My lovelies! I am so excited for all of you to read this chapter. I won't spoil it or anything, but uh, I highly doubt that you'll be disappointed ^-^ So much effort poured into this segment of the story. The turning point it seems. Some of you have been asking how much longer it would take and I'll admit that I have around 20 more chapters to go. More or less. And I promise, the end won't be angsty. Mkay? Mkay.

I have been a little irregular with my updates but I realized that my next update, er, date would've fallen on a day after I'd left for my holiday. So I thought I'd release it to you guys early. Especially since the next one won't come out til after Christmas. So please leave me lots of good reviews since I won't get any more for a while.

As always, a lovely shout out to my two most faithful reviewers, you know who you are.

Ta,

Majix

Relentless coils of smoke gripped the teen's lungs like a vice, making it impossible to breathe within the darkness as two sky blue eyes flew open in startled alarm. Twin pools of moisture sat steady on his lids as the blonde's eyes watered. He clawed at the thick wool blanket, ripping it from his slim form as the blurry eyed male scrambled for an exit, desperate for air.

Heat bloomed against his skin, and through the watery haze of his vision, Jim could see the persistent glow of the flames that'd rapidly begun to consume his home. A terrified scream engulfed his heart in sheer panic, his head snapping around towards the room his parents, along with his younger brother resided in. Fire licked at the crying wood frame of the door, and the boy stood stupidly in the middle of the room, staring into the blazing inferno.

"Jim! JIM! PLEASE HELP ME!"

The little boy's terrified cry shook the blonde back into reality and he charged into the room with reckless abandonment, ignoring the flush of intense heat against his flesh. Luka sat huddled up in the farthest corner, small arms wrapped desperately around his shaking legs. Streaks of tears made the black soot run down his puffy cheeks and without considering an ounce of danger, the older boy ran towards his sibling, grabbing him roughly and pulling him through the blazing room.

He could feel the darker haired boy beside him stumble slightly a couple times, but Jim paid it no mind, leading his brother diligently through the small house. As they neared the door, the smoke intensified, roaring towards the open oxygen, presenting itself as the final challenge before them.

With a last burst of energy, the young blonde pushed his dizziness aside and shoved his brother through the door, following mere inches behind him.

His pupils blew wide as he sucked clean air into his lungs and began to violently cough and retch, his legs turning to jelly. For a brief moment in time, the world stood stark in breathtaking clarity, the burning embers of the buildings around them floating harmlessly through the air as the flames climbed, consuming anything and everything around them with merciless hunger. Men and woman ran for their lives, dodging and attempting to flee from the men in red, riding their snow white horses. Innocent people laid slain in the weather beaten streets as the proud animals trotted over their corpses without hesitation, the flanks of the great beasts speckled with droplets of crimson.

Panic stricken eyes searched out his younger sibling before widening in horror. Sticky carmine stained the ground, and no more than three feet from Luka was a light haired man laying motionless in a pool of darkening blood.

His mouth suddenly went dry and the screams of terror around them faded into the back ground as Jim crawled towards them. He gathered Luka up into his arms, holding his tear stained face to the curve of the blonde's shoulder as he stared silently at his father.

"Don't look, Luka."

The small boy cried against him and Jim longed for nothing more than to hold him and sooth his fears away, but the adrenaline coursing through his body screamed at him to flee, to run far and fast from the men wearing red velvet.

"We have to go, Luka. An adventure through the woods, just like always."

Intelligent brown eyes met sky blue ones glittering with concern as the little boy pulled back. His focus was entirely on his older brother, ignoring all else and he smiled, "Yes, your Highness!"

Pride made the elder's heart swell and he grabbed his brothers hand, dropping his voice, "We're gonna be sneaky and hide from all the grown-ups, okay Luka? Follow me!"

He forced a reassuring smile for his brother before they both took off with all the practiced grace that two boys from the countryside can possess. Jim winced with each vacant face they passed, with each glimpse of the glassy eyes of the dead but he pushed forward, looking behind him every few seconds to make sure that Luka was following.

The screams of terror soon quieted as the edge of the forest drew closer and closer, the simmer of excitement coursing through the blonde. He could feel the dense crunch of leaves under his feet and he cast a look behind him, only for his joy to die as he saw the flash of red velvet as one of the men caught sight of the two boys and began sprinting after them.

Blue eyes glassed over with unadulterated fear and he slowed slightly, looking down at his brother, "Luka, you need to run ahead of me. Don't look back, I'll be right behind you."

He put his palm flat on the little boy's back and pushed him ahead before purposefully falling behind, the blonde's heart hammering frantically behind his ribs. He could hear the man gaining on him and he prayed that Luka was okay, and that he'd get away.

As strong fingers wrapped around the top of his arm, Jim lashed out with everything he had, clawing and screaming at the stranger, kicking his legs out in a desperate attempt to get the man to release him. He let out a sharp cry as the older male backhanded him, throwing his balance off and sending him painfully to the ground.

The man in red grunted and gripped the teen's blonde hair in merciless fingers, hauling him to his feet, "Charles! I got another one of 'em village brats!"

The painful grip on the top of his arm returned as the blonde's captor hauled him to his feet and dragged him along towards the center of town. Jim tried to ignore the unpleasant squish below his footsteps as he walked through the stilled puddles of blood.

He frowned in confusion as he caught sight of the village boys huddled together, surrounded by the stoic riders that proudly sat upon their horses. Jim was instantly shoved in to the group and though he longed to speak, to ask what was happening, he remained silent as possible, desperately trying to bland into the background. Dread pooled in his stomach as one last rider joined the circle, a small dark haired boy atop the saddle. Luka hadn't gotten away. He'd failed.

He sagged against the brunette beside him, and the other teen seemed to understand as he held him close, whispering quietly, "Your brother right, Jimmy?"

He said nothing in response but he gave a nod, watching with darkened eyes as his younger brother was lowered in to their huddled circle, his small form quickly gravitating towards the blonde. Jim wrapped a comforting arm around Luka and he longed to tell him everything would be alright, but he doubted that it would, and he couldn't stand the thought of lying to the traumatized boy, so he stayed silent.

"Oi, Boss! 'hat's all of 'em!"

Jim lifted his gaze from his brother as the tell-tale clip clip of hooves broke the silence. The black horse strode with intimidating purpose towards the group, his measured steps slow and graceful. The first thing he noticed about the rider was the flat and unmistakable look of indifference. His features were stony and uncaring as he stared into all their faces. It was eerie, the way he looked at all of them without really seeing. They were nothing to him, and he viewed them as such. He was tall and proud with an unwavering posture that held his spine straight. Dark raven hair contrasted sharply with the blood red material of his uniform.

"Line them up."

A startled shiver glided over the blonde's flesh and he could tell that he wasn't alone. His voice was cold as iron, and spoke volumes of his unyielding nature; it was hollow and hung within the air like a fog.

The bodies around him trembled as their captors prodded them forward, forcing them into a row. Curiosity flickered within his heart and Jim silently looked at those around him. No more than ten of them, himself and Luka included. He knew all of them, had worked with many of them at one point or another, and though he didn't consider them friends, he hoped that nothing terrible would befall them. Their current situation told him that his wish was folly, but he dared to hope none the less.

Merciless eyes raked up and down each of them, studying their faces, taking in their height and the shape of their bodies. It was unnerving, and the blonde quickly found himself wanting to look away. Dread filled the teen as the Captain's eyes lingered on him. He could feel the heat of those dark eyes and he wanted nothing more than to turn and run. He squeezed Luka's hand and tried to calm his painfully slamming heart as the man dismounted his horse and approached him.

Rough fingers gripped his chin, turning his head from side to side, inspecting his features closely. Fear pooled in Jim's stomach, and he could feel the muscles in his legs threatening to buckle as the other man stared at him. The Captain's grip suddenly disappeared but the blonde's flush of relief was short lived.

"Him. Dispose of the others."

"NO!"

The blue eyed teen gripped his brother's hand and tried to make a break for it, but the soldiers were prepared. Swift fingers grabbed the back of Jim's neck and drove him to the ground with a sharp push. Fingers slick with sweat slid from his younger brothers grip and he cried out in panic as the Captain turned and hauled the younger boy up by one of his arms.

The teen in the dirt scrambled to stand, only to be grabbed on either side, two hands with a steely grip digging in to his upper arms, holding him tight as he struggled and jerked, desperate to get to his sibling.

Simultaneous gunshots echoed through the night but Jim didn't seem to hear them. He didn't see the bodies of the other boys dropping like flies, he didn't feel the blood splash against his chilled flesh, he didn't hear the desperate cries of panic before the silence grew thick. All Jim could see was the terror on his brother's face as the little boy reached for him, the spreading darkness of Luka's flesh where the man held him to tight, the tears pooling in the child's eyes as the Captain pressed a gun to his temple and pulled the trigger.

Memories flashed before his eyes; the day his mother gave birth to his sibling, how small he was with the faintest fluff of chestnut hair atop his head, those chocolate brown eyes wide with fear the first time he heard a thunderstorm, the way he begged to sleep in Jim's bed. Countless remembrances, the look of utter worship as Luka looked up to him, all their adventures through the woods, his signature "Yes, your Highness" response when they were on a mission.

All of it was gone in the blink of an eye

Jim screamed in emotional agony, thrashing violently against his captors, aching to rush to his brother, his one sibling. They held him tighter than ever and though the blonde knew in his rational mind that there was nothing he could do for Luka now, he continued to fight, unable to stop, unable to think.

The Captain dropped the lifeless body and Jim winced as it hit the ground, "You bastard! HE WAS INNOCENT, YOU BASTARD!"

Hollow eyes looked up at the men behind the blonde and he nodded, watching with detached interest as one of them slammed the butt of their gun against the base of the teen's skull, effectively shutting him up as he lost consciousness. The two men dropped him with the same carelessness that the Captain had the little boy and the powerful male watched as Jim hit the ground with a pathetic thud.

The men dutifully keeled beside his limp body and bound his wrists with rope before tossing him into a small carriage.

They looked to the man astride the black horse and he nodded, "Take him to Trancy Manor."

They said nothing as the six men and their white horses began making their way from the countryside towards the expansive estate.

Nobody saw the Captain's eyes flash gold, or the elongated canines of the demon in disguise as he smirked at the continuing success of his plan.

In the dead of night, Phantomhive manor sat silently among the trees. The windows were dark, and the orchestra of crickets played long into the earliest hours of the morning, but within the darkened estate, the Earl himself laid awake in bed, staring up at the ceiling.

The curry contest was tomorrow afternoon, but the teen couldn't bring himself to care. He knew they'd succeed, he'd ordered Sebastian to win, and that's what the demon would do. Of course, the Earl had a hand in that victory as well due to his chocolate discovery, of all things, as a secret ingrediant. It seemed fitting somehow that Funtom would win the royal warrant by adding in the smooth, rich chocolate that all of Britian seemed to adore.

However, on this night, as Ciel laid in bed unable to sleep, his thoughts on the contest and the warrant were practically nonexistent. He thought only of Sebastian, and the way they spoke in the kitchen. It felt almost normal.

No matter where he went, or who he spoke to, Ciel had to be conscious of his Earl status. Every spoken word could become a weapon, a weakness. It was gruelling, and left little to be desired. There was always a roll to play, a deal to make. He couldn't reveal to much about his occupation, or the secrets behind his success. Every word was a conscious choice. Even speaking to Elizabeth proved to be a chore, and he was supposed to be entirely open to her. It wasn't meant to be. His reserve held around the bubbly blonde and Ciel couldn't bring himself to speak honestly with her.

The same could not be said for Sebastian.

There were no secrets from the demon, not really. The man already knew about the cracks that lined the very foundation of his soul, defining him with their drive. He knew all about the Underworld, better than even Ciel, but he stayed a respectable distance behind and let the bluenette work on his own. The Earl of Phantomhive firmly believed that he could say just about anything to Sebastian, confide in him, and the man would never speak a word of it. He wouldn't use it against him, and if he did, it was only to better the Earl, but he would never dare embarrass him in public.

The teen slid from his bed and approached the window, pulling the curtains aside and staring through the flawless panes of glass.

Shadows twisted lovingly around the surrounding forest, driving away any light the moon could offer. The stars shone brightly in the sky, twinkling beautifully despite the lights of London and the ever present smog. Ciel felt lucky to see them, having expected the sky to be covered by a thick blanket of lingering overcast. Despite his assumptions, the sky stood clear as ever, stars glittering overhead, and the moon hung heavy and full among them.

As he gazed upon their beauty, the blue haired teen thought of Sebastian and the beautiful perfection that immortality inevitably seemed to bring.

As he thought of the silent man in black, another thought flickered across his subconscious, a brief remembrance that sat behind the fog of intoxicants.

"You really are beautiful. So beautiful that it hurts."

And beyond those softly spoken words, Ciel remembered leaning forward and capturing a taste of his butler's lips.

Panic consumed the teen at the recalled memories and he stumbled away from the window, waves of embarrassment crashing through the confused male. He'd gotten drunk, and spilled his conscious to the man, he was sure, but now it went further than that. He kissed his butler, his very male, very demonic butler.

Anxiety coiled around his heart. Why hadn't the man said anything? Was he laying in wait, allowing himself to be patient before springing the information on him at an unexpected moment? Did the raven haired man plan to throw it back in his face?

The facade of calm breathing soon disappeared and became full blown hyperventilation. Ciel gasped for air, his lungs feeling tight, unwilling to give way to the oxygen he needed as his thoughts consumed everything around him like a fire.

It was one thing to potentially roll the idea of being gay around in the secrecy of his own mind. The Earl could even forgive himself for the traitorous mental image of Sebastian as his lover, but what he couldn't forgive was the inappropriate action he'd engaged in with his butler.

If there was anything he'd learned during his time in the Underworld, it would be this: Nothing was done randomly. The subconscious desire was always a factor, even if it wasn't obvious. People didn't steal without a reason. They did it because they were greedy, they wanted the thrill that came with temptation or out of great need. There was purpose to it all, and that very fact forced Ciel to acknowledge that there was a driving force behind his actions. His intoxication merely set it loose.

It was illogical in all senses of the word and Ciel didn't want to even consider why he'd done such a thing but deep down he knew. He knew why he felt at peace with Sebastian, why it only happened when they danced, or when they were alone. He suddenly understood why he couldn't talk to Elizabeth but it seemed more effortless than breathing when he spoke with his demon.

The Earl could see it all; all the things that'd never made sense, all the reactions he couldn't explain and chose to ignore. Flashes of the past. The immediate sense of relief when Sebastian freed him of the Viscount's cage, the scalding flush of something foreign when Sebastian caught him as he stumbled from the tub, the desperate way he'd leaned back into the comfort of the demon's body as he saw the brutally butchered prostitute. He thought of the tiny flutter in his stomach when Prince Soma spoke briefly of his relationship with Agni, of the way his thoughts immediately turned to his own sexuality.

In the fraction of a second, it all clicked in to place.

The information was like a swift punch to the gut and the bluenette didn't know how to swallow the knot in his throat. Unyeilding pride cried out in protest, demanding that he compose himself before Sebastian came to check on him, but he couldn't. Ciel couldn't breathe, he couldn't think as his world turned on its side with the realization that somewhere along the way, between all the pastries and the taunts, hidden beside the adventures and the sense of wonder, fogged by the need for revenge and his denial, the Earl of Phantomhive had fallen utterly and unequivocally in love with his demon butler.

A/N: I know I don't usually leave a note at the end, but what did I tell you? The feelz.