Sakura and the Beast

Prologue

The Price of Beauty

Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a handsome young prince who dwelt in a beautiful castle. Although he could have anything his heart desired, the prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind to all those around him. However, on a dark and cold winter's night, something would happen that would change the young prince's life forever.

Knock, knock, knock. The knocking echoed through the castle walls.

"Someone answer that door!" Prince Kisame demanded.

"Yes your highness." Itachi answered. He sighed as he slowly made his way to the door. He grabbed the large silver handles and pulled the giant door open with a loud creaking sound. Cold air and a few stray snowflakes flew into the castle melting immediately in the warm air.

Itachi looked down to find an old woman standing at his master's gate.

"Can I help you?" Itachi asked.

"Please sir, I wish to speak to your master." The old woman answered. Her voice was soft and craggy. She coughed slightly in the cold night's air. Itachi nodded staring down at the old woman. He turned to his master who was glaring at the food the town's baker's son had made for them.

"Master, there is a woman here who wishes to speak with you." Itachi announced.

"Oh, a girl, yeah? I want to see her too!" Deidara called out.

"If Deidara wants to see her Tobi wants to see her too!" Tobi called out happily. Deidara glared at Tobi but ignored him and turned to Sasori.

"Sasori, you want to see her too don't you?" Deidara asked enthusiastically.

"No, not particularly." Sasori replied nonchalantly. Deidara's face fell. He turned back to face forward and pushed his fingers together. Kisame sighed angrily. He hated dealing with people, especially when he was trying to eat. He walked over to the front door. Itachi bowed and moved to the side as Kisame opened the door further and stared down at the old woman. She was wearing nothing but green rags and held herself up on a crooked wooden cane. Her back was hunched and when she looked up at Kisame her face was one of the most disgusting faces Kisame had ever seen. Kisame took a small step back, repulsed by this horribly disfigured old woman.

"If the master is stepping back she must be pretty ugly, yeah." Deidara whispered to everyone else. Konan and Pein ignored him like they usually did and went back to talking about many random conversations, most of them reverting back to being about Pein.

"I can see her from here, she definitely is one fucking ugly bitch." Hidan said shaking his head.

"If she has money who cares?" Kakuzo asked.

"I wonder what the hell she wants." Zetsu said staring into space like he usually did.

"Please kind sir, I wish only to spend the night out of this cold weather. I will repay you for your kindness by giving you this small token of my gratitude." The old woman pulled her hand out from under her robes revealing a single red rose. Kisame scoffed at the offering. Not only was her token worthless, he was not going to let such a hideous old woman sleep in his castle.

"No, I will not let a disgusting beggar woman like yourself into my castle. Be gone with you!" Kisame demanded. The old woman looked at the prince.

"I should warn you, young prince, do not be deceived by mere appearances. True beauty is a beauty that is found within." Kisame sneered at the old woman. He was not used to having anyone ignore his orders before.

"I said be gone with you, you old hag! Your presence is not welcome here!" Kisame dismissed her once more. Suddenly, the old woman's horrible face began to shift and soon a beautiful enchantress stood before the prince. Her long blond hair was tied into pig-tails that fell loosely on her shoulders. Her red-brown eyes glared at Kisame and the green rags had transformed into a beautiful green dress.

"Now do you see, young prince, how your foolish ideals have mislead you?" The enchantress asked. Kisame stood at his door completely shocked. Everyone in the room stood still, unsure of what to do. Suddenly Kisame fell to the ground.

"Please spare me. I meant no harm I swear it. If I had known you were this beautiful before I would have-"

"You would have what? Accepted me into your castle? I'm afraid, young prince, you had your chance to redeem yourself and you lost it when you cast me away because my appearance displeased you. Your heart is cold, and no love lingers there. If this is how you wish to act, then I shall curse you and all that live here." The enchantress lifted her hand and held it above the prince. Suddenly a light emitted from her hand and encircled the prince and the entire castle. He closed his eyes trying to cover himself.

When Kisame opened his eyes again he was shocked to find his hands had turned a horrible shade of blue. He stood and stumbled over to a shining silver plate. He looked into it to find his entire body had changed. His face was the same blue colour, his teeth had become pointed and sharp, his eyes were round and he had gills on his cheeks. He looked like a shark, the beast of the sea.

He threw the plate to the ground.

"What have you done to me?!" He demanded covering his face with one hand and glaring at the enchantress.

"This is the price for regarding beauty so highly. I have made you that which you despise most, a hideous beast." She replied. Kisame looked around him and, ashamed, ran up to the west wing of the castle. The enchantress sighed staring around the castle sadly. She knew that she needed to change this prince, but still, she couldn't help but feel guilty for the pain she must have been causing him. She slowly turned around and walked off into the dark night.

Itachi, Deidara, Sasori, and the rest of the prince's staff followed their master and watched as the prince destroyed his room and ripped the only portrait he had of himself. Silently they watched as Kisame slowly fell into darkness, concealing himself away in the castle with a magic mirror as his only way to see the outside world.

The rose that the enchantress had offered, was an enchanted rose that would continue to bloom until the prince's twenty-first birthday. Only when the prince could learn to love, and be loved in return by another, would he be able to break the curse that the enchantress had placed upon him and his castle. However, if the prince was unable to do this by the time the last petal on the rose fell, he would be doomed to remain a beast, for all of eternity.

As the years passed, the prince fell further into darkness and despair. Soon he lost all hope of ever finding anyone who would truly love him. After all, who could ever learn to love a beast?