Part 3

The Art of Jealously

"What and who is my brother talking to?"  Hikari whispered to herself she pressed her ear a little closer to the door.

"Hikari!" she jumped away from the door and looked to where the voice was coming from. Next thing she knew Lord Koushiro came toward her looking quite happy of himself. "Koushiro? What is it?" she asked standing away from her brother door. "Hikari where you spying on Taichi?" he questioned noticing that she was near his door. She smiled nervously "No, no! I was just about to ask him something." She looked too the door then back to the lord. "Well come with me I need to show you something". He led the way she followed.

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"Koushiro is it really important that you drag me all the way out into the gardens?" Hikari questioned she looked back at the entrance of the castle. "I discovered something… that's truly amazing." He said again pointing forward. "Just beyond the castle walls, I found a plaque." He turned to look at her.

"A plaque, so what there are many plaques in the garden. There is one over here" Hikari pointed to a stone structure that had and inscription on it. "No you do not understand, it's in an older language…but for sure I read Taichi's name upon it." He said to her.

"What plaque that is thousand of years old, as you say it is, have my brother's name on it?"  She questioned him confused. "That's it I don't know. That's is also the reason I require your help." He said to her.

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They kissed again in the serenity of there own world there love bloomed savagely but out side of their own world a torrid love affair of this kind wasn't tolerated and those caught in less acts were banished from the castle grounds and territory.

Taichi lessen the intensity of the kiss he pulled away from her. "Sora I love you so much." He replied as he caressed her cheek with his hand. "And I, Taichi, Love you."  They gave each other warm smiles and then moved in toward each other and softly kissed each other.

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Koushiro rode out on a horse with Hikari riding behind him on her horse. They reached the far forest just north east of the castle. Koushiro halted his horse and hopped off, Hikari did the same she frowned and hugged herself "Koushiro show me where this plaque is?" she asked him.

"Those who read this will be near a treasure of the Yagami family, a sword that was once used in the war between Tachikawa and Ishida, Yagami family. This sword is mad of special metals that only come from the mountain and where used by Yagami, Taichi the first."

Hikari squinted to at the strange lettering. "I can not read it! Why did you bring me out her to show me if I can not read." She shouted at him, thought she was not really mad at him just mad because she couldn't figure out who it was that was with her brother in his room.

Koushiro smirked and looked at her "You were spying were you not?" he question the princess looked at him like she didn't know what he was talking about. "Koushiro do not throw those kinds of accusations around. I do not know what on earth you are talking about any ways." She crossed her arms across her chest. "The fact that I caught you listening at his door would not be considered as spying?" he asked

"Um no! no it would not." She said. "I saved you from being caught your brother would have been really angry if he did catch you trying to listen at his door."  Hikari made a face at him then begged "Please do not let him know about it! I know you are his confidant!" she replied.

"I guess I will not let him know." He said to her "Oh thank you so much!" she cried; "Now in return I will ask you to help me with this deciphering this plaque."

"Fine." Koushiro handed her a pencil and a piece of parchment "What do I do with this?" she wondered. "Put the parchment over the plaque and rub the pencil over it so it catches all the lettering." He explained. Hikari frowned and did as she was told.

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That Evening…

The entire Yagami family and they're guests where seated in the dinning room, minus Prince Taichi and Lady Sora, they were waiting for those to arrive only about fifteen minutes when Lady Sora walked into the dining room the King eyed her "Sora where is Taichi?" His father asked of her. "I have no idea my lord…the last I saw of him he was going to his room." She replied as she took a seat beside Hikari who watched her suspiously.

Soon after Taichi walked in the dinning room, he took a seat next to Princess Mimi as he had been instructed in doing so. "You took a while Taichi." His father said as he watched his son help him self to some of the food that was on the table. Taichi simply shrugged "I had errands to run father."

His father eyed him then his mother and then he began to there dinner. Mimi looked over at him for a moment; Hikari too was eyeing her brother then Sora. Sora bit her lip she could feel everyone's eyes on her. "Pardon me." She said as she stood up. The king and queen nodded allowing her to leave. Once Sora had got passed the doors she ran to her quarters.

Taichi was concerned but he knew better then to go after her and watched just for a second and returned to eating. Hikari on the other hand got up "Excuse me father." He nodded and the princess went to go and look for Sora.

The room was silent for a moment until Mimi decided to strike up a conversation with Taichi her soon to be husband. "Taichi, how old are you?" she questioned as she took a bite of the chicken that was in front of her. "Eight teen years" he replied dryly. Mimi frowned as she ate then did not bother to say another word during the rest of dinner.

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Hikari wondered in the halls looking everywhere for Sora until she came to Sora's room. She knocked on the door three times and waited patiently. "Sora…it's me Hikari open the door please." She begged she heard it unlock from the inside and then the door opened Sora was standing there tears streaming down her cheeks. Hikari gasped and came in she locked it and faced her.

"Are you okay?" she asked worried. "No…no I'm not. Why did they all look at me weird when I came in late. Like I had committed a huge crime." She replied. "No we don't think that no one thinks that my father he was just upset because you showed up late when there are guests in our company." She explained.

"I guess you could be right." She whispered, Sora turned around knowing the real reason she left the dinner. The trumpets sounded indicating that guests had arrived. "Well come on Sora, the Ishida's have probably arrived."  Sora followed Hikari and the two went down  to the court.

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Yamato stepped out of the wagon, followed by his brother and Lord Daisuke, their mother and father had all ready began their introductions. The prince's and lord followed them.

Prince Yamato came to Princess Hikari first. "Nice to meet you princess Hikari." He bowed and kissed her hand gently. "Prince Yamato?" she asked. He nodded. He went to Taichi next. The two shook hands. "Prince Yamato I presume." He questioned. He nodded. "You must be Prince Taichi then." He said and Tai nodded. 

"Ah…who's this lovely lady?" Yamato questioned lady Sora Taichi jealousy eyed the two. "I am Lady Sora Takenouchi, the Princess's lady in waiting." She told him, he smiled and kissed her hand.  Yamato's next went to the princess he knew very well. "Princess Mimi…you look lovely." He replied softly he kissed her hand. "Thank you Prince Yamato, you look handsome as a ever." She replied.

"Nice to see you again lady Miyako greetings." He said softly and kissed her hand.

as Yamato finished his rounds…Takeru's started his… "Princess Hikari I presume?" he asked her very gentlemanly. She nodded. "You are Prince Takeru, am I right?" she asked. He nodded in return. "Very much so, you looked beautiful." He replied and gave her a small smile before he kissed her hand. Takeru went to Prince Taichi next.

"Prince Taichi…thank you for inviting us to this ball." Takeru replied. "It's not me you should thank it's my parents after all they are the King and Queen." Taichi told him, they shook hands and Takeru moved to Lady Sora.

"Lady Sora, you are the princess's lady in waiting…you look beautiful." Takeru said to her before he kissed her hand gently. "Thank you Prince Takeru." she replied again Prince Taichi looked jealously over at this.

"Princess Mimi Tachikawa…. you are ever so radiant." Takeru replied and he kissed her hand. "You and your brother both have such wonderful way with words." The princess replied.

"Miyako…beautiful and intelligent.." Takeru said taking he hand and kissed it softly. "Thank you prince Takeru."

It was Daisuke's turn. "Ah…Lord Daisuke, you return here again." Princess Hikari replied. "Oh…so you remember me then?" he questioned. "Perhaps a bit." She told him, he smiled. "I may be no prince but…I assure you that I'm just a good." He whispered and kissed her hand. Takeru raised his eyebrows at this. 

"Prince Taichi…nice to meet you." He shook hands with Tai who smile but nothing more.

"Lady Sora Takenouchi…another beautiful woman." He said then kissed her hand. "Lord Daisuke…you are have become a talker now have you." Sora had asked. He smiled and moved to Mimi.

"Princess Mimi you're looking as lovely as ever." He said. "Lord I merely, changed my attire." She told him, Daisuke smiled and took her hand and kissed it.

"Lady Miyako…my pleasure to get a lady with such class and intelligence." Daisuke replied he kept on pouring out the charm and kissed her hand gently.

King and Queen Yagami greeted King and Queen Tachikawa. They called their children's names, "Princess Hikari of Yagami." Hikari greeted the King and Queen Tachikawa as well. "This is my lady in waiting Lady Sora Takenouchi" Hikari announced Sora curtsied to them; Tai came from behind Sora then announced his presence.

"Prince Taichi of Yagami." He kissed the Queen's hand and shook the King's hand.

After words everyone was situated to they own rooms. It was late in the night and most the castle was silent except for the guards…who stood watch to the doors of the royals chambers.

Lady Sora sat on the edge of Taichi's bed. "Do you know Sora that I was extremely jealous of them all." He replied he watched her. "I noticed Taichi…you shouldn't be though." She told him. Taichi still wore he royal clothing, Lady Sora still had her dress from the tonight on. 

She got up and walked to him, she turned him around to face her. "You do understand? Do you." She questioned. "I do understand." He replied, she then forced him to look at her again. "I found it amazing…that you were jealous…of them." she said.

"Yes it bothered me." He told her with honesty. "There no need to be cause I don't like any of them.." she whispered. "I still don't feel at easy Sora." He told her, the stood close to each other. She saw the sadness in his eyes "Taichi…why are you sad?" she questioned. "I only want you and only you and now we can not be together because…of my betrothal to Princess Mimi….." he stopped there.

Lady Sora reached up and took his crown, putting it down on a nearby table. The prince looked at her sceptically he wasn't sure what she was doing. "With out the crown…. the betrothal cancels." She replied, she leaned up to him and kissed his lips softly.

"But I'm still prince in blood." Taichi told her, before kissing her again. "The crown makes this different." Sora replied a…then they kissed once again. 

"How so?" he asked kissing her again. "The night's still young let's not converser any further." She replied. He kissed her hungrily then spun her around where he began to undo her dress the cresol "Are you sure you want this?" Sora asked as Taichi was undoing her dress, his response was a kiss to her neck.

"We have the night Lady Sora…why not." He whispered, Sora had smiled she walked to the candles that were lighted and blew them out. 

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Prince Takeru wondered thought the castle hall occasionally being stopped by some of the guards who asked if he was lost to which he replied he was merely walking around "Where's the princess room?" he questioned himself…. he looked around until he had bumped into another person.

"I apologize, who's there?" the voice asked. "Daisuke?" Takeru asked, the lord start walked up to him. "Takeru what do I ask are you doing up and wondering the castle at this hour?" he asked him.

The prince merely shrugged, to his comrade. "I can not find my room." He replied…Daisuke sighed. "Me neither. But I believe the way is north." He replied. "That's impossible. I came from that way." Takeru replied.

A guard had come to see the area when he noticed to people. "Who goes there?" he questioned. "It's I Lord Daisuke and Prince Takeru…we've seemed to lost ourselves…this castle is enormous." He stated.

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The prince entered his room… "I'll have to wait till the next day for my chance to talk to the princess." Takeru thought to himself he lay in his bed looked up at the ceiling of his room. "I'll have to wait till the next day or my chance to talk to the princess." Daisuke replied as he looked up at the ceiling.

To Be Continued…….