Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
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A/N: Yay, the continuation of my TaiYama-week-medieval-AU fic!
Great, I managed to write over 1 000 words, then re-read the first chapter and realised that it was written in first person... Now to go back and edit this... (Of course, that means that I will actually proofread this chapter)
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"Taichi, this doesn't seem like a very good idea…"
"It's the best idea in the world, Sora!"
The redhead pursed her lips and frowned at me. "I just don't think you're being very rational about this whole thing. I mean, he's a concubine, for goodness' sake! He's practically trash and you don't even know him!"
I stood abruptly, slamming both of my hands onto the table, glaring at the woman sitting across from me. "He's not trash and I won't have you talking about him like that! I love him and I will save him from the Count."
Angered, Sora also stood from her chair. "How can you say you love him, when you've hardly spoken to him? You don't know anything about that whore!"
My hands balled into fists, clenching at my sides. "If you weren't a woman and my best friend, I would punch you right now." I told her, through gritted teeth.
Sora crossed her arms over her chest, eyes narrowing dangerously. "Look," She started, "even if you manage to get him away from the Count, where would you take him? He won't be coming here, that's for sure! I won't allow him under my roof!"
"Our roof, Sora. This house doesn't just belong to you, in case you've forgotten."
"The others won't agree to it, either. You'll be putting us all in danger, if you bring that scum here."
"Then I'll leave. I'll save him and we'll leave this town together."
Sora hesitated for a fraction of a second. "You can't leave." She stated. "You can't leave us; we're a family. We all need each other to survive!"
"No," I frowned, "you need me." Then, I turned, heading out of the dining area. "I only need Yamato." With that, I was gone, leaving Sora to stare after me.
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"Taichi?"
I turned to give the short male a bored look. "Did Sora send you up here? Because whatever it is you have to say—especially if it has anything to do with Yamato—I don't want to hear it."
The rusty-haired male took in a sharp breath, "So it's true, then?"
I turned my chocolate-coloured eyes upwards, leaning on the windowsill, and regarded the night sky. I had come up to the South tower after the fight with Sora.
My group of friends and I shared a large mansion on the outskirts of the town. The house had been abandoned almost eight years ago, when an epidemic had swept across the town. The former owners—a noble family—had fled in fear when their servant family—Sora's family—had fallen victim to the disease.
Sora and my families had been close friends all our lives, so, naturally, my parents had tried to cure her parents—to no avail. All my parents got for their efforts was contagion. First, the disease took away my younger sister, then, it took both my parents' lives. Thus, both Sora and I had become orphans at the age of 13.
We had taken over the house, recruiting other orphaned children; first had been Jyou and his two elder brothers—Shin and Shuu. All three had a background in medicine and healing, which had proven to be very useful. Next had been Mimi—an extroverted, baker's daughter. Meiko had come third—a shy girl with horrible allergies. At first, I had thought her quite useless, but Mimi had taken Meiko under her wing and made her useful in the kitchen. Last, was Koushiro—son of a military strategist—he was clever and very resourceful.
Currently, the clever young man had his eyes trained on me, scrutinising. "It really is true, isn't it?" He repeated. "That you're in love with this concubine."
"Yes."
"Have you honestly thought this through? Logically? Rationally?"
I let out a breath, still looking out at the stars. "Love doesn't have to be logical or rational, Kou."
"No, but this isn't just about the emotion; this is about your life! Chances are that you're going to get killed—both of you. In addition, you might be putting all of our lives in danger."
I closed my eyes, blocking the twinkling lights from view. I hung my head, no longer wanting to go through these same arguments. "I know." I said after a long pause. "I don't want to put you all in danger, which is why I've decided to take him away from here. I won't be bringing him here; you'll never have to see him."
"I would be interested to at least see this exotic being that has stolen your heart." Came a sing-song voice from the staircase.
"Mimi." I said in astonishment, blinking at the brunette.
"I don't care what everyone else is saying. I'll help you save your damsel from the clutches of the evil king!"
"Mimi," Koushiro started, unimpressed, "first off, it's the Count, and, secondly, he's not a damsel, but a concubine."
The cheerful woman clapped her hands together, grinning excitedly. "That's even more romantic: a forbidden love and potentially-fatal rescue missions!"
"I don't like the sound of 'potentially-fatal...'" Came a new voice.
"Jyou!" Mimi exclaimed, "Are you going to join us on our rescue mission?"
"I thought I just said that I don't like the sound of it..." The long-haired bluenet let out a sigh. "But I guess, if Taichi insists on saving this man, then I have no choice but to help him to the best of my ability."
"Yay!" Mimi clapped her hands, like an excited seel.
I smiled gently, gratefully. "Thank you, Jyou. Mimi." I gave a nod to each of them in turn.
The brunette beamed, whilst Jyou pushed up his glasses in embarrassment.
The shortest male in the group heaved a sigh. "I guess I don't have much of a choice, either, huh?"
I smirked at him. "Of course you have a choice, but you want to help me, right?"
Koushiro grinned, "I must have a death-wish, but I'm in!"
We—the members of the rescue-team—all beamed at each other.
"So what's the plan?" I asked.
The smiles fell off everyone's faces simultaneously and they all gaped at me.
"What do you mean, 'what's the plan?' Don't you have one?" Koushiro asked, incredulous.
Sheepishly, I shrugged. "Not really. I just have a goal, but the plan is up for discussion." I looked around the astonished faces of my teammates. "Well, I have some ideas, but I don't know anything about the Count's castle, or where Yamato is being kept, or what kind of security they have over there, or anything, really."
"So you need me to find out all these things?" Koushiro asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Yes, please." I replied with a grin. "Unless, of course, Yamato manages to escape again and I run into him on the streets."
"I would imagine that the chances of that happening again are slim to none." Jyou informed me, readjusting his glasses yet again.
I had already told them of the blond wonder that I had met at the party over two weeks ago. I had also informed them of meeting him again yesterday, at the marketplace. No one had thought much of it—except Sora. She had cornered me this morning and demanded to know whether I was in love with him. Obviously, I had informed her that I was. We had had our argument, and then she had apparently gone round and told everyone to stop me from saving him. Well—as it turns out—the others were on my side, so fuck her.
Then again, Sora would be useful for the rescue mission; she was an excellent fighter. Hmm, maybe I could convince her to help me out... It was worth a shot.
"Well," I clapped my hands together, to get everyone's attention. "there's not much we can do right now, but let's all think about possibilities and, Koushiro, try to find out anything you can about the Count's castle, ok?"
Everyone nodded, leaving me in the tower. I gave the stars one last look, and, with a sigh, turned, intent on heading down to find Sora. Only, I never even had to take a step—she was there.
"Sora." Her name was more of an inhale, rather than an actual word.
She smiled at me, sadly. "Taichi."
We stood in silence for a few minutes, before she took three definite strides and joined me at the window. She rested her arms on the sill and looked down. "Are you all seriously going to go through with this?"
I mimicked her position, though my gaze was aimed upwards. "Yes."
"Then I'll help."
My eyes widened, flying to hers.
"W-what?"
She looked at me in a motherly fashion. "I'm going to help you, Taichi." Her mahogany eyes returned to the ground far below us. "I can see that you won't be swayed. And now you've managed to drag our whole family into this."
She always referred to our group of friends as a 'family.' I suppose we were, in a way; Sora was the mother-figure, whilst Shin had taken over the role of the father. I was practically Sora's little brother—being a few months younger than her, and being the goofball of the group. The others filled different roles—brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, cousins—whatever was needed at the time.
"I'm sorry I pushed you," She continued. "I just worry that you'll regret this decision. I'm also afraid." I continued staring at her, wondering where this change of heart had come from. "I'm afraid that something bad will happen to you, or to someone else. I've already lost so many loved ones; I don't want to lose you, too."
Finally, she looked back at me, and I could see the unshed tears in her eyes. I moved over to hug her and she let her tears fall.
"I'm sorry, Sora. I hate fighting with you and I hate making you worry, but I can't give up on Yamato. I love him. I know that I don't know him, but I just know. And I know that he feels the same; I can tell."
Sora gave a wet chuckle, bringing her face away from my chest, smiling at me through her tears. "That's a lot of knowing."
I chuckled, too, wiping away her tears with my thumb. "Yeah, it is."
We remained like that, in each other's embrace for a few minutes. Sora was the first to pull away.
"He's welcome to hide here, you know."
I kissed the top of her head.
"But you won't be able to remain here—neither of you." Sora looked at me with pained eyes. I felt a pang in my heart; I was going to hurt her. Me leaving would mean that she would lose another loved one. "Stay here for a few days, to throw the guards off, and then leave. Get as far from here as possible and never return. Don't tell us where you're heading, and don't let us know you're safe. Just go. And take good care of Yamato. And be happy."
Tears prickled at my own eyes and I hugged her. She was the strongest woman I had ever met. I hoped with all my heart that, one day, she would be able to have a family of her own and be happy.
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A/N: Hmmm, another depressing chapter... Well, we shall have to wait and see what the next one is like
