By popular demand, lokogato enterprises presents the third chapter! … what popular demand … ?

The Minstrel's Son

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Chapter Three

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"This is all I needed?" Takuya gaped in disbelief at the small certificate held out before him. "We were detained for two days just so I could get a piece of paper proving I'm not all Human?"

"Yes." Lord Kouji growled, obviously not in the best of moods. "This. You wouldn't know how much trouble this was to get on such short notice. If it weren't for the fact that you're minstrels and very eager to get wherever it is you're going, I would never have had this on such short notice. This still isn't official. It'll just get you past the border guard. You'll still need to go get it officially registered."

"How difficult could it be to get a piece of paper signed?" Takuya retorted. Izumi kicked him, hard and he almost yelped. Lord Kouji eyed him oddly and shook his head. "My Lord." He remembered.

"Don't you realize there's paperwork needed to make a certificate? Just take it and go. We need to leave." He shoved the paper into Takuya's unresisting hand and walked away, only to be interrupted by a certain flustered blue-haired advisor.

"But, my Lord, you need rest first!" He stammered, reaching out and stopping just short of touching the Elf Lord. "You haven't had rest since you arrived last night. All that needed to be done in Lornin is done, and now that I've managed to find you we can afford to take our time!"

Lord Kouji frowned and shook his head. "I'll be fine, Joe. Send word to Yamato that I'll be ready to go by the time they finish lunch."

Takuya blinked. The Elf Lord hadn't slept last night? Work to do in Lornin? Lornin, a well-known Elf resting place, was rarely used for work. The current Lord here, in fact, had nothing that could be called soldiers except a few bodyguards and his young son was well known for riding out unprotected for days. His ears pricked as Izumi told him from the corner of her mouth to not move until dismissed.

'How is that Lord Kouji running on no sleep?'

Joe backed out of the room, a worried expression on his face. "Well, my Lord, as your advisor I advise that you take a quick nap in that hour, or I fear you may fall from your saddle."

A smile crossed Lord Kouji's mouth and he waved his hand dismissively. "Stop worrying, Joe. It does no good for your health. I've had worse; I'll be fine. You, on the other hand, I believe might be the one to fall from your saddle." Joe started to say something but the brief spate of humor that had flared in the serious Elf Lord's face for a moment was already gone, and he shook his hand imperiously and ushered the company out of his room.

Takuya blinked at the door, then the floor as he started to head, somewhat dazedly, towards what he believed to be the direction of his room. If it weren't for the fact that Izumi and Joe had both reacted to it, he would have thought he'd imagined the Lord's smile, but it had happened.

'That makes it once, in two days I've known him, that I've seen him really smile. Does this guy have a load on his mind or what?'

But, he mused to himself as he turned yet another corner, it wasn't altogether unpleasant. Too many he knew threw their smiles around like copper, common and meaningless. This Lord Kouji, on the other hand, gave his out rarely and seemed to let you know, somehow, that it was definitely something rare and precious. Like gold, and as a minstrel Takuya knew the value of gold.

He'd been walking for the better part of a half-hour when, lost in his thoughts, he ran into someone for the second time in fourteen hours, and stumbled to the ground, holding his head and woozily stammering apologies.

'Izumi's prophecy is coming true! Takuya, snap out of it! You are not obsessed with that self-satisfied Elf!'

"Oh, it's you." The now-familiar voice rang out in front of him. "What are you doing in this part of the castle?"

He stared at the slight figure, muddy and ripped traveler's cloak swathed around a slender body and deep blue eyes incredibly bright in a pale face. "Lord Kouji?" Said Lord rolled his eyes and extended a hand, amazingly, to help Takuya to his feet.

"No, Lady Astar herself. Yes, Lord Kouji. And I repeat, what are you doing here?" Takuya, unaffected by sarcasm as he was overly used to it from his guardian, took the proffered hand and rose, dusting himself off.

"I'm sort of lost." He said abashedly. "I was looking for my room, you know, in the guest wing and I guess I took a few wrong turns, so, uh, yeah. I'm sort of lost." He finished lamely repeating his initial statement. What was it about Lord Kouji that made him so embarrassed when he said something stupid? With most other people he just laughed it off, but damned if he wasn't blushing madly again.

"Sort of lost?" Lord Kouji raised an eyebrow, a gesture that Takuya little knew he would become very accustomed to. "You mean, you sort of know your way, and you sort of don't? That is an awkward state to be in."

"No! I mean, yes! Well, that is, er …" Takuya trailed off, thoroughly confused by Lord Kouji's somewhat circular logic. "Ah, what I mean is, I'm lost. Completely lost. Utterly lost. I have absolutely no idea which way to go." He finally admitted, pulling his hat off and running his hand through his hair absent-mindedly, an unconscious effort to hide the blush.

"Well, I'm glad you've decided what you are." Lord Kouji said. "Well, I happen to be heading towards the general direction of the guest wing. Since I can't have you wandering here, at any rate, I'll take you as far as I'm going, and leave you to wander there. How is that, Half-Elf, or will it be necessary to escort you the entire way to your room?"

Takuya, slightly insulted by the Elf's cold smirk and irked by the suggestion under the words that he was incapable of returning to his quarters, retorted rather rudely, "I can find it on my own, thanks."

"Well, I'm afraid there might be too much meandering aimlessly through the hallways should I allow that to happen." Lord Kouji returned flawlessly. "And aimlessness leads to nosiness, and we can't have that, can we? No matter. It's no trouble to me." Seeing Takuya's reticence, he took an arm in a deceptively placid motion and, with a hold like steel, forcibly started Takuya walking. "Really," He added, "I insist. What kind of person would I be to allow someone to walk around lost?"

Takuya frowned, suspicious. "As long as it's not troubling … My Lord."

'What's in Lornin that he's so very eager to hide?'

The silence that permeated the hallways was broken only by the sound of their footsteps, eerily smothered by the deep carpet. Takuya gnawed his finger until he realized what he was doing, hid his hands in his pockets, whistled, stopped, and became very intent upon his feet, counting the seconds between each step. The silence seemed to be trying to squeeze the air out of him as he found himself breathing harder than he should have been, and tried to steady his breath. Of course he wasn't sneaking looks at the Elf Lord, who was amazingly entirely unperturbed by the quiet.

Just as Takuya thought he'd go mad with the repetitive footsteps, Lord Kouji spoke. The sigh of relief that Takuya had been ready to breathe was stopped by the words that fell on the air.

"Actually, I needed to talk to your guardian about your troublesome Elfish lineage. I may as well go see him now. Where might he be?" Takuya blinked. Troublesome?

"I wouldn't know. He may be in the room, but then again he may be out grubbing for money." Lord Kouji nodded.

"How like a minstrel. No matter, I'll track him down sooner or later. Sooner preferably. You don't mind, do you, if I take a look in your room to see if I can't find him?" The politeness of the Elf's tone, belying the words, grated on Takuya's nerves for some reason, the impersonal tone somehow irritating.

"Sure." He ground out. "Why not, my Lord."

"Indebted, I'm sure." Said Lord Kouji carelessly. "Well, this is the guest wing, I believe, and as I don't know where exactly your room is, I suppose it's now your turn to be the guide." Takuya looked around, finally pinpointing his landmark – a large rusty suit of armor with a message scrawled on it with a blade, Jenrya is a big meanie.

"We turn left here. My Lord." Takuya pointed before realizing that the Elf could see perfectly well and dropped his hand. He followed the pattern on the wall aimlessly, until he saw his second landmark, a stain that looked like blood but he was sure was probably only coffee. Or something like that, he hoped. He turned to Lord Kouji, intent on breaking the suffocating silence, and was surprised when the Elf spoke first.

"Blood." He noted, brushing a finger across the stain.

"What?" Takuya asked stupidly.

"You're part Elf, you can sense it too." Lord Kouji said irritably, then added, in an offhand tone, "Someone's died here."

Takuya stared in disbelief. "How can you say that in that kind of voice?" He demanded.  Lord Kouji stared back at him, blue eyes coldly and very slightly bemused.

"What kind of voice?" He asked frostily after a pause, while Takuya tried to look everywhere but the Elf and the bloodstain. "If you think I sound heartless for not breaking into tears at the mention of death, then you are more of a naïve small-town fool than I thought. Dying happens every day, every minute. If it were cause for sadness none would ever cease to cry."

Takuya frowned, disconcerted and embarrassed by the insult, and retorted, "There's no need to treat it so lightly either." Lord Kouji's eyebrows shot up in surprise, the most expressive face Takuya had yet seen from him.

"Light? Is that how it sounded?" He laughed then, the sound shivering through the air and sending Takuya's nerves haywire. Every pinprick of hearing seemed to overwhelm his brain as he stood and absorbed the resonant echoes. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as the fathomless blue eyes came to rest on him again, unexpected amusement flickering in their depths. "If that's the way you chose to interpret my tone, then be assured it was not meant so. However," he added, "The fact that you react so strongly suggests either a rather traumatized person, else you indeed are someone from the backwoods where dying is hidden away from children."

Takuya flushed. "I'm no child! And for the record, I'm not trau – er … whatever else it was you said either!" Takuya actually had no clue what traumatized meant, but he wasn't about to give Lord Kouji the satisfaction of being correct.

Lord Kouji was about to reply when suddenly they reached the door and Asbard appeared, seemingly from nowhere, jingling again. Takuya's ears turned red once more, and for the first time he felt almost ashamed of his guardian. It was true, minstrels were a somewhat money-loving group, but there was no need to look so absolutely exultant over it.

"Takuya!" He began, then saw Lord Kouji and bowed quickly. "Lord Kouji! What brings you here?"

"There's no need to be so formal, minstrel." The stiffness of the words contrasted sharply with the words themselves, and Takuya was surprised to see the remarkable difference between the almost cheerful Lord Kouji of moments ago and the distant, polite Lord Kouji of the present. "I merely needed to see you for certain requirements for the boy's certification."

Takuya's anger rose again. Hadn't Izumi said something about the Lord being young?

'Boy? He can't be much older than me!'

"I'll be sixteen in fall." He challenged. The Elf nodded.

"Congratulations."

Takuya blushed, realizing the juvenile way in which he had behaved was completely inappropriate, and, he mentally added, rude, especially to one above his station. Asbard opened the door and led the way inside while Takuya fervently hoped the room was at least half-decently clean. For some inexplicable reason, Lord Kouji struck him as the kind of person who appreciated cleanliness.

"Er, well, I guess that's it." He said aloud, feeling awkward now that their goal had been accomplished, and not quite sure what to do. "My Lord. Um, should I stay, or would you like me to leave?"

Lord Kouji blinked and turned to Asbard. "I suppose that would be up to your guardian. Whether or not you wish him to stay while you relate the story of his young life." One eyebrow rose in a questioning manner as he leaned against a wall, hidden in shadow.

Asbard shrugged, gesturing for Takuya and the Lord to sit. "He's heard it all before. But if I may, might I ask why and exactly what you need to know, my Lord?"

"Takuya is not your child, no?" Takuya almost jumped when he heard his name from Lord Kouji for the first time. Something about the intonation made it seem different, somehow, than when others said it. Asbard eyed him funny and shook his head in agreement with Lord Kouji. "So I would like to know who his parents are, where he came from, that sort of thing."

"Well, I actually don't know who his parents might be." Asbard pulled a chair out. "Really, my Lord, you must sit, after all how could we let you stand while we rest? Anyways," He said, continuing, "Takuya was brought to us by a mysterious person, an Elf, when he was about one or two. He was very young."

Lord Kouji slowly stepped into the light, accepting the seat, and settled with the air of a coiled spring, tense like a wildcat. Takuya found himself watching the play of light over the fine, pale skin of the Elf's face and neck. Asbard's eyes widened as he caught sight of the Lord's features. "Have you any idea who this Elf was?"

"You, my Lord!" Asbard blinked several times and then nodded. "It was definitely you! I'd remember that face anywhere. You can't have been more than five or six at the time, but 'twas you brought Takuya to us!"

Lord Kouji stared, speechless, then his mouth worked and he found one word. "Me?"

Takuya spoke at the same time as the Lord, equally shocked, "Him?"

~~~~~~ --- ~~~~~~~~~

"But Asbard, how could it have been Lord Kouji?" Takuya ranted after Lord Kouji had left, saying that he would 'look into it'. "There's no way, it can't have been! Why would he take it upon his too-holy self to bring a Half-Elf child to a Human family?"

Asbard shrugged. "I wouldn't know. I just know it was definitely that face." He said stubbornly. "I'd remember it if it were the last thing left, the night you were brought to us. Our very own bundle of troubles."

Takuya sighed, and sank onto the bed, making himself comfortable. "Alright, I can tell you're going to tell a story and there's nothing I can do about it, so go ahead."

"Smart, boy." Asbard stroked his short beard thoughtfully. "Well, as I said you were but a baby, and the Elf was maybe five or six. It was directly after the sack of Sutasi, and the Missus and I were setting out our evenin' meal when suddenly a ferocious storm broke out, as if from nowhere. We ran about closing the shutters and herding in the animals, and I was about ready to go back into the house when the Missus shrieked …

"Asbard! Oh, quickly, you idiot man, quickly!" Asbard looked up from the doorway, muttering about wives and their uselessness. Despite his annoyance, he hastened towards the sound of his wife's cries and finally caught sight of her ample backside, swishing about agitatedly.

"What is it, you vile woman? Can't a man sit to his dinner in peace?"

"Shut up, fool! There's a boy half-dead here!" Asbard quickened his pace, coming to stand beside her and looked down.

"Whose is it?" He asked.

"None of the villagers!" She exclaimed. "But he's just a child, bring him into the house quickly! Look at him, ragged and pale." So they carried the light figure into the small house and wrapped him in a blanket, dribbling water over his lips until he finally came around, eyelids flickering open to reveal deep blue eyes.

"Please …" He croaked.

"Don't try to speak, child." Mistress Dobblin brought the water to his mouth again, but he shook his head feebly.

"Take him, please …" He said, voice hoarse with effort, and he moved his arms to reveal the bundle he had been carrying. "You are … a minstrel … yes?"

The bundle unexpectedly moved, and Asbard caught it just before it hit the floor. "By Der'noth, it's alive!" He exclaimed, just as a small hand reached out of the cloth and grabbed onto his beard. "And Der'noth, it's strong!" He grunted, trying unsuccessfully to pull away.

The boy breathed out a sigh of relief. "He's alive." Mistress Dobblin turned back to him.

"Yes, and now you can rest. You must stay a while, poor thing, and get better, and we'll find your parents … oh, Lady!" She gasped.

"What is it now?" Asbard grumbled, having finally managed to free himself of the child's grasp.

"He's fainted dead away!" She said, fanning the air with her hand in an effort that was unclear as to whether it was directed more at the boy or herself. "Asbard, give that child to me or you'll kill it. You get the guest bed ready, and I'll get our guest ready. What are you standin' there starin' for, you idiot? Do it quickly!" Asbard ambled away, grumbling under his breath.

The next morning, Asbard was awakened by his wife's startled exclamations. "Asbard, come here! The boy's gone!"

He came into the guest room, rubbing sleep from his eyes. "What is it now, wretch?"

"That child, he's gone!" She pointed to the bed, neatly made, eyes wide. "Where could he have gone?"

"At least he had the decency to make the bed." Asbard noted. "And left us the baby, didn't he?" Sure enough, the baby was snuffling quietly in its sleep, turning to grab fistfuls of blanket and stuffing them into its mouth.

"What are you talkin' about, fool? That boy, he was is such poor condition, where would he go?" She fanned herself with her hand again, simultaneously pulling the shades open and smoothing out non-existent creases in the bedspread.

"Elves'll do what they will. He probably had a mission to fulfill or somethin'. Likelier than not the child is an orphan. Elves are known for bringin' children with no parents to those that'll care for them." Asbard stretched and went to look for coffee.

"Elf! That child was an Elf?" She cried.

"Aye, didn' you see the ears, woman?" He growled. "Or were you too busy fussin' and complainin' as usual?"

"Why would you give a child to a minstrel's family?" She asked.

"Who knows? Probably didn' know better."

"He asked if we were minstrels, Asbard." She snapped, handing him a mug and turning to bang down pots and pans. "And what will we do with a child, now, man? You travel more often than not and I have enough to deal with bein' village warden."

"Aye." He said, not fully awake. "You take it durin' the school year. I'll take it durin' the summer. Twixt us it'll grow up a fine young thingy or other."

"You fool!"

But that was the way it was. And that is how it has been since. That's right, I've been burdened with the loudest, most obnoxious fool of a child for every summer for near fifteen summers now." Asbard concluded.

Takuya threw his head back onto the pillow. "I love how you describe me as 'it', old man." He sighed. "But are you sure it was Lord Kouji?"

Asbard shrugged. "It sure looked like it. But then, he seemed a tad too shocked for it to be him, didn' he?"

"He probably forgot." Takuya said meanly. "After all, of what consequence is a Half-Elf commoner to an Elf Lord?"

"Der'noth." Swore Asbard. "You're really part Elf then?"

"Yes." Takuya said, before turning over and starting to pick threads out of the pristine white bed covers.

"And to think, all this time, I had a huge cash opportunity right on hand and I didn't exploit it." Asbard moaned. "All the money I could have made – can you see it, Takuya? 'Half-Elf child! Real, before your eyes! One gold piece to feel his ears.'" Takuya stared.

"You were supposed to raise me into a 'fine young man'?" He asked, incredulous. "I'm just surprised you didn't sell me to a brothel when you had a chance."

"You wouldn't have brought much." Izumi's voice floated in from the doorway, startling both in the room. "Personally I think you'd have had more money from the feeling of the ears thing, although that is quite distasteful."

"Ah, my Lady!" Asbard said. "We didn't notice you."

"That was the idea." She said with a smile. "Now then, Takuya, it appears you found your way back at last." Not giving Takuya a chance to retaliate, she continued, "Lord Kouji has you currently labeled as 'parents unknown', do you know? But he's tacked a 'likely Sutasi victim' onto the end of that. Can you believe it? A Sutasi victim, Takuya, that means you're granted about 75% chance of finding your real parents."

"Indebted, I'm sure." Takuya said, mocking the Elf Lord's words and tone. Izumi frowned at him, but allowed him the petty insult. There was a pause, and then Takuya asked, hesitantly, "So where will the Lord be heading next?"

Izumi stared at him blankly, then roared with laughter, finally crowing, "I was right! You've gone and fallen head over heels for his Lordship! Now you'll stalk him down until you finally get your wits enough together to profess your undying love!" Takuya sputtered incoherently, ears turning an unhealthy shade of red, and he would have launched himself for the seemingly defenseless Elf's throat had Asbard not held him down.

"Will you give up on that already?" He growled exasperatedly. "I've told you more than thrice now I've nothing but dislike for that arrogant, self-important creature that calls himself an Elf Lord!"

"So do the Council and all Astarian records." She said, finally calming down enough to speak. "Ah, speaking of Astaria. You're planning on continuing with us, aren't you?" She asked, turning to Asbard for confirmation. "Well, we're going to be heading for Astaria, Takuya, and if you want to follow along I suggest you request that you come under protection. Otherwise if we get into a skirmish you'll be left to fend for yourself."

"Skirmish?" Asbard asked. "Are the borders really that troublesome?"

Izumi snorted. "You mean, is Kananth* really having that much trouble with Sarin**." When both minstrels looked blankly at her, she sighed and elaborated. "Sarin and Kananth are having absolute fits over a recent prophecy from both Kulodis*** and Zenith****. It talks about replaying the entire darkness-light war, with new people. But since borders have obviously been adjusted since that incident, it's highly debatable whether 'stone high' refers to Zenith or Kulodis. Of course both want to claim it."

"Oh." Said Takuya, blinking. "What's so important about 'stone high'?"

"They aren't telling us." She said. "But we have a suspicion that likely it's a birthplace or something. Or the site of a battle. Sorayo says that it might even be the place where Lady Astar has been sleeping. And if it's the Lady, obviously Kananth would want to claim it. After all, its capitol is named after her."

"I see." Said Asbard, nodding sagaciously.

"I see." Said Takuya as well, not really seeing at all, but not wanting to sound stupid.

"Well then," Izumi said brightly to alleviate the mood. "Asbard, I'm sure you're tired after playing all last night and this morning. Takuya, why don't you go and entertain the hungry crowds for the moment?"

Takuya stared. "Why?" Izumi rolled her eyes.

"So you can earn money." Asbard said. "I agree. I'm dead tired, and I need more sleep than I got. You go fetch yourself some spendin' money. After all, in Astaria, you'll need it."

Izumi, not waiting for an answer, grabbed Takuya's arm and dragged the startled boy out of the room. "Wha – hold on, I need my …" In response she snagged his bag as well, bringing winces from both Takuya and the old minstrel as the contents clinked.

"Have fun!" Called Asbard as he shut the door.

~~~~~~ --- ~~~~~~~~~

"You could have dented one of the instruments!" Takuya griped as he examined his harp. Izumi merely shrugged and turned into a hallway from which the sounds of laughter and merrymaking came. "Why were you so eager to drag me down here, anyways?"

"Asbard told me you knew a few of the original versions of the legend songs." She explained. "The current ones that are floating around have been so romanticized that the original story has become more than a little warped. Because of the prophecy, everyone is really eager to hear the original versions."

"Why couldn't he have done it?" Takuya muttered unhappily. "I'm sure he knows them just as well as I do."

"Would you believe me if I said it came from the goodness of my own heart and I really wanted you to earn some money?" She asked hopefully. Takuya stared at her, still holding the harp, and started laughing. Izumi faked a pout. "Do you really trust me that little?"

"Yes." Takuya said, finally managing to stop. "The goodness of your heart …" He trailed off into derisive laughter again.

"Come on." She said impatiently. "It isn't that funny. Takuya, the truth is, I wanted you to come along because – my Lord!" Takuya's head shot up, his hands nearly dropping the delicate harp.

'This guy is everywhere!'

"Izumi." Lord Kouji nodded. "You." He inclined his head almost undetectably at Takuya, cold condescension in his eyes. Takuya flushed with anger.

"My Lord." He replied tensely. Izumi looked back and forth, obviously suppressing a smile. Takuya glared at her, convincing himself that it was not an attempt to avoid the dark blue eyes.

"May I inquire as to why the Lord is wandering in the lowly Guard quarters?" Izumi said, surprisingly capable of politeness.

"Well now, what's so lowly about the Guard?" He asked, a hint of amusement in the slight tilt of his head. "I certainly can't claim to be much cleaner than any." Izumi laughed, a somewhat flirty and girlish air tingeing the usually hearty sound. Takuya looked at her in surprise, seeing her coy pose and sweet smile that seemed to affect the Elf Lord not at all.

'She's after him too, so why's she always so – what am I thinking, 'too'? She's after him, just after, not too. I'm not after a stuck up, prissy Elf!'

"My Lord is too gracious." She said. "Will the Lord be joining us at the commons hall, then?"

"My heart is sorely dejected to reveal the news, but I fear not." He returned flawlessly. "And did I not request that my Guard address me by me given name?"

"Certainly, but you're far too high in rank above us for us to call you such without a great breach of etiquette." Izumi said. Takuya, watching the exchange, couldn't help but wonder at Elves, the playful formality both the Lord and Izumi were using as easily as if they had been born speaking it.

"Certainly." Lord Kouji said dryly. "Well then, Izumi, I hate to leave my Guard without the less-than-pleasant company of their leader, but there are pressing matters that need to be attended to. I'm afraid I must take my leave of you now." He inclined his head graciously, and, turning to Takuya, suddenly allowed a hint of a smirk. "And you, young Half-Elf. Fearing I may not be able to see you before fall, Lady forbid, many happy returns." Takuya blushed wildly.

"I – ah-" He sputtered. "Th–thank you. My Lord." He finally ground out, still bright red.

Lord Kouji looked strangely at him, then suddenly reached out and brushed a smudge of dirt from Takuya's face, wearing a half-smile. He drew his hand back quickly, looking surprised as if he had acted completely on impulse, and for the first time Takuya thought he could detect a hint of embarrassment. His own face was burning.

"Ah …" Said the Lord in the uncomfortable silence. "I take my leave." He finished and hastily retreated.

Izumi blinked after the Lord had disappeared down the hall. "You mean, Takuya, you've already given him your birthday?" She teased, elbowing him sharply in the ribs, winding him. "My, I thought you were pretty far but I had no clue you'd gotten so much progress!"

"What are you talking about?" He finally managed. "I'm not – I didn't, I mean, we didn't … ah …"

"Didn't what?" She asked.

"We – argh! You know what?" He growled.

"What?"

"Go away."

~~~~~~ --- ~~~~~~~~~

(A/N: I got really, really lazy. So there is no text. Imagine Takuya singing. On second thought, don't … And I sincerely apologize for the really, really lame and crappy poetry.)

Ages ago upon our fresh young shore

Strife and warfare the land had tore

Tears immeasurable, the people mourned

Waiting for light to return once more

Born upon stone high came there

Of light and dark was two a pair

Saw them the aged mountain declared

Never were there two more fair

Alas! Came time when two were split

When stone high fire ceased to spit

To darkness one was a treasured gift

And to light, the other given it

Both grew not knowing the other

Neither dreaming he had a brother

Consumed with sadness young died the mother

And thus all memories soon were smothered

Darkness finally traded with light

Desperate now to end the strife

Yet the price was unseemly high

Both fair brothers would lose their life

Now! A Lady, noble and fine

Comes finally, now is the time

She said, "Let instead it be I,

Let them live, and I shall die."

Moved by such love, light and dark

Did to the Lady kindly hark

But instead of cruelly stopping her heart

Let her lie at the place she'd marked

And Men will guard her, for it is known

Men will die before Elves are grown

And they will forget the truth of their gold

But remain they will, till all is old

Light and dark will return again

Again the world will seem to end

Pain will rule throughout the land

And Lady she will rise again

~~~~~~ --- ~~~~~~~~~

"Is it coming time then?"

"I fear so, big brother."

"We will head for Astaria, yes?"

"Yes, big brother. May I …"

"Bring him. There's little I could do to stop him from following, is there?"

"Yes, it is as you say. But, I fear, perhaps …"

"What is it?"

"It is … it means nothing. It will likely come to nothing."

"And the legend songs? What of they?"

"They too, mean nothing …"

~~~~~~ --- ~~~~~~~~~

TBC~

* - Kananth – the country in which Kuya and the current cast are in. It's kind of the strongest country as of the moment, but it has considerable quarrels with the neighboring country of Sarin. Astaria is located in the southwesterly part.

** - Sarin – the country that argues with Kananth a lot. Capitol, Zenarik. It is the closest to Kananth in power because it has an Elf Mountain as well, Zenith. Zenarik is pretty far from Astaria, in fact almost the furthest point of Sarin from Kananth. The two countries are separated by a large triangle-shaped stretch of forest and a river. Which I'll name at some point, hopefully.

*** - Kulodis – the Elf Mountain of Kananth. Where Kouji comes from! Yeah! o It's always in dispute with Zenith, which is why a similar prophecy has become such a big deal.

**** - Zenith – the Elf Mountain of Sarin. It'll be explained better later, I hope. At least, I'm planning.

Iya! More character development. I scare me. Really I do. And what's with the cheesy legends? And the cheesy poems? You'd figure with the high level of artistry they'd have better poems, ne? And the mysterious people at the end! Well … I'm not sure if they're mysterious or not … but you'll find out soon. If not in the next chapter, then the one after that! ;P

Now then. PLEASE HELP! -

Does anyone know the Japanese name of Jenrya (Henry)'s little sister? In the English she was 'Suzy', was her Japanese name the same, or was it dubbed too? Please help! She's the one that wrote 'Jenrya is a big meanie', by the way. I know, who would give a little kid a knife? Now, rephrase that to, who would give a little kid a dark lord/digimon/master thingie? I forget. I don't remember much of III. It went by too fast.

Well then. Review, please!

Replies to reviews. Oh, did I mention? I have very entertaining reviewers. They amuse me, really. I couldn't explain why. Go read them for yourself …

verdenda – You horrible, horrible perverted person. I'm never going to be able to look at that line the same again! Of course I knew when I wrote it that it would only be a matter of time before someone noticed the subliminal message … But still! Cast-iron skillet! *klang klang* I write better? O.o If my English teacher (bitch!) had her way she'd say it's because I learned about subordinate clauses and crap. I refuse to agree! I knew how to connect sentences before she told me. I don't like her much, can you tell?

takuya – OMG, I'm talking to Takuya?! Eeks! Marry me! Ok … um … yes. J/k. Yes, I do have more than one reviewer. Much indebted! Domo arigatou! And as for Kouichi, our beloved angst character, yes, he is in this fic. In fact, he's a major plot point … I have a plot?! *gasp* So Kouichi will appear. Unfortunately, not soon, but he WILL be here! It was totally implied in my pitiful attempt at song writing. Koffdarkkoff.

Dragi – Nice to have you review again. Thank you! :D Yay, it's improving. I'm sooo happy! Overjoyed! And as for the next chapter, I swear it should be up soon. I think. Probably. Many interesting things and people happen in the next chapter. And how is Takuya going to end up with Kouji anyway? All will be revealed! … Maybe.

flamon-fan – Wow, just that name is amusing. I'm glad you like it. Hope you read on!

Rebecca Lyn – The plot thickens indeed! And even more so in chapter three. It's become like hearty Irish beef stew (the canned kind)! Don't worry about not reviewing. I'm happy enough that you just read the first chapter. Smile, smile! Grin like idiots and dance around singing, Takouji, Takouji!

Saikisu – You want more? Well, I try to please so here it is. Hope it lived up to your expectations, but then again, the plot seems to be dragging along really slowly. It will speed up soon, I swear!

Alright. Does anyone mind if I throw in other couples, just to stew the pot of confusion even more? Yes. Like Yamato/Taichi, Jenrya/Takato, stuffage like that. Mebbe even Daiken, but I'm hard-pressed to figure out how I'd make that work. I think the only people that might still be straight by the end of this fic may well be Ryo and Ruki, and Takeru and Hikari. I'm sorry. Takari was my first foray into fanfiction, so … I suppose it's probably my last tribute to them. And het in general. Ryo and Ruki I always wanted to write but never got around to, because III ended. If you want a vote, please TELL ME! Well then.

REVIEW!!!

Domo,

~Lokogato-sama

Chapter Four:

Basically Takuya actually makes it to Astaria (interesting events occur along the way) and enters the Council for as-of-now undisclosed reasons. Forced together day in and day out, Kouji and Takuya develop a mutual grudging admiration and maybe more … More details about all the border fuss and FINALLY some real plot development! Yeah! And more characters will be introduced. Probably. Yesh.

I think I should have all of the Season III characters by Ch. 4, and likely a lot of the I/II characters as well. And whattabout the rest of IV, you ask? Well, you'll have to keep reading to find out.

Ugh. That just begged for, "Don't forget to tune in next time to: Digimon: Digital Monsters."

Except … "Don't forget to tune in next time to: Loko's Demented Works: The Minstrel's Son."

REVIEW! *hearts*