The landscape was desolate, with only the sight of dead trees lining the black horizon. The ground was covered with a mix of snow and ash as the mixture continued to fall from the sky, coating the earth and the shoulders of the two lone figures who walked through the lonely scenery. Their footprints were immediately filled in after each step, leaving not a single trace of them behind.

Two boys, differing in height slightly but not in dignity walked together without words. Ash covered the shoulders and backs of their black caplets, as the snow had melted away. The shorter one with hair of an odd shade of blueish black wore a tophat, while the other, a blonde boy, wore a bowler in order to protect their heads from the mixture, but it still got on their hair and skin, regardless. Neither of them knew exactly how long they had trekked onward, but it had seemed like ages.

"Hey, Jim?" spoke up the bluenette teen, mist escaping his mouth as he did. "Do you remember?" he questioned as the two carried on. Silence followed as the boy paused and the other failed to answer.

"Do you remember how it all started? I hated you. I really did, with all of my heart. When do you think that changed? I honestly don't know. I can't imagine not being together with you anymore. Sometimes, I question ever hating you at all, even though history indicates that I did. I know it. Hating someone and loving someone… how far apart is it? They aren't opposites at all. The opposite of hate is indifference. So it the opposite of love. They aren't the same, though. One is disgust and the other is longing. How can someone who I was revolted by now bring me such happiness? I don't know. I don't care, either."

The two trudged through the snow with a little more difficulty now as they walked uphill, now. It was the only thing they came across in ages, and the effort it took forced them to take in more of the freezing air. It felt as though they were breathing in razorblades, while their noses were occasionally tickled by specks of ash that wafted their way.

"I never hated you." Replied the blonde. "I hated what you had, even though I wasn't really aware of it. I tried to turn that into hatred of you, but in the end, finding out was what killed me."

"Do you regret it?" questioned the other. "Do you wish we settled our differences back then?"

"Do you?"

"Truthfully, I don't think so." Stated the bluenette, grunting as his legs grew tired. "I know it's selfish, but I don't think I would change a single thing. It's horrible, I know, but what came out of it all in the end… It's a brighter world, I think. I'm not sure it would be the same if we fixed things back then."

"The world was dark." Spoke the taller one. "It felt like there was nothing but darkness that would devour you until there was nothing left. No matter how hard I fought, I could never escape it. That's what I thought. I hated you. I hated you for having even a sliver of light more than me. That alone was enough of a reason to kill you, in my book."

"But you didn't."

"I couldn't. Fate had other plans for me. Even now, it keeps throwing us together. I don't think I could ever escape you if I wanted to."

"I don't know how I feel about fate." Said the bluenette. "It has taken so much. It has hurt so much. We have been put through trials that would break most, and cripple others. And for what? What did we do?"

"Nothing." The fair-haired boy answered. "It was seemingly on a whim."

"Is there such a thing as fate?"

"I'm not sure. I'm not sure if I want there to be."

"We have seen so much… And there's still so much more to see…" Pausing, the two continued their march as the snow began to melt away toward the top of the hill, leaving blackened grass in its stead.

"Hey, do you remember?" questioned the blonde. "The day we met again? I was afraid of you. I was afraid of this world. I hated this world with all of my heart. I didn't want to go back into the darkness. Do you know when that changed? I don't. I don't really care, either. Now I can't imagine ever being afraid. What do you think happened? How can someone go from being fearful of someone, to longing for them?" The boy paused for a moment, taking in the warmer air and the smell of salt. The ash and snow had stopped falling, now.

"They're not really similar at all." Said the lad. "They have nothing in common. It's amazing, though, how I could go from wanting to run away and hide from you, to loving you more than anything. It should be impossible, but I guess we're all about 'impossible', huh?"

Keeping his gaze forward, white covered their feet up to their ankles now, and light shined upwards, casting shadows on their faces. The flowers beneath their feet glowed vibrantly as they bloomed, and the two stopped at the very top of the hill. Silence hung in the air as they took it all in, but it wasn't a poisonous smog. It was a refreshing breeze, as the two felt completely calm and content where they were. Then, for the first time, the bluenette turned to look at the other, analyzing the blonde's profile carefully. For a few moments, he just took in the sight of the lad among the flowers, until finally he spoke again.

"Do you regret it?" he asked again. "Our lives have been full of tragedy and anguish since we were small. If you could go back and fix that…" Pausing, the bluenette looked down before hesitantly returning his gaze to the blonde. "Would you?"

The other lad paused to think, staring straight ahead in silence. Furrowing his brow in concentration, he left the bluenette in suspense. Finally, the taller of the two turned toward his companion.

"That would mean that I wouldn't have met you." Spoke the blonde. "I don't think I want that."

"Surely you wouldn't endure that for me." The bluenette replied.

"I don't know if I would, but it's behind me, now. Sure, it still affects me, but… I don't know if I would be happier if I made things 'right'." Looking forward again, the other boy continued. "That's a silly question. Nobody can change the past. The only direction I move is forward. That's where our focus should be. That, and in the present."

Nodding, the shorter of the two joined his companion in staring out into the field of flowers. "Of course." He said. "That's one of the most important lessons that you've taught me." Sighing, he took in the sight before him. It was like they were standing on the surface of the moon.

"Jim?" the bluenette called again.

"Yeah, Ciel?" answered the other.

"Will you stay with me? Forever?" questioned the Watchdog. Slowly, he opened his hand at his side, and extended toward the blonde. Silently, the other took it and intertwined their fingers.

"You've asked me that before, and the answer is still the same." Alois replied, the corners of his mouth turning upwards. "Always." He said, causing an uncontrollable smile to appear on his face.

"Always." Ciel reiterated. He squeezed the other lad's hand tighter, only to have the gesture returned.

With that, mighty wind blew past them, disturbing the flowers and causing their petals to come off, still glowing, even in the breeze. They danced and twirled in the wind, accumulating there until they covered everything with white, but the duo could still feel one another's hand, and held on tight. Even as their bodies felt heavy and a sudden grogginess overcame them, they made sure never to let go.

Next, when they opened their eyes, they were blinded by light. Inhaling sharply, they smelled the scent of cleaning supplies and medicine. It took them a few moments to realise that they were lying down. Looking over, they saw blurred figures ducking in and out of the room while others stood over them. As the demons' gaze came into focus, they realised that they were H.E.L.L.S.I.N.G. soldiers. Their voices echoed in their ears, hurting them a bit as they tried to decipher what they were saying.

"They're awake!" the soldier directly next to Ciel called, the loud noise causing him to wince and grumble. He then realised that the soldier had one hand on his wrist, and that his forearm was exposed. The coolness of ink was felt against his skin as he saw the marker in the soldier's other hand. When he felt movement on his other side, his gaze shifted to the blonde, who was looking at his own arm, still holding hands with the bluenette. Both of them looked to one another as they recognised the symbol drawn.

"The mare…" Ciel said in a raspy voice. "Where is it?"

"We need to wake everyone else up before it can appear, sir." One of the soldiers informed. "Are you alright?"

"I'm not dead, am I?" the Phantomhive retorted, sitting up. "I take it that H.E.L.L.S.I.N.G. is already aware of the situation?"

"Yes, sir. Right now, we're putting symbols on the other patients, and everyone else in the building to be sure."

"Good." Ciel stated. "Let me know when you're about to mark the last person. I want to take care of that piece of shit personally…"

The sudden swearing of the Watchdog made the soldier stiffen, before standing straight up. "Would you like me to go check on the status of things, sir?"

"That would be appreciated." The bluenette replied, rubbing his head. As the soldiers left the room, the demons were alone again.

Their hospital beds were close enough together that they could still hold hands as they slept. The menace wondered if he had ever let go from the start. That must have made things difficult for those moving them. Still, the men were glad to still be together, even if their fingers were stiff from being still in the same position for so long.

Leaning a bit closer, the blonde brought the other's gloved hand to his lips, kissing his fingers. Looking to his spouse, he smiled. Ciel could see the relief on his face.

"Morning, sunshine." Alois said. "God, it's good to be back in the real world…"

Smiling slightly in return, the bluenette swung his legs over the side of the bed and leaned forward as well. Closing his eye, he pressed their lips together, lingering and moving with the pleasantly surprised menace. Alois cupped his spouse's cheek in order to hold him in position for a while longer before the Watchdog hummed into the kiss and pulled away.

"Indeed. This is the real world." Ciel said with a smile.

"That's your method of testing it?" snidely inquired the menace.

"Hmm… Yes and no." the Watchdog answered. "Mostly I just wanted to kiss you for real and not in a dream."

"True. I'd give you more kisses, but our mission is technically not over yet."

"Shame." Ciel stated, standing up. He wobbled a bit, prompting the menace to stand on his knees on the bed and support him.

"Easy, there, pooch. You're still waking up." He said.

"I'll be fine. And thanks, by the way." The Watchdog paused to peck the other's temple. "What say you and I exterminate a mare?"

"Hell yeah." Alois excitedly replied. "My Little Pony's gonna get iced."