Chapter 6

Ciel sighed as Sebastian handed him a cup of Earl Grey Tea, looking over the edge of the cup as the Doctor accepted his cup. Ciel gestured wordlessly for the demon butler to take his leave, which he did with a bow. The two sat in complete silence for several minutes and simply looked around, sipping tea and thinking. Finally, Ciel spoke up.

"Earlier, in the carriage, you said you were a Time Lord." he started slowly, knowing he was probably entering into a tender subject with the unpredictable man before him.

"That I did." the Doctor replied just as carefully, also sensing the tension in the atmosphere.

"What happened to the other ones?"

"You don't waste time getting into business that's not yours, do you? Sorry if that was rude, by the way. That's the kind of man I am, it seems."

"It is my duty to my Queen to be nosy, as most dogs are. I am known as the Queen's Guard Dog."

"Queen Victoria, right? Met her once. Saved her from a werewolf. That was loads of fun."

Ciel blinked back his surprise; he would have to get used to the odd things that came out of this man's mouth.

"About my question...what happened to the other Time Lords?" he asked, trying to keep the Doctor on track for longer than ten seconds at a time.

"Died in the Time Wars." the Doctor replied, taking a quick sip of tea.

"The Time Wars?"

"Happened hundreds of years ago, thousands even. A war between my people and the Daleks, killed off both races. Or so I thought. Turns out the Dalek emperor survived and used dead humans to bring the species back, but don't worry. They're gone now. Or, well, will be in a few thousand years." the Doctor's attention was beginning to wander.

"So, you are the last of your people. My family died as well. Three years ago, in a fire. We're alone together." Ciel said softly, running a finger over the family ring he wore on his thumb.

The Doctor shook his head slowly.

"You don't know true loneliness." he said softly, his eyes going hazy.

"How dare you-!" Ciel began indignantly, but the Doctor cut him off.

"You have a fiance who adores you, friends who would die to protect you, and a butler who will be by your side to the very end. Imagine that you have no-one. Every last human on the planet, gone. You are utterly, completely, and wholly alone. There is no-one there for you, nor will there ever be again.

That is the loneliness I face, Earl Ciel Phantomhive. That is what I wake up to every morning. That crushing sense of loneliness and regret eats at me all of the time. Yet I continue to live." he said with a distant look in his eyes.

"Why, then? Why do you madly dash around and answer ever distress signal you get?" Ciel asked in a hushed voice.

"To help them."

"But why? They're just other beings."

The Doctor sighed and looked up into Ciel's visible blue eye, and seemed to be peering into the depths of his very soul.

"I've been alive for more than 900 years, yet never once have I met someone who wasn't important." the Doctor stood abruptly, his usual cheery expression across his face.

"I think it's time for bed! We've got a busy day ahead of us! Goodnight, and don't forget what I said earlier about bananas." he said before leaving the study with a flourish.

Meanwhile, Sebastian and Ankara were sitting across from one another at a table in the kitchen. Ankara had taken a bath and changed into a long green nightgown, and was staring thoughtfully out the window. Sebastian simply watched her without uttering a word. Finally, the silence was broken.

"What do you think is out there, Sebastian?" Ankara asked suddenly, her voice glazed in a somewhat dreamy tone.

"I don't know, you would have to ask the Doctor. He's been out there, perhaps he could tell you." Sebastian replied simply, shrugging his shoulders.

Ankara turned and looked at him with a small smile, sending a gentle shiver down the male's spine.

"I know, but I want to know what you think could be out there, in the stars. What kinds of worlds do you think exist besides this one?" she asked.

The butler thought for a few minutes, then smiled back.

"There could be all sorts. Maybe there are worlds where creatures grow in reverse. Or they all eat rocks and metal. Or have seven legs and twenty eyes. I just hope that out there, there's a planet populated only by cats." he mused quietly, glad his master could not hear him being so childish and imaginative.

Ankara giggled softly and nodded in agreement.

"That would be nice. Cats are so very cute. They're soft, and whimsical, and so very intelligent." she whispered.

Sebastian looked at her with heightened interest.

"You like cats?" he asked softly.

"I love them."

"...me, too."

The two sat in silence for several more minutes, staring out the window at the stars. A sudden ringing sound broke their reverie, and Sebastian sighed as the bell pull from the study rang.

"My young master summons me. I need to go take him to bed. I will see you in the morning. Sleep well, Lady Ankara." he said slowly, looking at her almost endearingly.

"Goodnight, Sebastian. Meow." she said softly, pulling a face before brushing past him and into one of the spare bedrooms.

Sebastian stared behind her for a few moments before allowing a small smile and the lightest hint of a blush to creep onto his face.

"Meow." he whispered before walking up to the study.

There he found Ciel staring into his empty cup of tea, a thoughtful expression on his face. The young earl looked up when the demon entered, and a puzzled looked crossed his face at the tint of pink in the usually impossible to read butler's face.

"Why are you blushing?" he asked curiously.

"It is nothing, young master. Are you ready for bed?" Sebastian answered, his voice as level and calm as ever.

"Yeah, just one thing. I need you to get something for me while I'm asleep. Something for me to keep with me at all times."

"Yes, my lord. What is it?"

"...a banana."

Note from the author- I don't care what you lot say, I am really proud of that chapter! There was so much coolness, and I think I see a tiny hint of-gasp-romance!? And I couldn't resist the banana thing at the end!