I don't own the Prince and the Pauper. Frontier? Bought it last Friday :P

Two Sides of a Coin

Chapter 2 – Good Morning! This is Your New Life!

Sunlight was the first thing Kouichi saw as he opened his eyes to the cry of the rooster. He remembered Kouji's mother's words about not having to wake up early, and in all reality he didn't want to, but fate was cruel enough to draw him out of his dream. He was dreaming about life on the outside, living as any other commoner would. He couldn't imagine the chores and work truthfully enough from lack of experience, but whenever he met with his friends, Kouji among them, he couldn't stop laughing.

He groaned as he got out of bed, mentally preparing himself for what lied ahead.

The same happy sounds that he heard the other night welcomed him that morning as well as he descended the stairs and headed to what he assumed to be the kitchen. A pleasant and appetizing scent filled the air, reminding the teen he hadn't eaten since early afternoon the earlier day.

He stopped before he entered, listening in on the conversation. Though it was mundane, Kouichi found it more interesting than most of the subjects he learned. The shop's condition; the farm's well being; small gossips of everyday people's everyday lives; Kouji.

"Good morning."

Kouichi said hesitantly, stifling a yawn. Both grownups turned to him with matching smiles, yet their returned greeting was cut in the middle. His mother dropped the pot she was holding from shock. Luckily, it was empty.

"Kouji!"

Kouji's mother rushed to him and hugged him tightly, her fingers running through his hair.

"What happened?! Who did this to you?!"

"It was Takuya, wasn't it? I told that boy a thousand times to be more careful, but him…"

It took him a moment before he realized what they were talking about.

"N, No, it's… I… Takuya had nothing to do with my hair. I cut it on my own."

Seeing that he wasn't trusted, he took out the group of hair, still in its original hair band, out of his pocket.

"I.. it started to get in the way. But I couldn't just leave it lying around, I… thought I'd… bury it."

He knew the excuse sounded childish, but it was the best he could do. To his surprise, both adults smiled comfortingly and hugged him.

"If that's what you want…"

"Just remember, it'll always grow back, just give it some time, dear."

Not used to such intimate contact with other human being, Kouichi couldn't help but blush, causing his father to laugh.

"Now now, Satomi, we've embarrassed the boy. Let's just sit down and have breakfast. I'm sure Kouji has better things to do than to be glomped by his parents."

The man sat down as the woman returned to the stove, looking outside the window. Kouichi sat down next to 'his' father.

"Haven't seen Snow since yesterday."

Kouji's mother said somewhat absentmindedly.

"Must've ran away again. You know that horse, goes where the wind takes her, eh, son?"

He ruffled Kouichi's hair, his expression saddening.

"Don't you worry about a thing. I won't tell your mom about any girls you met you'd cut your hair for."

Blink. Blush. Blink. Blush. Faint.

"I'm right, aren't I?"

"Stop pestering the boy, Kousei. His love life, or lack thereof, are nobody's business but his. And his mother's. So tell me once your father leaves for work, all right dear?"

Salvation came in the form of beef stew, an alien life form with which the prince was unfamiliar. Yet it tasted good and quieted his rumbling stomach, and provided a comfortable excuse for him not to participate in the conversation going on around him.

Assuming this was the way his counterpart started every day in his life, Kouichi felt guilty for sending Kouji to the icy hell of his real life. The guilt weighted heavier on his heart, knowing he still wouldn't switch back so soon.

'I wonder if he's enjoying himself.'

The thick crimson curtains were rolled up on the walls, revealing the room's large windows. The entire kingdom seemed to fit in, creating a view which the boy wasn't sure if it was real, or a masterpiece to be presented in a museum. He could've sat there for hours, admiring the sight. He wasn't that lucky.

A soft knock came from the thick wooden door that led to the prince's chamber. He paid it little attention, pouting when it repeated, slightly louder this time.

"My prince, I am coming in."

The door opened noiselessly and in came Aguni, the leader of the royal guards. He had long blonde hair reaching to his waist, tied halfway in a wide hairband. His blue eyes seemed mature for his age.

"My prince? Ah, you are awake."

The man said, noticing Kouji sitting by the window seal, gazing outside. He spotted a pile of clothes lying on the floor and his eyes wondered back to the boy, only to find him wearing the commonest thing he could find. Though far more to Kouji's liking than the rest of the wardrobe, it was still far from perfect to him, far too uncomfortable and official. It was a blue buttoned shirt with the baggiest pants he could find, white in color. His bare feet raised a smile to Aguni's face, reminding him less of a prince and more of an outdoor loving brat.

"What is it?"

Kouji asked in a somewhat distant voice after several minutes in which the man said nothing. He found it easier to remain calm in front of one of his childhood heroes, having met both Wolf and Lowe that night. Though still exciting, he felt more comfortable, or at least comfortable enough to fully control his voice.

"Your mother wished for me to see whether or not you were awake. You do remember that today is the drafting ceremony, I hope. Your attendance is a must."

The boy jumped off of the window seal and landed gracefully on the floor, not going without Aguni's notice. It might've not been that amazing an achievement, but as the window seal was taller than the man standing at the room at that moment, it was.

"I… I'm afraid I have forgotten some of my duties for the ceremony. If it's not too much of a bother…"

"Fear not, my prince. Boko-sama will teach you everything you need to know, as he has since you first attended the ceremony."

Feeling relieved, the teen touched his sword lightly and smiled.

"Well then, let's get going."

"His majesty has developed a sense of humor, it appears."

Kouji disliked the tune of voice he said that in, and from a good reason.

"He's ready, you may step in now."

About a dozen female servants entered the room, all wearing the same smile, sending shivers down Kouji's spine.

"What… are they here… for?"

Not wanting to deepen the boy's evident distress, Aguni answered.

"Prepare the clothes for his highness, make sure you are in proper shape for the ceremony, and of course, first of all…"

He needn't answer as a large bath was brought into the room, and Kouji felt his cheeks redden.

"Well, nothing to worry about, these maids have helped you since you were a baby. Nothing they haven't seen before."

Winking, the head of the royal guards left the room, telling himself the cries and yells, and the prince's stubborn plea that he would not be touched were not something to be too concerned about.

'Perhaps… Something did happen last night…'

Filing the thought at the back of his mind for later study, he went on to prepare himself for the coming ceremony.

Bells rang at the store as the door opened, finding Kouichi too busy reading into a book to notice. Junpei stood at the entrance to the room, watching his would be friend intently. He waited until the other teen would look up and notice him, but the act was futile.

"Can I get my usual discount?"

Kouichi gasped and dropped the book, looking at Junpei, the fear evident in his eyes. The older boy calmly picked the book up and examined it.

"And here I thought it'd be another adventure novel, or an art book. Since when did you get interested in magic?"

The prince snatched the book from the other's hand and placed it back on the shelf, returning to his spot behind the counter.

"What can I do for you?"

Junpei looked at him oddly, and knowing he did something wrong, Kouichi tried to remember Kouji's explanation from last night. He recalled him speaking a lot, and for a moment wondered if Kouji understood anything he had said, but reality forced him to think backwards, and he managed to draw several details from the other's summary of his life.

"Just joking… Junpei."

He tried his best casual smile, but even that seemed staged and out of place.

"You're acting weird this morning."

"Yes, well, I…"

"Anyways, we don't have time for this! You'd never believe what happened."

Usually, just to entertain his friend, Kouji would ask 'what?'. But as it wasn't Kouji standing there, no such response came. Too much in a rush to care, Junpei carried on regardless.

"Takuya got drafted this morning. I went to his place first and he wasn't there. When I asked his mom she boasted with pride, saying he got drafted. Can you believe it?! A drafting wave and no one knew about it! What's worse, Takuya didn't say anything to us! Us! His best friends!"

Kouichi looked away, and wondered how Kouji would've reacted in his place. He imagined it would've resembled his behavior from last night, but as his heart wasn't behind him, he doubted he'd manage to pull off such an act.

"What's the matter with you?!"

Junpei asked, getting slightly enraged.

"Takuya's gone, gone! Who knows for how long, and you're acting this cold?!"

"It was his childhood dream."

Kouichi said, for some reason remembering Kouji's explanation about Takuya the best. He had a fire in his eyes and a passion in his voice when he spoke about him, it just burned itself into Kouichi's mind.

~&~

"Next is Takuya. He's the guy I spar with all the time. Brown eyes and hair, tanned. Dreamt of becoming a knight ever since he was conceived."

Kouichi felt slight jealousy towards the boy about whom Kouji spoke with such heat and liveliness. He didn't feel that way about himself, and even though he might have about other people, he hadn't the necessary emotional experience to express it in words.

"He's a big mouth, hot headed jerk that never stops to think once. We argue all the time, but it's so much fun, we just don't care. He's the best friend I ever could've hoped for, and I wouldn't trade him for the world."

"Is that why we're switching? Because he's drafting?"

Kouji bit his lip.

"Yeah. He's one of the people dearest to me. Even with all his downsides, I… I'd die for him. We've been through so much, I can't help it that he's the person I…"

Kouji stopped, leaving Kouichi's hanging.

"Your turn to tell me about your life."

Afterwards, Kouichi couldn't help but ramble on and on and on.

~&~

"Who are we to stand against that?"

That was too much for the older boy to take.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! This is Takuya we're talking about, how can you be so cold?! Hello, Earth to Kouji, this is Kanbara Takuya we're talking about, not only your very best friend, but also the man that you lo…"

Kouichi blinked as Junpei stopped, staring at his hair.

"What… your ponytail, what…"

Kouichi moved a hand to touch his hair, his sad gaze true, though from different reasons.

"I… thought a change was in order. Doesn't look that bad, does it?"

Junpei shook his head, not believing his ears.

"Fine. Be that way. I'll go see if I can get in touch with Takuya. You're more than welcome to join me."

He went to the door, the bells ringing almost covering over Kouichi's silent question.

"I wonder how Kouji's doing…"

"What was that?"

After a moment's thought, Kouichi stood up.

"I'll go with you."

"Ok then, let's go!"

Seeing how Junpei reacted, and remembering Kouji's willingness to go as far as switching with him, Kouichi hated Takuya. He hasn't even met him, yet the boy had everything he ever wanted, and never had the chance to have.

'You better appreciate it, whoever you are. Or so help me, when I return to my rightful place, I'll execute you on sight.'