So Sorry for the delay. I had an asthma flare-up and also went to Fukushima (yay, volunteering~), so couldn't write last week.

Thank you notes: akedia. Oh. My. Demons. XD funny review! Yes. Yes, you have it spot on—Sebastian is a bully. XD XD XD (dies laughing). Promocat, HiddenOtaku24, and Fox-dear, you all got it. Perfect reasoning! Phantom of the Fiction: XD! Yes, he most certainly did.

Carrie, I owe you a big thank you. I really, really fretted over this chapter. So! Thank you for putting me back together.

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Chapter 25: of waking, of dreaming.

There's the taste of lavender on my tongue. And soft pressure against my lips. There. The taste of lavender water…a brush of tongue against my teeth, and I realize it's not a dream. Not a memory.

I gag. Turn away and open my eyes to near twilight. No…in the misty half light of a computer screen. There's a light in the hall.

Sebastian has pulled away, and I know, he kissed me. Damn near went farther too, if not for me wa—

—he's not wearing gloves. His eyes glow, and his smile is the same as it was before—half mad with lack of understanding. His words from before flash through my mind. "These little games are all fine and well, but do remember. I'm interested in your soul."

"Yes…" he stands straight, coming out of the graceful slouch that screams his arrogance. "It is time for waking." Like that time, his voice is rich. Full of bitter amusement and dark laughter. "Young lord." He bows, and a peculiar noise fills my ears.

"Is something," I cough. Air seems hot and too moist in my lungs. "funny?"

"Your voice…" Sebastian is next to me again. "Be careful of it. It would be wise of you not to speak for a while." His cool fingers (ungloved. I wince.) touch my cheek.

"What…" my hands are clumsy. The room surges and tilts as I start. There's no eye patch.

"If the young master wouldn't mind…" he sits by me. "It would be best if you stay near."

I nod dumbly, still not quite grasping what's going on. Much to my surprise, he scoops me up and lowers me into his lap. I rest against his chest, too dizzy to move, and too out of breath to scold him. Instead, I listen to his heartbeat. Imagine, I think dumbly, that a demon should have a heart.

For a while, Sebastian says nothing. Then he murmurs, "Breathe deeply. It will hurt…" I can feel the smile playing at his lips, "but do it anyway. To do otherwise now could deaden your bronchioli…" (*1)

With a pang, I realize I've heard this before. Heard it from my aunt.

"You want to know…" He seems to be straightening my hair. "…what happened when you cast that spell."

I look from his black nails to the floor. My marked circle has been broken with a crack in the wood. "How long?" I ask. He's right. My throat stings and prickles as much as my lungs burn.

"It's been a few hours." His voice rumbles, and the vibrations tickle my back. "I'm afraid my initial attempts to revive you were…slow. Nevertheless, I managed to coax."

I shake my head. It makes no sense. "What do you mean?"

"It could be, master Phantomhive," mirth leaps back into his voice, "that you did not understand the spell's intent. Nor its practice."

I squirm out of his grasp. "We'll see about—" I reach for the book. My muscles ache in complaint. My lungs scream. I fall back against him. The words die on my lips. I'm too weak to check for myself. The thought chills me.

"Could it be you've forgotten your Greek?" he teases.

Ah. Not Latin then. I flush.

"I thought as much. I presume you wanted to wheedle your way out for now…it wasn't very clever of you, Ciel." He pulls me back, and where I'd been sitting feels warm. "But was it not to a date that our contract was set, young master? Not to any particular age of yours, yes?"

"It was supposed to freeze the contract." I sniff and relax into his arms. I'm too tired to think of another scheme right now. "…I still need time." I tilt my head awkwardly, and he obliges me by leaning in. I meet his gaze unflinchingly. "Just a while longer."

He leans in and kisses my forehead. Again with the kissing. "You lie. You would say that until your teeth rot and your tongue falls out…"

"I can't breathe," I grumble. "And yet you can't stop talking." It's unlike him.

"Hush." He smiles. I can feel it. "That spell put you into a coma. I needed to revive you." A puff of air against my neck tells me he's near laughing again. "Do you see?" Again, his long fingers tap my cheek, graze my eyelashes.

I listen to his heartbeat. My eyes are heavy. "See what?"

He laughs more loudly now. "I suppose you don't." He goes quiet, and for some time, neither of us moves.

Finally, he stirs. Procures a glass of water, and moves to a more natural pose. Which is to say, not holding me. In fact, he's kneeling. Things are almost…almost excusable.

"Why does my throat hurt?" I ask, placing the glass on the floor.

Sebastian drops his gaze. "The spell," he says simply. Infuriatingly.

"Did you put something down my throat?" I demand.

"No. Your blood was merely pooling at the lowest point of gravity when your heart stopped. Slight inflammation and…throbbing headaches…are to be expected. You got off easy." The slang sounds strange on his tongue. His voice is more otherworldly now than it's been in a long while.

My heart quickens. "What? When my…" I touch my chest. "…why didn't you…" I close my eyes, thinking how close I was to the end.

"I will keep my contract, Ciel Phantomhive. It hasn't ended yet." He looks up and finally meets my gaze. "My lord. Have you any orders?"

"Questions. Why were you holding me? What happened to the contract? Get me a mirror."

Sebastian clucks, as though this was a lesson and I have just asked the wrong question. "I told you the contract hasn't ended. It was not affected by your self-inflicted coma. I hold you because it will aid your recovery."

"Oh. I thought you were getting sweet on me." I look up at him through my fringe, trying to gauge his reaction.

Sebastian only laughs, and laughs.

(*1) Bronchioli or bronchioles are tiny vessels in your lungs that are the first passageway for air from your mouth & nose. I know this because I have asthma, and my mom is a respiratory therapist. Wiki for more info.

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A/N: The end draws near. Do give me your thoughts…what day do you want me to update? XD

How did you find a slightly unhinged Sebastian? Any fun musings on exactly what is going on here? :D I'm hungry for some inspiring conversation!