Beauty and the Beast themed story with a twist. Blame the fact I couldn't get the song out of my head for the title.

Black eyes stared down at the arrogant brat that was his grandson. Fon sighed in exasperation. Without anyone his own age to challenge him, Kyouya's heart had grown hard and cold. He barely acknowledged the need to protect his people, much less his staff.

There was no way Fon was getting through to him. Kyouya only saw him as a threat, someone he had to beat in order to become stronger. He would never listen.

Which meant drastic measures would have to be taken, if only for the sake of his sanity.

He went to the small nearby village and found an old colleague of his. Viper was an excellent enchanter (because no one wanted to piss them off if they got the gender wrong, so they just called them an Enchanter), and they could lay some long term curses without any ill side effects.

Paying them was like cutting off his own arm, but hopefully it would force his bratty grandson to think about more than just himself.

Kyouya was beyond angry, at first. Being cursed to bear the ears, tail and claws of a large cat would make anyone angry. The staff in the castle were hit as well, if only because Viper wasn't stupid enough to place such a curse on Kyouya so close.

However he grew to accept his new appearance, even if he tried to gut his grandfather for doing this to him as a lesson.

Fon could never have anticipated how far reaching the consequences of that "lesson" would be...

Tsunahime was not a very well liked girl. Far from it.

Her mother died when she was little, her father came home so rarely he didn't even register as her father, and she was so clumsy that no one would hire her.

Almost no one.

"Master Verde, I have the groceries and your coffee," she said quietly. He didn't like loud, annoying people. And she had learned a long time ago that the more vocal she was around others, the higher the chances were her bullies would come after her.

Verde waved her off, deep in one of his many, many strange projects.

He was considered highly eccentric because he wanted to get the kingdoms to move away from magically based devices to something he called "electricity". Considering the cost of his research, none had been willing to take him up on the idea.

Only one place had been even willing to allow him to test out his experiments, but she was never allowed to join him. There was a dreadful curse on the place that only Master Verde and a few others were safe from. And he was always gone for at least a week.

Tsuna went about making dinner. It was just her and Master Verde, the only one who was willing to give her a job. She was his quiet assistant, keeping his lab clean, and made sure he was fed and that the got enough sleep.

Within an hour she had supper ready and walked with slow, deliberate steps. She found if she took her time, she didn't trip as much.

Verde only looked up when he smelled it, but the slight smile on his face made her smile back. He gently patted her on the head, which was as much praise as he ever gave.

She had been laughed and belittled so often by the villagers she was always expecting more of it from total strangers. Gentle shows of appreciation like a pat on the head or a hug meant more to her than flowery words of praise.

The two of them spent the night as they always did. With the peaceful moments of their own little tasks.

The next evening...

Tsuna was walking home when she passed by the pub. She never went in there, for many reasons. Chief among them was the man inside, laughing as if he didn't have a care in the world.

Iemitsu Sawada was the personal investigator of the king, who lived some distance away and was never seen.

Supposedly he was Tsuna's father, but she never believed it. If anyone had that claim on her, it was Master Verde who despite being somewhat distant was at least there for her.

She still remembered the day she was told rather coldly by that man her mother was dead and that she would never see her again. There wasn't a shred of empathy or emotion in his eyes. They were as cold and dead as a doll, as if he had no soul.

The house she had lived in with her mother was empty. She had long since moved into Verde's lab, since it was easier. She didn't feel so lonely, even if he wasn't the most personable of people.

He still stayed by her side the nights when her pain was the worst. She would always wake up and see his strange cloak as he fiddled with some random object. Not near her, because he didn't really connect with others... but close enough that she knew he was there.

Seeing him in that tavern always made her blood boil, as if some raging fire demanded she remove him from her life once and for all.

She kept walking, picking up some bread on the way. Sandwiches were simple, and were safe enough that even Verde could manage them when she wasn't there.

But he was very particular about the bread he ate, hence why they ran out of it so often.

"Yo, Tsu-chan!"

Tsuna turned and smiled.

She knew that voice.

The friendly blond soldier who guarded the way between the village and some old paths that lead to the capital walked up to her. It must be one of his days off from patrolling, since he always ended up with that post.

"Hello Colonello," she said politely.

His smile brightened a bit. He was one of the few who knew her mother had worked in the kitchens of the old castle that lay deep in the woods. No one went there since the curse, but he always made a point to see her on his day off.

Tsuna's smile became a little warmer when he ruffled her hair. He was like the older brother she always wanted, but never had. And one of the few in the village who didn't laugh or mock her for being clumsy.

"Shopping for that old fusspot Verde again? You spoil him," joked Colonello.

Tsuna said nothing. Unlike when the villagers mocked Verde, she knew Colonello only meant it in friendly banter. He was, after all, one of the Elite. The pendant around his neck signified he was one of the Strongest in the Kingdom, a member of the Arcobaleno.

Not that anyone really knew that. Everyone else only saw him as the idiot soldier who was always trying to get a date with the Captain of the King's personal Guard. Lal Mirch was strict, but fair.

She was still annoyed Colonello had beaten her for one of the posts in the Elite.

"Come one, come all! The great Skull-sama will give you all a show!" boasted a man with purple hair and purple eyes.

Tsuna giggled. She loved watching Skull, he was entertaining.

The two of them went to watch the fire-dancer at his work. He might boast a lot when it came to his fighting skills, but when it came to entertaining the masses no one doubted his ability.

"Give us a show, Skull-sama!" she shouted as loudly as she dared.

Over the minor din, it went almost unnoticed but the man spotted her in a heart beat (or more likely he just saw Colonello) and gave her a broad wink and a smile.

Colonello had his arm around her shoulders protectively as Skull did his act, and the two stayed as long as they could. He looked so alive as he danced among the purple-colored fire, and so happy. She clapped as much as she could when it was over.

He made sure to wave in her direction before he went to collect his tribute from those closer.

Skull was someone who understood her pain very well. He was often mocked as the "weakest" Arcobaleno, but he never gave in. He gave her a small piece of courage, watching him get up every day even when people kicked him down.

Colonello made sure she was able to finish her shopping in peace, and walked her home. Mostly because he knew if he did she would feed him, even if she didn't allow alcohol in the home.

She saw that man drunk enough that any desire to try it died.

"WHERE'S MY COFFEE!"

Tsuna smiled, and lightly giggled. She quickly made a pot and brought Verde a fresh cup. His grumbling died down a little as it kicked in, and he noticed the time.

He didn't even have to ask. She only ever stayed out this late to watch Skull or visit with Colonello. And seeing the blond man sipping his own cup at the table, he rolled his eyes.

"Feed me!" groaned Colonello with a pitiful sound. Tsuna smiled and went to work at the stove.

"How are the roads?" asked Verde grumpy.

Colonello didn't miss a beat. The two of them fell into an easy talk about something she never asked about. It was obviously very hush-hush.

"The roads are fine. No real change, sadly. Though a cat was seen nearby," said Colonello.

Verde shot a brief glance at the back of Tsuna, and held in a sigh. The poor girl had no idea, and they weren't about to tell her. It wasn't like she could change anything. It might only bring her more heartbreak.

The two chatted, saying nothing of interest really. Except when Tsuna was sound asleep with the door closed, Colonello disappeared for a bit...and came back with someone.

"How is she?"

"She's surviving. That idiot husband of yours never even bothers to acknowledge she exist these days," sighed Verde.

The woman under the cloak briefly looked into Tsuna's room, and barely held in her tears.

How she wished she could go in there and hug the girl senseless. To make up for all the years they lost because of the stupidity of the villagers.

Sadly it wasn't meant to be. That man had made it very clear she was never to see Tsuna again. All because of something she had no control over.

"I know it's pointless to ask, but isn't there any way you could convince him to allow her to stay? This village isn't doing her any favors and it's taking everything we have to keep her smile alive."

"You know as well as I do that the curse is still active. If she stays there too long, she will be affected to and lose her chance..."

Verde sighed.

"I will keep her safe. We all will," said Verde.

"Thank you. For everything," said the woman.

She was safer here than she was with that idiot she married.

The woman put the cloak back on, hiding her head. She went outside and was promptly hidden by Viper and Colonello.

Neither spoke of the unshed tears in her eyes, or the fact that she couldn't stay, despite how badly she wanted to.

"I'll only be gone a week this time. I need to restock my supplies since those idiots wasted what I gave them."

And by idiots he meant the "local guards", who were little more than villagers who had to keep the peace while the royal guards were busy. They were the ones more likely to cause said trouble when the royal guard was around, but it was a good place to dump sons with nothing better to do.

Verde was paid to keep them with their required supply of magic bullets, but the fools kept wasting them every couple of months. Which only made Verde irritable, because it took time he could spend with his experiments.

That, and the fact they were one of the worst offenders of harassing her. It wasn't like anyone would bother to stop them... her mother was gone and her father didn't even acknowledge she existed when passing on the street. And no one cared what Verde thought outside of the shop.

Tsuna smiled sadly.

"Be safe, Master Verde."

"I'm always safe," said Verde, though his tone was much softer. He gave her an awkward hug, considering he wasn't one who did it often. It was more that he just put his arms around her and let her hug him while he awkwardly patted her back. He got onto the carriage and let out a light click, getting the horses to move.

Tsuna watched as long as she could, before she sighed.

Colonello was in the middle of his post, Skull was entertaining another village, Viper wasn't really much for conversation unless you paid them ridiculous sums of money, and Lal was more likely to bark at her than anything else if she tried to visit.

She hated it when Verde had to go away. It was so lonely.

Tsuna went inside, and went back to her usual work of tidying things up. She was completely unaware of the coal black eyes observing her from the shadows of the roof.

She was never really alone when Verde had to leave on his trips. But the silent observer was under strict orders not to speak or come near her. It would draw too much attention and far too many questions that shouldn't be answered.

It wasn't like anything was going to happen. Nothing ever did.

Reborn was awoken from his silent post as her watcher by the sounds of footsteps. Ones that didn't belong. He looked down and his eyebrows shot up.

What was the idiot doing here?

He slipped down and listened closer. Something told him he needed to pay attention.

Tsuna opened the door and squeaked in shocked horror when she saw who was there. He couldn't blame her, though he always wondered why she sounded like a little mouse when startled.

She clearly wanted very much to slam the door in his face, but Iemitsu had a firm grip on the door.

Reborn mood went from irritated to downright pissed. And if he was angry, who knew how the girl was feeling? She was too shocked to even think, and just wanted Iemitsu to leave and go back to his own life.

Tsuna was shaking. She leaned against the solid oak door for comfort, but found none.

That man barging into her life like it was nothing and casually telling her that he had sold her off to someone in another country was the worst thing that could have happened. The way he acted like she was his personal property, to give away as he saw fit made her want to scream.

Why? Why did he do this to her? What had she ever done to him that he would destroy everything in her life?

Tsuna looked up, her eyes full of pain and anger.

No. She refused to let that man ruin her life again. She deserved better.

She looked outside. Verde had taken both the horses, which meant foot travel. Packing her things quickly, she left a small note for Verde to find, unaware of her watcher.

Tears streaming down her face, she decided to do something she never would have thought of before.

Leave the village. It was too risky to stay...that man was close to the king and had eyes everywhere. No one cared about her enough to hide her, which meant she couldn't stay.

She couldn't climb the wall. She couldn't slip out the gate... she was too well known and Lal had them too well trained.

Tsuna walked around, trying her best to pretend it was another day, while silently observing the guards.

Then she found the weakest point. It was the one that lead to a known road, but it wasn't well traveled. In fact she had never heard of anyone actually using it, even if it did go close to the capital.

Rumors said that that way lay a demon.

Well, compared to that man, she'd rather take her chances with the demon.

She didn't hear the thump, or noticed that the guard was discreetly knocked out. All she knew was that there was a brief moment when no one was watching and she took it.