This is currently a work in progress. If you have any suggestions on how I can improve please let me know. Enjoy the read. ;)

Edit: Some words and grammar.

The Dragons and Yoon had begun to notice something odd about the Princess. The lingering looks, the blushing embarrassment and sudden shifts in behavior around a certain thunder beast. Jea-ha felt the need to do something about it.

They were all sitting around the campfire Hak had left to search for more firewood and check Yoon's traps for game.

Jea-ha sidled up to the princess. "When a woman loves a man there is something they do-" Kija quickly smacked Jea-ha in the face.

"You will not speak to the princess of these things!" He yelled blushing.

"No wait Kija, Please Jea-ha I want to.. to know. I want to know more!"

"Well if you want practice I am at your disposal!"

"What no! That's not what I meant I want to be strong, like Hak, so that he will acknowledge me as his equal. I just...don't know how to...to...show him. I can't stop thinking about him but he's always teasing me then doing weird things that make me feel...until my heart...hurts..." she quietly trailed off.

The dragons looked at her with understanding.

"Yes the thunder beast is quite a mystery." sighed Jea-ha. His own heart twinging for what the princess was feeling.

"Miss is very strong." said Zeno holding her hand reassuringly.

"But you are not equals. You will always be our master and us your servants." Kija said with conviction.

Yona turned to look at the handsome white dragon. "But you beautiful dragons are not my servants. You are my friends and one day. One day when I am strong enough I will set Hak free to do as he pleases. Maybe then he will acknowledge me!" Yona stated firmly.

"Do as he pleases, hmmm, Yona dear. How interesting that will be." smirked Jea-ha leaning back. Yona looked at him curiously. She seems to be picking up on a lot more of my innuendo lately thought Jea-ha.

Yoon touched Yona's shoulder. "You show him everyday how strong you are Yona. Don't doubt the Thunder Beast knows you are strong."

"You really think so Yoon?! I want to become even stronger." She stated.

Yoon's face creased with worry and he asked. "What do you think he will do when you release him? Will he go back to Fuuga? Would you follow him...?"

Yona paused in thought. She whispered quietly "...I would follow him anywhere." She leapt up to follow Hak into the woods.

Hak smirked as he heard her small feet rustle the undergrowth. "Princess you are going to need to work on your sneaking. Especially in the woods."

Yona came out from behind a tree pouting. "I am working on my sneaking. I need a better teacher than you."

"What! I am an excellent teacher if you don't like it you should get lessons from Shin-ah. He can sneak up on just about anything." So Creepy...

Hak continued looking for easy pickings of firewood. Less work the better.

"Hak!"

He turned to look at her over his shoulder. "Is there something you wanted Princess? Are you feeling alright?" He faced her fully and placed his hand on her forehead.

She pushed his hand away. Fiercely looking into his face she announced.

"I want to be strong enough that you acknowledge me!"

Hak cocked his head. Did she want more praise for her hard work?

"I want you to be free." She continued.

"I want to release you from your obligation to my father. I want you no longer burdened with being my body guard, my shield." Yona stated, tears welling in her eyes as she willfully held them at bay.

"What are you trying to get rid of me for?" He yelled. She hollered back.

"I want you to be free Hak!

...But I...I am so selfish. I cannot seem to command you to leave my side. Even for your own happiness. I...could not bear it."

She knelt down on one knee and a tear slid down her cheek as she continued to stare him down.

"So I release you from your bonds and ask that you take me as your servant! I will swear my fealty to you Son Hak, Thunder Beast of Kouka! To protect you and follow you until I am strong enough to stand as your equal!"

Shocked Hak stared at the princess his heart beat pounding in his head.

Hak moved his hand to cover his face. "You silly princess." He chuckled kneeling, pulling her close and tucking her to his chest. "There really is something wrong with your head. What could I do with such a useless servant anyhow? Can't even play the harp..."

A muffled protest from Yona as she repositioned her head looking up into Hak's face. "What can I do to convince you? How very precious you are to me." She brought her fingers to his chin. "I don't want you to die in my service." She pleaded.

"So you plan to die in my service?" He asked incredulously. "Or what is it Princess? Don't you know what masters do with their female servants? eh?" Hak tried to banter like they normally do to dispel the tension that was building. She stared at him unwavering. Her gaze shook his resolve to always remember his station. He wished to place his lips to her brow, her cheeks, her lips, every inch of her body.

This feeling starting in his gut and traveling up his spine. He wanted more. More of those violet defiant eyes staring him down. Daring him. Never had he been challenged to a fight he could not conquer but this... this was completely different than warfare. It excited him in a completely different way. How do you fight something you cannot capture or kill. None of his instincts, no training could tell him how to win this one. What did winning even mean in this situation? Sudden thoughts of ravishing his princess blazed through his tortured mind.

"Princess..." he sighed closing his eyes trying to adjust his resolve. Reminding himself who she was. King Il's daughter. He is a bodyguard never a suitor no matter her recent declaration. He was an orphan raised to be a fighter. Not a suitable candidate to court a royal princess.

"Hak?"

His body so close to hers, she could smell him all around her clouding her senses making her want to ...do something...wanting to show him. To be his equal in all things. She leaned forward placing her lips on his.

The softest touch. So light he wasn't sure it was happening. Then she was pulling away. Haks eyes opened quickly staring at this woman who could cause him to feel so strange. So unlike himself. So unsure of how to act and what to do. So oblivious to his want of her. Could she possibly reciprocate?

Her eyes were partly closed staring at his parted lips. Her heart almost beating out of her chest.

Her violet eyes opened looking up at him imploringly. He stroked her cheek slipping his fingers into her red hair causing a small whimper to slip out of her mouth. Her cheeks blossomed a beautiful red. She gasped at her own reaction to his touch.

Heart pounding she slipped from his arms and dashed into the woodlands.

"Uh... what? Princess?" With the princess vanishing so suddenly Hak was left questioning his sanity. Did I really just hallucinate being kissed by the princess? He was losing his mind. He went to pick up the wood he had dropped. Muttering to himself.

Yona ran until she tripped landing by a mossy boulder. She gathered herself together and sat hugging her legs to her chest. Her breath coming in shallow and labored from running and before with what had happened with Hak. What had happened with Hak? She touched her fingertips to her lips remembering how he felt holding her close. The same yet so different. How his lips had brushed hers. That did not go as I planned at all. Why? Why did she have to make it weird? She kissed him. She kissed Hak!

She shook her head and slapped her cheeks. She was stronger than this. These feelings. So different from what she felt for Soo-won yet familiar enough she couldn't deny what they were. She wanted Hak. She needed to see him again. To talk to him about what she had tried to say. Her vow would not go unheeded. She would corner him again and make him accept. No getting lost in his blue eyes this time or his warm embrace or how his lips part in that way that makes her want to... She slapped her cheeks again!

"Oh boy."

She had thought she'd had it bad with Soo-won.