Me not own Digimon Frontier charas or the prince and the pauper.
OMATASE SHIMASHTA! Or whatever's the correct way for saying "sorry to have kept you waiting". I have very little time on my hands now, what with drafting and all. Will have more time in a month or two, so bear with me please?
Mmm, k
Note about first part of the chappie: Repeats, dots, exclamation marks… well, you'll see the atmosphere I'm trying to give away, it's intentional. Mmm, K
Two Sides of a Coin
Chapter 20
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"Kouji!"
Kouichi cried out suddenly, the green gem on his sword radiating in a mesmerizing light. It caught Junpei's attention in mid casting, as well as the demon's. The young soldier prey now forgotten, the creature lunged itself at the young prince.
"Kouichi, look…"
But before Junpei could finish, or even do anything in the matter, the demon exploded into a million shards of darkness, quickly turning into dots of light as they floated into nothingness. Kouichi blinked as he realized that he not only drew his sword, but also used it. He could only stare at the weapon, entranced as the jewel continued glowing, giving him a strange sensation, of both comfort and dread. He never felt so close to anyone before… but that someone was also in danger. He knew it.
"This is… my magic?"
He asked, trying to remain calm.
"Pretty much so, yes."
Came the equally calm yet confused reply.
"Never imagined it to be that powerful, having only half its power…"
"Half?"
"Your highness!"
Both turned to the soldier boy, now up on his feet and seemingly in high, if frantic, spirits. He ran up to them, his face turn between shock, terror and relief.
"Your highness! You're safe! Thank goodness!"
Kouichi and Junpei exchanged glances before he replied.
"I… am. And you are?"
The boy seemed confused.
"What do you mean… you know me! It's me, Arbor!"
Still nothing.
"Takuya's friend?"
"You know Takuya!"
Junpei asked, everything suddenly making sense both to him and to the young prince.
"Ah. You know Takuya."
Arbor nodded, flushed.
"Of course I do! We met through him! Or should I say because of him… or rather, I was just there when you came for him, and…"
"Say, Arbor…"
Junpei began calmly, thankfully stopping the other boy.
"… has Takuya ever mentioned a friend from back home that looks a lot like prince Kouichi?"
It took Arbor a moment to realize.
"Ah! So you must be Kouji! But wait a minute, a moment ago, when I referred to you as 'your highness', you…"
"You were right."
Junpei said, finding it hard not to chuckle.
"Huh?"
"I am Kouichi."
Kouichi said, only farther confusing and agitating the poor soldier.
"But…."
"It was… Kouji… you met at the castle."
"Huh!"
"Well…"
The conversation was cut short as another demon jumped at them from behind, but that one was blown into pieces before it ever came close. All three blinked as it disappeared in a similar manner to its predecessor.
"Kouichi?"
"Don't look at me, I didn't…"
"He truly didn't."
All three teens turned to the voice, belonging to the man Kouichi came to respect and like at a certain level. The only man he ever called "father".
"Kousei…"
He whispered, not believing his eyes. The man's hands were glowing, the light reminding him of the after glow surrounding Junpei whenever he cast a spell. Reminding him of his own sword, still not back to its normal dimness. Hoping the man missed his previous statement to Arbor, Kouichi gritted his teeth and spoke out.
"Father, we have to get away, it's dangerous here!"
"True. But I must do something before that."
All teens blinked as the man kneeled down before Kouichi, his head lowered.
"Greetings to thee, O prince of the land. By title, duty and right, I pledge allegiance to thee, I, Serafi, former knight of these realms and the heavens."
And as Junpei shook his head and Arbor was about to have a stroke, Kouichi was left to deal with the man's following words, spoken for his ears alone.
"For what father would I be, should I not protect my first born son, eh, Kouichi?"
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He was scared. Oh so scared. Why? He thought, desperately running through the corridors. He was never there, he reckoned in his desperate attempt to find a familiar face; a familiar item; a familiar… anything.
There was none.
He hated it.
Hate it, hated it, HATED IT!
How he longed for the things he left behind. All the things that meant safety and security and warmth and comfort and…
He turned around sharply at the sound of footsteps.
Someone was there.
"Anybody there?"
His whole body tensed at the sound of the voice not his own.
"I… I am!"
He cried out, his voice hardly audiable due to his lack of breath.
"Answer me!"
"I AM!"
He tried again as he ran towards the voice, the voice he knew for so long.
Everyone was gone. Disappeared.
That voice, calling out to him… he had to…
He had to reach him!
"Is anyone there!"
"YES!"
Takuya screamed as he began running down the empty halls.
Footsteps…
Footsteps,
Footsteps!
So many footsteps!
So few people…
Just…
One…
"I'm here!"
Don't stop, keep going, there's someone there!
Someone…
He came to a stop as a loud crash was heard. For a moment all was silent, and he thought his heart would stop as well.
He was confused.
Confused, and scared, and alone, and…
"Fuck dammit!"
He sprang to life instantly, not even feeling his own aching legs, nor his burning lungs. He knew that voice.
He was alone, and scared, and confused, and…
And he knew that voice!
"Kouichi!"
He screamed, not too far gone still to expect the "other one" to be there. No. He prayed it wasn't him.
Faster…
Faster!
He had to get there, he had to reach him… NOW!
Before…
Before!
He came to a halt, the fleeting hope rapidly disappearing, like the sound of his own footsteps echoing away in the massive hallways. His sword dropped to the floor as he walked forward as though enchanted, kneeling next to the small stain on the floor.
"Blood."
He reckoned. –His- blood.
"Your blood…"
His fingers left the crimson liquid as he clenched his fist, grabbing his sword as he stood up to a fighting position.
"Show yourself…"
He first muttered, his rage quickly taking over.
"Show yourself! JESTER!"
And the reply then came, in the form of childish laughter and bells.
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A/N: There you have it. Sorry it's short. Was short on time -.-