Chapter 8 With a Price

Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler).

Artemis Phantomhive: XD I know, right? XD Stupid tea! That pairing, so very cute~!

Mad-Hatter-ison: Sounds interesting~! How many anime have you watched?

lovekyman: Hey, don't sweat it. I do the exact same thing when it comes to reviewing! I hope you continue to like this story and of course I'll keep writing! T

Thanks for the support! I've seriously got to stop updating every day, it's not like me! Anyways, please drop a review!

Undertaker lifted Grell up, holding the poisoned Reaper gently. The silver haired Reaper blinked away his tears and shifted Grell into a one armed hold, reaching over the red head and grabbing the book of poisons he had found earlier.

He hurried to the backroom and started to set Grell down on the bed but the red head's fists were knotted tightly in his robes, Grell weakly pulling Undertaker towards him. The younger Reaper's eyes were shut tight and tears of pain were slowly trickling from the corners of his eyes.

Undertaker sighed and sat down on the bed and shifted into a comfortable sitting position before leaning back against the pillow. Grell writhed in pain and cried out, clenching his fists even tighter in Undertaker's robes. The elder Reaper gently stroked the red head's back and Grell relaxed, allowing Undertaker to move him into a comfortable position.

Most of Grell's body ended up lying on top of Undertaker, the fact that Grell's hands were still clenched in Undertaker's robes making any other position impossible. Their legs mingled together and Grell's head rested comfortably on Undertaker's chest, Undertaker remaining in an upright position.

The silver haired Reaper studied Grell's weak and ailing form, feeling fear and desire attack his heart. His only desire was for Grell to live, no matter the cost. He couldn't lose more than what he had already lost. Tears flooded Undertaker's hidden eyes and he slowly reached up, feeling of Grell's forehead.

The red head's fever was already sky high, his cheeks dusted with a surprising shade of red. A single tear fell from Undertaker's eyes and landed on Grell's cheek, causing the red head to moan slightly and Undertaker to look down. The silver haired Reaper removed his hand from Grell's forehead and gently wiped the tear away with his thumb, causing Grell to relax once more.

Undertaker continued to stroke Grell's cheek and he leaned slightly over the side of the bed, Grell's death hold on his robes hindering his movements. He tilted his head and saw to his pleasure that the cream colored bowl and cloth were still on the floor beside the bed, water still in the bowl.

He leaned even more and grabbed the cloth, dipping it quickly in the water. He earned himself a moan of pain from Grell as he did this and Undertaker relaxed back onto the pillow once more, remaining in his sitting position as he gently bathed Grell's forehead with the damp cloth.

He sighed as water beaded on Grell's glasses and he set the moist cloth on the bedside table. He slid his head underneath Grell's head and he gently slid Grell's glasses off, carefully untangling the neck chain from the red hair.

Grell moaned in pain and Undertaker hummed to him gently. The silver haired Reaper looked up, met with the sight of the mirror on the other side of the room. He saw his reflection and he wasn't surprised by what he saw. His long silver hair was caked with blood, his bangs being the only strands that weren't covered in the red substance. His clothes was soaked through with blood and his grey sash was stained and so was the white that was visible on his outfit.

Undertaker frowned and shut his eyes and saw his memories play out once more, he saw an elderly woman lying in the same bed in the same backroom of Undertaker's shop. Undertaker was kneeled beside the bed, her hand in his, his other hand holding his Scythe.

The old woman, who was obviously Undertaker's wife, smiled weakly and said the words he always remembered. She squeezed his hand gently. 'Learn to love again…'

Undertaker's eyes snapped back open and he stared at the mirror once more, sadness in his expression. He slowly lowered his head and rested his cheek against the top of Grell's head, his tears spilling over and landing on the head's hair. "That's the thing, my love… I loved everyone I met and I paid for it dearly every single time."

His eyes fluttered shut and he stroked Grell's long red hair gently. The red head stirred and moaned in pain, his fever still very high. Tears slipped from Undertaker's even more as he heard the sound. 'But I will save him, no matter the price.'

Undertaker slowly lifted his head back up, using his free hand to wipe away his tears. He looked to the book of poisons and sighed. He reached to the bedside table and grabbed a clip, using it to pin back his bangs so that he could read without tilting his head.

He opened the book, all the while keeping an arm wrapped around Grell. His eyes examined page after page before he finally sighed. He shut the book and closed his eyes, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Even if I could identify the poison I wouldn't have the ingredients to create an antidote, or the skill to do so at that matter."

He looked up at the mirror once more, then back down at Grell, taking in the red head's sick appearance. 'I have to take him to the Reaper Realm. They can save him… But, I could be in danger and I know he won't like this…'

The silver haired man winced as he heard Grell moan and tug at Undertaker's robes, as if he was pleading for Undertaker to make him feel better. The silver haired Reaper felt tears in his eyes and he placed a light kiss on Grell's forehead. "I promise that you'll live."

Undertaker lifted his head and felt his tears fall. He looked to the mirror and watched as the tears rolled out from underneath his curtain of bangs, the salty drops gleaming like stars. 'It's my life or his… my actions for creating those things is punishable by death… it's my life or his…' He cried a bit harder as he thought everything he had lost and he looked back down at Grell. 'I couldn't save them… but I can save him…'

He shut his eyes. 'But I can save him…'

I hope you liked this chapter and please leave a review!

-zgirl16