Title: Invitation

Pairing: Alois x Ciel

Summary: After the revival, Sebastian and Ciel meet Claude and the rest. With Alois holding Ciel in his palms and with Ciel unaware of the events, what will Alois do to exact revenge?

A/N: Once again, I humbly apologise for the year delay of the next chapter. I seem to get busier every year. I hope that you'll be able to enjoy this chapter as much as the others and I am on my way to writing the next chapter so maybe a month or so I'll publish it. Grammar wise, maybe some things changed so forgive me if I still have a couple of errors. I don't really like proof reading electronic copies. So here is the next chapter as promised. Enjoy!

'Shall we play, Ciel Phantomhive?' Alois said towards the surprised Earl. 'If I remember, did you not own a toy company a couple of years ago?' Alois is slowly walking around Ciel, smiling in a very sinister way, observing Ciel's face, looking amused to the Earl's reaction. 'Answer me Ciel. This is an order.'

Ciel is indeed surprised by the sudden question. How is it possible? How did Alois- no the Young Master remembered that? That was more than 100 years ago. Ciel knows he has to answer back. Before being a demon, he was also a human, a master to a servant. He knows well he has to respond, as he fears any punishment. Ciel is indeed more powerful than Alois. However, he is bound by the contract he cannot disobey. 'I-I did… Y-Young Master.' Ciel's voice trembles.

'Then, shall we play?' Alois' dark face disappeared. Like a child, innocent and sweet, his countenance brightens at the sound of Ciel's response. 'What is your favourite game, Ci~el?'

'Chess.'

'That's boring.' Pouting. There is a moment of silence. Perhaps Alois is thinking. Perhaps Ciel needs to react. Claude and Sebastian do not do anything. Like Ciel, they are not the law; they are merely a subject to the law. The silence is broken. 'How about we play treasure hunting?' Alois proposes.

'If that is what the Young Master wants.' Ciel bows his head.

'Oh come on Ciel. Don't be boring.' Alois bows his head, his lips close are to Ciel's ears. 'I don't remember you being this obedient towards me. I do know you are a very loyal dog to the Queen.' Alois adds. Ciel's eyes widen. Ciel begins to question himself. Could it be? He is the Alois? The Alois that I once knew? But how? Why?

'What's the matter Ciel? Why are you like this? Are you perhaps…' Alois surveys Ciel's reaction. Ciel was still and quiet but from his position, one can tell that the Earl is capable of retaliation however, chooses not to. What now? I don't like being questioned! What else is there to know if he already knows everything? What if- Alois loud clap breaks the silence in the room. 'Are you perhaps bad at this game? I know it's really childish but let me tell you' in a very sinister yet tempting voice 'it's a very fun game you know.'

Sebastian looks at his master's position painfully. Meanwhile, Claude, fixing his glasses, grins at the sight of the master and servant. It has been so long, isn't it Sebastian? Don't worry. Leave it to my master.

'What do you say Ciel? Are we going to play? This is not an order. Don't worry. If you don't want to, I won't force you to play. After all, you're my favourite friend.' Alois smiles towards the Ciel whose head is still lowered.

'No. The Young Master wants to play this game and I'd be happy to obey his words.'

'Don't be boring Ciel. Rise. Let's be friends. Don't call me 'Young Master'. Call me like the way you do.' Slowly. '100 years ago.'

Ciel, stammering in words, 'Yes, Alois.'

'Yay! Come on Ciel. This is getting exciting, isn't it?' Alois' smile seems sinister and evil. The Alois Ciel is serving is now gone. The Alois that tortured his soul 100 years ago is back; he has come back to torture the demon Ciel despite gaining new powers and a freedom.

'If I beg your pardon, Your Highness.' Sebastian interrupted. Eventhough Sebastian asks for Alois' attention, it seems to Alois that he has failed to recognise his current position. Sebastian is indeed talented, an area that Ciel cannot replace. Alois gives Sebastian a cold and deathly glare. 'Sebastian. You know very well that you do not serve me. You are Ciel's butler and Claude is my butler. I have shown interest in you once but you took my toy away, remember?' Sebastian reclaims his previous position and stands behind Ciel.

Under Alois' command, Ciel raises his head and looks at Alois. Ciel is no longer in doubt; Alois Trancy is back. With that in mind, Ciel's mask of being a servant of his despised rival is no longer needed. He now needs to hold his status as a demon as well as an Earl. With his cold and distant eyes, Ciel looks at Alois. Sebastian cannot help but give a smile. He is back as well. It seems to me that everything is the way it should be, Claude. Claude observes and gives no physical emotion to the events unfolding in front of him.

'Now, shall we play treasure hunt?' Alois looks at Ciel and gives a way a gentle smile. 'The game is very simple. Since I am the master, I hide the treasure and you, Ciel will have to find it. Easy, right?'

'What do I have to find?'

'A treasure.'

'What kind of treasure?'

'You're still not a very good listener, aren't you Ciel? You have to find me your treasure.'

'My treasure?'

'Yes. Yours. I don't have anything valuable to hide in this time of the year. I am no longer an Earl. I am not a Trancy. I just have you and Claude to serve me because of the past. But as you know very well, I don't treasure my possessions very well.'

'What is it that I have to find?'

'Think Ciel. Think and… look around you. Look everywhere. Look at yourself.'

Ciel, under Alois' instructions, looks around for something that he could think of as a treasure. Look at yourself. Ciel hastily looks around for something he could consider as his treasure until the reality of something missing strikes him. His ring. The Earl of Phantomhive's ring is missing.

'Oh. You're good. I did not expect you to realise it quickly.' Alois smiles, devilishly.

'I see. Alois, you know very well that every game has a prize. What do I get if I win?' Ciel, instead of seeing Alois taunt as a threat, takes it as a challenge instead.

'Hmm… How about you can reclaim the me that has no memory of 100 years ago?'

Claude is in shock. This is not going according to my plan.

'What do you think? That everything you want is what's going to happen, Claude? I am not having the same mistake as I did years ago. You are a traitor. Everything will go according to MY plan and not anyone else's.' Alois demanded in a loud voice.

Unlike Ciel and Claude, Sebastian finds the whole situation very amusing. He gives a laugh that angers and bothers Claude's composure.

'I like the sound of that. In fact, I love it. I want to have you Alois. Not as Alois Trancy, but as my Alois.' Ciel answers.

'But' Alois interrupts 'if I win… I wonder… Ciel, if I win, you and Sebastian will serve under me for the rest eternity.'

Sebastian and Ciel is threatened yet finds the Alois' challenge amusing and challenging. 'Sounds good.' Ciel and Sebastian claims, in unison.

'Now then, let me give you further instructions. You have to find your precious ring before sundown two days from now. Sebastian and Claude are to follow you wherever you go. Sebastian is free to help but only to offer hints as to where it is. Since you are no longer an individual of your own, surely you can manage. Simple, isn't it?'

'Very.' Ciel answers, arrogantly.

'Claude is to observe your actions. Now then, Ciel Phantomhive, let the game begin!'