A/N Well, hello~ there, dearies! Long time no read!

I really am sorry for the long space between updates. It'll probably stay this way until next weekend, in which case semester 1 and the dreaded course known as math will be over. Promise!

Anyways. Be prepared for another filler chapter. Have no fears, though - some of this one was actually in the movie.

Disclaimer: The very fact that I'm saying 'Disclaimer' should tell you all you need to know.

Chapter Five: Becoming Beautiful

After Sebastian left, Ciel spent a day mourning his loss. He didn't even wear his eye patch. All he did was lounge around all day, staring at the king and queen chess pieces with longing in his eyes. His parents left him alone – they wanted no part in this.

Of course, as Ciel wallowed in his solitude, his mind began to wander, and create scenarios of Sebastian's return. What would it be like? Would he throw open the door, silhouetted by flower petals and shining light, declaring his true and lasting love for Ciel? (Imagine it. Do it.) Or would he steal through the window in the dead of night, wearing naught but a black cape and a rose clenched between his perfect teeth? (Go ahead, imagine that one, too.)

And what would he do if he saw Ciel in this sad, sad state of affairs? No doubt sweep him up in his arms, and shower him with hugs and butterfly kisses until Ciel smiled again. The very thought caused Ciel to go weak at the knees.

But perhaps Sebastian would be disgusted with the way Ciel handled himself. Maybe he would come back, and say, "I'm sorry, but while in America, I met a lady who is ten times more lovely and well-put together than you are. So, goodbye."

A stab of fear shot through Ciel's heart like a shard of ice. No! He couldn't allow that to happen!

"Mother! Father!" Ciel flung the dining room door open. "What should I do to become more beautiful?"

"Stop scowling." His mother answered immediately.

"And take a bath!" His father chimed in.

"Scrub behind your ears!"

"And comb your hair 100 strokes!"

"An apple a day!"

"Perhaps dress a little more nicely!"

"Alright, alright, dammit!" Ciel threw his hands up. "Enough!" He sighed, and ran thin fingers through his hair. "Gracious me, but it isn't easy being beautiful." His hand got caught in a tangle in his matted hair. He glared at it seemingly trying to make it smooth out through sheer force of mind. "Well, I should probably start seeing about that bath..."

"Uh-uh!" Mrs Phantomhive chirped. "Chores first!"

Ciel was silent for a moment, then turned to his father. "...What?"

Mr Phantomhive grinned, and shoved a shovel into his sons' hands. "Now that Sebastian is gone, we need someone to do the chores!"

Ciel stared at them. He was flabbergasted. Chores? Him? Perish the thought!

Mr Phantomhive looked thoughtfully at his wife. "You know, it would be such a shame if Sebastian came back and discovered his dearest love was incapable of doing a few household chores."

Mrs Phantomhive nodded in mock grief. "Such a shame..."

Ciel stiffened, glaring wide-eyed at his parents, blushing furiously. He stuck his tongue out in the most immature way possible and stomped off in a huff.

His parents shook their heads in amazement. "What does Sebastian see in him?

"I really have no clue."

xXx

And so the days began to fall into a set repetition. Every morning, Ciel dragged himself out of bed, and had his chores done by lunchtime. After hurriedly eating his lunch, he retreated upstairs and wasn't seen again until dinner.

His parents watched in awe, as the weeks went by, as their once lazy son became a reliable young man. They also noted Ciel's steady climb on the list of being beautiful – every day he seemed a little more lovely that the one before. "Sebastian's influence," they murmured, shaking their heads in amazement.

And what did Ciel do whilst upstairs? First, he took his bath, and scrubbed his skin until it was raw. He filed his nails, combed his hair, and stared at the mirror for hours on end, trying to will his reflection into perfection. Then he played a few rounds of chess with himself (no one would ever win) to keep himself smart, and went to bed early. He needed his beauty sleep.

Everyone who lived near the mansion noticed the change in Ciel. He became less of a rude little boy, and more of a dashingly handsome young teenager. In fact, it wasn't very long before all of the boys and all of the girls were bending to his every will. And although he still walked with his nose in the air, he looked more like a prince than a spoiled little brat.

"It's that butler," they all gossiped. "Sebastian. He's responsible for this wonderful development." Then they all huddled and made plans for the wedding.

Indeed, Sebastian had changed Ciel. The boy now knew how to smile, how to laugh, and how to just plain ignore people when they pissed him off. He really, truly did love Sebastian, somewhere deep inside, and was determined to become a better person for it.

Which was probably why his death hit as hard as it did.

"His ship was taken by the Dread Pirate Michaelis. I'm sorry." They said. Sad looks flitted across the faces of everyone who heard. The Dread Pirate Michaelis, everyone knew, took no survivors.

Ciel froze over. He retreated to his room. No one could make him leave, not for any amount of begging. Not for anything in the world would Ciel leave his room.

He wasn't crying. There was no point in crying, Ciel thought. It was over, it was done. Nothing needed to be said.

This is a lie. He cried. And cried, and cried, until he very well may have just died of dehydration. He cried until he had no more tears, and even then, his dry, empty sobs echoed all night. For six months, he cried, for six months, he did not eat, he did not sleep, he only wept for what he once had, and what he lost.

Until one night, when abruptly, the crying stopped. The door swung quietly open, and out stepped Ciel.

Only, it wasn't the same Ciel that had hidden away six months ago. This Ciel had his eye patch back on, and the eye you could see was piercing blue, cold, dead, and insanely beautiful. He had the face of a person who's life had been ripped to shreds and sown together again with thread of cold gold. In the space of only eight months, Ciel had gone to barely on the list to easily the most beautiful boy in all of existence.

He raised his chin, and stared calmly at the world around him. When he spoke, his voice was clean, clear, crisp, cold, and perfect.

"I will never love again."

He never did.

A/N ***SPOILER ALERT***

Sebastian isn't dead.

...

Hope you all enjoyed that. Hurrah's for next chapter, in which Ciel becomes a princess! 8D

Once again, I thank you all for the kind reviews you give. Sometimes I feel I don't deserve them. Other times, I shove them in my friends' faces. Sometimes, I look at them on a down day and it becomes so much better. I really, truly do love you all.

...so, review, please? After all, reviews are the Gaga to my Lady~!