Chapter 25

Disclaimer- I own nothing!

Alan sat in the bed he had been using while staying at Ciel's mansion. He was waiting for Sebastian to get him, he told him to let him help any way possible. He would endure anything so long as he could get to Eric. The plan sounded strong enough though it seemed out there. He couldn't believe Ciel was for it, it wasn't something he saw him agreeing to right away. Hearing a knock he saw Sebastian at the door with that smirk on his face, one that he didn't trust, one that sent chills down his spine.
"We are ready for you. Do you still plan to do this? My master has agreed to pay to have this done for you."
"Of course, I want to. I need to talk to Eric. No matter what that entails. I have to get to him. And I'll be sure to thank him properly for all of his help." Following Sebastian he was lead to another room where a woman was waiting for him. She was human, that was good, though she had this odd look in her eyes. What was she going to do with him?
"Oh my! You're quite nice looking. With a face like yours I could do so much. I know the perfect thing for you! I have always wanted to put it on someone but they weren't perfect for you. But, you, you are and you have the right body for it too."
"Woah! Miss, what, what are you doing?" He was supposed to get fitted and he knew it didn't involve touching his butt. What was he getting into?
*Eric, I'm coming. Please, please wait for me.*

He hated waiting; it was something Eric had never been good at. He couldn't even collect souls with Sebastian probably on the lookout for him. He spent hours in the Druitt's library reading anything he could find. He tried to get his mind from thinking about Alan every second. It didn't stop it completely but it helped. He really wished he could check on him somehow but Sebastian would know the second he got close to the mansion. He had never been able to not keep an eye on him before and he didn't like it at all. He needed to know that Alan was doing well, wasn't being pushed too hard and that he wasn't having an attack. And if he was then he wasn't along. He didn't deserve to be alone during them knowing how much pain he went through each time. He just had to hold on a little longer and then he would be free. Free of the thorns, free of pain, of suffering and free of him, of the pain he had caused him throughout the years. He knew it wasn't much after all he had done to him but it was the best he could do. Alan would be alright without him, He was smart and strong, he would a make a life without him and it would be great. His forever would be beautiful.
*Alan.*

What had he done? What had he agreed to? It was a good thing he was getting ready alone, this was beyond embarrassing.
"There he is! Are you ready my dear? Go ahead and undress and I'll help you put on the first layer."
"Thank you ma'am but I can do it myself."
"No need to be embarrassed my dear. I have already seen you in your undergarments remember."
He remembered very well, that was why he didn't want to do this with her here. He never knew tailors or designers were supposed to be so touchy. He had been to tailors before for his work suits but no one ever touched him for measurements the way she had. He wasn't terrified of her but she definitely weirded him out.
"Do you need help undressing?"
"No! I mean no thank you. I'm quite alright thank you." Jumping behind a screen he started to undress. This was to get to Eric, to stop him from making a huge mistake. He just had to grin and bear it for now. Thinking about Eric and the happy memories associated with him he stepped out for her to help him. Their fate and future together would be decided soon.

Eric stood on the balcony of the Crystal Palace watching the guests start to arrive, so many women, pure young women. He couldn't believe that this was actually happening. All of his months of trying and failing to collect the thousand souls that he needed and now here he was. This was it. Alan could be cured tonight if all went well. What he never thought possible at one point was now coming true.
"Tonight's the night Alan. All of this is for you, for you to have a wonderful life. To become the Death God you have always wanted to be." Unbelievable, his mind was struggling to wrap around the truth of what was going to take place. He was in awe over everything past and present.
"Ah here you are. Why do you not change into something nicer? This is an opera after all." Hearing the Viscount behind him he saw him step on the balcony to join him.
"I've told you I'm good. I am more comfortable like this."
"Wow! Visitors sure come in an endless stream!" He stood beside Eric and watched the women entering every few seconds.
"Luckily, you managed to get this many people here." He really hated the Viscount getting so close to him. Had he never heard of personal space?
"Oh! Artist of Death! For the sake of your art, I am willing to do anything without regret. Even if I have to reveal my nude body…"
"That's not needed…" Oh god, he never wanted to see that. The only body he wanted to see naked was Alan's. No one else's would be as beautiful to him.
"Eh, what's today's performance?" Perhaps changing subjects would get that horrible image from his mind.
"You don't even know that? The Recalling of Withering Dreams!"
"The Recalling of Withering Dreams…huh…I and that guy…when Alan and I went on a mission for the first time…purple flowers were blooming in the garden of the person whose soul we were to collect. Those flowers' name was Erica. That guy told me that…"Erica" in the name of flowers' was…"
"Eric? What's wrong? Eric!"
"Ah…nothing…" He hadn't realized he went into his own little world until he heard the Viscount saying something directly to him. Knowing he said what he did out loud he walked away to escape some of the embarrassment.
"Soon I will be able to enjoy the theater of death created by you. I have invited the people from the high society too. If only Mrs. Burrell could come too…"
"High society?" How dumb was this guy? He explained the situation to him more or less and high society would only bring trouble. "So you invited the Phantomhive family too?"
"Huh?"
"Ah well. Even if a demon comes to mess around. I will not be stopped."
"Eric, where are you going?"
He had no desire to stay outside with him any longer and the night was about to start he should get ready.

Alan stood in front of the mirror after the dressmaker left. He looked ridiculous. How could he have agreed to this? There was no way he could leave the room dressed like this. But, he would, he had to for Eric's sake. This was the only way he could get close to him without him running away. If he was to go through with this then he would go all the way. Lifting his chin, keeping his held high and with a certain sense of pride that came with learning to walk in heels he headed to the door.
"Sorry for the wait!" Steeping into the main hall he noticed everyone was staring at him. He wouldn't blush. "Everyone, are we all done preparing? Let us go!"
"Wait! Why must you go as a woman as well?" Hearing Grell's question he now understood the eyes. It made sense though, the only one he told his idea to was Sebastian.
"I must talk to Eric at all costs. For that I am willing to endure any humiliation!" Clutching the railing he made his way down the stairs, he hadn't practiced that. Though, in making his thoughts clear he jumped off the steps before he reached the bottom. He wasn't sure what just came over him just then. Perhaps it was to prove his manhood while wearing such a thing.
"But there is no need for you to endure this humiliation!" Grell was in shock over seeing Alan as he was. He never would have guessed he would do such a thing. And he was slightly jealous by how good he looked as one, though of course he was prettier. But now who was he supposed to go with, he could not go without a man on his shoulder.
"It doesn't matter how many "women" we have. And this attire suits you better than Mr. Grell."
"I'm killing you!"
Alan had no idea how to defend himself dressed like this. Why did Sebastian have to provoke him, he wasn't wearing this to look better than Grell. He tried to pry Grell off him, he did he do that without damaging the outfit.
"Hold on! Then there's even less reason for me to go like this, is it not?"
Grell let him go it seemed hearing what Ciel said, he was grateful.
"Is that so? I have not foreseen that everyone would just agree on this idea so easily, so…"
"You!"
That explained a lot now that Alan was hearing this. Obviously the butler was keeping things from his master.
"But that comes out wonderfully. Now that we have enough female roles, the three of you can come too."
Alan saw how excited the servants become. Obviously they were hoping they could.
"Hump, these incompetent guys…Oh well, bringing more men in battle won't hurt. Let us go."
Following the others he tried to keep up. This was it, things were about to get underway.

Pulling up in front of the place this opera was being held Alan tried to keep his jaw closed. This place was stunning. He wasn't here to admire the beauty though he was here to find and stop Eric. Taking one of the servants' hands he was helped out of the wagon. Somewhere inside was Eric, he could feel him being pulled inside by his heart. Stepping inside he was in awe, if the outside was beautiful then the inside was gorgeous. Walking ahead of the others he started getting a feeling of dread again.
"It seems like there are a lot of visitors and many beautiful women."
This was bad, he could almost smell the approaching death in the air.
"Is any of these people the target? Anyhow, can he still act without being noticed with so many people here?"
That's right no one but himself knew of Eric's motives. Only he knew that no one woman but every women here was in danger of being killed.
"A Death God will find his own way. We must not let our guard down."
"Eric." Where was he? He needed to find him quickly. As the lights started to fade he broke away from the others. Now was his chance to look for him without anyone else getting in the way.

It sounded like the show had started as he could hear singing coming from where the others were. How he wished he could sense where Eric was. He knew he was running out of time before he got started. Why did it have to come to this? Why did Eric insist on fighting for him? All he ever wanted was to enjoy their time together. Now they regarded each other as enemies. He never wanted this. Heading back to the main hall he followed this horrible feeling he got. He wasn't sure what it was for, Eric, or the death he was about to cause but something told him to get back to where the others were. Now was his last chance to stop him. There! Just below him, in with the dancers! Time was just about up. He had to stop him right now.
"Eric!" Looking for the closest way down to the floor he hurried to him. He couldn't let Eric go through with his. Getting to the dance floor he tried to find him. He couldn't see him anymore with the women dancing around him. Where was he?
"Eric? Excuse me." Bumping into someone he quickly apologized before looking around again. "Where are you, Eric? Eric?" There were so many people here. As the singing stopped he used the momentary pause in dancing to pick out Eric better. He had to be close. Everyone including himself crouched slightly as it sounded like glass shattering around them. This was it; he had run out of time to stop him.
"The recitative for the everlasting dreamland is about to start next. Are all the present baby birds enjoying it? You must all remember this beautiful scenery of tonight's last…this century's most beautiful Massacre Opera!"
If the Viscount was near then Eric must be too, that was probably his cue to begin.

Eric stepping onto the main dance floor as people started to panic around him. Perfect, they could come to him. As each woman got near him he cut them down before they even saw it coming. This was going better then he planned.
"Eric!"
"Alan!" He stopped in his tracks seeing Alan in front of him. And what was he wearing?
"Why do you keep sinning? Why….WHY!" He struggled with himself over this, seeing the pain on Alan's face, over the heartbreak he saw on him. He never wanted to cause more pain to him, never wanted to hurt him, nothing would change the damage he had already done though. Backing up he tried to get away from him. He had to; he couldn't look at what he had done to him anymore. Turning he stopped seeing Sebastian there. He was corned by Alan and Sebastian. He couldn't run away anymore.
"A demon in servitude? Compared to an opera, really suits your taste better, no?" Looking at Alan he debated if he could run past him, probably but did he really want to.
"I am honored to hear your praise."
"Why would you, who possess such great powers, still follow orders around? Screwing the contract then snatching souls away is not impossible either, is it?"
"It is impossible. After all, I am on hell of a butler."
That was it, his choice was made he would go through Sebastian to escape here. Running towards him he brought his weapon to the ready.
"You're very interesting Sebastian."
"I'll say the same back to you."
Eric would defeat him, this plan was ruined, he had to regroup his thoughts. Defeating Sebastian though would allow him to make sure he wasn't stopped again.
"Sacrificing all around you, ready to sacrifice even yourself, just for the sake of one person. You would dirty your hands with sins. How could I expect you to understand my hard work?"

Alan was stunned by what Sebastian said, how did he know all of this? Did Grell tell him? But if so then how did Grell know? He couldn't watch this anymore. He didn't want Eric to get hurt because of him; he didn't want him to die because of him. Coming between the fight he hoped Eric would stop. Only he jumped out of the way before his blade hit him. What happened to Eric? He wanted the man he loved back.
"Eric…After all…you…"
"Hi! Thanks for all the hard work here!" Both Eric and Alan looked up as they heard Ronald's voice on the floor above them. What was he doing here? This couldn't be a good thing.
"Eric Slingby. Honestly, you surprised me. This is not a problem that can be solved by simply firing you anymore. You are the Fallen Death God. I shall have to erase both you and your name from the Death God Dispatch Society's register."
"Wait! I can explain!" Alan ran towards William, they couldn't kill him. This wasn't Eric's fault; he was just trying to save him. Eric was a good person! He watched as Ronald and William jumped past him to get to Eric. No! They had to stop; they needed to see the truth. Alan watched from above as William said something to Sebastian and went after him instead. Looking again though he saw Ronald going after Eric, why? They were friends, why wouldn't they let either of them explain? Going to try and stop Ronald knowing he was still the better fighter he stopped feeling the thorns tightening their grip on his heart. He wouldn't let them get to him this time, he had to do this. Catching his breath he ignored the throbbing in his chest as he watched the events unfold from where he was. Seeing Eric coming towards him he stood to get him to stop this and allow him to help. Instead he saw him go towards Ciel, what was he doing? That would help nothing.
"I really don't like doing this but I am borrowing your Young Master for now."
"Let go of me! Sebastian!"
"Young Master!"
"Eric!"
Running after him as they left the hall with Ciel he tried to catch up with him. He needed to get out of this outfit though, he needed his movement back. Now it was his turn to stop Eric, he was really the only one that could. He knew the only way how to. He had the key to stopping to him, he had always had it, the others had just never allowed him to use it before.

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Hurray new chapter. Next covers my other favorite moments where I get misty eyed and fan girly. Reviews are amazing as always. And will start next chapter before work tomorrow. Love you all.
~Femalefighter~