Alois' POV

"I challenge you to a duel!" I yell at Ciel.

"What?!" Ciel says in shock, "Why?!"

"Never mind why, what's your answer?"

"I accept your challenge, Alois."

I smile and lead Ciel to the study. Out of a nearby cabinet, I pull two swords out and throw one to Ciel. He catches it and looks to me.

"What're the rules, Alois?" he asks me.

"Anything goes," I tell him. With a swing of the sword in my hand I bring an attack down on Ciel. He immediately deflects my blow and sends a counter attack my way. Unable to parry in time, I dodge but feel the blade of Ciel's score across my arm. God damn it, he's good at this too! Is there anything Ciel can't handle?! A sharp pain pierces my stomach and I realize Ciel's sword protruding from my stomach. I feel Ciel pull the sword from me and my legs give out from under me. Ciel puts the sword's edge against my neck and looks down at me.

"You lose," he says and tears start to well up in my eyes.

"What're you waiting for?" I ask him, "Deal the final blow."

"I won't," he tells me, "Because you have given me no reason to."

"Please Ciel," I beg, "I want this. Just do it."

"Why do you want to die? You seemed so happy earlier."

"You think I'm happy?! I have nothing! I never knew my parents, my brother, who was my only family is dead. Claude is freaking creeping me out, my staff is terrified of me and worst of all is this crushing loneliness I live with. No one cares about what happens to me. If I died, no one would cry for me. You have everything, a loving fiance, friends who care for you, a butler that you don't have to beg for attention from. Everyone adores you. Please, just end my suffering."

Ciel's POV

I look down at the blonde that is on his knees crying before me. He isn't really that vibrant, energetic boy that greeted me earlier. Alois is in pain every day, suffering from wounds no one around him can see. Everything he does is a cry for attention, a cry for someone to care. I cast the sword I'm holding aside, I have no intention of ending Alois' life.

"Alois," I say and he looks up at me, tears staining his blue eyes.

"What is it, Ciel?" he asks me defeatedly.

"I am not gonna kill you. But I think it's a travesty that your pain has gone unnoticed for so long. That is why, I want you to confide in me. Tell me anything and everything that is bugging and hurting you, so you never have to suffer in silence again."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because for a reason I can't seem to figure out, I care about you. And I don't want to see you hurting anymore," I reach my hand out to Alois, "Will you let me be your friend?"

Alois looks uncertain for a minute, but he takes my hand and I help him up.

"I guess," he says weakly and I smile.

"There we go."

Alois tries to take a step forward and almost falls. This isn't good, he's losing blood fast. I help him sit down and pull his plum jacket and shirt open. Blood pours steadily out of the wound, staining his ivory skin red. This is really bad, I can't let him die here.

"Sebastian!" I yell, "Sebastian, get in here!"

Sebastian comes running through the door a few minutes later, Claude close behind.

"What is it, sir?" he asks.

"Lord Trancy," Claude shouts and runs to me and Alois, "What happened?!"

"It's...not..Ciel's fault," Alois manages chokes out, "We were...sparring and a misstep...happened. It..was an...accident."

Just as he finishes speaking, his azure eyes close and he goes limp. Claude picks him up and carries him out of the room. Sebastian casts a wary glance at Claude, then walks over to me.

"Are you alright, my lord?" he asks me and I nod.

"I'm fine," I assure Sebastian, "I just hope Alois is ok."

"I'm sure he will be, he may have lost alot of blood but his spirit won't give out so easy. I'm amazed he could still talk after losing so much blood."

He's wrong, Alois has no will left to live anymore. I just hope I can make him realize he can trust me.