Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ To Freedom ❯ The Gift ( Chapter 1 )

Wings

Digimon does not belong to me!

Chapter 1 - The Gift

"Daisuke! Happy birthday!"

Daisuke was attacked halfway down the hall to breakfast, by a brown-haired girl who happened to be both a princess, and his older sister.

Daisuke waited for her to stop hugging him. Eventually, he gave up and pushed her off.

"Really, Jun, you'd think a princess would be more lady-like." Jun glared, and poked her tongue out. She was so easy to rile up, and the fact she was a princess constantly vexed her. Sometimes she said she wished she'd been the boy. And Daisuke got the feeling it was more because of a certain young knight then the fact as a boy she would be heir to the kingdom.

"You'd think a prince would be more respectful," she said, sharply, showing remarkable self-control in not slapping him. She spun around, and stomped down the hallway, leaving Daisuke to feel slightly guilty.

Daisuke was admiring the bow his mother had given him, when Miyako burst in the room. She looked flustered, her usually perfect hair in a purple mess around her face.

"Daisuke!" she said, accusingly, "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"I was out in the training yards," Daisuke replied, without looking up.

"Breaking in you new bow, aye? It's very nice."

"Yeah," Daisuke smiled, "We're going hunting later."

Miyako sat down on the bed beside Daisuke, swinging her feet carelessly.

"I thought you would be. Hey, I got you a present," she said, presenting a small package. Daisuke took it with a smile, and unwrapped the dark red paper carefully.

It was a small glowing stone on a necklace, light pink in colour and perfectly circular. Miyako tied it around Daisuke's neck. The crystal flared, and then returned to its previous glowing. Miyako sighed as she gazed at it.

"It's beautiful, Miya. What does it do?" Daisuke asked. Even if some would argue otherwise, Daisuke was smart enough to know a magic pendant when he saw one. Or at least, when he had one put around his neck.

Miyako grinned.

"It's a love stone," she said. Daisuke raised an eyebrow.

"Seeing you're having so much trouble." Daisuke glared at her.

"I don't want to get married," he muttered. Miyako smiled at him, a little sad.

"I know."

They sat quietly together for a few minutes, both somewhat somber - an unsual appearance for both.

"It's not just that you don't like any of them, is it Daisuke?" Miyako said finally. Daisuke blushed.

"What do you mean?"

"You don't like girls, do you, Daisuke?" Miyako said flatly. Daisuke stopped breathing. He sat silently a few moments, in shock. His eyes widened, and he spluttered,

"OfcourseIlikegirls." Miyako looked at him, smiling sadly.

"No you don't. You were never very good at lying. I'm your best friend Daisuke, you don't need to pretend."

Daisuke hung his head. She wasn't supposed to know. No one was supposed to know. He was supposed to get married and have lots of children and become king. He wasn't supposed like boys.

"It's not fair," he muttered, more to himself than Miyako. "Taichi and Yamato don't have to pretend."

"They're knights, not princes. And Taichi's family did disown him."

Daisuke grunted, and Miyako hugged him.

"I'm sorry. It'll be okay, Dai, I won't tell any one."

Daisuke didn't feel much comforted.

He felt better when he got out into the forest that evening. There were only four of them: Daisuke, Taichi, Iori and Takeru. Taichi was the oldest, and supposed to be in charge, but Daisuke often thought it was Taichi who got them into the most trouble. Which was one of the reasons Daisuke admired him so much.

Iori was quiet, and only talked to say something profound and meaningful. He was the training-master's grandson, and fought with a persistent acceptance. He never got angry, and was admired much for it.

Takeru - Takeru was just annoying. Daisuke thought he'd make a better preacher than warrior, but somehow everyone loved him. Not including Daisuke.

Taichi was sweeping his eyes across the sky, a frown on his face. Then, suddenly, he whooped, and clapped Daisuke on the back.

"Wild swans," he cheered, "You have first shot, prince." Daisuke rolled his eyes, and strung his bow. He drew it, aimed, and shot.

The swan he had aimed for dropped, and Daisuke ran off towards it.