Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast: Chapter 5

Ichigo peaked his head out of his room and looked around, spying the sleeping Ikkaku snoring against the wall. Ichigo smiled and lightly stepped past him and down the hall. Ikkaku woke up with a snort just in time to catch Ichigo walking down the hall.

“Fuck! He came out!”

In the kitchen Unohana was trying to nudge Yachiru into the cupboard so she could sleep. “I’m not sleepy!” Yachiru protested with a yawn.

“Yes you are.”

“No I’m not…” She fell asleep instantly.

“I work and slave all day, and for what!? A culinary masterpiece gone to waste.” The stove complained.

“Oh, stop your grousing.” Unohana said with a huff. “It’s been a long night for all of us.”

“Well, if you ask me, he was just being stubborn.” Yumichika said grumpily. “After all, the captain did say 'please.'” Yumichika sighed. “I am not meant to be in such an un-beautiful form.”

“But if the captain doesn't learn to control that temper, he'll never break the—

Ichigo entered the room, so Yumichika quickly cut Unohana off. “Splendid to see you out and about, good sir.” Ikkaku ran in, having finally caught of with Ichigo. “I am Yumichika, head of the household.” He leaned over to kiss Ichigo’s hand, but Ikkaku cut in front of him and snatched up his hand instead. “And this is Ikkaku.”

“Hell~o, beautiful.” Ikkaku peppered Ichigo’s hand with kisses, but Ichigo yanked his hand away with a glare.

“I’m a man.” He snarled with a glare.

“Whatever you say, Strawberry.” Ikkaku said with a smirk.

“You-

“If there's anything that we can do to make your stay more comfortable.” Yumichika quickly interrupted Ichigo before he could finish.

Ichigo frowned and rubbed his stomach. “I am a little hungry.”

Unohana beamed at the orange haired man in delight. “You are? Hear that? He's hungry. Stoke the fire, break out the silver, wake the china.” The fire on the stove roared to life, and drawers open to reveal silverware that instantly stood in anticipation.

“Remember what the captain said.” Yumichika hissed to them, his eyes shifting to Ichigo.

“Oh, pish tosh. I'm not going to let the poor child go hungry.” Unohana said in a mothering tone.

Yumichika looked uncertain but gave a heavy sigh of resignation. “Oh, all right. Glass of water, crust of bread, and then—

“He’s not our prisoner.” Ikkaku said with a hint of amusement, his eyes lighting up. He's our guest. We must make him feel welcome here.” He turned to Ichigo. “Right this way, mademoiselle.”

“If you call me a female title one more time I am going to melt you.” Ichigo grunted, but was faintly relieved at the idea of food.

“Well keep it down. If the captain finds out about this, it will be our necks!” The clock fretted nervously.

“Of course, of course. But what is dinner without a little music?” Ikkaku smirked at Yumichika as he led Ichigo through the swinging doors.

“If there’s any singing involved I’m leaving.” Ichigo threatened, eyeing the disappointed objects warily.

“But-“ Ikkaku protested.

“Nope. I get enough of that from the damn twittering birds that follow me around like I’m a bloody princess.” Ichigo snarled in remembrance, pouting and crossing his arms over his chest.

“Oh, fine. Spoil sport.” Ikkaku said grumpily. “What would you like to eat?” He handed him a menu. “Beef ragout, cheese souffle, pie and pudding en flambe! We'll prepare and serve with flair, a culinary cabaret!” Ikkaku cried jovially. Ichigo threw the menu at him.

“If you’re going to do that-

Yumichika clapped a wooden hand over Ikkaku’s mouth. “How unbeautiful.” He sighed. “We’ll have some dinner brought out to you. Ignore the idiot.”

Ichigo ate in relative quiet, shoveling food into his mouth much to the amusement of the cutlery.

“Look at the time, off to bed! You must get your beauty sleep!” Yumichika ushered Ichigo towards the stairs.

Ichigo raised an eyebrow and squatted down so he could smirk at the objects. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly go to bed now.” He teased. “It’s my first time in an enchanted castle.”

“Would you like a tour?” Ikkaku asked, excitement evident in his eyes.

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” Yumichika said uneasily.

“Oh, but I’m sure that you’re the only one beautiful enough to give me one.” Ichigo said slyly.

“Why yes, I am.” Yumichika said with a smile, then led Ichigo around the castle, blathering on about each beautiful and unbeautiful art pieces.

Ichigo paused momentarily as he felt something drawing him towards the grand stair case. He stepped towards it hesitantly but was quickly cut off by Yumichika and Ikkaku. “What’s up there?” Ichigo asked curiously.

“Where? Up there? Nothing. Absolutely nothing of interest at all in the West Wing. Dusty, dull, very boring.” Yumichika tried to play it off as Ikkaku yanks at his shoulder urgently.

“Oh, so that's the West Wing.” Ichigo said in amusement, his eyes flicking over to it as he scowled.

“Nice going!” Ikkaku hissed to Yumichika.

“I wonder what he's hiding up there.” Ichigo mused and took a step up the stairs, quickly cut off my Yumichika and Ikkaku again.

“Hiding? The captain is hiding nothing!” Ikkaku protested.

“Then it wouldn't be forbidden.” Ichigo grinned at them. He tried to step over them, but they dash up and block him again.

“Perhaps you would like to see something else. We have exquisite tapestries dating all the way back to...”

Ichigo stepped over them again. “Maybe later.”

Yumichika and Ikkaku once again dashed up and blocked him. “The gardens, or the library perhaps?”

Ichigo paused and blinked with obvious interest. “You have a library?”
“Oh yes! Indeed!” Yumichika sighed in gratitude that he had found something to interest the young man.

“With books!” Ikkaku piped in helpfully.

“Gads of books!”

“Mountains of books!”

“Forests of books!”

“Cascades...”

“...of books!”

“Swamps of books!”

“More books than you'll ever be able to read in a lifetime! Books on every subject ever studied, by every author who ever set pen to paper...” Yumichika finished.

Ikkaku and Yumichika started marching off toward the library, and Ichigo began to follow, but his curiosity overtook him, not to mention his desire to rebel against his captor. With that he turned back to the West Wing, neither the candlestick of Yumichika noticing. He frowned, however, as he entered the hallway leading to the West Wing. As he walked down the hall, he stopped to look in a mirror that has been shattered into several pieces, distorting his increasingly scowling expression. He reached the end of the hall and finds a closed door with gargoyle handles. With deep breath and strengthening his resolve, he reached out and opened the door.

Ichigo wasn’t all that shocked by dark and oppressive atmosphere, but that doesn’t stop him from flinching at everything he saw there. He wandered around, his curiosity still firm and accidentally knocked into a table, barely catching it before it could crash to the floor. He gave a sigh of relief and then turned his head and caught sight of a shredded picture on the wall. Ichigo frowned and stepped closer to the ripped portrait. From what Ichigo could see, it was of a young man barely older than himself with dark brown hair. He reached out and lifted the shreds of the picture to try and seem more but he turned his head as he felt…something behind him.

It was a partially rusted sword hanging on the wall. Ichigo walked over to it as if in a trance, transfixed upon the sight. He reached out to touch the sword, then pulled back in hesitation and instead brushes back a strand of orange hair that fell onto his forehead. With a blink he reached out to touch the sword yet again just as a shadow falls over him.

Kenpachi looms over him, gaze furious as he slams his fist against the wall above Ichigo’s head and glared down at Ichigo. “Why did you come here?” He snarled out angrily.

Ichigo flinched and tried to dart under the beast’s arm but Kenpachi growled and slammed his hands on either side of Ichigo’s head. “I-I’m sorry.” Ichigo stuttered, his brown eyes full of fear as Kenpachi leaned closer so their breath mingled.

“I warned you never to come here.” He hissed angrily.

“I didn’t mean any harm.” Ichigo said in a small voice, cringing in on himself to try and get as far away from the beast as possible.

The beast growled lowly and moved even closer so his large, muscular body pressed Ichigo into the stone and his sharply-fanged mouth hovered near his ear. “Do you realize what you could have done?” He darted his tongue out and gave a light lick to Ichigo’s ear, making the boy cry out and shiver.

“Please, stop! No!” Ichigo cried and shoved at beast’s chest.

Kenpachi growled as his body’s responses rubbed up against the orange-haired man. “Get out.” He finally managed to pull away and was desperate for distance between them. “Get out!” He roared, making Ichigo flee. Kenpachi shivered, staring at his hands that were just pinning Ichigo to the wall. “Shit…” He had just ruined what chance he had with Ichigo.

Ichigo raced down the stairs, barely stopping to grab his cloak before he rushed past a concerned Ikkaku and Yumichika.

“Where are you going?” Asked Ikkaku in confusion.

“Promise or no promise, I can’t stay here a moment longer!”

“Oh no, please wait!” Yumichika tried to stop him but he was already out the door. Ikkaku and Yumichika sigh, hanging their head in sadness.

LINE

So next chapter is Ichigo with the wolves! Dun dun DUN!