♛ ⋆♔⋆ ♛

Back to your room, you silently emerged outside the door and closed it.

While Kise was flirting towards the feather dusters, you tip-toed through the hallways.

Suddenly, the candlelight looked up to see you walking silently.

Kise gasped, "The lady has emerged!"

➭ ➮ ➭

"I work and I slave all day, and for what? A culinary masterpiece gone to waste. I'm gonna crush her.." A stove complained.

"Oh, stop your grousing Murasakibara. It's been a long night for all of us." Alex retorted.

The stove replied, "If you ask me, she was just being stubborn. After all, Aomine-chin did say 'please'."

"But if the master doesn't learn to control that temper, he'll never break the--" Before Himuro could continue, Kagami cuts him off as soon as he saw you enter the kitchen.

"Not that I care but it sure is splendid to see you out and about, mademoiselle." Midorima greeted as Kise comes running in.

"I am Midorima Shintaro, head of the household." The clockwork introduced himself.

"Murasakibara Atsushi. The head chef of the kitchen." The stove introduced as well.

"And I am Kise Ryouta ssu~!"

"Who's this little fellow?" You asked crouching as you played with the footstool barking which you presume is a dog.

"Oh. He's the castle's royal dog, Nigou."

"What may be your name beautiful lady?"

You giggled and replied, "Y/N L/N."

"Pleasure to meet you L/N-chii~" Kise winked at you and kissed your hand.

"What brings you today lady L/N?" Midorima asked.

"I am a little hungry." You replied sweat dropping.

"You are? Hear that? She's hungry. Stoke the fire, break out the silver, wake the others!" Alex excitedly said.

The fire on the stove roars to life, and drawers open to reveal silverware standing at attention.

"Remember what the master said, nanodayo." Midorima reminded them silently.

"Oh, pish tosh. I'm not going to let the poor child go hungry." Alex cheered.

"Midorimachii~, I am surprised at you. She's not our prisoner. She's our guest. We must make her feel welcome here uwah~." Kise grinned.

He then looked towards you and gestured, "Right this way, mademoiselle."

"Well keep it down. If the master finds out about this-"

"Of course, of course."

➭ ➮ ➭

After an amusing show of singing and dancing with foods and dishes, it all came to a fantastic ending making you clap your hands.

"Bravo! That was wonderful!" You cheered.

"Thank you, thank you~!"

"Now well look at the time, it's time to go back to bed, nanodayo."

"Go back to bed? Well I just possibly couldn't sleep while I'm in an enchanted castle!" You exclaimed amused.

"E-enchanted?— It was you who said it didn't you?" Midorima announced pointing at Kise.

The two began to quarrel which you immediately explained.

"Actually, it's quite obvious considering objects like you talk, along with your master who's a beast." You explained with your sweat dropping.

"Heh, I'm not surprised." Himuro sweatdropped.

"I'd like to look around if that's alright." You politely asked.

"Oh! Would you like a tour?" Kise asked.

"Yes. I'm sure the both of you know everything about the castle." You smiled.

"We do actually." Midorima proudly replied.

➭ ➮ ➭

"As you can see, the pseudo facade was stripped away to reveal a minimalist rococo design. Note the unusual inverted vaulted ceilings. This is yet another example of the neo-classic baroque period." Midorima lectured while You, Nigou and Kise trailed behind in the hallways.

"Now, if I may draw your attention to the flying buttresses above the--mademoiselle?" He stopped as soon as he turned around to see you wondering around by yourself.

He sees you beginning to climb the grand staircase. He and Kise run up to you and jump in front other, blocking your progress upstairs.

"What's up there?" You asked curiously.

"Oh! Nothing at all, nanodayo."
"Definitely! The west wing is so dusty, dull and boring Y/N-chii."

"Ohhhh, so that's the west wing." Your eyes sparked interest moving up to another step.

"Nice going. I knew your horoscope couldn't be trusted today." Midorima mumbled towards Kise.

"I wonder what he's hiding up there.." You raised up a brow taking another step makig them move once more.

"Hiding? The master is hiding nothing!" Kise informed.

"If that is so, then this wing shouldn't be forbidden." You replied back smartly.

You step once again making them dash towards you and block you.

"Perhaps you'd want to see something other exquisite! Like tapestries, the gardens, or the library perhaps!" Midorima suggested.

This caught your interest, "You have a library?"

Kise grinned widely thrilled how Midorima caught your interest.

"Oh yes! Indeed!"

"With books!"
"Mountains of books!"
"Forests 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..."

Kise and Midorima began marching off, and you began to follow, but your curiosity overtakes you, and you turned back to the West Wing.

Your excitement begins to dwindle, though, when you entered the hallway leading to the beast's lair.

As you walked down the hall, you stopped to look in a mirror that has been
shattered into several pieces, each one reflecting your concerned look. 

You reached the end of the hall and found a closed door with gargoyle handles. You took a deep breath, then reaches out and opens the door. Cut to int of lair, where you began to explore. You are truly shocked by everything she sees. You wandered around, looking.

You then turned your head to see a shredded picture on the wall. You can only see part of a portrait. It is the same portrait that was shredded in the opening.

You reached out and lifted the shreds of the picture to reveal a prince. You felt slight deja vu.

You then turned your head and see the rose under a bell jar. You walked over to it, eyes transfixed. You reached out, then lifts off the jar, leaving the rose unprotected. 

You reached up, brushing back the strand of hair that has been repeatedly falling on your forehead, then reaches out to touch the rose. 

As you near it, a shadow fell over her. Aomine has been on the balcony, and sees you.

He jumps back into the room,then slams the jar back on the rose. He then turns his attention to you.

"Why did you come here?" Aomine asked growing in anger.

"I-I'm sorry.." You backed away feeling fear run through your spine.

"I warned you to never come here!" He boomed.

"I d-didn't mean any harm!"

"Did you realize what you could've done?!" He began to thrash out furniture. "Get out! Now!"

"I-I'm sorry.." You teared up.

Tears rolled down through your cheeks which didn't go unnoticed to Aomine.

His eyes widened, only to realize what he had done.

'Shit!'

He reached out to you but you flinched and went out fearing that he'd do anything else.

"W-wait!" Aomine's voice cracked as you ran away.

⤿ ⟲ ⤿

A grand party was held in celebration of his 18th birthday. This happened exactly a few hours before the enchantress casted the curse on him.

Something in Aomine's nerve triggered him as soon as he saw his best friend talking with another male.

The girl even had a beautiful F/C gown that puffed out. Her hair was styled up and she wore faint make up making her face pop and glow. In his eyes, she stood out from the rest.

That is why another man seeing you in a captivating trance fueled jealousy, rage and sadness in his boiling stomach.

That huge grin on her face, the way her hand ruffled the unknown's man hair, the look in his eyes as she pulled him into a small hug.

It really hurt the prince.

The H/C-haired girl she liked was even a tiny bit late in greeting him because she showed the man around.

"Dai-Chan! Happy birthday!" She cheered.

Aomine closed his eyes briefly before he said in a harsh and bitter tone, "Please respect my privacy Y/N."

She have never seen that look before. She couldn't form a coherent sentence as he left the dance floor and proceeded to stay outside at the garden underneath the night sky.

So, after a while, she carefully went near to the prince making her way outside.

As soon as the prince noticed, he quickly moved away. But she was lucky enough to grab him by the arm which he brushed off.

"Uh.. did I do something wrong?" She fiddled her fingers nervously.

That was when he responded, "You ignored me for the whole night, your best friend on his birthday, for some random man. I don't know about you but that makes people feel like shit, Y/N."

"Dai-Chan, he's my-"

"What, Y/N?" His body began to shake with anger.

"You're being ridiculous!" She exclaimed, throwing her hands up with exasperation.

"I'm the one being ridiculous?!" He matched the level of your voice, pointing his finger at you. "You.. you're the one that waltzed in here like everything's fine when you bluntly ignored me and flirted with some other guy!"

"Flirted?! You and I aren't even lovers!" She was right, the both of them weren't even together how was he able to control her life?

"Just because you're a prince? And he's Kuroko Tetsuya! My brother Daiki!" She desperately tried to explain the situation, but Aomine's emotions were scattered and over the place making him ignore her.

"What's so great about him?! I'm in front of you Y/N! A prince! What he's got? Is it because he's cuter?! He looks nicer? I'm even taller than him Y/N!-"

"I'M DONE WITH THIS!" She yelled, shutting her eyes before turning around to exit.

Before she could open the door, Aomine's grip on her wrist forcing her to stay in her place.

"No! You're gonna answer my damn questions, Y/N!"

"I don't have to answer anything! You're being ridiculous and accusing me for something I never did!" She tried to ignore the tightening pain on her wrist.

"Don't lie to me Y/N, I saw it with my own eyes.." He hissed, pushing her up against the wall to trap you.

The sudden hostility of her best friend was beginning to scare her each second he continued. He was always violent, but never to her, she was always an exception to him.

"You misinterpreted it- AH!" You yelped as Aomine's rage and grief overwhelmed him. His undeniable strength began to activate. His fingers wrapped around her wrist beginning to hurt her even more.

Aomine was blinded by rage, he didn't even realize that he was already hurting and giving you much pain than he have expected.

"D-Daiki!" You yelped. "Stop! Yo-You're hurting me- OW!"

He ripped his arm away from her, terror sinking through his body as he watched tears slither down her cheeks as well as her body down the wall. Every organ in Aomine's body dropped as he stared at her shaking figure.

The girl quickly stood up and excused herself away from the scene still shaking out of trauma, "S-See you around Aomine.."

"Y-Y/N..." He forced himself to choke out an apology, but it was beginning to become impossible as his knees buckled beneath him. It were like vines crawling up his body as his chest became tight, his breaths heavy and shallow as his eyesight felt like it was spinning.

He hurt you..

He hurt you..

⤿ ⟲ ⤿

He then falls into despair, finally realizing that he may have destroyed his chances with you. Again..

You reached the stairway and grabbed your cloak. Rushing down the stairs wrapping the cloak around her and bursting past a confused Kise and Midorima.

"Wh-where are you going?" Midorima asked in fear that you may leave.

"Promise or no promise, I can't stay here any minute longer!" You respond.

"Oh no! Please wait Y/N-chii!" Kise pleaded chasing after you.

You began to ride through the forest, but H/N comes to a stop. You turned your sight and saw wolves.

You gasped, then pulled the reins and begins to flee. She runs from side to side, making the wolves hit the trees.

H/N runs out on a frozen pond, but the both of your weight collapse the ice. The wolves chase you into the water. Some begin to drown, as the both of you were able to get out of the water before anything serious happens. 

H/N runs into a clearing, but becomes surrounded by wolves. It neighed and bucks, throwing you off and wrapping the reins around a tree branch. 

The wolves begin their attack on H/N, but you showed up to the rescue not realizing that you had risk yourself.

Your body went defenseless as you closed your eyes in fear preparing for an attack.

➭ ➮ ➭

Back at the castle is Aomine in his room still gazing outside once you left him.

You left..

Aomine expected this to happen knowing that everyone lives in fear of his appearance. So he was emotionally prepared for this.. or so he thought..

He didn't expect that it'd happen again. He wanted to say sorry. Not only because of the scene earlier, but also because of what he did on his 18th birthday to you.

"Dai-kun!" Satsuki called out but all Aomine did was look at her.

"What happened? I fell asleep earlier and the moment I woke up I felt something was wrong." She continued.

"Yeah the girl left.."

"Oh goodness! Dai-chan the girl may be in danger! The winter blizzard outside is beyond freezing and pack of wolves are in hunt at this hour!"

This caught Aomine's attention as he went off and hurriedly rushed downstairs greeted by the concerns of Kise and the others. He ran past them making them look at each other in confusion as well.

The beast rushed outside the castle gates and sniffed out your scent.

As soon as he spotted you. He felt relieved for a second, but the second after, he noticed that a wolf was about to leap at your vulnerable form.

Which is the reason he growled in anger. No one was taking you away from him again.

The wolf leapt at you but you weren't met with the impact.

Instead, you opened your eyes to see the beast throwing the wolf away, then stands behind you and H/N protectively. 

They then lunged at each other. One rips a hole in Aomine's shoulder, and the others focus their attack on that spot. 

Finally, the beast throws a wolf, who seemed like the alpha, against a tree, knocking it out. The others turn and run in fear. 

Aomine turns back to looks at you, relieved, but then collapses.

He was beyond glad you were alright. At that moment, he realized how it was better to get hurt rather than to see you in pain.

You, grateful to be alive, turns back to H/N and begins to get on, but your conscience takes over, so you walked over to the fallen Beast. 

You grabbed him by the shoulder but then Aomine grunted.

"S-sorry.. but you need help. Just bear it with me a little longer. We'll be back at the castle soon enough, ok big guy?" You smiled warmly at him looking directly at his eyes.

Was it just him or was the cold not affecting him as the warmth he felt in his heart began to bloom.

"C'mon, in the count of three, you mount my horse 'Kay?" You gently told him.

Counting in threes, Aomine followed and mounted the horse still wincing in pain.

"That's it." You smiled.

You then proceeded to walk back to the castle with the Beast mounted on the horse.

"Beast, are you still awake?" You turned called him while continuing in walking.

"Hm." He responds feeling slightly happy since you started a conversation.

"Say, I haven't caught your name yet.. I'm Y/N L/N." You smiled at him softly.

He averted his eyes away from you feeling blood rush towards his cheek. And so, he acted blunt that he didn't know you.

"Aomine Daiki."

"Aomine." You tested his name.

He missed it.

He missed hearing his name roll out from your lips. How your voice would call to him. He missed it a lot.

"Say it again.." He croaked out.

You blushed. "Aomine.." You repeated softer.

Aomine showed a small smile, glad that you followed him. Then an idea popped up.

"Ahomine." You teased.

This irked him making the Beast growl.

"Hey hey! I was kidding."

"Heh, pancake." He retorted connecting your nickname to your boobs. You weren't exactly flat, just average.

"Pervert!" You scolded slapping his arm making him bark at you again.

"Oh! Oops, Sorry sorry, didn't mean to!" Your sweat drop making the Beast roll his eyes.

And before he knew it, he didn't even feel the pain from his arm anymore because of you, yourself really.

'This feels nice..' The both of you thought smiling,

➭ ➮ ➭

The castle doors went open again. "Midorima? Kise? Help please. Aomine's hurt."

The objects hurried hopped over and saw their Master on the horse's back.

"Aominechii! Come! Let him lay!"

➭ ➮ ➭

You poured hot water out of Alex and soaks a rag in the water, then turned to Aomine, who is licking his wounds.

"Here now. Oh, don't do that." You scolded him.

Aomine growls at her as she tries to clean the wound with her rag.

"Just...hold still."

You touched the rag to the wound and Aomine roars in pain. The objects, who have been watching, jump back into hiding from the outburst.

"That hurts!" He complained.

"If you'd hold still, it wouldn't hurt as much." You counterpointed.

"Well if you hadn't run away, this wouldn't have happened!" He retorted as well.

"Well if you hadn't frightened me, I wouldn't have run away!"

"Well you shouldn't have been in the West Wing!"

"Well you should learn to control your temper!" You pouted.

Aomine raises his hand to bring out another point, but finds you pouting cutely, so he bows his head down again not wanting to show the pink tint he had on his cheeks.

The objects emerge from their hiding as you have conquered the ferocious temper of the beast. You then removed the rag closer to the wound.

"Now, hold still.. This may sting a little." You warned him gently.

Aomine gives a surprised grunt, then grits his teeth as the rag is applied.

You then spoke tenderly, "By the way, thank you, for saving my life."

He opens his eyes, looking surprised. You showed a smile as well making his heart flutter.

The beast responded softly, "You're welcome."

After that, the objects then looked at each other with interest.

➭ ➮ ➭

Meanwhile Kosuke's tavern was empty except him, Tusgawa and a person with black hair and a messy but presentable look.

"I don't usually leave the asylum in the middle of the night. But they said you'd make it worth my while." The man said.

Wakamatsu then pulls out a sack of gold coins and threw it at him.

The man took a piece and replied, "I'm listening.."

"Hanamiya, it's like this: I have my hearts set on Y/N but she needs a little persuasion." Kosuke responds.

"Yeah! Turned him down flat!" Tomoki laughed making Kosuke bonk his head with a mug.

"Go ahead.."

"And everyone knows her brother is practically invisible at time and it's scaring others out."

"Kuroko Tetsuya is harmless."

"The point is, Y/N would do anything to keep him from getting locked up."

"Yeah, even marrying him!" Tomoki added making his partner give him a threatening glare once again.

"So you want me to throw Kuroko in an asylum unless she agrees to marry you?" Hanamiya questions summarizing the topic.

The both nodded in agreement.

"It's despicable, I love it!" The sadist answered.

➭ ➮ ➭

Back to you and Kuroko's cottage, the teal-haired man hurriedly packed up his things.

"Don't worry Y/N.. I'll get you soon. One way or another I'm not letting anyone hurt you." Kuroko murmured as he put his cloak and bag on.

He then soon left the village. Minutes passed and Kosuke along with Tomoki appeared.

The both of them went inside. "Kuroko! Y/N!" Kosuke called out.

"Well I guess they aren't here then." Tomoki shrugged.

Kosuke grabs Tomoki and dropped him on the snowbank by the porch outside.

Saying, "They have to come back sometime, and when they do, we'll be ready for them. Tomoki, don't move from that spot until Belle and her father come home."

"But— Aww nuts!" Tomoki frowned.

♛ ⋆♔⋆ ♛