Ronald finally releases William, who simply walks away coldly. It was as though his boss never cried, the only evidence he has is the damp spot on the shoulder of his suite. Ronald begins to remember what he had accidently witnessed six years ago and vows to hold William for as long as he wants.

Sterling notices that Artimes is gone and decides it's time to give Alex another major project after the leap in sales.

Sebastian and Claude are enjoying their time alone together, only something doesn't feel right. Alex is not in the house, in a flash they search for her only to find her tangled in a ghost net in the ocean.

Hannah is in Switzerland planning the auction and Damian learns who her mysterious patron is.

What happened to William in the past?

Why is Claude so upset as he tries to save Alex?

What happens when Alex calls them her parents?

Why is Sebastian in tears?

Who is Hannah's benefactor?

I hope you enjoy,

~The Dark Ringmaster

I do not own Kuroshitsuji.

Chapter 24: Silent Sobs

Ronald slowly released his superior, William's shoulders had ceased to shake and he had fallen silent. There was little evidence remaining was the dampness Ronald felt on his shoulder. William refused to make eye contact and he whispered, "The Undertaker needs to see you," his voice was barely audible. He then pulled away and turned around, "Sir," said Ronald softly he felt his heart aching. He watched his lonesome back as William walked away. "Mr. Knox, we have a job to do," he said coldly, "our personal lives don't matter." Ronald was left standing there as William walked away, he could tell his boss was still upset. Ronald sighed and felt wetness in his eyes, "When you're ready, I'll hold you until your tears have run dry and there after," he whispered before turning his attention to his schedule. Ronald had always been a party animal; in fact he spent much of his time rushing his work in order to get to the next party.

Even while Ronald was in school he was a party animal, it wasn't until Christmas Eve five years ago. It had been snowing and Ronald was finishing a job when he caught sight of William standing alone looking at bush. It had been snowing all after noon and the flowers on the bush were lightly crusted with snow. Ronald slowly approached thinking he had done something wrong to find a single clear bead traveling down his cheek. Williams's eyes were slightly swollen and Ronald realized he wasn't simply standing before a rose bush, but it was a grave. The stone it's self was a name written in large golden letters, "Spears," whispered Ronald. Under it was two smaller names, he watched as William slowly slipped his hand out of one of his black leather gloves. His pail white fingers shook a little as they hesitantly touched the stone. William's fingers were a slight pink which made it possible to distinguish them from the snow. His finger caressed the rounded edge of the stone and his hair fell out of place as he bowed his head. Those powerful shoulders quivered with sobs, his usually perfect suite was creased with wrinkles and his glasses had slipped down his nose. William's perfect façade was destroyed as more tears fell along with the snow. "I'm sorry," he whispered, "I'm sorry." Those seemed to be the only words which would come out.

That night Ronald didn't attend any parties, in fact every Christmas after that fateful one six years ago, he never went to another party. He would fallow William to the grave and silently watch from a far. The image of his boss in tears was etched into his memory, an over whelming sadness which seemed to only worsen as time passed. "Time is supposed to heal wounds," said Ronald, "Not make them deeper." He blinked away a tear and looked down at his schedule. No matter how badly it hurt, the world would continue to turn.

Sterling was lean back in his chair, a pile of past company advertisements and their success rates were there. These advertisements spanned close to fifty years, looked at each of them and noticed something unusual, Alex's advertisements had managed to create one of the most successful advertisements of all time. Each of her ads had enough darkness and just enough light. A truly magical piece of artwork which intrigued customers to look at the products. However that wasn't what interested him, Artimis had gone missing. It had been weeks since had had seen him and Sterling began to wonder what had transpired. Artimis was always at work, he sighed and looked back at the ads, he needed another mind blowing piece however something unusual was occurring. He had a gut feeling that Sebastian knew precisely what was going on.

Claude sighed and he looked at his lover, Sebastian was walking around the house in only his boxers again. Claude spotted droplets of water roll down his chest and he inhaled slowly. It was impossible to not want his mate, especially when Sebastian was being naughty. Alex was in the dark room which gave them time to themselves. It was unfortunate but they had to return to England soon. Claude had been requested to handle another case and Sebastian was called about an issue involving Arnold Sterling. Alex was being requested to design another advertisement and he still had to deal with the issue that the Campbells were looking specifically for Claude. His golden eyes flickered closed and he rubbed his temple with his fingers. After a moment Claude released a sigh and he felt a pair of lips touch the back of his neck. They were soft, he could feel their owner's tongue smooth over his skin. Claude grinned when he felt a pair of sharp teeth playfully scrap his skin. "I don't like being ignored," said Sebastian, his voice seemed to ring in Claude's ears.

His golden eyes held a spark and a grin spread across his lips. "She could be done any minute," said Claude. Alex was currently in the dark room developing photos, "So?" breathed Sebastian as he ran a hand down the front of Claude's chest. His heart was racing a mile a minute, some how he could never contain himself around Sebastian. All of his resolve would crumble when it came to dealing with his sweet and attractive lover. "Do you really want to risk it?" he asked as he turned to Sebastian. Claude's arms encompassed the smaller demon and pressed his lower back toward him. Sebastian smirked and replied, "She already knows." Claude sighed, he was well aware that she knew about them, however he didn't think it was polite to ravage Sebastian all the time. Claude sighed and listened to the rain hit the roof. Sebastian slowly pressed his lips to the back of Claude's neck. Claude shivered and was quick to pull him into a kiss, their lips met and Claude felt sparks fly through him. He held Sebastian even closer and continued to kiss him, their tongues tangled and Sebastian grabbed Claude's glasses, "They're in the way," he breathed against Claude's lips. He smirked and wrapped his fingers in Sebastian's feather soft raven hair. In an instant the pair were falling backward onto the massive sofa and Claude was on top of Sebastian. "You really never did play fair," he muttered angrily.

A smirk of delight spread across Sebastian's lips and he whispered happily, "Well it is one of the only ways I can win against you." Claude grinned as he began to shed his clothing. Claude's curly hair fell in his eyes and he stared into Sebastian's crimson eyes hungrily. "You look like you're starving," said Sebastian as he placed a hand on the side of Claude's face. His touch was light and Claude's eyes flickered purple, "I'm famished." Sebastian chuckled as his eyes flickered a familiar purple, in moments Sebastian was tearing at Claude's clothing and Claude felt the need to remove Sebastian's shorts. Sebastian purred with delight as he felt Claude's hands caress every area of his body. Claude nipped at Sebastian's collar bone and paused, Alex wasn't out of the dark room. Claude's eyes narrowed and he slowly rose, "I'm just going to check on her," he said. Sebastian watched Claude slip into his pants and was quick to do the same. It was true Alex had been in the dark room for a much longer period of time than usual. Claude slowly opened the door and stared in shock, it was empty. "Alex?" he called in confusion. Sebastian walked into her bedroom and noticed that her swim suite was missing. He spun on his heal and noticed how the tide was rushing out, "Claude, the ocean!" he shouted as he ran across the beach. Claude fallowed and the pair were quick to jump into the water. Sebastian dove as deep as he could and slowly bobbed up for air, "I can't find her," said Sebastian and Claude's eyes widened. "Alex!" cried Sebastian once more, all he could hear was the roar of the sea. Crimson tears were on the edges of Sebastian's eyes lashes and Claude slipped back under the water.

Their hearts were racing as they panicked the entire trip they hadn't seen Alex swim. Claude dove even deeper and found a small girl tangled in a ghost net. Claude swam faster and was quick to pull her into his arms. The net was tangled so tightly around her that Claude had a difficult time breaking the bounds so he could swim to the surface. Claude felt the water flow over him as he broke through its surface, he held Alex in his arms. Sebastian was quick to swim toward him and aid him in returning to shore. Her body was ice cold and Claude couldn't even detect a heart beat. In a rush they were on shore and Claude began to pull the net off of her as Sebastian attempted to loosen the netting around her neck. "Alex, hang in there," called Claude, his normal unfazed tone had transformed into a panicked and demanding one. Sebastian had managed to tear most of the nylon net off, it was nothing like Claude's delicate weaving. Claude was able to make the softest and most beautiful silks, being the spider he was did have it's advantages. However he did have the ability to create a web which was as sharp as knives, he used this rarely simply because he disliked it. This nylon webbing was coarse and Sebastian could see the small cuts it was leaving in her skin.

In seconds Claude began CPR, as Sebastian ran for a towel. Claude pressed his hands against her chest, it was ice cold and damp. He continued to press and kept count in his head, it wasn't working, he had check her air ways. His mind was a blur as he slowly leaned over and pressed his mouth to hers. The feeling of her icy lips against his disturbed him as he breathed in her mouth. He was quick to return to pressing against her chest and Sebastian stared in shock, a stream of red was flowing down his cheecks. "Don't leave us," he shouted angrily, his voice quivered and Sebastian stared. Claude was in tears, a sight which Sebastian had witnessed only once and it was when Claude thought he had lost Sebastian. "Don't leave me," he cried as he pressed his lips against hers one final time. He sat on his heels and looked down at her, he felt as if his heart was being ripped in two. Sebastian knelt across from him in the sand, and looked down at her. Tears filled his eyes as he slowly picked up her wrist and pressed two fingers to it. He was about to place it back down when he felt the faintest thump. He looked up at Claude and was about to say something when Alex coughed up the water she had inhaled. Claude looked up and watched as her chest trembled, his eyes were still red and his tears had finally stopped.

Unconceously Claude reached out and touched her cheek, he sighed with relief and gave a soft smile before Sebastian sat her up and wrapped her in a towel. It was soft and warm, a feeling which Alex remembered for all of the other times they had taken care of her. Even though they had shown their true colors as demons many times Alex began to think that this protective and sweet side of them was who they really were. She had grown accustomed to Sebastian's touch which was soothing as always. His arms wrapped around her and he held her tight as though he was afraid she would disappear if he let go. What happened next she didn't expect, Claude wrapped his arms around the pair and nuzzled into Sebastian's neck. "Don't scare me like that again," he whispered helplessly and it occurred to Alex that the stalwart Claude had been in tears. Sebastian slowly wrapped an arm around Claude and pleated his fingers through Claude's curly hair. He sighed softly and Alex could hear his heart beat, "Now you finally understand why I worry about you two all the time," he whispered as he held Claude closer. Alex's cold body began to warm as they simply embraced each other, "It's warm," Alex whispered. Claude hummed as he wrapped and arm around her as well. "I wonder if this is what it felt like when my parents hugged me," she whispered.

Claude looked up at Sebastian, who's red eyes looked into his own. They were filled with unsurely and flickered to a compassionate gaze. Perhaps it was for the best that she saw them as parents for now, even if that wasn't what they wanted to be. Claude was about to say something to her when he noticed she had fallen asleep. Her breathing was soft and she reminded them of a small animal, "Parents," Claude whispered softly as he slowly unwrapped his arms. Sebastian looked up as Claude rose and whispered, "Parents." A smile of delight curled across his lips it was as though the word it's self had the best ring. Sebastian smiled softly and whispered, "Parents," yet the word sounded as though Sebastian was in pain. Claude scooped Alex up in his arms and began to carry her off to her room. The smaller demon remained kneeling in the sand, he closed his eyes and breathed, "Parents, that's what she sees us as." Part of Sebastian was hurting however it wasn't because he wanted to hold her at night, it was a memory he would rather forget. Claude seemed so happy when she had whispered that word, did he even remember what had happened. The dream that was shattered before their eyes, did he remember why they no longer had children.

Claude sensed Sebastian's discomfort and after laying Alex in the bed found himself kneeling behind his lover with his arms wrapped around Sebastian. "I remember," he whispered. His sultry voice was soft and laced with the same pain Sebastian was feeling. It was that ache the pair had been suppressing for nearly a century now. "I know she's all grown up, but she still needs someone to look after her," said Claude. Sebastian knew this was true but he ached for a child of his own, "I know," he muttered and clung to Claude's arms, "It just hurts." Claude understood as he held Sebastian closer and looked at the ocean, "Perhaps she can ease the pain," he whispered. Sebastian was quiet and Claude knew that he was remembering a time when they had experienced the same happiness. He could still close his eyes and see a small raven haired boy with Claude's curly hair and Sebastian's soft facial features with a pair of bright orange eyes, Jasper. He squeezed Sebastian who he knew had been silently sobbing for nearly a century. Ciel had eased the pain once before, however Sebastian couldn't bring himself to sign a contract with another child after Ciel. Claude was honestly unsure if it was because of Ciel's personality or that the only reason Sebastian had done it was because of Jasper's death. Claude sighed and nuzzled into Sebastian's neck, "You know," he whispered. Sebastian squeezed Claude's arm, "you don't have to cry alone." Sebastian was still and Claude could feel how much pain Sebastian was in. The truth was he knew that under that flirtatious exterior there was a demon in an eternal state of mourning. Claude simply sat there and held Sebastian in his arms, "No matter what happens I will always love you," he whispered.

Hannah smirked as she walked into the auction house, working under Claude had given her one skill which she actually appreciated, the ability to organize and event. She stood before the auction house owner and said, "The auction will be this December, we have two different auctions going at once, with artifacts from the same seller." The owner nodded and a slender man entered the room he had jet black hair with a pair of green eyes, "It's so nice to see you again Damian, you'll be handling the accounts," she said softly. Damian nodded as Hannah smirked, "Now then the premier piece," she said happily as she pulled the cloth off of a stand. "Is that?" asked the auction house owner, Hannah gave Damian a sideways glance and whispered, "Believe me you have no idea." Damian shivered and looked at her. He knew that she had worked for Claude however her hands were in gloves which meant that she was currently contracted. "Do you have a question Damian?" she asked and Damian snapped to attention. He noticed the inquisitive look in her eyes and he asked, "Yes who your benefactor is, I need the info to do the paper work." Hannah was about to object when Damian heard a voice behind him, "Me," it replied and Damian spun on his heel. He could hear the click of Italian leather shoes and smell the owner's signature cologne. Damian's eyes widened and he began to wonder if Claude and Sebastian even knew who they were tangoing with.

My laptop is fixed! Yay! I'll post more often I promise.