Wow. I...am gobsmacked. So many reviews...and all for me! *sob* I'm so happy *sob*. Thank you thank you thank you! I swear that the only reason I managed to write this so fast was because of all the reviews I got; it would have taken me 5 times longer to finish this without them (if I even bothered starting it). They gave me so much motivation~!

Sooo, new story! it is a continuation of 'The Limits of a Demon' in a way, but it's got a completely different storyline, so...enjoy, and review, review, review! I don't mind if you're really harsh on my writing or if you find mistakes, because I love constructive criticism, but don't flame me just because you don't like the pairing or storyline. Remember, if you want the next chappy faster...REVIEW! Thank you! ^_^

P.S. Did I mention to review?

Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji. If I did, I would make it more...interesting. ;)

Life continued like it always had...for the other servants.

Ciel, on the other hand, found himself rather distracted.

Gloved hands worked nimbly, fingers methodically unbuttoning the white dressing gown worn by the sapphire-eyed boy. As they moved downwards, each button carefully released from its fastening place, digits scraped softly on the silky material of the shirt, never quite touching the skin beneath.

Ciel felt his face heat up. The sensation of those fingers ghosting up and down his body was maddening; every time he was about to be touched, those fingers drew back. It was more arousing than if they had been stroking him.

He yearned to be touched. Every cell in his body screamed at his legs to move forward, to collide with the warm chest in front of him.

But he would not. Ciel refused to cave in to his desires, to place himself in a vulnerable position. He would never beg to the man in front of him for pleasure. Ever.

Sebastian smiled internally to himself, his red eyes rising to meet Ciel's mismatched orbs.

"Is there something wrong...My Lord?"

A smirk.

How Ciel hated that smile. The one that was always there, mocking him, patronising him, making him feel inferior. Sebastian did not need acid-laden words to wound his master's ego; that smirk was more than enough.

Ciel could tell that the demon knew very well how desperate he was to be caressed. The fact that Sebastian was purposely taunting him with those light, soft touches frustrated the nobleman to no end. Why was he the only one so affected?

It had been like this ever since that time.

Although Ciel was unwilling to admit it, his body continued to crave what Sebastian had... done to him on that day.

The dressing gown was fully unbuttoned, and it was slid off smoothly by the butler. The young nobleman's blush deepened, and he resisted the urge to cover himself with his hands.

Stubborn as usual, I see.

Sebastian held back a sigh. His master still refused to acknowledge his own feelings, even though it was painfully obvious which direction his desires pointed to.

Every day it was like this. Ciel, too proud and obstinate to give in to his desires and Sebastian, who would not act unless his master accepted his sexuality, teased each other relentlessly. Both would continue on their daily routine, but in the times when they were together, they would bait each other with small touches and 'accidental' brushes, waiting for the other to stumble.

Servant and master were locked in an endless game of dignity, and neither would allow themselves to concede.

"There you go, My Lord," Sebastian said, his hands patting out the creases in the nobleman's dress coat.

Ciel pulled on his eye-patch, his dainty fingers habitually tying a double knot. Frowning, the young boy spoke.

"Sebastian. I want to go shopping today."

"Hmm? Is that so? And do tell, what brought out this adventurous mood?" the demon replied, adjusting Ciel's dark blue bowtie.

"What? Can't I just want to go out?" was the sharp (and a tad whiny) retort.

Sebastian chuckled softly. "From my experience, My Lord, you would be the last person on earth who would willingly 'go out'."

"Hmph. And who asked for your opinion?" Ciel snapped, anger growing as his butler's smirk grew wider.

"J-just get the carriage ready!"

The irritated young boy stormed out of the room, his top hat sliding off at a peculiar angle.

"Yes...My Lord."

~( ^_^ )~

The streets of the little town were crowded to the point of bursting. It was as if every person within a 10 mile radius had decided to gather in the smallest space imaginable. At least, it seemed that way to Ciel.

"Urgh!" the nobleman grumbled, shoving through the mass of shoppers with a dark expression, "Why is it so busy? Don't these people have better things to do with their time?"

"It is a Sunday, My Lord. There are no other days in which they can do these things." Sebastian said, fending off the countless bodies. How he could do that and carry the countless bags of shopping that had accumulated over the day was beyond comprehension, but he did it anyway.

Sliding into a narrow alleyway, Ciel breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Sebastian, you go ahead and finish shopping. I'll stay here, where I can actually breathe." he muttered.

"Are you sure, My Lord?"

"Of course I'm sure! Just hurry up! The shop is only across the street anyway." the blue-eyed boy growled.

"If you wish, Young Master."

The raven-haired butler disappeared with a flutter of his coat tail.

Ciel leaned his shoulder against the wall of the dark alley, observing the crowd with disdain.

Commoners.

He sighed, rubbing the sides of his forehead. What insanity had made him want to go out into this?

"Oh? And who would you be?" A deep, sensual baritone echoed through the dim passage.

The slim boy spun around quickly, his cerulean eye resting on a tall, striking man.

Ciel's eyes narrowed. "Shouldn't I be asking you that question, seeing as you crept up on me like that?"

The man had long, straight, pitch-black hair that stretched down to his waist, where it cut off in a neat line. A thin lipped mouth adorned a muscular face, while dark eyebrows bent downwards slightly, giving him a sinister expression. He donned a black trench-coat over a white dress shirt and dark wool pants. The first few buttons of the shirt were unbuttoned, showing off a well built chest.

All these details were pushed to the side though, as the stranger's eyes met his.

They were a deep, dark red; a blood-red that was even deeper than Sebastian's.

The young boy stumbled backwards in shock. Who or what was this person? He couldn't be a demon...could he?

The man smirked, his eyes glittering with curiosity.

Ciel suppressed a shiver. That expression...it was so similar to Sebastian's.

"Don't be shy. Do introduce yourself," the raven-haired stranger said, taking a step forward.

The nobleman backed away, wary of the person in front of him.

"Again, shouldn't you be doing that?" was the clipped reply.

"So you've got a backbone, hm?" he chuckled, a leather-gloved hand reaching out to grip Ciel's chin lightly. "Pretty one, aren't you? So tell me, what are you doing here, all on your lonesome?"

The nobleman slapped the intruding hand away, snarling at him. "Give me one reason why I should."

This only seemed to make the stranger's smile broader.

Suddenly, Ciel was pushed against the brick wall of the alleyway, his back pressing against the damp expanse. Two strong arms were placed on either side of his head, not allowing him to escape.

The man lowered a hand and began to fiddle with a few strands of the young boy's hair, before quietly whispering, "Why, because I asked you politely. But if you don't like to play nice..." an evil grin crossed his handsome face.

Ciel shuddered. This man was treacherous. He was not like the dense criminals that he and Sebastian faced when performing his tasks for Her Highness.

This person was different. Dangerously so.

Swallowing hard, the slim nobleman forced himself to wear a defiant expression, even though he felt less than confident without Sebastian by his side.

"My name is Ciel Phantomhive, although you may know me as the Queen's Watchdog," he said, satisfied when he managed to keep his voice from trembling. "And you would be...?"

The dark-haired stranger turned his head to the side abruptly, looking out into the bustling crowd. He smiled knowingly, before withdrawing his arms to his sides and backing away.

"Don't worry, I have a feeling you will know soon enough exactly who I am."

With that, he melted into the shadows, leaving a bewildered Ciel standing in the empty alleyway.

"My Lord?"

A voice cut into the tense air, snapping the young boy out of his state of confusion.

He turned around, finding his butler there, laden with bags.

"Is there something wrong, Young Master? You seem pale." Sebastian asked, a slight frown altering his dashing features.

"N-no, it's nothing. If you're finished with everything, let's return to the mansion," Ciel said, walking back into the mass of people.

His butler followed him, a worried expression on his face.

~( ^_^ )~

Sebastian stared at his master's sleeping face, the candle in his hand casting a glow on the boy's petite features.

Ciel had been preoccupied for the entire day after returning from town; he had gotten almost no paperwork done, which was extremely rare for the usually focused nobleman.

Something was wrong.

There wasn't much in this world that could agitate Ciel, and if there was something that disturbed him, the boy would immediately order Sebastian to handle it.

It had always been like this. Always. Until now.

What had happened in that alley?

The demon pulled the blankets of the king-sized bed higher around Ciel's form, tucking the sheets in.

Hesitating, Sebastian looked down at the raven-haired boy, before bending down to place a chaste kiss on his forehead.

The tall butler straightened, blew out the candles and quietly exited the room, shutting the door with a soft click.

Even Sebastian, ever watchful, had failed to notice the set of eyes glowing just outside the window. Eyes that were a red darker than the depths of hell.

"Interesting..."

How was it? Did you like it? Even if you hated it, REVIEW! (If I say this anymore, I think someone might come and arrest me...just for being annoying...that's baaaaad.)

By the way, if anyone was curious as to how the 'stranger' in this chappy looks like, read onwards! If you prefer to leave it to your imagination, click the back button now!

Ok, so I have to admit, I based him on Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII (search 'Sephiroth' on Google [Google is your frieeeend]). Don't worry, this is not a cross-over. I just thought that he had the perfect 'evil' face, with a bit of sensuality in there. Naturally, his hair is black and his eyes are red, but you get the idea. Ironically, I've never actually played the game, but I always thought that he was totally awesome; in a creepy, half insane way. But hey, we all love the evil dudes! They have the most fun~ plus they're generally hotter.