Summary: In the kingdom of Ishida lived two young princes, and in an unfortunate turn of events they were both separated. One made it to a loving family, while the other was forced into a place, far away.

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or any Digimon characters. I only own the side characters and the plot. Knowing my unoriginal mind, though, there is probably a plot out there just like this one...

Secrets of a Kingdom

Chapter Two: Two Brothers, Two Kingdoms

By: Yami Kibou

The morning sun shown through the thick curtains, dancing across the well furnished bedroom where the young inhabitant slept uneasy. His blonde hair was thick with sweat drenching his pillow. Soft moans of protest escaped his mouth as flashes of pain and loss swept before his eyes. Blankets knotted around his legs as he tossed and turned violently.

"No… stop… father!" He yelled loudly as he sprung up, reaching ahead as if to catch something. Taking deep breathes to steady him, he fell back into his pillow and shut his eyes. "Just a nightmare…" His mind wondered back to the night where everything was stolen from him. He allowed all the bitterness and hate boil his veins. He cursed loudly and slammed his fists against the bed.

A soft knock interrupted all his thoughts of hatred. "Yamato?" Outside came as soft voice behind the heavy wooden door.

Clearing his throat, he quickly replied, "Yes?"

"It's me, Sora, may I come in?"

"One moment." He quickly scrambled out of bed and grabbed a grey tunic lying on the ground. He slid it on and went to the door. Upon opening the door he came face to face with the young woman, Sora. She was finely dressed in her blue dress that fell to her ankles. She looked at him with worry clearly etched on her face. "Yamato, are you alright? I heard you yell."

Yamato blushed and quickly looked down. "I'm sorry you heard that Sora… and I'm fine…"

"Yamato, I've known you long enough to know just because you say you're fine doesn't mean that you are. You're upset about something, I can tell."

"It's nothing."

"Yamato… please."

Yamato looked at his friend who had just placed her hand on his shoulder. "It's just… old scars…"

"Yamato…" Sora quickly looked down at the floor. "I know what you been through must have been hard."

"You know nothing." He quickly shot back.

"… You're right. I don't… but King Yagami is doing everything in his power to track down King Shun."

"It's been thirteen years now Sora! The haven't done anything to avenge my family!"

"You know that's not true!" Sora yelled, shooting her head up, looking directly into his eyes. King Yagami has spent years trying to locate King Shun! It's not his fault that the coward fled his kingdom! Even now he has his best soldiers out there searching. How can you be so foolish to say that he's done nothing."

Yamato fell silent and closed his eyes. "I know Sora… I'm just tired. I can't move on until I know he has paid for the suffering he put my kingdom through. He killed my parents and… did who knows what to my baby brother… I just…" He fell silent while all Sora could do was watching her pain laden friend. "Sora… why are you here?"

"Oh." She said as she remembered the reason she came to find Yamato in the first place. "Taichi sent me. He said he's down in the arena and wants you to come and fight him so he could 'pound your face into the ground.'" Sora said, illustrating the last bit by hitting her fist against her palm.

"Did he now!" Yamato replied with a laugh. "When will he learn. No Yagami has or will ever beat an Ishida in a spar!

"Well, come on then and prove what a man can do with a stick!" Sora replied with a smile.

"Ri-ight. Come on then, let us hurry so we won't miss breakfast," said Yamato, briskly walking past Sora.

Sora trailed closely behind as they advanced the training field. The left the castle and headed toward the barracks. The sun was begging to gain altitude over the battle ground's landscape. A smile rose on Sora's face as she caught glance of Taichi diligently practicing sword techniques in the open, dirt laden sparing field. Looking past her good friend she saw the princess Hikari, seemingly interested in the motions Taichi was moving his sword in a fluid motion. Sora wished Yamato good luck and quickly joined her young friend across the field.

Yamato first dropped by the sparring weapon rack and picked up a wooden sword that he would use in place of a steel one. He looked behind him and saw Taichi standing in the middle of the field watching him, waiting for him to come and begin their match. Yamato made a few practice swings before approaching his life long friend who was currently wearing a cocky grin.

"Are you ready to fall to my sword Ishida?" Taichi said coolly.

"The only way I would ever fall to your so called sword is in your dreams Yagami." Yamato replied with a sly grin.

Flying forward with a yell, Taichi connected his sword with Yamato's. Yamato braced the attack as the dirt beneath him began to shift under his feet. "You underestimate me!"

"No, I don't. That is why… I never hold back!" Yamato said quickly, pushing his opponent away.

"Was that a compliment from the vain Yamato?"

"The only one you'll ever get." He leaped forward with a great force and reconnected with Taichi. The broke apart once more, and then continued to swing and block each others attacks flawlessly. They began to move across the field, their focus completely on the others defeat. Each one determined to become the victor.

Both Hikari and Sora watched on with interest as the two men made a brilliant display of swordsmanship. Tilting her head toward Sora she began to ask her opinion of the match. "Well Sora, who do you think will be the victor?"

Sora placed her finger on her well rounded chin quixotically. "Hmmm, Yamato certainly has the skill and speed, but Taichi has more strength of the two. Though Yamato may have won all of their previous matches I can't put it past Taichi to loose many more. He's been practicing greatly since they last fought."

"So you think my brother will win?"

"I never said that, now did I? I just said that Taichi will not be such a push over like he was when he was younger."

"Yes, ever since Yamato came to stay with us Taichi has made quite an effort to become a skilled swordsman."

"My goodness, has it really been thirteen years since Yamato came to this kingdom. I feel so old."

"Yes, I only wish it was under more pleasant circumstances." Hikari said, looking sadly at the ground. She grabbed the skirt of her dress and clenched her fists. Sora watched her friend as she looked back into her memories when Yamato came into their lives. Hikari sighed and looked sadly at Sora. "I will never forget the day Yamato arrived at our castle. I was three and Tai was six. We were watching Mother and Father attending business with a Duke. Everything was put to a halt when a guard carrying Yamato. He traveled all the way from the Ishidian kingdom by himself knowing that the people he knew and loved were dead. The Takaishi Kingdom… It is still a mystery how they disappeared of the face of the planet. They have always been a tricky kingdom."

"Do you think prince Takeru is still alive with them?"

"I don't know. It would make Yamato happy, but it's been thirteen years. I don't remember a single thing about him. He would be as old as me now…"

Sora's eyes went back to the dueling friends. It seems that Taichi had gained the upper hand only to have his leg pulled out from under him causing to fall to the ground. Yamato placed his wooden against the cheek of Taichi who was panted heavily. Between breathes Yamato forced a smile across his face as he stood triumphantly.

"You're getting better each time I fight with you Yagami. You almost had me in the end."

"Just you wait. One day I'll be standing in your spot." Yamato offered his hand out to Taichi who accepted it and allowed him to help him to his feet. They looked over to Hikari and Sora who were cheering praises to Yamato. He let a suave half smile cross his face that would cause all but those two immune women to swoon.

Secrets of a Kingdom: Chapter Two

A young woman flipped her violet hair across her shoulders as she proudly strode through the dimly lit passageway. A broad smile danced brilliantly across her face as she readjusted her wire-rimed glasses. She made a square turn as she stopped in front of a wooden door with elaborate designs carved onto the face, giving three hard knocks and waited for a reply. She shifted her weight to her left leg and knocked again… Still no response was given.

The young girl huffed in aggravation and rapped on the door furiously. "Takeru? Takeru are you in there? It's me, Miyako. I have something I want to tell you… TAKERU WHERE ARE YOU!" She yelled with a fierce tone that could bring down an army to her mercy.

"Miyako?" Called a young voice for her from further down the hall. Miyako quickly made an about face toward the direction of the one calling her. She caught sight of the youth holding a tray of bread and water. "Miyako, what are you doing in the castle at this hour. You're supposed to be in class right now."

Pushing her glasses up, she gave him a wide grin. "As are you, yet here we are."

Takeru tilted his head to his side and gave her a half hearted smile. "What do you want?"

"I've been talking with Koushiro about his theories about the great mist surround the kingdom."

"Humph, Koushiro and his theories. Miyako, you're just as bad as him as times."

"Thank you, but seriously. We've been discussing things about the mist and we know that this so called "curse" is just a normal spell like the ones we study in class. A powerful spell, but a spell none the less."

"Well that one is obvious Miyako, even I could have told you that."

"Yes, but aren't you a tad bit curious why the royal scholars, the best minds of magic, have yet to find a counter spell?"

"Well…"

"Have they seemed to make even an iota of progress in the past thirteen years?"

"Where are you going with this?"

"Koushiro is one of the most brilliant men I have ever met, well on his way to a royal position in the castle and since him and I are both apprentices under Master Kagate he let me on some of his… personal research."

Takeru cocked an eyebrow and his female friend. "What kind of research."

"The kind that gets you thrown into the dungeon. He remembers the outside world and he wants it back. He always tells me how his father took him to neighboring towns to study the separate cultures. The mages in our kingdom did something worth being cursed for Takeru, and for all the royal mages vanishing and a thick mist separating us from the world it must have been something bad."

"Miyako, this is dangerous things you're speaking of. If word of this gets around-"

"Are you not curious Takeru? You can't lie to me and tell me you're not. Don't you think that it's just a tad bit odd that you are the only one in this entire kingdom to have blonde hair? Or that you just happen to mysteriously arrive during the same period of the great mist?" Miyako continued when Takeru didn't respond. "Takeru… I know this is your home… but… it just seems like you don't belong here. It's like you're a puzzle piece that is trying to be jammed into the wrong puzzle. Just… come talk to Koushiro with me. He thinks he found a way to… not break the curse, but a spell that would be able to get a few people through the barrier. Tonight, while everyone is asleep I'm going to sneak over to Koushiro's place. Will you come with me?"

"Miyako… if my father-"

"King Shun will not even know you left the castle, please…"

"Alright, but only because I'm curious. Personally, I think you're both crazy for even entertaining these fantasies…"

"Yes! You won't be disappointed Takeru. Koushiro will be able to fill you in more than I can. Isn't this exciting?"

"Unbelievably…"

"Oh, chin up Takeru! You're such a downer sometimes. I'll meet you outside the castle at midnight. See you then!" With that Miyako turned her heels and was gone in a flash.

Takeru was left alone, still holding the tray. He sighed in utter defeat and entered his room. He placed the tray on a table and used a quick flame spell to light all the candles of the room. He picked up the glass of water and took a drink, letting its cool liquid run down his parched throat. He slowly made his way toward the long red drapes that aided in shrouding his room in darkness. He lifted his hand to pull back the drape but a silent noise caught his attention. He heard a small object whizzing through the air coming straight from behind him. He quickly did a half turn and caught the small object in his hand, dropping his glass of water in the process. He held the object out in his hand and quickly realized that a dagger was thrown for a direct head shot.

"Your reflexes never cease to amaze Your Majesty."

He watched his room illuminate in a bright blue light as a young woman appeared before him hovering down onto his bed, crossing her legs over the side. She snapped her fingers relieving Takeru of holding the shard dagger. Her blue eyes shined with malice under her dark blue bangs. Tilting her head playfully, she smiled at the unamused Takeru.

"Sayuri! How long have you been here?"

"I just arrived a moment ago while that peasant girl was leaving. Even you can not detect my cloaking magic."

Takeru sighed inwardly in relief, glad she did not hear the conversation that was held with Miyako and him. "What do you want?"

"Why so harsh? I sensed that you were not in class so I came to check on you. Is it a crime to be worried about my prince?"

"No, but do you always have to great me by attempting to take my life."

"I would never allow any true harm to come to you… So, why are you not in your lessons?"

Takeru leisurely walked across the room and leaned against the table. "They bore me."

"With your skills, your majesty, you can not allow missed lessons."

"Magic is not my forte… I'd prefer something more physical."

"Like swordplay?" She offered venomously.

"Well… I enjoy it more than studying scrolls.

"The sword are for thick headed ignoramuses. They are nothing more than pawns in battle."

"That's not true. It takes discipline and coordination."

"Enough your majesty. You will not shame your father with such idle interests. I expect you to not miss anymore lessons from here on out." She vanished for a spilt second and repapered directly behind Takeru. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and began to whisper in his ear seductively. "Now your majesty, I can find you where ever you go. You can not hide from my sight. I know you are hiding something. I can feel it. I will be keeping a close eye on you."

"Sayuri," he said loudly. "…Please… just leave."

"… As you wish. But remember this. You don't need to keep trying to gaze past the mist. I can give you whatever you desire here."

"You're sick." He said, pulling away, able to read behind her lines.

"I'll leave you to your thoughts. Just keep what I've said in mind." She quickly disappeared in the blue light Takeru was far too familiar with. Once he no longer felt her presence he collapsed on his bed and closed his eyes tightly. This was going to be a long night.

A/N: Okay… First off. A few characters will be slightly OCC because of where they are and the different experiences they had growing up. And the reason I have made someone nine years older hitting on TK is because I had a "friend" who was into younger guys. I found it a little weird so of course I had to write about it. Finally, don't worry; soon the plot will move forward and the characters will begin to get screwed over!