Chapter Two

"I'm alive."

The statement, one that would bring relief to any other, only filled him with disgust and anger. He glared angrily at the face in the mirror, taking in the differences of his old face and this new one, the Mangekyou spinning wildly in both eyes for a mere second before he deactivated it.

Wide bicolored eyed one blue and one a glowing amethyst, so deceptively innocent, skin moonlit pale just as it had been before, and messy slate grey hair that fell to frame an angelic face.

He had thought that his life would end when the Chidori had plunged through his chest and he had been ready for it. To be alive, reincarnation or not, seemed to be a slap in the face to all of the sacrifices and means he'd taken to get there.

Not to mention that his current incarnation reminded him so much of Sasuke that it hurt. His need for revenge, for salvation, so strong it sent him into the jaws of a demon.

Even now, as their memories continued to merged he felt both ashamed and angry for what had happened to him and disgust that anyone would use a child such a way.

"It wouldn't be the first time such a thing has happened to you, is it?" His mind taunted and he shuddered forcing those thoughts out of his mind and focusing back on the problem on hand.

He was no longer Uchiha Itachi.

But…he wasn't Ciel anymore either.

Instead he was something in between, still in a fragile state of merging memories and clashing personalities because while Ciel thrived on hatred and vengeance, Itachi was older and wiser and he knew that hatred only cycled more hatred and vengeance never led to peace, just all-consuming emptiness.

A soft sigh escaped his lips and he placed a hand over the eye holding his contract with Sebastian.

Then again, maybe it wasn't all bad. Being eaten by a demon would guarantee him the peace his first death had denied him, of this he was sure.

For once something, say a soul, was lost…it could never return.

He's crying.

Silent sobs wrack his slender frame as he stares down at his blood stained hands and remembers the final moments of his parents.

"Tou-san, Kaa-san, I-"

"I know, Itachi." His mother says calmly but she doesn't turn. " I'm sorry it had to be you." Somehow he knows she smiling that same gentle smile she always gave him when she saw him holding Sasuke. "I forgive you."

He swallows thickly and tries not to scream at the unfairness of it all, his heart straining under the heavy burden he has undertaken.

His father speaks next and his hands begin to tremble.

"Itachi just promise me this. Take care of Sasuke." The katana in his hands rattles, his shoulders heaving as he tried to keep his sobs silent. It hurt. It hurt so much.

Why?

Why did it have to be them?

"I will." He whispers and his father smiles just slightly.

"Do not fear, for your pain will be greater than ours. Just know that despite all our differences, I am proud of you. You truly are a kind child"

Steeling his heart, he raised the blade then swung it downwards in a graceful arc, valiantly ignoring the spray of blood that coated his already blood-stained form.

Curling in on himself at the memory he let out another sob, just wishing for the day that Sasuke became strong enough to punish him for his crimes.

"I'm so sorry, otouto. So sorry."

A sharp gasp left Ciel's lips as he shot awake, tears streaming down his cheeks heavily as he remembered the feel of blood on his skin and pain gripping his heart. He was tempted to call Sebastian and ask him to run him a bath, yet the Itachi part of him stopped him. No, he would need to learn to rely on himself. Sebastian, while fanatically loyal, was a demon, not a pet. His pride as an Uchiha wouldn't allow him to depend on another for something so simple.

Slipping from his bed, he made his way into the attached bathroom. Washing his face in a nearby basin, he silently ran a bath, marveling at how much easier it was now than it had been in Itachi's time. Just as he entered the water, footsteps sounded from the hall.

He ignored them. Had it been anyone dangerous Sebastian would've taken care of it. Sliding down lower in the water, he closed his eyes and allowed his mind to drift, instinctively using his chakra to monitor his surroundings.

He would need to start training again. His body was weak, pitifully so, and although he had Sebastian to defend him he would rather not be helpless should something incapacitate the demon. In addition to this, his chakra seemed to have grown and he knew if he didn't learn to control it soon it would seriously damage his already frail body. He also needed to get weapons. The unbalanced swords he'd seen the queen's butler and Lao carry were of sub quality.

He needed his katana back.

His chakra wavered, alerting him to the fact someone was nearing and he turned to find Sebastian entering wearing a very perturbed frown.

"Young Master? Why did you not call for me? I would have run your bath."

Ciel sighed, hearing the offence in the older male's voice, and sat up fully.

"I wished to be alone." He offered softly, then cursed inwardly. As Ciel Phantomhive he would never have offered an explanation, merely told the demon off. Seemed this was going to be harder than he thought.

Sebastian frowned deeper, but let it go knowing from experience that the child would say no more. Instead, he assisted the boy from the bath and started to dry him off with the large towel he'd brought along. His master glanced at him for a moment, a troubled frown briefly overtaking his features before it was hidden and he spoke.

"Breakfast?"

Giving a brief summary of the breakfast he had prepared for his master, the demon straitened and led the child to his room where he had set out the day's outfit. Dressing him swiftly, he glanced up to find the boy staring out the window, at the forest with a blank expression.

He reasoned that maybe the cause of his lord's strange behavior was the passing of Madame Red and her funeral the day before. However, his instincts told him it was something deeper and he would find out what.

After all, if he couldn't help his master, what kind of butler would he be?

TBC…