r & r

Part 15

The Curse

(That night at the bandit's place )

Tai looked above him and around him to see if the people are all asleep. It was already midnight. It will be a good time to send a message.

He walked towards Sora's small cottage and knocked, but no answer. He opened the door, then smiled. His lady was asleep on her bed, with a small smile placed on her face. He walked slowly towards her and sat on the bed.

"Sleeping beauty, wake up…" he whispered on her ear, making her open her eyes slowly.

"Oh, Tai… I must have fallen asleep." She said, yawning.

"Well, get up and try to make yourself presentable. We don't want your friend to yell that you look like a peasant." Tai said.

"C'mon, get up!" Tai said loudly, pulling her.

"Okay, okay…" Sora muttered, sitting down on her bed.

Taichi smiled and kissed her lips for a second, surprising Sora. "Tai…"

"I'm sorry. I told you, I just can't help it." He said sheepishly and stood up. "I'll be waiting for you outside."

Sora gazed at the people gathered in a circle. Five people, including Tai.

"Why are we so many?" Sora asked.

"Well, Hikari just wants to be here, Daisuke wants to be with my sister, Izzy and Joe will help me send your message. I can't just do it alone." Tai explained while waving at his comrades.

"Oh…" was Sora all could say. She sat down beside Joe. "I'm ready." She said.

"All you have to do is think of your friend, nothing more." Izzy ordered sitting behind Sora.

"You mustn't think of any other people but her." Joe said.

"Okay, I got that…"

"Once you see her, tell your message. Two minutes is your limit. No little chitchats. Just tell her what you want. After you say goodbye, your talk is over. Got that?"

Sora nodded her head at Tai. "Heard it clear enough."

Tai smiled and sat down across from her. "Well then, let's get to it."

(Tarben)

Mimi stirred in her sleep and covered her ears with her hands. Am I just dreaming or is Sora calling my name?

She opened her eyes and looked around. "Whoever it is, take what you want and let me sleep!" she shouted and was about to sleep again when someone yelled her name.

"Mimi! In your mirror!"

So I wasn't dreaming! That was Sora! She quickly ran to her mirror and gasped. There was her friend in her mirror waving her hand.

"What on earth are you doing there?!" Mimi asked in disbelief.

"I want to talk to you. Just to let you know I'm still alive."

"YOU COME BACK HERE THIS INSTANT AND RETURN TO THE PALACE AND MEET YOUR PARENTS! DON'T YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL SO WORRIED?!" Mimi yelled.

" Uh…Mimi, people can hear you." Sora said, smiling.

"People? What people? We're the only ones – " she stopped when she heard someone talking from behind Sora's back.

"You're friend is really pretty Princess…" a female voice said.

"Hikari, don't disturb her."

When she peered in closer, she found four more people. A young girl and three more guys.

"I'd like you to meet my friends, Mimi." Sora said.

"Where on earth are you and who are they?" Mimi asked, wide eyed.

"I'm with the bandits."

"You're with what? What if they do something to you or – "

"Hey!" Daisuke ran to Sora and pushed her aside. "Don't you dare talk like that! You don't even know us, lady! We're not barbarians like the Celetites! Why I oughta give you a little – "

"Daisuke… you're very humiliating…" Hikari said pulling his mad friend away from a small like mirror elevating in the air.

"I'm sorry my lady, he sometimes acts as if he has no mind." Hikari said, making the others laugh.

"Good one!" Joe said and looked at Mimi. "But my Lady, what Daisuke said is true. Your princess is in very good hands, especially with our leader. Actually, there's something going on – "

"Joe!" Tai hissed, making Sora look down on her lap.

"Oh, sorry…" Joe said, realizing that he shouldn't say something about "it" to Mimi.

"Mimi, take care of Mother while I'm away. I'll be back soon with Yamato." Sora said, trying to smile so her friend may cease her worries.

Yamato again… Tai grumbled under his breath, crossing his arms.

"Well, okay then. But please come back soon…"

"Goodbye Mimi…"

Tai flicked his fingers and Mimi's illusion soon vanished. "Are you happy now?"

Sora nodded her head slowly. Tai sounded a bit dismayed and angry. "Yes, thank you very much Taichi."

"Get to sleep." He said to everyone and left them, confused why he's acting so weirdly.

(Celetites kingdom )

"Get to sleep."

Jun smiled and looked at his father. "I told you I sensed something. Now, we found the bandits and the princess of Tarben." She said proudly and looked down in her cauldron, looking at each one of the bandits.

Her father smiled broadly. "What do you have in mind my dear daughter?"

"What else but to give them something they'll never forget. A curse…the same sickness that killed one of their fellows… one touch from a sick comrade, then they'll have it as well."

His father laughed. "And when do you plan this?"

"Tomorrow noon. By dusk, they'd be all dead." She answered, laughing cynically.

(Next day noon, Bandits' place )

"Do you know where your brother is?"

Hikari shook her head and looked at Sora. "Afraid not. I haven't seen him all day. Have you checked his post?" she asked, referring to the highest tree house they built.

"I'll go and see if he's there. Thank you." Smiling, Sora turned around.

"Um, princess?"

"Yes?" she faced Hikari again.

"Is there something going on between you and my brother?"

Sora blinked. "Why would you ask that?"

Hikari looked at her for a moment, then answered. "Well, my brother isn't like this you know, hiding all day isn't his attitude. Since you came here, he's been a little distant and problematic."

Sora looked away guiltily. Having an affair with Taichi was very wrong for both of them. "I can't answer your question." She replied quietly.

"I wouldn't force you to answer. But please, don't make my brother sad. He's been looking for care and love all his life and he found it in you. Don't try to bring his hope of being with you because I know you love somebody else. I can feel my brother loves you."

Sora just looked at her and walked away, not knowing what to say anymore.

(Taichi's post )

"Taichi?"

The brunette looked inside the tree house and saw Sora walking in. "How on earth did you manage to climb?" he asked, bewildered.

Sora just smiled. "Tai?"

"Hmm?"

Sora approached him in the window, while he sat on it. "You've been very distant to us. Why?"

Tai didn't bother to say anything first, then made a sigh. "You don't know?"

"I… don't."

"I really love you…" he started. "I can't help thinking what to do if Yamato shows up and tries to get you from me."

"We talked about this." Sora said.

"I know! But I don't want you to leave." He cried out. "Damn… our paths should have never crossed." He whispered and turned to her.

"It's too hard to let you go…"

Sora bit her lip. "I loved Yamato once, now and until the end."

"But don't you love me?"

"I don't even know if I love you…"

"Tell me, if I were in Yamato's place, would you be as worried as you are right now?" Taichi asked.

Sora sat down on a chair and shook her head. "Tai, Yamato and I are childhood friends. You and I just met a month ago. Even if there's nothing going on between me and Yamato, I would still be worried about him."

"You didn't answer my question." Tai said.

"Of course I'd be worried. Who wouldn't be?!" Sora said loudly. She hated her situation. If Yamato comes, she'll come back to his arms without hesitation. But seeing Taichi like this… seeing Taichi dismayed, alone, confused and hopeless makes her weak.

"I don't like my situation, princess. I don't like it at all." Tai muttered, stepping inside the tree house.

"And do you think I like my situation?! It's hard to choose between you and – " She closed her mouth, realizing what she's about to say.

"You're afraid to let me go, aren't you?" He asked, as if reading her mind.

Sora just looked at him, not knowing what to do or say.

Tai approached her and looked in her eyes. "Answer that."

The truth always hurts… she thought angrily. "Yes…but – "

"But what again?!" Tai butted frustratingly.

"I love Yamato more than I love you."

Taichi looked away from her. The truth always hurts…he thought. "I wouldn't force you to love me. But then again, I wouldn't stop myself from loving you. You got that?"

"Yes, Tai. Heard it clear enough."

"Taichi! Taichi!"

"What?" he called down on the ground.

"We have twenty men sick. They've got boils all over their bodies!"

(At the ground )

"What happened here?" Taichi said aloud, looking at the place. There in the center were the sick men, each crying in pain.

"Don't touch them big brother, you might get sick too." Hikari said, looking sadly at their comrades.

"How many are they?" Taichi asked.

"Three women, one boy, and sixteen men."

"Make that four women, Hikari. Geira touched her husband." Daisuke called out.

"Damn! Don't touch the sick people!" Tai ordered. "Where's Yolei? Yolei!"

Miyako hurriedly ran to Taichi. "We've been cursed, Taichi!"

Taichi's eyes flared and cursed loudly. Sora heard him and approached. "Why? What happened?"

"Someone knows where we are." Taichi muttered angrily and stuffed his hands inside his pocket.

"How could anybody know where we are?" Hikari asked.

"My message…" Sora whispered. She faced Taichi grimly. "Tai, this is my fault! They've trampled my message."

Taichi cupped Sora's face. "No, it's not your fault. I've been careless about my people…"

"No Tai. This is my fault, I'm going to find a way to deal with this."

"All we need are medicine if you want them to live. Else, we should just do what we did to Nelia." Joe said, looking at Iori who was busy attending to a crying child.

"I want them to live! And I will find them medicine." Sora said with determination.

(Nightfall )

Sora mounted Tai's horse and brought up her hood.

"Are you sure about this? You're quite few." Izzy said, looking the five hooded riders.

"Plus, most of you are women. " Taichi added. "I don't think you'll make it out of Tarben without someone following you."

"Don't worry about it. Teleportation would be handy!" Miyako exclaimed. Tai nodded and walked over to Sora.

"Are you going to come back?"

"Of course I will." Sora answered.

"Goodluck then." Tai whispered, kissing her hand while no one notices.

"Daisuke, take care of my sister. If I found bruise or scar, I'm going to kill you!" Taichi called out to Daisuke while they made their way to Tarben.

(11:30, Tarben )

"Not one of us will take something from the poor. Go to the first class houses. If they saw you, scare them but don't kill them." Sora ordered, getting down from Tai's horse.

Miyako crept inside the big mansion and made her way to the kitchen. Too dark… she thought.

"Light…"

In an instant, a lamp on the table soon lit. She smiled and took the lamp and looked at the cupboards.

"Why do their houses have to be so big?!" she grumbled, opening a closet.

"Who goes there?" A male voice called out.

She was so surprised that she almost drop the lamp. She turned her head and saw a young man, probably as tall as she was, by the kitchen door.

Oh no… I'm dead.

"What do you want?" Ken called out in the dark kitchen and pulled out his sword. He could see someone moving in the shadows.

"I'm going to kill you." He muttered.

"Whoa! Kill me?! Wait a minute there! Hold on! Wait…"

Ken cocked his eyebrow. A girl?

A hooded person stepped out of the shadows. She pulled down her hood and looked at him nervously.

"Now hold on. All I want is medicine and some of your old clothes and then I'm out." She said, just standing there.

"You're a girl." Ken pointed, trying to cover the smile appearing on his face.

"Well you got that right. Now, give me some medicine or I'll… I'll do something bad."

Ken smiled. "Judging by your face, you wouldn't harm a fly. You're far too gentle to be a killer."

She blushed. "Was that a complement or sarcasm?"

"Sarcasm? No. Complement? Yes. Now, what kind of medicine do you need?" Ken asked gently.

"To get rid of boils." She answered.

"Hmm… that's quite rare, you know, to have a medicine like that. But we do have two bottles."

Ken opened the upper closet and got two bottles and handed it to Miyako. "That's enough for about ten people."

Miyako couldn't help but to thank him. "Thank you very much sir. I shouldn't be friendly like this, but thank you. If there's anything I could do for you – "

"What's your name?"

"Oh, my name's Miyako."

Ken smiled and walked towards her. "Okay Miyako, I hope to see you real soon." He said, kissing her hand.

A gentleman… she thought, smiling. "I hope so too, Sir…?"

"Ken…" he told her smiling pleasantly.

"Sir Ken." Gorgeous name, gorgeous face… am I the luckiest woman or what? Miyako thought, smiling like a weird man.

This seems to be a first class house… Hikari thought, opening the door.

"I'm going to wait here outside for you. Call me if someone sees you."

Hikari nodded her head at Daisuke and squinted her eyes to get accustomed to the dark. She got her bow and arrow in case someone sees her.

"Where is their kitchen?" she murmured.

"Turn left." Someone answered. Her eyes widened and turned around.

"Who are you?" he asked.

I shouldn't speak, or he'll find out I'm a girl… Hikari though, getting her small knife from her small bag.

The man stepped out of the shadows and opened a lamp, bringing it up to his face. "Who are you?" he asked again.

Good thing I couldn't sleep, or else we could have been robbed… Takeru thought. He tried to see the hooded man's face but can't. He can only see its mouth.

"Are you mute?" He asked.

"NO! I'm not! Just give me medicine and your life would be spared." A girl's voice said.

A girl? That's interesting… he thought. "Medicine? For what?"

"Just give me one!" she hissed and pointed the knife at Takeru.

"Hey… Take it easy. I'm going to give you a medicine. But there's a consequence."

"And what's that?" she asked.

Takeru smiled. "What's your name?"

"Is that it?" she said.

"No." Takeru answered.

"Hikari."

Takeru smiled wider. "Okay, Hikari. I'm going to give you the medicine, if you pull that hood off your head. Do we strike a deal?"

Hikari eyed the boy angrily. He might be handsome, but he's getting in her nerves. It's already dusk, and Taichi's waiting for them.

"Deal. Where's the medicine?"

Takeru walked to the kitchen, followed by Hikari. Takeru reached on a shelf. "What kind of medicine?" he asked.

"For boils…"

"Here. My brother bought it to us from the palace." He was about to give to Hikari when he pulled back.

"What?" Hikari asked.

"Your hood." Takeru pointed.

Hikari sighed and pulled off her hood, eyeing Takeru angrily. "Satisfied?"

Takeru smiled. "Your name fits you well. You're very pretty." Takeru complemented.

And you're very handsome… Hikari thought, taking the medicine. "I'm going." She said and turned around.

"Wait…" Takeru said, grabbing her arm.

"What?"

"You trespassed our place. There's another consequence." Takeru said.

"Look, just let go of me and I'll leave now." Hikari said, glaring at Takeru.

"When can I see you again?" He asked, letting go of her arm. "I don't know… maybe never." She answered.

"Never? Well then, I can't just waste this moment if this'll be the first and last time I'll see you." Takeru said, leaning close to her. He kissed her.

Takeru pulled away, smiling upon seeing Hikari's surprised face. "What?"

"You stole my first kiss…" Hikari whispered.

"Hikari! Knights are coming! We have to go!" Daisuke said loudly, but with care as to not wake someone up.

He entered the house and saw Hikari standing there in front of someone.

With one last look at Takeru, she ran to Daisuke. They mounted their horse and galloped away.

"Who is he?" Daisuke asked.

Hikari smiled. "I don't know…"

Joe opened the last cupboard of the second kitchen and looked inside. "Two kitchens, but no medicine…" he grumbled and stepped down from the wooden chair.

"Hannah, are you there? Can you give me a glass of water? I can't sleep."

Joe's eyes widened upon hearing a familiar voice. Okay… she's a woman. I just hope she wouldn't –

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! There's a man in my house!"

Yell… Joe thought grimly. "Wait! I'm not going to…" he stopped talking and stared at the lady, remembering someone.

"You!" they said in unison.

"You're one of the bandits!" Mimi exclaimed.

"You're the princess' friend!" Joe burst out.

Mimi knelt in front of him, teary eyed. "Please take me with you. I need to see Sora."

"What?!"

Sora let out a sigh of relief upon seeing Joe on his steed, making his way towards them.

"What's with the wagon?" She asked, looking at the small wagon pulled by his horse.

"Oh that? I'll explain later. We have to go. Knights are already roaming around." He said.

"Halt! Who are you?" A knight yelled, and called his other fellow knights. "Bandits!" he shouted, pulling his sword out.

Each turned to Miyako.

"Back to our posts!" she shouted, and they vanished.

(Celetites Kingdom )

It was already 12:00 in the evening and he was outside the balcony, staring at Tarben. He couldn't sleep. God... I miss them so much. When will I see mother, Takeru... Sora. Where could she be? he thought, letting out a sigh.

"Staring at Tarben again, my love?"

"What do you want?" Yamato snapped, glaring at Jun who was walking towards him. "Can't you give me a little time for myself? I'm getting tired of seeing your face for the whole damn day of my life?" Yamato spat out at Jun who was now standing beside him behind the balcony's ledge.

Jun's face burned. Damn him...he's getting tired of my face? Why... I'm more beautiful than that Sora! she thought, enraged. "Have you decide?" she asked, changing the mood.

Yamato didn't answer and looked back at Tarben. He doesn't want to answer. All he wanted right this moment was to be alone.

I guess that would be a no...Jun thought and shrugged her shoulders. She looked at Mt. Zimu. "I wonder what's happening there right now..." she said, then giggled.

Yamato glared at Jun. She was laughing like a mad woman now. It was weird, since Yamato knows all she does is smirk.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

Jun smiled wider. "The bandits are dying." She said cheerfully.

He quirked his eyebrow. "So?"

"When they die, I'm sure Sora's with them." She sneered.

"She's not with them. She's probably back at her palace!" Yamato replied. He became nervous upon hearing Jun's statement. She's not with them… he told himself, just to calm himself down.

"And what? Praying for your safety?! Oh Yamato darling, don't get your hopes up." Jun said, patting Yamato's cheek gently. "And do you know what else I found out about your princess?"

When Yamato just glared back at her, she answered. "She's having an affair with the leader. Isn't that sad, darling? For all you know, she's praying for your safety but she's just flirting around with a low bandit!" she said, smirking.

Slap!

Jun's eyes widened and her hand caressed her left cheek, now burning in pain. "You stop saying nonsense! Sora's not like that! She'll never commit herself to anyone!" Yamato shouted angrily at Jun.

"Face it! She's a goddamn flirt! She thinks your dead!" Jun retorted back.

Yamato raised his hands again. "Shut your mouth, woman! Or I swear this next one will be more painful than the first."

"Sora is never like that. She has faith in me... and so do I." Yamato continued, bringing his hand down. How come he feels so insecure? It's like...what Jun is saying is true. I trust Sora... she'll never do that.

"I pity you Yamato... I really pity you..." Jun whispered, watching Yamato's retreating form.

review!

insane_chick quite a long chapter. anyway, hope you like this chapter and please review it. i really appreciate your reviews, you know. wait again for the next chapter. Sora and Yamato would be seeing each other soon, and Jun and Yama's wedding is also coming up. ^_________^