Kureno slowly opened his eyes. Tohru's face came into focus. He sat up in astonishment. "Tohru!"

"It's alright Papa, I'm home." Tohru said.

"Oh Tohru, I thought I'd never see you again." Kureno hugged his daughter tightly.

"I'm alright papa." Tohru replied.

"But the beast! How did you get away?" Kureno asked.

"He... he let me go Papa." Tohru answered.

"That horrible creature?"

"He's different now, Papa. He...he's changed somehow." At that moment, something knocked at the door.

Tohru stood and opened the door. Her face grimaced as her eyes fell upon an elderly man with gray skin. His hands were clasped together.

"May I help you?" Tohru asked.

"I've come to apprehend your father." He said.

"My father?"

"Don't worry, Mademoiselle, we'll take care very good care of him." He parted away from the door. A crowd of people had gathered at the farm. Many people held torches and other farming equipment. Within the crowd, Tohru could see a carriage.

Tohru gasped at the lettering on the side of the carriage, "My father's not crazy!" She pushed the man from the doorway.

"He was raving like a nutcase! We all heard him, right?" Shigure asked. The crowd cheered.

Kureno appeared at the door beside Tohru, "Tohru?"

"Kureno, tell us again, just how big was that monster?" Shigure asked. He disguised his laughter.

"He was...he large. I'd about eight...no ten feet high." Kureno explained. The crowed erupted in laughter. Tohru was impressed at how accurate Kureno was.

"It's true!" Kureno exclaimed.

"Get him out of hear." Shigure said. Two men came forward and grabbed Kureno's arms. Kureno struggled to free himself.

"No! You can't do this!" Tohru hurried to stop them. The man pushed Tohru away from the guards.

"Poor Tohru. What a real shame." Akito said.

"You know he's not crazy Akito." Tohru exclaimed.

"There may be a way for me to clean up this tragic misunderstanding. If..."

"If what?" Tohru asked.

"If you marry me." Akito answered.

"What?"

"Just one little word Tohru, and Kureno's free." Akito pulled Tohru closer to his body.

"Never!" Tohru cried. She pushed away from Akito.

"Very well Tohru." Akito replied.

"Tohru!" Kureno cried. "Release me!"

Tohru turned and ran back into the house. Akito smiled in his success. Tohru emerged from the house again carrying a mirror.

"My father is not crazy and I can prove it!" Everyone was amazed at her remark. Tohru turned to the mirror, "Show me the beast!" The mirror shined and the glass displayed the beast within the castle. His dark skin, purple eyes, and sharp teeth shocked everyone. His voice roared fiercely through their ears.

"Is that thing dangerous?" a woman cried.

"Oh no, he'd never hurt anyone. Look, I know he looks dangerous, but he isn't. he's kind and gentle. He's my friend." Tohru explained.

"If he is your friend, then how do you explain those marks on your neck, Tohru?" Akito asked.

Automatically, Tohru placed her hands on the marks that had been an accident.

"The beast attacked you, didn't he?"

"No, no, it was an accident!" Tohru explained.

"To attack a young woman is inexcusable!" Akito proclaimed. The men cheered.

"He saved me in the woods! If I am forced to bear scars because of that, then I will! He has done more for me than you ever tried to do!" Tohru exclaimed. She could no longer ignore the pent up rage inside her.

Akito looked at Tohru hardly, "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you had feelings for this monstrous creature." He grabbed her shoulders roughly.

"He's no monster Akito. You are!" Tohru cried. She pulled herself from his grasp again.

Akito was furious, "She just as crazy as her father!" He pried the mirror from her hands. "The beast will come after your children! He'll stalk them throughout the night!"

"No!"

"We're not safe until I have his heads mounted on my wall! I say we kill the beast!" Akito cried. The crowed erupted in cheers.

"Through the mist, through the woods

Through the darkness and the shadows

It's a nightmare but it's one exciting ride.

Say a prayer, then we're there

At the drawbridge of a castle,

And there's something truly terrible inside.

It's a beast,

He's got fangs, razor sharp ones

Massive paws,

Killer claws for the feast

Hear him roar, see him foam,

But we're not coming home,

'Til he's dead, good and dead, kill the beast!"

Tohru pushed through the crowd. She grabbed Akito's arm in attempt to reach the mirror, "No, I won't let you do this!"

"If you won't help us, then you come at all! Bring the old man!" Kureno was dragged towards the cellar. Akito opened the cellar doors. They tossed Kureno and Tohru into the cellar.

"We can't have them running of to warn it!" Akito called.

"Let us out!" Tohru screamed. She pounded her fist against the doors.

"We'll rid the village of this monster! Who's with me?" Akito cried. The villagers cheered for Akito.

"Light your torch, mount your horse!

Screw you courage to a sticking place!

Through a mist, to a wood,

Where within a haunted castle,

Something's lurking that you don't see every day!

Praise the Lord and here we go!

It's a beast,

One as tall as a mountain!

We won't rest

'Til he's good and deceased!

Sally forth, tally ho,

Grab your sword, grab your bow"

"We'll lay siege to the castle and bring the beasts head!" Akito claimed. He lead the way on his black horse.

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TBC