Guess who's in Boston? I am! *waves arms frantically* It seems that this summer, I'm going to be traveling around a lot.

Chapter Four. Be Our Guest

"So…why can't you play with me anymore?" Kira asked quietly, looping her fingers in Caleb's hand. They were seven years old, laying side by side each other on the grass. Kira could make out each one of Caleb's fingernails – all pink and neat and perfect, as a pampered prince's would.

"My tutors and my mother told me that I have more things to tend to now that my father's ill," Caleb replied quietly. Kira propped herself up by the elbows. "I'm sorry about that," she said honestly. "I can't…imagine what I would feel if my father was suddenly sick." Caleb smiled. "Yeah." He only said. "But right now, I don't wanna talk about that. What else do you wanna play?"

xXx

Kira tentatively took some steps out of her room. She looked around the hallway nervously, wondering if Kanan was somehow still around. When she found that he wasn't at all around, Kira ventured down the hallway. Her stomach had started making odd grumbling noises for some time now – and whether or not the beast liked it, she was going to have to get some food.

When Kira managed to find the kitchen, she found that Admiral and Padmé were already hopping about. "Ah, mademoiselle!" Admiral said, looking up. "What a nice surprise to see you!" Kira managed a smile. "I'm afraid we haven't truly met," Admiral added, extending a little clock hand. "I am Admiral." Kira shook the hand. "Nice to meet you," she said sincerely.

She heard someone hopping behind her – and she turned to see the candlestick – Anakin – already extending a lit-out hand as well. "And I am Anakin," he said cheerfully. Kira extended her hand to shake it – and Anakin pecked a quick kiss before hopping back. Admiral rolled his eyes before saying, "Is there anything we can possibly do to make you feel more comfortable during your stay?"

"Well…" Kira looked around the kitchen. "I am a little hungry."

Padmé perked up. "Did you hear that?" she asked excitedly. "She's hungry! Well, what are we waiting for? Start the fire – set out the silverware – make something quickly!" Admiral sighed. "Remember what the master said…" he murmured. Padmé tsked. "No, no, no," she replied loftily. "I'm not about to let a poor child starve on my watch."

"Fine, fine," Admiral sighed, though he still looked twitchy. "We'll get her some water – bread –"

"Admiral, I'm disappointed!" Anakin interrupted, shaking his head. "She's our guest – not a prisoner! This way, mademoiselle!" He hopped out the door, leading Kira away. She heard Admiral call after them, "Alright, alright – just keep it down!" Anakin let out a laugh. "Of course, of course!" he said cheerfully. "After all, what is dinner without a nice presentation?"

"A presentation?" Admiral all but shrieked.

Kira was eventually led to a dining room – and sitting down at the front of the table, Anakin hopped up and said, "Come!" He clapped his hands together and instantly, dishes and silverware hopped up to the table. Kira watched with a laugh as they all started to dance before her, individually twirling and presenting food at the same time. Kira stared in delight and clapped her hands as they all spun before her, lights flashing and the occasional hum of metal and popping of food.

After Kira had herself entertained and eaten her full, she stood up and clapped her hands together. "Bravo, bravo!" she laughed. Anakin beamed up at her. "Thank you, thank you!" he said cheerfully. Admiral joined Anakin on the table with a sigh. "I should have known you were going to do that," he murmured, glancing around. "I'm only glad you didn't wake anyone…" He looked up at Kira. "And now that that's finished, you ought to go back to bed."

Kira stood up. "Oh, no!" she replied. "I can't possibly go back to bed now! It's been my first time in an enchanted castle, after all!" Admiral pressed his lips together. "No, mademoiselle, I insist – you must return to bed –"

"Oh, why not?" Kira asked, poking at Admiral. "I bet you know everything about the castle."

Admiral looked over at Anakin, who shrugged his shoulders. "Well…" Admiral sighed. "Alright."

xXx

"And as you can see, there are these flying buttresses – wait, where are you going, Kira?"

Kira was looking up a set of marble stairs, not unlike the ones that led her up to her own room. "Where do these lead up to?" she asked, looking over at Admiral and Anakin. Admiral cleared his throat. "The West Wing?" he asked uncertainly. "There's nothing up there. Just…musty, dusty old things."

"Ah!" Kira said excitedly, clapping her hands together. "So this is the mysterious West Wing!"

"Nice going," Kira heard Anakin mutter under his breath, but the girl paid him no mind. She slowly made her way up the stairs, ignoring Anakin and Admiral's protests. "I wonder what Kanan's hiding up there…" she murmured. "Hiding?" Anakin asked, though it came out as a squeak to Kira's ears. "The master isn't hiding anything! Ah, no, mademoiselle, I must insist that you stay down –"

"If he didn't have anything to hide, then Kanan wouldn't have told me that the West Wing was forbidden," Kira replied matter-of-factly. She felt Admiral tugging at her legs, saying, "Really, Kira – perhaps you would like to see something else – anything else –"

"Maybe another time," Kira said absent-mindedly, shaking away Admiral as gently as she could. "Perhaps you would like to see the gardens! Or the library!" Anakin insisted, stepping in front of Kira. "You have a library?" Kira asked suddenly. Kira watched with some amusement as relief spread across both Anakin and Admiral's faces. "Yes! A library with books! Mountains of books! Oh, you could stay in there for decades! Centuries, even!" Anakin was saying, already jumping down the stairs.

Kira watched as Anakin and Admiral started down the hallway – and Kira was somewhat tempted to follow them – mountains and mountains of books seemed appealing – but then she looked back at the mysterious West Wing, and well…she couldn't exactly just leave it there.

Casting a furtive glance at Anakin and Admiral, Kira ran up the stairs and into the West Wing.

The first thing she noticed was that there was indeed a series of musty, dusty looking statues. Some looked something like Kanan himself – with horns and snouts and vicious looking fangs. Maybe for his ego, Kira thought with a snort. Kira passed a mirror – and stopped to look at it. She observed the broken glass, and briefly wondered who might have broken it. Shaking her head, Kira quickened her pace down the hallway and eventually reached a door. She paused, looking around to see if there were any doors in this hallway – only to find that there were none.

Kira paused, uncertain what might possibly lie beyond – what if Kanan was to be there? What would happen?

"Well," Kira said aloud, stepping back. "He's already taken everything from me." Reassured by that thought in a way that Kira hadn't thought possible, the girl walked forward and pushed open the doors with a soft gasp. She saw ripped curtains of red silk – great tapestries that were covered with films of dust…busts of old-looking people…Kira even found a bed, which she figured was needed for even the beast to sleep.

Then, Kira turned around to see a ripped-through…was that a portrait?

Kira crept forward, looking at the ripped canvas of the portrait. There was something vaguely familiar about it – and at the moment, Kira could only see the eyes of the portrait. Green-blue…Kira knew that it was Kanan's, but still…there was something unsettling about it. Swallowing, Kira turned away from the portrait – and instead, something else caught her eye. Something glowing – something pink.

Kira looked ahead to see the most peculiar sight – there was a glowing, pink rose floating inside what appeared to be a small dome of glass. Staring, Kira walked forward and carefully undid the dome. She watched in awe as the rose continued to stand upright, its petals in full bloom except for a few that had fallen to the table it was floating above. It's beautiful, Kira thought to herself, reaching out a hand. She could almost feel the presence of the rose pulsing beneath her fingertips – like it had an actual heart. Like it was breathing.

Kira reached over to touch it – but before she could, a great shadow fell over her. Even before looking up, Kira knew from the sensation of her heart dropping to her stomach that it was Kanan glowering above her. Only she hadn't expected him to move so quickly – Kanan leapt in front of Kira, snatched the glass dome from her hands, and latched it over the floating rose with such protectiveness that Kira startled backwards.

"What – are – you – doing – here?" Kanan asked, glaring at Kira.

"I'm sorry," Kira said quietly, backing away.

"I warned you not to come here," Kanan growled.

"I'm sorry," Kira repeated, stepping behind an old wardrobe. (This one, unfortunately, did not come to life.) "I won't come again!"

"Do you know what you could have done?!" Kanan yelled furiously, knocking over a table. Kira flinched, lurching backwards. "Please – stop!" she cried. Kanan knocked over another piece of furniture. "Get out!" he hollered. "Get out!" Breathing heavily, Kira stumbled away. She practically tripped over her own legs trying to reach the doors – she grabbed her cloak from her bedroom – and started to sprint down the stairs.

"Wait – where are you going?" she heard Anakin yell after her from the base of the stairs.

"Promise or no promise," Kira said over her shoulder, grabbing at the door handle. "I'm not staying here." She pushed through the doors, ignoring Anakin and Admiral's protests from behind.

xXx

Kira felt the cold wind sting her face, but she didn't care. She pushed forward, blinking frantically as snow coated her eyelashes and brushed at her cheeks. She urged Phillip forward – and thanked that by some miracle, he hadn't left. She looked up at the trees – at the unforgiving, thick branches and trunks that were coated with the cold snow – the trees had turned into all but thick pillars of ice that refused to yield before Kira.

Grunting as Phillip reared back, Kira took a firmer grasp on the reins and tried to direct the horse into a different direction. "Stay still," she cried as he bucked wildly. Kira bit down on her bottom lip and turned, looking for what might possibly be spooking the horse – and felt her heart plunge when she caught sight of a few glowering, yellow eyes peeking from the trees behind.

Even before Kira heard their growls, she knew that the wolves were coming.

"Go, go, go!" Kira shouted, urging Phillip again. Thankfully, her horse didn't need any more encouragement. It raced down the forest, tearing past trees and galloping quickly through the thick snow. Kira held onto Phillip for dear life, all the while looking over her shoulder every few minutes to see the wolves advancing. Please, please, please, she thought to herself. Not today. Not when I'm finally leaving!

Kira cried out as Phillip sank into a snow bank, almost tossing her off. Holding on, the girl shouted, "Come on! Not now!" She urged the horse – slapped at the reins as fiercely as she possibly could – until finally, the horse leapt out, narrowly missing a wolf's snapping jaws. Kira could feel her heart hammering in her chest; she could feel sweat drenching her face, though the cold didn't help matters.

And just as Phillip seemed to make his way out of the worst of the trees, Kira felt the horse kick from beneath her. She let out a small shriek and looked down to see that without even knowing, the wolves had caught up to her. She felt Phillip come to a complete halt – and wildly looking up, Kira realized that the reins had gotten tangled in the branches above. She felt frustrated, angry tears well up in her eyes. No, no, no, no!

Kira reached up to try to untangle the reins – only to feel herself falling right into the snow. Dazed, the girl stood up and watched as the wolves started to gather around her. Swallowing, Kira reached up and tore a branch off from a tree. She pointed it out in front of her, hoping that this alone could scare away the wolves – only when they continued to gather around her, Kira realized that she was going to have to do this by fighting.

And when the first wolf leapt towards her, Kira lifted her branch in defense. She felt the impact of the wolf's body against her branch – and with a mighty heave, she pushed it away from her. Kira watched with some victory that the wolf had sprung away in surprise – but it was short-lived, for in the next moment, the girl felt something tear at the bottom of her traveling cloak. The girl turned around to see that one of the wolves had snuck up on her, now furiously snaring its teeth in her clothes and making loud, unpromising growling sounds.

"Gah!" Kira shouted, bringing the branch down on the wolf's head. It yelped and sulked backwards, blinking a few times, almost as though to ask, are you serious right now? Breathing heavily, Kira tilted her head. "Well, maybe I am," she muttered aloud, lifting her branch.

Not today. Not when I'm so close.

Brandishing the branch in front of her again, Kira set herself into the best fighting position she could – with feet apart, her arms steady and legs firm. She remembered how her father had always been criticized for teaching Kira to fight – for wasting such lessons on a girl – on allowing a girl to read and write and do things that only a man should do. That, according to everyone else, women were supposed to only be bred for marriage and giving birth to children and being a mother. And Kira also remembered feeling angry whenever her father tried to teach her how to handle weapons, complaining that she would much rather go back inside and read whatever new books she had found. ("Now, now, Kira," Obi-Wan had said with a smile, "you'll have plenty of time to read your books – but show me that stance again. That's it.)

Kira wasn't even quite aware that she was beating away the wolves until she felt her arms growing tired and sore. Squaring her jaw, Kira pushed on, resorting to stabbing at the animals instead of simply trying to hit them. With each blow – with each yelp – Kira couldn't help but to cringe – but then she would remember that they had been trying to kill her, and the cycle would start all over again.

For some time, Kira wanted to believe that she was holding the upper hand. She wanted to think that she was winning against the wolves – and in some ways, she was.

That is, until they kept coming back.

Helplessly, Kira steadied herself against Phillip (who hadn't done much except try to kick away as many wolves as he could) and let out a foggy breath. She pushed her hair back with a hand and trembling from the cold and the exhaustion, Kira righted herself. A wolf leapt at her again – and swallowing, Kira lifted her branch to defend herself, waiting for impact –

But before the wolf could land, Kira heard a yelp, followed by an all-too familiar roar.

Kira opened her eyes at once, turning to see a familiar figure grabbing at the wolves, growling and baring his teeth. "Kanan," she breathed, stunned. Her first instinct was to run, especially as she watched Kanan tear apart the wolves with such ferocity. Fear shivered her heart – but shock forced Kira to stand still and watch.

"Kanan," she repeated, dazed. Slowly, she leaned forward – picked up her branch – and started to move towards him. As he tore down the wolves, he grunted with difficulty, "What – are you – still – doing – here?" Kira adjusted her grip on the branch. "Well, I can't exactly let you take the wolves on by yourself, now, can I?" she asked, and as a wolf jumped towards them, Kira swung her branch as hard as she could.

She could feel Kanan's surprise even before she turned to look at him.

And as Kira looked back up, she watched as a strange expression flitted across Kanan's face – only before any of them could say anything, a wolf – or rather, multiple wolves – crashed into Kanan. Crying out, Kira jumped as Kanan was suddenly forced to the ground. She started to reach out – but stopped as she watched Kanan ripping the wolves off of him. And with each wolf that was ripped away, Kira batted it towards the trees as hard that she could hear dull thunks echoing all around her.

After what seemed to be a lifetime, Kira watched as the last of the wolves darted away, all howling and whimpering.

Kira sank slowly to the snow, feeling her heartbeat go back to normal. "My God," she sighed, throwing the branch far away from her. "That happened." She pushed her hands up to her hair and risked a glance at Kanan, wondering what she could say. (Thank you for saving me? Thank you for not killing me? Thank you for getting rid of the wolves?)

But when Kira looked over at Kanan, all words died in her throat.

Because the thing was, Kanan wasn't standing.

He was on the snow, eyes closed and blood staining the white of the snow.

Kira stood up to her feet, eyes wide and a gasp already making its way out of her lips. She backed away into Phillip, who still hadn't moved. (Though Kira was beginning to have mixed feelings towards the horse.) Now could be her chance. Now could be her chance to run away.

Kira almost considered it.

Almost.

Her hands were on the saddle – her foot was about to aid her into jumping back on Phillip. But just as she did, she turned back around to see Kanan still in the snow, showing no signs of stirring. Kira felt a lump form in her throat. She was tempted to leave him – so sorely tempted. What had he ever done for her? Kanan was the one who cut her from her father – Kanan was the one who limited everything she stood for – Kanan –

Was also the one who helped her with the wolves.

That doesn't mean anything.

But it does, a voice at the back of Kira's voice whispered. It does. He asked you what you were doing there, didn't he? If he wanted you to stay – if he wanted you to stay as his prisoner – then he would have taken you back, wouldn't he?

Kira let her hands fall from the saddle. She closed her eyes – let her head fall forward – and breathing in a deep sigh, she turned to Kanan's direction.

xXx

Kira bit down on the tip of her tongue, narrowing her eyes in concentration as she dabbed at the wounds over Kanan's arms. She watched as he winced – pulled back – and instantly, Kira said, "Don't do that. It'll make things worse." Kanan cringed again as Kira started to lay out the cloths. Finally, after a few moments, he let out an indignant roar – until Kira glowered at him.

"That hurts," Kanan said with a glare.

"Well, it wouldn't hurt as much if you would just hold still," Kira replied, grabbing Kanan's arm. She pressed a cloth down on the wound and ignored the flinch that the beast expressed shortly after. "Well, if you hadn't run out, then this wouldn't have happened!" Kanan muttered.

"And if you hadn't yelled at me, I wouldn't have run out."

"Well, you were in the West Wing!"

"And you two need to calm down," Anakin piped up from the corner of the room.

"We do not!" Kanan and Kira shouted in unison.

xXx

Wrapping up the last of the bandages, Kira stood up. "All finished," she said stiffly, letting her hands fall to her sides. She started to walk out of the room – that is, until she reached the doorway. Clearing her throat, Kira closed her eyes and lifted her head. "And thank you, by the way. For helping back there."

There was a long silence from the beast. Kira re-opened her eyes and turned around, wondering what possible response could take so long –

"Oh," Kira murmured, staring at the armchair.

Kanan was fast asleep.

Kira swallowed. "Alright, then," she murmured, and walked out of the room before he could wake.

xXx

"And thank you, by the way. For helping back there."

How was Kanan supposed to respond to that?

It was easier to pretend to be asleep.

A/N - Because since I don't believe in 'love someone right after being saved', I'm going to take the longer route on what it means to be in love with someone. (I think that was another thing about Beauty and the Beast that took some time for me to consider and revise - there were some scenes in the film that were labeled as somewhat abusive towards Belle. And I don't want readers to think that I'm pairing Kira and Kanan up in an unhealthy relationship, because in real life, unhealthy, abusive relationships are a big no-no and GTFO.)

But at the same time, any relationship can be improved - and technically, Belle wasn't even considered a partner of Beast - she was still considered a prisoner until the very end...and etc. (So please don't think I'm trying to romanticize abusive relationships. I understand I upset some readers (though I will not name anyone), but I promise that I'm being very careful on the subject and tiptoeing around it to make sure that I won't end this story by making people think that I actually paired people up in a toxic relationship. So. *takes a breath* Those are my two cents.

Reviews are appreciated - constructive criticism is okay, but flames are not!