Disclaimers: I did not create Naruto nor did I make Beauty & The Beast- a sad fact, but still a fact. This is purely a SasuNaru fanfic using someone else's characters.

Beauty & The Beast: A D-Rank Mission

Chapter 9

D~,'~~~

Sasuke dragged a flustered Naruto off the stage and out the back door. Despite the blonde's struggling, he wouldn't release him until they were on the edge of the forest across from the theatre. Finally he loosened his grip and Naruto was able to wrench his arm free.

"What the hell, Sasuke?! What is your problem now?!"

The Uchiha glared at him. "So what- that didn't bother you at all? Having Neji all over you like that?!"

"Obviously it did, you damn psycho. But it's a freaking play! He was acting!"

"Pshh- yeah. Sure."

"What is your deal?! Why are you-" Naruto struggled to find the words. "Why are you being like this with me all of a sudden?"

Sasuke glared, his eyes dark and dangerous. "Like what, Naruto?" he grated out, daring him to say it.

"I- I don't know! It almost seems like.."

Naruto shook his head. No- that's definitely not it. Not the Ice King. A freaking fish feels more than that guy.

Sasuke took a step towards him. "Like what?" he said again.

Naruto flinched.

Jesus, scary Sasuke was.. scary.

He looked up and took a nervous step back. His freaking sharingan is out. Geez- is it his freaking time of the month or what?! What is with him??

"Will you just relax! You're freaking me out."

"Whatever. Why don't you go back to Neji. Let him act some more."

"What's the problem, Ice Prince" Naruto laughed, "- are you jealous or something?"

Sasuke stormed up to him and Naruto hurriedly stepped back- straight into a tree. Shit..

He looked up at a looming Beast, not knowing what to expect from him. Sasuke leaned in, his voice low as he growled- "so what if I am?"

Blue eyes widened and Naruto's heart skipped a beat, but just before it got even more awkward he was saved by the screech.

"Sasuke-kunnnnnn!"

The Uchiha swiveled his head to the side, glaring at their other teammate. He straightened and stepped away from Naruto as she skipped up to them.

"You look soooo cool as the Beast" she said, eyes filled with stars as she stared at her crush. "And your hair looks amazing like that."

"Hn."

Sakura turned to glare at Naruto, who weirdly had become her rival in love.

CHA! she mentally screamed, her inner self clenching a fist, large forehead pulsing. Like he could ever get in my way!

Ok.. so he looks decent in the robe, she admitted, but Naruto is.. well.. Naruto! He'll always be a freaking baka no matter what he wears!

"Ahh- how's our favorite old hag?"

Sakura punched Naruto in the head.

"Dammit, Sakura! That hurt!"

"Then you should have watched your mouth, Baka!" Don't embarrass me in front of Sasuke!

"Whatever." Sasuke muttered, emotionless once again. "We should go back."

"Oh! I'll go with you!" Sakura volunteered. She bounced after him, smiling her most dazzling smile, trying to pretend she didn't see the look he gaze Naruto as they walked away.

He won't be Belle for long. Whatever is going on here, it'll stop after. Then his eyes will be on ME instead!

D~,'~~~

Naruto was jittery after the intense scene with Neji and the constant awkwardness with Sasuke. And because of that he kept fucking up. A lot.

Old Man Director did not look pleased.

The only scenes that seemed to go relatively well were the ones where Belle was nervous and Beast was pissed, and that's just because it requires zero acting. And yet, he managed to find a way to screw those up too.

Naruto sat on the floor of the "dungeon", ready to act out the "I get to become the jerk's prisoner" scene again now that they had Maurice there. Well.. act it out again, again, again- since he has messed up his lines about 53 times.

"What are you doing here?" Sasuke growled prowling in the shadows.

Some old guy that was playing Maurice, coughed up a lung before shouting- "Run, Belle!"

Naruto wanted to. He reallyyyy wanted to. But the freaking robe would never have cooperated, and the theatre troupe would be more irritated with him than they already were, so he played the part instead.

"Who's there? Who.. who are you?"

"The master of this castle" Sasuke grated out, his tone venomous and oddly convincing.

It almost feels like we ARE in the bastard's freaking castle. This is the most I've ever heard him talk and all of it is intense as hell.

"I.. uh-" he looked at the old dude for help. He rolled his eyes- rude- and mouthed father.

"Father!"

The old guy slapped his own forehead, completely exasperated with the blonde.

"Will you freaking get it together, dobe!?" Sasuke snapped. "If I have to do this scene one more time I am going to snap your damn neck."

"Well.. well I'm going to pull the stick out of your ass and beat you with it!"

Kakashi couldn't help but laugh. "He got you there, Sasuke!" The Uchiha glared.

"Just do it right. For once. Just do something right."

Naruto looked away. He didn't know why, but that one actually stung. He bit his lip, reigning in his stupid feelings, then moved back into position.

"Fine. Just do the scene.." he said quietly.

Sasuke felt a slight twinge of guilt, but his frustration was stronger, and he decided to lead with that instead. Besides- it made him a pretty convincing beast.

D~,'~~~

"- There's nothing you can do" he snapped as the scene finally progressing along. "He is my prisoner."

"There has to be a way.. I- I'll be your prisoner." Naruto said, convincingly despondent. "Take me instead."

Sasuke blinked, surprised by how serious he sounded. "You.. you would do that? Take his place..?"

Belle ignored Maurice's objections. "If I did, would you let him go?"

"Yes", Beast replied, "but you have to stay here, with me.. forever."

The Beast stepped into the light when he was asked to, and Naruto gasped- an actual reaction. Sasuke looked fierce, intimidating in his anger, and his eyes- his eyes looked serious. Like he wasn't telling Belle to stay with him, but like..

- like he was telling Naruto to.

Naruto swallowed, and unconsciously shifted away from him, still on the floor by Maurice. Sasuke couldn't help but notice the way his robe moved up his thigh, revealing more than it should.

More than Sasuke could handle while he was feeling so goddamn feral.

"You... you have my word."

The Beast stalked up to his prey, another "creative change" that the director decided to make, and knelt down in front of Naruto. The blonde shifted back a little, but Sasuke grabbed him before he could get very far. He held his face in his grasp, tightening it until his Belle winced.

"Good" he whispered. Then he released him and stormed off, ordering the furniture around him to get rid of her father.

"And cut!" the director took a dramatic breath. "Wow. Did anyone else feel that!? That was.. truly theatre worthy. It felt so real, so authentic. You two truly make a perfect Belle and Beast."

Naruto rubbed his face, glaring at the Uchiha's back. "Yeah - he definitely knows how to act like a freaking rabid animal."

Sasuke gritted his teeth, but said nothing.

"Ok! Who's ready for a little Belle and Gaston action."

Anddddd.. the sharingan was back.

D~,'~~~

"Old man Director?"

"Oh, how I would just love if you didn't call me that, my sweet Belle."

"Why are we practicing so many scenes out of order?"

Piercing green eyes gleamed mischievously behind half-moon spectacles. "Why- to add to the drama of course."

"Drama?"

"Don't worry, Belle. You'll see what I mean soon enough."

And the director danced away, frolicking across the stage, twirling in circles. Another round of applause echoed across the auditorium.

"Apparently everything deserves a good clap."

Sasuke sprayed out a mouthful of water, and Kakashi grinned as he patted him on the back. "You couldn't be more right, Naruto. A good clap would be helpful- don't you think, Sasuke?"

The Uchiha glared- feels like he's done nothing but glare all freaking day, Naruto thought- and brushed Kakashi's hand off of him. "You are absolutely no help."

Naruto looked between the two of them, utterly confused, then shrugged.

"Whatever. Back to the mission!" he shouted, leaping up with excitement. He got half a step before his foot caught in his robe again and he fell flat on his face.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

Naruto groaned. "I hate this mission."

D~,'~~~