A.N – I know this is awfully late. I'll say "sorry" and let you get on with reading!

Disclaimer – Sebastian and Ciel, in all of their infuriating adorable-ness, do not belong to me!

Methods of Entertainment

Bright blue eyes widened at the use of his name as Ciel accepted the cup and saucer from his butler. A part of him bristled, wanting to tell the infuriating man to forget his last order, that he wanted him to resume calling him Young Master. A much larger part of the boy rallied against the grumpy part and was dancing happily at the wonderful tingles that tickled down his spine at the sound of his name spoken in Sebastian's velvet voice. He couldn't help but smile at his butler, especially since he was currently wearing the cat ears Ciel had made him. Was it wrong to think it was adorably cute? The child took a sip of his tea and sighed happily at the flavour, it seemed that today he would be able to stomach mortal food. "Good morning, Sebastian. What is our schedule for today?" the boy winced internally at his use of the word 'our', before it had always been his schedule. This infatuation with his butler was more trouble than it was worth! Sebastian's smile widened slightly at the small blush on his Master's cheeks.

"Well, first there is breakfast; then I thought that you might like to bathe before visiting your foal and making sure he eats his breakfast. And then, perhaps I could start teaching you how to ride?" Ciel pondered this for a moment, drinking delicately from his tea, savouring the taste.

"I can't." He finally said quite simply. Sebastian raised a finely shaped eyebrow in question.

"I'm sorry?" he asked, clearly uncertain of which aspect of the schedule his Master 'couldn't' carry out.

"Learn to ride, that is. My horse is too small. And he must be weakened from his fast." Ciel explained as he crossed the room on bare feet to take a seat at the breakfast table in his room. Sebastian had outdone himself with the vast array of his favourite breakfast foods, probably in an attempt to goad his appetite into returning. The boy wasn't about to complain and began to sample each option, humming in appreciation as he went.

Standing to his left and slightly behind his Master, Sebastian smiled, pleased to witness Ciel's usual sweet tooth returning with full force. However, he was quite baffled by the answer he'd been given.

"Forgive me for not understanding My Lord..." He watched with a quietly confused expression as Ciel's shoulders momentarily tensed at the honorific. "But I had assumed that was the reason you had me purchase the mare as well."

Ciel turned in his seat to regard his butler as he nibbled on a fruit scone. Once he'd sampled it and licked a stray crumb from his lower lip, he tilted his head slightly to one side.

"Oh, did I not tell you? The mare is your horse, not mine." He briefly intoned before turning back to his meal. Sebastian was flabbergasted. Never in his existence had a master considered him in such a manner, he was very touched by Ciel's thoughtfulness. And even more so by the fact the child didn't seem to realise how unique a gesture he'd made. He remained silent for a moment, watching his small master happily munch away on the food he'd prepared before he decided that he could not bear to make no comment.

Moving to kneel beside the young demon's chair, he gazed into startled blue eyes. "My Lord..." Once again the child tensed, causing a wave of confusion to engulf the butler. Inquisitively he continued without missing a beat, altering his address slightly. "Ciel. You purchased the mare for me?" he questioned, red eyes taking in the fact that his master had blushed slightly and relaxed visibly when his name was spoken. It was quite cute. Nonchalantly the child took another bite from his breakfast and consumed it thoroughly before responding.

"Did I not just say that?" Ciel said, a small frown creasing his brow as he looked away from Sebastian. He was desperately trying to appear at ease, but his butler's sudden close proximity was making his heart pound uncomfortably in his throat. "She is yours. You match..." Ciel hadn't meant to let that part of his reasoning slip, and knew he'd made a mistake in doing so. From his peripheral vision he spotted a sly smirk steal over Sebastian's face and the infuriating man leant closer still, lips all but brushing against the shell of Ciel's ear. The child clenched his hands into fists, furiously quashing the sudden shiver his body wished to execute.

"Oh, I think you may have to enlighten me Ciel." Sebastian grinned wickedly as the child trembled, whether from the use of his name or the way Sebastian's breath was tickling his ear, the butler did not know. "How does this horse resemble me?" A swiftly indrawn breath was all the answer he received at first. And then his Young Master spoke in a disinterested tone.

"I never said that you..."

"Now now, Young Master. Do not attempt to lie to me. It is only a simple question after all." Ciel wriggled slightly, in an attempt to distance himself from the raven haired man. The butler just smirked and leant even closer, lips actually making contact with the child's ear. Piercing blue eyes scrunched shut and a shuddering breath escaped the boy's lips. He made an attempt to respond but found it difficult to control his power of speech.

"Oh dear, My Lord. Did I not teach you better? It is most improper for a gentleman of your station to mumble in such a manner." The boy tensed and made a low sound of distaste one could only liken to a growl.

"I really don't see why this is necessary..." Before his master could utter a command and ruin his fun and prevent him from satisfying his curiosity, Sebastian cut in. He'd noticed a small pattern in the boy's recent behaviour and was willing to attempt exploiting it.

"Please?" The demon butler asked, entrancing red eyes widening pitifully. Ciel, unable to control the involuntary shiver at the sensation of lips against his ear, made the fatal mistake of turning to face his butler. Sebastian pulled back a minuscule amount causing their noses to brush. Ciel turned red and, as their eyes met and he witnessed the pleading eyes up close, he gulped audibly. "Please Ciel, I would dearly like to know." How could he refuse such a plea, especially when all he could think of was how close Sebastian's lips were and how startlingly beautiful his eyes were?

"She has your colouring, ok? Your animal form is a raven, correct? A bird with black plumage which throws back purple and blue colouring when struck by sunlight. Well, the mare has this particular colour combination. The banding on her legs is striking and her mane shimmers with greens and purples and blues in the light. When I saw her I simply had to have her, because it is as if she were made to fit with you. You will look perfect together." The boy's slight blush from moments previous had grown into a full darkening of his face.

Sebastian was shocked by the admission, but touched none the less. To think that Ciel had thought of him whilst out looking to purchase a horse for himself! "My Lord. I am deeply honoured by your consideration towards me. It would be my pleasure to teach you to ride with my mare until your colt is strong enough to carry you." The boy sat still, not really able to move with Sebastian still so very close to him. He worried that if he did try to move, even if it were to look away as he wanted, he would end up kissing the smiling demon. And though Sebastian had resumed using his name, Ciel could not shake 'You are my Master, my Lord' from his mind. So, he remained uncomfortably close, willing his body to behave. Then he jumped slightly as he registered his butler's final words.

"I...I can't!" he protested, eyes widening as Sebastian frowned a little and moved back an inch or two.

"And why not? If the mare is truly mine, then surely I can let whomever I want ride her?" Deeming it now safe to do so, Ciel bowed his head, allowing his hair to shield his eyes from view.

"Would you put a novice rider on a stallion?" he asked softly. Sebastian tilted his head.

"I really don't think that is the problem here my Lord. And do you really think I would allow any harm to befall you?" Ciel let out a frustrated sigh.

"Fine. But I should like to bathe first." He said, shifting as if to stand but found his path of movement blocked by his butler.

"You haven't yet told me what troubles you, Ciel." The boy ground his teeth together. How was it that someone able to realise the effect of speaking his name aloud within mere seconds was utterly incapable of noticing how Ciel felt for him?

"I am too small. I won't be able to reach the stirrups. The mare is so much taller than I. How am I supposed to remain in the saddle if I have no method of keeping my seat?" Ciel was humiliated to have to admit to his small stature and felt angry that Sebastian had forced him to do so. And, of course, the older demon was smiling. But it wasn't his usual amused smirk, it was gentler. Ciel felt confused by such a soft smile, even more so was the responding blossom of warmth in his abdomen.

"Ah, my dear child." That was an unexpected endearment, though Ciel wasn't certain he approved of it, it sounded condescending. "Riding is mainly about balance, you will learn to retain your seat without the use of even a saddle or reins. There is nothing to concern yourself over. I will not let you hurt yourself and the mare is intelligent. She is fond of you and will be careful in her movements so as to not upset your seat." Warm amber eyes glowed with an unexpressed fondness as Sebastian leant forward and chastely planted a reassuring kiss to his Young Master's forehead.

Ciel blinked, startled by such softness coming from his butler. Before he could even begin to question his actions, Sebastian had left the room, chattering about running a bath. Ciel pressed two fingertips to the tingly spot on his skin, smiling at the sensation left behind the kiss. Perhaps Sebastian did care for him. Ciel had never been the most patient of people, but he could try to be patient, for Sebastian. As long as the dark haired man did not hate him, Ciel was sure he could contain his emotions and keep them from Sebastian. And perhaps one day he wouldn't need to. One day the troublesome emotions may be returned in kind.

Sebastian must care for him; it was evident in his reassurance. And in the way which his eyes softened at a kind gesture from Ciel. Though the child was uncertain whether in wearing the cat ears Sebastian was demonstrating that he was fond of him, or whether it was because he was so enamoured by cats. None the less, it made Ciel happy to see the man wearing something he'd crafted - despite how silly (yet oddly cute) they made Sebastian appear. Responding to his butler's call, Ciel bathed and dressed ready for his lesson in riding. His thoughts swirled around Sebastian, but he felt oddly at peace with them for the moment. Only time would tell how he truly felt for Sebastian, and hopefully time would also show his butler's feelings towards him.

"ARGH! Sebastian! I hate you! You said you wouldn't allow me to be hurt!" One Ciel Phantomhive found himself glowering up at his grinning butler from his position on the sand of the newly built training ring. Within five seconds of the mare trotting he had slipped from her saddle-less back and landed rather heavily on his now aching posterior. Walking had been fine, if a little nerve wracking. After all, he'd been much higher from the ground than he'd been accustomed to.

The mare had initially behaved oddly, stamping one hoof in Sebastian's direction before she spotted Ciel poking his head around his butler's body. Ciel was surprised at the nuzzled greeting he received from the mare and was overjoyed by the eagerness with which the foal consumed his breakfast that Ciel had carried into the stable. Watching intently, Ciel was shown how to slip a halter over the mare's head, how to tie a knot that was secure but swift to release in the case of emergency, he was instructed in how to lead a horse and then carefully assisted onto the mare's back.

With the aid of Sebastian's steadying hand and the mounting block outside the stable, Ciel had easily placed himself atop the mare's back, uncomfortable at the lack of saddle and rein, but pleasantly surprised at the horse's smooth walking gait. The foal had watched them leave, eyes half lidded as he stood gazing out of the open door as if waiting for peace and quiet before resuming his nap.

Sebastian said that riding was mainly a matter of balance. Of course, other things came into play, but if Ciel could stay seated bareback, he would find a saddle was more of a thing to provide the rider comfort than a necessity. He also said that reins were not necessary, a well trained horse would respond to shifts in her rider's weight, a squeeze or a nudge of a leg. Riding was about becoming one with your mount. The boy had smiled at the passion in his butler's voice and had intently remained balanced as the mare followed Sebastian demurely into the training ring.

Everything had been going fine until the man decided that Ciel should now learn to trot. He'd slowly come to grasps with how to direct the mare, he felt that it was mainly down to her intelligence that she figured out where he wanted her to go, and he was fine with sitting way up high as she walked smoothly around the circular fenced area with Sebastian at the centre. Trotting was completely different, all up and down and bouncy and jerking. Ciel hadn't expected the four beat rhythm of her hooves to alter suddenly to a two beat rhythm and the abrupt rising and falling of the mare's body had swiftly caused him to slide from his perch and resulted in his indignant squawk and humiliating position on his bruised rump, not to mention his bruised pride.

Sebastian was pleased and really rather proud at the apparent ease at which his master took to riding. He looked right sat upon the mare's back; he even swayed with her movements without being instructed to. It was very different to the sack of potatoes he'd expected the child to resemble. However, this aptitude for riding did not extend as far as riding bare-back on a trotting horse. The butler felt slightly bad for having done this to Ciel, especially since he'd assured the boy that he would not allow him to be hurt. He did think it was a necessary part of learning though. Ciel had been riding all on balance; he needed to learn that it was important to grip the horse with his legs to remain seated, to not be afraid to hold onto a handful of mane to stay in place. The sight of the small demon pouting/glaring at him was so amusing that Sebastian could not help but to smile, even though he knew it would make his apology hard to believe. In response to the boy's angry words, Sebastian bowed slightly and offered out a hand to aid his Young Master to his feet.

"My deepest apologies, I was not prepared to catch you." Sebastian managed to school his features into woeful expression. "My Lord, would you allow me to make your injuries better?" He asked, hiding the glint of wickedness behind his hair. Ciel coloured wonderfully, his hands clasping the seat of his trousers as if to protect the bruised flesh hidden beneath.

"Ah. Um, no. That will not be necessary. Help me mount again and this time, instruct me properly!" The small demon's words started off halting with embarrassment but swiftly gained in strength. Sebastian nodded silently.

"Of course." He murmured, ushering the mare over and watching as she nuzzled the blue haired child apologetically.

A.N – I'm sorry guys. Not only do I disappear from your lives for 2-3 months, but I also managed to delete all your reviews from my inbox.

So, I'm going to say here, to all you wonderful, encouraging reviewers. I love you, a LOT! You are the ones keeping me writing this story. I tend to get to a certain point in my writing and lose complete interest and faith in my ability. So you guys letting me know that you like my writing encourages me to continue because I don't wanna disappoint you. And, it bolsters my confidence. Especially when people compare me to J.K Rowling! That's one of the reviews I remember! I was beaming about that for ages.

I had thought that I'd posted this chapter a while ago. Apparently not. So sorry for the wait and I hope you enjoy chapter 10! The next chapter should be up swiftly too!