Chapter Warnings:

Vaguely mentions Self-harm and Suicide. (As continues with the theme from the previous chapters.)

Violence and foul language

Chapter 4

Ciel woke around noon, to Sebastian's breathing into his neck. He let a small smile grace his lips, before shifting slightly in order to get up. Even though he might not have gone into university, there was no way he was going to sit around and do nothing.

He gently moved away from Sebastian, as to not wake him, like Sebastian had done when he had got up in the morning and slid over to the edge of the bed and climbing out. Ciel glanced at the television, the screen was dark. "He was right, he said I would, I did fall asleep part of the way through." He mumbled to himself. He sighed slightly, going and getting the DVD from the player and taking it to the front room, where he went to finish watching the movie.

A few hours later, and Ciel had finished watching the movie. He finally managed to watch it all the way through. He leaned back on the sofa, sighing a little, thinking,

Why? Why am I their target, I've done nothing to hurt them. Well apart from being born in their words. I just don't understand. Just what is Trancy's motivation, what is Cole's, and Ash's motivation too? Surely they aren't just following Trancy's orders. They're not that stupid. He sighed as he stood up and went into the kitchen and made himself a cup of tea, and a cup for Sebastian too.

Ciel took a moment to think again, just about the latest attack on him. Part of him had felt thankful that the group had caught him, and when the knife impaled him, something inside him had felt strange, like he wanted it. If they had killed him, that would have meant that his suffering was over, that he wouldn't have to put up with the boys torment any more.

But then when Sebastian found him, and coming back around, waking up in his own bed, maybe death wasn't the best idea, but it certainly was an idea that remained in his head.

Ciel took the two cups of tea to their bedroom, placing them down on the bedside and going to the bed. He climbed on and crawled over to where Sebastian was still sleeping and kissed his nose.

Sebastian shifted slightly, sneezing a little, earning a giggle from Ciel. "Adorable." Ciel teased, knowing that Sebastian was probably half asleep. Sebastian cracked open an eye looking at Ciel.

"I'm not adorable" Sebastian said, half-asleep.

"Yes you are." Ciel replied, Sebastian merely pouted in response to that.

"I'm not adorable." He repeated. Ciel giggled a little.

"Okay. Not adorable. But the most handsomest boy in the world." He said after musing for a moment. Sebastian smiled and sat up. His hair mused up a little. Ciel smiled and kissed his cheek before handing him one of the cups of tea. Sebastian took it with a smile, sipping it quietly, pulling Ciel close to him.

"How are you feeling today?" Sebastian asked quietly. After all he was still worried.

"A little sore in places, but other than that I'm fine." Ciel replied.

"Are you sure?" Sebastian asked, "I know your 'okay's' they don't actually mean okay."

Ciel shrugged, "I hurt yes, but I'll be fine, I'm not going to let them walk all over me."

Sebastian sighed slightly. But you do, every time you cut yourself, or try to suicide, you're showing them that they're winning, that they are getting you down. You shouldn't be a stubborn brat and go to the police about it. He thought to himself. Not that he would argue about it with Ciel. It would get him nowhere.

Ciel cocked his head slightly, wondering what he was thinking about. Sebastian looked back at him, smiling a little. "A letter came for you." He said softly, "I don't know if you saw it."

"Where is it?" Ciel asked.

"In the dining room on the table."

"Cheers." Ciel said kissing Sebastian's cheek, getting up to go and read the letter. Sebastian got up too going and standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame, watching Ciel as he sat at the dining room table opening the letter.

Ciel's eyes glanced over at the letter, before he read it again, this time taking much more notice of what was written, reading it several times over.

The letter was from a high figure of authority, though who that person was, is of no concern, what the main concern was the letter. Not that it was a concern at all, it actually was more of a happier letter.

It read…

Dear Mr. Phantomhive, I am writing to you, as instructed by your parents several years ago. I was told not to inform you of this until your 20th birthday, though with the current circumstances I feel that you have the right to know now.

Ciel's mind raced as he read that first part. 'What about his parents not telling him? Was it linked to their disappearance? Was it going to be bad news? Did his parents know they were going to go missing?' All these questions raced through the boys head, but he continued reading the letter.

I am saddened to hear about your parents' disappearance, and hope that they return home to you safely.

'So….' Ciel thought to himself, 'they're still missing.' He let out a small sigh before continuing to read.

I wish to inform you of your family's status. Your parents felt that it was wise for you not to know this until you turned 20, wanting you to have as much of a normal upbringing as possible.

Ciel rolled his eyes as he read that. He didn't need the letter to dance around the main point, he just wished it would get to the point.

You, my boy, are the heir to an Earldom, a Lord by birth. The Phantomhive Earldom will be yours one day. I would have preferred to have come and told you this in person, however since you are at university, I understand you have a busy timetable. If you have any questions feel free to contact me on XXXXX-XXX-XXX. Yours sincerely. Earl Grey.

Ciel's eyes widened as he read that, was this a joke. Surely not, but it could have been. Ciel wouldn't put it past Cole, or Trancy to formulate something like this. No he needed to confirm this for himself. He stood up from the table. Letter in hand, grabbing his mobile and walking into the bathroom. Well he knew that he would be alone there and Sebastian wouldn't interrupt him whilst he was on the phone.

Sebastian watched where Ciel had gone, worried, he had watched Ciel's expressions as he read the letter, he wondered if it was good or bad news. But he wouldn't, and didn't push it. Ciel would tell him in his own time.

After about 10 minutes on the phone, Ciel emerged from the bathroom. He didn't say anything to Sebastian, grabbing some clothes and getting dressed.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sebastian asked, curious and worried.

"I'm going to the university. I've got a meeting with someone." Ciel replied, picking up his shoes and put them on.

"And when were you going to tell me about this?" he questioned.

Ciel looked at him, "It's something that's just come up, I won't be long." He said picking up the letter and heading for the door.

"Ciel…" Sebastian began. "Do you want me to come with you? I mean after what happened yesterday."

Ciel shook his head. "I'll be fine. If anything goes wrong I'll call you, okay."

"Promise?" Sebastian asked.

"Promise." Ciel replied with a smile. Sebastian smiled back a little. Going and sitting down to wait for him to come back, Sebastian would only stop worrying when Ciel returned home. Ciel giggled a little knowing Sebastian was being over protective. He left the house and made his way to the university.

Once Ciel had reached the university, which was only about a 10 minute walk from where he lived, he made his way to the office of his personal tutor. Claude Faustus. Ciel quietly knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer. Claude came to the door.

"Ahh, Phantomhive" Claude said, "I take it you're here in response to the letter." He added.

Ciel nodded, "But how do you know about the letter Claude"*

"Come in" Claude said, allowing Ciel to enter into the room. There was another gentleman sat in there. He looked up at Ciel motioning for him to sit down.

"Earl Grey, I presume." Ciel said quietly, earning a nod from the gentleman.

"I had hoped to have caught you during your seminars today, but obviously you didn't turn up." Earl Grey commented.

"I… I haven't been feeling very well, Sebastian made me stay at home."

"I take it he worries a lot about you." Grey said, resting his chin on his hand.

"He does." Ciel replied, "It might be annoying sometimes, but it's part of his charm, part of what made me fall in love with him" Earl Grey nodded in response to that.

"Well as you said over the phone, you wanted to confirm that what I put in that letter was true. Correct?"

"Yes." Ciel replied quietly, "You see I've been let down a lot when it comes to letters, I just need to hear it in person to believe it."

"Well…" Earl Grey began, "I wasn't lying in that letter you are a Lord by birth, heir to the Phantomhive Earldom." Ciel nodded quietly, a sinking feeling in his gut. Claude handed him a cup of tea, sensing the boy's inner turmoil. Ciel thanked him quietly and took a sip before looking up at Earl Grey.

"Why are you telling me this now? Are you basically telling me this because my parents aren't coming back to me?" his grip around his cup tightened a little, talking about his parents was always a sensitive topic at present.

"We still don't know what's happening with your parents. Reports are conflicting. We've had some reports that they have been sighted, and others counter-claiming those. There is expenditure on their accounts, but we don't know if that is by their doing or whether they had been robbed." Ciel nodded at what the Earl was saying, sighing a little.

"Look Ciel. I wasn't bringing the matter to your attention because of the situation with your parents, I was bringing it up because you have a right to know. A right to know your linage." Grey continued softly, "and as I stated in that letter, you would have been told on your 20th birthday anyway."

"T-Thank-you" Ciel said quietly, "I-if it's alright with everyone here, can we just keep the fact that I am Lord, heir to an Earldom, between us, I don't want them to know." Actually Ciel had no problem with the staff knowing his title, but if Trancy and that lot found out, well Ciel didn't know what would happen, whether the attacks would increase or not.

"If that is what you wish" Claude said looking over at Earl Grey, "then we will honour that."

Ciel nodded, then finished his tea, standing to leave, he extended his hand which Earl Grey shook. He smiled slightly before leaving the room. Unaware was Ciel, but someone had been earwigging on their conversation.

Ash had seen Ciel come into the University alone, and followed him, feeling that his was a good a time as ever to do what Alois asked of him. And during the meeting he had sat underneath the window of the office, and since the window was open, well he heard the conversation. As soon as Ciel was out of the room, Ash ran to the exit to the corridor Ciel was on to stop the boy.

Unfortunately, well in one sense, lucky in another, when Ash had caught up with Ciel he was at the stair well. (Claude's office window lead out onto an outside walkway on the second floor.) He grabbed Ciel's arm and pushed him up against the wall with a chuckle. Ciel grunted slightly as he felt his back hit the wall but he let no sound pass his lips other than that. No he wasn't going to give Ash the satisfaction of hearing him in pain.

"So, you really are a little fucking rich brat." Ash sneered at him.

"I-I don't know what you're on about." Ciel replied, trying to play the dumb, naive, idiot. Though Ash wasn't fooled.

"Your title. Dickhead. You're a fucking Lord. Just how in hell does that work, who did you sleep with to get that?"

Ciel gasped slightly hearing that, angry at what he said, yes, but more shocked about how he knew about Ciel's title. "I… I didn-" Ash wouldn't let Ciel speak in defence, his hand around Ciel's throat.

"Don't tell me you didn't know. Because I wouldn't believe you. Scum of the earth like you don't deserve titles." Ash continued to insult Ciel. Not that Ciel was taking any care about what he was saying. He was more focused on getting Ash to let go of him so at least he could breathe.

Ciel managed a weak growl at Ash before kneeing him in the groin. It sent Ash to his knees, tears welling in his eyes. Ciel stared at him coldly. "Stay out of my life. I don't interfere with yours so just keep out of mine. Who my family are, and whether I carry the title of Lord is none of your concern." He said firmly, before starting to walk down the stairs, after all he wanted to tell Sebastian of the news, well he did tell the guy almost everything.

Ash however wasn't going to give up, no way in hell was he going to give up, and he wasn't going to let Ciel get the best of him. And suffering harm to his manhood in the form of Ciel kneeing him, he certainly wanted some payback. Even though it was something Alois asked him to do, there was no set location for it to occur, and well since they were at a set of stairs, and a more perfect an opportunity couldn't have cropped up at that point in time.

Ash ran down the few steps that Ciel had taken, after he had bit back the pain that his throbbing manhood was causing him, he grabbed Ciel by his arm.

"You know Phantomhive," Ash began, "you and Michaelis could always come join our little group of friends, I'm sure you'll be welcome, with a small donation involved."

Ciel glared at him, yanking his arm free, he turned and growled at him, "You'll never be able to buy my friendship, after what you and your friends have done to me." He spat a little. "Now just leave me alone."

Ash sneered a little at Ciel, before landing a sudden and unexpected, powerful, anger filled punch in Ciel's right eye.

What happened next was all too quick for Ciel to really understand. Something seemed to pop in his eye as he staggered back from the punch. Unfortunately as Ciel staggered back from the punch, having momentarily forgotten that he was stood on the stairs, he lost his footing and went tumbling backwards, his head hit the hand rail and the boy's body went limp slightly, as he fell towards the floor, his body hitting the dozens of steps on its way down. After what seemed like a while, but in reality was only a few seconds, Ciel was lay in a heap at the bottom of the stairs, battered and bruise from the fall and barely conscious, there was blood flowing from his right eye as a result of the punch that Ash had given him. Ciel was in a lot of pain, not that he would tell anyone that, a broken rib had been pushed against his lungs.

Ash stood at the top of the stairs for a moment, smirking, chuckling at what had happened, it was just the perfect set up. He caused Ciel more pain, and had done was Alois had wanted. But now Ash had to make it look like he had stumbled across the scene, and not that he was the cause of it.

He psyched himself into a panicky state before running to the office where Claude and Earl Grey were still, he didn't knock on the door he just barged in.

"Sirs…" he began, breathless, "Ciel's hurt himself." He paused again, to catch his breath "I think he fell down the stairs." Claude gasped slightly, well he was worried. He ran out of his office, followed by Earl Grey, to where Ciel was. He knelt down next to Ciel, checking his vitals, before gently slapping his cheeks.

"Ciel…" Claude called, slapping his cheeks some more, "Ciel, can you hear me." Ciel mumbled out some inaudible response to that, stirring just a little. Claude sighed a little in relief, "Ciel where do you hurt?"

"My eye" Ciel replied weakly, "And my ribs." Claude nodded.

"No pain in your back or neck at all?" Earl Grey asked.

"N-no" Ciel replied.

"Okay" He replied, looking at Claude, "Let's get him somewhere comfortable, then we should call an ambulance."

"No. no ambulance, no hospital." Ciel replied quickly. "I'm fine."

Claude sighed, he held up two fingers, "How many fingers am I holding up." Ciel looked blankly at him, he couldn't see how many fingers, well not clearly anyway.

Earl Grey pinched the bridge of his nose. "He needs medical attention, only a paramedic or a doctor could do that." Claude nodded in response.

"But he doesn't like hospitals." Earl Grey seemed a little annoyed at that,

"So how does he get medical attention?" Claude just shrugged in answer to that.

"I want Sebastian" Ciel mumbled out.

"Okay, we'll call him in." Claude said, before picking Ciel up and carrying him back to his office, Earl Grey followed behind, despite this being the first time that he has really met Ciel, he was worried. He didn't want anything bad to happen to Ciel.

Claude set Ciel down on the sofa that was in the room, before getting a wet cloth and wiping some of the blood away from his face.

"Now. Lay still whilst I go and call Sebastian." Claude said before going to make the call.

Earl Grey sat next to Ciel, "So what exactly happened." He asked quietly.

"I… I tripped and fell." Ciel replied, "I just lost my…." He had to take a deep breath which pained him from where his rib was pushing against his lung. "I just lost my footing that's all. And I fell." He couldn't say that it was Ash. No that would just land him in more trouble.

"Okay." Earl Grey replied, not totally convinced that Ciel was telling the truth.

Claude came back a few minutes later. "Sebastian's on his way okay, and he's bringing a doctor with him."

Ciel nodded in response then took the cloth and used it to cover up his eye, even though he didn't know what was wrong with it, he certainly wasn't going to let anyone see what was. At least he wasn't if Sebastian wasn't there.

About half an hour later, Sebastian turned up to the university with Ann, taking her to where he had been informed Ciel was. As soon as he walked into Claude's office he went straight over to Ciel, and hugged him tight.

"Ciel, what happened?" Sebastian asked worried, holding him close against him, once again he had failed to protect Ciel. Well in his mind anyway.

"I… I tripped and fell down the stairs" Ciel said quietly. Sebastian pushed the boy away from him a little looking into his eyes, well eye. He knew Ciel wasn't telling the truth, after everything that's happened, he knew that Ciel wasn't saying because he didn't want Claude, and others to know.

"Idiot." Sebastian teased a little with a small sigh, he just had to keep up with the charade that Ciel was leading everyone on. He kissed Ciel's cheek before stepping back and letting Ann tend to Ciel.

Ann carefully examined Ciel, noting where his injuries were. "Broken rib, some cuts and bruises." She said to those in the room, before gently pressing her hand against Ciel's ribcage, moving the broken rib into a better position before bandaging it up in order to aid healing. "Those will heal in time, give it a month or so and his rib will be fine."

"A month" Ciel whispered quietly, not liking the sound of that.

"Don't worry, it won't hinder your daily life, just no sports." She said. Ciel managed a weak chuckle.

"I don't play sports so that's alright." Ann smiled a little at that.

"Now Ciel, can I look at your eye"

Ciel's other, unharmed, eye widened slightly. "B-but…"

"I need to look at it." She said sternly. Ciel sighed a little it was obvious that it was making him uncomfortable.

Ann looked over at Sebastian, wondering if he could help.

Sebastian walked over to Ciel, sitting him up and shifting him so that he could sit down on the sofa, once he had done that he moved Ciel so that he was sat on his lap, placing a soft kiss on his cheek, and taking his hand in order to keep him calm.

Only once Sebastian had done that did Ciel let Ann move the cloth from where he had put it, allowing her to see the blooded eye. "This might hurt." She said softly to Ciel as she gently brushed her thumb over it. "Ciel I need you to open your eye, or at least try to." The boy sighed a little before he tried to open his eye, he managed to do so a little, but the swelling that was forming meant that he wasn't able to open his eye fully.

Ann took out a special torch* and shone it into Ciel's eye for a brief moment before going and gently prying open Ciel's swollen eye more. What she saw made her gasp slightly. Where once Ciel's beautiful blue iris would have been found, a purple colour remained, not that the purple was hideous, in fact it was a gorgeous purple, a purple that suited Ciel well.

Sebastian and the others looked at Ann wondering what had made her gasp, naturally it had Ciel worried. "His iris has ruptured." She said softly, amazed really by the colour of the eye. "And blood has seemed to have mixed into it, causing it to turn to a purple colour. A very gorgeous purple I must admit."

Ciel turned his head to Sebastian, naturally he had no idea what his eye looked like, in fact, hearing that had made him become slightly self-loathing about himself. He let out a small, slightly depressed sigh. A tell-tale sign of the thought that was seeping into his mind.

Sebastian kissed his cheek, "remember, no matter what happens, I'll still love you." Sebastian whispered into his ear, and Ciel leaned on him a little, moving to hug him. That's what he needed at present. A hug.

Ann chose this time to leave the pair, she didn't like to stay around patients too long, especially if they were with their loved ones. Claude thanked her for coming to tend to Ciel and took her back out to her car.

Once Ann was out of the room, Ciel looked up at Sebastian. "I have something to tell you" he said quietly.

"What's that?" Sebastian asked kissing Ciel's forehead.

"I'm a Lord."

Author's notes

*I refer to the teachers by their first names, as that is a practice at my university.

*Because I don't know the correct name for it.