I don't own Digimon or the Prince and the Pauper *loves copy paste*
Two Sides of a Coin
Chapter 4 – Look at Me!
The sun was at high noon, sending its rays down on the kingdom of Furontia. The land was as peaceful as it was on any other day, save for one moment which made the air as thick as jelly.
Prince and tutor stood in front of each other, swords drawn, watching each other.
"He's watching me."
The prince's words rang in Wolf's head over and over again, still bothering him, no matter how hard he tried to calm himself down.
'What happened last night that changed him so? Wait… is it possible…'
He glanced at Takuya, trying to study the boy, perhaps discover some hidden trait.
'Mayhap he met the prince… yet… the boy seemed so unfamiliar with him at the oath…'
"Don't you dare ignore me! Wolf!"
Swords met, metal banging against finer metal as the tutor was able to bring his sword up in the nick of time.
"What happened to… ung… me attacking you first?"
"In battle, an opponent would never wait on you. It's either you strike when you can, or you die."
Wolf's eyes widened even farther than they have. The prince kept proving how different he returned last night.
"Spoken like someone who's known the harsh nature of war."
He said, pushing the boy away forcefully. Kouji managed to keep his balance and held his sword before him.
'He fights differently...'
"Prepare yourself!"
Kouji announced, lunging himself forward again. Wolf dodged, yet all that did was make the boy smile.
'Well, it is Wolf… can't expect this win to be a stroll down the beach…'
Wolf took advantage of that moment of thought and stroke, pushing Kouji several feet away. The teen held his arm lightly and smiled.
"You used the wide side of the blade."
"You sincerely expect differently, Kouichi-sama?"
"…Drop the suffix."
"I beg your pardon?"
Kouji looked up, making solid eye contact with the man, his eyes blazing.
"Stop adding 'sama' all the time, it's annoying."
Wounded pride filled his voice, causing the older warrior to stare at him wide eyed.
"In real life battles, title means nothing but perhaps the number of people willing to die for you. It's just you and me now, no one to lay their lives on the line... You pretend I am your superior? I am perhaps your equal at best. Until I defeat you on equal ground, you calling me that will only humiliate and degrade both of us."
His hold over the sword loosened from the shock, yet Wolf quickly regained his senses and gripped it tighter than before.
'Such words from such a young child… I feel like it is I who is the pupil here.'
"As you wish… Kouichi-kun."
The boy smiled.
"Much better."
He knew he shouldn't have, but Kouji glanced at Takuya anyways. He couldn't help but blush, seeing the other boy's attention was directed at him and not the other swordsman. And he was grinning like back home, on the rare occasion his father was willing to spar with Kouji. Takuya would always cheer Kouji on… and Kouji always won. Steadying his pose, he swore this time would be no different.
"Let's go, Wolf!"
"Hai!"
"This is odd."
Arbor said, hardly sounding over the cheers that broke through the audience.
"What is?"
Takuya asked, not taking his eyes off of the fight.
"The rumors are that the prince is weak. Really weak. Wolf was supposed to win this thing with both hands tied behind his back and forced to fight while dancing polka. But this…"
"Good blow!"
Takuya cheered, his hyper nature getting the better of him.
"You were saying?"
"I'm saying either Wolf is going really easy on prince Kouichi, or… the rumors are false."
"They have to be, this guy's strong! He's really strong! I say he wins this!"
Takuya declared, fully confident in his words. He looked back at Kouji just in time to see him fall into a stance the two learned together. It was sort of their special thing, done only against each other.
"Are you sure, Takuya? You really think he can win this?"
Arbor quieted down, seeing Takuya's sudden serious expression.
"It's not that I think he can. I know that he has to."
'Kouji… are you going to haunt me?'
"Aaaaaaah, it's no use! We can't even know what time the stupid ceremony ends!"
Junpei cried in frustration. The two teens asked almost everyone in the village. No one could tell them anything.
'Well, I do know…'
Kouichi thought to himself, many times having considered helping Junpei's search for answers. He could've just said he asked someone… but even that would raise suspicion, seeing as even Takuya's mother was clueless. He was wondering in thought when he heard a strong pinch on his right hand. He cried out in pain, rubbing the sore area.
"What was that for?!"
"You spacing out on me. Huh?"
Junpei blinked as a blue mark already began to form on Kouichi's arm, visible as the shirt he was wearing had no sleeves.
"Man, I saw Takuya punching you straight in the face but you never had a black eye or nothing. Since when did you get that sensitive?"
The real prince cursed silently.
"I, er, uh, I got hit there this morning… so it was a sensitive spot… Nothing weird about it. At all."
The older boy shook his head, having gave up on trying to understand his old friend's new weirdnesses.
"Might as well go back home… Unless you wanna spar?"
Kouichi considered for a moment before shaking his head.
"No thank you, Junpei-san, I need to head back to the store. I don't want father to be mad at me."
Blink.
"Just thought I'd give talking like a prince a try. It's no big fun, I'm afraid."
"Ah ha. Well, excuse me while I go help the Easter bunny."
Kouichi blushed quite furiously, knowing again that he shouldn't have taken it that badly, but it didn't stop him from doing so nonetheless.
"Well, I'll… be going now. See you later, Junpei."
The prince departed, leaving his friend to try and resume his pointless chase for a while longer, but in reality, Junpei just stood to watch his retreating form.
'Couldn't trust me enough to tell me the truth, eh, Kouji? Tsk… Well, can't blame him. 15 years of not thinking straight over Takuya, can't expect him to start now.'
And he went on home as well.
Kouichi arrived at the store to find Kouji's father there.
"There you are. I was beginning to think you ran off or something."
The boy smiled sheepishly.
"Junpei came in with news, so I went with him."
"About Takuya?"
The prince felt extremely uncomfortable at the sound of the name. Now only that he was reminded so badly of how the two friends he made cared so much more about the mystery boy than about him (though it wasn't Junpei's fault, Kouichi had to admit, he didn't know the truth), but even people relatively distant like Kouji's parents, or the village people spoke of him with great compassion and kindness.
"Yeah… about… Takuya…"
"Don't be like that, you were the one who turned down joining the army. Or you want to tell me you actually thought Takuya would give up his dream for you?"
"I wouldn't have let him do such a thing."
It felt too much like some thing the real Kouji would say, so he said it. The man smiled warmly and picked up Kouichi's sword, informing the prince he had left it behind.
"You remind me so much of myself when I was young."
Kouichi's eyes widened slightly, and he listened intently, telling himself it was because he'd have to tell Kouji about it when they met, not because he was thirsty for other people's life experience.
"I think I told you this already, but I was drafted when I was 15. Nothing like Takuya how, in my day, we were at war. It was mandatory drafting. My family cried over me. My girlfriend at that time broke up with me, saying she couldn't bear to be away from me for so long. Ended up marrying some bump, phe…"
Kouji's father mistook Kouichi's interested expression for that of confusion or even disgust, so he cleared his throat and hurried to move on.
"So anyway, I served many years in the army. Moved up the ranks, got me enough money to start my new life as a civilian, got me many good friends and connections, and met your mother. So, you see, son…"
"Which one?"
Kouichi suddenly blurted out, unable to keep himself.
"Huh?"
"You said you met my mother… which… I mean, my current, or…"
The man bit his lip and laughed sadly.
"Kouji, I already told you how your current mother and I met, haven't I? She stumbled into the shop on a rainy day… But that's aside from my point!"
The boy was rather enjoying himself from the odd conversation, and felt good about himself for understanding the man's blush.
'Kouji's parents really are inlove… I wish mother had someone like that.'
"My point is that joining the army isn't that bad. Not like we're on the verge of war here… Takuya was never particularly good at anything other than fighting… He'll learn new things, get a good education, and it's not like we won't see him! We're the village closest to the castle! After a few months he'll be able to come home pretty much whenever he likes. And we'll be able to go visit him, nothing to worry about! So you see son, this is all for the best!"
Kouichi imagined he should've been more relieved than he was… but then again, he was also supposed to be more depressed than he was to begin with.
"So… try to cheer up, would you? Your mother is worried about you."
He said, handing the sword to his son.
"Strange…"
Kouichi blinked.
"What?"
"I could've sworn your sword was blue."
Blue. Like Kouji's sword was supposed to be.
"Did you…"
"I colored it!"
Kouichi chirped hastily.
"I'll color it back soon, just wanted to see what she looked like."
"I see. Ok then."
Smiling, Kouji's father ruffled Kouichi's hair and looked at the sword again, his expression that of a man remembering a bitter sweet event.
"Dad, what… happened to my real mom?"
The man seemed to debate with himself, but then had to decline.
"You're growing up so quickly… I can't help but feel it's my fault. I'll tell you when the time is right. But remember always that she loves you. We just had to… say goodbye."
A heavy silence filled the air.
"Kouji, there's something I need to tell you."
Kousei suddenly said, sounding in a rush.
"What is it?"
"I… you…"
The bells rang again, signaling the entrance of a costumer. The man seemed disappointed, but smiled again.
"Well then, why don't you go help your mother at the farm, I can handle things from here. Yes, what can I do for you?"
Kouichi was left alone to his thoughts, but one thing was certain for him. He was going to have fun putting together the pieces of the human puzzle called Minamoto Kouji.
"The fight has been going on for quite a while now, my queen."
Lowe said gently. It has been close to an hour since prince and warrior began to spar to the rising cheers of the crowd, yet neither fighter seemed tired enough to quit… or, both were too stubborn to do so.
"Perhaps we should intervene."
"You're being over protective of the young prince."
Aguni said, arms crossed as he watched the fight. So far both seemed to be on equal levels… and if anything, the prince was the better of the two.
"But… Aguni-san, you must agree with me that if Wolf continues to take it that easy on the prince, his majesty will be upset, and…"
"He's not taking it easy on him."
The head of the guards stated calmly.
"If anything Kouichi-sama's the one toying with him."
"It's beautiful."
The queen said, catching both's attention.
"My queen?"
"Look at him. At my son."
Both did.
"Isn't his smile the most beautiful thing in the world?"
It wasn't rare for Kouichi to smile, but it was because he was raised to smile. No one liked a pouting sovereign. So he smiled. The smile on Kouji's face was real, filled with excited passion. It was even a tad insane, but in a good way, the woman decided.
"His father used to smile like that…"
And having served under her for quite a few years, both young men knew that even if they yelled straight in her ear, it would've meant nothing at all.
"You've… gotten stronger, Kouichi-kun."
Wolf said, breathing heavily. They were both standing in front of each other, both needing to calm down slightly. The new recruits were cheering them on, yet neither lost their cool. Or at least they were good at hiding it.
"It is only to be expected, being trained by you."
"Liar."
"What say we end this, Wolf?"
"Fine by me, Kouichi-kun."
The two ran at each other, both with the same killer intents. Their swords met again, both too tired to fall back again. The sun reflected of their swords, and Wolf realized something was off.
'His sword… was green…'
"Bad move."
Was the last thing Wolf heard before he felt his legs get kicked from underneath him and he fell to the ground. Kouji went down after him, sword first, yet the blade met the dirt not too far from Wolf's head. There was a moment of silence before the cheers broke out again, both from the recruits and from the royal court.
"Gotcha."
"That you did, Kouichi-sama."
Kouji closed his eyes, opening them with a smile.
"Thank you for not going easy on me."
"It was my pleasure."
The two helped each other up, and Wolf turned to the crowd again.
"This is what you have the possibility to become! I thank you all for staying seated for so long. Welcome to the royal guard!"
Feeling that his job was finished, Kouji headed back, throwing a glance at Takuya. The boy was staring at him seriously, before breaking into a grin and giving him the thumbs up. Kouji returned the gesture, not caring if anyone saw. But before he managed to reach his destination, he was tackle-glomped by Izumi.
"THAT WAS AMAZING! I AM SO PROUD OF MY KOUICHI-SAMA! Meet me in my room later… unless you want me spilling your secret."
The girl ran off, and Kouji still stood there, halfway to panic when Wolf reached him.
"Kouichi-sama?"
The boy looked up with a smile.
"It's nothing."
And glancing last time at Takuya, he hoped it was.