Note: Okay, so I'll be posting a chapter ever Friday and ever Sunday starting today. I might post them sooner if I get reviews though, which I haven't =^= So please review!

I apparently lied about the author notes xP Oh well...

Ciel woke to Sebastian's familiar voice and the rustling of cloth as the butler prepared the day's outfit. Sebastian had already opened the window as he did every morning, and the tea cart sat by the door, a cup on Ciel's nightstand.

As he sipped at the tea he slowly recalled the previous nights' events and shivered. The memory of Sebastian that close to him made his heart pound and his stomach felt light and fluttery. All that was gone in an instant, replaced with pure irritation when he remembered his promise to Lizzie.

Maybe she'd forgotten. But probably not.

Sebastian swept over to him, a dull black and green suit in his arms.

"Good morning, my lord. How are you feeling?" he asked, kneeling in front of Ciel and swiftly unbuttoning his nightshirt.

Ciel didn't answer; he was too busy trying to calm his heartbeat. Sebastian made a point of brushing his fingers against Ciel's chest and shoulders as he removed the shirt, his touch ice cold even through the gloves. Ciel shivered, drawing back. "Don't touch me!" he growled, cheeks burning. "And back away! You're too close."

Sebastian laughed softly, raising his hand to touch Ciel's flushed cheeks. "But my lord, you're so cute when you're flustered like this."

"I am not!" he argued. "Back up! That's an order."

Sebastian obliged without further protest. "My lord, if you don't mind my asking, have you considered having children with Lady Elizabeth? Seeing as the contract is taking longer than usual to complete, the idea isn't completely out of the question."

"Of course not." Ciel said quickly. "Doing such a thing with Elizabeth… the idea is repulsive."

"Oh, is it?" Sebastian chuckled softly. "I suppose it's a matter of opinion then, isn't it? I'm sure that will change in a few years."

"It's not that, you moron! It's just that it's Elizabeth… Lizzie… and the thought of… just imagining it…" He grimaced.

"So it's just Elizabeth?" The demon's eyes flickered dangerously, and Ciel winced. "Are you implying that if it were with someone else it might be more appealing…?" He was smiling knowingly, and it made Ciel want to hit him.

"Just what are you trying to say, demon?"

"It's no secret, my lord. You know very well what I mean."

"Tell me. That's an order!"

"Would the prospect be less 'repulsive' if I were to be the partner in question?"

Ciel's hand struck Sebastian's face sharply, emphasized a loud smack. "Get out!" he screamed. "I don't want to see you if you're going to be like that!"

The pure hostility in Ciel's voice would have terrified nearly anyone but Sebastian, who merely smiled and bowed. "Yes, my lord. I will be preparing breakfast if you need me."

Then he just turned and left.

.

Downstairs, Mey Rin was recounting what she'd heard last night to Bard and Finny in the kitchen, who were both listening intently to her exaggerated version of the conversation.

"…and then they said something about a brand – I don't know where, but isn't that odd? I hadn't heard of it until last night!"

Finny nodded frantically and Bard frowned. "I think I know what you're talking about, Mey Rin! I think I heard somewhere that Ciel was abducted by an occult as a child. That's where he found Mr. Sebastian, and since he was a past occult member that's why he's so good at everything." His eyes widened. "They must be cursed!"

Finny gasped, completely entranced. Mey Rin made an excited squeaking sound. "Oh… I think that's about right... Oh, my! Why hasn't the master told us of such a thing?"

"I'm sure it's difficult to talk about," Finny mused. "Things like that leave you with scars."

There was a moment of silence before Bard spoke. "But Mr. Sebastian would have told us, wouldn't he?"

"Oh, but he's so secretive… and elusive… and dark… and…" Mey Rin trailed off, suddenly lost in her own thoughts.

At that moment, the butler in question entered. "Where did you hear all of this?" he inquired, slipping off his coat.

"M-Mr. Sebastian! What are you doing down here?" Bard asked. "Aren't you supposed to be with the master?"

Sebastian ignored the question. "Tell me, where did you hear that?"

Bard pointed at Mey Rin. "She heard the master talking about it!" he accused.

Mey Rin squeaked, shrinking back. Sebastian turned on her. He didn't speak – there was no need.

"M-Mr. Sebastian… It isn't… I just heard the master and Lady Elizabeth talking about a brand…"

"Y-yeah!" Finny agreed. "Bard came up with the story!"

Bard hissed. "Ah… Yeah… I was just joking around, though, you know?" He laughed stiffly. "I mean… There's no way anything like that could happen, right?"

Sebastian smiled. It was that unnervingly pleasant smile that was so horribly beautiful and filled with silently implied threats. "Well then, if that's the case… Finny, hasn't the rain stopped?"

"Y-yes…"

"Then why aren't you in the garden assessing the damage?"

Finny flinched. "Ah… Right on it, Mr. Sebastian!" he said, bounding out of the kitchen.

"And Bard... Go set the table.'

"But that's Mey Rin's-"

"I need to speak with Mey Rin," Sebastian said, wavering patience making his voice thin and strained.

Mey Rin's face paled and Bard shot her a quick look. A second later he was out of the kitchen door.

"Where did you hear about this 'brand'?" he asked sharply.

Mey Rin stared at him through her glasses, taking a moment to examine his terrifyingly beautiful face before spilling everything in fear of her life. She was nearly in tears and was sputtering choked apologies when she finished.

Sebastian pressed a gloved finger to his temple. "Goodness… Can none of you properly handle anything?" he grumbled, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Quit prying into others' business and get back to work. Tell the others to do the same."

Mey Rin nodded hastily and shuffled away out of the kitchen. Sebastian waste any more time and quickly went to work on breakfast.

.

The rest of the day passed swiftly and without a hitch, full of wedding plans and glares from Frances. Ciel didn't see much of Sebastian all day, and he couldn't say he was pleased.

It was after dinner and he sat in his office, staring at the crumpled note in search of anything that might be used to find the killer and get this over with quickly. Even so, he couldn't stop replaying Sebastian's words from that morning over and over again and the scene from last night was still prominent in his mind.

Ciel fidgeted in his seat, glancing over at the crackling fire. He could only think of Sebastian having made the fire long before he had even entered the room.

There was a light knock and he jumped, his head jerking to face the door. He silently prayed that it was Sebastian, but at the same time hoped that it wasn't. When he next spoke to the butler he wouldn't know what to do.

"Come in," he said, his voice strangely more even than he'd expected.

The door opened smoothly, and Lizzie's curly blond head poked itself into the room. "Ciel…?"

"Oh, Elizabeth…" He quickly hid the note under some other papers and motioned for her to enter. "Is something wrong?"

She shook her head, slipping in and closing the door softly behind herself. "No, my parents are just a bore." She laughed softly. "I hope you aren't too busy."

"Of course not," Ciel said lightly. "I've got plenty of time."

"Oh… Well then, if you don't mind me asking, could you maybe explain…? I mean, after what happened last night…" She paused, thinking hard. "About the brand. You promised to tell me."

Ciel silently cursed himself. "Ah… that…" He faltered slightly, considering his words carefully. "You see… In those two months after the manor had been burned, I was kidnapped by an occult. They intended to use me as a sacrifice, and that mark… that's their brand."

Lizzie's eyes widened. "Oh… Ciel, that's awful," she gasped, stepping forward. "I had no idea… I'm so sorry-"

"Don't concern yourself with it," he said sharply. "It was a long time ago. It's just a memory now."

Lizzie stared at him for a moment, but then smiled gently. She leaned over his desk and pressed her lips softly to his head. "Thank you," she said.

Ciel blinked. "What for?"

"For confiding in me." She stepped back. "Goodnight, Ciel. I'll see you in the morning." She turned and left quickly, and Ciel couldn't help but notice her shaking hands.

He stared after her for a long while, feeling calmed and relieved. He hadn't expected her to be so accepting, and that she hadn't pressed for information was almost shocking.

He smiled to himself, all thoughts of Sebastian forgotten.

.

Sebastian tapped lightly on Ciel's office door but let himself in when there was no answer. He was only slightly surprised to find his lord asleep on the desk.

He sighed. Ciel was nearly an adult but behaved just as he did when he was thirteen.

Sebastian shook his shoulder lightly. "My lord?"

Ciel shifted slightly. "Go away, Sebastian… Tired…"

"My lord, you must go to bed. It's late."

Ciel peeked up at Sebastian through his arms.

"You're going to hurt your neck sleeping in that position."

Ciel sat up groggily, looking at Sebastian though a foggy eye. Sebastian offered him a hand, which he accepted tiredly and without much hesitation.

Sebastian led him silently though the halls toward his bedroom. When Ciel had been given the chance to wake up he drew his hand away stubbornly.

Once in his room Ciel went to sit on his bed while Sebastian fetched his nightshirt. When he returned with it he immediately launched into conversation.

"My lord… Does Lady Elizabeth know of the brand?"

Ciel nodded, quickly recounting his conversation with Lizzie. "I don't think it will come up again," he finished. "And I trust her to keep the secret."

"Ah…" There was a brief moment of silence as Sebastian finished buttoning the nightshirt, being far more respectful than that morning. "Are you excited for the wedding?"

"Not particularly. But it is my wedding, after all."

"It is. But about her becoming your wife, are you not at all anticipating it?"

"It means I will be spending more time with her." He did not elaborate.

"That can be interpreted as both good and bad, can it not?"

Ciel shrugged.

"My lord… Do you desire the idea of having Lady Elizabeth as your wife? Do you truly love her?"

"Of course I do," Ciel said, starting to get fed up with it. "But not as a wife."

Sebastian smiled as if he'd just made the winning move in a game of chess. "Oh? Could it be that there is someone else you'd rather be with in a… romantic sense?"

"I feel an odd sense of déjà vu," Ciel said coldly. "I feel that answering that would be a waste of time, seeing as you already know."

Sebastian chuckled. "That is true." He turned to leave. "If that will be all then I suppose I'll be going. But remember," he said softly, glancing back over his shoulder, "all I need is an order."

Ciel hesitated a moment, his head spinning as he tried to decide his next words. Despite it all they came out hastily and unsure. "K-kiss me!"

"Is that an order?"

"Y-yes." Ciel choked slightly on the word, staring down at the floor. He still sat unmoving on his bed, even when he felt Sebastian's cool lips pressed to his own. He didn't react – he didn't know how – and just closed his eyes, focusing on the pressure on his mouth.

After a moment Sebastian seemed to decide this was unacceptable and, searching for a response from his master, tried to pry Ciel's lips open with his own, pressing harder, but Ciel still remained unmoving.

Sebastian groaned in irritation, deepening the kiss. It took a moment, but he finally managed to emit a sound from Ciel. He moved his mouth more smoothly and less forcefully as if to try and say "like this, it's not hard."

When Ciel did catch on he was still stubbornly reluctant, but Sebastian was clearly having an effect on him. He couldn't contain his whimpers much longer, and Sebastian laughed softly against his lips.

"Remember," he whispered, "Lady Elizabeth is just next door."

And then he simply vanished, leaving Ciel in a trembling state of shock.