Chapter 4

Gilbert's eyes opened slowly. He was laying face down against something soft and cool. It only took him a minute to realize that it was a pillow. His hand stung, and it felt weird... constricted, as if something had was wrapped around it.

That's right… The Nightray remembered vaguely how he had injured his hand while talking to Sebastian in the library. Said butler had bandaged the wound.

Sebastian… Where was Sebastian? Usually the mans aura was so over powering, Gilbert knew if he was near by. Then again... How many times had he been able to sneak up on him from behind? Gilbert was too comfortable to shudder.

Withdrawing from his thoughts, he noticed suddenly that he was indeed not alone; two all-too familiar voices were exchanging conversation.

The first voice he heard was his brothers, and he sounded worried. "What has happened to my brother, Sebastian?"

Like you really care.

"Young Master got angry and hurt himself while he was in the library. I am afraid that it was my doing. Please forgive me, Master Vincent." Gilbert imagined Sebastian bowing to Vincent as he addressed him.

"No matter." Said Vincent carelessly. "As long as all is well with him. But, I am afraid to say that he missed his afternoon meal. I was looking forward to having a chat with him. It seems as though big brother is too busy to speak to me anymore." Vincent let out a sigh. He could almost hear the pout in his tone.

"That is also my doing. He fell asleep right after I bandaged his hand."

"Well, dinner is almost ready, but I don't wish to wake him. He just looks so peaceful when he sleeps." Gilbert would have probably puked if he wasn't trying to pretend he was asleep. At the mention of dinner, Gilbert felt his stomach rumble, and hoped to god that it was inaudible to Vincent and Sebastian.

"Actually, Master Vincent, the Young Master awake and has been listening in on our conversation for quite some time." Sebastian said. The Nightray could feel both pairs of eyes on him now.

Shit! How did he…?

Gilbert felt hands bury themselves in his hair and caress him slightly. "Gil? Are you awake?"

Gilbert let out a groan. He was half temped to grab Vincent's arm and break it to keep him form touching him again. Like that would stop him. The creep. His voice was muffled by the pillow, and he did not try to keep the irritation out of his tone. "No."

"Oh good!" Vincent giggled. "Then I shall wait for you downstairs. Sebastian?"

"Yes?"

"Have him ready for dinner in five minutes."

"Yes, Master Vincent."

Gilbert was relived when he heard the door shut as his brother left him alone. He was not too happy, however, about the fact that he was now ONCE AGAIN alone. In the same room. As. Sebastian. The young Nightray rolled over and sat up on his elbows, sighing. When he looked over to the side of the bed closed to the door, Sebastian's face was less than an inch away from his, blocking his view of the door.

"It is not proper to sleep during the day time unless one is ill, Young Master." Said Sebastian, and, like always, grinning.

Gilbert stared at him, blinked twice, and then leaped backwards off the bed and slammed his back against the wall, looking panicked.

"Stop doing that!"

"Doing what, Young Master?" Sebastian said as he regarded him coolly.

Like you don't know?!

"Invading my personal space! Getting in my face when I'm not expecting it!"

"Is that an order?"

"Yes!" Gilbert said as he stood up and brushed himself off. He felt surprisingly cold standing there with the window behind him. He looked down and felt his face get hot. Instantly, he hunched over to cover the lower half of his body; all he was waring was a rather baggy button down shirt.

"And don't undress me without my permission!"

Sebastian chuckled. "That was Master Vincent's doing. Not mine."

"What?!?!?!" Now he was ready to kill someone. He crawled over to the bed and pulled himself under the sheets again so that his body was safely hidden. All the while he felt Sebastian's calm, and slightly amused, gaze on him. He shivered slightly when a sudden thought came into his head.

What if Sebastian can see through things?!

"Well, Young Master," Sebastian's words made Gilbert look up at him. "I do believe that you heard what Master Vincent said before he left…"

"That you should get me ready for dinner? I can do it myself." Gilbert growled as he narrowed his eyes and looked away from the tall butler.

"Very well."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sebastian bow and turn to walk out of the room.

"By the way, Young Master," Sebastian had stopped when he was one foot out the door. His back was turned to Gilbert as he continued. "I am honored that you think so highly of me, but no, I cannot see through solid objects."

Gilbert was left alone, white faced, mouth hanging open, and wishing he could jump out the window.

A few moments later Gilbert strode into the dinning hall. Spread out before his was a long table covered by a stainless white table cloth, covered with black and white rose petals. The silver from the two dinner plates set opposite from one another shone like new in the flickering candle light.

Why do we always have to eat in here? Gilbert thought as he stood for a moment in the doorway looking out at the room beyond. He saw Vincent sitting at his place with his face resting against his hand as he twirled a fork around and around on his fingers in a bored manner. It was always just the two of them when it came to eating meals. He knew there were smaller dinning rooms thought out the manor, why eat in here?

"Good evening, Young Master."

Gilbert jumped as Sebastian materialized out of the shadows. Vincent looked up and dropped the fork back on the table and smiled at his brother. The older youth was glad for the darkness that surrounded; now he would not have to plaster on a fake smile.

He looked from Vincent to the red-eyed butler, who was standing to the side and holding his arm out in a jester for him to come into the room. With even strides, Gilbert crossed the room without a second glance at Sebastian to sit down opposite his brother.

"I hope you don't mind if we have an extra guest tonight, Gil." Vincent said.

Gilbert looked up at him, one eye brow raised. Then, he understood what the multi-color-eyed teen was talking about: He had not seen her from the doorway, but a young girl was sitting on Vincent's lap. She didn't look much older than him, but she was a lot smaller, more fragile looking, too. "This," said Vincent proudly as if he was presenting some piece of artwork instead of a human girl, "is Echo."

So this was the girl Vincent had talked about before.

At the sound of her name, Echo looked up; large blue eyes stared at Gilbert.

"Hello." Gilbert said quietly. Inside, Gilbert felt nothing but pure and utter disgust aimed directly at his 'younger brother'. Just were did he get this girl from, anyway? He looked down at his plate... Anything to get the sight of his girl encased in Vincent's embrace out of his mind. He felt bad for this child that was to become Vincent's new play thing. He tried to amuse himself by thinking of Echo being a replacement for all the stuffed animals Vincent had shredded over the years, but instead found the thought more repulsive than the situation at hand.

It would have been better if I had just stayed in bed.

"Please forgive the wait Young Master and Master Vincent." Sebastian said from somewhere to Gilbert's left. A plate of food was put in front of him, and even though he no longer felt the least bit hungry, he ate.

Gilbert was not sure why he felt so empty. For once he was not thinking of Oz, or anything else. His mind was just… blank. He was slightly aware that Sebastian was somewhere close by, lurking in the shadows by the walls, but he didn't care.

few moments into dinner, Gilbert heard something from behind him that made him pick up his head. It sounded like a soft, quick hiss, like someone behind him had taken in a quick breath. But the only person that was behind him was... Had that been Sebastian? He turned around in his chair, and froze. There, on the floor a few feet away from him, crouched a small, black shape. Suddenly, it pounced, and Gilbert let out a yelp as little claws dug themselves into his chest and then leaped onto the table. The table cloth slid, the plated went crashing to the floor, flower petals floated through the air.

"What the-?!"

Gilbert's eyes went wide and he shrunk back in fear was the realization of what exactly that thing was sunk in.

"C-cat."

A cat was sitting on the table, looking at him with bright green eyes. He raised a shaky finger and pointed at it, all color draining from his face.

"How did that get in here?" Vincent asked. He had is arms wrapped around Echo, and had moved his chair back from the table to keep food from flying all over him. A figure black figure suddenly obscured Gilbert's view, and then was gone as quickly as it had appeared, the cat along with it.

"I am terribly sorry." Said Sebastian, bowing just as Gilbert was turning back to face him, eyes still wide and full of fear as the tinny fuzz ball mewed softly in Sebastian's arms. "Cat…. It's a damn cat." Gilbert's voice got higher pitched as he spoke.

Vincent let go of Echo and stood up, pulled her by the hand along with him as he went around the table and stood in front of Sebastian, bending down slightly so that he was nose to nose with the animal.

"Ohhh… Does it belong to you?"

"Yes, I am sorry. She has ruined dinner…" But Sebastian's apologizes, for once, went unnoticed. The cat blinked at Vincent, and then hissed, burring herself within the butlers vest.

"What's her name?" Vincent asked.

"I did not name her." Said Sebastian. "Please allow me to dispose of her outside." If Gilbert had not scrambled out of his seat and into the farthest corner of the room, he would have noticed the change in expression that came across his butler's face. The cold, emotionless grin was replaced by a deep frown, and he almost looked… Looked… Sad.

"No need." Vincent said as he straitened up, pulled Echo to his chest. He was smiling. "What a delightful little animal. Feel free to keep her."

Sebastian bowed, a look of relief flashed across his face. "Thank you very much, Master Vincent. I will go put her in my chamber so to not disturb your meal any longer."

"Gil?" Vincent seemed not to be listening. He was looking from side to side. "Gilbert?"

"What?" Gilbert croaked from his corner.

Vincent's smile grew as he set eyes on his older brother. "That's right. I had forgotten how much you were afraid of cats." He said laughing. "This should be fun!"

AN:

Hey, look! I fixed it! *dances*

Okay, next chapter will probably contain LEMONS along with the usual cup of tea. xD

Problem is I have no idea how long it will be for me to write it... A week, maybe? Oh well, guess you'll know when you know. Keep on the look out for Chapter 5!

Thank you for reading this far! ^^

-Thorn of the Rose