I got the idea for this chapter (and possibly the rest of the story) from the road trip I'm going on since school's finally out. My mom and her husband are supposed to pick my sister and I up at around 3:00 AM tomorrow, and that's when it hit me: TRAVELING! That could be their plan of what to do next! The thing is, I need a map constantly when I'm writing this now because I don't know London like I do Pittsburgh to Virginia. It's seeming to work out, though, so that's good. On a random note, I'm going to Anime Mid-Atlantic on Saturday. I can't wait! I wanted SO badly to cosplay as Alois, but it's not going to work out that way. In the end, though, I'm sure it'll be fun. I'm just a little upset over that cosplay thing and the fact that I'll have no one to hang out with there (to my knowledge, at least). Ok, I'm done rambling on. :)

Nevermore

Chapter 20: Confined Departure

Alois/Claude

Alois' POV

A red, red ring was wrapped,

Around his finger and snatched.

"You can't stay here forever."

"I wouldn't be able to stand forever with you."

"How flattering."

Ciel killed me sometimes. His words just struck a cord within me, and after awhile, I lost my energy and will to even argue. If it wasn't for my stubborn inclinations, I would've raised a white flag in defeat. I wouldn't let Ciel win this war (even if it was a child's war).

The difference between a war between children and a war between adults is unknown to me. We don't fight with wooden swords and stick guns; we have the same artillery as grown folks. Adults get into fights over what they want; I get into fights over what I want. I'm sure Ciel had similar motives.

"You can't stay here forever."

"I heard you the first time!"

"Calm down."

How could I be the calm in the storm? Ciel could be the calm. I'd be the storm. Claude and I wouldn't stand for the persecution. Not anymore.

"I don't appriciate your rudeness, Ciel."

"Rudeness? I'm not being rude. I'm trying to help you. God knows why, but I am."

"I don't need your help!" I pounded my fists on the table.

"You don't need my help? Go fend for yourself then. The door's right there." He was too nonchalant.

"Fine!"

"Fine."

I remained still.

"Well? Go on, Alois. Nobody's stopping you."

"I'm stopping myself." I folded my arms. "Do you think I'm daft enough to just walk out there like London's not searching for me?"

"I think you'd do it for the publicity. Isn't that right, Claude?" He winked, and that caused me to snap.

I pounced on him like a dog would a bone, and we fell to the ground in a heap of insanity. For awhile, we rolled and wrestled around.

"Do NOT involve Claude! I'll strangle you!" I climbed on top of him and straddled his hips.

"Trancy! Get off of me!" He tried pushing me off and wailing his arms.

"Apologize for involving my butler right now, and I'll get off!" I wanted to irk him. I knew how. With a good tug, I removed his eyepatch, exposing his seal. I dangled it just beyond his reach.

"Give it back!" He commanded, but I took no commands.

"Apoligize!"

"Your highness, please refrain from that." Claude was now hovering above us, extending his arms to pry me away.

"You're psycho, Trancy!" Ciel kicked my side.

"Ow! Don't do that!" I screeched. "I've had about enough of you looking down on me, Ciel!"

"I'm below you, so how am I looking down on you?"

"You know what I mean!"

Claude put his arms around my torso and pulled, but I had my legs hooked under Ciel's.

"Is this even about your butler anymore? I think you're the one who is offended!"

I dropped his eyepatch, and my tense body shockingly loosened. Claude lifted me to my feet with ease.

Ciel got to his feet and dusted himself off. My demon still had his left arm hooked around my waist just in case I pounced again. My heart race died down with my breathing. Watching Ciel put his eyepatch back on, I sank in defeat.

Under my breath, I mumbled, "I don't need disciplined, Claude." Judging by his arm still around me, I figured he didn't hear me.

"I know you hate me, Ciel, but don't think I'm not grateful." What else could I say to him?

"I don't hate you. I really don't... and I'm well aware that we're the same."

"Now you see, Ciel..." I wouldn't make eye contact.

"I have seen for awhile now. The question is, do you see? London is about to change, and possibly for the worst. You'll have to make sacrifices, and at a certain point, I won't be able to help you. That point is almost here, and I hope you'll be grown enough to survive more persecuation than anyone can imagine."

I was silent for a few minutes before finally responding and lifting my head.

"I-I'm ready."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm as sure as I'll ever be. Claude?" I turned to face my butler.

"Your highness?" He took my hand.

"What's our plan?"

Ciel's POV

We used the shadow of nightfall. It was an ungodly hour when Sebastian and I rushed Alois and his butler into the carriage in front of the mansion. Bard and Finny were ordered to take them to their destination without being harmed or caught. It was a lot to ask of my servants, but they could handle it.

I could tell Alois was very frazzled. I think we all were. He kept on stuttering and fidgeting as everyone around him hurried along, getting everything that he, his butler, Bard, and Finny would need for their trip. A couple times, he almost fell over when someone bumped into him.

He only began moving as well when I mentioned him changing clothes. I thought it would be wise for him to wear black instead of his usual vibrant colors. So I gave him a vest, boots, jacket, shorts, hat (all of which were black), and replaced his shirt and bows with white ones.

"I look dreary." Were his simple words.

I told him that was the point. He was not to look like himself. He understood this, but obviously had to get used to it. It was quite funny watching him emerge clad in black and white. Of course, he just had to pull those shorts up and make them unbearably short. That must've been his signature.

Sebastian, Mey-Rin, and myself stood outside by the carriage, saying our goodbyes to Alois and Claude. Mey-Rin took it hard (though I don't understand why). It seemed as though her and Alois had grown to be friends. I found it very bizzare.

"Ciel, do you think this is going to work?" Alois had a shaky voice indeed. He had one foot on the step of the carriage and one off, and he flashed his blue eyes back at me.

"We will see, won't we?" Was all I said about that. "Go on now. You're already running later than planned." I urged him into the carriage with my hand.

"Ok." He stepped into the carriage and bent down so that his head still stuck out of the door.

"Goodbye, Ciel." Were his weak words.

"Goodbye."

Bard whipped the reins, and the neighing of horses marked their departure.

That was the last time I saw Alois Trancy...

Alois' POV

Our plan was a long shot. We had sent a letter to Hannah and the triplets to meet us in Waltham Abbey up North from London. From there, we planned on traveling east all the way to Osea Island. We hoped that once we were that far away and that isolated, the scandal would eventually die down, and we'd be able to return to the London area.

I'll never forget how chilly it was. Even through my jacket and Claude's arms, my skin stung with the feeling of frostbite. What I didn't understand was that my legs were warm. Only my arms and torso were cold. I never got that.

I must've fallen asleep for hours because next thing I knew, we were entering Tottenham. I wanted to lift the cloth that covered the small window of the carriage just to take a peek out at the location, but Claude told me not to risk it. So far, I wasn't liking this isolation.

I had nothing to do except sleep, but I wasn't tired. I decided that I would simply sit with Claude and talk to him about anything that came to my mind. Unfortunately, there was only one thing I could think of:

"We have a contract."

"Screw your fucking contract."

"Screw my fucking contract."

Was he being serious when he said that? I couldn't tell... and what about when he said that he loved only one thing? I wondered what that one thing was...

"Alois."

I snapped out of my current mindset. "Hm?"

The stare that Claude was giving me was frightening yet adoring. The contradiction warmed me in an odd way. He looked like he could either murder me in cold blood or hug me and never let me go. The span was a bit scary.

"We'll be ok."

His unexpected assurance caused the heat to return to my almost frostbitten body, and even though we were in a carriage somewhere in Tottenham, I never felt more at home in my life.

A red, red ring given to a prince...

... was handed down surely to crown him king.