Wow…I struggled majorly with this chapter. This has got to be one of the hardest chapters I had to write, if not the hardest. *sigh*

In any case, many thanks to I'mDoneDreaming77, VampireSiren, fencergal19, KHRLover1997, piplup225, Lady Athenangel, Knyttet, Princesa de la Luna, Tsukino Aisuru-A, and MrsGooglyBear for the heart-lifting reviews!

Disclaimer: Kuroshitsuji belongs to Yana Toboso. I only own my OCs and ideas not seen in the anime/manga.

My nose buried into her soft, blonde hair and my arms wrapped firmly around her, though I made sure not to crush her delicate form. My eyes were shut in what would seem like contentment, when really, I was trying hard to suppress the tears. I had been doing that a lot lately, holding back a lot of my emotions and trying to stay strong. It was not that easy for me, and I knew that someday, I'd explode. Still though, I had to keep it up. Especially in front of Eva, the only person who hadn't ever hurt me in any way, and I was not about to break down during our last moment.

It took about one week until the select few of the Scotland Yard were able to track down the whereabouts of her family. After praying endlessly and clinging on to the small remnants of hope, Eva could finally breathe again.

Only one of the Yard members had appeared at the Phantomhive townhouse, Fred Aberline, as I recall. He didn't inform me of much, since most was strictly confidential, but so far, Eva's older brother was the only one they were able to get ahold of. Even so, according to what her brother had offered to the Yard, the rest of her family was still alive.

"I had lost my family when I was a young lad, so I can completely understand how hard it must have been to be separated from them. But rest assured, you are safe now, Miss Eva," the young officer had told her while she expressed her gratitude repeatedly, happy tears streaming down her face.

With Mr. Aberline waiting outside in the carriage to bring her home, she had some spare minutes to bid me and the two noble Indians farewell. Agni was the first one she embraced, though while the butler had a few kind words to give; the prince cut him off in the middle of it and grabbed Eva in a bone-crushing hug that had her squeaking in pain and blushing beet red.

"Must you leave so soon? I was hoping that someday I'd take you back to India with me whenever I decide to return!" Soma blurted out during the embrace, catching both Agni and me by surprise.

"P-Prince? Is that true? Y-you and Miss Eva…" Agni trailed off in disbelief, his eyes glittering in awe and his mouth dropping in shock.

Soma let go of her, and seeing his face revealed from behind her head, the blood was rushing to his cheeks as well. I could only smirk in utter amusement; it would seem that Soma and Eva had gotten closer than I had thought.

"Bloody hell, Prince Soma. Don't tell me…you actually have feelings for Eva? Oh this is precious…" I stated between stifled laughs, biting into my knuckles.

Inevitably, the prince threw a childish fit at the implied accusations Agni and I were sending him, but I didn't pay too much attention to what he was barking about. Of course, I was only teasing. I knew that somehow, Eva must have filled that empty hole in his heart that had been left behind by Meena. In exchange, I was sure that my friend had felt less lonely and upset with him around to cheer her up. The two had served well as great companions in their brief time of knowing each other.

After a few more petty shouts from the royal, uselessly convincing us that nothing serious was going on between him and Eva, Agni was able to subdue the prince back to a calmer composure, shuffling Soma to another room so that Eva and I could speak privately.

The two of us knew this was most likely the last time we'd ever see each other. Even if I could choose to meet her again, I just couldn't. This was it. She deserved to live the rest of her life without any more nightmares to haunt her.

"Janelle?" she finally whispered in the silence that had momentarily sent my mind to a better state. Just like that, I was brought back to reality.

I stepped back from her, hands resting on the side of her arms. She gave an infectious smile that filled me with a spark of joy and I couldn't look away. It was amazing how much better she looked compared to the day we escaped from that wretched circus. Though she was still as skinny as ever, her skin was much healthier now, and the glow in her cheeks was prominent. The bruises on her were nearly all healed; the purple coloring having faded to yellow. Her black eye was long gone, and I was able to see the honey brown irises in all their glory.

"I want you to know that…I never thought any less of you when I found out what you really were," she admitted with a genuine look in her eyes. "You're far different from that man and that woman; to me, you're not a monster. And on that day, when you were thrown in the same prison I was in and it all seemed so hopeless, I was really glad you were there. I'm happy to have met you, Janelle. You make me feel strong."

She had taken my hands in hers; rubbing her tiny thumbs over my skin exactly like she did when we met, when she asked me if I was scared. I couldn't hold it back anymore, but I quickly hugged her again so that she wouldn't see the tears that were overflowing.

"I won't ever forget you, Eva," I whispered, keeping her face and scent memorized in my mind.

She laughed lightly and returned the embrace once more. "Same here, Janelle. Thank you for everything."

I walked with her outside, but stopped at the steps as she went on alone towards the carriage that resided a little farther from the entrance. Taking a seat on the stone steps, I watched Eva approaching Mr. Aberline, who tipped his hat in greeting and opened the door for her, only for a secret surprise to hit her at that very moment. My eyes widened a bit at the scene, but a smile soon set on my face when I saw that it was her brother who had been waiting in the carriage the whole time. The two of them embraced immediately, exchanging words that were garbled by more laughter and tears.

My heart ached, no matter how much I tried to ignore it. Watching the reunited siblings increased that emptiness I had inside, but then I reminded myself that I was the one at fault. If I hadn't made those fatal mistakes, if I hadn't run away, I could have been safe and sound. I could have done something better for myself. I could have still been human and lived a normal, carefree life. Maybe I could have had a family of my own by now, and had met someone who treated me more than just a toy.

And then, that's when I looked up, having sensed his unmistakable dark aura, and delved into those crimson eyes of the devilish butler who had suddenly appeared beside me.

But then, I would have never met him. Was that what I would really want?

"That's quite a sour face you have," Sebastian bluntly stated with that smirk of his.

I scoffed, though a smile still stayed. "What brings you here? Don't you have your important duties as the Phantomhive butler to fulfill?"

He simply chuckled. "My, are you trying to brush me off already? And after all the trouble I went through in requesting that I be the one to come and get you," he stated that all rather dramatically, placing a hand on his forehead like he usually did whenever the infamous trio committed another blunder.

I sighed, shaking my head. "Sebastian, you shouldn't have done that. I am capable of returning home without an escort."

Sebastian frowned at my words and then stepped closer. I scooted over on the stone step and he let out a sigh of his own. "Oh dear, making me sit down on the ground, are you? Well then, if you'll excuse me…"

I let out a soft snort as he slowly lowered himself to my level, setting himself right beside me on the stone step. Though there was hardly any space between us, he inched closer to the point where I could feel his body heat, and his right arm sneaked behind me, wrapping around my waist to keep me from moving away.

"I have to admit; the young Lord wasn't very pleased at my sudden request. But regardless, it was something I had to do," he stated casually, nodding to the auburn-haired police officer when he, in turn, acknowledged the butler's presence.

"Had to do?" I groaned, grasping my head. "Sebastian, I told you-"

The demon shushed me, all the while brushing aside the locks of hair on my left shoulder so that my neck was in view. "Hush now, I don't need you lecturing me on what I should or shouldn't do."

I rolled my eyes-stubborn as always, this damn demon. Nevertheless, it didn't stop me from feeling grateful that he came all this way for me. And so when I smiled at him, he knew right away, his own growing smug at the fact that I had given in.

I watched Eva turn around one last time, waving at me, and seeing Sebastian, she didn't hesitate to do the same. The demon merely smiled while I returned her last farewell. Then, she disappeared for good as she and her brother filed into the carriage, the officer following suit. My eyes stayed glued to the vehicle as it descended down the road, towards a destination I wouldn't ever cross. She was gone now too, but it was for the best.

During my numbing daze, I felt Sebastian's gloved fingers tickling the side of my exposed neck before he drew near and allowed his lips to brush against the tender flesh. I closed my eyes, letting out an unstable sigh, and his arm pulled me in closer against him while he continued planting soft kisses from my neck down to my shoulder. Even through the fabric that covered my skin, his lips were still just as potent, leaving behind those tingling sensations that I was addicted to.

Opening my eyes, I turned and leaned into his body, my head resting against his shoulder. I could feel him smiling against the top of my head, his arm holding me for as long as I wanted. I suppose it was all right. I guess I didn't really need a home, for I already felt the most safe when I was here in his arms. Ironic, but it was the truth.

"I told you I had to come here," he whispered, knowing exactly how I was feeling without me saying anything.

No reply came from me, just another barely audible exhale. The dark clouds rolling in the grey sky certainly fit my mood. Just when I was starting to relax, his hand wandered under my chin, caressing the skin there before lifting it upwards. I found myself staring at those lush lips of his, and I knew he was trying to use his charms on me again. I didn't bother trying to avoid his advances this time, like I had been doing for the past week.

"What are you two doing…Agh! My eyes, they burn!"

I groaned in irritation at the lousy interruption committed by the pesky prince. Our lips had barely touched and the prince just had to choose that moment to show up. Sebastian's eyebrow twitched but other than that, he did well in hiding his annoyance. Instead of pulling away though, he went ahead and did something bolder. The butler's strong arms shifted under me and before I knew it, I was being carried bridal-style right in front of the prince. I snickered at the disgusted expression that formed on Soma's face and I played along, grasping onto the butler's coat and nuzzling against his firm chest.

Sebastian's smirk grew and he stared down the prince with those devilish eyes of his. "Good to see you, Prince Soma, though I am simply here to retrieve this troublesome woman. Apologies for disturbing you, we won't do so any longer."

"Yeah? W-well, good riddance! Here, don't forget to take this with you. I don't need this infecting the whole place," Soma spat and briskly threw my hooded cloak at my face just as Agni approached him from behind.

Agni sighed deeply, once the prince stomped off to another part of the townhouse, and bowed to us. "I deeply apologize for my prince's rudeness. I'm quite sure he holds fondness for you both, despite how he acts."

I scoffed again, fixing the cloak around my form while the butler set me back down on the ground. Before I could say anything spiteful, Sebastian had clamped his gloved hand over my mouth and spoke for us. "How considerate of you to let us know of the prince's hidden feelings; though I assure you, it matters not. You needn't worry too much."

Agni gave an uncertain chuckle and when he caught my eyes, he saw the gratefulness I held in them and he smiled, bowing lightly again and understanding what I meant to say.

"The pleasure is mine, Miss Janelle. As for you, Mister Sebastian, I'm sure you will continue excelling with your butler aesthetics. Please have a safe trip back to the mansion."

Without any more last remarks from the prince, the butler and I wasted not another second to head off back to the main house. Along the way, Sebastian's hand grazed against mine and I didn't hesitate in grabbing hold of him, our fingers intertwining. When he heard me chuckling to myself, he turned to see my mischievous grin.

"You are having far too much fun, Janelle, picking on the prince as much as you do," Sebastian stated with his smug smile.

Once I gathered my composure, his eyes softened slightly at the sight of pure amusement on my face. It wasn't often when he got to see me genuinely happy. "Oh, but I could understand how much fun it is to tease someone, like you do, Sebastian. Even though I'm a victim as well, human reactions are just too entertaining!"

The demon's smirk widened and he silently agreed. Throughout his continuous observations, and learning to understand their motives, humans truly were fascinating and quite unexpected. Not to mention delicious… He wanted to add, in reference to their souls, but he kept that to himself.

Walking hand-in-hand the entire way, the two of us migrated among the several townsfolk that wandered about the streets of London. For once, I wasn't too bothered with being around these groups of people; to my surprise, I was tolerating it. The demon beside me noticed I wasn't hiding myself in my hood, like I usually would. Seeing me acting so serene, like a freed spirit, almost set his own mind to peace, until the smell of the various human souls around us distracted him, reminding him of his still-bound state.

His jaw clenched and his hand unconsciously tightened on mine, though he noticed I didn't seem to care. A part of him began to think twice about coming out here; he realized long before that working endlessly helped him forget about the stabbing pains that came with his growing starvation. But with the delectable amount of souls passing him by like a gourmet feast, it made his head spin like a tornado. The restraint to hold back his desire of tearing into every one of the surrounding citizens' throats was far too enticing. He pondered what I'd think, speculating I'd be horrified at the idea. Of course, he knew it was utterly irrational; he wouldn't bother succumbing to such barbaric measures. But with these types of scenarios in mind, sometimes he wished I still didn't possess such a human way of thinking.

He nearly had the urge to voice his thoughts to me, curious of what I had to say and to further clarify my reaction, but it was dismissed when he felt cold droplets falling onto his face. His eyebrows furrowed and he looked up at the sky to see that the clouds were dark and thick, letting loose the rain that was now beginning to pour on the streets of London. Along with that, the people out in the open hurriedly raced for shelter, exclaiming in alarm and distress. He narrowed his eyes, amused at how quickly the streets were cleared, and then sighed. He could already feel himself getting more and more soaked, but not that it was a real issue to him. It was just a nuisance.

"Oh…it's raining…" He heard me stating the obvious in a low tone. He turned to see me looking upwards, with my outstretched hand catching some of the drops. Meeting his eyes, I gave a small smile. "You know, I…actually like the rain."

He raised his eyebrow in interest. "Oh? And why is that?"

I brushed a few wet locks of hair from my face. "This might sound silly, but it makes me think about my parents. I always think that if it's raining wherever I am, it's also raining wherever they are, even if it's not necessarily true. Somehow, I feel like the rain and snow allows me to connect with them in this odd, indiscreet way, that maybe I only know about…" I shrugged lightly. "It helps me get past the bad thoughts in my head, at least…"

Sebastian gazed at me as I explained my reason, and with the distant look in my eyes, as well as my hand beginning to loosen on his, he tried to think of something to distract me from falling back into silence.

"Your mother and father? I wonder how they would react if I were to ever meet them," he pondered the idea with what seemed like genuine curiosity. To be honest, the thought had never occurred to me, and thinking about it now, the possibilities were endless.

I stopped walking; causing the butler to halt in his tracks as well and he looked back at me with the same expression of interest. I bit my lip, realizing how damp the both of us were getting. "That's utterly mad. You know, my parents never knew that he was a vampire. Sure, they had their suspicions, but they didn't bother going any deeper. They already knew…something was off…"

Sebastian waited for what else I had to say. "I think my mother would probably accept you much easier, but my father is a completely different story. Back then, he had trust issues and he was a bit overprotective…"

"Only a bit?" the demon teased, knowing I had lied at that point.

I chuckled. "Okay, I mean, he was very overprotective."

The demon smirked and he held his chin in thought. "Well, that's certainly understandable. I suppose I could relate to him in that particular aspect, if only a little…"

I sighed, staring down at our intertwined hands and remembering all the hatred and constant arguing that happened between me and my father. We fought so often, sometimes I felt that he had grown to despise me. I wouldn't be surprised if he had.

I shut my eyes for a moment. "I don't even want to imagine how ballistic he'd be if he found out I turned into a monster…"

"Come now, dear. I'm positive he'd accept you, no matter what you are," Sebastian tried to assure me.

"Indeed he would, sir. With a stake in his hand and an abundance of garlic, he would," I joked, letting out a dry laugh.

His lips curled into his devious smile. "If he's going to do that much, then he'd have to whip out the holy water and the cross as well if he wants to stave us off effectively," he played along, making me snicker a little too loudly.

"Oh lord, to think I used to believe those tactics actually worked on demons when I was a kid…" I shook my head with a sigh. "It'd never work out…and it doesn't matter." My gaze drifted for him, wandering off to nowhere ahead of us.

With one hand, Sebastian pinched my cheek hard, like he did at times when he intended to make a point, and I was forced to snap back to him. "You don't need them, Janelle. Look how far you've survived on your own. And you're not completely alone anymore either." He rested his hand on my cheek. "If I am not on my master's side, I am on yours."

He felt my face warm up just a tad through his soaked gloves and his smirk widened at seeing a dash of pink on my pale skin. His intent stare followed the trail of water leading to my lips and his thumb brushed over the soft, wet flesh.

My hand reached up, moving aside a strand of hair that had slipped over his eye. I watched the rain droplets dripping from the tip of his nose, examining how his soaked appearance suited him rather well. His black bangs were matted, though it only seemed to make him all the more attractive, framing the way his face was structured perfectly.

A shudder ran through me, diverting my attention to how my dress was beginning to stick to my form, and I didn't like it one bit.

He raised his eyebrow, catching me shivering in that split second. "Are you cold?"

I smiled lightly and rubbed my nose with the back of my hand. "Always, Sebastian. All the time."

While I pulled my hood over my head, hoping to hold in some heat, the butler was removing his black trench coat from his shoulders. He gave me the sternest of glares before I could even protest and wrapped his coat around me.

"There we go. It may be a bit damp on the outside, but the interior is quite fine," Sebastian stated with his close-eyed smile. He examined how the large article of clothing seemed to swallow up my body and he chuckled. "You look like such a child. Is it too heavy?"

I merely shook my head. I could already feel my cheeks blooming redder than before, from both the immediate warmth and his thoughtful gesture, and I grabbed his coat tighter against me. "Thank you, Sebastian. So, I assume demons don't get that cold?"

He merely took my hand again and led us forward down the remaining miles ahead. "You should know that I'm stronger than that-" He stopped when he saw me burying my nose in the coat with my eyes closed.

His smug smile returned. "What are you doing?"

I blinked a few times and shrugged. "Um…nothi-"

Out of nowhere, a loud boom of thunder echoed above us and I flinched involuntarily at the noise. Hesitantly meeting his gaze and seeing the rising amusement in those crimson orbs, I quickly blurted, "I-I'll race you back to the manor!"

That devious smile of his only grew darker and he stepped closer to me. "You're afraid of thunder."

"No, I'm not." I played it off and skipped ahead of him. "Can we please just-"

Another crash sounded in the skies and he laughed at how I cringed further into his coat, my fingers grasping onto the rim of my hood as I pulled it down to conceal more of my face.

Feeling him incase me in his arms, he whispered, "Don't worry, Janelle. Remember, thunder is but a sound. It could never actually harm you, silly girl."

I gave an irritated sigh. "Are you done?" I asked behind the shield of his coat, still hearing him chuckling away while we trudged onwards.

He scoffed, keeping his firm grip on my hand. "Done with you? Please. Not in the slightest."

The storm continued on into the night, though it wasn't too vicious and there was no more thunder or lightning. The muffled, calm rain against the walls and the window was mainly all that resonated in the dead silence. Yet there was one other sound that was not as clear, and strangely enough, it appeared to be Pluto howling outside.

It was true that the demon hound would sometimes be heard in the middle of the night, but at this late hour, he sounded different. He almost sounded like he was upset, even angry. I didn't believe my instincts at first, telling me that his howls seemed to signal that something bad was going to happen soon. But now, as I was lying on the butler's unoccupied bed, second thoughts erupted in my head. I often tried to shake them off, but according to several events in the past, I knew there was no use in trying to ignore them completely. Still though, I just wanted this one, small moment of relative peace to last.

"Janelle?"

My eyes snapped open and in what had seemed like a mere second later, Sebastian had returned from finishing his daily preparations for the next day. Despite the darkness, I was able to see every detail of his face like normal. The expression he wore held both the usual amusement and a hint of curiosity.

He raised an eyebrow, like he was concerned. Placing his hand on my head, he said quietly, "You were sleeping. I don't usually find you like that whenever you're in my room."

I offered a small smile as his long fingers lightly scratched against my scalp, like I was one of his personal cats in the closet. "It's a little odd," I replied. "Sometimes I find I fall asleep better on certain days compared to others. But lately, I've been sleeping more than usual..."

"Is that so? Well then…"

The butler straightened himself from his kneeling position beside the bed and then relieved himself of his tailcoat, setting it on the chair near his desk. I adjusted my position, rolling over on my side to where he was standing and watched him carry out his nightly routine. He removed his white gloves like normal, allowing me to see his ominous black nails that I always found strangely intriguing. Yet that was all he bothered setting aside-his tailcoat and gloves. Usually, he'd remove his tie and vest as well, but for some reason that night, he ended it there and simply turned around to where I was. Gazing down at me with a hidden look in his eyes, an expression of pure innocence crossed me before I complied with his silent request of making room.

After scooting over and giving him the most space on his bed, he rested himself onto the mattress, making only the smallest of creaks. Every movement he made seemed so perfect and effortless, lithe and stealthy, like he didn't have to try so hard. That may have been true, but it didn't fool me. Through his unwavering composure as the most exceptional butler of the Phantomhive family, I knew that even a demon like him had his limits.

"How did the rest of the work go?" I found myself asking automatically.

He scoffed at my question and rested his back against the headboard, his hand brushing through his slightly disheveled fringes. "It went well, as per usual. I was able to finish it all in due time." A smile broke on his face and once again, he sent me an inquiring look. "Why do you ask? As the Phantomhive butler, you should know that I-"

"You seem tired today, Sebastian. More so than the other night I came by…" I avoided his intense gaze for a spell. "I'm...just worried about you."

The demon's eyes widened a bit while I wasn't looking, my attention diverted to a stray string sticking out from the hem of my sleeve. With the words I just spoke, he realized that he couldn't hide every little thing from me, just as he could figure out my own motives and feelings at times as well. In the end, there were things we just knew; he had to know that I would be there for him too, even if he didn't necessarily need me.

Hearing him let out a light sigh, I looked back up at him while he clasped his hands together over his abdomen. "There is no need for that, Janelle. All this work simply must be done. It is a given fact and soon enough, it will all pay off once I achieve what I desire."

"How do you do it, Sebastian? How do you find the strength to keep going like this?" I blurted out, catching him a bit off guard again. He craned his neck to look at me, seeing my expression harden. I continued yanking on the stubborn string. "I mean…if I were in your position, I'd probably just want to be done with it and kill him on the spot…"

The demon laughed at my confession and my eyebrows furrowed, expecting him to mock me like he always did. "My dear, you're thinking like a vampire. We demons must do what we have to do, at least those who form contracts. You remember what I told you before; there are those who take the easy way to attain satisfaction." Sebastian leaned off the headboard and lowered himself to the point where he was lying on his back next to me, his head rested on the pillow. "But watching my young Lord over the past years I've served him, observing all that he had to deal with in order to accomplish his duty, it proves to be quite entertaining, I'll admit."

Seeing that I was now on my back and glaring at the ceiling, he chuckled again and turned on his side. "Speaking of my master, he and I will be heading to Paris tomorrow on another request from the Queen."

I gasped and shifted my head to him. "What? Already? And to Paris?!" Realizing my voice was rising in volume, I quickly composed myself, letting out a deep exhale. "I wish I could go with you, but not this time…"

The butler smiled and asked, "Did you live in Paris when you were with your parents?"

I shook my head. "No, I lived a little farther from the major city life. It was a small town where I once resided."

There was short pause before I turned on my side again and was now face-to-face with him. "I'm so curious, Sebastian. Please tell me more about your past contracts. The last story you told me had me thinking about it for hours!"

His smirk widened. "Oh, why is that? Was it because you were struggling to overcome your burning jealousy? She was simply my old mistress, Janelle, nothing more. I'm flattered to know that you care that much…" he teased, caressing the side of my reddening cheeks with the back of his hand.

I merely pouted in anger and he continued. "All right, but on one condition-you'll have to tell me something about your past as a human."

"Deal. Shall I add him to the mix?" I joked with a mischievous grin, though I knew it wasn't the least bit funny.

"No," he stated in a flat tone, the red of his irises flashing dangerously.

"I will, if you skip out on the details again," I replied playfully, grasping and pulling on his tie.

He let out one exasperated sigh and this time, I knew I had won, even if it was the tiniest of petty victories. And then, a look of deep thought crossed his face before he began.

This was what I found myself doing in the few nights that I had with him, before he would inevitably have to leave with his master. While he was busy fulfilling his late night duties, I would often wait for him in his bedroom, finding that lying alone in my room made me feel uneasy and empty. Ever since Percival died, I'd still get flashbacks of how he was dismembered right in front of me and his awful cries would still ring in my head. The demon knew, and at first he ignored the fact that I was getting nightmares. He had killed the vermin; that was all he wanted.

But on the first night I came to his room, curled up on his bed and burrowed in his sheets because the smell of burning flesh still seemed to linger, he decided to tell me about his old masters and contracts. Of course, he refused to reveal about every detail, cutting out several chunks of information that I still didn't understand why he kept from me, but it was good enough. I was able to deal, and in this indiscreet way, he was helping me heal and forget.

In turn, I would rack my brain trying to recall anything interesting to tell him about my once normal life, but he assured me that anything I offered would be sufficient. I always thought my own ridiculous tales were nothing in comparison to his, but he seemed to find them strangely interesting. Perhaps because he knew they were lame, but it didn't matter. With the nights that followed, I found that this was the closest I had ever felt with the demon, and it only made me want to draw even closer to him.

Drown in the darkness…

My hand wandered to his left, taking it in my grasp and allowing my fingers to trace the intricate pentacle symbolizing the Faustian contract. His hand twitched on impulse but he didn't pull away. He knew I had something to say by the way my eyes were glazed over in thought.

"Sebastian…" I started. "What will you do after you're done with all this?"

The demon butler listened to the rain beginning to diminish outside before he answered. "I will just have to wait and see. It depends on the end circumstances, but-"

He stopped when he suddenly felt my arms wrap tightly around him, my face hidden in his chest. He blinked once and then looked down, only to see the top of my head. A sly smile crossed his lips. "What's this? Just a few nights ago, you pestered me not to touch you. Does this mean you…"

"I don't know what will happen in the future, but somehow, I wish that I could always be at your side," I admitted abruptly, feeling that ache in my chest becoming worse the more I thought about being alone…in a place where he wasn't.

"My, you sound so serious," he simply replied in that playful tone of his.

"Because I am…"

I felt no immediate movement from him, and for what seemed like a long time, all that was breaking the silence was the dwindling showers of rain against the window. And then, I finally felt his strong arms encircling me, returning my unrelenting embrace.

"Once more, you shouldn't worry so much. There is one thing I am most certain of, and that is that I shall have you with me," he assured me in a soft tone that eased my tension.

"Always…?" I asked with uncertainty.

"Indeed." He ended it there, pressing his lips against my forehead when I lifted my head to look at him.

I wanted to believe that was the truth. I sincerely hoped that what he said would happen. Those last words and my own thoughts clouded my mind, but every time his fingers brushed through my hair, and his comforting scent took over my senses, everything seemed like it would turn out okay. Everything would be the way we wanted it to be.

I stayed in his arms and he made no move to distance us. Holding him close like this, his chin rested upon my head, my cheek pressed against his chest, my hand grasping onto his back, and his warmth encasing me in safety, I wanted time to stop entirely.

Yet instead, time went too fast.

Soon, the rain stopped, and in its wake, the first few rays of sunlight began peeking through the window above his bed, shining down on us. Dawn was breaking and I flinched at the feel of the sharp rays on my skin.

And that's when I felt him releasing me.

No! I wanted to say. Stay. I don't want you to go.

But I knew it was useless in trying to change things that couldn't be changed. The rising sun highlighted the serious expression he now wore, signaling that a new day was here. Once more, he had to continue with his role.

A single, good moment never seemed to last long enough, and the real truth of the matter was...

He wouldn't be there forever.