A steady week and a half passed for Ciel and Finny. Ciel was soaking up all that Finny told him like a sponge, while also finding life with Sebastian harder and harder because of it. Finny had told him early on that all through history famous people had Leonard companions, and there were even Leonards who were famous in and of themselves. He said that there was a codependency between their races; Leonards were drawn to the affection and comfort of having a human companion, just as humans were drawn to Leonards. It was more than natural, it was right.

After hearing this, every time Ciel saw Sebastian his desire to finally come out and tell him the truth was overwhelming. In his mind he felt like Sebastian could somehow sense that he was being lied to, and was playing his own game right back at him. He knew this wasn't really true, but he became more paranoid as the days rolled on. At least he was getting steady meals for both forms with Finny coming over almost every day. He was getting used to walking out in the open without his tails and ears hidden, although that inner sense of caution was still alive and well in him.

When Finny wasn't there Ciel read the books he was given, and even, to his chagrin, began writing short papers about his findings. Finny had managed to work in two subjects at once by teaching him how to structure an academic paper and correct his grammar. He had not had any luck trying to pick up on the link to his magic, though he had been trying hard with the mind-relaxation exercises that Finny had assigned him. It was a source of frustration for him, which was exactly why, Finny said, it wasn't working.

Finny had started his job with Funtom, and he told Ciel that he really enjoyed it, as he'd never had a job outside of Angel Wing. There were many other Leonards working at Funtom, and Finny confessed that he had hardly ever met any that were much older than twenty, but there were Leonards up to the age of fifty at the prestigious company. He had been glad to talk to them at length about their lives, and their owners, and their futures.

Finny had also moved into Bard's house a few blocks away from Angel Wing. He told Ciel it was an adjustment, not to be surrounded by running feet or paws every night and day. It was also hard to have to make his own meals even though he knew how to cook. He was used to all his meals being ready for him in the cafeteria. But life with Bard was already sweeter for the adoption. He proudly wore his knew I.D. band around his wrist, giving Ciel mixed feelings.

Bard had hired a lawyer for Alois, and the lawsuit had been served to the still-bruised Claude Faustus at the end of the week. There had been no response as of yet, but Alois was terrified of meeting him in court, though he knew he must.

So came the third Friday since Ciel had come to live in Sebastian's home as a stowaway. It had been a hard day, with Finny drilling him on famous events in history, and making him take a pop quiz. Ciel was actually excited when he passed, though he had groaned all through taking it.

"Listen, Cinder, it's the weekend. The next time we see each other will be at the adoption party tomorrow night, and I can't very well quiz you then, little fur-ball of stupidity."

Ciel had grown used to Finny's sarcasm, now understanding it as a way to show fondness.

"Yea, yea. Sebastian is going all-out, let me tell you, big cake and everything ordered from his own company." Ciel said.

"Don't ruin any surprises for me, or I'll shake you by the neck! This is a big event for me ad Bard; it'll be the first really fun thing we've done since becoming family."

"Well, you'll enjoy it, trust me. Who all is invited again?"

"Well, Evan, of course, then a few of the kids I've tutored over the years, Anne, and I wanted to invite Alois, but…I don't know if this would be the best party for him to attend right now. The poor lad is still shook up about the trial."

"When will it be?"

"In the fall, if all goes well."

A silence passed between them, which was abruptly ended by the familiar sound of Sebastian's key in the door lock. It had become routine by now, even the sudden rush of adrenaline shooting through their veins, and Ciel scrambling to shift back in time. Finny had said plenty of times how tiring it had become.

This evening passed just like all the others, with Sebastian and Finny chitchatting while Ciel made a show of greeting Sebastian or sniffing things he didn't really care about. Then Sebastian would carry Ciel upstairs, change clothes, carry him back downstairs for dinner and television before retiring to bed. It was not an altogether terrible routine for two people who had both had long days of work, only they could not speak together.

Ciel lay, curled against Sebastian's side that night, just listening to the sound of his breathing, feeling the comforting rise and fall of his chest against his own furry back, and wondered what it would be like to actually belong to this man. He knew how it felt as a cat, and it was…wonderful. Thoughts about Alois crept into his head. From what he had heard from Finny, this Claude fellow had been a bad egg from the beginning, but what if Alois had not seen him like that at first? What if he had seen Claude the way Ciel saw Sebastian? Ciel didn't like the thought. He fell asleep thinking about what had changed in this Faustus character in his life to decide to mistreat his Leonard.

Shortly after he fell asleep, Ciel was plagued by nightmares. He was locked in a cage somewhere dark, with a single light shining directly on him, leaving him nowhere to hide. A faceless man whom he knew somehow was Claude Faustus stood just outside the source of the light, chuckling menacingly.

'What do you want from me!?' Ciel asked, and the figure wordlessly came toward him, tossing something onto the ground before his cage. Ciel looked down and felt nausea threaten to overcome him; a pair of bloody orange cat ears and a tail. Alois'.

'I'm sure yours will make a nice addition to my collection.' Claude said in a strange, high-pitched voice, and he drew a knife, coming to open Ciel's cage.

'Stay away! Stay away!' Ciel screamed, inching back as far away from the advancing man as he could. Claude just kept coming, and he suddenly seize him by the arm.

"Get off! Get off me!" Ciel sobbed.

"Hey, wake up, lad."

"Stop it! Get off!"

"Lad, wake up!"

Like a wave crashing down upon him, Ciel jolted back to reality, panting hard. His brain took in traces of the familiar bedroom surroundings in seconds, and he realized he was lying on his back in bed. He had only been dreaming. The next second the shock doubled as he realized he was face-to-face with Sebastian. He could see him in the light of the lamp that the man must had switched on. Ciel wondered for a split second why the man's expression of alarm suddenly switched to confusion, and then almost…wonder. It was then that Ciel realized that the man was kneeling over him and holding onto his arms…his human arms.

Shock rocketed through Ciel and he froze, his eyes widening with fear. He was in his human form. The nightmare must have made him shift out of fear…and Sebastian was looking directly at him. At long, long last, his farce had broken.

Sebastian's eyes took in the scene slowly; a young Leonard, with dark hair, laying in his bed, exactly where Cinder had been. In a flash of unbelievable truth, Sebastian understood. His face softened, and his heart as well. The Leonard looked absolutely terrified; his intense blue eyes so wide they looked like they took up most of his face, his mouth open to let his panting breaths in and out. His slender body was tense and shaking where it lay on the mattress, no doubt ready for flight at any moment.

"Oh…my god…" Was the best that Sebastian could manage as the moments dragged on. Ciel's ears flattened and he moved quickly, throwing Sebastian off of him and scrambling through thick blankets and sheets to nearly fall out of the bed.

"Wait! It's ok, you don't have to run!" Sebastian called, and Ciel stopped by the bedroom door, to look at him, body poised to flee. Sebastian righted himself in bed.

"Cinder?" He asked incredulously.

As soon as he spoke the words, Ciel darted out the bedroom door. All logic had left Ciel's mind; his defensive instincts were kicking in and he was running as fast as he could to avoid the potential threat. All knowledge of Sebastian's personality, his kindness, were meaningless in light of such fear. He tumbled down the stairs, Sebastian hot on his heels, calling after him. He felt the man gaining on him and he shifted at the last moment out of desperation, landing on his small paws. This turned out to be a bad decision, as he could not gain traction quickly enough on the slippery marble floor. An instant later he felt a large hand seize him.

"Let me go! Let me go!" Ciel screamed, all caution thrown to the wind now that the truth had come out. He began twisting and wriggling, trying to escape. Despite his instincts, he was conscious that he did not want to bite this man, nor scratch him. Therefore he could not make much head way in the battle.

"Calm down, little thing, calm down!" Sebastian said, his tone attempting to be calming, while at the same time reflecting the struggle of keeping Ciel still. At the last second Ciel went for broke and shifted forms again. The momentum of this action sent them both sprawling on the floor. Ciel recovered at once, and darting for the front door, wrenching it open.

"Please, wait, Cinder, don't go!" Sebastian called, and Ciel caught a glimpse of his face, open and caring, before turning and running down the hallway to the stairs.