Part Two

Part Two

Morning dawned sooner than Miyako would have liked. Shortly after sunrise, Sora knocked on her door, awakening her.

"Good morning!" the redhead said, a bit too cheerful for Miyako's taste. Piyomon behind her rubbed her eyes.

"How can you be so awake?" Hawkmon wondered, sitting up from his sleep at the foot of Miyako's bed.

Sora shrugged. "I can't help it," she replied. "Every time I'm here I just feel so - alive."

Miyako yawned. "I feel exhausted," she half-complained.

"Well, you'd better wake up soon," Sora warned. "We've got to get dressed and meet the King and the Queen and Prince Taichi and Princess Hikari before breakfast."

"Before breakfast?" Miyako asked. "Why can't we eat first?"

"It would be rude," Piyomon explained. "If we don't greet the royal family before breakfast we'll be seen as freeloaders who are just here for the food."

"Besides, don't you want to meet Princess Hikari?" Hawkmon reminded her.

Miyako nodded with a sigh. She slipped into the bathroom, where she found a servant was just finishing drawing her a bath. She thanked the woman and undressed, bathing quickly so she could get started on the complicated process of dressing.

"What does one wear to breakfast?" she asked Sora, who was still in her bathrobe, peering over her trunk.

"Something light, yet simple," the other girl replied. "Formal, but not too fancy." She fumbled through her trunk and finally found a light blue, light weight dress with white trim. "This will work, won't it?"

Piyomon nodded from where she stood perched in front of the mirror, preening her feathers. "It's perfect, Sora."

Miyako frowned momentarily while she thought of her own wardrobe. "I suppose my purple dress will work, right?"

Sora nodded in agreement. "That'll be perfect," she replied. She picked up her clothes and began to undress. "Call me if you need any help," she added as Miyako departed.

***

Daisuke knocked on the door of Ken's room. "I sure hope he slept at least a few hours last night," he commented to V-mon. "The King sure won't like it if he falls asleep in the middle of introductions."

"No, he won't," V-mon agreed.

A few seconds later a visibly tired boy yawned as he opened the door. Daisuke was slightly annoyed and rather frustrated. "Did you sleep?" he demanded of his friend as he burst past him into the room.

"Of course I slept," Ken replied. "A few hours."

"A few hours too little," the other shot back. "Come on. You've got to bathe and dress or we'll be late for the introductions."

"Oh my gosh, I almost forgot," Ken remembered as he dashed to the tub. While he frantically bathed, Daisuke, Wormmon, and V-mon searched through his trunk for a good outfit.

"Purple's always looked good on him," Wormmon nodded appreciatively.

"And dark blue," V-mon agreed as Daisuke held up an outfit. "Perfect."

A few seconds later, Ken dashed out of the bathroom, his hair still dripping wet. "Am I late?" he wondered.

"Relax. There's plenty of time. I've still got to dress," Daisuke assured him. He pointed to the outfit on the bed. "Dry off and change. I'll meet ya in the parlor in five so we can check and make sure you didn't forget anything."

***

(Ten minutes later)

Iori tapped softly on the younger people's doors, hoping they'd be ready in time. He stepped back and waited for them to emerge.

Jun arrived first. Her hair was done up in an almost outrageous fashion, and she dressed in a pale yellow dress with a purple sash around the waist. Iori forced himself not to react to her outfit. Beside him, his Armadimon groaned almost inaudibly.

Though Iori noticed, the two females were oblivious to Armadimon's discomfort. "Don't I look fabulous?" Jun questioned, spinning around slightly. Beside her, Alraumon did the same. Iori gulped slightly, thankful, for once, that he had met Jun before and knew what to expect.

The door of the room next to Jun opened, and Sora, Piyomon, Miyako, and Hawkmon exited, saving the young advisor from a potentially life-threatening situation. Both girls were infinitely better looking then Jun, in his opinion, and he was pleased things were moving along.

"Well, I'm ready," Sora decided. She patted her hair to make sure it was still looking the way it should, and looked over Miyako to make sure she was looking decent enough as well.

"Where is my brother?" Jun wondered. She stepped forward, ready to pound on the door, when suddenly the door opened and the boy in question exited.

Daisuke was dressed in a simple yet elegant outfit - a pair of dark blue pants, a white shirt, and a maroon colored jacket. V-mon next to him had a single bow tied around his neck, making him look adorably cute and dapper.

Miyako and Sora both grinned at the cute blue digimon's accessory and complimented him on it. Jun simply rolled her eyes and looked disgusted.

The last door opened and Ken appeared, still carrying his green companion in his arms. His outfit was similar to Daisuke's only with a darker purple jacket instead of a maroon one. He bowed slightly to the others.

"Sorry for the delay," he apologized simply. The others simply nodded in acknowledgement as they all followed Iori to the main throne room.

Daisuke and Jun's parent's had already presented themselves and had been excused, as Lady Motomiya was still feeling a bit tired from the trip. Lord Motomiya had decided to stay with his wife, and they were taking breakfast in their room.

Miyako was impressed with the throne room. It was most certainly the largest room in the palace. Iori led them through a pair of tall polished wooden doors and down an incredibly long red carpet. At the end of the hall, the King and Queen as well as their digimon, their children, and their children's digimon sat on magnificent thrones.

The King was dressed in a regal outfit, a long red cape flowing behind him. On his right side and slightly behind him was Leomon, one of the strongest digimon in the land. To his left sat his wife, the Queen, and her digimon, an Elecmon which sat on her lap.

To the right of Leomon was a young boy with a wild amount of brown hair. He looked about Sora's age, and Miyako guessed that this must be Prince Taichi. He had a serious face plastered on, but she saw his eyes twinkle happily when he must have noticed Sora. His Agumon sat beside him, also looking rather serious but playful at the same time.

To the left of the Queen was a young girl about Miyako's age. She had short brown hair and light brown eyes, and she was dressed in a simple yet elegant pink dress. Tailmon, her digimon, stood next to her, looking pleased but quite protective. The Princess Hikari looked slightly bored, but pleased when she saw the group of young people enter the hall.

Iori walked first, followed by the Motomiya siblings, who walked side by side. Sora and Miyako fell behind them, and Ken followed, still carrying his digimon.

The leader of the small group stepped forward when they reached the thrones and knelt. Beside him, Armadimon bowed his yellow head. "Your majesty," the boy began.

"Yes Iori?" the King questioned in a booming yet kind-sounding voice.

Iori nodded and stood. "The Lord and Lady Motomiya have sent their children to be presented," he announced, stepping to the side. "May I present Daisuke and Jun Motomiya."

The two siblings stepped forward in unison. Daisuke bowed, Jun curtsied, and then they knelt on the ground. The king nodded, and the siblings rose.

"My digimon, V-mon," Daisuke announced.

"And this is Alraumon," Jun declared.

The King and Queen both nodded, pleased, but said nothing else. Prince Taichi was smiling, but remained silent, as did his sister.

Daisuke and Jun stepped to the side, their digimon following. Nervously, Miyako approached, following Sora's lead.

"Lady Takenouchi's daughter, Sora," Iori announced. Sora curtsied slightly and kneeled momentarily before rising and announcing Piyomon, who bowed as well.

The King and Queen nodded in response, and Sora stepped to the side. Miyako glanced nervously at Hawkmon for a moment before she heard the young man announce her name.

"Lord and Lady Inoue's youngest child, Miyako," Iori stated.

Miyako nervously curtsied and then kneeled. She rose again when she noticed the King and Queen nodding their appreciation.

"And this is Hawkmon," Miyako introduced, pleased to see her voice didn't waver. Hawkmon, always a fan of formalities, stepped beside her and bowed low. The King and Queen nodded again, and Miyako could see a soft smile on the face of the Princess.

"Finally, Ken Ichijouji," Iori concluded. The dark haired young man stepped forward. He bowed low and knelt before rising again. He placed his green digimon on the floor and stepped to the side.

"Wormmon," Ken stated plainly. The green digimon bowed as best he was able before scuttling back to his partner and standing beside him.

'So that's his digimon,' Miyako noted.

The King arose. "Welcome," he told the guests. "It is good to see you again that I have seen before, and those that are new visitors as well." His eyes rested briefly on Miyako before he continued.

He turned to the digimon on his right. "Leomon is my loyal companion and advisor," he stated, and the tall feline bowed low. The King turned to his left. "The woman of my life, and her advisor, Elecmon," he continued. The Queen nodded briefly, and Elecmon in her lap did the same.

"To my right, my son, Taichi, and Agumon," the king continued. Taichi smiled proudly and nodded slightly. Miyako noticed his eyes again smiling in Sora's direction, and noticed a slight blush on her friend's face. "And on my left, the birthday girl, Hikari, my daughter, and Tailmon, her friend and protector."

Hikari blushed slightly and smiled as she nodded.

"Now that the introductions are complete, let us eat," the Queen declared, and the rest of the room agreed.

***

Miyako had expected a grander ceremonial breakfast, but it was a light meal. The party ate in a sunny parlor, and the meal was filled with conversation.

The King sat in the center of the table, his wife beside him. To the right was his son, to the left his daughter. Miyako was seated next to Hikari, and Sora beside her. Jun sat on the left end of the table. To the right of Taichi sat Daisuke and then Ken, and finally Iori on the right end of the table.

"Normally there are more people here for meals," Hikari explained to Miyako as she sat down. "But it's only breakfast, so we wanted to keep it simple. At dinner tomorrow there will be more people."

"Especially when Lord and Lady Ishida arrive," the Queen added. "Along with their sons."

Miyako felt her stomach twist over itself at the thought of meeting more people, but she simply nodded in response to the information.

"Don't worry, they're all very nice people," Sora assured her.

"Especially Yamato," Jun agreed, turning pink as she thought of the boy in question.

Miyako noticed Sora rolling her eyes slightly, but said nothing. "Yamato?" she questioned instead.

"The older Ishida boy," Hikari explained. "He's about Taichi's age, and one of his closest friends."

"The younger is Takeru," Sora continued. "He's your age."

"Who else will be here?" Miyako wondered.

"Probably Lord Jyou," Hikari continued. "He's the palace doctor. Another close friend of my brother."

"And Koushiro?" Sora wondered. At the Princess's nod, she explained. "He's a very talented young man. A wizard type. Brilliant."

Jun nodded but looked bored. "His parents were killed when he was young and he was raised as a commoner," she explained with a snort. "Plain little guy."

"Yes, but very smart," Hikari replied. "And Lady Tachikawa will be here in a few days with Mimi. She's very nice."

Sora nodded. "Mimi is my age," she informed Miyako. "Her father is a workaholic of sorts. You never see him. She travels mainly with her mother."

"There's so many people," Miyako groaned slightly. She was beginning to feel queasy.

"Don't worry," Hikari assured her. "They're all very nice. I'm sure you won't have to worry."

***

Across the table, Ken was finding it difficult to stay awake. Daisuke and Iori were talking with Taichi, and he found his attention wandering from the conversation.

"Ken, are you alright?" he heard Wormmon question. Although the digimon were eating and talking together in another room, his partner had wobbled back to him and was now on the floor at his feet.

"Yeah, just tired," he whispered back. "Get back to the others."

Wormmon nodded reluctantly as he scurried away. Ken drank another glass of orange juice and tried not to fall asleep in his porridge.

***

After breakfast was completed, Jun excused herself to nap. She was still worn out from the night before, she explained as she returned to her room. The King and Queen left to begin the stately duties of the day, and Iori went with them.

The rest of the young people followed Hikari and Taichi out to the grounds.

"I was thinking we could have some archery practice for a while," the young Prince suggested.

"Good idea," Hikari decided. She turned to Miyako. "Have you ever practiced archery?"

"Once or twice," Miyako replied. "I'm not that good at it."

"Don't worry, we'll fix that," Taichi assured her with a grin.

Hawkmon stepped forward as they were turning to depart. "Miyako, I've been invited to head for a tour of the grounds," he informed her. "I shall return by lunch."

Miyako nodded. "Have fun!" she told her partner as he rushed off with the other digimon.

"Archery is really a good skill to know," Taichi was saying as he led the group to the targets. "You never know when you might need to defend yourself and there are no bodyguards around to protect you."

"That's for sure," Sora agreed. "Why, just the other day, Miyako's life was in grave danger. If it wasn't for a friendly but strange young man, she might have been badly injured or even killed."

Miyako blushed slightly. Hikari looked interested. "What happened?" she wondered.

"It's nothing, really," Miyako mumbled.

Taichi was interested. "Your life was in danger?"

Miyako nodded. "I was in the marketplace with Sora, Piyomon, and Hawkmon," she explained. "And a stranger saved me from a wayward arrow."

"A wayward arrow?" Daisuke questioned the use of her words.

"It wasn't wayward! It was deliberately aimed for you!" Sora agreed. "He said so."

"Well," Miyako mumbled.

"He?" Taichi asked his friend.

"This strange man. He was dressed mostly in black and wore a mask," Miyako spoke up. "He saved my life."

"He also said that it's possible someone is after Miyako's life," Sora added.

"How horrifying for you," Hikari stated sympathetically, grasping her new friend's hand in her own.

"It was alright," Miyako explained. "I wasn't injured. He saved me." She found her eyes wandering past the Princess and rested on Ken. He had a similar digimon, she was certain of it. And he had appeared at around the same time.

"Any idea who it could be?" Sora asked Taichi.

Taichi frowned in thought. He remained silent until they reached the archery grounds.

Hikari volunteered to go into a nearby shed where the bows and arrows were stored. She passed them out to the assembled group.

For a few moments, the only sounds were the whizzing of arrows and compliments as the group of young people practiced their shooting.

Daisuke turned to his somewhat more awakened friend as he lodged a perfect bull's eye. "You'd better watch out," he whispered. "The Dark Bandit is known for his sharp shooting."

Ken merely snorted and glared at his friend with a look that warned him to be quiet. But his next few shots were slightly off.

"Any thoughts yet, brother?" Hikari questioned as the group paused in their shooting to retrieve the arrows from the targets.

Taichi vaulted the fence between the archers and the targets. "Just one," he replied. "I've heard Father speak of a Dark Bandit."

"That's him!" Miyako realized. "When I asked the stranger who he was, he said his enemies referred to him as a Dark Bandit!"

Taichi paused behind the fence, arrows still in hand. "We're still not certain of this bandit's intentions," he informed them. He handed a few arrows to Hikari.

"Why not?" his sister questioned.

"His actions have been mixed," the Prince replied. He passed some arrows to Sora and Miyako as he spoke. "Sometimes they're good, sometimes they're not."

Daisuke took the arrows from Taichi. "What do you mean by that?" he asked.

Taichi paused and climbed onto the short wooden fence. "Well, he has helped to free some dangerous criminals, but he has saved a few people's lives as well," he explained.

He held out the last arrows to Ken. "Perhaps there is a meaning behind his actions that you haven't yet deciphered," the dark haired boy speculated. Daisuke shot him a worried glance.

"Most likely," Taichi replied with a shrug, not noticing the glance exchanged. "I don't know all the details."

"Saving lives and liberating criminals seem to be two separate and unlinked actions," Sora noted.

"Maybe he thought the criminals were imprisoned wrongly," Miyako suggested meekly. She was uneager to get involved in the debate, but felt her thoughts must be known.

Taichi nodded. "Perhaps. I don't know all the facts," he replied. "I think that I'll ask Father for more information on the subject." He notched his bow and shot an arrow into the center of the target. "How about a match?" he proposed.

"A match?" Miyako questioned.

"Great idea!" Hikari agreed. "We'll see who's the best archer then!"

The match was underway a short while later. Each competitor would shoot four arrows. Those with the most accurate shots would go on to the next round.

The first round went quickly, and Daisuke was eliminated. Groaning, the redhead hopped the fence to retrieve the remaining arrows, and the next round began.

The archers began the second round. Taichi and Ken scored bull's eyes all four times, Hikari and Sora were next closest with two each, and Miyako scored only one.

"I guess I'm done, then," Miyako decided. She sighed and began to walk around the fence to get the arrows.

"I've got it." Daisuke leapt over the fence and retrieved the arrows before she could continue.

In the third round, Hikari was able to best Sora by one bull's eye, leaving the elder girl to retrieve the arrows. Before Daisuke could move, she had leapt over the fence herself, leaving the boy to stare.

Taichi laughed heartily at his friend's surprise. "Should have known, Daisuke," he reminded him. "Sora's not gonna let you get the better of her."

Daisuke nodded and laughed in agreement.

The fourth round was tough, but Hikari was finally eliminated when the other two boys were able to bull's eye each time, continuing their perfect streak, and she missed one.

"I'll never be as good as you, Taichi," she commented appreciatively as she retrieved the arrows.

"I guess it's just us two, then," Taichi grinned to his opponent. Ken smiled slightly back.

Daisuke stepped up to his friend. "I'd be careful here, Ken," he warned. Ken nodded in acknowledgement but merely brushed the warning aside.

The three girls sat behind the competitors on the grass where they could easily view the match.

Daisuke flopped down beside the Princess and sighed. "We could be here a while," he grumbled.

"I didn't know Ken was so good at archery," Hikari commented.

"He's been practicing," the other explained. He sighed. "I wish he could teach me better."

"You're not that bad, Daisuke," Sora told him. "I've seen you shoot before. You just had an off day."

"Yeah, I have an off day every day," the boy grumbled.

"Hey! We're trying to shoot!" Taichi interrupted. "Could we have quiet?"

As Daisuke predicted, the last round lasted quite a while. Seventeen times the two boys shot their four arrows and hit bull's eyes. Each time they retrieved the arrows and shot again. Daisuke was beginning to tire. He leaned back in the grass and let his eyes droop.

After the nineteenth time, the digimon returned and observed the contest for a bit.

After the twenty sixth shot, Hikari began to wonder if it would ever end.

After the thirty first shot, Miyako's stomach began to growl as lunch neared.

By the thirty fifth shot, Daisuke was desperate. He stood up and marched to his friend.

"Ken, we can't keep this up forever," he pleaded. "Come on!"

Ken narrowed his indigo-colored eyes at his friend and Daisuke argued no further.

"He's being stubborn," the redhead informed the Princess as he returned to the group. "We're lucky if they're done by midnight."

Hikari sighed. "Taichi's just as stubborn," she agreed. "Neither can call it a tie."

"I'm hungry," Miyako half-whined. "I don't want to wait until midnight to eat!"

"Hey!" Taichi shouted again. "I can't concentrate if you're talking!"

As he was yelling, Ken notched his shot and scored another perfect bull's eye. Impressed, but increasingly frustrated, the Prince frowned and aimed his own shot.

His anger and frustration joined with his increasingly tired arm. The shot was off. Only by a slight bit, but enough to sway the contest.

The arrow landed on the line between the bull's eye circle and one of the outer circles.

There was a tense moment of silence. Daisuke held his breath. Ken turned to the Prince. Taichi was silent as well.

"Should we be scared?" Hawkmon whispered to Miyako, who had no idea.

Finally the silence was broken. Taichi stepped forward and held out his hand to his opponent. "Good match," he congratulated.

Daisuke let out his breath, nearly choking as he coughed.

Ken grasped the Prince's hand and shook it. "It was. You are a worthy opponent," he complimented the other. He smiled and bowed slightly, and Taichi did the same.

***

Later that evening, Daisuke paced back and forth across the shared parlor. "Worthy opponent," he grumbled under his breath. "I was sure we were both going to be killed on the spot."

The door to Ken's chamber opened and the boy stepped out, dressed in loose dark pants and shirt. A dark hat with a purple sash around it was in his right hand. "Why would you be killed?" he wondered. "You didn't defeat the Prince in an archery tournament. Besides, Taichi's a good looser. It's his father I'm uncertain of."

Daisuke just sighed as he sat down on a couch. "You're going out again?" he demanded. "Why?"

The other shrugged. "There's still work to be done," he reminded his friend. "Her life is still in danger."

"I'm not sure I get why we're protecting her, anyway. Aren't we supposed to be protesting the King's injustices?"

"Perhaps." Ken shrugged. "She needs to be protected though."

"You're not falling for her are you?"

The Dark Bandit shook his head. "Of course not," he replied. He wrapped the dark cloth that served as a mask over his eyes. "Just doing good, the way I'm supposed to."

"You're going to get killed if you don't watch out," V-mon stated bluntly.

"I wish you wouldn't go out without me. What if there's trouble?" Wormmon questioned.

His partner, now in disguise, knelt before the green digimon. "Don't worry," he assured him. His eyes were soft and kind. "I'll be alright. You need to stay here so that we're not recognized. I promise, as soon as we get back home we'll work together again. Here, it's just too dangerous."

Wormmon nodded. He understood, but wasn't happy about it.

"I'd better go. If I stay much longer I'll get you three in trouble." He turned towards the picture window and opened it.

"If I was gonna be in trouble, it would have happened already," Daisuke commented. He turned towards the window, but Ken was already gone. "I wish he wouldn't do that," he sighed to V-mon.

"Disappear?" V-mon wondered.

"Go out like that at all," Daisuke replied. "He worries me."

"Me too," Wormmon sighed. "Me, too."

***

Miyako stood next to Hikari on a balcony. Jun was already in her room for the night, and Sora was with the Prince. Daisuke and Ken had already decided to retire, which left only her and the Princess together.

"The stars are beautiful," Miyako commented. She had only known Hikari for a few hours, yet she already felt as though she could trust her as much as she did Sora.

"They are," Hikari agreed. She pointed to a building in the distance. "That's the greenhouse," she informed her new friend.

"There are plants there?" Hawkmon asked.

"Yup," Hikari smiled. "That's what they grow in a greenhouse. Rare and beautiful plants."

"Alraumon and Palmon like to go there when they visit," Tailmon explained.

"Palmon is Mimi's digimon," Hikari explained to Miyako's confused look. "She looks a bit like Alraumon."

There was silence for a few moments as the two surveyed the landscape.

"Miyako, you're sixteen already, right?" Hikari questioned. Miyako nodded.

"Yes, why?"

"Well, I turn sixteen in two days. I'm kind of nervous," the Princess confessed.

"Why?" Miyako asked again.

Hikari sat down on a nearby chair. "I guess I'm afraid about getting older," she confessed. "Afraid of getting married and stuff."

"You're afraid you'll have a bad husband or something?" Miyako wondered.

"Yes," Hikari replied. "I'm afraid I'm not sure quite yet who I want that to be. What if Mother and Father arrange it for me with someone I don't like?"

"Do you have anyone yet you'd like it to be?" the other questioned.

Hikari blushed slightly. "I like a couple different ones," she replied. "There are quite a few that I'm friends with. I'm not sure if I'd like them as husbands, though."

"Who are they?" Miyako asked. She sat down near Hikari.

"Well," the other began. She blushed again. "I don't like to admit it to many people, but Daisuke is one of them."

"Daisuke?" Miyako repeated.

"My brother would be pleased if I did. He's quite fond of Daisuke."

"But -," Miyako prompted.

"But I'm not sure if I like Daisuke that way. I mean, he's a good friend, but...," she trailed off. "I'm not sure if I'd like to marry him."

Tailmon bristled slightly. "I'm not sure I'd like to either," she agreed. "He's rather loud and obnoxious. Hot headed."

Miyako couldn't help but chuckle slightly at the feline digimon's assessment. "Who else?"

"Well, there's the younger Ishida brother, Takeru," Hikari continued. "He'll be here tomorrow. He's very nice. And Taichi wouldn't mind me marrying him either. He's good friends with Yamato."

Miyako nodded. "But -."

"But, I'm not sure I'd like to marry him either. I've known him forever as a friend. Going past that -," she trailed off slightly again. "I'm just not sure."

"Both my older sisters were married young," Miyako informed the princess. "Momoe, the next youngest after me, was married at fifteen. She thought she was ready, but she isn't happy. I think it's best if we wait as long as possible."

"Fifteen?" the princess paled slightly. "I think I'll wait, too," she agreed.

Miyako yawned. "So will I," she agreed. She stood, stretching her arms. "If you'll excuse me, Princess, I need to get some sleep." She bowed slightly as she turned to leave.

"Miyako," the Princess spoke up. "Thanks for the advice. And, please, call me Hikari."

Miyako smiled. "Certainly," she replied. She bowed slightly as she left, Hawkmon following her. "Good night, Hikari."

"Good-night Miyako," Hikari replied.

***

Far above the two girls, a lone dark figure watched Miyako depart. The Dark Bandit peered over the edge of the building and watched her return to the building. A few minutes later, Tailmon followed her inside.

Hikari stood up and peered over the ledge again. "You can come down now," she stated.

The dark figure paused momentarily.

"There's no use in hiding," she continued. "I know you're there. If you don't come down willingly, I'll have Tailmon out here and you'll come by force."

There was a flutter in the wind and the Dark Bandit was then standing on the balcony ledge. "How might I assist you, Princess?" he questioned, bowing low.

Hikari stepped back from the ledge and faced him. "I want to know what interest you have in Miyako," she demanded.

"Her best interests, your majesty," he replied. "I'm watching out for her."

"Are you going to tell me who you really are?"

He shook his head. "Apologies, Princess, but I cannot."

She frowned. "Why are you watching out for her?"

"An attempt was made on her life," he replied simply. "Since the attempted assassin has not been found, it's logical to assume she's still in danger." He stepped down from the ledge and knelt before her. "Excuse my rudeness, Princess, but I do have a mission."

"Do you know who wants her life?"

The dark bandit remained kneeling. "No," he replied. "That's why I'm watching her."

"Are your intentions good?" she questioned.

"I like to believe so, Princess," he replied.

The princess frowned again. "If my brother finds you around here-," she warned.

"I assure you, my lady, he will not."

She stepped forward and reached out to his face. Against his better judgment, the Dark Bandit remained kneeling and did not move. Hikari lifted his chin so he was facing her. She peered into his dark eyes.

"Can you promise me?"

"I will do my best, Princess. Miyako will not be harmed, and your brother will not know of my existence here tonight." His eyes were kind and soft, but sincere.

Hikari frowned slightly once more. "What reasons have I to trust you?"

"None, your majesty," he replied.

She sighed and stepped away from him. "Very well. If my brother or my father find you, I don't know that I'll be able to help you," she warned him.

"I am aware, Princess," he replied.

"I cannot vouch for the rest of your actions. But where Miyako is concerned, I suppose I have no choice but to trust you."

"As you wish, Princess."

She smiled slightly. "Consider me something of an ally," she explained. "Miyako's safety is my concern as well."

He nodded, smiling back. "Thank you, your majesty."

"Hikari?" a voice called from the inside. Hikari turned to see who it was. She turned back, recognizing the voice.

"That's my brother. You'd better -," she trailed off. The Dark Bandit was already gone.

"Hikari?"

"Out here, brother."

"Ah. There you are. I was getting worried. What are you doing out here?"

"I was talking to Miyako," Hikari replied. "She left, and I was watching the stars."

"And Tailmon?" the Prince wondered.

His sister shrugged. "Around, I suppose. Don't worry, brother. I'm safe."

Taichi nodded nervously. "I know," he replied with a smile. "I'm heading to bed now. Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'll be fine," she assured him. With reluctance, he turned to leave.

"Good night, brother," she told him once they were inside again.

"Good night, Hikari," he replied.

***

Yeah! Another part posted. Ff.net stopped being a pain today! ^_^

Well, I'm really happy about all the people who reviewed this story so far! I really appreciate it!

To anyone who asked me about couples – I think there were a few of you – this will have small and, much later, blatant hints of Kenyako and Daikari. Originally, I was thinking of Takari, but, to be honest, I think Takeru is really really underdeveloped in this story, and a lot of the focus is on Daisuke, after all. I don't dislike Takeru, I just can't write him well. And he's not focused on in this at all. I try not to ignore him but I don't always succeed.

As for Kenyako? I just like it. The couples will NOT be the main focus of the story at ANY point. If you want romance, go look for romance. This story focuses on the friendship between Ken and Daisuke and a bit on the sibling relationship between Taichi and Hikari. The romances come second to the story.

That said, I henceforth end my little rant and hope you keep reading. ^_^ Enjoy!