Chapter V

Approach ( part II)

He could only faintly sense the moving of his chest as he stared into nothingness, his eyes no longer seeing the face of the living world, as he lay as if dead on the cold, soiled ground of his ruined mansion. Falling helplessly into the realm of illusion, he watched a scene he had unconsciously played in his dreams so many times before. His gaze followed the unsure footsteps of a smiling ginger boy, his laughter filling the warm lit chambers and the faces of his parents with unconditional happiness and love. How many evenings had he spent with his parents in these very same quarters, how many joyful hours had he traced the patterns of his father's movements and his mother's beautiful smile only to be safely tucked into their embrace whenever nightfall would try and harm his safe-haven?

Yet, as the bitter sweet image of a life that he had seemingly only dreamed of began to drift into an unworldly darkness, the small child that had once radiated with warmth and delightful innocence, had turn dirty, sullen, pathetic.

A soul pure of any hate had attracted the sinful human desire of purging it of its very essence, of violating its core and breaking its crystal purity, returning it to the darkness it had unknowingly been born into. The boy was now shattered, pierced through by the vile hands of a perverted world.

Ciel's eyes rested on the thin petite figure, as it stood before him, soiled, robbed of any power or future, disregarded. A bitter tranquility covered his body as he realized that his unwillingly salvaged existence and that of the pathetic creature in front of him were one and the same. Without a demon to pull him out of an endless circle of wretched misery, regardless of time and space, Ciel was no more than an empty shell clutching at an existence led in vain.

A senseless life of a sullied corpse inhabited by a worthless soul…

Yet at that thought, a wave of anger swept over the boy's silent chest, reigniting the flame that he had long thought to be forgotten.

Something had awoken within him, as he stared at his sullied counterpart, its image turning blurry as his eyes opened themselves to the merciless present once again.

Was he really that same pathetic creature from back then? Had he grown no wiser, witnessing everything he had lived through without any change in his own capabilities? Was he indeed as helpless as that day?

"You despair so easily." –

He glared at the remnants of his mansion, his limbs feeling hotter with every breath he took.

- "You have yet to fulfill your role Ciel "-

His fists were trembling as he narrowed his gaze at the mocking emptiness before him.

"Are you or are you not the queen's guard dog?" –

Slamming his fists to the ground, he forced his shaking limbs to succumb to his will, raising himself to his feet, his glare set on the pitiful ruins.

"Ciel Phantomhive" –

With clenched fists, he began angrily tracing hard steps towards the main entrance.

"Ciel Phantomhive" –

Reaching the massive portals to a merciless world that had brought him so much sorrow and yet, was now fueling the flame of his inner being to rage furiously within him, he pushed with all his might, forcing the gateway to open for him.

"You've still got a lot of work to do, Ciel Phantomhive." -

The sickening light of ashen clouds blinded the livid boy as he stepped out of the shadow baring mansion. Raising a hand to his eyes, he narrowed his gaze to adjust to the brightness.

"Gather your pawns…" –

Suddenly he could make out a silhouette in the far distance, partly hidden by what seemed to be dried up tree branches. Taking a step at a time, he slowly began to distance himself from the mansion, the cold air filling his chest like icy blades as he began panting heavily.

"A new game." –

Even as he fought the urge to sink into silent unconsciousness, he pushed his feet forward, disregarding any impediments that stood in his way, until his legs could no longer hold his weak body and gave in, Ciel crumbling to the ground. His fingers clutched at the humid earth underneath him, as his arms pulled his body forwards, Ciel crawling slowly towards the figure he had seen between the trees, despising his feeble movements but stubbornly refusing to stay put and let his existence be in vain.

He was not the same worthless puppet as before. He would not allow himself to be that porcelain doll lingering at the brink of death, just to put an end to a senseless life. Ciel would not suffer such a pitiful fate. No, he would not suffer it!

That name, those wretched words that had clung to him even as he desired to face his agony in hell. That name would not allow it. Those words embodied everything that Ciel had faced, had battled and defeated. Everything that he had been, the very essence of the boy that had cheated death with the hate and tears of a thousand men, the human that had agreed to sell his soul to the devil and had reigned over the vile nature of humans, building his empire with the flesh and blood of his foes. That name would not allow him to sink into nothingness and relinquish a second chance at life, at playing the game of will and pride once more.

As his sight grew weary and his limbs turned numb, he could distinguish a voice calling out to him. He could only make out a tall silhouette hovering above him as he was turned on his back, facing the blinding light of the cloudy sky, with his head resting against the muddy soil. Just before he fell unconscious, he registered his body lifted from the ground, the figure that had called after him still uttering his name and carrying him away from the mansion.

………

"Young master! Young master Ciel, please wake up!"

A familiar voice. Ciel had heard it countless times. He couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed at realizing that it was not the voice of the demon. And yet, something stirred up in his mind, a sudden surprise taking hold of him as he opened his eyes to meet the face of a young man with blond hair and childish green eyes.

"Finny?" Ciel managed to utter weakly, his tone betraying amazement at seeing his former gardener.

A/N

I couldn't keep neither of my promises....I tried to up-date quicker and write a longer chapter but this past week has been disastruous...and so, I could only manage to write this little chapter, and hope that you will forgive me for it. Next week's chapter will be longer, and Ciel will be visiting an old aquintance of his...meanwhile Sebastian is closing in on the mansion and will be by Ciel's side soon enough....no worries ;)

please review and till next time, have a nice week.