Part II At Last, We Meet Again

Yamato jumped down from his russet horse and eyed the magnificent palace. He let out a small whistle and, holding the horse's rein, he entered the gigantic wooden doors and there, man of all ages were dueling and fighting.

His eyes sparkled and his left hand rested on his sword. ~Can't wait to fight~ Probably the youngest man who entered the training was around 15, just like the boy sitting on a wooden bench. His eyes lay down to the young boy with dark blue hair. He was wiping his own sword, making it shine under the morning sun.

Yamato tied the rein of his horse at a nearby post and sat down beside him. Yamato looked around the palace ground, listening to the clashing sounds of swords.

"Have any experience in swordsmanship?"

Yamato turned to the boy beside him, who was still busy with his sword. Yamato turned away, but answered his question. "None at all"

"You look like you've been well built."

"I train myself back at home. My name's Yamato, Yamato Ishida" Yamato replied. The boy looked up and stretched his hand out. "KenKen Ichijouji.."

They both shook hands. Then the sound of the trumpets roared and all knew that the King was there. They all bowed down to the ground, to show respect.

The King nodded his head and scanned his eyes at the men, ready to give up their life for their beloved kingdom. "Men of the Tarben kingdom, I am deeply overjoyed. For you have chosen to serve and give your life for this country. I humbly thank you..."

(uhTarben is their kingdom)

The king bowed down his head, which really means that they were respected. The king then looked up and waved his hand in the air. About 20 big muscled men arrived, each holding a sword, a club and bow.

"Let the training begin!"

All the men roared and cheered. The participants were divided into two groups, young and old. Yamato and Ken were taken to the bigger yard, along with other young men. "I am Maku. I'll be your trainer."

Maku was a tall man, with a great body and a gentle face. Just by looking at his face, you would say that he wouldn't even kill a fly. But, Maku is one of the greatest knights Tarben has ever produced. He pulled out his sword and pointed it at the young boys.

The end of the sword stopped in front of Yamato's face. Maku stepped closer to him. "Draw your sword, mate! And show me thy talent!"

Maku stepped back and pointed his sword again. Yamato smiled and swiftly pulled his sword. They circled for a moment as the others watched in excitement.

Yamato stepped up and made his first move. He brought down his sword to Maku, but Maku blocked it with his own sword. Yamato jumped back and positioned again, trying to figure what Maku's weakest points.

Maku moved forward and pushed the sword to Yamato's throat. But Yamato, being agile, stepped away and clashed his sword to Maku's own and pushed it away. Yamato was about to do another move when Maku held his hand.

"If we continue this, my lad, one of us will be killed."

Yamato nodded his head and went towards Ken. "I thought you don't have any experience?"

Yamato chuckled and watched the second fight.

"Sora, why don't you invite your friend Lady Mimi?" Queen Muriko said, obvious to the fact that her daughter was not having fun.

Sora clapped her hands and smiled. "Yes, of course Mother. I'll go now to their house."

"No my dearwhat I meant was she will come here"

Sora pouted and pointed at the window. "How will we have privacy if there's someone fighting and clashing swords?!"

"Then go into your room and both of you would be given privacy there" Her mother replied, ignoring her daughter's cross voice.

"Motherin my room? Where's the fun there?"

Sora continued to pester her mother until she gave in. "Oh Sora! You wouldn't give up, don't you? I'll have two guards to accompany you."

Sora placed her hands on her hips and looked annoyingly at her mother. "Oh Mother pleaseGod knows I'm already 17 years old and I can take care of myself."

"Yesbut you cannot defend yourself."

Sora opened her mouth but her mother hushed her. "Listen to me or you'll spend your day in you room." Sora sighed and stomped away, exiting her mother's room. "I hate itabsolutely a bad way to start such a glorious morning." she muttered.

Her light red dress glowed in the morning sun that entered the windowpanes of the hallway. She walked fast and opened the door, but the palace guards opened it for her.

It only made her angry even more. "Next time I step here, you will not hold the door for me."

"But your highness"

Sora stood straight and looked at the soldier. "That is an order."

They both agreed and Sora went off, hoping that the guards that her mother sent would miss her.

"Princess, here's your horse"

She sighed angrily and turned around, only to find two guards, one holding her white horse. "I'm not going to use my horse!" she snapped.

"But princess - "

"I am only going to a friend's house and it's not too far away. I'm going to walk." And before the guards could talk, she snapped back again. "That is an order!"

She turned away from them and walked through the knights-to-be. The guards continued to follow her though, as if worried someone from the trainees would take advantage of her.

Sora held her chin up and continued to walk, ignoring the stares and smiles of the young men.

"Sora!"

Surprised, Sora turned around to see who called her first name. The two guards that were following her were now holding their sword in front of a young blonde male. His eyes stared back coldly at the two guards. 'What?!" the blonde retorted angrily.

"How dare you call the highness by her first name?! You imbecile! You should be ashamed of yourself!" The guard yelled back, almost piercing the sword in Yamato's throat.

Sora walked towards them and placed her hand on one of the guard's sword. "Put thy sword down and hear out the lad who called thee my name."

"But my lady"

She threw him a serious look, then turned to the blonde boy. "May I ask why did you call me?"

The blonde smiled at her and bowed in respect. He held the princess' hand and kissed the back of it, making her gasp. "My sweet lady, I am Yamato Ishida. The one who have told you of his greatest dream of being a loyal knight to your kingdom, Tarben."

He stood up and looked at her ruby eyes, which was wide for a moment. "Yamato? I thought you movedoh! How happy I am! At last, we meet again!" She smiled at him and was about to hug him but stopped herself from doing so, since there were people around her. "I will deal with your disrespect later, Matt for I'll be going to a friend of mine."

"Aye then" Nodding his head to Sora and winked. "Better make it back before sundown my Princess, for these guards might have sliced my neck!" Sora laughed. "Then, I order them to stop themselves from doing so or I'll be the one slicing their own necks." She said, looking at both guards who put back their sword in their sheath. Sora cocks an eyebrow at him and turned around.

"May you have a nice walk, my lady. May no blisters appear on thy delicate feet." He said, causing the princess to blush deep red. She turned to him once again and smiled at him. "Stop insulting me or I'll take back my order."

Yamato chuckled and raised both his hands in defense. "My apologies" he said.

"Apology still not taken. Oh look! I'm wasting enough time. And as I said, I'll deal with you later." She walked away, with a bright smile across her face.

"And may I ask what is that all about, my friend?" Ken asked, stepping beside the blonde. He was still looking at her. She was still followed by the guards. "That, my friend, is just a little conversation with the princess, who happens to be my childhood friend."

"C'mon! Why lie, Yamato?"

Yamato laughed and slapped his comrade's shoulder. "And so, you would not believe? If I lied, would she even talk to a commoner like me? And I never lie, that is my own law."

Ken chuckled and looked around. "And may I say, as a friend, that you watch your back."

"Why is that?"

"Because you've just attracted a few enemies of your own" he whispered. Yamato looked around also, and sure enough, he saw their eyes throwing daggers to him as if he'd just violated a law.

"Am I not allowed to talk to her highness?" Yamato said loudly, hoping that the others would here. Fortunately, some of them averted their eyes away from him. He smiled then turned to Ken and cocked his eyes approvingly. Ken laughed. "I don't believe some had heard you."

"Well, let them be and let's concentrate on our fighting. Shall we?" Yamato asked, drawing his sword out and pointing it to Ken.

"My pleasure"

"My lady, the princess is here to see you."

Lady Mimi squealed in delight as she walked to the guest room. She saw her friend, the princess, looking around her house.

"Princess Sora, you visited! My apologies for not having visited you yesterday."

Sora waved her hands in front of Mimi exasperatingly. "Mimi, please don't be too formal in front of me. After all, I'm just a princess."

Mimi gasped in disbelief and sat down beside her. "That is the most insulting thing you've bestowed upon yourself! You're telling me that being a princess is just nothing to you?!"

"All I know is that I'm princess because I am to protect this country from barbarians and thieves not waste my time looking at a mirror."

Mimi smiled and turned to Sora. "I missed you!"

Sora hugged her friend and smiled. "Yes! Me too! Nobody there in Britain have such good company such as yours!"

"Of course, no one else is as good as me! So tell me, why are your shoesfilthy?"

Sora stared down to look at her shoes, which weir covered with soot. "Oh that, I walked."

Mimi's eyes almost popped out. "Oh my! Did the carriage broke on your way here?!"

Sora laughed and shook her head. "Nonsense! I walked because your house is just near my home."

"Near?! We're almost miles apart!!"

Sora stood up and looked at a window. "If you see the palace gates from here, then we are not miles away."

Mimi followed and looked outside. "Well, you're quite right"

"Do you still remember the blonde kid that was used to be my playmate?" Sora asked, still gazing out of the window and to the palace. "YesIt's quite hard for me to believe that you made friends with a common villager. You could have at least made friends with a lord's son"

"He was differentand also, he's training to be a knight at our palace"

"He is? Well, wellIt seems like you met again. How was your acquaintance?"

Sora laughed and recalled their meeting. "He was still sarcastic in a wayand may I add that he looked very handsome" she replied, looking at Mimi.

Mimi squealed again. "Oh my! I believe that this is the first time I ever heard the word handsome from you."

Sora blushed and looked away. "I'm telling the truth. How about we take a stroll in your house?" Sora asked, dropping the topic about her childhood friend.

The first training was finished before the sun set down. Yamato and Ken were given the same room. It was only a few feet away from the palace. Yamato placed his pack down and looked outside. The sky looked like as if it was painted. Red and orange colors swirled together, giving it a wondrous effect.

"I'll be out in the stables for a while." He said, still looking out the window.

Ken was lying down his bed, with an arm covering his eyes. He raised it and looked at Yamato. "Shouldn't you be resting right now?"

"I'm not really tired"

"Or are you waiting for the fair lady to come?"

Yamato looked at him. "Like I said, I'll be out in the stable for a while" He left and closed the wooden door.

Ken chuckled and continued his sleep.

Sora ordered the two guards to be dismissed. She didn't go directly to the castle but instead, head down to her stable where her white horse. She walked towards it and, seeing her horse, she trotted towards it and carresed it.

"Hello thereI'm sorry I didn't used you earlierI feel like walking would eased down my temper"she whispered to her horse.

"Ahso you're still a tempered lass"

Sora turned around and saw Yamato walking towards her. He stepped beside her and looked at her horse. "Your horse is a beauty!"

"Thank you. Why are you still out here? Should you not be in your bed sleeping?"

He shrugged his shoulders and touched her horse, which in return, neighed quietly. "I'm not tired at all, your highness."

Sora sighed and rested her back on the wooden door of her horse's place. "Please don't call me like thatI really hate it."

Yamato threw her a questioning look and continued touching her horse. "Why is that?" Sora looked down to the ground. "I feel like I'm not one of the people. What I'm trying to say is, I'm also a person and I don't care if I'm a princess or not."

"And besides, I'm only princess as to serve this beloved kingdom." She continued.

Yamato smiled. "Then you are worthy of being called a princess." When Sora looked at him puzzled, he chuckled. "Just look at the other princesses, they do not even have any concern for their own kingdom, all they want to do is travel around the world and have money in their hands, while you are different form them."

He turned to her and continued to talk. "And so, I'll continue to call you as a princess."

"You are much to stubborn, Yamato. Then, I order you to call me by my first name."

"Let us strike a deal, your higness. If we're alone, I might call you by your first name, but if other people is with us, I would call you formally."

"If we're alone, you should call me by my name, not might!" Sora said, glaring at Yamato.

Yamato chuckled. "I must go now Princess. Maybe we could meet again tomorrow." He bowed down and kissed her hand gently and walked away.

this was totally hard for me to do! I promise there's gonna be more sorato in the coming chapters. That's all!!! And also, I know that the words thee and thy are used in the renaissance period but it just goes with the fic!! Oh yeah, review please!!!