Hi everybody! Here's the epilogue, like I promised. I just couldn't let the story end without an afterthought and, well, it would've been a bit odd if i had left it off that way. You'll see once you read it, I hope! I'm very happy Ciel finally ended up with nice clothes/eyepatch/cane/normal Ciel-ness by the end of the story. Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. Read on!

The Undertaker's Apprentice

The London shipyard was one of the busiest places in the world. Traders, sailors, and travelers bustled about everywhere from every corner of the world. People shouted praises of their wares from the sides of the docks and streets. Smells of exotic spices wafted through the crowds, baskets of silks and strange foods floated about in the arms of traders. And above all this business and chaos, hundreds of ships docked at port, looming over the people like divine guardians. Despite the winter cold, London's commerce slowed down for no one.

Amid all the dealings and boardings and disembarkings, there was a small group huddled by a smaller ship, all surrounding two boys who were in turn flanked by a trunk apiece.

"But why do we have to go?!" Ciel protested, "We are perfectly safe staying with you!"

"It is not safe in London for either of you, I have already explained it to you," Sebastian said, "Finnian is still wanted for working in the brothel for Hammond, and you are wanted for not only that, but you are in danger because you were involved with Charles Grey's death."

"But you were excused from that! It was defense!" Ciel shouted. Even after two months of living in Sebastian's mansion and two months of etiquette lessons from Merlyn, he was still inclined to revert to less polite habits once in a while.

Sebastian shook his head. "I was legally exempt, but there are still a fair amount of people under Her Majesty who would very much like to see me dead for what I did to Earl Grey. Or they would like to torture me by killing you or taking you captive."

Grell swept onto the scene in all his fiery glory, grabbing Ciel and Finny in turn in huge hugs. "Ci-ci! Finny! I'm so glad I was able to see you guys off! Undertaker's here, too!" he pointed behind him, where sure enough, the Undertaker was standing there. He waved and grinned. Ciel waved back.

"Oh! Yesterday was your birthday, wasn't it, Ci-ci?" Grell asked, digging around in his pockets.

Ciel nodded. "Yes, my twelfth."

"Only twelve, I can't believe it!" Grell squealed, "That's so exciting! Here's a gift from the Undertaker and I!"

He presented Ciel with a silver ring. A huge square, blue jewel was set in it. Ciel took it with wide eyes. It was beautiful, though the boy was afraid to ask how the two death gods had acquired it. "Thank you," he said, slipping the ring onto his left index finger.

Merlyn and Bard practically fell over themselves trying to hug both boys. "We'll miss you both so much!" Merlyn cried.

"Be sure to write letters," Bard said, clapping Finny on the back.

"We will!" Finny assured them. The group of three wandered towards the ship, talking amongst themselves.

Grell and the Undertaker gave Ciel one last hug, then wished him goodbye. When they were gone, Sebastian took Ciel by the wrist and led him away to the shadow of the gangplank. "Remind me why Finny and I must travel with a circus to India," Ciel grumbled.

"I told you already, you will be able to move about freely with them. No one questions a half blind, half lame boy and a bizarrely strong young man if they are with a circus."

"This is true," Ciel said. Then he paused. "…I still have another question."

Sebastian touched the boy's chin, tilting it up so he could gaze at his lone sapphire of an eye. "And what would that be?"

Ciel raised his visible eyebrow. "Won't you miss me too much?" he teased.

To answer his question, Sebastian kissed him. This time, however, it was different than the one they shared at the ball. This one was sad, but at the same time it was so much more fulfilling than before. Sebastian kissed with an almost feverish earnestness, taking as much as he could in each moment his lips pressed against Ciel's. Ciel allowed him this exploration and let himself become lost in the duke's charms, molding himself to his body so there was no space left between them.

Ciel had him—Sebastian was his. He knew how Sebastian felt about him, and it was quite clear how he felt about the duke. Their lips met, then broke apart, then met again in a series of long kisses. Ciel didn't want to stop kissing him, didn't want to leave him, because that meant traveling thousands of miles away to India. Now that he had this luxury, this pleasure, he never wanted to let go of this life, not ever.

"…Sebastian?" he mumbled, bowing his head and leaning into him, "Will I ever see you again?"

The duke whispered in his ear: "You have my blood, Ciel. No matter where you go, I will be able to find you. But remember," he added when Ciel was about to say something, "This can be a double edged sword. No matter where you are in the world, I will be able to find you. Until you are gone from this world, I will be one step behind you, following your every step and every order."

Ciel grinned deviously up at the demon. "Just what I would expect from you," he whispered back, leaning up again for another long kiss.

The entire group waved from the port as Finny and Ciel boarded the ship. "Goodbye!" they both shouted over the din of the shipyard. They walked the rest of the way up the gangplank and boarded the ship.

An elaborately dressed young man greeted them. He wore checkered patterns on his clothes, and two triangles decorated his cheeks under his eyes. "Hello, Ciel, Finny," he greeted them, "Welcome to the circus! You can call me Joker—we all have nicknames here, and we call each other as such."

Ciel nodded. "Alright. Hello, Joker." Finny waved timidly.

Joker smiled and walked them to their cabin. "You'll be staying here," he said as he opened the door, "lavatory is at the end of the hall, and I'm three doors down from you. Tell me if you need anything."

"Thank you," Ciel said. The two boys dragged their trunks into the small cabin and began to set up their room.

Finny sat down on his bed and sighed. "How 'bout it, Ciel?" he asked, "You think we'll be okay?"

Ciel looked out the porthole at the harbor. It would be a long time before he would see this sight again; he would miss it. The boy smiled. "Yes, we'll be fine, Finny." And he was sure of it. Though as he finished unpacking, and as the ship cast off for India, and even as they drifted out to the blue sea for future adventure and their new life, Ciel could not shake the feeling of being watched. A pair of smoldering crimson eyes, always watching him until the end of time.

Yes, yes, I know it's not the all-lived-happily-in-the-manor-the-end thing, but it works. Especially when I say that I am planning a sequel! Which I am! There was even a tiny dash of SebxCiel in there... Thank you again, everyone, for reading my first posted story, I really appreciate it ^_^ Feedback is always welcomed. Well, see you all another time!