All Good Things Come To An End

Note: Hello again loves. I've always tossed around the idea of Ciel's parents still being alive and in hiding somewhere and given more recent manga chapters, this seems to be a growing possibility. This oneshot details an AU where Ciel's parents are alive and had faked their deaths.

In this piece, Ciel is somewhere in his mid to late teens and the contract between him and Sebastian was sealed with a kiss ;) I had been tossing around the idea of turning this into an actual fic but I just don't have the time to devote to another fic right now (of course, perhaps in the future, I may return to this idea). For now though, this will remain a oneshot.

Also, this oneshot is a bit darker (and much longer) than the other ones I've done. There are two character deaths and they are a bit violent. You have been warned.

Enjoy and please excuse any typos.

"F-father?" Ciel's tiny voice wobbled unstably as he gazed at the tall sleek and familiarly warm man before him. His heart had stuttered in his chest as if an invisible villain had just wrapped its hand around it and squeezed ruthlessly. "Mother?"

"Hello son." The man's voice sounded exactly as Ciel remembered it in his hazy dreams of simpler and purer times. Dark and rich like Funtom chocolates, that was how Ciel described it as a child.

"Oh, Ciel." The woman beside the man cooed, gentle and sweet, just like his mother used to when Ciel had been injured during play or suffered from a nightmare. "My darling boy, you've grown so much."

"Dispel this illusion at once, Sebastian! This is cruel! Kill whoever is on the other side of it, I want them dead!" Ciel realized that he was shrieking his command when his throat ached in protest. Who would dare tease him, an Earl and known watchdog of the queen, in such a disgustingly cruel manner? Ciel had never been so furious, never. To use the image of his dead parents, both of whom he had loved so dearly and were the source of his desire for violent revenge, this was unforgivable.

But Sebastian remained still at Ciel's side and did not say a word. Ciel spun around, fully prepared to reprimand his demon servant for disobeying and not acting quickly enough but Ciel paused when he noticed that absolute expression of loathing on the demon's usually composed face. The demon's eyes were glowing a burning crimson and his fangs were exposed, peeking out from under his snarling lips. Ciel had not often seen Sebastian look so feral and angry, the demon prided himself on his strict and professional self control after all and never allowed his personal emotions to interfere with his duties. Now, however, Ciel was frightened.

"Sebastian, what is the meaning of this?" Ciel questioned softer now, unconsciously he stepped back from his demon. He could feel the creature's fury rolling off him like steam, suffocating him.

Sebastian's furiously bright eyes turned their gaze to Ciel, glaring as if the boy had said something quite offensive. "This is no illusion, young master." He growled, acid practically dripping from his mouth, "Those are none other than your assumed dead parents."

"T-that's impossible! It has to be a trick or some sort of magic. My parents were murdered, I saw the b-bodies! And even if by some miracle they had survived, they would have found me by now! They wouldn't have left me to rot in that place!"

"It was a necessary sacrifice." Vincent interrupted, his eyes cast downward in shame and his voice trembled with regret. "If we had come for you, they would have known that we were still alive."

"You have no idea how horribly we've missed you, Ciel." Rachel cried, two dainty and sparkling tears dripped down her face, an elegant display that Ciel believed to only be possible in the flowery poetry of noble ladies and lost love that Sebastian forced him to read for his literature lessons.

Vincent placed a comforting arm around Rachel's thin waist and hugged her to his side, never once taking his eyes off Ciel. "We have never stopped thinking about you, my son." The man's voice was firm and somber, tinged with a painful sadness that made Ciel's heart stop. "Your mother and I, we made some terrible decisions, trusted the wrong people, and dabbled in matters that mortals have no business in."

Rachel's face paled drastically as she wiped at her eyes with one slender finger. "We were naive and foolish." She whimpered, "We wanted too much and we were willing to do anything to get it. We made deals with vulgar creatures and-" She could not bring herself to continue, instead choosing to bury her face in the fine fabric of her husband's coat.

Vincent patted her back gently. "Suffice to say we were selfish and prideful. We dug our own graves and when they came for us that night, we had but only a few hours to plan before they were to invade and murder us all." Vincent swallowed hard, looking utterly shameful and appalled at his own past behavior. "We requested the help of Undertaker, a dear friend of our family who possessed unique talents, to help us fake our deaths. These people would never stop hunting us if we simply fled so we had to make a convincing death scene."

Realization dawned on Ciel as he listened to his father's shameful recount of what had happened all those years ago, on the night that had ruined Ciel's life. The bodies he had seen strewn across the sofas in the study, the pungent scent of burning flesh that filled his nostrils, the utterly horrifying scene that his young eyes had beheld, was a fake. But the tortures he had experienced afterwards had been anything but.

"You left me behind!" Ciel cried, "You abandoned me! Left me for those people to torture me, to use me in their demented endeavours, to utterly ruin me!"

Rachel emitted a loud broken sob at her son's harsh words but Vincent remained strong, his eye only twitching minutely. "We wanted to take you with, you must understand. We love you, Ciel. You are our son and we wanted nothing more than to protect you. We were depending on Undertaker to take you under his wing, to protect you. He promised he would. But we should have known better. Undertaker never did anything for the Phantomhives unless it benefited him personally. That was our mistake."

"Oh, Vincent! What fools we were! Such ignorant fools!" Rachel cried inconsolably. "Look at the company our son was forced to keep! The protection he was forced to seek out! A demon! A foul demon!"

Ciel started as did Sebastian beside him who, up until that point, had remained disturbingly still and quiet.

"Hush, Rachel." Vincent scolded her softly, his eyes still never leaving his son. "Listen to me, Ciel. This demon, this creature that you have turned to, you must dismiss him at once. Associating with his kind, making deals and the like, is exactly what lead to your mother's and my having to flee. Demons can never be trusted. They all turn on you eventually, too wild and despicable for their own good."

Sebastian chuckled, dark and furious. Ciel cringed but did not distance himself from his butler.

"Pathetic human," Sebastian addressed, his voice now guttural as if swimming through water, "You speak of me as if I am some rapid house pet that has bitten its master. How utterly ridiculous and hypocritical. Although that has always been the folly of man, all of you creatures are hypocrites. So quick to turn to the supernatural for aid, to grant you your insignificant little wishes, but when it's time to pay up you all run and hide like frightened children."

Vincent stepped forward, pushing his wife behind him. "You may have manipulated my son into buying your honeyed words and convincing promises but you cannot fool me. The Phantomhive family has long dealt with demons and other such terrifying creatures of Hell. You do not frighten me and I will not allow you to hold my son hostage any longer!"

"Hostage?" Sebastian laughed bitterly, "This boy willingly called out to me with his soul, he accepted the terms of our agreement and sealed it with a most passionate kiss." The demon added smugly, "I have served him dutifully ever since. There was no manipulation involved in our relationship. We have always spoken plainly to one another and acted honestly. My young master knows where this will end as do I and there are no hurt feelings over it. It's just business, a sentiment he clearly did not inherit from his father."

Vincent's face twisted, insulted, but quickly regained composure. "You speak like a true sophist, demon, as does all of your brethren." Turning his gaze back to Ciel, he spoke earnestly, "Son, listen to me. I know you are angry, you have suffered greatly because of us, but I can save your from your damnation. You do not have to relinquish your soul to this beast. The Phantomhive have ways of breaking these deals, of banishing these creatures back to the Hell from which they came."

Sebastian roared, cutting off any reply that Ciel may have given, and disappeared in a black blur of motion towards Vincent. The elder Phantomhive was prepared, however, and jumped out of the way with inhuman speed, Rachel tightly gripped in his arms.

"S-stop! Sebastian, stop!" Ciel screamed but his command fell on deaf ears as Sebastian once again, leapt at the human couple.

Rachel shrieked in horror as Vincent flung her to the side and turned to face Sebastian head on. It wasn't much of a match, of course, but when Sebastian thrust his arm through Vincent's chest, Ciel lost all composure and fell to his knees.

"Stop! Sebastian, please! This is an order! STOP!"

There was silence, only the sound of warm, thick, blood splattering against the cobblestone ground and Vincent's ragged, pained, breaths filled the night's brisk air. All was still. No one moved.

Until Rachel began screaming. It was a terrible sound, something like out of a gothic novel, tortured and beyond sanity. Rachel crawled on her knees, her once virginal white dress now soaked with mud and crimson blood that flowed down the road in a twisted river. Her blue eyes were hollow, as if they could not see, her hands gripped Vincent's pants as if he were her only anchor holding her to this earth. And all the while, she never stopped screaming.

Until Sebastian swiped her head clean from her shoulders with a single swing of his free arm. The sickening snap of her spine and the wet plop of her head landing upon the cobblestone and rolling to a halt was the last straw. Her cold unseeing eyes were fixed in Ciel's general direction and he lost all hold he had on the last remaining bit of sanity.

Ciel screamed, tears running at an uncontrollable pace down his face. His world was dyed red and shattering before his very eyes. The sky was raining fire and his skin crawled as phantom sensations curled around him, grabbing and pulling him down to Hell.

And then everything was black and quiet. Finally.

XXXX

Ciel's eyes cracked open as the intensity of yellow sunlight peeked through the thick curtains of his bedchamber. How odd. He couldn't remember retiring to bed the previous night. He must have stayed up late finishing paperwork and fallen asleep at his desk in the library, such an occurrence often lead to this familiar foggy amnesia.

Sitting up slowly, taking note of an odd ache in his muscles, Ciel gazed around his room. It was still early, far earlier than he would normally rise on an average morning. It was unusual for his to wake before Sebastian came barrelling in with with hot tea and an irritating smirk. The demon was always far too enthusiastic about early mornings.

Speaking of the demon…

Ciel glanced at the clock ticking sturdily above his mantle. It was nearing six, at least two hours before Sebastian even considered rousing his young master from sleep. Strange though, Ciel couldn't remember the last time he'd woken so early.

Padding softly into his adjoining bathroom, Ciel gazed at himself in the mirror. He hadn't really ever taken the time to observe his physical growth, though Sebastian and others in his life commented on it enough. His development had been stunted for a time after returning home, an understandable after effect of the months of abuse he endured, so he had always been rather short and skinny. However, around the time that he turned fifteen, Ciel shot up about two feet, gained some much needed muscle, and lost most of his facial baby pudge which made him so 'adorable' to everyone around him. He was quite thankful for that, honestly. Now, at the ripe age of seventeen, Ciel looked much like his father, mature lines and sharp eyes, just like the painting hanging in the hall.

His father…

Suddenly, images of rolling red rivers and stained white dresses filled his head. Oh god.

Turning towards the empty washing basin resting on the counter, Ciel heaved wretchedly into it as all the memories that had been flushed from his mind by the comfort of sleep, came flooding back. Gasping for breath, Ciel emptied the contents of his stomach, which wasn't much considering that he hadn't partaken in dinner the previous night. Burning acid stung at his throat as it crept up and dripped into the basin. It may have been a trick of the light, but it almost resembled the thick blood which had pooled at his father's feet when Sebastian impaled him.

Sebastian.

The name was screamed silently in Ciel's head as he replayed the scene in his mind. Sebastian thrusting his arm through Vincent's chest, the other arm lopping off Rachel's beautiful head. Why?! Why would he do that?! Sebastian knew how much Ciel loved his parents, how much he longed for their presence. He knew. He knew. He knew. And yet that hadn't stopped the demon from killing them both in the most brutal of ways possible.

"Young master."

Ciel froze at his title being calmly spoken, a chilling voice floating through his bathroom. He didn't want to look at him. He had betrayed him. That demon, the one that Ciel had trusted for so long, had loved, had shared his body with, had given his everything to, his soul and heart, had betrayed him. There were no words to describe the fury and, more prominently, the immense hurt that Ciel felt. His heart was wilting in his chest, rotting and dying.

"Young master." Sebastian repeated, his shoes clacking hesitantly against the tile of the floor. "I've prepared you a quick breakfast, your stomach really does require something in it before you begin your day."

"Why did you kill them?" Ciel's voice shook, something he was deeply ashamed of, but could not bring himself to fix. "My mother and father, why did you kill them?" He clarified when he received no answer.

Sebastian was quiet, not even his artificial breath could be heard as seconds ticked by.

"Tell me, that is an order! Or are you no longer bound by our contract since you have already betrayed it and disobeyed me." Ciel knew his words were petty and bitter, highly indignified for a noble such as himself, but who was here to scold him? Certainly not his loving mother and father.

Sebastian sighed, although it was not out of annoyance. It was a sad sound, a pitiful one, something that should not be emitted from such a powerful creature.

"I obeyed your orders, young master. I exacted your revenge, as was our agreement, and disposed of the villains who murdered your parents."

Ciel was flabbergasted, "You killed them, you filthy creature! If what you say is true than it should be you who is dead and cold in the ground as you are the one who murdered them!" Ciel cried furiously, "And yet here you stand before me, all smug and oblivious."

"I am neither smug nor oblivious, young master. I held up my end of the contract. Our agreement was that I would dispose of the people who were responsible for the deaths of your mother and father. It just so happened that they themselves were the perpetrators of their own deaths. They faked their deaths, making you and everyone else believe them gone from this world, and leaving you in the clutches of those despicable monsters." Sebastian spat, "I abided by the contract. I fulfilled my duty."

Ciel was silent, for what was there for him to say? Sebastian was a twisted creature, he was a demon after all, just because the two had enjoyed each other's passion didn't mean that Sebastian had suddenly become a saint and forgot his backwards way of thinking.

Without resistance, Ciel allowed Sebastian to strip him of his night clothes and help into the tub where, suspiciously, there had already been warm water waiting. Sebastian scrubbed the boy's skin gently as if one rough jerk would cause it to peel and fall away. Ciel leaned into the demon's chest and closed his eyes, pushing away the haunting image of his mother's ashen face staring up at him. Sebastian did not disturb him and continued his washing.

Ciel's sense of time was gone. One moment Sebastian had been kindly washing him the tub and the next, Ciel was dressed in a comfortable casual attire that was usually only worn on Sundays when he was without engagements. Seated at the dining table, Ciel observed the 'quick' breakfast that Sebastian had laid out for him. The entirety of the table was filled with every delicacy imaginable and every single one of Ciel's most favored foods. A bowl of warm sausages lay closest to Ciel along with a platter of chocolate chip scones; he grabbed some from each and then poured himself a glass of milk. Sebastian stood silently at attention beside his master, a cloth napkin hung over his arm. Ciel did not speak to him and thus, Sebastian made not a sound as the boy ate his fill of, mostly, unhealthy sweets and richly flavored meats. When at last Ciel could eat no more, he placed his silverware down and crumpled up his napkin on his plate. Sebastian cleared away the mess in record time. None of the other servants appeared to be around and so Sebastian had no need to conceal his demonic speed.

After breakfast was done, Ciel entered his office and sat at his desk. He didn't need to wonder as to why Sebastian had prepared all of his favorite dishes that morning, Ciel knew perfectly well why. It was his last meal.

Ciel did wonder why the demon hadn't simply devoured his soul right away as would have been expected. Sebastian was never one for senseless preamble though Ciel supposed the demon was trying to appeal to his master's romantic side. Ciel wished the demon had just ripped his soul out the second his mother's head hit the ground. It would have been far more merciful than drawing it out in this painful manner.

Ciel sat for over an hour at his desk, staring at the closed door with buzzing anticipation. Any moment his demon butler would come strolling through that door, a smug smirk upon his perfect face, and tear the soul right from Ciel's frail human body with nothing but perhaps a snarky farewell as parting. But Sebastian did not come and Ciel was growing weary of waiting.

So, without a hint of hesitance aside from the slight tremor in his fingers, Ciel rose from his chair and exited his office. His manor was eerily silent, not a hint of the usual hustle and bustle that echoed off it's large walls from his human servants' clumsiness and easy banter. Ciel never thought that he would ever actually miss the sound of Maylene shattering a cabinet full of china or Finny's pitiful wails after having destroyed another flower bed with his unnatural strength or the earth shaking blasts from the kitchen that signaled Bard having set off another unapproved weapon. Ciel had grown so used to the chaos that the absence of it had him feeling ill. What had become of the three humans he employed? Surely Sebastian didn't kill them. He promised he wouldn't, even after their contract had ended. Ciel had set aside a large sum for each of them so that they would be set for the rest of their lives after his "death".

Ciel's steady walk slowed to slow and hesitant steps and he descended the grand staircase, determination slightly shaken at the thought of his three sweetly ignorant servants lying cold and dead somewhere.

As if on cue, Sebastian appeared at the foot of the staircase, tall and imposing. Ciel met the demon's gaze evenly and asked, "Where are the other servants?"

Sebastian answered kindly, "I have sent them into to town early this morning to gather some necessary supplies. We are running significantly low on fresh produce and dairy."

Sebastian didn't appear to be lying. But, of course, a demon was skilled in the art of dishonesty, so this didn't mean much to Ciel.

"And why would you do that when this estate will have no need of fresh supplies after today?" Ciel asked sharply.

"Whatever do you mean, young master?" Sebastian asked with genuine confusion.

Ciel felt his heart race and his words just poured out of his mouth. "Our contract has been completed, you have disposed of the murderers of my parents, as you so thoroughly explained to me earlier, and so since you have completed your end of our contract then it is now time that I honor my end. Just know that I never entertained any thoughts of you sparing me just because you shared my bed a few times or that I had a couple moments of weakness and surrendered my body to you. I always knew where I stood and never considered trying to weasel out of my contract with you."

That was a lie. Ciel had entertained plenty of thoughts and fantasies of a life with Sebastian at his side forever. The two would rule ruthlessly over London under the Queen as her watchdog and Sebastian would love him. Oh yes, perhaps that was what Ciel desired the most, for Sebastian to truly love him. A demon was incapable of love, Ciel had always known that. When Sebastian entered Ciel's bed for the first time one stormy night after the boy had suffered a rather horrifying nightmare, Ciel had warned himself not to become entangled too deeply. Sebastian was a demon and a demon could never love a mortal child.

Ciel realized that several seconds had passed in awkward silence as Sebastian simply stared at him intensely.

"Young master," Sebastian began but he paused, he seemed hesitant. What was wrong? "Young master," He began again with more confidence, "I don't even know where to begin. You have gotten the entirely wrong idea and perhaps this was an oversight on my part but please rest assured that this is not the end of our contract and I do not plan on devouring your soul on this day nor any day in the near future."

Ciel was now the one who was hopelessly confused. "What do you mean? What was that large meal all about then? The extravagance of it? Was that not to be my last meal on earth?"

"Certainly not." Sebastian replied as if mildly offended, "If I were to provide you with your last meal, it would most definitely not consist of any mortal sustenance but rather the rich delicacies of the supernatural, with taste and texture unrivaled by anything a human has to offer."

"But you have completed your end of the contract. Are you...are you releasing me?" Ciel dared not hope it so but he'd be lying if he didn't admit that there was small part of him praying that this was the case. He wasn't scared of dying. In fact, he had wished himself dead on many occasions. But to cease existing? Yes, he was more than a little apprehensive about the whole thing. Only a fool with no sense of self preservation would not be.

"I could never release you, young master. To allow such a delicious soul to escape my grasp would be pure foolishness."

Ciel couldn't help the way his heart sank deeply at the admittance but he dared not allow it to show on his face and allow the demon to mock him for his silly human inclinations and emotions. He had always known this was the deal, Sebastian had never lied to him or mislead him. Ciel had always know that the contract would end in his death and Sebastian's full belly.

"I would expect no less of you." Ciel scolded himself for the way his voice wavered and shook. There was no need to be so upset!

Sebastian raised on elegant eyebrow, seeming confused before a sudden understanding dawned upon him and a small but surprisingly gentle smile curled his lips.

"Oh, my young master, you misunderstand me once more."

Ciel felt his hand suddenly wrapped in warmth, encased in Sebastian's firm hold. He felt uncomfortable, vulnerable, and embarrassed. His pride was wounded, his ego smarting from the reprieve. He didn't want to look the demon in the eyes and see the smug glint within. But at Sebastian's insistent hand pulling at his chin, Ciel had no choice but to allow his gaze to rise. Sebastian's gaze was surprisingly glowing a brilliant red, his pupils sharp and direct as they stared into Ciel's eyes.

"I have no intention of ending our contract so soon, young master." Sebastian explained, "You have provided me with countless instances of entertainment, amusement, and...perhaps something new that I have not quite found the word for yet. Regardless, I have had the most enjoyable time serving under the guise of your bulter and being at your side these past years. to give all of that up simply for a few moments of blissful ecstasy? I would deemed the most foolish of all my kind."

Ciel was utterly and hopelessly confused. His heart lurched painfully in his chest. "If not today then-"

Sebastian cut him off instantly. "Some day, yes. Our contract will end as you draw your last breath but until then, we may continue as master and servant, lovers, or however you choose. As long as you ward off the boredom that would otherwise plague me, I see no reason to end our contract as of right now."

Ciel was at a loss for words. If he could attach a word to the emotion he felt then, perhaps it would be felicity.

"Then you-"

"Yes." Sebastian answered the unfinished question. "I will remain at your side until such a time comes when you no longer provide me with what I require."

"And what is it you require?"

Sebastian gave pause and smirked. "Your devotion, loyalty, and passion is all I need to willingly stay at your side."

Ciel's heart swelled with indescribable emotion and if anyone dared ask him about the reasoning behind his next actions, he would blame it on the sudden adrenalin rush and emotionally draining day. Ciel all but leapt into Sebastian's chest, resting his check upon the smooth lapel of the butlers jacket and breathed in the calming scent that was wholly Sebastian.

The demon seemed taken aback by his master's actions but he neither questioned them nor teased the boy, simply wound his two incredibly long and firm arms around Ciel's middle and gave him a comforting squeeze.

"My, oh my, young master, you are quite affectionate today. Such behavior is unbecoming of a young lord such as yourself. And what would Lady Elizabeth say if she were to see you so scandalously wrapped around another?" Sebastian teased kindly.

Ciel shook his head and pinched the demon's leg, though he was quite certain Sebastian barely even felt it. "Don't speak to me of decorum right now. I am too exhausted to banter with you."

Sebastian laughed warmly and stroked his fingers down Ciel's back in a highly suggestive manner. Ciel shivered.

"Then why don't I tuck you back into bed and allow you a few more hours of rest. I have cancelled all of your meetings and engagements for today and asked that you not be disturbed by any visitors."

Ciel had no objections and allowed his butler to all but carry him back to his bed and redress him in a fresh set of night clothes. As Sebastian gently pulled the covers up to Ciel's chin, the boy abruptly sat up and kissed his lover passionately. Many things were said through that silent exchange. Endearments that neither had the courage to say, promises that could not be put into words, and emotion which could only be conveyed through physical expression.

Their lips moved together as the two participants did in life, harmoniously and with an edge of tension. When they finally pulled away and met the other's gaze, all that needed to be communicated had been and Ciel drifted off to sleep under the watchful eye of his love.