Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Two Sides of a Coin ❯ Understanding then switcharu ( Chapter 2 )

I don't own Digimon Frontier or the Prince and the Pauper, and again, I hardly use that plot other than the main concept. Thank you.

Two Sides of a Coin

Chapter 1 - Understanding then Switcharu

"Who are you?"

The two teens stared at each other in shocked silence for quite a while. The animals around them seemed quite comfortable with both humans, even though a sword was drawn and aimed at one's throat. Both boys looked each other over. Though curious about Kouichi's fine garments, Kouji didn't seem the least bit impressed or afraid by his obvious status proofs. Kouichi on his side was curiouser as even the servants and most common of soldiers wore clothes unlike what the boy in front of him was wearing. While Kouichi was wearing his royal outfit as suiting a prince, consisting of a green shirt trimmed with golden lines, brown pants and knee high black boots with his red cape flying behind him, Kouji was wearing a baggy and dirty brown shirt which hung loosely on his body, revealing his shoulders and just as baggy and dirty black pants. However, it was evident that even though he wore such clothes he was well fed and taken care of... and well built as well.

"I..."

Kouichi began, swallowing hard. Kouji held his sword steadily, softening a bit at the other boy's evident fear and confusion. Thinking that his actions were disgraceful, Kouichi straightened himself, the sword less than an inch from his neck.

"I am Kouichi, prince of his land."

He seemed so serious, Kouji had to bite his lip to keep from laughing.

"Right, and I'm the Archbishop."

"I wasn't aware of a new Archbishop being appointed."

The boy seemed sincerely surprised and believing, which made Kouji stop for a moment, before putting his sword away with a laugh. The sun shined off of the hilt, catching Kouichi's attention.

'That sword... looks just like mine...'

"Well, pleased to meet your acquaintance, your majesty."

He said, bowing. The prince stood still for a moment, before collapsing to his knees.

"Are you ok?!"

Kouji asked hurriedly, honestly concerned for the other boy's well being.

"I... I never faced a... real sword like that before."

Blink.

"My tutor always... always told me to strike at him first. So... I was never threatened from behind."

"How long have you been studying?"

"Ten... Ten years."

Kouji whistled in admiration.

"Ten years, and you still attack first?"

He calmly ignored the hurt glare sent his way; Takuya got him used to those when they were 10.

"Must be a pretty lousy teacher then..."

"Wolf isn't lousy! He's the best there is, otherwise mother wouldn't have gotten him to teach me!"

Kouji's eyes widened and he had to keep his mouth from hitting the floor.

"Wolf... THE Wolf?! The war hero?! He's teaching you?!"

"Ah, hai..."

"And you still attack first?!?!?!"

Kouichi blushed furiously, his own sense of lack of self worth coming out to bite him.

"You don't have to say it like that! I know I'm weak, but I can get stronger! Wolf believes it too, so just let me be!"

The long haired youth remained silent, feeling slight guilt over touching what was obviously a sensitive spot.

"So... what were you doing here in the first place, your highness?"

He didn't mean to be so cold, but he was unwillingly beginning to feel for the stranger. The prince sobbed lightly before answering.

"I... I ran away."

"You ran away."

"Yes. I couldn't take it anymore. I was a disgrace, yet everyone kept on smiling. I just had to get out of there."

"So, you went out to a world you know nothing about, and where your real value would be even lower than at the castle, if you're really who you say you are."

Kouji summarized shortly to himself, getting another angry outburst from the prince.

"I do too know about the world!"

"Well excuse me for thinking differently, mister 'oh my god, that's a real cow'."

Kouichi stood up and brushed his clothes as best he could, then turned to leave.

"I certainly will not remain where I am not welcomed."

He didn't fight when he felt a hand catch his own.

"And where exactly are you planning on staying? No where. Thank you. Now come on, I know it's not a royal bed, but unless you wanna go back to where you came from, our barn's not that bad."

For some reason, sleeping with the cows and the sheep didn't seem that repealing to the crown prince of Furontia.

"Where are you going with those blankets?!"

"Just putting them away in the barn, mom!"

Kouichi was sitting on the hay pile in the barn, the animals around him looking at him curiously. He smiled back reassuringly, positive they understood the gesture.

The door opened noisily and in went Kouji, carrying with him a pile of blankets and a set of clothes.

"Figured you could use a change of clothes, especially if you ran away. Wearing that flashy outfit isn't exactly good for staying low, you know."

Kouichi nodded and accepted the offer.

"Why are you helping me?"

The other boy shrugged.

"I donno. Guess it's too weird, not helping a spitting image of yourself."

Both chuckled lightly.

"I should head back soon."

"Why?"

Sighing lightly, the prince covered himself with a blanket, not bothering to change his clothes or even lie down.

"Tomorrow there're new recruits. I always enjoy sparring with them; one of the only times I actually win. He."

He turned to see a reaction, but only got a blank expression in return.

"Was it something I said?"

"You're wrong."

"Huh?"

Kouichi was clueless.

"You're wrong, you're so wrong! It can't be tomorrow!"

"Why, why not?!"

"Because... because that would mean he's leaving me!"

"Huh?"

Kouji looked away, gritting his teeth as he ran the memory in his mind.

He was on the riverbank with Takuya on a day similar to that day. Junpei had to stay and help his father, so the two teens went alone.

"I'm definitely going to beat you today, Kouji! Just you watch!"

The tanned boy said with overflowing confidence.

"Boasting so early in the day, Takuya? What's the matter, that eager to lose?"

A grin was thrown at him.

"I'm joining the army on the next drafting wave. All the papers are ready, I just need to know the date to report in. Just you watch, I'll join the army and beat you!"

He wasn't in such a cheerful, playful mood.

"That eager to leave us, eh? What, I mean nothing to you?"

Neither noticed the slip of the tongue. Either that, or neither cared much. Or they did care, which was why they weren't bothered by it.

"I told you, you can join too. Join too, Kouji! Then we wouldn't be separated!"

"...What's the rush? There was just a drafting wave, wasn't there? You probably have months, at the very least."

Though Takuya seemed disappointed, he still gripped his sword firmly.

"...Yeah... months."

It was probably Kouji's easiest win ever. But as to what was on Takuya's mind that bothered him then, he hadn't realized.

Until now.

"It's about your friend, isn't it?"

Kouichi's calm voice snapped Kouji out of his deep thought.

"Huh?"

"I..."

The prince looked away, blushing lightly.

"I sometimes watched you from the castle. You always trained by the lake, you and that tanned boy, and that other boy who kept reading books."

"You mean to tell me the prince of the kingdom has nothing better to do then to spy on my friends and I?"

Kouichi began wondering if blushing that much was even possible. He knew the comment was a joke, and that he shouldn't take it that hard, but he was never around sharp tongued boys his own age. He felt like a virgin going into a prostitute house.

"That, that's not what I meant! I, I just said... that..."

The other boy wasn't listening.

"Yeah, it's about my... friend."

There was something about the way he said the last word that got the prince curious.

"You're really close, aren't you?"

It was finally Kouji's turn to blush.

"Yeah... I... guess you can put it like that."

"And he's getting drafted tomorrow?"

The long haired boy glared at the floor so hard, his mirror image was sure it was about to burst into flames, whether or not the boy even knew magic.

"Apparently. So that's why he kept urging me to join too... and so passionately, too."

"I wish I could help you more."

Kouichi said, deep regret in his voice.

"But you just keep proving how little I know about the world outside the castle. I never had a real friend before... even my teachers. There's this wall that we mustn't cross... it must be a wonderful feeling?"

"To say goodbye?"

Kouji spat at him.

"To know you have someone worth saying farewell to."

Kouichi gently answered.

"What I wouldn't give to trade with you... But I suppose I'll have to go back. They need the prince for the drafting ceremony."

A spark lit in Kouji's eyes, and Kouichi decided he looked much handsomer with the almost diabolical glint in those blue spheres which looked so much like his, then the dull depressed gaze he's been showing him.

"Maybe the prince will be there tomorrow, but you'll stay here."

"You must be joking."

Kouichi said rationally.

"How can I be at two places at the same time? Even if I made a copy of myself using magic, which will probably fail, there's no point having him here, and they'll know back in the castle if I sent it there.

"But what if a real 'you' went to the castle? And you stayed here in his place?!"

"But... I can't create a real me! I'm not at that level of creating a golem, and..."

He blinked.

"Take his place?"

Kouji nodded, grinning, a somewhat mad look on his face.

"I'll go in your place to the castle, and you'll stay here as me! Works just fine, ne?!"

He was scared of this insane person sitting in front of him, suggesting they did something which borders treason, sitting in a barn at night, surrounded by animals which seemed to agree with the madman in front of him. But even though it took him several minutes, Kouichi eventually shared the expression.

"All right. Sounds good to me."

"Great!"

Standing up, Kouji practically jumped to his feet and pretty much tore his shirt from him, causing Kouichi to shriek and turn away.

"What's the matter?"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

"Keep it down, will you, mom and dad'll hear."

The shirt was discarded on the floor and he went on to his belt when Kouichi stopped him, still looking away.

"I ask again. What are you doing?"

"Switching clothes with you. Can't go to the castle looking like this, can I?"

"I... I suppose..."

As the pants joined the shirt on the floor, Kouichi stopped to stare speechlessly at Kouji. It was true that they were identical when it came to facial feathers, but the rest of them was completely opposite. Kouji's skin was paler than Takuya's by far, but still had a light tan as proof from many days spent out in the open, as suiting a young man in his teens. His muscles were gently built, but the prince knew he was by far stronger and healthier than he was, and he was shaped athletically, reminding Kouichi of Greek statues he studied about. He couldn't help but stare at him as he studied the boy's body farther. Small bruises covered his arms and chest, no doubt from manual labor.

'Good, he could... he could say that's from... sword practice.'

He managed a coherent thought through the awed daze as his eyes went farther down the other boy's body. A small scar decorated his left ankle, no doubt from an accident.

"Takuya and mine first sword fight."

Kouji answered Kouichi's unasked question when he noticed where the boy's eyes lingered.

"I'm... My apologies..."

"Yeah yeah yeah, I'm freezing, take yours off too."

"That scar might be a problem. If someone notices it..."

A sneeze interrupted him.

"It'll be ok, trust me, would ya? Now hurry and take your clothes off."

Hesitatingly obliging, Kouichi first took off his cape, placing it gently on the stack of hay.

"You're always this slow?"

Kouichi found himself constantly blushing around the other boy as he moved slightly faster, taking less care with the arrangement of the clothes on his spread cape. Now it was Kouji's turn to look Kouichi over.

He was pale, far paler than any teen Kouji was familiar with, obviously due to staying indoor for most of his life. His muscles seemed weak and reminded Kouji of several girls from the village which used to court him, not unable to get stronger, simply a victim of circumstances of birth. Then again, the one before him was as he was, male... He shook that thought off and carried on. Kouichi's skin seemed tender and smooth, making Kouji's fingers itch lightly to touch it. Several blue marks decorated his upper body, serving as proof to what Kouji considered the prince's poor fighting ability.

"Ok now, let's switch."

Both put on the other's clothes quickly, giving each other pointers about their own lives. While Kouji's explanation was brief, consisting of the few people he let into his life, Kouichi's was far more complicated, as he had many people he considered important for Kouji to know. The tutors; the servants which would approach Kouji; the basic daily routine; His mother.

"...And remember, you're going to be prince of this land in my stead. It's a lot of responsibility."

Kouji shook his head as he tried to put the cape into place, eventually giving up and accepting Kouichi's help.

"From the sound of it, sounds like you're not sure about this."

There was a moment of silence which was followed by Kouichi determinedly picking up his own sword and gripping it tightly, looking straight into the other's eyes.

"I've always wondered what it would be like to be on the outside. Even if we'll get caught, and all we managed was a mere day... I'll gladly do it all over again."

Kouji couldn't help but let just a hint of pride slip into his smile, seeing how the other boy was changing in such a short time. He whistled strongly, and in minutes, the snow white horse from before reached him, licking his face lovingly before he mounted her.

"Well, guess I better get going then."

"Wait!"

"What is it?"

Not knowing how to say it, Kouichi merely held the end of his hair for the teen to see, and following his example, Kouji felt his own, much longer hair. He bit his lip a moment, before drawing out his sword.

'If it's to see him again...'

With a movement as swift as any he used while wielding a sword, Kouji shut his eyes tightly, cutting his cherished ponytail off.

"Here you go!"

He said gently, sadness not escaping his voice, as he placed the group of hair in Kouichi's hand.

"Just tell them you got tired of it! Let's go, Snow!"

The horse snorted, and turned at the castle's direction, running quickly.

"Wait a minute! I don't even know your name!"

"Minamoto Kouji, your highness!"

"Minamoto Kouji..."

The prince echo whispered, watching the boy disappear into the night. He turned to look at the night's sky, gripping the bunch of hair left with him, for the first time in his life, feeling truly and utterly free.

"Take care, my friend."

And in a lazy manner completely unlike himself, he stashed the hair in his pocket, and headed to the place which from that moment on he would have to call 'home'.