This story is based roughly on Beauty and the Beast.

The first few chapters are similar to the original plot, but it strays away from the plot line later on. It will stick to the main idea, though. The prologue is rather short, but the next chapters will be much longer.

Chapter 1

"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

"SCREAMING"

SCENE BREAK+

Pairings: SasuNaru main pairing, other pairings hinted at.

Prologue

Once upon a time, in a far away land, there was young man Sasuke.

Sasuke was a rich, handsome, popular man. On top of that, he was a Prince of a great kingdom that spanned far and wide. He had many butlers, suitors, everything a man could dream of.

He had everything but a family, which had been taken from him when he was a young boy. Though he had everything his heart desired, he was also spoilt, selfish and unkind. He had become bitter over the years following his family's death.

But then, on a cold winters night, an old beggar woman had came to the castle and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard and wrinkled appearance, the prince sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away. But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances for beauty was found within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress.

She had flowing red locks of hair and deep red eyes, a long flowing gown clinging to her slim form and scroll in her hands. Tails swished behind her, fox-ears sticking out of her red hair. She shook her head at his actions towards her, disappointed. 'I was hoping that it would not come to this,' she thought reproachfully. But there was no choice.

Sasuke tried to apologize but it was too late. For she had seen there was no love in his heart. As punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast and cast a powerful jutsu on the castle and over 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 world.

The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose which would bloom for many, many years. If he could learn to love another and earn their love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to live as a beast for all time.

As the years past, he fell into despair and lost all hope, for who could ever learn to love a beast?