I waited in the entry room, Sebastian having insisted that he could make this agreement work with his employer, the young Lord Phantomhive. Myself, I was a little less sure of things. Wasn't he supposed to be allergic to cats? I was sure he would not want his butler to be visiting my home and taking care of them while I was unable to do so. It was a horrid time to be dealing with a broken arm, what with the kittens having been born just recently.

If the young Lord agreed though, it would be a blessing to have someone I knew already to be the one taking care of them. Especially with the felines already comfortable around Sebastian, since he came to visit them so often. At first I had been a bit leery of having a strange man, even one so nicely dressed, coming around so much just to play with and pet the cats, but they seemed happy enough for the extra attention when I was too busy cleaning or filling out paperwork.

Over time, I had grown used to his random appearances around the small estate where I bred and raised the cats. He would show up at strange times and stay for a while, before vanishing again into seeming thin air. The first few times had left me shocked, almost afraid of his return, but by the 5th time he had come to visit I had already gotten used to his coming and going so quickly and quietly. Besides, the cats seemed to like his visits, so who was I to complain.

Hearing footsteps coming down the hallway, I stood up and got ready to greet him. Although I was hoping for good news, I was still expecting him to decline allowing his butler to assist me. Turning to the open doorway, I could hear mumbled arguing and felt my hopes sink. Hiding the frown on my face quickly, I gave the entering young Lord a smile instead, still thankful that at least Sebastian had tried.

"I'm sorry for bothering you, Lord Phantomhive. I understand that it would be an inconvenience to loose the use of your butler, so please forget it was even brought up. Sorry to have taken up your time." Giving an awkward half-bow to the young Lord, awkward because it was with one arm in a sling and the closest I could get to a proper greeting, I gave a smile of thanks to Sebastian as I got ready to leave the Manor.

I was too busy lifting my small bag onto my good arm to notice the faint blush spread across the 16 year old Lord's face, nor the widening of his one revealed vivid blue eye. That did not stop the small smirk from growing upon the lips of his more observant butler.

"Who said I was going to decline? I can't let you strain yourself, trying to take care of those... felines... when your arm is broken and in a sling. Until you are healed, Sebastian shall attend to your cats while you rest and allow yourself to recover." There was a strange mix of disgust and concern in his voice, but I guess I could understand him not caring much for a creature that he was allergic to, even if it was one as adorable as a cat.

"Thank you! I appreciate you lending me the assistance of your butler! Sebastian will be a great help with the kittens while my arm recovers enough to take care of them myself! Thank you Lord Phantomhive!" I was too busy smiling at the two gentlemen before me to notice the slight frown he gave at hearing me talk so familiarly about his butler, his frown growing when he noticed for the first time that hearing him called by his title made him feel just a bit more distant than he wanted to be from the young person in front of him.

"Please, feel free to call upon me and my servants should you need anything else, anything at all." I couldn't help but widen my eyes at hearing his words, but I was not about to decline and risk upsetting the young Lord.

Confused slightly, I still managed to give him a thankful smile, my eyes closing for a moment at the happy thought of all my cats being taken care of while I reduced my workload to what I could safely managed with a broken arm.

"Thank you, Lord Phantomhive. I appreciate your assistance in my time of need. I'm not sure how I would manage this without your help. Thank you." Again that cold feeling in his chest at hearing the title instead of his name, but I couldn't tell with how well he hid it behind that calm mask he wore.

"Please, call me Ciel. I'm sure we will be seeing each other more often, since you will be borrowing the services of my butler. I would like to think we could get to know each other and what better way than to start by using each others first names, right...?" He left the question hanging as he waited for my answer. I was quick to offer my name.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Ciel. I look forward to getting to know you better." I gave him another smile, this one more warm and heartfelt.

I'd never thought to meet someone so much higher in rank than myself, yet be treated so kindly by them. It was a very pleasant surprise and I couldn't help but look forward to learning more about this young Lord Ciel, who was so much different than anything I had heard about him from others gossiping as I passed by in the streets.

"Would you like to stay for dinner? I'm sure it would be easier on you if you didn't have to stress over making yourself a meal this late in the day." Hearing the offer, I couldn't help but blush when my stomach gave a light rumble in response.

Especially when I saw the amused grin that caused his soft looking lips to curve upwards. What was I thinking? Giving myself a mental shake, I smiled at the young man before me and nodded.

"I'd appreciate that, thank you. I'm afraid I hadn't been thinking of how late it would be by the time we were finished and had not thought to even eat a snack before leaving my house. I'm afraid I can me rather absent minding about things that do not have to do with my cats." Laughing softly, I once more didn't notice the soft hint of pink that spread across his cheeks.

"Sebastian, prepare a meal for the both of us, something that will be easy for our guest to eat with only one hand," he said before turning to me. "Please come with me while we wait. We can perhaps play a game of chess while we wait?"

Blushing a little at his gentle voice, I nodded and followed him closely enough that our arms would brush against each other as we walked, my bag quickly forgotten as it sat on the floor again near the seat I'd vacated earlier.

"I would enjoy that, Lord Ciel. Very much so." I was oblivious to how his heart raced at the feel of the warmth radiating from me as we walked, to how he turned his face away so he could hide the blush that grew even darker at my voice and, most of all, to the way his mind raced faster with plan after plan as he led me into the dining room and over to a chess set that sat in one corner.

--------

Over the next few weeks, I found myself often being invited to dinner at the Phantomhive Manor, with the insistence that the young Lord Ciel did not wish me to push myself and thus slow down the healing process. Those times I was not invited, Sebastian was often to be found within my kitchens preparing a meal for me. It was sweet of Lord Ciel to do so much for me and over time I found myself slowly growing closer to him, to the point I soon began seeing him as a close friend. One I could talk to about nearly anything.

It was with this thought, this feeling, that I turned to him when a letter from my Father arrived one day, bearing news that I had not expected to ever hear. When we walked quickly into the sitting room, I jumped to my feet and rushed to him, the letter still crumpled within my hand.

"Ciel, please help me! Father, he said... he wants... It's awful! How can he expect me to.. with someone I don't even know! How could he do this without even consulting me?!" Breaking down in despair, I collapsed into a seat near him, hands buried in my face as he took the letter from where I dropped it and began to read. If I had looked up, I would have seen his once bright blue eyes grow as dark as the ocean's depths, his smile upon seeing me gone and replaced by a frightening scowl.

"Don't worry. I will take care of this. You will not have to even meet this... person... that your father has decided to engage you to. I'll take care of everything. You just rest. Sebastian! Come see our guest to a room. And get some tea to help them calm down. I'll be back soon and I want them to be resting here in a bed when I get back. That is an order." The firm yet caring tone of his voice set me at ease as I looked down at the floor. If only I had looked up, even for a moment.

"Thank you Ciel. You are such a wonderful friend, I really couldn't ask for a better person to have in my life. Thank you." Trying hard, I was able to pull my lips into a tiny smile.

"Shh, don't strain yourself. I'll be back soon and when I am, I want to see a real smile on your face. Okay?" I almost jumped in shock when I felt a quick but gentle press of his lips against my cheek.

Several minutes later, as I lay down in one of the guest rooms, I still found myself reaching up to touch the warm spot on my cheek. I could almost feel his lips still warm against my skin, a deep blush staining my cheeks the longer I thought about it. When Sebastian came in, a strange smile upon his lips, I nearly jumped in fright.

"Your tea." He handed me the cup and watched as I drank from it.

As soon as I finished the tea, I felt myself growing tired, the stress of the day obviously catching up with me.

"I think I shall take a nap while we wait, Sebast...." With a yawn, I faded into sleep, feeling someone's arms gently helping me lay back before I was completely submerged into my dreams.

--------

When I awoke, some hours later, I saw Sebastian entering the room with another cup of tea. Instead of handing it to me, he must have seen how eager I was to ask questions, setting it on a nearby end-table.

"Sebastian? What has happened? Did Lord Ciel talk to Father? Did he agree to dissolve the engagement? Am I able to keep living at my home and continue working with my cats? Please tell me Sebastian! Are we going to be able to keep working with our kittens?!" I was almost panicked at the thought of having to give up the cats and kittens we had both been taking care of together, even before the accident with my arm.

Looking up at him, I could see his deep red eyes soften at the mention of the kittens, something I knew was as much a weakness of his as it was mine. I sighed in relief when he gave the smallest of smiles.

"Bouchan was able to... convince your father to see things his way. You will retain your estate, and the cats, on one condition." The disappearance of that smile, not matter how small, made me suddenly fearful of what this condition might be. It was never easy being the youngest child of someone with any level of wealth, always wondering when they would decide to take everything away that had been given to you. Sometimes even the things that you had worked hard to gain for yourself would be taken.

"Please, Sebastian. What is it my father demands of me in exchange?" Biting gently at my bottom lip, I could only hope it was something that was possible for me to agree to. I almost missed Lord Ciel entering the room.

"The only way he would allow you to retain your estate and all the... creatures... living there, was if you had a suitor who would agree to such things. One of high enough status that they would be able to maintain your... interests, as well as protect you from any rumors that might or might not arise in your future. So I offered myself as your suitor until such time as you are healed. At that point you must make a choice. Allow the engagement with me and keep everything you currently have in your name, or refuse me and you are back where you were before you came to me, engaged to a stranger you've never met with your oldest sibling set to take your estate from you. I'm sorry. It was the best I could do." The young Lord gave me a sad gaze before turning to Sebastian, who without a word nodded and left the room.

"Lord Ciel? What do you mean? Why would you want to be stuck with someone like me? I mean, I like to think we are good friends these days, but don't you want to be with someone you see as more than a friend? Someone you love?" Fidgeting as I sat on the end of the bed, I reached out to grab the tea that Sebastian had sat down earlier.

"Of course I want to marry the one I love. Why do you think I am doing all of this? I do love you. Very, very much." At his words, I almost spat out the tea I had been sipping quietly, swallowing thickly as I nearly choked on the liquid.

"But I'm just someone that breeds cats! The creature you are allergic to! How could it work out if I am taking care of cats all day, you would be suffering every time you come near me. You've been sneezing more than often enough when you do see me and that is with me hardly doing more than petting them from time to time. Sebastian has been doing most of the handling. Besides... I'm sorry but... I'm not even sure how I feel about you right now... I mean, you're a wonderful young man and I do adore you, but I don't know if I love you like that... I'm sorry, Ciel..." Looking down at the floor, I was far to upset at not being able to give him a better answer to meet his gaze.

"It is okay. Until such time as you can give me an answer on your feelings, I will play the suitor and appease your father. Sebastian shall continue to take care of your... Cats. And I shall continue to wait for you, for as long as I must." I felt strange inside as he pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, one of my hands raising to touch his arm.

I was shocked when I could hear the sudden sound of glass shattering, looking down to see the tea cup had fallen from my numb fingers. Looking up to Ciel's face, I found my vision swimming before me.

"Ciel... Wha's happen..." Once more, I slipped into darkness, but this time it seemed a much more fearful thing.

--------

"How much longer shall they sleep, Sebastian? I didn't have all those people killed just to have my love sleep the rest of their life away. I want to be able to feel them respond one of these times I kiss their lips. It's not like they can escape me, not with you by my side. Besides, the happier I am with them, the more time I will let you have with those... Creatures of theirs that you fancy. Now wake them up. That is an order." The young Lord never once removed his gaze from the peacefully sleeping youth before him.

"Yes My Lord." The red eyed demon leaned forward, slipping something between the person's lips before leaning back again.

Ciel could only watch excitedly as their eyes began to open, blinking slowly in the soft candlelight. Their head turned towards the young man like they were still half asleep, every movement seeming to take forever. Without making a sound, they simply stared at him, eyes filled with sadness before slowly turning their head away from their onetime friend.

"Don't worry. You shall learn to love me. After all, you have nowhere else to go anymore. Oh, but Sebastian is still taking care of your cats. And he always will, as long as you behave. You will behave for me, right?" The blank expression never left the person's face, eyes missing their usual gleam, but the young man didn't seem to mind as long as his love was awake.

Leaning forward, he pressed a soft kiss against their lips, enjoying the lack of resistance. Even if it had nothing to do with feelings being returned. Slowly blinking tired eyes, the young prisoner could only pray that someday, the screams hidden deep within their mind would be able to escape and stop echoing about within their head. Otherwise they might just break and then the young Lord Ciel would surely win this horrid game of his.