'Derezzed' was the basis of this story, oddly enough. Derezzed belongs to Daft Punk.

'Kuroshitsuji' belongs to Toboso Yana. Spring Jade, Ivory Blossom, and the rest of the members of the Pearl Pagoda belong to me. Enjoy.

The sun hung high in the afternoon clear sky, its light beating nothing but warmth upon the Li family household. The day was peaceful, interrupted only by the singing of cicadas and the droning buzz of hummingbirds. Slowly, a young girl walked over the wooden bridges that stood over the rivers of the Li family estate, across the cobblestone paths, through the spacious lacquered pavilions. She admired the flourishing flowers that grew from all sides; appreciated the cherry blossom trees that stood, blooming with whites and pinks. She picked one of the chrysanthemums that blossomed in the gardens. Inhaling, she relished the oddly sweet smell.

Finally, the girl reached the Pavilion of Dancing Blossoms. It was surrounded by cherry blossom trees, where the fallen petals would scatter the red lacquered floors; truly a sight to see each spring. But the girl's eyes did not see the pink-and-white that littered the ground. What she saw was the figure of a young man whose back was to her. He was leaning over the railing, his black hair curling over the Mandarin jacket he wore. His slender body was languid as a cat's, the muscles sliding underneath the silk of his clothing as he shifted to turn to face the girl. As soon as they locked eyes, she was frozen. His dark eyes, so filled with wisdom, held hers tenderly. His face, so handsome in it's beauty, caused her heart to pound.

"As always, you look particularly lovely," His voice was a gentle rumble; so incredibly seductive to the girl's young ears.

Her voice trembled as she spoke. "Jianyu."

And suddenly, she was in his embrace. He held her close, his arms wrapping around her tiny waist as he buried his face into her midnight-black hair. In turn, the girl snuggled closer so that her forehead rested against the crook of his neck. They stood like that for a few minutes. "I missed you." The boy named Jianyu finally whispered.

The girl remained quiet, allowing him to go on.

"According to ancient Chinese texts," Jianyu murmured. "There are seven emotions that bring accordance to the human soul and body: joy, fright, anger, pensiveness, grief, fear, and fright."

"Yes," the girl said against him, confused to his words. "I am aware of that."

Jianyu stepped away from her, turning to look out of the pavilion, past the trickling rivers, to the ornate ponds. "Yet, I disagree. Yin and yang are the two components that create equilibrium in our lives, produce the essential qi that keeps us healthy. Yet six of the seven emotions are negative, and affect us badly."

"And so?"

"So I decided to change it a bit. Let us add in two emotions that are forbidden, yet expressed each day between a man and his woman." The girl could hear the smile in his words, and he turned to face her. "Let us speak of love and lust. Now, have you experienced each of the Seven Emotions?" His eyes sparkled deviously.

The girl shook her head, frowning, puzzled to what he was speaking of. "Not all."

Jianyu began to walk, moving to stand behind her. She did not turn to face him. "Joy?"

"When I heard that you and your family were visiting."

Jianyu circled closer. The girl did not budge; she did not show emotion upon her features. Instead, she let herself relax to a state of tranquil composure. "And what about anger?"

"As a young girl, I am not perfect."

"Grief?"

"On the anniversary of my grandparent's deaths."

Jianyu's eyes were inquisitive as they met the girl's emerald ones. "But you have yet to truly experience it yourself." He reached forwards, fingers lightly dancing over her shoulders. "And what about fear?"

The girl smiled to herself. "Never."

"Good." The girl could hear that the boy approved of her answer. Then, he brought his fingers across the bare patch of her chest where her clothing did not cover. Quietly, he said in his rich voice, "And love?"

The girl kept quiet, but as his fingers kissed her bare skin, she trembled, and Jianyu smiled. Slowly, he brought his touch up over her collar bone, brushed the smooth length of her slender neck, stroked the perfect curve of her sharp chin. He caressed her cheek, his touch as light as whispers of the breeze against her. She was aware of how close he stood now, his face poised just inches above hers. Inclining her head, she met his gaze, smoldering in passion and unquenchable lust. She knew that only one was left.

"Desire?"

The girl's breath caught in her throat and caught again.

Jianyu's voice was trembling as he spoke again. "I see the answer on your face." With that, his eyes closed. In response, the girl's gaze went black as her eyelids shut. Closing the distance between them, Jianyu leaned down, his lips barely grazing hers. A yearning hunger exploded within her.

I awoke with a scream. Breathing heavily as I sat upright, I looked wildly around my room, to see that it was unchanged; the same as always. The candelabra sat on my bedside table, the flame upon the slowly-melting candle flickering, casting evil shadows upon the walls.

Sudden loss swelled through me. It was uncontrollable; a cold, sorrowful growth within my body that seized my limbs and caused my stomach to knot. It pained me, malignant as it grew, clutching my heart in its black grip. It was like the emotion was manifesting within me; a tumor that grew and grew, eating away at my body and soul like a sickness. I choked back a sob, fought to gain back composure over my body. I was stronger then this. A simple dream could not hurt me.

And yet it did. So terribly. As thoughts and memories of my family and past came rushing back, I felt myself shatter, like a beautiful, porcelain teacup dropped, splintering to a million glittering pieces.

Ciel didn't know where he was, or why he was here. His surroundings were dark, yet light seemed to spill from crevices underneath the four black walls. Looking around, he wondered if he should speak, yet decided against it; an evil lingered somewhere in the darkness, foreboding and threatening; he knew it.

Reaching forwards, he could see his pale hand cut through the black. Yet, he felt something press against his hand; heavy, unseen. Frowning, he fought against it, but the weight relented; it was stronger then him, he could feel its hidden fortitude.

And then, the weight was gone.

A giggle resounded somewhere behind him. Turning sharply, Ciel barked out, "Who is out there? Show yourself!"

The giggling continued, growing closer and closer. Ciel felt his body stiffen in a defensive posture. Then, the giggling suddenly stopped -

- only to sound once more on his right side. Whirling, Ciel's hands curled into fists. True fear began to rush through him. He felt cold as the terror grew and grew, choking him of breath. His instinctive nature was brought out - a raw, prehistoric intuition that is ingrained into everyone. An instinct so deeply rooted in Ciel that it almost took over his mind. It told him to run. But he pushed the impulse back angrily, deciding to stand his ground.

"Who's there?" He yelled once more.

"Me."

A flash of lightning suddenly blazed through the darkness. As light flared through the shadows, Ciel made out a young girl lying on the floor, body inert, skin bruised purple. Her ebony hair mixed with the dark, as though it itself was a part of the blackness.

And then, fire suddenly ignited the room, flaring higher and higher, the heat oppressive against Ciel's face. He stumbled back in his dazed frenzy, shocked at the sudden flames. A figure clad in black appeared in the midst of the inferno, reaching towards him, chrysanthemums flowering in the tiny palm. A smile touched full lips.

His head began to grow heavy and his body light, and he felt something within him break. A sharp, white-hot sensation speared through him as he began to feel the hysteria settle in, his mind in shambles. He hung precariously on the ledge between oblivion and perception.

There was a flash of red; a blood-curdling scream. And then a push.

He fell helplessly into the black abyss, keeling over and over and over, not knowing when it was to end, and where the ground lay beneath him. Looking up in his terror, he called out to nothing, wondering if there really was something watching him from above, playing with his soul like a tiny puppet.

And as his eyes closed, leaving nothing but black; in the distance, two emerald eyes watched, filled with a sorrow that touched the very tresses of his cold heart.

Abstractly detached and wildly distraught, they glinted with a quiet vengeance.

Lau regarded Spring Jade with curious eyes. She seemed unresponsive today; something that she usually wasn't. As she sat, playing the guqin for both him and Ran-Mao, she did not seem to possess the elegance she usually had when playing the instrument. Her fingers did not dance across the strings like flitting butterflies, and no emotion seeped from the guqin as it usually did when she played; instead, the sound seemed almost hollow and empty, as though the player had lost all emotion.

Dressed beautifully in a ruquan of pale sage green silk, Spring Jade looked every bit a young maiden from ancient sagas as she kneeled before the two, her long fingers plucking the strings with a languid ease, her black hair gathered in a low bun, white face tranquil. Eyes modestly downcast, she lifted her right hand daintily off the guqin, moving it to the left, where she gently bounced her fingers against the strings, a thrumming noise leaving the instrument. Yet, the music that sounded from the guqin seemed heavy, tired. It depressed Lau, and he stood, causing Spring Jade to look up in surprise. The last note rang out, shrill and piercing as it echoed in the silent room.

"Ai-ya," Lau said, waving his hand dismissively. "That's enough, Spring Jade."

A blush of embarrassment colored her white cheeks, and she looked down. "I'm terribly sorry, Ah-Lau," she murmured. "I apologize."

"No, no," Lau replied, voice unconcerned. "It doesn't matter." Then, a smile crossed his lips, and he pulled a long, thin box from his sleeve. "I do have something for you though, a pretty little gift that I hope you like."

Spring Jade's cheeks turned slightly redder. "Oh, Ah-Lau," she said, expression mildly stunned. "Thank you, but…"

Lau stepped forwards, to kneel before the young courtesan. Pressing a finger to her soft lips, he leaned closer, to whisper in her ear. "There is no need to be so surprised, little sister," he murmured, breath washing hotly over the side of her face. "It is my delight to get presents for those I care about, right, Ran-Mao?" He turned to look at his assistant, and the latter nodded, regarding him with her blank golden stare. Passing her the box, he said, "Now, please open it."

Spring Jade nodded slowly, her long nail slowly tearing off the decorative paper that covered the package. Pulling it off, she held a long, deep-blue box in her hand, twisting it back and forth in wonder. "What is it?" She asked breathlessly.

"Just open it." Came Lau's reply, a small smile touching his lips.

So, breathlessly, Spring Jade opened the box, revealing two long, iron sticks, with glittering crystal chrysanthemums attached to the top. Long ornaments dangled from the jewel flowers, suspended in the air like frozen drops of water. She stared at them with a quiet wonder, tears filling her wide eyes.

"They are beautiful," she whispered, gently lifting them from the velvet interior. "Thank you, Ah-Lau."

Lau grinned, reaching forwards to caress her smooth cheek in his hand. His fingers brushed through the soft silkiness of her ebony hair. "I was hoping you could wear them to the costume party."

Surprise passed over Spring Jade's features, and she recoiled. "Wait, pardon me, costume party? What costume party?"

"Tomorrow, you are coming with me to a costume party as my guest." A smirking grin passed over the man's face, and Spring Jade immediately despised it. "It will be fun, I promise."

Charles Grey dropped down to one knee before the Queen, his head bowed, eyes cast to the floor. "My Queen," he said, sweeping his arm down in an elegant bow. "I have returned from my mission as you have requested."

The Queen was quiet for a couple moments, the swish of her fan the only noise within the room. Then, she murmured, "And did you find anything?"

Charles winced, before he replied, "Unfortunately, my liege, I did not."

There were a few more moments of quiet. The silence was heavy within the Queen's private quarters, and Charles could feel its weight press against him, ominous and menacing. A sigh of utter disappointment left her lips, which earned another wince from the still Charles Grey.

"Then I expect you to stay at that place" - at the thought of the prostitution house so well known in England, the Queen was unable to say it's name - "to the point you may as well reside there. I expect you to find evidence, and find it quickly. It is time that the public knows the truth about the Pearl Pagoda. Do not fail me, Charles Grey."

Charles Grey dropped his head in his shame. "Yes, of course, my liege."

Ciel did not look up from his newspaper when Lau addressed him once again.

"But why not, Lord Phantomhive? It will be much fun."

With an irritated groan, Ciel put down the his newspaper to glare at Lau, wondering why the Chinese man was so insistent he go to some stupid costume party. "I find no amusement in attending trivial get-togethers of daft nobles." Picking up his teacup between his slender hands, he added, "and what is the point of dressing up for some ball? No. I refuse to attend."

Lau sighed, shifting Ran-Mao, who sat placidly in his lap. "Oh, you are no fun, Lord Phantomhive," Running his hand along the curve of Ran-Mao's hip, he tried his last card. "There is a young girl I want you to meet; the daughter of one of my clients back in Shanghai." He threw in that lie so that her true nature of a prostitute was not revealed.

Ciel flipped to the next page of the newspaper, eyes scanning the articles imprinted on the thin pages. "I have no interest in meeting one of your 'girls', Lau." His tone held a finality to it, and he resisted grimacing when Lau continued.

"But Lord Phantomhive, I must insist. She is truly a vision to see. And she is a wonderful musician as well. Her eyes are the colors of emeralds, and she -"

"No." Ciel's voice was firm.

"But -" Lau was once more cut off when a knock on the parlor doors sounded from outside. Ciel, his eyes still fixated on an article about the death of some noble, called out,

"You may come in, Sebastian."

The butler slipped into the parlor, a folded envelope of thick cream in his hand. From the distance, Ciel could distinguish the chop of the queen upon the scarlet wax. Frowning slightly, he wondered what could possibly be troubling the Queen now.

"Young Master," Sebastian said, passing him the envelope. "For you, from the Queen."

Breaking open the wax sealing, Ciel unfolded the letter. Scanning over the elegant script written across the white pages, he picked out the words 'opium' and 'drug trafficking' and 'costume party' and 'tomorrow'. He resisted a groan, his fingers clutching the paper tighter until it crumpled under his touch. From across him, Lau's lips broke into a wide grin, one Ciel instantly took a great dislike to.

"So, I suppose I will be seeing you tomorrow night, Lord Phantomhive." He said as he stood from his seat, the sarcasm heavy in his smooth tone. Mocking a gracious bow, he added, "I assure you, my little sister will prove to be quite the contrary to what you deduce her to be now. I bid you adieu. May the rest of your evening be pleasant." And with that, both Lau and Ran-Mao slipped from the room, the click of the door bringing with it a vital silence that echoed through the cavernous space. Cradling his aching head, Ciel welcomed the silence, as it brought him a sense of peace that he so desperately needed.

Yea, so this chapter was, as most of my writing is, a little dreary. It ended terribly. I apologize. And, uhm, Ciel's dream was a little... abstract, but he's weird nonetheless. :) So, it makes up for the weird writing style there.

The Seven Emotions is based off an ancient Chinese theory for medicine, though the idea comes heavily from 'Peony in Love' by Lisa See. Sorry, I am not very original when it comes to very Chinese-y things.

Anyways... Please rate and review? :)

BAIBAI.