Summary: Beauty and the Beast retold using characters from GetBackers! Ban plays the Prince who is transformed into a Vampire. Repulsed at becoming so unnatural and demonic, he slips into a depression. Who could ever learn to love a beast? Kazuki makes his appearance as beautiful man that steals Ban's heart. But will he ever feel the same for the cursed Prince and break the spell?

Disclaimer: As sad and hard as it is to admit this, I own NOTHING from the GetBackers universe. sob Oh well.

Title/Author: GB: Beauty and the Beast by LadyFiend

Chapter Thirteen: Happily Ever After

It was like a burning had spread through his body, setting his very blood on fire. It was the strangest mixture of emotional passion that Ban had ever felt. An unbelievable rage that melted perfectly to clash with his freezing flame of sorrow. It left him feeling twisted and ruptured. Lacerated and torn. A growl penetrated the air from deep within his throat and he used his last shreds of strength to throw his sire off. Fudo's lips parted from his pet's as he collided with the wooden floor. Kazuki's eyes flashed open, a look of fear and relief dancing in his dark eyes.

"Don' .him." Ban said, his voice and laced with deadly rage. He pulled himself to his feet and stood between the fallen Fudo and the kneeling Kazuki.

The human got to his feet himself and looked at Ban uncertainly. "Ban?"

"Go."

Kazuki flinched at the coldness in his lover's voice, but for once he did as was asked and took a few steps towards the door. Fudo took note of this and smirked before shooting to his feet and grabbing Ban from around the neck. He threw the younger vampire into the wall before moving towards the now fearful mortal. Kazuki yelped before turning around and reaching for the doorknob. His fingers brushed against it before a strong grip wrapped itself around his arm and tossed him to the floor. Ban moved in and attacked Fudo before he could lay a hand on Kazuki again.

To... break down, and cease all feeling
Burn now, what once was breathing
Reach out, and you may take my heart away

Sakura, with Juubei and Akabane following closely behind her, made her way to Fudo's main bed chamber. She knew better then anyone else that he would take Kazuki and Ban there. Of course, she couldn't get involved in this matter physically, but she would bring Kazuki's two friends there and hopefully they could sneak the human out of this place safely. And if Ban was lucky maybe he could get away in one piece as well. But that was certainly debatable. After all, he was fighting Fudo. A nearly five hundred year-old vampire. What chance did a young fledging who wasn't even a pureblood (yet) have?

When the three of them finally reached Fudo's room, they were a little more then surprised about the scene that was going on before them. Kazuki was on the floor, tears brimming his eyes as he looked at Ban and Fudo's fight. His hair was in a braid and he only wore a large, black shirt. Juubei was the first to move into the room as he threw of his coat and wrapped it around Kazuki's shoulders. The other man turned tearful eyes to his best friend and threw himself into his arms. Sakura looked from them to the battle. Both vampires had several wounds, but Ban was most definitely in worse shape. He could barely stay on his feet. Fudo looked even more insane then ever.

"Ah, so this is how ends, Ban? Very well. I'm done playing games. Suppose I'll meet you in hell…" and the sire moved so fast that Ban never even saw it coming. The makeshift stake was aimed at his heart as Fudo swiftly moved his arm down to impale it in Ban's chest.

Imperfect cry, and scream in ecstasy
So what befalls the flawless?
Look what I've built, it shines so beautifully
Now watch as it destroys me

He didn't understand it. Probably never would, but the thing about love is, it doesn't need understanding…only faith. And Kazuki believe that what his heart was telling him was true. A pulsating heat had quickened the blood pumping through his veins and he knew something was wrong. Fudo spoke, but he didn't hear. Slowly he pulled away from Juubei and looked back at the fighting. Fudo was moving so fast, but it was all in slow motion for Kazuki and knew what was happening before anyone else. As Fudo's stake was about to connect with it's target, Kazuki acted purely on instinct. His legs moved without a thought. His arm shot out in front of him and connected with Ban's shoulder. The smaller man threw all his weight into the shove and they both tumbled to the floor, hard. Fudo's weapon struck the wall where Ban had been moments ago.

"Kazuki!" Juubei shouted moving forward and pulling human to his feet. He wrapped his strong arms around the long-haired man and refused to release him as he dragged his struggling friend away. Fudo looked somewhat amused and Ban was wincing from the battle's injuries.

"Let go! Let me go!" Kazuki shouted, kicking the air as he tried to free his limbs. "Juubei! RELEASE ME!"

"Forget it! Are you trying to get yourself killed!"

"Get him out of here," Ban said, shooting a look at Juubei and then Sakura.

The Enchantress nodded. "Try not to get yourself killed, yeah?"

"Are we done with the conversation? I thought you were going to kill me," Fudo said, bored.

Ban smirked arrogantly and moved forward with the speed of a demon. Kazuki's eyes were huge as he freed one arm and latched onto the doorframe to prevent Juubei from taking him out of that room. Akabane was trying to pry his fingers off, but the tall mortal only kicked him in the chest. Ban and Fudo clashed, hands and feet connecting with bodies. Both fell to the floor from a nasty collision and both jumped back to their feet. Kazuki, as with Fudo, didn't know where Ban had gotten his wooden weapon, but now both vampires were armed with makeshift stakes. Looking around the room, he understood that they must have come from the various (and now broken) furniture of the room. Both slipped into defensive stances and gripped their stakes a little tighter.

"It finishes here," Fudo said, eyes narrowing.

"…With your death," Ban replied, still smirking. They moved gracefully and Kazuki saw everything in slow motion once more.

To... break down, and cease all feeling
Burn now, what once was breathing
Reach out, and you may take my heart away

It was almost poetic, they way the blood shot out from the wounds, caking the victims in its crimson warmth. The only sound was his pounding heart, and it was so loud. Kazuki covered his ears with shaking palms. Juubei had released him and he was walking slowly, numbly, towards the fallen vampires. They had both aimed perfectly. And they had impaled each other…so that Fudo and Ban were dying. But that wasn't right. No, it wasn't supposed to end this way.

"No…" Kazuki chocked, falling to his knees at Ban's side.

"Sh. Don't cry for me, Kazu," Ban spoke softly, his voice cracking with the effort. His hand, cold to the touch, caressed his tear-stained cheek. And Kazuki couldn't help the sobs that ripped through him.

"Don't leave me. Please. Please. Ban…Oh, Ban…don't leave me. I…I love you."

I left it all behind, and never said goodbye
I left it all to die

He knew it was a dream. It had to be. But he loved it anyways. Kazuki looked beautiful in the twilight, brown locks rippling in the wind. He wore a pair of baggy sweats and an unbuttoned shirt so that the wind played with it as well, pushing it open and slightly off his shoulders. It was just enough to get his entire chest and some of his back exposed. And it looked stunning. Ban stepped closer and pressed his body against the back of his lover's. The man turned around in his arms and frowned for a moment before smiling brightly. He leaned in and kissed the vampire on the lips before turning back to night sky.

"Ban…you've got to get up now, silly. There's so much to do."

I saw its birth, I watched it grow
I felt it change me
I took the life, I ate it slow
Now it consumes me

The sun bathed through the curtains, teasing him out of sleep. Yawning, Ban sat himself up in the bed and winced. Looking down, he saw that his bare chest was bandaged heavily where the wound that Fudo had given him had been. Gently, he touched the sensitive area. Frowning just the slightest bit, he looked around the room, trying to understand how he was even still alive. Suddenly, his eyes landed on the figure sitting in the chair beside his bed. Curled up in a ball, knees to his chest and chin resting on his folded arms, Kazuki was sound asleep. Ban smiled and slid off the bed to kneel beside the bed. His hand stroked the man's face and his smile only grew. Nothing could ruin such a sweet moment…except for the rumbling of his stomach.

…wait a second!

What the hell was going on! He was a vampire…he didn't suffer from this type of hunger. Come to think of it, he wasn't even craving blood. Realization dawned on him finally and he understood at last that the curse was broken. It was truly gone. He was…truly…human. For the first time in a long time, tears spilled down the prince's face. Kazuki stirred awake and slid next to him, hugging him close.

"What is it? What's wrong?" he asked.

Ban's sobs turned in laughs as he pulled away enough to look in Kazuki's eyes. "Nothing. Everything is…right. No, it's not just right. It's perfect."

The long-haired man smiled brightly and kissed his lover passionately. Yes…everything was perfect.

Break down, and cease all feeling
Burn now, what once was breathing
Reach out, and you may take my heart away

Hevn, Ginji, and Himiko, all human once again, stepped into the room, grinning from ear to ear. Ban turned to face them, face lighting up. Sakura followed behind them along with Juubei and Akabane.

"So the curse was broken after all," Ban said.

"Yes, both."

"Both?"
Sakura frowned lightly. "When Kazuki admitted aloud that he loves you, the curse upon your castle was broken. Er…killing your sire is the only thing that makes the transformation reverse during your initial few years being a vampire. You were just a hybrid before and you destroyed him before you were turned into a pureblood."

Ban nodded then shooed the others from the room. Kazuki sat on the bed next to him and cuddled up close. Their eyes met in a blend on chestnut and azure as their lips melted together one last time before sleep fell over them. Their bodies relaxed and dreamed of each other, arms and legs tangled together intimately.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"So there you have it, the story of Ban and Kazuki."

You look down at your now empty cup and plate. Slowly you raise your head to look at the Honky Tonk's owner. Paul yawns a little before saying something to Satsuma. You don't pay much attention. Rising out of your seat, you place money on the counter and turn to leave. Before you exit, however, you send a look back at Paul.

"Do you believe it? The story, I mean," you say.

Paul thinks for a moment before answering. "Yeah, I guess I do."

Nodding, you light up a cigarette and take a drag before slipping out into the cold night.

And the stars were shining so bright, like diamonds. Thunder clapped over head, taking away and also adding to the stars' beauty. Because that was the thing of a beauty and a beast…one couldn't be without the other. And together…they were magic. Pure and stunning.

Perfect.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A/N Yay! It's finally completed (happy dance)! I'm also kinda sad (sobs), but alas, it had to end at one point. And this is actually one story where I'm not even THINKING about a sequel or prequel. I love it the way it is and that's how it's staying, damnit! Lol. Okay, so I want to thank EVERY SINGLE person who has reviewed this story. Your support and dedication are what kept me going when I was having my little writer's block episodes. Eventually, I'll be going back to clean up typos (nothing in the actual story will be changed, but there were some grammar mistakes and instances where I missed a word or wrote it twice or whatever)…anyways, that'll be further down the road. Thanks again for your lovely kind words and your reviews. For those who reviewed only to say that they thought the idea of two men was gross or wanted to know if I knew Kazu was a man (friggin' obvious that I do, mr. observant)…um…yeah, thanks for making my review count higher (hehe). Sorry this wasn't your thing, but like I've said before…yaoi requires an acquired taste. So if it's not your thing…move on. So, I'll be getting new stories up and hopefully updating my AS2. Interested in my work? Then go ahead and check those out if you wish (warning about some of my old stories: they kinda suck 'cause my writing style was really…er…bad. But you can see how I got better as time went on). Okay, so this is it. LATER AND I HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED! R&R