Once Upon a Time - Borusara

Chapter 22: Beauty and the Beast Part 4

Momoshiki awoke to find himself tied up and behind bars. His eyes felt like dumbbells, his throat was raw. "Idiot brat... You really outdid yourself this time..."

Heh, Boruto thought, exhausted. Not only did I stay up all night... I made sure to throw up everything left in my stomach... Your also tied up, in case you didn't notice. And Shikadai is the only one who can let you out.

"Hm," Momoshiki smirked. "It seems like you passed out during an important part of yesterday's torture session... There's more than one set of keys to this jail. And more than one sentient object in this castle."

Boruto narrowed his eyes. He had the feeling... But hopefully Shikadai had taken care of that problem already. 

"Lumiere!" Momoshiki yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Y-Y-Yes master?"

Boruto's heart lurched. ...The candle?! They had taken care of a pot, a cup, the dishware, the dressers, the ottoman, the feather duster... Everything. Everything except the dumb stupid candle. 

"Get the keys. It seems our little friend has decided to chain me up. You know what happens if you defy me... I'll melt all of your wax and break you in two."

"Right away, master!"

This voice... It can't be... Inojin!?

"Hm. It matters not who it is. I will soon be free."

A switch went off in Boruto's brain. She won't let you. She's free now. She can fight you.

"Ha! I wonder if she has the strength left to fight. One of her arms is disabled, you know... Trying to stop me is pointless, foolish human! It's only a matter of time until Lumiere brings me the keys..."

Shikadai will stop him.

But Boruto could already hear the distinct metallic clinks of the candle's footsteps as it raced back towards the dungeon. "Master! I have the keys..."

Boruto cursed himself. He never thought there was more than two sets. They had done everything they could... He only hoped he had weakened Momoshiki enough that Sarada would be able to put up a fight.

Momoshiki lowered his gaze, an evil smile crossing his face. "Undo the lock."

.  .  .

Another day of hunting in the forest had proved entirely useless to Kawaki. Metal watched him drown his sorrows in beer as usual, his eyes staring into the bleak distance as his arm fell limp, the metal cup clattering against the wooden table. 

Just as Metal was thinking about warning him to make the glass in his hands his last for the day, the caped old man ran through the door to the pub. "Please! He's got her! He has my daughter!"

Metal stopped, recognizing him from the day before. "Sir, please calm down and tell me what happened!"

"Oi! Metal! Shut it. Get the crazy loon out of here... My head is pounding..."

Ducking his head, Metal began to escort the man outside. "I apologize for the manners of my... friend..." More than friends, Metal felt like he was only following Kawaki around to keep him from causing anyone else trouble. And for some reason, Kawaki was ok with that. "Now," he said once they were outside, "please tell me about your daughter."

"My daughter... There's a vicious monster, in a tower to the west! I came across the castle yesterday while I was out searching for her... He had her behind bars, his arms wrapped around her like he was about to choke her! I'm lucky I managed to escape with my life."