The Night n Gale Chapter 11

Again it was a blistering afternoon the seas were clam and it was sunny with the clear skies. Sora sat on a crate writing a letter to her family back home. She glanced up briefly to look out over the ocean then looked back to her paper.

A hand reached out and touched her on her shoulder causing her to jump off her seat sending the paper floating to the ground. "I didn't mean to scare you." Taichi replied Sora rolled her eyes. "Ya you didn't mean too. I believe you." she answered rather hostile.

"Whoa, what's with the attitude suddenly, did I say something wrong?" he asked confused. "Of course not." she walked by him down into the cabin, Taichi turned looking really angry. "Girls." he said to himself.

Sora walked by Koushiro who was going up on deck. "Hey Sora." he replied "Hi I'll be in my room if you need me…and tell Taichi not to talk to me today." she shut the door Koushiro looked at the door for a moment puzzled before heading up the stairs again.

"Taichi? What did you do?" Koushiro asked he as he closed the cabin door, he turned to his friend. "What?" he asked "Sora's angry did you do something to make her angry?" he wondered. "Why is it that when ever she's angry everyone looks at me?" he asked.

They all stood quite for a moment, this got Taichi more angrier little angrier. "What I didn't do a thing she's angry for a reason unknown to…whoa!" he cried as he was thrown to the ground the ship was brought to a jolting stop, Taichi ran over to the starboard and looked down into the water but he saw nothing that appeared to cause the ship to stop with a sudden force.

"Captain, she's run aground." Raul said to him. "What are you serious?" he questioned, he marched over to the port side of the ship and sure enough they were stuck on a sand bar.

"But how did we manage to get trapped like this Sand bars aren't that far out at sea." Taichi replied. "Taichi!" Sora and Hikari both came running up from the cabins below. "What happened!" Hikari cried.

"The ship is stuck on the sand bar." he told her with hint of anger in his voice as well he looked at thought now. "Oh that's great." Sora answered him, "Well Maybe I could unstuck the ship with my magic." Hikari suggested.

"No…. leave it, we were going to get supplies from that island over there any ways." Taichi studied the Island. "But Taichi I bet I could move it." Hikari told him again annoyed with her brother.

"Captain! She sprung a leak below deck." One of the crew shouted to him. "For the love of- lets see the damage." Taichi started to the cabin doors, the four watched him leave. "I'm not going down there. Koushiro go he doesn't yell at you." Sora replied.

"What do you mean? He dose so…I'm not going down there, lets wait up here until he comes to a decision." Hikari crossed her arms across her chest and sighed, Taichi came back up on deck he looked kind of angry but either wanted to comment.

"Okay, here's the decision, we have to fix the leak, it's not that bad so we have to go over there and see if we can get some wood for the repair. On the mean time Hikari, Sora, Koushiro, Jyou and I will go over to that Island and see if we can find any wood."

"Aye, Captain." And the crew got to work. "Lower the draw boat!" he shouted.

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The five walked through the brush, and finally broke through to a beautiful statue garden. Many of the statues were women. "Whoa…." they all trailed off. "Remarkable, look at all there statues.." Koushiro said as he stopped at one of the statues tracing his fingers along it.

"These statues are really beautiful….I can't believe how smooth…." Taichi whispered Sora frowned. "You don't think that you might have fallen in love with the statue did you?."

Taichi looked at her oddly "No, I meant handy work who ever made these statues but be one heck of a sculptor." Jyou came up beside Sora. "I think there something more to these statutes.." he said to them.

"I certainly hope you not suggesting that these are fake are you?" a voice from in front of them.

They all looked to the direction of where the voice came from. There was a man standing there, five guards each on either side of him. "No, I meant they were beautiful." Taichi replied he walked to him about to shake his hand when Sora budded him out then Hikari; both girls were smitten with the man.

He took Sora's hand in his and kissed it. "I'm Vincenzo, who might you be?" he asked "I'm Sora, this is Hikari, Jyou, Koushiro…. and Taichi." she pointed at him lastly he looked a little steamed but kept his cool.

Vincenzo took Hikari's and kissed it as well. "What my I ask brings you to this Island?" he questioned…the girls didn't answer since the were to busy looking at Vincenzo "I am the captain of that ship out there just a little ways off the cost, we were stuck on a sand bar and we came to get some wood for repair…and too wait for high tide." Taichi told him.

"Very well…since you are guests come and I'll treat you to dinner and entertainment." Vincenzo replied. "Sure." Hikari and Sora both answered, the girls followed Vincenzo, leaving the boys a little confused. The guards waited for the boys to catch up.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Taichi wondered into a room he saw a boy there. "Can I ask you some thing?" The boys attacked him with his sword, Taichi thinking quickly got his out and block the boy's sword. "Wait I just want to ask you a question!" Taichi exclaimed as he leaped out of the way of the boy's sword.

Taichi sighed then hopped onto the table, the boy took another swing at Taichi's feet, which he jumped over. Taichi then knocked the sword from the boys' hands. "Tell me what's wrong!" he demanded this time.

"Your female friends are endanger." he replied "Huh? How so?" he asked. "Vincenzo isn't as he says he is." he replied again, there was a parrot perched on the windowsill he made a squawk. The boy looked up and gasped. "I'm doomed!" he ran out of the room as fast as he could, Taichi looked up at the parrot it flew away he looked down again…and thought. 'What is it that could have frightened him about that parrot?' he asked confused.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Later that after noon Taichi spotted his sister and Sora In one room they were looking at birds that were enclosed in a large cage.

He frowned slightly he didn't like this place he didn't like the feeling he was getting and he didn't like Vincenzo, he marched right up to the two girls. "Sora, Hikari…don't get so caught up with that guy." Taichi whispered to them.

"Of course you don't like him." Sora replied she turned her back to him he was about to comment, "Taichi is just jealous." Hikari stated simplify. "I am not! That guy is up to no good, and I'm trying to warn you just be cautious around him all right." he told the two.

"And supposed you are right for once and he is trying to do something. You shouldn't have to worry because we will beat him to a pulp if he tried too. Right Hikari?" Sora asked as she turned to Taichi's little sister who nodded "Right Sora. So Taichi there is nothing to fear off."

"Hello ladies I'm glad you waited for me here." his voice echoed the three turned to see him Taichi frowned slightly. "Why Taichi….I didn't expect you to be here." Vincenzo greeted him. "Why? Can't I have a chat with my crewmates?" he questioned him. Vincenzo ignored Taichi's last comment and turned to the girls. "The servants prepared both of you baths." Four lady servants that had come with him steered Hikari and Sora away.

"Taichi see you at dinner time." Vincenzo turned around and left him there. 'Something is very suspicious about that guy. And I will intend to find out what that is." he whispered before leaving the room in hurry.

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Koushiro had a few rocks on a table, there was a bowl beside him and he was stirring it quite excitedly as well. Taichi then barged into the room.

"Koushiro I need your help!" he cried he stopped noticing his friend was in the middle of an experiment. "Koushiro what are you doing?" he asked confused. "This is amazing Taichi when we were on the beach I picked up these rocks…and I crushed them in this bowl here and just added a few other things to it…" he stopped as he continued to stir.

"And…." Taichi asked him. "And I just have to light it." Koushiro took a tiny flame from the candle that sat next to him. "And if everything goes okay…" he put the flame to the plate then explosion happened. "SUCCESS!" Koushiro jumped. Taichi was coughing from the dust that was thrown into the air after the explosion.

"Success? it blew up!" he cried he coughed again. After the dust settled Koushiro began to talk. "That was the whole point to the experiment Taichi. It's called explosive powder, when you put a flame to it like I just did it reacts and explodes."

Taichi frowned "And what good would this powder do?" Koushiro started to dig around. "Now I need something that could contain….ah...bamboo stalks." Koushiro took off out of his room leaving Taichi a little confused.

"Okay never mind….I'll do it myself." Taichi left out the door.

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That evening…

Jyou, Koushiro and Taichi were seated at the table they were eating, Taichi had a bun in his hand and wasn't really pleased he took a bite out of the bun and chewed in an annoyed way, as he looked at Vincenzo who sat across from him and his crewmates.

"Ah…Taichi something the matter?" he asked him he took a sip of his wine. "Yeah there is something wrong…" Koushiro put his hand on Taichi's shoulder. "Taichi." he whispered, Taichi groaned annoyed.

"Never mind." he said. "Very well." Vincenzo looked to the doorway Hikari was stood there. "Amazing…." he replied as he observed her, she was decked out in a strapless silk gown he hair done up in a bun, loose tendrils hung down. Taichi just looked at her annoyed, Jyou and Koushiro were staring until Taichi gave them his don't look at my sister like that or I'll kill you look.

"You over did you self Vincenzo, tell me something is there some kind of agenda you have planned?" Taichi asked. "Now why would I have an agenda planned?" he questioned him. Hikari took a seat one away from Taichi. "Come now Taichi, Vincenzo is a really nice guy why would he have an agenda?" Hikari questioned.

She smiled and looked at that the door. "Hey Taichi look." she moved out of the way Sora was at the top of the small stairs. Taichi looked at her the bun in his hand fell out of his hand and on to his plate he shook his head and stood up.

She walked down the small steps, she wore a simple velvet dress her right shoulder was bare, the dress held up by the a thick strap on her left shoulder he hair was pined up and with two pins the rest just fell down her back. Vincenzo kissed her hand and guided her to her side of the table. Sora came took her seat beside Taichi.

Taichi had sat down after she had rather reluctantly at first. "After words I was hoping maybe you girls would love to have a tour or guys…if you're interested." Vincenzo asked them. "No thank you Vincenzo, it was a generous offer but I'll pass…I'm quite starved." Jyou replied. "Me too." Koushiro agree.

"Well Vincenzo Hikari and I still would like to have a tour." Sora told him, Taichi sat there with a miserable look on his face. "Taichi?" he questioned he looked at Vincenzo. "Yeah I'll go." he replied suddenly brightening up. "In fact I've seen all your beautiful statues around the palace and I wonder how you created them…you must have some really remarkable hand at carving." Taichi wondered in amazement.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"And this is the last hall of statues." Vincenzo stretched his arms to the many statutes that lined the hallway. "Wow, they are all wonderful Vincenzo…" Hikari replied with a smile. "What's behind this door?" Taichi asked pointing to the door that was at the end of the hall. "That's my workroom." he told him.

"Do you mind if we go in and take a look? I would love to see the tools that created these magnificent statues." Taichi commenting quite obviously he wanted to snoop around. Sora who was standing next to him elbowed him in the gut. "What?" he asked.

"Don't do that! We are his guest don't insist to see something it's rude." she commented, "That room is off limits to anyone. I have works in progress in there that can not be seen until I have completed them." Vincenzo then extended his hand out to the girls who took his hand rather eagerly. "I'll escort you to your rooms." he said to them.

Hikari excused her self from Vincenzo and pulled her brother aside. "What's wrong with you? You better not be planning to get in to his workroom." she warned.

"Are you kidding me…if my sister and my friend are going to be around some guy like that I'd like to know what he's up too." he whispered back. "I don't like this Taichi if you get caught…" she trailed off. "I won't promise." they linked pinky fingers and nodded.

There was a moan…they all looked at each other "Did you hear that?" questioned Sora, she turned to Taichi who just shrugged. "It wasn't me…but it did sound like it came from…." he turned slightly looking at the statue that was to his right. "Her." he replied.

"Captain, I think your hearing things." Vincenzo told him. "But I heard that too." Sora replied, Hikari looked at the two of them. Vincenzo sighed for a moment. "I guess I owe you an explanation…all three of you." he replied.

"The walls of this palace are haunted, if you hear voices or moans…it's ghosts, nothing to worry about because they only can be heard in the halls." he told them.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Later that evening….

"Nothing to worry about he says…I swore I heard that moan come from the statues." Taichi thought, he pushed himself against the wall and slowly looked around the corner. Vincenzo's workroom door was right there so close, two guards stood on either side of the door.

Taichi brought his head back out of view Vincenzo emerged from his workroom. "Don't let anyone in this room." He ordered, Taichi pressed himself against the wall and was trying not to make a sound or even breath. Vincenzo had passed by the hallway Taichi was hiding in.
Waiting for a few more seconds longer Taichi took a breath in then out. 'What do I do about the guards?' he thought in his mind, Taichi frown then noticing a round shield that was hung up right in front of him.

He went up to the shield and carefully took it off the wall. He took a look back at the guards who weren't looking they were chatting positioned himself in the hallway he was hiding in and threw the shield down the hallway the guards were in.

The racket drew the guards to the shield that was rolling down the hall it curved into the next hallway down from where Taichi was hiding, As the guards both raced passed him, he looked back at them then mad a dash to the door opened it and closed it slowly.

He turned around, all kinds of draperies hung all over the place it was once again everything as well as the entire palace was the color of the statues. "This is weird." Taichi said out loud he stepped down the marble like stairs down on the ground he looked around this workroom that Vincenzo said he created those statues. There where four tables of tools placed neatly in a line. He walked over to the three statues.

Taichi heard the door begin to come open he quickly went over to the window and jumped on to the ledge and onto the ground. Vincenzo walked into the room he looked around and then took a seat at his desk looking at papers.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Next day…

Taichi was seated with Jyou and Koushiro in his room. "Okay Taichi what is it that you need to discuss with us? Hopefully not your love life." Jyou replied with a smile. "No…god I don't know why you guys think I like her!" he cried.

"Never mind…you wanted to say something?" Koushiro asked. "Yeah I do, I think Vincenzo is a fake." He replied, this caused both Koushiro and Jyou to burst out laughing.

"A fake how so?" Jyou asked holding the laughter in. "A fake he dose something to make statues…last night when we went on to this tour the statues moaned." He told the. "Taichi are you okay? I think your mind got messed when the ship got stuck on that sand bar." Jyou told him amused.

"No for real I'm not lying." Taichi said he stood up when there was a knock at the door. "Come in!" he hollered, the door opened partially reviling the same boy who Taichi had fought the other day. "I must warn you Captain Taichi…your female friends are great trouble." He said to him again.

"Yeah you told me that before…I need more of an explanation." Taichi inquired. "I can't get into details but if you go out to the coast near the ocean there is a cave that should answer all of your questions.

The three boys looked at each other weirdly. "Cave? Where is it?" Koushiro asked. "Just t north west of the palace not that Far you will know it by it's sparkling stones" He said he looked up and spotted the parrot again. "I…got…to go!" he ran out of the door way and down the hall. "Boy, WAIT!" Jyou called he ran to the door to get the boy to stop but he had disappeared by then.

"Again as soon as he saw that bird he takes off." Taichi replied in confusion. "A bird?" Koushiro questioned "Yeah, a parrot up there." Taichi pointed to the far window both Jyou and Koushiro looked up at, the parrot squawked and left. "Why would he be so scared of a bird?" Jyou questioned.

"You got me." Taichi said. "Well let's check the cave out." Koushiro started to the door, the two followed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Outside…in the Palace Court.

"You two ladies look beautiful as ever." Vincenzo complimented the two. They smiled and took seats at the table. "Oh wow, that's a amazing lake. It's so beautiful." Hikari commented.

"Yes amazing I had this also installed after my queen passed away…it's part of her memory." He told them quietly. "Oh I'm sorry." Hikari apologized. "No it's okay it's been buried into the past he poured them a glass of his 'special wine' "Here you go ladies something to drink too."

"Now that you know some of my pasted may I ask you each a question?" he wondered as he poured himself a glass of wine as well. "Sure ask away." Sora smiled.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Taichi are you sure that boy wasn't trying to pull a fast one on us? Because I certainly don't see a cave any were in site." Jyou complained to him they walked in line through the long grass until they reached a small cliff edge the stone sparkled. "Ah ha…there it is." Koushiro ran ahead of them stopping onto of the sparkled stone he picked up some of the broken pieces. Taichi and Jyou both walked up to him and watched him.

"This is what I need from my exploding sticks." Koushiro replied and began to put them in his bag. "Okay Me and Jyou are heading into there." Taichi told him and pointed at the hole.

Taichi pushed himself into the cave he grabbed a torch from the wall he walked along looking at the walls. Jyou next pushed himself into the small opening of the cave and hoped down. "Taichi?" he called around. "I'm here, just searching the walls for a clues." He put the torch up against it and found a symbol inscribed in stone. "What the…" he squinted his eye to look at it even better.

"Maybe if I just bang it." He whispered with his fist he banged on it, yet nothing happened this time even harder. He felt himself go forward "AHH" screamed then landed with a thud on the other side of the wall, it closed behind him locking him in.

"Taichi!" Jyou cried he went to the wall that his friend had just been. "TAICHI!" he called again.

In side the room Taichi got up he put the flames up to reveal a statue of the King, then millions of statues of soldiers. "Oh my god…" he whispered he was completely in awe and didn't realize that Jyou was calling him. "TAICHI! Are you all right?" he called again.

Taichi shook his head he looked at the wall behind him. "Taichi!" Jyou shouted again. "I'm okay Jyou." He called back. "I was being to worry." He said. "Jyou you got to see this. "How do I get in?" he asked

"Look for a symbol…pound on it as hard as you can." Taichi directed from the other side of the wall, he turned around to look at all the statues. The wall opened and Jyou came in the door closed on them both…they both looked at each other. "Well that was weird…what is it Taichi? You wanted to show me something." Jyou asked.

Taichi pointed out into the darkness and shone the torch out over the entire cave. "There's got to tons of statues here…if Vincenzo created them why are they all locked up in the cave?" Taichi asked. "No Idea, but I'm sure no one could have hand carved this much…and all be smooth with out the chisel marks." Jyou said he inspected one, Taichi went up to the wall behind the king.

"Jyou….if he didn't hand carve these that means he turned them to stone." Taichi whispered. "Well if that's so Taichi, Sora and Hikari are going to be his next masterpieces." Jyou said with worry.

Koushiro came into the came "Taichi!, Jyou!" he called for them. "KOUSHIRO!" the shouted. "GET US OUT OF HERE!" they called. "Hit the symbol on the wall Koushiro hurry!" Taichi called. Koushiro looked at the wall…he examined the wall and found the symbol he pounded his fist on it. "Owe…hmm a the solution." Koushiro went into his bag and dug out a stick he lit the end of it and put it down to the door.

"STAND BACK GUYS!" he warned.

Jyou and Taichi both ducked behind a piece of stone.

**BOOM**

The explosion cause dust to rise Koushiro went into the cave, Jyou and Taichi ran out. "Well thank you." Koushiro said he ran back into direction they came from. "What's happening?" he asked. Taichi got out of the cave then Koushiro. "Vincenzo is going to turn Sora and Hikari into stone! We got to get back!" he called.

"I knew it Alchemy!" he cried "No you didn't you didn't even suspect it." Taichi called back. "Your right…but lets hurry and save both of them." Koushiro replied panting a bit.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sora and Hikari both looked drugged they didn't suspect a thing. The parrot came and landed next to Vincenzo…who looked at him "What is it?" he asked him, nodding Vincenzo stood up and walked over to a guard who was near the entrance. "Keep the guest away from the palace as long as you can." He replied, the guard nodded and left to give the news to other guards.

"Now back to business…and lets try to make the process quicker." Vincenzo ordered.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Taichi, Jyou and Koushiro were running threw the long grass when arrows came flying toward them they dodged them. "Archers! Take cover!" Taichi cried. They all hid behind the bush. "Damn it! We don't have time for this." He cried Taichi looked around for a possible solution.

"We have to surrender." Taichi said to his crewmates. "Surrender? Taichi come on I will not surrender." Jyou said. "No of course not just trust me on this. Koushiro do you have that toy still?" he asked Koushiro nodded and dug through the bag "Here what are u going to do?" he asked.

"Okay here's the plan." Taichi whispered it to them.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Vincenzo had Sora and Hikari both in his workroom, they stood on pedestals and he had put them in different poses.

"There we are almost ready girls." He replied, both had there eyes closed and were out of it completely the drink he had given them earlier was drugged with a rare plant that gave Vincenzo the power to do what he wanted to them.

He walked over to a fire pit where fire raged, he stuck his hands into the fire after five minutes, two gloves appeared on his hands he pulled them out. "My art work conspired of these gloves…these gave me the power to be the king of this Island." He walked over to the girls "And soon you will be part of my art collection girls…" he replied.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Taichi had taken off his white shirt and was waved it in the air indicating to the archers that they surrendered. Slowly and carefully the archers same into view. "Seven Taichi." Jyou replied "Okay good try to get them into on cluster." He whispered back.

"Okay come out!" the first guard replied The guards had their bows pointed at them, Taichi, Koushiro and Jyou all came out from behind the bush the stopped a few feet from them. "Drop you weapons!" he shouted at them. They did as instructed. "Good now…what do you have behind your back!" he shouted.

Koushiro lite the exploding stick that was attached to boomerang. "Drop it!" he demanded. "As you say." Jyou said he tossed it and in flew and landed behind them, the group of shoulders laughed. "Okay on three shoot them." The head guard said. "HEY, Wait a minute we surrendered!" Taichi cried. "Well you should have thought of it before. One, Two…THREE." On three there was an explosion that knocked all the guards to there feet.

"To the Palace now!" Taichi cried.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The parrot landed on the windowsill of Vincenzo's workroom he squawked at him. Vincenzo turned to his bird. "What's wrong now?" he asked. "Oh I see…fools…well it doesn't matter now cause there a little too late." Vincenzo walked over to Hikari first.

"You'll stat beautiful forever with what I will do to you." He whispered he gave her a kiss on her lips then put his hands to her face, instantly she was turned into stone.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"The doors are locked!" Koushiro cried. "VINCENZO OPEN UP!" Taichi shouted angrily he pounded on the door, no response. "Taichi move out of the way…I'll blast the doors open." Koushiro said taking one of his exploding sticks he placed at the base of the door and lighted it.

The three both got out of the way and with in seconds it exploded causing the door to open up the three charged in and were bombarded by guards. Taichi high kicked on guy and he landed back. A second swung his sword at him Taichi had ducked barely missing the blade.

Jyou slashed one guy in the gut two other ran toward him he moved out of the way and they ran into each other knocking one each other out. He punched on in the face sending him flying then High kicked another guard who was behind him.

Koushiro was pined against the pillar he duck after each swing of the sword the guard was taking at him. "Don't you think we can talk about this?" he asked. The guard swung again missing Koushiro "Okay I take that as a no." Koushiro kicked the guy in the stomach sending him down. Another came from Koushiro side and nearly tacked him to the ground he then butt ended him in the head with the end of his sword.

"Taichi! Go find Sora and Hikari! And take this!" Koushiro dug into his bag and threw him one exploding stick. "Okay!" Taichi slashed on guy and took toward the stairs…one guard came at him they locked swords and Taichi turned around so his back was facing the wall and kicked the guard back making him fall down the stairs.

Taichi continued up the stairs he got stopped by another guard, they fenced for a bit Taichi lost his sword then ducked as the guards sword came slashing just above him.

He thought quickly and kicked the legs out from underneath the guard he fell then Taichi kicked him so he went rolling down the stairs. He bent down picking up the guard's sword and started up the stairs he finally reached the workroom.

"VINCENZO OPEN UP!" he shouted he pounded on the door. He looked left to right then turned around he got the exploding stick out from his pocket and lighted it.

Vincenzo looked at the door he then looked at Sora "Your such a beautiful girl." Whispered. He kissed her gently on her lips then putting his gloved hands to her face, turning her to stone.

The door exploded open Taichi jumped in…. he looked around…it was quiet he walked down the steps and noticed the statue of the boy that warned him that Hikari and Sora were in danger "Poor guy." He whispered he looked up gasped. "No…no…" he cried he ran upto ths stone statue of his sister, next to her was Sora's stone figure. "No…" he was near tears he ran his fingers of Sora's face, his hands dropped he balled them into fist as anger started to build up within him.

"VINCENZO I'LL KILL YOU!" he shouted.

"Is that so." Vincenzo replied from Taichi left. "Your a sick person this isn't art your stealing people's souls for your own selfish reasons!" he shouted angrily. "Taichi, Taichi…. it is art…these right here are my prized positions. It's time that you too take that fated path as your two female comrades have." He dove at Taichi with the gloves, Taichi jumped up on the table.

Vincenzo slapped the table but Taichi had jumped off. "What's the matter Vincenzo? Losing your artistic flare?" he asked this only gotten Vincenzo angrier. "I'll get you! You sea dog!" he shouted Taichi ran around he blocked his way with a chair Vincenzo turn it to stone as it had touched his gloves.

Taichi ran up the stairs through the doors, Vincenzo chased him. "Come back here!" Vincenzo shouted at him. Taichi stopped looking for a way out... "Damn" he whispered he ran out on to a porch a dead end.

"Well, well…. looks like I have you cornered." Vincenzo grinned; Taichi back into the railing he turned around looking down it was long way down. If he were to fall he would land on the sharp jagged rocks below.

He turned around to look at Vincenzo "Well you know what they say it ain't over till the fat lady sings." Taichi said "And she has." He dove at him; Taichi moved out of the way Vincenzo flew into the railing. Taichi unscrewed on of the metal poles from the railing. "Ah Taichi, don't go dismantling my palace I so hard worked on." He warned he turned around slowly.

"This isn't you palace Vincenzo you stole it from the original King and his Queen not yours." Taichi held the pole out pointing directly at Vincenzo "What are you going to do about it?" he asked. "Don't worry I will fix you." He warned he held it the pointed pole at him still.

"Taichi!" Jyou and the other came…Vincenzo was distracted enough that it gave Taichi the time he swung the pole into Vincenzo stomach like a baseball bat and kicked him over the edge…Vincenzo hung on to the railing for dear life.

Taichi looked down at him. "Help me Taichi! Help me! I'll give you anything you want I promise." He called to him, "If I help you will you promise to turn Hikari and Sora back to normal?" he asked. "I promise!" he cried Taichi looked hesitant. Jyou and Koushiro watched him he lent his hand down Vincenzo tried to touch Taichi…but Taichi grabbed his wrist.

"Some how I knew you were going to do that." Taichi replied he forced Vincenzo's hand toward Vincenzo's face. "NO, Taichi don't do it please spare me no!" his cries for help were stopped as his own hand touched his face changing him into stone.

"Jerk." Taichi replied he turned and saw Jyou and Koushiro. "Nice work." Jyou replied patting him on the back "Yeah" Taichi trailed off…they looked down at the statue. It broke loose from the wrist and fell hundreds of feet toward the ground.
"Hikari Sora!" Taichi cried he ran the two followed him. One by one the statues began to turn back to their human form including Hikari and Sora.

When Taichi came down the stairs he gave his sister a hug "Hikari your okay are you?" he questioned. "Yeah Taichi why wouldn't I be?" she asked. "Sora…. are you okay?" he asked she nodded and smiled at him. "Yeah I am."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Back on board the ship….

"I got something for you and Hikari." Taichi said he had Jyou and Koushiro carry it over to where the girls and he stood. "Open in up." Taichi said to the girls. "Taichi what is it now?" Sora asked.

"Nothing just something for the two girls on board my ship." He said smiling. "Stop stalling Sora and open it up." Hikari told her. The two girls were dressed back in their regular clothing, they normally wore out while on board the ship.

They opened up the chest. "Whoa…Taichi…" Hikari and Sora whispered in shock.

They both put down the dresses and looked at him. "You didn't have to do that…really, and besides us girls are tired of the fancy dresses." Hikari told him.

"it was a present from the queen." He whispered. "For the two of you saving their kingdom." He said. "But we never did anything?"

"You were jealous weren't you?" Sora asked him. "Of what?" he asked. "Vincenzo." She replied

"I will admit no such thing." Taichi trailed he walked away. "Oh come you were too." Sora said beginning to bug him he followed him around the ship.

Jyou, Hikari and Koushiro were laughing. "You know things don't seem to change with those two." Hikari replied. "Your right." Koushiro agreed.

To Be Continued….