Fireworks

It is New Year's Eve and Elizabeth has arrived to celebrate this special day while watching the fireworks. She steps her delicate foot from the carriage, and once it touches ground, almost dashes to Ciel. She jumps to him, barely knocking him down with her embrace. "Oh, Ciel~…" Her voice filled with bliss with him in her arms. "I've missed you so much." Tears start to run down her face as she lets go of him. "Are you crying already?" he asked, giggling. She smiled back. "Don't laugh at me," she spoke as she began to giggle, "I am very happy to see you, that's all." Ciel took his thumb and wiped her tears. "Come," he spoke as she put her hand in his, "Let's go relax for a while." She blushed. "Alright."

Ciel guided Lady Elizabeth into the manor as Sebastian watched from over them. He would want nothing but to have the master and his fiancée have a wondrous night. He guided her up the stairs and brought her to the study where they enjoyed fresh brewed tea. "So, how was the boat ride?" he asked as he sipped from his cup. "Oh, just dreadful," she spoke as her squeaky voice dropped hints of displeasure, "The boat rocked back and forth so awfully and made me sick the whole way." "That's what boats do, Elizabeth. They sway with the waves." She looked at the table as he placed down his cup. "I know that," she commented, "But there was a storm and it made the rocks so horrible. I couldn't stand it." "Well, you're on dry land now." She smiled and took his hand from across the table. "Ciel, what shall we do today?" she asked. "Well, since it'll be too crowded to go into town, we can't go and see the firework performances." She frowned. "Oh please, Ciel. I've waited all year…" "And that's why," he interrupted, "They are having them in front of the new Funtom toy store, where we can see it just fine from here." Her smile lit up the room. She nearly jumped over the table. "Oh, thank you, Ciel!" She puts her knees in her chair, reaching over while grabbing his face and kissing him. Her lips are warm and soft, with the scent of the blueberry tea she had just consumed. Ciel felt this; this warm compassion from her, yet it did not feel the same. When Sebastian had embraced him, it electrified him. He wanted more and didn't know why, yet didn't want to find out.

Elizabeth let his face go, and sits back down. "Ciel…why didn't you kiss me back?" she asked. He just stared into her deep green eyes. "Is something wrong?" How could he tell her? That her lips weren't the ones he craved for? "Nothing," he stated, putting on a fake smile, "I was just surprised, that's all." She smiled again; she believed him. "I'm sorry," she spoke while getting out of her seat, "Shall we try again?" Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "Young master, may I come in?" It was Sebastian. Ciel's heart begins to race. He couldn't let him see him like this. But like what? She knew nothing; in her eyes, everything was the same. He took in a deep breath and tried to relax. "Yes, come in." Sebastian opens the door as Ciel rises from his seat. "I apologize, my lord," the butler spoke, while bowing before them, "I just wanted to know your preference for dessert this evening." "I don't care," the young Earl replied as he turned toward Elizabeth, "Whatever you decide is fine." Elizabeth stayed there smiling. "What is it?" "Nothing," she said, getting closer toward him, "I'm waiting on my kiss." Ciel glanced behind him and saw that Sebastian was still there. He grinned. "Of course." Ciel caressed her face as he eased in and kissed her. Sebastian smiled, and walked out of the room. "I can't stand you kissing someone else, even if it is Lady Elizabeth." The young Earl lips stay connected to her. As he pulls away, he smiles. He's made her happy, yet he feels nothing. Nothing had felt the same; how did he know he truly loved her? She opens her eyes and blushes. "Oh Ciel~…" she speaks with satisfaction, "I love kissing you now." Ciel continued to smile, though the feeling she displayed for him were not given back.

The sun disappeared, and the darker the sky had gotten, the more anxious Elizabeth and the servants were beginning to get. They had all eaten and all was left was dessert which they had decided to wait until after the fireworks. "Come on, Ciel," Elizabeth called out to him, running through the front door. They had all gotten on their winter gear and gathered outside, for it was 11:50 and the display was about to begin. Ciel, hesitantly, walked outside and joined the others. They all stood at the bottom of the stairs, where the carriages pulled in front of the door so that they didn't have the top of the porch blocking their view. "I truly don't understand the deal about fireworks," he spoke as he stood next to her. "They are just simply amazing," she began to explained, "They fly into the air and explode into dazzling colors, making shapes and sometimes words. It's so magical. We should kiss right in the middle of it." Ciel took a hard swallow. It made things awkward for him when Elizabeth wanted to kiss him all the time now, and he didn't feel anything from it. No warmth coursed through his body or arousal. It was just a soft kiss that was so empty, it could mean anything.

The fireworks begin to fly in the air as everyone stood there with excitement. "Oh, they're starting, Ciel," Elizabeth spoke while taking a hold of his hand, "Aren't they amazing?" "I guess so," he answered. She turned toward him as they continued to burst and elude into different colors. "Let's kiss now, Ciel." He looked at her. "What is with you and kissing?" he asked. "It's a special moment. Wouldn't you like to have your first kiss with me in the New Year?" she countered. He pondered. "Okay, Lizzie," he said, holding both her hands, "But no more after this. It won't make it special unless we treasure it." "Oh, but I do, Ciel. I love them," she spoke as she looked in his eye, "I love you, Ciel." His heart started to beat. He didn't want to disappoint her. If he was supposed to learn to love her, then he would do anything. "I love you…" Just before he speaks her name, he glances and sees Sebastian standing in the doorway of the manor. He couldn't help but have his hands become sweaty. Those feelings he got with Sebastian only came when he was near, no matter how many times he kissed Elizabeth and told her he loved her. "Sebastian…"

"Sebastian?" Lizzie stared at him for a while. "Why did you call me Sebastian?" His heart dropped in the pit of his stomach. "Did I just call her Sebastian? Out loud?" His mind begins to race. Quickly, he finds a backup. "Oh…No, Lizzie," he stuttered, hoping this would work, "I forgot to tell you I told Sebastian to make us a cake…" She looks at him for a while. "Are you sure?" she asked again, while the fireworks masks the content of their conversation, "I could've sworn I heard you say you loved Sebastian." "Oh no," he fibbed, "I said, 'I loved you too' and then meant to say that Sebastian is making us a cake. You see? He's right there." Ciel points to the doorway and he was gone. "Wh…" "Never mind the cake, Ciel," Elizabeth interrupted, "Kiss me." Ciel sighs. He could've swore he saw him at the door. He, once again, combines his lips with his betrothed. She pulls back and looks to the sky. "This is a lovely night." "Yes," he spoke looking up as well as she held his hand, "It is a happy night."

Since it had become too late to send Lady Elizabeth home, the young Earl had her set up in one of the guest rooms for the night when the fireworks display ended, having her parents come and fetch her in the morning. Sebastian runs the young one water for a late bath. His emotions had been tearing him apart and it became exhausting. As Ciel walked into the bathroom, Sebastian stood from checking the temperature. "Your bath is ready, young master," his butler declared as Ciel took off his shoes. Sebastian reaches out his hand to help the young master undress. "No, Sebastian," he interrupts. Sebastian's eyes widen. "Is there something wrong?" he asked. "I...I can do it by myself on this night," he spoke while taking off his eye patch. Sebastian remains puzzled. "What would you have me do, my lord?" he asks again. "Just…stand outside the door and leave the candle." The butler looks at him in his mix matched eyes. He hadn't never been asked such a request. "Did…did I do something wrong, my lord?" "No…" Ciel looks away from him. He can't stand lying to someone who had been racing in his mind. He just thought that the idea of Sebastian seeing him naked would make it worse. "I just want to be alone while I take my bath," he stated, "That includes taking my clothes off on my own." Sebastian takes a swallow. What had he done? It seemed as if the more his emotions had been changing, the more the affected his actions. "…That's an order." He cannot disobey him. Sebastian takes the towel and lays it gently on top of the toilet. He bows toward his master, and begins to exit. "Just wait outside until I'm finished, then you can hand me my night clothes through the door." Sebastian displayed a fake smile and opens the door. "As you wish, my young lord."