Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or Beauty and the Beast.

(Cut to int. of Sesshoumaru's lair. He is standing on the balcony thinking about the night with Kagome. Shippou is there with him.)

SHIPPOU: Tonight is the night!

SESSHOUMARU: (hesitantly) I'm not sure I can do this.

SHIPPOU: You don't have time to be questioning. You must be bold, daring.

SESSHOUMARU: I still don't know. (Sesshoumaru has entered his room.)

SHIPPOU: There will be music. Romantic candlelight, provided myself, and when the time is right, you confess your love.

SESSHOUMARU: (doubting himself) No, I can't, I can't do it.

SHIPPOU: You care for the girl, don't you?

SESSHOUMARU: More than life itself.

SHIPPOU: Well then you must tell her. The rose has already started to wilt. (Sesshoumaru puts on his formal kimono top)

SESSHOUMARU: I still don't know.

(Jaken enters.)

JAKEN: Ahem ahem ahem. Your lady awaits. (Sesshoumaru sighs and heads for the grand staircase)

(Cut to grand staircase, where Kagome descends from the West Wing side in a glittering silver ball gown. She reaches the landing and looks up at Sesshoumaru, who is standing at the top of the stairs in his dress clothes. He is nudged on by Shippou from behind the curtain, and he descends and meets Kagome at the landing. Arm in arm, they descend the last section of stairs and continue on their way to dinner, stopped momentarily by Rin run passed, chasing Kirara. Sango sings.)

SANGO: Tale as old as time, True as it can be. Barely even friends then somebody bends unexpectedly. Just a little change, Small to say the least; both a little scared, neither one prepared, beauty and the beast. (Kagome and Sesshoumaru have moved into the ballroom, where they begin to dance. Sango and Rin stand at the door watching.)

SANGO: Ever just the same, ever a surprise, Ever as before, ever just as sure as the sun will rise. Tale as old as time, tune as old as song, Bittersweet and strange, finding you can change, learning you were wrong. Certain as the sun, rising in the east, tale as old as time, Song as old as rhyme, beauty and the beast. Tale as old as time, Song as old as rhyme, beauty and the beast. (To Rin) Off to your bedroom now, Rin. It's past your bedtime. Good night, love. (Rin s the room, but comes back for one last look. Kagome and Sesshoumaru have adjourned to the balcony under a starry night.)

SESSHOUMARU: Kagome? Are you happy here with me?

KAGOME: (Hesitantly) Yes. (She looks off into the distance)

SESSHOUMARU: What is it?

KAGOME: (Looks at him desperately) If only I could see my father again, just for a moment. I miss him so much.

SESSHOUMARU: (Looks disappointed for a moment, then excited.) There is a way. (The pair adjourn to Sesshoumaru's lair, where Sesshoumaru hands Kagome the MAGIC MIRROR.)

SESSHOUMARU: This mirror will show you anything, anything you wish to see.

KAGOME: (Hesitantly) I'd like to see my father, please. (The MAGIC MIRROR shines into life, and Kagome turns her head away as it flashes. Then it reveals Jii-chan fallen in the woods, coughing and lost. Kagome is shocked. Sesshoumaru looks at her with concern.)

KAGOME: Jii-chan. Oh, no. He's sick, he may be dying. And he's all alone. (Sesshoumaru turns, then looks at the rose, deep in thought.)

SESSHOUMARU: Then go to him.

KAGOME: What did you say?

SESSHOUMARU: You are no longer my prisoner.

KAGOME: (In amazement) You mean...I'm free?

SESSHOUMARU: Yes.

KAGOME: Oh, thank you. (To MAGIC MIRROR) Hold on, Jii-chan. I'm on my way. (Kagome turns to leave, but then turns back and tries to give back the MAGIC MIRROR back to Sesshoumaru.)

SESSHOUMARU: Keep it.

KAGOME: Arigatou for understanding how much he needs me. (Kagome turns to leave and Sesshoumaru turns to the window, not showing his depression. She touches her hand to his arm and rushes out. We see Kagome's skirt fly past Jaken, who has entered the room.)

JAKEN: Well, my lord. I must say everything is going just peachy. I knew you had it in you.

SESSHOUMARU: (Very sad) I let her go.

JAKEN: Ha ha ha, yes. Splend-- (Jaken stops in the middle of his sentence.) You what? How could you do that?

SESSHOUMARU: I had to.

JAKEN: (Still amazed) Yes, but why?

SESSHOUMARU: Because… I love her. (Cut to Jaken telling the rest of the about Sesshoumaru's decision.)

ALL (ex. Jaken): He did what?!?!

JAKEN: Yes, I'm afraid it's true.

RIN: She's going away?

SHIPPOU: But he was so close.

SANGO: After all this time, he's finally learned to love.

SHIPPOU: That's it, then. That should break the spell.

SANGO: But it's not enough. She has to love him in return.

JAKEN: And now it's too late. (Cut to Sesshoumaru watching Kagome leave from the balcony. He roars in sorrow and anger. His roar turns into the sound of the wind. Kagome is out in the snow, calling out "Jii-chan?" Finally, she finds him face down in a snow bank. They return home, where Ginta is still waiting, disguised as a snow bank.)

GINTA: Oh, they're back. (Cut to black. POV of Jii-chan as his eyes open. He sees Kagome.)

JII-CHAN: Kagome?

KAGOME: It's all right, Jii-chan. I'm home.

JII-CHAN: I thought I'd never see you again.

KAGOME: I missed you so much.

JII-CHAN: But the beast. How did you escape?

KAGOME: I didn't escape, Jii-chan. He let me go.

JII-CHAN: That horrible beast?

KAGOME: But he's different, now. He's changed somehow. (A small knocking comes from the door. Kagome opens the door and see a cold Rin and she is holding the mirror.)

RIN: (shivering) Hi!

KAGOME: Oh, Rin what are you doing here? (Leads Rin in and puts a blanket around her)

JII-CHAN: Why, hello there, little girl. Didn't think I'd ever see you again. (Rin sits on the bed and looks at Kagome with a look of question on her face.)

RIN: Kagome, why'd you go away? Don't you like Rin anymore?

KAGOME: Oh, Rin. Of course I do. It's just that-- (There is a knocking at the door. Kagome opens it and Naraku stands on the porch.)

KAGOME: May I help you?

NARAKU: I've come to collect your father.

KAGOME: My father?

NARAKU: Don't worry, mademoiselle. We'll take good care of him. (He steps aside to show the Asylum D'Loons wagon behind him.)

BELLE: My father's not crazy.

GINTA: (Emerging from the crowd) He was raving like a lunatic. We all heard him, didn't we!

BYSTANDERS: Yeah!

KAGOME: No, I won't let you. (Jii-chan has emerged from the home.)

JII-CHAN: Belle?

GINTA: Ah, Jii-chan. Tell us again, old man, just how big was the beast?

JII-CHAN: (Struggling) Well, he was...that is...enormous. I'd say at least eight, no more like ten feet. (CROWD laughs at him.)

GINTA: Well, you don't get much crazier than that.

JII-CHAN: It's true, I tell you! (Naraku waves his arms and his men move in and pick up Jii-chan.)

GINTA: Take him away!

NARAKU: Let go of me! (Kouga has been watching from the sides, standing near Naraku.)

KAGOME: (To Naraku.) No, you can't do this! (Naraku shakes her off and walks away.)

KOUGA: Tsk, tsk, tsk. Poor Kagome. It's a shame about your father.

KAGOME: You know he's not crazy, Kouga.

KOUGA: I might be able to clear up this little misunderstanding, if...

KAGOME: If what?

KOUGA: If you marry me.

KAGOME: What?

KOUGA: One little word, Kagome. That's all it takes.

KAGOME: Never!

KOUGA: Have it your way. (Turns and walks away slowly, playing hard to get.)

JII-CHAN: (Being thrown into the wagon.) Kagome? (She runs back into the house.) Let go of me!

KAGOME: (Comes back out with MAGIC MIRROR. She yells to the crowd.) My father's not crazy and I can prove it! (To MIRROR) Show me the Sesshoumaru! (MAGIC MIRROR again shines, then produces the image of the still depressed Sesshoumaru. The crowd oohs and aahs at it.)

Next chapter up soon.