HOME | DD

Description
The Emperor Hotohori was one day sitting in his garden when a servant came to him.

"Highness, there is...a visitor who wishes to see you."

Hotohori noticed how the guard winced as he spoke, so he asked, "Is there a problem?"

"I am not one to judge, Highness," said the guard delicately, bowing low.

Brushing back a long strand of hair the color of a moonless midnight, Hotohori arose to great his sudden guest.

He was aghast to see the figure that stood waiting for him.

Wrinkles covered her face and her cheeks drooped. Her eyes were appeared to be in a constant glare.

But the Emperor wished not to displease the elderly woman, so he asked, "May I ask who I have the honor of speaking to?"

The woman smiled, creating more wrinkles upon her face, and she said, "My name is Tai Yi-Jun, and I have come to ask for your hospitality." Her voice was like the sound of hooves upon gravel.

This was too much for the Emperor, for he did not expect such common people to come to him, and one who was so painful to the sight.

"Forgive me," he said, attempting to conceal his displeasure, "but we have no way of helping you at this moment."

And he turned his back upon her.

Suddenly, there was laughter behind him, laughter like tiny bells, and startled, and so he turned away from the vision of old age.

The old woman was gone, and in her place was a girl with bright, blue eyes, skin like honey, and long hair of silver. A strange light, as if a candle burned from within, was about the young female.

"Such things I did not expect of you, Hotohori," said the young girl.

"Who...who are you?"

"Can you not guess? I am Tai Yi-Jun."

"But that is impossible! The old woman cannot be you!"

"Ah, but I am. I came to test you, and I have seen what I wished to see. Your intentions are good, Hotohori...normally. But this pride of your beauty that consumes you is, to say the least, blinding. You are repelled by what you see, and do not realize that what truly is important is what is within. "I cannot forget how you have treated me. You will be punished."

The words reverberated through the Emperor's head and he knew that the one who stood before him did indeed have great power, and he was in awe and terribly frightened.

He fell to his knees and begged forgiveness.

"You should have thought of that before. No, you must learn the hard way to let go of your pride."

She held up a rose, red as a cardinal.

"A rose represents beauty and love, two things that you find important and it shall be your symbol of punishment. "In two years, this rose will slowly begin to fade and when it is dead, the spell which I put upon you and your people shall be permanent. Only one who will claim love to you can break this spell."

Bewildered, Hotohori took the rose. Tai Yi-Jun clapped her hands twice.

"But what spell do you mean...?"

He listened in the air, and noticed how everything had grown silent.

"The people within the castle are stone," she replied.

With a cry, Hotohori raced into the castle, the rose in his hand.

In the courtyard, stood the guards, gray and immovable.

He ran through the castle halls, where maids, consorts and more guards stood silent and cold.

Finally, he entered his throne room, and his advisor stood next to the chair in his confines of stone.

He turned, and the little girl stood.

She clapped her hands twice.

"What have you done?!" he cried out in rage. "They have done nothing to you!"

"If you are able to overcome my spell, do you not wish to have your servants and friends still here? Surely they would not stay now."

"What do you mean?"

At this, the little girl held a mirror before the Emperor, who stared at the reflection, eyes widened in horror.

No longer was the man of pale, white, flawless skin, hair perfectly falling around his face, and his eyes dark and clear.

Now there was a creature of dark skin, long fangs, and wild, tangled hair. His eyes had turned a dark shade of red. He had become bulky as opposed to his graceful self. His feet were larger proportioned to the rest of his body, as were his hands, now covered in fur.

"No! Turn me back!" he growled, his voice an octave lower than it had been before.

The little girl laughed, and pointed at the rose.

"Two years, Hotohori. If you do not find one who will love you for what you are, than you shall remain the way you appear now when the rose fades to nothingness. Two years until the rose begins to die..."

He lunged forward, but he was not accustomed to his new body and fell forward. Tears streamed down his face, and when he looked up, no one was in the room, except for himself and his servants, turned to stone.

The rose lay before him, thankfully undamaged, and he grasped it once more. He cried out once more and finally lay still...

***

"Ah, ha," said Tamahome. "There she is."

Nuriko remained silent. It wasn't that he really cared...but he did.

He loved Tamahome. They had been friends as long as they could actually remember anything. But as they grew older, Nuriko realized that he wanted to be more than friends with Tamahome.

Yet, he knew that it was impossible; his friend was completely enamoured with another just at the moment...

"Miaka!"

And Nuriko wanted the best for his friend.

"Hello, Tamahome, Nuriko."

The girl was cute, as far as Nuriko could tell, though a bit gluttonous and silly at times. But she was kind and had somehow found her way into Tama's heart.

Not that Nuriko really cared...

He wrapped his arms around his best friend and said to Miaka, "Trying to steal my Tamahome away, are you?"

He laughed silently as the girl seemed to hesitate.

When he was dressed up as he was now, the delicate kimono worshipping his body, his hair done up and his makeup carefully made, no one could tell at first that he was male.

Nuriko knew that it bothered Tamahome a bit when he acted this way, but not enough to break their friendship.

"Oh, stop frightening her," said Tamahome, peeling away Nuriko's arms.

"I am not. Are you frightened?"

"No, not really." Miaka giggled.

"Ah, she is a smart one..."

"Flattery will get you no where."

"Flattery," replied Nuriko softly, "Can get me everywhere."

He stood up with a small flourish and wandered around the room and all eyes followed him.

'Why are we here, Tamahome?' he asked silently. 'Why do we continue to live this life...?'

"So?"

"So you attract attention. It must be..."

Nuriko stomped on his companion's foot. Yes, his friend knew the secret, but he didn't want others to know.

Tamahome smiled, despite the pain that he now had.

"Miaka? What are you doing today?"

"Well, I was planning on wandering around a bit, just enjoy this nice day..."

Nuriko recognized that look in her eyes; it was the look that spoke of half-truths, but he wouldn't pressure her if Tamahome didn't notice.

"Ah, then perhaps we may meet here again, tonight?"

"Of course!" She clapped her hands together, nearly making Nuriko gag.

And she stood up and wandered away.

"Why are we here?"

"Nuriko..."

"I mean it. I hate this life, Tamahome. The wandering into uncertainty, the..."

"Money?"

"I didn't say that. But we could earn money other ways. Treasure hunting is so...uncertain."

"Oh, come on! This castle has been abandoned for months."

"They say it's haunted."

"Haunted. What nonsense! Are you afraid of myths?"

"Everyone seems so certain of it here."

"Monsters! How many times have we heard that story and then discovered a gold mine?"

"It feels different this time."

"Are you afraid, Nuriko?" Tamahome lowered his voice so he wouldn't be heard. "You're one of the strongest men...certainly the strongest of all we've met. Don't tell me you're suddenly afraid."

He shrugged off the comment.

"We've been here for weeks, Tamahome. I want to get this over with. Do we go out today, or not?"

"What's the rush?"

Nuriko flared. "You've stayed here merely so you can goggle at that girl, but I'm getting rather bored with this place. If you feel like dallying some more, than go ahead, but remember that I am here only for the money."

Tamahome remained silent for a moment.

"Fine," he finally said. "How about today?"

"I was thinking about now."

"Now? Going like that?"

"The people here assume that I am a woman. I'll change when we get there, just in case. It wouldn't look very good for the people to realize that I've been in disguise."

"Disguise," snorted Tamahome.

"When will we be off?"

"Shortly."

And, they left several minutes later.

They did not speak; Nuriko was still slightly angry with his friend, not only because of Tamahome's sudden fall for Miaka, but of the feelings that he himself felt. He knew that he shouldn't love his best friend, but he did so anyway.

'I just haven't found the right one,' he thought to himself.

His thoughts came to an abrupt halt as a scream cut through the air.

"Miaka!" gasped Tamahome. "That sounds like Miaka!!"

They raced through the forest, weaving around the trees, and Nuriko cursed silently the outfit that he was wearing.

"No-no! Let me go!" They heard her cry.

"You trespass upon my land," another voice traveled to their ears, deep and cold. "I will not allow this to go unpunished."

"Miaka!" cried Tamahome.

"Tama!!"

They burst through the brush together.

It took a second to realize that the voice had come from the creature that stood over Miaka. It looked more like a monster.

"Let her go!" Tamahome tried to sound strong, but Nuriko knew better; the other was scared.

'No surprise, really.'

"She trespasses upon my land," growled the creature.

"She didn't mean to..."

"Of course she didn't," laughed the Beast.

"Just let her go and I won't hurt you..."

"Tamahome!" cried out Miaka and Nuriko together.

'He's going to get himself killed,' thought Nuriko. 'This thing radiates power, and he's going to die because of a stupid girl... 'And then he'll be sad...'

Nuriko loved his friend, and the thought of him suffering was not something that was pleasing.

With a deep breath, Nuriko stepped forward.

"Take me instead."

"What?" came three different voices.

Nuriko knew that he was putting his life on the line and the only thing that would keep him and Miaka alive was that no one knew the truth.

Still dressed in the outfit that he was in, Nuriko knew that he still looked like a girl. The question is, would it fool a Beast?

"Why?"

'Blast it,' thought Nuriko as he noticed the Beast begin to sniff the air. 'He'll know for certain that I'm really a man, and then Miaka is going to go and Tamahome is going to be sad...'

He looked into the Beast's eyes, eyes that looked far more human than he expected, even though they were red.

'He looks...kinda sad...'

"My friend cares for this girl," he said suddenly, not really certain why. "It's not fair to him to take her away. Are you that heartless?"

'How can eyes of a Beast look so sad? It's impossible...'

"Please. If you've ever done anything kind in your life, do this for me."

'As if he really cares...'

The Beast did not reply, but looked at the torn clothing that Nuriko wore, then back at his face.

"Do you love your friend that much?" he asked.

"What?"

"Do you love your friend enough to take this girl's place?"

"Yes."

Nuriko was surprised to discover that the answer came easily to him.

"Very well. Come with me."

And the Beast grabbed his hand before anyone could say a word and swept him away...

***

He stood silently, shivering in the thin kimono as he studied the dark room before him. No wonder there were rumors of great wealth in this place! The giant chandelier hanging down looked expensive enough to easily allow him and Tamahome to cease their expeditions. A pity that he was stuck, unable to leave.

It bothered him a little that he couldn't see the ceiling.

"Would...would it be a bother to have a little light?"

"Yes," snapped the voice.

He shivered again.

"This," said the Beast. "Is the entrance. You will not leave through the doors unless I accompany you."

Hands, or rather claws, grabbed him and dragged him to the staircase. It appeared that at least five people could walk up it abreast with little difficulty. At the top, the Beast's hold on his wrist tightened.

"You shall live in the first room in the right corridor. You may wander wherever you wish in that area, but you can never go to the left corridor. If I find you there, I will kill you."

Nuriko found it suddenly difficult to swallow.

The claw let go.

"I shall give you half an hour to be ready. I expect you in the dining room."

With that, even before he could ask where it was, the Beast was gone.

'Left corridor? Whatever could be there? Money, perhaps...'

He hesitated for a moment.

'Perhaps if I go there, take whatever is there, and try to escape, I could make it. I am the strongest man alive...maybe...'

He wandered to his room, keeping his eyes off the ceiling because when he had glanced, he thought he had seen the eyes of demons, so like the Beast's.

The moment he entered the room, a small candle came to life, and the small light nearly dazzled him. All was so dark at that time.

There was a queen's size four poster bed and an ornate wardrobe. Beside it was a statue of a woman, her hair done up carefully in a bun and wearing a kimono. As Nuriko studied it, he fancied that at any moment it would come alive.

The wardrobe was, unsurprisingly, filled with kimonos of many different shades. All of them were silk, most likely handmade, and probably worth a fortune. Without hesitation, he took out a black one with the stitching of small, purple flowers. He cared not that it appeared gloomy to wear it at that time, but picked it because it would make him look good.

He prayed that the Beast would not barge into his room at the moment he disrobed.

The left corridor was tempting to enter as he made his way back to the staircase, but he went downstairs instead.

'Now if I were a dining hall, where would I be?'

He cursed the Beast for not giving him directions. Yet he noticed suddenly, as if it were an answer to his muddled thoughts, that there was light coming from his left, and he went in that direction.

He gasped as he looked around the dining hall. It would easily fit over a hundred people. The chandelier was a smaller version of the one in the entrance. There was a long table in the center. The ceiling, to his surprise, was not filled of portraits of demons, but small fairies, dancing amongst the flowers. How dark everything seemed without light!

The Beast sat patiently watching him from one end of the table. Food filled the space between the two ends.

He sat down as his stomach growled. He didn't know what to say.

"You shall have to excuse me," said the Beast. "I am unable to use utensils as you for my claws are not as...useful as a hand and I have had no reason to mind my manners for quite a while."

Nuriko was a bit stunned as his partner talked; earlier he had seemed so harsh. Now, however, he almost believed that he heard worry in his voice.

"I do not mind. I have seen some...very interesting ways of eating..."

He left it at that. For a moment, he thought he saw what could have been a smile on the Beast's face. Yet perhaps he was imagining things...

He carefully took his food, every movement done as gracefully as he knew how to make it. He was pleased to find that the food was excellent and found it difficult afterwards to stop himself from filling his mouth.

The Beast seemed to be trying his best to use his fork, but after a while, he slammed it down and used his hands instead.

'What goes through your mind?' Nuriko thought. 'You seem far more complex than I thought you to be at first.'

"I was wondering...what is it in the corridor to the left that you..."

"It is none of your business!" snapped the host. He took a large bit out of a leg (hopefully not a man's, wildly thought Nuriko's mind).

"You know if I am to live here, it would be nice if you were to be a bit more civil to me."

"Why should I? You gave yourself up for that silly little girl who trespassed upon my land. It is your own fault, not mine."

"I wouldn't be in this mess if you were not so cruel."

The Beast paused, his eyes flying to look at Nuriko.

He put his fork down, suddenly not hungry.

"Cruel..." mumbled the Beast.

Nuriko swallowed, his mouth dry suddenly, but his anger at his sudden position overrode his sense of survival.

"Yes, cruel. Instead of being kinder to that stupid little wench, you threatened her. What was I to do? I could not allow my friend to suffer! I told you he cares for her! So I must take her place. You bring me here against my wishes. It would not surprise me if Tamahome brought men here to try and kill you! In fact, I hope he does!"

The Beast suddenly stood, abruptly ending the monologue, and Nuriko cringed. The Beast was shaking with what appeared to be anger.

Yet instead of lashing out, he turned and left, leaving Nuriko to stare at the empty space.

'What have I gotten myself into? Why did I do this foolish thing for a girl that meant so little to me? If she had gone, I would have had Tamahome to myself...'

He stood up and went back to his room. Everything was cold here. There was no Tamahome, no laughter, only the Beast who confused him more than anything else that he had ever met. Here, there was no certainty, only mysteries.

He hated it, and most of all, he hated himself for being such a coward.

His mind traveled back to thoughts of the left corridor. It was then that he decided he would go there. What did it matter if the Beast had threatened him? As far as he was concerned, he would die anyway in a place such as this.

And sudden death seemed so much more pleasant than the slow one that he would have if he did nothing...

***

Nuriko stood for several long moments staring into the dark hallway. Half of his mind told him to run away screaming, the other told him to walk away and go back into the lovely room he had been given.

He ignored both of them and walked into the hallway. The funny part was that most of the doors were locked; why would he be told to avoid the left corridor if most of the doors were shut against his intrusion anyway?

And then he reached the last door.

Oh.

He stepped quietly inside. It almost seemed even darker here.

There was a painting on the wall, one covered by cloth, and carefully Nuriko lifted it too look.

.And gasped.

The man in the portrait was beautiful, long dark brown hair tied in a ponytail and hanging over his right shoulder, dark eyes, unblemished skin.

Nuriko forced himself not to stand there like a complete fool, though it was tempting to just take the picture for himself. What had the Beast done? Killed this man to take the castle?

The cloth slid to the floor. Nuriko inched slowly towards the fully bloomed rose. It looked as if it were glowing of its own accord.

Nuriko remembered a time that Tamahome had brought a rose for him. They had quarreled and Nuriko had been left crying and refused to eat all day.

He had known, in his heart, that partially the argument came from the fact that he wanted them to be together and all that he did when he cross- dressed was wish.

Tamahome, still uncertain of all that he had done, came back with a single rose and had left it on the bed. It had caused Nuriko to cry even more, knowing that they could never be together, but they had not argued quite so badly afterwards.

Perhaps he could bring this rose to Tamahome and they would fall in love.

He brought his hand to pick it up.

And a movement caught his eye. The Beast stared at him. He stared back, his hand inches from the stem.

He didn't even see when the Beast moved, throwing him back, only felt the hard floor bruising his backside.

"How.dare you come in here!"

"I just."

"Get out!" The Beast bellowed, his voice causing the very molecules of the air to shiver.

Nuriko was on his feet, running through the hallway, the voice after him.

But the Beast stared at the painting that the prisoner had uncovered.

It had been him, young, happy and human.

A petal fell to the table.

***

Nuriko slammed the doors open and kept running. Forget being nice! He was getting out of there as fast as possible. If the Beast wanted Miaka, he could have her!

But he hadn't realized how cold it was, and quickly he was shivering so violently that he had to stop for a moment. He admonished himself for being so stupid as to wear only a thin kimono.

And then he admonished himself for going on foot in the middle of the night.

One wolf he could have defeated, but a pack.

Nuriko grabbed a branch, knowing that it wouldn't do much good, but at least he had something.

The branch clobbered the first wolf that leapt towards him and the second received a foot in its stomach.

He cried out when sharp teeth logged into his arm, but then he felt no pain.

The Beast threw the offending creature into a tree and the other ones backed off slowly. This creature was bigger.but that meant more meat.

They leapt as one, but it didn't take long for them to realize they were outmatched.

The Beast was breathing hard, bleeding quite a bit. He turned his eyes to Nuriko.

Nuriko swallowed. They were both injured.he could probably still get away, but.

"I'll help you."

***

The Beast cried out and yelled.

"Oh, quit you're whining!" snapped Nuriko. "The injuries aren't that bad."

"I wouldn't have been injured if you hadn't run away!"

"I wouldn't have run away if you weren't such a bastard!"

The Beast stared at him, suddenly grown silent. Nuriko wrapped up the last of the wounds.

"We'll have to clean it again tomorrow to make sure it doesn't infect."

"What of your own wound?"

Nuriko looked at his arm. Oh.

Clumsily, the Beast picked up the cleaning cloth and washed the wound, then, carefully, wrapped bandages around it.

"Thank you," mumbled the young man.

"Thank you.for returning," said the Beast.

Nuriko wasn't quite certain what to say to that, so he kept his mouth shut.

"I.apologize for yelling at you. It was.uncalled for.but.it has been quite a while since I have been with another human."

The young man caught the words and tilted his head to the side. The Beast hadn't seemed to notice.

"I fear.I do not quite know how to treat you."

"What you're doing now is all right."

"What?"

"Just talking.telling me.how you feel."

They looked into each other's eyes.

"I am hideous.no one deserves to suffer.you should.leave."

"I tried that. You came after me."

"I give you.permission to leave.to return to the one you love."

There was such pain in the words.

"Look, we did not start out on the best of terms. I.will not leave for now."

"You shall stay?!"

Nuriko shrugged. "I do not know why, but for now, yes.if you give me a bit more freedom."

The Beast narrowed his eyes.

"Not to the corridor," said Nuriko. "I won't bother the rose, if that is what you think, though I do not know why you protect it so much. But if I ask, I wish to see my friend, Tamahome."

"I will.give you permission to see him."

"Then I shall stay for now.and help you clear up this place!"

"What?"

"It's disgusting here! So dark and dreary! Tomorrow, we'll start making it brighter and we'll clean everything..well, some of the main areas at least."

Nuriko eyed the Beast. "And we'll clean you up too."

The Beast, for merely a second, wondered if he had made a mistake taking this one, but then, as he watched Nuriko clean, this was a chance to gain love.

***

Tamahome sipped the wine, staring outside.

"Did you say what I think you did?" asked Miaka.

"Yes."

"But."

"It will take some time. I'll have to find the best men."

"But."

"And then.then I'll get Nuriko back. We'll go to the castle, kill that creature and get him back."

Miaka closed her mouth. She knew she wasn't the smartest of people, but sometimes arguing was pointless, and she knew this was one of those types of discussions. But.to kill the Beast? Was it possible? And Nuriko.was he still alive? And when the Beast discovered that Nuriko was a man.?

She knew he may not still be alive.

But.

What could she do.?

***

As soft as a feather, a snowflake fell through the air. Soon they would cease to fall and the weather would warm. Already there were tiny slithers of green appearing on the ground. And Nuriko felt quite peaceful.

It had taken quite a while, with the Beast's help, to clean up the few places that he frequented often. There had been a lot of bickering at first, Nuriko having to take an equal share in the arguments, and even more sneezes before the rooms had brightened. Candles at night helped give some light and during the day, windows were unveiled and even sometimes opened.

The biggest problem was getting the tangles out of the Beast's hair. Next to not nearing a brush, the Beast considered water to be a sin. So Nuriko and him argued, and rather loudly, until all the dust from the ceiling had joined their partners on the floor. But Nuriko had to admit that the Beast looked far more human.

Apparently the Beast felt so as well.

"It is...the claws..." he had tried to explain after the extensively long bath.

"Hmmm."

"...thank you..."

That was another change that Nuriko had noticed. The Beast also acted more like a human.

All it had taken was just a little bit of kindness, and suddenly the world had changed.

The Beast was frightful, no doubt, but he was caring and enjoyed to sit and talk to keep Nuriko pleased. He was keen as well as smart, eventually pulling out the partial truth about Tamahome.

"But it is that other girl that causes you so much grief? She seems far plainer than you..."

"Perhaps..."

Nuriko wasn't quite ready to tell the Beast of his secret.

He watched the few birds searching for food upon the ground and threw to them some pieces of bread. Soon spring would come...should he return to visit Tamahome? The Beast had promised him that he would be able to go and visit.

Yet if he left, would he be able to return? All it took was for Tamahome and him to leave to another town, and the Beast would be gone from their lives forever. Surely the Beast wouldn't be able to track them down...?

But, and this frightened Nuriko greatly, there were new feelings blossoming, and he sometimes believed that one of them was love.

Love for the Beast! It was nearly unthinkable, except that he was nearly everything that was Tamahome except in looks.

Could a person love a Beast?

"Nuriko!"

He turned. The Beast was kneeling in the snow, feeding some of the birds with an expression that Nuriko had learned was happiness.

"Much better than before!"

"I almost forgot that birds could be beautiful as well as a meal."

Nuriko had to laugh. "You're as bad as Miaka, thinking with your stomach!"

"Ah, but I know how to stop myself."

"Good point."

Nuriko looked away for a moment to cover his suddenly flustered look.

Could anyone love such a creature?

"Nuriko, I was thinking that perhaps we could read that book you told me about yesterday?"

"If you wish to."

"I do. It sounded...pleasant."

"Very well, but only if you promise not to complain if I start to read slow. That language is one I haven't used in a while."

The Beast laughed. "I find it amazing that you know it at all."

"I'm not that 'amazing.' Actually, you know I'm stubborn and often quite...well...pigheaded, to be honest."

"And vain?" Nuriko slapped the Beast on the shoulder, which earned him a small chuckle.

"But you are beautiful as well, therefore we shall forgive you. And I believe only a stubborn lady such as yourself could survive here."

It would be so easy when they were in such a mood to let it slip that the lady was indeed not one...

"True..."

"And I find you brilliant."

"Ah, but you are no fool either."

The Beast tilted his head to the side. "I do not remember the last time I heard such a compliment."

"Come now! Surely you haven't been so deprived!"

"Before you, Nuriko, I have not talked to others for...nearly two years..."

The Beast sighed and said softly, "And soon, it shall be over..."

Nuriko knew that the words were supposed to have been heard, but he often wondered what they meant as they became more frequent.

"But at least you are here to keep me company."

Could he leave? Could he truly never return here?

Could he love a Beast?

At such peaceful times, Nuriko knew the answer was 'yes,' and everyday, their relationship became stronger...

***

"And you promise that you shall return in several days?" asked the Beast tentatively.

"I told you that I would!"

"But...it would be very easy for you to leave and not return..."

"I said I would! I'm leaving most of my precious things here! I wouldn't leave them if I wasn't come back, now would I?"

"I suppose not, but..."

"I'm coming back in three days! Now hush!"

Nuriko rolled his eyes. "Now walk me to the door."

The Beast accompanied did as he was told. They looked at each other for several seconds. Nuriko knew that the other was worrying still. So Nuriko gave the Beast a small kiss on the cheek to help reassure.

"Now you see, I do care. I will return."

The Beast was touching the spot where Nuriko had kissed him. "You..."

"Look...I had meant to tell you...I..."

"Wait!" The Beast leapt towards the nearest window.

"What?"

The Beast flung the doors open and Nuriko could see what was going on. There were people coming towards the castle...and holding sharp objects.

Nuriko ran out the doors towards the leader.

"Tamahome!"

"Nuriko! Thank the gods you're still alive! Has that monster hurt you?"

"Tamahome, don't call him that. He's..."

"There, Tamahome!" cried one of the men. "He's standing at the door! Shall I shoot him?"

"What are you talking about, you fool?" yelled Nuriko, hitting the man on the head hard enough to cause him to pass out.

"Nuriko!"

"What's wrong with all of you? Why are you here?"

"We're taking you away, Nuriko," said Tamahome.

Nuriko felt as if he had fallen into a wintry pool. "You idiot! I'm fine!"

There were several moments of confused silence.

"T-Tamahome?" Miaka said softly. "I-it does look like Nuriko's been taken care off..."

"He's been bewitched, that's what."

Nuriko slapped his friend once. "Are you deaf? I'm fine!"

Tamahome, however, grabbed Nuriko's hands and said, "Take whatever you wish from the palace, but leave the Beast in my hands!"

"NO!"

"This is for everyone's own good," said an elderly man. "It's time that we took back what is rightfully ours and destroyed the monster!"

Nuriko broke free from Tamahome's hands and jump-kicked the nearest man. Someone tried to grab him, but he pulled away, his kimono askew, and ran as fast as he could towards the palace.

"They're after you! They're going to kill you!"

But the Beast was staring at Nuriko, and then he noticed...

The kimono he was wearing...

"You are..."

"I...I...I had meant to tell you..."

The Beast turned away to stare at the people slowly (apparently they were in no hurry to meet the Beast) working their way towards his home.

"I'm sorry!" said Nuriko. "I was afraid! I didn't want to hurt you. Please! We've got to get out of here! They'll kill you!"

"Let them try. I will kill them all..."

***

Tai Yi-Jun stared at the chessboard, studying her adversary's move. Chess was always such a fascinating game. It was easy to guess what the opponent would do, but to be correct on the assumption was nearly impossible.

It was a bit like life. For example, she had never imagined that Hotohori would actually manage to befriend anyone, at least not after the transformation. Beautiful, vain Hotohori...

But as the Beast, he had been angry and ugly. A true animal, and time was running short for him...

And then Nuriko had entered the field. She knew Nuriko; he was a strong man, beautiful as both a man or as a woman, and his heart...

His heart was the most beautiful of all, though that was something many did not realize.

How sad that humans could be so foolish, to allow the idea of outer beauty to take over, to never look at what is within...until it was too late...

But what was she thinking? Sometimes things were not too late. Sometimes miracles did happen and true love prevailed, right?

"It seems as if you've lost another pawn, my dear Tai Yi-Jun."

Two pawns and the King on her field...could she win?

"Check."

She smiled. The time for guessing had come...

***

The people of the village were itching to go into the palace to steal whatever they could, but a fight was not something that they could easily give up. After all, the Beast had been their haunt for quite a while and to finally see him fall...

They circled the two fighters.

"Damnit! Don't do this!" cried Nuriko.

"Quiet. You are not in this," said the Beast quietly.

"Just go, Nuriko. I'll take care of this monster," said Tamahome.

"I..."

"Enough!" bellowed the Beast at Nuriko. "We will fight, he and I. And if later you wish to fight me...we shall fight as men should."

Nuriko took a step back.

"Get your weapon ready," said Tamahome.

"I am a weapon."

"Very well. Then we shall make it even and I shall fight with my fists as well."

"Nonsense. If you wish a weapon, use one."

"For a Beast, you are fairly well mannered. I shan't need one, I assure you."

They stood at the ready, waiting for some sort of signal. Apparently, there was one that no one could see, because suddenly they both leapt forward. The Beast was fast, but Tamahome showed amazing speed as well, jumping onto the Beast's shoulders and kicking his head. The Beast fell to the ground, but rolled to the side.

And Tamahome felt his leg torn up from the Beast's claws.

"Now," said the Beast with a smile, "you might want a blade."

"Hn." Tamahome flipped two blades from hidden wrist sheaths. "I suppose I should have realized you had sharp claws. My mistake. I'm afraid that my nails are no match for yours."

To those that did not know to use a knife skillfully, it appeared as if Tamahome was holding the knife at a dangerously close angle to his wrists. To those who knew, it was clear that this was someone who knew what he was doing and not someone to mess around in a dark alley.

The Beast seemed unperturbed.

Tamahome took a quick swipe, which the Beast avoided easily.

"Is that all you have, petty human?"

Tamahome grinned. With a quick lunge and a feint, the blade met the Beast's shoulder.

"No," said the man simply.

They stared at each other warily, both realizing that they had underestimated the other.

"I haven't had a good fight in years."

"Well, then I am glad I was able to help. I'm sorry I'll have to kill you."

They leapt forward again...

With a fairly hard hit, Nuriko slapped the back of Miaka's head. "Do something!"

"I can't, Nuriko! I've tried everything! I tried to talk to him, but he's become convinced by the villagers that the only way to save you is to kill the Beast. They say he'll come after you no matter where you go!"

"That's nonsense. He didn't even know I was a man until several minutes ago and everything would have been fine if you all hadn't shown up!"

"I'm sorry, Nuriko."

Nuriko thought about punching something, but realized that it wouldn't do. "It's not your fault, Miaka. It's no one's fault..."

"What are you going to do?"

Nuriko didn't answer at first, but he pushed his way past some of the others so he could see the fight better.

They were silent now, the two fighters, slashing at each other with the best of their abilities. Nuriko clenched his fists tight. Why was this happening and between two people he cared for so much?

The Beast faltered and fell to the ground and Nuriko saw Tamahome raise the blade to throw it for a killing blow.

But anyone who's ever thrown a knife knows that one has to be very lucky to reach the mark...and very good...

Tamahome was good. He would have won had Nuriko not been in the way. But the blade had been released.

"Nuriko!"

"You fool," whispered the Beast.

"So I am! What do I care? You're both just as foolish as I am! Look at you all, standing there ready to kill! You don't even know each other. You just assume that everything will be all right if the Beast is killed, but you've never bothered to think that just maybe he wasn't bad. I've screamed, I've tried to tell, and I'm sick of it!"

Nuriko pulled the knife out of his left shoulder and started to slash at his arms. "I'm sick of it all!"

Tamahome ran towards his friend, but the Beast was faster, pulling the knife from the young, frantic man.

"Are you crazy? You fool, you'll kill yourself."

"Good! I don't care! I won't allow it! I won't allow two people I care for to kill each other because I won't live! Do you understand? I won't live to watch it!"

The Beast opened his mouth and tried to speak. Things had become awfully quiet.

"What...what did you say?"

"I said I won't let you two kill each other while I'm alive," gasped Nuriko. The pain was excruciating and he was losing a lot of blood.

"No...you said..."

"Is it that hard?" Nuriko said softly. "Is it that hard to understand after being so long shunned?"

"I...am a beast...."

"So be it. So are all humans, beasts in disguise. So it doesn't make things hard."

"Nuriko..."

"I love you. It's simple as that."

And before everyone's eyes, the figure of the Beast melted into a smaller form, a human that was beautiful, not a Beast. Everyone's eyes, except Nuriko's actually, because Nuriko had crumpled on the ground.

***

"Checkmate."

"Well done. I hadn't expected that, considering that you only had two pawns and the King..."

"It's amazing what a person can do."

***

Nuriko opened his eyes and quickly closed them. The lights hurt his eyes.

"Doctor! The patient has awoken!"

He tried to open his mouth to tell the woman to shut up, except that his throat was dry and his head was hurting.

"Sir, if you could, we would like to help you sit up so you can drink and at least put some broth in your stomach."

Nuriko grunted. When he opened his eyes, he immediately recognized the room as the one he had been staying at. So, they had taken over the palace and killed the Beast.

And he was still alive.

"Are you in pain, sir? You're crying..."

"Leave me alone," he managed to utter.

"Sir!"

"Let...me...die..."

"Sir, please, we couldn't..."

"Are their problems?" said a new voice he had ever heard. It was soft, a sweet, warm baritone...

"Emperor! The patient says that he wishes to die. He..."

"I shall speak to him."

"But your majesty...!"

"It is my fault what has happened to him. It is my duty to amend the wrong that was done."

And the Emperor stepped into Nuriko's line of vision. He could have sworn that the painting in the Forbidden Room had come to life.

The Emperor sat down on the bed and took Nuriko's hands in his own. "You are not well yet, but you live. There is not much that I can complain about. Yet why will you not eat?"

"You...you...the Beast killed you..."

The Emperor sighed. "No Nuriko...I am the Beast. Or I was."

Nuriko laughed hoarsely.

"It is true, Nuriko, though you laugh. You may ask Miaka and Tamahome when you are better. They shall tell you the same thing that I do."

"I don't believe you. Was it you who killed the Beast?"

The Emperor sighed, but did not answer directly. "Please, if you take care, you will be able to have all your answers once you are well. Please..."

"Fine. I'll ask Tamahome later. But I want to be left alone."

Hotohori nodded, but as he made to leave, he looked back. He had done this damage...perhaps it would have been better had Tamahome taken his life...

***

Nuriko looked around the Dining Hall that was packed with people. Not that he had long to study anything before he was enveloped by two people.

"Nuriko! Thank goodness you are all right! We were so worried about you!!" said Miaka.

Tamahome merely held him closer.

"Nuriko, it is good to see you upon your feet once more," said the Emperor.

"I was told by the Emperor that he was actually the Beast. I don't like liars."

Everyone became quiet.

"But...but...Nuri...he's not lying..." said Miaka.

"Tamahome?"

"It's...the truth."

Nuriko stared at the Emperor.

"I was under a curse," said Hotohori.

The Emperor sighed. "I was vain...overly vain. Rather than helping the people, I merely cared about myself. Anyone who was less beautiful than I...I shunned. It was my mistake. But when a person more power than I tested me, I failed. I was made into a Beast until I changed, until I could find someone who would love me for what I truly was. And...it was you, Nuriko. You loved me and again I was a fool. I pushed you when I should have helped you. I nearly lost you. I won't make such a mistake again."

The Emperor took Nuriko's hands in his own. "Stay with me."

"An Emperor...? With a man?"

"Yes."

"I don't believe you."

"Why not?"

"You told me to go away after you found out I was a man. Why should I stay with you?"

"Because I love you. It's true I was in shock. But you...you stayed with me even after all I had done. You showed me kindness when others would not...you loved a part of me that others never have. They love me for money and my looks...not like you."

"And that is why you love me?"

"No. Like you loved me for what I am, I love you for what you are."

"And that is?"

"Nuriko. Simply that."

The Emperor stepped closer to Nuriko.

"Prove it."

Hotohori smiled, leaned forward, then kissed Nuriko.

They moved even closer...

And rose petals fell around them...

Tai Yi-Jun smiled. She had worried that Hotohori would be lost, but now...

No...now all she had to worry about was that he'd be lost with Nuriko. And that really wasn't anything to worry about.

Fin