"STOP IT, YOUR GOING TO KILL ME!"

"Malady, please, it's just your corset! It's not even that tight!"

"Well, it seems like I'll die in this thing! I can't breathe!" I gasped for breath; the stupid corset was seriously hurting me. No wonder Ciel acted like he did in episode 4.

I had already tried on more than ten dresses that Alois had picked out for me. Some were more appropriate than others, but all of them had a commonalty. All of them were blue. Like blue bells.

Please, just one more tie, malady. You do want to get that boy's attention?" My helper girl said, loosening my cursed corset thing. She must've been twenty or so, for her completion was full of youth.

"Trust me, Master Alois isn't interested. How many more dresses?"

A shout that belonged to my master sounded from behind the door of the changing room. "Hey Nichole! Stop shouting, it sounds like you're doing something other than putting a corset on! Anyway, I have one last one for you to try on! Can I come in?"

I didn't care at this point. "Sure Master. Whatever will make this finish quicker."

Alois skipped in, holding a magnificent dress that even I liked. It was dark blue, like Ciel's hair, with black frilly things on the edges. It was a sleeveless gown with a sweet heart neckline (I watch way too much I Found the Gown) and two giant bows on it. One on the waist, and another on the black straps that held it up. For once, a dress in this era actually looked pretty.

"Don't you think this one is wonderful?! I love it! I bet it'll make even you look pretty!" Alois said, handing my helper the dress.

Sometimes he really needs to keep his feelings to himself. "Alright, I'll try it. But in all honesty, I think it's too-"

Alois put his hand over my mouth, making me quiet, "Just do it. I'll be waiting outside." And with that, he left.

I sighed and turned to face my helper. "Let's get this over with."

After a few minutes of fixing the dress onto me, my maid (she's the maid of a maid…haha) took a step back and put her hands over her mouth.

"Oh, my! You look amazing in this! That Earl will definitely fall for you when he sees you in this!"

"Yeah, sure. Let's show him so we can go home." I said, carefully stepping out of the room. I always got bored shopping.

Alois, who was busy talking to Claude, didn't see me come out until I had to legit had to yell "HEY!" His normally bored eyes with bags around them grew giant as he saw me. I swear, in his pretty gray/blue eyes, sparkles formed.

I held my hands together and tilted my head, "Is this good Master Alois? I don't have a mirror so I can't tell."

After staring at me for an annoyingly long amount of time, he finally blinked and said, "Nichole, there is a mirror over here. Come with me…come on!"

I followed him to the corner of the shop, were a big mirror was. Once in front of it, I looked at myself. I didn't look like Cinderella. Why was everyone staring at me like I was?

"That is your dress! It was MADE for you!" Alois said, jumping up and down happily. "I'll buy it for you! I might even try it on myself…"

Okay, that was kinda disturbing… "Alois, why do you think it looks perfect on me? Really, it just looks like the third one and it doesn't make me look like you said it would."

Alois gasped and started playing with his cheek in that way he always does, "Yes it does! It's true you look like a train wreck with your hair and your teeth and face and-"

"Okay, I get it! I'm not a goddess!" I said, feeling hurt.

"You aren't, but that dress takes the attention off of you and onto it! Trust me, at the party, all you do is follow me around and get me stuff and answer questions. It'll be easy, especially in a dress like that!"

After Alois paid for the dress (it was a lot of money, but he didn't seem to care), we started off back to the carriage. Claude seemed to be in a rush, for whenever Alois saw something interesting (which was a lot of things); he quickly pushed and urged the boy on.

Today was winder then yesterday, and people around us were bundled up. The woman in shawls and the men in long coats. I had nothing other than my maid dress. A gust of wind suddenly struck us, making Alois's hat go flying.

"My hat! Claude get it!"

With the speed of a demon, Claude jumped into the air and grabbed Alois's hat. A single rose fell off of it, but Claude didn't seem to really care much about it.

I, however, did. Running as fast as I could in my corset and form fitting dress, I went after the red rose as it blew onto the ground and started skittering away. Alois called after me, but I didn't listen to what he had to say.

Finally the pretty rose came to stop at someone's feet. Not bothering to see who it was, I quickly bent down to get the rose. Once I was up, I gave an awkward bow to the man, not looking at his face.

"I'm so sorry for my behavior, for my master's rose floated away with the wind, and I needed to return it. Please forgive me."

"Oh course, my dear. It wasn't your fault that the wind blew."

I froze, half in fear, and half in shock. That voice. It was…

"Please, face me, my dear."

I looked up with shaking hands as I came to face Sebastian Michaels. He smiled and looked at me in the eye. His red/orange eyes were full of warmth and calmness. However, once he saw the fear in my frown and my wide eyes, the original Black Butler's smile left his face.

"My dear, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a demon…" Sebastian looked at the top of my head and smiled that stalker smile again. "Oh, I see. A Trancy maid. I can tell by your hair piece. Please relax. I won't hurt you." Sebastian smiled a nice smile and continued "I am Earl Phantomhive's butler. Please to meet you."

I couldn't believe it. This was the real Black Butler. I didn't know whether to take meeting him as an honor or a sin. "I-I'm sorry! Master Alois just hates the Phantomhives so much, I was afraid that he'd slap me if I talked to Earl Phantomhive's butler."

"If he's going to punish you for something like that, why do you work for him? Getting back to the matter, it is fine, malady. Tell your master to expect us at his costume ball tomorrow. I'm sure he'll be happy to know my Master shall be there. Now if you excuse me, I need to get back to him." And with that, the raven demon walked away from me, leaving me to stand there by myself.

"NICHOLE!" I slowly spun around to see Alois running towards me, occasionally tripping over his high heeled boots. "HEY NICHOLE!"

I slowly walked to him and played with the rose in my hand. I had just met Sebastian, the real kuroshitsuji. I was still slightly shaking when I reached Alois.

"Nichole, I saw you talking to that man? Who is he? I didn't really get to see his face that well." Alois asked, taking his rose from my hands.

"I didn't get his name Master. He seemed nice though, whoever he is."

Believing my lie, he nodded, and put that troublesome rose back with the others on his hat. "Okay. Anyway, I'm ready to go! You Claude, Hannah, and the triplets need to prepare for the ball tomorrow."

"Yes, whatever you say, Master. I'm ready to go back to manor." I said, smiling at him. I had just met Sebby-chan…good lord.

"Stop zoning out! It's annoying when you do! Let's go!" And with that, Alois did something I'd never ever think he'd never EVER do. He took my hand, and led me along with him. Never, ever, had Alois done that with anyone except Luka. Never had he held anyone's hand without dancing with them or torturing them by…never mind.

Claude was as surprised at me, actually showing emotion as he looked at Alois and back at me. His worst fears were becoming reality.

Alois was feeling emotions towards me. He was happy near me. He was truly happy with someone he trusted.

Disbanding my thoughts, Alois turned back to me smiling and giving a little jump. "Come on! Stop dawdling you two, and let's go!" He then turned to Claude and, being bipolar, frowned. "You be happy too Claude. Smile."

Refusing, Claude stalked off, heading to the carriage at a fast pace. Spiders must really not like being happy.

"That *% #^& Claude. He needs to learn to be happier..." Turning back to me, Alois went into happy-rainbow-sunshine mode again. "Let's go meet up with him!"

Alois started, with my hand still in his, skipping down to the carriage. All the while smiling and laughing. I swear to God, there were sparkles all around us. That or it was beginning to snow.

Now things were serious. Claude was NOT happy with me, and was planning to destroy me as soon as possible. Alois was beginning to feel like he mattered in the world once more.

I've never been so afraid and so happy at the same time.