Mao is tired with the same old life she's had ever since they moved to that provincial town. But when her father is taken captive by a savage beast, she finds she must exchange herself to save him. Can she melt the heart or the beast or will the curse of the castle forever remain upon those who live there?

Beauty and the Beast re-told in a new time and setting Starring Reader/Grimmjow. However, this does not follow the movie script so the personalities can be matched!

Rated for everyone's potty mouth's :p

~*~

Once upon a time, in a distant world, a young Arrancar lived in the wondrous castle of Las Noches. Although he had everything his heart desire the Arrancar was spoiled, selfish, and unkind. But then, during a terrible sandstorm, an old Shinigami came to the castle and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the brutal winds. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the Arrancar sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away, but she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress.

The Arrancar tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart, and as punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast, and placed a powerful spell on the castle, and all who lived there. Ashamed of his monstrous form, the beast concealed himself inside his castle, with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside worlds. The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his twenty-first year. If he could learn to love another, and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time. As the years passed, he fell into despair, and lost all hope, for who could ever learn to love a beast?

~*~

"Okay, I'm out sicky! I'll be back soon!"

Closing the door behind you, you smiled up at the blue sky. After you had your little moment of happiness, you tossed the basket you were carrying into your other hand before jumping down the steps and walking down the tiled path that led to the center of the Seireitei. As you walked you looked around to take in all the similar sights. Not that you were expecting to find anything, this place never changes.

'For such a big city, it's pretty quiet; everyday like the one before,' you thought, swinging the basket gently. As you came into an area with some houses, you let out a sigh of boredom. 'And it's chock full of people who are the same. Everyday, they wake up just to say-'

"Bonjour!"

You looked up and gave a little wave to the Shinigami who called out to you. As more of them appeared each one made a point to said 'Bonjour!' as you passed them by. But being the nice person you are, you returned the gesture to each person. Once you got a moment's peace, you looked up to see Iba walking towards a building with a tray of bread under his arm.

'There goes the baker with his tray like always; the same old bread and rolls to sell…' You smiled as he stopped to let a young soul reaper buy a roll of bread from his tray. When he received his money, he turned and continued for the windows that lead into the bakery. 'Every morning is always the same, ever since we moved here. Geez, this town could really use a change…'

Still, you switched your basket to the other hand before crossing the street, making your way towards the baker. Coming to a stop, you waited for him to look up. As he did so, a large smile broke out across his face.

"Hey, Mao! How are you this morning?" he asked as he went to work refilling his tray with bread through the window.

"I'm doing pretty well, how about you and Ikkaku?" Iba paused in his bread placing to look through the window.

"We're doing pretty well ourselves. I would have him tell you himself, but he's late as usual, the lazy bastard," he explained. "So where are you off to?"

You smiled and dug around in your basket until your hand landed on the hard, smooth surface you were looking for. Pulling it out, you held the book up for him to see. "The bookshop, I just finished this really great book! It's about a beanstalk and an ogre-"

Now, Iba was ignoring your rambling to begin with, but he made it obvious when Ikkaku burst into the shop cursing some coward soul reaper down the street. "That's nice…Ikkaku! The baguettes you lazy bum! Hurry up!" You sighed at the indifference, but smiled and continued on your way anyways. As you walked down the street you were oblivious to the whispers of those you passed by.

"Look, its Mao!"

"She really is a strange girl isn't she? She's always got that dazed look on her face."

"She never in any sort of crowd either; always off by herself."

"She seems a little messed up to me, but what can you do?"

You came to a stop at the corner and managed to jump onto the back of your daily ride: a cart that went down the street everyday at this exact time. As you got comfortable, you watched as everyone went by. Everyone was saying hello and buying their staples to get through the day. You sighed and leaned forward to rest your chin on your hand. 'There's definitely got to be more to life than this…' Seeing familiar territory, you perked up and looked around. You timed your jump for a couple seconds before leaping off the cart and back into the street. Then, without further a-do, you turned to walk straight into the bookshop of your left.

Hearing the door chimes tinkling, Shuuhei looked up from the book he was reading to be greeted by your smiling face. "There's my girl!" You gave a little wave and walked up to the desk, which the tattooed man was sitting behind. Said man smiled as he put his bookmark amongst the pages to keep his place as you came to a stop before him.

"Morning!" you greeted. "I've come to return the book I borrowed!" Shuuhei reached out and looked the book over as you handed it to him. He chuckled quietly as he stood to place the book on the shelf behind him.

"You go through these things faster than Ikkaku on sake," he said turning back to face you. You laughed and jumped over the counter to the bookshelf that Shuuhei had classified as "Special." Normally, were this anyone else, he would've beat the living daylights out of them (just ask for the fucking book! Don't get the counter dirty you douche bag! D: [1]), but since its you (the one who comes in and out of his shop so often you could practically live in it) he lets it go.

"Oh, I just couldn't put the thing down!" you explained, climbing up the movable ladder to scan the shelves. "Do have anything new today?" Shuuhei laughed and leaned back against the desk to watch you sift through the books.

"Not since yesterday, sorry."

You shrugged and smiled back at him. "Don't apologize, silly! I'll just take…" You did another quick run over before plucking one off the shelf and handing it back to him. "…this one!" Shuuhei looked at the cover in confusion.

"This one? But you've read it twice already!" You smiled and changed your position on the ladder.

"Well, it's my favorite!" you told him as you swung yourself and the ladder down the track. "Can you imagine? Far off places, human world experiences, some real magic and a prince in disguise! Why can't life be that fun?" Shuuhei laughed and helped you down from the ladder. He looked at the cover once more before holding it out with a smile.

"Well, since you've been here so long I guess I can claim store credit." Your eyes widened as he closed your hands over the book.

"But, but, Shuuhei-!"

"Don't worry about it. I know you'll take good care of it," he replied. You glanced down at the book before smiling and hugging it to your chest. Without any warning, you lunged forward and gave him the biggest hug you could muster. He stumbled a bit, but managed to catch himself before the two of you fell over.

"Thank you so much! I love you Shuuhei!" He smiled and held you at arms distance before leading you to the door.

"Yeah, yeah, I love you too. Now beat it, I'll never get any work done with you distracting me the entire time," he commented. Once you were out the door, you gave him one last hug before walking down the street with a bounce in your step. It wasn't long before you slowed yourself down enough the crack open the cover and begin reading as you walked down the street. Once you took in those first couple words, you were lost to the world. However, your feet still knew the way and they eventually led you to the fountain that resided in the middle of the town. Without breaking your concentration you sat yourself down on the edge and continued on.

After a couple moments, you looked up from the pages and smiled at the people passing by. 'Oh, this is so cool. And this part is my favorite!' You looked back down at the pages and scanned the words printed there. 'This is where she meets prince charming, but it takes her forever to realize that it's him! I wonder if guys like that really exist…' With that thought behind you, you hopped off the fountain and began your trek through the town again.

Down the street, a blast of kidou shot into the air and nailed an unsuspecting duck right in the chest. As it fell, Hanataro ran around, cloth bag held in front of him, trying to catch the bird. However, his attempts proved futile as it landed right next to him. Hoping that no one would see, he quickly picked it back up and stuffed it into the bag before running excitedly to the one who shot the poor animal.

"Wow! You didn't miss a shot, Yumichika! You're the greatest marksman in the world!" he cried coming to a stop next to the taller, feathery-eyed man. Yumichika smirked and ran a hand through his hair and flipping it once he got to the ends.

"No need to state the obvious however true it may be," he purred as he began gliding down the street. Hana ran to catch up as he threw the bag over his shoulder to shift the weight.

"I guess it really is true that no living thing stands against you; that's for sure! And no girl either!" Yumichika chuckled and came to a stop as he laid his hand to rest on his waist. Eyes landing on an oblivious figure down the street, his smirk appeared once again.

"Well, that is true," he mused as he watched the figure smile and speak with those passing by. "Speaking of which, there's my woman right over there." Hana turned around and looked around the street, trying to pinpoint the girl's location when his eyes landed on you. He ogled at Yumichika's choice before quickly spinning around, dropping the bag in the process.

"The inventor's daughter!?"

"Correct, she must consider herself lucky to even be considered by me, but it should be an honor that I find her beautiful," he replied. Hana bent down to pick up the bag he had dropped.

"But she's-"

"Not exactly as beautiful as I am, but she's definitely the most beautiful woman in this whole town." Hana let out a yelp as Yumichika shoved him aside in his motion to go after you.

"I-I know, but she's-"

Yumichika turned back around and glowered down at the small boy. "Are you insinuating that I should have someone less than beautiful, that I should lower my already low standards?" Hana trembled for a moment before shaking his head 'no.' "Good, because I'm going to show her my true wit and charm and she'll be so captivated that she'll have no other option to accept my hand in marriage." He turned back around and took a step as he was previously doing, but found that he lost sight of you. To his relief he spotted you walking down the next street with your nose stuck in your book as usual.

He made his ay down the street as well, but found it was getting harder to keep you in his sights with the crowd of people that began to rush in. He growled and tried to look over their heads, but there were just too many of them. Damn these unbeautiful people getting in his way! (2) He had to get around them somehow…A-ha!

As you walked down the street you didn't notice a certain someone jumping off the building beside you to land gracefully on his feet. Yumichika flicked his hair before sauntering up to meet you. "Hello, Mao." You glanced up at him for a moment before looking back down at your book.

"Good Morning, Yumichika." Slightly miffed at your lack of interest, Yumichika carefully plucked the book from your hands. You stared at your book free hands before sighing and looking back at Yumichika who was flipping through the pages too roughly for your liking. "Yumichika, can I have my book please?"

"How can you read this?" he demanded as he sifted through the pages. "There aren't any pictures in here! How unbeautiful a book is without illustrations." You sighed and tried to keep your anger in check. Don't kill him. Don't kill him.

"Well, I guess some people like me just like to use their imagination," you said trying to reach around him to take it back yourself. He turned and held it away from you as he rolled his wrist back and forth.

"Really Mao, I expected more from you. You really should start socializing instead of always sticking your nose in some dusty book," he sneered as he threw the book over his shoulder into a small puddle of mud. You gasp and ran for the book, but he stood in your way. "Besides, you have more important things to worry yourself with…take me, for example." You glared up at him as he finally moved out of the way so you could rescue your poor book. You glared over at him before quickly wiping the mud off the cover. Thankfully none of it got on the pages. "Look, the whole town is talking about this. Women shouldn't really be reading, it produces ideas and ideas lead to thinking…the whole thing is just troublesome."

"Well, aren't you the primeval one…" you muttered as you stood up. Yumichika smiled and sauntered over to you. You bet he has no idea what that means, five bucks. Anybody? Either way he wrapped his arm around your shoulder and took your book again as you looking at the arm in mild disgust.

"Thank you, Mao. How about we head over to the bar and take a look at all my beauty awards," he suggested as he led you in the direction of the mentioned building. You reached for your book and almost had to jump for it due to the height difference.

"Sorry Yumichika, how about some other time?" you suggested in return as you managed to grab hold of the spine. Yumichika, however, refused to let go, so you had to carefully yank it away from him as you took a couple steps away from him in the direction of your home. "Come on, Yumichika. I just can't. I have to go home and help my father!"

Hanataro laughed and almost dropped the bag from the force of it. "That old loon can use all the help he ca get!" Yumichika raised his hand to his mouth to stifle his laughter. You felt your anger instantly flare as you took a threatening step towards the two of them.

"Don't you dare make fun of my father like that!" you threatened. Oh, there might just be blood this morning…. First the book and now they're making fun of Sicky!

"How dare you make fun of her father?" Yumichika demanded as he smacked Hana. You glared at the mocking tone and held your book to your chest.

"And he's not crazy, he's a genius!" you cried, but your statement was poorly supported when an explosion sounded from the direction of your house. You gasped and broke out into a run as Yumichika and Hana continued to laugh at the timing.

"Sicky?" you called as you approached the house. Seeing smoke rising from the windows of the add-on room of the house, you immediately ran over and climbed in through one of them. "Sicky, are you all right?" You were answered by a bout of coughing and a figure stumbling through the clearing smoke.

"Okay," he paused to cough a few times. "How did I manage to do that?" He made to come towards you, but in the last traces of smoke, he didn't see the open cabinet door and ran straight into it. He held back a curse and leaned over, holding his head.

"Daddy, are you all right?" you asked worriedly as you laid your hands on his shoulders. He took a few more seconds to shake his head before smiling at you and standing to full height. This time he was smiling down at you instead of up.

"I'm just about to give up on this piece of junk," he confessed sadly and he tapped his fist on the giant contraption to his left. You smiled and shook your head as you checked him over for any injuries. Seeing that he had none you let out a sigh of relief and placed your hands on your hips.

"You always say that, silly!"

"But this time I mean it! This stupid thing is never going to work and you know it!" he said turning and frowning at his machine. (3) You sighed and rolled your eyes as you walked over to stand beside him.

"It'll work, you'll see! You'll win first prize that that fair tomorrow!" He gave you skeptical look and you smiled as you placed a hand on his shoulder. "Not to mention you'll become a famous inventor!"

"You really think so? You 're not just saying this because I feed you?" he teased. You laughed and placed your hands on your hips.

"I've always believed that, silly! Besides, it's not like you do any cooking anyways. If I let you do that, I would've died years ago!"

Juushiro laughed and held his hands out in front of him in surrender. "Okay, okay, no need to be so harsh! Anyways, now that I have you here things should get done faster! Can you help me out?" You nodded and he smiled excitedly. He rolled up his already dirty sleeves and laid down on his roller to slide under his machine. "Can you had me the uh…the wrench please?" You nodded and began to dig through his toolbox. "How was your trip into town? Anything new?"

"Well, Shuuhei did give me a new book," you mused as you walked over to where your father was working. You paused and looked down at the tool in your hand. "Hey, daddy, do you think I'm weird?"

Juushiro paused before sliding out from under the machine wearing his goggles. "You, weird? Where did that come from?" You handed him the wrench and he rolled back under. You sighed and walked over to place you basket on one of the many shelves in the room. From there you removed your book and gently ran your fingers over the cover.

"It's just that…I feel like I just don't belong here, you know? Besides Shuuhei, I don't really have anyone to talk to and he's always on these trips so I don't see him often…" you confessed as you sat yourself against the wall. Juushiro stuck his hand out from under the contraption and began to blindly search for a tool.

"What about Yumichika? He seems to have taken a liking to you. He's good looking isn't he? Girls do talk about these things right?" he asked, finally finding what he was looking for. You chuckled and rolled your book over in your hands.

"Sure, he's handsome enough, but he's vain and conceited and honestly…he's such a…such a bitch!" you replied, remembering how cruel he was this afternoon. What you wouldn't have given to give him one right on that feathered face of his! Juushiro paused and rolled out from under the machine, moving the goggles to the top of his head.

"Okay, I'm confused. Aren't girls the bitches and the guys practically everything else under the sun?" You smiled and rolled your eyes at his naivety. And people tell you to get out more. "Anyways, this thing will give us the chance at a new life, so don't worry about this stuff so much, honey." He walked over to you and hooked his finger under your shin. "Things are going to change, I promise." You gave him a smile and he returned the gesture. "Now, let's see if thing is going to work for us!"

Standing up off the floor, you watched as Juushiro hit the start button. A loud roaring noise filled the room and the two of you had to cover your ears to try and keep some form of hearing. When you opened your eyes you saw cut pieces of wood flying over your head and into the predetermined landing sight. You watched in amazement for a moment before letting out a cheer.

"It works! It works, Sicky! You did it!" you cheered, grabbing his hands and dancing around the room with him. Juushiro let out an excited cheer and picked you up and swung you off your feet in his joy. Neither of you cared that they weren't hitting the exact marks on the floor, but it didn't matter, because it worked!

"Okay, you go hitch up Nel and I'll get this thing all loaded in the cart!" you nodded and ran off to search for the family horse.

~*~

"Okay Daddy, have fun, win first prize, come back as the world famous inventor I know you are and don't talk to strangers on the road!" you told him as he began to climb onto the white horse. He rolled his eyes, but smiled at the same.

"Yes, dear. I'm a big boy now, I can make my own bed and everything!"

"Oh are you now?"

'Yes, now you be safe while I'm gone. I'll be back sooner than you think!" he said as he began to turn the horse in the right direction. You smiled and gave him a wave as he began to leave.

"Good luck! See you soon!" And as you waved he slowly disappeared into rolling green hills.

Nel and Juushiro continued on their way through the countryside and eventually came to the portal they would need to pass through to get to their destination. However, when they passed through the air seemed colder and the sky darker. Grass was replaced cold sand and around them nothing else seemed to stir. Nel was beginning to become increasingly jumpy as they made their way on. Juushiro on the other hand, was completely oblivious as he looked over his map. He lowered in and looked around in confusion.

"Nel, we should've been there by now. I wonder if we took the wrong portal…oh, hey!" he cheered slightly at the sight of a sign at the end of the forked road. The sign pointed towards each direction. Juushiro read the sign and found that he knew neither of the places mention on them. Nel rolled his green eyes and made to go right, but Juushiro pulled on her reins and made to go left. "Let's go this way!" Nel paused and stared down the eerie, dark, fog infested woods that Juushiro wanted to venture in. The longer she stared the more she felt dread welling in her heart and urging her to down the lighter, obviously more safe path, but Juushiro insisted. "Oh don't be such a baby, it's just a shortcut, you'll see!"

So the two of them continue on through the dark, heading in an unknown direction. Even now Juushiro realizes that they were lost. "Oh, this doesn't look right, where are we, Nel? Well, I guess we better turn arou-" However, he failed to finish his sentence due to the long cry of a hollow in the night. The worst part was: it was right next to them. Nel panicked and began to run at full speed down the path. In her panic she almost sent the two of them of the edge of an unsuspecting cliff. Juushiro began to panic as well and began pulling back on the reins. "Back up, back up, back up!" Somehow she managed to do so and not send the two of them tumbling to their death.

Just as Juushiro let out a sigh of relief, a hollow scream startled Nel into rearing back onto her hind legs, knocking him off onto the ground. In her panic driven madness, she didn't notice in her fleeing down the road. Juushiro slowly sat up on the ground and looked around in the dark. "Nel? Hello?" When he received no reply, he sighed and stood up on his feet. However, when he looked up he was greeted with the sight of a group of hollows staring at him hungrily from their sandy hilltop through the trees. Juushiro gasped and quickly began to run in a random direction. The hollows gave immediate pursuit.

He brushed aside branches and leaves, but in his panic, did not see the end of the hill he was on. With a cry he began to roll down the sandy slope. When he finally got to the bottom he looked up to see a giant wall that towered above him. It startled him with its size, how could he have missed such a thing, and the walls were pure white, extending further down the sand than his eyes could see. He would have taken more time to inspect these walls, but a scream behind him reminded him that he needed to be running. So, he stumbled to his feet and ran to the wall, hoping to whatever was out there that there was a door. He came to a stop at the wall and was relieved to see a doorway there, however, he found it was locked. He began to yank on the door as he glanced over his shoulder.

'Come on, come on, come on, come on! Open!' he pleaded the door. And as if reading his mind the door opened just in time for him to run inside and slam the door right into the hollows' faces. Juushiro slid down the door and allowed himself to calm down. Okay, he was alive, that was a good thing. He stood up and looked around to see that he was in a large courtyard of white stone. All around him, everything was white. As a gust of wind blew by, he suddenly realized how cold it was with this wind. Shivering he made his way up to the large doors in front of him.

He knocked on them twice and somehow they began to open on their own. He took this as an 'OK' and stepped inside, looking around as he did. Closing the doors behind him, he looked up at the high-vaulted ceilings and all the white pillars that surrounded him as he made his way further in.

"Hello?" he called, hoping to find someone who lived there. Instead of seeing an actual person, he strained his ear to hear the whispers that echoed through the huge room.

"Oh man, poor guy. Must have lost his way in all that sand. That's a bummer…"

"Would you shut up? Maybe if you shut your trap for once, he might go away!"

Juushiro looked around to try and find the source of the whispering. "Hey, is someone there?" He sighed when he received no reply. Facing the other way, he began to inspect that side of the room. On the table behind him sat a windup-clock and a lone candlestick holder with three burning candles in it to illuminate the dark room. The clock glanced over towards the candlestick and sent it a fierce glare.

"Not one word, Shunsui, not one word!" he warned in a low whisper. Juushiro sighed in defeat began backing up to where he started at the door.

"I'm sorry to barge in like this, but I got separated from my horse thanks to some hollows. I was wondering if it would be all right if I stayed for the night?"

Shunsui, the candlestick, looked over at the clock in sympathy. "Oh come on, Toshiro, have a heart. The guy looks like he's been though a lot. Cut him some slack." Toshiro cast him another glare and slapped his hand over Shunsui's mouth. Shunsui raised a wax eyebrow before holding his candle-hand under Toshiro's. The clock's face and numbers contorted in pain for a second before letting out a cry, ripping his hand away, and cradling it to his little glass chest. Shunsui took the opportunity to turn towards the white-haired man. "Of course you can crash here man, it would be an honor!"

Juushiro spun around. "I'm sorry?" Hoping to use the light to see the speaker, he reached out and picked up Shunsui from the table. Shunsui rolled his eyes and tapped Juushiro on the shoulder.

"Over here, you goof."

"Um, where?" Juushiro asked in confusion as he turned to meet no one. Shunsui sighed and tapped him on the top of the head. Juushiro froze before slowly looking up at the candlestick he was using for light. Shunsui smiled and gave him a lazy wave.

"How's it going?"

Juushiro gasped and instantly dropped Shunsui to the floor with an 'oof.' He stares down at the moving candlestick for a moment before tilting his head curiously. "Well, that's…interesting to say the least…" Toshiro jumped off the table and scuttled his way over to his now standing companion.

"Nice going, Shunsui. Man, adults are so retarded sometime-What the fuck are you doing?!" Toshiro demanded, thoroughly freaked out when Juushiro reached down and began to poke and prod him in various places.

"So what makes you talk? Is there a program installed or…"

Toshiro began to flail in minor panic as Juushiro began to look him over in amazement. He made to protest rather loudly to the man when Juushiro began to tickle his feet. "S-Stop t-that!" The demand was brushed aside due to the fact that nobody could take him seriously with his laughing. Shunsui slapped a hand over his mouth to hold back the laughter as Toshiro was wound up rather harshly, making the hands move across his face in an odd fashion. Toshiro suddenly froze as Juushiro opened the little door to his clockwork and began to poke everything. Without further a-do he slammed the little door shut panting heavily as a savage blush made its way across his little clock face. "Do you mind?"

"Oh, sorry! It's just that I've never really seen a talking clock before!" Juushiro apologized, shaking his head frantically. Toshiro quickly covered his eyes as sand cascaded down upon his little face. Once he was sure the onslaught was over, he peeked through his fingers to see Juushiro rubbing his arms to try and keep warm. Shunsui frowned and made his way up the white haired man.

"Man, you must've gotten fallen down quite a bit out there. I know the sand out there isn't the warmest thing in the world, so follow me. There's a fire in the room over here." Juushiro smiled and thanked the candlestick as he placed Toshiro on his feet beside him. Toshiro watched in mild panic as Shunsui led him to the room that his master often resided in. He looked around for any sign of the master before quickly following after the two.

"Shunsui, you idiot! Do you know what he'll do if he finds out!" He ran into the room after them, but for once in his very careful life, Toshiro tripped down the stairs that allowed the room to dip a little. Lifting his head up from a face full of carpet, he was startled to see Shunsui allowing Juushiro to sit in the large chair before the roaring fireplace. "No, no, no, no, no! Not in the master's chair! Shit! I can't believe this is happening!" Toshiro yelped slightly as two figures raced past him towards the chair, arguing as they went.

Juushiro smiled down at the cheerful candlestick, but jumped in surprised as two small forms appeared by his feet.

"I want to be his footstool!"

"Are you insane? It's obvious that he would prefer me to you any day!"

Juushiro blinked and tilted his head slightly. They had talking footstools too? Incredible! However, he did feel slightly guilty as the two of them fought over who he should rest his feet on. From what he could tell, one was male while the other was female. He wondered what their names were…

"Um, excuse me," he interrupted. Instantly the two footstools stopped fighting and looked up at him attentively. "Um, why don't the two of you just share? I mean, I do have two legs." Both of the stools paused and looked at each other before laughing happily.

"Brilliant thinking sir!"

"Couldn't have thought of anything better myself!"

And with that the two footstools, Kiyone and Sentaro, made their way under each foot, glad that they could please him individually. Juushiro smiled at his accomplishment and jumped slightly as a hat stand wrapped a blanket around him. Such service! These things were so kind! Toshiro watched all of this in horror and had to slap himself to break free of the spell.

"Okay, that's it! Everybody stop right there! This has definitely gone on long enou-" he started, but was effectively cut off as a rolling tray cart ran him over in its movement towards Juushiro. Toshiro gasped and rolled over onto his back, panting for air. The cart came to a stop beside the chair and the tall, thin teapot, Orihime, greeted Juushiro warmly from her position beside him.

"I made you some tea, sir! I made it myself, so you should be feeling better in no time!" she chirped. Toshiro flailed onto his stomach and pointed at the teapot.

"Don't you give any of that freaking tea!" Orihime ignored the clock and went about to pouring some tea into the small pink cup beside her. Once she was done, the cup hopped over into Juushiro's hand, ready to be drunk. Juushiro chuckled and lifted the tea to his lips and drank a little tea. He wasn't really surprised when Yachiru, the cup, turned in his hand and smiled up at him.

"Hey, boob-lady! Can he stay to play?" Juushiro laughed loudly at this and held her back to smile at her. However, he gasped and almost dropped her as the doors behind him suddenly burst open, sending in a blast of cold air that doused the warm fire. Juushiro felt fear strike into his heart as all his new friends began to cower in fear at the new comer. Despite his better judgment, he gulped and glanced around the chair. Standing in the doorway on all fours was some form of beast; clawed hands scrapped against the marble floor threateningly, flowing teal hair standing on end and a long, white tail twitching in anger. He gasped and quickly turned back around in the chair.

Yachiru quickly hid behind Orihime's trembling form on the tray. Grimmjow terrified even her when he was angry. Grimmjow looked around the room at all his servants that had gathered there. Stalking further into the room he stood back onto his hind legs, towering everything in sight.

"Where is he?" he demanded, a growl forming in the back of his throat. Shunsui came forward slightly, hoping to reason with his master.

"Well, you see, what happened was…he was cold and covered in sand I thought that we could just-" Grimmjow cut him off with a fierce roar that blew out the poor candlestick's flames. As the master stalked past him, Toshiro wrung his hands nervously.

"Hey, I tried to stop them, but they would listen to me! You know how adults are, always thinking th-" he attempted, but Grimmjow sent another roar and glare in his direction, silencing him immediately. Juushiro grabbed his arm as he felt it trembling against him. Carefully he glanced around the chair once again. When he saw nothing was there, he went to look on the other side but this time he was met by a face seething with anger. He let out a yelp and fell off the chair.

"Who the hell are you? What the fuck are you doing in my castle?" he growled, maneuvering his body gracefully over the chair towards Juushiro, who was desperately trying to back further away from the beast.

"I-I just lost my way in the woods nearby and some hollows…" he began, but trailed off in horror as the other continued to advance on four legs.

"I never said that you could come here! You think you can just waltz right in?"

Juushiro stumbled back onto his feet as Grimmjow returned to his hind legs, towering over the white haired man. "I'm sorry!" Grimmjow glared down at the smaller man, wondering what to do with this filth. Juushiro could help but stare at the thing before him. He had the appearance of a man, but he had claws for hands and feet, and a tail protruding from behind. Large, white fangs appeared as he realized that Juushiro was staring at the tattoos around his eyes.

"What the fuck are you staring at?" he demanded with a loud growl.

"N-N-Nothing!" Juushiro cried, racing for the door. However, for his size, Grimmjow was very agile, cutting the man off in a matter of seconds. Straightening back up onto his back legs he smiled menacingly.

"So, you've come to stare at the scary beast in the castle, is that it? Huh? Well, here's you chance!" He let out a raucous laugh that Juushiro found more terrifying than before. Grimmjow frowned when Juushiro looked away. He reached down and grabbed Juushiro's arms tightly enough for him to cry out. "Look at me!" Juushiro looked fearfully back into the eyes of his captor.

"I'm r-really sorry about all this! I didn't mean to cause any trouble! I was just looking for a place to stay for the night!" Grimmjow smirked sending another wave of fear down Juushiro's spine.

"A place to stay, huh? I'll give you a place to stay!" Juushiro began to cry out as Grimmjow dragged him out of the room. On his was through the door he snarled at his servants into the room before slamming the door shut, cutting off Juushiro's cries and cloaking them all in darkness.

~*~

1. Shuuhei's personal input right there, just so ya'll know XD

2.–Insert 'not cool' face-- XD

3. Juushiro Ukitake is not amused. lol