A/N: Hello, again! Cruzer has finally pestered me off my fat arse to post this! Kudos to her! ~Anyway… This chapter has several semi-cliffhangers within it- but there's purpose behind all of them. Trust me.
Disclaimer?: I own Digimon, I own Digimon, I own Digimon… wait, no… aw, crap, no I don't. *hangs head sadly*
Summary?: As War hovers over the lives of the dragons; the knight finds himself an ally? Meanwhile- The Chief of Knights drags and unwilling girl to his side; and the Griffin has a startling conversation. Chapter 4, enjoy.
Additional Note:: "Neo," for those who are yet unaware, is from the manga V-Tamers(an AU of Digimon Adventure starring a slightly smarter Taichi.) Neo is psychotic and evil. Literally.
Other Note:: If you have any other questions concerning the whereabouts of certain characters, or the fate of certain characters- all I can say as of now is, "Sore wa himitsu desu." Other questions/flames/rants/suggestions(even though the plot is mapped out fairly well{thank you, Cruzer-chan}) are welcomed here.
A Last Note: "abundant dulcibus vitiis, Iamato" means "Nobody is perfect, Yamato"
One Ooooother Little Note: I liked ragging on Takato in this one. Please don't flame me. I'm naturally a bashing type of person. Just ask Cruzer!
Rant:: Damn! Strikethru won't show up! Er, well, just keep in mind, during the Letter Scene down towards the center, there, *points* the sentances that are unfinished were supposed to have a line through them. But- alas- FF.N seems to not allow that. *shrugs* Ah, well. Che sara, sara.
Dragon's War
Chapter 4: Abundant Dulcibus Vitiis, Iamato – A Knight of Plot
~*~*~*~
Takato glanced at the herb in his hand, then back at the little grove, trying to match the features, leaf to leaf. Hoping he wouldn't get accused of trying to poison his new friends, Takato began pulling the herbs up by the root. He'd forgotten if Sora had said she needed just the root, the leaves, or the entire plant. So, he improvised.
The knight hesitated, listening intently.
Nothing. Takato sighed in relief, and continued picking. The plant refused to budge.
Again, Takato focused on a high-pitched whistle that seemed to come from all around him. After a moment of mournful whining, the whistle died into the wind. The sound sent a chill down the knight's spine.
Takato shuddered, and not without reason. He glanced around, seeing a lone, dark figure sitting on a tree stump, through a small path that he was sure had not been there before. Curiosity reigned in his mind, and he didn't bother thinking of what consequences might come of just walking up to him.
Stepping lightly through the mysterious path, Takato openly approached the man. It was a human, obviously, and he wore a long draping purplish cloak, with matching pants that were far too baggy for his slim figure. The thing that interested Takato the most, though, was the shiny pair of goggles that hung about his neck.
The man played a slow, chilling song on the silvery flute in his hands. And when he was done he looked up at Takato with big chocolate eyes. There was an awkward silence between them, before the man gave him a broad smile. He then returned to the flute.
Takato swallowed the lump in his throat, forcing out a sentence, "Hello, I'm… T-Takato."
The man looked up again, and smiled. Takato was not sure if it was sincere or not, but it made him feel a little better. He had a somewhat raspy voice, boyish in a way. "Daisuke. Charmed." He returned to his flute, yet again.
Takato looked over his shoulder, realizing the path he'd come was gone again. He turned back to the man, "What're you doing way out here?"
Daisuke shrugged.
Takato had a small inkling, "You lost?"
The chocolate eyes focused on him, and a one-sided smile crossed Daisuke's face. "All who wander are not lost… wait, no. Er, not all who wander are lost." He nodded quickly to himself, "Yeah. That's what I meant." He noticed Takato's raised eyebrow, "What?"
"Uh, nothing."
Daisuke looked somewhat disappointed, but he started the conversation without a problem. "So why are you out here, Takato?"
"Oh, I was… uh," Takato glanced at the plant in his hand, "g-gathering herbs."
The man tilted his head to the side, "Really? What're you looking for?"
The knight tried to recall its name, but had no luck. "Uh, I… forgot…"
Daisuke took the plant from his hand and glanced at it for a moment or two before glancing curiously back up at the boy, "Mint? You forgot it was mint?"
Takato shrugged helplessly.
He sniffed the leaf, "Mm, Rosemary." then handed the plant back to Takato, "Need it for it's oil, right? Can make a bunch of liniments. Real useful." Takato looked confused. Daisuke chuckled, "I know someone in the herb business, myself. Won't shut up about it."
The knight couldn't help but chortle. It reminded him of Miyako's constant chatter. "I think I know that feeling."
Daisuke smiled, "You got siblings?"
Takato shook his head. "No, I'm an only child."
The scruffy-haired man nodded, "Me, too."
Silence returned.
Daisuke patted a bare spot next to him on the stump, "Sit." It sounded a bit more like an order than an invitation, but Takato did as he said, anyway. "So… Takato…"
The boy shifted uncomfortably, "Yeah…?"
"You have any… friends?"
Takato forgot the soreness of his rump and turned to the man with a questioning look on his face. "Of course I do."
Daisuke unconsciously fiddled with the flute in his hands, his eyes dropping to the ground, as if embarrassed. "Oh…"
"…Why?"
The man turned his eyes to the sky, "N-no reason. You should get back to them."
The knight's question left his mind as he was filled with concern. "Why?"
Daisuke sounded as if something was caught in his throat. "No reason."
Takato stared hard at the man in the purple cloak. "Do you have friends, Daisuke?"
He nodded quickly, speaking almost as fast as Mimi and Miyako combined. "Of course I have friends! Why wouldn't I have friends? What kind of loser… doesn't have… friends…?" Daisuke seemed to break down more the harder Takato stared. Now, he just sounded pitiful, "…I used to."
"Used to?" Takato raised both eyebrows, bewildered. "How is that possible?"
"They're… gone," the man clutched the flute tightly, "they're all dead."
"Oh," the knight softened, patting the other's shoulder, "I'm sorry, Daisuke. I… I didn't know."
The man nodded, whispering in a barely audible voice, "Me, too…"
Takato shifted uncomfortably again. "I'm really sorry– I swear, I didn't… if I had known, I wouldn't of…"
"Nah– n-no, i-it's alright. I'm used to it."
"You shouldn't have to be."
"Ah– thanks for your concern, but I'm okay with it…" Daisuke stared at the ground, not daring to look Takato in the eye, it seemed.
"Really, you shouldn't have to-"
Daisuke raised his hand, stopping Takato mid-sentence. "I said: it's okay." It was obvious he did not want to push the subject. He pulled up his legs and hugged his knees, dark eyes growing darker as he fell into that regretful depression.
Takato swung his legs, watching as leaves fluttered about as he kicked a small pile into the air. After a moment, he turned back to Daisuke. "I'll be your friend… Dai."
It was as if something in his head had lit a match. His chocolate eyes brightened considerably as he jumped up, "Really? You will? No fooling? You're not just trying to be nice, are you?"
Takato chuckled, "No fooling." He stuck out his hand, the man gripped it tightly, and they shared a hearty handshake. "Friends forever."
Daisuke only smiled.
Takato's grin grew broader, "Come meet my other friends."
~*~
Yamato tapped his foot impatiently as he stood practically motionless in his private study. The clicks made by his heavy boot resounded, not bothering him in the least as he continued to ponder.
Another man stood on the other side of the room, awaiting the blonde's newest orders. His soft brown hair stuck up and off to the side, a few strands hanging onto his forehead. His cobalt eyes watched thoughtfully as a small grin played on his handsome tanned face. He fingered the pommel of his short sword, tapping it lightly with his fingers, trying to remember the lyrics to a song he once knew.
The knight did not notice his leader's head snap up. Yamato turned sharply, rudely throwing the other from his reverie. "Akiyama!"
The man jumped to attention, saluting smartly. "Aye, sire?"
"I want you to gather a few sturdy men and join me at the gate." The blonde picked up a belt from the desk and buckled it around his waist; then he grabbed a silver gauntlet, slipping it over his left hand.
Akiyama nodded obediently, "Aye, sire." He saluted again and walked from the study, leaving Yamato alone. After a moment, the knight walked back in, intoning almost casually, "Prepare your horse?"
Cunning azure eyes focused on the nonchalant knight, "No. I'll walk, today." The underling nodded and walked away again.
Yamato adjusted his tunic, then the long, white sleeves of his linen shirt. He had to look professional for the commoners in town.
~
Yamato strutted along the dirt path, his right hand beside him, yet walking slightly behind. A cold smile crossed the blonde's face, "Ryo…"
The brown-haired knight sped up a bit, matching Yamato's stride. "Aye?"
"I noticed you did not inquire as to why."
Akiyama shrugged, "I'm starting to find it's better not to."
The paladin glanced at the knight with a grin that could have frozen over Hell. "Indeed… curiosity can be one's undoing, am I right?"
Ryo simply nodded slightly, tilting his head to both sides to show his neutrality, not wanting to agree nor disagree.
"It can be rewarding, as well, Akiyama. Right…?"
The knight could tell Yamato was toying with his mind, challenging him to ask. After a short-lived mental debate as to the lesser evil, Ryo's curiosity broke through, "Sire… why are we going to.. to town?" He secretly hoped asking was not as big a mistake as he thought it would be.
The blonde threw him a glance that said 'come and find out.' Ryo disliked it, but dared not express his opinion. He had never really liked Yamato's plans, whether it be a private archery contest, or an insane fox-hunt. But order was order, justice was justice. If Yamato said that dragon was dangerous, who was he to disagree?
~
The plebeians kneeled to Yamato as he passed, glancing quickly at each shop as they marched. Finally, they came to the houses in the village. Yamato led his crew strait to the Matsuda home.
With the knuckle of his silver gauntlet, Yamato knocked on the light wood door. It opened a crack, enough for a worried set of eyes to peer out. They widened immediately, and the door slammed in the knight's face.
Yamato, unperturbed, knocked again, but more insistently.
"Go away! Takato is not here!" came a muffled female voice from behind the wood.
Again, the knight calmly knocked on the door. He spoke in a soft voice through the door, "Open the door, ma'am. I have questions I would like to ask."
"Leave us be!" was her husband's gruff reply.
Yamato raised his voice slightly, to a more commanding tone. "Please open the door. We can do this the easy way, or the hard way."
"We know nothing! Leave us in peace!"
Yamato stared solemnly at the wooden door, not saying a word.
Ryo was baffled by his leader's calm. It did not seem like him at all!
The paladin's voice echoed softly, but sternly through the minds of every one of his followers. "… Kill them."
It surprised Ryo to hear Yamato say such a thing. A fox-hunt was one thing- but to kill innocent people? Ryo Akiyama sighed– it was not his place to disagree with orders– and raised a hand to signal the others. Ryo drew his sword and aimed his foot for just below the lock. With one powerful kick, the door's lock snapped and the knights filed in one by one.
Mister Matsuda stood in front of his wife, trying to protect her. Yamato pointed at the man, and Ryo tackled and brought him down easily. With the help of another knight, Ryo dragged the man outside to be executed. Yamato halted the knight who held his dagger to the throat of the woman, and strode coolly to her.
"…Are you ready to answer my questions now, miss Matsuda?" his tone was deathly calm. Tears tricked down her cheeks, yet she glared and shook her head, refusing to speak. "Oh, really?" the blonde shook his head almost pityingly. "Too bad." He gestured to the follower with his knife at her throat, and nodded. Yamato turned his back to them, smiling crookedly as a last gasp arose from Takato's mother. The blonde then walked up the stairs to the boy's room, examining every nook and cranny of his plain room with sharp azure eyes.
He found many assorted things, ranging from drawings to small stuffed toys. Nothing seemed to hint anything at all. The boy had obviously not come here since he'd left the guild. It was too clean.
Yamato picked up several papers, fingering through them boredly.
Cat, cat, dog, dog, dog, dog, lizard… some sort of big metal thing with a feather. Oh, wait, no, that was a pirate.
A pirate…?
The blonde wrinkled his nose in disgust, a strange boy he'd recruited, indeed! He put the papers back down, in a neat stack. To the right of them, he found a small book- a journal, perhaps? Yamato picked it up and opened it, reading the latest entry to date, which seemed to be from several months ago:
April 9th:
Diary,
You won't believe this! Sir Ishida's promoted me to knight! I'm so excited, I can hardly keep still. Juri! I must tell Juri! She'll be so happy for me, I'm sure!
Yamato raised an eyebrow. What sort of boy called his journal a "diary"? Wasn't that what women called their journals? And who was this Juri? The blonde decided more research was necessary. He continued to flip through the pages of the journal, until he came to a remote piece of parchment stuck between the pages. He pulled it out and unfolded it, noting the writing was much neater than any of his other entries.
Dear Juri,
I have just forgotten everything I wanted to write…
Yamato shook his head, pitying the boy for ever writing such a thing. No wonder he never sent this. The blonde continued to read, nonetheless.
I can't help but think I'm missing something. Have you ever felt that feeling Do you know what I mean? That little hole that's in your heart where something should be but isn't?
Yamato was surprised how repetitive his ex-follower was. Skipping over a few lines, the blonde continued to read.
It's getting harder to write the longer I stall… I should get it over with.
Juri, I know we've been friends for the longest time… I just want to say…
I lik
I lo
I don't dislik
…I enjoy your company very very much. Can we continue to be really good friends??????
Yamato stared bemusedly. He had no idea the boy was so shy!
Lo
From
Your frien
Sincerely,
TakatoYamato had to restrain himself from bursting into laughter right there. How in the wretched lands of Hell had that boy come to be one of the best knights in the guild? The blonde had seen him fighting several times, he had a lot of heart thrown into every slash and block. Quite good, really.
Yet he was so shy? Was it even possible? It seemed to be. But how?
Nevermind, it didn't matter; thought Yamato. All that mattered now was finding this Juri person. The blonde set the book down and dug through the stacks of papers for an address.
After a moment of searching, Yamato realized it was getting him nowhere. He sighed and leaned against the desk, picking up another stack of drawings and thumbing through them for his own amusement, making up stupid themes for them in his mind.
Sword, dog, dragon breathing fire, portrait of his mother, portrait of his father, portrait of his imaginary goldfish, portrait of his imaginary frie—
Yamato dropped the other papers and stared at the drawing he currently held. This was one of the boy's better sketches. It was a girl, or so Yamato supposed, with a pigtail on one side of her head. She smiled brightly. Yamato's eyes focused on the one word scrawled below the portrait:
JURI KATOU~
Yamato thundered down the steps, taking the other knights by surprise as he slammed his fist onto the table. Ryo dropped his stolen beaker, and saluted. The rest followed suit, all staring bewilderedly at the blonde.
He smirked, and carefully held up the drawing. "Does anyone recognize this girl?"
Ryo narrowed his eyes and stepped closer, minutely examining the drawing. "I think I've seen her, sire."
Another knight nodded, "Aye. Always hanging around that tavern."
A third knight confirmed the sightings with a nod. "I think her parents own it."
"She's a waitress there every once in a while, isn't she?"
"Aye, but-"
"Silence!" Yamato's voice cut through the air like a knife. "…Where is this tavern?"
Ryo raised a hand slowly. The blonde focused his fierce azure eyes on the knight, who shakily pointed to his right, "Just down the road.. small place- not hard to find."
Yamato smiled coldly, "Good. Come, then, boys." The leader then strode out the door, stepping purposely on mister Matsuda's lifeless carcass, and continued down the road. Ryo and the others followed after.
It did not take long. Akiyama had been right, the tavern wasn't hard to find at all. They entered, the blonde leading, as usual.
Yamato smiled at the knights, "Take a seat, kick back, and relax for now! Not you, Akiyama- you come with me." Ryo obediently stood and walked to the blonde's side.
The man behind the counter acknowledged the knights with a nod, "What will it be?"
Yamato approached him coolly, "Ale for my buddies, over there," he jerked a thumb at the chatting knights that filled three small tables.
The man nodded, counting the number of heads, then calling out loud, "JURI! Get down here!"
Yamato perked at the name, but said nothing.
A girl of roughly sixteen walked down the steps, a wondering expression on her face. "Yes?"
The man started filling beakers and setting them on the counter. "Take these to the men over there."
The girl nodded, picking up a tray and fitting five beakers on it, balancing them easily as she carried it to one of the tables. She set one beaker per knight, went back for several more beakers, then distributed them. She had obviously done this many times in the past.
When she was finished passing around the drinks, she went back behind the counter; awaiting further instructions, if any. Yamato approached her, smiling. "Young miss, please tell me where I can find a… Juri."
She glanced at him in a surprised manner, answering in a polite tone. "I am Juri… why?
The blonde nodded, still smiling in an unnervingly friendly manner, "I have an apprentice… his name is Matsuda.. Takato, I believe. He always spoke of a sweet girl he knew, and I was just curious. Do you know him, by chance?"
Her eyes lit up and she smiled brightly, "Takato! I know him! He's my best friend. How's he doing, sir? I haven't heard from him in the longest time…"
Yamato leaned against the counter, a hand on his hip, acting as if he was here just to chat. He put on a somewhat disappointed face, "Oh, well- that's part of the problem, you see…"
The young waitress looked horribly dismayed. She seemed about ready to cry. "What? What's happened?"
The blonde continued in a sympathetic voice. "We're looking for him. He'd spoken about you so much, I thought it would be worth a try to ask you if you'd seen him."
She shook her head, "No, sir. I've not seen hide nor hair of him since he left two, three years, or so, ago. I've gotten a few letters, but they aren't very clarifying."
"You're sure…?" Yamato raised an eyebrow in what seemed to be innocent disappointment; but Ryo knew better.
Juri nodded quickly, "Oh, yes. If I'd heard anything, I would have told you."
The stupid girl obviously did not know the height of Yamato's cunning. He gestured to the door at the front of the bar, "I have other news to tell, miss Katou. If you would please step outside with me, we can speak in private."
The blonde noticed mister Katou's suspicious glare, but chose to ignore it. Juri followed him anxiously, as if truly expecting him to tell her the actual whereabouts of the accursed Matsuda boy. Ryo stayed by the door after they'd gone, assuming the worst situation possible and bracing himself.
Inwardly, Yamato prayed nothing would spoil such a fine opportunity. The girl seemed overly trusting, loyal and honest. To be perfectly frank, Yamato began to dislike her for it. Happy people like her had never really been among his favorites.
The girl clasped her hands, a blatantly fearful expression plastered on her pale face. "What is it you wanted to speak to me about? …A-about.. T-Takato?"
"Sire!"
Yamato silently cursed. He'd jinxed it. He knew he had. What else could explain such horrific timing?
The guard saluted, continuing before Yamato had a chance to tell him off. "Sire, we've had news from the forest. There's been a demon-sighting, but the boy is nowhere to be found." Yamato turned to face the guard, a fierce look in his eye and a scowl shaping his mouth. The guard did not pick up the hint. "Oh, yes- the printmaker also finished these this morning, sire." He held up a sheet of paper, with a crude sketch of Takato and the words MATSUDA, TAKATO: WANTED FOR TREASON in big, bold lettering.
Juri's jaw dropped, and an audible gasp escaped her throat.
Yamato's temper burst; he pulled back his arm and punched the idiot of a guard in the nose. A sickening crack could be heard on contact, followed by the girl's scream of horror as the guard dropped to the ground, unconscious and bloody.
The blonde tried to take deep breaths, but the Katou girl's high-pitched sobs were seriously drilling into his forming headache, making it five times worse than it already was. There was audible struggling from the bar, and Juri ran back in, now crying. Ryo, having been ready for quite awhile, caught her before she could go any further than the door. Her father was struggling against four of sir Ishida's knights, glaring fiercely at Akiyama for even daring to touch his daughter.
Yamato walked back into the bar, rubbing his temples painfully as the headache slowly grew; a scowl still one of his prominent features. He pointed, glaring, at the sobbing Juri, "Gag her. Please, someone, just shut her up!"
A ginger-haired man stuffed his handkerchief into the girl's mouth. Her sobs were toned down, enough for Yamato to calm the pounding in his head.
The blonde took a deep breath, and gently, but firmly, took Juri's chin, turning her head so that she stared strait into his eyes. "Let's find out just where your loyalties lie, girl."
~*~
Takeru stood, overlooking the land with calm blue eyes, as if waiting. His golden mane ruffled in the cool breeze. Koushirou was out, delivering a message, leaving Takeru alone.
Just as he had planned.
A white-haired young man practically materialized from nothing behind the griffin. He had come from the shadows, hidden so well, despite the almost-iridescence of his hair. His eyes were same color as the griffin's own- fierce azure.
His clothes were ragged, similar to that of Takeru's, but neater. He had a shortened, sleeveless shirt, with a black stripe down each shoulder. His pants were unruffled, cut off at a little below the calf. All of his clothes were pure white, without a trace of dirt. For one reason or another, he had white bandages wrapped around the whole of both arms, finally tucking in to his fingerless gloves; the black gloves had a monstrous claw sitting on each knuckle, big enough to be a lion's, but curved and sharp, like an eagle's.
He had a smooth, somewhat manly voice that reminded Takeru of a serpent, for some reason. "Ishida."
Takeru piqued, whirling to face the visitor. "I'm not an Ishida."
The white-haired man shrugged, indifferent. "Takaishi, if you so prefer."
The blonde scowled, "Obliged."
His visitor grinned, showing off his pearl-white teeth. "Lovely."
Takeru narrowed his eyes, "Why have you come?"
The white-haired one waved a hand dismissively, "Such atrocious manners. Of course, I'd expect nothing less from you."
The blonde griffin with-held the growl that caught in his throat, "Get to the point."
"Games are no fun if they are rushed, Takaishi." Was the snappy reply.
"Why are you here, Neo." It was not a question.
"Please," the other turned his back to Takeru, "you, of all people, should be able to guess."
Takeru glowered, "What do you want?"
The white-haired one returned the glower with a giggle, and not one of the giddy type. "What do you think I want?" he gestured in an arc, indicating the mountain.
"Never."
He wagged a finger in the blonde's face, "Ah-ah, Takaishi," a grin grew on the white-haired man's face, "You should know by now that bad things happen when you speak too soon." His eyes trailed over the greenery behind the griffin, resting on a small, primitive-looking village to the far left.
"You wouldn't." Takeru took a small step back, glancing over his shoulder and staring fearfully at the village.
Neo put up his arms in a false shrug, "And still you continue to speak too soon! What kind of Gryphon are you? Oh, that's right… you're not." His face grew quite grim as he focused intensely on the blonde.
"I was chosen! My destiny-"
"Destiny," the white-haired one snorted, "is the stupid man's excuse for his failure."
The blonde returned the unblinking gaze of Neo with his own. "It is also the tyrant's excuse to spread suffering."
"Is that what you think, Takaishi?" he raised his eyebrows in what looked to be amusement. "I'm hurt, really I am." He then began to giggle.
"Lay a feather on those Elves, and I'll-"
"You'll what? Predict my future?" his giggle grew to a laugh, "Is that what you'll do? Tell me I'll die a millennia from now?" the laugh intensified, louder, eviler- then it stopped as soon as it had started. Neo was deathly calm again. "Too bad."
Takeru suppressed the shudder, "Too bad what?"
The grin Neo gained nearly split his face, "Too bad you cannot read as far into me as I, you." He did not wait for Takeru's reply, "Elves reign within both our futures, Takaishi."
Takeru watched as the white-haired one grew solemn, turned, and walked away- towards the edge of the cliff. "…You will be back?"
Neo looked over his shoulder. "No. Not in this decade, anyway." The smirk returned, "But I can wait– you'd be surprised at how patient I can be. I will wait."
Takeru resisted the urge to ask for what?. He decided he did not want to know. Although, he knew, eventually, that he would find out. Whether he liked it or not.
Neo turned, faced Takeru, balancing dangerously on the edge. He waved a hand in departure, "Nothing to say, nothing to gain, nothing to apologize for– yet we still do…" he jumped, somersaulting backwards off the cliff. A white beast replaced Neo, screeching in the language of the Gryphon; flying up and over the mountain into the sky– back to the north where he'd come from.
Takeru growled, "Show-off."
~*~
Yamato left the tavern in a happier mood than when he'd come, if possible. A deal had been struck, and quite a good one, at that. Plus, he didn't have to hear that stupid girl's whining anymore! Oh, happy days!
Ryo could see Yamato's faint smile. He knew the blonde was immensely glad he was away from the Katou residence, but why the smile? Ryo hadn't heard much of what Yamato had said to the girl- only something about loyalties and letters. Nothing else.
All he knew for sure was that the Matsuda boy was going to be in over his head if Yamato ever found him.
