Here's the next chapter! Hope you enjoy!

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Disclaimer: Kuroshitsuji (c) Yana Toboso
Claimer: everything else (c) me

Chapter Two: Spirit of Christmas Past

"CIEL PHANTOMHIVE!"

"GAH!" Ciel snapped up from his bed, staring up at a beautiful, winged angel in her full glory, a halo hovering above her head. A wreath of soft pine and red berries sat upon her head, contrasting against her silver hair.

"Anna! What are you doing here?" he demanded.

His angelic maid smiled down at him, folding her wings as she touched down to the ground next to his bed. "I am the Spirit of Christmas Past," she told him gently. "Sorry if I disturbed you, young Ciel Phantomhive. Now, let's take a look into your past, shall we?"

Before them, a white hole opened up, filled with light.

"Are you insane?" Ciel demanded. "Anna, what the hell is going on?" Turning to the door, he shouted, "Sebastian! Sebastian!"

"He won't come," Anna assured him softly. "He's quite… preoccupied, for the moment. Now Ciel, let's go."

Before the 15-year-old earl could reply, the angel took him by the hand and flew into the bright light.

Ciel closed his eyes, reopening them again to find himself in the foyer of Phantomhive manor. Christmas decorations hung from the tapestry, and tinsel snaked through the staircase, festive lights and decorations hung up all over the place, giving a feel of the Christmas season throughout the manor.

"T-This is…" Ciel breathed.

The angel dipped her head. "This is before your parents were murdered," she said softly, "when you still just a pure, innocent child, hands unstained by blood. Come, let us enter the next room."

They walked into what was the family den, Vincent and Rachel Phantomhive sitting on a couch by the fireplace as they watched their young son play with one of his toys. Their dog Sebastian was laying on his paws by his master's feet, and Vincent pat the dog kindly on the head. Three stockings were hung over the fireplace, a Christmas tree covered with lights and brightly-coloured ornaments nearby. Laughter filled the Phantomhive manor, and Ciel twisted his head away from the warm-hearted memory.

Mother… Father… Ciel thought painfully, closing his eyes, I miss you both so much…

"Look, Ciel," Anna said softly, resting a hand on his shoulder as he watched his memory play.

"Ciel, if you don't go to sleep soon, St. Nicholas won't come visit you," his mother chided his younger self with a chuckle. "You won't get any new toys for Christmas."

Young Ciel turned bright blue eyes to his mother as he ran over to her. "But mother, I wanna be awake when he comes to visit!" he whined. "I want to thank him for whatever he gives me this year! I hope it's a new toy!"

The elder Ciel couldn't help but crack a small smile. "I remember that year…" he said gently, "I was so young and ignorant then."

Anna shook her head with a smile. "You were how you were," she said gently, "an innocent and kindred spirit."

The young earl chuckled bitterly. "And look at me now," he replied, bitterness in his tone, "fifteen years old and my name sullied, my hands covered with blood."

The angel's smile drooped a little, then they proceeded to watch the memory.

His father smiled, patting Ciel on the head affectionately. "Now Ciel, you know that your mother has told you many times before that St. Nicholas only visits sleeping children. Now, off to bed."

"I'll read you a bedtime story before you go to bed," Rachel Phantomhive told him, taking her son's hand and leaving the room.

"I've changed a lot from that time," the elder Ciel admitted, eyes filled with a deep longing and pain. "I can never go back. There are no holidays for what someone like me has gone through."

Anna's eyes were filled with sadness, then she bended down to give Ciel a gentle kiss on his forehead. "But there are still people who love you and want to spend their holidays with you. Look at Elizabeth, she came all the way to be you, when she could spend Christmas with her family, she wanted to spend it with you. She loves you Ciel. She only wants you to be happy."

He scoffed, unwilling to admit that it was true.

"And there's not only her," the angel continued, "Your Aunt Angelina also loves you, as well as your parents. They're all watching over you. And what about the other servants of the Phantomhive mansion? They care about you to the point they would give up their very lives for you. And though he doesn't seem it, Sebastian cares for you too. And so do I. What matters to all of us is your happiness. And Christmas is one of the most festive, happiest times of the year. Please don't spend it with a frown."

Ciel stayed silent, looking at his father's smiling, content face. Tasked even with eliminating the Queen's opponents, the late Earl Phantomhive never truly hated anyone, and he was always warm and comforting around his family. Ciel looked at himself in comparison, and knew he was nothing compared to the great man his father was.

"Ciel," Anna said softly, breaking him out of his reverie, "I'm afraid it's time for us to go. My time here is up."

Another portal opened up before them, and Anna walked through, Ciel taking one last longing look at what his life had used to be before following the angel out of the memory.

xXx

Ciel opened his eyes, finding himself in bed. Sitting up, he rubbed at his eyes, recalling what had just happened.

"Sebastian!" he called out.

Within moments, there was brief knock on the door, and it pushed open, the demon butler walking in with a candleholder. He bowed.

"Is there something you need, Young Master?" he implored.

Ciel looked at him. "What time is it, Sebastian?" he demanded from him.

"Almost two in the morning, Young Master," Sebastian responded. "Is there something the matter?"

The young earl remained silent for a moment, analyzing what had happened in his mind. If what happened actually took place, then…

"Sebastian, where is Anna?" Ciel asked.

The demon seemed taken aback. "Anna has been with me for the past few hours," he replied, which was indeed true, "I've been watching over her unless you should call."

Given this piece of information, Ciel Phantomhive decided that what took place must have been just a dream.

"Is there something wrong, Young Master?" Sebastian queried with a false tone of worry.

Ciel shook his head before flopping back down onto the bed. "You may go, Sebastian," he ordered, and Sebastian bowed, leaving the room back in darkness.

xXx

Outside the room, Anna walked over to him, her wings the colour of freshly-fallen snow still brandished behind her. She looked tired, but had a smile on her face.

"It went well, I hope?" he asked her.

She dipped her head. "We're ready for the next step, right?" she implored.

Sebastian nodded in assurance. The angel's eyes slipped close and with a sigh, she collapsed forward into Sebastian's awaiting arms, holding her against his chest as her wings dissipated in a flurry of soft white feathers.

"Take a break, Anna," he soothed softly, his voice calming her as she rested. "We'll take care of the rest. I commend you for deciding to do this using the Young Master's Cinematic Records. It must have been a while since you've used that ability, knowing you."

He tilted her head up to give her a tender kiss before planting another on her forehead as he cradled her close, the candleholder still in his other hand. His eyes glowed demonically as a dark smile touched his lips.

"Well…" he began in satisfaction, "I suppose now the next part of our entertaining night shall begin."

Hmm... I wonder who shall be the Spirit of Christmas Present? Any ideas?

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