Mana was out playing in the sand with Bandit in front of the castle while the Beast, Joey and Mahad watched her from a window above. The Beast had such a caring look in his eye, that it startled his two servants.
"I've never felt this way about anyone. I want to do something for her." The Beast said excitedly, but as quickly as it came it was gone and replaced with a discouraged look.
"But what?"
"Well, there are the usual things sire--flowers, promises you don't intend to keep..." Mahad said as Joey looked over at him annoyed.
"Ahh, no way. It has to be somethin' very special. Something dat sparks her inter..." Joey froze mid-sentence as the idea came rushing to him.
"--wait a minute!" He cried looking at his master in realization.
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Later on that day the Beast was leading Mana through the castle, stopping at a large wooden door.
"Mana, there's something I want to show you." He said eagerly as he began to open said door, but stopped half-way as an idea came to him.
"But first, you have to close your eyes." This caused Mana to look at him questioningly.
"It's a surprise."
"Oh alright." Mana said excitedly as she closed her eyes quickly, a smile on her face. The Beast not sure if he could trust her waved his enormous paw in her face, to test if she really had her eyes closed. As soon as he was sure he gently opened the door and led her inside. The minute they stepped over the threshold Mana couldn't hold her curiosity in any longer.
"Can I open them?"
"No, no. Not yet. Wait here." The Beast replied as he walked toward the curtains and drew them back, causing the bright Egyptian sunlight to flood the room making Mana flinch when it hit her face.
"Now can I open them?" Mana asked, more curious than ever, making the Beast chuckle at her impatience.
"All right. Now." That's all Mana needed to hear as she slowly opened her eyes only to be utterly blown away at the astounding library before her.
"I can't believe this. I've never seen so many books in all my life!" She said in amazement, as she looked around at the thousands of books decorating the shelves.
"You--you like it?" The Beast asked quietly, looking down at her.
"It's wonderful."
"Then it's yours."The Beast said softly, pleased that her could make her so happy.
"Oh, thank you so much." Mana cheered as she started to run around the library looking at very book in sight. Meanwhile, all of the Beast's servants were out the door watching them.
"Oh, would you look at that?" Tea said happily as she watched Mana grab their master by the hand and drag him with her to look at the books.
"Ha ha! I knew it would work." Joey said proudly.
"What? What worked? Whats going on?" Yugi asked as he came hopping over.
"It's very encouraging." Mahad said, completely ignoring the tea cup.
"Isn't this exciting?" Mai cried in glee as they all continued to look at the pair, who were now sitting on the floor, huddled close together as Mana read a green book, while the Beast watched her with a content smile on him face. The only one who couldn't see was Yugi, due to his small stature, and was now desperately trying to see.
"I can't see anything!"
"Come on, Yugi. There are chores to be done in the kitchen." Tea said as she ushered Yugi along, not noticing the annoyed look on her husband's face.
"But, what happened? I couldn't see- Tea!" The other servants just chuckled as they watched the couple walk off before they left themselves.
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The next morning, Mana and Atem were at breakfast, each at an end of the long table in the dining room. Just as Mana began to eat hers she looked up at the Beast to see him gobbling down his food with absolutely no manners at all. Mana, tried to ignore it as she looked at anything but the Beast who stared at her confused, food sliding down his muzzle. Fortunately Yugi came to the rescue and nudged a spoon with his nose. The Beast looked at the object for a moment before slowly picking it up, and began to use it. Mana stared in wonder as she watched the Beast try to eat with the spoon, but not really succeeding. Suddenly a thought occurred to Mana as she put down her spoon and lifted up her bowl, catching the Beast's attention as she raised it as if to say' Let's try it this way?'. Beast looked over at the compromise with a grin and did the same as they both sipped their breakfast from their bowls.
After Breakfast was over Mana and the Beast went out to the courtyard to feed the birds. As soon as they were close enough Mana handed the Beast some seed, and watched him try to get the birds to come into his paws by shoving them out towards the tiny animals, but that only caused them to fly away. Mana looked at the Beast as he kept tyring to get the birds to come to him, a loving smile on her face.
"There's something sweet
And almost kind
But he was mean
And he was coarse and unrefined.
But now he's dear
And so unsure,
I wonder why I didn't see it there before."
Mana then reached down and took some seed from the Beast's paws and laid a trial right in front of a brown bird leading to the Beast. The bird started to peck at the feed, before noticing there was more, and jumped right into the paws of the Beast, who looked utterly thrilled, that facial expression quickly melted away to awe however, as he stared at Mana who reached out her hand to have a bird rest right on it.
"She glanced this way
I thought I saw
And when we touched
She didn't shudder at my paw
No it can't be
I'll just ignore
But then she's never looked at me that way before."
He thought as he looked at Mana who was walking toward a tree, she looked at him with such a tender expression before she ducked behind the tree completely, looking extremely doubtful at what was transpiring between her and the Beast now.
"New and a bit alarming
Who'd have ever thought that this could be?"
She thought as she peered around the trunk to look at the very object of her thoughts, only to laugh out loud as she saw him covered in birds.
"True, that he's no Prince Charming
But there's something in him that I simply didn't see."
Mana then grinned mischievously as an idea formed in her mind. Reaching up she grabbed a plum from the tree above her and quickly chucked it at the unsuspecting Beast.
The Beast who was so into the birds on his body didn't notice the offending piece of fruit until it hit him, splattering all over his chest causing all the birds to fly away. Looking up he saw Mana laughing, and an evil grin spread over his face as he began to gather a load of sand from in front of him, and just when he was about to throw it, Mana threw another plum at him, throwing him off balance and causing the large pile of sand to fall onto himself. This only made Mana laugh harder. Getting up quickly, Beast chased the giggling Mana around the tree, but she was one step ahead and went around to the other side, and snuck up on him from behind and chucked another plum at him.
The two were having so much fun they didn't even notice that they were being watched by happy eyes.
"Well who'd have thought?" Joey exclaimed.
"Well bless my soul." Tea responded.
"And who'd have known?" Mahad added with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Well who indeed?"
"And who'd have guessed they'd come together on their own?"
"It's so peculiar"
"We'll wait and see
A few days more
There may be something there that wasn't there before."
They all sang as they watched the Beast lead Mana inside to the library, there smiles growing tenfold as they saw Mana sit down right next to the Beast as she began to read to him, something that had become a looked forward to tradition in the castle.
"Yes, perhaps there's something there that wasn't there before." Yugi said ecstatic.
"There may be something there that wasn't there before." Tea agreed, as all of the servants looked at each other merrily before walking off to their respective posts.
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"Tonight is da night!" Joey cried excitedly, later that evening to him master as he took a bath. The Beast on the other hand just looked nervous amongst the bubbles.
"I'm not sure I can do this."
"You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold, darin'."
"Bold. Daring." The Beast repeated as he emerged from the bathtub and shook himself dry like a dog.
"There will be music. Romantic candlelight, provided myself, and when da time is right, you confess ya love." Joey continued as the coat rack began to work on the Beast's hair.
"Yes, I, I con-- No, I can't." The Beast sighed defeated as Joey looked at him in astonishment.
"You care for the girl, don't you?"
"More than anything." The Beast grunted as the coat rack pulled his hair roughly.
"Well den you gotta tell her." Joey urged, looking anxious as he noticed the coat rack was finished fixing the Beast's hair.
"Presto. You look so...so..." He trailed of in slight disgust as he looked at his annoyed master who now had curly hair, making him look like a lion.
"Stupid." The Beast answered dryly, as he stared at himself in the mirror.
"Not quite da word I was looking for. Perhaps a little more off da top." Joey reasoned with the coat rack, who immediately resumed to chop his hair, they hadn't been sitting there long when Mahad entered the room.
"Ahem ahem ahem. Your lady awaits."
Here you go new chapter!! A new one will be out by tomorrow :) Please review and thank you so much to all those who did :)