Gomen ne for the lateness of this update! Please forgive me

looks at clock Mon dieu, it's frickin' 12 at night … arggghh … the lengths I go for plot angels and inspiration … staggers to sleep

Dedicated to Ryo-chan, because she read and fixed the draft. And because there are SO many ideas of hers in this chapter. I love you! You rock!

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The Minstrel's Son

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Chapter Four

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"Takuya? Takuya! Wake up, dummy!" Takuya jolted awake as someone gently slapped the back of his head.

"Wha-? Huh?" He said, blinking blearily at the person. "Who? Izumi?"

"You scare me sometimes." Izumi said, a bemused look on her face. "How can you sleep while riding Mist, for Lady's sake? She has to be the highest-spirited thing I've seen. And you're sleeping on her!"

Takuya brushed stray hair off his forehead, slowly restarting his thinking process. "You'd be surprised at how easy it is to fall asleep if you're used to long rides. But," He continued, finally looking around to gauge their location, "Since you're a Guard unit you're more often riding hard in quick short bursts, so you wouldn't have much chance to sleep in the saddle."

"Or maybe you're just lazy." Izumi snorted. "Anyways, I woke you up to tell you we're going to take a break for lunch. After this it's about another half-day or so to Astaria."

"Oh, good." Takuya said. "A break, finally!"

"Except since you've been sleeping, you're going to help set up and serve lunch." Izumi said viciously, smiled sweetly and rode off. Takuya groaned, but brightened up somewhat. Serving lunch? He'd never tried it before and maybe, he reasoned, it could be interesting. He wasn't one to turn down new experiences.

"Alright then. How hard can it be?"

---

"I take it all back!" Takuya cried desperately. "It's hard! It's way harder than I thought it would be! Please let me go!"

"Nuh-uh." Izumi said. "Everyone else has been riding hard and on watch, while you slept away. You should do something to help out, especially since you're going under our protection after all."

"What?" Takuya half-squeaked, adolescent voice breaking. "Hey, that was totally not my fault! You people wouldn't give us passes so we had to come along!"

Izumi shrugged. "Not my problem." Her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, 'you people'? You're a Half-blood too, remember?" She snarled. Takuya blinked at her, surprised at what appeared to be anger, until suddenly she laughed and whacked him upside the head. "Gotcha! Anyways, we can't spare anyone for lunch duty. Sorry, but it's actually a high-risk … er, that is, it's not, um … yes. We're very busy."

Takuya raised an eyebrow at her as she stumbled over her words clumsily, hastily turning to stir the stew again. Wordlessly, she handed a bowl of soup to him, glaring at him as if he had done something wrong.

Suddenly a cry rang out from the far end of the camp, causing both Half-Elves to jump. Takuya spilled half of the soup onto the table and began to curse, but Izumi shushed him sharply, wearing a worried expression. When the yell came again, there was no mistaking the words.

"Ambush!"

Takuya instantly dropped everything and started, at a half-running half-diving pace, for his horse and bags. At least, he tried. Izumi snagged his shirt at the last moment, yelling into his face.

"Idiot! Just because you're under protection doesn't mean you don't do anything! Now watch the food!" She mounted her bay and reached into her saddlebags, bringing out a sling of arrows and stringing her bow before riding off with a final warning. "If so much as a drop is spilled, I'll murder you!"

Grumbling and in a high state of anger, Takuya settled back to the table, looking around at every sound of conflict. Soon, the sounds of an all-out skirmish were filling the clearing and he could clearly see the small Elf patrol faltering under the onslaught from the attackers.

"What am I supposed to guard the food with?" He suddenly realized, seeing that the most lethal weapon he had in easy range was a pot. His eyes fell on the bags he had dived for previously. There was a small dagger inside, but he had never expected to be attacked within Kananth and thus hadn't decided to wear it. That, and the fact that it dug into his leg irritatingly.

A cry alerted him to the state of the guard, and he saw a small section cave in, allowing a group of the ambushers to rampage into the midst of the camp, overturning fires and bags. One caught sight of him and began to head towards the food table. Takuya swore and, running on desperation, ran for his bags, hoping to fumble out the dagger in time.

Unfortunately, the other was mounted and he was on foot. Resting one hand on the covering of his bags, he turned just in time to see a dark shadow fall over him and an arm, bearing a blindingly bright and sharp sword, raise high into the air.

'Shit.'

Instinctively Takuya ducked, arms raised to protect his face despite the fact that he knew it would be useless. He cringed, waiting for the impact, squeezing his eyes shut. However, instead of the sound of metal in flesh and the pain he had been expecting, there was a sharp clang and a curse of surprise from the masked attacker. Cautiously lowering his arms, he saw the one he had least expected to see.

"M – my Lord!"

Lord Kouji was there, astride a magnificent black horse, a look of anger on his face as he deftly ran the black-clad attacker through, twisting his sword calmly. Takuya heard the wrench of bone and rent of flesh and suddenly felt sick. He wouldn't be having any of the stew today, he decided, watching in both revulsion and fascination as the blood ran in little rivulets down to the ground, disappearing amongst the grass.

Then the Lord turned to him and he could have sworn he saw concern and worry filter into the irritated expression before the Elf carefully schooled his face back into the usual impassive look.

"Are you an idiot?" Lord Kouji said. "Why aren't you armed?"

Takuya flushed. "I … I left my dagger in my saddle bag." He finally said, looking anywhere but the piercing blue eyes.

"A dagger?" Lord Kouji said incredulously, and then laughed in amusement. Takuya watched, unwittingly enthralled with the Elf Lord despite the small spatters of blood on his pale face. Meanwhile, the sounds of fighting edged in closer. Neither noticed. "You were planning to defend yourself – and our meal – with a dagger?"

Unsure of what else to do, Takuya nodded reluctantly. The Lord shook his head, still highly amused. A piercing cry rang over the forest and both flinched, suddenly remembering where they were and under what circumstances. Instantly the blue-eyed Elf's face returned to a businesslike demeanor. Reaching into his cloak, he unbuckled a belt and brought out a short half-sword, tossing it carelessly to Takuya, who only barely managed to catch it.

"Here. Use this." Takuya had only just freed the weapon from its sheath when the first real wave of attack broke into the camp. Lord Kouji frowned. "And you're on foot."

"I can ride." Takuya growled, jumping lightly onto Mist. If there was one thing he prided himself on, it was his horsemanship. Having grown up in an area of Centris renowned for fine breeds of horses, he was familiar with both the animals and the art of riding them. Inwardly he grinned wildly and flushed in pleasure as Lord Kouji raised an eyebrow in approval.

'Why do I want to impress him so much, dammit?'

Arrows began to fly by, making slight whirring noises. Takuya ducked one that nicked the top of his head, and looked over to see Lord Kouji wearing an irritated expression, dodging arrows that all seemed to be aimed straight for him.

"Look out!" Takuya shouted as one flew particularly close. Lord Kouji raised an arm instinctively and barely suppressed a small cry as it ripped through the cloth of his sleeve. A spatter of blood sprayed from the arm and Takuya almost leapt forward off his horse.

"Damn it." Lord Kouji grunted, and Takuya settled back, relieved. If the Elf Lord was fine enough to swear … But he felt an uncomfortable feeling a guilt creep down his back, and he couldn't help feeling responsible.

The two parted ways in the skirmish, both the Elves and the attackers' bright swords flashing brightly. It was a small ambush, and despite the initially grim outlook, it soon became clear that the enemy, on foot, was no match for mounted and skilled Guards. Two more waves attempted to overrun the lines the patrol had formed and failed to an accurate onslaught of arrows.

It was on the fourth and final attempt that Takuya looked up from his victim, feeling sicker than ever, and realized he was in something of another quandary. He had, in his teenage bloodlust and urge to prove himself after having to be rescued by his self-proclaimed rival, ridden out too far and was almost completely locked off from the rest of the group.

"Der'nath." He muttered, spurring towards the lines only to have his escape cut off. Growing fearful for his life, he turned to try another way only to find more of the dark-clothed men, apparently quite cheerful at having caught at least one prisoner. "Let me through!" He demanded, fruitlessly.

"Well, look at the little bird, separated from his mother." One of the men jeered, bringing raucous laughter to the desperate group. "Don't worry, birdie, we'll take care of you good and well."

"Go away!" Takuya managed, cursing his pathetic attempt at being threatening. "I … You'll regret it!"

More laughter greeted his words as they closed in. His breath hitched in his throat as he raised Lord Kouji's sword and swung, only to have it parried sharply, sending a sting up through his arm and into his neck, leaving an uncomfortable warm feeling there. He had a feeling he was going to regret that particular move later.

"I said leave me alone!"

"Actually, you said 'go away', birdie." One man reached forward quickly and grabbed his ankle, and as if it was a signal all of the other rushed in. Takuya swung randomly and frantically, but he was soon overwhelmed and somewhere in the fray his sword was lost. Someone grabbed his leg again and pulled, and he went down, tumbling and yelling.

The ground was hard and he hit it with a heavy thud. Instantly a ring of glittering steel surrounded him, pointed at various sensitive parts of his body. Like his face, or his gut. Or his neck.

"Get away from me!" He growled as they leered down at him, unsure of which direction to move in. It seemed that no matter which way he turned there was something sharp in his face. Slowly, he realized that he was going to die, and his heart missed a beat and thumped. He was too young to die. And why the hell did he have an image of Lord Kouji in his head?

Won't get to know him, he thought dimly. Something rose in the back of his throat, panic, or fear, or something else, and it manifested in his voice as he screamed, "I'm not going to die, dammit! Get away!"

A blinding light flashed as the something exploded, shedding flames in every direction. Screams met his ears as men burst into flames. The ones closest to him simply dissolved before his shocked eyes, and still he could feel the heat pouring from him in waves. Working from instinct, he found voice.

"Pyro dragons!"

The clearing was fire. Everything around him was burning, in a perfect circle of flames. And people were screaming, screaming, and burning, and there was so much warmth, and there before his eyes there was this lithe figure of light, holding something in his hands and chanting so softly, so comfortingly …

"Takuya."

That voice, it sounded so familiar.

"Takuya, rein it in." The voice was firm, he recognized it, he knew it, it was … "Takuya, do you see the flames?"

He nodded.

"Envision them in your mind and draw them back into your body."

Into his body? He would burn! But there was that voice, and that outstretched hand was so friendly, so caring. A surge of trust flowed into his mind. He closed his eyes and felt the burning again, but this time instead of allowing it to explode he mentally reached out as with tendrils of thoughts, and gathered the fire into a bundle, bringing it back to himself, feeling his body merging with the flames and feeling nothing but a cool, not altogether unpleasant sensation.

Takuya's eyes opened.

"Good, you're back." Said a voice, relieved. There, above him on that horse for the second time that day.

"My … Lord?" He said, his voice sounding strained. Those cool blue orbs met his, only this time there was definitely concern and something softer, something infinitely caring in them. The rational part of his mind slowly returned, muttering something unintelligible about impossibilities, but he was too tired to care. Whatever that had been, he was too exhausted to make sense of it, and as he stared into the depths of Lord Kouji's eyes, he felt safe. Felt at home, somehow …

"Takuya!" Asbard said as his adoptive son's head dropped unconscious onto the ground again, starting forward and stopping as the Elf Lord jumped off the horse. "My Lord?"

"I'll take him." He said coolly, reaching down and swinging the limp body into his arms. Blood stained his sleeve but he seemed not to feel it as he looked down at the Half-Elf, expression almost tender.

"Let's go."

---

Takuya drowsily opened his eyes the tiniest possible crack. He felt like he had a hangover, minus the blinding headache. Otherwise, all the other symptoms of tiredness and weakness were there. No, he wasn't merely tired. He felt completely drained, as if someone had reached into his consciousness and simply took away all his energy.

The scenery was moving, he noted. That was unusual. He watched the trees march uniformly into the distance with a slightly bemused air, and snuggled into the warmth that was holding him. Holding him?

There was a horse beneath him, but it wasn't Mist. It was a shining black creature, magnificent despite the reek of sweat that floated slightly upwards. Had he been riding the entire time? He'd fallen asleep on the ride again, hadn't he? But that didn't explain the change of mount.

"So you've awoken."

'Huh?'

He looked up, realizing that the source of warmth and the possessor of the two arms preventing him from falling off the horse must be a person. And that specific person was currently looking down at him with an amused expression, one eyebrow slightly raised.

"Lord Kouji?" He choked out. "What – why – how …"

"I'll explain it later." The Elf said calmly, eyes unreadable. "How are you feeling right now? Do you think you can ride?"

Takuya's mind finally grasped the situation, and he bolted upright, face bright cherry red. The horse snorted in irritation but plodded on.

"Er, yes. Certainly. Um." He stammered unintelligibly. "Ah, I mean, if … uh … Yes."

Lord Kouji smirked at his charge's uncomfortable silence. "Well, I suppose we will stop for a rest here. Our plans have been thrown off-kilter, so likely well be riding through the night, so I advise you to get some sleep now." Evidently, he had heard nothing of Takuya's prowess in sleeping on the move.

It was a flustered and still tired Takuya that meandered his way to his guardian and friend as they rested in the shade. Izumi caught sight of him first and immediately began to speak.

"Aren't you happy, Takuya? It seems Lord Kouji returns your sentiments." Takuya rolled his eyes. How could he not have seen that coming?

"Sure, Izumi. Whatever." He said, resigned. "What's your supposed proof now?"

Asbard raised an eyebrow. "When you fainted, I was going to get you, m'boy, but he fairly grabbed you up instead. Seems to me either he's quite fond of you or he's afraid you're going to poison everyone else." Takuya frowned.

"What happened?" He remembered nothing, reflected, after he had screamed in defiance. There had been a huge burst of heat, and then he had blacked out. Then there was this hazy recollection of a figure robed in light, holding his hand and drawing him back to sanity …

"Oh yeah." Izumi said around a mouthful of something. "We think you might be a Firestarter, Takuya."

"A whatnow?" Said Takuya blearily, still dead tired.

"A … oh, never mind." Izumi said, seeing that Takuya was too worn-out to comprehend anything she said. "Let Lord Loverboy explain it to you."

Takuya's eyes drooped, and he only feebly retorted to her words with a faint, "Not."

Then Sorayo came by with Lieutenant Yamato, both of them looking worried. "Our Healer is down." She said, in response to Izumi's querying look. "He was hit by an enemy arrow."

"Those bastards were using poisoned arrows." Said the Lieutenant with an angered growl. "Low, sneaky, dishonorable …" He trailed off, still streaming expletives. Sorayo gave a warm smile in apology and the two made to ride away, but were interrupted by Takuya, who had only just registered the words.

"Poisoned arrows?" He said, looking horrified. Slightly confused, Yamato nodded. "But …" Brown eyes widened. "But Lord Kouji was hit by one of those!"

"He was what?" Lieutenant Yamato snarled, reaching out and grabbing a fistful of Takuya's collar. His tanned cloak slipped off his shoulders as he was roughly dragged forward by his red robes. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"Hey, hey!" Izumi said, reaching forward and half dislodging the furious blonde's hand. "He was asleep earlier, remember?"

Yamato stared, then reluctantly conceded and let go of the cloth. Takuya massaged the back of his neck where the cloth had grated roughly against his skin, looking shaken.

"Is the poison bad?" He asked, hesitantly. "Is there any way to help?"

"It needs direct treatment, else it will infect and may prove fatal." Said the Lieutenant, still angry. "And unless you have Healing skills, you'll be useless. Trust the Lord not to say anything even after learning that the arrows are poisonous." Yet again, the two tried to leave, but were stopped once again by the rustle of cloth on skin. Only this time, it was Takuya that grabbed the Elf Guard's forest green robes.

"But I have Healing skills!" He said. When they didn't reply, he took it as disbelief and hastily added, "Well, it's not like I'm a great Healer, but I can treat basic wounds and some poisoning with the right materials!"

Sorayo blinked again and finally nodded. "Alright." She pointed to the huge black horse tethered under the tree. "Lord Kouji should be over there. If you can convince him to let you tend him, then please do the best you can. I wish you the best of luck." She added wryly.

The Elfish Healers had a great deal of stuff, Takuya decided. Most of it he had no clue what to do with, like the weird spiky plant and the dark, smooth, glass-like stones, but the plants he generally used for poisons and of course bandages were there, much to his relief.

'It was my fault he got hurt. That's why I'm going to help him. Not for anything Izumi says, or hints at, or anything even remotely like that.'

He continued in this vein, trying to convince himself. Of course he wasn't trembling because of the anticipation of touching that beautifully pale skin. He was nervous, that's all.

'Although the guy has amazing skin. It's so soft looking. And that hair … I could play with it forever, it's so silken and soft and the way it falls out around his face is so … succulent – where did that come from?!'

Takuya shook his head viciously. Bad thoughts, bad thoughts! He chided himself. He would end up just as Izumi said, hanging off the Lord's every word simply because he loved the sound of that voice …

"Argh!" He growled, out loud, startling the target of his intentions. Lord Kouji had been napping under the tree, using his pack as a pillow.

"Takuya!" He said angrily. "You startled me! I might have taken you for an enemy and killed you!"

"Like that'd be much loss." Takuya muttered, feeling guilty when the Elf Lord flinched at his harsh tone. "Sorayo and Lieutenant Yamato said the Elfish Healer got hit, and I remember you got hit with an arrow, so … uh … I'm here to treat you." He stumbled over his words, mentally cursing himself. But how was one supposed to elucidate this kind of situation?

"You?" Lord Kouji said skeptically, raising a slender eyebrow. "And how exactly are you going to treat me? Besides," He continued, looking away from Takuya's questioning eyes, "I'm not even that badly wounded."

"But the arrows were poisonous!" Takuya said fervently. "If you get infected and die then it'll be all my fault! And then what am I supposed to do? Say, 'Oh, I'm sorry, my bad' and, and … "

"How would it be your fault?" Lord Kouji asked.

"Because you were … helping me when you got hit with that arrow." Takuya said, regretting his miniature outburst already.

"That was my own fault." Lord Kouji said darkly. "I wasn't paying attention."

"But still, I feel guilty!" Takuya sighed, frustrated. He raked a hand through his already-unruly hair and hoped his eyes weren't too desperate. "Please? Just let me bind it or something. Look, it's not going to hurt you. Just pretend you're doing me a favor."

"Why the urge to do this goodwill?" Lord Kouji inquired, suspicious again. Takuya's anger rose and he abruptly pinned the accursedly and yet adorably stubborn Elf Lord to the tree.

'Wait, adorably?'

"I already said it, didn't I?" Takuya snapped. "Because I feel bad, I feel guilty! I feel like it's my fault and now I owe you something and it might as well be this since I'm good for nothing else! Because you might end up dying if you don't get it treated and I don't know why but I don't want you to die!!"

Wide blue eyes stared at him, at a loss for words at Takuya's passionate actions. Slender musician's hands came to rest from where they had been entangled in dark blue cloth and strands of rich hair. Takuya himself was shocked to silence. Where had those words come from? Did he care enough for the Elf Lord to justify them, anyway? And why did he care at all for the rather arrogant person before him, the surprise in the deep blue eyes slowly fading away?

"Ah …" Takuya said, suddenly realizing the implications of his actions. "Er … I'm … uh …" He couldn't swallow his pride and spit out 'I'm sorry'. Luckily, Lord Kouji seemed to not want one as he looked away from Takuya's gaze.

Takuya mentally slapped himself. He was seeing things again. Elf Lords don't blush.

"Here." Takuya blinked at the proffered arm, covered by a hastily wrapped bandage, already stained with blood and unraveling. Clearly, it had been done quickly on the move. Brown eyes softened from the blazing anger, and Takuya awkwardly moved away from where he had noticed he was awfully close to the slender body to get out the necessary items.

He had to admire the Elf Lord, he mused later, eyelids threatening to fall down on him again. The Elf hadn't even flinched when he had applied the stinging disinfectant directly into the wound.

Takuya yawned. The abrupt burst of anger earlier had drained him from the little energy he had regained while he was asleep, and as he had cleaned the wound and bandaged it, he had found it rather difficult to concentrate on the task and hand and instead blushed repeatedly under the intense stare of the Elf. Takuya sighed and hoped that Lord Kouji had taken it as a flush of concentration.

When he yawned again, he felt a hand on his arm.

"You don't look alert enough to ride." Said the deep voice. A shiver ran down Takuya's back as he felt the proximity of their bodies through the feel of warm breath on his neck.

"I'll be fine." He managed, shifting uncomfortably away.

"No, you'll probably pitch headlong into a ditch somewhere and be lost to the world forever." Lord Kouji's deep blue eyes were amused, although the rest of his face showed little change. "And all the geezers in the Elders Council would screech about my having lost what may well be the most talented Firestarter in a century."

There it was again, that word Firestarter. What was it anyways? Takuya opened his mouth to ask, and, mortified, found himself yawning once more.

Quiet laughter greeted this, gentle chuckles making Takuya want to laugh along. He felt inexplicably gratified – he had made the Elf Lord laugh.

'Izumi's predictions are coming true … bad Takuya! Bad mind!'

"Ride with me again." Lord Kouji offered, not commanded, a hand held out to help Takuya onto the horse.

Suddenly a flash of memory assailed Takuya's mind –

a pale hand, held out in concern and friendship, in the midst of fire, everywhere, the urgent voice saying, "You're but a babe! I have to get you out of here!" and he felt himself being lifted and the voice said, "When you grow up, you probably don't understand me, but my name is

The ground reeled and he somehow ended up in the Elf Lord's arms. His mind, however, was too occupied for it to remember his usual bright red blush.

'What the heck was that?'

---

TBC

Author notes:

It's so freaking hot here, so I'm typing this downstairs in the living room, where my brother is watching some queer episode of Teletubbies … and there's some ancient Elvis-impersonator singing something about the grande ould Duke of York and some guy playing a Bernstein that sounds like the Steinway my piano teacher has downstairs … and Lala just let loose with the biggest wind ever … O.O;; is disturbed

Anyhoo …

Yes. Well. Chapter preview? I don't know …

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Chapter Five preview:

So, Takuya finally makes it Astaria. Of course, being a teenager in one of the biggest cities in the known world, what does he do? Go shopping, sightseeing, and get your fortune told of course! But, lucky Takuya, Lord Kouji has to show up blabbering something about 'training' and 'Firestarter'. Does this guy have to interrupt all of his plans?

And what's this? A message from Kulodis Mountain, demanding Lord Kouji bring Takuya and go there? What the heck is it with these Elves and bothering Takuya?

And what's with all the weird flashes of memory Takuya keeps getting? Will Takuya ever manage to beat Lord Kouji in a war of words? Will Izumi ever stop hinting at their supposed relationship? And what kind of guardian says 'I'm going to the next city, have a nice time, Takuya'??

Find out in the next chapter of The Minstrel's Son!

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(Gods, what a lame name …)

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Replies to Reviews (General message: How come everyone's so SMART? Gahk. My plot points are all figured out .):

tenshi208 – I'm glad you like it. And I'm really sorry this took so long to update X

ryo – Yay! You love it? Really? sparkly eyes I'm so happy!

Earth Magician – Ooh, cool screen name. And yes, you're right. Good for you! Now please don't go telling people who didn't guess from the obvious-ness of everything … Er … yes. Kouichi, you annoyingly obvious barstard! I hope you (still) keep reading!

peachschtick – Wow, you read it twice? O.o. I feel loved shine Izumi is one of those characters that's easy to develop through dialogue. While watching the show I realized that – it was pretty clear what kind of person she was in the way she spoke and her (in writing, implied) inflection. Kouji and Takuya are a little more difficult so I'm going to try and clarify them a little better as the fic progresses. Hope you liked the chapter! Oh, and thanks for the info. smiles

Rebecca Lyn – I thought the readers might appreciate a little fluff here and there :) Apparently you liked it, that's great! That one paragraph wasn't there before, actually, I added it on impulse. Because I could totally see it happening! Er … thankies for the compliment on the poem? ducks and cowers from mallet And thankies for sharing 'Shuichon'. Beef stew IS good.

sings: Takouji, Takouji … etc. (It's okay. I can continue for you until my mother tells me to do my homework XD) Don't you hate it when you're having a nice little fangirl moment and the word 'work' just has to go and ruin it all? I'm writing a paper and my English teacher has decided she doesn't like the Internet so we can only have one Internet source and all my book sources are hundreds of pages long … Ugh … Well, anyways, hope you liked this chapter and that you'll keep reading! puppy eyes

Kendosakuyamon – Well, the fic is certainly interesting … the quality … however … Well, you liked it, so I'm appeased. :) Ah! I confess! It was. sniffles Am I really that obvious? Kouji's yours? Aww … can't we share just a little bit? C'mon … Takuya won't mind, right? (Takuya: glares threateningly and glomps possessively onto Kouji)

Dragi – Yay, still readin' and reviewin'. I'm sooooo happy! And yes, you guessed right too. It WAS … but we'll see how that works out, because there are certain … let's say dilemmas that may make that fact a little unfeasible. But you're still right. Read on! Thanks!

takuya – Oh. Okays … gomen ne … cringes I didn't realize you were spoken for! In that case, I'll just go attack the TV screen frozen over Takuya and Kouji. grins And yes, Takuya totally belongs to Kouji. Hear that, Kuya? You're Kouji's property! (Takuya: doesn't really mind)

minnermon – I will totally continue. The Plot Angels are hounding me too persistently for any other option! (they're scary!) I'm overjoyed that you liked the poem. I thought it was so very … well, cliché. I'm sure your poetry isn't bad at all! Everyone is just too modest, ne? 'Sokay if you don't know Suzy's name (I didn't either! It's Shuichon). Hope you like this chapter and keep reading!

Cat – Great, you think it's gettin' good! Hope this doesn't disappoint :P And the next chapter should be out pretty quickly too. In fact I have most of the basic skeletal plot mentally written. Usually I start into something with only the vaguest idea of what I'm going to do, so this should be … uh … 'specialler'?

aishiteru ayu – Thanks for reviewing Chapter Two too :) It's cute? Well, all's well anyways. The Kouji-touching-Takuya thing IS cute though. A minstrel is a traveling musician/storyteller/artist, all cobbled together into one. They were more common in the Middle Ages though, so you probably won't see too many wandering around. Unless street-corner singers and/or buskers count. Please review again! Thankies some more.

Splash– (you did say to call you 'Splash' online, in your bio, right … ?) Well, it could be dangerous to read in class if someone happens to look over your shoulder. In later chapters, anyways. :3 Sure, go ahead and use the format. I didn't realize I had a decent format O.o but why not. There does seem to be a lack of diversity in viewing habits of people that write/watch Digimon and other mainstream. But the fans of mainstream tend to be more open to new shows whereas hardcore 'serious' anime fans tend to write off mainstream (which could be utterly cute like Digimon!) right away. Just in what I've noticed, anyways

Oh and, when I read the review I was like, "Wow, 'Splash' sounds familiar." Then I realized "this is the author of Enigma and Subtle Hints!!! OH MY GOD, I GOT REVIEWED BY THE AUTHOR OF ENIGMA!" … So yeah. That was pretty cool for me. Please keep reading and reviewing. ==

And, of course, special thanks to Ryo-chan: After all, you practically helped me write this chapter. bows worshipfully Thank you very, very much. Everyone, nod towards Ryo-chan's general direction, because she helped make this chapter better. Really! (And I thought I was a completely helpless author … --;)

Wow … I don't think I've ever had this many reviews for anything, let alone one chapter. googly eyes Thankies, everyone! And for your troubles you get a racy image of Kouji in the shower! fangirl imagination kicks in Ok … you can all stop drooling now …

ARIGATOU, MINNA-SAN!

And of course, keep REVIEWING!!!

Domo,

Lokogato-sama

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