The Beast? And the Beauty? by Travaria
Part 2
Zechs was having a hard time shoving the braided boy up the stairs to his sister's rooms. Zechs couldn't really understand why he was protesting so much. Probably because Relena's laugh had scared him, but he had nothing to worry about, he would absolutely love Relena. Zechs was positive the two of them would instantly be drawn to one another, even if he had to forcefully drag, push, carry, and shove Duo up the stairs.
Zechs paused in front of the door to her study, keeping a firm grip on the struggling Duo. "Relena-chan, its me your big brother. I have someone I want you to meet," Zechs called through the door, convinced that he had stopped not because it was dangerous to enter unannounced, but that it was rude. The two males heard faint scuffling noises inside and reacted predictably, Zechs smiled slightly since it meant that Relena was preparing for them, and Duo increased his attempts to run for it since it meant that she was preparing for them.
It didn't take long for the doors to swing open, completely on their own. Duo gawked at the doors, their mysterious opening making him forget the danger he was in. Zechs took advantage of his distraction to drag the braided one in. Relena seemed slightly ruffled but for the most part she looked almost normal. Zechs sighed in relief, he had almost been afraid that she had attacked another poor boy. "Sister dearest, I would like you to meet Duo, from the village," Zechs said, shoving the boy (who was still entranced by the doors) forward towards Relena. "Greet the lady Duo."
Duo snapped out of his daze, focusing on the deceptively sweet looking girl seated at the other end of the table.
"Oh, umm. It's nice to meet you ojosan, my name is Duo," Duo greeted with a charming smile.
'He's smiling at me, this could be the one,' Relena thought with excitement. "It is nice to meet you as well Duo, I am Relena." Relena smiled back at the charming American. Zechs too smiled, the two teenagers were getting along beautifully, and it was time for him to make himself scarce.
"Well, I must be going, I hope you two will enjoy yourselves," Zechs bowed slightly leaving out the still open doors. The enchanted doors slammed shut behind him, and suddenly Duo realized that he was trapped all alone with Relena.
******
Wufei and Trowa were heading back towards Relena's study, although Trowa wasn't sure why, he was just following Wufei since he had nothing better to do. They had been walking the other way when Wufei had apparently heard something and changed his course. Trowa was once again having a hard time keeping up; he didn't even have separate legs anymore. "Excuse me, Wufei. What are we doing?" Trowa finally asked as they reached the door to Relena's room.
"I think that the onna has another person in there, I'm going to warn them," Wufei replied. "Now help me with the door."
******
"So Duo," Relena began, "What are some interests of yours."
Duo had the sudden urge to say something like, Well I do enjoy a good bombing now and then, oh yes, and I do so love going to the local bar and getting rip-roaring drunk, but he managed to restrain himself as it didn't seem like the best idea considering the circumstances. "Well I like to read," the braided boy finally stuttered out.
'Oh my God he's perfect,' Relena thought. "Really? I also enjoy reading a great deal," Relena replied smiling sweetly. Duo managed a weak grin back. "What else."
"Well I like to spend time with my horse, Shinigami," Duo added. Relena's smile faltered slightly.
'An animal lover, ugh. But I'm sure I'll be able to break him of that disgusting habit, in time,' Relena mused. "That's nice, dear," Relena responded in a politely disgusted tone. Duo's eyes bugged out at the word 'dear'.
"What do you mean 'dear'?" Duo asked uncomfortably.
"Well, if you are going to be my boyfriend you need to get used to my calling you dear, dear," Relena answered an angelic look on her face. Duo almost had a heart attack, and he did fall out of his chair. Duo lay on the ground unable to move the shock was far too great. "Are you alright dear?"
"Boyfriend," Duo choked out as he pulled himself off the floor using the table for leverage. Before Duo could say anymore though, the door behind Relena exploded open and a small clock and an antique candlestick tumbled in. Duo blinked in confusion, this was such a weird house. Then the clock started talking and Duo's eyes bugged out, and he fell from his tentative perch on the table to floor.
"Onna! How dare you attempt to trap this boy! Run fool, get out of here!" Wufei shouted, alternating between ranting at Relena and warning Duo. "Onna, you are crazy, you need mental help. Get out of here boy, while you still have the chance!"
Relena whirled around to face the clock, glaring murderously. "I believe I mentioned something about a wall fixture! I'm beginning to think that that is too good for you! You worthless piece of antique junk!" Relena yelled at the clock, clearly furious.
"I wouldn't be antique junk if it weren't for you! You psychopath!" Wufei screeched. While the two of them exchanged insults the candlestick hopped over to the collapsed Duo. Duo looked at the candlestick that was obviously looking at him.
"What's going on?" Duo whispered, hoping not to catch the attention of the fighting girl and clock.
"Relena has turned both Wufei and me into common household objects. Wufei is attempting to warn you so that the same might not happen to you," Trowa responded mechanically, still not quite adjusted to the fact that he was a candlestick. Duo was once again overcome by shock, but that quickly passed, and he was left with an intense anger at the psychotic woman.
The braided boy rose to his feet, and Trowa sincerely hoped that he was going to run for, but somehow the boy turned candlestick doubted it. Duo's eyes were darkened by fury, and his entire body radiated with angry energy. A low growl escaped his throat and he glared at Relena who was currently attempting to throttle the Wu-clock. "You," Duo snarled, Relena spun to face him, still holding Wufei. "How dare you! No one deserves to suffer what you have done to those two!" Relena's mouth gaped open, and Wufei looked as shocked as an oriental-clock boy could.
"Duo dear, if your going to be my boyfriend your going to have to support me and take my side, not theirs," Relena finally said in a sugary tone. At this statement Duo burst into laughter.
"As if I ever wanted to be your boyfriend! I especially don't want to now that I know that you turn people in to furniture!! You are a complete psycho and I don't want anything to do with you! Much less to be your boyfriend!" Relena turned an unflattering shade of lobster red, and hurled the Wu-clock at the wall (luckily he didn't break).
"How dare you say that to me!" Relena ground out between clenched teeth. Duos took a good look at Relena's face and saw the fury, resentment, and sorrow in it. Relena stood trembling in anger and resentment for a few moments before she collapsed on the floor crying. Duo looked down on her, still considerably angry, but also sorry for hurting her; sometimes he was just too caring when it came to others. Duo sighed and sank to his knees next to the sobbing girl, Trowa and Wufei watched in shock.
"Now stop that," Duo said. Firm, but not overly unkind. Relena looked at him, rage and sorrow each vying for the position of her main expression. "I realize that some of what I said was not called for, but neither is turning people into clocks and candlesticks because they don't fall in love with you." Duo's voice was harsh with the truth, yet it retained a detached almost kindness. Relena listened to him; it had been so long since she had actually listened to someone. "Now, I think the best course of action, for all of us, would be for you to turn the candlestick and the clock back into humans and let us all go. Then you can look for a boyfriend, but for Shinigami's sake take it slow girl. Get to know the person you want and let him get to know you before you make any long term plans. Alright?"
Relena looked at the braided boy for several long seconds before she rose to her feet. Duo rose as well. 'He has a point, perhaps I do need to take it slower next time,' Relena mused. 'But that doesn't mean that he or the others are off the hook for what they did to me!' "I see the wisdom in your words," Relena began. "But that does not compensate for what you have said and done to me! For this you too must be punished, but not in the same way. I may have a use for you!" Duo stared at the girl incredulously; he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Relena began chanting under her breath and Duo backed away afraid of what she might do to him.
Before Duo had gotten more than three steps away, there was a bright flash, which blinded everyone for several seconds. Duo felt a strange feeling, like his body was changing. Once he regained his sight, he glanced down at his hands, which had been turned into paws. His arms, his legs, his face, his entire body was covered with fur the same color as his hair, which still draped down his back in its customary braid. Duo had been turned into a beast. Duo stared at himself, them looked angrily at Relena, ready to snap her neck, unfortunately she was probably the only person who could reverse the spell. "What have you done to me!" Duo growled his voice deeper and harsher in this new form.
Relena smiled triumphantly. "I have turned you into a beast," Relena stated her voice insufferably smug. "You are going to make sure that someone falls in love with me. Once the man I choose falls in love with me, you and the others will return to your natural forms. If I die or no one falls in love with me, you shall remain like that for the rest of your pathetic lives!" Duo glared at her, too angry for words.
to be continued…
Part 2
Zechs was having a hard time shoving the braided boy up the stairs to his sister's rooms. Zechs couldn't really understand why he was protesting so much. Probably because Relena's laugh had scared him, but he had nothing to worry about, he would absolutely love Relena. Zechs was positive the two of them would instantly be drawn to one another, even if he had to forcefully drag, push, carry, and shove Duo up the stairs.
Zechs paused in front of the door to her study, keeping a firm grip on the struggling Duo. "Relena-chan, its me your big brother. I have someone I want you to meet," Zechs called through the door, convinced that he had stopped not because it was dangerous to enter unannounced, but that it was rude. The two males heard faint scuffling noises inside and reacted predictably, Zechs smiled slightly since it meant that Relena was preparing for them, and Duo increased his attempts to run for it since it meant that she was preparing for them.
It didn't take long for the doors to swing open, completely on their own. Duo gawked at the doors, their mysterious opening making him forget the danger he was in. Zechs took advantage of his distraction to drag the braided one in. Relena seemed slightly ruffled but for the most part she looked almost normal. Zechs sighed in relief, he had almost been afraid that she had attacked another poor boy. "Sister dearest, I would like you to meet Duo, from the village," Zechs said, shoving the boy (who was still entranced by the doors) forward towards Relena. "Greet the lady Duo."
Duo snapped out of his daze, focusing on the deceptively sweet looking girl seated at the other end of the table.
"Oh, umm. It's nice to meet you ojosan, my name is Duo," Duo greeted with a charming smile.
'He's smiling at me, this could be the one,' Relena thought with excitement. "It is nice to meet you as well Duo, I am Relena." Relena smiled back at the charming American. Zechs too smiled, the two teenagers were getting along beautifully, and it was time for him to make himself scarce.
"Well, I must be going, I hope you two will enjoy yourselves," Zechs bowed slightly leaving out the still open doors. The enchanted doors slammed shut behind him, and suddenly Duo realized that he was trapped all alone with Relena.
******
Wufei and Trowa were heading back towards Relena's study, although Trowa wasn't sure why, he was just following Wufei since he had nothing better to do. They had been walking the other way when Wufei had apparently heard something and changed his course. Trowa was once again having a hard time keeping up; he didn't even have separate legs anymore. "Excuse me, Wufei. What are we doing?" Trowa finally asked as they reached the door to Relena's room.
"I think that the onna has another person in there, I'm going to warn them," Wufei replied. "Now help me with the door."
******
"So Duo," Relena began, "What are some interests of yours."
Duo had the sudden urge to say something like, Well I do enjoy a good bombing now and then, oh yes, and I do so love going to the local bar and getting rip-roaring drunk, but he managed to restrain himself as it didn't seem like the best idea considering the circumstances. "Well I like to read," the braided boy finally stuttered out.
'Oh my God he's perfect,' Relena thought. "Really? I also enjoy reading a great deal," Relena replied smiling sweetly. Duo managed a weak grin back. "What else."
"Well I like to spend time with my horse, Shinigami," Duo added. Relena's smile faltered slightly.
'An animal lover, ugh. But I'm sure I'll be able to break him of that disgusting habit, in time,' Relena mused. "That's nice, dear," Relena responded in a politely disgusted tone. Duo's eyes bugged out at the word 'dear'.
"What do you mean 'dear'?" Duo asked uncomfortably.
"Well, if you are going to be my boyfriend you need to get used to my calling you dear, dear," Relena answered an angelic look on her face. Duo almost had a heart attack, and he did fall out of his chair. Duo lay on the ground unable to move the shock was far too great. "Are you alright dear?"
"Boyfriend," Duo choked out as he pulled himself off the floor using the table for leverage. Before Duo could say anymore though, the door behind Relena exploded open and a small clock and an antique candlestick tumbled in. Duo blinked in confusion, this was such a weird house. Then the clock started talking and Duo's eyes bugged out, and he fell from his tentative perch on the table to floor.
"Onna! How dare you attempt to trap this boy! Run fool, get out of here!" Wufei shouted, alternating between ranting at Relena and warning Duo. "Onna, you are crazy, you need mental help. Get out of here boy, while you still have the chance!"
Relena whirled around to face the clock, glaring murderously. "I believe I mentioned something about a wall fixture! I'm beginning to think that that is too good for you! You worthless piece of antique junk!" Relena yelled at the clock, clearly furious.
"I wouldn't be antique junk if it weren't for you! You psychopath!" Wufei screeched. While the two of them exchanged insults the candlestick hopped over to the collapsed Duo. Duo looked at the candlestick that was obviously looking at him.
"What's going on?" Duo whispered, hoping not to catch the attention of the fighting girl and clock.
"Relena has turned both Wufei and me into common household objects. Wufei is attempting to warn you so that the same might not happen to you," Trowa responded mechanically, still not quite adjusted to the fact that he was a candlestick. Duo was once again overcome by shock, but that quickly passed, and he was left with an intense anger at the psychotic woman.
The braided boy rose to his feet, and Trowa sincerely hoped that he was going to run for, but somehow the boy turned candlestick doubted it. Duo's eyes were darkened by fury, and his entire body radiated with angry energy. A low growl escaped his throat and he glared at Relena who was currently attempting to throttle the Wu-clock. "You," Duo snarled, Relena spun to face him, still holding Wufei. "How dare you! No one deserves to suffer what you have done to those two!" Relena's mouth gaped open, and Wufei looked as shocked as an oriental-clock boy could.
"Duo dear, if your going to be my boyfriend your going to have to support me and take my side, not theirs," Relena finally said in a sugary tone. At this statement Duo burst into laughter.
"As if I ever wanted to be your boyfriend! I especially don't want to now that I know that you turn people in to furniture!! You are a complete psycho and I don't want anything to do with you! Much less to be your boyfriend!" Relena turned an unflattering shade of lobster red, and hurled the Wu-clock at the wall (luckily he didn't break).
"How dare you say that to me!" Relena ground out between clenched teeth. Duos took a good look at Relena's face and saw the fury, resentment, and sorrow in it. Relena stood trembling in anger and resentment for a few moments before she collapsed on the floor crying. Duo looked down on her, still considerably angry, but also sorry for hurting her; sometimes he was just too caring when it came to others. Duo sighed and sank to his knees next to the sobbing girl, Trowa and Wufei watched in shock.
"Now stop that," Duo said. Firm, but not overly unkind. Relena looked at him, rage and sorrow each vying for the position of her main expression. "I realize that some of what I said was not called for, but neither is turning people into clocks and candlesticks because they don't fall in love with you." Duo's voice was harsh with the truth, yet it retained a detached almost kindness. Relena listened to him; it had been so long since she had actually listened to someone. "Now, I think the best course of action, for all of us, would be for you to turn the candlestick and the clock back into humans and let us all go. Then you can look for a boyfriend, but for Shinigami's sake take it slow girl. Get to know the person you want and let him get to know you before you make any long term plans. Alright?"
Relena looked at the braided boy for several long seconds before she rose to her feet. Duo rose as well. 'He has a point, perhaps I do need to take it slower next time,' Relena mused. 'But that doesn't mean that he or the others are off the hook for what they did to me!' "I see the wisdom in your words," Relena began. "But that does not compensate for what you have said and done to me! For this you too must be punished, but not in the same way. I may have a use for you!" Duo stared at the girl incredulously; he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Relena began chanting under her breath and Duo backed away afraid of what she might do to him.
Before Duo had gotten more than three steps away, there was a bright flash, which blinded everyone for several seconds. Duo felt a strange feeling, like his body was changing. Once he regained his sight, he glanced down at his hands, which had been turned into paws. His arms, his legs, his face, his entire body was covered with fur the same color as his hair, which still draped down his back in its customary braid. Duo had been turned into a beast. Duo stared at himself, them looked angrily at Relena, ready to snap her neck, unfortunately she was probably the only person who could reverse the spell. "What have you done to me!" Duo growled his voice deeper and harsher in this new form.
Relena smiled triumphantly. "I have turned you into a beast," Relena stated her voice insufferably smug. "You are going to make sure that someone falls in love with me. Once the man I choose falls in love with me, you and the others will return to your natural forms. If I die or no one falls in love with me, you shall remain like that for the rest of your pathetic lives!" Duo glared at her, too angry for words.
to be continued…