A/N: Fourth chapter, is it? So...this story is about to get even more complicated, but the only sign of that in this chapter is the last part, where Koushirou comes in. Don't let the last part confuse you, you'll see what that's all about soon enough. Anyways, have fun reading the next installment.

They got to the village not long after meeting the Prince and the Huntress. After taking so many trips over there, both of them had developed knowledge on the easiest routes to take in order to get to the village. Daisuke continually looked around himself at the many huts surrounding what seemed to be the town square. Yamato led them straight up to what seemed to be the largest hut of them all.

He threw open the flap serving as a door at the front of the hut and led them inside. Daisuke saw that there was a boy that didn't look much older than Yamato sitting at the head of a table where a few people seemed to be having dinner.

The boy looked up and stared at Yamato, his eyes flickering with an emotion Daisuke couldn't place. Almost immediately, the flicker was gone, and the boy stood up, along with the girl sitting to the right of him.

"Miyako-chan!" the brown-haired girl called out, running from her place at the table to Miyako and clasping the girl's hands in her own. "We haven't seen you in so long! You must bring your friends to the table and have dinner with us. We're having a small feast before the festivities begin tonight."

"Festivities?" Miyako asked, glancing up at the ceiling. "Oh, I forgot! You're having that party thing tonight." She turned and smiled at the three young boys. "Guys, this is Princess Hikari. She's the princess of this tribe. They call her Light-Bringer here."

Miyako introduced each one of them as Yamato went to go talk to the brunette boy that had stood.

Takeru and Ken shook hands with Hikari, smiling and saying the usual greetings, but Daisuke stepped forward and took Hikari's hand in his, bending down to kiss the back of it.

"I've never seen a more beautiful Indian princess, Light-Bringer. I can see why they named you that. You bring the most magnificent light to the room."

Hikari blushed and giggled, pulling her hand away. "Thank you, Daisuke-kun."

The boy that had been talking to Yamato, who they all assumed was the chief, immediately strode over and stood glaring down at Daisuke, who made a small sound in the back of his throat and peered up at the taller boy, trying to hide his fear.

"Nobody touches my sister without my permission," the boy growled. "Don't you know it's rude to grab a princess's hand like that?"

"Oh, Taichi," Hikari said, smiling, "you're being overprotective again."

Taichi frowned at his sister for a few seconds, but then Yamato put his arm around his shoulders and his frown disappeared. Taichi turned to look up at Yamato, his eyes going soft, and then he turned and began walking back to the table, Yamato following close. Daisuke observed their behavior and frowned, trying to figure out what that had been about.

"Yamato is the only one that can pacify my brother," Hikari giggled. "It's like he has some secret power over him. Normally he doesn't let anybody push him around, but for some reason, he actually enjoys it when Yamato does. They pretend to argue and fight all the time."

"Weird. Why would anybody show love for someone by fighting with them?" Ken pondered.

They heard a strange "eep"ing sound from somewhere in the room and they all paused and looked around for the source. Ken was the only one to notice the blushing, wincing blonde at his side.

"Love?" Daisuke asked, his eyes going wide. He turned his face to watch Taichi and Yamato at the table. He suddenly understood what had confused him about the exchange between the two older boys.

He turned to look at Takeru. Takeru was blushing and looking down at the floor, frowning. Daisuke raised an eyebrow.

"Well, let's go eat then," Miyako said happily, walking with Hikari back to the table to find a place to sit. The three boys followed her.

~ ~ ~ ~

Daisuke stumbled over the dirt and stared in wonder at the activities going on around the bonfire in the clear area just outside of the village. He saw Takeru and Ken sitting on a log near the fire, cuddled up with each other. Ken's arms were around Takeru and he had his chin resting against Takeru's neck. Takeru was resting his head on Ken's shoulder, hands resting over the arms around his waist, smiling with his eyes closed. Daisuke smiled faintly at the couple and turned his eyes away to give them privacy.

He found himself being captivated by the dancers circling the bonfire. They were dancing in a way that he had never seen before. The firelight lit their faces in an almost creepy way, making them seem like dark faces that laugh hauntingly at you in your nightmares. However, their faces were twisted into joyful laughter and smiles. Daisuke found himself smiling as well and he felt like dancing along with them, and when Hikari came to him asking for a dance, he happily accepted after a quick look-around for her older brother. She led him to a less populated area and they danced together for a while, laughing and circling each other but never actually touching. Neither felt like going beyond the occasional flirty look or comment, happy with just dancing around each other.

Taichi and Yamato watched the happy people around them with serene looks on their faces. They sat underneath the cover of a large tree at the edge of the clearing. Yamato looked around at Taichi from where he sat at his side.

"Doesn't it ever creep you out? I mean, you have to take care of all these people. You're the chief now. How do you know you can do it?"

"Well, I don't know that I can, but I trust in my own abilities to keep these people safe. I love them all. I've lived with them my entire life. I'm friends with everyone. They all know me and trust me, even though I'm so young and inexperienced. They give me a reason to get up every morning, you know? Being chief isn't really a burden to me...I love my job. It gets tiring sometimes, yes, and I'm sure it will get a lot more tiring later on, but these people are worth it all."

"Do you know how noble all of that sounds?"

Taichi looked over at the blonde. He smiled at the curious, sincere look on Yamato's young face.

"I don't hear the sound of my own voice the way everyone else does. I wouldn't know."

Yamato frowned in confusion and turned back around to think about Taichi's words. Taichi rested back against the tree trunk, closing his eyes and sighing deeply to himself.

Daisuke and Hikari had finished dancing and Daisuke had been surprised to have Takeru walk up to him once he was done dancing.

"Can we talk somewhere? Alone?" Takeru asked, face expressionless.

"Are you kidding? How do I know you won't try to kill me?" Daisuke asked, raising an eyebrow.

Takeru looked surprised for a few seconds before laughing quietly to himself. "I promise I won't harm you. I just want to tell you something."

"Well, alright," Daisuke sighed. "Lead the way."

Daisuke followed Takeru to a secluded area in the clearing, hoping Takeru was going to keep his promise and that this talk the blonde wanted to have with him would not consist of yelling and fighting.

He glanced back over his shoulder to look for Ken, wondering where the tall, beautiful witch had gone, but he was nowhere to be seen.

~ ~ ~ ~

Koushirou grunted from where he sat in his office chair, legs up on top of the desk, feet crossed at the ankle, arms pillowing his head, a newspaper open and laying over his snoring face. His boss stormed into the room and narrowed his eyes at the sight of the sleeping employee.

"Koushirou!" he yelled.

Koushirou stirred violently, dropping his legs over the side of the desk and standing. "S-sir?"

"I've got a new assignment for you."

His face brightened. "Really? I get a new assignment?" He abruptly straightened himself and his expression changed from excited to business-like. "I'll carry out whatever assignment you give me, sir."

Gennai sighed at his enthusiastic employee and handed him a bunch of papers. Koushirou took them, studying them.

"There's been a kidnapping. Apparently, a local preacher had some type of nervous breakdown and kidnapped a young woman from around here. There's been rumors going around about the two of them that the preacher impregnated this woman, found out about the pregnancy, and, afraid that news would get around and he would be caught, kidnapped her. We have a vague idea as to where he could have gone. I need you to follow him and try to capture him."

"That's so weird," Koushirou said, placing the files down on his desk and looking up with a puzzled face.

"Pack your bags, Koushirou. You're in for a long journey."

Koushirou's face twisted with joy. "Yay, a journey!" His face immediately became expressionless again. "I will carry out this assignment for you, and I assure you, I will not fail! Failure is unacceptable." He nodded and gathered his coat and a few possessions, ready to go home, pack, and head out on his journey. He walked to the door, turned around, and grinned, holding a hand out. "Sir? Can I borrow some money for food and a place to stay?"

Gennai sighed and searched his pockets for his wallet. He gave Koushirou a few bills.

"Don't spend it on anything you don't need," Gennai told him.

"Right," Koushirou nodded, turning and walking out of the police station.

Gennai watched him leave and sighed, wondering if he'd picked the right person for the job.

Koushirou grinned as he stepped out onto the sidewalk.

"Okay, I can't let the Chief down! I'm going to do my very best. I'll go home, pack, and leave straight away. But first-" he turned around in the other direction, "-I must stock up on doughnuts."