Warnings from first chapter still apply.

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon, nor do I own the tale Sleeping Beauty in any of its forms. I am only playing with these characters! I'll give them back...eventually!

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One Kiss

Chapter Two

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Outside, the sun was just beginning to rise as a new morning began. The sky was painted in soft pastel colors of light purples, soft blues and pale pinks, all mixing together to create a beautiful picture. The kingdom was just beginning to awaken, and all was quiet throughout the lands.

Taichi Yagami might have appreciated such quiet beauty that wasn't often found in his father's kingdom, had it not been for the fact that he was sleeping.

Well...trying to sleep.

"Taichi..." A soft voice kept whispering by his ear, causing slight shivers to coarse throughout his body as the warm breath ghosted along his skin. "Wake up, my dear prince..." Taichi could feel a soft touch running along his cheek, but he decided that he must have been imagining it.

He tried to roll over in his bed, to escape the being that was trying to awaken him from his restful slumber. But the soft voice and caressing touches seemed to follow easily.

His tried to push away the hand on his cheek, and instead, that hand took Taichi's into it's gentle grasp, holding it. Taichi wasn't sure, but he could have sworn he felt a pair of soft lips brush along the knuckles of his hand...

With that thought, Taichi opened his eyes slowly, and saw the culprit, although he had practically known all along who would wake him up in such a way.

The golden hair, pale skin and striking sapphire eyes could only belong to one person.

"..Yamato..." Taichi groaned sleepily, tugging on his arm to pull his hand out of the magician's gentle grasp. Thankfully, Yamato let go of his hand without much of a fight.

"Ah, when you say my name like that, my dearest Taichi, how can I resist anything you say?" Yamato told the brunette, his voice barely above a whisper.

Taichi took this morning wake-up call as a message from Yamato that everything was alright between them. After going to bed the night before, the prince had been worried (only slightly, of course) that maybe Yamato had been hurt by his words more than he had thought. But now, after the way the blonde magician had woken him up, Taichi no longer had any worries about that.

If Yamato was back to his old, yet familiar, tricks, then he was perfectly fine.

"It's too early to deal with you." Taichi stated as he sat up in his bed, looking around. He frowned, glancing back at Yamato. "What time is it, anyways?"

Laughing softly, Yamato stood up from the side of the bed and gave the prince a smile. "Only a few hours past daybreak." He informed the other male. With a simple wave of his hand, the candles around the room lit up with sudden flames, giving the bedroom an almost soft, warm glow. Turning his attention back to Taichi, Yamato tilted his head. "You did say you wanted an early start."

Taichi rolled his eyes, and fell back against his pillows, sighing. "Yes." He agreed. "But I was kind of hoping for a few more hours of sleep..."

Taichi continued to stare up at his ceiling, waiting for the other male to reply, and was a little surprised to see Yamato come into his view.

Smiling, Yamato raised an eyebrow. "Why would you want more sleep, when you could spend those precious hours with me?" He asked, voice suggestive. Taichi opted to ignore that question, and gestured towards his door.

"I need to get dressed." He stated, his voice indicating that the magician needed to leave. He was surprised when Yamato started to laugh softly. "What?" He demanded, confused.

Yamato shook his head, still chuckling. "You amaze me, dear prince." The blonde told him. "No matter what I say, you always either just ignore me, or react violently. What is it about me that you don't like?"

Although Yamato was smiling, and had just been laughing, Taichi could sense a distinct feeling of sadness and disappointment in the suggestive magician's voice.

Not sure why he wanted Yamato to feel better, Taichi offered a smile of his own. "Nothing wrong with you." He stated, pausing before continuing in a teasing tone. "Except for the fact that you're Yamato Ishida and I'm Taichi Yagami, you're an annoying magician, and we're both guys, Yamato..." Why couldn't the blonde ever understand that?

Instead of laughing at his teasing as Taichi had hoped, Yamato's expression was emotionless. "Does that really make such a difference?" He asked, his own voice soft and impossible to decipher. Yamato shook his head, almost as if to clear his mind of his own thoughts. "Forgive me for thinking aloud, dear prince. I shall let you get dressed now, yes?" And with that, Yamato suddenly disappeared.

Taichi was left staring at the place where Yamato had once stood.

What was up with that crazy magician? Yamato had always been a little eccentric and spontaneous, but recently he had been saying the most confusing of things.

Deciding not to think about it, Taichi got up out of his bed, and started to get ready for his journey.

Although he couldn't stop his thoughts from straying to a certain blonde...

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Sometimes the things that Taichi said made Yamato want to strangle him.

Other times, he wanted to wrap his arms around the brunette male and keep Taichi for himself, away from everyone else.

Most of the time, it just left him with that infuriating feeling of hope. Hope that maybe, one day, Taichi would give in to Yamato's suggestions and allow the blonde to say all of the things he had always wanted to say, without fear of any repercussions.

But then Taichi would go and say something to him that would destroy that hope, and would leave Yamato feeling as though his heart had been broken. But it was insane to feel that way. Yamato knew he should have expected it by now. Taichi had no desire to be with him, and Yamato knew he should just accept it and move on.

He knew that. After all, how many times had he offered himself to Taichi? And how many times had Taichi refused? Too many times to count...

And yet, despite all that, every time his eyes took in the sight of the brunette, Yamato couldn't help himself from saying something suggestive again and again, hoping that one day, the opportunity would come up and Taichi would actually accept.

Yamato knew he was only setting himself to be hurt over and over again, but he couldn't help himself...

Taichi was just too hard to resist.

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Golden-brown eyes peered out through the small space between the door, looking up and down the hallway cautiously, searching for anything that resembled Yamato Ishida. Even if Yamato was acting stranger than usual, Taichi wouldn't about to underestimate the blonde. Taichi distinctly remembered the time the blonde magician had snuck up behind him and said something sultry in front of everyone in the crowded hallway, wrapping his arms around the embarrassed prince.

It had taken close to forever to convince the gossiping servants that nothing was going on between him and Yamato. Still, despite his denying it, they just shook their heads and gave Taichi a knowing look and told him that they would keep it a secret for him.

Taichi had no desire to repeat such an encounter. And he didn't want to be surprised by Yamato like that again.

The coast looked clear, however, and Taichi let out a small sigh of relief. Opening the door all the way, Taichi left his bedroom, still cautious and keeping an eye out for the familiar blonde hair and sapphire-blue eyes.

He didn't trust Yamato's actions, and Taichi knew firsthand how the other male could act. So Taichi opted to stay cautious.

It was better that way, really.

Taichi was surprised when he entered the throne room without any mishaps. He had been certain that Yamato would appear and start causing the usual mischief that the blonde always seemed to create so easily. But, it hadn't happened. Taichi told himself that the strange, almost sinking feeling he was experiencing was most definitely not disappointment.

As Taichi entered the throne room, he saw that Yamato was talking with Koushiro Izumi, the kingdom's librarian, and the brunette became curious. What in the world would those two be talking about?

He approached them, a smile upon his lips as he stood next to Yamato. The conversation faded as Taichi came closer, and that only served to make Taichi even more interested in what they had been talking about. If he really wanted to, he probably could have ordered them to tell him, but Taichi wouldn't do something like that.

Taichi was about to say something when Yamato beat him to it.

"Hello, my prince." The blonde magician greeted with a small bow. The gesture was respectful, but the sultry expression was anything but courteous. Taichi rolled his eyes at Yamato's antics, before turning his attention towards Koushiro.

"I trust that Yamato has been behaving himself?"

Yamato intervened before Koushiro could say anything, the usual smirk in place. "Of course I have, my dearest prince. Are you insinuating that I can not behave?" His smirk seemed to become even more sultry and suggestive than usual as his sapphire-eyes stared at Taichi. "Perhaps the two of us should find a vacant broom closet somewhere and then I could show you just have well-behaved I can be."

Taichi felt an unbidden blush rising to his cheeks, and, even though he didn't want Yamato to see, he knew that looking away would give the blonde magician even more satisfaction.

Thankfully, Koushiro brought everyone's attention back onto himself. "Yamato had just been telling me about your journey you're going on, Your Highness." The crimson-haired male paused thoughtfully. "I was wondering if perhaps I could accompany you on your quest. I think having someone who's familiar with fairy tales and other historical items would be beneficial to your deed."

Taichi stared at the younger male. "So, in other words, you want to come along because you're smarter than all of us?" He stated bluntly, grinning. Koushiro blushed, his cheeks trying to match the color of his hair. Yamato was laughing now, amused by the conversation.

"Um, not exactly in those words, Your Highness. But I suppose that, yes, that is part of the reason." Koushiro seemed less sure of himself now, and it made Taichi feel almost guilty for having teased him. But if Koushiro was going to spend a lot of time in his company, the shorter male would have to get used to it somehow.

Taichi gave a warm smile. "Of course you can come with us, Koushiro. The more the merrier, as the saying goes. Plus, I need someone who would be able to hide me whenever Yamato tries to attack me in my sleep."

"Ah, my dear prince, I would never do something as vulgar as that." Yamato stated, although the self-assured smirk on his lips said otherwise. "I am wounded that you think so lowly of me."

"My opinion of you has never been any lower."

Yamato grinned. "I can think of a few things I could do to change your mind."

"Forget it, Yamato." Taichi sighed, shaking his head. The blonde magician was hopeless. "I'm not into things like that."

"Give me a chance, dearest prince. I'm sure I can convert you."

Taichi couldn't fight off the blush that stained his cheeks. He saw Koushiro standing off to the side, looking uncomfortable. Taichi had almost forgotten that the librarian was even there; he had been too focused on Yamato to notice.

Turning his attention back onto the red-haired male, Taichi was glad for the distraction. "Well, if you can think of a few more people who would like to come with us, just go ahead and invite them. I think the more people we have with us, will make it easier."

Koushiro nodded in agreement. "Yes, of course, Your Highness." He bowed respectively, before exiting the room. He seemed glad to be able to escape the flirtatious atmosphere that Yamato always seemed to bring with him where ever he went. Now that they were alone, Taichi felt a little uneasy. He wasn't sure what to say to Yamato, without having the magician turn it into something suggestive like he always did.

He gave an uncomfortable cough. "Well...thank you, Yamato. For coming with me. I think your magic will definitely be useful along the way." Why did it feel so strange to be saying something like this to the blonde? Usually, Taichi was trying to say anything to get the magician to leave him alone, but now he was actually thanking Yamato. He had to admit that, even if it did result in him having a headache every night they were on this strange journey, he would be glad of Yamato's company. If only because Yamato was someone he was used to being around so much.

With everything seeming to be so strange recently, Taichi craved familiarity.

Not that he would ever allow Yamato to know about that. The blonde would have only taken it in a different way that Taichi had never intended.

Yamato's expression seemed serious, which was a rare occurrence. "Don't thank me for something so trivial, Taichi." A small smile graced his lips. "You know I would follow you to the end of the world."

Usually, Taichi would have taken that as Yamato being his predictable, teasing self, but there was something different in the blonde magician's voice. Almost as if Yamato was actually being sincere...

Taichi searched for something to say, although everything that he wanted to say seemed to be caught in his throat, and he found himself unable to say anything at all. What could he possibly say to that, without sounding stupid or conceited? He knew he should say something but nothing seemed to be the right words. He was extremely thankful when another distraction saved him.

"Your highness, I was ordered to inform you that you should be able to leave in an hour's time."

Taichi turned and nodded at the guard, watching as the armored figure left as quickly as he had came. A soft rustling caused him to look back at Yamato.

The blonde bowed, although Taichi could still feel sharp sapphire eyes lingering on his body, taking in every detail. "I suppose I should go finish packing my remaining belongings. I'll see you at the gates, my prince." Yamato straightened up from his bow, gave Taichi one last smirk before disappearing.

Taichi's gaze felt fixated on the spot that Yamato had been in just moments ago. Had the magician really been sincere about what he had said? For some reason, Taichi wanted to believe in Yamato's words.

You know I would follow you to the end of the world.

Taichi still couldn't fight off the doubt that maybe Yamato was only continuing to play with him. Ever since they had met, Yamato had continued to tease him, to make suggestive remarks that would always leave Taichi feeling embarrassed. But was that all it was? Just a game for Yamato's entertainment?

Feeling angered at letting himself think that Yamato had actually been sincere for once, Taichi pushed away all thoughts of the blonde magician. He would be leaving his home in an hour, and he still needed to say good bye to his family.

He didn't have time to waste thinking of a certain magician and his manipulative games.

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A/N: Thank you to anyone who has stuck with me. I know I'm not the best updater, but I am trying for everyone who enjoys reading them. Next chapter will be longer in length, and we'll really start getting into the journey part of the story.

Thanks for reading!

LuV