******The end is nye, my Darklings. Nobody mourned for poor William. Oh well. It all come to a head in this chapter. Who lives, who dies, who loves. Read and see! As always I do not own Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler.******
Days later after receiving training from not only Under taker and Grell, but Alan and Eric as well, Aloise felt ready for the task at hand. That is to say as ready as he could be. The young man still has reservations about the whole thing. He had asked a number of times if what they were planning was the right course of action. The other reassured him that no other course could be taken at this juncture. All four reapers seriously doubted the blondes fortitude but had no other option but to carry out their plan. So nearly three weeks after the death of Ronald Knox, five men set out to lay siege to a demon's residence. Some may live, some may not but by merciful death, this night would see the end of this war between the reapers and Ciel Phantomhive.
The windows of the Phantomhive manor were all alight. Outwardly it looked merry and bright. But for those watching the old house, they knew the horror that resided there. Five men stood out side, just beyond the cheerful glow. Their faces a tumultuous mix of fear, determination and blood lust. Grell Sutcliff looked at his companions and nodded. They all knew the plan. They would call the demons out and the confrontation would begin. They were sure that the demon Ciel would order Sebastian into the fray. It was undertakers job to hold him off. Only the ancient had the power to keep him at bay without actually hurting him. The others would surround and distract the diminutive Lord, giving Aloise the chance to strike. That was the plan, but as each of them knew, even the best laid plans could go awry.
"Ciel Phantomhive," the fiery reaper shouted. "You've got hell to pay, you bastard. Come out and face what you have done." He looked again at his friends. He said a silent prayer for their safety, wishing this all could have gone differently. The front door opens and both demons step out. Ciel's face is a mixture of blood lust and amusement, while his demon butler looked genuinely terrified for a moment before composing his face into a blank mask. The older demons eyes cast over the group settling on his beloved. They lock eyes a moment, a silent exchange of love and courage passing between them. Each wish nothing more to be in the others arms. Tearing his eyes from his lover Grell spoke authoritatively, "Ciel Phantomhive, you are charged with the murder of Ronald Knox, a top Shinigami officer. By order of the high council of Death Gods, you are sentenced to death. And I look quite forward to painting you in crimson, my little brat."
The demon child laughed heartily at the assembled reapers giving each a frigid stare. His eyes finally noticed the young blonde standing with the other reapers. His eyebrows raised noticeably as he mouth the name Aloise. They locked eyes a moment, the demon's expression unreadable. Slowly he looked away curling his lips into a cruel smirk. "Sebastian, kill them, except for the blonde. If he is what I think he is then he will amuse me greatly." Ciel said, speaking aside to Sebastian. It was not a direct order, which gave the older demon untold joy. He could play at fighting the reapers without actually doing so. "You," the demon brat gestured to Aloise, "Come here, lets... talk," he chuckled mirthlessly. Aloise strode forward, scythe in hand, nervous.
At the same moment, Sebastian pulled his trademark cutlery and carefully aimed it at the reapers. He broadcast his moves plainly and the men dodged easily. Undertaker took his cue and drew the raven haired demon into a mock battle drawing him away from the manor and more importantly away from his master lest he issue a more deadly command. Ciel didn't notice this as his eyes were focused on Aloise. The young man stopped several feet away from his old adversary. "Aloise Trancy, as I live and breath. Reincarnated, I see and ever a thorn in my side. So let me guess these idiots drudged you up in some half cocked plan to kill me?" He laughed again. "Clever, but futile. Sebastian, Kill them quickly. I have a new toy I want to test out," The boy looked up to see his servant long gone. His eyes darted to and fro and his mouth opened about to speak. But at that moment, Grell kicked him hard in the side, sending him flying back into the manor. As the boy demon recovered the reapers crowded him offering him little room to escape.
The three reapers gave no quarter and attacked Ciel viciously. Hacking and slashing at the demon, their scythes dripping with his split blood. Aloise stood back, watching, his face a mix of undefined emotions. He started as Eric's saw bit deep into Ciel's neck. He started to call out, but couldn't find any words. Memories of his past flashed in and out of his head. Ciel, they could have been friends had thing turned differently. How he had wanted to have the things the other boy had. Emotions played tricks with Aloise. Suddenly the overwhelming urge to save the broken and bloody boy overwhelmed him. He rushed into the fray, getting in the way of Alan's attack, nearly getting his head lopped off.
"Stop, STOP," he screamed, protecting the boy. Behind him Ciel's wine colored eyes flashed in victory. This was just the moment he needed. He put a bloodied hand on Aloise's shoulder. The young blonde turned his head slightly, smiling up at the demon. He felt the fiend place his other hand on his back, between his shoulder blades, almost reassuringly. A second later, there was a snap and a crack as the devil drove his hand into the boys chest, pulling out his still beating heart. The three reapers exclaimed in horror as the young man's violet eyes turned dull in death. He pitched froward, where Grell caught him and laid him gently on the ground. The scarlet reaper glared at Ciel in hatred and disgust.
"Such pretty angry eyes you have, I'll delight in making my Sebastian watch as I tear his beloved apart," he howled, laughing like a maniac. The crimson man gasped, inwardly cringing, knowing it was over and his love lost to him forever. Tears sprang into his beautiful two toned eyes as he lept at the little monster, knocking him over and tussling with him on the ground. Eric and Alan jumped into the fray attempting to pin the boy down as well, but Ciel was quick and stronger than they imagined. He managed to punch Grell in the face while wriggling free of the other two. Dazed, the red head stood to face the demon lad. Once more the three reapers faced of with their adversary. Ciel backed up placing himself directly in front of Aloise's slain body, as if to gloat over his handiwork. "Didn't think I knew about the two of you, did you idiot reaper? Ha, I knew that butler of mine was shagging you, a hundred years ago. Never could understand why, though. Your nothing, a waste of space, a..." the monstrous fiend was cut off however, as a sharp blade bit into his abdomen.
He looked down into the cold dead eyes of Aloise Trancy, who has impossibly skewered him. Ciel stumbled backwards as the lifeless corpse rose and pulled the weapon from his body. He raised the scythe aloft and stabbed it into the demons chest, puncturing his heart. Ripping the bloodied blade from his chest, he whipped it across Ciel's neck, severing his head from his body. With that both fell to the ground, dead. The three reapers stared at the scene in utter shock. Nobody moved, because none of them could fathom what had just happened. Aloise was dead the moment Ciel tore the heart from his chest. How then was he able to kill the demon boy? This question swirled in the men's minds as the stared at the grisly scene. Grell collapsed to his knees with exhaustion and relief, tears in his lovely green and gold eyes. Eric and Alan embraced lovingly glad only that the other was safe. They kissed briefly but passionately before separating and helping their colleague to his feet and out of the manor.
As they exited, the trio was greeted by Undertaker and Sebastian. Grell exclaimed and rushed into his lovers waiting arms. Once enfolded in the demons strong arms, the crimson man succumbed to great heaving sobs as all his fear and horror of the night left him. Alan and Eric relayed the battle to Undertaker who was both shocked and horrified by the tale. Not a single man among them could figure out how Aloise's corpse had been able to rise and slay Ciel. All that could be surmised was summed up briefly by the ancient reaper.
"It's possible that the spirit o' Aloise, angered 'bout being murdered by Ciel yet again was enough to raise his body to exact his revenge, in this ole creepers opinion," he stated looking meaningfully at his red haired friend. Grell had not left the tender embrace of his dark lover, but the former butler, now free, broke their contact.
"Excuse me a moment, my beauty, but someone must collect the records of that poor brave boy. Then there is something that I must do," he said looking lovingly into those gold-green eyes. Alan returned to the manor briefly, gathering the cinematic records of Aloise Trancy/ Alexander Turnbell. Upon his exit, Sebastian faced the manor a final time as if bidding it a final good bye. Then he gathered his demonic power and set the building ablaze. All five men watched as the structure burned for a final time.
By the time the mortal authorities arrived, both demon and reaper had retired from the scene each going their own way. There were many reports to be filed, paperwork to be filled out, but it could wait until morning. Each man wanted to go home and relax after this tumultuous and taxing night. Alan and Eric bid their friend good night and took a portal back to their home in the Shinigami realm. Undertaker also said goodnight giving a curt nod to Sebastian and embracing his dear friend. "Feel like a father sending is daughter to her wedding night," the old man chuckled before shambling away. Grell laughed and clasped Sebastian's hand.
"Lets go home, my dark love," the death god cooed. Sebastian smiled and allowed himself to be led away by his exuberant lover.