14AmyChan: I own nothing!
Kashino: Yeah, that just goes to show something…
14AmyChan: What? *^_^*
Kashino: If you did, life would suck.
14AmyChan: You know, you are really pushing me to my limit. I can always bring people in from other shows to help me with the disclaimers…
Kashino: *walks away* be my guest!
14AmyChan: *shouts* FINE! Okay guys, come on out! *^_^*
Ikuto: 14AmyChan doesn't own
Kyo: this stupid show
Train: or anything else. Just read it and have fun.
14AmyChan: thnx~! *^_^*
'Belle' turned her back on her father and faced the beast. "If you let him go to the doctor, I'll stay here the rest of my days."
"Do I have your word?" the Beast growled. 'Belle' looked like she was on the verge of tears as she nodded. "Consider it done" the Beast growled as he bypassed her and unlocked the door.
"Belle!" her father yelled as the Beast dragged him off. "BELLE!" The Beast had dragged him out of the room and that was the last they heard of 'Belle's father. 'Belle' looked wistfully out the window and Ichigo and Kashino both knew she was crying.
"Kashino, that was scary!" Ichigo said, trying to muster the strength to detach herself from his arm. "I thought you said this was a fairytale, a kid's story!" Ichigo couldn't believe that such a heartless character would be in a children's story. What kind of child would endure this torture?
"It is" Kashino said, not doing anything about the fading feeling in his fingers. He was pretty sure that this wouldn't happen again, so he just enjoyed it for now. "In the book, the back story's already explained. Want me to tell you?"
As Ichigo nodded, Kashino began to explain. "Belle's father went to show an invention at a conference. Unfortunately, he didn't make it. He ran into foul weather and had to stop here" Kashino knew that this made the Beast sound heartless, but that was the point of this part of the story. "Then the Beast took him captive."
"What about this castle?" Ichigo asked, looking around in the tower-dungeon. "A Beast can't just own his own castle. Was it just a wreak when he got here?"
"Maybe you'll figure that out when you meet the others" Kashino said. He tried so hard to keep a straight face, but he could conceal the laughter in his voice. He only hoped that Ichigo didn't notice.
Others? Ichigo asked herself as she noted the subtle laughter in Kashino's voice. Maybe they weren't as bad as the Beast… Speaking of… "Let me take you to your room" the gruff voiced Beast had reappeared. And he was offering 'Belle' a room.
"I thought-" 'Belle' started as Beast interrupted "So you want to stay in the tower?" Ichigo noted as 'Belle' turned around with tear-stained eyes that Kashino stiffened a little bit. "No" she said, giving off a feeling of smallness. Ichigo felt like she could relate to the poor girl's feeling of having everything ripped from you in a small time.
"Then come with me" the Beast said. With a turn, he led 'Belle', Ichigo, and Kashino down the stairs. Kashino led Ichigo up to the front and they turned around to observe the Beast as he held a small conversation with a candlestick holder. It was an old-fashioned kind, and had a tiny mole under one of its shock green eyes.
"Hey, don't those eyes remind you of…" Ichigo started, but was interrupted by the candlestick.
"Monsieur, you have to be more gentle with the Mesdames" the candlestick said. Rose boy? Kashino wondered. Even though he knew it would be at the end of the story where they could see what everyone looked like. "If you are not, they will hate you."
"I know, I know" the Beast growled. He turned behind him to see 'Belle' almost in tears again. He turned ahead and started to talk to the girl behind him, not facing her, but talking to her "You can go anywhere in the castle except for the western tower. It's forbidden."
"Why is it-" 'Belle' began to ask, only to be cut off by a roar stating that it's just forbidden. Kashino's arm lost most feeling again. He liked that he was some sort of comfort to Ichigo, but her nerves would probably not hold out much longer. "There are only a few scary parts after this" he whispered in her ear. "You survived the brunt of it." And, with a pink blush adorning his face, Kashino turned most of his attention back to the story at hand.
Ichigo didn't understand. Usually Kashino was a devil and a meanie to her, but now he was not only being nice, but he seemed really sweet while doing it. Still, she reasoned, better keep on my toes…
"Your room" the Beast said, pointing to a room. 'Belle' just walked to the door and opened it. When she turned around, the Beast had already left. Kashino and Ichigo followed 'Belle' into her room and sat on the wall while 'Belle' threw herself on her bed and cried.
"Kashino?" Ichigo asked, pulling Kashino from sleep's edge. "Hmm?" was all he could reply with, he was so beat. "What was with that candlestick?"
"Lumiere, one of the servants" Kashino answered without hesitation. "Keep your eyes open, there's a lot of them hanging around just like-"
"Dear heavens, what are you going to wear to dinner?" a golden wardrobe asked 'Belle', pulling her out of her crying episode. Ichigo and 'Belle' had identical looks on their twin faces as the wardrobe showed honey-colored eyes and started sifting through itself to find a dress. "You have to look presentable, he'll be waiting!"
"Don't tell me that Beast wants to eat dinner together" 'Belle' said, sitting properly on the bed, disdain on her face. Ichigo could understand completely. After all that thing had put her through, it expected her to eat with him? Even Ichigo would have said no thanks.
"Didn't he tell you?" the wardrobe asked, still looking through itself for a dress, deciding on a sky blue dress that had long sleeves and was otherwise simple. "Now I think this would look great on you, dearie" the wardrobe mused.
"I'm not going" 'Belle' said clearly and firmly. The wardrobe looked up in shock. "Why ever not? He's a good guy once you get to know him…"
Ichigo and 'Belle' just 'tsked'. "I didn't even say goodbye to my father. I don't want to get to know that Beast. I don't want to have anything to do with him!" 'Belle' stated. She folded her arms and faced away from the wardrobe, who had come to sit next to her. "I'm not hungry, and I won't eat with him."
The wardrobe just sighed and placed the pretty dress on a hanger. "Well, dearie," it said, sounding a little depressed. "You're going to get hungry sooner or later, so when you do, the kitchen is down the stairs, third door on the right." The wardrobe then sat still on the wall and said no more.
"Kashin-" Ichigo was about to ask about what just happened, but when she turned, he was already asleep. Ichigo smiled a bit ruefully. It had been her fault that they were drug into this mess. She would try to understand the story on her own. However, Kashino couldn't sleep sitting up, he would hurt his neck. So, she laid him down, doing her best not to disturb him. She also moved him so that way the chain binding them wouldn't bother him.
Then she turned her attention to 'Belle' and wondered why she looked just like her. Also, why did the candlestick-Lumiere-have the same eyes and voice as Hanabusa-kun. Why did that ghastly character in the beginning have such a striking resemblance to Henri-sensei? 'Belle' turned in for the night, and Ichigo thought she might as well do the same. She was tired, after all. She laid down, as far away from Kashino as the chain would allow, and went to sleep. The last question she had was: 'What's going on now in the real world now?'
14AmyChan: I hope you liked it~! *^_^*
Ichigo: Where's Kashino?
Ikuto: Probably still brooding…
Train: Yeah, we stole his spot in the disclaimers.
Kyo: What kind of wuss wants to make chocolate for a living, anyway?
Ichigo: Hey! He's not a wuss!
Kyo: Yeah? Well, if he can beat me in a fight, I might not call him that! But he's a scared little water skeeter that ran as soon as three cool guys came on-set!
Ichigo: Kashino is too cool!
Kyo: Prove it!
Ichigo: Prove it? How? Do you want me to get someone to throw barbs at you like you've been throwing them at Kashino?
Kyo: Whaddya mean?
Ichigo: Well, all you've been doing is talk. Can you walk the walk?
Ikuto, Train, and 14AmyChan: BURN!
Ikuto: You just got owned by a girl who's four years younger than you!
Kyo: Well, at least when I date my girl, it's not considered illegal!
Train: He got you there! XD
Ikuto: Well, I'm not chasing over someone who's dead!
Kyo: Says the guy who spends forever away from his girl to find a dude!
Train: That sounded wrong…
Ikuto: I just want to know if my dad's alive or not, assassin!
Train: Don't make me pull out Hades!
Ikuto: Don't make me go Black Lynx on all of you!
Kyo: A real man can fight using only his fists!
Train, Ikuto, and Kyo continue fighting
14AmyChan: Ever feel like you're out of the loop?
Ichigo: All the time…
14AmyChan and Ichigo: Please R&R. *^_^*
