Thorns

Summary: Semi-AU. Sebastian, an aristocrat of the Michaelis family, one day came across a small, frail boy allowing himself to die on the middle of a pathway. Taking him in, he learns about the boys true past and his life-threatening illness.

Rated: T+

Chapter Six

"Don't touch me! I can walk by myself!"

Sebastian stayed still, looking at the pale boy over and over as he let the information he just received swirl round his head. If he was shocked, it was hard to imagine on what Ciel himself was thinking. He was, after all, only a twelve-year-old boy. Of course he was going to be afraid, every child had the right to be afraid, right?

Ciel grasped the side of his arm, shaking lightly. Inside, he always knew he was ill, but he always wanted to deny it. He could remember, as a child, receiving highly expensive food to prevent his stomach from turning, but his parents had always said he was 'special'. They kept the truth hidden from him for too long. A child should be sheltered, but eventually they learned the things they were eventually meant to learn.

"Just take me home... I-I feel tired..." Sebastian nodded, staying close to the boys side since it looked like he would topple over any minute now. Ciel closed his eyes and forced himself to walk, keeping his head held high.

He was Ciel Phantomhive, the Queen's watchdog. Showing weakness over a petty disease would not slow him down. Not ever.

SMASH.

Ciel clutched at his stomach, panting lightly as he looked at the glass of milk that was now splattered across the floor. He trembled before reaching out and clinging to counter, shivering as he fell to his knees. Two days had passed since his trip to the hospital, and he'd already been warned that it would get worse before it would get better.

He let his hand fall from the counter, trying to take deep breaths as his hair framed his face, his eyes clenched shut. He'd endure it, he always did, he would.

SPLUTTER. COUGH.

His eyes opened a crack as he covered his mouth, looking at what he just spewed up. He was sure it was vomit, but it looked like blood more than anything. It was a horrible red, like the blood he saw on his parents charred skin. He clenched his eyes shut again as his throat constricted, bringing up more of the horrible, copper tasting liquid, filling his mouth before he spat it back out.

His vision flickered, and before he could flop down into his own mess, he felt warm arms wrap round his torso, pulling him to his feet as he wobbled. One eye cracked open and was greeted by a glowing red one. His small fingers clasped around Sebastian's sleeve as he retched slightly, shuddering as he forced himself to lean back against the warmth Sebastian was giving off.

"How long have you been up?" asked the raven softly, causing Ciel to turn his head and sigh.

"A while." he mumbled in return, half-caring that he was being treated like a toddler that was learning to walk. "I needed a drink."

"You should have woke me up." Ciel shook his head.

"I'm perfectly capable of-" Ciel was cut off as he choked, clenching his eyes shut as Sebastian patted his back firmly, allowing the boy to clear his throat and then wiped a little blood that was trickling from his lips away.

"Remember, the Queen has requested to see you, you can't have her seeing you in this state." Ciel nodded, his eyes drooping as his legs buckled, causing him to fall back and rest his head against Sebastian's shoulder.

Sebastian turned his head round, hearing a small shuffle that he normally wouldn't have heard and a slightly panicked breathing pattern.

"Finian, you know you should be in bed. I left plenty of water for you to drink and you had plenty for supper." he called out, causing the air near him to tense with the others worry. "Do you want me to punish you again?"

Finian stepped out, twiddling his thumbs as his lower lip trembled. Light blue/green eyes watched Sebastian cautiously, as he shook lightly, unsure on what to say.

"I-I was worried ab-about Master Ciel-!"

"You know he would scold you if he knew about this…" said Sebastian, picking Ciel up and holding him bridal style, making sure the frail boys head was leaning against his shoulder comfortably. "Remember, you're the only one he knows from where he used to live originally. Do you want to make him fret over your well-being?"

"N-No! I only wanted to-!" Finian was cut off when Sebastian hushed him, blinking red eyes at the trembling child before him.

"I'll inform Ciel in the morning about your worry if I have the time, but if you want to help him, then all you have to do is keep yourself safe." murmured Sebastian quietly, his cat-like eyes whirling and glowing faintly.

"This world is not a safe place when you are surrounded by people whose names will be forever written in history."

Finian gulped and then nodded, turning on his heel and running for it, through the corridors and back into his small bedroom. Sebastian's eyes dimmed as he gritted his teeth, feeling a sudden headache come on. Ciel would deal with it later on, but he always dreaded it. He always lost consciousness when it came time to feed, but Ciel had told him it was perfectly natural. He didn't like it at all, since it seemed that his inner 'demon' always threw a flip and attacked the defenseless boy before eating some of his soul.

He knew the demon in him knew not to take so much that it would dramatically affect Ciel and that the soul could recover, but it still sickened him this it was his body and his hands that caused Ciel so much pain in the process. He made a vow to protect the boy from now on, despite the fact Ciel didn't actually want it.

He cradled the boy gently, watching him snuggle into him for the warmth. He looked rather cute when asleep, but what he saw during this time was not allowed to be spoken when he was awake.

Walking up the stairs, Sebastian stopped when he heard Ciel mumble to himself. Was he trying to say something? No... It sounded like he was half mumbling, half humming a tune.

"London Bridge is falling down... falling down... falling down... London Bridge is falling down, my fair... lady..."

One week later

"I don't like her."

"You cannot say that, it will be taken as an insult to the Queen."

"She treated me like a little kid as she handed me the damn assignment!"

"I heard she has a thing for children. Remember how many children she's had and how many have died or been killed...?"

"... I lost count..."

There was an awkward silence as Ciel flipped through the files he had been given. The cart he was sitting in was all jiggly, and he was growing irritated with it. Sebastian sat next too him, fixing the top-hat he had bought for Ciel meeting the Queen and adjusting the eye patch. The new-heeled boots Ciel had on his feet were rubbing his heels dry, he wanted to take them off and throw them at that arrogant-

"Endure it Ciel, it's not worth being hunted down for." Ciel scoffed before looking at Sebastian seriously.

"Did you hear what happened to the last watch dog of the Queen?" Sebastian shook his head. He hadn't exactly known much about the Queen's watchdog, only that whoever the person was at the time was actually really well known. "The last person who was her majesty's dog was brutally strangled, stripped of all clothing and then was hung from a high pole in the busy streets of London. A horrific and humiliating death."

Ah, sure enough, Sebastian could remember reading about that not long ago.

Ciel glanced out the carriage window and his facial expression softened at all the poor kids running round, laughing and giggling. He smiled before turning back to Sebastian, handing him his papers before leaning back.

"Wake me up when we get back home."

"Of course."

"So this is meant to be…" Sebastian paused as he tried to remember what Ciel's brief summary was. "You are meant to be checking your old mansion out since some untamed demons have taken over it?"

Ciel nodded.

"And you are meant to get them to leave and take it back?" Ciel nodded once more. "But the risk factor is through the roof since these demons are pretty vicious?"

"The only reason it's going to be risky for me is because they will have access to my medical record since they have been living in the Phantomhive estate." said Ciel, narrowing his eyes. "I know I am her majesties watch dog, but putting me on such a challenging mission that alsolinks back to my past is a little odd."

"Perhaps she is trying to get you to prove yourself?"

"I doubt it. I've already proved myself by still being alive. The assignment seems a little fishy."

"I see, what shall you do about it then?" Ciel stopped and clenched his fist, his nails digging into his palm.

"I am the head of the Phantomhive family, I will carry out my orders." said Ciel, closing his eyes and letting out a held in breath of air. "It shouldn't be too challenging. All I have to do is out-smart them and-"

Ciel froze, feeling Sebastian, pet his head before hugging him firmly. He wasn't used to getting such attention anymore, so it felt a little odd. Staying still, he felt his body relax slightly as he leaned against the raven's shoulder.

"Hot milk and honey?" Ciel nodded unconsciously, blinking when Sebastian withdrew from the hug and walked out the room. "Think carefully about your decision on this assignment. To me, it sound too dangerous, but I'm not in control of your life, Ciel."

Ciel nodded calmly, watching the door shut behind him before he sat down in an armchair, watching the flames of the coal fire flicker as he placed his night in action.

"Let us see what a knight can do to protect the king… Sebastian…"

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter ^^

Reviews? ^^

~Sky~