Dose of Reality

The house was up early to prepare for the day's activities. Sebastian couldn't help but have his eyesight linger on the master throughout the day. Ciel would catch him, and in some way, would become irritated. "What are you staring at?" he would ask. The butler would snap out of his daze, realizing that he had been lingering and hadn't completed his task. "Nothing," he replied, "I apologize, my lord." Ciel turned his back toward him, and headed toward the kitchen. "Shouldn't you be putting up the decorations instead of daydreaming?" "Yes, my lord." He followed him into the kitchen to see what trouble the other three had caused. "Everything seems to be in order," Ciel spoke, "Except…MeyRin, you're using shoe polish again." She looked down to see that all the silverware was covered in black soot colored polish. "Oh! I'm so sorry, young master!" She exclaimed, "I shall correct this right away." The young Earl rubbed his forehead. "See to it nothing goes wrong on this day," he states, walking away from them, "I don't need any silly disasters to make her unhappy on her birthday." "Yes, my lord," he spoke again, turning away from him and looking into the kitchen. Baldroy, Finny, and MeyRin all shook in their shoes. They knew what was coming, what to expect, and what would happen if anything went wrong. "You three need to be on your best behavior on this day," Sebastian said to them, "And to insure that request, I shall oversee all your duties, unless the young master needs me to assist him." They continued to finish their jobs cautiously; they had never had Sebastian watch over them before, let alone not have anything to do to insure watching them.

A new tailor, Mrs. Aberdean arrived. She was Swedish and didn't speak a word of English, which made the plans for a new wardrobe more annoying than usual. Sebastian walked into the study, to see Ciel in a corset. His mind flashed back to the night when he went undercover to investigate the Vicount and the Jack the Ripper murders. He giggled, trying his best to hide his amusement. Ciel, catching in the middle of his discovery, became enraged. "Why are you just standing there?!" he yelled, with barely any breath in his body, "She's trying to kill me." The butler approached his master in his painful state, and pulled out a knife. "I think we've already been over this," he spoke, taking the knife and cutting the main string in the back of the corset, watching it unravel, "I don't believe a person has never died from a corset alone." The fashion piece came undone, and Ciel was allowed to breathe. He dropped to the ground, letting his chest expand again as the tailor began yelling in her native language. "What is she saying?" the young Earl asked, trying his best to pick himself up and keep from losing consciousness. "I'm not quite show," he said, "I was never fluent in Swedish. I can write it fairly well though." Sebastian grabbed a pencil and her sketchpad and taking a few moment to write something down, showed it to her. She smiled, and hugged him tightly. "What did you say to her?" the young master asked, taking off the remainder of what he labeled, a death device. "I just told her what she needed to reconsider her current sketch," he answered, pushing the woman off of him, "I shall return to the rest of the preparations. Everything shall be perfect on this night." He bowed as the tailor got back to sketching and headed out of the study.

He paced himself down the long hallway, thinking of last night's dream. "It all felt so real. I felt everything," He repeated in his mind over and over, posturing where it could've come from. "His hands, his skin, his lips…" He was convinced that this wasn't an ordinary dream, but a strong desire instead. The warmth in his neck slowly cruised down his chest and passed his bellybutton. "What I spoke to him…was it all real? Do I love him? Or is it just a cover up to devour his very being?" He continued to the front hall, where he hung the streamers and bows. "She shall be happy on this night," he spoke while completing this task. "For making her happy shall make the young master happy."

The sun set, and Elizabeth's chariot strolled down the pathway. On the front, there stood Sebastian and Tanaka to greet her. The young Earl's word replayed in his head, as a reminder not to mess this up. "This is a surprise party. Don't make it seem as if anything was planned. Just wait for her by the door." No sign of the event was displayed outside. Ciel had secretly invited everyone they know. Lau, the undertaker; even Elizabeth's personal aid, Paula knew about the surprise and secretly packed her bells for the travel. The only thing they needed was Lady Elizabeth herself. She stepped out of the carriage in a hurry, Paula following behind her. "Hello, Sebastian," she spoke, with grace in her voice as always. "Good evening, Lady Elizabeth," he greeted while bowing toward her and displaying his hand, "I'm glad you are well." "I just had a cold. I didn't want to be sick for today," she stated, "Does Ciel know what today is?" The word's echo in his ears. "Don't make it seemed as anything is planned…" The butler smiled as she presented herself in front of him. "No, Milady," he answered, "Is today something important?" Her gracious smile disappeared and sadness was soon displayed. "H-He doesn't?" Her eyes watered and she became upset. Paula, standing behind her, tried her best to hold in her excitement. "How couldn't he know?" She exclaimed as tears came down from her emerald eyes, "Did he not tell you?" "No, Milady," Sebastian reassured, "I am simply here to escort you inside." She cried silently while grabbing his hand. The butler turned toward the entrance, guiding the birthday girl along, and opened the door.

"Surprise!" Elizabeth's eyes widened. Her smile had returned as she pondered her lovely surroundings. Streamers, bows and candles lit up this large entry way and waited for her presence. All of the Phantomhive servants and her acquaintances were in front of her, smiling and dressed cutely. And there, just feet in front of her, stood Ciel in his new, gold and red garnished outfit. She looked up to the butler who was holding her hand. "Sebastian, you fibbed." He smiled, looking down at her. "Not on purpose, Milady," he spoke while putting on his pink bonnet she had given him before, "I was under orders to do so." She smiled. She was happy that everyone remembered, especially Ciel. He walked over toward them, noticing her red and swollen eyes. "Look at you," he spoke, pulling out his handkerchief and wiping her face, "You've gotten yourself all upset and you didn't even come across the doorway." She giggled. "Sebastian told me that you had forgotten." He wiped her eyes and her nose and placed it back in his pocket. "You must stop reacting so aggressively," Ciel told her, "How I could I have forgotten the day you graced this Earth with your beautiful smile?" Elizabeth blushed, and smiled as hard as she could. "Happy Birthday, Elizabeth," he spoke as he looked into her eyes, "This is all for you." He took her hand and guided her forward as the guest began to sing her a happy birthday song.

Dinner was presented, with Lady Elizabeth seated at the head of the table. Afterward, Sebastian presented the manor with a large cake, and candles. She climbed upon a stool and stood in front of all her guest as the candles were lit. "Now Elizabeth, on the count of three, you shall make a wish on your birthday cake and blow out the candles." Her cheeks blossomed, as her betrothed stood beside her. "Ready? One…two…three!" She closed her eyes and wiggled her nose. "I wish for Ciel to be happy…" And in an instant, blew out her candles. They clapped for her and Paula rang her bells. She was truly happy on this day and couldn't ask for more. Soon after cake, music began to play from the entertainment that had been hired. Ciel walked over to the birthday girl, and held out his hand. "Will you honor me with a dance?" he asked. She looked up at him from her seat, and grabbed his hand. As the music played, they were the only ones to twirl and dance on the floor. As the night when on, more and more graced their presence with dance. "I love this night, Ciel," she spoke, "This is the greatest present anyone could have given me." "But it isn't over." He reached in his pocket and pulled out a box. Her eyes lit up as he opened it and pulled out the deep blue necklace. "Oh Ciel! I love it!" She turned around and placed her hand upon it as he put it around her neck. "Now, we shall have matching pieces," he said, "My ring to your necklace." She smiled, not letting the piece go. Gradually, her happiness began to fade. "Ciel, I have to tell you something…" she spoke. He looked at her, noticing that she was no longer bubbly as she usually was. He held her hands, hoping that this would please her.

From across the room, Sebastian watched as the young master held his beloved. He smiled, for he was happy for them and realized his feelings would never be brought into reality. "I am merely a demon butler," he reminded himself while stepping away from the party. He had finally realized that what he hoped for was a fantasy and would never happen. "We are sworn only by contract. And at the end of our agreement, I shall devour his soul." His chest became enflamed with pain; he had held in his craving for so long, only to be brought back to the state he should have never left. "He cannot love me," he repeated to himself. He was shot down from his desires, deeper than what the naked eye could see. "He is a noble. For I am nothing but a beast…"

"What is it, Elizabeth?" He grew concerned as they stood there in the middle of the dance floor with their guest, spinning and twirling around them. "I am leaving…" Just then, the music stopped, the hands applauded around them, and they returned to their seats. The two of them remained standing, confronted with a painful truth. "Leaving?" he repeated, "What do you mean, leaving? Going where?" She looked into his dark blue pools and tried her best to remain cute for him, not letting her tears become evident. "My mother is sending me to an all girl's prep school in Germany, where I shall learn many of things that I cannot learn here." His heart stopped for a moment, it seemed as if time did as well. He had finally realized that he had cared for her the way she cared for him, only to have her leave his grasp. "F-For how long?" "3 years…" "3 years?" He became enraged. How could they take her away like that? The only one left who truly loved him. "I shall be back for the holidays, like this coming Christmas and Thanksgiving, and Halloween and New Years as well." He dropped to his knees. His pain of abandonment filled him as he held her hands tightly. She dropped down along with him, for it was hard for her to deliver this news, and if she had her way, she would stay. "I'm so sorry, Ciel," she spoke to him while her face poured with overflowing regret, "I don't want to leave. I'll miss you so much." He looked at her, her face now buried in her hands. He smiled and pulled up her face. "Please don't cry," he requested, "I shall miss you. That is all. Halloween isn't too far away now is it?" She smiled and wiped her face. He stood and helped her to her feet. "When do you leave?" He asked. "In a week," she answered. "Then I shall take you on a joyous picnic the day before and take you to the docks on that morning to see you off." She smiled and hugged him tightly. His mouth turned into a grin, and he slowly returned her gesture. "Would you do that for me, Ciel?" He held her tighter, not caring about the tears that dripped onto his jacket. "Yes, you are a birthday princess and I shall teach you as such." Sebastian walked back into the ballroom to see them embracing each other in the middle of the room. He watched as the young master pulled apart from her and kissed her on the cheek. He smiled, for he was happy for them, no matter how much pain it caused on the inside.

Night covered the sky and the moon rose high as the guest began to leave. Ciel, himself, escorted Lady Elizabeth into her carriage. "Thank you so much, Ciel," she spoke, "I loved it all." He kissed her rose blossom cheeks once more as she secured herself in her seat across from Paula. "I shall come and pick you up from your manor next week," he said with a smile, "Just make sure you look cute for me." She blushed a little more and smiled as hard as she could. "Right!" He closed her door, and she was off, trolling down the candlelit pathway into the night. As they watched her chariot disappear into the forest, Ciel's smile disappeared along with it. "Sebastian…" he called out, standing beside him. "Run me a bath. I need to soak after such a night." He walked into the manor and his butler bowed. "I am your butler," he stated, "and I shall do as you wish."

Before the night was over and after Sebastian had put him to bed, Ciel walked out onto the porch with a small candle, wrapped in a bow and a small piece of cake. He looked to the sky and embraced the cold night's presence. "I didn't want you to think I forgot today," he spoke aloud, looking up into the star filled sky. The brightest star twinkled, as if it knew he was addressing it. "Today has just been so busy." He took a seat on the step and sat down the candle, and placed the cake in his lap. Lifting a forkful to the sky, he spoke, "Here's to you on your special day" and took a bite. He slowly placed the bow wrapped candle on top of the slice and watched the fire burn. "Happy birthday, mother…" And as a smile came across his face and a tear down his eye, a strong gust of wind blew past him, carrying the flame and his tear along with it.