Teach Me To Play (A Black Butler Fanfic)

Chapter 1 - Of Memories and Piano

Slowly, Ciel woke to the soft chirp of a bird call. Joined by others, it created a beautiful melody that was sweet, calming, and free; unlike him. Being a demon for about fifty years had made his life a real living hell. The secret pain from losing Lizzie, his servants, his 'friends', had greeted him every day without fail. The only thing he had left was his butler.

There was nothing but Sebastian. He had no love life, no hobbies, no friends. Just his faithful butler.

He now lived in Paris, France, and had revisited England several times. He had secretly been watching over everyone, how they lived their lives, and how they died. He even ran into the reapers, Grell Sutcliff and William T. Spears some ten years ago. Everyone had either died or moved on. They had forgotten about the Phantomhives. They had forgotten about Sebastian. They had forgotten about him. But he could never let go of his painful past. A soft knock on his door pulled Ciel out of his pool of memories.

"Come in."

"Good morning, master." It was Sebastian with breakfast, as usual. "Today we have a bagel with cream cheese, fresh picked strawberries and Earl Gray tea from England."

Earl Gray from England. Ciel felt a stab of hurt hit him in the chest.

"Something the matter?" Sebastian asked as he handed him the tea. He looked down into the cup, the reddish liquid lapping at the sides of the dark blue teacup. The images of Lizzie, Lau, Madam Red, everyone, flashed from within the cup. Such painful memories hidden forever in time.

"Nothing at all." He sipped from the cup as Sebastian started undressing him.

"Today you have a visitor coming at one." Sebastian unbuttoned his night shirt and removed it, along with his pants. Ciel caught his eye lingering over his naked chest for just a second longer until he continued.

"A visitor? By the name of who?" Sebastian said nothing, and instead gave his master a smile before gathering his day clothes. After dressing Ciel, Sebastian stood and began to gather the remains of his breakfast.

"Anything else, my lord?"

Ciel looked at his butler, his arms crossed in front of his chest. "No, just go."

"Yes, my lord." And with that, he left.

There were some days, well, more like every day, where Ciel wanted to die. To leave this Earth and go to hell where he belonged. But death will never come to him, forever teasing him with fate. He'll never die surrounded by the ones he loves. He'll never rest in his own coffin somewhere safe in the ground. He'll only roam forever and—

Was that music? Coming from downstairs?

Ciel stood up and walked quietly to the door. He placed his ear against the wood, listening carefully. The soft playing of fingers on keys was coming from downstairs. It was a piano. But who was playing?

Opening the door, Ciel walked down the hall and toward the staircase, towards the melody. The song was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard. It was soft at first, then it grew into a wonderful sound.

Reaching the bottom of the staircase, Ciel turned the corner to find none other than the amazing player to be his butler, Sebastian.

"Would you like to get a better look?"

Ciel jumped at Sebastian's words, he had heard him walk down? He nodded slightly and walked over the shining black grand piano. He watched as Sebastian's fingers glided over the keys, hitting each one gracefully. Such beauty and grace.

He looked up at his butler's face; it was beautiful as well. His hair as black as the piano, his eyes half closed in concentration, his lip slightly parted. He had never seen his butler like this before. He seemed to be enjoying himself, for once.

The song came to an end, just as softly as when it started. Sebastian smiled and glanced at his master. "That was 'Clair de Lune' by Claude Debussy. Since we’re in France, I thought it would be nice to play a piece written by a French composer."

"Where did you learn to play like that?" Ciel asked with obvious awe.

"I've known this piece since it was first released. I instantly fell in love with it and learned to play it myself."

Ciel looked at the ground, then at the piano, and finally at Sebastian. "Will you teach me to play it?"