I do not own kuroshitsuji.

Some of us think that holding on makes us strong: sometimes it's letting go.

-unknown

Ch.8

The Marquis and Marchioness returned to the sitting room ten minutes later. Both of them looked like their normal selves. Ciel stood as they approached, but they did not look at him. They walked right past and to the door.

The Marquis said over his shoulder," We will spread out and search all around town. Edward will go South. If any of us find her we will send someone to tell each other." With that he and his wife walked out the door.

Edward followed them and shoulder bumped Ciel as he walked past.

Ciel turned to his crew.

"Mey-Rin, take the east. Finnian, take the west. Bard take the North. Tanaka and I will be going somewhere special. I have an idea where Lizzy might have gone."

They all nodded and departed, leaving Ciel and Tanaka alone in the sitting room. He couldn't unsee the sad looks they had given him when they had heard the news. Their eyes had begged him, pleaded that the news of him hitting Lizzy be wrong.

"Where are we going my lord?"

"We're going to the Thames River. I am the only person that knows that it was Elizabeth's favorite place. She told me one winter when I asked her what she wanted to do. She liked ice skating on it when it froze over."

When Tanaka and Ciel finally left, everyone else had already gone.

They raced along the same road that Elizabeth had traveled earlier, passed the same shop that had sparked their argument. The Thames came into view. It was even more beautiful and ominous at night. The moon reflected as a silver disk on the slightly choppy water. Lizzy had to have come here.

They raced their horses down the hill and along the bank, Ciel calling Elizabeth's name all the way.

Sebastian heard Ciel calling for Elizabeth. He sank back into the shadows of the bridge and waited. What would his master say or do when he discovered the scene? Was this really the best thing for Ciel?

The duo halted their horses near the bridge. The carriage was parked underneath it and Sebastian stood by it waiting. Ciel jumped from the horse and handed the reins to Tanaka.

He bolted past Sebastian and to the carriage door, ripping it open. He stood staring, confused, into it.

"Sebastian, where's Lizzy?"

Sebastian didn't answer him.

Ciel raised his voice," Where's Lizzy!"

Sebastian sighed and looked towards the water," She told me to tell you that she's sorry. Sorry that she's gone and sorry she couldn't save you from yourself."

Ciel's eyes grew wide," No... No your lying. You think this is some kind of sick joke don't you, Sebastian. Don't you!" He was crying." Now tell me! Where is Elizabeth?!"

Sebastian merely stared down at him.

"Elizabeth told me it was in your best interest that she disappear... Forever."

"And you believed her!"

Ciel tore away from Sebastian and splashed into the water. The water turned his blood to ice and numbed him to the core. He kept going anyway. Ahead of him by about twenty feet was a body. The skin was ghostly white. The hair swirled around it like a golden pillow. No this couldn't be. Not Lizzy. Not Lizzy! The water became deeper and deeper. Ciel didn't know how to swim but he would get to her anyway. He struggled and slipped under as his feet could no longer touch the bottom. He thrashed his arms and kicked his feet to resurface but nothing worked. Water rushed into his mouth and his nose. His chest burned. At least he would be with Lizzy again.

A hand grasped his collar and lifted him out of the water. He coughed and choked. Sebastian was dragging him back to the shore.

"Don't you dare Sebastian. Let me go! I need to get Elizabeth!"

"You can't swim. Do you honestly think that I would just let you die?"

"Fine! You get Elizabeth for me!"

Not one to disobey orders, Sebastian deposited Ciel into Tanaka's waiting arms and ran back into the water. He returned shortly carrying Elizabeth's body. Ciel was sitting on the ground shivering and clutching Tanaka's jacket around him. Sebastian laid her in front of him. His eyes bulged and shed tears anew. Her lips were blue and she looked so peacful.

Ciel cried openly now. He laid his head on her chest. What happened next was a shock to everyone. Ciel quickly lifted his head and looked at Sebastian.

"She's not dead. Her heart's beating! She's not dead. Do something please! Please Sebastian, I'm begging you!"

He crawled toward Sebastian on his knees and bowed his head. Sebastian had never seen his master act like this.

He smiled and said," Gladly."

Sebastian kneeled next to Elizabeth and administered CPR. She coughed and gasped and threw up water, before falling unconscious again. Thank god she was alive.

In the moment they all stood around Elizabeth's now breathing body, something snapped in Ciel. He lunged and dove onto Sebastian, knocking him to the ground. He began slapping Sebastian across the face and punctuating each word with a slap. Sebastian didn't resist.

"How (slap) dare (slap) you (slap) allow (slap) her (slap) to (slap) do (slap) this (slap)!"

Yes, what a scene that was.

Thanks for reading. Please favorite, review and follow. I'm sorry it was so long, I got carried away at the end:) I'm sorry if you thought Lizzy was gone for good.