I do use some Japanese language in places where I think it sounds better. I have tried to include enough context to clue into it's meaning, if not a rough translation itself, within the story. Translations will also be included at the bottom. There will be killing, though not of anyone in the main group, and there are instances where *attempted* rape is mentioned/implied, though not in graphic detail. I'll still put additional warnings up for the latter in relevant chapters. Just because it doesn't trigger me doesn't mean it won't trigger someone else. If I need to make changes, let me know and I'll try to accommodate.

Disclaimer: I do not own Akatsuki no Yona, its plot, nor its characters. I've simply thrown my own original character into the mix because I'm a curious creature and chased a plot bunny down a rabbit hole. I'm stuck. Please send rum.

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Silence

The night air was still as it held the world in slumber. Even the moon itself seemed to be sleeping, it's usual soft glow noticeably absent from the heavens. A lone figure crouched high up on a cliff, wrapped in robes so dark he was nearly invisible against the black sky. He sat there, unmoving, his head tilted back as he took in the panorama above. To him, it was nothing short of breathtaking. Whole oceans of stars, rippling and swirling, as if to some cosmic dance. Some unfathomable music his human ears had no hope of ever hearing. Breathing deeply, he simply stared in awe, letting his lungs deflate slowly. Here, in his special spot, he felt himself relaxing minutely. No one else ever came here. No one else knew of this place, nor of the deceptively small cleft behind him that led deep into the mountain, to the caves deep within where the villagers had taken refuge. He used the passage frequently. Not that he needed to sneak. It was just better, easier, if no one saw him.

Shoving down the feeling rising in his chest, he mentally shook himself as he returned his focus back to his early morning routine and took another drink of water while he let his body cool. He'd just finished his daily training, the katas slowly becoming more fluid, and was having a meager breakfast of pine nuts and jerky before he went out. Summer was here and, though not quite so terrible up here in the mountains, the days were still hot and humid. Better to get what he could done now in the cool pre-dawn hours before retreating indoors to sleep, sheltered from the sweltering heat of the day. He had traps to check, and he wanted to get some extra herbs gathered and dried. Maybe he'd even collect some more firewood.

But first..

Checking his surroundings one more time to make sure he was alone, more from habit than actual necessity, he slowly lifted his mask up. Just enough to get a good look at the valley below.

He could see everything from up here with his ('monstrous') exceptional eyes. They allowed him to see across vast distances, minute details, and unimaginable arrays of color. Even in the poorest light, like tonight when there was only starlight to aid him, he could see so much. Slowly, methodically, he swept his gaze across the vista before him, taking in everything. Every shape, every color, every movement. He couldn't afford to miss a single detail.

And he didn't.

Mask back in place, he quickly secured the empty bag he'd brought to his waist before double checking the straps for the sword on his back. Once his hands were completely free, he made his way down his secret path on the western slope of the mountain, lithe body slinking through the dark and over the treacherous terrain with practiced ease. Occasionally during the decent a few pebbles broke loose. The soft clacking as they rolled against the surface the only hint of his existence as he made his way South, down the barren hillside and towards the inky black of the forest beyond.

He soon slipped into the tree line, dark blue and black robes disappearing seamlessly into his surroundings while his slight frame ghosted effortlessly through the underbrush. Silently, he stalked towards the smouldering embers of a campfire and the group of men he'd seen during his survey.

It took another 20 minutes to reach the camp and by then, a second man had joined the one he'd seen sitting by the fire earlier. The fire was stoked and they shared a drink as the night watch prepared to switch. A covered cast iron pot with what smelled like stew was reheating in the coals. (He was suddenly glad he'd decided to eat before leaving. It smelled good and a grumbling stomach would surely have given his position away.) Soft murmurs reached his ears and he slowed his steps further as he approached slowly from the North. Not only was he intent on not making any noise, he also was careful to not disturb any wildlife that may be nearby. He'd learned long ago that flushing a rabbit or bird from the brush could be just as hazardous as if he had charged into the clearing himself.

Once he was close enough, he crouched low and waited behind a thick oak nearby while listening to the low voices in the clearing. He really hated killing, but it was his duty to protect this village and its people. If it was for them, he would do it. He would fight to keep them safe, just as he'd been taught. Just like his predecessor had before him, he would keep them safe from harm..

And send their enemies to their graves.

"'M tellin' ya, we shouldn' be here." He heard one man whispered harshly to the other.

The second growled back quietly. "Eh.. Quit yer bitchin'. There ain't no such things as ghosts and this ain't no haunted forest," sounding less than amused at the first man's unease.

"Say what you want, but all them stories can't be lies. There'r too many an' anyways, he's in all of 'em," the first insisted, eyes flitting nervously around. It looked like he hadn't slept all night.

"An' I'm tellin' ya it's all a bunch a superstitchis nonsense. Pro'ly just some ol' man tired of everyone's shit an' scarin' people off so they'll leave him alone. Soon as we catch that bitch, 'm gonna find him and kill him myself, just so I can get that mask. Bet those pussies'll piss 'emselves if I wear it into the next village." He heard the man chuckled to himself, no doubt imagining just that scenario.

The other snorted, no humor behind it. "Do what you want. I'm lookin' for the girl an' gettin' the hell outta here. It's been too long since I've had a good fuck an' after all this trouble, she better be ready for what's comin' to 'er."

"Jirou said the tracks were fresh, not more'n an hour old at most. Even if she kept going all night, she'll be exhausted. We'll find her tomorrow an' by the time we're through, she'll wish she'd killed herself instead of Katashi."

Frowning, he decided he'd heard enough and made his way around the outside of the camp until he was on the south end of the clearing behind the two men, dagger at the ready and careful to not make a sound. These weren't just travelers passing through. They were bad men.

'Enemies. No mercy.'

Satisfied with his position, he paused as he looked the men over, debating his options. The ones sleeping didn't seem like they'd be waking anytime soon. First light was still a little ways off, the sky just as dark as when he'd first set out.

Both men sitting at the fire were relatively short. Focusing on the larger of the two first, he noted the way the muscles in his arms bulged, the slightly wider shoulders, and the thickness of his neck. This man obviously did a lot of heavy lifting and would certainly do some damage if his hits made contact. His movements were rough and aggressive, further proof he was more of a brawler type- slow but powerful and usually very direct in their movements.

Confident in his assessment, his gaze shifted to the smaller man. Those with lighter frames like this one were generally easier to over power in a struggle, but were also more agile and needed more planning and maneuvering if you wanted to successfully land a hit. Men like that also tended to rely more on weapons and intimidation than brute force due to having little actual strength themselves. He felt they were actually more dangerous than their meat-head counterparts as they were more likely to pull a knife and stab you than throw a punch.

Regardless, both men were still a good foot and a half taller than he was and even the smaller man weighed at least a hundred pounds more. He doubted he could take them both out quickly enough to prevent the other two from waking, but was certain he could kill at least one of them ('The smaller one,' he decided.) and maybe wound the second before the others were roused. He was just debating on tying the other two's feet together when the smaller man pushed himself to his feet. Stretching tiredly, he muttered a quiet "I'm gonna take a shit," before turning East and heading out of the clearing, stepping through the tree line to their right and continuing into the forest.

Completely unaware of the figure creeping up behind him.

'Too easy'.

snap

The man was dead instantly, neck bent at a grotesque angle. While it was a little awkward, striking the man while his pants were down, it had been a stroke of luck and too good to pass up. As he lowered the body to the ground, he noticed the dagger strapped the man's belt. Pulling it free, he was surprised to find it was actually pretty well made and, though a little dirty, the edge was straight and sharp. He pulled the sheath loose, belt and all, and strapped it to his waist. The first man now out of the way, and a new weapon in hand, the rest was going to be much easier.

'Three to go.'

He made his way back to his spot just outside the clearing, then slowly stalked up behind the man still poking at the fire. As much as he hated making a mess, this one wasn't going to go down nicely. The thick neck muscles ruled out strangulation and he doubted he'd be able to force the head around quickly enough to break the neck before the man could react. He glanced back to look at the other two, making sure they were still sound asleep before preparing himself once again. He quietly tested the weight of the dagger, muscles tensed and ready.

slash

He struck his target mid-yawn, while the eyes were scrunched closed and soon, it was over, the corpse leaning back heavily against his chest. He eased it down in front of the log, still trying to keep as much blood off his clothes as possible. While the dark robes he wore wouldn't show much, the white fur trim was difficult to clean. Not to mention it was his only one. After he was done here, he'd salvage whatever he could.

'Two left.'

The other two were taken out without incident and he proceeded to gather what few belongings they had. He'd hesitated briefly before quickly stripping the men of their clothes as well as their belongings. While he felt a little embarrassed at leaving the bodies nude, his practical side won out. He really needed the clothes. A growth spurt last month had left his sleeves and pants rather short. Only the wraps on his wrists and ankles that secured the loose ends of fabric concealed the skin his clothes no longer covered. Even if none of these fit yet, he could make do. The rest would be used for other things. Bandages mostly. The blankets were especially welcome. His own was getting rather small, not to mention threadbare, and while the altitude helped with the heat, winters could be brutal.

Laying the two largest blankets flat on the ground, he quickly separated what he found into two piles. Linens were bundled up inside the first blanket so he could easily take them to the river to wash later. The rest (rations, weapons, and other gear) were wrapped in the second. As he worked, he mentally thought of the items he'd need to dye the light colored clothes he'd keep to wear himself, adding them to the list of ingredients to look for. Not that he was vain by any means. He just preferred to move around during the night and dark colors were harder to spot in the dim light, while light ones nearly glowed, shining like a beacon. The last thing he wanted was to draw attention to himself.

Sorting finished, he tied the two bundles tightly before securing them together with a section of rope. An axe he'd found was added to the belt next to the sheathed dagger and he placed a bow inside a quiver with several arrows before he slung it across his back, careful to position it where it wouldn't obstruct his sword should he need to draw it. The few coins he'd found went in a small pouch inside his robe before he finally heaved the two bundles onto his shoulder and headed towards the river. He worked his way up and down the hillside, checking his traps along the way. As he worked his way East, the world slowly woke around him, the first hint of light peaking out over the horizon. He'd just placed a fourth rabbit in his bag when he saw it-

Blood.

Wet and dark in the early morning light, thickening but still fresh. He looked around and noticed more, leading directly East towards the river.

He lifted his mask for the second time that day, using his eyes to follow the trail more easily as his concern rose over at the amount of blood he was seeing.

Too much.

And amid the blood, he spotted a footprint. Small and light on the ground, most likely left by...

'The girl!'

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Jirou- Second Son

Katashi- Firm/Hard/Solid