Author's Note: Another chapter, wow i thought I would never get over the writers block. Let me know what you think.

Chapter II: Rapunzel

"Sing." Agatha said, watching her student kneel in the dirt, in front of half-dead roses. Kagome held out her hands, cupping the wilting rose ever so gently. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. 'Flower, gleam and glow. Let your power shine.' Agatha's eyes widen as her student began to radiate a pinkish glow. 'Make the clock reverse. Bring back what once was mine.' The rose in Kagome's hands began to glow, but also the dead petals on the ground around it began to float. 'Heal what has been hurt. Change the Fates' design.' The rose began to turn from a dead brown to a vibrant red. 'Save what has been lost. Bring back what once was mine. What once was mine.'

Kagome opened her eyes, eyes widening as she saw the rose stand tall, renewed with life. "Excellent." Agatha praised her student, "Kagome, it has been two years since I began to teach you. Now, it is time to begin your journey home."

Kagome spun around, eyes widened. Fresh tears glistened in her eyes, the thought of reuniting with Mom, Souta and Grandpa after so long apart. "Thank you!" Kagome embraced Agatha, who returned the hug.

"In a few days, you will begin the journey East into the forest. To create your way home, you will need a special rose. It will need to be renewed with hope." Agatha pointed towards the East forest, which darkened from the storm coming in. "You will have to make a choice my dear, and it won't be easy." Kagome nodded, remembering Maurice needed to make a journey to the market in a few days. Market was towards the East, perhaps that's what Agatha meant.

Kagome nodded, as Agatha urged Kagome to make the journey home before it started to become late. She also had to make supper for Maurice and Belle before breaking the news to them. She grabbed her basket, walking towards the direction of town, slightly ignoring her suitor's latest attempt to get her attention.

"Kagome, my dear. Kagome!" Gaston stepped in front of her path with a banquet of wild flowers. "These are for you." He held them out. Kagome tentatively took them, slightly nervous.

"Thank you. Gaston. But-" "-No need to continue," He took Kagome's hands, "Kagome. I Gaston, am asking for your hand in marriage?"

Kagome just stood there, her mouth wide open, in shock. Did he just ask her what she think he did? "Gaston, perhaps we should think about this…"

"Oh, Kagome. Do you know what happens to spinsters in this village after their fathers die? Coins? Got any spare coins? They beg for scraps, like poor Agathe. Do you want to be a housekeeper for the rest of your days, living off Maurice's generosity? You could have a family, a home and a husband who is just as beautiful as you are. Think about our children…"

That did it. Gaston made a lot of since, but Kagome was going to go home soon, and how could she marry someone so egocentric?! She tried to see the best in people, but Gaston was just…awful!

"I might be a housekeeper. But I do have a family waiting for me. I am sorry Gaston, but I will be departing soon to go home, and I can never marry you. I'm sorry!" She backed off to the door and slammed it in his face. She peeked at the windowsill and watched as Gaston eventually walked away.

She let out a sigh of relief before setting the bread on the kitchen counter. Maurice came walking in, peeking on the sweets she kept in the cabinet. "If you wanted something to eat, go ahead."

"Thank you dear. But I wanted to ask, what did you want from the market place? I asked Belle already and she asked for a rose again. What would you like?"

Kagome smiled, before she thought of something. "I would like to go with you to market this time. I need to grab a few things."

Maurice nodded, and later that day both were ready for the journey. Belle was staying behind to take care of the house. "Goodbye, Papa. Bye Kagome."

"Goodbye, Belle. Come on, Philippe. You know the way."

"I'll see you both tomorrow!"

"Right. Tomorrow, with the rose."

"Stay safe."

"You too!" Kagome called back, waving as Phillip took off down the country road towards the forest. Lightning. The sky flashes. The wind picks up. Worried, Maurice urges Philippe on.

"The woods are lovely, aren't they Philippe...? I only wish I recognized them. Do you know where we are? Because I don't." Kagome wrapped her scarf around her head, slightly chilled by the sudden change of weather. As the woods get darker, a WITHERED TREE that looks like an ELDERLY PERSON'S CANE is struck by lightning.

MAURICE "Whoa!" Maurice tightened his hands on the reigns as the falling branch almost hit them. The tree splits in two, one half falling into the road, revealing... a HIDDEN PATH. Philippe whinnies nervously. "Hmm... yes, we can go this way. Walk on! One path closes, another one opens."

"Maybe we should keep to the main path." Kagome edged, suddenly not liking the atmosphere they were currently heading into.

"Nonsense, we will be alright." Maurice started heading down the path, until she noticed something strange. It was snowing, in the middle of June. It was also something else. Her senses were tingling, just like when she sensed a jewel shard. This path had magic around it.

A light, whirling snow descends on Maurice and Kagome and suddenly Kagome heard A WHITE WOLF roar out of the bushes, barely missing them. Gaze darting, Maurice notices WHITE WOLVES running on an icy ledge.

"Go, Philippe! Hurry!" Maurice urges his horse on, but his rickety cart starts to

buckle. Kagome and Maurice fell out of the cart as it came loose, sending them to the ground. Kagome groaned, blinking when she heard a snarl. A wolf was in front of her. She stared at it in the eyes, until it blinked. She sent off a warning shot, a pulse of magic and the wolves backed off. "Maurice." She went towards him as the wolves ran off back into the woods.

"Come on." She checked him for blood, and helped him to his feet. "We need to keep going." She knew that going forward would lead them closer to the magic, but that damn horse ran off without them.

"Are you alright my dear?" He asked, dusting himself off.

"Yes, I'm fine." Kagome said, as they huddled together, going towards the castle that hid on the other side of the trees. "There's a castle up there. We can seek shelter until we find Phillip. Together they set off the path, Kagome knew the wolves were watching but stayed away from her.

Thank goodness Agathe taught her some self-defensive magic or they would have been goners. As they came to the gate of the castle, Kagome could feel several eyes on them, but it came from the windows. Phillip already pushed through the gate, eating some feed in a trough. "Stupid horse." Kagome growled as she helped Maurice up the stairs.

"Let's pay our respects to our unwitting host... whoever that may be..." Cautiously, Maurice approaches the castle door. He gazes up at a row of TORCHES held by sculpted iron hands. The hands are so life-like. Kagome shook her head, just wanting to get out of the storm.

She helped him pus the door in, and glanced inside. "I don't like this." She whispered.

"Hello? Anyone home?" Forgive us, we don't mean to intrude. Me and my daughter need shelter from the storm. Hello?" Maurice took off his hat and put it on the coat rack. Kagome took off her cloak, and set it on the coat rack as well.

Kagome looked all around, her senses going wild. She didn't want to be here, it felt haunted almost. As they both past the table with a candelabra and clock passes them, the candelabra slowly turns watching them, or rather watching the exotic beauty who was with this traveler.

Kagome looked inside the next room, it had a fire going. She walked inside, thawing her hands from the cold. "Flower, gleam and glow. Let your power shine." She sang to herself. Letting the warmth of the fire over flow her. It felt good.

"Wherever you are, we just going to warm ourselves by the fire..." Maurice announced, as he joined her by the fire. "That's better my dear." H rubbed his frozen fingers together. Kagome snapped her head as she heard the clink of sliver wear in another adjoining room. They both walked closer, seeing a meal set out for them both.

"Oh, thank you!" Famished, Maurice sits, tears off a hunk of bread and devours it ravenously.

Kagome came up next to him, and sat down too. As she went to reach for something, a small tea cup slid into her hand. "Mom said I wasn't supposed to move because it might be scary. Sorry." She blinked, setting the cup down, "I wanted to see you more closely. You are very pretty."

"Thank you." She whispered, as both her and Maurice stared at the cup. He grabbed her hand, and both ran from the table. He grabbed his coat, as she put on her cloak. "Let's go." He grabbed her hand again, after thanking whoever provided them with the meal.

Before they went out the door, Kagome could feel something else watching them. She spun around, and peered in the dark. There was something or someone at the top of the stares, watching her with blue eyes. "Kagome!" Maurice tugged on her arm, wrenching her out of her trance and out into the snow.

They ran over to Phillip and got on top of horse. Kagome wrapped her arms around Maurice as they rode away from the castle. She looked back, seeing something watching from the door of the castle. Whoever that was, was following them out!

She closed her eyes, sending a pulse of magic back at the creature, making sure to give them enough time to get out of here. She heard a small roar, but thankfully Maurice didn't hear it as well. "Oh great. Roses, Kagome let's get one for Belle."

"No." Kagome said, "We need to get out of here now."

"Just one." Maurice said, going over to the bushes. "Can't go home empty handed... I

promised Belle a rose, didn't I? I think it's safe..." He went to grab a rose, and Kagome could feel that creature coming closer.

"No!" She yelled as he yanked one off.

A roar came out of nowhere as Phillip bucked both of his riders off. Kagome fell against the ground, hitting her head and knocking herself unconscious.

With blood in the snow.

Kagome slowly opened her eyes as she felt something or someone lifting her off the ground and carrying her in the crook of their arms. It was so furry, but she couldn't keep her eyes open. She only saw the blue eyes from the staircase staring down at her.

She felt herself set down on top of a bed, as she listened for Maurice. She could hear him. Was he okay? What happened to him? "Maurice…" She whispered, trying to get up but something held her down. A paw?

"Rest." With that, he was gone.

She fell back against the pillow as other voices came into the room. "Hurry, we need to stop the bleeding." She fell back into unconsciousness.

Some hours later, Kagome opened her eyes again, trying to ignore the throbbing headache that was hammering her. She opened her eyes, and saw that the moon was out. She was in a room, with a table. On it was some water and food. She ached as she sat up.

Maurice…" She called out, but she didn't hear or see him. She needed to find him now! She couldn't lose him, she couldn't let Belle lose him. She stood up from the bed, and despite her throbbing headache, opened the door. There, was an empty hallway and she tiptoed out of it.

There, she could hear something, couching. "Maurice." She pasted candelabra and picked it up. a Kagome follows the cough up a labyrinth of stairs until she reaches the dark prison tower and a GRATED IRON DOOR.

"Maurice!? Is that you?" Maurice looked pale and sick from coughing so much.

"Kagome. Are you alright?" Kagome put the candelabra down and clutches his hands. *

"Oh, your hands are ice. We need to get you home." Suddenly she heard a roar, and spinning around quickly. "Who's there? Who are you?"

'Who are you?" The creature growled.

"Iv'e come for him. He needs to be home with his daughter."

"He's a thief." The creature growled.

"No. He is sorry for it, he shouldn't be locked up."

Maurice coughed. "No, he means forever. Apparently, that's what happens around here when you pick a flower."

Kagome blinked, slightly stunned. "A life sentence for a rose?"

"I received eternal damnation for one. I'm merely locking him away. Now... do you still wish to take his place?"

Kagome looked back at Maurice before thrusting the candelabra into the darkness, revealing the creature who stalked them into the castle courtyard. It was a horned beast, but the most human thing about him was his eyes. Blue. "CHOOSE!" He growled.

"I will take his place." Kagome said, and the Beast yanked the door open, causing Kagome to hug Maurice. "Take care of Belle."

"Kagome, you don't need to do this." Maurice said, hugging the young lady who was so brave and courageous. He was lucky to know such a girl. "You have a whole life ahead of you."

"No." She took his face in her hands. "I lost one family already. I won't let another fall apart. Belle needs her father too." She then pushed Maurice out the door and slammed the gate shut.

Maurice trips to the ground, giving the beast a second to turn to Kagome. They lock eyes. "You took his place."

"He is a father to a daughter who needs him more than she needs me." He didn't answer her as he turned and dragged Maurice away. "Please don't hurt him!"

"Kagome, I'll be back for you. I promise!" Once she was alone, Kagome slumps to the floor as the tears came. She watched the snow fall outside, as she watched Maurice ride away on Phillip. The Beast watched her from the courtyard. They locked eyes before she turned away. This was her life now. A maiden locked away in a tower with no way of ever getting out.