Yay! Another collab to add to my list! This is a collab I'm writing with Disgruntled Minion! 8D Very excited about it. Updates will be weekly, since the story is practically finished lol. The first two parts are the introduction for the actual story, but it's still very important as it lays the foundation for the events in the story.

Please DO NOT ask me about "What May Come" in any reviews. Thank you.

Disclaimer: Neither Disgruntled Minion nor I own Kuroshitsuji or any of its characters.

September

Sebastian: age 21

Ciel: age 18

The fall winds gusted through the trees, knocking off dying leaves and tossing them onto the brick lined walkway. Winter would be coming soon, bringing with it the bitter cold weather and the chance of snow.

Sebastian grunted at the thought and shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked towards the entrance of the school. He wasn't looking forward to the cold weather, preferring instead the warmer weather of summer.

A strong gust of wind made his hair whip around, some strands catching his eyes and making them water slightly. Sighing at the wind's antics, Sebastian climbed up the few steps leading to the double doors before entering the old building.

He paused to fix his wind blown hair before making his way down the tiled hallway to the front office. Sebastian pulled open the door and slipped inside, his eyes settling on a young male sitting in a chair.

The boy looked over as Sebastian entered and stood up. "Are you Sebastian Michaelis?" He asked after consulting a small piece of paper.

"I am," Sebastian answered and let his backpack slip onto a vacant chair. "You must be Ciel Phantomhive."

"Yes," Ciel nodded, holding out his hand as he studied the university student. He had the most different shade of eyes that Ciel had ever seen, a crimson red.

Sebastian gave the hand a firm shake before letting it drop to his side. His eyes darted over Ciel, taking in the senior student that he was going to be tutoring for the rest of the school year.

"What prompted you to take these upper level classes?" He asked. "Most seniors choose to relax during their final year of high school."

Ciel shrugged. "I've never been one to relax very often. I like to keep busy, and I decided that it would be good for me to get a head start on college classes. That way, I already have one year of courses under my belt, when most first year university students have none."

Sebastian hummed at the answer and picked up his bag once again. "Hopefully you don't burn out. There's nothing wrong with a little relaxing time every now and then," he commented. "But I suppose the choice is yours."

Ciel smiled. If only Sebastian knew what the rest of his schedule was. He had his regular high school classes, along with the homework. He also had violin lessons and some work at Funtom Company, a chain of toy stores that his father owned. Add to that the college classes he would be taking, and he wouldn't have very much free time. Ciel didn't mind, however. Like he had told Sebastian, he enjoyed staying busy.

"So what's first on the agenda?" Ciel questioned as he also picked up his backpack.

"I suppose we'll look over the classes that are the most demanding of you and go from there," he said as they moved into the hallway. The school was almost empty now, most students preferring to go home after school hours to enjoy their time away from the education system.

"All right, sounds like a plan," Ciel agreed. "Which class is first?"

Sebastian opened a door to an empty classroom and took a seat on a desk's surface. "Economics," he stated and pulled out his old book that he had once used as a freshman. It had seemed like ages ago since he had taken the classes, but the information was still there. "It was a boring class for me," he admitted.

"It may be boring, but it's important for me," Ciel stated. "I am going to be the owner of Funtom Company some day." He bit the inside of his lip, hoping that he had not sounded as stuck-up as he thought he had.

"I see," Sebastian mused quietly, and his eyes once again glanced over Ciel. The male looked too young to be the owner of anything right now and to already be preparing for such a thing at this age seemed to be almost cruel. His gaze fell back down to his book and he opened to the first chapter. "Shall we begin?"

October

Sebastian: age 21

Ciel: age 18

"Macroeconomics is the study of national and international economies and how these major economies are affected by large-scale choices and public policies," Ciel recited. "Microeconomics is the study of specific components within a major economy and how the choices made by individuals, households, and businesses affect that economy."

Sebastian nodded and looked up from the book that was perched in his lap. He leaned back in the chair and spared a glance outside where rain pelted the glass. A fork of lighting branched across the sky and Sebastian forced himself to focus back on Ciel.

"Correct," he stated and picked up a dry erase marker. "Now draw me the graph for profit maximization and shade in the area of economic loss."

Ciel took the marker and crossed over to the white board. Within a matter of minutes, the graph was completed, and he studied the board to make sure he had it correct before snapping the lid back on the marker. "Done."

The chair spun around and Sebastian looked over the chart. "Good. You even labeled the lines." He leaned back in the chair more and closed the book. "I think you're ready for your test tomorrow."

Ciel smiled smugly. So far, he had proven to be a diligent worker, able to keep up with high school and college, and everything in between. "Thanks," he said. He walked over to his bag and began to shove his books back inside.

Another bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, and the lights flickered as thunder boomed.

"Wow, this is turning out to be a terrible thunderstorm," Ciel commented, abandoning his bag to peer out the window. The rain was coming down in sheets, and Ciel sighed. It was going to be a pain to stand in the downpour while waiting for the bus to come. "Wonderful," he sighed.

"I like thunderstorms," Sebastian stated and set his book inside his backpack. His umbrella was propped up against the desk and was standing in a puddle of water. It had been pouring when he had first walked to the building and it hadn't let up in the hour or so since the tutoring has started. "How are you getting home?" He asked.

"I'm supposed to take the bus home, but sometimes it runs a few minutes late. I'd wait in here for it, but then it will probably just leave before I can run outside." Ciel frowned. "I'll just have to wait in here as long as I possibly can before going out to stand in the rain. And hope that I don't catch a cold," he added.

Sebastian chuckled. "You didn't bring an umbrella?" He asked, grabbing his own. "I guess what they say is true. You can only have book smarts or street smarts; you can't have both."

Ciel's frown deepened. "So if you're implying that I'm book smart because I didn't bring an umbrella, then I'm assuming you're only street smart since you brought an umbrella. Can't be both, you know," he smirked.

"Oh no," Sebastian answered. "I'm an exception to that rule. I have both, they're just balanced equally instead of one dominating the other." He chuckled and hoisted his bag up onto his shoulder.

Ciel raised an eyebrow as he returned to his book bag. "Really? And of course you would say that you're an exception. Some people tend to think that they're naturally better than everyone else." He pulled his backpack onto his shoulders and grimaced. It seemed to be getting heavier every day, with his high school books and his college books.

"Now that just makes me sound narcissistic," Sebastian commented and moved across the room. His hand threaded through the loop on Ciel's backpack and lifted it up, measuring the weight before letting it drop harshly. The action made the younger male stumble backwards, and Sebastian chuckled. "But what does that make you I wonder."

Ciel glared at him as he regained his balance, scowling. "I know I'm not narcissistic like you are. How many times do you fix your hair during the hour you're here?"

"There is a difference between fixing one's hair and simply brushing it out of your face," Sebastian answered. "I do the latter. And are you so sure about your own self? You seem awfully confident that you can take all these classes and pass them."

Ciel paused. "I do have confidence in myself, but I also work hard to get the grades I want. And I'm passing my classes, am I not?" He thought of the report card in his bag and couldn't help but give a small, smug smile. All straight A's.

Sebastian hummed and nodded slightly. "Yes, it makes me wonder why you would request a tutor in the first place. If you didn't need the help, why would you ask for one?" He smirked and turned to face Ciel. "Hoping that you can stump your tutor and make yourself feel superior?"

Ciel could feel a small thrill course through his veins. He was enjoying the banter between himself and Sebastian, and under no circumstances would he allow himself to lose. "No. My parents insisted on the tutor. Although when they signed me up for a tutor, they were probably thinking more on the terms of a balding, gray-haired old professor, not a young university student." Ciel glanced at Sebastian out of the corner of his eye.

"Shame that I didn't meet your parents' standard. But at least I hold your attention unlike a boring professor," he smirked and flicked Ciel's forehead. "How else would you know that I brushed my hair out of my face for most of the hour?"

Ciel's mouth opened and closed as he tried to formulate a reply. "You're my tutor. I have to look at you occasionally to see what you're doing. Besides, it's rather hard to ignore an annoying habit like that."

A small chuckle left Sebastian's throat. "Wouldn't it be easier not to look at me then?" He turned around and moved to the door. It opened with a soft click that was drowned out by the pouring rain against the windows.

Ciel gave a small huff as he stepped outside, his breath fogging in the air. "Yes, I suppose it would be. But as I already said, I do have to look at you every once in a while," he cringed, feeling that it was a weak argument, but his pride refused to let him back down.

"If you say so," Sebastian answered and opened his umbrella. It wasn't a far walk from the building to his car, and the drive back to his apartment wouldn't take long at all, either. Then he could finally relax at home. "Well, I suppose if you don't like looking at me, then my offer to give you a place to stay while you wait out the rain would just be shot down."

Ciel tilted his head. "Actually, as much as I don't like looking at you, I despise standing in the rain a little more. It's not good for my asthma."

"Charming," Sebastian said and lifted the umbrella up over his head. "Shall we, then? Seeing as I'm the lesser of two evils right now. You think you'd be a little more grateful."

"Thank you for saving me from catching my death out here in this rain," Ciel chirped happily, smiling up at Sebastian for a few seconds before his face returned to its usual serious expression. "There, how was that?" He asked dryly.

Sebastian's eyebrow rose. "Horrible," he answered and gave Ciel a small push before the younger male could come back with another smart ass comment. "Come on, let's go before the storm gets even worse and I change my mind."

"Where exactly are we going?" Ciel wondered. He probably should have asked before he had agreed to go with Sebastian. His brow furrowed. Book smarts, yes. Street smarts, apparently not.

"My apartment," Sebastian answered. "It's close enough to make the drive in this storm." The wind blew the rain droplets onto their skin, making Sebastian wipe the water off his face as they continued through the parking lot.

Ciel tugged his jacket closer to his body. It hadn't been raining when he'd left for school that morning, so he hadn't seen the need to take an umbrella. Once inside the car, Ciel sat quietly as the older man started the car then pulled out of the parking lot. He stared out the window, watching as the lightning flashed. "One. Two. Thr-" Thunder sounded, and Ciel sighed. "Less than a mile away."

Sebastian glanced over at Ciel before focusing once more on the road. "Do you like thunderstorms?" He asked, wanting to break the silence in the car. He hoped that this wasn't a prelude to how things would turn out in his apartment. Sebastian really didn't want to sit in silence with the younger male. That was just awkward.

"They aren't bad as long as I'm indoors out of the rain, or if I have an umbrella with me. I could sit and watch a thunderstorm for a few hours if I weren't so busy," Ciel answered. He blew a breath onto the window to fog it up then scribbled with his finger.

"Shame that you're too busy to enjoy the simple things in life," Sebastian commented as he turned onto a new road. Water puddles splashed underneath the car, and another fork of lightning lit up the sky. The car pulled into a gated community, and Sebastian punched in the code before continuing into the apartment complex.

"I like being busy," Ciel frowned, feeling defensive. "It keeps me out of trouble. Not that I would get into trouble if I wasn't busy," he admitted. Most kids his age were interested in dating and partying, but Ciel didn't like that. For one thing, he thought it stupid and immature to waste an entire night drinking and doing drugs only to not remember what had happened the next morning. For another, his parents were ranked high on the social status, and he didn't want to do anything that could smear the Phantomhive name.

Sebastian shrugged as he pulled into his covered parking spot. "If you say so. Not that there's anything wrong with enjoying the simple things in life." He opened the door and climbed out of the car, locking it once Ciel was out, too. "But whatever floats your boat, I suppose."

Ciel gave a low hum in response. "True." He had to admit that there were times when he felt burned out and wanted nothing more than to just sit and relax. When that happened, he always found himself something to do to take his mind off of it. "Enjoy the simple things in life, hm?" He murmured as he followed the university student to the house.

The door was unlocked, and Sebastian walked inside, leaving the umbrella propped up outside against the wall to drain. He clicked a light on so the living room wasn't so dark and dropped his backpack down on a bar stool. "Take off your shoes by the mat, please," he said as the door shut behind Ciel.

Ciel obeyed, slipping his shoes off. He felt slightly apprehensive about being alone in someone's house, especially since no one knew where he was. He eyed Sebastian suspiciously. He didn't look like a serial killer or rapist, but Ciel wasn't about to let his guard down. It was the good-looking guys you had to be wary of.

Sebastian looked back at Ciel who was still standing by the door and he waved him in further. "You can take a seat on the couch, I promise it won't kill you."

Ciel looked doubtful, but he crossed over to the couch and sat down, although he was perched on the edge and he sat on the side of the couch that was closest to the door. He may have known Sebastian for a few weeks, but that didn't mean he trusted the guy. He had no idea what he did when he wasn't in college or tutoring.

"So, what do you do in your spare time?" He asked.

"I cook," Sebastian answered. "Or I read. Anything that helps relax my mind after a long day at work and school." He opened the fridge door and pulled out a bowl of cherry tomatoes. He popped one in his mouth and padded into the living room, holding the bowl out for Ciel.

Ciel took a few, slowly eating them one by one as he glanced about the apartment. The place was neat, nothing seemed out of place. He noticed a basket of pet toys in one corner and began to look for the pet that they belonged to. He hadn't heard a dog bark when they came inside but thought that perhaps the dog didn't bark very much. "You have a pet?"

Sebastian nodded. "She's probably asleep in my bedroom right now. She'll wake up in a little bit when I start cooking dinner." He glanced towards the room. "And then she'll come in, asking for something to eat." The bowl of tomatoes were set on the living room table and Sebastian looked at Ciel. "Do you want anything else to eat, or something to drink?"

Ciel shook his head. "I'm fine, thanks." He bit his tongue, wanting to add on that he was slightly worried the drink would be drugged. He chuckled, amused at how paranoid he was beginning to sound. Why would Sebastian drug him? What did he have to offer the man, who had given no indication that he was interested in the same sex?

He recalled the taunts that had passed between them earlier and felt his cheeks grow warm. Had that counted as flirting? No, it didn't because he knew for sure that he himself wasn't interested in the same sex, Ciel rationalized. He began to relax, even though he still kept a watchful eye on Sebastian.

Sebastian popped a few more tomatoes in his mouth before standing up to place the bowl back in fridge. A bolt of lightning outside made the lights flicker and the windows rattled from the thunder. A streak of black moved through the living room and into the kitchen.

Wine red eyes glanced down as it pressed up against his leg, and Sebastian bent down to pick up the trembling kitten. This was her first real storm, and the poor kitten was terrified. Her ears were pressed back against her skull, and her eyes were wide as she butted Sebastian underneath his chin in hopes of some comfort.

Ciel's eyes began to water, and his nose began to itch. He sneezed, wondering what was happening. Surely he hadn't caught a cold that quickly. He sneezed again and looked around for any tissues that he could use. His eyes landed on the toys and he froze. It couldn't be...

"Sebastian? Your pet wouldn't happen to be a cat, would it?" He called out between sneezing.

Sebastian looked up from fawning over the kitten. "Of course she is, as though I would let a dog in my apartment," he answered. The black kitten let out a small mew, as though she were agreeing with Sebastian.

Ciel groaned. "I'm allergic to cats." Blinking away the moisture that had risen in his eyes, he began to wonder if he would be better off outside in the rain than inside with the cat.

A hum left Sebastian's mouth. "She won't bother you," he stated. "So no need to worry about that. I'm sure the allergies will settle down in a bit." He moved through the apartment and set the kitten down in the bedroom. She curled up instantly in his bed, pushing her way under a pile of covers.

Ciel sneezed once more, but after a few minutes, the tickle in his nose disappeared. He wiped his eyes with his fingers, hating the fact that it looked like he was crying due to his red-rimmed eyes. He just hoped that the cat stayed in the bedroom for the remainder of his time here.

He scowled. "Why a cat? Dogs are so much better."

Sebastian scoffed. "Cats are self-sufficient and don't drool all over you when you're petting them. Plus, they're quiet and don't bark at random things." He moved back into the living room and stopped in front of Ciel. "You're a mess," he stated with amusement, and brought his hands up wipe away the wetness in Ciel's eyes.

Ciel blinked at the sudden contact. Sebastian had never touched him before, and he wasn't sure what to think about the funny feeling that began to form in his stomach. He quickly backed away like he'd been burned, pressing his back against the couch, once again maintaining a comfortable distance between them. "Yeah, that's kind of what happens when you have allergies," he responded to Sebastian's observation.

"Sounds like it sucks," Sebastian commented lightly and looked out the window. Fat rain drops still streaked down the window and the wind whipped the trees around, sending more leaves falling to the ground. "Would you like to play a game, or would you rather work on homework?" He asked.

Ciel shrugged. "A game is fine. I can finish my homework later. Most of it is already done, anyway."

"Cards okay?" Sebastian asked as he turned away from the window. "We can play poker or something."

"Sounds okay to me," he replied, then seemed to hesitate. "Are there going to be stakes?"

Sebastian's eyebrow rose and he mussed over the question. "I would suggest that we play strip poker, but I'm not sure if you can handle it." A smirk settled across Sebastian's lips as he teased the younger male, wondering if he'd take the bait.

Ciel flushed slightly, realizing that he should have kept his mouth shut. Strip poker was what he had been afraid they would play. He didn't want to say yes, but he knew that if he said no, Sebastian would most likely tease him about it for the rest of the time they were around each other.

"Why not?" He found himself saying. "Let's play strip poker."

"If you wish," Sebastian answered and moved over to a drawer so he could pull out some cards. They were set on the living room table, and Sebastian took a seat on the floor. Outside, the thunder rumbled loudly and the lights flickered briefly before settling once more.

Ciel cast a worried glance out the window, hoping that the storm would pass by before too long. He picked up the cards as Sebastian passed them out and studied them. He had only played poker once or twice, and he had definitely not played strip poker. This was new for him, and he really hoped that he would not be the one to lose. Although he wasn't sure he wanted to win either, he thought as he looked at the other male out of the corner of his eye.

Sebastian glanced at his hand, trying to figure out what he was going to do. His face was calm, and he made sure that his features gave nothing away about his current hand. There was an art to poker in perfecting the right poker face, and it was something that Sebastian had always enjoyed learning.

Ciel said very little, concentrating on the game instead of chatter. He was nervous when the first round ended, but was soon relieved when it was discovered that Sebastian had lost. He breathed a sigh of relief.

Dealing out another round after removing his socks, Sebastian leaned back to watch Ciel focus on his cards. He wondered if the younger male was even aware of the small expressions that he made. Occasionally his tongue would poke out of his mouth in concentration, or his brow would furrow slightly in thought. It was all very endearing.

The next round Ciel lost, and he followed Sebastian's example by removing his socks. His palms were beginning to sweat, and he wondered if Sebastian could see the moisture that was surely collecting on his forehead. He cursed silently, wishing that he could somehow go back an hour in the past and change these events. Being alone with Sebastian and playing strip poker with him was not the smartest idea.

Sebastian's eyes flickered up to look at Ciel before looking down at the new hand that had been dealt. There was no way he was going to win this hand; the cards didn't lie and he had a bad hand. The only way to possibly win was by tricking Ciel into thinking that he had a good enough hand and make him fold.

"Perhaps we should double this round?" He suggested. "Loser has to take off two articles of clothing, unless they fold and forfeit this round."

Ciel glanced up from his cards. Sebastian had just raised the stakes, and that made him even more nervous. He must have a really good hand to be so nonchalant about having to take off two articles of clothing if he were to lose. He had a full house - three aces and two queens. He swallowed hard, not sure if he should continue or fold. He hated the thought of losing, but what else could he do?

In the end, Ciel's stubborn side won. He wasn't going to fold. He crossed his arms and leaned back, his blue eyes trained on Sebastian and waited for his move.

Sebastian cocked his head and looked back at his cards, trying to decide what to do. It seemed that Ciel wasn't going to take the bait and now Sebastian was going to pay the price. He'd rather strip for the younger male than admit defeat and fold. That was just chickening out in his mind.

He laid his cards on the table, his eyes dancing with mischief at already knowing he had lost the hand. There was nothing else he could do and if Sebastian was going to lose, he was going to go down with dignity and have fun doing it.

Ciel's eyes widened upon seeing Sebastian's terrible hand. He realized that Sebastian had been trying to trick him, and he was glad that he had not backed down. He smirked. "Well? Two items of clothing, Sebastian," he said gleefully.

"With pleasure," Sebastian purred and tugged his shirt over his head, followed by his pants. They were set aside and Sebastian leaned back, enjoying the comfort of relaxing in just his boxers. Usually it was how he relaxed after school and work, because it was more comfortable during the warmer months.

Ciel's eyes trailed over Sebastian, taking in his lean form and his well-defined chest. He was not used to seeing people with very little clothes on. He tried to keep his gaze fixed on his hands, but he couldn't help peeking up every once in a while. At one point, his eyes landed on the older male's boxers, and he couldn't stop a small blush from creeping onto his cheeks.

Sebastian hummed as he dealt out the next set of cards, glad that he could relax some more. This round could determine their game if he didn't win this hand. For some reason, Sebastian couldn't figure out if that was a good or bad thing. Good, in that, if he lost he'd get to watch a pretty little blush cross Ciel's face.

Ciel gripped his cards a little tighter than necessary, dreading the next round. If he lost, he would have to remove some more of his clothes. But if he won, Sebastian would be the one to take off clothing, and all that was left to remove was his boxers. Ciel wasn't so sure which option was worse.

"You ready?" He asked, his voice not wavering despite the nerves bunched up in his stomach.

"Sure," Sebastian answered and laid his cards out on the table. There wasn't any stress for him and at the moment, Sebastian really didn't care if he won or lost this hand. Either would result in a blush from Ciel, and in the end, Sebastian had a feeling that he was going to be the real winner when everything was said and done.

Ciel also laid his cards on the table. He quickly scanned both hands. "You lost," Ciel spoke, a hint of relief and apprehension in his voice. "So then I guess..." he trailed off, the blush on his cheeks returning as his eyes lowered to the remaining article of clothing that kept Sebastian from being totally naked.

Sebastian shrugged. "So I did; no shame in losing." He tossed his cards onto the table and his hands went to his boxers. Lifting his hips up, he wiggled out of his boxers and dropped them onto the floor next to his legs. It wasn't as though as he'd stay naked the whole time Ciel was here, but one more round like this wouldn't hurt. "One more round?"

Ciel hesitated before nodding his head. This last round, if he lost, he could simply just remove his shirt, and what could be the harm in that? "Sure. One more time." He watched Sebastian deal the cards, then looked at the ones he'd been given. It seemed like a decent hand, and he was fairly sure that he was going to win. He couldn't stop a smile from spreading across his face as he glanced up to try to gauge Sebastian's reaction to his own hand.

The older males face was blank as he regarded his own cards with mild amusement. It was a good hand and he silently hummed his approval. With a small smirk, he set his cards down on the table and looked up at Ciel. "Your turn," he stated.

Ciel slowly lowered his cards to the table. He'd had a good hand, but Sebastian's had been better. He looked at his tutor. "You won," he stated the obvious.

"Seems as though these come back on," Sebastian commented and pulled his boxers back on. He gestured to Ciel. "And your shirt comes off."

Ciel removed his shirt and sat there awkwardly. He wasn't comfortable with taking off clothes in front of other people, but he thought that he shouldn't be too uncomfortable if it was with another male. So why did he feel like a nervous schoolgirl?

The cards were set on the table and Sebastian leaned back slightly. "Does this conclude our game?" He asked and glanced out the window where it was still raining. "I suppose I could take you home now, since the rain has lightened up slightly."

Ciel also glanced out the window. He frowned, not sure of what he wanted to do. He did want to go home, but at the same time he wanted to stay here and continue playing cards with Sebastian. As much as he didn't like to admit it, he was having fun, and the suspense of not knowing whether or not he would win a round was making his adrenaline race.

"I could stay for a bit longer, if you don't mind," he hastened to add on. "I mean, if you're busy or something, then I can leave."

Sebastian waved his hand. "I'm not busy, but dinner will need to be made soon. You're welcome to stay for that if you wish." He picked up the cards again and shuffled them quickly before they were dealt out in silence. If Ciel was going to stay, then Sebastian would need to start dinner soon.

Ciel shook his head. "No, thanks. I need to be home for dinner. We're having some...guests over." Grimacing, he picked up his cards and smirked. He had a feeling he'd be winning this round.

The older male shrugged, slightly disappointed that Ciel wouldn't be staying for dinner. It was nice cooking for other people at times, although it meant more leftovers if Sebastian ate by himself. Shaking himself from his thoughts, Sebastian focused once more on his cards, determined to win this round.

October

Sebastian: age 21

Ciel: age 18

The next time they met, Ciel was in a bad mood. His head rested on the desk, and he glared at the economics test lying nearby, as if by simply doing so would change the grade written neatly in the top right hand corner.

He growled then, pushing the offending paper off the desk and watching it flutter to the floor.

Sebastian's foot stepped on the paper a few moments later as he entered the classroom, making him pause briefly to pick it up. He glanced at the grade before setting it back down on Ciel's desk.

"You know," he stated. "For your first time taking a college level class, that's a good grade. Most new students don't do as well as that."

Ciel scowled. "It's a 'B'. I got a damn 'B' on my test. What's so good about that?" He sighed, closing his eyes. He'd only ever gotten 'A's' on tests and papers, and a 'B' just didn't sit well with him.

"A 'B' is a good grade, Ciel," Sebastian reassured. "College tests are harder than you're used to. In all honesty, you could've gotten a 'C' and I still would've been surprised. The way they ask questions on these test aren't as direct as high school tests."

Ciel grunted, grabbing the test and shoving it deep in his book bag. "Still...I'll do better next time," he vowed. "What's on the schedule for today?" He asked. He glanced over at Sebastian, but quickly averted his gaze. He realized that he couldn't look at him or think about him the same way ever since the game of strip poker they had played the night before.

"What classes do you need to work on?" Sebastian asked and took a seat on the desk. His legs swung back and forth, and a small smirk settled on his face at the faint blush that brushed across Ciel's cheeks.

"Economics, definitely. And..." Ciel thought, frowning slightly. Out of the corner of his eye, he was watching Sebastian, unaware that he had trailed off in the middle of his sentence.

Sebastian waved his hand, gesturing for Ciel to continue. When it seemed as though the younger male wasn't going to finish his sentence, he picked up a nearby pencil and tossed it at Ciel's head.

The pencil hit its target, and Ciel started in surprise. "Sebastian? What the hell was that for?" He scowled, picking up the pencil and debating about throwing it back.

"You weren't paying attention. No wonder you did so poorly on your test," Sebastian teased. "You were talking about the classes you needed to work on today."

Ciel blinked. "Oh, right. Economics is a must. But other than that, I think I'm doing all right in my other classes." He absentmindedly twirled the pencil around, his blue eyes fixed on Sebastian's face.

Sebastian hummed. "If that is your desire, then we'll work on economics." He stood up from the desk and moved over to Ciel until he stood in front of the younger male. Grabbing the pencil, he leaned down and looked Ciel in the eye. "But as I stated earlier, focusing too much on one subject is bound to burn you out soon."

Ciel leaned back slightly to put some distance between himself and Sebastian. His cheeks were hot, and he struggled to focus on what the other male had said. "But I do need to study economics," he replied, hoping that he'd gotten what Sebastian had been talking about right. His gaze flicked over Sebastian's face before turning to look outside the window. He was still too close for comfort.

A smirk spread across Sebastian's face and he flicked Ciel in the forehead lightly. "You're cute when you blush," he teased and leaned back. Without a word, he moved back to the desk and pulled out his economics book. "We'll start on chapter five," he stated.

Ciel sputtered and gaped at him, not believing what he had heard. "Excuse me?" He said finally. "What did you say?"

"That we're starting on chapter five," Sebastian repeated and turned around on the desk before jumping off. He grabbed a marker and started to draw a simple graph, outlining the curves of peak production. "Right. This line here marks the highest level of production when the company is working with a hundred workers."

"No, not that. I heard that we were on chapter five," Ciel hurriedly spoke, interrupting Sebastian. "The part before that. What did you say?"

Sebastian turned around and gave Ciel an exasperated look. "Ciel. You were the one who was griping about your test scores. How do you expect to better them if you don't pay attention and focus?"

Ciel pouted, but refused to give in, although it would be far much easier if Sebastian were to just admit what he had said. He huffed, crossing his arms and looking everywhere except at Sebastian. "You said something about me. That I was...cute..." Here he blushed, his cheeks turning a bright red, and he quickly ducked his head to hide them.

A shoulder was shrugged. "You are," Sebastian answered nonchalantly and turned back to the white board. "Nothing to be ashamed of. Most people can go their whole life without hearing those words."

But we're both males, Ciel wanted to say, but he held his tongue. Instead, he looked up at Sebastian, noticing the way that the light glinted off his black hair and the firm set of his shoulders. His eyes trailed further, down Sebastian's back and to his ass. A memory of Sebastian naked after the game of strip poker flashed through his mind, and he squeezed his eyes shut. "Dammit."

"I'm sorry?" Sebastian questioned and glanced over his shoulder. Hearing nothing else from the younger male, he turned back to the board. "If production fails when there are over two hundred workers and output is lowered, what would be a beneficial solution to increasing workers without lowering output?"

Ciel managed to force the correct answer out of his mouth, but not without difficulty. He was still stuck on Sebastian's confession, if one could call it that. Sure, Ciel had been called cute before, but that was by elderly ladies or even the girls at his school. Never before had he been called cute by another guy. It threw him for a loop, and he didn't know how to respond, especially when he found himself thinking about the other male a whole lot more than he should.

He raised his eyes to the clock, cursing under his breath when he saw that it had only been ten minutes since their session had begun. He dully looked back at the whiteboard, but continued to be distracted by his tutor. A low growl left his throat and he shoved his chair back. It rocked precariously, but he regained balance and saved himself the embarrassment of falling over.

Sighing, Sebastian set his book down and turned around to face Ciel. "If you would rather work on a different subject, tell me now," he stated. "I know economics is boring and you're annoyed that you received a bad grade on your test, but not paying attention isn't going to help any. Would you rather end the session for the day?"

Ciel gave a slow nod. It wasn't doing any good to force himself to pay attention. He wouldn't learn anything that way. But Ciel doubted that he would ever be able to pay attention again, not with that mental picture running through his mind. "I should have gotten a balding, gray-haired old professor as a tutor instead," Ciel muttered.

"That can be arranged," Sebastian commented and stuffed his book into his bag. Since they were finishing early today, he would have time to pick up groceries tonight for dinner. The bag was slung onto his shoulders and he opened his mouth to tell Ciel goodbye, but was cut off as someone called his name.

A blur of red appeared before him and Sebastian stepped to the side, letting the person crash into the desk. "You're so mean, Sebastian," the male pouted and rubbed his side where the desk had hit.

Sebastian shook his head. "Not now, Grell. I'm busy and I have a headache."

Ciel eyed the newcomer cautiously. He'd never seen him before, but that wasn't anything unusual. The only college student Ciel knew was Sebastian. His eye twitched. This Grell person seemed to be annoying, just the kind of person Ciel avoided at all costs. Choosing to ignore the redhead, he turned towards Sebastian. "So are we meeting at the same time tomorrow, then?"

The redhead looked up at Ciel, noticing him for the first time. "Hush little boy, we're having a serious conversation here." He turned back to Sebastian. "How about I kiss your headache away?"

Sebastian blanched. "That'll result in me throwing up," he stated and backed away. "Also, please don't talk to my student that way; it's insulting to both of us."

Ciel's eyes narrowed. He didn't like to be called a 'little boy,' especially since he was now in his final year of high school. But what irked him more was the fact that Grell seemed to be so familiar with Sebastian, offering to 'kiss his headache away.' He frowned, not sure why that was bothering him.

After grabbing his bag, Ciel stepped closer to Sebastian. "Same time tomorrow?" He asked again, determined to get an answer this time.

Sebastian nodded. "Yes. We'll have a better lesson this time."

Gwell blinked. "Sebastian, you're not dating this brat are you? Not when I've asked so many times." A pout seemed to form on the man's face at the thought before a glare was tossed at Ciel.

Rubbing his temples, Sebastian shook his head. "No matter how many times you ask, the answer will always be no, Grell." He gave a firm push to the other males back. "Now leave so I can walk Ciel to the front."

Ciel blinked, confused when Sebastian didn't refute Grell's statement about the two of them dating. He shot Sebastian a quizzical look but said nothing about it, figuring that he had his reasons. It was probably the fact that Grell was annoying and clingy that Sebastian hadn't disproved Grell's observation, he realized. A small smirk crossed his face. He'd just play along, then.

"I can walk myself out, Sebastian," Ciel smiled cheerfully before walking over to Sebastian. He leaned up and pecked the red-eyed male on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow, then." He winked before strolling out the door, laughing quietly to himself.

Silence settled in the classroom before Grell turned on Sebastian. "What the hell was that? You're dumping me for him?"

Sebastian shook his head. "We were never dating, Grell. Now please, I need to get home." He patted the other male on the head as a way of farewell before leaving the room, a smirk spreading across his lips. Things were getting interesting now.

October

Sebastian: age 21

Ciel: age 18

Ciel paused outside the door leading to the room where he and Sebastian met for their tutoring sessions. After his behavior last night before he had left, Ciel wasn't too sure that he wanted to see Sebastian. No doubt he would blush, and then Sebastian would make some comment about him being cute, and it was too much for Ciel to take.

He gripped the handle, willing his hand to turn it. Why was he so hesitant? Was it because he was ashamed of the way he had acted? Or was it for another reason altogether? Whatever the reason, he couldn't wait any longer. Taking a deep breath, he twisted the knob and pushed the door open.

The room was empty, void of Sebastian, and Ciel took his seat. Minutes ticked by and for a while, it seemed as though the older male wasn't going to show up. Finally, fifteen minutes later, Sebastian strolled into the room.

His bag was set on the desk and a thick blanket was pulled out. With a small hum, it was bunched up and made into a lumpy pile on the desks surface. Satisfied with his work, Sebastian unzipped his jacket, revealing a sleepy kitten who yawned and then stretched in his grip.

Ciel covered his nose with his hand, forcing back a sneeze that he felt. "Sebastian, you know I'm allergic to cats. Why bring your cat here? I didn't think animals were allowed here, anyway," he scowled as he sneezed.

"Soot isn't feeling too well, and I didn't want to leave her alone," Sebastian answered and set the kitten down on the blanket. With a small mew, she pawed at the blanket before burrowing into the fabric.

"So you figured you'd make me miserable, too. Thanks, Sebastian," he stated dryly. His eyes were watery, and he wiped at them with his long sleeved shirt. "Glad to know that you care about my health."

Sebastian's eyes swung up to meet Ciel's. "I do care. Last time you were at my house, you were fine after a while. I assumed the same would happen again." He moved closer to Ciel and wiped away the remaining moisture in the blue eyes.

Ciel nearly stopped breathing when Sebastian touched his face. His eyes locked onto Sebastian's, and he found himself unable to look away. Mental images of Sebastian played in his mind once more, and he remembered the feeling of Sebastian's cheek under his lips. He licked his own lips and swallowed hard.

"Shall we begin?" Sebastian murmured and pulled back slowly. His hand hesitantly dropped away from Ciel's face and he dried his fingers off on his pants. "Are we still working on economics or your art appreciation class?"

"We can work on art appreciation," Ciel said. He didn't think that he would be able to concentrate on economics anymore today than he could last night. He dug out his art book and dropped it on the desk with a thud. Opening it, he flipped to the current chapter he was studying.

Sebastian pulled out his own book and glanced at the chapter. "Art. You appreciate it," Sebastian stated in a deadpan tone.

Ciel snickered. "Some art, at least. Nowadays, anyone can paint. All you have to do is splash some paint on a canvas, give it a name, and voila! You're an artist," he rolled his eyes. "Real artists are people like Leonardo da Vinci and Picasso."

"Ah, the works of true artists," Sebastian stated. "I'm fond of da Vinci myself. But more so because he was more than just an artist. He was a well rounded man, and he has a mysterious personal life that just makes me grin."

"Ah, yes," Ciel mused. "The illegitimate son of a peasant woman and a wealthy man, he was a vegetarian, and it is speculated that he was homosexual."

Sebastian nodded. "He was an interesting man. I admire him for all that he did and then some." A page was turned and Sebastian looked up at Ciel. "What are the tertiary colors and how do you create them?"

"Tertiary colors are red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, and red-violet. They are created when a primary color and a secondary color are mixed together," he recited easily.

"Correct," Sebastian answered and flipped to the next page. Turning around, he grabbed a marker and tossed it to Ciel. "Come draw a full color wheel for me, with labels of each colors and which ones are primary, secondary, and tertiary colors."

Ciel caught the marker with ease and walked over to the whiteboard. As he passed by the desk where Soot was, he sneezed and glared at the kitten. When he reached the board, he uncapped the marker and began to draw. Five minutes later, he stepped aside to allow Sebastian to check his work, making sure to maintain a safe distance between him and the other male.

Sebastian leaned back against the desk and hummed thoughtfully. "It looks correct to me, although your circle leaves much to be desired," he teased and stood up. With a quick movement, he drew another circle next to Ciel's and tapped it with the pen. "That's a proper circle."

Ciel huffed. "I don't think my teacher will take off points for that." He attempted to draw another circle, and that one came out slightly better than the first one. "There. You happy now, Mr. Perfectionist?" He asked sarcastically.

"Much," Sebastian said happily and looked over the drawing again. "Although, this part of the circle needs to arch a little more," he stated and leaned forward, pressing against Ciel as he corrected the circle.

The sound of a sharp intake of air filled the room, and Ciel attempted to casually shift away from Sebastian. "Aren't you being a bit picky?" He asked, hating how his voice came out slightly high-pitched and strained.

Sebastian shook his head. "You need to apply this much effort into your studies if you wish to pass them and the only way you can do that is to be a bit picky." He lowered his head to brush against Ciel's ear. "But that's the good thing about study partners."

Ciel ducked his head, his cheeks burning from the close proximity in which he stood with his tutor. "I-I guess so." Again, he tried to distance himself, but found that he couldn't move. His knees were shaking somewhat, and he feared that he might soon just fall over. Realizing that his heart was beginning to pound, he took in a deep breath to calm himself down, hoping that Sebastian hadn't noticed.

With one small adjustment to the circle that had him pressing against Ciel's back even more, Sebastian backed away and looked over the drawing once more. "There, that's a perfect circle." He nodded, proud of the circle and even more proud of the red that was creeping up the back of Ciel's neck.

Ciel was at the end of his rope. No matter what he did, Sebastian always seemed to be there. If he moved away, Sebastian moved with him. It was frustrating to say the least. He glanced at the clock, wondering if it was almost time to leave. He almost groaned when he saw that he still had over an hour left. He gritted his teeth, and pasted a smile onto his face as he turned to face Sebastian. "Okay, so what's the next question?"

Sebastian hummed and moved back to his book. "Let's see here. M.C. Esher was a Dutch artist who was most known for what three types of art?" Sebastian asked and held up the book for Ciel to look at. He tapped the picture of the man for emphasis before taking a seat on the desk.

"Graphic art, impossible structures, and realistic art," Ciel answered as he headed back to his desk. This time, he held his breath as he passed by the cat, not daring to breath until he was sitting down. Even so, he could feel his eyes begin to water again, and he sneezed.

"Correct," Sebastian stated and flipped into the next chapter. "Make sure you look over some of his art work; your teacher is fond of his designs and likes to put them in tests," he said and looked over some pictures that were in the book.

"Okay," Ciel nodded absently, not really focusing on what Sebastian was saying so much as he was focusing on his lips moving as he spoke. A blush crept over his face again, and he quickly hid behind his book.

With a small sigh, Sebastian laid down on the desk and pulled Soot out of her blanket. She mewed at him as she settled on his chest, and Sebastian tilted his head to the side to look at Ciel. "What's the difference between a shade and tone?" He asked, scratching Soot's head.

"Tone is when you add black to a color, and shade is when you add gray to a color," Ciel tilted his head to the side, eyeing the kitten warily. He wasn't sure if Sebastian would allow her to wander around the room, and he sure didn't want her anywhere near him.

Sebastian turned his head to the side sharply. He blinked a few times as his fingers stilled on Soot's head. She butted his hand, trying to draw his attention once more. With a small grunt, he rolled onto his side to fully face Ciel, and a small smirk settled on his lips. "Wrong."

Ciel blinked. "Wrong?" He repeated. "But tone is...adding the gray, and shade is adding the black..." He groaned, leaning back in his chair and staring at the ceiling. "Damn it."

"Damn it indeed," Sebastian said with a chuckle. "Perhaps I should find some way to punish you?"

Ciel's eyes widened a bit and he shot a glance towards Sebastian, a look of almost panic on his face. "Punish me?" He asked. "Why punish me? I'd be doing just fine if you weren't sitting there distracting me." As soon as those words were out of his mouth, Ciel wished that he could take them back.

Sebastian perked up and a smirk spread across his lips. "Really now? How can I be distracting you? I'm just laying here and quizzing you." His eyes lowered slightly. "So tell me, how am I distracting you?"

Ciel opened his mouth, but he quickly snapped it shut. He knew how Sebastian was distracting him, but he didn't want to say it. He gave a frustrated growl and ran his hands over his face. "I don't know," he said finally. "You just are."

"I see," Sebastian murmured and sat up. Soot was cradled to his chest as he slid off the desk and up to Ciel's side. With a smirk, he leaned down until he was close to Ciel's ear. "You're still cute when you blush," he stated and pulled back.

Without a word, he picked up his bag from the desk and padded towards the door. "Have a good day, Ciel."

Ciel stared at Sebastian as he left the room, unable to fully comprehend what had just happened. It wasn't until he was already home and in the safety of his bedroom that he realized that he'd been staring at Sebastian's ass as he'd left.

With a groan, he determined that having a young male tutor was more trouble than he'd originally thought.