Title: The Beauty and the Beast
Author: Aurora Ciel
Characters/Pairings: Sasuke/Sakura, Naruto/Hinata, Kakashi (minor: Lee, Tsunade)
Rating: M
Warnings: Language, violence in some chapters, sexual content in later chapters
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor the musical and/or Disney movie Beauty and the Beast.
Notes: Sorry for taking so long to update! I had a midterm to study for, a speech to write, and I really wanted this chapter to turn out exactly the way I've been imagining it since I started. This particular chapter is basically the reason I wrote this story in the first place. I can remember the day I came up with the plot and decided to roll with it. And here we are today!

Oh I know you've all been hating on Lee, but I just have a quick side note: I tried to make his character a little different from Gaston's in the original story. I'm hoping you've been able to notice. Instead of being a total jackass, I tried to write him to be more of the socially clueless guy we all know and love him to be. Hopefully I wrote that off well enough. Anyway the point is I didn't really know how to write him out of the story and I didn't want to kill him off, so don't judge me for how lame that part may sound.

Just a warning: I'm terrible at writing action scenes. Probably why most of my fics are AU. Anyway, I'm sure I make Sasuke sound pathetic and its very unrealistic, but keep in mind that he's practically at death's door by this point.

(Sorry! One last thing: the title is from my second favorite song from the show. Another one I'm angry they didn't put in the movie. It's really a beautiful song. I definitely recommend checking it out!)

Chapter Six:
"No Change of Heart, A Change in Me"

"You must not love the exquisite Sakura as much I do if you are not even willing fight for her!" Lee provoked, finishing with a swift kick to his ribs. Sasuke grunted but remained motionless, staring blankly through the strands of hair that were wetly clinging to his face.

"You'll never have her now, demon!" Lee shouted, lifting a chakra infused fist to deliver the finishing blow.

It was in that moment that he felt her presence.

"Sasuke-kun!"

At the sound of her voice, Sasuke's head shot up, whipping his soaked hair from his face. He couldn't believe it. There, standing just outside the castle, was Sakura, with Naruto and Hinata just behind her.

He stared down at her; her kimono was drenched and clung to her form, her wet maim of pink hair clung wildly to her face, but she'd never looked so beautiful. Sakura dragged a hand through her hair, pushing it out of her face.

Then he noticed it.

While her face was dripping with raindrops, her eyes were bleary and red—she was crying?

For…him?

But that would mean…

"Sasuke-kun!" she wailed again. "I'm so sorry! Get up, please!"

Naruto stepped forward, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. He held a hand over his eyes as he looked up to Sasuke, "C'mon Teme! You can do it! Sasuke, fight back!"

Naruto's words rang through his head. His half-breed best friend never called him by his first name unless he was serious, which was a rare occasion in itself.

Sasuke, fight back!

He got the message. Sakura wasn't leaving him for that crazy eyebrowed ninja. But that ninja wanted to take her away from him.

There was no way in hell Sasuke was going to ever let someone try to take Sakura from him again.

With that in mind, Sasuke pushed up onto his hands and knees. He grunted with the effort—his back was throbbing, several of his ribs were sure to be broken and the rest of his bones were close to it. But the sight of Sakura's agonized face was enough motivation to last him a lifetime. He didn't want her tears, he wanted to see her smile again. That vibrant smile that was the only source of light in his dark world.

Rising to his feet, he turned slowly and faced Lee, who faltered slightly before lifting his hands up defensively. Sasuke glared at the ninja, gathering up the last of his strength before rushing towards him head on.

As soon as their fists collided he regretted taking such a beating for so long. Because he'd been too much of an idiot to really think about whether or not Sakura would ever betray him, he'd allowed this bowl-cutted freak beat the life out of him. He was weakening by the minute. Every hit, every kick, every swing, every dodge he made was pouring the chakra out of him.

If he'd only had enough chakra left, he could have Chidori'd the human to a crisp. But fate was not on his side tonight and right now he barely had enough chakra to block Lee's attacks.

He wasn't about to give up, though. Not after Sakura had come back for him. There was no way in hell he'd go down without a fight. Sakura deserved at least that. She deserved more than that, but it was all he could give her.

O-0-O

Sakura couldn't see Sasuke anymore. He'd moved too far over on the rooftop, Lee chasing after. The rain pelting down into her eyes wasn't doing much for her vision, either.

"We need to get up there," she shouted suddenly, looking to Hinata and Naruto. They nodded, silent in their agreement, and all three raced to the large front doors to make their way to the roof.

Sakura had been surprised at how quickly Naruto and Hinata had made it to her. Barely a minute after she'd blown the whistle the two had appeared in front of her. After a hasty, breathless explanation from her, Naruto swung her onto his back and took off for the castle with Hinata close behind them. They traveled so quickly tears formed at the corner of Sakura's eyes. At least, that's what she told herself.

By the time they reached the castle, it was pouring out. Sakura let out a sob when she saw Sasuke being flung through a window. She couldn't believe he wasn't fighting back. She'd witnessed him take on a pack of wolf demons like they were flies but he wasn't holding his own against Lee. It wasn't until Hinata pointed out Lee must have used her departure as provocation for Sasuke that she had to call out to him. She had to let him know she'd come back for him, that she was there for him.

That she wanted him. Only him.

Naruto led her through Sasuke's chambers to the broken window he'd been thrown through. Not minding the pieces of glass scattered across the floor, she stuck her head out into the rain, frantically searching for any sign of him.

She caught sight of him swinging a large stone statue at Lee, who was knocked over from the impact. Sasuke loomed over the fallen ninja, a deadly look in his eyes that Sakura had never seen before. She didn't like this side of Sasuke—he looked like he was ready to explode. By the looks of him, anything could set him off.

"Sasuke!" she called out again, hoping the sound of her voice would calm him.

It did. The moment he heard her, his head jerked in her direction, his crimson eyes wild with pain and rage. But his gaze softened at the sight of her clear emerald eyes, pleading with him. He lowered the hand that had been ready to strike Lee and stepped over him to make his way over to her. She hadn't noticed until now that he'd changed back into his black pants and haori; he must have changed after she'd left but she was glad that he hadn't had to fight in a cumbersome yukata.

He clutched at his side, probably trying to support his ribs, as he stumbled over to her. The obvious pain on his face broke her heart. She leaned through the window, paying no heed to the edges of the broken window pane pressing into her stomach as she reached her hands out to him.

Just as their hands touched Sasuke was ripped from her grasp and thrown into the air. Lee's skin had darkened strangely as he began a series of aerial strikes to Sasuke's limp body. Sakura screamed for him to stop but he wouldn't listen to her. When she heard his final attack, her heart stopped.

"Primary Lotus!"

"NO!"

It felt like slow motion, watching as Lee brought his powerful fist right to Sasuke's chest. The sound of the blow echoed like lightening through the night sky, followed by Sakura's horrified screams.

Hinata tried to pull her back as she scrabbled up onto the window ledge, but she shoved the Goddess away from her, launching herself onto the rooftop. Lee panted heavily, glancing at her one last time before collapsing beside Sasuke. She shoved him away from Sasuke, crawling on her hands and knees over to the fallen demon.

Naruto began to growl and Hinata watched with wide eyes at the sight of the Kyuubi attempting to take over his body once again. His eyes bled red and that strange orange form of the Kyuubi began to take shape around his body.

"Naruto-kun!" She grabbed him by the shoulders, looking deeply into his eyes, urging for him to control himself. "You must calm down! Sasuke needs you right now!"

Blood red eyes jerked back to her, narrowing at first but then softening. She cupped his cheek, brushing her thumbs against the whisker marks on his skin. He squeezed his eyes shut and after a moment the orange outline of the Nine-Tailed demon receded. When he opened his eyes again they were that crystal clear blue she'd grown to know and love.

"Hinata-chan," he breathed, his eyes searching hers. "Thank you."

Her face heated up as she smiled at him, his hands moved up to cover hers on his face. "Sasuke is in trouble," she whispered, bringing him back to the present.

He nodded, pulling away from her and leaping out the window. Hinata followed and they raced over to where Sasuke and Sakura were sitting. As soon as she had grabbed him she'd brought her hands to her chest, forcing her healing chakra to flow into his body. But there was too much damage, too much of his body had already begun to shut down. The two looked on in pained silence as Sakura held Sasuke's upper torso in her arms, rocking gently.

Kakashi made his way over to them, a solemn look in his eye. At Hinata and Naruto's questioning gazes, he explained that he had brought Lee back to Konoha, knowing it was what Sakura would have wanted. They nodded in understanding before turning back to the heartbreaking scene before them.

"Sasuke-kun," Sakura choked out, hot tears mixing with the cool rain drops sliding down her cheeks.

Sasuke blinked up at her, slowly bringing a clawed hand to her face. He brushed his thumb against her cheek, his dark skin a shocking contrast to the paleness of hers. "You came back."

"Of course I came back!" she snapped, sniffling indignantly and obviously trying to hide her worry. "I couldn't let—oh this is all my fault. If only I'd gotten here sooner."

"Maybe its better this way," he whispered back, feeling suddenly very tired. He was having trouble keeping his eyes open, and his heart was thudding heavily in his chest.

She covered his mouth with her hand, startled by how cold his lips had become. "Don't talk like that," she urged. "You'll be alright. We're together now, everything's going to be fine."

Sasuke coughed breathlessly, brushing his thumb against her cheek again. She cupped his hand with hers and pressed her cheek into his palm. "At least I got to see you one last time," he panted.

She closed her eyes and smiled softly. After a brief moment his grip on her cheek loosened and his hand slipped down. Her eyes shot open and she watched as his eyes drifted closed, his head falling loosely against her shoulder.

Sakura sobbed, clutching his lifeless form to her. "No!" she cried out, not caring about how she must look to the others. "No, no, no!"

The sight of this striking girl breaking down over such a demonic creature was stunning to behold, so heartbreaking, so tragically beautiful. Hinata felt tears gather in her eyes and leaned into Naruto as they spilled down over her cheeks. He wrapped his arms around her, needing to hold her as much as she needed to be held.

"Please…please don't leave me," Sakura was whispering, pressing her face into Sasuke's hair. "I love you…"

Naruto and Hinata's heads jerked up at that, while they had known there was something between Sasuke and Sakura, it was still a surprise to hear her admit it. Hinata whimpered, turning in fully to Naruto's embrace and tucking her face into his neck. Naruto, in response, pressed his face into her shoulder.

All was quiet, except for the soft chirping of birds in the distance as the rain finally stopped and Sakura's muffled whimpers. She jumped when she felt his body grow warm. His body felt like it was vibrating and as Sakura curiously lifted her head, she was shocked to see a mark on his neck begin to glow bright white.

She jumped back when the light suddenly exploded, blinding everyone momentarily. Sasuke groaned, his back arching up away from the ground, and Sakura quickly grabbed for his hand. By the time the light had faded, she could see his skin color slowly lightening. The claws pressing into her palm shortened into blunt fingernails at the tips of slightly calloused hands. His dark hair bled black and shortened, resting at the nape of his neck. Her mouth fell open at the sight of him—he was beautiful.

After a moment, Sasuke groaned again before slowly blinking. Sakura gasped, his eyes were like beautiful onyx diamonds. He looked up at her calmly and moved to sit up. Sakura, still unsure of this new man sitting before her, instinctively scooted back to sit on her feet.

Sasuke watched her wearily before reaching a hand out to her, "Sakura."

At the sound of her name, Sakura's eyes flashed and filled with recognition. She grinned brightly and let out a gleeful laugh before throwing herself into Sasuke's arms. Naruto whooped loudly and jumped happily, hugging Hinata to him.

"Sakura," he whispered again. Even though it was the last thing she wanted to do, Sakura pulled back to look into those intense dark eyes of his. They would take some getting used to, but she knew she already adored them.

Sasuke looked down at her with a serious look on his face. "Thank you," his voice was soft and still slightly raspy, but his words made her heart fill with warmth.

Sakura couldn't help but grin even wider. She was startled when he moved his face towards hers, but it was more of a nervous-startled than a disgusted-startled. Sasuke, however, seemed to take it the second way, because hurt flashed in his eyes as he began to pull away from her.

Realizing what he'd thought her reaction meant, Sakura just grabbed the collar of his tattered haori, pulling him closer to her and bringing their mouths together. Sasuke froze for a moment before his lips began to respond. His arms came around her once more and he tilted his face to deepen their kiss as Sakura let out a soft sound at the back of her throat.

After several more moments, a voice coughed rather loudly and the two broke apart. Softly, tentatively, Sasuke smiled at her and pressed their foreheads together.

"Sakura," his voice was low so only she could hear. "I…I…"

"I know," she interrupted, giving him that turbulent smile again and making his world shine. "I love you too, Sasuke-kun."

"Sasuke-teme!" Naruto finally called, drawing the two out of their little world. "Welcome back!"

Sakura grinned, watching as Sasuke stood and offered her a hand. After she was on her feet, he shed the remains of his haori, torn practically into three pieces by the transformation. She couldn't help but stare at his bare chest—while she'd fallen in love with him as a demon, she couldn't help but love the body he had as a God.

Naruto clapped Sasuke on the shoulder and hugged Sakura before he turned back to Hinata, hugging her again. She shyly pressed her lips to his cheek, giggling as a light blush covered his cheeks and the tip of his nose.

"Okay, this is the best day ever!" Naruto announced, wrapping an arm around Kakashi and pulling Hinata in closer with his other one.

Sakura smiled at her friends with love and hope and joy in her heart. She moved over to Sasuke, wrapping her arms around his waist. As he brought an arm around her as well, she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Naruto, I completely agree," she said happily. She moved up to her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to Sasuke's cheek.

He looked down at her, his dark eyes shining, and he smirked slightly at her. "Aa. Me too."

A/N: No, this is NOT the last chapter—we still have one more! It's basically a chance for me to ((cough—write a SasuSaku smut scene since there aren't enough out there—cough)) tie up the loose ends. Please let me know what you thought!