Sora: Phoenix of Odaiba

Chapter 4: New and Old

Disclaimer: You know the drill…..

~*

" So then, you two aren't…you know…" T.K. crimsoned slightly as Mimi laughed.

" Of COURSE not! T.K. was merely accompaning me on my way to the castle. I've been visiting my cousin Miyako out of town. Besides, T.K. has his dear Hikari and I have my Koushiro…" As Mimi drifted into her dream land, the three travelers had reached the end of the forest. T.K. and Sora turned their conversation towards what had been happening in the kingdom of Odaiba.

" The princess has made all the townspeople may the most absurd taxes!" T.K. growled slightly, his fist balling up, " Whoever heard of a tax on dirt!?"

" I've heard rumors that she spends all the tax money on extravagant dresses and jewels," Mimi added in thoughtfully.

" Hmm… Maybe I should have a talk with this Princess Jun." Mimi and T.K. both stared at Sora. She turned and blinked.

" Are you insane!?"

" No one EVER gets to see Princess Jun unless they're one of her guards." Sora simply shrugged, recalling the many things she had learned during her time at war.

" I prefer not to think of the minor technicalities. Besides, she can't be that unreasonable, can she? " T.K. and Mimi just shook their heads as they followed the slightly confused Sora. Soon, they arrived in front of Pyris Mansion, which towered hundreds of feet above them. T.K's mouth hung open as he stared.

" Wow… You live here?" Sora nodded.

" Gets kinda lonely and empty sometimes. My mother and father died when I was twelve so I took care of the place by myself, well, with the servants. That's how I met King Daisuke. He kept me company." As Sora pushed the doors open, hundreds of voices rushed out to meet them. The three stared in shock.

" You never said your mansion was a shopping center," Mimi commented as she watched chattering teenagers walk around. Sora stood frozen in place, ignoring the looks she was getting from some teenage guys.

" What…What's happened?" Sora grabbed a bypassing man by the arm, her eyes wide.

" What has happened to Pyris Mansion!?"

" It was taken over by Princess Jun," the man replied, pulling his arm roughly away. Sora dropped her gaze and let him go. Mimi and T.K. watched the man stalk off, muttering about a psycho. They turned back to Sora, who was leaning against a wall outside the mansion.

" How can it be…How could she do this…" T.K. and Mimi looked at each other and were about to respond before they heard a soft voice nearby.

" Dear Sora. Don't cry…" They all looked over to see an fourteen year old or so young boy with short, dirty brown hair, smiling softly as he leant against the castle's walls. Sora blinked as a wave of recognition hit her head-on.

" IORI!!" Iori looked up through forest green eyes and smiled as Sora ran to hug him tightly.

" Hey Sora. Welcome back…Nice tights." Sora scowled and grinned at him.

" It's great to see you too, Iori, but what has happened to my house?!"

" Princess Jun saw it as a prime place to set up her own clothing center."

" Oh no…."

" Do not worry. I'm sure you'll get it back!" Mimi and T.K. looked back and forth between the two before Mimi spoke.

" Uhh… Are you guys…?" Sora and Iori looked at Mimi, then at each other, then back at Mimi.

" ARE YOU INSANE!?" they yelled in unison, causing Mimi to fall backwards, T.K. sweatdropping.

" I'll take that as a no…How do you guys know each other then?" Mimi asked as T.K. helped her up. Iori smiled as did Sora.

" We have been friends since childhood. Sora took me in when I was abandoned by my parents and raised me like her brother. Mimi sniffled slightly.

" That's so beauti-"

" W-Watch out!!" Everyone jumped back in time to see a sleek silver unicorn run by, with a stumbling young man on its heels, about seventeen years old. The unicorn soon doubled back and came running at the young man, who stood frozen in fear. He closed his eyes, waiting to feel the unicorn's horn pierce through his body, but felt a heavy force knock him away. He looked up to find a pair of brown eyes looking down at him.

" Sora! Help me catch this thing before it hurts someone!" Sora and T.K. ran alongside the unicorn, which glared through clear blue eyes at them. The unicorn swung its head at T.K., who merely leapt back in amazing agility. Sora jumped onto the unicorn's back as its attention was lost and soon brought the animal under control. Mimi got off the man, who blinked as he stood up shakily with Iori's help.

" You okay?" The man looked up at Iori and nodded slightly, his dark blue hair almost covering his eyes. The others walked over, Sora holding onto the unicorn.

" Thank you…" he stuttered, taking the unicorn from Sora and petting its head. Mimi looked at the man curiously, into his obsidian eyes.

" What's your name?" The man flustered slightly, then stared for a few seconds before looking down at the floor.

" Jyou…" Mimi smiled in a friendly manner, holding her hand out for Jyou.

" Hello Jyou! What're you doing out here chasing unicorns?" Jyou looked at Mimi and took her hand, shaking it slightly.

" I take care of the sick and wounded animals in the forest. But I might not be able to for long. I can no longer pay my taxes…" Jyou looked sadly at the floor.

" I'll take care of it." Everyone looked up to see Sora looking at the Princess's castle in the distance.

" Sora, you do know that trying to break into the royal castle is like committing suicide," Iori informed. Sora turned around to look at them.

" Not like I've never done it before. Iori, do you remember our cabin in Psywood Forest?"

" Yea…"

" Then you guys all help Jyou and his animals get there. I'll be back in a few hours. I wanna see what I'm up against."

" You are insane." Sora gave a dashing smile in reply.

" I know."