Alois excitedly leapt out of the carriage when it completely stopped at the Phantomhive manor and ran toward the door, pushing past Sebastian to get inside of the manor. Claude was adjusting his glasses and politely walking toward the doors as he saw the other butler waiting with a fake smile to obtain his jacket.

"Hello Michaelis. How are you this evening? Doing well?"

"I am fine Faustus. May I take your jacket?"

Claude handed his coat to Sebastian and stepped into the manor. It seemed as if the ball had been moved to every part of the manor except for the ballroom. People were dancing almost everywhere, and that was rather odd to Claude because the young Phantomhive was known to be a wallflower, not a socialite. Claude waited in a secluded corner for the party to end or for someone to need his assistance.

Sebastian approached him about half an hour after he moved to his corner and offered him a glass of champagne along with another fake smile.

Claude looked at the glass with a raised eyebrow and adjusted his glasses again. "Is it poisoned?"

Sebastian widened his fake smile. "I would never poison one of my master's guests. That would be rude."

Claude looked at Sebastian unbelievingly. "Not even one that you hate?"

Sebastian forced his voice to stay pleasant as he continued to speak to the spider. "I hate none of my master's guests. None."

"No one is listening Michaelis, you can tell me what you truly think of me."

Sebastian's smile fell into a frown and he glared at the taller butler in front of him. "Alright Faustus. I loathe you entirely."

Claude nodded slightly and slowly. "Alright Michaelis." He walked toward the door and looked over his shoulder at Sebastian. "Take a walk with me. You and I both need fresh air." Claude watched as Sebastian paused before he set the silver tray down and cautiously followed.

Claude leisurely walked through the garden and the woods as he admired the flowers and the trees.

"Why did you bring me out here Faustus? This isn't the time or place for a fight.

Claude looked at Sebastian before speaking softly. "Do you really hate me?"

The question took Sebastian by surprise, they had just been over this hadn't they? "I can not hold someone who stole my master in high regards. Yes, I hate you."

Claude almost appeared to be sad at the response before nodding again. He grabbed Sebastian's wrist and forced his back against the cold, iron fence that surrounded the manor. He moved a bit closer to Sebastian. "But I don't hate you..."

"What is the meaning of this Faustus? I already told you that this isn't the time or place to fight!"

Claude slowly moved forward and moved a hand to place it firmly beside of Sebastian's shoulder on the fence behind him, he moved his other hand to pin Sebastian down and he pressed his body against the shorter man's. He moved his neck to where lips were mere centimeters away from the red-eyed butler's and he spoke again. "As I have just told you Sebastian... I do not hate you... You are supposed to be smart, so figure it out..."

Everything clicked together in the mind of Sebastian Michaelis, but he wanted to hear Claude say it for himself. "I want you to tell me Faustus... What are you doing...?"

Claude moved forward again until only a piece of parchment could fit between their lips and he softly silenced Sebastian with his eyes closed, making their lips barely brush together and made Claude's dead heart race. He wanted to feel Sebastian's lips against his own in a kiss instead of a simple mistake where their lips barely touched, so he leaned forward and pressed his lips lovingly to the smaller man's. Claude felt tingles all over his body as if a firework had been set off within him, and he could see stars as their lips began to move together in a passionate, loving dance. He felt as if he could walk on air and make time stand still forever. He would have stayed there forever if it weren't for their masters calling for them.

"Claude! Come here now!" Alois' shrill voice rang out to them.

"Sebastian! I command you to return to me." Ciel's voice followed the first.

Their passionate kiss was over and they had to leave their loving embrace, but they were both glad that they were away from the manor so no one would see their lustful encounter. They both ran back to their masters and politely addressed them.

"What were you and Sebastian doing, Claude?" Alois seductively asked and rubbed against his butler, although the hatred for the boy by Claude was obvious to everyone that looked.

"We were simply talking about our every day duties as a butler. Nothing more." Claude hissed back at him.

"I see... Well, we must be off Claude. The party is dying down." Alois sashayed to the nearest carriage and hopped into it, with Claude solemnly stepping in behind him.

"Sebastian, get me ready for bed." Ciel hatefully ordered.

"Yes, my lord." He bowed respectfully and led his master upstairs.

"What were you and the Trancy really talking about? I don't trust the butler to tell the truth."

"We were, as Faustus said, talking about our butler duties."

Ciel nodded and entered his room to change into his night-gown. Sebastian quickly changed him into his nightly attire and went to his own room to think about the kiss between himself and his supposed rival.