Revelations

Chapter twenty

AN: Slight spoilers for season #2. Read at your own risk (or better yet go watch season 2 first...).
I had A LOT of fun with this chapter if you couldn't tell and I hope that you peeps like it!
So yeah...that's all 4 now...
Enjoy, friends! :D

When Ciel finally decides to stop crying into the oddly familiar fabric of Alois' dark purple dress-coat, he sits up slowly, only staring at the other, practically awestruck at seeing the Trancy boy before him.
"Wha-How are you...?", he begins to say, but is stopped by a gloved finger as it rests against his lips.
"Shhh, it's okay now. Really. I'll tell you everything but first, why aren't you with Sebastian?"
At the blond's words, Ciel feels tears well up in his eyes again. Even the very mention of his demonic butler's name causes him great distress and utter sadness.
He quickly rubs at his eyes again, hoping that Alois won't notice, and then takes a deep breath before speaking quit solemnly.
"Sebastian, has been accused of committing sexual assault against me. My cousin Elizabeth apparently found out, and now my butler is on trial in the court of law for something he did not do."
Alois nods surprisingly very understanding, and reaches to place one of Ciel's gloved hands in his. The action causes the Phantomhive boy to look up at him, questioningly. Almost, as if he worries about what the other boy's intentions are.
But, before he can say anything to the Alois, the blond-haired boy speaks.
"I bet you think that I'm beyond ecstatic about you and Sebastian's current issue, but actually Ciel I'm not. I mean, I guess if this all would've been happening back then, then I most definitely would be happy, but a lot has changed since I died...since Claude extracted my soul and terminated our contract...", he stops then, waiting for no doubt Ciel's urgent protests for him to go on and explain.
He doesn't have to wait very long.
"What do you mean? Alois, what happened after that day?..."
The other boy sighs, it's a contented sigh, as if the events of that day are something he still holds dear to him.
"Well, after Hannah was killed...when she dropped off the cliff still holding onto you...I-I felt this strange feeling, Ciel. I swear it was like I was suddenly completely calm and didn't have a care in the world, anymore. And, I remember thinking, is this what it feels like to die? To finally let go of life? I had thought that when Claude killed me and took my soul, that I'd feel what I had ended up feeling then, but all I had felt after the deed was done, was emptiness. A hollow emptiness, like when I'd looked into my brother Luca's eyes and seen nothing there, that horrible night in the village. But, that's not what I felt when Hannah fell down the cliff into the darkness below. No, I felt an overwhelming contentment. Especially, when I saw that I was not alone. Hannah held true to her promise and I was reunited with my brother as well as my Claude, even though he too had been killed, and I later found out, by Sebastian. So yes, I should very much be happy at your misfortune, Ciel. But, don't you see? I've got everything I ever could've dreamed of having, now. I've got people who actually truly love me and they're a family I can call my own.", as he finishes his long explanation, Ciel can't help but chuckle slightly upon seeing tears in Alois' eyes.
"So, you are saying basically, that you're sorry?"
The other boy nods slowly and then raises his other gloved hand that is not holding onto Ciel's up, so that the Earl of Phantomhive can see the appearance of a very large diamond no doubt cut from fine quality gemstone, as the stone shines in the bright light, it releases an array of colours similar to that of a rainbow. It is set into a plan gold band that is on the very edges of it, carved with an intricate pattern of swirls and loops.
Ciel doesn't have to ask to know who it's from, or what it means. He knows without Alois saying it. Can tell by the way the other boy's eyes have now lit up just like the diamond he wears.
"I assume a congratulations are in order?", he asks, a faint smirk passing over his face at the very thought.
"You assume correct, Phantomhive.", Alois replies, smirking back at Ciel as he then begins to fiddle with the gemstone once again, his eyes practically fixed upon it.
"So, how did it happen?"
Alois shrugs, as if the matter is not important.
Ciel just sighs.
"Fine, don't tell me.", he says, pulling his hand away from the blond-haired boy's and folding his arms across his chest, pouting.
The Trancy boy just laughs.
"Alright, alright, I'll tell you.", he says, taking a deep breath.
"In case you didn't already guess or know from your own butler, Claude proposed!", he practically screams out the last part, causing Ciel to cringe at the sound.
"Yeah, I got that figured out. You wouldn't be this trigger-happy if this wasn't about Claude. But, what I want to know is...how? When exactly?"
Alois is jumping up and down from his place on the ground next to Ciel, but stops at the other boy's questions.
"Well, I'm sure you remember the maze game I made our butlers play? Right, Ciel?"
The Earl nods.
Of course Ciel remembers it, he had been merged together with the boy's soul...hadn't he?
"Yes, I remember. What are you getting at, Trancy?"
Alois smiles and fiddles again with his ring, fondly.
"What I'm getting at is that, during the last question of that game, I asked Claude why he'd killed me and he had said that it was because he was after your soul and that I was a roadblock, seemingly in the way, but when I asked him the exact same question upon seen him again after Hannah's death, he said that it was because he loved-loves me and didn't want to eat my soul and obliterate me for good. I had then confessed my feelings to him and then we kissed and we decided to start dating. But, the proposal didn't happen until about 6 months ago, he got down on one knee and asked me in that enchanted garden of mine back at my manor, if I'd do him the honour and become his, forever. I of course had said yes and he slipped the ring you now see here onto my finger and then kissed me. Now though, our wedding is in exactly 2 weeks time and that's one of the main reasons why I've come here today to see you. You see Ciel, I want to invite you to me and Claude's wedding and I was hoping that you'd accept and we could forget the whole 'rival' thing. You can bring Sebastian too if you want, hopefully the case should be well over and done with by then, and you can finally meet my little brother Luca, and we can all have a blast together like that time I dressed up as a maid when you came to one of my previous balls. It'll be just like old times, Ciel. Just you, me, Sebastian, Claude, and Luca. What do you think?"
Honestly, the young boy had no clue what to think.
He was still getting over the fact that his once rival had gotten engaged to the one he loved before him, and that was saying something because, Lizzy had been Ciel's fiancée since before the fire...before, his parents were killed...
Noticing that Alois is patiently waiting for a response, Ciel finally clears his throat, ready to speak.
"I'm sure that I can arrangements to be there. After all, if my once rival Alois Trancy is finally tying the knot, well then, I would not miss it for the world."
"Once rival? So...we're friends?, the other boy's eyes are bright and hopeful.
Ciel shakes his head, but he smiles.
"I prefer the term acquaintances, but perhaps if you stay on good terms with me Trancy, then we can work up to that."
Alois smirks, a playful light now in his eyes.
"But, of course, Phantomhive."
With that, Ciel gets up then helps the other boy up and both begin their walk back to the courthouse, talking excitedly and laughing about all the exciting preparations that must be made for the upcoming wedding.
"I am thinking you should wear a dress. They're all the rage for brides these days and seeing you wore one to the ball of yours-"
"Shut it, Ciel! I am most definitely NOT wearing a dress to my own wedding! Ugh, I'd never be able to live such a thing down if Claude saw me in one, again!"
"Yes, that is true. But, I wore one for my butler once and he practically keeled over from happiness at the very sight of it!"
"Really?", Alois' eyes are like saucers.
"Yes, really. Now, what about the decorations? Have you got a theme planned?"
The other boy shakes his head, his shaggy blond hair falling into his face.
"No, I'm still debating on what we're going to serve and what I'm going to wear. Gosh Ciel, there's just SO much to do and SO little time and I just want it all to be perfect!"
Ciel Phantomhive nods and then wraps one of his arms around Alois as they walk.
"Indeed, I know."
A pause.
"I want the same for my eventual wedding to Sebastian to be perfect, too."
The blond-haired boy nods, but just as quickly a smirk passes over his face.
"What is it, Trancy?", Ciel demands.
Alois just shakes his head and holds a gloved finger to his lips.
"I can't tell you...", he practically says, in a sing-song tone as he then tries to grab Ciel's hand and skip forward towards the courthouse steps with him.
"Spit it out, Trancy!", Ciel snaps.
But, his 'once rival now turned acquaintance' just laughs.
The sound just aggravates Ciel even more.
"You'll see!", he yells excitedly instead, before skipping up the courthouse steps and dashing inside, before Ciel can stop him.
The young Earl just sighs, then mutters angrily under his breath: "Alois! You get back here, you bastard!", before dashing in after the blond-haired boy, a look that can kill plastered to his face.