A/N: Yes, it's been a long time and I'm sorry for that. I said I will finish his fic, and if you want to, I will try to keep my word. However, I cannot say that I'm 'back', because I'm not. Lots to do, and with the last chapters of the current arc (namely the cricket game) I cannot say that I was motivated to write anything for Kuro. However, with the last two chapters my motivation has come back so I present you with another chapter of a fic that I hope to finish. I hope you guys are still around. Please understand that it might take a while between chapters. If there are fast or, heavens, regular updates (just in case they occur), please do not get used to them, lol. I am, of course grateful if you are still willing to follow this fic. It means a lot to me.

That being said, I'll start working on the next chapter, trying to lure my muse back to me.

Disclaimer: Still not mine.

Chapter 6

Ciel notices the signs by the end of the week, but he doesn't exactly pay attention to them. He doesn't know what to do with them. They are too random: A crow passing his window in the early morning, the sound of footsteps when he knows he's alone in the flat, memories of his childhood that come unbidden and unexpected, the need to look at his wings more often (black as ink, sleek, soft to the touch),... He finds an absurd interest in the smooth skin of the back of his hand, untainted by the contract mark that he wants so badly. He stays up at night but finds no interest in clattering the pots anymore. Even though there is more to explore in and outside the flat, he would rather stay back, sitting by the foot of the bed and kicking his legs carelessly.

He's waiting. What for? He doesn't know.

He would like to be waiting for Sebastian to finally realize that a contract is quite the advantage for him. But it isn't that, not really: It's something else he's waiting for.

Sebastian comes to his room on a Saturday morning, frowning as he opens the door. Something in his face changes when he finds Ciel sitting on the bed.

Ciel regards him for a long while. When it becomes clear that the doctor isn't going to say anything, he snaps, "What?"

Sebastian blinks. "Thought you'd be gone, that's all."

It's Ciel's turn to blink.

"You've been oddly quiet this night," Sebastian explains. "Are you okay?"

"Would you care?"

"I don't know. Can demons feel bad? Then I might care."

Ciel shrugs.

Sebastian raises an eyebrow. "Alright. I'm going to have breakfast and then I'll leave. Are you coming with me?"

"Are you going to form that contract with me?" Ciel retorts.

"No, I will not. But thanks for asking." The door closes again, and when Ciel hears Sebastian leave the flat sometime later, he gets up from his bed, clumsily changes his clothes and proceeds to exit the flat through his bedroom window. It falls shut behind him with the barest amount of willpower.

He disappears into London.

It's raining, and the drops are dampening his hair, gathering on his eyelashes to finally fall onto his cheeks, and Ciel stares at puddles that are starting to form, sidesteps the people rushing into shops and cafés because they forgot their umbrellas. It's mostly people that are called tourists, Ciel notices with no small amount of malice. It's still quite warm, but it's cooling down rapidly.

A man runs into him, or rather, Ciel runs into a man.

"Oh hey, cutie, careful where you're going."

The voice sounds friendly enough, Ciel notices as he tries to regain his balance. The stranger grabs him by the arm to keep him from falling – help that Ciel doesn't need, of course. He looks up into the red eyes of a well-dressed blond man. Those eyes immediately lose a great amount of friendliness as they lock gazes. The man lets him go, his hand clutching his umbrella tightly.

They stare at eachother for a long time. Ciel anticipates a remark, a jab, a fight, something, but the man in front of him with his hair tied to a loose ponytail and thrown over his shoulder says nothing. If anything, he breaks eye contact and stares resolutely at Ciel's jacket.

They are standing in front of a café. Ciel doesn't miss the glance that the blond man throws into the direction of the café's entrance door. "Who are you?" Ciel asks him. When the man simply straightens his posture and meets his gaze, Ciel follows up with "What are you?" He knows that this creature in front of him isn't quite human, but he cannot put a finger on what it is. Maybe a demon of the lowest rank.

The man doesn't answer.

"Edgar!"

Just as Ciel wants to huff in frustration, a younger man exits the café with a paper mug in each hand. He hurries under the taller man's umbrella and hands him one of the mugs. The man whose name must be Edgar accepts it with great dignity. The shorter green-eyed blonde finally notices Ciel and greets him with a polite smile. "Who's that?"

"Somebody I never wished to meet", says Edgar. "Let's go."

"What?" The shorter man blinks in confusion. "I don't understand."

"You don't need to", says Edgar. He throws Ciel one last look. "Good day, young prince."

Ciel watches them disappear.

Young prince.

This is what he's been waiting for. Or rather, this is who has been waiting for him. He quickly returns to Sebastian's flat, passing a strange-looking man with silver hair in the corridor Ciel opens the main door only by willpower and tears the shoes off his feet clumsily as he enters.

He feels a familiar presence in the flat. Gathering his courage he enters the living room where he finds a woman sitting on Sebastian's couch, looking at the telly that hasn't been switched on with distaste. She would be described as beautiful by human standards, but Ciel knows that it doesn't matter to her. When he comes to a halt by the doorway, the woman slowly turns her head, taking in his appearance. Her face does not betray any reaction.

Ciel purses his lips. "Hello, mother."

OOO

They meet: Sebastian has been spending the day walking around, trying to clear his head. He cannot do that in his flat because the root of his problems is sulking in the guest room there, so he has to walk around in the rain. He takes a walk in Hyde Park, eats lunch and then takes the tube. He should have hailed a cab, he will think later, but right now he doesn't know.

The line he usually takes to his flat should be reasonably full at this time, but as he enters the underground train there is absolutely nobody except him. Sebastian turns around to look at the people outside, but even though they are waiting for this line, no one follows him inside. They sit or stand around, daydreaming, reading, playing games on their phones, brushing dust off their clothes.

The doors close and Sebastian takes a seat. It isn't his problem if he's the only one to catch the train. As it disappears into the tunnel, Sebastian relaxes in his seat, wondering if Ciel is still at home. It cannot be long until Ciel leaves Sebastian's flat in search for a soul that he can actually take.

It doesn't take longer than a single blink. Sebastian closes his eyes and opens them and a man is sitting opposite him, legs crossed, one arm extended over the backrest. His lips are pulled into a self-important smile. There as an uncanny resemblance to Ciel.

Sebastian successfully suppresses his reaction and watches as the man drums his fingers against the backrest, looking completely out of place in his expensive three-piece suit in the tube. He shows a row of even and white teeth, tilting his head to the side.

"I take it you're the counsellor," Sebastian says.

"Indeed." The man – no, demon – uncrosses his legs and leans forward to rest his elbows against his knees. "You may call me Vincent. I heard you are my son's new contractor."

So, here's the end of this chapter. It's rather short, I know, but I hoped you liked it nevertheless. A few more characters have been introduced and a new problem is slowly surfacing. Stay tuned and thanks for reading. Don't forget to comment! =D I'd like to see who's still around.

(And: I am already working on the next chapter.)