AN: I do not own Ouran, Beauty & the Beast, or X-Men. If you've made it this far, review.
Chapter Eighty-Five: How You Get the Girl
The dinner was abysmal. I looked at Tamaki, who was looking at me. Together we silently formed a plan to get the three of us out of the dinner. He sent a sign to Kyoya, so he could get the idea as well. I sent a text for the twins to call Tamaki and me with a pretend club emergency. Tamaki texted Kimi to call Kyoya with a different club emergency, and then Tamaki and I set their numbers on loud on the same song, while Kyoya set his on sound and loud, so when it would go off it would actually read. Tamaki and my cell phones went off, while Kyoya's phone started to ring.
"I deeply apologize for the interruption, there must be an emergency with the club." Kyoya apologized, "We have to take these." We stood up and took our calls outside.
"I'm sorry about that, there's a problem with the costumes we ordered, you say?" I asked
"How bad is that dinner going to fake an emergency?
"That's dismal." I replied, "When do you expect them to come in?"
"That bad?"
"Do you have anymore hours so maybe we can rework the costumes?" I asked.
"Should we get the others?"
"Yes, that would be lovely, thank you." I hung up.
"So what's your emergency?" Tamaki asked.
"Costumes, yours?"
"China orders were mixed up." Tamaki replied, "Kyoya got a call about the dessert supplies needing a second overview."
"So we need to leave to get everything fixed."
"Yes, Kyoya's taking care of that now."
"Let's go." Kyoya said coming back, we headed out to Kyoya's car and went to the twins' house. We thought it was a better idea than taking a limo.
"What do we do now?" Tamaki asked.
"I have no idea." I replied.
"Well, you can't marry Akito." Tamaki stated.
"No shit." I retorted.
"When do you leave?" Kyoya asked
"I don't know yet." I replied, that was the only answer I could give until I talked to Sumi.
"Leave?" Tamaki asked.
"If she doesn't marry Akito, she'll have to leave Japan." Kyoya explained.
"And go back to Paris." Tamaki sighed.
"I was actually thinking of going somewhere else." I admitted.
"Where?" They asked.
"I don't know yet." I replied, that was something else I had to plan with Sumi.
Sumi's POV
As soon as we all arrived, we were split up. Kyoya and Tamaki talked with everyone else and Yuki talked to me. She sat me down and told me everything she could about the dinner and the arranged marriage to Kyoya's brother. I agreed she had to get out of the country, but not until she graduated. I also agreed that she shouldn't go back to Paris and that her best bet would be to live in the United States and start over there. I understood why she separated me from the others, it was clear as she was explaining what had happened, this was my favor.
"Where do you wanna go and when do you want to leave?"
"I want to go to the US, but I haven't really thought about where."
"Have you thought about a region?"
"I don't want to live in the South or Midwest." She replied.
"City, suburb, or country?"
"I don't care."
"Alright, I'll see what I can get." I replied.
"Thank you."
Yuki's POV
Dream
Once Upon a time, in a far away land, a young prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything his heart desired, the prince was spoiled selfish and unkind. But then, on one winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince sneered at the gift and turned her away. But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances for beauty is found within. And when he dismissed her again, her appearance melted away into a beautiful enchantress.
The prince tried to beg for her forgiveness, but it was too late for she saw there was no love in his heart. And as punishment, she turned him into a hideous monster and placed a powerful spell upon the castle and all who lived there. Ashamed by his monstrous form, the beast concealed himself inside the castle with a magic mirror as his only window into the outside world. The rose the woman had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom for many years. If he could learn to love another, and earn her love in return, by the time, the last petal fell, the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time. As the time slowly passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope, for who could ever learn to love a beast?
"Tama, I'm going to go return a book to the bookshop, I'll be back later." Yuki called to her brother who was working in his workshop and went into town.
A lady greeted a man carrying a sack of flour, he greeted her with a 'Bonjour' of his own and a nod. The egg man greeted the baker and the washer woman and they greeted him.
"Good morning, Yuki." The baker greeted her.
"Good morning, Hunny." Yuki smiled.
"Where are you off to today?" Hunny asked her.
"The bookshop to return a book I borrowed." Yuki replied.
"You were there yesterday." Hunny laughed lightly.
"I know, but once I started reading, I couldn't stop." Yuki laughed lightly as well, before changing the subject, "How is your wife?"
"Fantastic." Hunny smiled, "She's getting used to eating for two, but she's great."
"I'm glad."
"I have to get back to work." Hunny told her, "It was nice seeing you."
"It was nice seeing you too, Hunny." Yuki bid him goodbye and he left. She went into the bookshop as the townsfolk continued to greet each other.
"Yuki" Takashi nodded.
"Good morning, Takashi." Yuki smiled, "I've come to return the book I borrowed."
"Finished already?"
"Oh, I couldn't put it down!" Yuki exclaimed, "Have you got anything new?"
"Not since yesterday."
"Oh, that's alright." Yuki started scanning the shelf, "I'll borrow…" She found her favorite, "this one!"
"But you've read it twice!"
"Well, it's my favorite! Far off places, daring sword fights, magic spells, a prince in disguise –"
"If you like it so much, then it's yours."
"But Takashi…"
"I insist."
"Thank you, thank you very much!" She smiled and left the shop, starting to read. She walked through the streets, becoming more engrossed in her book. She stopped and sat down on the fountain to read for a while. She pulled down the woman beside her, so she could see the best part of the became even more engrossed in the book, the woman left as quickly as she could.
"I got it Akito!" Ryo exclaimed, catching the goose Akito, the town hero, "Wow! You didn't miss a shot, Akito! You're the greatest hunter in the whole world!"
"I know." Akito replied.
"No beast alive stands a chance against you." Ryo stated, "And no girl, for that matter."
"It's true, Ryo." Akito nodded, "And I've got my sights set on that one." He pointed to Yuki.
"The inventor's sister?"
"She's the one." Akito smiled, "The lucky girl I'm going to marry."
"But she's-" Ryo started.
"The most beautiful girl in town."
"I know, but-"
"That makes her the best." Akito stated, "And don't I deserve the best?"
"You couldn't choose anyone else?" Ryo asked, "There are so many other single women in this town."
"But none like her."
"That's why she's going to be mine."
"I didn't mean that positively."
"Anything wrong with her can be trained out of her." Akito waved his comment off, before chasing after Yuki. "Hello Yuki." He greeted her when he eventually caught up with her.
"Bonjour Akito." She greeted him before starting to walk away, "Excuse me." He grabbed her book out of her hands, causing her to turn around, "Give me my book back, Akito."
"How can you read this?" Akito asked her, "There are no pictures."
"Well some people use their imaginations." Yuki replied, taking back her book, before trying to walk away again.
Akito took the book out of her hands again, "Yuki, it's about time you got your head out of those books and focused on more important things" Akito told her, throwing her book into the mud. Yuki went to go get it, but he stepped in front of her, "like me." He stepped out of her way, "The whole town's talking about it." He told her as she picked up her book and cleaned it off. "It's not right for a woman to read. Soon she starts getting ideas and thinking."
"Akito, you are simply primeval." Yuki retorted.
"Thank you." Akito smiled, "What do you say, we go over to the tavern and take a look at my trophies?" He steered her towards the tavern.
"What do you say, we don't." She retorted.
"C'mon Yuki, I know how you feel about me." Akito replied.
"You can't even imagine." Yuki rolled her eyes. Akito grabbed her hand. "Akito, please, I have to get home to help my brother."
"That crazy fool, he needs all the help he can get." Ryo laughed.
"Don't talk about my brother that way." Yuki glared.
Akito hit Ryo, "Don't talk about her brother that way!"
"My brother is not crazy, he's a genius." She told them before she left to go home.
"Tama, I'm back." She said as she went into the workshop.
"How was town?"
"I got a new book." She replied.
"You do love your books." Tamaki smiled.
"They take me away to where there's adventure, mystery, romance, happy endings…" Yuki sighed, "To tell you the truth, I don't know if I really fit in here."
"This town is just a stop along the way." Tamaki replied, "With these new inventions, we could be on our way out of here. If they're successful at the fair, we're gone."
"Tamaki, if I ask you a question, will you answer it honestly?" She asked him.
"Of course." He replied.
"Do you think I'm odd?" She asked, she would be lying if she said she didn't know the rumors that were spreading around town about her and her brother.
"You odd?" Tamaki asked, "Where did you get an idea like that?"
"I don't know. It's just that, well, people talk."
"They talk about me, too" Tamaki replied, "No I don't think you're odd."
The next day, Tamaki packed up his newest inventions and headed off to the fair to show them off and to possibly be hired by a company. It wasn't even a day before Akito showed up at her doorstep.
"Akito…" Yuki greeted him as she went to her front steps.
"Good afternoon, Yuki." He greeted her, walking down the steps.
"What a pleasant surprise…"
"Isn't it though?" He replied, "I'm just full of surprises." He pulled a picture out of his vest, "For you, mademoiselle."
"A small portrait of you, you shouldn't have." She replied as he put it down.
"You know there's not a girl in town who wouldn't love to be in your shoes. This is the day your dreams come true."
"How could you possibly know about my dreams, Akito?"
"Plenty." Akito replied, placing a hand on her waist, before singing. She tried to move away, but he grabbed her arm and linked it with his. She tried to get away from him as he started to talk about his plans for her, but he stopped her and smiled at her. Every time she tried to get away, he stepped in front of her. She tried to point at something and run away, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. Akito went on, "Picture this: A rustic hunting lodge, my latest kill roasting over the fire, my little wife massaging my feet, while the little ones play on the floor with the dogs. We'll have six or seven!"
"Oh, dogs?"
"No, strapping boys like me."
"Imagine that."
Akito pulled her close to him, "So, Yuki, is it a yes or an 'oh yes'?"
"Oh, I…" She tried to think of something to say, "I just don't deserve you."
"Who does?" Akito replied, moving away.
Yuki took this chance to run into the house, "But thanks for asking." She told him before shut and locked the door behind her. "There is no way on god's green earth that I would ever marry that damn sexist fool." She shook her head. She heard a horse cry from outside and went to go check it out, "Philippe, what are you doing here?" She asked the horse, "You're supposed to be with Tamaki." She took the cart off the horse and hopped upon him, "Take me to him."
Philippe took her to a dark castle at the edge of the woods, gated off from any outside wanders. "Oh Tamaki what has become of you?"
Inside the castle, two of its servants were arguing about what had become of its latest guest.
"You couldn't keep quiet, could you? You just had to invite him in, didn't you?" Haruhi, an enchanted clock, who used to be the majordomo of the castle, said to Hikaru and Kaoru, servants turned candelabras.
"We were trying to be hospitable." Hikaru replied, before Haruhi continued.
"Tamaki?"
"Look, there's a girl in the castle!" Kaoru pointed out.
"Tamaki?"
"Yuki?" Tamaki called to her from a cell.
"Tamaki!" She ran to him.
"You have to leave." Tamaki told her, "You have to leave now."
"What do you mean I have to leave?" She asked, "I just found you, I'm not going anywhere."
"Seriously, I'm saying this because I love you, leave now." Tamaki replied, "Why aren't you leaving?"
"What are you doing here?" An angry voice bellowed.
"I've come to get my brother." Yuki replied defiantly, "You have to let him out."
"He shouldn't have trespassed here." The person stayed in the shadows and replied, "I'm the master of this castle and I say he stays. There's nothing you do, he's my prisoner."
"Take me instead."
"What?"
"Take me instead of my brother." She stated.
"You would do that?"
"If I do, will you let him go?"
"Yes, but you must promise to stay here forever."
"Come into the light." She replied. He did as she told him, she gasped in surprise at the sight, for before her was a beast. The creature was covered in dark blackish blue fur from head to toe with black claw-like nails. His onyx eyes were human, however, betraying his animalistic features. She walked over to him as her brother watched in horror, "You have my word."
The beast let Tamaki out of his cell and carted him off before either of them could say another word.
"You could have let me say goodbye." Yuki told him when he came back, "I'm never going to see him again and you didn't even let me say goodbye."
After a few moments, the Beast said, "I'll show you to your room."
"My room?"
"Unless you'd rather stay here in the dungeon."
"Not really."
"Then follow me." The Beast replied. She got up and she followed him through the castle. "I hope you like it here. You can go anywhere you'd like. This castle is your home now. You can explore anywhere, except the west wing."
"What's in the west wing?"
"It's forbidden." He replied coldly, stopping for a moment, and then continuing to walk down the hall. "And you are never to step foot there, do you understand?"
"Yes." She replied.
He opened the door to her bedroom, "This is your room. I hope that you will be comfortable here. If you need anything, my servants will attend to you." He stood up straighter, "You will join me for dinner." She slammed the door on him, "That's not a request."
She tried to open the door but it was locked, she turned back and faced the room, 'What did I just get myself into?' She thought as she went to the bed and down to contemplate everything.
There was a knock at the door. The female servant let herself in, but she didn't appear to be human, she was an enchanted teapot.
"I thought you'd like some tea." The teapot said.
"But you're-"
"I know." The teapot replied.
"We all know." The dresser said.
"You all-" Yuki sat down on the bed, "This is impossible."\
"We know it is." The dresser replied, "I'm Renge, I used to be the royal dresser."
"I'm Sumi, I'm the head of the household staff." The teapot told her, "When the master was cursed, a curse was put upon the rest of the household."
"It's been a nightmare."
"Renge, you don't have it that bad."
"I'm a wardrobe!" Renge exclaimed.
"I haven't seen my husband in a decade, shut up." Sumi replied to Renge, before turning to Yuki smiling, "Tea?"
"Yes, thank you."
Sumi poured the tea in the cup, "Hana, try not to spill."
"Yes, mama." The tea cup replied as she hopped over to Yuki and into her hands.
"That was a very brave thing you did for your brother." Sumi told her.
"We all think so." Renge agreed.
"I've lost everything and I didn't even get to say goodbye."
"Cheer up, miss." Sumi smiled, "It'll turn out alright in the end, you'll see. I hope that we'll be friends though I don't know you well. If anyone can make the most of living here, then, Yuki, it's you. And who knows? You may find a home here, too."
Yuki smiled, "Thank you."
"I have to make sure dinner is 'attended to." Sumi and Hana left with the tray cart.
"So, what should we dress you in for dinner?" Renge asked, "Any colors you like best?"
"I'm not going, so it doesn't matter." Yuki replied.
"But you have to, Master Kyoya requested your presence." Renge told her, obviously afraid of the master of the house.
"That monstrous blue furball can command my presence all he wants, it doesn't mean I'm going." Yuki replied flippantly, not meaning to be as flippant with Renge, but more so about the situation and her new, for lack of a better word, master, "I'm sorry this happened all so fast."
"Well aren't you audacious." Renge replied surprised as Haruhi came in.
"Dinner is served." She announced.
"I'm not going." Yuki replied dryly.
"Oh." She replied shocked, and then ran downstairs. Yuki closed the door behind her.
On the other side of the castle on the first floor, Master Kyoya, the "blue furball" beast was pacing.
"Where is she?" Kyoya asked Sumi and Hikaru, "I told her to come down to dinner, she was supposed to be down here by now."
"Try to be patient, sir, she's lost her family and her freedom all in one day." Sumi told him.
"Master, have you thought that this girl could be the one to break the curse?" Hikaru asked.
"Of course, I have."
Hikaru smiled, "Great, so all we have to do is have you fall in love with her and have her fall in love with you, and we can go back to normal in a few hours."
"It's not that easy and it never takes a few hours."
"But the rose is already wilting."
"It's no use, she's so beautiful and I'm, well…" He started to get angry, "Look at me!"
"He has a point." Hikaru agreed.
"We can see you, Kyoya." Sumi replied dryly, "You're blue, and have fur and claws, you're about as unattractive as most of the personality you put off."
"One more quip out of you and I'll break you." Kyoya growled.
"You've been saying that for years." Sumi replied, "Anyway, as far as the girl goes, you must help her to see past all that."
"I don't know how." He sighed.
"You can start by making yourself more presentable. You could stop feeling sorry for yourself and try to act more like a gentleman." She stated, "If you want this girl to love you have to treat her with respect, charm her with your wit and knowledge…"
"Be gentle and try not to frighten the poor girl." Hikaru suggested.
"Hikaru, I suggest you meet the girl, before you suggest the second half of that." Sumi told him.
"Why?" Kyoya and Hikaru asked.
"She doesn't frighten easily." Sumi replied, "Above anything else we can suggest to you, you must control your temper."
Haruhi entered the room and cleared her throat to get their attention, "Good evening."
"Where is she?"
"Who?"
"The girl."
"She has decided not to come."
"What?" Kyoya asked angrily, before storming off to get Yuki, "I thought I told you to come to dinner." He said coming into the room.
"I'm not hungry." She replied.
"You're hungry if I say you're hungry." He retorted.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"What did you say?" He asked her annoyed.
"Well you can't go around ordering people to be hungry." She replied, "It doesn't work like that. Besides, it's rude."
"Rude, is it?" He replied, "Well then, how about this, if you don't come down to dinner, I'll drag you by your hair!"
Haruhi, Sumi, Hikaru, and Kaoru stopped him.
"That may not be the best way to win the girl's affections." Kaoru commented.
"Please attempt to be a gentleman." Haruhi told him.
"Why is she being so difficult?" Kyoya asked them, they provided several answers at the same time. "Stop!" He looked to Yuki, "Why are you being so difficult?"
"Why are you being such a bully?" She contradicted.
"Because I want you to come down to dinner!"
"So you admit you're being a bully?"
He glared at her.
"Deep breaths, Master Kyoya." Sumi told him. He did so.
"I'll give her one last chance." He told them.
"Would you be so kind as to join me for dinner, please?" Kyoya tried to ask nicely.
"No, why should I?"
"I'm the master of this house and invited you to dinner."
"I'm the guest and I can refuse."
"It would give me great pleasure, if you would join me for dinner." Kyoya tried again.
"No, thank you."
"Fine then you starve!" Kyoya retorted, before looking at Haruhi, Hikaru, and Sumi, "If she doesn't eat with me, she doesn't eat at all." He left to go to the west wing.
"That didn't go well." Sumi sighed.
Hikaru frowned, "First girl to ever come up and she automatically refuses him."
"That's because of his attitude, not the way he looks." Sumi replied.
"If you ask me, she could have been friendlier to him." Haruhi commented.
"When he gives her a reason to, she will." Sumi told her.
"What should we do about the food?" Hikaru asked.
"I'll tell the kitchen staff to keep it warm, she'll come out eventually." Sumi replied, going back to the kitchen.
"I suggest you go back about your duties, Hikaru." Haruhi told him before she left.
Kyoya paced around his room in the west wing, "I asked nicely and she refuses. What am I supposed to do, beg?" He grabbed his magic mirror from the table where the enchanted rose sat, "Show me the girl."
"He's really not that bad once you get to know him." Renge tried to persuade Yuki, "Why don't you give him a chance?"
"Why didn't he give my brother a chance."
"Well, no, but once you get to know him..."
"I don't want to know him." Yuki replied, "I want nothing to do with him."
Kyoya put the mirror away "This is hopeless." He sighed looking down.
On the other side of the castle, Yuki poked her head outside of her room. She had finally gotten hungry enough to leave the room.
"Hikaru, I've been burned by you before." A feather duster giggled.
"I'll be more careful this time, Kimi." Hikaru pulled her closer to him.
"You said that last time and you burnt half of my feathers." Kimi replied.
Yuki passed by the two quietly and tried to find her way to the kitchen.
"If you ask me that girl's just being stubborn." Haruhi said to Sumi as they cleaned the kitchen.
"No one asked you." Sumi replied, "I think she behaved reasonably."
"Of course, you do." Haruhi scoffed, "She's just like you."
"If the master never learns to control his temper, he'll never break the-"
"Hello, it is lovely to see you out, Miss Yuki." Haruhi greeted her as she came in, "I'm Haruhi, head of the household." Before she could shake her hand Kaoru cut in front of her to shake her hand instead. "This is Kaoru."
"Enchante, miss." He kissed her hand.
"If you need anything or if there's anything we can do to make your stay more comfortable, don't be hesitant to ask." Haruhi told her.
"I am a little hungry." Yuki admitted, after she did the kitchen came to life.
"Remember what the master said…" Haruhi reminded them.
"I do and I'm not going to listen to him." Sumi replied.
"How you have not been let go is beyond me." Haruhi retorted.
"Haruhi, this girl is our guest not our prisnor." Kaoru replied with a smile, "We must treat her as such." He looked to Yuki, "Right this way." He went out of the kitchen to her to the dining room.
"Just keep it down, if the master finds out about this it'll be our heads." Haruhi called after him.
"Of course, but what is dinner without a little music." Kaoru replied, before going to the dining room with Yuki. He hopped on the table, "Ma chere Mademoiselle, it is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight. And now we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair as the dining room proudly presents - your dinner!" Kaoru's smile widened.
After dinner, Haruhi and Kaoru gave Yuki a tour around the castle afterward.
"Act like a gentleman." Kyoya repeated to himself on the other side of the castle. He was heading to Yuki's room with food. "This'll be good." He told himself before knocking on her door, "Yuki?" He knocked again, "Yuki?" Just before he had knocked a third time he saw Haruhi and Kaoru leading her around the castle on a tour.
"It's all so beautiful, I had no idea." Yuki told Kaoru, "If only he weren't here."
Kyoya's face fell, "Act like a gentleman, I am fool." He threw down the tray and sulked off.
"What's up there?" Yuki asked them, unknowing she had been pointing to the west wing.
"Nothing to be of note." Haruhi told her.
"It's merely the west wing." Kaoru agreed, "It's not really a big deal.
"So that's the west wing?"
"Maybe you'd like to see something else?" Haruhi said, "We have exquisite tapestries, a garden, a library…"
"You have a library?" Yuki asked.
"With books!" Kaoru exclaimed.
"Hundreds of books!" Haruhi went on and on about the library and she and Kaoru made their way there. Yuki slipped away to see what was on the west wing of the castle. What she found perplexed and surprised her, it was a destroyed balcony room. She carefully made her way deeper into the room, almost knocking over a table as she did. She had to know what was in here to make it forbidden. She found a portrait, it wasn't what made the room forbidden, but she was curious to see who it was of, the eyes of the portrait were familiar to her. As she started to piece the portrait back together to see the man's face, a bright pink light caught her eye. She turned to find an enchanted rose in a glass case. Everything inside of her was telling her to remove its casing.
As she started to lift it up, she heard, "Don't touch that!"
"I'm sorry, I-" Yuki started.
"What are you doing here?" Kyoya asked her angrily.
"I-" Yuki started.
"I told you never to come here!" Kyoya yelled, "Get out!"
Yuki ran away from the rose as Kyoya ran to it. He grabbed her arm before she could fully run away, he wasn't quite through with her yet, "I told you never to come in here!" He caught her arm and threw her to the ground. A moment of clarity rushed through him and he immediately regretted his actions. "Oh no…" He went to help her up, but she refused.
"Promise or no promise, I won't stay here." Yuki ran out of the room, quickly trying to make her way out of the castle as Kyoya called after her apologizing.
"I didn't mean to frighten you." Kyoya said after she was gone, "I didn't mean to hurt you. You don't understand. There's so little left…so, so little left." Kyoya looked at his hands, well what once were hands and then at the castle entrance only to see Yuki running out past the castle gates. He watched worriedly. "No…" He ran out of the west wing and through the castle to get to Yuki before the wolves did, but he was too late. By the time he had gotten to her, she was surrounded. He fought them off and scared them away, injuring himself in the process. She helped him up and back to the castle.
When they got back to the castle she tended to his wounds, "Alright, let me see." He pushed her away, "Don't do that. Just hold still." She told him. He growled at her. Haruhi, Sumi, Hikaru, Kaoru, and Kimi backed closer to the fireplace. When she finally was able to place the towel to his wounded arm, he roared.
"That hurt." He told her.
"Hold still, it won't hurt as much." She replied flippantly.
"If you hadn't run away, this wouldn't have happened." He retorted snarkily.
"If you hadn't frightened me, I wouldn't have ran away." She pointed out.
"If you-" He tried to retort, but she was right. He thought for a moment and then replied, "Well, you shouldn't have been in the west wing."
"Well, you should learn to control your temper." She replied, before taking his arm, "Now hold still, this might sting a little." She started to tend to his wounds again, "By the way, thank you for saving my life."
He looked to her surprised, "You're welcome."
"The ice is broken." Hikaru smiled.
"And not a moment too soon, that rose is really deteriorating fast." Haruhi replied
"We just need a way to push them together." Kaoru told them.
"I have just the way." Sumi said, before going over to the two, "How about we warm you two up with a nice bowl of soup?"
"Soup?" Hikaru, Kaoru, and Haruhi asked her.
"Trust me." She replied. They followed her to the dining room.
The next day, Yuki went out and enjoyed the snow on the castle grounds with the castle's dog, who was currently a small ottoman due to the curse. Kyoya watched her with Haruhi from the steps.
"I've never felt like this about anyone before." He stated, "I want to do something for her!"
"Why?" Haruhi asked.
"To show her I care for her." Kyoya replied, "What can I do her?
"Well, there's the usual things: flowers, chocolates, promises you don't intend to keep…" Haruhi listed off.
"No, no, it has to be something special." Hikaru told her.
"Something that sparks her interest." Kaoru added.
"How am I supposed to find out what that is?" Kyoya asked, watching as Yuki came up the steps. Yuki smiled at him and went inside.
"C'mon, dearie, let's get you out of those wet things." Renge told her, Yuki glanced back at Kyoya, who was coming back inside with Hikaru, Kaoru, and Haruhi before going back to her room to change.
"When she looks at me, I can't think straight my heart starts pounding. I can't breathe." Kyoya told Haruhi, Hikaru, and Kaoru as they walked inside.
"Good." Haruhi told him.
"That's good?" He asked.
"That's excellent, sir." Hikaru nodded.
"But I've never felt this way about anyone." Kyoya told them.
"Get to know her." Hikaru encouraged.
"How am I-" He started, but they pushed him to her.
"Say something about the dress." Hikaru suggested.
"It's pink." Kyoya replied dryly.
"No, compliment it and then show her the library."Kaoru told him.
"What a nice dress…" Kyoya told Yuki.
"Thank you." She replied.
"What a nice dress…" Kyoya repeated, before saying "I have something to show you. Close your eyes, it's a surprise."
She did as he said, he took her hands and led her inside the castle and to the library.
"Can I open them?" Yuki asked as they reached the library.
"Not yet." He smiled as he led her inside, "Wait here." He told her when they reached the middle of the library. He opened the curtains and let light into the room.
"Now can I open them?"
"Alright." He smiled, "Now."
Yuki opened her eyes, a smile graced her face as she took in her surroundings. It was the most extensive library she had ever seen in her entire life. "Oh, I can't believe it, I've never seen so many books in my whole life!" She gushed at the sight.
"You like it?"
"It's wonderful…"
"It's yours."
She smiled, grabbing a book from one of the shelves, "Oh, this is one of my favorites! It's "King Arthur." Have you ever read it?"
"No…" Kyoya replied.
"You don't know what you're missing. I'd love to read this again." She smiled, "Wait...you can read this first." Yuki tried to give him the book, but he refused.
"No, that's alright."
"No, really, you read it." Yuki insisted.
"No, I can't."
"You never learned to read?"
"Only a little, a very long time ago."
"Well, it just so happens that this is the perfect book to read aloud." Yuki smiled gently, "Come here, sit by me."
"Well, who'd have thought?" Kaoru was surprised at the sight of the two sitting together on their own with a book.
"Well, bless my soul..." Sumi smiled.
"Well, who'd have known?" Haruhi asked.
"And who'd have guessed they'd come together on their own?" Hikaru smirked.
"Perhaps there's something there that wasn't there before." Haruhi commented.
"What?" Hana asked.
"I'll tell you when you're older." Sumi replied, "C'mon let's give them some privacy."
They left the two alone to read and get to know one another.
"Knowing now, that this was indeed the legendary sword called "Excalibur," Arthur tried to pull it from the stone. He tried once to no avail. He tried a second time, but still, he could not pull it out. Then, for the third time, Arthur drew forth the sword..." Yuki read.
"So that must mean he's the king." Kyoya told her, pointing at the book.
"Wait and see." Yuki smiled.
"I never knew books could do that." He stood looking at the other books, which were becoming of great interest to him now that he knew that they could distract him from his hell.
"Do what?" Yuki asked him interested.
He looked down at her gently, "Take me away from this place, make me forget for a little while."
"Forget?" She asked.
"Who I…" He started, "What I am." He sat down on a different bench ashamed.
"We have something in common, you know." Yuki told him, coming over to him.
"What?"
"Well, in the town where I come from, the people think I'm odd." Yuki admitted.
"You?"
"So, I know how it feels to be different and I know how lonely that can be." She gently touched his paw as she sat down, and started to read again, keeping her hand on his, "For the third time, Arthur drew forth the sword, and there arose from the people a great shout. Arthur is king."
"Told you so." Kyoya smiled at her. They continued to read.
"Are they still in there?" Sumi asked Hikaru, who had been keeping watch from outside the door.
"Yes, and so far, he's been a perfect gentleman." He replied, "The day we have been waiting for may be at hand."
"If only it were true, Hikaru." Sumi replied.
"When Guinevere heard that Arthur was slain, she went away to a convent, and no one could make her smile again." Yuki finished the story, "That's the end."
"What a beautiful story…" Kyoya said gently, standing.
"I knew you would like it." She smiled, and stood, "I would like to ask you for something."
"What is that?"
"A second chance." She replied, "Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"
Kyoya looked at her surprised, "Dinner? Me with you? Well that could be-" Hr started over and over, "Oh yes!" He exclaimed, before running down the stairs excitedly.
In town, Akito was meeting with his father the owner of the Maison des Lunes.
"Thank you for meeting us on such short notice, father." Akito thanked his father.
"I don't usually leave the asylum in the middle of the night, you better make this worth my while, Akito." Mr. Ootori replied.
"I've got my heart set on marrying Yuki," Akito started, "but she needs a little persuasion."
"Turned him down flat." Ryo laughed, Akito hit him.
"So, I was thinking maybe we can strike up a deal…" Akito proposed to Mr. Ootori.
Back in the castle Yuki and Kyoya were getting ready for dinner. Kyoya was already dressed, his preparation was more of a mental one.
"Tonight is the night to confess your love!" Hikaru told Kyoya.
"I don't think I can do that." Kyoya stood.
"You must!" Hikaru replied, as Haruhi sat him back down, "You care for the girl, don't you?"
"More than anything." Kyoya replied.
"Then why not tell her?" Kaoru asked.
"Because I can't!" Kyoya stood again. Haruhi sat him back down again
"You must!" Kaoru insisted, "You'll have a romantic dinner with music and candlelight, provided by myself and Hikaru and when the moment is right you will confess your love."
"But how will I know when the moment is right?" Kyoya asked.
"You'll feel slightly nauseous." Haruhi told him. They all looked at her oddly.
"No, you'll know because you'll have feelings here" Hikaru gestured to his heart, "and another place, but that place doesn't really matter all that much right now, what matters is you must speak from the heart."
"I must speak from-" Kyoya started, "I can't!"
"You must!" They told him, sitting him back down.
"I'm afraid she might…" He started.
"She might what?" Haruhi asked.
"Not like me." He replied sadly.
"You must find the courage to take the chance!" Kaoru replied.
"Look at the rose, there's so little time left." Haruhi told Kyoya.
"I really don't think I can do this." He replied.
"This might help you boost your courage." Hikaru got the mirror and showed him Yuki waiting for him.
"Yuki." He beamed, getting enough courage to at least go out there to meet her. He offered her his arm. She took his paw and he led her to the dining room. He helped her to her seat and then sat down.
Yuki walked over to Kyoya. With arms open, she asked, "Dance with me?"
"Oh, no, I don't think I-" Kyoya started.
"Dance with her!" Hikaru, Kaoru, and Haruhi yelled at him. Kyoya followed Yuki out into the ballroom and they started to dance. Yuki and Kyoya bowed to each other when their dance was finished. The two walked away onto the balcony.
"Thank you for asking me to dinner." Kyoya told her once they sat down.
"Oh, dinner was wonderful…"
Kyoya stood, "Yuki, are you happy here?"
"Well yes, everyone's so kind." Yuki replied, starting to list off names.
"With me?" He asked.
"Yes." She replied, and then looked down.
"What is it?"
"If only I could see my brother again." She sighed, "I miss him so much."
"There is away." Kyoya replied, retrieving the mirror, "This mirror will show you anything, anything you wish to see." He gave her the mirror.
"I would like to see my brother." She gasped at what the mirror showed her, "Tamaki! Somethings wrong, he's in the woods somewhere. He's lost. I should-"
"Go to him." Kyoya told her.
"What?"
"You should go to him." Kyoya repeated.
"I thought you said-"
"Yuki, you aren't my prisoner anymore." He told her, "You haven't been for a long time."
Yuki tried to give him back the mirror, but he refused.
"Take it with you." He replied, "So you'll always have a way to look back and remember me."
He started to go, but she gently grasped his paw, "I could never forget you."
"Go." He urged. She went to the door, glancing back at him one more time, before she went to change and leave to find her brother.
Kyoya sat down, "I'll never see her again."
"Well, sire, I must say everything is going splendidly." Haruhi told him coming in with Sumi, Hikaru and Kaoru. "I knew you had it in you."
"I let her go." Kyoya told them.
"You what?" Haruhi asked.
"How could you do that?" Kaoru asked.
"I had to." Kyoya replied.
"But why?" Hikaru asked him.
"After all this time, he's finally learned to love." Sumi told them before Kyoya could answer.
"Well that's it then, that's what breaks the spell." Kaoru said happily.
"That's not it, I'm afraid." Sumi replied, "She has to love him in return."
"Now it's too late." Haruhi sighed. They all left.
"We're finally home, Tama." Yuki told him as they reached their house, "You were in the woods, I thought I'd never find you."
"You were with the beast, how did you escape?" He asked her.
"I didn't escape." She replied, "He let me go."
"He let you go?" He asked confused, "That horrible beast?"
"What?" She asked, "No, he isn't horrible. He's changed somehow-"
Yuki was interrupted by Mr. Ootori, "Good afternoon." He was at their home with Akito, Ryo, and the rest of the town. "I've come to collect your brother."
"What?"
"Don't worry, we'll take good care of him." Mr. Ootori told her.
"My brother is not crazy."
"He was raving like a lunatic about a beast." Ryo told her, before looking at the rest of the mob, "We all heard him, didn't we?"
The mob agreed.
"You can't do this!" Yuki yelled at them, but the mob, led by Ryo, didn't listen and kept pushing him. She went to Akito, "Akito, you know he's not crazy."
"Yuki, I think I can clear up this whole misunderstanding, if…" Akito smirked.
"If what?"
"If you marry me." Akito replied.
"What?"
"One little word, Yuki, that's all it takes." He forcely pulled her into a kiss.
She pulled away and slapped him, "Never, Akito, never."
"Have it your way." He glared, "Take the obnoxious fool."
"No, wait!" Yuki cried going to her front steps, "I can prove to you my brother is not crazy!" She took out the mirror, "Show me Kyoya." She said softly, before raising the mirror to show the mob.
"Yeah, that's him." Tamaki confirmed it.
"Is he dangerous?" A woman asked.
"No, he would never hurt anyone." Yuki replied, coming down from the front steps, "I know he looks frightful, but he's really very gentle and kind. He's my friend."
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you had feelings for this monster." Akito commented, striding over to her.
"He's not the monster, Akito, you are!" Yuki exclaimed.
"She's as crazy as her brother!" Akito exclaimed, "She says this creature's her friend. Well, I've hunted wild beasts and I've seen what they can do. The Beast will make off with your children. He'll come after them in the night."
"He would never do that!" Yuki retorted, but the mob was too worked up to listen to her.
"Forget the old man, I say we kill the Beast!" Akito exclaimed and the mob agreed.
"No!" Yuki cried, but it was far too late, Akito had led the people away to go kill Kyoya.
"Tamaki, I have to go back and warn Kyoya." Yuki told him.
"I'm going with you, let's go." Tamaki told her. They rushed off after the mob. They were too late; the mob was already in the castle before they had gotten there.
"Master." Hikaru said to get Kyoya's attention, he had to know what was going on inside of his own castle."
"Leave me in peace." Kyoya replied.
"But the castle is under attack." Hikaru told him.
"It doesn't matter now." Kyoya replied, "Just let them come."
"Seriously?" He asked, "Fine." He went back out to help the others fight the intruders. Akito snuck his way past the battle and to Kyoya.
"You're even uglier in the flesh." Akito laughed, kicking him off the bench, "Get up." He tried to force him up, but he couldn't fully do it, "What's the matter, Beast? Too kind and gentle to fight back?"
Kyoya stood and started to defend himself, not really so much fight, but more to block Akito's attack, he really wasn't in the mood to fight him, but his heart really wasn't into that either.
"You really we in love with her, weren't you, Beast?" Akito laughed, "Oh there's a good one." Akito hit him, "What a fool." After that first hit, he just kept going. "She despises you, Beast." Akito lied, "Yuki is mine."
At that point, Kyoya had had enough, he picked Akito up and dangled him over the balcony by his shirt.
"Kyoya!" Yuki called after him, when she had finally got to him. Kyoya looked back at her, surprised she had come back.
"Pull me up!" Akito cried, "Pull me up!"
Kyoya looked back at Akito.
"I'm begging you, please." Akito cried again.
Kyoya pulled him up, "Get out!" Kyoya walked over to Yuki, "Yuki, you came back…"
"I came to-" She started, but Kyoya was stabbed in the back by Akito, "No!"
Kyoya and Akito started to fight. Kyoya was stabbed several times, before Akito was knocked off the side of the castle by accident. Kyoya slowly made his way back to Yuki. She pulled him to her in an embrace. She laid him down so he would be more comfortable.
"You came back…" Kyoya said, still shocked.
"Of course, I came back." Yuki replied, "If only I had come sooner."
"Maybe it's better this way."
"No!" She shook her head, "Don't talk like that."
"No, Yuki, I-"
"We're together now. Everything will be fine."
"At least I get to see one last time…" Kyoya started, but the blood loss was starting to take it's ultimate toll.
"No, no, stay with me, Kyoya, please!" Yuki begged, "Don't leave me."
He died in her arms.
"I love you." She cried as the last petal of the rose fell.
Kyoya's body started to rise into the air. She backed away from him and watched the transformation happening before her. When he was lowered he was no longer a blue monster, he was a man with black hair and a tall thin looked into his eyes, recognizing the onyx ones she had deeply loved. She kissed him happily, he pulled her closer to him and deepened the kiss. All of the servants turned back into people. They all hugged each other happily.
"Let's go find your brother." Kyoya told Yuki, they left to go find Tamaki.
"Hello everyone!" Kimi came in to greet Hikaru, Kaoru, Sumi, and Haruhi.
"Kimi." Hikaru greeted her, happy to see her in her human form, "Oh, you look so much better."
"What do you mean?" Kimi asked, "I thought you liked the way I looked before."
"I did." Hikaru smiled, "I just like you better this way."
"So, you were lying." Kimi replied.
"No, I wasn't"
"Yes, you were." She smiled.
"Well, maybe a little." He admitted.
"Hikaru," She said, coming closer to him, "I like you better this way too." She ran away laughing. He chased after her.
"Mom!" Hana ran over to Sumi.
"Hana!" Sumi hugged her.
"I'm back to normal!"
"I know." Sumi smiled, "Why don't we go find your dad?"
"Okay!"
They left the castle to go find Sumi's husband, Takashi.
A week later Kyoya threw a grand ball to celebrate his new betrothed.
End Dream
Yuki woke up shaking her head as she sat up, "No more watching X-Men before bed, or if I do I shouldn't listen to Beauty and the Beast after." She yawned, "Maybe it was the pizza." She thought about the dream for a moment, "Kyoya looks good as Beast." She laid back down and went back to sleep.
