Disclaimer: I wish I am Yana or Jun.

Author's Note: First of all, I would like to apologize for being on hiatus. I swear I tried my best to update as soon as I could, but since my academic performance had urged me to focus on school and whatever shit I was doing these past few months, I was forced to abandon my writing career (which I doubt is improving. It's getting crappier each passing days). I'm sorry to those who waited for this. Really, I'm too ashamed of myself.

Honestly, I had planned of abandoning this; but when I decided to check on my account once again, I was happy to see at least two reviews urging me to continue. Thank you so much to those who reviewed. :)

I wanted to please my followers, especially my Xerxes-niisama, so yeah. And because animelovernewbie inspired me to write the next chapter, I ended up creating one. Alas, this one was rushed so expect it to be crappy. So sorry... I tried my best. Writer's block is eating my ideas.

To Happykonny: I really want to give you my deepest thanks, so here it is. I'm so glad you found this story cool and interesting. You just made my day. :D I'm having a hard time expressing my happiness. Anyway, I love you! XD

I hope you'll enjoy this! Tell me as soon as possible if you find something wrong and destructible. :)

Chapter XVI: Genie of the Mansion

Zwei had never been so happy. When she learned about Ciel's return, she hastily left her room and proceeded towards the chamber where her family was waiting. She didn't even bother to put on her coat and shoes to keep her warm; nothing matters as long as she could see her brother again.

"O-Oh, Ciel… my dear little brother," she called softly, as tears made its way down on her pale face. Ciel could only give her a genuine smile. Both children ran towards each other's embrace. Zwei did the best she can to properly hold her brother tightly despite the continuous tremble of her whole body. At that moment, all she wanted was to feel his warmth against her.

"I missed you so badly, sister. I was so afraid that I might not be able to see you again," Ciel responded, trying to shoo his tears away.

"I feel the same way and I'm so glad you're back now." She looked down this time to glance at him before she gave him a kiss on the forehead. "Tell me a story. Did anyone hurt—"

Vincent pulled the children apart from each other without warning in order to cut the girl's question. He gestured for them to sit with him—with Ciel on his lap and Zwei on his right side. "My daughter, I understand your constant worry for Ciel. But let us not ask your baby brother anymore questions. He had gone through a lot."

Zwei could sense genuine concern from her father's tone, so she decided not to pursue it any farther. But even if she tried not to feel anxious, she just couldn't do it. She looked up and glanced at Ciel, who had his face hidden on their father's neck. Fear instantly returned to her. What if she had caused her brother to remember the terrible experience he had? Whatever it was, it was probably bad. Vincent noticed it too. He knew what was coming. He asked his daughter to stay with her mother for the meantime, which they easily agreed upon. Zwei didn't question her father anymore. She knew that his fragile, little brother had been traumatized. What he needed the most was comfort and guidance from someone he's comfortable with.

"Do not blame yourself. You had done nothing wrong, my dear," Rachel said in a whim. She put a loving arm around her daughter and kissed her on the forehead. She knew that not only Ciel needs comfort, but Zwei as well. After all, she almost had an emotional breakdown. As her mother, Rachel wasn't there at her side at that time and was being selfish for only thinking of her son. If it wasn't for Charlotte, her daughter had been gone into such serious treatment. Right now, at least, only Ciel needed a serious therapy.

"Mother?" the girl looked up and asked, "What… happened to him?"

Rachel felt the pain coming back. After all the reassurance she got from her husband, she still could not forget the fact that her son—her precious baby—got tainted by the hands of those monsters. There could be no way in hell that she would forgive them.

"M-Mom?"

"I'm sorry, but it's not something a little girl should hear. Let us just forget about it for the time being. I'm sure it will be best for all of us."

Zwei acquired a great fright about the matter. Even if her mother did not tell her what it was, she had a feeling that it was something indecent—filthy in a sense that it involved great physical contact. She wanted to know the whole details, though. But if they told her to stop, then she's willing to let it pass for the sake of her little brother.

Meanwhile, Vincent decided to bring his son back to his room. Ciel hadn't said anything ever since they left and just remained on his father's arms. When they got in, the older Phantomhive sat on that little couch near the window and set Ciel down on his lap. "If there's something bothering you, you can always tell daddy, alright?" Ciel buried his face even deeper on his father's chest and let out a muffled sound. The latter responded by rubbing a hand on the boy's back. "I'm listening."

This time, the boy perked his head upwards, looked straight into his father's eyes, and said, "I-I'm sorry, daddy. I-It's because I didn't listen to you."

"About what?"

"A-About… talking to strangers and trusting them. I-I'm s-sorry."

"Shh… It's alright. It's not your fault." Vincent noticed the slight change on Ciel's tone. It was obvious that he was trying his best to look tough in front of him.

"I had disobeyed you."

"A father will always love and find a way to forgive his son no matter what sort of thing he'd done."

"Then, you'll forgive me?"

"There's nothing to forgive," Vincent answered with a smile. "You are both my big boy and my baby. I will never hate you. Even if you become a bad person or a crybaby, I won't care. I will still love you."

Ciel bit his lips, preventing his tears from falling. Instead of soothing him, Vincent had urged him to cry. As a result, he put away his façade and cried his hardest. It really pains Vincent seeing his children crying. But in order to cure him emotionally from the pain, he had no choice but to do it. After all, crying helps a lot in releasing stress.

"Oh, my sweet dear baby," Vincent cooed, mimicking what his wife usually says when cuddling Ciel, "Daddy's here." Somehow it did the trick and calmed the boy down. He wiped the tears from his face and gave him a big smile.

The boy responded by giving his father an embrace.

"Do you feel light now?"

Ciel nodded.

"That's better." He kissed Ciel on the cheek and smiled at him again. "Tell me something new. You mentioned about that boy who saved you. May I know his name, Ciel?"

"Oz Vessalius."

Oz? Vincent thought for a moment. There was some sort of familiarity from that name. Somehow, he felt shivers running down his spine. "Was he a good friend?" he asked again, brushing the uneasy feeling away.

Ciel looked up and a little smile appeared on his lips. "Yes. I could have died if it wasn't for him." Yes. Vincent remembered what Ciel had told him about the details of their escape. Even if there was something odd about that boy, he was still thankful to him for rescuing his son. "Besides… he killed them for me."

Vincent could feel the fear in his own body doubling up. Did he just hear him right? "W-What did you say?" He could see it as well—the fear that instantly crept on Ciel's demeanor. "Ciel, what is it?"

"N-No. I-I didn't say anything." The boy tried so hard to make up an excuse, but he was just no good at it.

"Tell me the truth." Vincent pinned both of his hands on Ciel's shoulder and urged him not to lie. But the boy was just simply not in favor in pursuing the matter.

"I-I said it's nothing!" Ciel tried all his might to push his father away. He freed himself from his grasp and ran away, urging his father to run after him.

Right on cue, Sebastian had just finished his job of assassinating the Viscount's men and was now patrolling the vicinity of the Phantomhive estate when he felt a warm small body bumped into him. He looked down and, to his surprise, saw Ciel at his side. "Young Master, what are you doing out here? You'll contract your flu again."

"S-Sebastian, let's go."

"W-Where?"

"To Oz… P-Please bring me to him," Ciel pleaded, this time with abundant tears on his eyes.

Sebastian scooped his young master into his arms and rubbed a hand on his back. "I'm sorry, Young Master, but I can't do that without earning permission from the Master. You do understand me, right?"

Ciel didn't respond and just chose to cuddle on his butler. Sebastian heaved a sigh of relief and then proceeded inside of the mansion where he saw a hurrying Earl.

"Sebastian, have you—" he stopped and almost cry from joy when he noticed the child Sebastin was carrying. "Oh, thank you. I thought I'll lose him again." When he tried to take Ciel away, the boy tightened his grip on his butler.

"What is the matter, Young Master?"

"Ciel, please come here. Don't make this hard for me. I promise I won't ask you anything again."

With that, Ciel looked back at his father and saw the genuine concern in his eyes. He went down from Sebastian and took Vincent's hand. "I'm sorry, daddy."

"It's nothing. Come, let's put you to sleep."

It was still quite early to go to rest, but Vincent believed that his son really needed it. When he tucked the boy under the covers and kissed him goodnight, Ciel—almost hesitantly—grabbed the hem of his father's sleeve and offered him a pleading stare. Vincent instantly got the picture that Ciel wanted him to stay despite their previous misunderstanding. So, then, he sat down on the bed and took the boy's hand in his own.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, my love?"

"Could you tell me a story?"

"Of course. Let's see," Vincent began, following with, "Do you know what a Genie is?" Ciel looked at his father with curious eyes, and with that, Vincent was able to know the answer. "A Genie is a creature that grants wishes. They reside inside of vessels of all sizes."

"Then, does that mean that we have one here? Where can you usually find them?" Ciel asked; his bright wide eyes emitted interest.

"Probably. Finding one is not an easy task, little one. Usually, one can only obtain them if they had done something good. If you found one and was able to free it from its vessel, you would get a maximum of three wishes."

"Wow! That's cool! I want one too!"

"You will if you stay a good boy."

Ciel's excitement faded into a worried, sad look. He just suddenly remembered his actions from before. Without realizing it, Vincent proceeded by retelling him the story of the magic lamp. Ciel brushed off the thought and chose to listen to his father. When Vincent had finished with the storytelling, Ciel was still awake 'though his constant struggle with drowsiness was already apparent. "Sleepy?" Ciel shook his head, only to receive a slight chuckle from the older Phantomhive. "Very well, then. I have a situation for you." The boy listened as eagerly as possible. "Let us pretend that I am a Genie and I had given you three wishes, what would you make of them?"

Ciel thought for a moment before answering, "Make all the bad people disappear."

"That's a very hard wish. How I wish my Genie power will be able to accomplish that." Vincent smiled through his irritation when he remembered the two defiled souls who suffered from the hands of a mysterious persona. Not wanting to let the boy sees through his frustration, he returned to his usual façade in an instant. "Will that be all?"

"I…I… also wish for daddy, mommy, and sister not to leave me." Ciel blinked. His eyes were closing in already.

"Yes, we won't. You still have one last wish."

"I-I…I want… to be with Oz, again," and there it was; his tone almost as close to a whisper as his eyes finally shut to rest for the day.

Vincent whispered a good night as he watched the boy drifted to his sleep. Little Ciel was probably dreaming of genies and wishes by now. A little smile escaped from Vincent's lips. That last wish—he was very much sure that he could grant just that properly.

A/N: I feel like this chapter is a little out of place.

So... uhm... any comments?