Summary: Everyone knows never to enter the woods alone. But when the person Zero loves is in danger, there's just some things a guy in love needs to do. ~Yes, Beauty and the Beast-Vampire Knight/Scarlet-chan style. Kaname/Zero
Warning: AU, MalexMale, lemon, angst and the usual OOCness that comes with Au's.
Disclaimer: I don't own beauty and the beast, or any of the Vk characters; I just barely own the plot and the crappy dialogue. But that's what we all say~
Scarlet-chan: Okay, so before I let you read the story- glares at those who scrolled away- I just wanted to explain a few things; I wanted to write this as the Beauty and the Beast movie, but I did a bit of research on the folktale and read so many different versions, that my plot got distorted. So, this is a byproduct of Beauty and the Beast- the Disney movie, B&B folklore, Vampire Knight, and my it's-not-really-angst,-is-it?-ANGST/Romance...styl e...of...writing... * frowns at the sentence * Does that make sense? O.o
Anyway, it was originally going to be a one shot, but I've had to chop it up for readable lengths. This baby's a beast. He he, I made a pun.
Beauty and the Beast
by Scarlet Drops of INK
::PART ONE::
'An Angel's Sacrifice'
"When you stare at me like that it makes me wonder if there's something on my face."
The small brunette girl jumped. A flush dusted over the peach of her cheeks as she quickly glanced around for anything to keep her attention away from the silver haired boy that sat in one of the large plush seats in the big play room reading a boring old book. There was no need for her flustered state, since the boy had gone back to reading, never once taking his eyes off his book. Nevertheless, she glanced around, the skirt of her dress swirling around her legs as she searched desperately only to pick up another book that was piled on a small mountain of…more books.
She frowned. "Did you read all of these?"
At first the boy didn't answer; but it was fine since the girl didn't seem to be waiting for one, curiously turning her head sideways to see how many books were stacked up in the pile. When she counted five, she knelt down, head still bent at an awkward angle as a smile danced on her playful little lips. "They look boring, did you really read them all?"
"They're not boring," the boy protested in what was a clear pout to any watching adult. "They entertain me better than…" The boy paused, frowning at the girl who was smiling at him sideways; her short hair dangling to her side as she blinked her big brown and cheerful eyes. She wasn't even listening...what an idiot. "Why are you looking at me that way?"
"Hm?" Finally catching herself, she straightened her head and stepped forward, offering her hand to the boy. "My name's Yuuki. I live here."
The boy turned away, his lavender eyes back to his book. Yuuki couldn't help it; she stood there gaping at him, arm slowly returning to her side as she stared at the new boy up close. He really did look like-
"You're not the only one who lives here, we all do," the boy said quietly.
Yuuki smiled. "Then you're my new brother."
The sentence seemed to make the boy cringe as he turned away from her, eyes more intent on the book. "Go away."
Ignoring him, she plopped down on the small space in the plush seat besides him, oblivious to his surprise, and picked up a book. She glared at the words in the large book, but spoke them, if a bit slowly, aloud, "T-th-e thee vaa…vam…pi-re. Vampire! What's a vampire?"
The silver haired boy frowned, turning to look at the book she held over his shoulder. "It's a stupid legend. That books not good for you," he said, reaching out to snatch it from her hands. She gave him a pout and he sighed. "I'll tell you when you get older."
"Fine," she sighed, leaving him to frown down at the book. The boy stared at the cover, his hands gripping the edges of the book as- "Oww!"
Zero rubbed the back of his nape where the annoying little girl had pulled sharply at his hair- didn't she know pulling people's hair hurt particularly in that area? He turned to glare at the girl only to find her blinking at her hand. "What was that for?"
"Its real," she mumbled before giggling and holding out her hand, returning his hair to him.
He glared at her. "I can't put that back on."
"Aren't you an angel?"
Zero blinked, turning away from her. His hair...everyone had made fun of him for it. They would say he had some weird disease because he had hair a different color than everyone else. An angel? How stupid. The small girl glanced at his back for a long moment before she heard his muffled reply: "If I were an angel, they wouldn't have left me."
10 years later
"Yuuki, hurry up. If you don't stop daydreaming I'm going to leave you behind," Zero called as he waited for the girl who was currently giggling at a squirrel that was running around a tree in order to escape from her. Zero smiled at the sight, but forced a frown a second later when she refused to move. "They have rabies, you know. If they bite you, you might loose an arm."
Her already wide eyes grew further and she quickly moved away from the tree to run back to the road at Zero's side, frowning as she glanced around. "Hey, Zero, have you heard of the vampire of the woods?"
"No," Zero lied, his gut tightening at the thought of someone watching them in the forest. He hadn't known when the feeling started, but every time they walked through here, Zero felt an intense feeling of being watched- scrutinized even. Not wanting to alarm Yuuki, he never said a thing. He just wanted to get through as fast as possible, seeing as there was no other way around it. Since Yuuki and Zero were the oldest at the orphanage, it was their job to go to the town over to run errands and bring back some of the things they couldn't find in their own town.
"They say that a long time ago, there was a family who use to live in the castle up on the hill," Yuuki said, glancing upwards towards the castle she could always see from town. "They were a happy family with a son, who they say was the most gorgeous being to ever walk the planet."
Zero snorted; Yuuki ignored him. Obviously, Yuuki had been spending too much time with Nadeshiko, the romanticist bookworm at the orphanage who would spend days talking about a prince charming.
"The son was supposed to inherit all of his father's AND his grandfather's wealth and his uncle didn't like that," Yuuki mumbled, chewing on her lips with a crease between her eyebrows. Zero resisted scoffing at her again, but it was clear she wasn't sure if that's how she heard the story or not. "Anyway, the uncle got angry and killed his father and the boy's parents. He wanted to kill the son, too, but he couldn't because the boy ran away. No one knew where he went or what happened to him, but the uncle got to inherit all of the wealth from his family. Then a few years later, the uncle's body was found in a river. He had no blood left in his body and there were some weird bite marks on his neck."
There was a rustling sound behind them. Zero stiffened, barely stopping himself from looking back. Somehow, he felt as though someone was stalking them and would only attack if they knew they'd been spotted. The feeling reminded him of his childhood. Of feeling that so long as he didn't look under the bed, the monsters there would not attack him; even if it left him afraid throughout the night. Trying to stay calm, he slipped one of his hands into his pocket, fingers tracing the swiss blade knife carefully, and continued walking cautiously.
"That's strange," he mumbled halfheartedly in response to Yuuki's half-recalled storytelling.
"Yeah," Yuuki beamed, looking up at him as his slight participation boosted her enthusiasm in the story. "And that's not all. Since that day, no one's been able to get into that castle. A lot of people have tried, but they end up missing or dead. There was a rumor, though, that a decade ago people kept dying because their blood was drained and the same teeth marks appeared on their necks. The town called a witch to save them and after that all the mysterious deaths stopped. When they asked her what was causing it and why she had done it, she only said, 'He is bound.' Weird, huh?"
When they finally stepped into the safety of the town, he relaxed a bit and agreed absentmindedly, having half heard her demented tale. "Yuuki, go tell that stupid man we're back. I'm going to go to the book store for a bit."
Yuuki nodded as she adjusted her twill, full circle skirt and headed towards the orphanage when something strange caught her eye back in the forest. With a curious frown, she stepped towards the woods, following the road she and Zero had taken often before.
~xXx~
"Have any new books come in?" Zero asked as he strolled through a familiar row, eyeing very familiar covers with a sigh and watching out for the clutter of books that laid around randomly the dusty old room. He'd read each one of these books five or more times since the store opened five years ago- even Yuuki had bothered to read most of the books in here. "I've already gone through these, can't you get any new books?"
"Hey," the dirty blond book seller snapped slapping his hand against the wooden desk he was lazing behind. "If you don't like them, get out!"
"Stupid old man," Zero sighed as he stepped out of the boring old book store, pleased that he had at least gotten a new book at the old town; one he'd bought with money he'd been saving up. A book- Zero frowned- similar to the one some stranger was carrying under his arm. Zero's brows met in suspicion as he glanced at the man who casually passed him by and then turned his lavender gaze towards the entrance of town. Yuuki wasn't there- of course she wouldn't be there! She should be at the orphanage, he thought surely, but even as he thought this, his pace was increasing in time with his heartbeat in the direction of his home.
Before he knew it, he had broken into a run and slammed into the office of the orphanage's caretaker. "Where's Yuuki?!" He demanded without preamble.
The man behind the desk jumped, eyes wide behind his spectacles and honey colored hair as the arrangement of flowers he was currently sniffing near his window went up into the air, falling like a distorted rain of colorful petals that fell soundless to the floor; the vase shattering the silence to pieces. "Zero…what-?"
"Yuuki," Zero snapped, striding in and slamming his hands against the flat surface of the man's desk, ignoring the way the man sputtered about his flowers and began picking them up off the floor like they were delicate children. "Yuuki was supposed to let you know we were back ten minutes ago, where is she?"
The man frowned, a lilac hydrangea in his hand frozen in midair. "She never came in."
Fear struck him, overwhelmed him, to the point that he could barely make out what the other man was saying, something about remaining calm, it was only ten minutes and Yuuki was always getting distracted so easily. It didn't matter what Zero had managed to catch, he was already out the door, looking frantically around to spot her, but he knew, if he had to check the first place he'd suspect anything to happen to her, it had to be out there…
His gaze moved towards the entrance of town, the sun was going down and everyone knew better than to head into the forest while it was getting late. However, Yuuki…Emitting a growl, Zero took off towards the exit of town and moved quickly down the road, eyes alert for anything suspicious. It didn't take him long in his search to find the satchel with the supplies they had brought back from their trip. The bag wasn't in the middle of the road, it was discarded on the side of it.
That man Zero had seen in town must have noticed the bag and taken the book, which was probably the most valuable in their town, but…would he have attacked Yuuki to get his hands on it? Damn! That girl was so…Desperately glancing around, Zero's eyes pierced into the darkening woods with a horrible, gnawing feeling in his gut. If he had attacked Yuuki, she would have been here. Unless he had knocked her unconscious and hid her body until she woke up. If she woke up…
Fear gripped tightly at his heart and without a thought of practicality, Zero headed into the forest to find her. Three hours later, he realized he had to have been an idiot for coming in here at night without telling anyone. Not only was he lost, but he had no idea where Yuuki could be; he had no idea where the town was, and the feeling of being watched had returned and intensified.
"Damn it," he hissed as his coat got snagged on the sharp fingers of the endless trees that seemed to be getting eerier by the minute. Broken twigs and foliage crunched beneath his shoes as he forced his way through the forest, wondering whether he was more desperately searching for Yuuki or a way out. His heartbeat was thudding, his breath was escaping in harsh pants and his head was killing him. For a moment, he paused to catch his breath and, as he'd suspected, the sound of twigs snapping sounded from somewhere behind him.
Unlike before, though, the sound continued, growing closer. Zero's head snapped up, eyes slowly glancing over his shoulder. The wind sighed- it must have been the wind- and it sent cold chills down his spine a split second before he lunged forward into a dead run, unaware and uncaring of where he was going. He just needed to get the hell away. The feeling of someone breathing down his back, eyes watching him from all around, it was all too much and he just wanted to get out! Wooden hands snagged at his clothes, icy air bit at his skin and prickled like needles in his lungs; his mind began a chant of 'have to get out, have to get out, have to get out' as he felt the desperation tickle the back of his neck at the endless horizon of trees.
No! He needed to find Yuuki. Once he found her then he could concentrate on getting the hell- A sharp gasp tore from his lips, his lung paying for the action as the frigid air hit him like a physical blow, and then his body teetered over the steep edge of a hill. He had tried to keep his balance and for a moment he had, until he slipped. It was as though he'd slid on something akin to ice, the hems of his worn leggings icing the same way they did when it was winter. The fall was harsh, rocks ripping into his now tattered jacket and bruising his skin until he landed on the floor with a nasty thud that stole his breath.
Disoriented, he groaned and hissed as he began to shift, surprised to feel his body intact against the hard floor. It felt like he'd fallen on a rock...Soft amethyst eyes blinked at the wet leaves and forest foliage beneath his fingers. Its musky, wet scent tickling at nostalgia-of autumn or spring days spent with the children at the orphanage- and then the feeling was swiftly devoured by reality. Zero found himself frowning at the definite sign of a road beneath his hand. Lifting his gaze to follow the hidden path, he felt his eyes grow wide. "What in the world..."
A gate.
Gingerly pushing himself up to his feet, the young man kept his eyes glued to the iron bars before him. Peeking at the large walls that stood at the gates side and arched as high as the tress, maybe even higher; the walls stretched far into the forest before softly curving along the distance into forest and wispy fog seemingly having no end. What was this thing doing in the middle of nowhere? As if afraid the illusion would shatter, Zero cautiously stepped forward, waiting almost expectantly for something to happen. Reaching out trembling and dirty fingers, he caught the damp iron in hand and peered closely, looking for something beyond the mysterious blockade while laying most of his tired weight against the gate.
A surprised sigh slipped gently from his lips as he saw what appeared to be an endless bridge hidden by a heavy fog ghosting over it, as if attempting to hide how long it was; or where it lead to. Then, as Zero began encouraging his bruised body to move away, the fog began to clear and the sigh it revealed made his heart stop.
Like the nightgown of a virgin on her wedding night, the frail, cloud like vapors began to shy away, revealing to him an untouched view of utter grandeur as the enchanted glow of moonlight whispered to the tips of charcoal towers. For a moment, Zero had to step back in astonishment....a castle...? There was a castle here in the middle of nowhere...The enormity of it was incomparable, the largest of its towers seeming to pierce right through the cold, gray sky and into the heavens with no remorse.
Zero gaped at the monstrosity, something so dark and abandoned left him with a terrible sense of foreboding. Could this place possibly be...? Caught in its intimidating trance, Zero flinched when he felt a drop of liquid shatter against his cheek. He glanced up at the dark skies and frowned. It was beginning to drizzle, he realized, and was caught with indecision when a glint suddenly caught his attention.
Yuuki…
Zero shoved at the gate, trying to pry it open before, with an unsettling creak, the gate shrieked wide open. He ran down the bridge littered with weeds and stumps that must have once been decorative trees at one point, to where he could see something caught helplessly around an upturned stone that stuck out from the floor. Drops of rain fell softly against the ground, painting the stones a deeper shade of gray while Zero disentangled the precious necklace and straightened, glancing to the large caste and ignoring the rain that was becoming heavier against him.
Was Yuuki in there?
He was moving faster, running towards the front door at a breakneck pace before he began to knock- no, bang- on the heavy oak door. Much like the gate, the thing opened on it's own with a heavy, creaking sound and he slipped inside without a second's thought. The sudden silence inside the castle was like a shrill making the fall of rain a whispered hush in the background, his own panting slowing as to keep the accord.
The inside was vast and beautiful. And empty. Pillars lined the walls, holding up the second floor, but anything past that was encased in darkness. Even so, the beauty of the place was evident. Zero had never been inside a castle in his entire life- it was stunning, enormous and intimidating. A long burgundy carpet greeted him at the door and offered him a path towards the large set of stairs that parted into two separate directions. From here, it looked like the safest place to go. As he cautiously stepped forward, he glanced around for signs of anyone, distracted by the way the floor seemed to practically shine enough for him to catch his own reflection. Strange how such an abandoned place looked so well kept...surely, someone must live here.
His foot steps echoed on the floor in the most eerie of ways- more so than those he had thought he heard following him before. He paid no heed to the fact that he was dripping water onto the expensive looking carpet. Clearing his throat, he called out for anyone who might be living here. He got no response. For a moment he thought he heard whispering and stopped immediately, catching two shadows shifting in the reflection of the floor. Quickly glancing up, he found all of the balconies on the endless floors above empty and pitch black. The only light he could see was that of the torches aligned against the walls- most of which were brighter at the stairs of the last floor, casting anything else in dim light and shadows.
Cautiously, he made his way up, taking each step like it might be his last.
~xXx~
There was no telling how far he had gone or how long he'd been going: he just kept moving, following the soft, orange glow from the torches he found lighting his way. When he got down one corridor, the hallway it lead to was too dark to see and as he glanced down both ways. He could have sworn someone had run down one end. As much as he would have liked to run off at the sudden chill that brought, he thought maybe it was Yuuki; so he followed.
"Hello?" He called, footsteps cautious as he moved along. "Is someone there?"
The only response he got in the shadows was the sound of a creaking door behind him. He whirled around, hoping to see someone or something, but the outline of an arched door caught his attention. He reached out and caught the door knob, opening further to see the glow of more torches reaching out into the dark hallway.
From what he could tell, it was a spiraling staircase, its stoned walls evident and cold as he moved forward. It was a tower, he knew, as he took each step higher up until he could hear soft rattles of chains. The sound urged him forward into a run, stopping only at yet another oak door with bars in a small opening that gave him a glimpse into the darker room inside.
"Yuuki?" Zero called as the soft rattle of chains continued once he'd pushed the door open. Only now they were accompanied by quiet whimpers. He moved deeper into the room, glancing around for any signs of the girl.
"Zero?"
Moonlight spilled from an arched, glassless window and gave enough light for Zero to recognize the girl locked inside one of the cages, shivering from the cold. There was a chain locked around her ankle. As she glanced up at Zero, he could see that she was crying, her clothes tattered as badly as his. "Zero!"
"Yuuki!" Zero rushed forward, reaching out to catch the hand she was desperately holding out for him as she sobbed. "Zero! Zero, we need to get out of here! Please, help me. Don't leave me here by myself, please! I don't want to be alone, Zero, please! We have to get out, I-"
"Calm down Yuuki," Zero breathed, concerned and frightened for the reason she seemed so desperate to get out, but determined and focused all the same. He didn't bother to think about who the bastard was who might have frightened her this way; he didn't think of anything but setting her free and returning home. Right now, it was all that mattered. "I'll get you out, I promise. Let me just look for something to-"
"Get. Out."
Zero felt his insides grow cold at the hoarse growl; his back stiffened and Yuuki whimpered, flinching further into the dark cage. Something was breathing down his neck and Zero didn't want to turn and face whatever was making his heart jump and carve painfully against his chest with enough force to make it hard for him to breathe.
"W-who are you?" he stuttered. His voice was barely even a whisper, trembling too much to be taken seriously.
"The master of this castle." The menacing growl sent a shudder down his spine, the hot breath of something horrible looming behind him making his body tremble in fear. As Zero turned his face towards the creature in the darkness, it shifted suddenly and swiftly causing a small breeze to flutter against Zero's hair and tattered clothing. The growling seemed to reverberate through the dark dungeons, causing Zero's eyes to jump from every direction in hopes of spotting the threat.
"I've come here for Yuuki," Zero said, his voice stronger, but helpless all the same. "Please, let her out. She's just a girl, she'll die in here."
"She is my prisoner," the menacing creature in the dark growled and Zero's fists tightened at his sides, the soft whimpers of Yuuki going straight to his heart. Even if…even if he didn't make it out of here, at least Yuuki…
"I-I'll do anything," Zero pleaded desperately, squinting at a large shadow in the dark surroundings. "Please, just let her go."
There was a sudden shift in the room again and Zero felt a strong arm jerk his own, pulling him further into the shadows of the room. He groaned as he was slammed against a cold wall, a hot breath against his cheek. Yuuki cried out his name but Zero could only hear the heavy breathing and monstrous growls that were emanating from this beast. Even if he couldn't see a thing, he could almost feel large fangs looming over his face. "There is nothing you can do."
As the creature pushed away from him, Zero reached out without thinking, catching its cloak.
"Wait!"
The beast paused, red eyes piercing into the darkness as they glanced at Zero and his heart stuttered over a beat or two. The creature was standing in the glow of the moonlight, his features more visible to Zero's gaze. The first thing that demanded his attention were the creatures fangs, longer even than that of the wolves he'd seen in the forest a few times; longer than any creature he'd ever read about. It's teeth pearly white and sickeningly sharp inside its large mouth, waiting for something to gnaw on.
Its eyes weren't a mere red, they were a dark crimson that glowed and darkened all at once. Its hue a grand contrast to the dark, gravelly gray skin that seemed stretched over a distorted face. As if this creature wasn't sure it was a beast or a human. Its hair was long, wild, and dark, falling over his shoulder and down the front of its face. When this monster had grabbed him earlier, Zero had known its hands must have had claws. He'd felt them against his skin, but seeing them now -long and dark on the tips of his fingers- made him fear more for his life than ever.
Zero's fingers tightened against the black, tattered cloak, his eyes downcast as he took a deep breath, hesitating, of course, but only for a moment. This was for Yuuki, after all. The girl he had grown up with, the only one in the orphanage who hadn't been afraid of being around him just because he looked different. When everyone had made fun of his hair and eyes, Yuuki had called him an angel, and that had meant a lot to Zero. So, now, it was his turn to do something for her.
"Take me instead."
"You?" The creature sneered with the familiar growl, turning its head away as if it were scoffing at him.
"Zero, no!" Yuuki screamed, reaching forward to grab at the bars of the cage. "You can't!"
But the creature paused, turning quietly to stare at Zero for a long moment. Slowly, he began in a softer voice that sounded like a low grumble anyway. "You would…sacrifice yourself for her?"
Releasing the creature's cloak, Zero straightened himself against the fear coursing his body. "If I did, then would you let her go?"
A dark snarl, a rumble in the beast's chest echoed off the cold, stone walls of the tower as the beast glanced in Yuuki's direction. The movement caused the poor girl to fall back sharply, her red, puffy eyes wide with fear. The creature was silent again before he turned back to fully face Zero. "Fine. But you must give me your word you'll stay here." And then as an afterthought, he added, "Forever."
"No, Zero, you can't do this! I can't just leave you-"
Blocking out Yuuki's voice and doing all he could to not glance her way, Zero closed his eyes and resigned himself to his fate. No matter what would happen to him, this was for Yuuki.
"You have my word."
"Noo! Zero!"
The creature brushed past him in a flash towards the cage Yuuki was locked inside of, the door was swung open, chains rattled and then Yuuki threw herself against Zero's side, crying as she begged him to come with her; pleaded that he escape with her. "You can't do this! I can't live without you, Zero I lo-"
Zero's eyes widened, but she was pulled away before she could finished her sentence. Stunned, Zero watched the creature easily steaking her away from him as Yuuki struggled against him in helplessness. He was loosing the girl he loved, and all he could do was watch.
~xXx~
"Zero, please!" Yuuki sobbed at the thought of never seeing him again, of Zero living with this beast in that creepy tower! The beast was growling as it yanked open a door, throwing her out and into the arms of what felt like a human. She glanced up in shock, but the red eyes that pierced the darkness proved this human-like creature was not really human at all. "Take her back to the village and be sure she does not recall a thing."
"Of course."
"What?" Yuuki's eyes widened. Not recall a thing? What did that mean? Not remember Zero? That he was in danger...? "Wait, please don't-" When a warm hand fell over her eyes, her words vanished and everything went black.
~xXx~
As the creature returned, Zero's eyes were narrowed. One moment Yuuki had been crying out and the next she had gone completely quiet. "What did you do to her? Is she all right?"
"I've erased her memories." Was the beast's simple reply.
"Erased her…but how is that even possible?" Zero demanded. What the hell did the beast mean he erased her memories? Like amnesia? He gave her amnesia? Zero scowled when the beast refused to answer him. When the urge to demand an answer reached its peak, he opened his mouth, but the sound of a carriage outside drew his attention and he rushed to the closest window. Through the broken glass of the arched, stone opening, Zero could see a carriage heading past the gates and out into the forest, but he didn't see a horse, nor could he hear it.
However, that was all just in the back of his mind. What he did see was the reality of his situation. Yuuki was gone and he would probably never see her again despite how close she'd be. Even if the creature kept him alive, Yuuki was gone from his life forever now. He shut his eyes at the loss and the memory of Yuuki clinging to him a minute ago filled him with bittersweet warmth.
"I can't live without you, Zero I lo-"
"You didn't even let me say goodbye."
The beast did not respond. In the darkness of the room, the young boy continued glancing out at the night where the girl had been taken through. The beast remained behind him, its crimson eyes were narrowed in confusion as they reflected off the remnant glass of the window. It took a few moments before the beast spoke, its gravely voice breaking the silence in an unnerving way.
"I don't understand."
Zero stiffened, the hot breath making his hair stand on end, but he waited and now that Yuuki was gone, he could care less what the beast did. Hell, he'd welcome death if he could not have her with him. At least she was safe and free. If the beast wasn't lying about 'erasing her memories,' then maybe she would be happy, too, and continue to live her life the way she should.
"I don't understand," the beast repeated in its gravelly voice. "You would give your life, your body, in place of hers?"
"Yes."
True purity is not what one sees on the outside. It is what you see in love. A love that surrenders everything and asks for absolutely nothing in return: You still have so much to learn, you poor, spoiled boy.
"Why?"
"Because…" Zero frowned.
"Zero I lo-"
The beast behind him growled in impatience, his voice like thunder in the silence. "Because what?"
"I…"
Zero rubbed the back of his nape where the annoying little girl had pulled sharply at his hair. He turned to glare at the girl only to find her blinking at her hand. "What was that for?"
"It's real," she mumbled before giggling and holding out her hand, returning his hair to him.
He glared at her. "I can't put that back on."
"Answer me!" The beast roared. Zero flinched even before the remaining glass of the window shattered, a shard jumping out to cut his cheek slightly. But still, the image of the little girl who was craning her neck to the side to stare at him with a goofy little grin refused to leave his thoughts.
"Aren't you an angel?"
Zero closed his eyes and swallowed against the pain of never seeing her again. "Because I love her."
Whether the beast had been satisfied with his answer or furious by it, Zero didn't know. He simply felt the energy drain from his body as he collapsed to his knees, the sound of the dungeon door slamming echoing in his mind alongside the sweetest most naive words he'd ever heard.
And then the beast ate him...THE END
~~~Ta dah~~~ ^^ Just kidding. Ah, this seemed like the best place to stop even though I have more written- it's like almost close to the same word count as this chapter. Even though I wanted this to be a one shot *stomps feet and whines * I've already written around 9k words so far and the story's only a third of the way there. So, yeah, had to cut it up. ~Sighs~ Does this sound disjointed? O.o Seriously, I need to stop updating so late at night...or is it early in the morning? *dies*
On another note, I really shouldn't be posting another story I have to keep updating...