Chapter 38: A Different Person?
Back with Sakura and Angel, after their encounter with Belle, they were flustered at how the story of Beauty and the Beast changed so much. Sakura wanted to ask Belle more questions but right at that moment, the bookstore owner returned and had a long talk with Sakura and Angel because he was so happy to have people actually interested in his store.
The bell finally rang, putting an end to the long one-sided conversation. Sakura's stomach started rumbling. Belle was hungry too, so the bookstore owner bid everyone farewell.
After learning each other's names and the two had nowhere to go to, Belle brought the two girls to her home to have dinner. On the way to Belle's house, Sakura finally asked Belle how was she allowed to work in the bookstore? As well as other questions to determine how this world had changed.
Belle was wondering why Sakura had all these questions for her but still politely answered them. Sakura gathered that the changes in the world were that: there were no animals in Belle's house, Belle was employed, and had a decent relationship with the fellow villagers.
Angel noticed that the male villagers who passed them by, smiled at Belle, and wished Belle a good night made a trio of blondes frown out of jealousy.
They finally got to the house, had dinner, and the two girls were sent to the only available guest room. Sakura told Angel how the world had changed and that they needed to find Vanessa. Angel added that without Vanessa, it would be hard to find the cause of the distortion. She also added that Belle was a very sad person.
"Sad? I think she's happier than she was in the original."
"Well, even if she looks happy on the outside, I just get this feeling that she's not."
"Ah, well, I think we'll figure things out tomorrow. We need to get some sleep. Night Angel."
"Good night Sakura." replied Angel with a soft voice.
Angel lied down in their shared bed but couldn't fall asleep because she felt weird sharing a bed with someone, she didn't really know all that well. When she was sure that Sakura was asleep, she snuck out of the room.
She took a walk in the hall, hoping the physical activity could get her to calm down and sleep later. Angel heard someone sobbing and followed the sound to a room that was partially open and lit with candlelit.
She saw that Belle was writing on something but when she tried to look closer, she saw a violet light coming from what Belle was writing on before immediately blacking out.
The next morning, Angel woke up next to Sakura on the bed as if nothing had happened. At first, she thought last night was a dream but quickly realized that it wasn't. She got up and tried to open the door, only to find Belle opened it first and Angel looked straight into Belle's smiling face.
Belle asked "Are you alright Angel? What are you doing up this early?"
Angel replied "Um… I wanted to help you? Around the house?"
Even though Angel barely remembered watching Beauty and the Beast in the past, she assumed Belle would have something similar to Cinderella in that they had chores to do.
"Oh. You don't have to do that."
"No, really, it's fine. I want to."
After all, Angel needed to stay close to Belle in order to understand the sad feeling she was getting from Belle.
Belle was taken aback before smiling and saying that they could make breakfast together.
Sakura eventually woke up with a grumbling tummy, changed into her pink dress, and walked into the kitchen where she found Angel and Belle happily talking with one another and working together to make a meal.
Sakura asked "Um… Belle? What time do you go to work?"
Belle exclaimed "Oh my goodness! Look at the time." She quickly swallowed down some food before replying "I'll see you all later."
Belle quickly ran out of the house.
Sakura walked closer to where Angel was and exclaimed "Ooh.~ Food!"
Angel said "We should get going. I don't wanna leave Belle alone."
"But. But. We can't waste food.~"
"Come on…" Angel pulled Sakura's arm and Sakura slammed the door even though she was reluctantly dragged along.
Angel started to run after Belle which made Sakura run as well. Even though their running got them a short distance towards the bookstore, they were out of breath and had to stop before they continued moving. Luna put a paw on her owner's dress and mewed weakly, looking worn.
Angel said "Sorry about that. But I have a bad feeling…"
Chomp.
Distracted by the 'chomp' noise, Angel spoke "I have this bad feeling that if we leave Belle alone…"
Chomp.
"If! We leave Belle alone, something…"
Chomp.
"What?!" Angel turned her head around and saw Sakura continually stuffing herself.
"How… How did you?..."
"I told you. We can't waste food. I didn't even eat yet."
Sakura held out some food for Angel. "Want some?"
Angel's tummy growled and she took it. "Thanks."
Angel tried to explain to Sakura that there is something off with Belle. That despite Belle's appearance, she seemed like she was hiding something. Angel could feel it.
Before Sakura could reply, she heard the villagers badmouthing Belle. They were stunned when they heard that Belle had a runaway mother, crazy father (although that didn't surprise Sakura much), and Belle was called a "weird daughter." When the blonde triplets began talking, the girls heard the word "disgusting harlot."
They assumed that Belle had a better relationship with the village but perhaps the distortion was greater than they originally thought.
They decided to investigate the rumors. They ran around the village and heard more and more bad rumors about Belle. Eventually, they encountered Lefou and Gaston talking to each other.
Sakura shrieked then pulled Angel to hide along with her. She wanted to go somewhere else because man was Gaston a jerk! But they heard something about Belle which made them continue to eavesdrop.
They heard the two men say that the prince is a fool and that they were going to rescue Belle from the prince after taking their rewards then both of them laughed obnoxiously.
Sakura and Angel were both confused. Belle was here with them so who was the Belle with the prince? Luna who had been laying on Sakura's head tapped on Sakura's forehead.
"What is it?"
Luna looked at Angel before meowing.
Angel's eyes became bigger and her expression was one of surprise.
That made Sakura more curious about what Luna was saying.
Angel said out loud "That could be Vanessa."
