Umm . . . yup. So here I am, yet again, dwindling my life away by adding more to my full schedule of fanfictions, original fictions, and an upcoming NaNoWriMo. But. I don't care, because I can't stop an imagination that says "You simply MUST write a long-term Kuro fic!" There's not enough of them around, and if you're anything like me, you LIKE a big long fanfiction to enjoy on a day of boredom.

About this particular Kuro fic: As I'm sure a lot of you are as well, I wasn't pleased at all with the ending of the second season. Instead of at LEAST giving us a happy ending where Ciel's all "Ooh! My darling Sebastian, we can now be together forever!" they had to suck it up with "Ha. Now you have to serve me for all of eternity. SUCK IT." Seriously. That was upsetting to the SebaCiel fangirl I am. This particular work of fiction will take place about two decades after that final departure in London. I don't want it to be centuries later or anything, because there are characters I still need and I'm kinda tired of seeing all those reincarnation fics out there (no offense to any of the writers doing those, because they're really quite enjoyable). Also, much to my chagrin, this will follow after the anime instead of the manga because of my undying need for Undertaker to be a Shinigami.

Rating: This will be rated M, which means, of course, that there will be plenty of language, gore, and lemons. I would call it shota, but since by now Ciel is . . . what, thirty-three? it could go either way. I'm not changing Ciel's appearance. He was thirteen when he became a demon, and thirteen he will stay. :)

There is no beta for this as of yet. If you're interested, please let me know in a note. I will look at some of your own works to see if you're qualified.

Disclaimer: Kuroshitsuji and all of the characters involved belong to one Toboso Yana, who was wonderful enough to bless us with the storyline and artwork that is "Black Butler". Who knows where we'd be without it. XDD

Let's get started!

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Prologue: Reminiscence

A stray drop of blood hung suspended at the edge of a porcelain chin.

Slowly, a finger lifted the drop from its temporary resting place and traced a crimson trail up to full, cherry-red lips. The fingertip, complete with its ebony nail, slid between those plump lips so as to be sucked on until the small appendage was no longer stained. Then the mouth opened, and a puff of air bubbled up from lungs and out into the stale, foul-smelling atmosphere.

In an alleyway somewhere in London, a predator was feasting upon its prey. The night had closed in some time ago, shrouding their crimes in utmost secrecy. Sounds that had formerly rent the air—screaming, thrashing, and then tearing and chewing—now fell way to an utter silence. No one would know, in the morning; the crows would have worshipped upon their newest feast before the sun rose for a new day.

Tragic.

The dark-haired boy straightened up from a crouched position, sharp scarlet irises returning to their normal respective shades. He glanced over at his companion, who stood dutifully waiting, burgundy eyes impassive. "I miss eating sweets," the boy muttered forlornly, turning away from the mess in the alleyway. "At least they didn't leave such a foul taste in my mouth."

"Then perhaps the young master would like me to prepare a snack upon returning—"

"No." Frowning, he tossed his head back to stare at the polluted night sky. "Sebastian, you know it's pointless. I was merely reminiscing."

"Of course, Young Master."

"Stop calling me that." The pale blue head turned to glare at the demon companion. "I'm not your "Young Master" anymore. I don't consider you my servant. You're my teacher, and my companion."

"As you wish . . . Ciel." Sebastian Michaelis bowed stiffly, eyes flashing red for just a moment before returning to a shade that could pass as human. "Though I cannot help but to be plagued by those words you issued to me upon our leaving the Phantomhive Manor. I was to be your servant for all of etern—"

"I don't want that. I shouldn't have said those things. It was wrong of me to try and dictate your wishes. You are a demon; you don't like being bound."

"You know this all too well," Sebastian chuckled.

A pair of eyes, one a deep cerulean blue and the other a pale lavender, skirted their way back to the mess of blood and limbs and hair on the ground behind him. "I feel dirty . . . doing this. Is it always so hard?"

"I was born a demon, so I was already calloused to the process. I am sure you will grow used to it in time." Sebastian stepped forward and held out a hand in a gesture of kindness . . . a trait he showed to no one but his beloved master. Ciel knew this . . . he knew how Sebastian cared for him like a child. In a way, he supposed he was Sebastian's son. From day one of being a demon, the black-haired butler had tended to every problem. Instead of doing the job for him, he had shown him the proper way to execute each action. Of all of them, eating had been the toughest. The boy had literally starved himself for nigh on a year before giving in due to pure starvation.

The smaller black-nailed hand stretched out to grasp the larger one tightly, accepting the offer. Even if the succulent soul taken from the dead wench's body sated his hunger, he had a tendency to feel nauseous afterwards. The thought of ending a person's life for food stirred inside of Ciel, right where his beating heart should have been.

"Sebastian," he sighed quietly, like he hadn't asked this question countless times before, "Is there truly no way a demon can be returned to a human?"

"What is lost can never be returned," the elder demon announced, just as softly. "You know the answer, Ciel. So why must you keep asking it?"

"Because I . . . I have to ask. I need a false pretense of hope."

Sebastian inclined his head in understanding. Ciel knew it was pointless to ask, again and again, but something compelled him to keep saying it. He didn't think Sebastian was lying; it was just that he was trying to find some way to console himself until he found a reason to like being in this form.

He didn't think he would ever find one.

"Were there no leads this time either?" Sebastian questioned, likely in an attempt to change the subject.

The boy-demon shook his head slowly, his free hand slowly sliding upwards to touch the skin just below his pale right eye. "She didn't have any information for us. That was the last lead we had. What should we do now? If we don't find a way to break the contract . . ."

"Why do you try so hard to dispel the contract?"

"Because you shouldn't be tied to someone as miserable as me for all of eternity." Burgundy met multicolored before the younger whipped his head forward and back to the cobbled street they were walking on. "You have your own . . . life, you could call it. You enjoy being a demon. You shouldn't have to deal with someone like me. You deserve your chance to be freed from me."

"My master is a kind one," Sebastian commented offhandedly.

"I was never kind enough. I feel . . . I never should have treated you like a mere slave under my rule. But I suppose that kindness stems from your own. I am grateful for you help, as much as I still don't want it."

"Your life would have been even more miserable without education," came the amiable reply. "You would have become a monster."

"I am a monster."

"A dignified one."

"Do you desire freedom again, Sebastian?" Ciel stared at him earnestly, no trace of bitterness on his face for just this once. "Do you want to leave me and go back to your former way of living?"

"Sometimes. You chain me down . . . my young master who constantly seeks protection even as an immortal. I am no longer carefree. However, at the same time, I enjoy my time with you. You are the only human that has interested me."

"Was."

"You have yet to forsake all the ways of humanity, dearest Ciel. You see . . . I feel a connection to you. The only meal I was unable to partake in, and I was looking most forward to a soul as tarnished as yours. I was thwarted of that meal, and while I bear a sharp grudge to our opponents for that, I would have missed your oddities. Quite simply, I do not wish to leave your side forever. We would meet again, perhaps, whether I was able to separate or not. The world is only so big, and we have an eternity to exist in it."

"Huh. I wouldn't want to stay with me. Though . . . I will miss you, once we break this contract."

"You are such an odd child."

"Did you not just say that is what you like about me?"

"It is. Ciel, do you feel alright? Your step is faltering."

"I feel sick," the child muttered with chagrin, sinking into a needy being once again . . . a babe. "I can't forget about the smell. And the taste . . . the taste won't go away. I want sweets, Sebastian. I want to be able to enjoy them."

Strong arms lifted the boy from the uneven ground and into the firm embrace of a warm chest. Ciel curled against that warmth; it seemed this was the only remaining place that was hot rather than cold. Eyelids fluttered down over multicolored eyes as the small head flopped onto the soft linen of Sebastian's thick jacket. As a human, perhaps he might have complained in this position. But he no longer had a reputation to uphold, and so he was not in the least bit embarrassed. In fact, he had been almost anticipating the feeling of being within his butler's hold.

"I'm so tired," he breathed out unhappily.

"Demons do not require sleep."

"But . . . I . . . Sebastian, please. Just a small rest. And then tomorrow we can search for a new lead." The head sags forward until a larger arm moves to support it. "At least when I'm sleeping I don't have to think about this," the soft whisper ensued.

"When will you learn to deal with it? There was nothing you could have done from the beginning . . . when the spider snared us in his web."

"I don't blame Claude. I don't blame any of them. Sebastian, please." The voice is groggy now, loss of control causing it to be higher and not nearly as commanding. Instead, the voice returns to that of a child.

"And what will you do once you return to wakefulness?" Sebastian mused, half to himself. "Will you merely wallow in your misery again?"

"I won't be content until the contract has been broken," Ciel replied defiantly. "Because then everything I did to gain revenge on myself will be over. I cannot keep you changed when I was unable to keep my end of the deal. Sebastian . . . I just want you to know . . . I would have been content, had you eaten my soul. I was ready to die."

"You may have, Young Master. But at that point in time, I would not have been satisfied. By then, your soul was too tarnished."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing; I am merely musing." Sebastian tightened his hold on the shivering child in his arms. "You may get some rest, Ciel. And tomorrow, as you insist, we shall search for a way to break the contract.

"I will do whatever it takes to turn you back into a commanding king."

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Prologue end. :D Remember, there is no beta for this so far, so please forgive the mistakes that I'm sure are hiding in there.

Please review and tell me whether you think this will be a good idea or not! Any feedback would be extremely helpful.