Chapter 12: Resolution

When I came to, I realized I was slumped over on top of a table. Immediately, I bolted upright, looking around the room. My eyes widened when I realized where I was. This is my kitchen…but where are Ciel and Sebastian?

''Ciel?'' I called. ''Sebastian?'' I stood up, dumbstruck. Where did they go?

Suddenly, I felt someone place a hand on my shoulder. Startled, I whipped around, and came face-to-face with Sebastian. There was a slight smirk on his face. Then I noticed Ciel wasn't standing next him. Alarms went off in my mind. ''Where's Ciel?'' I asked him. Sebastian didn't answer. I tried again. ''Where's Ciel?''The silence that I was met with was nerve wracking. ''Why aren't you saying anything?!''

''My lady,'' he said, putting a finger to his lips, ''it would be best if you lowered your voice. You wouldn't want to wake up the others.''

Wake up the others? Confused, I turned around to look at the clock on the wall. It read 9:15a.m. Only five minutes had passed in my world since I left. Which means everyone is still sleeping except for that one person who knocked on the kitchen door before I left…

Cautiously, I peeked out of the kitchen into the living room. The TV was on, but no one was watching it. Then I peered down the hallway, and noticed the bathroom light was on. Judging from the cartoon that I had seen on the screen, I knew it had to be one of my siblings.

I closed the kitchen door, slightly agitated. ''Fine,'' I hissed, ''I'll lower my voice. But you have to tell me what is going on right now! Where the heck is Ciel?''

''Inside the carriage," Sebastian answered.

I rose an eyebrow. ''The carriage? As in the carriage we were riding in before? You mean…you didn't bring him here?''

''I did not,'' came the reply.

I narrowed my eyes at the demon. ''But…how? Isn't that going against the contract or something? He-he ordered you to follow what I said.''

''And do you remember what is was that you said before we came here?"

I thought back to the moment right before I blacked out. ''Yes,'' I started, ''I said, 'take us back to my world.'"

Sebastian's smirk grew. ''And that is exactly what I did."

For a moment I stared at him, utterly confused. Then it hit me; I staggered backwards into the door, my jaw dropping open. ''Oh...you meant us. As in…as in, just me and you." My heart started pounding out of excitement. I could hardly believe it. ''You really are a devil."

He chuckled slightly. ''A devil? No, I am simply one hell of a butler." Then he walked forwards so we were only standing a foot apart. "After all, I did not go against my master's orders. I listened to what he said, and followed your exact words."

I could feel my cheeks getting warm. Trying to push my emotions aside, I asked, "So after all this, why did Ciel need me, specifically, to take him here? Why couldn't you just take him here on your own?"

''That is because this world and our world is connected through your subconscious."

My eyes widened. ''F-for real?"

''It is also the reason why you pass out when we travel,'' Sebastian continued. ''Forming the bridge between this world and our world is simply too much for your body to handle.''

All at once I felt the need to sit down. I pulled out a kitchen chair, and collapsed onto it. ''Wow. That…that makes sense." Then another thought occurred to me. ''But then…how were you able to come here and get me by yourself?''

Sebastian smirked. ''My lady, you must remember…I am not from this world, nor the other one.''

''R-right,'' I murmured, leaning back in my seat. I paused before continuing, ''You know…when I first met Ciel, he had told me I appeared in his dream. It's possible that he was in my dream the same night. Do you think that's how I made the connection with his world?''

''I am not very educated in the area of human dreams,'' Sebastian said, ''so I can't say for sure if you're correct or not. Though that would appear to be the best explanation.''

I didn't let my gaze break from Sebastian. ''Then…couldn't Ciel order you to come back and get me again? He must be pissed that he didn't make it back here with us."

Sebastian's smile returned. ''That possibility always exists. Though I don't believe you'll have to worry about it. For once, it seems, my master has to accept that he lost." He paused, before continuing, ''From the start, this whole scenario was merely a game to my young master. At the beginning, he was genuinely curious about this world. He thought that if you were scared for your friend's safety, you would take him here without question. Though that never really worked out. And the rest of the games afterwards I'm afraid, were just desperate attempts not to lose. He even made up the rule that you'd disappear if you stayed in our world any longer."

''So that's why you suggested sword fighting,'' I mused. ''You knew I couldn't win at that. The faster I gave up, the sooner I'd be back home.

''Indeed,'' Sebastian said, nodding his head.

It makes sense, I thought. Though there was one other thing I wanted to know. ''Why did Ciel want to come to my world so badly? Was it really because he was bored with his world?''

''Perhaps,'' came the reply.

There was a short silence, followed by the sound of running water. It was coming from the bathroom sink. Sebastian looked off to the side, clearly taking notice of it. ''It seems it's time for me to go,'' he exclaimed.

I nodded in agreement. ''What are you going to do? Now that…you know…''

He placed a hand on the left side of his chest. ''I will follow my young master where ever he goes and do whatever it is that he orders me to do. I am his butler, bound to him by contract. I must stay by his side…until the very end.'' As he let out the last words, I saw a soft, almost melancholy look cross his eyes. "Though really, there is only one final destination for him and I."

''Good luck, Sebastian,'' I murmured, shooting him a sad smile.

''To you as well, my lady.'' Then he got one knee, bowing in my direction. ''It was an utmost pleasure getting to meet you. You are, perhaps, one of the most interesting humans I've met so far.''

My eyebrows arched at the sincerity in his voice. I opened my mouth, but wasn't sure what to say. Sebastian looked up at me, a smirk on his face. He seemed to be amused with my silence. When I found my voice again, I asked, ''Do you…do you think I'll ever see you or Ciel again?''

His smiled broadened. ''It would be most interesting if our paths were ever to cross in the future.'' He reached forward taking my left hand in his. Heat rose to my cheeks. ''Until then, I bid you a farewell.'' He bent forward, and gave my hand a peck. Then suddenly his body began to fade. I watched in awe as the butler became more and more transparent. As the last outline of him disappeared, a faint breeze blew in the room, making me shiver. Though I knew for a fact that there weren't any windows open.

Minutes passed, and I couldn't seem to shift my gaze from the spot Sebastian had been kneeling in. He was gone, just like that. As if he hadn't really been there at all.

And then finally, it hit me. It was over. It was finally over.

A smiled a little, despite myself. There was only one thought running through my mind. The irony of it all caused me to say what I was thinking outload. "And I'll call this one, Returning to the World of Black Butler.''