Lief: Uhh, I'm sorry for the late update. I've been busy with school and stuff. Plus, my muses started ganging up on me. Damn muses… So, anyways, go on and read this chapter!

Title: Draconic Wars

Author: Lief Nerys

Pairings: TakuyaxKouji (Takouji), TaichixYamato (Taito), DaisukexKen (Daiken)

Rating: Not really sure, but M, just to be safe.

Summary: Since the dawn of Time, the Firedrakes and Sea Serpents have battled endlessly for power over the Lands of Fire, Water, Air and Earth, unheeding of the consequences wrought by their actions. Now, a winged Elf is born, the first in several centuries, and a Dragon Rider is called forth to fight for the Light. Caught in the middle of a long-forgotten prophecy in their ruined lands, they must come together and journey through many hardships and find the legendary Gem of Light.

Warning: Contains Yaoi and Yuri (I think), so if you find this repulsive, offensive, revolting or disgusting, do leave right now 'cause I couldn't care less if you flame me for that. Oh, and I guess there's gonna be major OOC for everyone, so, be warned!

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon and never will.

Chapter 2: Invitation

Kouichi frowned when loud banging was suddenly heard from the ceiling above him and raised a brow when a coat of dust from the wooden floors above him rained down.

"Come back here, Shinya!" a positively angry voice sounded from upstairs.

"No! Stay away from me, Takuya!" replied another voice, smaller than the first, but almost equally loud.

Kouichi winced when the wooden door of the kitchen he was currently in banged open, hitting the wall next to it. A resounding boom echoed through the small room as a tall, slightly muscled brunette, bare of all clothing save for his brown breeches, ran in after a smaller brunette who looked almost exactly like the older one.

"Takuya," sighed the ebony-haired teen, slumping his shoulders.

Takuya, though, did not seem to hear him and continued chasing his brother around the kitchen, yelling continuously.

"Come here, you little brat! I'll kill you, I swear I will!"

"Oh, yeah, Takuya, go on and threaten him, won't you? That'll make him come to you," muttered the ebony-haired boy silently, rolling his eyes.

Kouichi then concentrated as he gathered his magic. Almost on cue, a yelp from both brunettes sounded and Kouichi couldn't help but grin as he observed small strands of Dark energy pulling them up a few inches in the air by their arms.

"Kouichi!" yelled Takuya, struggling against the Dark magic. "Put me down!"

"Only if you promise not to kill Shinya," replied Kouichi calmly.

Takuya paused in his struggles to glare at the ebony-haired teen, then turned away, pouting. "Fine! I won't kill him."

"Swear?"

There was silence for a moment before Takuya let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and reluctantly said, "Swear."

Kouichi smiled. "Good." Then released both brunettes of his hold on them and went over to fold his arms over his chest in front of Shinya, who sat on the floor looking down at the ground ashamedly.

"Now, tell me. What'd you do that made Takuya mad, Shinya?" asked Kouichi.

"… I took his training sword again," was the quiet reply.

"Without asking?"

"Yes."

Kouichi looked down at him and sighed. "Shinya. You know you shouldn't do that."

Silence from the small brunette.

"Shinya…"

"I know…"

"Then why'd you take it?"

"I just wanted to know what it was like…"

"To be a Dragon Rider Apprentice?"

Shinya nodded meekly and chanced a glance at the ebony-haired teen before him. A soft, warm smile greeted him and Kouichi shook his head slowly.

"Just don't do it again, 'kay? It's dangerous to use something that's been Engraved (1) without its master's permission."

"Okay."

"Now, apologize to your brother," ordered Kouichi, pointing one hand over at Takuya, who was sitting in one of the dining table's wooden chairs, glaring at a beige-colored stone wall.

Shinya frowned and looked at Takuya, who ignored the younger boy entirely. "Takuya…" began Shinya, but was cut off when a sudden banging on the front door of the small cottage they lived in caught everyone's attention.

Takuya glanced out the kitchen door, straight at the thick wooden door that the banging was coming from, and so did Kouichi and Shinya. Frowning, Kouichi was the one in the end who went and answered it.

"Yes?" he said, upon opening the door.

A tall, burly knight in silver and dark red armor stood before him, small beady black eyes staring condescendingly at the ebony-haired teen.

"By order of his Majesty, King Reanus, the Dark Mage, Kouichi Kimura and Dragon Rider Apprentice, Takuya Kanbara, are to be brought before the Council of Droinead (2) immediately," said the knight, almost sneeringly. "Are they here?"

Kouichi's frown deepened. "Yes. I am Kouichi Kimura, and Takuya Kanbara is inside."

"I'm right here," corrected Takuya, appearing at Kouichi's side, glaring openly at the knight. The knight glared back and Kouichi mentally sighed. He knew of the rivalry between the Dragon Riders and the Royal Knights, but did they really have to fight right there and then?

"Why does the king wish us to see the Council, sir Knight?" asked Kouichi, trying to keep the knight busy before he and Takuya decided to have a Duel.

The knight sneered at Takuya once before turning his glare upon Kouichi, who ignored it whole-heartedly. "That information was not given to me, but I was told to tell you that it concerns the Prophecy of Liam."

Kouichi's dark blue eyes widened in surprise and confusion, as did Takuya's. "The Prophecy of Liam?"

"Yes, Dark Mage," spat the knight. "Now will you please be so kind as to prepare yourselves? As I have said before, the king wishes you before the Council immediately."

Still deeply disturbed by the knight's announcement, Kouichi nodded his head and went back into the cottage, pulling Takuya with him as he shut the door, not caring that it almost hit the knight's nose.

"Kouichi?" said Takuya as the ebony-haired teen dragged him upstairs.

"Mm?" was Kouichi's distracted reply.

"Umm… You're kinda strangling my arm," pointed out the brunette.

Kouichi looked down and realized that he had indeed tightened his hold on the brunette, whose arm was turning slightly purple from lack of blood circulation.

"Sorry," apologized the ebony-haired teen, letting go immediately.

"It's okay," said Takuya, rubbing life back into his arm.

They each separated and went to their respective rooms, silently agreeing to meet back at the foot of the stairs after they had finished packing. Surprisingly, Takuya was the one who finished packing first, and he went downstairs to check on his brother.

Shinya was sitting at the foot of the stairs and upon seeing his brother dragging a bag full of his possessions over his shoulder, immediately attacked him with a bear hug.

"Takuya! Where're you going? You're not leaving are you? You know I'm sorry about taking your training sword! I promise I won't do it again! Please don't leave!"

Takuya barely managed to keep his balance and keep up with his brother's questions and set his bag down before pulling Shinya away.

"Calm down, Shinya," he said, as his younger sibling began to cry. "Shinya! I'm not leaving because of you!"

That stopped Shinya's crying. "Then why are you leaving?" sniffed the smaller brunette.

Takuya smiled softly at him. "I have to leave because the king wants me to go see the Council."

Shinya's brown orbs, paler than Takuya's but no less gleaming, widened. "The Council? Takuya, you didn't do anything wrong, right?"

"Of course not. I don't know why the king wants me to see the Council, but Kouichi has to go as well."

"Right now?"

"Yea."

"… But you'll come back… right?"

"Of course I'll come back, Shinya. I won't ever leave you forever. Who knows what you'll do to my stuff. Besides, you don't have to worry. Mother will come later, right? She'll take care of you."

Shinya nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Takuya smiled. "Good. Now don't be so down. A Dragon Rider must learn to take things in stride," he said, quoting one of his Master's many sayings.

Shinya straightened slightly at that and smiled. "Right!"

Takuya laughed and ruffled his hair, eliciting an apprehensive "hey" from the smaller boy.

"Takuya…"

Takuya looked up the stairs and saw Kouichi coming down, one hand clutching his own bag while the other slipped a small ebony-hilted dagger of black emelas up the sleeve of his black tunic, letting it rest in a customized sheath strapped below his elbow.

Takuya nodded at his unspoken question and turned to look at Shinya. "Shinya…"

The younger brunette nodded sadly. "I know Takuya. You have to go."

"Sorry…"

"It's okay."

The three made their way to the front door and Kouichi pulled open the door, revealing a very pissed-off looking knight.

"Finally!" cried said knight, turning on his heel and striding over to a carriage pulled by two strong-looking stallions of black and white coats waiting at the dirt road in front of the cottage.

Takuya rolled his eyes at the knight and turned to look at his brother, who was clearly fighting back tears.

"Bye, Shinya. Keep safe, 'kay?"

Shinya nodded his head. "Bye, Takuya. Bye, Kouichi."

"Bye Shinya," said Kouichi.

He and Takuya stepped off the front porch and Takuya smiled when Shinya said, "Good luck," quietly, yet meaningfully.

"Thanks," replied Takuya, waving over his shoulder.

Kouichi, still too occupied by his thoughts, merely smiled over his shoulder distractedly and climbed into the carriage after Takuya. The knight muttered something from where he sat outside and snapped at the reins, starting the stallions off.

Takuya waved at Shinya from the window on his right until the cottage was out of sight while Kouichi stared out the other window wordlessly. Takuya leaned back into his seat and looked at Kouichi, who didn't seem to notice his friend's gaze on him. Sighing, Takuya stared out his window as well, deciding that this was going to be a long journey.

Tbc…

(1) Engraved- An object that has been engraved by the person who possesses it with magic so that if it were to be stolen, the one who stole it would be unable to use it. Sometimes, an Engraved might even kill the person who stole it with magic if its Master is very powerful.

(2) Council of Droinead- A group of ten Mages of different Elements who have been acknowledged the most powerful Mages of the lands. They are basically the ones who enforce the laws of the lands and pass judgment upon wrong-doers.

Lief: So, how was it? Please R&R!