I don't own Digimon Frontier nor do I own the prince and the pauper.
Two Sides of a Coin
Chapter 10 – A sorceress, a knight, and a jester
It took him a while, but Kouji finally found his way to the stables. Many people looked at him oddly and he chose to hide when Boko passed by him, ranting about some thing.
'Man, this castle is huge! How can anyone find his way around here?! Dammit!''
He was lucky to have bumped into Lana, and even luckier when it turned out Kouichi wasn't that good in navigating the huge place, either. They hadn't a chance to talk, only long enough for her to tell him how to reach his destination… and to let him know she had enjoyed their meal as much as he has.
Upon entering the stables, Snow began sneering and crying out, jumping around. The soldier in charge of the horses began panicking that something was wrong with the prince's new horse. He downright passed out when the 'prince' came by.
"Look what you're doing, girl, you're scaring the poor boy!"
He opened the door to her little cubical, yet she stood still.
"Let's get this nasty thing off of you, shall we?"
Carefully, the boy removed the royal saddle placed on her back, and she rubbed her nose against his cheek fondly.
"They're been taking good care of her, haven't they?"
The childish voice rang almost like the bells on the speaker's hat. Kouji, sensing the horse's distress, patted her snow white neck and glared at Tomoki.
"What do you want, Jester?"
"My prince doesn't like me!"
"It's not that I don't like you…"
The childish figure looked up hopefully, the bells not ringing for once. Kouji turned to look at him over his shoulder, still mildly glaring.
"I just can't stand your sick smile."
As the would be prince mounted his horse and rode out of castle grounds, the court sorceress began walking away from the stables, back towards the castle.
'The prince had never been too fond of Tomoki, but he never showed he hated him that much…'
Kouji's harsh expression aimed at the child like figure both bothered and comforted her.
'…So… I'm not the only one who thinks Tomoki's freaky…'
So deep in thought she was, she didn't notice it was the east wing she ventured into. The sound of young men training guided her on her way and she entered the same hall she had those few days ago. Upon entering, she could see both prince and cadet clearly in the middle of the training mat, hugged in their bizarre way, both smiling. She stood there for a moment under Aguni's watchful gaze.
"Is something the matter, Izumi-san?"
The girl shook her head and looked at the soldier, smiling weakly.
"No, not at all, Aguni-san. Ne, why are you overlooking their exercise?"
Crossing his arms, he gazed over the teens, his look lingering momentarily over a tanned boy and a boy with glasses.
"I just wanted to see their abilities, is all."
"Found anything interesting?"
"…"
His silence served as quite a yes as she followed his gaze to the same boy she unconsciously came to speak with.
"I'd like to speak with one of the recruits, please."
There was no need for her to say which.
"Kanbara!"
Said cadet stopped his wooden practice sword a mere inch away from Arbor's neck, who was sprawled on the floor. He looked up at his commanding officer, waiting to hear what he had to say. To say he wasn't pleased to see Izumi there was quite an understatement.
"Get over here, leave the sword behind."
"Afraid you'll hurt her?"
Arbor joked, but Takuya didn't laugh. The tanned boy handed his friend the practice sword and walked over to the two authorities, saluting when he got here.
"Sir… ma'am."
"I need to talk to you."
Her tone of voice was rather distant, and the faintest shadow of a smile rose to his lips. Maybe he wasn't the only one whose night was ruined.
"Follow me, please."
The girl began walking to the door, and the boy asked for permission before following. He considered turning her down, but Aguni was already looking at him oddly, better not seem as someone who had things to hide.
The hallway was quiet compared to the interior of the training hall, and both felt protected by the silence rather than intimidated by it.
"I suppose you know why I wanted to talk to you."
"About the prince, yeah, everyone does that. Look, I don't know what the prince sees in me, but there's obviously something there, otherwise why would he bother?"
She turned to face him, slightly hugging herself.
"What if I told you the prince was nothing but a liar, and he just wants to play with you before breaking your heart? What if I told you each time he chooses a new cadet to be his toy, before…"
"I'd say you're the liar."
Staring into his brown eyes, Izumi wondered where he found the strength to fuel his determination.
"Maybe I'm trying to warn you."
"Even if you were stupid enough to fall for someone like that, which I doubt you are, I say let me get hurt."
"Why? Why would you want to get hurt?"
"Because whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger."
"Even if it leaves your heart in pieces?"
She hugged herself tighter, asking more for herself than for his sake.
"I'll live through it. People aren't monsters… one day I'll find someone who will piece if back together."
A blush came to her cheeks at the words that simply poured out of his mouth, no, his heart.
"So you'd take your chance with him?"
"He won't be the one to break it."
'Someone who looks like him already has.'
There was a moment of silence before the girl laughed bitterly.
"That's what I thought two years ago."
"That's when you came here?"
"What is it to you?!"
Came the defensive answer.
"Nothing, just asking, is all."
"Well, don't!"
"I won't…"
Another silence followed.
"You're dismissed."
He stood there, not moving. She clenched her fists, farther agitated.
"What, you're deft? I said…"
"You can't force him to love you. And you mustn't hate him for it."
The girl stood there, speechless. Part of her, however, was boiling mad. How dare that insolent fool tell her the truth?!
"Trust me, I know what it's like to love someone who doesn't love you back."
The swear word that hung on her tongue slid back down her throat in an instant.
"What, what do you mean?"
Finally moving, Takuya leaned against the wall, hands behind his back, eyes to the floor.
"Back home, there's this person I'm inlove with, but I'm just a best friend… we're childhood friends, see?"
She couldn't. 'Friends' was almost a curse in the castle.
"We've always been together, did everything together… I don't expect him to see me like that… and I sure as hell didn't expect to see him like this... but I do. And there's nothing in my heart against him for not feeling the same way."
Why was he opening up to her? He didn't know. All he knew was that there was no harm in doing so. And he had to tell it to a living person other than himself… and Junpei. Looking at her, he chuckled, smiling sheepish.
"I don't know why I just said that… sorry if…"
"Why aren't you fighting?"
The question took him by surprise.
"Huh?"
"For that person to notice you, for him to love you back. Why aren't you working to make your dream a reality?"
The same passion that was in her feelings towards the prince was heard in the question. Takuya didn't ignore it- it added to the depression that radiated off of him.
"Because I don't want to find out it's a lost battle."
She gasped at him, at the difference from mere moments ago. He just looked at her, suddenly seeming old for his age.
"Some battles are like that. So sometimes it's better no to fight them…"
"He who's quick to run away lives to fight another day."
"Something like that."
"So in other words, you're a coward."
There was more than slight contempt in her voice.
"Isn't it better then trying to force your emotions on someone who rejects them, thus making you a brave fool?"
"Watch your words around me, boy."
"Aren't we the same age?"
"Be quiet!"
Turning her back to him, she bit her lip, trying not to feel sympathy towards the boy she saw as a threat.
"It's not a lost battle. I will win this."
"So you're just a hopeless idiot."
"Aren't you?!"
The girl barked back.
"Claiming you love someone, yet you go after the prince like this?!"
"What's wrong with choosing your battles? And I did nothing, he came to me!"
"You?! A lowly soldier? Why would the prince want you?!"
"Shouldn't the question be why he doesn't want you?"
Another bark was to come, but nothing came out of Izumi's mouth. Blushing fiercely, she turned and began walking away.
"I will win the prince over… for his own sake. Or else…"
Takuya remained leaning against the wall, watching the girl disappear down the hallway.
"It hurts to give up on a love… but doesn't it hurt more to lie to yourself about it?"
"Does it really?"
Bells ringing, Tomoki jumped into Takuya's view, slightly startling the boy.
"You scared me…"
"Am I scary?"
Seeing as it was apparently a child before him, Takuya shook his head, smiling.
"Not really. You're kind of cute."
"Weeee!"
The jester jumped around, tilting his head from side to side. He suddenly stopped, however, and blinked at Takuya's smile.
"You're not laughing."
Takuya blinked back.
"I, er, I think I missed the joke."
Tomoki stood closer to the teen, seeming genuinely confused.
"You didn't laugh, yet you don't hate me, either."
"Why would I hate you, I don't even know you."
At this, the jester just stared.
"You… you…"
Shaking his head in an attempt to shake the shock away, he grinned.
"Ne, what's your name?"
"Me? I'm Takuya."
"Takuya… what do you feel, Takuya-oniisan?"
"Huh?"
"Deep down inside… what are you true feelings?"
"What do you… mean…"
The boy like figure began tilting his head again, the sound emitting from the bells different this time.
"Your true self… your very heart…"
With each ring of the bells, Takuya's vision became blurry, and the world slowly fell into darkness as he fell to the floor. Tomoki caught him, the bells on his hat ringing even without him moving them.
"Your very soul… let me taste it."
Horrible childish giggles filled the halls, shaking the very stones in the walls.