to his touch. It was like an electric shock coursing through me, not that I was complaining or anything. It wasn't long ago when I basically coward like a dog whenever he looked at me. But ever since that talk yesterday evening, I've felt really at peace in his presence. I felt so comfortable that I stayed in his arms for the whole night.

"Stop!" I yelped when he bit down too hard. I felt a trickle of warm blood sliding down my skin. I could feel his chilling smirk against my skin as he ever so gently licked at my wound, causing my heart beat to accelerate. His hands snaked their way to both sides of my middle. I didn't even feel the slight bit embarrassed at how I giggled when squirming in his tight grasp.

"Oh but this is just too much fun." He whispered teasingly as he began tickling my sides, making me cry out for him to stop, "I do believe I've discovered your weakness, Little Master."

"Please don't be mean." I pleaded with him but laughed when he forced my hands up over my head and began to tickle me without mercy.

It continued like that for some time before he finally stopped to give me a rest when I had trouble breathing, "I'd like to keep you here all day, Little One, but there's work to be done and you're probably hungry, yes?" He whispered in my ear, biting down softly on the lobe.

As if on cue, my stomach growled, "A little bit." I replied sheepishly.

"I suppose it can't be helped. It seems I shall have to free you...eventually." He smiled, biting his lip and placing a delicate kiss on my jaw-line.

An unexpected shiver rippled through my entire being and my eyes flew wide open.

Not good!

What?, my inner voice as me tauntingly, I got the impression that this is what you wanted!

I felt the blood in my cheeks boil.

He held onto me a little while longer as I awkwardly tried to free myself.

But this is…

This is what?, the voice in my head impatiently prompted.

I froze.

What was this? This feeling…

Something told me to run for the high hills. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to really want to move.

His breaths were cool on my sweaty skin and his cold fingers tousled my teal locks.

What am I doing?

I wanted him to hold me close like this. I can't really say that I felt safe with him breathing down my neck with his pearly whites grazing my skin. He's a demon after all. But for some reason, I wanted to remain in his arms.

I'd never felt this confused about anything before.

I don't even know anything about Sebastian.

A soft purring caught my attention. It didn't exactly surprise me that it came from the demon himself.

"It's time to get up." He whispered to me. He eased me up from his lap where I had fallen asleep and carried me to my room. There he set about washing me and dressing me. He would have left to let me change myself, but upon my arrival here, he soon figured out that I couldn't really do much, like simply changing clothes for example. Ever since I was but a baby, there was always someone to dress me or bathe me. Since I was taken in by Undertaker when I was quite young, nine to be exact, he'd taken it upon himself to dress me also, complete with his trademark rape face.

Sebastian at least had the decency to not gawk and stare. That brought some comfort.

"All done." he said with a smile as he helped me up from where I sat on the bed while he had put on my shoes.

I looked down to inspect my attire. It consisted of a simple white shirt, blue and black vest, black shorts, black socks and shoes. I looked back up expressionlessly to the demon, "Really?"

"Yes really."

I blanched, "I know I'm to be your servant and all for your sister's visit but is this not taking it a step too far?"

"Do you really think a servant would wear anything fancy?" He asked me as he brought a brush to my hair.

Okay, he brought up a valid point. Still, it felt odd and weird to be dressed so... commonly.

"Probably not." I replied, wincing as the brush came across a knot.

"Exactly. Besides, I think you look rather adorable." He teased, playfully pinching my blushing cheek.

Staring at the mirror in front of me, I saw that my cheeks had darken dangerously. I averted my eyes, trying to spare myself the embarrassment of seeing him staring back at me in the mirror with a knowing smirk.

After gently brushing out the knots after I scolded him for being too rough with the brush, he placed it on the drawer beside my bed. He came back over with black eye-patch in his hand, "You will wear this." He said, placing it upon my eye and tying the string around the back of my head. I didn't put up much of a fight. I didn't exactly like seeing the mark on my eye as it just brought back all the pain of how it actually got there.

He placed a kiss on the crown of my head before he all but dragged me along to the kitchen where he made me some breakfast. As usual, he made too much and half of it had to be discarded.

He then set me out a list of tasks that needed to be completed before the arrival of his sister, but he soon realised that I wasn't exactly quick or any good with a mop and so he helped me with every task that was assigned to me. The other servants had their own chores to get done and so I didn't see much of then during the day.

"Sebastian?"

"Yes?" He replied and turned to me just as he finished dusting off the chandelier while upon the ladder, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I'm just curious about something. Your sister's going to know that I'm in a contract with you eventually, right?"

"That's correct. It is inevitable." He answered me. A smile slowly spread across his lips as he watched me ponder for a moment.

"If I am the "master" in this contract, why am I doing this?" I asked, waving my little dustpan and brush at him.

"My sister is not a fan of the common 'Master and Servant' arrangement, like me. But she believes that a demon should remain mostly in control while the human plays the servant to the demon while we achieve their wishes. I myself am not a believer in this." At that, I let out a sarcastic laugh. Is he really that dense?, "But if I am to remain in my sister's good books which I barely am in now, then this is the best way to go."

"Can I not just pick up the act when she actually gets here?"

"Just call this practice, Little One." He replied with a smirk, clearly teasing me.

I sighed and got back to brushing up whatever specks of dirt I could find. Sebastian explained that the castle needed to be clean and tidy from top to bottom.

It's already emaculate!

While the demon zoomed past me in a blur, I let out another yawn as I pathetically brushed at the floor, not even trying to make it look like I was even attempting to put any effort into it. When I finally figured that I was done due to boredom and just not being bothered, I propped the brush and dustpan by the bannister and waited for the demon to return while I sat on the bottom step of the stairs. Within a matter of minutes he was back from cleaning every room in the castle.

I guess having super-speed was one of the perks of being a child of hell.

He observed my work and sighed, "I suppose it will have to do."

I sent him a sour look, "It got done, didn't it? Stop complaining. Be happy that I actually did some work."

I ignored the low laughter rumbling in his chest.

Damn demon.

Just then, a loud knock came from the front door, making me jump. I heard Sebastian hiss then. Whatever was behind the door, he certainly didn't like it. I looked up to him with worry written all over my face. It was too hard for me to hide it. He saw my anxiety and he gently ushered me into the kitchen and ordered me not to come out until he told me to do so. I peeked out through the small opening of the kitchen door and watched Sebastian as he opened the large front door of the castle.

To my surprise, I saw two cloaked women standing there on the porch. When I looked closer however, they both resembled Sebastian in how flawlessly perfect they looked.

"Meikori, what a surprise!" Sebastian greeted with evident shock. I heard the false pleasant tone in his voice and winced.

Oh no.

"Sebastian." She greeted back quite coldly with a nod of her head. Her servant offered to take her cloak and then grasped the handle of the large trunk beside her.

"And I see you have brought Shikowa with you." Sebastian noticed and acknowledged the lilac haired female beside his sister who didn't utter a word back.

I closed the door over a little more when he welcomed them inside.

It was strange to think that they came in through the front door. I had it in my head that they would simply appear out of thin air. I don't know what gave me that idea though.

"I didn't think you would arrive this early." Sebastian commented as he awkwardly embraced his sister. At this, I could see her servant, Shikowa, tensing.

Now I could see why Sebastian warned me about her. Sebastian was her master's sister and already she looked like she was going attack him just because of a simple hug.

I pulled at the collar of my shirt uneasily.

Just like Sebastian and his own noble attire, of which I will admit that I was slightly jealous of, his sister wore a floor length long elegant black fitted dress with long black laced gloves. A ruffled collar graced her neck that had a red ribbon intertwined in it. Her dark brown hair fell past her shoulders and from what I could tell, a red rose had been placed intricately in her hair.

Her servant on the other hand, wore a rather short black halter-neck dress, lined with a white pattern. The skirt of the dress swayed whenever she moved. She, just like her master, wore gloves. She wore knee high black stockings that went up to her thighs and black boots that went just below the knee. Around her waist there was a belt and attached to the belt were two silver swords that resembled daggers. The handles were adorned with red jewels. Her hair was tied up with black ribbon.

The one thing that really stood out for them both were their eyes. Both master and servant had startlingly bright red eyes, just like Sebastian.

I sighed internally.

I just know this is going to be a nightmare.

"You haven't changed at all since the last time I saw you, Sebastian." His sister smiled up at him and gently stroked his cheek, "I'm beginning to wonder if you will ever change."

I noticed how she was intentionally taunting him and I swear I heard Sebastian clear his throat, supressing a growl. If I could hear it, she certainly could.

Why was she taunting him about his appearance? There's nothing really different about him, if you don't count how inhumanly perfect he is or the faint black shadows that sometimes appeared around him, but that mostly happens when he's in a mood.

I saw him look down to the large trunk that was being carried by Shikowa, and he let out a nervous chuckle, "Sister, exactly how long do you intend to stay?"

I could tell his plastered smile was fake from a mile off and his sister smirked back up at him, obviously amused, "Why brother, is it so wrong for me to want to spend some time with you?"

He didn't reply, instead he just stared down at her, desperately waiting for an answer.

She laughed, "Brother you look worried. Come, let's have some tea and we'll talk properly, okay?"

I watched as he showed them into the drawing room and it only took him a matter of seconds before he took his leave of them and charged back over towards the kitchen.

"Are you okay, Little Master?" He whispered to me as he passed by and gently placed a hand on my hair, "I need you to come with me when I bring them their tea."

I looked up at him worriedly as I gnawed on my bottom lip.

"Don't worry." He whispered back reassuringly, giving me a smile, "I'll protect you."

I scoffed but continued to bite my lip as nerves took over. Just seeing them at a distance made me want to run for it.

"Come my Little Lord, you can't possibly be afraid?" He looked down at me astoundedly, feigning shock horror.

"Is that your attempt to try and make me feel better and as to make me prove you wrong that I'm not afraid?"

"Possibly, my Lord."

"Just make your tea and shut it." I muttered as I sat up on the counter while he prepared the hot water for the tea, "And quit your laughing too."

That didn't stop him chuckling at my expense. He took out a box from the cupboard above the counter and opened its lid. He then put a teaspoon of the tea into each of the three cups.

"Earl Grey?" I asked, licking my lips as he put the lid back on the box.

"It's New Moon Drop." He replied, looking over at me after a moments silence when I didn't reply. By my expression, he knew that I hadn't a clue what 'New Moon Drop' was, and so he began to explain, "People say that tea leaves plucked at the full moon give off a clear, sweet smell. These tea leaves are the opposite however, having been plucked at the new moon. Their distinct aroma can bring a mind to total, bottomless darkness." I just nodded slowly as he explained, "It has another name. It's called the Soul's Temperature."

"Uh-huh."

"And you're not really the slightest bit interested, are you, young Master?" He smiled over at me as he finished preparing this 'New Moon Drop' tea.

"Hold on! Do I not get some?" I stared at him incredulously.

He turned back to me as he held the tray steady in his hands, "Why would you? You're a servant, remember?" I glared back at him, "Besides," He grinned, "you wouldn't be able to have any of this tea anyway. Your palate wouldn't be able to stomach it."

I groaned as I followed behind him. I was desperate for some tea which I haven't had in quite a while, especially Earl Grey tea. Undertaker never made it. He simply made up his own concoction. I never questioned him on what he put in it. I always had the feeling that I would be better off not knowing.

We came to a stop at the door of the lounge. Sebastian took a breath, not that he needed it, before entering first. I reluctantly followed.

I wasn't really mentally prepared for what I was to face. Sebastian said that I had nothing to worry about and that he would protect me just in case. That didn't exactly put my mind at ease.

I remembered my father's own butler, Tanaka, back when I was younger. I often watched him out of curiosity and I'd try and copy his mannerisms because I had believed it to be fun. All those times messing around have finally come in handy. I stood behind Sebastian as a butler would. I stood straight and tall and didn't move until ordered to. Unfortunately for me, Sebastian stepped to the side, which inevitably put me on display.

I tried not to make eye contact with anyone in the room but it was so hard not to when there were three sets of eyes on me. I did, however, catch sight of the growing smirk on his sister's face.

That can't be good.

Woohoo! Chapter 10! I honestly can't believe that I've stuck with this. To be honest, after starting a new story, I get writers block very quickly but I feel really positive about this story! The reviews are just really sweet and I'm glad you guys are enjoying this so much.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and let me know what you think! But please, no flames. Flames are not nice. Thanks guys!