~** Quick note-this has been reloaded/updated because I had to add some things that weren't there in the first version. And, sad as it sounds, this is kinda a fic where I'll write to keep my mind clear. Mm…I hope I haven't made any of you mad-I'll get to this one, but I've got others trying to get out. I just had a spurt…*blink* mm…yeah. That and it's late… :) I hope you enjoy what I've got, so far!

~~Digimon ain't mine, by the way. I've only variated the names and such. It's an AU. I can do what I want. *grin* so anyhoo, things are different, but at the same time, too similar. Mwaah.

~* Digital Prince *~

~Ch. 1~

It began like any other day. First, the sun rose, of course, with brilliant golden splendor and the birds responded with ear-piercing shrieks. Then came the daily sprinkle of rain. The small animals like frogs and lizards basked in the gentle liquid drops, refreshing from the harsher sunlight. And, as the sun made its second afternoon appearance with scalding heat, nothing great happened.

Nothing ever did. No matter where he was or what he did, it wasn't fun anymore. He used to have loads and loads of fun, with his friends and the other creatures. He had Veemon, his closest friend and advisor, but the mischief the two created wasn't even, now. He could always swing up into the trees again, and look around and wonder about the far off mountains to the northwest and the faint glimmer of what the Digitals called "the sea" to the south. That had always been exciting, in a mild imaginative way. Other days he could spar with several training digitals and work on his own skills in defense and attack. Now it was getting to the point where he could take any attack and slip through any defense.

Boring.

His life had always been this way, full of small self-initiated adventures. He had always been satisfied with his life, the way it was and how it seemed he was doomed to stay in the small hidden valley and surrounding forest. He was supposed to, right? Not worry and wonder about another world he had heard in only legends?

He was the Prince Heir of all that surrounded him, the creatures and mythical beings within the land, and he was having doubts about his life in general. He was Heir to the Ti'Lynde, and yet, it didn't seem to matter. It didn't even seem to bother him over the content of the doubts, it was the fact that he was doubting. It didn't even help to bring it up to other advisors and friends. His mentors merely told him that "doubts led to a different sort of path than one intended."

Bah.

He wasn't even a true creature of this realm. That really annoyed the hell out of him on some days because there always those "loyal" subjects that didn't think he was well suited enough to lead the tribes. Whispers and rumors behind his back that they assumed he couldn't hear. Doubts and plots only diverted by his too-watchful circle of advisors. He knew that they talked and suspected him for a long time, even as he was small with youth.

Being the half-grown Prince of a land had its pains and pleasures. Rumors where a part of the parcel that came with running a land and its inhabitants. Not that he minded being the head honcho. He pretty much let them do whatever they wished, unless they started hurting the smaller ones. Then he got angry. The bigger creatures should know to be more careful because of their size and not throw it around.

Some digitals had no respect for anything.

Daisuke, named from before a time that he could remember, the Prince of the Digital and its realm, child and leader, wise and naïve, sat under a tree and threw rocks at a leaf. Beside him a small digital creature, blue and white in color, lay curled up sleeping as the Prince of his kind sat bored out of his mind.

Being a Prince definitely had its perks and downfalls.

At least Veemon treated him like a normal digital and didn't bow and scrape and grovel. Groveling had been fun for only the first month. Then you started wondering what everyone looked like, facially, instead of memorizing their backs and hair and so on. Daisuke sighed, his longish mahogany hair ruffling a bit in the faint breeze.

Lately, increasing thoughts of who he was, really, and where he was supposed to be ran through his mind. It was slightly unnerving, in a way, to stop and take a look at one's life and realize that you had no place in it.

He wasn't even a real digital. A smooth brow furrowed at that thought. He had grown up thinking he had been, though. The tale of a few digitals, Veemon and a friend, Agumon, finding a small wailing creature in the forest had been with him nearly all his growing life.

The rumors about his true being had also reached him. Rumors that he wasn't a true-born digital, that he was one of the…humans that they so feared and avoided.

If it was true…

What was he doing as Prince of a people that he didn't belong to? Was it some sort of cosmic joke?

No, he would just have to find out where he did belong. As much as he hated to leave his realm and wander off in search of something he had been warned about for nearly 14 years, the doubts and lack of self had him jumping at anything.

A slim browned hand reached out to stroke a leg. "Veemon? You awake, buddy?" The tanned face smiled down at the stirring digital and the wide yawning mouth. "I made a decision."

Veemon blinked up, fuzzy from sleep and smiled trustingly. "That's good….a decision about what?"

The hand reached up to smooth the rough skin of the blue-colored head, and Daisuke replied. "I'm going to find out who I am. I need to go where...my kind are." A small part of him sighed as he admitted the final piece to leaving. Hopefully, Veemon would understand.

"You're leaving?" Veemon exclaimed. He paused a moment and asked softly. "Does it matter that much?"

Daisuke shrugged faintly. "Yeah. I'm glad that I'm accepted as the Prince, I am, but…I don't know if I am supposed to be here, Veemon. I don't know who I am, inside."

The dragon-formed digital frowned a bit, doubts and uncertainty eating at him. Of course, his Prince was stubborn in most of the things he usually did, but…This was unheard of. He couldn't say no, though, because this would be inevitable. "You sure you wanna do this, Daisuke?" he whispered after a moment of thought. ~He doesn't know the truth about the Ti'Lynde…~ "Who will go with you, when you travel to find yourself?"

"I don't know if I want any digitals with me, Veemon. I'll…I'll be going among humans." Inwardly, he winced. Digitals and Humans didn't agree with one another. Neither side never ever got along, despite the few failed attempts in the centuries long feud.

"Daisuke!" Veemon burst out in alarm. Daisuke shot him a scowl. "You can't!"

"Where better to find myself, if I search among my people?"

Veemon was very quiet for a while, his gaze downcast. ~But we are your people too…~ "I am your bonded k'raynth, Daisuke. I must travel with, even if you don't have the Ti'Lynde to fight with."

"I know."

~*~

He left quietly during the night, using his varied skills to sneak off. Better to have disappeared than his kingdom overtaken due to an overzealous digital. At least they wouldn't question his next 'vacation' this time. He often took several weeks to relax and hide out from all the strain that the darker digitals put on him. They liked mischief. It didn't bother him as much as he thought, as he hitched the bag stuffed with provisions over his shoulder.

The air was slightly damp as he trotted on over the hill along a faint path, barefoot and silent. The grass was cool against his ankles, drops of condensation on the leaves of the few bushes winking in the rising moonlight. Far off he could hear faint cries of the night-loving digitals and the thumps of their passage.

No one would spot him, however. Despite the lack of powers most digital creatures were born with, Daisuke had an astonishing array of skills and gifts at his disposal. He had been raised by some of the more powerful creatures of the realm, and trained by the best. He was faster than most, quick and agile enough to out-climb several digitals. He could fight quite well with weapons or body well into the champion levels. His intelligence, although average, was more than made up for the common sense and commitment he felt towards his power-giving position. A connection to the digitals kept him from reveling in the power, and the compassion he couldn't understand kept him from fully bonding with any of them.

Maybe that's why he was walking away from everything he had known since his relative birth in this land. He didn't feel like he belonged, like he was a rightful part of this land.

Regardless, as powerful as Daisuke was in the land of the Digital, he was an innocent and distinctly naïve person. In fact, while the rumors of his human birth being true, Daisuke had no notion of being human in any sort. Clothing and appearance were of little concern. His attitude was friendly and he knew nothing of hatred, or evil.

He had never experienced anything truly hateful, or dark.

This journey would change him, in more ways than one.

~*~

The sun was very hot as the procession made its way along a grassy open meadow. Ken raised the brim of his low hat and looked around, scenting a faint trace of water. The guides had mentioned a river nearby, and an abandoned outpost of an old fort. Humans had lived along these meadows, once.

Before they knew of the digitals living here.

Now all traces of their lives and homes were just dust and tatters. ~The old Rune wars,~ Ken thought, and wondered.

The brim of the hat lowered, and he watched the endless view of the retreating grasses under the wagon wheels. Their party consisted of several dozen guards in case of an unlikely attack, himself, and his sister Hikari, and a few guides that knew the area and the danger. They had been traveling for several weeks now, in the direction of their home in Seran.

"Sire," a voice whispered to him. Ken looked over his slim shoulder to regard a young blond guide, Takaishi Takeru or something, trotting alongside the cart. "There's been some movement spotted up ahead. My brother told me to warn you, in case we're attacked."

Ken nodded, faintly interested in seeing what a digital looked like. To the humans, digitals were creatures of fey legend, barely existing in other than stories and myths about demons attacking and much bloodshed. They were magical creatures, Ken knew, created from myths and legends. Yet…

The stories of the humankind were that digitals were too afraid to show themselves to humans because of a failed prophecy and betrayal in ancient times. Not even the scholars he had grown up with knew more than the local legends. Most of the locals didn't know this part, however. Falsities of attacks and monsters grew, while the truth slowly died. The few battles that the two kinds had engaged in had quickly led to tales of murder and attack in the night, evil and horribly twisted creatures.

Again, his thoughts traveled back to the distant Rune wars, where the human armies had began a systematic destruction of the digitals they could find. There had been mages using sorcery, blood magic, and from what Ken had learned, the magic of the Digitals themselves against them.

Ken snorted. Just like humans to assume they were the best in the land because they were the most numerous.

~They created the very Runeblade that my father carries. Te'Dynthia, the sword of Power. They created the others, as well. The lost swords, like Te'Doryeth, the sword of Kindness. Te'Danth, the twin swords of Courage and Friendship, rumored to have shattered in the last moments...~

~There were more, I'm sure of it.~

~I just don't know where.~

"I'll be ready, Takaishi."

The lad nodded, hesitating slightly as his eyes flickered towards the seated figure at the helm. Ken smiled inside, pleased at the fact the boy held a high concern for his sister's welfare. The boy was a likely match, after all. He and his brother, Yamato, had originally been the sons of a nobleman, but due to the little land they would inherit, neither child suffered the fate of a lazy and pompous heir.

He shook himself, setting the matchmaking idea aside, and settled back a bit with his hands resting lightly on his knees as he sat with one leg over the side of the wagon. The entire trip had been uneventful, and rather boring.

He raised his eyes at a shout from farther ahead, where several of the guards waited. ~Who are they shouting at?~ Curiously, he kept his eyes on the road, his hat raised out of the way, as the wagons shuddered slightly to the left. A slight brown-skinned boy, about his age, was standing with wide eyes at the passing group.

Ken felt a faint chill at the sight of the boy, seemingly innocent but standing strongly alert. ~What a strange fellow…~ He watched, eyes locked to the dark brown orbs of the stranger as the wagon ambled past. A glint of sunlight danced in amber waves through the depths as the boy looked over for a moment. A few guards were giving him wary looks as the boy grinned suddenly and cocked his hands on his hips, watching them pass.

He looked like a local…but there shouldn't be any humans in this area for miles.

"Stop the wagon," he ordered. He would talk to this stranger in person.

"Sire!" one of the nearer guards looked back at him in surprise as he slid off the wagon, his dusty cape flaring behind him. "I don't think it's a good idea…"

Hikari twisted around in her seat to cast a worried look at him. "Brother, do you know what you're doing?"

Ken gave her a nod as he stepped forward to meet the grinning boy. "I'll be fine, sister." He paused to glance over the boy, noting the tattered shorts and shoeless feet, the pouches gathered at his waist and the lean sun-burned appearance with shaggy mahogany hair and golden brown eyes. ~Interesting…~ "Do you live around here?" he began.

A glint of suspicion in chocolate eyes, the boy shrugged. "I'm just passing through, really," he replied in a mild voice.

Ken cocked his head. "You're traveling alone? Through digital territory?"

Now the boy shifted uncomfortably. "Really? Um…I was…" A hand stole up to scratch at his shoulder and the boy looked around quickly. "I didn't think they'd bother me, actually…this isn't a viral area…"

"Viral?" Ken replied, mystified by the term.

The boy nodded. "Yeah, a dark digital is called a viral."

Ken stared. "How do you know this?"

The boy paled suddenly, and looked down. "Ano…I forgot that…I…um…just know…"

The indigo-haired teen blinked. "You…don't remember? Were you injured?" He watched slim brown shoulders shrug and frowned. He had heard of people losing memory from sharp blows to the head and even shock. "What's your name, anyway?"

"Oh, that I can tell you! I'm called Daisuke!"

The boy seemed glad to be off the subject. Ken felt slightly out of place as he smiled. "That's a nice name. I am Ichijouji Ken. I travel with my sister and others to my home."

Daisuke blinked a little. "So…do I call you Ichijouji? Ken? I didn't know you could have two names. Where do you live? Sister?"

"Ichijouji fine, for now. My sister, Hikari, is on the wagon. The rest are guards and the two guides, Takaishi Yamato, and Takeru. I live in Seran, near the southern sea." Ken motioned a hand in the direction of the road they followed.

"I haven't been there. I haven't been much of anywhere, actually," Daisuke admitted, eyeing the far-off horizon with anticipation. Ken smiled to himself. The boy was as innocent as a child was, but fearless.

Odd.

"If you'd like, you may travel with us…"

"With you?" the boy looked back at him with surprise. "But…"

"I don't think this is wise, Sire," a tall blond stepped forward, his loose normal-looking clothes ragged and hand-sewn.

"Yamato," Ken shot a mild glance in his direction. "I don't see a problem. Now, we're motionless in digital territory. Let's keep moving."

Daisuke gave him a speculative look. "Are you a prince?" He had to force himself not to add the "too" to his words. It wouldn't do to give away all of his secrets with his first human encounter.

Ken laughed a bit, and shook his head. "Hardly. I'm just a lord's son."

Daisuke nodded uncertainly. This odd-seeming fellow, Ichijouji, or something, was certainly not that bad. In fact, he was a lot like a few Digimon he knew. If this was what humans were like, then he was starting to like the fact that he wasn't a digital. For being a human, this "Ken" wasn't bad. Idly, he examined the slim form in front of him again. "Gomen…I don't know very much about Lords."

Drawn to the clear vibrant eyes, he nodded and added. "Besides, I won't hurt anyone, promise."

The taller blond made a snorting sound and stalked away to the head of the party. A smaller one, dressed in similar clothes, shrugged apologetically to the two and followed quickly. Ken nodded to the guards still around them, and turned to climb back into the wagon with surprising agility.

Daisuke, after a moment of observation, followed in suit and settled down next to the male, trying surreptitiously to follow each movement. Better to figure out each movement, and propriety with a lord's son, than a peasant. For a long while the group of travelers marched forward in near silence. Inwardly he smiled.

The absent Prince of the Digitals felt a pang of amusement as he noticed more and more looks and stares around them.

~So they can sense them…but not see them…yet…~ A smirk crossed his lips. There were only a few digital creatures flitting around in the forest surrounding them, but it was enough to trip the few remaining instincts and set them on edge.

~Veemon…you lovable fool…your "guards" will get me in trouble…~ He sighed, resting an arm across an upraised knee and blinked sleepily. It felt nice to sit down for a small bit, even if a few of those stares were aimed his way. Better to be on his guard.

He didn't notice the fleeting glances that noble-born Ken was shooting his way.

Daisuke was innocent on a lot of things.

~*~

Intelligent cerulean eyes flickered upwards from examining the scraped ground. Takeru nodded as he met Yamato's gaze peering up at him and hunkered down to crouch beside his brother. Yamato had motioned him over after a preliminary scouting run. After a few moments he ventured, "Those don't look like anything I've ever seen." Yamato nodded, and scanned the horizon and surrounding trees. "Any clue, Yama?"

The slim blond shook his head slowly. "Not…really."

"But you have an idea," Takeru stated. His brother nodded, his glance sliding warily to the group gathered not far away. The younger guide got the message. A tanned arm stretched down and a finger traced the edge of the scraped marks with a fleeting glance towards the wagon.

"They aren't human, or animal…" Yamato whispered cautiously. His finger followed the edge slowly, pointing out the similarities and vast differences. "Too long here, and not as many toes. Heel is shallow, so it's walking on the edge of its feet. See how the claws gouge the ground?"

"Fresh," Takeru remarked. Yamato nodded curtly, a flicker of pride in his eyes as he glanced at his younger brother, then back to the surroundings.

Takeru paused in the examining for a quick thought. ~If the monsters show up now…~ the young blond mused, weighing the odds of a possible sighting. On one hand, he was rather glad that there might be some action and legendary beasts and danger. He was a child of romantics, a child of stories and legends and bravery.

The other, though, worried about the threat to the group he and his brother guided. Of course it would be horrible if something happened to any of them.

Especially the Lady Hikari.

"What happens if one attacks?"

Yamato rolled his shoulders in a smooth shrug. "If it does, we either run or fight. If not, we ignore it and continue on."

"Ignore it? Isn't that dangerous?"

"What else can we do?" Yamato sighed. Easily, he straightened his back, hunched on his heels and scowled. "We do what me must, brother." He pushed upwards and swiped at his hair. "We should get moving. I want at least 3 kilometers before sunset and the strike for camp"

Takeru nodded in doubtful agreement, rising as well, and followed in the shadow of his brother as they made their way back tot h group. As usual, Hikari was the first his eyes fell upon. He took a moment to admire her clean beauty before he noticed something odd.

The Lord Ken, and his new companion, Daisuke, were seated in the shade thrown by the wagon. They must have been sitting there to talk in peace and away from eyes as the group stopped for a rest. It seemed that Ken had fallen asleep or was dozing lightly.

Daisuke, however comfortable he looked from the leaning posture against the wheel, had a glittering and piercing gaze fastened on his as he was walking back. Interesting, and rather surprising. Takeru felt himself skip a step as the stare intensified.

Almost as a…

…Warning…

The young guide got the impression of a very dangerous thing. Daisuke looked very dangerous, at that moment. Very dangerous and…protective.

~He's more than he seems…~ a small voice slowly commented. Whatever the force emanating from the boy originated from, it was setting off warning bells in Takeru's mind. There was definitely something...strange…about the boy.

Something different.

His eyes caught by a mesmerizing gaze, he began to worry that taking the stranger with them wasn't such a good idea.

"Get'm up!" a voice cried, interrupting his thoughts. Startled, Takeru flicked his eyes in the direction of the voice and saw the eccentric Caption of the brigade shouting orders to the drowsy men. The young man, with sparkling sherry eyes and unruly hair, nodded to the brothers as they passed.

Behind his brother, Takeru snorted and raised an eyebrow as Captain Taichi's eyes flicked over his brother's form with an suspicious warmth.

The second brow went up as well when Yamato smiled back.

~By the gods, they make more eyes at each other than moonstruck cattle…~ Takeru scowled in Yama's direction and flicked a second glare towards the grinning Captain. He watched the two exchange private and rather obvious glances at each other as they slowly passed by.

Casting his eyes in the opposite direction, Takeru took a quick look at the stirring wagon. By now, the Lord and his sister were exchanging mild commentary and gazing out at the guards and the driver. Beside them, and apparently sleeping, Daisuke leaned with a lolling head.

Confused, Takeru studied the boy and licked his lips.

Things were very strange indeed.

~*~

~Humans are definitely stranger than I thought…~ Daisuke noted, his chin resting on his crossed arms. Seated near his left, the first nice human he had spoken to, Ken, the one with the sapphire hair and vibrant eyes, was engaged in a quiet conversation with his litter-sister, Hikari. A lot of the words seemed important, although he couldn't make sense of them.

Who knew what a "beau" meant anyway.

Although he had every opportunity to listen in and learn more, he figured it was rude to do so, and sat staring out at the variety of people scattered around the strange box he was in. It was interesting to pick out the small characteristics of the people that he had noticed were more charismatic than the rest. He didn't know many of their names, but he already associated them with their strongest quality.

The first pair of humans he noticed was the two brothers that were guiding them through the digital territory. The absent Prince wondered if they knew a lot about the creatures they were avoiding through the knowledge of their travels and experience. Both of the boys dressed simply and appropriately in leathers and stout boots. Yamato had a bow slung over his back and wrist-guards wrapped snug about his forearms. Takeru carried a knobby staff.

Both of them were blond, naturally attractive with clear tanned skin and the same piercing blue eyes. Both had clean cut features and slim well-muscled bodies. They looked alike, but Daisuke had already picked out the most vibrant bearing of each.

Takeru, for all his protectiveness and caution, carried himself lightly and with a glint of merriment in his eyes. He lived to live, simply put. Yamato, though, was faintly cold, and keeping more to himself. His trust would be hard to earn, but worth it when the deed was accomplished. The older brother didn't seem it, but he was honest, and friendly when given a chance.

Takeru, though, could be a problem. Although he seemed caring and friendly, he had a quick mind and his first reaction was for the Lady Hikari. Daisuke had noticed that right away. He'd have to be extra careful around both of the brothers, though. Both of them knew the area, and could have heard the rumors of a human "digital" around.

Already he was too enamored of his lost heritage. Realizing anything about his past or what he was to the "monsters"…It would be bad. A part of him missed being with the friends and makeshift family he had known most of his life, but…the curiosity to know meant more.

Much more.

Enough with the foreboding thoughts. Quick chocolate eyes glanced up as a rowdy male passed through his vision. Whoever this one was, he had grabbed the attention of the cold-hearted older brother, Yamato. ~Definitely grabbed,~ Daisuke grinned to himself.

He could see why. The young man had wild dark brown hair and merry brown eyes. Pleasing to the eye and kind enough to make anyone melt. Strong, and very courageous, too. That man, apparently named Taichi, had been the first face he had seen as he looked behind him in surprise. The male held an air about him like a natural-born leader. It was easy to see why Taichi made a good Captain of the guards around the moving box. Behind him, during a lull in the shouting and talk, he heard the quiet laughter of the Lady sitting behind him. He smiled, faintly.

Lady Hikari was a kind girl, and besotted with the simple handsome Takeru. They would make a good pair, and have strong children, Daisuke thought. She was pretty, and if Daisuke had seen her first, he might have developed affection for her, instead of preferring her brother.

Her brother. Kind and generous Ken. The young man had taken a stranger, a potential danger, into his own wagon. Such trust didn't seem normal to humans, but the unknown Prince found them nostalgic.

A moment of doubt passed through him as he thought of the possibility of Ken refusing his offer of friendship and him for not being a true human. It was a very real danger of trusting someone who could bring you down. He wondered, for a moment, if Ken would accept him, Prince and all, if he knew about him, or cared about him in return. Scary as the thoughts were, the nobleborn boy might refuse him, and respond like another human would.

~I'll just have to convince him that I'm worth the trouble,~ he determined and swung his legs in seeming boredom. ~I have to make him like me before he knows.~

~I'll need a friend, at least…Especially since I'm alone now…~

~*~

Tomorrow they would reach the city. He could taste it in the air, feel it in the ground, subtle changes and stirrings as they neared a different type of environment. A different way of life. Daisuke lifted his head, feeling out the new feelings with his senses as he perched, alert and wary on the headboard of the creaking wagon. Only two fires were allowed for cooking and light. Lumped sleeping shapes around them soaked up the heat emanating from the small and banked coals. Daisuke was shivering as he mulled over repeating thoughts.

The humans he had met and joined were different, yet not as different as he was prepared for. It was unsettling. These were his people, yet, he couldn't understand them at all. So many things were complicated, so many rules and formalities. The guards got upset when he started calling the lord's son Ken, instead of "My Lord."

They looked at him funny, too. Like he wasn't as human as they were. Well, he wasn't, but they shouldn't be able to tell…should they?

Daisuke swung his hand down from his lap, resting it on the wood. His legs were curled up beneath him, partly from habit, partly for warmth. Although it had only been a few weeks since he had left the court and his makeshift family behind, it felt like months. He missed them terribly.

"Still up, are you?" a voice spoke to his left. His head turned to the dark shape beside him, he shrugged faintly.

"Couldn't sleep?" Taichi asked kindly and watched the boy automatically scan the small camp lit by flickering fires.

"Just thinking," the strange young man replied after a moment. A hand feathered up to brush at unruly hair, his skin dark in the faint light. "I miss my home."

"Why did you leave, then?" Taichi leaned on his ever-present staff, and looked out into the forest. He waited a long time before the boy responded, thinking and assessing the reply as he stood there.

"I seek something."

This boy was nothing if not eccentric. He was strong, and fast as the horses. Quick to grin and speak, but rarely about anything centering his past or origins. Like a man on the run, or hiding, Daisuke was keeping secrets.

"Anything we can help you with?" Taichi offered. It wasn't like him to avoid anything, and the boy never struck him as dangerous. Not to anyone in the party, at least. He watched a nimble shrug roll the skinny shoulders and half-shrugged himself.

"No…I just search for something…I don't know what it is…"

Taichi nodded, his face half-serious. "Why travel with our Lord, then?"

Wry chocolate eyes glanced his way. "He treats me like I'm normal, like I'm a person, and not a thing." He paused while Taichi thought over that. "He treats me like a friend," he continued softly.

After a moment Tai nodded in agreement. "Aye, he does, and the rest of us treat you like you're infectious with a deadly disease."

"Oh, I get that all the time, Don't worry bout that. It's just…I never had a hu-a friend like Ken before." Daisuke smiled faintly and rocked a bit on his legs. "It's nice."

"Then I'm glad. Ken rarely has friends that see him for him, and not his station." Tai stood up straight. "But I should get back to my rounds. Take care, Daisuke."

Daisuke waved, a thin shape in the dark, and smiled to himself. ~Should get some rest,~ he thought. This would be his last night out in the woods, close to his people and the earth.

~Tomorrow…tomorrow I begin…~