Whee. Well, anyways. There will be eventual Takouji! Because Takouji is
great. *smiles!* Yes. Um. Go read.
lokogato enterprises presents:
The Minstrel's Son
--
Chapter One
--
"What are you smilin' at, boy?"
Takuya looked in surprise at his adoptive father. Sharp brown eyes
were set neatly into a well-proportioned face, not young but not quite
mature yet. Moments earlier, he had been staring dreamily at the
horizon.
"Nothing, sir."
"Of course not. Now get to tunin' those lutes, or by Der'noth I'll lob
you over the head with one." Despite his threatening words, the
minstrel's eyes crinkled in a smile as he took his traveler's harp
from his pack and began to pluck and tune it, all the while skillfully
navigating the large brown horse beneath him. "Steady, you nag! Holy
Five, the way you ride, I swear I'll be naught but one large bruise by
the time we reach Astaria*!"
Takuya laughed. "You're always complaining about Firewater, but I've
seen you drive many a merchant to High Kyo'nis** who tried to buy
him." Long fingers meanwhile were twisting the pegs of a fine horn
lute held on the pommel of his saddle, emblazoned with one silver
eighth-note, denoting his trade. "I'd trade this brutish one for
Firewater any day." He emphasized his comment with a light kick to the
side of his own misty gray, who snorted and proceeded to run Takuya's
head into a low-lying branch. "Ow! You did that on purpose, fiend!"
"As if, liar." The minstrel muttered. "You'd have to be a dolt to
trade Mist for any horse, let alone Firewater. Firewater may be good
breed, but he's mere peasant's mettle compared to an Elfsteed, and
damned if she'll let you or him forget that!" Mist snorted, as if in
agreement.
Takuya tucked one tuned lute into the saddle-bag and brought out
another. "Aye, I'd say the pride of those Elves is so strong it even
runs deep in their beasts – stop fidgeting, can't you, Mist? Tuning is
delicate work ... What's that?!"
The minstrel stubbornly lowered his head and pointedly stuffed his
harp into its leather bag, taking a small reed pipe out. "Oh no, boy.
You've had me far too many times with that immature trick to deceive
me! Oh no, this one won't be believin' you unless his own two eyes be
seein' ..." His eyes widened as he too saw what Takuya's finger had
pointed at. "Boy, look! Holy – Elves!"
Indeed there were. One, then another sleek, supple Elfsteed – always
discernable by the single silvery white strip down the face from ears
to nose – soundlessly slipped onto the road ahead to neatly block the
two travelers' path. Astride the horses, elegant even in worn-out
clothing and tired faces, were two Elves – one with long blonde hair
to her mid-back, bright blue eyes and delicate but small pointed ears,
and the other with reddish hair and brown eyes, clearly of Elf blood
but also obviously of Human blood as well.
"Halt, travelers," said the blonde, younger-looking one in
Kumentungue. "To where are you headed?"
"Astaria, Lady," Said the minstrel. Aside, to Takuya, he added, "Do
you recognize her? Her cadence of speech reminds of those Elves in and
around Cadnum." Cadnum was the village Takuya had been raised in, by
the minstrel's rotund and doughty wife.
"For what purpose?" Asked the redhead, as the other gripped her
mount's sides with her thighs and came closer. "Are you minstrels?"
"Yes. I am Asbard, humbly at your service. This is my irritating
apprentice, Takuya." The minstrel managed a bow in the saddle to both
Elves. The younger's eyes widened and she came even closer.
"Do you have your papers?" Said the redhead, but was interrupted by
Takuya's somewhat nervous laugh.
"Er, I'm afraid my face isn't quite as interesting as I'd like it to
be, but ... ah ... there's no need to stare." The younger had ridden up
right next to Takuya and was intently scrutinizing his face. The
redhead looked mortified.
"Izumi! What in the name of Lord Der'noth are you doing? You can't
have a Human slave, especially not right now!" Izumi, the blonde,
looked away. Takuya breathed out in relief.
"Sorayo! I know him!" She said cheerily. Takuya's head jerked back in
surprise, then he too inspected the girl's face. His eyes widened as a
smile spread over his face.
"Izumi!" He laughed in relief. "You really threw me for a loop! I
thought you were some sort of dangerous sentry, all grimy and serious
like that! I haven't seen you for years, where have you been, Elf-
girl?" Izumi broadly grinned back at him.
"Unlike you, I haven't been dawdling around learning nothing. I've
been working as a border guard, more or less." Her tone took on a
slightly cautious air as she described her occupation, as if there was
more than it seemed. "Right now I'm employed under a pure-bred, Lord
Kouji, although he wants us all to just call him Kouji right now, as
if we could without being strung up by the second-in-command ... Oh,
Lady, Lord Kouji!" She turned to Sorayo. "I know him and his master
here, they wouldn't be caught dead making trouble. They're minstrels,
for Lord's sake!"
Sorayo shook her head sternly. "Izumi, Lord Kouji's strict orders were
to bring anyone to him unless they had papers specifically approved by
the proper authorities."
"But-"
"You know what Lieutenant Yamato will do to us if he finds out we
didn't report travelers to Lord Kouji." Sorayo sighed. "Are you sure
you didn't hear anything about papers?" She asked of Asbard. The
minstrel shook his head, looking worried.
"Is somethin' goin' on twixt the realms that's so important as to
require traveler's papers of minstrels, Lady?" He said humbly. Takuya
knew better. From the set of the bard's mustache, he could tell he was
furious. Sorayo glanced at Izumi, who stared stubbornly the other way.
"You could say so, I suppose," Sorayo said shortly. "Let's get going,
then. The sooner we reach Lord Kouji, the sooner he can issue you
passes, and the sooner you can be on your way. Believe me, this is no
less trouble for us than you." Asbard's face darkened another notch.
"Of course, Lady."
~~~~~~ --- ~~~~~~~~~
TBC~
OMG, how short a chapter. What shame. Well, the next will be up in
less than a week, I swear! It's almost done, anyways. n_n
Disclaimer: If I owned it, there would be even more Takouji moments
throughout the show than there already are. Hell, there wouldn't even
be other people ... probably just a whole lotta smuttiness. :3
Loko's back, minna!
Heh. Chapter one/Prologue. What a remarkably fast-moving chapter.
Everything happens like ... 'boom'. It happened. -_-;
No Kouji yet, but soon – very, very soon. I smile because I can't
leave Kouji out for long ... He's already been mentioned. Asbard is a
minor character, but he's kind of amusing. He may well be the only one
in this fic who has an original name. Everyone else (have you
noticed?) is from various seasons of Digimon. What great fun. :)
Eh. Let's see ... hurm. Please review! This will be, as already stated,
Takouji. Other stuff, well, it depends on how many of the other
characters I can squeeze in, ne? Let me know if you really, really,
really want to have a certain coupling, any season.
* - Astaria is a major city in the world that I've plunked Kuya-kun
in. It was initially built by Humans, but Elves took it in a war, and
since then the major powers in the city have been Elfish, although the
population is now more Human in proportion. The Humans are somewhat
restive but they sort of know that Elves are a little better at
deciding things for the common good. It's a good example of working
utilitarianism.
~ added later = waah! I just finished reading a part of +Anima I
d/led, and I was sooo depressed to find that a place name in that is
Astaria ... but, I swear! I didn't copy it!
** - Kyo'nis is a long stretch of high plains along the east edge of
the world, which I still need a name for. (Hey, Reviewers! Hint, hint)
No one has been known to travel further than that, although it is
rumored to be a land still fraught with war and darkness. People
aren't even sure if there are sentient beings there ... High Kyo'nis is
the easternmost point of the range. The phrase 'drive to high Kyo'nis'
refers to driving someone to their limits and over, as Kyo'nis sort of
represents a boundary between civilization and ... not civilization?
Yeah. Sure. Good explanation, Loko ... Kyo'nis will be an important plot
point later though!
Lord Der'noth, the Lady, etc. are all parts of the mythology of the
world (that needs a name, dammit!) and will be explained later ...
probably in dialogue ... or long paragraphs.
Wow, this A/N is almost as long as the chapter.
Kouichi: How shameful.
Silence! Well, just to keep these readers interested:
THIS IS IMPORTANT!
(VERY) Basic preview of the next chapter~! Well, Kuya goes off and
meets Kouji, who being an Elf recognizes the Elfish blood in Kuya-kun.
Thus the disgruntled Asbard and the witless Kuya get detained some
more as they get carted off to the nearest Elfish stronghold (where
Asbard gets happy. Because they pay him to entertain them.) Here, Kuya
and Kouji develop a rivalry for a reason that will be eventually
disclosed (Translation: plot in progress [PIP]). And begin the fatal
pull of attraction ... bum bum bum.
PLEASE PLEASE review. I'll cry if you don't. Flames make me happy too.
It means people felt strongly enough about it to actually say
something about it. Also, please come up with all sorts of creative,
innovative names for the 'world'. Ahh, it sounds like I'm talking
about .hack ... REVIEW!!!!!!
~Lokogato-sama
~~~~~~ --- ~~~~~~~~~
lokogato enterprises presents:
The Minstrel's Son
--
Chapter One
--
"What are you smilin' at, boy?"
Takuya looked in surprise at his adoptive father. Sharp brown eyes
were set neatly into a well-proportioned face, not young but not quite
mature yet. Moments earlier, he had been staring dreamily at the
horizon.
"Nothing, sir."
"Of course not. Now get to tunin' those lutes, or by Der'noth I'll lob
you over the head with one." Despite his threatening words, the
minstrel's eyes crinkled in a smile as he took his traveler's harp
from his pack and began to pluck and tune it, all the while skillfully
navigating the large brown horse beneath him. "Steady, you nag! Holy
Five, the way you ride, I swear I'll be naught but one large bruise by
the time we reach Astaria*!"
Takuya laughed. "You're always complaining about Firewater, but I've
seen you drive many a merchant to High Kyo'nis** who tried to buy
him." Long fingers meanwhile were twisting the pegs of a fine horn
lute held on the pommel of his saddle, emblazoned with one silver
eighth-note, denoting his trade. "I'd trade this brutish one for
Firewater any day." He emphasized his comment with a light kick to the
side of his own misty gray, who snorted and proceeded to run Takuya's
head into a low-lying branch. "Ow! You did that on purpose, fiend!"
"As if, liar." The minstrel muttered. "You'd have to be a dolt to
trade Mist for any horse, let alone Firewater. Firewater may be good
breed, but he's mere peasant's mettle compared to an Elfsteed, and
damned if she'll let you or him forget that!" Mist snorted, as if in
agreement.
Takuya tucked one tuned lute into the saddle-bag and brought out
another. "Aye, I'd say the pride of those Elves is so strong it even
runs deep in their beasts – stop fidgeting, can't you, Mist? Tuning is
delicate work ... What's that?!"
The minstrel stubbornly lowered his head and pointedly stuffed his
harp into its leather bag, taking a small reed pipe out. "Oh no, boy.
You've had me far too many times with that immature trick to deceive
me! Oh no, this one won't be believin' you unless his own two eyes be
seein' ..." His eyes widened as he too saw what Takuya's finger had
pointed at. "Boy, look! Holy – Elves!"
Indeed there were. One, then another sleek, supple Elfsteed – always
discernable by the single silvery white strip down the face from ears
to nose – soundlessly slipped onto the road ahead to neatly block the
two travelers' path. Astride the horses, elegant even in worn-out
clothing and tired faces, were two Elves – one with long blonde hair
to her mid-back, bright blue eyes and delicate but small pointed ears,
and the other with reddish hair and brown eyes, clearly of Elf blood
but also obviously of Human blood as well.
"Halt, travelers," said the blonde, younger-looking one in
Kumentungue. "To where are you headed?"
"Astaria, Lady," Said the minstrel. Aside, to Takuya, he added, "Do
you recognize her? Her cadence of speech reminds of those Elves in and
around Cadnum." Cadnum was the village Takuya had been raised in, by
the minstrel's rotund and doughty wife.
"For what purpose?" Asked the redhead, as the other gripped her
mount's sides with her thighs and came closer. "Are you minstrels?"
"Yes. I am Asbard, humbly at your service. This is my irritating
apprentice, Takuya." The minstrel managed a bow in the saddle to both
Elves. The younger's eyes widened and she came even closer.
"Do you have your papers?" Said the redhead, but was interrupted by
Takuya's somewhat nervous laugh.
"Er, I'm afraid my face isn't quite as interesting as I'd like it to
be, but ... ah ... there's no need to stare." The younger had ridden up
right next to Takuya and was intently scrutinizing his face. The
redhead looked mortified.
"Izumi! What in the name of Lord Der'noth are you doing? You can't
have a Human slave, especially not right now!" Izumi, the blonde,
looked away. Takuya breathed out in relief.
"Sorayo! I know him!" She said cheerily. Takuya's head jerked back in
surprise, then he too inspected the girl's face. His eyes widened as a
smile spread over his face.
"Izumi!" He laughed in relief. "You really threw me for a loop! I
thought you were some sort of dangerous sentry, all grimy and serious
like that! I haven't seen you for years, where have you been, Elf-
girl?" Izumi broadly grinned back at him.
"Unlike you, I haven't been dawdling around learning nothing. I've
been working as a border guard, more or less." Her tone took on a
slightly cautious air as she described her occupation, as if there was
more than it seemed. "Right now I'm employed under a pure-bred, Lord
Kouji, although he wants us all to just call him Kouji right now, as
if we could without being strung up by the second-in-command ... Oh,
Lady, Lord Kouji!" She turned to Sorayo. "I know him and his master
here, they wouldn't be caught dead making trouble. They're minstrels,
for Lord's sake!"
Sorayo shook her head sternly. "Izumi, Lord Kouji's strict orders were
to bring anyone to him unless they had papers specifically approved by
the proper authorities."
"But-"
"You know what Lieutenant Yamato will do to us if he finds out we
didn't report travelers to Lord Kouji." Sorayo sighed. "Are you sure
you didn't hear anything about papers?" She asked of Asbard. The
minstrel shook his head, looking worried.
"Is somethin' goin' on twixt the realms that's so important as to
require traveler's papers of minstrels, Lady?" He said humbly. Takuya
knew better. From the set of the bard's mustache, he could tell he was
furious. Sorayo glanced at Izumi, who stared stubbornly the other way.
"You could say so, I suppose," Sorayo said shortly. "Let's get going,
then. The sooner we reach Lord Kouji, the sooner he can issue you
passes, and the sooner you can be on your way. Believe me, this is no
less trouble for us than you." Asbard's face darkened another notch.
"Of course, Lady."
~~~~~~ --- ~~~~~~~~~
TBC~
OMG, how short a chapter. What shame. Well, the next will be up in
less than a week, I swear! It's almost done, anyways. n_n
Disclaimer: If I owned it, there would be even more Takouji moments
throughout the show than there already are. Hell, there wouldn't even
be other people ... probably just a whole lotta smuttiness. :3
Loko's back, minna!
Heh. Chapter one/Prologue. What a remarkably fast-moving chapter.
Everything happens like ... 'boom'. It happened. -_-;
No Kouji yet, but soon – very, very soon. I smile because I can't
leave Kouji out for long ... He's already been mentioned. Asbard is a
minor character, but he's kind of amusing. He may well be the only one
in this fic who has an original name. Everyone else (have you
noticed?) is from various seasons of Digimon. What great fun. :)
Eh. Let's see ... hurm. Please review! This will be, as already stated,
Takouji. Other stuff, well, it depends on how many of the other
characters I can squeeze in, ne? Let me know if you really, really,
really want to have a certain coupling, any season.
* - Astaria is a major city in the world that I've plunked Kuya-kun
in. It was initially built by Humans, but Elves took it in a war, and
since then the major powers in the city have been Elfish, although the
population is now more Human in proportion. The Humans are somewhat
restive but they sort of know that Elves are a little better at
deciding things for the common good. It's a good example of working
utilitarianism.
~ added later = waah! I just finished reading a part of +Anima I
d/led, and I was sooo depressed to find that a place name in that is
Astaria ... but, I swear! I didn't copy it!
** - Kyo'nis is a long stretch of high plains along the east edge of
the world, which I still need a name for. (Hey, Reviewers! Hint, hint)
No one has been known to travel further than that, although it is
rumored to be a land still fraught with war and darkness. People
aren't even sure if there are sentient beings there ... High Kyo'nis is
the easternmost point of the range. The phrase 'drive to high Kyo'nis'
refers to driving someone to their limits and over, as Kyo'nis sort of
represents a boundary between civilization and ... not civilization?
Yeah. Sure. Good explanation, Loko ... Kyo'nis will be an important plot
point later though!
Lord Der'noth, the Lady, etc. are all parts of the mythology of the
world (that needs a name, dammit!) and will be explained later ...
probably in dialogue ... or long paragraphs.
Wow, this A/N is almost as long as the chapter.
Kouichi: How shameful.
Silence! Well, just to keep these readers interested:
THIS IS IMPORTANT!
(VERY) Basic preview of the next chapter~! Well, Kuya goes off and
meets Kouji, who being an Elf recognizes the Elfish blood in Kuya-kun.
Thus the disgruntled Asbard and the witless Kuya get detained some
more as they get carted off to the nearest Elfish stronghold (where
Asbard gets happy. Because they pay him to entertain them.) Here, Kuya
and Kouji develop a rivalry for a reason that will be eventually
disclosed (Translation: plot in progress [PIP]). And begin the fatal
pull of attraction ... bum bum bum.
PLEASE PLEASE review. I'll cry if you don't. Flames make me happy too.
It means people felt strongly enough about it to actually say
something about it. Also, please come up with all sorts of creative,
innovative names for the 'world'. Ahh, it sounds like I'm talking
about .hack ... REVIEW!!!!!!
~Lokogato-sama
~~~~~~ --- ~~~~~~~~~
