NOOOO! This Thursday I'm leaving for Philippines… I'm going to be away from you for soooo long… I left this for you guys since I'm going to be gone for a while. I actually have no idea when I'll be back but I will be back. To my Kyos out there, thanks for being there for me up to now! And as promised, I will be posting a Hetalia story when I get back!

Ciel's POV

Where the hell did all of these supplies come from? Viridian, Sebastian and Alois had disappeared for half the day then come back with all of this? Why didn't they think to tell us even? I mean, not that it was bad... I was just wondering where the hell did all of this come from.

But, it was lights out now. I sat in bed thinking. Just thinking.

Viridian had told everyone that they went into the closest town to gather supplies but the way she had said it disturbed me. She looked half dead and she sounded tired. Like, really tired. I mean, they probably came across some infected I was guessing, but when she had done in with all of them, it was like she'd never even faced them... Aside for the blood stains. This time was different somehow.

We'd come into this world for no apparent reason by the looks of it. We'd forgotten about getting out of here as well. We just cared about survival since we'd accepted the fact that we may never leave. Strange wasn't it? A human clings desperately on a spiders thread to survive right? In the midst of all this, we forgot what we were to do. You know... I wasn't sure if I missed my past.

Being with all these people... And Alois, was one of the best years of my life, even if we were fighting for our lives. I learnt a couple of lessons along the way... Like, appreciate what you have or you might lose it one day. I never thought of something like this. The bizarre dolls multiplying, the world coming to a waste land. It had all changed so quickly then... There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," I sat up in bed as the door knob twisted. And sure enough she walked in."Viridian? What are you doing at this time of night?"

"I'm sorry," she sighed. "I just wanted to say, now that its midnight..." Hm? She smiled. "Happy birthday Ciel."

"You remembered..." I was hoping nobody would remember, remind me of the pain I suffered, yet I didn't want to let go of it because...that was who I was. It was all quite miseable you could say but, that was me. She looked at me curiously as I clutched the blanket. She sat on the edge of the bed.

"I did remember..." She laughed. "You know, before you were in this world, and you can call me obsessed, I used to read the manga all day as if it was some way I could say happy birthday to you." She laughed even more. That was just random. I felt heat rise in my cheeks... I was actually embarassed..."Who knew that I would live to say happy birthday to you... Well, again." I couldn't be mad at her, could I? I mean, they were good intentions. It didn't seem like she was taking the mick out of me.

"Thanks," before I knew it... She was hugging me. I felt awkward. Just awkward. "V..." I didn't like people touching me so casually. I hated it most of the time. The only exceptions were Sebastian for obvious reasons and Lizzy as she was my fiance. Just Sebastian and family members. But this girl? She'd broken down those walls.

"Ciel, I know about how hard it is..." She whispered. "Even though this is supposed to be a happy day, and I'm sorry for saying this... I know about what happened on your tenth birthday... I don't want you to have that day like it anymore." She let go of me then smiled. Of course she knew about it..."If there's anything you need, I'm there for you. If you're ever in trouble, I'm there for you... Just know that." She stood up. "Since it is your birthday, I'll let you sleep in, I'll tell the others," she made her way to the door. I heard her chuckle a bit. She turned around once more with that stupid smile of hers. "Happy birthday Ciel."

Sleeping in huh? It was boring... In my world, right now, I probably would have been having a private lesson or I could've been checking on products etc. Nowadays, I was either fighting off the infected or guarding the camp/motel. I didn't like sleeping in that much now. I wanted to go back. I know I had a good time and all here but this wasn't where I belonged.

Would people agree to going back? Lizzy seemed to like it here, Ronald and even Grell and William did as well, even though William tried to deny it.. Edward didn't mind... Joanne was kinda unreadable. Sebastian didn't have much of a choice, him being my butler and all. Then there was Viridian. I remembered last night. She said that she wanted to stand by me but... Would she want to let us go? Actually... Did she want to leave and come with us? That was a possibility.

There was a knock at the door when I looked at the clock. Noon already? I mean, I woke up at nine but staying in bed this long? Seemed a bit ridiculous to me. I never did this.

"Come in," I sat up and stretched as the door opened. Lucky that everything was unlocked because I wasn't that bothered get up out of bed, walk all the way over to the door, unlock it and then go back.

"Young Master..." Sebastian came in with a smile on his face. Young Master was it? Still? Even though our contract was still valid, I found it strange now that he was just... A regular butler. "I think it is about time that you come out now." Even he knew that I didn't want to sleep in. He really did know me well. I shifted to the side of the bed and got up. When I looked at Sebastian, he had already preppared my clothes. "After all," that smug smile. "I am still your butler to the end."

"Ciel," Viridian came to Sebastian and I. "You decided to come out of your room?" I was silent. "What's wrong?"

"Young Master, what on Earth is troubling you?" Sebastian helped me put on my pants. "It is your birthday, you should at least try to smile."

"You know I can't" I glared at him. He returned with a smug smile and a raise of an eyebrow. Then I realised, all this time... When I was with Viridian and Lizzy here, I was always smiling. I didn't realise that those were true smiles but... They were. Weird right? "That is no what is the matter." He helped me slip off my night shirt then replaced it with my blue shirt.

"Then what is troubling you?... I repeat." He sighed.

"I don't want to stay here anymore." I guess just... Out with it?

"So you want to leave everyone? Go off into the"-

"Not like that you demon," I sighed. "I don't want to stay in this world..."

"I want to go back..." Viridian swallowed at my words. Her expression was similar to... What was her name? Freckle face was it? "It's nothing personal. I just want to go home." Her face was stricken with sadness at my words. I instantly regreted my words. No I screwed up! I shouldn't have said it like that! Wait, why did I even care?

"You want to go back?" She laughed. Her expression was flipped. "Well, I guess that it would come some day... We completely forgot about getting you back there." She hit her head. "I'm just a forgetful idiot."

"Are you okay?" Just a minute ago she looked completely devastated. "I didn't mean it like"-

"I'm fine. It's just... You're my best friend but I knew that I'd have to say goodbye to you." She inhaled slowly. "Don't worry. I'll get you back there, somehow..." She walked away from me. "It'll be a birthday present."

Her best friend? Really? After all this time, I had thought that I didn't have any friends, just pawns at my disposal... What did she think of what I thought of her? I saw her as well... I don't know. I felt horrible now. I shouldn't have said it like that. I didn't go after her. I was, what was that word she had said? Yeah... I was a douchebag.

It was five in the afternoon but it was already becoming dark from the effects of Winter. It was strangely quiet for a while, I liked the quiet. It was a good birthday with all of this quiet.

"Where's Viridian?!" Ronald came up to me yelling. So much for quiet..."She's gone!"

"What?" Lizzy approached the two of us. She looked around. Everyone was accounted for expect her and... Wait. There were only seven of us? Dammit, Joanne was missing as well.

"And Joanne as well," I sent out.

"What?!" Grell heard all the commotion and literally screeched when he found out. That's right. Ever since Viridian found out about her father, Grell had acted like one to her, well more like a mother but technically he was a... I don't know. "My little girl is missing?!" His green eyes seemed to glow. "What did that Joanne"-

"He would not do anything of a sort," Sebastian said. "That boy was hardly anyone to do what you think he did Sutcliff." So we were back to Sebastian hating Grell now?

"Then what do we do about the two who are missing," William sighed as he joined in. "As much as I hate to say, Viridian is a valuable member to the group." I don't know why but... Screw it.

"Sebastian," I cleared my throat. "This is an order," Sebastian payed full attention. "We're going to go find them." There were a few murmurs.

"Are the two of you really going to go out there?" Lizzy tugged on my arm. "Then I'll come with you. It's dangerous out there."

"I know that," I said. "That's why we have to go and get them, even they would have a problem." That much I actually doubted but... I needed to apologize. What I said was wrong. I didn't mean it like that. "I don't want to endanger you anymore. The past year was too much for even me to handle. I don't want you to be subjected to anything."

"But"-

"Lizzy," Edward interrupted. "We have to trust that they'll make it back," Lizzy was silent. "Look, I know it's hard but they'll make it back. Okay?"

"We'll be back soon Lizzy," I tried to give a smile but... It just didn't work in this situation. I ended up nodding to her. That was it.

We ended up taking the humvee since it would be faster to find them. I took the talkie just in case something happened at the camp and I could contact Ronald.

"Young Master," Sebastian said as he drove the humvee. "Might I ask something?"

"What is it?" I sighed as I leant my head up against the window. It was raining down heavily... This reminded me of one of those music videos that Viridian showed me... I know that she could probably hold on herself but it was the trouble of what if? What if something happened to her or Joanne?

"Why are you so interested in that girl?"

What the hell does Sebastian mean by interested? Am I going against Lizzy X Ciel? Possibly… Why did Viridian take Joanne of all people? Is Viridian still the same after a year on? Well, I'll leave you with that!... So many England shimejis along with Italy, Japan and China are invading my screen .