Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ A Digi-Tale [FFC] ❯ Chapter 6 - revised ( Chapter 6 )

A Digi-Tale, Chapter 6

by Time Lady

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Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. I'm just borrowing them for the duration of this story.

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The next morning, Takeru was up with the sunrise. Despite his fatigue from the night before, he made his way to the hen house to gather eggs. Luckily the hens had been busy laying eggs and his basket was soon full. He returned to the kitchen, where scullery maids were juicing oranges.

Footmen carried trays of freshly prepared food to the tables and returned with plates to be cleaned. It felt like a never-ending cycle. Takeru was glad the earl did not entertain too often. By the time they were cleaned up from breakfast, it would be time to start on lunch.

Takeru was busily slicing tomatoes for salad when someone said "Excuse me." He saw Sir Koushirou in the doorway. "My apologies, but I was trying to locate the library."

"Takeru, would you please show the gentleman to the library?" said Cook. "None of these ninnies know where it is."

Reluctantly Takeru agreed. As he walked through the hallway, he kept looking around and expecting the earl to appear. He didn't notice that Sir Koushirou was studying him closely. "Here you are sir," said Takeru when they reached the library door. "Will that be all?"

"Thank you, yes." Koushirou watched as Takeru retreated hastily. To the tutor's inquisitive mind, there was definitely something more going on than the earl was letting on.

Hikari was bored. She also had a splitting headache. Boredom and a headache were two things that didn't go well together. After lunch the earl had planned a trip into town. With utmost apologies to the earl, she took some herbs Jyou gave her and went to take a nap. The doctor's assistant offered to stay behind, but Hikari declined the offer. Only Gatomon refused to leave. Once Hikari was asleep, Gatomon went on the prowl. Only servants were around the manor. Now she would be able to find out if she had seen Patamon.

When Hikari awoke, her headache was gone. She glanced at a clock. The others wouldn't be back for another couple of hours. Perhaps she could find a servant who knew Wizardmon and could get a message to him.

Meanwhile, thinking all of the nobles were away, Takeru stole out of the kitchen. He went to his mother's portrait where it hung on the grand staircase. "Mother, this may be the last time I see your portrait," he said silently. "I'm leaving here. I'm old enough. I'll miss you, but I can't take the abuse here anymore. If only you were alive. . . ."

As Hikari left her room, she spied someone on a lower level of the staircase. She walked down the stairs quickly hoping to catch him. However she did not notice that one of the steps was cracked. The heel of her shoe caught in the crack and she pitched forward.

Takeru heard a noise. He saw the princess falling. Without thinking, he dove towards her and caught her before she could hit the ground.

"Th- thank you," stammered the princess breathlessly. She looked up to see who had saved her from what could have been a rather painful fall. Blue eyes. . . .

"Your highness, are you all right?" asked Takeru. It felt so right holding her like this, almost like he held her in the garden. . . .

"Yes. Thank you again for your timely intervention good sir." Could this be her tenshi?

"If your highness is all right, then I must return to my duties," he said, reluctantly relinquishing his hold on her. Before Hikari could question him, he was down the stairs.

Hikari began to follow him when she heard Gatomon coming towards her. Instead, she turned to her companion. Perhaps Gatomon could help with some insight.

Takeru made it to the kitchen. His heart felt like it was going to pound its way out of his chest. He had wanted to continue to hold the princess, but should the earl return. Besides, he was nothing more than a servant. She wouldn't want anything to do with him. "You're an earl's son not a servant," he could hear Wizardmon saying.

"Tonight," Takeru told himself. "Tonight, when everyone is asleep, I'll leave. I can't take this anymore."

Gatomon and Hikari searched, but there was no sign of the mysterious man or the Patamon. They would have continued searching had the others not returned. Rather than receive a tongue lashing from Lady Mimi for being out of bed with a headache, Hikari went back to her room.

The only reason Hikari went to dinner that evening was to try to find the identity of the man that helped her. She waited until the plates were being cleared. Before she could ask, however, Sir Koushirou said "I must commend you on your staff."

"Thank you," said the earl. "Is there anyone in particular?"

"Yes. This morning after breakfast, I became lost. Instead of the library I found myself in the kitchen. A young man there stopped what he was doing and escorted me to the proper location," said Koushirou. He didn't notice the rage that flashed across the earl's face. But it could have been any of the footmen.

"Do you remember what he looked like?" asked the earl.

"Very tall. Blonde hair. In fact, looking back at the incident, he did bear something of a resemblance to Viscount Yamato," said Koushirou. "I believe the cook called him 'Takeru.'" Hearing this, Yamato swallowed wrong and began choking on his drink. Jyou patted him on his back until he stopped.

"Is something wrong my lord?" asked Taichi.

"Just swallowed wrong," returned Yamato. He glanced at his father and could see the first signs of rage in his eyes.

"I believe I met the same young man last night," added Viscount Iori. "Armadillomon and I were searching for a late night snack. He stopped and served us without a complaint."

"Yes, I know who you are talking about. Forgive me sirs, but he should not have been away from his chores," returned the earl, anger evident in his eyes.

"This Takeru should be commended," snapped Hikari. "One of the stairs in your staircase is cracked. Had he not been on the landing when he was, I would have certainly injured myself."

The earl gritted his teeth. He made an effort to smile. "I will see that he receives his due."

Leomon did not like the earl's expression.

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Later that night, Takeru was in the kitchen cleaning up. Patamon was under the table wiping up a spill. "My lord, did you need something?" asked Takeru with a bow. He suddenly became very nervous, but stood his ground.

"You defied my orders. You were told to remain in the kitchen and not be seen. Instead on two occasions you left the kitchen, and on an additional occasion allowed yourself to be seen. Such disobedience will not be tolerated."

Takeru never expected the blow that hit him in the head. Stunned, he slumped to the floor. Patamon wanted to help him. He could blast the earl with a boom bubble, but while that might make the earl back away, it also might make things worse. Helplessly he watched as the earl dragged Takeru to the cellar staircase. "What can I do like this? Maybe if I digivolved," he thought. Then he realized, help was at hand.

Princess Hikari was wide-awake. The earl's behavior after supper made her very uncomfortable. She had to find this Takeru and talk to him. With Gatomon right behind her, she began to make her way down towards the kitchen, where Iori and Koushirou had found him.

As she padded down the hall in slippers, she encountered a small, orange Digimon in a rather frantic state. "Princess Hikari, you've got to help him!"

"Help who?" asked Hikari.

"Takeru! The earl is going to beat him for disobeying!" said Patamon.

Gatomon stepped forward. "It's you, isn't it?" was all she said.

Patamon nodded, then said "Your highness, please, you must intervene. Otherwise I'm afraid the earl will kill him!"

Hikari felt a chill go down her spine. "Gatomon, get Leomon." To Patamon she said "Take me to them." The princess ran to keep up with the flying Digimon.

In the cellar, Takeru came to in a somewhat familiar position as a bucket of ice water was dumped on his head. He was fastened spread eagle to the earl's whipping posts. The earl had tied him so securely that he could barely move. His shirt was gone. The young man knew what was in store and began to steel himself. "You have disobeyed me once too often," said the earl. "This calls for extreme measures."

The earl walked over to a rack of his punishment devices. Instead of his usual whip, he picked up a different one. Takeru's eyes went wide when he realized the earl chose a whip with a steel tip on the cord. He also picked up a ball gag. "As much as I would enjoy hearing your screams, I don't think our noble guests would appreciate it." He pinched Takeru's nose. When Takeru opened his mouth to gasp for breath, the earl shoved in the ball gag and secured it around his head. "Now we can commence with the punishment."

Princess Hikari ran to keep up with Patamon. The only time she slowed was on the treacherous stairs. Patamon led her through the kitchen to the cellar door, which was ajar. Cautiously Hikari took a torch from a sconce and made her way down the stone stairs. As she neared the bottom, she could hear the crack of a whip and muffled screams. She felt her blood run cold. "Over there," said Patamon, pointing to a door.

"Go and make sure Leomon and Gatomon find us," she said. Then, drawing herself into one of her most regal postures, she strode forward and opened the door. At the sight before her, she nearly dropped her torch. The young man who had stopped her fall earlier was tied to two columns. Blood streamed down his back. His face was hidden by the shadows. Behind him, the earl cracked the whip again. The young man's body tensed as the steel tip struck, then went limp.

"STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING THIS INSTANT!" she commanded. The earl froze. Hikari strode forward. "What do you think you are doing?" she demanded.

"Disciplining a disobedient servant, your highness," said the earl, making no apologies for his actions.

"I do not remember whipping being an acceptable way for treating freemen," returned the princess as she stepped towards the earl. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Takeru's back was a bloody mess.

"Pardon me your highness, but you know nothing of these affairs."

"I know enough when a person is cruel and abusive." Purposely she stepped between the earl and Takeru.

"Step aside. This does not concern you."

"I would say it very much concerns me!"

"STEP ASIDE OR. . . ."

"Or what," she replied calmly. "Or else you would dare attempt to whip a royal princess?"

"YOUR HIGHNESS!" Leomon appeared in the doorway, followed by Gatomon and Patamon.

"Seize that man," ordered Hikari. "Such cruelty is not acceptable under my father's reign."

Facing the giant lion Digimon, the earl faltered and dropped his whip. Leomon used the whip to restrain him. He heard the princess gasp. "Your highness?"

Hikari stared at the young man's back. In the midst of the blood and whip cuts, she saw the brand marks. "No. . . . it can't be. . . ." She walked around to the front of the man. His head hung limply. Hikari noticed a glove on his right hand. Removing it revealed a brand burned into the flesh. "Oh God no. . . . my tenshi. . ."

Takeru's eyes flickered open as he felt someone removing the gag from his mouth. "Princess. . . ." he managed hoarsely. There were tears in her eyes.

"My tenshi. . . ," she said softly. Gently Hikari pushed away a lock of damp hair from his eyes. "Gatomon, cut him down. Patamon, get Jyou down here immediately!"

Patamon flew quickly out of the cellar. Gatomon's sharp claws cut through the ropes. Hikari did her best to keep Takeru from falling to the floor. It was a struggle, but she eased him down onto his stomach. She stroked his hair gently. "You'll be all right."

"Your highness, what shall I do with," he paused a moment as if thinking of the right term, then gestured to the bound earl, "this."

"Keep him tied up," said Hikari.

"You meddling. . . ." The earl found himself cut off abruptly by Leomon's massive paw.

"Perhaps our gracious host would like a taste of his own ball gag," said Gatomon as she picked it up from where Hikari had tossed it. "Think so Leomon?"

Before Leomon could respond, Jyou came stumbling down the stairs with his medical bag. Gomamon was right behind him. The rest of the traveling party followed Gomamon.

"Jyou, please help him," implored Hikari.

Prince Taichi looked around to see Leomon holding the earl captive, while his sister knelt on the stone floor next to an unconscious young man. "Would someone please tell me what is going on here?" he demanded.

"The earl was whipping this young man," said Hikari. "He was using a steel tipped whip."

"I was merely disciplining a disobedient servant your highness," said the earl.

"Is that what you call your own son?" snarled Leomon. Astonished gasps rippled through those assembled. Taichi walked over and knelt next to his sister. Gomamon, who was holding a torch for Jyou, moved it closer to Takeru's face. Taichi studied the young man lying there. There was definitely a resemblance between this man and Yamato.

The prince stood. "Is this true Yamato?"

Yamato felt his father's withering glare. He also felt the eyes of everyone else upon him. "Yes," he said in a barely audible whisper.

"So did your father whip you to discipline you as well?" spat out Hikari. "Why would one son be made into a total slave?"

"Because their father accused the younger of his mother's death," explained Leomon. All eyes turned to Leomon. "The countess fell on the same step you did your highness. However, no one was there to stop the countess' fall. Her neck broke. The doctors were only able to save the unborn child. The earl and his older son blamed the younger one for causing the countess' death."

"I want a full inquiry," said Prince Taichi. "Leomon, escort the earl and his son to a room under house arrest."

"Don't forget about Gazimon and Gabumon," warned Patamon. "If they're left loose, they'll cause all sorts of trouble."

The prince nodded. "They will be closely watched."

"We should get him out of here," said Jyou. "I need better lighting and more sanitary conditions to truly take care of these gashes. Some are so deep he'll need stitches."

Lady Miyako ran upstairs, returning with a tablecloth. They eased the cloth under Takeru. Between Wallace, Michael, Jyou, Koushirou, Ken, and Taichi, they maneuvered Takeru up the cellar stairs, up the treacherous staircase, and into Jyou's room. By that time the once white tablecloth was crimson in spots. They set him down on the bed. Jyou began working to try and stop the bleeding.

"Hikari, you should go to bed," said Taichi.

"I'm not leaving him," returned Hikari.

"Hikari. . . ." he began warningly.

"Taichi, he's Wizardmon's angel," she said softly. "He's saved my life twice. I'm not going to leave him now when he needs me."

The prince sighed. He never could resist his sister. "As you wish. I will begin sending messages home." He turned to Princess Sora. "Forgive me my love, but I fear we will not be able to continue our tour of the land."

"That is fine," returned Sora. "This matter must be very disturbing to you."

Taichi sighed again. "To find out that your best friend was hiding a younger brother is bad enough. To find out that the same brother is being treated as a virtual slave is worse. Then to find that this same brother has saved your sister's life?"

"It is a lot to process at one time," agreed Sora. She turned to find Mimi admonishing the princess.

"This is completely unacceptable," Mimi was saying. "A young lady should not be gallivanting around the manor in her nightclothes. And now said nightclothes are ruined! You go right now to your room and make yourself presentable!"

"GO AWAY!" returned the princess flatly.

Mimi was about to reply when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Princess Sora behind her. "Allow me," said Sora in a low voice.

Sora stepped up to Hikari. "I know you don't want to leave him, but I don't think it would be very pleasant for your young man to awake and see you splattered with his blood. Why don't you go and freshen up? I'll stay here until you return," Sora offered.

Hikari sighed. With a nod, she stood. "I don't know how you managed that," said Mimi once Hikari was gone.

"I just approached it differently."

"Miyako, would you stay in here with the princess when she returns?" said Mimi.

"Yes, but I'd rather be giving Viscount Yamato a piece of my mind," said Miyako. "Imagine hiding away a brother all these years. Especially one so cute."

"Hey!" protested Sir Ken.

"Well, he's not as cute as you, but he's still cute," said Miyako with a rather embarrassed look on her face.

Sir Koushirou rolled his eyes. "Excuse me," said Jyou. "But if you're not helping, I'd appreciate it if you left. All this noise is not good for the patient."

Nodding, they began to leave. Patamon flew past, a sack in his mouth. He dropped it on the end table. "Here are the salves and herbs Wizardmon gave Takeru to help the brands heal. Will they help now?"

"Possibly."

"Patamon," said Prince Taichi, "do you know how to reach Wizardmon?"

"Yes your highness. I know where his cottage is."

"Fetch him here," ordered Taichi. "I believe he will be able to shed some light on this situation. Koushirou, Ken, I will need the services of Wormmon and Tentomon."

Hikari returned to the room just as Taichi was sending Tentomon and Wormmon off with messages to the palace and to Lord Daisuke. Patamon had already been dispatched to fetch Wizardmon. "Agumon," he said to his own Digimon, "bring me Gazimon. Let's see what information he can provide. I will be in the earl's study." He turned to his sister. "Will you be all right?"

"Yes," she said as she took up a chair next to Takeru. With a nod, Taichi left, leaving Hikari, Miyako, Jyou, and Gomamon with the patient. Hawkmon had been dispatched to retrieve Vargas and the cook. Gatomon was with Leomon and Wallace guarding the earl and Yamato.

"I'll need to disinfect the wounds," said Jyou.

"Here you go," said Gomamon, passing the antiseptic to Jyou. Though unconscious, Takeru's body tensed when the antiseptic touched his wounds.

"Shhhh. . . ." said Hikari as she gently wiped Takeru's face with a damp rag.

Over the next few days, she seldom left Takeru's side. Wizardmon came and cast sleeping spells on Takeru so that he would rest and not feel the pain. Taichi, with his father's consent, began a full inquiry into the earl's cruelty. Once Vargas, Cook, and Melorah were assured they would suffer no repercussions from the earl, they told everything they knew. Vargas and Cook were able to tell about times before the countess died. Wizardmon added in what he had been able to divine magically. Taichi compiled a long report to present to his father.

Slowly Takeru began to come around. Patamon told him what happened. He was immensely grateful to the princess for her timely intervention. Hikari and Takeru spent much of the time getting to know each other. Moving was painful for Takeru, so he spent much of the time lying on his stomach. Mostly they just talked. To anyone who saw them, it was obvious that the two young people were falling in love. A few of the Digimon noticed Gatomon was also spending a lot of time with Patamon.