AN: Thank you to everyone that has read this story. It was my first time writing in the Kuroshitsuji fandom and I greatly enjoyed it. I have yet to really find my niche for writing styles here as I normally write horror, BDSM, gore, and torture. So this happy light fluffy genre it relatively new for me. As of now I am very busy with school and things in real life, so it may be awhile until I write the next installment to A Soldier's Discovery. I am returning to a fandom that I have neglected for a few months and it's a smut fest over there so it may take me some time to get back into the swing of things with Kuroshitsuji.

Claude/Alois needs some more loving out there and I'm glad to have been able to contribute to it. Thank you to everyone that reviewed especially to those special four that consistently reviewed with each chapter. Thanks to the lurkers who added this to their favorites (I know who you are my email told me). Thanks to everyone that even bothered to take a chance on a unknown newbie to Kuro.

And now, Alois' tale comes to an end.

.

.

.

Alois is seventeen when he ignores Claude's calls

A full year had passed since the incident. Alois had become a junior in high school as his birthday had passed once again. The tern didn't socialize, he didn't go out to party. All Alois did was go to school and then come home to do homework so he could lock himself up in his room.

Alois' antisocial behavior had always concerned the Faustuss but even they could sense something had happened. Alois no longer smiled like he used to, he didn't as much time with his appearance, and Alois was violently competitive when it came to grades. He'd sit at his desk all night until his eyes were red, muttering and cursing something about an Ciel. What was an Ciel?

Alois lied on his bed and watched as it rained outside, counting the individual droplets that fell down the screen.

Alois sighed as his phone went off in his hand. The caller ID name had been deleted long ago but Alois knew that number by heart.

"Go away Claude." Alois sighed, clicking off his phone. The teen lay there some more and pressed his face into his comforter.

Claude had been calling the last few weeks after running into Luka. Luka had mentioned that Alois seemed broken somehow, much to Alois' anger when he heard afterwards, and asked if Claude knew anything. Claude had been sending Alois texts and called him once a week always on a Tuesday.

The phone chirped to announce a new voice message had been left and Alois' hand tightened around the phone.

Being a teenager sucked.

.

.

.

Alois is eighteen when he sees Claude again

"... and as we watch our beloved seniors crossed the bridge today, I ask to remember back to a time when they too were only freshman. This class has given our school a great deal of fond memories and I'm sure..."

Alois tuned out the principal as she continued to twitter on and on. She stood at the front podium, facing the sea of parents with cameras, as the senior class sat behind her in their graduation gowns. The gowns were regal blue and white, the school's colors, and Alois pulled at his collar some.

Alois could see his parents sitting the audience along with Luka, smiling faces staring intently at Alois. Alois looked away and frowned. The reception was being held outside but the sky was starting to cloud up overhead. Thick grey clouds rolled across the sky but the principal continued on.

"Lizzie Middleford." The principal called and Lizzie sprang from her seat, golden curls trembling.

"Lizzie is a scholar athlete that has run track all four years here and acted as president of our green energy club..." Lizzie took her diploma and shook the principal's hand before joining the rest of the students on the other side of the bridge.

The names continued onwards, thinning out as they reached the end of the alphabet.

"Alois Trancy." The principal called as the audience continued to clap. "Alois is one of our brightest students, who scored..."

The teen stood up and began to make his way towards the stage when he spotted a familiar face in the crowd. Claude Faustus, dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans, made his way through the crowds of people to sit down besides Luka. The two bumped fists and Alois quickened his pace towards the bridge.

"Congratulations Alois." The principal smiled and Alois pumped her hand furiously.

"Yeah thanks." Alois ducked his head and quickly went to join his class.

The reception only lasted for a few more students before those ominous clouds overhead began to break open with rain. Thick fat droplets, cold as ice, poured down on the merry celebration as parents and students alike ran to take shelter in the school. During the great rush to get indoors, Claude had managed to make his way over to Alois.

"Hey." A voice startled Alois and the teen pushed his graduation hat out of his eyes. Alois' face paled upon seeing Claude and the elder stiffened in surprise.

"What," Alois swallowed, "Are you doing here?"

"Luka invited me." Claude shrugged. "This is a public event after all."

"Fuck off." Alois hissed, the venom in his voice startling even him. Claude's eyes narrowed and the man grabbed Alois by the arm.

"I came here to apologize, Alois." Claude lowered his voice as the last stragglers ran inside. The graduation ceremony grounds were empty now as the rain truly began to come down.

"I don't want your apology." Alois snapped, pulling out of Claude's grasp. "I've moved on. That means nothing to me now."

"Then why are you so upset that I'm here? Alois, I'm telling you that I'm sorry."

"Sorry isn't good enough! It's not good enough anymore Claude." Alois shook his head.

"Come on, you don't mean that." Claude reached for Alois again but the teen danced out of the way.

"Alois." Claude frowned, reaching again. Alois evaded Claude's arms once more and irritation ran across Claude's face. The man tried once more in a violent lunge and Alois' eyes widened. "Come here."

"No." Alois cried, spinning round and backing up.

"Alois," Claude said, "I'm trying to apologize. Come here now."

"You can't order me around anymore!" Alois shrieked as thunder clapped overhead. Claude was unsure if the water streaming down Alois' face was the rain or tears.

"This is ridiculous." Claude scoffed as he tried to grab Alois once more. When he failed, Claude's face darkened. Alois paused only for a moment before the teen was breaking into a run, gown fluttering as he distanced himself from Claude.

"Alois!" Claude cried, "Alois get back here!"

The blonde teen continued to run and Claude cursed, pausing only for a moment, before he too was running after the teen.

.

.

.

Alois is eighteen years old when he tells Claude he hates him

It was raining outside.

It was raining outside as a raven-haired boy in a graduation gown ran across an empty school campus. Most of the population was indoors for such weather or attending the graduation that had to be moved inside. Alois Faustus is the raven-haired boy foolish enough to be out in such weather. Lightening cracked overhead and while Alois was scared, his feet continued running to a destination that even he was unsure about.

All Alois could think about was that he needed to get out of there. All Alois could think about was how much his pride has been hurt. All Alois could think about was damn Claude Faustus.

Alois stepped in a puddle that caused a large amount of water to stain his dark green gown. Lightening cracked again overhead and Alois' graduation cap fell off as a voice called after him.

"Alois!" The faint voice of Claude Faustus called after him. Alois was panting from exertion now, but his pace did not slow even when his legs burned.

"Alois!" Claude called again and Alois sobbed. The rain had done a good job of hiding his tears up to this point.

"Fuck off!" Alois' scream echoed throughout the stone buildings of the campus. Still the pounding of feet on pavement pursued Alois and only seemed to pick up with speed.

The front part of Alois' shoe caught on an uneven cobblestone and he was spent falling. He landed in a huge puddle, totally soaking his gown now, when Claude finally caught up to him.

"Alois." Claude said again putting a hand on the boy's shoulder, which was quickly slapped away.

"Get away from me." Alois muttered, staring down at his reflection in the puddle in which he kneeled.

"Alois." Claude said simply again and it annoyed the boy to no end.

"Fuck off! You shouldn't be here! You shouldn't have come! How dare you!" Alois gritted his teeth together before standing up on his own.

He tipped his chin up so that he could stare at the other down the bridge of his nose.

"Claude Faustus, I hate you!"

.

.

.

Alois is eighteen when he tries to commit suicide

"I loved you." Alois shouted, wet hair matted to his face. Claude's outfit was not fairing much better as the man looked like a drowned rat, black corn rows sopping wet.

"Alois, don't do this."

"Fuck you!" Alois shrieked again, "No, you know what? Fuck Ciel. I always knew that you had something for him ever since Igor's Halloween party, but never, never, would I think that you were fucking him behind my back!"

"I was not!" Claude shouted and Alois laughed. The response caught Claude off guard slightly. Where was the meek little Alois that was so easily controlled? Who was this seething drowned beauty before Claude? It seemed within the last few years Alois had done some growing up. Alois was no longer dependent on Claude and it unsettled the elder of the two.

"The least you could do was not lie to me." Alois' eyes jumped oddly just then as his breathing picked up. "Oh my god… shit."

"Alois?" Claude took a step towards the teen.

"Don't!" Alois held up a hand as his breathing rate increased, "Don't come any closer."

"I loved you." Alois' face broke down in that moment and then teen picked up his head to look off over his shoulder. Claude's vision followed the teen's sight to the school bridge than ran over the river. It was a substantial body of water, not a creek or stream, but a deep with river with a current heavy enough to carry larger boats. It fed right out to the ocean and Claude's brow creased in worry.

"Alois." Claude said slowly.

"What is the point of living when your boyfriend is screwing some else behind your back?" Alois laughed bitterly. "But Jesus! That's not even correct! I'm not even your boyfriend, you made damn sure of that, I'm just your quick fuck. Your fucking friend with fucking benefits."

"Alois, stop this. You're… you're more than that to me." Claude's hands clenched nervously at his side.

"I'm going… I'm going to…" Alois paused and pulled at his hair. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

When the teen looked up again, he wore the soft wounded face that Claude was so used to dealing with. Alois Faustus had been neglecting his anti-depressants, not using consistently and doubling up on dosages to make up for skipped days. The teen had not encountered an emotionally taxing event such as this in a while and Alois' system didn't know how to cope.

"I loved you. I still love you. I know I should hate you but… it's so hard. It's so hard to hate you when all I still love you." Alois shook his head, "I can't keep doing this."

"Alois I'm sorry. I-" Claude tried but Alois cut him off.

"Even if you take me back, even if I want you to take me back, I can't keep living like this. Playing this little game of cat of mouse where I have to earn your affections but get nothing to show for it. I can't Claude."

"Alois." Claude said as Alois' eyes darted to the bridge once more.

"I'm done." Alois said simply and Claude's heart stopped in that moment. A numbness overtook Claude's body for a few seconds as Alois spun around and broke into a full out run towards the bridge.

He was going to do it. Alois was actually going to jump off bridge. If the height of the jump didn't kill Alois, the strong current sure would. Thunder cracked overhead once more and Claude shook himself of his stupor. Even he was not that cold hearted.

"Alois!" Claude shouted, racing after the teen. Claude was fast but Alois had the advantage of a head start. "Alois! Alois stop! Stop!"

The teen did not answer as he continued straight on his course and if Claude's cold manner had not faded away before, it definitely did now. The man broke out into a full run, quickly gaining on the teen, just as Alois reached the bridge's edge. Claude wasn't going to make it.

"Alois no! Stop! Alois!" Claude called as Alois' form stopped at the bridge's edge. It was almost as if Alois was reconsidering as he leaned curiously over the railing and Claude pushed his body faster than he'd ever ran before.

Alois reached a shaking white hand out towards the railing and stepped onto the edge, lithe body maneuvering through the safety rails. Claude's panicked shouts were faint to Alois' ears as his vision tunneled down to the crashing waters below. The rain had allowed the river's level to rise far higher than normal and the shift storm winds had encouraged the currents faster, racing towards the ocean in a frenzied mess.

"S-shit." Alois whispered as he leaned out, hands grasping the railing behind him. A sharp prick of blood surged through Alois' body in that moment as he leaned his entire frame out over the water, his feet on the ledge and hands on the railing the only thing keeping him from falling. The ledge was wet beneath Alois' shoes and he shifted his weight to adjust himself. Unfortunately the shift was enough for Alois to lose his balance and the teen slipped, hands shooting out to grasp something, as he fell.

.

.

.

Alois is eighteen when Claude saves him

Alois screamed as he fell, the resistance not to die taking over, and with a stroke of luck his hands found purchase on the ledge. Alois' shoulders were yanked from their sockets as his body came to a stop and the teen looked down nervously at the waters below.

Alois couldn't die. Alois didn't want to die. Alois didn't want to never be able to see his mother or father or Luka. Alois didn't want his life to end so abruptly before he could go out and see the world. Alois didn't want to die.

"Claude!" Alois shrieked. He could only hold on for so long and Alois' fingers were already starting to protest at the amount of weight they were forced to supports. Rain droplets hit Alois in the eye and he shook his head furiously to rid himself of them.

Wet fingers began to slip along the metal and Alois screamed again in fear as he felt his hold weakening.

"Claude!" Alois shrieked at the top of his lungs, eyes squeezed shut.

"Alois!" Claude's voice shouted, suddenly closer than Alois had remembered it being.

The man's hands shot out to grab the teen by the arms and yanked Alois' body up and over the railing. The sensation made Alois' head spin as his body went into shock and the teen trembled against Claude's form. Claude's arms formed a protective shield around him, muscles holding him close, as Alois' wide eyes turned to the elder.

"Fuck." Claude panted, slightly out of breath. He threw his head back and coughed slightly before looking down to Alois' shocked face. "Fuck."

"W-what?" Alois trembled, "You… you saved me."

"Please," Claude said pressing his forehead to Alois', "Please forgive me. Please Alois."

"I…" Alois' eyes darted around as his mind drew a blank, "You saved me."

"Ciel meant nothing, is nothing to me. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Claude panted, shaking his head. Alois let himself he held against Claude's chest and listened quietly to Claude's rapidly beating heart. The rain still poured down on the pair, both now drenched, and the thunder keeping their conversation from carrying.

"Then tell me." Alois whispered.

"What?"

"Tell me what I've always wanted to hear from you. Tell me how much I mean to you if Ciel really is nothing." Alois' lips moved against Claude's damp shirt. "I love you so much Claude. Please."

"I love you." Claude said without hesitation and Alois' heart swelled. Claude was not simply repeating the words but rather was saying them with a passion. With an intensity that let Alois know that Claude really meant them. Alois couldn't believe that those words had actually left Claude's mouth.

"Claude." Alois whimpered and Claude leaned down to seal their lips together.

"I love you." He whispered, pulling away for a brief moment before kissing Alois once more.

"I love you." Claude said again, pressing another quick kiss to Alois' lips.

"I love you." Alois whispered back, face beaming.

Then two embraced and became lost within each other. The rain slowly letting up as Alois and Claude's moment of passion seemed endless.

Alois is eighteen when he never has doubt Claude's feelings again