Beauty and the Beast

Another update! I was so surprised with how many people like this so far, I hope I made this chapter just as enjoyable as the first!

Beauty and the Beast: Chapter 2

Third Person POV

“I’m off to the fair!”

“Don’t get Zangetsu killed.” Ichigo said in way of response, but they both knew that it translated into ‘be careful.’

Isshin waved cheerfully at his son and got up on the car behind the dark horse. “Don’t let Grimmjow rape you!”

“Fuck off!” Ichigo shouted after him, and immediately missed his presence as he walked back into the house. Ever since his mother died in childbirth along with the two twin girls, all they had were each other.

Isshin clucked merrily to the horse who was ignoring his idiotic driver that was trying to read a map. “Let’s go this way, Zangetsu!” Isshin declared and tried to turn the horse to the right side of the Y in the road. Zangetsu looked down the dark and gloomy path, then to the other with was bright and open. Stupid human. He strained and tried to go to the left but Isshin wasn’t having any of it. “Come on boy!”

Zangetsu reluctantly walked down the trail, eyes wide and fearful at the sounds of hooting owls and whistling wind. “This isn’t right…” Isshin mumbled to himself and looked at the map. “Where have you taken us, boy?”

Zangetsu neighed shrilly and reared up suddenly as glinting eyes appeared in the darkness and low growls signaled the presence of the wolves. “Whoa boy!” Isshin tried to get Zangetsu to back up but he reared and charged forward, the carriage careening from side to side as he dashed forward. The reigns jerked out of Isshin’s hands and fell to the ground as Zangetsu tried to escape the wolves nipping at his flank. One wolf leaped at Isshin and knocked him to the ground, sending the carriage crashing into a tall metal and breaking the wooden axel connecting it to Zangetsu.

Zangetsu galloped away, easily outdistancing the wolves without the heavy loud. Isshin quickly kicked at the wolf and yanked open the wrought iron gate, slamming it shut in the wolves snarled faces as they snagged a hold of his hat. He sighed with relief and turned around, surprised to see a large, dark castle looming above him like an idol. Isshin walked towards it hesitantly, wondering if it had been abandoned or if people still lived there.

He pulled his jacket tighter around himself and shivered as rain started trickling down. He lifted the huge brass knocker on the double doors and pounded it. When nobody immediately answered he pushed the door open with a creak and peaked inside. “Hello?” Isshin called out. “Anybody home?” He saw a candle light flickering so he knew somebody must be there.

“Sh!” Somebody hissed.

“We have to help the poor man!” Somebody whispered back.

“I’m lost in the woods and can’t find my way home!” Isshin yelled out into the darkness. “Is there somebody who can help me?”

“Be quiet!” Another voice hissed back to the other.

“Hello?” Isshin snatched up the candle stick and held it high into the air.

“’ello.”

“Is somebody there?” Isshin cried out, then yelped when the candle stick thumped him on the head. “What!?”

“Oi! Idiot! I’m the fucking candle stick!” The candle yelled indignantly as though this should have been obvious.

“Oh…I’m sorry, I’ve never me a candle stick that could talk before!” Isshin said. “Are you by chance on of Urahara’s inventions?” He asked inquisitively.

“The fuck are you talking about? My name’s Ikkaku and I don’t know any Urahara.” Ikkaku said and crossed his candle-arms over his chest.

“I told you not to talk to him.” The clock said grouchily.

“This is Yumichika.” Ikkaku said dismissively and turned back to the man. “Would you like to stay for dinner?”

“Absolutely not.” Yumichika stated with a frown, his clock face twitching.

“Genius!” Isshin snatched Yumichika up and started examining him.

“I’d ask you to not touch me, if you don’t mind.” Yumichika hissed and was immediately dropped. “Although I am beautiful.” He primped a little bit, not noticing Ikkaku leading Isshin to the other room and started making him at home.

“Not the captain’s chair!” Yumichika ran into the room and wailed as Ikkaku threw a blanket over his shoulder and rolled a cart with tea on it over to him. “Alright, alright.” Yumichika said regretfully. “One cup and you must be going!”

Isshin stared at the plump tea pot and pink, chipped tea cup in fascination. “Amazing!”

“This is Unohana.” Ikkaku gestured to the pot. “And Yachiru.” The chipped cup.

“His goatee tickles!” Yachiru giggled when Isshin took a sip.

“Oh, I’m sorry!”

“Yip, yip!” A cushiony foot rest nudged its way under Isshin’s feet.

“Well hello, little fellow!”

“Stay down, Komamura!” Ikkaku scolded.

“Who’s there!” The door to the study banged open and cold air rushed in as every light in the room, even the fire, went out.

“N-no one!” Isshin stuttered with wide eyes, unable to see the monster in the dark. “I- I was lost in the cold so I-

“Be quiet!” The best hissed, his golden eyes flaring. “I’ll give you a place to stay.”

“Captain!” Ikkaku protested as a clawed hand grabbed the back of Isshin’s shirt and dragged him upstairs to the tower. Kenpachi threw him into a locked cage and peered in.

“Come to stare at the beast, have you!” He roared.

“No!”

Kenpachi left, ignoring Isshin’s screams after him. No one mocked Zaraki Kenpachi and lived to tell of it. The man was too weak to fight anyways, regrettably. Damn, no one was strong enough to fight him off these days

Ichigo’s POV

I was sitting at the table reading my book intently when someone knocked at the door. With a frown of confusion I opened it and saw Grimmjow standing there looking like his normal, smug self.

“Hello, Beautiful.” Grimmjow shoved past me and into the house. “I’ve come to make sure you are all right all alone.” He stepped closer with a leer. “Without your father to protect you.”

I snorted and shoved him away. “I can protect myself.”

“You know, Ichigo, it’s time you settled down.” He plunked down where I had been reading before and set his muddy shoes on my book. I shoved them off and rescued my book, wrinkling my nose in disgust at the mess. “Can’t you just imagine it? You and me sitting in front of the fire, our cats and children wrestling at our feet. We’ll have about a dozen of them.”

“Cats?” I asked in confusion.

“No! Strapping boys, like myself!” He grinned at me and stood up.

“I’m a man, dumb shit.” I said with a scoff.

“I know of a witch that could do a spell so you can get pregnant.” He replied seriously.

“No, Grimmjow. I am not interested, in you or your cats.” I glared at him. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”

“Come on, Ichigo.” He stepped forward into me, his arms on either side of my head on the door. “I promise to be gentle your first time.”

I gasped as he pressed his large body into mine and I could feel his erection poking me. “I’m sorry Grimmjow.” I fumbled for the door handle as he leaned his head down. “You’re just not good enough for me!” I opened the door and dodged his falling body, quickly slamming it shut again. I could hear his cursing outside the door but he left.

I sighed and rested my head against the door, sliding down until I sat with my head buried in my knees. Am I destined to be plagued by horny men the rest of my life? I stood up again and peaked out the door to make sure Grimmjow was gone and then ran to the field.

I glowered at the woodland creatures that flocked around me. “Can you imagine? He asked me to marry him. Me, the wife of that boorish, brainless . . .” I rolled my eyes as I remember his declarations to me. "Madame Grimmjow! Can't you just see it? Madame Grimmjow! His ‘little husband.’” I looked at the sea of flowers around me, all so pretty. It made me want to set them on fire and bask in the warm glow. “I want so much more than this boring life!” I picked up a rock and threw it at the wildlife collecting around me. Why the hell wouldn’t they leave me alone? “I want adventure out in the great wide world. I want to live somewhere where the people don’t sing about my orange hair, or how my skin is oh-so fair. I want to have someone understand. I want so much more than fate has planned…”

I turned around, startled as I heard a familiar neigh and saw Zangetsu running towards me, rider less and with the broken remains of a harness still attached to him.

“Zangetsu!” I grabbed a hold of him and putting a calming hand on his muzzle. “Where’s goat face?” His eyes were wide and panicked still, his body shivering. “Did the idiot fall asleep on your back again and then fall off?” Zangetsu shook his head with a snort and I was left to wonder how the hell an animal could understand human speech. Oh well. “Take me to him!” I undid his harness and lead him back to the house, pausing only long enough to grab a cloak to wrap around myself. “Now I gotta save his ass…”

LINE

So? How do you like it? I included an alternate version to ‘Belle’s reprise’ for shits and giggles, hope you enjoyed it!