A/N: Alright! For the first time in this story, I've broken the four thousand word line! X3 Congrats to everyone, you get a longer chapter!

Okay, I wasn't able to get this out Friday like I wanted to. I had been writing in class again, and I couldn't finish it soon enough (and I was only 600 words away from my minimum). So I started typing today, again, and...well, I got a little carried away this chapter. But that's okay for me! Really! This was exactly where I wanted to stop.

One thing is troubling me, though. Two, actually.

The first is whether or not I'm going too fast with my timeline. Am I?

The second is that I need some ideas for over winter. After all, in the actual movie, the bonding time between Belle and Beast is a three and a half minute song. So, I need some ideas. Anyone have any? I'll take anything!

Okay, so my last thing is that I would like to thank people for pointing out different mistakes of mine. Whenever someone does, I always go back and fix it.

And to my reviewers! You are gold! You not only keep coming back, but you give me insights to help my story along.

Now, more storytelling!

"I don't see why I have to do any of this," Kagome said. "After all, I'm neither the lord of this castle, nor any kind of noble at all. It's not my responsibility!" Huffing and crossing her arms, Kagome's stance took on a stubborn feel to it. "I'm not going to, you can't make me, end of story. Goodbye." She waved slightly.

Kurama growled. "Do you think it was my idea to have you do this? I don't care whether or not you can properly ride. The fact is, if I don't do this, my already miserable life -which, by the way, is because of you- will become even more so. If I had my way, you would be locked in a tower to rot!"

Kagome gasped. "You little prick! How dare you say something like that! I'll have you know that you're a selfish, spoiled brat who should've gotten his just desserts years ago. It's not my fault that I'm the only person in this entire castle who will stand up to you."

"For good reason!" Youko's breathing quickened with his anger. "You are a rotten wench who should've been drowned when she was born!" A gasp showed that the prince had hit a sore spot. "You're mother should've shoved you back in and your father should have never let you out of the house." He smirked.

Kagome raised a hand to slap him. Youko barely saw it coming, so he was able to get only the very edge of it. "You ass! How dare you say such things about my family. What goes on with my family is none of your concern."

Kurama laughed bitterly. "Only because they're too busy celebrating to notice you've been gone. And enough with the slapping, before I get really mad!" He bared his teeth.

"At least I have a family!"

"One who doesn't care about you."

"My friends aren't some freakish type of zombie, too afraid to speak up for themselves."

"At least I'm not so poor as to have to resort to desperate means, like you. I have enough money to protect my honor instead of selling it." Kagome, and the audience gathered around the bickering couple, gasped at the young lord's words.

Kagome mouth snapped shut. Youko took a minute to smirk, relishing in his little victory. It was short lived, however, as Kagome slowly unfroze from her shock at what was implied to her.

Her eyes slowly closed and her eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "Without honor, eh? Is that what you think?" When she looked up, that familiar urge to whine and back down swept over Youko. Kagome's eyes were blazing with fury and she was shaking with malice.

Kurama kept his eyes open, wary of feminine palms flying towards his face. He needn't have worried; instead of mimicking what had been going on for some time, Kagome's leg shot out and collided with Youko's stomach.

The fox demon's breath flew out of him and he keeled over. He landed on his knees on the stone flooring, bruising them nicely. One hand clutched the injured appendage while the kept his torso off of the ground. Youko's forehead was pressed to the ground and, though he would never admit it, there were tears gathering at the corner of his eyes.

Yuusuke winced in sympathy. He, his girlfriend, and many of the staff were gathered outside in the cool autumn day. They had appeared to watch the exchanges between the lord of the castle, and Kagome (who was called 'The lord of our lord', but only in private). The arguments had been a daily occurrence for the servants and a great source of entertainment.

When Youko was finally able to be let out of bed, the staff had started to try and get them to realize they had feelings for each other. However, that was made difficult by the two being the most stubborn people in the castle. They refused to have anything to do with the other, and it finally came down to Keiko threatening to starve the two if they didn't spend at least some time together.

Though they fought, it hadn't gotten nearly this bad. There had been many creative insults on either parties part, and many a red cheek for the young ruler. However, Youko had never let his mouth run as far as it did that day. In retrospect, Kagome had never had to resort to such violence before.

Speaking of the young beauty, Kagome turned to glare at the gathering. "As for all of you," she began. Everyone hurried to straighten up. "You can just stuff this psychotic plan of yours and keep him away from me." She turned back to Youko, who hadn't moved. "And as for you. The next time you come near me, I'll bloody you up so badly you won't be recognized." With that said, she turned and stormed off into the castle. A large booming noise, the telltale sign of her slamming her door, followed closely after.

Yuusuke shoved his hands into his pockets and walked up to Youko. "She's got some spirit, right Kurama? I mean, even Keiko is afraid of her sometimes." The crowd started to disperse quickly, until only the kneeling lord and his butler were left.

Kurama sat up slowly, supressing a wince. "Shove off. I don't care if she has 'spirit', I'll make good on my threat and go lock her in a tower!" He stood suddenly and would've run off to do just that, if Yuusuke hadn't grabbed him by the arm.

"Whoa there, what the hell do you think you're doing? Aren't you forgetting something?" Youko turned back and glared at his vassal. "She's the only woman outside of the curse that has come around and you are scaring her off. Don't you want to become human again?"

The prince snarled. "Of course I do! I just don't want that- that woman to be the one!"

Yuusuke fixed his friend with his own glare. "Well it sure doesn't look like it. Dammit, Youko, you know better than all of us how little time we have left! We can't just up and find another girl. Even if one were to come here, we wouldn't have the time to teach her what Kagome has picked up. And," he held up a hand when the lord opened his mouth to retort, "and she would never fall for you in such a short time."

Youko ripped his arm from the brunette's grasp. "So, what would you have me do? Huh? Admit that I might like her? Admit that she's interesting? Admit that I just might find a way to convince her I'm not the arrogant bastard she thinks I am?"

"That would be a start at least." Yuusuke ran a hand through his hair. "Look, it's not some big secret. Everyone knows that you like her," Yuusuke pointedly ignored the growl sent his way, "and, believe it or not, she likes you, too. You two are just so goddamned stubborn that you don't realize it!"

Kurama blinked and stood back. "You're saying, that with everything I've said to her, she still likes me? Forgive me if I find that rather hard to believe." He fixed a scowl on his face.

"Stop being such a prick. She had a point when she said that, you know." The butler crossed his arms. "I would like to point out something. In the entire time that she has been here, with the exception of the first day she was here, she has never began a fight with you. In fact, she has gone out of her way to be somewhat kind and gentle with you."

Youko turned his head. "And? What do you propose I do about her?"

Yuusuke tried to hide a grin. He knew that Youko knew he knew he wasn't fooled. The young lord would just never admit to liking someone deemed 'low', like Kagome. "She has a name; I suggest you use it. Also, try to find out what she likes. Give her a gift or something. You never know, it might cheer her up."

Youko spun to face the brown-eyed immortal. "And just how am I supposed to figure out what kind of shit she likes if she isn't even talking to me? Tell me that." Feeling confident in the fact that he won the arguement, Youko crossed his arms.

"You don't. You ask me, or Keiko, or Hiei, or any other member in your service. You haven't been paying attention to what Kagome does when she isn't around you, obviously. See, she likes to help out around here. Just ask politely, and I'll tell you all I know right now."

"How about I order you to?"

"How about you're not that mean, no matter what you think."

A small breeze whistled through the scene as both men stood, staring at each other. Minutes passed. Finally, with great reluctance, Youko ground out "Will you please tell me what she likes?"

Yuusuke smiled a little too brightly for the death look Kurama was giving him. "Why, certainly. Thank you for asking. Okay, according to the girls, Kagome is a very healthy young woman with a bit of a temper." A very un-royal snort was heard. "She likes her donkey -or was it mule?- Buka and constantly visits whenever possible. She likes to talk to people and learn about things, and it doesn't matter what she learns. She has that same curiousity that Keiko and Shizuru have in finding out things. She tends to be stubborn and shy. She enjoys reading, and there's one book she has that has never left her side. I think it's from her old village, but she refuses to talk about it. Her favorite color is blue, her favorite flower is a lily, and her favorite meal is a light salad with a small glass of wine." Yuusuke paused for a minute. "So, you think you have something you can give as a sort of peace offering?"

Youko, completely unaware that he was supposed to keep up a certain appearance of hating the woman, nodded thoughtfully. "I just might have it, but it will take some time to put together. And I'll need help; lots of it."

Yuusuke slung an arm around his young master's shoulder. "Don't worry, we've got you covered."

Kagome had gone and locked herself in her room after the argument. She had gone a step further than just locking the door, too. She had pulled everything that wasn't nailed to the door (with the exception of the heavier items) and barricaded the entrance. It had taken her some time, but she felt confident that she would get at least a day's worth of peace.

It was to her absolute and utter delight when she had awoken, three days later, and the door had budged only slightly. She could hear the fighting between Kazuma and Hiei from outside the obstruction and smiled. She wasn't lacking in anything in her little room; a few days back she had stashed a large amount of food underneath her bed for an instance just like this.

It took a total of a week before Kagome ran out of food.

It took an hour after eating the last morsal before anyone was able to sneak into the room.

After they finally got to her, and gave her a nasty lecture, Kagome had began to wander about the castle again. For some reason, all help that she had offered was refused. Unlike before, she wasn't being allowed to help anyone. And nobody would tell her why!

So it was with anger that she made her way to the barn to visit Buka. She had to trudge through a crisp, new layer of snow before she made it to the barn, but the weather fit her mood perfectly and so she didn't complain.

The beast had made off with an easy time. He was in a warm stable and getting fat off of grain and warm mash. He seemed content to just sit around and let the head of the stable, Kuronue, take care of him.

Kagome smiled as the chimera looked up at her entrance. The brunette rather liked the demon, with his odd outfits and contrasting appearance.

On that cold day, Kuronue had chosen to wear a black, pointed hat over his even darker hair. In order that it wouldn't get mussed up, his hair was pulled back into a knot at the base of his neck. His black shirt, which had the sleeves quite literally ripped off of them, matched his hat and the breeches he had dooned. A single belt was the only color in his ensemble. Everything was coordinated to show how pale the man was.

Setting down his rake and exiting the stall he had been cleaning, Kuronue hailed Kagome. "How goes it, lady? Why in so foul a mood?"

Kagome smiled and shrugged. "Nobody is letting me help them, so I won't bother asking you. No doubt it's orders from a higher source." Kagome scowled. "I mean, what did I do? Why won't they let me help?"

Kuronue stopped in front of her and leaned against a wooden beam. "I don't think it's that. Kurama really hasn't been seen outside of the east wing lately, and the only people who are with him aren't saying anything. In fact, he's barely said a word since you two fought. Which is an improvement, in my opinion."

Kagome returned the smile she was given. "Yeah, but what did I do? I mean, I know I locked myself in my room, but would that be enough to warrant this kind of action from them?"

Kuronue shook his head slowly. "I don't think so. Did it ever occur to you that they might just not need the help? Or that they maybe think it's demeaning for a lady of your stature to help with the meager and monotonous work of a household servant?"

"No." Kagome pouted slightly. "I'm not a lady, and I like to help people."

"We don't always get what we want, my lady." Kuronue bowed slightly. "Now, on a different note, are you here to see your friend?"

Kagome nodded wildly. "I haven't had a lot of time to come down and see him, so I thought I'd pay a visit. How is he?"

Kuronue began to lead Kagome to the stall where the stubborn donkey had made a decent home. "He's been great. Hardly kicks me now."

Kagome laughed nervously. When he was first brought into the stable, Buka hadn't liked it at all. He had made the biggest fuss, disturbing the other beasts and making everyone edgy. Buka really hadn't liked it when Kuronue had tried to clean him up. The fading bruises were still dotting the chimera's pale skin days after the last scuffle.

"Hey, boy!" Kagome called when the stall door was opened. Buka's ears perked forward as Kagome walked towards him, his nose thrust into the air. He sniffed delicately and walked forward, nosing Kagome's stomach while searching for a treat.

"Yeah, you know what you get, don't you?" Kagome pulled out an apple, crisp and juicy. She held it in her palm and extended it to her friend. "You want it? Hm?"

Buka lipped the object, as if testing whether or not it would run away from him, before snatching it between his teeth and pulling away. Kagome laughed as the grey equine chewed methodically, little peices of the fruit dribbling from his mouth. Kagome walked forward and began to scratch Buka behind his left ear, the donkey's favorite spot by far.

They stayed that way for a while before their peace was interrupted. "My lady, there's someone to see you," Kuronue called to the brunette. Kagome looked up and pouted. "And don't give me that face; it's higher orders that calls you away, not me."

Kagome whined. "But I just got here! Can't I have a little bit more time?"

A blue head of hair peered around the corner. Botan cleared her throat. "His royal highness Youko Kurama wishes your company at the entry hall in fifteen minutes." She smiled. "That gives you time to say goodbye and change, you know."

Kagome nodded and sighed. "You'd think he'd leave me alone, after all the fuss. Ah well, he is letting me stay here." Kagome refused to think there was an alterior motive to her accepting the prince's invitation.

Youko nervously paced back and forth. The carpet he was walking on was worn and showed signs that this was not the first occurence of someone pacing its length in nervous energy. The young fox often stood and paced the entry way, its length long enough to work out his frustration and calming enough to sooth his tattered nerves.

Kurama fought the urge to wring his hands as he waited for the girl. He couldn't help but dwell on what he was about to do. Would she like it? Would she hate it? Would she throw it back into his face and laugh mockingly at him as he tried to stutter out an explaination?

Not that he would ever stutter...the others would never let him live it down.

He hadn't bothered to change into anything new. The ruling youth still sported the white silk tunic and breeches that he wore every day. It wasn't that it got boring ever, but it was the last thing he had worn when he was human. It had some sentimental value to it, and helped him cling to the hope that someday he would break the curse and all would be well for him and his companions.

A throat being cleared caused him to spin quickly. He nearly tripped in shock at the beauty standing behind him, catching himself at the last minute. Fixing a mask of indifference over his face, he took in the woman's appearance just as she did his.

She had decided to wear one of his mother's old outfits, but he was too oblivious to notice. It was a pale green gown that fit her like a second skin. There were no wrinkles to tell that it wasn't somehow painted on her body. The embroidery on the hems and along the neckline were delicate vines that complimented the light colored dress in a dark leaf color. Her hair was hooked back in a simple matching ribbon, one of the stray ends falling over her shoulder.

All in all, it was a simple ensemble. It didn't do anything to help soothe the kitsune.

He snapped back to reality and, using courtly manners, made a stiff bow. "I thank you for coming to meet me," he said in as neutral a tone as he could come up with.

Kagome blinked and curtsied just a bit less formally than the prince did. "I hope you don't think I'm going to stick around for long. I'm not here because you asked me to be; I'm here because the others are stopping me from doing anything worthwhile and I'm bored stiff. So just keep in mind that I'll leave as soon as my attention wavers," she warned.

Youko nodded. "Then I had best keep your attention, won't I?" He held out an arm. "If it pleases you," he offered.

Kagome took the arm cautiously. He's planning something, she told herself as they began to walk deeper into the castle. Kagome glanced covertly at her companion. His face was completely blank, devoid of any emotion. Well, no help there. The arm Kagome was holding was very tense, telling her that he was either very nervous or very agitated. Or very murderous...

They walked in a silence so thick that you could cut into it with a knife- provided that knife was one used to butcher through the tough bones of cattle and other livestock. Neither appeared to be aware that someone was walking next to them. On the inside, however, neither could be tempted to forget that the other had thrown gruesome insults at them.

They arrived none too soon at a large pair of pine doors. The soft wood was carved simply with designs showing the different constellations in the sky. Kagome raised an eyebrow at the doors while Youko stood stock still, momentarily frozen. Neither moved for a moment.

Finally, the silver-haired prince turned to the woman beside him. "I want you to close your eyes," he told her.

Kagome's eyes narrowed. She stepped back as she accused, "What, so you can feed me to some ugly beast and be rid of me?"

Kurama gave a look of exasperation. "Look, it's a surprise. I'm not dumb enough to get rid of you when most of the people I live with would murder me in my sleep for such thoughts. Also, I wouldn't dare wreck such a delicate doorway by getting blood all over it." He stared at her pointedly. "So, if you would close your eyes, that would be much appreciated."

Kagome didn't trust the prince even as far as she could throw him (which, due to her lack of upper muscle strength, wouldn't be very far to begin with) and reluctantly closed her eyes.

To make sure she couldn't see anything, Youko hesitantly waved a hand in front of her face. Content with the fact that she was, indeed, closing her eyes completely, Youko gripped her arm at the elbow. "Keep your eyes shut until I say."

Kagome pursed her lips. Her skin tingled where Youko touched her, and she wasn't entirely sure she hated the feeling. That disturbed her more than she let on, for she had thought she wouldn't like anything to do with her captor.

Youko opened the doors and slowly led the raven-haired girl into the room. He stopped her as she stepped in the center of a dull seal and ordered her to wait where she was. Taking a deep breath, he walked over to the draped windows. Pulling on a tassled rope, he used his strength to open the curtains.

Sunlight flooded into the room, turning the darkness behind Kagome's eyes into a pale yellow color. She heard more drapes being forced open after years of blocking the cheerful light, and turned her head slightly to locate each sound. From what she heard, the windows were all in front of her. They had been walking to the far corner of the castle's layout, so it confused Kagome as to why the windows would only be on one side when they could be on two.

Youko made his way back to the youth standing on his family's crest inlaid on the floor, two stags surrounding various flora on a burgandy background. He hesitated only slightly before he said, "Alright. You can open your eyes now."

Kagome's eyes fluttered open and she gasped. She was standing in the middle of a library, one filled with books from floor to ceiling on three sides. She spun around slowly, trying to look in five directions at once. Long ladders, like the ones that Houjo used in his store back in her village, stretched from the different floors to the topmost shelves. Winding staircases connected three marble decks together and added to the elegance of the room. The open floor, in which Kagome stood in the center of, held various desks and comfortable looking couches and chairs for the different book lovers to read in. Even more books overflowed from the gigantic shelves onto the mahogany desks lining the room. Looking down, Kagome stared in awe at the seal.

Youko watched all this being taken in by the young woman in front of him. After she had a moment to adjust, he sighed. "I take it you like it?" Kagome nodded mutely. "Well, I had heard that you liked to read. Since nobody else in the castle spends any amount of time here, this room is my gift to you."

Kagome looked up, shocked. Small pools of tears were gathered at the corners of her eyes, making Youko think he did something wrong. "Why? Why would you do this for me?"

Youko shifted his wieght and put a hand at the back of his head, looking almost anywhere but at the girl in front of him. "Well, you did save me. I owe you a thank you for that, Kagome,but it was also pointed out to me that I was acting like a jerk to you. A lot. So this is an apology as much as a thank you." He looked up at her and saw, if it were possible, an even more shocked person in front of him. "What, did I say something wrong?"

"You called me Kagome," was the whispered reply.

Youko shrugged. "Don't look too far into it. I may be thankful you saved my life, but it doesn't mean we're the best of friends yet."

Kagome nodded and blinked back her tears. "Thank you. Thank you so very much."

As Kagome practically ran towards the mountains of written pages (although a lady would never run), Youko breathed a sigh of relief. Kagome liked it. A warm feeling filled Youko and he took a seat on one of the many couches, content for the moment to watch Kagome run around like a child in a toy shop.

End Chapter
Any questions? Comments? Suggestions? Please review!