AN: Hey you guys! This chapter is really short! I'm so sorry . I wanted to write more, but it was really hard for me to even write what's there now (boo depression uwu) But here it is!

Chapter 6

A dreamless, no, nightmare-less night, was a foreign concept to the blind Phantomhive. Even on his medication, the nightmares still lingered. Yet in them, he could see, he had seen the world with two eyes once before. But oh how he wished that he couldn't.

Ciel woke up in a cold sweat, panting in short breaths as he adjusted to his surroundings… It was the fifth time that he'd startled awake that night. It was become a nuisance, truly. All he wanted was normal sleep. Well his normal included maybe one or two vivid nightmares… surely not five. He couldn't even remember a time when he had slept undisturbed the whole night through.

Ciel knew that sleeping without his medication would be a lost cause, so he decided to re-listen to Sebastian's recording as a distraction. He reached over to his nightstand, and felt the items on his desk. He'd found one, but after briefly running his hand over its surface, realized that it wasn't it. He ran his fingers over the others as well, searching for the tape. When his efforts proved fruitless, he retreated with a tired sigh.

Someone took Sebastian's tape He thought.

"No." he corrected aloud. "Someone took my tape."

Ciel laid in silence, despite knowing what it inevitably brings.

Who could've taken my tape? He thought. And why?

He ultimately shrugged off the thought, and instead settled further into the blankets.

Yet as he sat in the silence, he could do nothing against the intruding thoughts. It was like a record that he couldn't stop, forever spinning, spinning, spinning…

His thoughts slowly rolled back to the fire… He could feel the flames' boiling touch even now. The swelling heat spread through his forearm, sending a surge of shivers in its place. Then there was the memory of burning, putrid flesh… slowly wasting away under the fire's cruel contact.

Ciel's stomach churned. He could feel the warm bile slowly rise.

"No." he quaked.

But it was too late. Before he knew it, he was dashing into his bathroom, frantically searching for the toilet. When his foot came in contact with the smooth porcelain, he threw his body over the bowl and emptied out his insides. He convulsed lightly as he wretched, tears stinging the corners of his eyes.

Finally, when there was nothing left but stomach acid, Ciel collapsed back down on the ground. He brought his knees to his chest, breathing in short pants. His throat burned from use and his head was pounding.

He hung his head in between his knees and groaned.

He sat on the cold bathroom floor, slowly rocking his body for hours on end. And he didn't even notice the church tolls, and then finally, the bedroom door opening.

"Ciel?" a voice called out.

At the call of his name, Ciel slowly raised his head. Yet he didn't respond, he simply continued to rock.

Ciel heard heavy footsteps approach the bathroom, and when the bathroom door was opened, the intruder gave a long, exasperated sigh.

"You made a mess." The voice said coldly.

Ciel cringed when he recognized who it was.

"Dr. Faustus." He murmured.

Claude then inwardly grinned at the sight. The boy was rocking himself in a fetal position, nightgown stained in bile. His hair was slicked with sweat and his cheeks glistened from pained tears.

And in Claude's eyes, Ciel couldn't be any more beautiful.

Claude kneeled down next to Ciel. He ran his hand through the young boy's hair, causing him to flinch at the touch.

"I n-need my m-medication back." Ciel stuttered weakly.

Claude smirked. "Nonsense." He teased. "You probably just contracted a stomach virus."

"You bloody know this is not just a stomach virus!" Ciel hissed.

"Now." Claude chuckled. "What are you suggesting?"

Ciel growled. He paused then finished "What do you want from me?"

Claude stood back up and wiped his pants off with his hands. He paused then thought for a moment, looking over the young boy beneath him.

Should I? Claude thought.

Before Ciel could protest, Claude bent down and scooped him in his arms. Ciel shuddered at the touch, yet was too worn out and weak to protest. All he could do was spit out a harsh "Put me down you bastard!"

Claude ignored his protests and instead laid Ciel gently back down on his bed. After the boy was settled underneath the covers, Claude slipped something into Ciel's palm.

"What's' this?" He asked.

Claude adjusted the glasses that rested on the bridge of his nose. "It's your medication."

Ciel sneered. "What? I thought you were going to take me off of it?"

"I might take you off of it again, but for now, you can have it." He shrugged.

Ciel hesitantly felt the pill in his palm. "How do I know that you won't kill me?"

"Why would I want to kill a patient?"

Ciel simply gave a small nod of his head. He then hesitantly placed the pill to his lips. Once swallowed, he spoke up, saying gradually.

"Why now? Why give it back to me now?"

Claude slowly sauntered to the exit. And before he closed the door behind him, he replied smoothly "Not yet, Ciel." "Not yet."

The second Claude exited Ciel's bedroom, he cursed quietly to himself.

"Damn it." He hissed.

He then walked briskly back to his office, doctor's coat fluttering lightly behind him. When he stepped into the room, he nearly collapsed on to his chair with a tired sigh.

Resting his face in his palm, fingers splayed over his eyes, he muttered "Too soon."

I shouldn't have taken him off of his medicine so soon. He thought.

He knew that Sebastian was supposed to return to his normal schedule today, and if he saw Ciel in distress like that, Claude would surely get in trouble.

"I rushed the plan." He grumbled aloud. "I'm going to have to figure out another way to do this…" he continued.

Claude thought in silence, drumming his fingers on his desk out of force of habit. "Maybe?..." Claude whispered.

He then shook his head, "No, No, that won't work. I want his emotions raw." He decided.

Moments of silence passed, then another: "Will that work?"

Again, he shook his head.

After thinking for a bit longer, suddenly a devious grin crept to his lips. He chuckled dryly and lifted his head.

He then reached for his laptop, and began his routinely paper work.

"Let's see how long the little Phantomhive can hold…"

Though Ciel was grateful to have his medication back, he was suspicious of Claude's intentions.

Ciel knew nothing else about the Doctor except for his name and that he sounded very similar to Sebastian. Both voices were deep and seductive, yet to Ciel's ears, very distinct.

While Sebastian sent shivers down his spine, they were warm, and kind in their own way. Claude was just too eerily familiar for the young boy to handle.

And when Ciel's door opened, and a smooth-voiced "hello" was heard, he couldn't help the color that spread to his cheeks.

"Sebastian?" Ciel asked timidly.

Ciel heard heavy footsteps approach his bedside, following with a, "Yes, Ciel. It's me." Sebastian replied tenderly, sitting down in the chair beside the young boy's bed. He then reached for Ciel's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Ciel melted in to Sebastian's touch, cheeks dusted a pale pink. "I'm glad you're back…" he wearied.

Sebastian gave a gentle smile. "Me too. I'm sorry I haven't seen you in a couple days, I've been extremely busy."

"It's okay…"

A stiff silence settled in the room. That is, until Sebastian looked over the young boy, giving a relieved sigh.

"I'm glad to see that you're okay Ciel. told me you had a bit of nausea. But don't worry; I've brought some antibiotics that should help." Sebastian soothed.

Ciel immediately flinched.

"Ah... Yea." Ciel sighed. "But I'm feeling fine now. I must've eaten something bad last night or something…" he shrugged.

Sebastian hesitantly replied with a wavering "Alright, well let me know if you need to go to the nurse." Yet he could detect something in Ciel's tone… but he couldn't place it. So instead of thinking more about the matter, he shrugged it off as nothing.

"Did you get my tape?" Sebastian asked.

Ciel nodded his head. "Yea, thank you for giving it to me. I listened to the whole thing."

"The title of that book was The Scarlet Letter."

Ciel shrugged. "I thought as much… It was a dull novel all in all for me, though I enjoyed listening to your voice." By the end of his sentence, Ciel immediately blushed at his choice of words. He didn't mean to sound like some lovesick, hormonal teen…

Sebastian simply smirked. He lifted Ciel's chin with his finger and leaned in, lips merely hovering over Ciel's own. "Did you…?" he purred.

Ciel flushed and pulled his face away from the older man's own. "Don't do that!" he shrieked, yet with no real malice.

Sebastian chuckled lightly. "Hey Ciel." He tossed.

Ciel pouted. "What?"

"Want to go get some ice-cream?"

Ciel shifted his weight on the mattress. He cocked his head then leaned in closer, "What?"

"Do you want to go get some ice-cream?" Sebastian repeated.

"You do know I'm a patient in a mental asylum right? Like that means I can't go anywhere-"

"I know." Sebastian interrupted. "The asylum's cafeteria just brought in some ice-cream, so I was thinking you'd want to get some."

Ciel scoffed. "Why would I want to do that? I am perfectly fine where I am." he stated firmly, crossing his arms.

"C'mon Ciel. You know you can't resist ice cream." Sebastian teased.

Ciel gave a childish "Humph". He turned his body away from Sebastian's voice and replied "I. Am. Not. Moving. From. This. Spot."

Sebastian's eyes flickered dangerously. With a silky "You're move." he fluidly lifted Ciel off of the mattress and into his arms. He cradled Ciel's back, holding him as some would describe as "bridal style".

"Put me down…!" Ciel shrieked.

Sebastian then halted. "Will you walk with me to get ice cream? I mean you don't have to of course, I was just thinking that you'd might want to." Sebastian toyed.

Ciel groaned. "Are you serious?"

"Very." Sebastian replied firmly, strong arms still wrapped around the boy's dainty frame.

Ciel paused, and then retreated with a tired "Fine. I'll get ice cream."

Sebastian grinned. "Will you let me carry you?"

Ciel flushed. "N-no! Now set me down you pervert!"

AN: This chapter was more of a filler for the drama to come! :o So stay tuned for the next chapter.

Ily