The rest of the conversation went along somewhat smoothly. Alois cracking jokes as they ate, Ciel grimacing at each one.

Eventually, Claude walked into the room, the blond turning to him with excitement. "Claude! Where have you been?" He exclaimed.

The butler simply fixed the position of his glasses, his lips in a thin line. "I was busy preparing for the upcoming ball."

Alois clapped his hands. "Oh, that's right! I almost forgot! When are our guests arriving?"

"Presently, your highness. I would suggest moving to the main hall as to greet out guests," Claude replied.

His master sighed with a nod. "Fine. I will need Hannah to clean up our little mess here, though." He got up out of his seat, turning to walk out before calling over his shoulder, "Are you coming along, Phantomhive?"

Ciel turned to Alois, his lips drawn in a line. "I suppose I don't have a choice." He began following the other's footsteps, looking back at his butler. "Sebastian, whatever help they need, I want you to do your best to assist them. I highly doubt you should have any trouble, however," he said, turning back to the back of the blond's head.

"Yes, my lord," was the simple response that came from Sebastian's lips.

As the two exited the room and walked over to the entry hall of the manor, Claude hung back with Sebastian.

"They have not killed each other yet," Claude observed in his dead tone, watching both of the boys with that subtle hungry longing in his yellow eyes.

Sebastian glanced over at Claude, not necessarily finding the need to reply, but did so anyway. "No, they have not." He felt that he didn't have to say more than that. However, he narrowed his eyes at the other butler; he didn't like the look in his eyes.

The bluenette, meanwhile, was focusing his eyesight at the main entrance. Hopefully he would not have to be involved in any dancing, and instead would be able to stand to the side.

Several seconds of waiting passed, and then a heavy knock on the door created a loud noise, filling the silence and cutting the tension between the butlers. Alois rushed to open the door to greet his first visitors.

"Cousin Aleister!" He cried, flying into the arms of the Viscount.

The Viscount smiled, hugging the sweet boy back. "My Child, how you've grown since we last met!" He replied, taking the boy's face in his hands, "Just as unblemished and pure, oh how you shine lik-"

"Enough of that," spoke a firmer tone from behind the Viscount as Arnold Trancy stepped through the doors. His eyes glazed over the swooning man beside him and the little boy he held close. Then he looked over at Ciel, raising both eyebrows in surprise. "I didn't think I've had the pleasure of making the acquaintance with the Earl of Phantomhive," he said slowly.

Alois clapped with joy, pulling from Viscount's hold on his cheeks. "Oh yes, we are the best of friends!" He chimed with a giggle. He had turned into a completely different person now that company had arrived.

Ciel walked up beside Alois, nodding in response to Arnold Trancy. "With pleasure." He had been slightly thrown off by Alois' exclamation of their "friendship," as he put it. Well, that's what you had to do if you wanted to keep a high profile; lie. And how he was known for his notorious lies to people.

"What he said is quite true. Alois and I have gotten very close, despite the short time span of our knowledge of one another." Lying through his teeth; not the worst thing he has ever done. Certainly not. He's killed people. Too many to count. Lying was far from being bad to him.

The young earl struggled, but he forced himself to smile (it was quite literally the definition of fake) to the relatives of Alois, trying to seem friendly. He even held out a hand to them to shake.

Arnold nodded, taking Ciel's hand and shaking it. "I'm glad to see my nephew is making some new friends around here." The smallest smile played across his face. "We'll head into the ballroom then," he spoke, tapping the Viscount's shoulder as more guests began to appear.

The Viscount quickly shook the young Phantomhive's hand as he nodded, turning from Alois and resting his eyes on Ciel. Something swept through those violet eyes, as if he had seen Ciel before. He shook his blond mane, still eyeing the boy as he followed Arnold.

The bluenette felt eyes on him. Slowly he began to feel uncomfortable here; more than before. However, he decided to just relax and try to not focus on it. No, he couldn't. This wasn't the time to be suspicious of everyone. So, he focused on something else.

Said boy looked at Alois. "Must you lie like that? We are not really that close, if at all," he said silently. He had to keep his voice down, guests were in and if they heard anything suspicious, well, that wouldn't be good. He continued to fake a smile at each newcomer, nodding to those of older age. And of course he was not so much opposed to the act of lying (it was a comforting thing to him now, honestly), but rather to how he exclaimed that they were "best friends."

Alois' eyes, in response, shot a dark look at Ciel through the cheery expression he had plastered on his face. "I know, as much as it'd please me to agree, we've got a lot more in common than you think," he snapped back through grit teeth. "Plus, what good would it do us if people got the notion that two powerful members of the land hated each other?"

Ciel continued to smile, trying to hold back any anger. "More in common than I think? Doubtful, Trancy. How is anything I do similar to you? We're polar opposites. Plus, you had to work your way to the top, I was born in it. You are hardly deemed powerful," he replied, an angry chuckle coming out. "I'm not saying we should hate one another, but you and I both know we aren't best friends."

Alois seemed as if it took everything to hold back from lashing out on the younger boy and completely beating him to death. "You don't happen to know a thing about me, do you?" He turned to him, now that every guest had arrived, walking to the ball room. "Perhaps we should save this for later, Ciel. Our guests are quite important, you know," he said, faking a giggle, although his eyes screamed murder.

The bluenette scoffed. "Sure, Trancy. Let us go greet our guests," he answered, walking over to the ball room with Alois besides him.

Meanwhile the two butlers had had their own conversation about the duties of the night whilst their masters were busy greeting the guests.

Claude smirked to himself, fixing his glasses. "Your master did commission you to help in any way, yes?" He asked, turning to Sebastian.

Sebastian looked to the other butler. "Yes, of course. I would have no other purpose here than to help you serve the guests," he replied, his voice dripping with disinterest. To work with Faustus instead of be against him was something new and atrocious.

The Trancy butler tilted his head slightly. "Then get to the kitchen and see that the food is being properly prepared. It is the room straight down the right of the stairs when you first enter through the doors. Also, see that Hannah is coming back in here to clean up that mess she made before guests decide they want to pile in here. If you finish, find me. I will be tending to our guests."

Sebastian's face was still as stoic as ever. Of course Hannah would not have done her job whilst Alois had still been in the room. Though, this was something little and he had no reason to note it. He walked into the entrance room, through several guests and to do the door of the kitchen. The butler glanced over at the food being cooked by the triplets. All of these meals looked more delectable than pretty much anything Bard tried to cook. It wasn't a surprise though; all he made was ashes, and anything would beat that.

As the Trancy house was soon filled with orchestral music, talking, laughter, and the stream of party goers fell to a trickle, the boys had just walked into the large ballroom where the festivities were being held.

"CIEL!" Squealed a voice out of nowhere as a ball of flying blonde curls and pink tackled said boy. "When did you get here?! Were you standing at the door the whole time?" Elizabeth clung to her fiancé as Alois waved to Elizabeth's group of friends, causing them to giggle and blush.

Alois then took his leave as the two began to interact, walking over to the of the girls, flirting with such ease before leading one of them onto the dance floor.

Ciel made an "oomph" sound when his fiancée clashed with him. He coughed nervously. "Hello, Elizabeth. I have been here for awhile, meaning that, yes, I was at the door." He quirked an eyebrow at Alois, then to his wife-to-be's friends. The boy went back to looking at the blonde. "Have you been well, Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth gazed up at Ciel with her huge, green eyes and smiled. "I've been wonderful!" Then her eyes drifted down his clothes, her mouth becoming wide with a smile. "Oh, Ciel! You've worn bright clothing this evening! Usually your clothes are dark, and depressing," she said, a little sullenly, but her tone quickly brightened again, "Did you pick them out because you knew I'd be here?!"

Ciel looked away from her, a slight pink rising on his cheeks. "I know how much you complain when I do not dress in cuter clothing, so I thought perhaps I should try to accommodate your feelings since you are, of course, my fiancée." When he looked back at her, he gave her a tiny smile. While he wasn't fond of romantics, he couldn't help but be kind to her. She was the one person he had a soft spot for.

Said girl's eyes glimmered with happiness. She hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek. "Ciel, you are the sweetest boy ever! I can't wait for us to be able to marry. It'll be so sweet! I'll be in a long, white poofy dress and you'll wear a black tux, but you'll look so cute in it! You're amazing!" The blonde pulled away, her smile wide as she looked him in the eyes.

The young earl chuckled lightly at her words. It was, honestly, a foolish thought. But he can't be one to crush any of her dreams. He then held out his hand to her. "Would you like to dance, Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth nodded, "I'd love to!" She said, grabbing Ciel's hand and pulling him onto the dance floor. Then, she proceeded to do one of the things young ladies did best; gossiping about her friends and events of the day, not even letting Ciel get in a word as the two danced around the wide floor.

Ciel proceeded to listen to his fiancée talk. She had a mouth, that was for sure. But he didn't mind all that much; it filled his ears in a pleasant way, as he preferred her voice over any stranger's. While it could also be a disturbance at times, it was something he grew fond of. So, he continued to have a (real, although small) smile on his face and listen to her chat.

Hannah walked into the kitchen, finding Sebastian to be there, walking passed the triplets as they rushed in and out of the kitchen, taking food to the party hall.

Said butler looked at her. "Hannah," he began, "Claude wanted me to tell you that you needed to clean up the mess in the drawing room before anyone decides to waltz in there," he said cooly.

The maid nodded, not saying a word as he quickly got a sponge, cloth, and soap. She wet the sponge lightly, then made her way out of the room and into the other.

Seeing as that was done, Sebastian walked out of the kitchen and into the ballroom, slowly looking around for Claude. Once he spotted him, he walked over to him. "I have done what you asked me to. Is there anything else you need assistance with?"

Claude turned his gaze over to Sebastian, "I believe that is all for now," he spoke curtly, "But later in the night I would ask you to check the garden for love birds. I would hate for his highness's garden to be messed up by the tomfoolery between men and women."

The Phantomhive butler nodded at the order, keeping an eye on all of the guests.

The evening went on smoothly, Alois was only able to get in one or two sneer comments towards Ciel, to Ciel's anger and Alois' dismay, before being bombarded by doting relatives and other party guests.

As the last dance finished and the people bowed to their partners, clapping echoed throughout the hall as Alois climbed on stage to say a few words.

"I hope you all had a pleasant evening, and I hope to have a few of you come back next time." Laughter echoed throughout the hall at his cruel joke. "Have a safe ride home, and take a bottle of wine for the road while you're at it!"

With that, he hopped off the stage as people began taking their party favor and making their way out of the manor and to their carriages, all the while thanking Alois for the party.

Elizabeth hugged her fiancé, kissing his cheek. "Goodbye! I'll come over to your house later this week!" She squealed before running back to her gaggle of friends.

Ciel, in turn, watched his fiancée leave, his smile disappearing. Finally everyone was leaving; that was tiresome. He spotted Alois still saying goodbye to the guests. The boy turned his his head to find his butler talking to Claude.

"Since everyone is beginning to leave, that means it is time to check the garden," he stated more than asked. "May I have directions?" He inquired, glancing at Claude and waiting for a response.

Claude nodded. "If you exit out of the front doors, there is a path to the left. All you do is follow that path and you are there. Meanwhile, I will begin to get our masters ready for bed, seeing as yours is staying the night for business. Now if you'll excuse me," he pushed Sebastian and over to the boys.

Sebastian took his leave, walking to and out of the main doors just as the guests did, taking a sharp left and following the path to the garden. Upon his arrival, he heard the giggling of a woman and the chuckling of a male. He found them in an appalling, though not to him, position.

"Good evening. Due to request of the earl, we ask you not to muck about here, and would prefer if you did so in your own homes." He stood in the same spot, waiting for the two to get up. The woman had stood up, ashamed, while the male had looked upset at being disturbed. In fact, he make a quick stop in front of Sebastian, his hand in a fist as he aimed for a punch.

The butler stopped his hand with ease, smiling. "I would respect that you did not try to attempt this, as it will not turn out well for you." The man gasped, stepping back with shock as he walked back towards his wife. Then he quickly began to walk away with her in tow. "Have a good night now," he said, watching them scurry away. To ensure there were no other couples around, he strolled around the rest of the garden.

Once the last guest had exited the ballroom and the manor, Alois' kind demeanor dropped instantly. "I hate all of those people. I'd be glad if they never returned," he mumbled, crossing his arms as Claude approached.

"We have both of your rooms prepared and ready if you would follow me," Claude said shortly, eyeing both of the boys with the gaze that flipped one's stomach in the most uncomfortable way.

Ciel had been the uncomfortable one, not feeling safe without Sebastian, and even less with the Trancy household as a whole. He glanced at Alois, his expression managing to be unchanged despite his feeling. Then he turned to walk behind Claude, waiting to be guided.

Claude began to lead the boys upstairs and onto the on the second floor. "Phantomhive, your room is just down the hall," he drawled as Alois skipped of towards his own room. He stood in the stairway for a second as Ciel walked to his room, eyeing him. Then, his trance was broken by the cry of Alois.

"CLAUDE, GET IN HERE AND HELP ME!" Cried the whining blond.

"Coming, your highness," Claude spoke cooly, turning and walking to Alois' room.

Ciel cringed at Alois' cry, walking into his room and shutting the door. As he looked at the bed, he found a nice pair of pajamas there; neat and clean. Of course, these had to belong to that rubbish; he had said so before that they would be lent to him. And while he was opposed to wearing them, he would not feel comfortable sleeping in his current outfit and certainly not without clothes. But where was Sebastian? He needed to be changed into these.

Said butler was just coming inside from the garden outside. He glanced around, finding that the two earls had gone up to their rooms. Sebastian began walking up the steps, only to remember that he had never been told where his master's room was.

Thankfully, though, the spidery butler appeared from his master's room, shutting the door behind him and seeing Sebastian standing at the top of the stairs. "I was going to attend to your young master for you, but seeing as you finally showed up," he paused, "It appears my work here for the evening is finished," he said, brushing his fingers together. "Ciel is in that room there," he pointed a ong finger at the door a little farther down the hall on the left. "When you've finished we'll have sleeping amenities ready for you in the basement," he said, walking passed him and down the stairs.

Sebastian nodded, his eyes a bit narrow. So he had planned on touching his master? Well, that wouldn't be good for either of them. He walked to the room, knocking on the door.

"Come in," Ciel said, still sitting on the bed. Hopefully this was his butler rather than the other boy's. His "prayers" had been answered when Sebastian opened the door and stepped in, closing it behind him. "Where the hell have you been?"

His butler stopped in front of him and took off his jacket, kneeling as he began to unbutton the vest. "You told me to assist them if needed; I did." He folded the best and jacket off to the side, moving to the shirt.

"Oh? And what were you up to?" He asked, although a cruel tone was in his voice as he watched Sebastian folded the shirt and took off his shoes, garters, and socks. The earl stood up then so that he had an easier time removing his pants.

"I had to check the garden for any, as Mr. Faustus put it, 'check for love birds.'" He grabbed the pajamas behind Ciel and began to dress him in those.

Ciel said a quiet "ah" in response to his answer. Once he was dressed, his butler put the clothes neatly into the dresser. The boy took off his eye patch and rings, placing them on top of the dresser as Sebastian tucked him in.

The butler walked to the door and opened it slightly, turning as he quietly said, "Goodnight, my lord." He walked out of the room and then made his way to the basement, remembering where it was from his first visit here.

The bluenette was comfortably in his bed, but Alois, on the other hand, had been wide awake in his. As Sebastian's final words echoed slightly into the hall and faded through the door and the light footsteps made their way down stairs, he slipped out of bed and walked to the door. He quietly opened it, slipping into the hall and tip toed over to Ciel's room. He pried open the door, came in, and shut it as quietly as he could, keeping his eyes on the bed.

He hadn't disturbed the little lord.. Yet, that is.

At this point he walked over to the dresser where a jug of water sat next to a small basin. He grabbed the jug, before quickly climbing on the bed and over Cie, holding the jug over his drowsy expression with a malicious one plastered across his pale face.

Ciel gasped as he felt water splash on his face. He rose up immediately, pushing Alois off of him. Anger grew on his face as he realized who it was. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Trancy?!" His breath was heavy as he was still getting over what happened. He looked down at his now wet clothes. Wonderful. This was not what he needed. He glared at Alois, waiting for an answer.

The blond burst out laughing, flopping down on his back as the jug rolled off the bed and across the floor. "Your face was priceless!" He howled, wiping a tear from his eye. When he finally stopped laughing long enough to catch a glimpse at Ciel's angrier-than-usual face. He crossed his hands across his stomach, smiling at Ciel. "Someone is upset. Can't a boy ever have any fun with you, Ciel?"

Said boy scoffed, continuing to glare at the other. "I find no fun in such silly activities! This is childish, and I could never have fun like this." He crossed his arms, frowning. How ridiculous this was; pouring water onto someone?! He was regretting his choice of spending the night already.

Alois' smile faded down into a sly smirk. He turned around to lay on his stomach, making himself comfortable on the bluenette's bed. "Well shall we have adult conversations about your toy factory and business with the Queen and other boring things like that?"

Ciel pursed his lips before shaking his head. "I'd rather not. I'm, as you can see, drenched, and these clothes are now uncomfortable to be in. I cannot possibly think about something else than ridding myself of these clothes." He spoke with venom, eyeing the blond.

Alois tilted his head, smiling at Ciel before sitting up again. "Oh, dear, do you need me to play hand maid for you?" He inquired with a giggle.

The younger felt a slight heat rise to his cheeks. "I'd prefer it if you did not." Then he realized that he could not do it himself. "But I most likely cannot do it myself," he mumbled.

The taller rolled his eyes, sliding from the bed and to the dresser where another clean sleeping shirt saw in a drawer. He pulled out the long night shirt and turned back to Ciel, smiling. "Pardon my reach, lord Phantomhive," he chimed as he began working the buttons on the boy's shirt.

Ciel watched as Alois began to undress him. He huffed, turning his eyes away for a moment. This was so unnatural.

Alois was humming to himself, focusing on unbuttoning Ciel's top. Once he finished, he let the shirt fall to the ground. "Now, can you lift your arms up on your own do you need me to do that for you too?" He asked with a smirk, prepping the fresh shirt to slip it on over Ciel's head.

As he rolled his eyes while he lifted up his arms, the bluenette now had an idea of how Sebastian felt; annoyed. Although, this was hardly comparable. Why was Alois even here? What was the point of pouring water on him and wetting the bed and having to change him? That was odd.

The older lifted up the shirt, dropping it down on Ciel's up stretched arms. "There you go!" He said gleefully before rolling on the sheets beside the other. "How long do you plan to stay tomorrow?" He asked, genuinely curious as he lay back on the pillows.

Ciel quirked a brow at Alois' movement. Too close; he inched away. "I am unsure, as I never intended on staying her in the first place. I will most likely leave around midday. I would hate to overextend my stay," he replied sarcastically as he got under the blanket again, watching the other boy. He was tempted to put on his eye patch as his right eye felt vulnerable. However, the blond had seen his eyes before, so maybe it wasn't a problem.

"Maybe we can duel tomorrow!" Alois said almost too eagerly, waggling a finger in Ciel's face like a sword as the moonlight began to creep in across the floor of the room.

The younger gave him an "are you crazy?" face. "Why would we do that? I rarely find entertainment in harmful activities." He drew his lips in a line, his face taking its usual position. "However, if that is your true desire, then fine. But I want my answers to your request tomorrow as well. Don't think I have forgotten."

"I do," Alois mumbled as Ciel spoke about not finding entertainment in harmful activities. Then he grinned as Ciel said the last words. "Don't worry, I'll try to send in your manor in no more than two pieces," he cooed. "And yes, of course I'll tell you what you want to hear."

The bluenette grimaced. Now he was beginning to regret what he had just uttered. "Once piece would be nice, thank you." He looked down at the blanket on top of him and then back to the blond. "Why are you even here? What purpose did that childish act have?"

The taller rolled onto his side, gazing at the boy. "I just wanted some company and someone to pester!" He admitted, stifling a yawn. "You don't even know how lonely it is staying in this house all by myself. Well of course there's the servants and Claude, they're.. they're demons," he said with distaste. He sighed before continuing, "As much as I don't like you, being around you is better than being cooped up all alone."

Ciel, at that moment, actually felt slight pity for Alois. He was indifferent towards being around people; they were only good for playing games for him or giving him needed information. No more, no less. They really had no other source of entertainment. However, he would not find pleasure in being mean right now. "If you wanted to be around me, you simply could have woken me up. I find you even more horrendous then before, now. And the reason I don't know your loneliness is since I don't need company. You and I are different, Trancy. What you said about us having so many things in common is hardly true." Ciel then looked up at the ceiling, not sure if he wanted to face the boy beside him.

Said boy glared at Ciel, propping himself up on an elbow to look down on him. "You don't know anything," he snapped. "We've both lost the ones we held close and been through hell and back, only to return to the responsibilities that come with being an adult!" His words were cold as he lay back down, shoving his blond locks down into the white feather pillow.

Ciel didn't need this drama right now, but he refused to act rudely toward him in his vulnerable moment. So, he turned towards the other. "But our personalities are different," he said quietly. He just wanted to reconcile the situation. "We come from the same place, sure, but clearly we do not act the same, and you know that." He narrowed his eyes, looking at the side of Alois' head.

Alois turned his head to look at Ciel. He let out a deep exhale before responding, "You're right. We're just two completely different sides of the same coin."

Silence fell between them for what felt like forever before the older piped up again.

"Can I stay here the night?" He asked, a hopeful glint in his icy eyes as he began to make himself more comfortable on the bed. "As I said, it's lonely having to sleep by myself when I know that I have a guest that, with enough force of persuasion, would let me stay them," he cooed.

Ciel ignored that indirect insult and sighed, making sure it was loud enough for Alois to hear as he turned onto his other side. "Don't disturb me while I sleep. If I am woken up again, I will kick you of the room without any hesitation." He knew it wasn't really his place to say this (he was the guest, afterall!), but Alois should know some manners.

Hopefully.

Alois chuckled. "No promises!" He said gleefully, yanking back the covers on the other side of the bed and cuddling up underneath them. Soon, he was fast asleep, his soft snores filling the quiet room.

Ciel closed his own eyes, a quieter sigh coming out of his mouth. This place was insane. He knew this because of the sadistic boy sleeping beside him. While he did not exactly feel safe being the same bed in him, he didn't think he had a choice. So, he simply decided to let things be as they were and sleep.

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Hey everyone! Wowwowwowwowwoww this is a reallllly long chapter. It is actually a total of 5,017 words (minus this last message I've added). Long, right? Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed! As usual, if there are any spelling mistakes, let me know!

-WADD