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Gone.

Gone, gone, gone.

Ciel sat up quickly as he realized his lover wasn't in the room.

Sebastian?

The young demon looked around the room. Sebastian's shirt was still on the floor and his gloves were still on the bedside table but Sebastian himself wasn't in the room. Panic began to bubble in Ciel's chest. What if Sebastian had left him again?

No, he wouldn't. . .

Ciel tried to reassure himself but, the more he tried, the less confidence he had.

Am I really so insecure?

The idea of the Earl Ciel Phantomhive, newly fledged demon and the Queen's dog, being so insecure was laughable. And yet. . .

Yet here I am.

Sebastian re-entered the young Earl's bedroom, half dresses and completely and utterly lacking when it came to dignity, only to find the room absent of the Earl in question. He was just about to have a panic attack when he heard the soft splash of water from the bathroom. Sebastian squeezed the bridge of his nose and cursed himself for such stupidity.

The elder demon slipped into the bathroom, leaned against the doorway and waited for Ciel to come up for air which the young man did just seconds later.

It wasn't so much of a shock seeing Sebastian in the bathroom this time. What was shocking, however, was the fact Sebastian was standing there half naked, with no formality.

"Good morning." Sebastian said, smirking his usual trademark 'I'm-sexy-and-I-know-it' leer.

Ciel answering smile was simply blinding.

You're still here!

Sebastian came right in and closed the door behind him. Ciel made no protest as the older male began to wash the younger. Once he was clean, Ciel didn't get out of the bath. "Why don't I wash you?" he asked with a rare, cheeky smile.

Sebastian chuckled. "If my Lord wishes."

"Your Lord does wish."

Sebastian rolled his eyes, took off his trousers and climbed into the hot water. Grinning like a loon, Ciel grabbed the soap and the sponge and began to scrub Sebastian's arm. He moved to his neck, then the chest and then. . .

Sebastian jumped back suddenly as Ciel touched his stomach.

Ciel stared at the other demon in shock but he began to grin as he realized what the cause of Sebastian's distress was. "You. . ." Ciel giggled. "You're ticklish?"

Sebastian's . . . no. . .

"Don't get any ideas." Sebastian said sternly which only made the younger demon laugh all the harder. Finally, the young man recovered and straddled the older demon. Ciel then began to kiss Sebastian slowly, leisurely as he scrubbed his stomach clean. Ciel pulled back with a smug smile plastered on his face.

"Not ticklish when I kiss you." he said.

"Not so smug, Master." Sebastian said. "Pride is one of the Seven Deadly Sins."

"So is Lust but you didn't say anything about that, did you?" Ciel teased as he continued to scrub the elder demon.

And I'm glad you didn't.

They were dressed fully and dry within the next hour. Not that they had left the room yet. They were lying on the bed just holding one another. They hadn't spoken much. Both seemed deep in thought or, at least, Sebastian seemed to be deep in thought. Ciel seemed to be on the verge of falling asleep.

Realizing this, Sebastian shifted and sat up. Ciel grumbled a complaint but got up too. Sebastian chuckled and kissed the other demon's little nose. Ciel wasn't exactly satisfied with that and he grabbed the elder demon and pulled him in for a proper kiss. Sebastian smiled into the kiss, realizing Ciel was getting bolder by the hour.

A faint purring from outside the bedroom door stopped them doing anything further.

Ciel broke the kiss, scrambled off the bed and let in Atrer. The can pressed it's face against Ciel's shins, obviously asking for food. Ciel picked up the creature and carried it down to the kitchen where it was fed. Sebastian watched Ciel as the young Lord did this.

The older demon found himself liking this kinder, more compassionate side of his young lover. It was if there was a another side to Ciel that the butler didn't know about and, if there was one side, how many other sides were there?

A sudden knock came at the large front doors.

Ciel looked at Sebastian. "Are we expecting anyone?"

"Not that I'm aware of." Sebastian said.

"I'll take that as a 'no' then," ah, the serious face.

Sebastian went to open the door, Ciel followed closely behind him.

The door opened to reveal the rainy weather and. . .

"Lau?"

Lau and his companion, Ran Mao, stood in the doorway, dripping wet with rain.

"Hello, my Lord." said Lau.

Of all the people to show up unannounced. . .

They were sitting in the lounge. Ran Mao was sitting on her master's lap like a good little pet, sipping her tea. Ciel let out a sigh. "What are you doing here, Lau?"

Lau looked up at the young Earl. "I could ask you the same thing. If I remember correctly, my Lord, you were pronounced dead just a few days ago." Lau retorted. "However, to answer your question, we need your assistance."

"What have you gotten yourself into this time?"

"Well, after you. . .disappeared, I've been getting some new, um, customers and I don't think that they're exactly. . ." Lau paused thinking of the correct term.

"Human?" Ciel suggested wearily.

"Exactly the word, my Lord." Lau agreed uneasily.

"I think we should check into it, young Master." Sebastian said.

"Yes, but this could be nothing." Ciel said as Atrer suddenly appeared and jumped into Ciel's lap. Ciel began absentmindedly stroking the feline. He looked at Lau who raised an eyebrow at the cat but said nothing. "Fine, we'll help."

"Thank you, my Lord. In the mean time, could Ran Mao and I. . . ?"

"You can stay." Ciel said answering the unfinished question. "Just don't do anything I wouldn't approve of while you're here. No wild parties, no whores, no anything. Except for what I allow you."

"But, of course, my Lord."

"Pardon my interruption, Master but, what I would like to know is: how did you find us?" Sebastian asked.

"Undertaker" said both the young Lord and Lau only Ciel had made the word more of a question than an answer.

"Why not surprised?" Sebastian muttered.

"Because you never are." Ciel retorted. "You have an annoying habit of making out like you're somehow all knowing."

Sebastian grinned. "What kind of Butler would I be if I couldn't give the impression of such a pretense?"

Lau studied the two. "I apologize for being so forward, my Lord, but is there something going on between you and your Butler?"

Damn, should I tell him?

Ciel looked at Sebastian, unsure of how to answer. The Butler put a finger to his lips and Ciel relaxed. "What on earth gave that impression?" Ciel demanded.

Keep calm.

"Well, it's just you seem to be more good-humoured than usual."

Ciel raised an eyebrow. "Honestly, Lau, I don't have time for your childish games."

That sounds like the arrogant me, right?

Lau seemed to be convinced that it was only his imagination running away with him. "I'm sorry, my Lord."

Atrer shifted knowingly.

More secrets.

Ciel glanced at Sebastian as he took Ran Mao's empty cup.

What's another secret to the hundreds I have?

Sebastian looked up at Ciel and flashed the young Lord a warm smile behind Lau's back.

But why . . .

"Are you well, my Lord?" Lau asked.

Why, Sebastian. . .

"I'm fine, just a bit of a headache, that's all."

Must I keep this one when. . .

"Perhaps you should go rest."

When I'm not ashamed of how I feel anymore?

"Perhaps I should." Ciel agreed, standing. "If you would excuse me. . ." and he left the room.

Are you ashamed, Sebastian?

Thanks for reading this far, guys xxx