I don't own Digimon Frontier or the Prince and the Pauper
Pink Tofu: omg tofu h12u.
Einatsu: the chibi Koujis won't hurt me. They're too scared of me XD
Sailor Epyon: of course it isn't an ordinary fairytale, I'm writing it XD btw, GW fan:O rabu rabu
Dreamer: er… sorry; life kinda got me.
Millikilo: … you're on your own, dude, Tomoki scares even me XD
Kimra Dattei: aw, man… sorry for updating this late o.o of course I appreciate you coming back and reading, it's always good to see one's stories are so appreciated. Even if they're as bad as mine :x
Wouldn't you like to know T-T : WHO THE HELL ARE YOU! XD
Dragi: well, Takuya IS scheduled to make an appearance… don't think you'll be satisfied by it, though.
KendoSakuyamon: well, I can do fluff. But it's either a one shot or will get thrown into emotional mayhem soon (ie current Digimon 02 fic XD) and thanks for not threatening my life for being slow. XD
Two Sides of a Coin
Chapter 19
"Look out!"
Came a cry at him, almost completely drowned out in the sea of noises, sounds and screams. It was a futile warning, as danger was all around them, and he who wasn't looking out wasn't going to make it.
"Behind you!"
He turned around in time, the blade of his sword meeting with the wooden weapon of his assailant, effectively shattering it. The opponent, now unarmed, could only run away. They knew he'd be back, though, once he found something either solid or sharp enough. It had happened for a while, and they were getting tired of it… and in general, as well.
"In here!"
The older boy cried out and jumped into an abandoned house to their left, staying low. His friend had another armed opponent to fend off before following him. Regretfully, he hadn't time to appreciate his swordsmanship, always seemingly pathetic in the past. Survival instincts sure were a wondrous thing.
"Are you alright?"
The older asked, gently setting down the woman he was carrying.
"I don't matter."
Came the blunt reply.
"She does."
And that was that.
Many, many things have happened to Kouichi, crown prince of Furontia since he set out of the castle five days prior. At first he was overwhelmed by the feeling of freedom, absolute and utter freedom. He could've ran around naked and, had he done it right, no one would've blinked at him. Naturally, he wouldn't have done it, but the feeling he could provided a comfort he never knew.
And he owed it all to his other self. That one fateful meeting between the two boys might've changed Kouichi's life forever, for all he knew. Proof? The situation he was currently in.
Truly like a reflection, Kouichi mused, as he raised his left arm, imagining the other raising his right. Their looks, however, were where the similarity began… and when it had its head brutally cut off.
While he himself looked the part he was born to play, all neat and tidy and clean, the other was the opposite. Not in a dirty way, mind you, simply… common.
And while he never even once allowed himself a tear, the other missed not a minute to smile.
He was that much stronger.
Kouji.
That was the name of the boy who taught Kouichi how little he knew about everything. How little he knew about living. He owed him… and everyone around him… more than he could ever repay.
Ever.
"She's better."
Junpei said, his hands still glowing from the healing spell he cast. Kouichi sighed in relief as he looked the woman over. Her clothes were still bloodied, but the wound seemed better and she appeared to be sleeping soundly.
"I…"
He started, momentarily catching Junpei's attention, who was apparently busy setting up protection charms around the small house.
"I… never had anyone do such a thing for me…"
The older boy nodded softly. He heard enough about castle life to know his merchant father chose wisely when he declined an offer to have it.
"Were they ever given the chance?"
He asked silently.
"…no."
Junpei denied himself a satisfied chuckle.
"I'm sure there are people there who care enough about you."
"Don't be."
"Oh, I know so."
Came the cheerful reply to the melancholy demand.
"Otherwise…"
He paused, partially to concentrate fully on the charm he was currently setting up, partly to make sure the other was paying attention.
"…he wouldn't have been able to stay there a minute, let alone close to a week."
"But… Takuya's there…"
Kouichi commented, getting bitterer and bitterer by the minute. Junpei merely shook his head at him.
"You don't know anything about him."
Kouichi sighed. It was true. Sad, but true.
"Care to enlighten me then?"
He was about to say 'gladly', when a scream was heard from rather close by. Kouichi's hand flew to his sword, but unlike Junpei, he remained down. He eyed his friend for getting up.
"Don't worry, I put enough charms around to block all seven levels of hell altogether. Add your sword and we're better suited to protect her than Heaven."
"My sword?"
"I'll explain later, now hurry it up!"
Junpei was already outside when Kouichi decided to follow. He had to make sure Satomi was well.
"I'll be back…"
He silently promised her, telling himself he imagined the smile which formed on her lips. It was a strange feeling, having someone to protect… no, someone he wanted to protect. Saying it was a bad feeling, though, was impossible.
What he felt next, however, seeing Junpei standing in shock… well, that was another matter all together.
"What… is that?"
He asked, staring at… what? He could guess, but a definite answer was needed.
"A demon."
Came the simple and somewhat expected reply, yet somehow it was hardly satisfying, even though there was nothing more to be said.
The thing had no real form to speak of, but somehow, both knew what they were staring at; a shapeless being of darkness. And one which was apparently trying to posses a certain uniformed boy about Kouichi's age, one with black hair and a pair of glasses.
"Don't."
Junpei calmly said, an instant before Kouichi grabbed the sword's hilt.
"Why? He needs help!"
Kouichi barked back, unbelieving. Junpei's calmness certainly hadn't helped relieve the shock.
"We don't know what lies ahead. Wasting your sword's magic on this would be a waste."
"Magic? What…"
But he wasn't heard as Junpei shut him and the entire world off, concentrating solely on the strongest vanquishing spell he knew.
–
–
Kouji pulled the blanket farther up the Mother-Queen's body, a small smile on her face as she slept. He himself remained seated by her sie, trying to have her words to him make sense.
"It can't be…"
The Queen, after falling for Serafi, the legendary Knight, has finally won his attention; The two were quite the couple, and as he proved to be quite the dominant male figure, a thing the court lacked since the last king died, many saw him a suitable match for the young then-prince. Also, him coming from the same country meant no lands or gifts were to be given away. Add the people's favor which he obviously had, originally being a commoner, and the difference in ranks hardly seemed important anymore.
Heaven forbids anyone'd let the two marry out of love.
But was there much love? After the wedding, after the birth of their… their twin sons, Serafi as though vanished with the younger sibling, never to be heard of again in the royal court.
"But…"
Twin sons. Twin swords. One, the older, remained in the castle as the heir. The other… one who, obviously, had to look quite a bit like the prince…
He looked at the woman with confused yet warm eyes.
"What reason has she to lie?"
There was little comfort in the fact the man was to tell his younger son the truth once the boy reached 18 years of age.
"Three years from now…"
He respected the woman for letting the one she thought was the prince know the truth quite a while before either boy was to learn it. He hated himself, though, for taking the other's role at that time of all times. After all, he was only to hear it 3 years later.
"Kouichi is… prince Kouichi is…"
He looked at the clothes he was wearing with a growing pit in the back of his stomach. The brother of a prince, after all, was a prince himself. And it only made too much sense. Their striking resemblance, the swords, the father who refused to speak of his past… the forgiveness the castle people had shown towards their prince's change in behavior.
"I'm prince Kouichi's older brother… I… prince…"
The room became hotter and hotter and hotter still as he sat there, the truth of it all sinking in.
"I… need some air…"
He said as he stood up, quietly making his exit. The hallway was quiet as usual, he thought as he began making his way towards his room.
It didn't matter to him that no one turned to him as he went in circles, too troubled to try and remember the right path to his room. Everything began making sense the more he tried not to think about it.
His mother disappearing after his birth…
"Gods…"
He came to a stop as yet another realization hit him. It was one thing coming to terms with having a brother, and exactly who that brother was. Realizing who his real mother was was another thing altogether.
And if all came down in a mess of thoughts as he finally paid attention to his environment. It wasn't that he wasn't bothered, but more… there was no one there to bother him.
He spun around, looking for pretty much anybody. No one in the corridor he was at. He began retracing his steps, dread increasing with each step he took. No sound was heard save for his own footsteps and breathes.
"Anybody there?"
No answer save for his own voice echoing back at him. He began running, faster and faster as he went, his hand reaching for his sword.
"Answer me! Is anyone there!"
He got a big fat 'no' for an answer as he reached his grandmother's room (he thought of her like so even without realizing it, he realized with half a heart) and found no guards present.
"Please… please, just… be there!"
Kouji half screamed as he kicked the door open, sword drawn once both feet met the ground.
He actually felt his heart come to a stop.
"No…"
He whispered, shaking his head.
Wind gently blew the curtains around the bed; he had needn't
Approach the bed to see it was empty, but he did so anyway, running his fingers across the still warm pillow.
"Damn it…"
His fist clenched, frustration stubbornly refusing to give in to fear.
"Fuck damn it!"
He rushed out the door again, running almost blindly through the halls. No one. Absolutely not a single soul could be found. Again, all he heard was his own footsteps; his own breaths; his own voice; the faint sound of bells; and the beating of his own heart.
Eventually giving in, he hadn't stopped himself when he tripped, just barely missing being impaled by his own sword. Tears now began stinging his eyes.
"Mother… Takuya… everyone… why…"
He managed to push himself up a bit, sword still in hand.
"…is it… my fault? Kouichi!"
And as he shut his eyes tightly, he missed the tear dropping to the gem encased in the sword's hilt, and the glow it radiated. It stood in painful contrast to the shadow which loomed over him.
"Of course it is."
His eyes widened as he felt arms sneak around his waist and tug at his shirt, but he couldn't fend them off. He couldn't even turn around to see the face of the girl who was court sorceress. All he could do was stare forward as his body went numb.
"It's all your fault… Because even though you have beautiful…"
He felt pain tear through his chest as the girl hissed in his ear. Familiar pain. Dream pain.
"…little me… you still…"
He cringed as she dug deeper into his flesh, giggling as she did so.
"…let that dreadful rodent kiss you. You… MY prince!"
It was now blood which dripped on the sword, tainting the jewel with crimson red.
"My prince… mine… no one else's…"
And as he collapsed, unconscious in her arms, Izumi licked her now blood stained fingers, her giggles rapidly escalating into mad laughter, the only voice rivaling it being the echoes of devilish bells.