Shino was rushing about when she arrived to the dining room, dressed in a full evening gown. She was corseted, stockinged. and gloved to within in an inch of her sanity. She was only grateful that that no inch of her bodice was exposed, despite her sleeveless state. She did rather like her dress, but would have rather been in the kitchen with the cat, cook, and a simpler dress.

Much simpler.

"Do you need any help?" asked Beauty with concern to the little clock. Naruto was 'helping' by rushing about pointlessly in all directions.

"No thank you." said Shino shortly. Beauty knew he wished for absolute perfection this time around, and decided to take it upon herself to go check Chouji in the kitchens. It would be bad to make a mistake, but to make the same one twice would be disastrous. She picked up her skirts and flounced to the kitchens, where smells slipped out of Chouji's pots and pans in swirls of steam.

"You've made it the way Kiba likes it?" She said her tongue unsure of the informal name.

"You're calling him Kiba now!?!" Chouji shouted, banging around his own pots and pans. "This is WONDERFUL. I'll be able to eat in no time..."

Beauty smiled at him, but scolded him gently. "Well pay attention to the food you make or it'll take much longer! Let's see if I can't feed you a bit of something..." She looked for a spoon, found one and dipped it into the pot with the most delicious smells coming out of it. She popped the spoon in the adorable oven's mouth, and a look of ecstasy passed over his face.

"It's...been...so...long." he wailed, tears positively leaking out of his eyes.

♥ ♥ ♥

Beauty rushed back quickly, and patting Shino and Naruto quickly on the head, she stood quietly by the fire, hands folded neatly, and staring into the flames. She heard the creak at the door, and turned to see.

He was wearing nothing as usual, but his fur had obviously been washed and combed, and it shone in the firelight. Beauty could not resist going to him and stroking his arm. He seemed shocked by her touch, but not unwilling. He smiled shyly at her, and her smiled brightly back at him. "Shall we eat?" she asked, turning her head slightly to one side. He bent his head, and his eyes were hidden, but he nodded quickly, and took his seat, forgetting to seat Beauty first. She didn't mind, for she hadn't expected him to, but Shino did a quick head-smack. Beauty patted him reassuringly, and they began their meal.

♥ ♥ ♥

They spoke of little things, a little on past and present. Beauty finally ventured, "My lord, while we were in the library, I found a secret door..."

Beast, who has been relaxed the moment before, became tense. "Yes?"

Beauty after seeing him react like this, had a bad feeling about the whole thing, but pressed on. "Well, it led to a set of stairs, and a room with a grave in it. Who was...?"

Beauty growled, and Beauty stopped midsentence. "Why did you go in there?" he said angrily.

"It...it was an accident."

"Out...OUT." he shouted, his good mood completely gone. Beauty didn't need to be told twice, but leapt from the room while he overturned their beautiful dinner. She ran from the castle, her thoughts confused and dazed, but her instincts pressing her on. She ran past the eternal garden, past the stone gates, and deep, deep into the woods. The only sound in her ears was the wind and the howls in the night.

♥ ♥ ♥

Naruto © Masashi Kishimoto

Notes for the Reader
• This is a slightly promotional fanfiction for my other fanfiction, Dream.
• Please review!