The world of animation was something the famous actor had rarely considered. He was use to using his body and face to express the emotion his characters needed. He read his lines like they were dictated, and on camera he let his body do the rest. It's not that he didn't respect the act of expressing lines for an animated character, he just hadn't thought of it as a real acting possibility until now.

"Come on out and fight! Were you in love with her, beast? Did you honestly think she'd want you when she had someone like me?

He wasn't sure when she started quoting the lines again. Her voice was soft and barely audible. The way she mimicked the movie's frames and fanned her emotion within her minute volume however, made him think on how well she could be voice actress, as well as a camera actress. Barely a body muscle had twitched, and yet her dictation and pitch was able to capture every character's distinct spirit. The storm winds howled, adding to her impromptu villainous lines. Despite her hatred for the egotistical and cruel huntsman, she could capture his every pixilated feeling and literally whisper it into life.

"It's over, beast! Belle is mine!"

If someone else saw her like this...well the possibilities were endless. It could be the way she escapes the pitfall of being a type cast actress. He could have do an animation. Something with faeries, princesses, and happy, perky voices that could expand her influence. He would do anything to help her fulfill her goals; she just needed the opportunity to showcase her talent.

"Mogami-san, have you ever thought…"

"Shhh!" She hushed him quickly, catching Ren by surprise. Not even turning her head away from its general direction, Kyoko nodded towards the screen.

He should have known better than to try and cut into the fantasy world with real life.

Shoving Gaston to the ground, Beast turned away from his defeated rival in compassion and disgust. Once, he would have dropped the hunter without a second glace, but now he knew better. He had been taught compassion by her.

Running outside and onto an upper balcony, Belle calls out after the Beast to catch his attention. "Beast!" Belle says loudly, relieved to see the one she cares for, safe and sound.

Spotting her in shock, he starts to climb the castle walls to meet her. Gaston is left there, only able to watch the successor go after his prize. The Beast's amazement is apparent, as he leaned across the railing to meet her.

"Belle? Belle!" He says, surprised and shocked and beyond happy to see her return, especially by her own will. "You came back!"

The two enraptured audience members watched the television as the story continued on. Still, Ren couldn't help but glance over at her tight fists, clasping the pillow with dear life. She knew what was going to happen, and yet he jumped as she cried out in empathetic pain as Gaston plunged the deadly dagger into the Beast's back.

"Nooooo… Beast…" Kyoko murmured, as Belle pulled the injured Beast onto the balcony. Her eyes glossed with light tears that refused to fall, and once again, the image of the wholesome, trusting Kyoko shined through.

Love…she still wants to see it end happily… Ren's own heartbeat rose, as the proof he needed to see was finally in front of him. She still wants them to be together…she wants to see that love she denies exists…

A sudden fierce howl rattled the windows of the high rise building. The lights flickered in the apartment, as if trying to grasp to dear life, and caused the two to look up at the ceiling. Without so much as warning, the power went out, shutting off everything in the vicinity. The dryer stopped spinning, the table heater clicked off, and the large television went black.

A disappointed exhale came from Kyoko's direction as the room faded into darkness. It only lasted a split-second, but he knew she wanted to see the happy ending to the princess story. Kyoko would think this was fate's way of confirming her hated of love.

"Tsuruga-san, do you have a lighter or some batteries?" Kyoko said, slowly getting to her feet and looking for those storm supplies he had set out for such an occasion.

"Hold on Mo-Kyoko, I know where they are.."

Soon enough, through nearly blind searching of his apartment, they were able to secure one of his previous Cain cigarette lighters. With it, they ignited all the candles in the oversized living room, bathing the room in a candlelit glow. They both returned to the still warm table, turning their heads to the dead television.

"It's too bad the power cut out." Ren said lightly, breaking the silence. The evening had been up and down, but he didn't want her to go to bed just yet. He felt he may never get another chance for her to be so close, in such an intimate personal space for so long.

"Yeah…I kind of wanted to see the end again." Kyoko said wistfully. "Not for the happy ending of course! For nostalgia!" She quickly added, venomously denying the idea (to both of them) that she wanted to see to the end of the love story. "I guess... it's only a fantasy anyways…" She went to step up, but Ren held her back.

"Hold on…" Ren said, making his way towards her. "Kneel down."

"What? You're not going to use my legs as a pillow with your bed so close Tsuruga-san?" Kyoko asked, half surprised, half disapproving.

"Just kneel down and follow my lead."

Once she had, the actor laid on the floor carefully, placing his head on her lap. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as she stuttered in shock.

"Tsu-tsu-tsuruga-san?"

"You... You came back." The way Ren looked up at her pulled at her emotions in a way the Disney film had been pulling at her all along. Although more fitting of the prince's handsome figure than the Beast's, Ren eyes mirrored the feelings she always imagined the male protagonist would show. Pain was lightly etched in his face, but the overwhelming emotions was shock, pleasure, and overall, an immense expression of love. The love he was able to express in the faint candlelight washed over Kyoko like nothing she ever experienced before. It was so intense that she forgot about acting, she forgot that it was her famous senpai's head in her lap, and that they were simply performing the famous climax to a children's story. He was the dying Beast, in pain but happy at seeing his love one last time. She was Belle, the beautiful French daughter of an inventor, who cradled her dying love in his last moments.

"Of course I came back. I couldn't let them..." The amber eyes looking down at him immediately filled with salty tears. "Oh this is all my fault! If only I had gotten here sooner…" Kyoko turned her head, and a large wet tear slid down.

Ren looked up at his kohai, in mental awe at her impassioned response. Her acting was so intense, that he almost felt the heartbreak she was experiencing over him.

Over the death of the Beast, not him…

His voice was weaker, more tired when he replied to her. Ren accepted his fate. "Maybe... Maybe it's better this way."

"Don't talk like that!" Kyoko half shouted, shaking her head as if dismissing the fact. "You'll be alright... We're together now, everything's going to be fine, you'll see..." Kyoko raised his large hand to her cheek, and brought it across the falling tears.

Through squinted eyes, he watched her tears fall faster. He hadn't seen her openly cry in such a long time. Since the world had shut out the hard working, Japanese girl he met in the Kyoto forests. The one who threw herself into everything 100% to try and please others, and got nothing in return. A simple gemstone from a ten year old fairy boy was enough to keep her tears from falling for so long. He didn't want her to cry.

He turned his hand, and cupped her wet cheek. Slowly, he brushed away the tear-streak with his thumb. Ren's lips curved in a fragile smile, which calmed the stream of tears. "And… at least I got to see you one last time."

"No, No! Please, Please, Please don't leave me."

His breath held as he struggled to keep his eyes closed and pass away in dignity. Her small frame sprawled over his and he could feel her fluttering heart. He knew she had to feel his too; it was pounding in his chest, very unlike a dying cursed man. Acting or not, he may never be able to hear her so concerned over him again, or feel her so close to his body. He waited for the words he doubted would ever cross her lips again, as she lightly cried.

"I love you."

The silence was deafening. The seconds lingered as he locked the sound of her voice saying those three words in his mind. His heart sounded as loud as fireworks.

The words hung in the air, slowly, reluctantly finding their way back to their owner. Her eyes dried up at once, and she sprung up to her knees as if a taut spring had just been let go. "AHHHHHH! I'M SORRY TSURUGA! I GOT OVERZE"

He pushed himself up and pulled her back to him. Catching her waist, he wrapped his fingers in her hair and poured his response into the most passionate kiss he had ever given. Not as a playboy, nor as an actor, had he been so determined. Knowing he'd never have a chance to say it, he poured his love with all he was into this one moment; the only moment where she would be his Beauty, and him her Beast.

The hinge swung open, as the angelic fairy stretched her wings to her promised sunshine.

You made it to the end without gagging to death, Yay! Review to prove you're still alive, despite the mountain of fluff. I hope those who enjoy the old Disney favorites can like this story. (Who am I kidding, Ren is definitely Prince Charming.)

I also hope those who haven't seen the old classics (do see them, and) somehow found a way to enjoy this story. I honestly am not happy with it, but for the 1 person who wants to read the end, this is it.

I know I'm bad at summaries, so... my gentle readers, what makes up a good summary? Criticize me, critique me, cut me into bite side pieces next to miso soup. I know some don't think this is a clear cut ending... but that's "how I roll" as the cool kids would say. What fun is it to spell it out?