Chapter 5

Near the edge of a small village, a light flickered behind clear glass windowpanes, bringing the only light in the complete darkness that swallowed the place. No one was out in the streets or in the alleyways. All that market places and shops had been closed down for the night. A gentle drizzle of rain began to fall from the black nothingness that was the sky.

"Such a dark night…" Gilbert muttered as he sat by the window in his lonely room. Without even himself being aware of it, the Nightray was waiting for something to disturb the peaceful night. He raised his head, looking almost longingly at the place in the sky where the moon should have been.

It had been so bright that one night…

Gilbert ground his teeth together, crushing the cigarette that had been hanging out of his mouth. Part of it fell to the cold, wooden floorboards at his feet and the softly glowing tip went out. Quickly, he took the handkerchief out of his breast pocket and spit out the other end that had remained in his mouth.

"Tsk." Gilbert balled up the cloth and clenched it in his hands.

I mustn't think about that. It's already been a year.

The golden-eyed young man buried his face in his hands. Smoothing his hair black from his forehead, he got up from his chair and walked into the small washroom. The gaslight came to life as Gilbert flicked the twitch on the wall by the door. He stood at the sink and turned the rusty handle, sticking his head under and hissing softly as the icy water came down over him. At the moment he didn't care that the collar of his shirt was getting drenched by the steady flow of water from the tap. Slowly, the youth allowed his eyes to close, his face screwing up in frustration… and the feeling like he had just dunked his head into a bucket of ice. Water dripped down the edge of his nose.

"One whole year…" He muttered to himself.

It had been a whole year since that night with Sebastian, and Gilbert had heard no word of him since then. He knew it was foolish. The man had gotten what he wanted, and had simply no more use for him. Gilbert repeated this to himself over and over again, but still the pain did not ease.

Gilbert had not had the nightmares that plagued his sleep years ago. Instead he had dreams that woke him up to an empty room with his heart pounding wildly. He usually had to untangle himself from his bed sheets and calm himself down one way or another. It was no longer Sebastian's frightful, powerful aura that haunted Gilbert, but his beauty and perfection, the way he had made the Nightray his… And then leave him wanting more.

In the twenty years of his life, Gilbert Nightray had lost him memories, been taken in to the Besalius Manor as a personal servant to Oz, lost Oz, found his rightful family again, learned how to kill, then became nothing more than a toy to the most beautiful, yet sadistic creature in the world.

Gilbert wondered if Oz had left him because he had run out of use for him, too.

"Don't be stupid!" He growled under his breath as he removed his head from under the spicket, glaring at his reflection in the mirror. He didn't even bother to turn off the steady stream as it made its way down the drain. Gilbert held on tight to the sides of the sink, so tight had his already pale skin whitened at the knuckles. He shook his head, trying to get tangled, wet hair out of his eyes. A droplet of water fell from the corner of his eyes and dripped from his chin onto the sink, almost like a tear. Gilbert closed them tightly, and bared his teeth as he hit his forehead against the mirrors smooth, cool surface with a gentle thud as he listened to the almost soothing sound of running water. It was better than the silence that always seemed to surround him. He was half expecting Break to pop up out of no where, and nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard:

"Missing your master, Gilbert?" The voice did not belong to the crazy one-eyed man. This one was richer, but still laced with amusement and mockery. "You might become ill if you stay wet. You should try taking better care of yourself as a servant."

Gilbert whirled around, splattering the mirror with water as he did so. The young Nightray stared, wide-eyed, at the owner of the voice who was standing behind him.

Sebastian grinned at him from a few feet away with his hands clasped behind his back. He was the same as Gilbert remembered him. All he could do was stand there, his heart beating rapidly in his chest.

"Hm…" Sebastian took a step forward, still grinning down at Gilbert.

"Wh… What are you doing here?" Gilbert managed to gasp. His voice cracked and he swallowed hard, some of the Nightray's fear was being replaced by anger. He backed up against the sink. He could pretend the man's last comment was never made.

Sebastian chuckled, clasping his fingers together and looking around to room through half-lidded eyes.

"I see you have your own place now." He said, completely ignoring the question.

Gilbert heard, but did not respond. He was watching the other closely. This is the second time that he had left his gun in the other room when he most needed it. His heart was pounding so loud that he was sure Sebastian could hear it from where he stood a few feet away.

So far away… Mentally, Gilbert slapped himself. After one whole year, he still lusted for this terrifying man, and he hated himself for it.

I belong to Oz.

"Gilbert? It's not polite to just stand there and gock at a guest." Sebastian scolded, his eyes twinkling playfully.

"I'd hardly call you a 'guest'." Gilbert snarled.

And again, Sebastian chuckled, covering his mouth with a white-gloved hand. "Oh my, that attitude will never do."

Gilbert was nose to nose with Sebastian. Gilbert could feel himself loosing control slowly. He was all too familiar with the feeling of his mind being clouded over. He wanted to close the space between them completely so badly…

No! Snapping himself out of the trace, Gilbert narrowed his eyes at Sebastian, and leaned back slightly over the sink to in an exempt to get himself as far away from Sebastian as the small room would let him.

"You never answered my question: What are you doing here?"

Sebastian let out a sigh, and took a step back from Gilbert, who felt both relieved and disappointed that Sebastian had distanced himself from him. He was completely taken aback when the taller of the two turned on his heel and watched out of the wash room.

"Eh?! Where are you going?!" Gilbert peeked into the other room and watched wide eyes as Sebastian stood in his kitchen, rummaging through the cabinets. Sebastian looked over his shoulder and grinned at Gilbert's confused expression.

"I think would be best to have some tea while we chat."

Gilbert grumbled to himself, hunching his shoulders and crossing the room. He leaned against the doorway that led into the kitchen. Crossing his arms over his chest, he was watching the other carefully.

"It's my house, you know." Said Gilbert.

Sebastian turned back around to look at him with raised eyebrows as he held two teabags in his hand. He smiled, then bowed.

"I insist."

Gilbert rolled his eyes and slumped down into one of the rickety chairs at the low wooden table that was positioned in the center of the room. He continued to watch Sebastian make his way with ease around the small space as he rested his chin on his outstretched arm.

A few moments later there was a steaming cup of tea in front of him, and Gilbert took a sip of it. It was sweet to the taste but so hot he almost burned his tongue. Sebastian sat down opposite him. His arms were bent at the elbow and his fingers were laced together. The red-eyed man watched the other with an amused expression still plain on his handsome face.

"You act as if you do that every day." Gilbert said with a slight smirk as he nodded over the others shoulder to the kettle that sat on the gas stove that was connected to the far wall. Sebastian blinked, and moved so that he could take a sip from the clay mug that sat in front of him.

As Gilbert watched this, he felt his shoulders relax a little.

At least he didn't try to drug me.

"Well," Sebastian said in response to the Nightray's last comment. "It is my job; I am, after all, one hell of a butler."

Gilbert was taking another drink from the mug when he heard the other say this. He nearly choked.

"What?! Someone like you?! A lowly servant?!" Gilbert quickly felt his face flushing as he sunk back down in his seat. The man sitting in front of him had to be the embodiment of perfection. Sebastian's features were totally unreadable unless you count the usual smirk and the dangerous air surrounding him that made him almost irresistible.

Gilbert was making himself sick with his own desires. There was a time where he had thought himself lucky just to be content in his life and now… He found himself wanting something that he thought would never even occur to him: Gilbert Nightray wanted both his Young Master Oz, and Sebastian.

But he will never replace Oz. Gilbert closed his eyes as a stab of pain went through his heart. He gripped the front of his shirt where the scare still remained. For a few seconds his mind was taken completely off the person was sat opposite him now.

Sebastian merely grinned at Gilbert's reaction to the statement, and it was all he could to keep himself from lunging at the other. The Nightray was just so tempting when he looked like that. When Gilbert gripped the front of his shirt, Sebastian licked his lips.

"'Lowly' is not exactly the word of choice. But yes, I am a servant." Said Sebastian in an almost sing-song tone of voice. He rested his chin on the back of his hands to look at Gilbert through half-lidded eyes one more.

Gilbert seemed to come back from the world of overly confusing and extremely deep thoughts.

"Gilbert?" Sebastian asked, raising an eyebrow in playful confusion.

Gilbert blinked, trying to take in his surroundings. When he looked into Sebastian's face, his brow furrowed and he glared at him.

"Gilbert? What's-.."

"You still didn't answer my question." Gilbert growled. Sebastian sighed again, and closed his eyes.

At last! Some sign of weakness.

"Well? Answer me: What are you doing here?"

"Is it so bad that I wanted to see you again?" Sebastian asked, opening up his eyes once more. Red and gold met and did not break apart for several moments. For a quick moment, the golden-eyed youth thought he saw a spark in the others eyes. The spark was something that made him feel like falling into their depths so that he may never return to this world where all he knew was pain.

Gilbert had to look away or else he would have been lost entirely.

Not again. Not this time. His hands clenched into fits as he gritted his teeth.

"Why are you doing this to me, Sebastian?" He asked in a low voice, still not looking at the other.

"You stalk me for my whole life, fuck up my perception of reality, fuck me and then take off only to come back a year later?! Why?"

Gilbert dared to glance back at Sebastian. To his satisfaction, the other servant seemed slightly taken aback by the sudden change in the others attitude.

What Sebastian saw was a haunted warn-out looking young man; the same man that had tried (and failed) to kill him years ago. There had never been much of a cover-up, but it was still strange to see this side of Gilbert without much resistance. Sebastian recovered quickly from his shock. His eyes narrowed and his smirk dissolved into a deep frown. Why did he still not understand...?

"You make yourself sound like everyone else." Sebastian's eyes were cold; all amusement and playfulness gone from his voice. A new, dangerous smirk made the corner of his mouth twitch upward.

Gilbert blinked in confusion as Sebastian stood up from his chair and walked around the table to stand in front of Gilbert. Gilbert tried to back away from the other and his chair clattered to the floor leaving him to fall sideways out of the chair. Quickly, he untangled his legs from the furniture and scrambled backward, never taking his eyes away from Sebastian's. He managed to find his footing and stand up, but even then he was forced backward by the red-eyed man's slow decent upon him.

Sebastian was advancing on him like a predator would its prey. Gilbert was forced to back up into the corner of the room. His gun was in the top drawer of the dresser that stood just an arms reach away. Before he could make a dive towards the dresser, Sebastian shoved him roughly against the wall. He crushed the others body with his own to make sure he didn't move while his forced Gilbert's face upward with bruising strength, his fingers digging into his jaw.

Gilbert let out a yelp at the harshness Sebastian, but could do nothing to pull away no matter how hard he tried.

"You humans are under the strange impression that you are the only race capable of love." Sebastian snarled, his eyes glowing dangerously. "You think that just because I am a demon, my intentions are that of a monster. Am I not correct, Gilbert?" Sebastian said Gilbert's name as a snarl.

"D-Demon?" Gilbert whispered the word, his eyes widening. There was no way... Chains existed, but demons? Were there such creatures?

Sebastian chuckled darkly. As if answering the unasked questions racing through his mind, the room seemed to grow very dark. Gilbert watched in horror as black feathers floated through the air around the two figures. He wondered for a second if it was his doing, but that thought was pushed aside when Sebastian took a step back, his eyes glowing fiercely now; his smile menacing as more feathers floated around him until he was shrouded in darkness. Gilbert's breath caught in his throat. The only thing he could see of him now were glowing eyes and sparkling white teeth which seemed to be growing sharper at the K-9s.

Gilbert slid down the wall slowly until he was sitting on the floor staring at Sebastian, or what used to be Sebastian. The demon now stared down at Gilbert, and a smile broke out across his face.

A sadistic, demonic smile.

Feathers cascaded down all around him. Gilbert's hand twitched as black feathers stared to fly much less gracefully around him as well. He let out a strangled scream of pain and fear. Raven...

Sebastian's eyes widened as a large, black shape seemed to fly at him from nowhere. He dodged the beast, knocking over furniture as he did so. Again and again the thing dove at him with razor sharp claws. Sebastian took a swipe at it with his own gnarled claws, but the creature seemed to be made of smoke; his attacked went right through it. Sebastian landed in a hunched position on the floor on the far side of the house. Suddenly, the monster's beak snapped at his arm, which he had flung outward to try and stop the thing from coming at him. Blood spattered the wall as Raven's beak clipped through muscle tissue.

Surprised, the demon staggered backward. He looked around widely, black feathers pouring down around him, but the great bird had vanished just like that.

Realizing what had just happened, Sebastian's sanity came back to him and he changed back into his human form. He walked over and bent down next to he unconscious Gilbert still slumped against the wall. He had let his anger get the best of him. He had let the youth see his true side... His ugly side. He took his limp body in his arms and carried his over to the bed, gently placing him down on the soft mattress. Sebastian caressed the side of Gilbert's face with his uninjured hand. Seeing Gilbert, who was usually so stubborn not to let anyone see through the feeble disguise he had draped around his soul as a form of protection, sprawled on his bed, looking drained and frail stired that side of him who even his you master rarly saw. For an instant, He wanted to take advantage of Gilbert's weakness then and there. He pushed back at the force that was tuggin his backwards ttowrds loosing his mind again until it was gone to be replaced by a new feeling. Carring for his master for quite some time now, Sebastian was beginning to understand what it was like to be nurturing. He knew he would never feel as a human did, but this was as close to sympathy as he would ever get.

"Forgive me." He whispered, bending down to place a light kiss on the other's lips. When he straightened again, Sebastian turned around so that his back was to the sleeping human. He smirked slightly as he looked down at his bleeding arm. It would take until daybreak for it to heal completely, and that was slow for his recovery rate. As he inspected it closer, part of the bone was sticking out of the bloody gouge on his forearm. It was deep, and bleeding heavily.

"I knew you were different from your kind, Gilbert." He whispered as his eyes went from his wounded arm to Gilbert. The first time Sebastian had ever reviled himself to Gilbert, Gilbert had tried to shoot him. Now, he had been delivered an injury from the same person that would take a day ro so to heal over completly.

And with that, Sebastian the demon was gone. His last words still hung in the air. Words that Gilbert thought he had dreamed, for he had not completely blacked out until after Sebastian had left him to be alone again in the dark, untold hours of the early morning.

"That's why I love you."