The Richest Man in London

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters are the property of Yana Toboso and Square Enix, Co. Ltd. I don't own them; I just examine all their possibilities. Storyline inspired by "It's a Wonderful Life," directed by Frank Capra.

Part 1

The tree would be the first thing Ciel saw when turning the corner. The majestic branches of the evergreen draped with white lace garland, a red bow tied at the end of each. Mother contributed a few clear glass angels and hearts and father inherited a set of gilded pinecones that always went on the tree. There would always be frosted gingerbread men, the cook would make them special on Christmas Eve; Ciel would supervise this process of course. He needed to make sure the gingerbread was at optimum sweetness, though his job would usually end with a stomach ache. Father would joke that he would grow up to be an expert in quality control.

No matter how long the tree had been up or what contributions had been made when, it was the moment on Christmas morning when he ran to the top of the stairs when everything came together. He would always stop and look at the tree in awe. He would hear Tanaka catch up with him and then look down at the brightly wrapped packages underneath. Mother and father would be sitting on the couch in their nightclothes greeting him with warm smiles.

The recollection would then turn to walls of flames and screaming; mother and father's happy faces burned off to reveal charred skulls.

Ciel looked back down at the ledger on his desk and rubbed his forehead to distract himself from where this was going. The glowing candles and red berries in his peripheral vision called to him again. He really didn't want to look up but he did anyway, seeing the small fir adorned with red ribbon and dried berries, a pretty gold star on the top glowing with the reflected candles.

He said he didn't want a tree this year; he was going to be spending Christmas in London on business. His townhouse was too cramped for a tree anyway and he would be leaving too soon for it to be worth the effort. Naturally, none of that would have been an issue for Sebastian though he thought he made himself clear. He was barely in the house for two hours and the first thing he saw when leaving his office was this small, trimmed tree. A much larger version awaited in the lounge downstairs, not to mention the candles in the windows and carefully placed wreathes in the hallways.

"Come now, young master, a little Christmas cheer is good for one's health," Sebastian said with one of his pleasant smiles.

He probably did it to torture him, though Ciel didn't put it past him to actually enjoy this festive nonsense. A demon in the human world was like a mischievous kid in some ways; always exploring and latching onto the cutest most simple things, causing trouble every step of the way. No, he did it to torture him; the tree was right across from the doorway to his office, it was almost impossible to pretend it wasn't there. Out of all the places to set it up, the bastard chose that one.

Ciel averted his gaze and turned his attention back to the paperwork on the desk, though the cream-colored envelope sitting among the white papers commanded his attention again. Sebastian delivered it to him yesterday morning, though only required one reading and was a done matter. He should have just tossed it in the file with the rest of the Queen's messages, though he still read it over a few times.

My darling little boy,

I hope this Christmas season finds you well and in good spirits. That is why it pains me to deliver some bad news: I must cancel my soiree on Christmas Eve. I am sure Grey briefed you on that group of Scottish separatists we have been keeping an eye on. We received some intelligence that they were planning something for Christmas Eve, what exactly we don't know; the matter is very much in flux. I felt it was best to err on the side of caution given the unfolding nature of these events. Grey will be paying you a visit on Boxing Day when matters have been more settled. I am so sorry, sweetie, and I apologize for causing you this much trouble but I promise to make it up to you soon. I do hope you have a very Merry Christmas. Make sure that butler of yours doesn't spare the pudding, my orders.

-Victoria

He had practically memorized it by now, reinforcing how his plans for Christmas Eve were essentially blown at the last minute. Such was the nature of things, Ciel told himself that over and over. He was somewhat looking forward to the small gathering if only for the chance to catch up on gossip and enjoy Her Majesty's company. The cancellation of the event in itself was a mere disappointment, that was all it was supposed to be.

Ciel looked back up at the Christmas tree, its candles and red bows seemed to glare at him. How he had come to hate Christmas. His cursed birthday was a little over a week before, convenient the alleged happiest time of the year fell right after. Every carol, light, and bow was another stab. Joyous holiday season? What the bloody hell did he have to be joyous about?

He turned away as a black figure blocked out those taunting happy lights. Ciel went back to his paperwork and tried to ignore Sebastian walking through the door, though he was pleased to see the tea tray and a luscious looking cake from the corner of his eye.

"Here is your tea, my lord," Sebastian said, putting the tray on a blank spot on the desk avoiding any papers. "Today I have prepared for you a rich Darjeeling blend with a hint of cinnamon and ginger with a chocolate spice cake covered in a chocolate ganache."

Ciel glanced up and looked at the delicious presentation, though the smell of cinnamon and spices twisted his nerve a little further. He looked at the tray and then looked at Sebastian, who held a polite smile. He then noticed the holly sprig pinned to his lapel.

"Fitting for the holidays, of course," he said. "It is Christmas Eve after all."

"Indeed," Ciel said dourly. "Remind me again why a demon celebrates the birth of Christ?"

Sebastian chuckled as he raised the pot high and poured a stream of spice-infused tea into the cup.

"If this holiday is a gem of Christendom, it is a stolen one or at least permanently borrowed," Sebastian said. "I have seen versions of this lovely tree and these handsome wreathes since before Christ was even a concept. So many lands have celebrated the solstice, or their own gods, or simply the spirit of debauchery and drunkenness. There were so many parties, oh such revelry."

"Oh such feasting," Ciel said.

Sebastian merely smiled, picking up the small tongs to put a few sugar cubes into the steaming cup.

"Speaking of which, how long are we going to be free of our prince and his butler?" Ciel said.

"I believe they will be at the Benevolent Shepherd Mission until late this evening," Sebastian said. "Agni said something to the effect of 'Prince Soma's great humility has called him to feed the poor on this joyous English holiday.'"

Ciel rolled his eyes and took up the cup.

"On that same subject, you are scheduled to make an appearance at St. Charles Home tomorrow morning for the toy donation," Sebastian said. "Tomorrow evening you are expected at the Marquis Middleford's gathering. I said this morning, your schedule for tonight is clear. Will there be any revisions to those plans."

Ciel picked up the cup and smelled the contents before taking a sip in silence. It was a good tea, maybe this didn't have to be all bad.

"And as I said this morning, I declined all my invitations in anticipation of the Queen's party tonight," Ciel said. "Christmas Eve is a little late to be making any plans."

"I do recall there were quite a few open invitations for some small gatherings in London," Sebastian said. "I did keep the list. It is only 4 o'clock, you have a short window of time to announce your presence."

Ciel sighed hard and rested his forehead on two fingers. Many nobles liked to hold informal gatherings as opposed to stuffy, stated parties. These could range from quiet teas to riotous affairs. He could only hear Madam Red yammering to Lau or anyone else in the room about the drunken debauchery that happened at her last Christmas party, narratives marked by her shrill laugh and the occasional inclusion of "I'll save your young ears from all the ghastly details, nephew."

There hadn't been a gathering last year and there would not be one this year; her butler and pet reaper…no Madam Red herself put an end to that. If she hadn't killed those prostitutes and associated with that monster she might have enjoyed more Christmases.

The thought floated through for the hundredth time, he tried to keep it from passing but in his current state it could not be helped; he was the one responsible. He was the one who caught her and confronted her; she dropped her blade at the last moment and died protecting him. He tried to shut out the image of her body flying through the air in a spray of blood.

He was the reason for much of her torment:

"I wish that someone like you had never been born!"

"Young master?"

Sebastian's voice shook him from his musing. He looked up to see his butler gazing at him with a sad look. Ciel's eyes narrowed.

"I am not in the mood for any parties," he said, putting his cup on the desk with a thud, a few drops of tea flying over the brim. "In fact tell Uncle Alexis I have taken ill. And don't say anything about my reputation, it's nobody's damn business why I'm staying home."

He looked back up at Sebastian who continued to stare at him, the corners of his mouth tightening.

"Are you all right, sir?" Sebastian asked. "I know you are not overly fond of the Christmas holiday, though I sense something more is troubling you."

He glared at Sebastian, but relaxed his gaze a bit. Ciel raised his cup again and took a few more sips.

"You are right, Sebastian," Ciel said. "I am not overly fond of this holiday at all, in fact I quite dislike it. I have no reason to be merry this year, you know that."

"It has been a year of misadventure, perhaps a bit more intense than before," Sebastian said with a sigh.

Over a year since Aunt An's funeral, almost a year since Noah's Ark Circus…almost a year since he exposed another madman killing more people, killing children. And why? What brought Baron Kelvin to do such heinous deeds? Would those children be alive today if Kelvin had never set foot in the Phantomhive manor? Would those children be alive today if he had never…

"Death, intrigue, suffering, that's what I have to look forward to every year," Ciel said. "And every year I'm expected to put that all aside, put up a pretty tree, and go to a bunch of parties."

"You do bear a burden, my lord, but it is a noble one," Sebastian said. "The Queen has put her trust in her faithful watchdog and you have removed her burdens and those of England most ably."

Silver-tongued snake. It was hardly helping.

"Anyone could do what I'm doing," Ciel said. "She has countless other evil nobles at her disposal. My family just happened to receive this curse."

"Are you saying you grow weary of this burden?" Sebastian said.

Ciel sighed hard and dropped his elbows on the desk. He didn't know what he wanted.

"No, it is my curse to bear," he said, resting his forehead in his hands. "Maybe I…maybe the world would be so much better off if I'd never been born."

Sebastian quietly gasped.

"Better for my family, better for everyone; maybe people would still be alive today if I never existed," Ciel said.

"Oh, young master," Sebastian said with a deep sigh.

Ciel took a few deep breaths. This was ridiculous talk, utter nonsense but he could not help it. The sound of his breathing was the only noise in the room. He knew Sebastian was still standing there staring at him.

Sebastian gave a harder sigh.

"If that is indeed your wish," he said.

Ciel's right eye pulsed with a burning pain. He cried out and yanked his eye patch off, clutching his eye. A wave of cold washed over him and permeated everything. The pain suddenly diminished and disappeared entirely. Ciel still clutched his head, registering the sudden chill in the air. He slowly pried his hand away and looked at Sebastian only to see a dim outline of him in the pitch darkness save for glowing purple eyes. Not a single light was on in the townhouse; the lamp at his desk, the Christmas candles, the numerous lamps in the hallway, all of them snuffed out.

"What the hell did you do," Ciel said.

"Granting you your wish," Sebastian said, his smirk less jolly and more appropriately menacing. "Consider it a Christmas gift."

Ciel stared at him for a second in disbelief, Sebastian's smile widened.

"You have never been born, you don't exist," Sebastian said. "You are hereby cleared of all your obligations, all your burdens. Any damage done by your existence has been corrected."

Ciel jumped up from his chair and stumbled through the dark to the hallway. The soft glow of a lamp suddenly appeared behind him and allowed him to reach the small mirror. He looked in the glass, seeing Sebastian behind him holding the lamp closer to him.

Both his eyes were a brilliant blue, the contract mark in his right eye was gone. He stood for a moment, starting to shake. Sebastian appeared behind him in the mirror illuminated by the lamp in his left hand. Sebastian gently bit the middle fingertip of his right glove and lifted it off with his teeth. The back of his hand was bare flesh; no contract mark.

"You bastard!" Ciel said, whipping around to face his smirking butler.

"I cannot make a contract with a soul that does not exist," Sebastian said. "If I may show you one more thing."

Ciel's eyes widened again, he knew what he was referring to. Ciel tore his jacket off and untucked his shirt, starting to lift it as Sebastian grabbed the bottom of the shirt and pulled it up further. The brand mark on his side was gone, blank flesh was all that could be seen. Ciel stood quivering for a moment, and then yanked his shirt back down and glared at Sebastian.

"Do you believe me now?" Sebastian said, leaning down to pick up Ciel's coat from the floor.

Ciel tucked his shirt back in, his glare fixed on Sebastian.

"How is this possible," Ciel said.

"You underestimate my abilities, young master," Sebastian said, his red eyes glowing purple for a second. "I am a little more than one hell of a butler, after all."

Ciel's eyes narrowed but his shaking stilled.

"What are you playing at," Ciel said.

"Can the young master humor me at least?"

Sebastian's smirk annoyed him, though it was best to play along for the moment and find out what the hell happened.

"Fine, I've never been born," Ciel said.

"Excellent," Sebastian said. He pulled his watch from his pocket and opened it, looking down at the time. "Might I suggest we get going before the hour is too late."

"Going where?"

Sebastian gently touched Ciel's shoulder and a mass of shadows washed over them. Ciel cried out, but his voice was muted by the chilling cold and total darkness.