Dedicated to JohnneyAntonelli, without whom this would have taken even longer to update.

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Enchanted

Chapter Nine

Dance of Change

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The palace was bustling with excitement. The people of the Eastern lands were not used to having so many special events so often, and everyone was ecstatic with the thought of being able to see the famous dancers once again. People were filling up the grand halls in groups, gossiping about everything that was supposed to be in the night's festivities. Servants were constantly rushing around, carrying multiples of extravagant items, trying to get everything ready in time. Despite the busy activity, no one was seen without a smile.

Taichi, however, was not as thrilled as everyone else.

He had an idea of what to expect at the festival the Sovereign was throwing. Even though Taichi had been excited and eager to see Yamato Ishida once again, he still couldn't help but to feel a bit anxious.

He wanted to see the blonde dancer, but he also couldn't stand the thought of having to see those ice-cold blue eyes once again.

It was all terribly confusing.

Instead of thinking about it, Taichi found himself out into one of the many beautiful gardens that the Eastern Lands seemed full of.

The lush blossoms and rich green plants were all so amazingly beautiful, and so completely different from anything that could be found back home. It was intriguing, that two lands could be so close together and yet so separate and different.

The differences were not only in the landscapes and the living styles, but also in the people and their beliefs. Taichi had only been in the Eastern Lands for a couple of days, but already there were a million of differences that he could easily name off, each one more complicated and strange than the next.

But the one difference that wouldn't leave Taichi's mind was the Eastern's acceptance of homosexuality.

Which instantly made the prince think of Yamato.

And then he was right back to thinking of the blonde dancer.

Taichi didn't understand why he couldn't get Yamato Ishida out of his mind. The blonde male was the most infuriating and complicated person he had ever met. Taichi had never spoken with anyone who could make him feel so angry and stupid so easily.

And Taichi wasn't used to feeling that way. He was used to people trying to please him and wanting to give him everything that he wanted. He was the prince of the Western Lands, and no one was supposed to upset him in any way. That was how it had always been for him, and Taichi had grown up used to getting his way.

But Yamato was nothing like anyone else Taichi had interacted with before. Even though the two of them had only spoken to each other once, Taichi wasn't able to get that conversation out of his head, nor would the way that Yamato had looked during that single conversation leave his mind.

It didn't help that everything about Yamato Ishida was strange and foreign to Taichi, which made him even more interested in the other male. With such soft-looking, golden locks of hair and impossibly-captivating, sapphire eyes, Yamato could almost pass as a woman.

Confusingly, thinking of Yamato as a woman had a strange, heart-stopping effect on Taichi and so he quickly stopped that train of thought.

He knew that he had many more things he should have been thinking about, rather than wasting his time on someone who acted as though they hated him. Like the fact that his sister should be in the Eastern Lands tomorrow, or how he was going to fix the rift that had separated Koushiro and Takeru.

Thinking of what had caused his two friends to fight in the first place instantly brought Taichi back to his earlier thoughts, and his mind was, once again, focused on Yamato Ishida.

Taichi groaned. "I'm going crazy."

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Koushiro had never been more happy in his life.

He was finally reunited with Jyou, after so many long days without the other male, and it felt wonderful to be able to see his lover once again, without the fear of being executed.

But...it wasn't the perfect reunion that Koushiro had always imagined.

Everything was so awkward. After the surprised joy at finally meeting up with Jyou had worn off, all that had been left was a strange silence. Koushiro had no idea what to say to Jyou, and, by the way that the cerulean-haired male was acting and staring at the ground, Jyou wasn't sure what else to say either.

The years had separated them more than Koushiro had thought possible and he was sickened with the thought that the man he loved was almost like a slightly familiar stranger.

He had no idea what happened to Jyou Kido in the years they had been apart, and Koushiro regretted the fact that the two of them weren't able to stay together, and had had to be so far away from each other. And he had no idea how to get rid of the awkward silence that had taken over the once-ecstatic atmosphere.

Koushiro chanced another looked at Jyou and found midnight eyes staring back at him, a small, sheepish smile gracing Jyou's lips. Koushiro found himself returning the smile.

"Taichi seems like a great guy." Jyou's voice sounded nervous, as though he wasn't quite sure that what he was saying was the right thing to be talking about. But Koushiro was glad that one of them had finally broken that awkward silence.

He nodded in agreement. Taichi was a safe topic to talk about. For now anyways, until the two of them felt comfortable enough to venture conversations that were much more important.

Koushiro's smile broadened. Perhaps everything would be okay after all.

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Takeru hadn't been aware that he had fallen into a sort of slumbering state until he felt the warm pair of arms holding him shift and move.

Blinking his eyes open, the sudden realization that he was being held by Daisuke made the blonde boy panic, and he quickly stood up, breaking the embrace.

"I've...uh...I have to go."

Daisuke allowed Takeru to leave his arms, but he didn't look all that pleased about it. A frown marred his otherwise blank expression and a sigh escaped his lips. "Why is that whenever we meet, you always seem to run off?" He asked, giving Takeru a curious look.

The blonde was startled by that look. Daisuke almost looked hurt...

But that was crazy. Why would Daisuke care if Takeru left him again?

"I have to go..." Takeru repeated, looking away from the burnished-brown gaze of the other boy. "There some big party thing that is being held and my prince would want me there."

Daisuke gave a triumphant grin. "Really?" He questioned. "That's great. I have to go there as well." The burgundy-haired male got up and was quickly at Takeru's side. "We can go together."

Takeru hesitated. "Um...why would you want to do that?" His mind raced with the possibility of being seen with Daisuke. What if people thought that they were together like that?

Like Koushiro and Jyou?

Takeru couldn't think of anything worse than having people think that and he shook his head in response to the other male's statement. "We shouldn't do that..." He told Daisuke. "People might think..." He trailed off, glancing back at the burgundy-haired male.

"They might think what?" Daisuke demanded, his voice full of anger. His smiling expression was gone, leaving behind none of his usual happiness. "They might think that you are my lover?" Daisuke paused, before shaking his head in disbelief. He stared at Takeru, his eyes almost looking as though they were blazing.

"Is that really such a horrible thing?"

The question was simple, and Takeru was certain that Daisuke was expecting an answer, but the blonde male had no idea how to respond.

Was is really that horrible?

His instincts made Takeru wanted to yell out that, yes, it was really that horrible and that he wanted nothing to do with it.

But another part of him hesitated. What would be so wrong if people thought something like that? Their thoughts would not be correct and there would be no harm done to anyone. Takeru wasn't even going to be here in the Eastern Lands for much longer so why did it matter what the people here thought?

An even different part of him thought of the whole situation in another perspective.

What would it be like...to actually be Daisuke's lover?

But Takeru quickly pushed that thought away, his cheeks burning from even allowing such a thing to pass through his mind. What was wrong with him?

Daisuke gave a soft sigh, shaking his head again, only this time the gesture seemed more as one of hopelessness, rather than disbelief. "Why do you hate my people so much?" He questioned, his voice almost eerily quiet. "Or better yet: why do you hate gay people?"

The words escaped his lips before he could even think of stopping them. "Because...my father left my mother to live in the Eastern Lands...with another man."

Daisuke looked surprised at the statement, but he didn't say anything in response.

Takeru couldn't believe that he had actually told someone of that. His mother had been furious when she had realized what was going on with her husband, and forced the man to leave. Takeru's father had sought refuge to the Eastern Lands, taking Takeru's older brother with him. His mother never spoke of it again.

Takeru had grown up, wondering what had happened to his father and brother, wondering why his mother had been so furious with his father for being with another man. Until he had asked, Takeru had thought nothing was wrong with it. But his mother had been quick to correct his thinking.

Homosexuality was wrong. It was the same thing she repeated over and over again.

Homosexuality was the reason why he and his mother were forced to try and take care of themselves.

Homosexuality was the reason why he had grown to never know his older brother...

It was wrong.

And Takeru had quickly learned to accept all of the things she told him and saw them as truths. There was nothing good that could come through a relationship that held two people of the same gender. It just wasn't right.

Takeru was startled out of his thoughts when he felt a comforting hand on his shoulder, causing him to look up towards concerned burgundy-brown eyes.

"Are...you alright?"

Takeru nodded in response, not trusting himself to say anything.

Daisuke seemed to hesitate before removing his arm from the blonde male's shoulder. "You do realize...that there is never anything wrong with any kind of love, right?" Daisuke's voice was soft and gentle. "It's not your father's love for another man that caused you and your mother to live alone. It was your parent's inability to work through their differences. None of it was you're fault."

Takeru nodded absent-mindedly. He didn't fully believe anything that Daisuke was saying, but the fact that the other was making the effort made Takeru want to smile.

Why was it that Daisuke always seemed impossibly nice and cheerful about everything?

"So..." Daisuke trailed off uncertainly, as though searching for the right words. "Would you like to just come with me to the festival? Just as friends, of course."

Takeru looked at him, surprised that the other male was trying to ask again, even though Takeru had refused the first time. He saw the glimmer of hope and kindness in Daisuke's strangely-colored eyes and even though he wasn't exactly sure why, Takeru felt bad for Daisuke and for the way Takeru had been treating him.

Still feeling as though he shouldn't, Takeru nodded in agreement.

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The music seemed to echo throughout the enormous chamber, the rhythm created by the drums creating an beat that was felt by everyone in the wide room. Even though the music was face paced and was full of quickly moving notes of varying tones, it created an almost soothing atmosphere, and many people left their seats in favor of dancing to the alluring melody.

Taichi remained in his seat, watching as varying couples danced together, none of them caring about anything other than moving along with the music with their partner.

There were couples with a male and a female, there were couples of two females and couples of two males. It amazed Taichi that people could be so carefree about something like that. To just flaunt their love for the same gender like that. It was strange, and almost admirable, if only because Taichi could never imagine doing something like that.

He wondered what would have happened if this same exact dance had taken place back in the Western Lands. No doubt, the dance would have been immediately discontinued and the homosexual couples thrown in prison.

The very thought of that happening made Taichi frown. It made no sense. Everyone on the dance floor seemed so alive and happy just to be there, expressing themselves. It seemed almost like a crime to deprive them of such joy.

There didn't seem to be anything wrong with what they were doing. So why would the Westerners want to stop something that was so full of pleasant emotion?

Again, Taichi was utterly confused and at conflict with himself. He had accepted that homosexuality was a big part of the Eastern Lands, but he still couldn't imagine ever being that open about something that seemed to be so hated elsewhere. The Westerns felt they were completely right about their views on homosexuality...but the Easterners seemed to be just as convinced.

So who was right?

Taichi didn't have the chance to try and ponder that thought as the lights in the festival chamber suddenly flickered off, and the music lowered to a low, ominous thrum, leaving an almost foreboding atmosphere in its wake.

Unsure as to what was going on, Taichi stood up from his chair, but froze in his actions as a single light lit up the side of a stage and suddenly a familiar form was dancing, his feet moving at a fast pace, the music rising up in volume once again. Every step was calculated and deliberate and Yamato took control of the room, every eye instantly drawn towards him.

Taichi knew he shouldn't have been surprised that, too, was watching the blonde dancer just as much as everyone else. But he couldn't help but to feel stupid for doing so. Even though he kept trying to make himself look away from the enchanting sight, his gaze always returned to stare at Yamato.

It's only polite to watch. I'm the Sovereign's guest...I would be rude for me to ignore the form of entertainment...

Taichi only wondered why it seemed as though he were trying to convince himself.

Yamato was wearing more clothing than the first time Taichi had seen him dance. But for some reason, it made watching the dancer even more captivating. The icy-blue material was light-weight and silky and formed to Yamato's body with every move he made. Every so often, Yamato would take a step in which the sleeveless shirt would rise up away from the silky pants that hung from the blonde's hips. Taichi kept finding himself staring at the span of smooth, pale skin that was revealed.

But then Yamato would move again and the skin would be hidden once more.

Whenever Taichi would catch himself staring, he would quickly tear his eyes away and try to focus on just Yamato's face.

Somehow, that didn't help.

Yamato's sapphire eyes were as piercing as ever, but the overwhelming coldness in the blue orbs seemed to have temporarily melted away, leaving an almost determined warmness as Yamato put all of his focus into his dance. Golden locks of hair kept veiling those beautiful eyes, and Taichi wasn't sure what to think when he found himself wanting to see more of the sight.

Yamato's eyes had always been one of the things about the dancer that Taichi hadn't been able to get out of his head, but seeing them like that made the sapphire eyes seem even more beautiful.

Taichi couldn't figure out why he was frustrated whenever those captivating treasures were hidden again.

Crazy. I'm going crazy...

Although a part of his mind was certain that he had already achieved a high level of insanity. Why else would he be staring at another male? It just didn't make any sense. Especially the places he was staring.

If Yamato was a girl, everything would be so much easier to figure out.

But if Yamato had been a girl, Taichi was certain that he would have attracted to 'her'.

Since he was reacting to Yamato like he would with a girl...did that mean...

Did he really find Yamato attractive?

Before Taichi could begin to try and figure out the implications of that thought, he was quickly brought out of his thoughts when the music suddenly came to a stop. The brunette prince blink in surprise at the abrupt ending. He had been so busy thinking and trying not to stare at the blonde dancer, he had missed most of the actual dance.

What in the world is wrong with me?

The "Eastern disease" Jyou had called it. Taichi had thought that any Westerners who thought they were affected by it were just trying to make excuses for their behavior. Going to a place didn't change your beliefs and thoughts.

Now, Taichi wasn't so sure.

It wasn't so much that his thoughts and beliefs had changed; more of, he had been exposed to other ways of life that he had once thought were an abomination on mankind, only to find that homosexual couples were not that much different from the many couples Taichi had seen at home.

So what did that mean? Was being gay really not a bad thing?

A couple of days ago, Taichi would have been disgusted by the very thought that anyone could even possibly think that being gay was acceptable, but now...everything just seemed so different.

Taichi was suddenly aware of a strange, almost eerie silence that had taken over the atmosphere of the festival. Once the dance had finished, the music had not started back up again, and no one was talking.

Confused, Taichi glanced up from staring at the ground and felt frozen in his spot when he realized that the object of his thoughts was standing in front of him, a blank expression on that pale face, and the sapphire eyes once again guarded.

Yamato stared at him, and Taichi stared back, wondering what was going on. Had he been saying all of his thoughts out loud and was Yamato now going to punch him or something?

Instead of being violent, Yamato glanced away, and turned his gaze towards the exit of the room. He looked at it for a few seconds before turning back to gaze upon Taichi.

The brunette prince still felt as though he couldn't move. Why were those sapphire-eyes always so piercing?

"Come with me."

Taichi just stared at the blonde, unable to comprehend the words that had escaped Yamato's lips.

Feeling strangely numb, Taichi swallowed hard, trying to regain his thoughts. "Wha...what?"

Yamato's expression didn't change. "Come with me." He repeated, his voice still not giving away anything to let Taichi know what was going on in the dancer's mind.

Part of Taichi wanted to yell at the blonde, to tell him to leave him alone. He could still remember their encounter together, and it had left Taichi feeling terribly confused and angered and intrigued all at the same time. He could still remember the way that Yamato had made his heart race with only a single touch to his cheek. He also remembered the harsh, cold words that Yamato seemed to say so easily. Taichi wasn't sure if he wanted a repeat of those events.

But another part of Taichi wanted to yell at himself. He wanted to spend more time with this strange being. He was constantly thinking of Yamato Ishida, so why should he pass up a chance like this? Yamato was practically asking the brunette to go with him, and Taichi was certain that such an offer didn't happen often.

A flicker of uncertainty flashed through those beautiful, ever-captivating sapphire eyes and Taichi's confused mind was instantly made up.

"Alright."

Although he still wasn't sure if he had just agreed to go to his own funeral.

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A/n: Deepest apologies. Life caught up with me and I personally feel that my writing style has changed immensely since the last update on this, and it was incredibly hard to get back into the groove of things. I love this story but hate the way its written in it's beginning chapters. Instead of going through it and re-writting it all again right now like I almost convinced myself to, I decided to work on finishing it first. It will be rewritten at some point, however. But anyways, hope someone is still reading this. Again, sorry for the wait.

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