Mages and Knights

by Universal Laughter

AU Takuya is the son of a poor farmer and on one day discovers he is an Elemental. Powerful people are out to get him so he travels to a School were he meets a lot of interesting people. And maybe fall in love with one of the strangest. KoujiTakuya

17. Erratic Stargazing

0Mages and Knights

By

Illusionwolf

Summery: AU Takuya is the son of a poor farmer and on one day discovers he is an Elemental. Powerful people are out to get him so he travels to a School were he meets a lot of interesting people. And maybe fall in love with one of the strangest. Kouji/Takuya

Warnings: Digimon crossover, Cursing, Yoai, T rating

Chapter name:Erratic Stargazing

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon

Author Notes: The first thing I want to say is that I will rewrite the first four chapters of Mages and Knights because, personally, I think I can do much better. The information is the same though it will/is be more descriptive. I will rewrite most of them when I finish this story, which is about four to five more chapters. I'm not sure how longer it will be but it will be around that.

I really appreciate everyone who has reviewed so far. I have so far 171 reviews, 15038 hits, 4 c2s, 50 favs, and 60 alerts for this fic. Thank you so much! I love that so many people like my writings. I really like writing and it pleases me that so many people encourage me along.

This is the scene (I think I went a little too poetic on this one) you've all been waiting for! Let the Bara Danzu commence! Hahahahaha!

---

Excitement buzzed around in the air as the day darkened subtly. Low but animated whispers could have been heard since the sun rose that morning and the patter of quickened feet rebounded in the halls as the day of classes came to close. All students not yet in their 3rd year or above were ushered into the upper floors for the night all the while moaning pitifully at the injustice done to them. Many had planned to crash the party or at least peek in at it but the teachers hadn't been teaching for years for nothing. A few spells and enchantments and they were going nowhere.

The whisper of magic ran through the empty school, shimmering forms and twisting colors following in the spells wake. Hands rose up and the outermost doors gently opened and let out the supernatural mist. The magic crept along the walls and through damp strands of grass, traveling gently up the rough bases of trees, touching the picture of night.

Tiny bursts of daylight filled the tall stone ceilings, beams of light slithered up the walls, leaving a sturdy green visitor in its place and several unfolding ladies of the earth. The floor shone with a magical gleam and the clear shimmering of light sank into the stone. Wood unfolded from air and took form, touching the floor solidly. Several hands rose once again and hundreds of glowing travelers of light took to flight like fairies without wings.

Somewhere where time held no meaning and magic ran into the very core of the plane, two unblinking eyes of pure white light gazed at the shimmering image of Earth in front of them. A pale hand made of marble rose up holding a tread of blue light delicately in its grasp. Two fingers gently guided the frayed beginning of the blue light into the gently swaying image and the tread rose up to dive into the image. It twisted and dove in and out of the many treads of slithering lights that made up the image.

Treads of pure colors rose from the tapestry and soothingly guided the lost blue light into the image. It shimmered brightly as it connected and melted seamlessly. Those powerful eyes never looked away as the image faded away back into the mass of quivering and moving lights. Several lights unraveled from the mass, throwing themselves from the fray, and floated to the reflecting floor, not even touching it before dissipated in a burst of brightness.

The cries of foretold pain vibrated around the chamber. The sound of a human boy traveling to Hades, the spirit plane.

The white eyes briefly closed in defeat then turned slowly to the shadows, the gaze seemingly heavy with never ending knowledge. Amid the waves of crawling darkness another pair of eyes watched the scene with a color too black to be that of the shadows. The observing stone coal eyes met the snowy gaze of the other and gave their verdict without word or resentment. The white eyes closed again as if in pain and opened unwillingly to look at the crumbling tapestry as another tread, another life, floated to the ground.

"And so it begins."

---

The first thing he saw was bonze light, shinning into his eyes as he gazed upwards. But somehow the light didn't bother his eyes and he just kept staring into the bronze light. His eyes narrowed then widened in surprise the light wasn't bronze as he first thought but it was shinning through something that held a bronze tint. He tilted his head and stare then started looking around, frowning.

He moved his hands backwards and he met something rough and solid. He twisted his head around and saw hard brown bark. Wood? Takuya looked around confusedly and suddenly realized he was sitting on a tree branch. Now that he was aware he could feel the rough bark through his clothes. The branch was wide enough so that Takuya could sit comfortably without falling off. If he wasn't careful he could accidentally loose his balance and tumble over the edge. But to where?

Takuya grabbed a hold of a stray branch sticking out near his face and carefully peeked over the edge of the branch. Takuya suddenly felt his stomach plummet when he could see nothing but bronze light and thick wooden branches. They were everywhere and the bronze light shinned brightly enough that he couldn't see past them to the ground. Takuya snapped his head up and looked around and all he could see was that bronze light.

No, not bronze light but bronze-colored leaves. So that's what it was. The light was shinning though the thin leaves so that the light they shone was bronze colored. Grinning at this discovery, Takuya suddenly felt calmer and more secure. He didn't know why but the thought that there was light around him made him happier and less scared of the unknown.

He sighed and leaned back on the palms of his hands, eyes closed. He could hear the small twittering of birds around him although he couldn't see them. Why was he here? In a tree with bronze leaves.

A sudden burst of warmth in front of him made his eyes open to see that the branch that Takuya had gabbed to look over the branch he was sitting on was on fire. The small branch was consumed in flames and Takuya could feel the heat on his face. The red and orange flames calmly flowed over the small branch, dancing over the bark. The branch didn't seemed burned at all. How curious.

A small well of curiosity welled up inside him and he reached out to touch the flame without fear. But before he could reach it the flames reared back like a wave and curled into itself on the small branch, every bit of fire melting together into a small ball. It flickered slightly before two beady ember eyes peered at him and two small wings detached from the ball and flapped. The tiny bird made of fire chirped at his smiling face before taking flight, leaving two small footprints burned into the wood. Takuya felt a bubbly laughter explode from him as he watched the small, burning bird glide around him.

The small bird flashed several shades of brown and red as it flew in and out of the streams of light. The tiny embers flashed a look at him before it exploded making Takuya gasp. The fire flew outwards before curling inwards again and molting into a new figure. A fox the size of a hound blinked at him and its fiery fur bristled before it barked at him, nuzzling his face with its warm muzzle of flames.

The fox began to dissolve, tiny pieces of fire sparking downwards and collecting on Takuya's branch. The fox barked at him one last time and completely crumbled into thousands of glowing embers and tiny flames licking at the branch. They simmered there, looking kind of lonely.

Takuya had the funniest urge to prod them with his foot. But before he could do well on that thought the embers stirred like a wind just blew across them and they began to merge into a thin stalk of licking flames. Takuya watched as two large and graceful wings of fire rose up and fluttered softly. Several petals grew from the top to create a flaming red rose.

Takuya heard a snap and the rose, stem and all, dropped over the edge of the branch and disappeared into the bronze light. Takuya felt kind of sad. It had been a pretty flower. It must have died.

Suddenly he felt fingers flicker over his cheeks from behind and he could feel the flames licking at his skin. His hair was tossed around as the wind picked up and the fire fingers flickered. Takuya froze, unable to move as a voice whispered in his ear, the voice unfamiliar but he felt that he knew it.

" Don't let it go out."

What?

"Don't let your light go out."

"Why are all the lights out? Hey, Takuya wake up." A sudden burst of light from above him penetrated his eyelids cruelly, bring him halfway to the world of the living. Something hard rapped Takuya several times on the forehead, causing him to groan and try to lazily swat away the nasty thing that was making him lose his precious sleep. He instinctively turned over and curled tighter into a ball. So warm.

"Takuya, come on." He dimly felt an unwelcome poke in the back and he tried to kick it away. Poke. Poke. Harder poke. Even harder poke. Harsh poke. Hardest poke that nearly sent him flying over the edge of the bed. Takuya yelped as his eyes shot open and his finger grabbed the bed covers desperately. Takuya managed to save himself by throwing his leg over the bed and holding on for dear life.

So Takuya hung there like a demented koala as Kouichi stood on the other side, looking at loss of what to do.

Takuya blinked at him before slowly pulling himself up on the bed again, blinking away the sleep. "How long have I been asleep?" he asked as he lazily spread himself back on the bed. It was tooooo early!

"Long enough that the Bara Danzu starts in an hour," Kouichi said easily while Takuya just about had a heart attack and fell off the bed for real this time with a hard thump, sheets and all.

"What?!" Takuya shrieked, waving his arms around as he sprung from the ground and started running aimlessly around the room.

He could not believe this! Takuya had had every butterfly and their bleeding cousin in his stomach all day and he could barely eat a thing, only doing so when threatened by Juri or Kouichi. He had been so stressed and nervous that after lunch Juri had ordered him to take a nap to calm himself down or he would end up setting his hair on fire again. Everyone had been so excited for the Danzu as clusters of girls giggled their way through the halls and packs of boys stumbled their way into their dormitories or the halls near them. They were not allowed into the Banquet Hall or the grounds until the clock stroke eight and every student above 2nd year galloped into the scene.

Apparently though no one knew of Takuya's date for the Danzu as they did Daisuke's. The rumor had gone through the school faster than the flu and now Daisuke couldn't go anywhere without stares, whispers, and pointing fingers following in his wake. This wasn't anything new to Takuya but he could tell Daisuke was getting really uncomfortable with all this attention and he mostly stuck with the group whenever he could especially when a girl or groups of girls went up to Daisuke to personally ask whether the rumor was true. He had never seen Daisuke so mortified before so, as the ever faithful friend, he popped in, said that yes Daisuke was going with Ken, and whisked him away.

But all of that is irrelevant right now. The main point here that he only had an hour before it started! And he wasn't ready!

"Whoa, Takuya," Kouichi said as placing a restraining hand on Takuya shoulder as he ran by, forcing him to stop. He forced Takuya to look at him in he eye. "Take a deep breath. Look, don't panic, everything's going to be okay. I'm here, Juri's going to be here and the other's are going to meet us there. Everything's cool. Okay?" Kouichi raised an eyebrow as he waited for Takuya to calm down.

Takuya took a deep, cleansing breath and nodded slowly. "Okay. Everything's gonna be okay." Kouichi nodded reassuringly and released Takuya's shoulder. Takuya felt kind of silly now. He still had an hour. There was no need to panic over such a trivial thing. What would he do without Kouichi?

"Oversleep probably," Kouichi chuckled easily. Oh, did he say that out loud? "Yes you did." Phooey.

There was a knock at the door and both boys looked over as a voice that Takuya recognized as Juri's called out. "I hope both of you are ready and dressed but if not open the door and let me in."

"Here we go," Kouichi muttered amusedly and strode over the door. He rapped his knuckles on the wooden door and it swung open now that the door and its stones recognized him. He stepped back to let the Enchanter into their dormitory, his fancy cloak swirling around his ankles.

"Thank you." She smiled then frowned as she saw Takuya's fancy clothes-less state. She planted her hands on her hips.

Takuya only stare. Well, it seemed that while he was in dreamland his friends had been busy tidying themselves up. He hadn't even noticed that Kouichi was already dressed up before now.

Juri had donned on a sleek green party dress. The dress was a pretty sea green color and went to dangle delicately over her slightly darker green shoes with open toes and heels. The dress fit snugly on her curves and was tied at the back with a green bow. Her arms were bare as the dress had no sleeves and exposes the gentle slope of her neck. Her red hair had been combed to fall to her shoulders like a waterfall and a matching green clip pulled her normal little ponytail back from her face. Juri also had a small silver necklace with an emerald at her throat. Takuya could see signs of light makeup on her normally spotless face.

He never noticed before but he knew now that one day Juri would make a very beautiful woman. But right now she was scary glaring at him like that and he wanted to crawl under the bed.

Kouichi was less intimidating but that probably was because he was Kouichi and smiling peacefully. His shirt was a deep purple that almost looked black and it looked like it was made from silk. The long, elegant sleeves ended at his wrists and were restrained with two rhinestone buttons from flaring out. The collar was a pure black color and was buttoned at the base of his neck. His trousers were black and were formfitting, covering his polished black boots. A fancy, black cape with pictures of bright purple swirling birds completed the ensemble though it ended at his knees instead of at his ankles like the school capes did. Other than the clothes Kouichi looked like he always did jus a little spiffed up.

Takuya couldn't help but stare at them. He knew by the way they stood tall and poised that they were used to wearing clothes like that. He almost laughed at himself. Of course they were, they were nobles, born and raised as such. How could he ever possible try to fit in with so many nobles like that? He wasn't a noble, he didn't have old blood, he didn't have any extra money to spend on anything. He wasn't graceful, smart, elegant, or even good-looking. He was a commoner, a peasant, a lowlife born to farmer who just got a lucky break.

How could he have forgotten that? There were reminders all over the place and he had just looked over them like nothing. He didn't understand how that could happen. For fourteen years of his life it had been a rare sight to even get a glimpse of a gold coin and now everywhere he looked students had them. While he had nothing. Maybe he was just getting use his new surroundings but what would happen to him after this year? Would the school let him come back another year or would they turn him away? Hazu was right. The reserve bank in the school was just supposed to help. He didn't think they would be willing to do it again.

Takuya knew he was scared about the future. Before all of this it was easy to know what would become of him since his options were very limited. He would become a farmer with his dad until he was old enough and had enough money to buy his own farm and the, maybe, marry a girl willing to put up with him. Now he was an Elemental who could burn down his own crops, home, or anything he touched.

It had been easier at home. There was less room to roll around and fall over the edge. But now there were so many roads to take but the unknown darkened all of them. What could he do? His friends all had their wealthy families to help them and they would probably go farther than he ever could. So what if he was a powerful Fire Elemental? That would do nothing for him especially if he fell down like all the other Elementals before them. He felt a shiver go through him.

And what if the Black Oracle got him? He didn't even want to think about what would happen to him if they somehow got him.

There was all this unknown he didn't know where to go. He never fit in at Izumai because of his power and he didn't fit in here because he was from Izumai. Is there any place where he would be able to breath and just relax? That was all he ever wanted, he realized, to fit in and be wanted. His family and Mimi accepted him and so did his friends but not in the way he wanted. He wanted to be cared for like he was the most delicate thing on Earth. He just wanted to be protected from everything instead of doing it himself. But, he grimly thought, the problem just wasn't that there wasn't anyone but that he wouldn't let himself act like that. He had to be strong, he hated the thought of crying. He was always strong. He had to be.

A sudden thought of azure eyes flashed through his mind and suddenly he felt his heart beat in his ears and a fuzzy warm feeling ran through his body. He wanted to see Kouji again. He wanted to feel safe in those arms and run his hand through silky black hair. Why was he thinking of Kouji right now? And why was he suddenly so content that all of his disturbing thoughts disappeared like they never had come to him in the first place? He needed to see Kouji's stunning smile again and feel his warm kisses flutter over his face and neck.

And he would be seeing Kouji in less than an hour and he still wasn't ready!

"I need help," Takuya said, starting to panic again. He fisted his hands in his hair like he was going to pull them out and make a new carpet with them.

"That's why I'm here, you silly little boy," Juri said firmly, walking to his trunk. She carefully bended down to open the lid and instantly saw the clothes she helped Takuya choose folded neatly on top. The silly boy probably hadn't touched them since he put them there for fear of smudging the material or something like that. Well, time to go to work.

"Into the bathroom with you." And he was promptly booted into the bathroom with his clothes in his arms.

---

The Banquet Hall looked amazing. There really as no other word to describe what Takuya was seeing.

The first thing he noticed when he stepped through the wide, gaping doors was the stone floor. Or what had been the stone floor. A stone that looked like it was made up of squares of shimmering, reflecting glass had replaced the cold, gray stone. He could see his gaping reflection as clearly as if he was staring at a perfect copy of himself upside-down. He could even see the individual specs of brown that rested in his eyes that he never really noticed. The glass ice floor covered every inch of the floor, reflecting with amazing precision the big crowd of mingling and dancing students as well as the high, arching ceiling.

The ceiling was even more impressive than the floor. The complete opposite of the floor, the ceiling was draped in shadows like dark gray clouds floated to the ceiling and got stuck there. The shadows clung to the ceiling in such a way so that Takuya could only faintly see the stone etchings. But the shadows weren't like the menacing dark clouds that come before a thunderstorm but these were gently soft and gave the impression of a warm summer mist. The temperate summer night effect was deepened even further by what looked like tiny spheres of soft light, reminding Takuya of the forest fireflies back home. It looked beautiful when a passing light lit up the dark mist and transformed the colors as it was passing by, leaving a trail of thin trail of light before dissolving in the dark.

The whole hall was dimly lit like night was slowly falling inside as it was outside. The only source of light was the glowing lights flying all around the hall like gliding fairies. All the tables, chairs and benches had vanished from the hall to leave room for the meandering students and instead there were round, white clothed tables around the edges of the hall, filled with baskets of food. In one corner of the hall was a stone fountain in the shape of a garden of marble roses and what looked like some soft of drink leaking from the insides of the roses into the basin of the fountain. There was a table next to it filled with delicate glass cups, some already filled. A bouquet of hovering balls of lights floated above the roses, lighting the running red liquid as if it was bathed in white moonlight.

The walls were still the normal gray stone but it looked like overnight finger-thin green vines grew along the walls in streams and along the indentions. They went from all the way from the floor until the shadows of the ceiling made them vanish. He felt his breath catch. Large, beautiful blood red roses clung to the vines along the wall, each petal shining with the flying light then gleaming with the shadows. He had never seen such beautiful roses before. He suddenly wanted to get one of those roses for himself and to feel each velvet petal.

Nobody was talking louder than in a soft tone as it seemed like the peaceful and somehow older atmosphere of a formal palace ball formed a pact between every student no matter how wild he or she was. The musical tinkling of a flute and the vibrating echo of a violin swept across the dancing pairs of swirling colors right into Takuya's heart as it began to fill with a fuzzy kind of peace. He didn't feel so nervous and anxious anymore. His tense muscles melted away.

"It's amazing," he dimly heard Juri breath out in stunned amazement and he wholeheartedly agreed but his words were stuck in his throat and wouldn't some out. Takuya realized that somewhere in this mass of students Kouji was waiting for him to come find him. His breath quickened unexplainably as he felt his feet start to lead him into the dimly lit atmosphere, feeling Kouji and Juri walking beside him. He saw his own reflection darkened the further he went inside.

The dressed up students didn't seem to notice him for this famous night and he, somehow, felt a wave of gratitude swell in his chest as he felt two of his best friends stand tall at either side of him. What did he ever do to deserve such wonderful friends like the ones he had? He swallowed thickly and felt the strange pressure behind his eyes. He closed his eyes forcefully before opening them, his brown eyes slightly redder than before.

He felt a touch on his shoulder and he looked into Kouichi's silent, concerned face. He gave a watery smile and shook his head in reassurance. Kouichi's blue eyes softened with understanding and he gave Takuya a small, almost unnoticeable smile. He knew exactly what Takuya had always needed: company and the acceptance of a family. A family of friends.

Several violins and a piano played together to form a soft lullaby that took several couples into a slower and more intense dance of two, feet shuffling slowly. He felt another touch on his elbow and looked over at what Juri was looking at with soft eyes. He couldn't help but feel such a joyous emotion explode so strongly in inside him that he felt his hand rise halfway to his chest.

It wasn't the simple fact that he was dressed in a gorgeous red vest or that his brown pants clung just the right way on his hips. It wasn't the fact that his normally brown eyes glowed with a light Takuya had never seen before nor was it the way his whole body moved and danced with a seamless grace like he was suspended in the air. It wasn't the fact that his spiked brown hair was somehow lying flat on his head and fell around his face in handsome rugged waves. No, the only reason Tai had the most heartbreakingly happy expression on his face was because of the way his body fit and moved so flawlessly with Yamato Ishida.

In the dim light they somehow, he didn't know, just fit together like the pieces of a puzzle. Tai deserved to be happy and he didn't know if Yamato could be the one to give him that happiness but the look on Yamato's face helped ease some of his fears. In all the time he had seen or talked to Yamato he had never seen such a look on the Knight's face. Under his golden hair his expression was slightly confused like he didn't know what he was doing but there was a gleam in his eye that told Takuya he was content with what he had in his arms. It wasn't love. It wasn't warmth. It wasn't happiness. It was realization. And that was enough for the time being.

They swayed slowly in unison, the red of Tai's outfit complimenting the azure robe of Yamato. A thin but strong arm was weaved around Tai's waist in such a way that pulled the two bodies together as if one was afraid the other would vanish in front of his eyes. The shadows clung into the dips and curves of the two boys and the lights made their eyes shine brightly at each other like polished gemstones. A pale, firm hand loosely held a tanner one, the fingers almost mindlessly caressing in a gesture that pulled the air from around them. Takuya could just see how Tai's head fit so perfectly on a blue clad shoulder, eyes half-closed and just shining.

He didn't know how but he just knew Juri and Kouichi were smiling alongside with him at the heartwarming display. Tai had suffered so much from the one who had the power to make him happier. Tai looked so content like he could die and still never regret this last moment.

His eyes caught a flash of red and he looked over as the slowly moving bodies danced along to reveal a single crimson figure leaning against the wall, buried in the shadows. The short orange hair stylishly flared out in a lovely way and the hugging crimson dress helped to hide the figure in the dark like a wraith in the night. But all Takuya could really see were those sad, sad eyes that never left Yamato and Tai as they leisurely and slowly moved around the other dancing couples. Those brown eyes stood out against the darkness so vividly.

They were sad but there were no tears brimming around the edges, just the painful look of complete defeat and unanswered longing. There was an agonizing conflict raging inside those sad eyes as they moved from Yamato's face to Tai's and the pain flared higher like a blow was struck. A slight hand fisted in the dark in anger –or was that guilt?- as red nails dug into the skin. Suddenly there was a small smile, a bittersweet smile then Takuya saw the face just crumble on itself like a broken doll as the figure gradually pushed away from the wall to stand tall and straight. Those brown eyes that looked so like his own closed in a way that Takuya knew so well before Sora turned and slowly walked away, her steps heavy, into the brimming and swaying crowd, fading away silently.

'You win,' those brown eyes had spoken. 'After everything, in the end, you won. And I lost.'

'I'm sorry, old friend.'

Juri once again had a hold of his elbow and she began to lead him to one of the less populated tables, Kouichi noiselessly following them. They carefully avoided dancing couples and stood near the solitary, lingering students lounging around the walls, watching the dancing fray. The sound their footsteps were lost in the music that lulled the giant hall as they arrived at the table.

Takuya was slightly at a loss of what to do and he unthinkingly grabbed a soft pastry from the wicker basket in the middle. He didn't eat it but let his hands restlessly wander over the doughy crust as his eyes ran over the other students, looking for a familiar face. This was a night for harmony between enemies, for peace from conflicts better left at the door. No one was fighting, no one was shouting. There was no anger in here, only the truce between water and fire.

For the third time that night he felt a touch and he turned to look at Juri. She was looking at him with the longing to dance but with the apology of the thought. She didn't want to leave him alone. She cared for him but her own heart was pulling her in a different direction tonight. Takuya understood instantly and he felt content with the fact that they had stayed by his side throughout everything. Tonight they should all go and find what made them happy. If not because of themselves but because of that other person feeling their heart pull back in search of someone who made them happy. They cared for him so much it was the least he could do.

"Go on," he whispered, smiling easily. When she hesitated he gently put his hands on her shoulders and fondly steered her in the direction of the dance floor. Juri turned to look over her shoulder with a thankful gaze in her eyes, her pendant shinning as a flying light passed by. Her red hair stirred sleepily as she took her heart's hand into the midst of pairs of dancers.

Takuya still felt the steady warmth of Kouichi at his side and he turned to look sideways at the Seer. Kouichi's eyes were hooded in a way that spoke of ease and contentment, as he looked back and nodded, answering Takuya's unasked question without mistake. Kouichi was just happy to be here with Takuya until the time he would take his rightful leave. He knew Takuya needed someone's company and was happy to be that person to stay.

Takuya sighed softly, turning back to look at the dance floor with the beginnings of longing. His restless eyes wandered over the hall, lingering on the expressions of people, a flying light illuminating the way and leading him to the fountain of stone roses. He was slightly surprised to find two familiar forms sitting under the bouquet of shimmering white lights.

A small brunette was seated on the stone edge of the fountain, the waterfalls of red water flowing behind him serenely. He could see the light orange robe against the red cascade as the boy's head turned to look at his companion, brown locks swinging in the air. His navy clad companion answered softly as his hand quietly sought the other's and pulled him from his stone seat to stand.

There were no questions asked. There was no hesitation. There was no pause in their movements as they both moved away from the crowd into their own secluded haven that no other could enter but them. Their haven came in their secrets, their glances, their held hands, and the way they didn't have to talk. Takuya knew that this wasn't the first time they had taken refuge in themselves as they looked into each other's eyes. He supposed all the signs had been there but the way he held their secret was like it hidden in plain view. He felt so strongly about their secret that he showed it to all but kept it close to himself.

Takato had always been the smart one of the group and Lee never smiled without a secret behind it. Takuya hadn't seen it but, rather, felt it. But now he was glad he hadn't known. It was their secret to keep and their secret to share.

His fingers danced over the soft crust and carefully removed a piece, looking at it before placing it delicately in his mouth. He tasted a burst of cream as he crewed slowly and swallowed, sighing with an emotion he couldn't place. Where was his piece of happiness?

"Takuya, Kouichi, hey."

Takuya looked up to see Daisuke and Ken walked unhurriedly in their direction. Takuya felt another small smile curl on his face as his eyes met Daisuke's and he grinned in greeting.

Daisuke held onto Ken's arm loosely with his fingers intertwined in the black fabric, languidly tracing patterns that held no meaning in words. A wide smile never left the round face of the boy as he rested his cheek against the shoulder of his companion as if lulled to sleep by the warmth around them. Daisuke's red-brown cinnamon hair fell into his face as Ken looked down with an affectionate glance before tugging the smaller body closer to his own as if fearing the other was cold.

There was real warmth in Ken's eyes Takuya realized. There was a sort of gratitude in the black gaze and a steeled promise was shown to him momentarily before it was gone and the eyes were drawn back to his shorter companion with the look of a man at a fabled merchild.

But Takuya knew that Daisuke would be fine, now that he finally had his black knight at his side.

"Why are you here all alone, you two?" Daisuke questioned in the midst of the calming music, his grin wilting slightly at the forlorn look buried deep within his friend's pleased eyes. He looked like was waiting for someone he promised to see again years ago but had not yet arrived. He looked sad and happy at the same time as his fingers took another piece off the pastry.

"We're waiting," Kouichi answered for Takuya who couldn't talk because of the swelling lump in his throat.

"Oh." Daisuke looked slightly uncomfortable because he looked up imploringly at his date for the night. He returned the look with one of his own that gave him no answers but reassurances.

The look told him they would not have to wait long and his fears and worries melted away. As long as he had Ken by his side he wouldn't have to worry about anything anymore. He felt safe like he was a baby in a cradle, being lulled to sleep by the sounds of the woods outside the window. Ken was his candle, he was his flame. He needed him to sustain him and he needed him to light his life. He didn't mind now that fact that he was inferior in some things because those things didn't matter. What mattered was here in his arms.

"We'll see you around," Daisuke quietly said and Takuya nodded in response, looking down. He heard soft footsteps walk away over the soft music and shook his head when he felt Kouichi turn to look at him.

They stood there for a good fifteen minutes, the music washing over the time that felt endless to Takuya. His pastry had slowly been consumed as his eyes racked over the dancers, occasionally catching a glimpse of a familiar figure or face. At one point he saw Hazu dancing slowly to the tune with a pretty blonde girl who looked as happy as he did. His blue eyes looked over the girl's blonde hair to wink at him, grinning widely before he disappeared into the dancers.

A strange pressure started building in his chest that made it hard to breathe. It was a painful sensation that restricted his throat so that every breath felt scratchy. Even though Kouichi was there at his side he felt like he had just been abandoned in the worst way possible like everyone he cared about had forgotten his birthday. It was a familiar sensation, he was no stranger to betrayal, but he had never felt it this strong like his own hand wrapped around his heart.

He was waiting for someone he knew carried a great part of his heart. He was waiting for the knight that had somehow swept him off his feet and onto his white steed. Everyone around him had someone to hold them but all he felt was the cold. Where was his white knight?

Maybe this was all just a great joke. Maybe he would dance by in front of him with some girl or guy hanging off his arm, smiling the smile that made him look even more beautiful. What was he compared to any of them? He was no better looking than the common peasant and he barely had enough money live off of. He was nothing compared to Kouji.

But then again that had been what Daisuke had thought too and look where he's now: dancing with the guy of his dreams. But that didn't matter because Ken wasn't Kouji. Kouji was the cold, aloof Knight that had barely looked at him in the beginning as if he wasn't worth his precious time. Takuya hadn't minded much back then but now… now it just hurt. It hurt so badly it wasn't even an emotional pain. It was a kind of spiritual pain that dug down deep into him. And now that pain just kept growing steadily as his eyes landed on the couples on the floor.

He had never really felt envy. Sure he had envied the students here and the children of Izumai for their normality and money but it had passed very quickly because he knew that he could never have that. He was who he was. There was no way to change that. But this right in front of him, he could have, and that made all the difference in his eyes. He could have that happiness and that joy. It could have been his eyes shinning like that. It could have been his smile.

Had he finally been abandoned? It was sad but he no longer was surprised that it happened to him. He had faithful friends, he knew that. But there was betrayal everywhere for him. People talking and pointing at him from behind his back. The snickering and dirty looks from far away. He couldn't see them but he could feel them and that was a betrayal of the trust he had put in the school. It wasn't a new place. It was a fancier version of Izumai, no more no less. Why would betrayal be different here than in his home village?

No, he wasn't surprised. He was just hurt.

Takuya sighed through his painful throat and he reached for a glass filled with red liquid. Kouichi didn't say anything and for that Takuya was grateful because, this time, no words would be able to make the ache in his chest leave. The only person who could do that was nowhere to be seen. He wrapped his hand around the cold glass and he brought it close to him so that he stared directly down into the liquid. His other arm wrapped around his torso, under the glass. He felt cold.

The red liquid was some kind of juice mixture, leaving a tangy sort of aftertaste. It tasted good but almost nothing went down his throat. He wanted to put the glass down- it was cold- but he didn't. He just held onto it, watching the moving ruby liquid was he slowly rotated it.

Would he be able to let this go? Would he be able to forget this one betrayal? Somehow, he knew that it wouldn't matter. More betrayals would come after this, more pain. It didn't matter. That was his life and the way he had always lived it and probably would live it. His mother told him once that every human makes mistakes and you should not judge them by what they did but by what they did to make it right again. He had lived by that saying. That's probably why he wasn't a bitter, cold-hearted jerk. He wouldn't let himself be that way.

Kouji was right. It was in his nature to believe in people.

Kouji said he would meet him in the training building and he did even when Takuya thought that he wouldn't. Kouji said he would be here so maybe he was. All Takuya could do right now was wait.

It was probably two hours into the Danzu and still the pressure wouldn't ease in his chest. Maybe he should just go and then, maybe, he could spare himself some of the pain that would come the longer he waited here. He could wait and he would but he wouldn't wait forever.

Not for somebody who wouldn't wait for him. Kouichi was still with him and Takuya felt that if he weren't here he would have left a while ago. Kouichi shouldn't have to wait with him just because Takuya was feeling lonely. He wanted to say go ahead but he knew what Kouichi would say and he would say no. It was funny how they could communicate silently like this just by looking at each other. Not even Mimi could have done it that easily.

How long would he have to wait?

A passing touch settled over his shoulder and he looked up in the first time in an hour. Kouichi smiled slightly at him and acknowledged that Takuya wouldn't accept any comforting words from him. There was only one thing that would help him right now. Kouichi slowly turned and pointed lazily over Takuya's shoulder, silently giving Takuya a sign. Takuya followed the finger gradually until he turned around completely. And then the pressure in his chest became a new different kind ache. An ache that had his heart beating faster.

Every sound faded away instantly into faint white noise as his heart beat in his ears. Everything blurred in a mess of colors, rapidly shifting into gray and black that blocked everything. Everything except the figure that was slowly growing closer, the buzz of colors shifting behind him. The glowing blue eyes staring into his own with a force that nearly knocked him backwards and suddenly he couldn't move, completely and utterly mesmerizing him into not being able move.

And, frankly, he didn't care.

He was covered in blue and white like an angel with the grace of a fighter. A curtain of pure black spilling down his back and floated in front of his burning eyes. A long-sleeved blue shirt that was too close to white covered his chest with its intimate embrace like feathered wings. Dark blue held onto long legs tightly and molded perfectly every curve down to the highly polished black boots making their way towards him. Everything seemed to float into the air like magic.

Takuya could feel him like a presence and the closer he got the more his new, somehow weightless ache grew in great proportions. In front of his eyes was everything he had ever wanted and it was coming towards him, to him. All the thoughts about betrayal and pain vanished smoothly and replaced with a rising wave of several emotions. But he didn't care anymore.

He couldn't breathe the closer Kouji got until he stood right in front of him, his boots settling softly on the floor. Those sharp eyes seemed to melt him and freeze him at the same time as they swept over him with a hint of the smirk Takuya knew so well. The subtle fragrance of pine and mint washed over him and suddenly every muscle that he had tensed loosened like they had melted.

Then those eyes looked over Takuya and two pairs of identical blue eyes locked gazes, a silent conversation unfolding between blood siblings. They didn't say a word. They looked like polar opposites: Kouichi dressed in purple and black, the fallen angel and Kouji wrapped in blue and white, the archangel. The silence lasted long enough for Takuya to wonder what they were thinking before something passed through their gazes. Takuya didn't know what it was but the demeanor of both twins changed. It was subtle and quiet.

His brother gave him his permission and blessing as he silently handed over Takuya into his hands. His brother had always been the more intuitive of the two. Kouji gave him his silent thanks and gratitude before swiftly turning to look at his date and partner for the night.

This shinny brown hair hung around his face delicately and fell into his large eyes gently. His tan skin seemed to glow with the lights that flew overhead and his chocolate eyes gazed at his with such wonder and curiosity it charmed him instantly with their innocence. His petite, slender frame was surrounded in a fire-red rode that opened in the front to reveal slim black clad legs and a brown blouse that hugged his chest and neck with jealously. Black fingerless gloves covered his small, calloused hands like those of a ready fighter. The always present brown cocker hung around his neck, the bronze pendant swung teasingly just under his throat like a pendulum waiting to capture him in its entrancing ways.

The sight wasn't the most attractive in this hall. It didn't attract eyes and untold envy. This sight didn't make dance partners fall to their knees. It wasn't overly beautiful. But it completely and entirely drew his eyes to Takuya's face and drew his feet to stand in front of him. Those chocolate almond-shaped drew him inside like a silver moth to a burning flame and as soon as the moth touched the sparking embers the warmth swirling inside him.

He didn't mind it that much anymore. You know, being love. It had taken many days and sleepless nights but now he felt calmer than he had ever been. He had never been good with his emotions and he knew that but, tonight, he was determined to do it right. He would show Takuya what he meant if only because he knew he could never say it in words. Actions and sly words were what he strived on and maybe if he did it right Takuya would know.

He could never get the words out but that didn't matter. He would show Takuya what he felt instead.

The black haired angel looked at him with soft eyes. Without ever looking away, he bowed like a true noble, his hair spilling over his shoulder, and extended an open hand to Takuya. Eyes always burning.

"May I have this dance?" Kouji said softly and firmly, hand never wavering in the air and no hesitation at all in his demeanor. He waited patiently as Takuya blinked at and mentally smiled.

Takuya couldn't speak at all, a wave of nervousness washing over him unexpectedly. But he gazed at the hand open in invitation. All he had to do was to take that hand and everything would lock into place. He didn't know how but he felt it in his heart. Those eyes were telling him everything he needed to know. If he took that hand he would be agreeing to that promise, a mutual pact.

Did he have what it takes to take hold of the hand that could bring him to absolute happiness?

There was a sly voice that told him he didn't but he had never been good at listening in the first place. So why change that now?

Takuya raised his hand and gently placed it in Kouji's, instantly accepting everything Kouji offered to him and smiling shyly, a beautiful and truly heartfelt thing in Kouji's eyes.

Courteously Kouji began to lead him unto the dance floor, gently pulling on the warm hand in his hold. Takuya's feet slowly detached from the floor and followed, his mind deliciously blank and the only thought he comprehended was that he was filled with a light warmth and that the ache felt so good, throbbing inside him. Electricity filled the hand that his Knight held delicately and he didn't notice else anything around him, the world a gray and black blur the muted everything except his heart beat. The world didn't matter right now.

He didn't notice when they stopped moving, surrounded by dancing couples and he didn't notice when several couples stopped dancing in order to look at them. Takuya didn't notice nor did he care. All he cared was the warmth on his lower back when a pale hand rested there and those burning, burning blue eyes that captured his gaze without mercy.

He felt weightless as if cool air filled everything inside him. His feet moved lightly, barely touching the floor, barely feeling the reflecting floor. Their bodies melted together without hesitation and they sang each other's praises. Their clothes flickered in their wake. They moved to a beat that wasn't from the music or from the whispering sounds of the other dancers. They moved, they danced from the beat they found in each other's eyes.

Takuya's eyes showed Kouji the burning forest, twisting and devouring everything, leaving the ashes of rebirth in its destructive yet light giving path. Those eyes were fire embodied, a glorious never flickering flame that promised never to leave him alone in the dark without its comforting embrace. A passing light flew right above, lighting those chocolate orbs into a raging red, comforting orange, and a passive yellow, singing the song a dying and resurrecting paradise phoenix.

Kouji's eyes gave Takuya the illusion of the midnight sky, a shower of falling stars cascading across the expanse of black and blue like fallen angels coming to condemn him with eternal happiness. They were shards of frozen light, crystals of radiance that shone brightly that would never leave him without a halo of daylight enfolding him like giant feathered wings. His eyes shifted from shadow black to bight blue as he moved in and out of the shadows, always protecting him like the fierce eyes of the legendary warrior of the skies, the griffin.

There was a small feeling of weight on him as Takuya closed his bright eyes and rested his head on his strong shoulders. It surged again inside him, the feeling of contentment and affection that ran through every vein, lulling him into feeling a genuine smile curl on his face and his arm tightened around Takuya's waist with determination, ignoring all those eyes on them.

For some reason he didn't care. He didn't care that everyone was watching him. He didn't mind that he was acting totally off character in front of everyone. He didn't worry about how this could ruin the reputation he had carefully build since his first year. He could be loosing so many things that were so important to him and he would probably never build it up again. But you know what?

He didn't care. For once he ignored his peers around him and just concentrated on the feathery feeling that bloomed inside him just because he was holding Takuya. He didn't know if he could ever say those three small words out loud and he didn't know if he could take hearing them because that would make them true. Make them all too real. He didn't now if he could take it staring at his right in the face but for now he would take whatever he could.

This was different from kissing but it was just as special, maybe even more so. A kiss was a pact of friendship, of commitment but this… this was a whole different thing. This, slowly moving in each other's arms, had no boundaries, no walls that could force them away from each other. There were no lies in the way they fitted just right against each other. It was just right the way his arms wrapped so comfortably around the taller one's neck.

For once in his life, he was completely happy. Not one of those happy moments that came and went a few minute later. No, it was a kind of happiness that came from having a life-ling dream finally completed, the kind that would forever linger inside until his last day. It was the kind of happiness that didn't come from personal possessions or from gold coins. It came from handmade love letters, waking up warm, and just smiling as his hand was covered in another. He didn't completely understand this feeling but he didn't dwell on it.

He was happy.

So happy.

The two floated on the floor like angels, their feet barely skimming over the floor. Their exact reflections mimicked their poses but could never capture the emotions growing and rising upwards. They came to a silent agreement though neither knew about what, each absorbed into each other so that neither knew about what thoughts ran through their heads.

"Love is purely a creation of the human imagination... the most important example of how the imagination continually outruns the creature it inhabits."

His mother told his eight-year-old self that once in response to when he asked her what love was. She told him that and continued weaving, smiling. He had never got what she had meant to say with those words. But now he thought that, maybe, he now had a faint idea about what his mother had said. Love couldn't be touched nor held. It couldn't be tasted or smelled. It was what your heart made you feel inside, where no one could see it, until you could no longer stop yourself from showing it, overrunning every fiber in your being.

His mother had always been a smart woman, being able to see far into the future. Kouji and Kouichi had known early on that their parents had been wed because their families arranged it so and while they liked each other there was no true love in their union. She had never tried to hide the fact and they had never exchanged anything besides faint touches. Tomoko Minamoto had never been truly happy even if she was content with what she had been given.

For years Kouji thought that that would be the fate that would befall him as well, an arranged marriage with no actual affection or love. He had accepted that but now he just couldn't see himself without feeling what Takuya made him feel. It was strange. How could one person change so much about him?

A slow realization came to Takuya as he dimly heard the music start to quiet and the whispers of padded feet started to diminish. His eyes blinked open slowly as if waking from a long sleep. Who knows? Maybe he had fallen asleep while dancing. He slowly removed his forehead from where he had rested it on Kouji's collarbone and looked up into the Knight's face. He stared back at him without emotion but with his eyes still burning intensely like stars.

Suddenly a bright red blush flew over his cheeks and he looked down, mortified at acting like a lovesick girl. His actions were rewards with an amused chuckle that made him look up immediately, an indignant expression on his face. But before he could say anything, Kouji started to lead him to the edge of the dance floor, his hand gripping Takuya's securely. Boys and girls alike stepped back as they passed in front of them with no shame whatsoever on their personas and they marveled, each in their own individual way, at how a simple peasant managed to conquer one of the most sought after males in noble society so easily. But no one said a word.

The flush on his face had not gone away as he hoped it would but Takuya bore it as a man never mind a true man would never blush. Whatever. Takuya followed Kouji, trailing after him with his hand still captive. Not that he minded because, well, Kouji's hand was warm. Suddenly Takuya was aware that several people were openly staring with amazement at him or, more specifically, their linked hands. Embarrassment instantly flooded inside him and he had the urge to take his hand back but…Kouji was holding his hand in front of all these people. How could he throw all that back in his face? No, let them look all they wanted, the bastards.

Kouji led him over to the food tables with ease, his stride long and steady while Takuya stumbled over his own feet in an astonishing display of natural grace. Kouji didn't seem to notice and he didn't let go until he and Takuya were standing in front of the floor-length clothed table. His hand rapidly grew colder and he tucked it close to his chest. He watched quietly as Kouji smirked at him lazily, feeling his heart start to slow down, and pulled out a chair from along the wall. He deftly moved it so that the seat was facing to the dance floor.

"I'll be right back," Kouji said, his voice soothing and he gestured to the chair with a free hand. "I have to do something real quick."

That was enough to knock the blush from Takuya's face. "Wait you're leaving?" Takuya questioned in a unbelieving voice, taking a page from Kouji's book and raising an eyebrow. "After making me wait for two hours?!" He did not just say that he was leaving after just one song. That was just not right.

"There was something that held me up," Kouji sighed, fingering his loose hair. "I didn't mean to take so long but this'll just be a few minutes, I promise."

Takuya huffed indignantly but fell into the chair and crossed his arms stubbornly, unaware that he was pouting. Kouji shook his head amused then landed a quick kiss on Takuya's tan cheek before making his exit, rapidly melting with the shadows despite with white and blue clothing.

Takuya sat there for a while, mentally fuming and watching as, slowly, everyone else began dancing again, the music soothing over any irritation that he had. Despite Kouji's sudden exit Takuya couldn't really feel angry with the other. Kouji had shown him a new side that Takuya had a feeling no one else had seen. It made him feel honored that Kouji chose him to be the one to see it. Why did Kouji choose him? There were so many people out there that would be a better match for him. There were so many people who would chew off an arm to be in Takuya's place.

Why was he the one who had danced in Kouji's arms? There was nothing special about him other than being a Fire Elemental.

Why was he the lucky one?

"What are you doing here all alone? Someone dump you like the loser you are, Kanabara?"

Takuya froze at hearing the sneering, cold tone. He knew whom that voice belonged to but he refused to look, hoping that the voice was talking to someone else. But when no other sound came just the feeling of someone staring cold holes into his back, he knew that he had no such luck. He reluctantly turned to look over his shoulder, a rock dropping into his stomach.

Izumi.

Ice-cold blue eyes drilled holes into him so strongly that Takuya's felt his hair stand on end. Her thin arms were crossed under her chest strongly and her feet were firmly planted. For once she stood alone as she faced him. None of her little groupies or Rika stood behind her but that didn't make her any less confident or any more pleasant. Takuya swallowed carefully as he realized that he was seated by a thick column so that they were hidden from any witnesses.

He wasn't scared of her, really. He was just scared that he would lose control and that everything would happen again. He couldn't afford that scene to happen again because he knew he wouldn't get another chance.

"What's the matter, shorty?" Izumi commented, sneering. "Scared of little ol' me? Some fire master you turned out to be." She laughed brusquely and uncrossed her arms to place her manicured hands on her well-formed hips, her silver bracelet shinning in the dim lighting.

A burst of anger exploded inside him and he immediately got to his feet, pushing the chair away to stand squarely in front of the critical female. "I'm not scared," Takuya hissed heatedly. "Why are you here anyway? Are you really that desperate to be burned alive?" He shot her his own version of a sneer.

She snorted imperiously and tossed her blonde hair over her arched shoulder. "Even I didn't think you were this stupid, peasant," she retorted coldly, purposely ignoring the way Takuya bristled at her insult. "You pull another fire trick and you'll be out of here within seconds. I'm here because of a more…personal matter per say." Her eyes flashed dangerously.

Takuya took a deep breath, trying to ignore all the irritation and anger that she pulled out in him. As much as it irked him she was right. He had to control himself this time. All she said were lies. Remember that, Takuya. "Fine," Takuya sighed, glaring. "What do you want?" The soon she disappeared, the sooner he could get away and find Kouji. There was something wrong here…

"There's…something you have to know," Izumi said slowly, almost cautiously as her arms left her hips to cross again. "And I'd rather we talked somewhere else about this. This hall is too crowded with lowlifes."

This was new. There was something definitely wrong here. Why would Izumi want to privately talk to him? There was no sense in that. She hated him and he hated her. He knew that the only reason she would do that was to trick him or hurt him. Takuya wanted to refuse; it was the safest route. But there was something off here that he didn't like. She would never talk to him like an equal.

"Why would I talk to you?" Takuya said hotly, refusing to show any hesitation. "All you've done is insult and threaten me and my friends. You've been nothing but a witch to us and you expect me to just walk off to who-knows-where with you? I'm sorry but I'm a bit smarter than that." He challenged her to contradict him. If she insulted him one more time he was leaving, honor be damned.

She looked at him expressionlessly for a second then she laughed bitterly, her mouth twisting distastefully. "I can see why Kouji chose you," she said unpleasantly, mocking him with her eyes. Takuya blinked, surprised. "What, you think I've spent three years chasing after him and still know nothing about him? Sorry, sugar, but I'm a bit smarter than that."

Izumi grinned sardonically at him and turned in the opposite direction, her white dress and hair whipping around. Takuya felt relief as she walked away but it instantly vanished when she stopped and looked over her shoulder to challenge him with her mocking stare. Are you coming, coward? her eyes said ruthlessly. Those eyes looked exactly like they did that day in the field when she made him question the very trust he had put in his newfound friends.

That would never happen again.

He shouldn't follow. Takuya should just sneer and return to his seat without a second thought. He should have but he didn't. He couldn't. H remembered that day in the field when Izumi challenged him directly for the first time and hit every nerve he hid deep inside. She had known everything in an instant. Izumi had known every fear and insecurity and she had instantaneously used them against him without mercy. She challenged him and he rose to answer it with fire.

He would answer this challenge but this time he would do it on his own. He would show her that she didn't scare him or intimidated him. He could take her on and still go on without doubt. Takuya wouldn't believe Izumi's lies anymore and that was what made him walk after her. After all, he never turned down a challenge without trying his hardest and, damn if he was going to give her the satisfaction of seeing him cower like the commoner she thought he was.

Takuya walked silently, never taking his eyes from her back as she briskly walked out the hall doors and entered the brightly lit corridor. His eyes watered, momentarily disoriented from the change from dim to bright but he didn't say a word. Takuya followed her so that she could talk to him not the other way around.

The silence was stifling and tense around them but neither tried to break the atmosphere. Their steps echoed around the empty and cold hall. Takuya shivered unconsciously and wrapped his arms around himself, thankful that he was behind Izumi so that she couldn't see his moment of weakness. She led him past the arching doorway of the back entrance doors of the school into the back gardens.

Takuya had been there before when he had to take a shortcut in order to be on time to his classes but now the gardens looked almost completely different. The gardens had an intricate maze of tall green hedges and bushes with narrow stone walkways so that no one got lost for hours. But now, in the dark night, several tall lampposts had been set up amid the shadows and green flora, shedding light to the otherwise dark gardens. But now all the hedges and bushes were decorated with delicate roses the size of his fist. Takuya could see blood red, sunshine yellow, pink, and white roses among the dark green leaves and alongside the cold stone walkways.

The soft wind blew and he thought he could hear voices and giggles. They must not be the only ones who took a detour from the dance. Takuya could understand that since, looking at the softly glowing light on the frail rose petals, the gardens looked to be one of the most romantic places he had ever seen. But the whole atmosphere was ruined by the fact he wasn't walking in there with Kouji but with Izumi. He couldn't have asked for a better mood-spoiler.

Izumi snarled briefly under her breath but moved on before Takuya could figure out what she said. Takuya hesitantly followed her; feeling like was being led to his inevitable doom. As he walked into the hade maze a soft fragrance floated in front of him and, for a small moment, he smiled before it turned again into a frown. The roses smelled nice, yes, but it wouldn't do for Izumi to catch him doing something as girly as admiring flowers. It wasn't as cold outside as it was in the halls so he unwrapped his arms from his upper body.

"Hurry up, peasant," Izumi said frostily, shooting him a freezing look over her arched shoulder. The light from a nearby lamppost lit up her face beautifully, highlighting her unblemished porcelain skin.

Takuya instantly stopped, making Izumi curse and turn around to face him. "Okay, look here," Takuya said tightly and angrily, his hands fisting at his sides. "I will not stand around being insulted when you were the one who wanted to talk alright? Either you behave like a human being or I leave. Got that?" Takuya narrowed his eyes precariously, warning her for the last time.

Izumi glared at him hatefully then looked at the hedge next to them heatedly. "Fine," she gritted out grudgingly, obviously hating the way Takuya had indifferently ordered her. After all, she was the noble and he the commoner. This would be the last time he ever ordered her around.

Takuya shot her a skeptical look and crossed his arms. "Well?" Takuya inquired stiffly. "Might as well talk here since it obvious we're alone." He really did not want to be here. So why was he here?

Her lips pressed into a tight line and didn't answer straight away, still looking to the side. This wasn't how Takuya remembered Izumi. She never had hesitated to insult or ridicule before but now she seemed almost hesitant, like she didn't want to talk. Maybe whatever bugged her were really personal and a touchy subject for her. Why would she even want to tell him something so personal?

"Okay, look," Takuya sighed, ruffling his hair. He saw her glance at him from the corner of her eye. "If you're not going to say anything there I might as well leave. Kouji will be looking for me."

Her eyes flashed poisonously. "No," she hissed lowly, in such a strong, acidic tone it startled him into looking at her face. Her sharp features were twisted bitterly. "No, you will listen to what I have to say, peasant, or I will make you. I have plenty of ways to freeze you were you stand." Her slim hand twitched slightly as if she ached to do exactly what she said.

"That's it I'm leaving." Takuya made to turn around, his face scowling.

"No, stop, please! Damnit!"

Takuya froze then turned to look incredulously at the girl. He had never heard her curse or to plead. Izumi glared at him cruelly but there was a lack of heat behind her gaze and her arms were crossed almost defensively in front of her, her nails digging into her skin. She looked…almost scared for some reason; the ice in her eyes melted a little to be replaced with some kind of nervous look. Izumi's façade was starting to crack the tiniest bit. He knew he had been right. There was something here that was wrong, very, very wrong.

Then she seemed to realize what was happening and instantly she turned ice cold, her mouth stretching into a cruel sneer. "Just shut up and listen to what I have to say, right, fire-boy?" she taunted him, throwing her braided hair back. "I don't care if you don't want to but you will listen, Hades help me."

"More like Hell," Takuya muttered crossly then spoke louder, "Fine, whatever, just hurry up. I have friends waiting for me and I do not want to spend all night here with you." He couldn't help but make a disgruntled face.

She leered at him. "Fine." She opened her mouth again but then slowly let it close, her teeth making an audibly loud clinking sound. Izumi didn't say anything after that, shifting her eyes to the side again.

Now Takuya was getting annoyed. "Alright, I'm just going to go now-"

"Have you ever…" she mumbled lowly.

Takuya looked back questionably at Izumi, her head bowed in a strangely humbled way. It's funny but Takuya had never noticed how young Izumi actually was. She was just as old as him but every time she sneered or snarled she looked years older, bitter and harsh. It always looked like she was angry at something, always lashing out and snapping insults or orders.

"What?" Takuya said carefully, not wanting to accidentally step on the landmine that would make her blow up.

Her head snapped by at his words, her blue eyes blazing and spitting fire. Her face grew flushed and her hands fisted so tightly that Takuya knew she was hurting herself. "You don't understand!" she screamed wildly, making Takuya flinch instinctively. "Nobody does! You all think 'Oh look at her with her pretty dresses and blonde hair. She must be so fucking HAPPY!' Well, I'm not, I'm NOT!"

Takuya could only stand there, looking at her like she was a wild animal, caged and cornered. Her anguished cries echoed around the maze and Takuya was glad that they were the only ones here. He looked untamed like she had shed every proper decorum and noble protocol.

She laughed uncontrollably, a hand tugging her blonde hair painfully. "It hurts. It hurts so badly. I have everything a girl wants: money, good looks, old blood, and servants ready to do my every whim. But it's not enough. NOT ENOUGH!" Her crazed eyes looked on Takuya and she took an unsteady step forwards. "I have everything but that's not what I really wanted!"

She back backed up Takuya until his back hit a sturdy hedge, the light of a lamppost shinning down on them like a spotlight. He could feel the whispering touches of her clothes and hair on him as the wind blew, her red face mere inches from his own. There was a feral desperation in her eyes, such a painful look that could couldn't help but feel shame for her. This was not the Izumi he knew.

"Have you ever," she whispered shakily, her breath hitting Takuya's face. Her eyes were wide and every wall inside her torn down. "Have you ever wanted something so bad that you would do anything to get it?" She bore into him with such a pleading look Takuya knew he couldn't lie.

Images flashed through his head: a house set on fire, Mimi's wide grin, his new friends' concern, his accepting family, Kouji's blue eyes, that weightless ache in his chest. He knew that feeling all too well. All he had ever wanted was to find where he fit in the world with people who loved him. He had been denied that for so long because of who he was. He could never fit in with people who were scared of him. He didn't want that. He wanted love, not fear.

He could sympathize with Izumi.

Takuya nodded silently, watching as Izumi brought herself some sense of self-control. She swallowed carefully then walked backwards until there was more room in between them, her hands grasping together and taking deep breaths. Some time had passed before she looked up again and Takuya was surprised at that completely open look. She hadn't bothered to put her mask up again.

"I hated you," she said casually, her voice slightly shaking. "Ever since I saw your face I could never feel anything but contempt towards you. I know Kouji very well despite whatever he may tell you and I could tell something was different about the way he acted." She laughed cynically. "He would have never taught you to read otherwise. Kouji wasn't selfless, Kanabara and you know that."

Takuya bit his lip silently; knowing that all Izumi needed right now was someone willing to listen. He didn't know why Izumi chose him but she felt like he had to be here to listen. Maybe he did in a way. All Izumi had been was mean and cruel but, maybe, she had a reason for it.

"He is everything I have ever wanted," she continued to say, her eyes glazed and Takuya thought that she was looking into the past. "I had many suitors even when I was barely five. They all saw my old blood and money, my looks only coming as a bonus. I was a sweet girl when I was little, Kanabara. Many people have told me so. But I didn't care. I didn't want everything thrown at me but at the same time I did. I accepted everything they gave me." She sighed wretchedly, eyes closing. "Nothing had ever been denied to me and when I saw Kouji for the first time I knew I had to have him. We were and are a perfect match."

She snorted, sneering. "He didn't even look at me sideways. He didn't see me as the perfect wife or even as a passing crush. At the beginning I would have been fine if he had called me his friend. I would have been content. He was a cold, cold bastard, Kanabara. He insulted me with his words and looks. He didn't want me. And to me that was insane. I had hundreds of families wanting me for their sons and this boy didn't want me. I had to have him no matter what it took."

Izumi looked at him straight on, eyes narrowing. "I did everything I could. If he didn't like the sweet girl I once was then maybe he would like a girl as cold and bitter as him. I changed for him, Kanabara, I changed everything about me. I threw my money around carelessly and started treating everyone like they were less than dirt. I gathered girls around me that were hopelessly devoted or had a similar goal. The more allies I gathered the more appealing I could look to Kouji. Or so I thought. All I did was turn the whole school into think I was a bitch."

She chuckled resentfully at Takuya's taken aback look. "You think I don't know what every one calls me behind my back? Don't be so naïve, Kanabara. I know everything that goes on in this school. But nothing I did worked. The only thing that stopped Kouji from breaking my neck without a second thought was the alliance our families had. He was too smart to throw that away. I did everything I could, Kanabara, everything." Her whole frame shook violently and she placed her face in her hands, shoulders hunched like she wanted to cry.

Shit, he was way out of his element here. He had only comforted one or two people before but never one that he had disliked for months. What should he do? Takuya just stood there as she continued to shake, feeling increasingly uncomfortable. He wringed his hands uneasily then swallowed nervously.

"H-hey, i-it's okay," Takuya began awkwardly, talking the smallest step forwards. Izumi just shook her head, her fingers clutching the sides of her face. He had never seen a girl so distressed before. "Don't cry, alright?" He tentatively placed a hand on her shaking shoulder.

Izumi stiffed and stepped backwards quickly, furiously wiping her face even though Takuya couldn't see any tears. Takuya let his hand fall back to his side as Izumi tried to control herself. She looked angry with herself for falling apart like that in front of Takuya. After taking a deep breath, she squared herself and stood straight, her face set in the sneer he knew too well. But it didn't bug him as much as it did before. Izumi was human, just like him.

"Whatever," she replied scathingly, her voice rough. "That's not the point. The point is Kanabara that you somehow succeeded where I failed. I saw that immediately. And I hated you, make no mistakes. I hated you so much." She gritted her teeth angrily. "You took him from me Kanabara. You took him from me!" There was so much anger in her voice it shocked him.

" I spent years- years- trying to get him to look at me. Just to look at me with something other than contempt. And you- you just came- came and- and," she rasped out, emotions making her shake again. It took her a minute to manage herself. "I did everything I could, Kanabara. Then you came into the picture. You, an insignificant commoner who got a lucky break, got his attention like I never did. It took you mere months. It took me three years. But you didn't even do anything! You didn't do anything to catch him interest but he still noticed you!"

Takuya could only stare in amazement as she continued to pour out her emotions to him, not bothering to hide anything. This was Izumi, the girl behind the sneer. The obsessed girl who was denied the very thing she truly wanted. He could only imaging the hurt she had to be going through. At least he had found acceptance among his friends but she didn't even have that. Takuya never imagined that he would ever feel pity or sympathy for Izumi as he did right now. They had more in common than Takuya ever thought possible. But something still bugged him.

"Kouji isn't that heartless," Takuya cried, defending the Knight. "I know him and he would never do something that cruel." He just could envisage Kouji being so cold like that even to Izumi.

A cold smile darkened her face slowly. "The Kouji of now would never do that," she countered indifferently. "The Kouji you know now would, indeed never do anything of the sort. But he did before you came. You changed him Kanabara. You changed him in such a short time." She shook her head incredulously. "I altered myself to fit Kouji while Kouji changed for you. I don't know how but you did. And, maybe, that's why I hate you the most."

They stared at each other silently, the words spinning in the air. Izumi once again challenged him to object, to deny what she had told him. He wanted to object but he stopped himself. Takuya had only known Kouji for a short time and he didn't know a thing about how Kouji was in the past or what he did to others. He couldn't object because he didn't know if it was a lie or not. It hurt to think of Kouji in that way but for now he stood silent.

Izumi acknowledged his decision with a disdainful nod. "Hard to believe, right?" she mocked harshly. "You don't know anything about him. I do. You don't know what his likes and dislikes. I do. I know everything about him. I should have been the one to dance with him tonight! I should have been. But you stole him from me! You came into the picture and snatched him away!"

"I never stole him from anyone," Takuya cried out indignantly. Why must she always blame him for everything? It isn't fair! "I never forced him to do anything. He kept running away. Did you know that?" He didn't even wait for her answer. "Yeah, he kept running from me and making excuses. I was so angry with him for doing that time and time again. But he came back twice, apologizing and explaining. I never forced him to do anything!"

A flask of pain dashed across her face. "You think I don't know that?" she said harshly, eyes flashing again. "I know that! I know that! Damnit! Why he did he chose you?! There nothing special about you. Nothing! You're not pretty, not rich. You're not even a girl! He comes from a wealthy family, he will need heirs someday and you could never give him those! He knows this! But why did he still choose you? Why didn't he pick me? After all I did, he didn't acknowledged me." She looked miserably at the dark sky. "Why? Am I not good enough for him?"

"I-I'm sorry," Takuya whispered, the only thing he thought of doing. Even though he wasn't sorry for being with Kouji maybe it would give her some comfort, something to help her move on.

"No," Izumi said firmly, looking at him again. "No, you're not sorry. Save your pity, peasant. I don't want it. All I want is Kouji's love. You could never give me that. I love him, Kanabara. I don't care how many lies I've told you in the past but this is the truth. I love him with everything I have. I would do anything, Kanabara, anything to see him smile at me."

As he looked at her he knew without a doubt that she was telling the truth. Izumi truthfully loved Kouji. He could see it as her face twisted with a pain only she could feel. "I…I don't know what to say," Takuya said softly, at a loss of what to do. "I know you've suffered a lot and that you really love him but…I…I think I love him too. I'm not sure but-"

"Shut up." Her sharp tone and look silenced him immediately. "You love him and I love him. There's no more to it, pipsqueak. We both want the same thing. The difference is that one of us is closer to that goal than the other. Can you guess who is who, peasant?" Izumi smiled sarcastically as she inclined her blonde head as if patiently waiting for an answer.

Takuya glared at her, angered at her constant insistence at calling him a peasant. Just because he was one didn't mean she could call him that. But he really couldn't bring himself to snap at her. Not after everything she just told him. That would be like punching a biting puppy.

"What's this all about, Izumi?" Takuya sighed, ruffling his hair again. "I get what you're saying but why do I have to hear this? I could go and tell everyone what you've just told me. I don't get it. You hate me and I have no love for you either. What do you want me to do?"

"What do I want you to do?" Izumi repeated critically, raising a brow. She snorted. "What could you do? Anyway you won't tell anybody. I can tell you're the kind of person who forgives easily and thinks about the best in others." She chuckled throatily at Takuya's troubled expression. "I've already told you, I know everything going on in this school. That's the only thing I am good at other than being a complete witch. Just ask Katou."

Takuya stared, surprised for the millionth time that evening. "Juri?" Takuya asked, not remembering when she came into the conversation. He had an uneasy feeling about talking about his friend with someone like Izumi.

"She never told you?" Izumi said surprised, placing hands on hips. Then she smirked. "Ah, she's changed so much. She and I go way back, Kanabara. Back when we both started at Calvis, mere twelve-year-old girls looking for friends. She and I were best friends once, the only true friend I ever made in my life." She fell silent, reflecting in time long past.

"It lasted for about a year before I started to change. She held on for as long as she could before she couldn't stand my insults anymore and just left, finding support in other more worthy friends," she explained offhandedly like she didn't give a rat's ass about Juri anymore.

Takuya vividly remembered having a feeling that Juri and Izumi had shared a bad past when they sneered at each other so scornfully that day in the fields. Why must some friendships end up in disaster? Having true friends is something that Takuya treasured and yearned for so much. Why would they throw such a thing away? Tai and Sora. Juri and Izumi. Were his friendships destined to end the same way? No. Not if Takuya had anything to say about it.

"I'm probably the biggest idiot for saying all this to you, Kanabara," Izumi sneered with little distaste in her tone. "But I don't care anymore. I'm sick of this shit. Completely and utterly sick. I've chased after Kouji Minamoto for three years without getting anywhere and I love him, Kanabara. I love him so bad it hurts. And that's why I'm stopping this three-way triangle right here, right now."

Her eyes hardened like ice and she forced herself to spit out the next few words like they were sharp stones. "I give up. I fucking give up! I can't take this anymore. I've done nothing but make myself a bitter, friendless bitch for a guy who would never look at me sideways. I was too stupid and too stubborn to see it." She shook her head disgustedly at her own stupidity.

She gave up? She gave up on Kouji? Those words themselves should have caused him joy and relief. He wouldn't have to worry ever again about what she might make him do or insult his friends ever again. Izumi wouldn't touch Kouji ever again. She wouldn't be a barrier in between him and Kouji anymore. She and her followers would never bother them again. He had wanted that for a long time.

So why did he feel nothing but overwhelming pity for the girl?

Maybe because that could have easily been him, there in her shoes. He could have been the one with a broken heart with ice-cold eyes. He could have been the one to reject every single feeling of hope and friendship inside him, making him a bitter jerk that no on wanted to be around. He had Mimi and his mother there in the beginning to help him from that path so he wouldn't give up on himself and the world. Izumi never had anybody. She only had fake friends who cared about popularity and image instead of being good friends. Izumi only ever had that brief taste of friendship with Juri and she had pushed it away to pursue a dream that held no one but her and Kouji. Maybe that had been her mistake. She had forgotten about everybody but herself. She had been selfish and now she was paying the price.

"I-" Takuya started to say but was instantly rudely cut off with an acidic glare from Izumi.

"I already told you I don't want your pity!" she spat irritably, throwing her head back like an annoyed horse. "You could never give me what I want. That's why I'm giving the fuck up. He's all yours. That's what you wanted, didn't you, peasant? To have him all to yourself and to see me miserable and by myself-" This time Takuya was the one to rudely cut her off.

"No!" Takuya shouted, his hands fisting. "Damnit! Let me speak for myself for once, will you?! I never wanted to see you suffer Izumi! I would never wish that on anyone! All I ever wanted from you is to stop harassing and insulting my friends. They never did anything to you! I understand that you hate me, all right? I never meant any of this to happen but it did! So that's that. I'm happy with Kouji but I would never wish unhappiness to anyone, even you. I'm not that cruel." Takuya fell silent, his chest heaving. He could never image actually wishing for someone else to get seriously hurt because they wronged him. That wasn't his way.

Izumi stared at him perplexedly as if trying to figure him out. She cocked her head, braided blonde hair falling over one shoulder. Her fingers played with a small braid as she examined him. She observed him intensely like an intricate puzzle, one who's meaning kept escaping her. Then after a long, silent moment her expression momentarily softened with an emotion close to real respect and her whole demeanor changed to truly look like the fourteen-year-old girl she was.

Then she was back to her normal scathing self. "I guess maybe you're more complicated than I thought you were, Kanabara," she said, smirking. "A bit too soft for my liking, shortie. But we can't all be perfect." She pulled off her silver bracelet from her wrist and ran her fingers across its surface.

Takuya made a face. "Oh, very funny." And just when he thought he was getting somewhere…

She laughed freely, the first genuine laugh Takuya had heard from her. It sounded nicely. "You're a real oddity, Kanabara," she mused, smirking. "You actually make this school exciting for once. Of course you're the first peasant to make it here so maybe that counts for something." She looked at the bracelet in her hands unsurely then tossed it in the air, catching it easily.

"I want you to have this, Kanabara," Izumi said unexpectedly, presenting Takuya the elegant bracelet and offering it to him, her hand steady and eyes unwavering. She shook it slightly at him when he hesitated.

"I don't give many things, Kanabara," Izumi said sternly, raising the bracelet higher in the air so that she could shake it in his face. "So you better take it while you can. It's a… promise of sorts that I will never bother your friends again. I never break my promises, Kanabara. Remember that. So do you want it or not?" She shook it at him again, impatiently.

Takuya hesitated again, glancing at the present. Then he smiled widely, a hand rising up to met Izumi's. Maybe he was finally getting somewhere with her, they didn't have to be enemies anymore. Of course, the probably wouldn't be friends in any case but the war was now over. He should take his spoils, right?

Izumi grinned somewhat warmly at his gesture and made to give him the bracelet. Just as he was about to touch the silver surface a sudden rustling and a snap like someone stepped on a branch echoed from the bushes behind Izumi. Her face paled and she snapped around, her hand tightly clutching the bracelet until her knuckles were white. Takuya also flinched at the sudden noise, standing on his toes to gaze over Izumi's shoulder at the dark hedge.

"Who's there? Order you to show your face!" Izumi firm, cold voice sent chills up Takuya's spine. Damn, that was a voice he could do without. Her words echoed around the darkened garden without an answer. After a long, tense moment Izumi relaxed again and sighed, turning back to face Takuya.

"This is doing wonders for my nerves," Izumi muttered crossly under her breath. "So the bracelet, you want it? Take it and sell it for money or something, Hades knows you needed it. Just take it before I remember that I'm talking to a dirty peasant and throw myself in the lake."

Takuya snorted, amused. He didn't even annoy him so much to be called peasant. There was no bite in her voice anymore. "Yeah, alright. Since you want to get rid of it so badly." He reached out and gently grasped the cold metal of the bracelet, turning it around in his hands curiously.

It was expensive. That much he could tell. The bracelet itself was made from what looked like pure silver, a complete white circle a bit bigger than his wrist. On the outside surface of it were several silver wires melted seamlessly into the image of two spread wings reaching around the piece of jewelry to touch on the opposite side. Right were the wired wing tips touched was a small round metal clasp with the rosy sign of the Lady of Wind, Kaze etched into it. It was nice looking.

"Uh, thanks," Takuya said with embarrassment, holding the bracelet with two fingers of each hand. "It's really nice."

Izumi waved a hand carelessly. "It's no big deal, peasant," she replied easily, shrugging. "I have more jewelry than I can manage to wear and, besides, you need something to go with your little pendant there. It's horribly bland." She gestured to Takuya's bronze chocker pendant.

He automatically reached for his pendant, feeling the rough indentions of the courage rune. "My parents gave it to me when I left Izumai," Takuya explained with a certain kind of fondness. "It was supposed it to be my sixteenth birthday present but they decided to give it to me to remember them by during the year. I promised to never take it off." The simple chocker held many warm memories and good wishes including Mimi's drawing.

He received a simple nod but no other words. He grinned at her, somehow feeling that they had breached a truce between them. Nobody could still hate the other after all that had been said. Izumi nodded with an odd look in her eyes, her fingers restlessly tracing patterns on her fine white dress.

He ran his fingers along the silver surface one more time before he undid the clasp and slipped it on his left wrist, pushing his sleeve back. After all it would be rude to not put a present like this on. It settled loosely on his wrist, the clasp just tight enough so that it wouldn't fall of in a careless move. He shook his arm slightly to make the light reflect on it and grinned at Izumi who nodded, satisfied.

He didn't notice when a tiny burst of light came from the silver clasp, melting it into the bracelet securely. But he did notice when suddenly the whole world began to spin in crazed circles and a sharp burst of pain ignited behind his eyes. His legs gave out underneath him and he felt himself falling to the ground, a scream never leaving his closed throat. Takuya dimly felt himself hit the ground but his body refused to respond, lying limply there while his mind slowly started to fall asleep, his eyesight dimming gradually into black.

"Sorry." He mutedly heard Izumi's voice as if from faraway, barely louder than a whisper. "But I already told you. I will do anything to get my happiness. It's too bad you got in my way."

Takuya forced his heavy head to shift so he could look at her. Her pale, perfect face stared back at him emotionlessly, eyes lifeless. He barely made out the fuzzed image of her cold, impassive face as two tall black figures detached from the bushes behind her, slowly walking in his direction.

Takuya felt several shadows loom over him and gasp carefully at his unresponsive body, lifting him in the air. A rough gloved hand reached over a black clothed shoulder to cover Takuya's half-lidded eyes but not before he caught the symbol stitched on black cloth. A simple white circle.

"May Kaze look over you, Takuya."

Then nothing.

---

Oh, no! Lil' Taky is kidnapped! Who will save him from ultimate doom? I'm sure you'll all figure out the answer to that in a jiffy, eh? Well, sorry for the lateness but my first finals are coming up and I'm swamped with homework and studying and all that wonderful scholastic, educational stuff.

My birthday just passed! I'm now officially fifteen years old and can drive. (Squee!) Ah, I have to go now and rub it in my not-yet-fifteen friends' faces!

Review dearies.

(Illusionwolf out)