Hihi everyone~ Second chapter is up~ Hope you all like it~ :DD

Also, I need to say that I dont have an Italy in my head, so I'm not able to really write him... That being said, please excuse the very generic Italy. +bows+

Chapter Two

"He is growing very fast isn't he..?" a voice stated matter of factly

"Yeah, it's good for you guys." Another voice responded though with much less enthusiasm then how he usually was.

"you don't seem very happy with it..?" The first Card said.

"well... you can only be a kid when you're a kid, you know?" The answer came with a small sigh.

"..."

"Yes... It is unfortunate indeed... I am sorry about this... But it cannot stop the fact that the Kingdom needs him. It's going to be time after all..." said a third calmer, softer but apologetic voice.

"yea... I know. I don't blame you, I know you do what you can to try slow his growth..."

"But he's a teen now, so we should focus on that now more then the past." said the first person, always bringing reason to the table.

"Yea... I guess so..."

"...Yes... lets..."

~(0w0)~

"Veeeee~!" Came the loud cry of the newest person in the palace who was scurrying over to the Future King. The card was one of the three special cards that made up the Royals and it was important that the future King and the new card meet. From the start the future King could tell that the Jack of Hearts was going to be taking away some of the peace in his life. Which was something he was quite worried about from the beginning. He looked to his advisers to confirm that this indeed was the Jack. He did not notice the Jack slowing down as he approached, eyes open and looking at him with a blank expression before morphing back into his cheery smile and trotted to him with a joyous step.

The future King had great expectations of this Jack. The Jack was older and had much more experience in life and how to live as a Royal. Of course the responsibilities would be different, but since they were both Royals, or rather that he was going to be a Royal as well, he did hope that the Jack would be able to help him with his problems. He looked at the Jack's expression. It was as if... he was dazed..? A dazed smile..? That could be the case because... he wasn't opening his eyes... How could he have seen him? How did he get all the way here without bumping into anything...? It was just a scarce three minutes and already the future King felt himself get a headache.

"This is the Jack of Hearts. He will be accompanying you in many of your subjects. He specializes in art and cuisine. We have hopes that you will get along well with each other."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Ja-"

"Ve~! Feli~! You can call me Feli~! By the way do you have any pasta for dinner?"

And that was the introduction between the future King and his Jack.

Hopefully he would be wise and good, able to give him solid advice that would help him in his decision making when he finally was King. Hopefully he would be understanding of what he wanted for his country and would be helpful to him in his cause to be a great King. Hopefully he would open his eyes. Hopefully he would stop making those odd floating motions (A/N: when he floats all round the screen edges during the first few Eps) and stop flapping his hands like that. Hopefully he would not always be making that odd sound. Hopefully he wasn't as weird as he acted.

He hoped in vain.

The Jack, for he already had gotten his true title and from there his name, was already asking him to call him 'Feli'. Short for 'Feliciano'. It confused and puzzled the future King greatly and made him quite weary f him... except that he couldn't be so weary of a person who kept giving him a dreamy and dazed smile... It was so confusing for him. Surely as an older Card he knew the meaning of a name..? Why would he be asking for it then...?

It was not in his place as a younger Card to say no, but it was not in the Jack's place to ask the future King so be in such a close relationship mere seconds through the introduction. Then again, as the day went on he did notice that the Jack seemed to constantly do things outside of protocol. Something was still very unnerving for him. Surely it was not in a Jacks place to look at the food served at the table and cry saying it was not delicious enough, and then go to the kitchen to cook his own dishes. Even if he did make enough for everybody. For one, what was wrong with the food here? And secondly, he could have just asked for another dish to be prepared. Why would he do it himself? Why would he make so much..? Was he trying to insult the food here or something...? Also, was it a Jacks place to constantly try to flirt with every maid he sees? Even with his eyes closed? How does he see them? Why would he be so enamoured by girls? Where was the seriousness put on a Royal? It seemed like he was just too free and carefree. The future King couldn't understand it at all. All that put together just made him very confused and feeling stressed.

At the end of the day he went back to his chamber and moved to get a scroll that gave him the basics of Cardverese. It was like a nursery book in a sense as it gave the usual rules to all the Cards. Surely the Jack would know of this right..? How could he not after living for so long and being so much older then him.? Unrolling the scroll his eyes searched for the paragraph that would confirm his sudden confusion of the rules of Cardverse.

Names were important in the world of Cardverse. There were two kinds of names. The official name and the personal name.

The official name was given when they had formally stepped into their role. This is the acceptance of the basis of their identity and the willingness to do what they were born to do. To get this name they would need to be carefully trained o have the characteristics needed of them to fulfil their duties to their destinies. When they are finally ready to move on with their destiny, it would be celebrated and made official with a naming ceremony to bless and congratulate the newly bloomed Card and welcome them to the world of Cardverse as a true player in the Game.

The personal name was when they have proven to others that they were more than just their destinies. They represent the maturity of the Card, and the beginnings of having a true identity, besides the destiny of their birth. It is a discovery of self that every card yearns for. All Cards would chose their own name, but they were only allowed to use the names chosen when they have been recognised as their own person away from their official selves. It would be a magical moment. It does not need an official ceremony for in all the cards hearts they would know that this person was truly the name they have chosen and is finally more then their destiny.

To share a personal name with someone means great intimacy between the two. Intimacy usually kept between two very, very close Cards. It is not advised to simply give another Card your name unless you are very sure of them and trust them greatly as they would be able to cause some mischief towards you. Names here held a power to the Cards. It created a bond and it solidifies it through the power of knowing, and using each others names. It was a very intimate affair. The only times names were held public was if the card made one to seduce the all that have read the name or if the card was out of the Game.

The future King sighed and put the scroll away. He supposed that he would just have t wait and see. It was only the first day of meeting the Jack after all... He snuggled into his covers and looked to the shelf and then the window. Perhaps the next few weeks would reveal more about the Jack to him.

Did the other countries have the same kind of Jack..? The future King thought and sighed in irritation and a forming headache. However, despite his pessimistic thoughts, as the week went by he found some good points to the odd Jack. The Jack was very good at what he specialized in. The pasta he always prepares was very well done and was a very nice change to the usual food that he consumed, and his artwork was superb. He could never hope to reach that level and he knew it.

Age and experience had made the Jack wise in matters of humans, and once he found that out, the future King took him much more seriously. The Jack knew how to make friends, a skill he was lacking in severely and he was able to see the good in many situations. But at the same time… The Jack was practically useless in the more serious areas of Tactics and Strategies. He was in actual fact, quite a coward, calling for help for the littlest things, and running away from others.

The future King sometimes felt like he was a nanny of sorts for the Jack. Something he was horrified about. He was supposed to take care of a country and the Jack. He would never cope.

The Jack became his very first friend. A Card that was willing to befriend him for who he was, and not due to his future title, or at least didn't give any indication in wanting to have a better position. Then again, that could be because the Jack was already a Royal, but it nice all the same. The Jack also became a Card that was willing to put up with his horrible people skills. A card that was willing to just be.. a friend. Not a mentor or a guide, or even a brother like the Joker was, but a friend. It was a gift, he supposed, having someone there who would tell you that it was okay and would be fine and that they should cherish the moments even if it was in hardship. It warmed his heart greatly, though he was sure he was unable to show it.

The Jack made him focus less on his negative thoughts, pushing him to slightly more cheery directions rather then mulling on what was always wrong, something that both he and the Joker were grateful for, as the Joker soon seemed to be busy doing things, running errands and generally moved to fulfil the duties of his destiny. The future King didn't blame him for anything or try to keep him away from his duties, but he couldn't help but feel slightly lonely each time the Joker needed to cut their outing short or postpone some promise. It was for that reason the Jack was much more welcomed as a distraction from his loneliness.

The long hours spent with the Jack in place of the Joker, learning in the study and listening to him babble soon became a part of his life and he became used to it. He grew to like it even. The chatter chased away the drab silence of the study, and the cheery smile was always there to greet him when his head felt like exploding due to the amount of studying he had done.

Just as the Joker did before, the Jack also forced him out of the study to do other things. Though it was stuff he didn't actually have much of an interest in, such as sculpturing or pottery. He did quite like carving though he didn't focus much on it. The Jack really liked the arts and always tried to put more of it in his life and he for one, took the distraction readily enough. With the slow separation between the Joker and him, the Jack's presence ensured that the King was always balanced away from the study and scrolls. It was a nice development and the other Cards were glad to see it was so. Then soon expected that the two Royals would become very close.

Then one day, the Joker left him a present for his birthday. It was… a twig. The future King was very confused. Why on the Kingdom would the Joker give him a twig of all things? Why the sudden randomness of a twig…? Immediately he searched the note attached to the gift hoping for some sort of clue as to why he chose the gift or what it meant. Before that, all his presents had been meaningful and thoughtful, something that he either found useful or had wanted in the first place. Perhaps he was missing something important. Or it was a preparation for something else. It had to be important, surely.

Thought that you would still want something form that time so here it is! Would be impossible to get this if it was from anyone else, but because I'm just that Awesome, I managed it no problem! Anyway, it's real important and hard to get so you better cherish it and treat it right or it's my head that'll be ground!

Happy Creation Day

Joker

The future King was puzzled. When was 'that time'? He had told the Joker any things he wanted and there were many times, so which 'time' was he referring to? And when did anything he wanted have anything to do with a twig? Confused, but certain it would be something important, his brother knew him well after all, the future King placed the twig by his bedside and sleep facing it willing it to spill it's secrets of why it was so important. It didn't do that of course, much to his frustration. But what it did do, was catch the attention of the Jack.

~0w0~

"Ve! I didn't know you were into flowers." Came the energetic, bubbly voice of the Jack in the morning. The future King blinked and blinked again. Then he realised that yes, he was still in bed. So he sat up and wondered why it was that he could suddenly hear the voice of the Jack. However, with the past oh so long that he remembered he had a sneaking suspicion of why he could hear him. He wasn't crazy after all, so it could only be that the Jack was in the room. Again. He looked down to the spot beside him.

"Didn't I tell you to stop coming into my room at night!?" He yelled out flushing deep red in both embarrassment and rage grabbing his bed sheets to cover himself and yelping when he found out that the Jack once again, slept nude. He threw it over him to cover him up. He did not want to see the Jack naked. Not at all.

"And how many times must I tell you to WEAR SOME KIND OF CLOTHING BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO BARGE IN!" he continued his rant.

"Veeee! I'm sorry! I won't do it again please don't hit me, I'll do anything, anythiiiiiiing!" The Jack cried out. It was becoming a very common thing in the palace, much to the amusement and disapproval of the other Cards that were there. Amusement from the maids of the palace, something he really did not appreciate, and disapproval from the advisers, something that made him that much more embarrassed whenever he met them. He wondered what he had done to deserve such a punishment and groaned, sitting on the bed with his hands on his head.

"So? What was it you were saying?" He said, frustrated, knowing that no matter how much he yelled, the Jack would probably never stop sneaking into his bed. Honestly, wasn't he the younger one? Why was the older of the two sneaking into the younger of the two's bed? And naked? It was frustrating and had caused a huge amount of misunderstandings the first time it happened. He had learnt to just never take things to seriously with him, as much as it pained his senses, and confused him as well.

"Ve!" The Jack sat up straight, just as if the previous shouting and cowering had never happened, (Something the future King was very distressed about) and smiled brightly. "I didn't know you were interested in flowers~ I like flowers too! They are so nice and pretty and calming to watch~"

The future King looked at him puzzled. Yes, flowers were pretty, but why the sudden thought of him being particularly attracted to them…? He appreciated natures but not to the point that he needed to sell every flower in sight. Something he was sure he had caught the other doing, as odd as it seemed. Still, continued to listen to the Jack's chatter mindlessly about flowers going through leaps of logic that he could barely understand. Usually he would be able to soon find out what the other was thinking, or at least the train of thought on why he brought up the subject. It would be better then listening intently like he did the first few times. It didn't really make sense t him and just left him more confused then before. If possible, he could even find out why it got to such a confusing train of thought as him liking flowers.

"And so you should put the sprig in water so that it can still grow and maybe bloom it's flowers and leaves if possible, and I think it's still possible. It still looks quite healthy and strong, and it was a good thing you put it at the sunlight, though of course you cant make it that it was in sunlight all the time, but you need water. Where did you get it anyway? Whoever's sprig this comes from must really love their tree and plants, it's so nice and pretty even if it hasn't had water for maybe a day or so it's still strong and healthy. I should go and get a pretty vase to hold this sprig, I cant wait to see what it blooms into~" The Jack chattered, slowly disappearing and reappearing from the doorway with a beautiful painted vase of cranes flying to a sun. The vase was filled with crystal clear water for the intent on helping the sprig bloom into a beautiful flower.

He continued to chat as the future King stopped to think about the latest piece of information. That twig was a sprig from a tree that was probably still able to bloom it's flowers.. Was the flower the important thing that the Joker wanted him to have or something…? But why would he want a flower…? Did the flower mean something…? Was the message in the flower? Was he telling him to take up gardening...?

"It would take a few days for it to bloom again. Ve~ I'm sure it would be pretty"

It seemed like he would have to wait for a while before his questions could be answers. He hated the lack of information and his uncertainty of the future, but he had no choice. Patience was not always his virtue, but he knew how to bide his time. He would wait until the twig… sprig… bloomed and see what happened from there.

~0w0~

A few days turned into a week… Into two weeks… into three… The sprig was growing healthier each day. That was something that was visible from the start. Leaves were slowly blooming and there were signs of growing buds. But the future King's impatience to solve this mystery made everything feel slower and draggy as impatience always does to any waiting man. He wanted so much to just call the Joker and demanding from him what it all meant, but when he was just on the verge of doing so he stopped. He couldn't do that... It was unsightly and rude and ungrateful. Just was just not something he could do, no matter how much he wanted to. He sighed as he moved around the palace day after day waiting for the bud to bloom and move to reveal it's secret meaning.

He needed to wait for quite a while more growing more and more desperate for a clue of this flower, going to his room every day to just stare intently at the growing sprig. His blue eyes would analyse every detail of the flower growing. The way the bark got colour and the leaves would spread. He noticed all that he could, making sure not to miss anything and constantly on the lookout for the meaning of the gift. Despite advice from the Jack to leave it alone and let it grow on it's free time, he continued to obsess slightly about it. Ironically, it was the one who let the bud grow as it wanted and only gave it attention to nurture it who noticed it blooming. The Jack quickly moved to called the future King to tell him the exciting news and the both of them ran towards the room to try and observe what they could.

The future King stared at it, still not knowing what he was supposed to be seeing from it, or what the message from his brother was. It irritated him and it showed from the frown on his face and his slightly slouched posture of expiration. The Jack on the other hand slowly lost his carefree expression and became contemplative about it. It was the silence that made the future King pay attention to him.

The Jack was staring at the flower thoughtfully, his brows curved into a light frown. His hand was crossed with one hand supporting his chin as his eyes were open and observing it with an unreadable expression. His lips were not in usual smile, instead it was in a straight like, compressed slightly as there was a slight hum from him. He slowly moved to step closer to the flower and to turn it slowly around to see it from all angles. The expression that was quite uncommon on the other. The serious intensity. It was then this that the Jack truly showed his age and his experience and the future King could only wait in apprehension for the verdict.

"I… Know this flower…"

It happened a long time ago. A time that he looked on with happiness and slight nostalgia. It was when he was happy, before his huge loss. Being scared of thunder, he had crawled into aother Card's bed. A card who he trusted immensely and liked very, very much. From there, in the safety of this presence, away from any fright of the loud thunder and flashing lightning, he began to dream.

In his dream, riding on clouds and strange birds, he was transported to a land he did not recognize at all. The passed by a stunning view of beautiful nature and trees and landed on a pathway. There was also the sound of bells chiming. He looked around. He was in a place that was strange and different. The style of the place was very unlike his own. The wooden structures stood in front of him carved to be majestic and it stood proud and despite it's difference, it was beautiful and he could see that there was a lot of effort and meaning put into the art of the infrastructure. The pillars, the railings and the steps. All of them were done with detail and deliberation. It was wonderful for his artistic senses. But there was someone in front of him. Someone high above him, at the top of the steps. He wondered up the steps and through the red wooden structure that seemed to act like a gate that had no doors as the path he was on led to it and slowly climbed up, reaching for this person. He was small then, a mere child and those steps looked large and scary to him, but his curiosity moved him on despite his fear.

In the air were the sounds of birds chirping and a soft song being sung. "Where am I" He remembered wondering out loud. "There are so many things I have never seen before…" He turned to the figure from before, who was now right in front of him. The figure was masked and he looked scary, being taller and intimidating, with an air of seriousness around him. The figure just tapped his staff on the ground, making the bells chime and the other wooden trinkets on it rattle. Then he turned around and walked away. The young future Jack could only follow him, asking him who he was and where they were, but the questions were not answered.

The figure with wider strides disappeared easily and for a while he was lost, looking around, searching for something that would help him. It was scary in an confusing way, but not scary at all at the same time. He wondered along looking at the trees and the nature of the garden, for it had to be a garden. Everything was so artfully arranged and so beautiful.

He heard the sound of a ball being bounced up and down and he looked up after climbing the last step. In front of him was a boy, older than him in the strangest clothes. Well, strange to him, but the whole land was in a strange place. It was with a funny kind of tall small hat, an baggy clothes. The pants that he wore was baggy and poofy, and ended at his knees where he had some kind of boots on..?

The ball bounced away from the boy and rolled over to where he stood. He moved to take the ball and look up t it's owner who was bigger then him. "You dropped this.." He said to the other, startling him. It seemed the other had not noticed him. The boy turned around, revealing a heartshaped face and soft brown eyes.

"Ah…. Who are you..?" He asked the future Jack, but before he could reply, he was swept away in a flurry of flower petals and he woke up.

The Jack shook himself from the memory and noticed that he was still in the room. "Those petals are the same ones form this sprig…." The Jack finally said, though his eyes held a particular sadness to the memory as it brought back more memories of his past, showing an age and nostalgia that was usually hidden behind a cheery mask. Then he looked towards the future King, frowning slightly and thinking hard.

The future King did not notice his expression nor his stare, too kept up in the mystery of the flower, looking curiously at it after hearing what the Jack had said. It seemed that he sort of of knew it then.. He stood up straight and looked at the Jack. "Do you know what kind of flower this is then?"

The Jack shook his head. He didn't and he said so. The Jack explained that the only time he had ever seen that flower was in a dream and that he thought he had dreamed it up. He kept mysterious person in his dream a secret and said nothing about the situation that led him to the dream. He didn't know who that Card was after all, except that if he was as real as the flowers, that by this time he would be already grown up. He didn't say an of this though, to the future King. Only telling him the scare necessity of what happened.

"But, how did you get this sprig then, ve?" The Jack asked.

"I got it as a present from the Joker…" The future King replied, sighing and sitting down. But now that he thought about it, the flower petals seemed familiar as well, but from where he could not tell. Perhaps it was only a split second thing? Something he did not really notice or simply dismissed. He cursed his lack of attention on the world. He needed to be more attentive to everything in case such things happened again.

… Was that the learning point? It was quite subtle for the Joker, usually his lessons were direct and upfront, but he supposed it was something he had to learn… He smiled slightly. His brother was really wonderful to be able to teach him all things subtly as well. He needed to learn how to do things that way as well.

~0w0~

In a far away place, a figure hidden by thick curtain, just showing off the person's shape, smiled and sipped some tea.

"Is it still okay for him to keep it?" A tall strong Card asked the figure.

"He doesn't know, so it is fine. He seemed to learn something as well, so it would be good to let him keep it."

The Card guarding the figure frowned. "And when he figures it out?"

"Then he will return it." The figure took another sip of tea. "I am very possessive of my garden."

The card raised an eyebrow at that. He was sceptical.

"It will be soon enough. I have the patience of waiting decade after decade for my role to truly be seen, and I can wait a few decades more."

The guarding Card looked out. "The world is going to change soon."

The figure sighed. "A shame.. but something we cannot help." He looked out into his garden. "I will have to leave soon. I cannot stay like this. The Clovers are gaining strength, and the Spades are already getting ready for power. We cannot let the Hearts lag behind. I will play my part… But I will not be myself as I do it."

The guarding card looked at him. "Advisers with experience are highly sought after."

The figure smiled. "So they are."

Read and review please~ I hope to have at least five reviews before I post the next chapter. ^w^