Beauty and the Beast: Crossover Style!
Chapter Eight: Something There


(I do not own Bleach, Naruto, Xena: Warrior Princess, or Beauty and the Beast. They all belong to their respective owners.)





                Nighttime had fallen, as most of the stores in Karakura Town closed until the next day. Despite the fact that the bar was also closed, some activity was happening in there.


                As a lamp glowed through the dark bar, Aizen and Gin were there, having a conversation with a pink-haired man in a white coat, white hakama, wore glasses, and white gloves. His name was Szayel Aporro Granz, the head of the Karakura Insane Asylum, where the insane and unhinged were "taken care of."


"I don't like leaving the Asylum at this hour, Aizen," Szayel started, "This had better be good."


Aizen took out a large bag of gold coins and handed them to Szayel.


"Hmm," the pink-haired man hummed as he counted the coins and smiled, "All right, you've got my attention."


"Here's the thing," Aizen began, "I want Rukia as my wife, and she needs some...persuasion."


"Yeah, because she rejected him!" Gin laughed as he was about to drink from his mug, only for Aizen to smack him upside his head and caused him to get his muzzle stuck in the cup.


"Anyway, everyone knows what a looney her father is," Aizen continued, "Hell, he was here a while ago raving about how Rukia was locked up in a castle by a Hollow!"


As Aizen said this, Gin tried very hard to remove the mug from his muzzle.


"Ukitake's harmless," Szayel replied, raising an eyebrow, "He doesn't exactly fall under the category of 'mentally insane.'"


"The point is," Aizen continued, pounding his fist on the table, "Rukia would do whatever it takes to keep her father from being locked up."


                While he said this, Gin continued trying to pull the mug from his muzzle. He even fell back, crying out as he did so. The silver-haired man sat back up on his chair, and he finally managed to pull the mug off of him. "Yeah, even marry this guy!" Gin chuckled as he pointed at his boss.


Aizen glared at Gin, ready to smack his henchman silly. Gin shrieked as he flinched, ducking under his mug.


"Let me get this straight," Szayel spoke up, "You want me to throw Rukia's father into the Asylum if she doesn't agree to marry you."


Aizen smirked as he crossed his arms, nodding, with Gin eagerly nodding as well.


"Oh, that is an utterly deplorable plan..." the Asylum warden whispered, grimly. Then, he laughed maniacally, saying "I LOVE IT!!!"






                Ukitake looked upset as he began packing a lot of items into his bag. "If I can't get any help, then I will find that monstrous place again and get my daughter out on my own, even if takes me until after Christmas!" Ukitake exclaimed in determination. Once he was done packing his bag, he left the house, closing the door on his way out. "Rukia, hang on!" he cried. "I'm coming!" Ukitake headed back into the woods, determined to save Rukia. Although, he didn't notice the wagon for the Karakura Insane Asylum pulling up to the house.


                Aizen and Gin got off, leaving Szayel to wait for them. They planned on storming the place and threaten to have Ukitake taken away unless Rukia agreed to marry Aizen.


As Aizen slammed the door open, he came in and called out "Rukia? Ukitake?!"


"Huh." Gin remarked with a shrug as he looked around the place. "I guess they aren't here."


Though none of them saw Ukitake leaving and they were completely unaware of what happened to Rukia.


"Oh, well!" Gin added as he prepared to leave. "I guess the plan's not gonna work after all. Might as well forget it."


                Suddenly, Aizen grabbed him by the back of his collar and turned him around to face him. "Oh no, you don't!" he snapped. "I'm not giving up that easily! Rukia and Ukitake are going to come home someday and once that happens, we'll be ready for them, even if we have to wait until after Christmas to do so! Now, Gin," Aizen threw Gin out of the house and into a snowbank next to the porch, "Don't you move from that spot until Rukia and her father come home!" he yelled.


"But, but...!" Gin protested and groaned as Aizen got back onto the wagon and he and Szayel headed on back to Karakura Town, leaving Gin all alone to wait for Rukia and Ukitake to return. "Awww, nuts! My life couldn't suck more!" Gin groaned as he hit the side of the house with one hand, causing him to cringe in pain while holding his sore hand. To make matters worse, a pile of snow fell off the house roof, burying Gin under it. "I stand corrected." he rephrased. "Now, my life sucks."






                Hollow Ichigo, his arm bandaged up while he was wearing a purple cape over a white casual shirt and a pair of black pants, watched from the balcony of the West Wing with Unohana, Kisuke, and Ebisu as Rukia walked through the snow.


                The girl was wearing a pink kimono that Shutara had offered her, and she was taking Argo for a stroll around the courtyard. The latter nudged the former from behind, causing Rukia to giggle and hug Argo. Soon, Rukia spotted Kukkapuro running by, barking happily. The little dog jumped into a pile of snow and emerged from it, shaking some of the snow off of him. Kukkapuro barked and whimpered as he ran to Rukia, who knelt down and scooped up the little pooch as she hugged him.


                Hollow Ichigo watched the events that unfolded, placing his hand over his bandaged arm, saying "I've never felt this way about anyone in my whole life..." A smile formed on his lips as he became excited. "I wanna do something special for her!" he exclaimed, yet he became discouraged as he turned to Ebisu, asking "But...what can I do?"


"Well, there's the usual, sire," Ebisu answered, "You could give her flowers, chocolate, or promises that you have no intention of keeping..."


"No way, man!" Kisuke chimed in. "This has to be special. Something that she likes. Hang on a sec!"






On Kisuke's suggestion, Hollow Ichigo took Rukia to a set of doors of a room in another part of the castle, insisting that she come alone.


"Rukia...there's something that I want to show you." Hollow Ichigo spoke as he prepared to open the doors, though he closed them for a moment. "First, I want you to close your eyes."


Rukia looked at Hollow Ichigo, arching a questioning eyebrow at him.


"It's a surprise," he told her.


                Rukia closed her eyes, and Hollow Ichigo waved his hand in front of her to make sure. He eagerly opened the doors and led Rukia inside.


"Can I open my eyes, now?" she asked once she was in the room.


"No, not yet." the Hollow answered.


Soon, they stopped in the middle of the room.


"Wait here," he instructed as he went over to a pair of curtains and drew them back, allowing brilliant sunlight to spill into the room.


Rukia reflexively flinched, feeling the sun's warm ray on her face. "Now, can I open them, Ichigo?" she asked.


"Okay...now!" he told her.


                The camera pulled back as Rukia opened her eyes, gasping in awe as it revealed a massive library filled with numerous books. Kisuke and Ebisu were not exaggerating, for there were many books as far as the eye could see on all of the shelves.


"This...This is incredible!" Rukia exclaimed, excitedly, as she clasped her hands together. "I can't believe it! I've never seen so many books before in my life!"


"So...you like it?" Hollow Ichigo asked her, hopefully, as he walked up to her.


"Yes, I love it!" she answered. "It's amazing!"


"Then, it's yours." the Hollow told her.


Rukia turned to him, asking, "Really?"


"Yes." he nodded.


Rukia hugged him. "Thank you so much," she replied.


Outside, some of the servants watched what was happening while Konohamaru was having trouble trying to see what was going on.


"Oh, how sweet!" Unohana chirped.


"Ha! Told you that it would work!" Kisuke exclaimed to the others with a smile.


"What?" Konohamaru asked, confused. "What worked?"


"She does love this surprise!" Unohana smiled.


"What surprise?" the younger boy asked, again.


"This is most encouraging," Ebisu added with a nod as he and Kisuke left.


"How exciting!" Yoruichi exclaimed as she followed her colleagues.


"I didn't even get to see anything!" Konohamaru pouted.


"Let's go, Konohamaru," Unohana took the younger boy by his hand and led him to the kitchen, "We've got chores to do."


"What were Master Ichigo and Miss Rukia talking about in there?" Konohamaru asked. "Please tell me!"


"Later, hon," she answered, sweetly.






                Rukia and Hollow Ichigo were both in the dining room together, eating breakfast. Both of them were served rice and omurice while wearing new clothes, suited for the meal. Rukia was wearing a hot pink kimono with yellow flower patterns, and Hollow Ichigo was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and green pants.


                As Rukia took a piece of the rice to her mouth with her chopsticks, she glanced up and gasped as she witnessed a shocking sight: Hollow Ichigo gobbling up his rice and omurice with the most atrocious of table manners. He looked up to see Rukia watching him, awkwardly, and Unohana and Konohamaru looked down, embarrassed by their master's terrible table manners.


                Rukia looked away as Hollow Ichigo wiped the bits of food off of his face, wondering what to do. Luckily, Konohamaru helped out by setting a pair of chopsticks next to him, and Hollow Ichigo took the thing with his right hand. Rukia watched as he was having a hard time holding them while trying to eat his rice with little success. Konohamaru snickered, though he quickly shut up with Unohana shot a scolding glare at him.


                Next, Rukia set down her chopsticks, picked up her knife and fork. Cut a piece of her omurice, and brought it to her mouth with her fork, eating it. Hollow Ichigo saw her example and followed it. Rukia raised her glass in a toast, with the Hollow doing the same, and they both took a sip of their drink.






                Hollow Ichigo and Rukia were out in the courtyard, feeding the birds in the snow. Rukia was wearing a navy blue kimono with a koi fish pattern, and a hooded cloak with fur trim. Hollow Ichigo was wearing a casual white shirt, black pants, and a purple cape. Rukia gave him some birdseed to feed the birds. When he shoved the bird seed in their faces, they flew away. The girl watched as the Hollow tried in vain to feed the little birds.


Rukia (mentally singing): "There's something sweet,
                                       And almost kind,
                                       But he was mean, and he was coarse and unrefined."


Hollow Ichigo tried his hardest to feed the birds, but they continued to fly away from him. Rukia could only shake her head at him.


Rukia (mentally singing): "But now, he's dear and so unsure,
                                       I wonder why I didn't see it there before."


                Rukia knelt down beside Hollow Ichigo, taking a handful of birdseed, and spread out a trail. She showed him not to force it and merely let the birds come to him. Her plan worked as one of the birds landed in his hands, eating the bird seeds. The Hollow grinned, looking up at Rukia, thrilled that a bird was eating out of his hands. One of the birds perched itself on her finger, and she gently pets the little cutie. Hollow Ichigo couldn't help admiring this.


Hollow Ichigo (mentally singing): "She glanced this way,
                                                  I thought I saw,
                                                  And when we touched she didn't shudder at my claw."


His face soon fell, becoming discouraged.


Hollow Ichigo (mentally singing): "No, it can't be,
                                                  I'll just ignore.
                                                  But then, she's never looked at me that way before..."


As Ichigo continued feeding the birds, Rukia ducked behind a tree, looking doubtful.


Rukia (mentally singing): "New~ and a bit alarmi~ng.
                                      Who'd have ever thought that this cou~ld be~?"


                She removed her hood, and her heart fluttered in her chest. Rukia held her hand over her heart, wondering about this new feeling she was having. She turned her head, peeking from behind the tree.


Rukia (mentally singing): "Tru~e, that he's no Prince Charming,"


Rukia giggled as she saw Hollow Ichigo covered with birds who flew off, making him smile.


Rukia (mentally singing): "But there's something in him that I simply didn't see~."


                All of a sudden, she threw a snowball at his face! Rukia laughed at his expense, yet she stopped when she saw him gather up a large quantity of snow, creating a huge snowball. Hollow Ichigo was about to throw it at her, though she was quick enough to throw another snowball at him, causing the humongous snowball he was holding to fall right on top of him.






Concurrently, inside of the castle, Kisuke, Unohana, and Ebisu watched the snowball fight that their master and Rukia were having.


Kisuke (singing): "Well, who'd have thought?"


Unohana (singing): "Well, bless my soul."


Ebisu (singing): "Well, who'd have known?"


Unohana (singing): "Well, who indeed?"


Kisuke (singing): "And who'd have guessed they'd come together on their own?"


Unohana (singing): "It's so peculiar."


All three (singing): "We'll wait and see
                             A few days more.
                             There may be something there that wasn't there before."






                Hollow Ichigo and Rukia were in the den, sitting by the fireplace, with the girl reading a book. All the while, Kisuke, Unohana, Ebisu, Konohamaru, and Yoruichi were watching from the doorway.


Ebisu (singing): "Well, perhaps there's something there
                         That wasn't there before."


"What's there?!" questioned Konohamaru. He turned to Unohana, pouting.


Unohana (singing): "There may be something there that wasn't there before."


"What's there, Miss Unohana?!" the little boy questioned, yet again.


"Shh," Unohana shushed him, "I'll tell you about it, someday."


Kisuke and Yoruichi closed both doors to give their master and Rukia more privacy.


"'Knowing now that this was indeed the legendary power known as the Four Elements, Milla Maxwell tried to lift them, but to no avail." Rukia read her book. "She tried once again, but still nothing happened. Then, for the third time, Milla was able to lift the Four Elements themselves...'"


"Wow, so she must've become the world's goddess afterward." Hollow Ichigo spoke up, excitedly, causing Rukia to giggle a bit.


"Wait and see, Ichigo," Rukia replied, "Milla doesn't just become the goddess of Rieze Maxia by magic, you know."


"Wow...never knew that books could do that." Hollow Ichigo added.


"Do what?" Rukia asked him, arching a curious eyebrow at him.


"You know...take you away from this place and make you forget for a little while." Hollow Ichigo answered.


"About what?" Rukia queried.


"About who...well, what I am, for starters." Hollow Ichigo responded.


"Oh..." Rukia whispered. "You know...we have something in common."


"What's that?" Hollow Ichigo asked her, blinking.


"Back in Karakura Town, where I live...the people there thought that I'm odd..." Rukia explained. "Which is ironic, because I think the same thing about them."


"What, you?" Hollow Ichigo inquired.


"Yes. I know how it feels to be different." Rukia explained, softly. "And I know how lonely that can be."


                After a moment of silence, Rukia resumed reading her book "Then, for the third time, Milla was able to lift the Four Elements themselves, and thus the people nearby are shouting, 'Milla is now our goddess!'."


"Ha!" Hollow Ichigo exclaimed in triumph, knowing that he was right the whole time. "I knew it!"