Saint Seiya Fairy Tale: Beauty and the Beast

As Shaka opened the heavy doors, he could smell the sweet fragrance of pumpkin spice crepes, applewood bacon, omelettes with ham and cheese, and hot cocoa. Shaka smiled, there was something very homey and comfortable about this castle. He wandered in and noticed that it was nice and toasty warm inside.

All of the fireplaces were crackling with glowing fires, there were warm cozy blankets by each hearth he passed, and the castle walls were covered with rich tapestries. Shaka wandered through the halls and noticed Waddles in one of the bedrooms. “I suppose that makes this the right place,” Shaka sighed. “I should let Camus know I am here.”

Deathmask and Aiacos were currently in the kitchen watching Camus cook in amazement. Camus was used to cooking for his family before they moved in with Sir Douko, and he was excited to finally be back in the kitchen. Deathmask wandered over to Camus, “your food smells so yummy. I can’t wait to eat.”

Deathmask’s tail wagged as he gave Camus a hug from behind as Camus flipped another pumpkin spice crepe. Argor was filling the crepes with a pumpkin cinnamon sugar mousse. Misty still strongly believed that they should have been called Crepes filled with pumpkin crab mousse, but he refrained to avoid an argument.

Aiacos grinned, “You know Camus, you and Deathmask look like the cutest little couple ever! Maybe you two should get married.” Deathmask’s tail innocently whacked Aiacos’s leg. Aiacos glared, “hmph, maybe not. Well you’re cute Camus!” Deathmask grumbled. Camus smiled as he flipped the last of the crepes, “well I don’t know if I want to date a beast yet. . .so marriage is pretty far away if you ask me.” Deathmask pouted, “aww you wouldn’t wanna marry me?”

Camus rolled his eyes, “Deathmask. . .do I have to repeat that you are a beast and I am a human? The match is not exactly perfect. . .we can’t even go out on a date in the city. . .”

Deathmask sighed, “aww come on now! Things aren’t that bad. . .and believe me you will never meet anyone who wants to be with you more than I do.” Aiacos laughed, “yup! Not one guy wants to bang you more!” Deathmask elbowed Aiacos lightly. Camus laughed, “gee. . .thanks. . .that is a scary idea.”

Deathmask sniffled, “it ain’t that scary.” Camus nodded with a chuckle, “alright not that scary. . .just a little scary. . .” What am I saying? I can’t be with a beast. . .in that way. . .*blush* Misty plated all of the foods and placed them all on the dining table.

Shaka wandered through the halls and followed his nose to the dining area as well. Deathmask noticed a presence that was different that what he was used to and immediately ran to the dining area from the kitchen, sliding on the floor, since his paws had no traction. Camus and Aiacos exchanged a glance, and followed Deathmask out.

Shaka smiled as Deathmask slid in front of him, “It is nice to meet you. . .Sir Beast. I am Camus’s step-brother. . .I suppose. . .my name is Shaka.” Deathmask looked at the blond dumbfounded, the man was a gorgeously feminine man. . .how did he find his castle. . .it was invisible unless he willed it not to be. And the man had to treck through a large snowstorm to arrive. There was something oddly strong about him.

“Uh. . .I’m Deathmask. . .Pleased to meet you, Shaka.” Aiacos and Camus walked out and noticed Shaka, “Oh Shaka!? You came here to see me? I suppose Milo told you about the plan huh.”

Shaka smiled, “he is not very good as remaining quiet. In any case, the house was a little more crowded than normal. . .as is the cabin that Deathmask must have made for them. . .so I decided that if it is alright with you, that I would just stay here.”

Camus smiled, “Of course Shaka! This castle is very comfortable and warm. I am sure you will love this place.

“Hey there sexy blond! I’m Aiacos, I’m De. . .er Prince Angelo’s cousin!” Aiacos grinned and gave the blond a kiss on the back of his hand.

Shaka quirked an eyebrow. Aiacos was going to say Deathmask. .. that means that the beast has a human cousin. Considering the beast knows magic, that could only mean that the beast and Prince Angelo were the same. . .and Camus didn’t know it. Shaka smiled, “It is a pleasure to meet you, Aiacos, I am Shaka, Camus’s step-brother.

Camus looked at Aiacos. . .he called Shaka a sexy blond. . .that sounded a lot like the way Deathmask talks when he is trying to be flirty. . .maybe they were closer friends than he thought.

Camus added, “There is even a library. Plus Deathmask knows some amazing magic.”

Deathmask grinned, “yup! I do know some pretty good magic!”

Shaka smiled since he knew that already, “really? Well I would love to meditate while I’m here, but I don’t need a special area for that.”

Deathmask smiled widely, “Well how about I make a big meditation room for you!” Deathmask conjured up a large room with a pond and lotus flowers and koi fish, along with a potted Cherry blossom tree, in bloom mid-winter, and some zabuton and other cushions for him to meditate on. “Alright Shaka, head into that room there, I think you’ll like it.”

Shaka looked at Deathmask intently, “you didn’t have to go through the effort, but I really appreciate it.” Aiacos grinned, “here, I’ll walk you there, these two love birds probably want some time alone.”

Shaka smirked, “lovebirds huh? Well I suppose our family is full of them.”

Aiacos lead Shaka into the meditation room, “Dang, he did a better job on this room than I expected. Not too shabby huh!?” Shaka smiled, the room was gorgeous and the walls were a neutral oatmeal shade with some pale blue trim. The room was peaceful and the pink of the cherry blossom tree was relaxing. He also noticed a little sand rock garden in the corner. Shaka lightly closed the door.

Aiacos gulped, maybe Shaka was one of those guys who looked like a beautiful innocent virgin, but was really a flirt. Shaka smiled, “so let me see if I have this right. Deathmask is your cousin, and he is really Prince Angelo. So if that is the case, does he have control over the way he looks. I would think that with his magic capabilities that he would be able to choose a form that suits him most.”

Aiacos looked at Shaka in shock, “OH. . .you know? Well yeah. . .oh. . .Aphrodite. . .he is an enchanter and he changed Deathmask into a beast. . .and he can’t turn back unless he learns to love and earn love in return. . .and he has a pretty rigid time limit too. . .supposedly before his 27th birthday or something which is coming up, but from the rate that the enchanted rose is wilting. . .I would say that the limit is before his birthday.”

Shaka opened his eyes and looked at Aiacos, “so Deathmask is flirting with Camus with the hopes that Camus will fall in love with him. . .and it is fairly obvious that Deathmask has already achieved the falling in love with Camus piece of it. So there is an enchanted rose?”

Aiacos nodded, “yeah. . .” Shaka sighed, “so what happens when that time limit is up?” Aiacos looked down, “he. . .he’ll remain a beast forever.” Shaka frowned, “so does that mean that he was forced to like Camus because Camus was the only man around who was accessible to him?”

Aiacos smirked, “aww are you worried about you step-bro? Don’t worry, Deathmask really does love him. . .I know it.”

Shaka smiled, “I see. . .well then, you should go eat your breakfast.”

Aiacos smiled back, “yup! And you should join us. I bet your journey was a long one.”

Shaka replied, “well true. But I am never that hungry.”

Aiacos smirked at the blond, “well Camus is an amazing chef! You should see him in the kitchen! Soooo you have to eat some.” Aiacos dragged Shaka with him to the dining area.

Camus smiled as Deathmask happily ate his food, “Aww Camus! I got a new one! You are the light, spicy crepe, and I am the cream filling!” Camus dropped his fork, “that’s mousse, not cream.” Deathmask laughed, “close enough *sweatdrop* besides. . .it is creamy.” Camus nodded, “well you have that part right. Hey Deathmask. . .have you and Aiacos been friends for a long time? You guys kind of sound alike.”

Deathmask smiled, “well yeah. . .I mean we practically grew up together.” Oh shit. . .

Camus quirked his eyebrow, “really? That is extremely inconsistent with your earlier story. . .I mean earlier you said that Argor met him at some coliseum battle, and now you are saying you grew up together? And you said you didn’t know Prince Angelo, but this guy is his cousin, and you grew up together? Where did you come from anyway? I have never seen nor heard of a beast like you. . .”

Deathmask felt trapped, “um. . .well. . .Okay I do know Prince Angelo. . .he was a very close friend of mine, and he introduced me to Aiacos. . .when Prince Angelo left, he let me stay in his castle so that I could take care of it. But. . .Prince Angelo left to search for . . .uh. . .some answers, and didn’t want people to look for him. . .so. . .that is why he didn’t tell anyone he was leaving.”

Camus sighed, some of that made sense. . .and he couldn’t really argue. As soon as he had some kind of evidence to counter him with, he would do so.

“I see. . .well that is admirable of you. But why did you lie to me about the prince?” Camus questioned. Deathmask pouted, “because I was afraid that if we focused on the prince so much you wouldn’t care about me anymore.”

Camus smiled, “thanks for your honesty Deathmask. . .but I wouldn’t care about you any less.”

Deathmask’s tail wagged so quickly, he fell out of his chair, “Awwww OOOOOUCCHHHHHHIIIESSS *huff puff* I’m okay *sweat*”

Camus rolled his eyes, “um Deathmask, come back up here.”

Deathmask grinned, “oooh but I like the view down here. . .you’re still in your bathrobe you know. . .so I can see your undies down here.”

Camus glared at Deathmask, “hey! That’s right! You’re the one who picked out all of this slutty underwear. . .and now your peeping!?”

Deathmask quickly popped back up in his seat, “no.” He smiled at Camus innocently.

Camus chuckled, “okay I have one. I am your warm egg custard that surrounds and cuddles with you, who are the ham and cheese.”

Deathmask smiled, “cool! But why am I ham and cheese?”

Camus smirked, “because you are such a ham, and you are cheesy.”

Deathmask smirked back, “touché! You are good! Hahahahahah, I guess I can be a little cheesy.”

Camus rolled his eyes playfully, “a little?” Deathmask smiled, “yup, only a little.” Camus smiled, “sure.”

Aiacos and Shaka entered the dining area. “Thank you very much for the meditation room. I really appreciate it. The room is beyond relaxing and is quite adequate for its purpose,” Shaka smiled.

Deathmask smiled back, “you are very welcome, Shaka. You are welcome to stay as long as you like. There are plenty of rooms, but I suggest the one next to Camus’s, that way you can always ask him if you can’t find something. Plus my servants Misty and Argor will pleasure your every whim *wink*.

Shaka looked at Deathmask quizzically, “Misty and Argor?”

Misty and Argor both entered the room to gather up some of the empty dishes to replenish them. Shaka looked at the two, there was a large lizard-like man, and a crab. Shaka’s face looked blank, and not surprised at all. “It is a pleasure to meet you Misty and Argor, I am Camus’s step-brother, Shaka, and I will be staying here for a little while.”

Misty and Argor introduced themselves, still in shock that Shaka looked so calm and didn't seem fazed in the least about the current circumstances.

Aiacos smiled, “so Shaka, what are your hobbies?”

Shaka smiled, “I like to read, meditate, garden, and write poetry.”

Aiacos’s jaw dropped, “Oh my gosh! You are good at the stuff I suck at!!”

Shaka quirked an eyebrow, who was this weird guy. . .he knew he was Deathmask’s. . .well the prince’s cousin, but he was odd. “well what are you good at then, Aiacos?”

Aiacos grinned, “I am good at fighting, I make a pretty good cheesecake. . .and I like to build things with my hands. . .wanna feel my hands?”

Camus rolled his eyes, okay. . .Aiacos is worse than Deathmask. . .then again. . .Deathmask had no hands. . .only paws.

Shaka sighed, “that is good to know. And I can see that you appreciate your hands, I have no need to touch or feel them.”

Aiacos pouted, “awww. . .well then, Shaka, can I interest you with some chess or go?”

Shaka looked at Aiacos quizzically, he loved strategy games. “I would love to.” Shaka and Aiacos quickly ate and left to play games in the parlor. The parlor was warm and inviting. There were a couple of throws for them to sit on and Aiacos pulled out a marble chess set.

Shaka looked at the intricacy of the pieces. They were beautifully carved with tiny details. The two men set up the board and began to play. “I may act stupid sometimes, but I am a tactical man through and through. Besides, I love coming up with strategies.”

Shaka smiled to himself, so he thinks he can win? Shaka was a master chess player and had won many chess championships, he strongly doubted that this strangely impulsive man could beat him. But he also knew that he shouldn’t underestimate his opponent.

Shaka smiled, “alright, then I expect you to try your best.”

Aiacos smiled, “If I win, can I kiss you?”

Shaka frowned, he didn’t want his first kiss stolen because of a chess game. He wanted to wait until he met the right person to give him his first kiss. But then again, if the man could beat him in chess, then he could be worthy of his first kiss.

Shaka sighed, “I’ll think about it. Are you saying that I can win something if I do agree?”

Aiacos nodded, “yup! If you win. . .uh. . .if you could win, what would you want?”

Shaka smiled, “well then we are at a loss. There is nothing that I want, thus, there is nothing to win. The motivation to win and enjoy a good tactical match is all of the motivation I need. Thus give me a good battle.”

Aiacos smirked, “alright, I suppose in that case you’ll get a prize whether you win or lose.”

Shaka closed his eyes, “indeed.”

Camus smiled as he peeked in the parlor, they looked like they had at least a little in common.

Deathmask ran his paw across Camus’s butt as he passed him. “Hey there sexy!”

Camus glared at him, and whispered, “I was trying to be discreet.”

“Whoops,” Deathmask gave Camus a little puppy-eyed sorry look.

Shaka sighed, “we both knew you were there Camus, don't worry about it.”

Camus huffed, “okay okay, fine fine.” Camus left and closed the door behind them.

Once Aiacos and Shaka were alone, Shaka smiled, “so. . .will the spell be broken once Camus says ‘I love you too?’”

Aiacos shook his head, “well maybe if he really meant it. In all honesty I have no idea what will have to happen to break the spell. Aphrodite told me that it has to be to love and be loved in return, but he never explained the depth of that. . .and I think DM really does love him.”

Shaka looked at Aiacos quizzically. DM? Oh Deathmask. “Well if that is the case. . .the rose will wilt before anything happens.”

Aiacos looked down, “you know. . .my other cousin wants DM dead because of some duel thing. . .but DM has suffered a lot already. . .I really hope that this curse will break soon. . .I mean Camus is flirting with him, right? So maybe he’ll fall in love with him soon.”

Shaka looked down, “I am not very familiar with the concept of love. . .but I know that love is a broad feeling that can manifest in a variety of ways. The question we should be wondering about is what kind of love was Aphrodite referring to when he placed the curse on Prince Angelo.”

Aiacos’s mind always went straight to the gutter. He thought about it as Shaka talked, but could only think one thing. Maybe when Camus and DM got it on, the spell would break during orgasm or something. Dang that would be kinda cool. . .although that would freak Camus out. . .but damn that would be good for a great laugh.

Shaka looked at Aiacos quizzically, “you have an idea?”

Aiacos shrugged, “nah. . .just speculating. . .oh it’s my move, whoops!”

Aiacos and Shaka continued their game.

Camus sighed, “I am going to go take a bath and get dressed.”

Deathmask grinned widely, “Can I join you in the bath, Camus?”

Camus smirked, “sure. . .I was thinking of a hot spring style bath anyway. Just don’t clog the water with hair.”

Deathmask stuck his tongue out, “aww come on now Camus! ME? Do that? Never! But I can’t promise to keep my paws off of you.”

Camus smiled, “well. . .I suppose as long as it is innocent. . .”

Deathmask’s jaw dropped, “me? Innocent? Wow. . .coming from you I am surprised.”

Camus smirked, “that was sarcasm, Deathmask.”

Deathmask pouted, “oh. . .well anyway, I really appreciate it! I really want to see you naked!”

Camus rolled his eyes, “are you serious Deathmask? You aren’t trying to be romantic at all are you.”

Deathmask sighed, “really? You’ll let me try to romance you?”

Camus looked down, he always loved the idea of romance, and he was feeling a lot closer to Deathmask. . .

Camus smiled, “maybe. . .”

Deathmask’s tail commenced swishing.

TBC. . .

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A/N—Sorry the chapter was so short >_<