DISCLAIMER! This story involves characters that belong to Taboso-sama. I own nothing except the made up story, and I do not profit from this in anyway.

Chapter 3: Dole

The last bell rang and Ciel couldn't wait to get out of that personalized Hell. Alois managed to catch a fleeting image of him before the dashed out of the large school doors.

"Ciel! Wait for me!" Alois called as he darted between his schoolmates.

Ciel continued to walk to the end of the sidewalk, but stopped and waited for Alois nonetheless. Alois caught up and smiled, which was irresistible to Ciel.

"Let's walk." Ciel said in a calm voice.

Alois giggled and linked arms with Ciel, but was quickly pushed away.

Ciel took the part of the sidewalk closest to the road like always and Alois put his hands behind his head as they walked.

"Why do you always take that side?" Alois asked.

Ciel threw his over-shirt over his shoulder and spat at the road, "I prefer this side."

"When we're walking the other way you take the other side, silly. Why do you do that?" Alois remarked through a wide smile.

"I don't want you to stumble into the road. The heels on your shoes are always so high, and you can't even walk in them properly!" Ciel said.

Alois giggled, "You want to protect me. Thank you so much, Ciel. Are you still coming over for beef strew? You know Claude makes the best!"

Ciel could already feel the hunger pains that would come later in the night, so the offer was hard to refuse, "I'll drop in for a while and have some."

Alois threw up his arms, "Goody! You know it gets lonely with just Claude and I, but I couldn't imagine living all by myself like you do. Do you get scared at night?"

"Would you be quiet for a minute? I said I would drop by for a while, as in after I get my chores finished." Ciel said.

Alois hugged him close, "Aw, please? You could just swing by on the way to your house! We can do our homework and then help Claude make the stew, feast, and then we'll walk you home! It'll be great!"

Ciel didn't deny that he really wanted to taste that kind of quality family time, but he really needed to take inventory of his groceries so he could buy more when his paycheck came.

"Alois I really have some chores to take care of first, and as for the homework I-" He was cut off.

"Alois! Ciel! Come on! I started making it without you!" Claude shouted.

Ciel hadn't realized how close to home they actually were, but it would explain Alois's constant questioning.

Alois grabbed Ciel's arm in the confusion and pulled him, "C'mon!"

Ciel couldn't help but be swept away.

Alois didn't let go until they were completely on the porch, "Take your shoes off on the mat inside."

He opened the door and barged in ahead of Ciel, only stopping to remove his shoes. Ciel walked in and pulled his shoes off and was careful to not touch his socks on the dirty ground.

Alois ran down the short hallway and threw his schoolbag into his room before running back to the kitchen and hugging Claude.

"I missed you today!" Alois chirped.

Claude barely managed to touch his face because he was trying to juggle the ingredients and the ladle in both hands, "How was it today?"

Alois released his big brother and sat down at the table, "Sebastian is our newest schoolmate."

Ciel draped his over-shirt over the back of his chair and sat down as well, "And he's moving in on my girlfriend, or at least trying."

"She's not your girlfriend, Ciel." Alois said in a loud whisper.

Ciel poked out his tongue at Alois, but Alois could only smile.

Claude laughed, "Things sound heated, does he have any classes with you?"

"Biology." Ciel said in a flat tone as he recalled the events of the day.

"Ouch. At least it wasn't something hands-on." Claude said, as he tasted the stew.

Ciel crossed his arms, "It doesn't matter because he's in our territory now, right Alois?"

He was kicking his feet back and forth under the table, "Yeah."

"If he starts to stir up anything and blame it on us, he's going to get it!" Ciel was becoming heated, "If he thinks that he can just waltz into my territory and take over my control, then he's got another thing coming! If I could get my hands on-" He was cut off again.

"Stew's ready. Alois, please grab three bowls." Claude chirped in.

Alois jumped up and grabbed the bowls, "Ciel, would you please grab three cups in the cabinet behind you?"

Ciel nodded and stood to retrieve the cups, "I'm just saying he needs to watch out."

Claude moved the stew pot from the stove to the table, "It's good that you want to keep crime rates down and all, but I don't want Alois in a situation where he might be hurt."

"I wouldn't let that happen." Ciel said.

"You don't know what could happen. Sebastian's group is celebrity status! Not to mention all the manpower that comes with it. I want you two to be safe, Ciel, because you're both family." Claude said over the table.

Ciel placed the cups on the table, "We're not stupid, and we know what Sebastian is capable of."

"Then why pursue it? Why openly invite a fight?" Claude asked.

"This power is all I have!" Ciel shouted.

Alois stopped dancing around with the bowls and stared at him, "Ciel, are you okay?"

"I'm inot/i okay! I've lost my family! I've lost my pride! I've lost my will to go on! The only thing that keeps me ticking is the fact that I have this power with my friends! If he takes that away I'll have nothing!" Ciel slammed his fists down and turned to storm out of the house.

Alois put the bowls on the table, "Ciel! Don't go! Stay here and have dinner!"

"Keep it for yourself! I'll be fine without it." Ciel said as he was struggling to put his shoes on.

Claude walked over and grabbed his shoulders, "Ciel, please, at least take some with you. We know you get hungry and lonely over there."

Ciel shook him off, "I'll be fine by myself!" He stormed out of the house.