A/N: Alright so it has come to my attention that I didn't translate Ciel's sword's name, Lol. My bad. It means Anathema (accursed thing)

Chapter 2

"Milady, what has you in such a good mood today?"

Lizzie smiled brightly as she she checked out her outfit in her mirror, her tutor/ caretaker standing behind her with an amused smile.

The dress was pink and clung to her petite curvacious frame while being modest, giving just a hint of clevage to balance its innocence. Her long blond hair hung in elegant ringlets down her back, pinned away from her face with a pink bow that matched her dress.

"It's Ciel's birthday!" She exclaimed and her caretaker nodded, humming thoughtfully.

He'd heard alot about the young earl from his beloved charge but had yet to meet the young man on account that the girl's parents normally had someone else care for her when she went to him. Today would be his first time meeting the boy and he was eager to see if he was anything like Elizabeth claimed he was.

"Sebastian is allowing you to plan the party, correct?"

She nodded exuberantly, spinning around to face him.

"How do I look, Naoe?"

He smiled at her.

"You look stunning, Little one. Now come, If we are to arrive before the young earl arrives then we must leave quickly."

Nodding she took one last glance in the mirror, then turned and followed him from the room.

Sebastian pursed his lips as he observed his young master, watching as the boy twirled his new flute between his fingers nimbly and stared out the window of their carriage.

For the past few weeks the child's nightmares had gotten worse and it was effecting his behavior immensely. To anyone that didn't know him he was as cool and collected as ever, but to all of his servants, Sebastian in particular, his behavior was off. He'd drift off into thought more often than not, his one visible eye full of sadness and an age-old agony that made him seem older than his sixteen years.

"You're staring." He smiled at the soft statement watching as the teen turned his one indigo eye to him.

"What's wrong, Ciel?"

His master tilted his head. "Wrong?"

Sebastian nodded. "You've been drifting for weeks now, always lost in thought. Is it your nightmares?"

Ciel stared at him for a moment, then he smiled, a slow, secretive little gesture and brought the flute to his lips.

A dark, evocative melody filled the carriage, strangely reminiscent of the Devil's trill and the butler couldn't help but close his eyes and sway to the music.

It reminded him of Hell, of his brothers and his father. It reminded him of Ciel and Baulderoy. Fanny and Tanaka. Of Home.

Ciel played as if he were born to do it, slender fingers dancing expertly across the smooth wooden instrument as if he had done it his whole life. A familiar salty scent hit the demon's nose and his eyes shot open in alarm.

Tears.

They ran in crystalline trails down his little lord's porcelain cheeks, slipping from his closed eyes unbidden to land of the instrument.

"Ciel?" He whispered and the teen shook his head the melody becoming something dark and angry full of anguish and hatred.

What was his master thinking about?

What was causing these warring emotions in his child.

The demon prince froze at the last thought, analyzing it carefully, unaware that his charge had fallen silent and was watching him impassively.

Ciel was his child, he realized. He'd practically raised the boy since their contract had come into effect and even his inner demon was protective of him, no longer eager for the contract to end so he could devour the boy's soul. In fact, it had long since decided that it wouldn't kill the child at the end of the contract, and was eagerly awaiting the day for Sebastian to realize it so he could ask the boy if he would like to become a demon instead.

He smiled and shook his head. He wouldn't ask him yet. He'd wait a little longer.

Their carriage came to a stop and he smiled at his master who shook his head and cleaned his face with a handkerchief. Moments later the boy seemed just as composed as always, all traces of his emotional moment from before having vanished. The door opened and Sebastian stepped out, holding out his hand to help his master down. The boy took it delicately and stepped out of the carriage, his sword in the box in his arms and his flute tucked behind his ear like a writing utensil.

The butler moved to take the box, frowning as his master held it tighter.

"Young Master?"

"I can carry her." The boy replied and the raven fought not to raise an eyebrow. Instead he merely nodded and led the slate-haired teen to the manor.

Upon entering the found the entire manor in chaos. There was pink everywhere!

Pink ribbons hung in every direction, frilly doilies on every table and end table. Fanny was placing roses in a vase in the entrance hall, wearing a pink butler uniform with the Phantomhive crest in dark blue. Baulderoy had his flamethrower out and was glaring down at his clothing irately. And Tanaka was watching them all, calmly sipping a cup of tea.

Ciel's eye twitched. "Sebastian..."

"Ciel!" The duo turned,watching as Lizzie approached them. The girl was beautiful in her pink ensemble and both felt their hearts tighten affectionately when she smiled at them.

Then Ciel remembered the state of his house and his smile darkened into a glare.

"Lizzie." He growled and she giggled sheepishly.

"I take it you don't like it?"

He gave her a pointed look and she pouted. "Fine. I'll fix it and put up the real decorations."

Appeased the young earl nodded, watching his fiancee glance around as if searching for someone.

"I wonder where Naoe went. He was supposed to be helping Fanny with the roses."

Ciel stiffened and Sebastian sent him worried look.

All the color had drained from the boy's face and something flashed in his eyes but he managed to keep a straight face.

"Naoe?" He questioned and Elizabeth nodded.

"Naoe Nobutsuna. He's been my tutor for years and my parents finally let me chose who can bring me to your house so I chose him."

The young earl paled and wavered on his feet causing both to look at him in alarm.

"Ciel?"

He shook his head. "I'm feeling a bit out of sorts. Excuse me."

Before of them could speak, he left the room, only Sebastian noticing the fine tremor wracking his slim frame.

His eyes narrowed.

Something was seriously wrong with his master, and if Nobutsuna had anything to do with it...he would end him.

He knew it.

He knew it!

He would never escape him, how could he? Every time his soul returned to this plane, his beloved's soul followed and their lives, no matter where they were, ended up intertwined so that he could not escape.

A bitter laugh left him and he buried his face in his hands, feeling them tremble in response to the torrent of emotions raging through him.

Hatred.

Love.

Pai- no, agony.

Betrayal.

Forgiveness.

A shuddering sob left his lips. No matter how harshly the man treated him he always forgave him. Always. Naoe had been the first person to love him for him, the first person to actually care and he knew he'd never be able to let him go. He didn't have it in his heart to not forgive him, as horrible as that sounded.

"Fuck." He whimpered softly, gripping his hair tightly.

His deal with Sebastian would be up soon and he would finally be free of all of this. a broken smile crossed his lips and he wiped his eyes dry.

"Soon." He rasped, running a gentle hand over Hamon's wooden case.

"So soon."

He sensed him as soon as he entered the manor.

His master.

His beloved.

His spiritual energy was strong in the air, thick and cloying like the world's most delicious perfume and he couldn't help the low, shallow gasp that eft his lips. Mei glanced at him and he gave her a shaky smile, his mind lost in thoughts of the man that haunted most of his dreams.

He could remember those beautiful hazel eyes glaring up at him full of a hate so delicious it left his breathless and those same eyes broken and full of tears as he pluged deeper and deeper into his broken body.

He remembered the soft smile that would play on his lips as he played his flute in the gardens of the Uesugi manor, the way the sakura petals seemed to dance around his slim frame so beautifully.

"Mr. Nobutsuna?"

He glanced at the young maid who frowned at him.

"Yes?"

"Are you alright?"

He nodded, smiling kindly. "I'm fine."

His smile darkened. "Just fine."

TBC...