Master's gift

As the year drew its end, and the leaves change and fall, things become more relaxed around the Phantomhive manor. Well at least, they were. The brisk mid-September air had started to caress Ciel's face as he was carried home by his demon butler. Some intruders had come and kidnapped the young master and it was the butler's job to clean up the mess. "You should really be more careful next time," he spoke, carrying the young Earl in his arms like a baby. "I don't need your permission to walk outside of my own manor," Ciel protested, "I am the Earl of Phantomhive. I do as I please."

They arrived to the manor, and Sebastian followed Ciel up to his bedroom. His clothes had been damaged and stained with his blood, and he needed to change. "Shall I help you, young master?" the butler asked. "No," he answered, "I can do it on my own." To watch the young master struggle pleased the demon. He smiled at his turmoil; no matter how bad it had gotten, he would never ask for help. "You couldn't have come to get me sooner?" he asked, taking off his shirt and throwing it on the floor. "Your scent was lost in the others," his butler spoke, "Especially with you being surrounded by blood and dead animals." He turned around toward him. "Are you saying you can't find me when I'm in a slaughter house, surrounded by swine?" It seemed as if the conversation began to get heated. Sebastian tried his best to keep his composure but began to become enraged. "Young master, if you were more careful…" "More careful?" Ciel stopped putting on his clothes and stood across the room, "This is my manor! Let them come if they please. All you smell is death and blood. What kind of butler are you if you can't protect me?!" Sebastian clenched up his fist, and tried his best not to over react. "You're just a beast!" Within an instant, Sebastian was across the room, with his hand around Ciel's neck. For a moment, he was a beast, as he began to tighten his grip around the young one's neck. Ciel reached up and grabbed his hand, trying so hard to gasp for air. "Se-Sebastian…" His voice shaken by the lack of oxygen. The one young's voice reach the demon's ears and he snapped back into his normal state. He realized how hard he had been squeezing and quickly let go. Any longer and the young Earl would've had an asthma attack or even worse, would've snapped his neck. He held his hands up and the young dropped to the ground and tried to expand his windpipe. "I-I'm so sorry, Ciel…" He looked up at him, with his mix matched eyes, stunned that he would betray him. "I'm so sorry…" Sebastian removed his Phantomhive pin from his shirt. "I am not fit to be the Phantomhive butler." He placed the button on the night stand and exited the room.

Ciel laid there on the ground, in shock for what just happened. He didn't break the contract, so they were still forever bounded. The fact that he could let his instincts get the better of him like that seemed almost as a disappointment. And as he sat there to ponder his thoughts a little longer, he realized that it was maybe him who did something wrong. "Why did I say those things to him?" He was alone and he continued to push the only people who had been close to him away. He balled his fist and punched into the wooden floor below him. He unfolded his hand, his knuckles bloody from the impact. His eyes began to fill with sorrow and regret. His held his face in his hands and he released his pain alone in his room. Sebastian had never even thought of laying a hand on him, and he pushed him to this point. His voice still broken by the pain and breathing that hadn't been caught up yet, "I'm sorry, Sebastian. Please come back." Ciel had felt as if his companion had truly gotten tired of the way he treated him, while he finally realized he was more than a demon butler or his protector. He was his friend.

Sebastian walked outside and continued walking until he had come into the middle of the forest. He grabbed his head. What was wrong with him? His anger had become overbearing and he let out a vicious scream. He cared for the teen so much, how could he lay hands on him like that? Was he just a beast after all? He couldn't back to the manor, not just yet. His head had been out of order, along with his emotions; this being evident after a while. "What is wrong with me?!" he screamed, dropping to his knees. Crimson tears flooded from the demon's eyes. He had truly become attached to his master and couldn't stand doing such a thing to him. He speaks in whispers, his voice masked from the sound of his pain. "I want to love him…I want to tell him how I feel." If anyone was to hear this, he would be considered a fool. Demons don't love and most certainly didn't get connected to their prey. "I'm so sorry," he whimpered, this pain of holding it all back consumed him. It seemed that piling how he felt for the young master on top of his demonic urges was hard enough to control. It was almost as if being called a beast was the last breaking point. He could bottle these feelings all back up. He had already accepted what was to never come. He looked below him, the ground being stained with the tears of his sorrow. "Ciel…"

The day continues and with the situation gradually calming itself, and Sebastian returned to the manor. It was time for the young master's dinner to be prepared. He arrived in the kitchen to see the three of them, trying to make their own version of dinner, yet having lots of trouble. "Oh, Sebastian…" Baldroy dropped the spoon and awaited his punishment. "I know I wasn't supposed to touch the sweets." The butler slowly bypasses them and starts dinner. "Finian," he spoke, "I would like you to deliver the dinner to the young master tonight." Finny turned and watched as he held his head in shame heading to the ingredients laying on the table. "U-Um…ok, Sebastian." "Bard, just tell me what you were trying to make and I'll assist you." The three of them were shocked. What had gotten into him? Usually around this time, he would've kicked the three of them out of the kitchen the moment he stepped his foot into the door. "I wanted to try my hand making a red velvet cake for the young master, where it was big enough for us to have some. But the consistency of the batter is off and I don't know what I'm missing…" "Did you add eggs?" Bard stopped and thought. "Yea, but only one…" "Add two more." Feeling weird from this sudden appreciation toward him, he added two more eggs to the batter and began to whip again. "It's perfect, Sebastian. Thank you." Sebastian never took his eyes off of the vegetables he had been cutting. "The batter should be red," he added, "So add vanilla extract and crush up some strawberries and add it as well." Baldroy turned to him, his head never moved. "What's wrong, Sebastian?" he asked. "Mey Rin…" he called out to her, "Come help me with dinner." She dropped to her knees. "Mr. Sebastian….Why I…" "I just need you to come help me cook," the butler stated, "Nothing fancy. You don't have to setup the table all the time." She smiled and got off the floor. They all remained surprised, yet they loved helping him. "Wash your hands." Dinner was prepared and the three were happy once the cake was completed, even though they know the young master got the first piece.

The young Earl came down the steps after being escorted by Tanaka, who had returned to his old self just to fetch the young one. He sat at the head of the table, as the three servants stood behind him. "Where's Finny?" he asked. As he turned toward them, Finny walked out, rolling out his dinner and dessert. "I'm here, young master," he spoke, coming up to the table, "Tonight, you have a pot roast with roasted carrots and garnished potatoes and for dessert, a velvet cake with cream cheese icing." The Earl looked up to them. He was shocked. "You made this?" "No, sir," he spoke with a smile, "Mey Rin did." He turned toward her; her face blossomed from the accomplishment and acknowledgement. The young one took in a big gulp, for he had no idea what to expect. He slowly cut his food, and hesitantly, took a bite. His eyes widened with such flavor and preparation that displayed in his mouth. "This is great, Mey Rin," he stated as she giggled. "Thank you, young master. Sebastian watched as I did it all." "He was here?" Ciel turned back toward the table. "Where is he now?" he asked. "He said he had something he had to do. So he told me to deliver dinner, showed Mey Rin how to make it, and left Bard in change of dessert." "Baldroy!" He turned to look at the cart and the cake that was presented. The edges hadn't been scorched, nor the icing melted in anyway. "I am impressed," he stated, "I will be happy to try it." He slowly continued his food as his servants stood near him. For a moment, he stared at his plate. He wasn't alone. Though they were hired to protect and serve in the manor, they would do anything he asked. Not because it was their jobs, but because he gave them a place to call home. He gave them a place to come out of their trouble in the world and they looked at him as a dearest friend. If he had begun to consider Sebastian as a dearest companion, why not think of the others as well. "Please…" he called out to them, "Come join me." They looked at each other with surprise. "You mean, come eat with you, master?" "Do I need to repeat myself?" he spoke, taking in another forkful, "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity so I suggest you take it." They were pleased. They loved being able to eat at the same table as the young master. They didn't know what was going on, but they enjoyed this. "I'll get the dishes!" "No, Mey Rin," Baldroy stopped her, "I'll get them. Finny, get the wine. Mey Rin…sit down." She blushed. The two of them knew how hard it was to complete daily task, as much as they all did, and decided for her to take it easy. They came out and served her, followed by themselves. They sat there and giggled, happy from this joyous occasion, complimenting Mey Rin on her wondrous first try on cooking. Ciel couldn't help but laugh along with them. They all lived there together, why not embrace them once in a while? Sebastian had gone unappreciated as well. He had to make it up to him. All of them, including Tanaka, enjoyed Baldroy's lovely take on his red velvet cake, for it was cooked to perfection. In the middle of their eating, Finny stood up with his glass. "I'd like to propose a toast," he spoke with a smile as they all became silent. He looked to the young master for approval, and with his nod, he continued. "To serving the Phantomhive manor, from now until forever. To protecting our home." They all cheers, and Mey Rin stood. "To teamwork." Followed by Baldroy. "To mischief." After watching them all, the young master stood, "To friends." They gasped as he presented a grin and they giggled even more. "To friends!"

Ciel returned to his study as they cleaned up the mess. He walked in his room to see Sebastian, sitting on his window pane. "Sebastian…" The demon butler turned toward him, and stood. "Young master…" For a moment, there was silence. They had nothing to say. "Young master, I…" "No," Ciel interrupted, "You need not say anything." He reached in his pocket and held out a piece of paper toward the butler. Sebastian walked toward him, and took the gesturing, opening it and see what was inside. "What is this, my lord?" "It is a pass," he spoke, "Whenever you feel you need a break or something you would like to do, you will come to me and cash it in. No matter when or what it is you request, I shall not turn it down." The demon's mouth turned, slowly presenting into a smile. He got down on one knee and bowed toward his master. "Thank you, my lord," he spoke, "This is a most appreciated gift." Ciel slowly grinned, trying his best to hide it from him. "Now," he spoke while bending down and placing the Phantomhive pin on his jacket, "Shall you put me to bed? I am rather tired." It was like music to the demon's ears, to be addressed as something more than a beast. Ciel smiled, no longer being able to hide it. "Of course, my lord," he spoke, getting off the floor, "For that is the Phantomhive way." Ciel held out his arms, and his butler turned around, putting the young one on his back. As they stroll down the hallway, the butler spoke. "You seem like you missed me, young master." Ciel blushed, with the older one not being able to see it. "Don't ruin it, Sebastian." The butler could hear his embarrassment in his voice and held onto the young master tighter. "It's ok," he thought, while walking into the young Earl's bedroom and closing the door behind them, "I missed you too…"