- - - - Joyous Heartache- -
- - Chapter 6- Family Problems - -
- - - -
A/N:
Hihi! ALRIGHT I GOT THIS CHAPTER UPLOADED ON THE DAY I GET BACK FROM BAND TOUR!!!!! HOW COOOL IS THAT???
Im heaps soz about the really really long update… The teachers have no understanding of spreading out assignments, they just sort of banged them on us and made them all due at the last week of term, so the outcome is 6 assignments due, and 5 tests all in a matter of 4 days for the last week of school.
Not fun…
So I didn't get enough time to finish it before my Band tour to Tasmania! I just got back from the tour, so I'm writing it now… AND GOT IT UPLOADED AS WELL!! (as you can see…) ^-^
So. Enjoy! I typed really fast to get it up a.s.a.p for you guys, and you really cant get sooner than the day you return, can you? n.n
Em
- - - - - - - - -
- - Review Responses: - -
Animefreak85: Yeh, ditto, I cant really keep them apart for long… thanks for the review!
Yukata: Thanks sooo much! That's so sweet of u!
Miaow227: I know, I hate them too, but its rather fun to write them! Sorry, but I wanted to leave it open to imagination, and put u all on edge ^_~, don't expect it to be the last one, but im going to update more regularly now, so u wont have to wait so long. Sorry again, and thanks for the review.
Saturnangel: The rest of Kari's family is coming soon, so u wont be waiting to long, and then the real story starts…! Thanks for the review!
mikomi-nad: Hey! Thanks, that's sweet of u, I don't think I'm really that good… ^#.#^
armitage: Yay! Go Takari and Sorato! ^-^ Thanks!
Curtis Zidane Ziraa: Issues are always good… ne? And this story seems to be packed full of them… I suppose I do take a long time to update, this time especially, but im getting better…… slowly… improving… thanks.
Twilight starz: me too… thanks.
Hoshii-chan: Thanks!
Digidestined of Darkness: Hehe, it seems I cant get it right, ne? I get you all nice, and then *bam* I take ages to update and ur back to ur usual threats- I suppose I should be extra careful now u have reinforcements, huh? Eh… the threats are alright… they're amusing- Im used to the power of darkness flowing through people, I mean it flows freely through my best friends… and they say it flows through me too… we make quite the trio as u can imagine. Thanks heaps for the reviews (even though a few of them were on the dark and evil side…)! ^-^
Hazy: Yeh, I read that on a site somewhere (on the day I received ur review, actually) I REALLY WANT TO SEE THE JAP VERSION, I'm not sure if its true, I mean, if it was wouldn't they have heaps of pics all over sites on it? I really want to see it though, 'his masters voice' is one of my fave eps in the 2nd season.. ^-^ thanks!
Tabbycat411: Thanks
TakariAAF: Hehehe, I'm glad I got that reaction from someone, it was what I was going for… evil… but still, hehe… you'll just have to wait and find out… Im glad they got back together too… it seems everyone is, huh? Oh well, I suppose u wouldn't be reading a Takari story if you wanted to see them apart, would u… er.. now im rambling… thanks for the review!
- blank - : Just don't really die, k? You'll find out quicker by waiting… although with the rate I seem to be typing at the moment… er… no… don't worry, im going to keep updating… thanks for the review…
Shenny G. Potter: Thanks
RogueSummersLover: ^-^ Thank-u!
Wolf Runner: Hello again! Cry? Yay! I tried to make that chappie as emotional as possible, and I'm heaps glad it worked out! I think the war is pretty much out in the open, and if anyone hasn't figured that out I suggest they reread the last chapter… Matt and Tai's Friendship? Well, You'll find out soon enough, I don't want to give anything away… but its safe to say the relationships with the Ishida's and the Kamiyas is a complicated mess. I'll leave it at that… Im glad to see u back! Thanks for the review!
- - - - Sooo many reviews! THANKYOU! Sorry if I missed anyone! - - - -
The sun shone in through the window of Hikari's chambers, as she slowly got up and got dressed, just as she put her shoes on though, there was rapid knocking at the door.
"Hikari! Open the door!" she heard the voice of her best friend, Lara, call to her.
Hikari laughed as the knocks grew louder, her friend seemed to think she was still asleep in bed. "I don't think I have to, you seem to be doing a magnificent job of breaking it down."
"I think that's an 'easier said than done' task…" She heard her friends fiancé: Daisuke, remark. Her eyes grew wide. Kari hadn't realised he was there too.
"That'd be right, Davis." Another voice remarked dryly, and Hikari laughed, recognising the voice and opened the door, throwing herself at the person in question.
"Woah.." Takeru grunt was muffled, as he suddenly found himself holding another figure in his arms, her pretty head burrowed in his chest- it didn't go unnoticed by her he was wearing his more princely garments.
"Morning" the word was hard to make out as her head was buried in his chest.
"Morning" Takeru replied.
Davis rolled his eyes. "Oh, fine… leave Lara and I locked out, but the second Takeru says anything you come running."
Takeru laughed, as Hikari replied, "Of Course" in a manner of that to a princess. They all walked away from Hikari's chambers down a long hallway.
"What are you guys doing here?" Kari questioned curiously.
"Well, we are all going to the markets today." Takeru answered.
Hikari looked sad. "I have to work."
They exited the short hallway and came outside; a guard was standing at the doors and many servants were outside talking as they gathered their things. Takeru just smiled cheekily. "Then we will just have to do something about that, wont we?"
Hikari looked up, confused, and Lara blinked at her. Takeru walked up to the guard that was watching over the servants. Lara pushed Hikari forward, motioning her to follow him, and she and Davis followed.
"I'd like Hikari to have the day off today." Takeru started off in a firm voice, trying to make no room for argument……… the guard looked startled at the request, not recognising the youngest prince, and got very irritated as he looked at the servant Takeru had brought up behind him.
"No, she's a servant."
"I am quite aware of that." Takeru said in a cool manner, giving the guard an icy glare to freeze a volcano. The guard didn't notice and seemed to get hotter headed.
"Listen boy, you cant just come up here and expect me to give her a day off, just because you asked for it."
"Boy?" Takeru said incredulously, of course he looked like a boy in the eyes of a man, but the guards were supposed to have a level of respect for royalty. "My name is Prince Takeru, my older brother is Yamato, and my father is King Ishida, ruler over this realm…… Do you have a problem with that?" Takeru asked in a voice full of power. The guard just stuttered, his eyes widening, coming on the royal crest symbol that was on Takeru's shirt. "Didn't think so, now, Hikari is having the day off today."
"Y-Y-Yes My Lord." The guard stuttered, trying to get himself together. He had never believed the rumours that there was a younger Prince of Ishida, and a younger brother of Yamato; the realms heir, but here he was talking to him, and not speaking very nicely either.
"Come, Hika." Takeru said softly, smiling at the look of awe and excitement playing across her fair features, as they started walking outside.
"Wow, for a princeling you got a lot of power." Daisuke teased as they walked away from the fields.
"Shut it Davis."
"And a sharp tongue."
"I'm not even going to start with you." Takeru rolled his eyes as Davis did a victory glance.
They came round a corner and Takeru sighed. "How about we go to the markets at midday, if that's alright with you, I got some things to take care of first."
Kari looked up. "Like what?"
"Getting you home, My father and My brother." Takeru smiled
"Your father?" Davis asked raising his eyebrows, sounding uncertain.
Takeru's answer was full of confidence. "Yes, my father." If there was a table in front of him he would have banged his fist down for emphasis.
"And your brother?" Davis asked, a hint of amusement on his voice.
He shrugged his shoulders in a nonchalant manner. "He is going to try and stop me."
Davis smiled. "Of course."
"I'll see you guys later, ok?" Takeru said giving Hikari a kiss
"Alright, but where do we meet?"
"How about at the entrance to the palace?" Takeru suggested. "That's probably the simplest place. I should be done by then."
Hikari ran up to Takeru and kissed him before he walked away.
"Come on Hikari, lets go
round to the oval down below the fields!
Davis knows the way."
"Yep! Just follow me!" Davis said, leading them on.
- - - 1 hour later - - -
The two newly discovered noble girls were running across the fields to the servant quarters, laughing happily. Daisuke had left them earlier, muttering that Takeru was 'such and idiot', 'lost his brain' and was 'going to get himself killed.' With that happy parting mutter he had ran off after the youngest prince.
"Come on Lara!" Hikari called as they reached the door to the quarters and rushed in. "Hurry up!"
"Nani?" confused emotions played across the girls face. "What do you mean."
"Take said that we may be able to go shopping today!" she smiled happily. "I want some help to get my best clothes ready!"
"Your best clothes?" Lara laughed. "Kari, the reason we are going shopping is so you can have some 'best clothes'! All your clothes right now look exactly the same!"
Hikari blushed. "I forgot. He makes me feel so special and important. Did you see him this morning! He has such power! He just talked to that guard and then, I just had the day off!" Hikari thought about this some more. "I wonder if I can have every day off." She said wistfully, contemplating the possibilities.
Lara nodded "He does have a lot of power, but none near to the amount of power his brother has. You should see Prince Yamato sometimes."
Kari looked thoughtful. "Prince Yamato looks like an older Takeru."
"I think it would be that Takeru is a younger Prince Yamato."
Kari laughed. "Nope, Keru always comes first." She said. "Prince Yamato looked like the quiet type."
Lara nodded, brushing her blonde hair. "He does, but he has heaps of power, and a whole lot of spirit. He finds confidence within the hearts of others, and he has amazing ordering skills."
"Just like Takeru… They really are alike." Kari smiled.
"I don't really know them that well, especially Yamato, nor have I met the King, but they both claim to be exact boy copies of their mother."
"Perhaps they are just saying that." Kari said. "I wonder why Daisuke ran off after him. Takeru was just going to talk to his father!"
"I don't know Hikari. Maybe he forgot to explain something to him." Lara said. "We better get ready though, there isn't much time left."
- - - - -
The voices of two arguing princes echoed across the castle, and down the hallway. The guard, standing outside the Kings hall raised his eyebrow as the sound continued to echo. He could hear the irritated and frustrated voices well before he could see them, let alone even hear their footsteps come his way, but by the sound of their voices he knew that something was amiss, and that he was probably going to find out.
The exasperated crowned princes' sigh came to his ear. "Ototo-chan… its preposterous, I will NOT let you do this."
The icy glare sent by the younger brother made the atmosphere tense as it floated throughout the castle, making everyone uncomfortable. "The last I checked, Yamato, My actions were of my own concern. I am capable of looking after myself."
Yamato snorted in disbelief. "I am not just going to stand by and idly watch as you walk in there." He said. "I am no fool, Takeru, I know what he will do, and it is not listen."
Takeru glared again. "The least I can do is try, onii-chan." His voice was cold, showing that Yamato was walking on dangerous grounds. "If you excuse me."
The younger prince stormed away down the hall. His older brother was staring after him with a look beyond annoyance. If you looked carefully you could see the crowned princes eyes flash with worry, but it was gone before anyone could really notice for sure. Such emotions were apparently 'instabilities' while leading a country, and he had long been taught to hide any feelings of that sort, at least while he was thinking of his father.
Clenching his fists together, Yamato walked briskly after his younger brother.
- -
Takeru sighed, unclenching his fists and closing his eyes; relieving him of his frustration. He knew it was wrong to do that to his brother, he was only worried about him, but he knew that if Yamato had a say in it there was no way he would ever be able to do this, let alone find the courage to. He sighed deeply, trying to calm down and prepare him for what lay ahead. He ran a hand through his hair, and opened his eyes, keeping his face stoic he boldly walked up to the door of the throne room. The guards looked at him in surprise; there were few times Takeru faced his father by his own choice, actually, it was unheard of."I would like to talk to my father." Takeru said, looking towards the door. The guard nodded, giving him an 'are-you-sure' look, to which Takeru nodded, before the guard walked inside. Everyone who knew the youngest prince knew how he was treated.
- - - -
"What is it?" the king snapped. "I'm busy, you know."
"My apologies Sire." The guard bowed his head in respect. "Your son would like to see you."
"Which one?"
"Your youngest, sire."
The king raised his eyebrows. "Oh really? I wonder what he wants." He started thinking. "Well, what are you waiting for? Send him in."
The guard bowed to the ground walked out, nodding to Prince Takeru to say he could go in. The nervous look that flashed through the youngest prince's face did not go unnoticed.
The guard was waiting impatiently for the prince's return when he heard the swift movement of cloth and the soft steps of shoes against the marble floor again. Looking up he saw the Crowned Prince walking briskly down the hall, anger and frustration were shown in his eyes, but worry was etched into his face. The prince leaned his back against the white-stone wall, closing his eyes and folding his arms.
He tried to keep his face stoic, but failed miserably. His clenched fists were shaking slightly and he would sigh in frustration and worry as every minute passed. No matter what his face looked like, every few seconds he would look towards the Throne Room door, as if willing them to open.
Nobody knew except for him, but Matt had made a promise to his mother- a promise he meant to keep as much as possible… and the older prince was now seriously worrying about what the day's outcomes would be.
- - - -
Takeru's footsteps echoed through the hallway as he entered the throne room. He bowed his head in respect to his father.
The king chuckled. "Takeru, Takeru, Takeru." He shook his head. "What a surprise, it isn't every day you willingly come to me. What depravity must you burden me with now?"
"Father, I assure you it is not on purpose." Takeru said, looking to the ground, not daring to meet his eyes. "Actually I was wondering if you could spare me a favour."
The king raised his eyebrows, slightly amused.
"You see, Father, the princess of Kamiya is within our midst." Takeru said.At this the king of the Ishida kingdom sneered. "You fool, you think I did not know that."
Takeru looked up at his father, bright blue eyes wide but shining with defiance, and his fist clenched and shaking as he tried to control his anger. He suddenly felt a stinging sensation as his father hit him across the face, the force making his head turn abruptly and once again stare at the floor. He did not dare to regain eye connection with his father. A bright red mark was already appearing on his face.
"Lower your gaze, I don't want to waste my sight on a bastard like you." The king said, and Takeru looked down in disgust, blinking back tears of frustration from his eyes. He was used to such words from his father, and such behaviour. Now he could only think of Hikari.
"How could you?" he asked slowly, trying to keep his voice as emotionless as possible.
"You question me?" The king was enjoying this.
"Let her go, please father." The youngest prince pleaded, his bright blue eyes staring at the ground.
The king smiled, not a nice one, but a devious one. "She is of no further use to me, take her to that damn kingdom at your own risk, I will not give up worthy knights for you and that pathetic excuse for a human, go on your own accord." He shook his head. "At least you will be of no further nuisance to me, leave my presence, boy."
--------
Yamato started as the doors came open and Takeru walked out, sighing in relief. The tears in his eyes and the bright red slap-mark made his blood boil but he let it go for now. There was something about his little brother though, despite the tears, he didn't look sad.
Takeru locked eyes with his brother, now standing away from the door, and nodded, telling him he was all right.
As usual that signal didn't work and he was dragged aside, and back down the short hallway.
Yamato looked down at his brothers blue eyes. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine Yamato…" Takeru started, his cheek was throbbing painfully, and a small blue bruise that was forming was easier to see, but he ignored it. "Hikari can go home."
The crowned Princes eyes went wide. "She can what?" Matt said, partly angry and confused, and partly happy for his brothers sake. He really had no love for Kamiya's. "I didn't think father would give up the knights-…." He stopped here as he saw Takeru flinch and look down to the ground guiltily.
"Takeru..-" Matt warned, asking him to continue.
"He isn't sending Knights, Mato." Takeru said softly and dejectedly, sad for all the worry he was causing his brother.
"Then… what?" Matt's eyes were wide in horror. He knew what Takeru was going to say next, and he didn't like it one bit.
Takeru looked down at the ground… "I'm taking her." He whispered.
"No." Matt said, before T.K could even finish. "No way"
"Matt…-"
"No" Matt said, his wide eyes filled with worry and distress. "No Takeru… please." He repeated.
He knew he was something his little brother needed to hold on to, but Takeru didn't know that Matt needed his little brother to hold onto as well.
If his little brother fell, Matt didn't even want to think about what would happen to him. His little brother was the most important thing in his life; the person (other than Sora) that he lived for, the only reason he kept going to his father's lessons.
Yamato was terribly afraid he was not going to win this one.
"Let me do this Yamato, I know it will be alright." Takeru said looking up to the one person who had cared for him all his life.
"B-B-… No." Yamato stuttered, lost for words. "Don't."
"Please Onii-chan; You used to be best friends with Taichi, even he wouldn't let an old hatred run so deep that he kills the one that saves their princess's life. I need this; it won't help me if anyone else does this. They will be in debt of us, and of me. The kingdom needs this Mato, I need this. Please, let me."
Yamato was speechless after this, and his eyes dulled slightly in realisation of what it meant. "You are wise beyond your years and my years Ototo, and I don't know how you do it. But that isn't the only reason, is it?"
Takeru's eyes overflowed with a few tears that ran down the red mark on his cheek. "No, you know I love her. She, she has a full, loving family to go back to, Yamato. Don't hate her for it. I want her to live in that family, she's been a servant all her life, and she deserves to be the princess that she is. Even if it does have to be the enemy princess."
"She'll hurt you, ototo." Yamato said softly. "I don't want that to happen."
"Whats the difference, Matt. I've got you, you're my brother. I don't mind, I just want her to be happy. I reckon somehow this could work." Takeru said convincingly.
There was silence for a while, as they both thought of everthing that they were facing.
"And if not?" Yamato whispered what was on both of their minds.
Takeru looked up into his brothers eyes decidedly, with a soft, sad confidence. "We'll have to cross that path when it comes to us." He whispered.
There was another long period of silence here, and the bright royal blue eyes of the brothers are met in an agreement. The boys hugged tightly and Takeru sent his older brother a radiant smile (which the older boy sent back feebly) before running off.
Once gone, Yamato slid down the wall and with his head in his arms and let the tears and emotions out freely, not caring who saw.
He kept far too much inside, he realised. The one thing he was afraid of happening was beginning, and he did not want to lose his brother… Anything but his little brother.
- - - - - -
"Takeru" Daisuke said in recognition as he ploughed into his best friend.
It was obvious he had been to late to stop his prince-friend go to see his father. He had known before he had even seen the look on Takeru's face and the red mark on his cheek. He had heard the angry voice of Matt and the exasperated reply from TK, but he had still hoped maybe he could have stopped him.
The cheek mark did all the talking.
He sent his friend a concerned look, which was shaken off with the flick of a hand and a smile. Concerned still but happy that Takeru was emotionally all right he and Takeru started walking again.
"What happened?" he whispered softly.
"Nothing" was the short reply.
"That-" Daisuke indicated to the slap mark. "is not nothing, and you are not going to get me to believe that you just went in for a nice chat with your father." He said. "I'm not that stupid."
"You sure?" Takeru smiled.
"Yes!" Davis said indignantly. "Now, you are going to tell me right now what happened or else."
TK smiled cheekily, his best-friend putting him in a much better mood. "Well we had a lovely conversation about the weather, and how all the knights are doing so well nowadays. He also complimented on how I beat Yamato the other day in our spar."
"Har har har. Very funny TL" Daisuke said, rolling his eyes. "There are a few reasons I'm not believing that,
1. You don't talk about the weather,
2. Your father never talks to you about anything let alone complimenting you
3. Your father never talks to you about anything let alone complimenting you.
And 4. You didn't win the spar yesterday. "
"I know you too well Takeru Ishida." Daisuke said. "Now explain or face the consequences."
Takeru smiled a crooked smile as the bruise on his cheek was hurting an awful lot now. "Nothing. We'll just be leaving with you."
"Don't get me started ag…-" Davis trailed off. "Wait, whose going with me where?"
"Me and Hikari will leave with you and Lara." Takeru said.
Davis
looked at his best friend; eyebrows raised. "Why?"
"Cause Hikari is going home. That's what I talked to my father about."
The noble boy rolled his eyes "I figured that out by now, but why are you coming to!" he asked urgently.
"Obviously Knights are far to important to send with Hikari so I have got to take her home. End of story. Say no more."
"Wait. Back up." Davis stopped, they had reached Takeru's door and now he tried to get all this information in. "You. Are. Taking. Hikari. To. The. Kamiya. Kingdom?!"
"Yes" Takeru said and Davis opened his mouth. "Don't say anything, I have Matts consent." Davis' eyes went wide and if possible his mouth opened wider, as Takeru rolled his eyes. "And my fathers obviously."
Daisuke sighed. "I wont say anything, but I doesn't mean I think you are doing the right thing."
Takeru opened the door. "It is, Davis, trust me, I need this and I want it for Hikari."
"Come on, its almost midday, we better get going to meet the girls."
- - - - - - - - - - - -
The sun was going down and Hikari and Takeru were both sitting down on the top of a small hill watching the sunset. Hikari was wearing a few beautiful garments that they had bought that day, but right now she only cared about Takeru.
Her eyes lingered on the still red mark on his cheek.
"Take?" she questioned and he looked up at her with bright blue eyes.
"I've kept quiet about it all day, but," Her fingers touched his cheek lightly, but he instantly flinched and she drew them away.
"What happened?"
"Its nothing Kari. Just an accident in a lesson today." Takeru said softly. "Don't worry about it."
"I did something for you today." He whispered softly in her ear.
"You did lots of things for me today, Keru."
"I know, but I did a very special thing." Takeru smiled. "Im taking you home Hika."
I'm taking you home HikaThose words echo through the lost princess' head, as the Prince of Ishida watched the emotions play across her face.
"You, as in you and not someone else??"
"Yes." Takeru smiled. "Me as in me."
A smile spread across her face, larger and brighter as it filled with unexplainable happiness. "You mean, where I was born! Oh, Take! This is the best day ever! I've never felt so happy, I thought I would be stuck with some knight!"
Takeru smiled as she placed her arms around his shoulders.
"We'll have so much fun, and we'll meet my parents together-" Kari was so happy, she didn't even realize, or sense the way her soul mates smile faltered at these words, and the uncomfortable aura he had around him. She was too happy, she just kept talking. "and, we'll meet any other family I have… its been my dream, Take, and then we can talk to them about your onii-chan, and we can get married and live together forever and my parents will love you and… my mum can be like your mum too, if you want… since your mum died…"
'if only it were that simple, Hika, if only' he thought, his aura still uncomfortable, but he hid it with a smile. Hikari leant back into his lap, sitting with her back to his chest, his arms around her waist. She just smiled as the sun disappeared.
"Come on, Princess." Takeru said playfully when the stars came out on a midnight blue sky. "We're leaving tomorrow with Lara and Daisuke."
"mm." She replied, half asleep. "Thankyou" Takeru placed his lips onto hers as she fell into a deep and comfortable sleep. It was as if he had lifted a huge weight from her soul, and he had never felt more relieved and happy.
Takeru silently carried her back up to the castle and up the marble stairs he had climbed so many times in his lifetime. A dishevelled Yamato appeared at the top of the staircase, and opened his door for him, smiling sadly at his little brothers antics as Takeru placed Hikari down on his double bed, letting her take one half of it.
Yamato leaned back against the doorway, and raised one eyebrow.
"She doesn't deserve to go back to those quarters when she doesn't have to." Takeru defended softly.
Yamato smiled and ruffled his little brothers hair. "Just behave, Ototo-chan. I'll see you in the morning" He smiled another time, before getting up and leaving, closing the door behind him.
Hikari slept soundly that night though, the boy she loves sleeping soundly next to her, underneath blankets in a warm bed, and in a room filled with royalty, grace and magnificence she had never seen before.
Takeru didn't have that luck, although once asleep the presence of the girl he loved helped his soul settle, but he couldn't help being worried about just what he was getting himself into.
- - - - - -
[to be continued]
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A/N:
Hoped you all enjoyed that. I've practically completely written my next chapter, and if I get lots of reviews it should be up within a couple of days (ah! The wonders of holidays)
Well, you should be happy to know that I enjoyed my band tour immensely! I went to Tasmania, and we got third in the Australian National Band Championships (in our section) then for the rest of the week we toured around Tasmania! It was so much fun!
It is the main reason I didn't get to update sooner though! Oh well, I'm going to have lots of updates now, since it's the holidays and I now have the next chapter almost completely written!
Yay!
Anyways, c u next time! Remember to review!
Emz
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Review PLEASE!!
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Friday, 16th April 2004