Chapter 12

Anastasia shut her book before irritatedly putting it back on the shelf. It was almost mid afternoon and she'd exhausted every resource of entertainment. Well, at least any that actually entertained her. For the first time in a long time, Anastasia didn't want to read. She had only made about ten pages into any of the books she'd tried reading. Nothing was working. To put it simply, Anastasia was having a fussy day.

Do you know those days where you just can't decide what you want to do, or what you want to eat, or what you want to wear? Just that one day that it seems nothing could go correctly? Yeah, that's a fussy day. And as Anastasia knew very well, they were no fun.

Sighing to herself, Anastasia rolled over onto her stomach with a loud groan. Taking her pillow from the head of her bed, she slammed it over her head. She hated days like these. Anastasia wasn't a particularly high-maintenance person- in fact she would go as far as to say she was quite low-maintenance- but she had these days occasionally. And she detested them. Standing up in one fluid motion, she got off her bed and tossed the pillow into the corner of her room. What to do, what to do… She could always go find Ciel or Sebastian? The demon butler had grown on her in the past couple of weeks. She still didn't fully trust either of them, but considering they were demons, that might be smart decision. No, what else? Her brow wrinkled in thought.

I could explore the manor? Anastasia pondered on it for a moment before shaking her head. No… She didn't even have an explanation for it, she just didn't want to. Anastasia walked over to the window, banging her head on the glass.

"UGH!" She groaned in frustration. Even she hated herself on these days. Opening her eyes, her gaze lit upon the nearby lake. As soon as she saw it, the idea took. The lake was just on the side of the manor, surely Ciel wouldn't mind… Anastasia made a slight grimace, imaging what he might say if she asked before hand. Well… Maybe it'd be better to beg forgiveness than ask permission in this one instance. After all, this was the first thing that sparked her interest all day. Besides, she doubted Ciel would want her to bother him with this. (Though she knew that this was just an excuse).

With a smile lit up on her face, Anastasia burst out of her room. She didn't change- considering she didn't even have a swimsuit- but she figured she could just go in with what she was wearing. It was just a plain, cream colored skirt and blouse- nothing she was overly fond of. She strode swiftly through the maze-like mess of hallways after slipping off her pair of flats. She- fortunately- didn't run into anyone. Bursting through the door, she took in a deep breath when she reached outside. It was a warm day- at least for England- and it would've been uncomfortable had she not been planning to go swimming.

Anastasia started sprinting towards the dock, her bare feet slapping on the grass covered ground. The sun warmed her back as she made it to the dock. Stripping off her over blouse so it wouldn't get wet, she dumped it on the wooden deck. Testing the waters with her foot, she found them pleasantly cool. With a huge grin, Anastasia got a running start and dived into the lake waters.

The lake was devoid of most life. Anastasia smiled as she saw some passing fish rushing away from her. She stayed like that, under the water, until she felt the familiar tugging in her chest. Breaking the surface of the crystal blue water, she gasped for breath. Once she took in a deep lungful of much-needed air, Anastasia started swimming around the dock, practicing. It had been a long time since she had last swam. It wasn't like she was an expert or anything- that was Vivianna- but she had always enjoyed it.

After swimming for about an hour, Anastasia was content to just lay on her back in the water, staring up at the sky. The late afternoon sun burned scarlet against the cerulean blue of the sky. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to drift with the gentle waves, not really going anywhere. It's so peaceful…

"I didn't expect to find you out here." Anastasia's eyes snapped open at the dry voice. Ciel was standing with his hands clasped behind his back at the dock. He was looking on at her in amusement.

"I could say the same for you," she retorted with a quirk of her eyebrow. She was lacking her usual irritation that came along with seeing him, though that may have just been because he'd shown her the library. After all, he didn't really need to. But he did, which was a fact Anastasia still didn't fully understand. Ciel chuckled.

"I suppose," he sighed as he sat down on the edge of the dock, his legs dangling over the edge, but not touching the water. Anastasia swam over to him, her legs moving under her as she tread water.

"Why are you down here?" She questioned curiously with a tilt of her head. Anastasia rested her arms on the edge of the dock. Ciel inhaled deeply, taking a deep breath.

"I come down here occasionally," he confessed, "I find it peaceful." Anastasia let a soft smile grace her lips.

"A demon wanting peace?" Anastasia asked wryly. How ironic. Even if she was feeling benevolent towards Ciel at the moment, didn't mean she forgave Ciel for terrifying her for months. Ciel chuckled humorlessly, his eyes distant. He sat in silence for several moments, making Anastasia shift uncomfortably in the water.

"I wasn't always like this, you know," he commented. His voice carried a hint of bitterness and regret. Anastasia felt her features soften as she gazed at him.

"I know," she said simply. They both knew that she knew a great part of his story from that fateful day in the shop. Of course, she didn't know everything as the information refused to be processed and gotten rid of, but she knew enough. She knew that he was human when younger, but had been turned demon later in life after he contracted Sebastian. How exactly, she didn't know.

"For what it is worth," Anastasia started carefully, "I am sorry for what happened to you." Ciel looked down at her.

"I do not need your pity," he spat, his fist clenching. He moved as if to get up. Before he could move to standing position, Anastasia caught his wrist. His eyes widened in surprise at the slight contact.

"Do not misunderstand me," she said quietly, "I would not do such disservice to you as to pity you." Ciel hesitated for a moment at her words, before quietly sitting back down on the wooden dock. Anastasia released his wrist, as if burned. Placing her hands sure on the old, wood deck, she hefted herself onto it and sat beside him. The deck was getting old, and looked like it was going to fall apart. Lying down on the wooden dock, she stretched like a contented cat as the sun's rays began to warm her. Feeling slightly drowsy, she closed her eyes.

"Why are you down here?" Ciel inquired, arching an eyebrow at her. Cracking an eye open, she glanced at him. Sighing, she sat up again, propping herself up with her arms.

"I was bored," she answered, giving a noncommittal jerk of the head. She shivered slightly as a cool breeze passed over them, cooling her soaking wet clothes. Ciel arched an eyebrow.

"So you decided to come down here…" His voice was laced with skepticism. Anastasia scowled at him.

"Yes," she retorted, suppressing another shiver, "I thought it looked like fun." Feeling another shiver coming on, Anastasia stood up to retrieve her blouse. The wet fabric clung to her skin, making it difficult to walk. Picking it up, Anastasia started to use it to blot at her arms, drying them off. Turning around, she was surprised to find Ciel standing up. Giving him a strange look, she tilted her head slightly.

"What?" She asked curiously, wringing out her hair. Ciel didn't answer, but got a mischievous look on his face. As she walked past, he took her and threw her into the waiting lake. Her scream of shock split through the air as a resounding splash occurred. Oh no he didn't… Feeling the hot glow of anger rushing through her veins, she looked upwards towards the surface as she sank downwards. Once she reached the bottom, she pushed off the lake floor and broke the surface, before glaring at a chuckling Ciel.

"You bastard!" She accused. Her only answer was his chuckles increasing to full-blown laughter. It wasn't mocking laughter, but actual laughter- which she wasn't used to from him. Still, that wasn't going to stop her from getting her revenge. Her glare sharpening, Anastasia swam her way towards the dock where Ciel was with a deadly look in her eye. Taking advantage of his distraction, she took his ankle and yanked him into the water. Ciel may have super strength, but his weight was of a normal human. She smirk as he began to topple over. His eyes widened right before he fell with a splash into the lake.

Anastasia laughed- that was, until, Ciel emerged from the waters with a death glare on his face. Any trace of a smile was wiped away to be replaced with a look of apprehension. … Uh-oh… Perhaps she shouldn't have done that… At least, not to a demon who could make her pay. Her eyes wide, Anastasia turned quickly in the water and started to swim urgently towards the dock. Needless to say, she didn't make it far.

Her eyes widened to astronomical proportions when she felt a tight grip around her ankle drag her underwater. Thrashing against the grip as it dragged her down, she panicked- bubbles escaping her lips. Soon, however, the hand released her and allowed her to break the surface of the lake for air. Finally emerging from the lake, Anastasia panted, trying to regain lost breath. Soon after, Ciel broke the surface, his hair plastered against his forehead.

"That…" Anastasia started in between gasps of breath, "Was uncalled for." Ciel arched an eyebrow, smirking mischievously.

"I don't think it was," he commented blandly. Anastasia pinned a glare on him. She opened her mouth to retort, but snapped it shut, thinking better of it. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she tried again.

"There, you got your revenge- we're even," Anastasia grumbled, "Happy?" Ciel grinned.

"Perhaps," he said casually, sweeping his hair off to the side. Relaxing slightly, Anastasia let out a deep breath before floating on her back. Laying almost boneless in the sun, she let the waves gently drift her from the shore. As a hand grasped her ankle, Anastasia jolted, kicking under instinct. Ciel caught her other ankle before it could hit him in the face.

"It's just me," Ciel reassured. Anastasia lowered her foot back into the water and Ciel released her. But he continued to keep hold of her right ankle.

"What are you doing?" Anastasia murmured after a moment when he still refused to release her.

"Just making sure you don't drift away," Ciel answered. Anastasia still had a confused expression on her face, but she didn't say anything else. Laying stiffly in the water, Anastasia continued looking up at the sky, thinking. … Why is he doing this? She resisted the urge ask again and just lay there. After another minute, Anastasia jolted when Ciel started tracing circles on ankle. Flinching, she lifted up her head to look at him with a bemused expression.

"You were uncomfortable," Ciel explained. His answer did nothing to assuage her confusion. Staring down at his grasp on her ankle, she noticed how his black nails glinted in the sun. The nails weren't painted- surprisingly- but she couldn't see any white edges.

"You're being oddly nice. Why?" Anastasia asked suspiciously. Ciel looked up at her, quirking an eyebrow.

"I'm always nice," Ciel responded dryly. Anastasia snorted.

"Yeah, right," she said, rolling her eyes. Ciel smirked slightly.

"What?" He asked innocently, "You don't believe me?" Anastasia felt a grin tug on her lips.

"You could say that," she said drowsily, her eyes beginning to close once more. The sun was just so warm, and the water so cool, that she couldn't help but relax. They lay like that for about a half an hour before Anastasia swam over to the dock, and heaved herself up. Water ran in rivulets down her skin, but she ignored them as Ciel swam after her.

"Come on, demon boy," Anastasia said with a soft smile, "Time to go back to the manor." There was no malice in her voice, a fact that greatly confused Ciel. Ciel heaved himself out of the water, and Anastasia chose not to notice how attractive he looked when he did so. Turning around with her cheeks burning, Anastasia swiped her blouse off of the ground. Wrapping it around her shoulders, she shivered as she turned around. She hoped that her distinct blush was gone.

"Come on," she said with a smile, gesturing with her hands. Turning her back, she started to make her way through the overgrown grass back to the manor. Ciel stood at the dock for a moment, staring after him in confusion. After all, it wasn't every day a demon was accepted by a human. And that was apparently what just happened.

Shaking his head to rid himself of such thoughts, Ciel raced to catch up with his guest.

Anastasia could sense when he was behind her, his pace settling from the speed of light to a slow stride. His feet made no sound on the green grass besides a soft rustling. Anastasia trampled through the fields of grass and walked up the steps to the front door. Before she could open it, Ciel caught her wrist. Anastasia jumped slightly, startled, but a slight smile grew on her face at the sight of him.

"It was nice seeing you today," Anastasia smiled, "And you weren't acting like a bastard, like you usually do." Ciel chuckled at her vocabulary, before bending down to kiss her hand.

"Likewise, Miss Anastasia," Ciel's lips curved into a smirk against the skin of her hand. Anastasia blushed at the old-fashioned action. When he released her hand, she promptly turned around to open the door, hiding her face.

Creaking open the door, she wasn't really surprised when she saw Sebastian there. Though he was definitely surprised to find Ciel with her. Not that he showed it of course, he hid it perfectly. A slight widening of his eyes was all that was visible before he recovered graciously.

"Young master," he greeted, bowing from the waist. His crimson gaze turned to her. "Miss Anastasia." Anastasia politely bowed her head in greeting.

"Sebastian, meet me in my study," Ciel ordered, brushing past his servant. He made no sort of glance towards Anastasia to indicate that he did anything out of the ordinary outside the door. As both of the demons left for upstairs, Anastasia was left standing in the foyer, confused. …What the actual hell?

(A/N)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey, hope you liked the chapter!

Reviews:

Scorpia1029: Yay! (Ciel is becoming a softie in my opinion)

S-Lioness: I'm glad you like the slowmance (And don't worry, Claude will come up soon) XD

Esmereilda: He was born in 1875 (sorry I got the century wrong). But since he was born in December, I figured they would wait a few months to have pictures done.

Tye-Dye girl: Agreed on the library front. And no, the pink dress was actually Ciel's! (The one he wore during Jack the Ripper) But good guess! Hope you liked the chapter!

Please R&R!