Days passed. William didn't improve much, but when his vacation ended, he got himself up, showered heavily, brushed his hair, but looked at himself in the mirror. Under his eyes seemed hollow, and sleepless. Time in bed had robbed him. In just days he was becoming lean from the burning that had been under his skin, stealing away his strength. But tonight he was going to get out. He had to work the late shift, when demons were likely to roam.

He flushed his face with water, and shuddered. Anything colder than his skin felt icy to him. Suddenly his vision blurred and he closed his eyes. Cold hands slid around him and caressed his jaw and his throat. Lips trailed down William's wet back and then felt the same lips brush back up. He arched, hands supporting his body as it rested on its knees. "A…ah…nnh…S…s.." the words caught in his throat as he felt the hand slide lower, caressing his inner thigh, convincing him to spread his legs just a bit. The other hand tangled in his hair, pulling tight, and he could feel the cold breath on his back.

"Beg for me, shinigami," the voice whispered and Will gasped a little as the hand pulled again.

"S….Sebastian…a…ann…. Please…please….."

"Please? Is THAT all?"

William's breath came in stitches as he felt the hand on his thigh press higher. He could barely think now, it was making him faint. "B..but….I…it's s..so hard-" He interrupted himself with a moan as he felt the hand grab his member.

"I noticed."

"A..AH!" his breath finally came back to him, and William slowly stood, shaking, sweating, hot and dizzy. "T…Things only get worse…J..Just another hallucination…" He wiped himself down with a wet wash-cloth and then dressed, pulling on his glasses, his world finally coming into focus. At least he knew that at work, things would be normal. Or as close to normal as it could be. He would be training new recruits for the system and had to be firm with them. Otherwise they would walk right over him. And he didn't take well to being brushed off. He straightened himself up, and tried to ignore the distinct blush that had made it's way onto his face. He waited a bit before going into the living room, combing his hair again, and then moving to the kitchen.

"Morning, Willu~" Grell gave a smile. Will nodded, sitting at the table, remaining quiet.

'Don't hold it in, William. You have to tell them sometime. They can help…' He looked up slightly, trying not to betray his illness.

"You going to live, Boss?" Ron asked, having his morning coffee.

"I'm fine, Ronald." William took a sip of tea again, shaking. He hoped that he could calm himself before work. Taking another sip, William knew that Grell and Ronald were worried. That much was evident on their faces.

"You're sure, Will?" Grell cocked his head, and then pursed his lips, applying lipstick. "Today will be one of THOSE days."

"..I know." William pulled on leather gloves and gripped his scythe.

"Aww man. Does this mean I get overtime?" Ronald pouted.

"No, it means your working with Alan and Eric early and going home. Grell and I get overtime.." William only rolled his eyes and sipped his tea. He felt just a bit better before he looked at the time. "We have to go anyway…"

Stretching himself out, he grabbed the scythe. "Remember, Grell. Go after the non-contracted demons. Regulation-"

"I know, I know. Like you're in any shape to tell ME what to do anyway. You've been sick."

William narrowed his eyes. "We're going to be late." His statement was blunt and angry. Turning, the spear swept an arc through the air and he was out the door and on his way to the office, where he would clock in and try and keep himself cool. People whispered as he passed, there were words of concern, snickers. Entering the dispatch section, he put in his time, signing in and then taking his sheet. The assignment was basic. Track the rogue demons in the London area and exterminate them. There SHOULDN'T have been many. But he didn't expect that there could be an accurate measurement.

He left without Grell, fully aware of how sick he looked as he passed through the commons. He was stopped by the blonde shinigami, Eric. "Hey boss, you okay?"

"…I'm fine, Eric, just getting over a fever." The heat was growing worse and William, who had managed to ignore it, was starting to sweat again.

"….Boss, that isn't good for you to be up like this."

William waved it away. "I'll be just fine. There are only five of us on dispatch and I don't have anymore time off to waste."

Eric meant to speak, but William swept past him, not willing to handle the problem as of yet. He kept his head down, avoiding eye contact. He had noticed the day before that the first ring, separated by the thin black line in his iris, had begun to turn a decaying yellow. If anyone noticed, he would be done for. His best bet was to pray that no one DID notice. Or care for now. And since he felt that he was surrounded by self-centered shinigami, he didn't believe that would be soon.

Making his way out into London, he climbed to a tall roof and looked down. Lifting his nose to the air, he smelled demon on the wind. The idea that he would be crushing them under his metaphorical iron boot made him smile and capable of ignoring the heat on his skin and the illness that was creeping in his nerves.

Turning, he ran in the direction of the smell, pausing for a moment to ease a crippling pain in his abdomen. Was it the first sign of withdrawal? He could only wish, and so, kept moving. The closer he got to the demons, the dizzier he seemed to become. And then they were upon him, a pack of semi-sentient rogues. More human than normal rogues, but not quite as human as Sebastian. Suddenly he was overwhelmed by hands and he understood WHY Suttcliff had been paired with him. Because the chainsaw would have been effective… And William knew he was screwed unless Suttcliff showed up in the next three seconds.

They forced him against the wall. "Your smell makes you a target shinigami. You're in a bad spot," one of them hissed. It licked it's lips with a split tongue, and another tore his jacket away. The shinigami turned his spear, trying to force them off. One of them confiscated it, tossing it aside as if it were a plaything. Another went for his shirt and clawed it off with impatience.

"What do we do with him?" a different demon asked.

"What else would a demon-addicted shinigami want?" The demon ran a claw down William's exposed chest. "We fuck it."

There was raucous laughter from the pack and William felt the burning inside him worsen. He tensed up and gasped, closing his eyes. The nightmarish feel of the scaly, half human, clawed hands on his body would be burned in his memory… Only because he felt as though he were enjoying this. His body wracked with pleasure and pain as he was clawed and felt up, stripped of sanity with each touch and caress. Then suddenly, it stopped, and his body fell on the ground limply. He lay there, listening to faint hisses, snarls, the occasional spit.

"Hmm… Such an unfaithful pet. Or perhaps my kind has forgotten it's boundaries." The rogues scattered when the voice gave them a withering glance and then sneered at the shinigami who was attempting to pull himself up.

"You're such…a …vile beast," William whimpered, gasping. There was burning again, worse, unbearable. Someone lifted him again, and the burning eased.

"Ah, but you've missed me." The demon nuzzled into William's neck, kissing slightly.

The feeling sent William swooning, bringing him dizziness and high, closing his eyes, leaning back against his captor willingly. "G..get off me….demon…." his words were coming slowly now, his thoughts sluggish and tired.

"Just relax." Gloved hands fondled his nipple and nibbled at his neck. William allowed a moan to escape his lips, his face turning pink, soft gasps coloring the air. His entire body seemed to scream for more.

Sebastian nipped his throat, sucking softly, leaving a small pink mark on his skin. The shinigami moaned louder and turned, opening his eyes halfway. "Ah..I see." Sebastian sounded amused, and caressed his jaw slightly. William leaned into the caress, closing his eyes. "You're almost mine, shinigami. Just a little more time. A little more time and you can have me all you want."

He nodded weakly, draping arms around the demon's neck. Sebastian kissed him, pulling him closer, feeling the shinigami's tensed and desperate body. Heat radiated from him and William accepted him. Closing his eyes, Sebastian deepened the kiss, letting the shinigami taste him, and beg for more. The pale man slid against the still fully clothed butler, letting out a moan and then, opening his eyes again, he pulled from the kiss. William held himself.

"S…stop touching me…" his voice came out soft, following desperate stitches of breath. Sebastian caressed his jaw and William's resistance failed him, and he leaned against the demon again.

"Still too resistant. We'll give you a little more time." He pulled himself from the shinigami, who stood, dazed, bleeding and confused. Sebastian winked. "Maybe another day or two should make you just the teeniest bit…lusting." Blowing William a mocking kiss, Sebastian sneered and turned, disappearing into the dark.

William lay against the wall for a short period of time before he stood. He looked in the direction Sebastian had gone, and took a few steps forward. He was stopped by a voice.

"WILL?" Grell shouted, sprinting down the roof toward him, leaping from it to the ground. The shinigami froze in place as Grell ran toward him. His shirt and coat were in ruins, his gloves used as a chew toy for a demon. He shook, eyes focused only on where Sebastian had stepped, and how desperately Will wanted to follow. He couldn't speak now, Sebastian had robbed him of his voice, of the very thought behind it. They had all attached themselves to the demon, and gone with him. Suddenly he felt faint. Maybe it was the heat that was finally making him ill, or a bit of the blood loss. He gave Grell a small look.

"….I think I've gotten worse," he said, before collapsing.

"W- William!" Grell caught him mid fall and picked him up. He shook him, slapped him, kissed him, did everything, but the heated shinigami lay limply in his arms. Carrying him bridal-style, the red haired man picked up William's bent spear, torn clothing and then his own scythe, and ran back to the offices.

Other shinigami were in shock, worried, and panicked, at the sight of seeing William, THAT William, ill and beaten. He was keeping his eyes closed. 'I can't show them… Th..They'll take me from mas- What am I thinking?' Sitting up, he looked at Grell, and then closed his eyes before the red shinigami could notice the sudden change in William's eyes.

"W..we need to get you to the medical ward, alright, Will? Will?" he shook him slightly and Will shifted.

"'M fine…"

"You're not fine!"

William didn't answer, but felt other hands take him in their arms and move him to a bed. His wounds were treated, the bleeding and scratches sterilized. He didn't know when the burning had made him pass out, but he woke up in a bed, smelling the hospital. Normally he was disturbed about waking up in the dark, but he wasn't himself now. Holding himself, he let out a soft moan.

"Master…will you come see me?" he asked the dark, getting no answer back. Closing his eyes, he shifted again and his legs held together, feeling hands run up his hospital gown. Slipping into unconsciousness, he felt lips on his chest, sucking gently, and he let out a gentle moan.

Sebastian smiled, amused and impressed. "Only a few touches…and some nightly visits.. And you're reduced to this much desperation?" Dipping down, he slid hands over William's sides and then licked up his chest. The shinigami let out a moan in his semi-rest, and Sebastian snickered. "More?" he kissed down to the shinigami's sensitive belly, kissing, licking, sucking, letting him tense up.

Squirming under him, the shinigami seemed more desperate that Sebastian would have guessed. Kissing William's stomach, he spread the shinigami's bare legs. "Oh, the advantages of hospital gowns. Right my pet?"

William only moaned as Sebastian kissed up his thighs, licking expertly, sucking just at his groin. Gasping, arching to the demon's lips, William sleepily twined his fingers into Sebastian's hair. "Y…Yes master…." he moaned out, giving in to his need. Nothing mattered anymore, thought, will, the other shinigami, what he would leave behind, all that mattered was that he were with his master. His addiction spread with each kiss, each caress, and he had ceased fighting.

The amused demon took William's erection in hand and fondled it teasingly. The shinigami arched and let out a gasp of pleasure, his body spasming to every movement. William's breath came in stitches, gasping fragments of air, while Sebastian continued to torment him ceaselessly. Pulling the demon's hair, William forced him down. Letting out a sneer, Sebastian took the offensive and kissed him, tasting every inch of the shinigami's hot and friction-starved body. Each touch sent a shock up William's body, pushing him further and further away from who he was. This amused Sebastian to no end, and he knelt down, kissing the shinigami's member. Pulling his hair, the demon took this as the cue to kiss faster, trailing his tongue along the length, listening to the delicate sounds of pleasure. Licking his lips, this was perhaps the only moment where he envied Claude Faustus and that foot long tongue of his.

Sucking lightly, he put his gloved hands on William's hips and squeezed the taut muscle. The shinigami responded accordingly, lifting his hips, pressing deeper into Sebastian's mouth. Not sparing a second, Sebastian sucked harder, taking him into his mouth whole. William's pants became more frantic and sporadic as the demon worked harder on him. The shinigami's body tensed and uncoiled, and he swallowed his breath, letting out a desperate silent scream. Gripping the sheets, he thrust upward, giving a cry before spilling himself inside Sebastian's mouth. His body settled, his muscles tense and supple.

Sitting up, removing William from his mouth, Sebastian took a bedside napkin and wiped the mess, like any good gentleman would. He cocked his head to the shinigami, who's eyes were half opened. The demon could see the outer ring of William's eyes, going from green, to ill yellow. And from yellow, the color crimson bled into them. William was undoubtedly his. It was only a matter of if the shinigami would ever come to his senses, ever escape the hospital, or if Sebastian decided it was worth it to release him. Dipping to kiss him, he was welcomed by the warm-bodied male and was even more amused as to how desperate he seemed. Sliding his gloved hand across William's chest, he went for the man's throat, and nibbled softly.

"I'll have to go soon, William."

William shuddered and pulled Sebastian down in protest, no doubt enjoying the closeness and heat of their bodies. "But~" was his sleepy and desperate reply, to which Sebastian answered with a single finger to his lips.

"Only hush, my pet. I promise, you'll have me in eternity if you can escape," he whispered. William gave a rushed nod to Sebastian before the demon assaulted his lips with his own. He welcomed the kiss. Any caress, any touch, any whim from Sebastian, William was now willing to obey and welcome it. William deepened it, allowing Sebastian access to the inside of his mouth, tasting his master, taking him in. "All mine, William."

"Al…All yours." Nuzzling under Sebastian's chin, he draped his arms around the demon's neck. "S..So addicting… So sweet…."

"Aye, but master has to leave. If William can escape and return to his master, William can stay with him."

The shinigami nodded desperately and dropped into his bed, the blankets and sheets skewed and slick with sweat. His hair was a tousled mess, eyes open just enough. His face was red with heat and he seemed as sweet as ever. Caressing his jaw, Sebastian smirked and watched William nuzzle to him again, almost purring. "P..please take me with you…"

"Not yet, William. You have to come to me yourself."

The shinigami nodded and curled up on his bed, falling asleep. Sighing, he turned and went out the window, again disappearing into darkness. His master would be irritated with him, but perhaps he would prefer a human pet to a kitten.

William woke early in the morning, the burning eased, his body sensitive to every movement, but he felt better. But he also felt like a piece of himself had been stolen. Shuddering, he could still taste the demon in his mouth. Shuddering, he stood and put the clothes on that were left for him in the chair next to his bed. He slipped his glasses on and then dressed. But he felt closed in, shaken, not quite right. Hugging himself, he suddenly remembered the demons' embrace. "I..I need him…" Closing his eyes, he let out a soft moan. "I need th..that damned monster…" Gasping, his spine arching in a soft arc, William held himself tighter. "I..I need m..my master.." He dropped to his knees, eyes a shimmering contrast of green and red. Forcing himself up, he looked about. Taking his spear from the bedside table, he ventured to the ledge of the window and leapt onto the roof below. The hospital was silent and William found that it was all too easy to make his way off of the grounds. As advanced as the shinigami were, they weren't much for caring in the way of illnesses. After all, shinigami couldn't die. Pausing, William had to think before he went out. Following the scent trail of the demon, he wandered the deserted streets until he found his way onto bare ground, on his way to the Phantomhive Manor.

He didn't knock, but just pushed the door open, looking more desperate than he had when he had left. Shuddering, his footsteps echoed on the stairs. Arms wrapped around him and he melted in the warm embrace. "So desperate that you followed your master home, William?"

He nodded slightly, nuzzling into his chest. "I..I'll do anything for you, Master." Sebastian caressed William's jaw before leaning down to kiss his neck.

"As you should. After all.. Your master's touch is the perfect addiction."