CHAPTER 5: AN OLD FRIEND

~CIEL~

I was in my room all day. Sebastian asked if he could go into town with the carriage. He said it was business pertinent to my survival, and our contract. I should have known he was up to something. Sebastian was always up to something. I made a contract with that stupid demon. Bardory, Finnian, Mey-Rin, and Tanaka were up to their silly shenanigans, as always. I preferred to say in the study during these times. It was safer that way. I would have liked to not be crushed by one of Mey-Rin's falling plates. What a horror. That woman was a waste of a servant, but Sebastian had some strange idea up his sleeve. He was, after all, one hell of a butler…or so he told me. He said we needed one more servant, as if Bardory, Mey-Rin, and Finnian weren't enough.

It was a struggle. Just knowing that Sebastian ad taken the carriage to find more foolish help, was a worrying thought. Bardory entered my room.

"Would you like something master?" He inquired.

"No thank you Bard. I don't require your services." I tried to be sensitive to their foolishness, but at some times, it was much too hard.

"Yes master. I'll ensure no one disturbs you." And with that Bardory left I didn't enjoy seeming cold towards them. They always tried their hardest, but they were quite unskilled. But what did it matter. I, Ciel Phantomhive, had been sentenced to death, after my parents died themselves. It was truly a sad, depressing fate. But, it was a fate I must have learned to deal with. It was so hard, without having Sebastian around to deal with those fools for me. I shouldn't have let him take the carriage with him, but I knew he must have had some reason.

A good three hours later, I saw the carriage approaching my mansion. Sebastian exited, and then assisted a poor peasant girl with red hair out of my carriage. What the hell was he doing? She reminded me of a girl who used to take care of me when I was a kid. She was a sweet girl who used to make me laugh. She even put up with Lizzie and her sheer stupidity. Everyone I used to live around was insane. Even my bloody butler. But that couldn't have been her. I could have sworn she had died in the fire…And there Sebastian went, and brought her inside. I rushed down the stairs to confront his stupidity.

I had made it downstairs, only to find her staring at me. I screamed at this damned woman, and she began to cry. Stupid peasants. So I yelled at her more. I inquired as to why she was crying. She knew who I was; I heard Sebastian tell her. She stood up, and began walking toward me. I looked at Sebastian, and he instantly knew she was bound to die. He rushed over to her. I was shocked, to hear her name, Marissa Brookes. I had wondered, but I never believed she was actually alive. She turned around and stared at Sebastian, and I said,

"Now now, Sebastian. Not now…not yet." He apologized to Marissa, and he moved back to my side. I began to laugh. I called her by the name I had called her when I was a small child. Mari. She was the Mari who I truly cared for. And as I told her this, she began to cry again.

I never understood why she was such an emotional woman. She always smiling, or crying, over the smallest things. But even still, she always smiled. She was always smiling at me. She never stopped to make sure she was happy, but she seemed happy taking care of me. She was my Mari. I had always liked her. Hell, I even loved her…like a sister, of course. She always made me smile, and I thank her for that.

She dropped to her knees, and she hugged me. She hugged me tightly, and Sebastian looked so puzzled. He had never seen me show emotion for anything, human or beast. It surprised him, to see me return her loving gesture. I truly cared for Mari, and that never changed. She was the only peasant who I ever felt safe with. She always made me smile, and Sebastian could see it. Sebastian, at this very moment could see my weakness. It was her. Mari was the only thing I ever cared about. Even now, especially since I had just been told she was alive.

She kept smiling at me, with her salty, clear tears falling down her cheeks. She was so happy. She smiled and put her head next to my ear.

"I love you Ciel." She whispered. I hadn't heard her say that since my birthday, all that time ago. That one Christmas, where I lost everything I ever cared about.

"I love you too Mari." She walked over to Sebastian. She closed her eyes and put her arms around him. To my surprise, he returned the hug. Sebastian wasn't one to show affection, unless he was contractually obligated. It was surprising to me… She kissed him on the cheek, and I could see the surprise in Sebastian's eyes. I was surprised myself. And to see her standing on her toes, looking at him, and whispering into his ear surprised me. Sebastian didn't move; he didn't look confused. He just smirked, like usual. She looked at him and smiled. He released his hands from her back and cupped her face in his hand. I was almost as confused as Mari. He kissed her forehead, and I heard him say,

"I am simply one hell of a butler."

That was the truth. I did, in fact love her. She was my sister. She was my friend. She was all I had left of a mother. And she was all I had left of family.

Yes, Mari. I do love you, more than you could ever imagine. I hope you know that.