Hey there, lovely readers. :)

Heads up-as far as this story is progressing, I stopped following the manga storyline when the circus arc ended, and now I also won't be following the anime storyline any more after this chapter. Don't get me wrong, the events of season two will have happened, but I'm not going to review that season in this story. Certain elements from the ending of that season will play a part in how the rest of the plot goes. Pretty sure y'all know what that means.

Big thanks to VampireSiren, Lady Athenangel, MrsGooglyBear, Tsukino Aisuru-A, fencergal19, piplup225, and Knyttet for the reviews on the last chapter! Your thoughts always mean a lot. :)

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

Dressed in a feminine, bright pink gown and matching bonnet over her blonde ringlets, she was alone, kneeling down on the fresh, green meadow covered with various patches of indigo flowers. In front of her resided a calm-flowing creek, something that contrasted quite vastly to what was happening in London, and what she'd hope would end soon. Watching the beautiful city, she called home, succumbing to the flames, as well as the dead, blackened bodies scattered about, it was far too much for her to bear and watch.

At the same time, she hated the fact of not being able to do anything in this time of crisis and having to stay on the sidelines. She knew she was stronger than this act of a fragile and innocent little girl. Innocent she may be, but fragile? The matter was debatable. As a daughter of a proud, noble family, however, it wasn't so easy to act as freely as she would have liked.

If she could at that moment, she would have chosen to always be at her fiancé's side, no matter what the reason. Sometimes, she would grow so worried over him to the point where it exhausted her. That certain day happened to be one of those days. Every time he went on a mission for the Queen, her grief would begin, exactly on the day he leaves.

Her delicate fingers grazed over the blue petals of the flowers surrounding her and she plucked a few out of the grass, her emerald green eyes trained on the royal color. Only one person entered her mind and stayed on her mind at that moment.

"My lady!"

Her brief trance was interrupted and she stood up to her feet, turning to see her maid, a young woman with long, brown hair scurrying towards her.

"Paula?" she acknowledged the woman's presence with question.

By the look on her dear friend's face, Elizabeth could tell that her maid brought good news. "They say that the fires in London have gone out. We can finally return home now, my lady!" she announced with joy, clasping her hands together in front of her.

A beginning of a smile started on the noble lady's face, until the thoughts that had lingered in her head came rushing back, and the small sign of happiness was dashed. She asked her maid, "What about Ciel? Have you heard anything about him?"

The excitement on Paula's face disappeared in an instant, well aware that her lady had been extremely troubled over him. Sadly, she answered, "Forgive me, my lady. There's nothing."

Elizabeth stayed quiet, the expression on her face showing clear disappointment and Paula felt obligated to cheer her up immediately. The maid scanned the serene area around them and her bright smile returned.

"Ah, such pretty flowers we have here, don't you agree?" Paula started, hoping to raise her lady's spirits.

Elizabeth nodded and gazed down at the bloom in her hand. "Yes…their color reminds me of Ciel, somewhat." She smiled a little; the longer she stared at the flower, the more it seemed as if she was looking right into his deep blue eyes. But more importantly, the indigo color reminded her much of the treasured heirloom Ciel had with him at all times, a ring she once had the discretion to destroy in front of him in a fit of petty anger.

Before she knew it, her thoughts about the flower and Ciel's ring were mentioned out loud, and a creative idea came to Paula's mind. In a matter of seconds, her maid had taken one of the blue flowers in her hand and weaved it into an imitation of her fiancé's ring.

"Here you are, my lady!" Paula presented her the make-shift accessory with a beam.

Finally, a true, wide smile spread on the noble lady's face and she reached out for it. Yet just as she did so, a strong gust of wind blew past them, taking the ring out of Paula's grasp in the meantime. The two of them watched as the flower ring landed gently in the creek, and a sudden silence befell over the ladies. For some odd reason, Elizabeth was still, her eyes glued to the lone ring floating in the water.

"Not to worry, we can make more rings! Look around us, my lady, there's an infinite number of flowers we could use," Paula cut into Elizabeth's thoughts once again, still keeping up her optimism.

A warm hand rested on the noble lady's shoulder and she turned to see her maid's kind smile.

"We can make as many as you'd like."

"Thank you, Paula…"

Elizabeth watched as the soft current began moving the old ring further out of her sight, disappearing elsewhere to a place she would never know of.

…

At last, it was over. His life was nearing its end.

Neither happiness nor sadness rose inside him. All he felt was numbness, almost nothing. If he hadn't known better, he would have thought he had made it to the afterlife. But he knew that was not where his destiny was headed. His soul was about to be swallowed by the hands of the demon behind him. In a way, he already felt like he was dead, and watching his Cinematic Record playing in the strange waters below him seemed to prove that very fact.

He had no idea of where he was, having gained consciousness moments ago to find he was in a boat, floating in the middle of an eerie, yet calming nowhere. But he no longer cared to know. He was all but ready to meet his final destination.

Catching sight of his fiancé shedding tears in his ongoing Record, the first bit of emotion settled on him. Heaviness resided in his chest, and although he had often hid how he truly felt, he found himself contemplating the thought of sparing one last moment with her, yet knowing it'd just make things harder for her to let go. There was no easier way for her to accept that he'd be gone, whether he saw her again or not. In the end, she'd be alone and hurt. Perhaps that was one thing he may have regretted leaving behind.

"Knowing Elizabeth, she will be quite unhappy…" he muttered in a solemn tone.

"Yes. Her love for you runs very deep," his butler replied smoothly as he continued to row the long boat with his remaining arm.

Ciel scoffed lightly. He could only imagine how much she'd cry, remembering how much of a sobbing mess she was at Madam Red's funeral. His gaze stayed on the moving pictures of his life, and in the next second, the infamous trio came into view.

"And what of the servants, are they dead?"

Sebastian paused for a moment before answering his question. "Well, they were still breathing the last time I saw them."

"I see. I have to admit, those three are quite the stubborn bunch. And Pluto?" Ciel continued, now watching the recap of the demon hound setting the city to flames.

"I shall collect his bones later."

Choosing silence after that last reply, Ciel turned his attention forward, watching the fog around them dissipate and give way to a plethora of tiny, blue lights to scatter. Much like fireflies, the Earl wondered what they were, to which his loyal butler answered, saying they represented the warm regards of those who had entered through his life. Ciel watched them closely, observing their movements and finding that some appeared to be dancing, as if they contained joyous thoughts. A final sense of peace overcame him, and he felt better about leaving behind those who cared for him.

As the boat continued to sail for what seemed like an eternity, Ciel's gaze wandered back to the waters, and what caught his eye this time was a single blue flower. His hand reached over to collect the lone bloom, examining it and finding that its stem was fashioned into a ring. Sebastian took notice of what his master was holding and kneeled down to his level.

"Allow me, my lord," Sebastian insisted and took the flower out of his grasp, intending to fix the loose ends of the make-shift ring. Ciel realized it was a minor struggle for the butler to do so with only one hand, as his left had been severed and lost in the concluding battle against the angel, the culprit who had been behind the bloody turmoil of the Earl's family and pride.

"It's all right, Sebastian," Ciel replied and retrieved the flower ring, slipping it onto his thumb like he would with his real one.

The demon butler frowned a bit at his moment of slight incompetence and pressed his hand to his chest. "Forgive me, master. I had only wanted to be the most superb butler. It would seem I have failed."

Ciel sighed. "There is no need for you to say such things. It doesn't matter now."

Stroking the damp petals of the flower, the remnants of his life ran through his mind. Thoughts of his parents, those who died, his duty as both the Phantomhive Earl and the Queen's Watchdog, Elizabeth, the servants, and…

Among the last few people he thought of, there was one he had almost forgotten. One he knew must have meant a great deal to the demon in front of him, or so it would seem. It was hard to figure out what his butler was thinking, even to that day. But still…

"Take care of her," the young Earl spoke suddenly, taking the butler off guard by the random statement. Ciel held back the smirk that was tempted to arise at seeing Sebastian's look of surprise.

With an eyebrow raised in confusion, the butler asked, "To whom are you referring to, master?"

"There is only one other person who will surely be left standing among the rest of them. She's waiting for you, is she not?" the Earl stated without looking up at him.

Sebastian smirked, realizing who his master was talking about. It was strange to hear those particular words coming out of his lord's mouth. Now that she was on his mind, he recalled how he had visited her one last time before he had returned to Ciel's side and proceeded to finish things once and for all.

She must have known, surely...

"How interesting, my lord. You say that as if you believe I actually care for her. So, it seems that is what you gather between us…" the butler opted to tease him first, the smug smile widening on his lips.

Ciel narrowed his eyes at him, though his glare was not as piercing as it usually would be. "Don't try and lie to me, Sebastian. I can't be fooled, and I had no intention of joking around."

The demon chuckled. "Of course not, my apologies. But I'm rather curious of what caused you to bring her up at this time."

Ciel furrowed his brows a bit, fiddling with his make-shift ring. "She was just another one of my pawns, just as they all were. There was nothing special, save for the fact that she wasn't human either. But like the rest, I wonder what she will do…"

The Earl began recalling the time he decided to take the stray vampire into his estate after having seen her mangled and bloodied during the Jack the Ripper incident. Once he was gone, she would be free, if she so chose. Somehow, he doubted she would stay at the mansion. Compared to the rest of the staff, she was a drifter. He had seen it in her eyes during the brief lessons he could afford with her amongst his accumulating work. There was still emptiness in her distant gaze, and soon, she would want to leave to find the missing piece.

"Never mind what I said then. It doesn't matter. None of them matter anymore," Ciel brushed his thoughts away.

Sebastian stood back up, taking the oar in his hand and resumed rowing the boat. "If it weren't for the fact that our contract is coming to an end, and had that been an order…"

"It was not an order. I merely wanted to see how you would respond, and to clarify," Ciel cut in quickly.

"Clarify what, exactly?" Sebastian continued to toy with him.

"Just be silent, Sebastian. Now that is an order," the Earl commanded of him, not sparing his butler a glance.

The demon chuckled lightly and then directed his attention up ahead. No matter the circumstance, it never ceased to amuse him whenever he was poking fun at his master.

But there was one truth he would rather not admit to his lord as easily. Order or not, the results would be the same.

Wherever she was and wherever she'd be, he would find a way to be at her side and watch over her. If not, then his promise to her beforehand would remain true.

Wait for me, my dear. I shall be there soon.

I took in a deep breath, smelling the fresh scent of the ocean breeze passing through. Opening my eyes, the people gathering onto the streets of London held distress over the losses, but most of all, there was a sense of relief among the citizens as the fires had finally died down in time to greet a new day. Along with the rising sun, people's spirits had begun to rise as well, and many aimed to start out fresh and strong, especially after an inspiring speech from the Queen earlier in the day.

The night of the fires had definitely been rough, but I managed to keep my distance from the grim reapers that had been on duty all that time-vanquishing the smoky, black substances emanating off corpses. Along with that, the fires had ceased not too soon during the night and had not started up since then, telling me that the Phantomhive servants had succeeded in putting Pluto to eternal rest. I hadn't seen them, nor did I choose to find them.

What stayed on my mind the most though, was the sudden powerful aura that had covered a great distance over the burning city. It had been terribly strong and froze me in my tracks the moment it struck. I remembered how it sent numbing chills throughout my entire body. Even at this moment, I could still feel that immense energy lingering underneath my skin.

The aura was one I knew all too well and once it had vanished into thin air, as if it hadn't interrupted the earth, I was smiling. Imagine how odd it seemed, an insane woman like me standing in the middle of a scorched city with a grin on her face. I couldn't help myself though, because I knew.

It was him. Whatever he was doing, and for what reason, there was no doubt in my mind that he had succeeded.

When he would return, I didn't know. At the same time, I wondered about Ciel, wondering if I was going to ever see him again. It had been a while since we last spoke; I don't believe we even exchanged farewells. Perhaps I should have gone to find the servants, despite the fact that my mind was telling me to stay put and remain alone.

Maybe this was it. Maybe the burning of London was another sign for something else. Where to now? Would I return back to the manor like nothing happened?

This is your chance.

A chance for what?

My eyes guided me to the answer, my gaze focused towards the distance, specifically on the ocean. The mellow waves seemed to be taunting me, along with the large ship that was waiting near the dock.

I shook my head. This wasn't right. I was happy here in London…and there was someone I was waiting for after all.

Yet the longer my gaze stayed on the scattered amounts of people lining up in front of the ship, second thoughts began rearing its ugly head.

All my life, it seemed I was always waiting for someone, waiting for him to come back like he said he would. Wasn't I…getting tired of all this? He promised he would, though, he promised…and I believed him.

Those assuring thoughts of mine didn't stop me from approaching the crowd of people at the docks, however, my legs tended to have a mind of their own. Soon enough, I was off to the side and close enough to better observe the different types of people boarding the ship. Human after human, sensing the steady pulse of those passing by made my fangs ache for flesh. I allowed my tongue to graze over my teeth, cutting the wet muscle and tasting my own blood. A soft exhale slipped through my lips.

Pieces of conversation caught my attention here and there, and upon hearing a familiar soft meow, I glanced down to see Cocoa appearing back by my side, his fur rubbing against my ankle. I smiled a little and got down to my knees, petting him like normal. His round eyes closed as my hand brushed over his head.

He was a stray cat when I found him, and somehow, I felt like I could relate to this small animal. Like him, I was also someone who had no permanent home, only finding temporary refuge until the day we would move on once more. Proving my point, Cocoa disappeared into the crowd once I withdrew my hand from his body and this time, I didn't think I was going to see him again. Perhaps that had been his discreet way of bidding me farewell.

Lifting my head up at the sky, it was late in the afternoon and the sun was starting to shine a bit too harshly. Shielding my head with my arm in discomfort, I began moving elsewhere to a shadier spot, finding that the overhang of the nearby shops would do.

Through the relative murmur of the citizens' voices, there was a certain panting noise that stood out to me the most while I made my way out of the sun's horrid rays. I stopped walking when I realized the particular sound was getting closer, and heading towards my direction. My brows furrowed and I looked to the left and then the right, finally spotting a man rushing at me. On instinct, alarm took over me and I prepared myself to evade him if he tried anything suspicious.

The man stopped when he was a few feet away from me and bent over his knees, his breathing ragged and irregular. He paused and soon enough, I was hearing him wheezing, trying to get oxygen into his lungs. Running too hard like that must have worsened his condition, which according to his cough, didn't sound too good. Upon close inspection, I identified the man to be in his late forties to early fifties.

Further scanning this stranger's appearance, my blood began to run colder. The man's ruffled hair was dark red and when he finally collected himself to look up at me, I froze. His eyes pierced right though mine and my brain was utterly dead at that point. Nothing was coming to mind and I couldn't hear what he was whispering to himself before the man suddenly stepped forward and grabbed me tightly into his arms without falter.

His large and muscled body enveloped my form, and at that moment, I felt a lot smaller than I was. I was a little girl again, lost but now found. The familiar warmth from his body surged through my skin, along with the smell of firewood off his clothes and the roughness of his trim beard against my cheek. This had to be a dream. I still couldn't move. Yet only one word entered my mind. One word that I didn't think would cross my mind for the longest time.

Out of nowhere, I felt his body begin to sag and soon, I was struggling to support his whole weight on me. He had collapsed in my arms and I couldn't see his face as it hung down near my side. My ear pressed against his shoulder and to my relief, I could still hear his pulse and feel his heartbeat, though it was a tad too slow.

I was far too shaken at seeing him, but I knew I couldn't just stand around with an unconscious man in my grasp. Finally able to function correctly, I tried to shift him into a more comfortable position.

"Mr. Veron! What the devil do you think you're doing?!" A sharp and stern voice called from the maze of people.

Looking up from his body, I noticed a tall woman making her way towards us, her face written with both panic and anger. By her appearance, she looked rather proper and pristine, with her dark hair done into a tight bun and her equally dark dress neat and spotless.

She marched over to us and gave me a look of sympathy, her forehead creasing with her worry. "Forgive me, young lady," she began, speaking with a light French accent. "This is all my fault. I was careless and lost him in the crowd-"

"Who are you?" I blurted out before I could stop myself. My voice held no emotion and my hands were clutching onto the older man in my arms like my life depended on it. My protective instincts were kicking in and I didn't bother holding it back.

The woman narrowed her silver eyes at me and shot back, "I beg your pardon? Who are you? If you'll excuse me, I must take him-"

"I won't give him to you unless you answer me," I interrupted her again, my expression serious and unyielding. Her glare at me hardened and she sighed, brushing off her sleeves before answering my question.

"If you must know, whoever you are, I am the daughter of his doctor. I don't think I need to tell a complete stranger my nam-"

Doctor? I looked back down to the man in my arms, making sure he was still breathing and his heart beating. If he was seriously ill, then why would he leave home in his weak condition?

"I'm sorry but I have to ask. Why have you brought him all the way to London?" I continued to question. The woman's eyes widened at me, a mad woman, but I didn't care. I needed answers.

"I-I don't…Wh-why do you ask? Do you know this man? Anyway, that is none of your business! Excuse me, but I don't have time to waste on you!" she snapped, keeping up her stubborn attitude.

"I said I won't give him to you unless you answer my question!" I shouted, stepping away from her prying arms.

The woman's mouth opened and dropped like a fish before a frustrated growl escaped her. "You are absolutely insane! Hand him over to me right now or else I'll alert the authorities!"

The middle-aged man coughed loudly once again and both of us turned our immediate attention to him as he began stirring in my arms. Lifting his head once more, his calloused hands rested on my shoulders and his warm eyes met mine again. Happy tears were welling in his eyes and that old smile I once knew stretched on his face. His age showed through the crow's feet and other such wrinkles outlining his features. Joy was all I felt at seeing that he was still the same to me, despite how much time had passed, and a smile of my own appeared. The women was left flabbergasted when she saw him embrace me a little longer before pulling away and turning around, although he still needed my aid in standing.

"Please calm down. It's all right. It was bad of me to run off like that, but when I saw her, I just…" He stopped and doubled over, groaning as dizziness took over him. I placed my hand on his chest; my other arm wound around his back and secured him upright.

The woman grasped her forehead and then her fingers rubbed her temple. "Mr. Veron, I am very confused. May I ask that you explain to me why exactly you ran off and-"

"I know her…I found her at last…" he whispered absentmindedly, his smile not disappearing.

The woman only looked more perplexed. "Pardon? You know her? But how?"

He waved her rapid questions away, his eyes shut as he trudged forward with me as his walking stick. "Never mind that now. The ship is about to leave. We've got my medicine right?"

His escort's hard expression softened considerably at seeing him trying to move and she nodded. Catching my eye, her glare returned and she approached him, taking his left side. "I'll take it from here, miss. Again, I apologize for the trouble."

The man's grip on me tightened and he gave a stifled cough before turning to her with such seriousness, it startled her. "Did you not hear what I just said?"

The woman jumped at his tone of voice. For a brief moment, he sounded like his normal, headstrong self, whenever something wasn't going his way. "Mr. Veron, you are not necessarily in the right state of mind-"

"She's coming with me and that is final. Besides, do you see her trying to get away from me? She knows me too," he stated with as much strength as he could muster.

My pulse rose when I heard what he was saying. Now that he found me, he wanted me with him. I knew this might happen if we ever crossed paths, but I never imagined we'd see each other at such a time like this. Things were happening so fast. It was bizarre and I kept thinking it was a dream.

I couldn't just drop everything and go.

Don't be silly. You have nothing left to lose anyway.

But what about…

Before I knew it, I was following him towards the ship, waiting in that line and helping him get settled on board. I heard nothing but my own fighting thoughts, yet I always felt his rough hand gripping mine for dear life, the only reminder telling me that this was not a dream. It was real.

"Don't go…" I would hear him whisper every time he felt my hand loosen on him.

…I couldn't leave him.

My hand clenched his in return.

Once the ship set off to sail, I watched the docks grow smaller and smaller, and soon, the city of London itself was shrinking in my sights. Only then did he let me go and he drifted off to unconsciousness like before.

To think his health had suffered all those years I was gone, it was hard for me to wrap my head around the situation. It pained me to see him so withered, pale, and lifeless. There was no way I could just abandon him in this state. Fate led us to meet and find each other; it wasn't just mere coincidence.

Yet fate played at such a cruel time…making me choose…

I gripped onto the railing of the ship, my eyes not breaking away from the distance. My gaze was unblinking, the swift breeze whipping my cheeks and tossing my hair in disarray.

"Will you tell me something?" The woman came up behind me, her arms crossed in impatience. "How does he know you?"

Without looking back at her, my voice was low, but she was still able to hear every word as I answered.

"He's my father."

"Be as brutal as you want. Etch the pain into me. It will prove I had a life worth living."

That was the young Earl's final command and as usual, the demon would accomplish his last duty as the Phantomhive butler.

He removed the white glove from his single hand, letting it fall to the ground as he stepped forward and leaned over his master's seated form. Their surroundings were desolate and quiet like a graveyard-a fitting area for the Earl's resting place. They were in the middle of ruins, whatever was left of a decrepit, abandoned building.

The boy's stare concentrated on the butler's every move, remaining as still as the stone bench he sat upon. The demon's bare hand gently brushed over his face, his long fingers slipping under his eye patch and removing it from view.

The Earl's blue eyes quivered in the slightest, despite his calm outlook. The demon drew near, his hand holding his master's chin. To the noble, every movement appeared slow. The closer the demon came, the darker everything seemed to become.

He then closed his eyes and welcomed the true darkness that swallowed him whole.

…

The demon's eyes dimmed in an instant as a sudden toll of a bell echoed through the deafening silence. A nearby crow that had witnessed the scene from the beginning flew away once the sound struck. The fiery irises faded back to bloody crimson and a rare expression of disbelief erupted on the demon's face. He withdrew his hand from his master, the boy's head limping over. Not a hint of life was left in him, but it was not because of his doing.

"…What…is this?"

He stood to his feet, taking a few steps back. Turning away from his master, he dropped to his knees. A range of rampant emotions flooded his mind, causing him to be at an utter loss towards the current circumstance.

"Impossible…my lord is empty…"

There was a pause and then the strongest of the battling emotions was clear. A most grim, dark, and malicious smile crept onto his lips and he let loose his blinding rage.

The stone ground beneath him fell to his wrath, cracking along with the rest of the ruins, further destroying the dilapidated area. At first it was like an earthquake, until his dangerous power grew fiercer and emitted an explosion, obliterating nearly everything around him.

Through the haze of debris and the pitch black aura surrounding his form, the master was in his grasp once more. With each step the demon took, more of his anger and malice seeped out of his being, wreaking havoc to anything that dared cross him.

Someone, some other vile monster had stolen the only thing that had mattered to him. He would hunt down the culprit, no matter how long it'd take; he would crush the pest and take back what was rightfully his.

It wasn't over. Not just yet.

Time. Only time would tell.

As immortals, time was meaningless, endless, an eternity.

With each passing year, it was but an instant, nothing, simply nothing. That was how it was supposed to be.

To him, that was the case.

To me, it was the opposite.

Time taunted me, threatening to confirm my worst fears and nullify my strength to hold on.

Yet despite that, I didn't dare fall and lose myself. Because there was one thing I truly believed in, and it kept me going. It gave me the will to keep putting one foot forward, no matter how heavy each step seemed.

Someday, somehow…I'd see him soon.