~*Beauty & the Beast*~

(Note: This is based on the Disney version of "Beauty and the Beast" as well as some of my fairy tales)

Sorceress: Ishizu

Belle: Serenity

Beast: Kaiba

Gaston: Marik

Gaston's Assistant: Yugi

Mad Scientist: Joey

Lumiere: Bakura

Cogsworth: Duke

Mrs. Potts: Tea

Chip: Mokuba

Drug Dealer: Shadi

French Maid: Mai

Baker: Rishid

Chef: Yami

Priests: Malik & Tristan

~*~*~*~*~

            Yami skimmed through the pages of the book entitled 101 Fairy Tales. "Hmm…Humpty Dumpty…nah…The Little Red Hen…too kiddish…ah, here we are. Beauty and the Beast. Hey, I like this story."

            "Ho boy," Yugi rolled his eyes in the back of his head. "Another romantic story."

            "Well, maybe this story will teach you a lesson," Yami adjusted his glasses, muttering to himself, "You spoiled brat."

~*~*~*~*~

            Once long ago, there lived a prince named Kaiba who resided in a storybook castle nestled within the forest grounds. He had everything he ever wanted. Well…almost everything. Already at the age of 16 and no parents except for the servants and maids, he had yet to find himself a girl.

            One night during a snowstorm, Kaiba heard a knock on the door. Slowly, he approached the entrance and opened the door only to see an old woman in a black cloak. Her face was wrinkly yet grotesques as if she had been in a car accident.

            "Please sir," her voice strained to speak. "It's freezing out here. My family had ditched me from the market place and I'm so cold and weak from this storm. Can't I just stay for one night?"

            Kaiba chuckled. "Listen little lady, I don't allow freaks like you in my castle." He then slammed the door right in her face. "Now beat it and don't come back!"

            Landing no the snow, the old lady clenched her fist. Using her cane for support, she stood up, knocking on the door once more. Instantly, Kaiba opened the door once more, his face twisted in disgust. "You again? I thought I told you to beat it you hag!"

            "Kaiba," the old lady glared at the prince. "Let me tell you this now. Don't judge beauty by appearances but from within."

'           "That's all bullshit!" Kaiba was getting ticked off. As he proceeded to close the door, the old woman stuck out her cane to block the door. Kaiba was stunned at what she did. "How in the…"

            And right before his eyes, the ugliness of the woman began to melt away like how snow turns to water. Kaiba was taken back at this miraculous beauty of the young sorceress. Her gray hair turned to a shiny jet-black. Her eyes were a sparkling, ancient jade green. She looked almost to Kaiba's age if not a little younger.

            "Oh Jesus…" Kaiba stammered, stumbling back, landing on his but on the floor. The sorceress stepped in, her eyes staring down at Kaiba.

            Kaiba got on his knees, begging the sorceress for forgiveness. "Please, please m'lady. I didn't mean any of that stuff! I swear by the holy name!"

            But the young sorceress shook her head sadly, a symbol appearing on her forehead. "You've proved to me that you're nothing more than a callous, heartless bastard." She then started to chant something, the whole castle turning into a demonic one. She held out a blood rose that started to glow before looking back down at Kaiba. "You wish to speak of freaks? You're the freak, no?" she then turned him into a hideous demon with black wings and a tail. His ears were more of an elf's.

            Throughout the years, Kaiba was ashamed of his appearance. One side of his face had been scarred and bruised. He used a phantom mask to cover the side of his face.

            The rose that the sorceress had given her remained in a glass case. A mirror was left in his care to view the outside world. The rose petals slowly wilted and fell. He remembered the words the sorceress had told him.

            "If you are able to love and be loved in return, you will return to your normal self. That is, before the last rose falls. If not, you will all remain in this curse forever."

            Kaiba knew this was hopeless. After all, who could love a demon?

~*~*~*~*~

            That was it?!?" Yugi stared at Yami wide-eyed. "Boy that's really stupid Yami!"

            "That's because I haven't actually started the story Yugi." Yami forced a smile. His voice was tense as he tried to hold back the urge to wrap his fingers around his hikari's neck.

~*~*~*~*~

~*To Be Continued*~