Disclamer: Naruto: Masahi Kishimoto, Beauty and the Beast: Disney

ItaNaru Beauty and the Beast

chapter 9: There may be something there.

Naruto wore a simple dark green kimono as he walked across the snowy grounds.
He didn't notice Itachi watching him Sasuke at his side.
Naruto's thoughts were full.

As he walked Kyuubi sensed his master's sadness and nudged him a bit. Naruto looked around at the horse and smiled and nuzzled his face.

Just then Kisame wandered out to the grounds and ran into a snow bank. Shaking himself off he spotted Naruto and ran to him. Naruto caught the small table-like dog and laughed.

Itachi watched the blond. It had only been a few days since the wolf attack but ever since Itachi would watch Naruto with longing.

He looked at his still badaged arm poking out the sleeves of his dark blue kimono with gold trim.

"I've never felt this way about anyone before."

He looked at Naruto again. He made up his mind.

"I want to do somthing for him." But Itachi didn't know what to to. "But what?"
He turned to Sasuke. "Well there's the usual things: Flowers, gifts, promises you don't intend to keep."

Lee burst in.
"No way Sasuke-san. It has to be somthing very special. It has to spark his interest." Lee thought back to the conversation with Naruto. "I've got it!"
He told Itachi who thought it was perfect.

Later Itachi brought Naruto down a hall way. "Why can't you just tell me where we're going Itachi-kun?"

They came to a stop outside a door.
Itachi turned to Naruto.

"Naruto, there's somthing I want to show you." He started to open the door, but stopped and turned again to Naruto.

"But first you have to close your eyes."
Naruto raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
Itachi gave only a small smile.

"It's a surprise." He said simply.

Naruto did as he was asked and Itachi made sure that Naruto's eyes were shut before opeining the door and leading the young boy inside.

"Can I open them?" Naruto asked.
"Not yet." They stepped further into the room. "Wait here." Itachi whispered into Naruto's ear. Naruto blushed as he felt Itachi's warm breath over his ear, cheek and neck.

Itachi went and pulled curtans away from the windows, letting in bright light.

"Now can I open them?"

Itachi smiled. "All right. Now."

Naruto opened his eyes and gasped.
He saw himself in a huge library.
It seemed like every book ever written and translated to Japanese was in this room.
Comfortable chairs sat around the room.

"I can't believe it. I've never seen so many books in my whole life."

Itachi was happy to see Naruto smile a genuine smile. It gave him that warm feeling he liked. "You like it?"

"It's wonderful." Naruto whispered.
Itachi smiled even more. He turned to Naruto. "Then it is yours."

Naruto turned to him. His eyes sparkled with pure happiness. He went and embraced the beast.

"Thank you so much Itachi-kun."

Itachi was surprised when Naruto hugged him. Once again he was glad for the thick fur cause his face would have been redder than his eyes. Naruto looked up at him and seeing the blond's face he smiled gently and hugged Naruto back, inhaling the sent oh his hair.

Outsid the servants saw Naruto hugging Itachi than Itachi hug back.

"Oh would you look at that?" Sakura said.
"I knew it would work!" Lee practicly yelled.
"What? What worked?" Konohamaru was tryiong to see past everyone but they were all in the way. After a moment they turned and left for the kitchens. "I didn't see anything Sakura-chan." Sakura just nodded.
"What are they talking about? What's going on?"

Naruto pulled away from Itachi and ran to pick out a book. He found a good one and turned to Itachi. "Do you want to read it with me?" Itachi was stunned the boy would ask him.
"Er, sure."

Naruto led Itachi to one of the chairs and sat down. Itachi sat next to him.
As Naruto read the story Itachi found himself visualising the story, lost in Naruto's voice. Naruto snuggled up to Itachi as they read.

If this was going to happen everytime Naruto read a book, Itachi would be spending alot of time with him.

The next morning, Naruto and Itachi sat down to breakfast. They had some rice porradge. Naruto took a sip and then looked at Itachi who was having some difficulty with a spoon.

Every time the Uchiha raised the spoon to his lips the porradge in it would fall on his lap. Itachi hadn't used a utensil in so long.

His failed attempts made him get anoyed, he looked up at Naruto when he started to laugh. Naruto then picked up his bowl and Itachi did the same. They toasted then raised the bowls to their lips and sipped.

Naruto was outside later that day wearing a nice black kimono with white designs on it. He was feeding some birds. Itachi, wearing a dark grey with black designs, joined him.

Naruto gave him some seeds and he leaned down to try and attempt to feed the birds.

There's somthing sweet,
And almost kind.
But he was mean and he was coerce,
And unrefind.

Itachi tried to get the birds to come to him but they flew away when he got close.

And now he's dear,
And so unsure,
I wonder why I didn't see it there before.

Naruto shook his head and placed a hand on his shoulders. He put some seeds on the ground. A little red bird followed the trail of seeds and then jumped into Itachi's hand.

Itachi looked at Naruto. He smiled, and Naruto smiled back.

He glanced this way,
I thought I saw,
And when we touched he didn't shudder at My paw.

Naruto touched Itachi's hand and Itachi noticed he no longer shuddered.
Naruto took a little bird aside.
Itachi watched him

No it can't be.
I'll just ignore.
But then he's never looked at me that way Before.

The bird flew away. Naruto glanced at Itachi and hid behind a tree.
Naruto looked at the sky. His heart was beating fast and hard. Naruto was confused.
What was he feeling?

New and a bit alarming.
Who'd have ever thought that this could be?
True that he's no prince charming.

But there's somthing in him that I simply Didn't see.

Naruto looked around and saw that Itachi was coverd in birds. He then got a mischivious idea.

Itachi found himself liked by the birds. Then they suddenly flew away.

Itachi looked up expecting to see Naruto but instead found himself face to snow.
Naruto had thrown a snowball.

Itachi raised an eyebrow in challenge.
He gathered up snow and made a huge snowball. Before he could throw it, Naruto threw another one. It hit Itachi and made him drop the epic snowball on himself.
Naruto laughed and ran as Itachi got up and ran after him.

The servants watched from inside as Itachi and Naruto played in the snow like children.

Well who'd have thought?
Well bless my soul.
Well who indeed?
And who'd have guessed they'd com together On their own?

It's so peculiar.
We'll wait and see.
A few days more There may be somthing there that wasn't There before.

Itachi and Naruto came in. Naruto had chosen a book and they sat by a warm fire together reading it. He snuggled into Itachi who held the blond tightly in his arms. Lee, Sasuke and Sakura watched the scene.

You know perhaps there's somthing there,
That wasn't there before.

"What?" Konohamaru asked.

There maybe somthing there that wasn't There before.

"What's there Sakura-chan?" Konhamaru was getting annoyed. "Shh. I'll tell you when you're older."

Naruto finished his book and went to his room. Itachi was in his room pacing.

His thoughts were filled with Naruto.
He realised that he had fallen in love with him. He looked at the rose. It had withered even more in the time Naruto had come.

Only about ten petals left.

Itachi worried that Naruto would not be able to love him in time.

He had to tell him. Tomorrow Itachi would make a special night for Naruto then confess his love for him.

Hopefully he could do it.