"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before." -Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Kuroshitsuji.

"Sebastian?" The boy sat on his bed looking up at his butler.

"Yes, my young lord?" The demon continued to untie his shoelaces.

"What, um….what would happen if a human broke their contract with a demon?" Ciel asked tentatively.

Sebastian ceased unbuttoning his master's shirt and looked at him curiously. With his usual even tone, Sebastian replied, "When a Faustian contract is formed, the human has complete control over the demon. It must obey every order given by his master. Every contract is roughly based on the human asking the demon to carry out some sort of task. When the task is completed—and the contract is terminated—the demon possesses ownership of his soul." Sebastian smiled as he continued, the faint glimmer of hunger flashing across his eyes. "Once the contract is formed, the human cannot simply change his mind and reacquire his soul. If he tells the demon that he no longer wishes for the contract to continue, it is terminated. As I stated before, termination of the contract results in the demon's ownership of the soul." Ciel shivered at Sebastian's now blood-red eyes. "You see, my young lord, there is no way out of a Faustian contract."

He finished unbuttoning Ciel's shirt and lifted him into his pajamas. "Would a demon starve without being summoned for a contract?" Ciel struggled to maintain his apathetic tone.

Sebastian chuckled quietly. "Demons do not need Faustian contracts to take souls. Many consume them whenever they please, never entering a contract." The demon noticed his master's failed attempt of concealing fear. He spoke now with a slightly amused but gentle tone, "Master, you need not fear my intentions. I am bound to your service by the symbol on my hand and your eye. I cannot consume your soul until the contract's end."

"I'm not afraid. I was merely curious." Sebastian might not be able to lie, but he certainly could.

The demon looked at his master, obviously expecting another question. His omnipotent nature often unsettled him. "May I ask you a personal question?"

"What is it?" Sebastian replied without emotion.

Ciel took a breath. "Have you ever taken a soul without a contract?"

The butler's expression was unreadable. "Nearly all Faustian contracts involve long term servitude. Demons hunger for souls, becoming ravenous if too much time passes between feedings. Making frequent deals with humans—leaving them famished—can trigger what could be described as a frenzy." Ciel flinched at the thought. "You must keep in mind that demons are cruel and greedy monsters that exist solely to satisfy their desires, regardless of the aftermath and pain they may cause." Sebastian paused to give Ciel time to process everything he said. After a few moments he asked, "Is there anything else?"

"No." Ciel moved to avoid his butler's eyes. "That will be all for tonight. Now leave me to sleep."

"As you wish, my young lord." Sebastian bowed, quietly closed the door, and left the room.

Ciel lay on his back, lost in thought. I don't know if I even want this anymore. Sebastian is the only person I ever want to be around—and he's not even a person! The young earl threw his hands to his face. I knew how my life would end from the moment our contract was made. Am I second-guessing myself? Ciel dropped his left hand, leaving the other gently touching his eye patch. I just want to be near him.

Ciel willed his mind to slow down. There's no need to think about this now. We still have a long road ahead of us. One we will travel together. With that thought to soothe him, he closed his left eye and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning at breakfast, Ciel contemplated asking his butler a question regarding last night's conversation: If demons can consume souls without making a contract, what's the point? Why would they go to the trouble of being enslaved by their…meal? And what compelled Sebastian to choose him? After a few more minutes of consideration Ciel decided to leave it alone. He interrogated Sebastian enough.

The man of his thoughts entered the dining room to take his plate. Ciel observed his butler just a little longer than usual. Sebastian turned to him, noticing his behavior. How does he detect such tiny changes?

"Is there something troubling you, master?"

Ciel thought of what he wanted to say: Why yes, yes there is. I have feelings I can't fathom and have no idea what the hell to do with them. I want to be around you all the time and not just as a servant and protector. Also, I'm quite fond of you and I'm almost certain that it's a bit odd to care for a demon. Besides that, I'm feeling marvelous, thank you very much. He decided to shorten the answer a bit. "Just lost in my thoughts." …of you.

"Would you like to hear your schedule for today?" Sebastian asked. The shine from his hair briefly distracted the boy.

Ciel sometimes forgot that Sebastian is a demon; he looks like a perfectly normal butler. Sure, he's strikingly handsome with gorgeous raven-colored hair, cheekbones God himself is likely envious of, and a smooth deep voice that sends males and females alike melting to the ground—but besides that, just a regular servant. Subtracting his ability to do anything and everything with the grace and beauty of an angel before you could finish calling for him, he was just an efficient and obedient butler.

"Yes, I want to start working immediately." Ciel hid his blushing cheeks by looking away from Sebastian and toward the windows.

He smiled at his master's characteristic ambition. "You have a meeting with an important client at noon, violin instruction at 3:00, and ballroom dancing lesson at 4:30."

The earl pondered each activity before replying. After sipping his tea and pausing a moment he glanced up at his butler. "I'd like to discuss this client and his motives before he arrives. Gather any helpful information you can find." Sebastian nodded in obedience and awaited his reaction to the educational activities. "I'm aware of the violin lesson, but why must I endure the dance lessons?" He whined. "I've had enough instruction to know the steps."

"You haven't attended a social event in over three months. You would benefit from brushing up a bit before Lady Elizabeth's birthday."

Ciel put his finger and thumb to his lips mumbling, "That's right, Lizzie's birthday is next week…" He now spoke resolutely. "I need to find her a suitable present." The boy looked to his attentive butler. "Sebastian, am I available to shop for her gift tomorrow? I'll need about two or three hours."

"Your schedule is free tomorrow. We can search as long as you'd like," he replied without hesitation. Maybe he memorized Ciel's schedule to stay prepared.

Ciel delighted in his last remark. They would be together without the distractions of his servants' mistakes or discussing boring Funtom Company advancements. He needed to establish a plan of action for tomorrow. He wasn't quite sure why he needed a plan, just a feeling that something important should happen between the pair while they had time alone.

The young Phantomhive spent lots of his free time that day trying to remain calm. Don't stress over this too much. You don't want to end up as a worried mess. He also thought about the "plan" that seemed so urgent. How can I make tomorrow a success? First, he had to define what a success would look like. The goal is to be close to him. Well of course I'll be close to him—we'll be shopping together. A strange thought crept into the boy's mind. Maybe….maybe I'm looking at this wrong. "Close" can be interpreted many different ways. I definitely want to be close as in near him, but there's more to it…

Ciel took some time to rest his thoughts during his ballroom dancing class. Once that ended he returned to the situation at hand. Do I want to be close as in emotionally? He figured that was quite unlikely. Neither of them was open about the few feelings they had. He drifted back to the physical part of the word's definition. Close…physically..? Ciel thought about Sebastian's appearance—his physical appearance. There was no doubting the obvious beauty of the man. Am I attracted to him in that way? Ciel examined the feelings he experienced around Sebastian. He was somewhat shaky; his voice often gave him goosebumps; his touch made his pulse race. Oh God….I have a crush on Sebastian. He's not even human! Ciel knew it was wrong to feel this way, but he was unable to convince himself that he was mistaken. It just feels so…right…when I'm with him. It's like he's a piece of me, it hurts when the piece is missing.

He spoke to himself in the silence of his room. "Sebastian." The name lingered on his tongue. "Sebastian Michaelis…" Something fluttered in his stomach; his pulse raced.

He said the name aloud one last time, barely a whisper. "Sebastian…"

"Yes, my young lord?"