Chapter 7

"We never got to celebrate."

"Celebrate what?" I was confused.

"Your birthday, silly. You were sick for your 15th birthday." I felt myself chuckle. God it felt good to be happy.

"Of course you would be concerned about that." A small smile graced her lips.

"A birthday is a special day even to the dead. It marks the beginning of existence. Therefore, it should be celebrated. Even if it is celebrated late." She closed her eyes, briefly lost in thought. Then, she burst out laughing. It was a beautiful sound. "I know exactly what to do."

"What are you planning this time. I don't think you can top a pet unicorn."

"Oh? Is that a challenge?" She smiled so wide I might have been afraid her face would split in half. I smiled back.

"You know what? I think it is. Yes, yes, I challenge you to top a pet unicorn."

"What say we make it interesting? If I beat your challenge," she paused, thinking, "You have to wear pink robes for a whole month." She beamed. I was appalled by the mere notion.

"Fine, but if you fail," it was my turn to pause thinking. I smiled, coming up with the perfect idea, "You have to dye your hair and wings orange." She looked incredulous.

"Orange?! Why ORANGE?!"

"Because I said so. Deal?" I stuck out my hand, ready to be shook. She glared at it before smiling again. She was beautiful, I honestly stopped caring who won or lost.

"Deal." We shook. "Okay, I'm gonna need some time. You can go amuse yourself until I'm ready. She then proceeded to kick me out of the manor. I was chuckling all the way out the door. Before she shut it in my face, I pulled her through and kissed her. She melted into me. When we finally broke apart, she pouted slightly.

"I'll see you later. Okay?" she nodded, then went back inside, closing the door behind her. I really did not know what to do. I had never really been on my own here. Ailith had always been with me. I began wandering around. I found myself in the rose clearing where Sebastian had laid me to rest. I could see blood staining the white from where it had leaked from my body. Funny, this time, the memory didn't bring back the pain. All I could think was how, if he hadn't done it, I wouldn't be here now. I wouldn't have Ailith. I love her. I love her so much, just this little time apart is already making me miss her. So I distracted myself. I wandered between memories, trying to make the time pass. A few familiar shadows from the snowball fight said hi, but only one caught my attention.

"Ciel! Hey, Ciel! Remember me?" A little boy with ginger hair and brown eyes tugged on my sleeve. His green robe was too big on him.

"Uh, yeah, Luca, right?"

"Uh-huh. Where have you been? No one has seen you and Ailith for almost a year. Some of us were afraid something bad had happened."

"I just got sick for a while, but I'm better now." His little eyes widened.

"You started to fade?"

"Yeah, but, I'm okay now."

"Good. You know, things are usually boring around here. I don't have many happy memories. But you two are always so much fun."

"Why, what happened in your life."

"Me and my brother were orphans. Everyone in our village treated us like dirt. Brother wanted so bad for them all to pay for how they treated us. So I made a contract for his wish to come true. That day, the fulfillment of my brother's wish was the happiest day of my life." I felt ashamed listening to this kid's story. He had given his soul for his brother. He was so selfless. "What about you? Why did you end up here?"

"I… I sold my soul to a demon to get revenge on the people who had taken my family away and humiliated me." I felt my head hang in shame.

"Oh. That's terrible! Why are some people so mean?"

"I guess, it makes them feel good to have power."

"People here, none of them had truly happy lives. Most of them sold their souls to demons to fulfill some wish or another, but you have to be pretty desperate to do that. Then you come here and have to relive your memories. It's terrible."

"Not always. I've been happier here then I was on earth for a long time. We get to choose what kind of memories we relive and Ailith has shown me how to make new memories. I guess it's all about perspective." Luca was staring at me.

"You remind me of my brother. So smart. Just like Jim. Except, he's not Jim anymore. He made his name Alois and he has a new life now. I miss him." The younger was musing now, he looked sad.

"Do you want to come have fun with me?" He looked up, slightly bewildered.

"What do you mean?"

"You can come back to my manor with me. Ailith has promised a birthday celebration to top all others. I'm sure it will be awesome." I smiled at the little boy. He smiled back.

"Okay."

"First, Ailith has demanded some time to work. Why don't we go exploring. She won't mind if we wander through her memories."

"Yes. And we'll have lots of fun?"

"Lots and lots of fun. More fun then you'll know what to do with."

"Yay!"


I took him to the creek where Ailith taught me how to catch the little fish. We swam for a while, then relaxed in the sun. "See, I bet you never got to do this while you were alive."

"Nope. This was so much fun."

"Good. We deserve to have a little fun now, don't you think." He was watching the clouds, he seemed almost asleep.

"Uh-huh." His response was slow. After a minute, I could here light snoring. I watched the clouds for a while, wondering what Ailith had up her sleeve this year. I came to the conclusion I would likely be wearing pink for a month. I must have dozed off because I woke up and her face was hovering inches over mine.

"Gah!" My exclamation woke Luca up,

"What? What's going on." Ailith was watching me, bemused.

"Did we make a new friend?" She turned to Luca. "Hello. I'm Ailith. What is your name?"

"I'm Luca."

"Hello Luca."

"What the hell was that." She had really scared me. She was laughing at me. I felt the blush creep over my cheeks.

"I was watching you nap. I came to tell you I'm ready for you." She turned to Luca. "Will you be joining us this afternoon?"

"Ciel invited me." He smiled at me. Then turned back to Ailith. "You have such wonderful memories."

"Yes, I think so too."

"I like your wings. They are so pretty."

"You are welcome to feel them." Luca reached out a hand and stroked the feathers. Ailith's eyes closed in blissful contentment. I was struck with a pang of jealousy out of no where. Ailith's eyes met mine. I knew she could see the jealousy plain on my face. As Luca continued to stroke her wings, she grabbed me, and pulled me into a warm embrace. She whispered so quietly even I barely heard, and she was right next to me. I knew Luca wouldn't hear no matter how hard he me strain to listen. "Do not be jealous. There is no one who could replace you. You have my whole heart. I love you." She stretched up to peck me on the lips. Somewhere in my mind, I registered the fact that Luca must be watching us, but I didn't care. This was my Ailith, my Lizzy, my love. When she broke the kiss, she spoke to both of us. "Now, are you two ready to see what kind of celebration I've prepared for Ciel's 15th birthday?" Luca spoke up first.

"I am!" I spoke next.

"This should be interesting." I chuckled. "Are you really gonna hold me to our bargain?"

"Yep." She seemed confident that she would win.

"What bargain?"

"If this celebration tops last year's, Ciel has to wear nothing but pink robes for a whole month. If it doesn't, I have to dye my hair and wings orange." He looked stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"Promise I get to see the results?"

"Don't worry. I'll make sure the whole shadow realm gets to see the results." We had made it back to the manor now. Ailith produced a second eye patch. "Here, put this on over your other eye." I obeyed and she dragged me through the front door.

"Wow! You did this all by yourself.?"

"Yep."

"Awesome."

"When do I get to see?" I felt myself pout a little.

"Soon. I promise. Just gotta do one more little thing. Luca, make sure he doesn't peek."

"Okay." I heard the rustle of feathers as she moved away. "It really is amazing Ciel. You are gonna love it."

"I'm back. You can look now Ciel." I slowly removed the eye patch, both fearful and curious. Curious as to what it might be, and fearful that it really would top Demon. It did.

"Ailith this is…" I was at a loss for words. Roses. Roses everywhere. Two pots, one at the end of each banister, held living, cerulean roses. They grew on the banister, and at the top, created a beautiful arch. Also at the top of the stairs, more roses. Growing up to cover the wall. Roses in all sorts of colors, some that shouldn't even exist, coming together to create a picture. Mother, Father, Lizzy, Sebastian, Madame Red, Grell, Undertaker, Lau, Ran-Mau, Aberline, Prince Soma, Agni, just, everyone. Everyone I'd ever cared about. And at the center, under the arch, me and her. Side by side in robes of silver, on her, and gold, on me. Feathers too. Strewn across the floor, tucked in between the roses. It was all, heart wrenchingly beautiful.

"Ciel? Are you okay?" Her hand stretched up and touched my cheek. Her fingers came away wet. She looked upset. "Do you not like it. I can take it down if you don't. It's okay. And I'll go find some orange…" I cut her off, clamping a hand over her mouth.

"This is the most wonderful thing I've ever seen. I love it."

"You mean it?"

"Of course. Thank you." She smiled.

"Then I guess you'll be needing this." She held up the pink robe I guess she had gone to get. I took it and laughed, changing right there. I didn't care that it was pink. I didn't care that Luca was snickering away behind me, or that anyone else might see me for that matter. All I cared about was her. She was smiling. She was happy. And that was all that mattered.