There once was an ancient tale, that long ago man and woman were once one sole being. Together with four legs and hands plus two heads they lived as one. But the gods feared they were too powerful and as a result split them in two. It is said that though torn apart man and woman would spend their entire lives searching for their opposite half, desperate to reunite once more. When found there was no greater joy, and when death separated them there was no greater sorrow.

a~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sheets of rain descended upon the countryside, the four dragon warriors and Yoon taking shelter under the protection of the mountains side, mournful expressions upon each face.

"We should get the princess out of the rain. She might catch cold." The somber reluctance Yoon spoke with held no real persuasion. The five companions merely gazed aways off at the redheaded figure on her knees. No one stepped forth. None had the heart to. Thunder rumbled in the near distance, as though agreeing to leave her be.

a~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mere hours before Yona and company had been traveling within the mountains dividing the countries of Kouka and Zing, all in high spirits despite the blanket of dark clouds looming above. Zeno was counting on water falling before long, joyfully exclaiming nothing made a landscape shimmer better than a hearty rainstorm. The journey was long and treacherous, though no worse then past trips their group had been on. They'd expected to make it to the mountain's pass by nightfall, but fate chose to be unkind to them. Bandits praying on passing travelers tried setting their sights on the Happy Hungry Bunch.

Three of the dragons and lightning beast took the large group head-on, the others hanging back in the event they needed long distance aid. Yona hadn't sensed the figures approaching from behind until Zeno had fallen, being struck on the head and felt arms hoist her up and over a shoulder. A frantic glance around showed the boy genius had been similarly captured as well.

"We got lucky." The bandit with an ear piercing grinned to his partners, the four dashing off with their stolen prizes. "These beauties are bound to fetch us a high price."

"Hak!"

The bodyguard finally caught sight of the kidnappers splitting off in different directions.

"Damn it!" Hak grunted, turning towards the other fighting Dragons. "Jaeha, lend me your help!"

The Green Dragon and Lightning Beast took off in different directions, Jaeha leaping right for Yoon while Hak ran forward for the Princess. The bodyguard caught sight of three men as they began crossing the rickety bridge connecting Kouka to Zing. Using his glaive to vault himself onto the bridge, Hak landed smack in the middle next to his target; the unfortunate fool who dared touch his princess.

With a swift kick to the bandit's leg Hak snatched Princess Yona from his hold, placing her on her feet. Jabbing the bandit straight in the face, the Lightning Beast sent him careening over the bridges side and plummeting down the cliffs deep ridge. The remaining two who'd managed to escape stood at the bridge's end.

"Screw this." The bandit with an ear piercing turned to his partner. "Just cut it!"

"Go. Run! " Seizing Yona's wrist Hak tugged her in front of him and they made a mad dash for the opposite end. They'd managed to make it three-fourths of the way before the bridge's strength gave way beneath the princess and ex-general's feet.

Yona reached out in vain for the ledge but grasped only air. A breathless scream ripped from her lips as she felt herself go weightless, squeezing Hak's hand still holding tight to hers. This is it she thought helplessly. This is how i die. As gravity took hold Yona momentarily felt time slow to a halt. In it she saw Kija, Jaeha, and Shin-ah sprinting towards them, panic etched in their every feature. But she knew they were too far off to make it in time. Squeezing her eyes shut Yona braced herself for the inevitable.

Suddenly, something brushed against her. A thin, rough material. Yona didn't have time to process what exactly. In a split-second decision, she blindly snatched at whatever it was in the hopes for something good.

Rope! It was rope! Adrenaline raced through her body, the course braid burning the skin of her palm but Yona refused to let go. Gripping tight to Hak they jolted to a halt.

"Princess!" He called below her, both their breaths coming in short, heavy pants. "Are you alright?!"

"I'm fi-ugh! " Yona grunted, her slim arms under immense strain trying to hold herself and Hak's combined weight. "Nyghuh…"

Voices up above shouted frantically, the four dragons and boy genius scrambling for a way to reach the pairs only tether to land before it was no more.

This is okay. We're gonna be okay Yona forced herself to repeat, not daring to look down where her dangling feet hung. It's gonna be alright...

As if on cue there was a sudden jerk, the frail rope holding the princess and lightning beast began to slowly fray, string by string coming undone from the excessive weight. Not good. Not good at all!

"Princess, listen to me." Yona dared a glance down at her bodyguard, catching a look of resignation in his face that made her stomach clench. "It won't hold us both...

I need you to let me go."

"No! " Yona shook her head furiously, refusing to even acknowledge the idea. "It will! I know it will! It has to!" Tears pricked her eyes at the absurdity of his suggestion, but also from pain creeping up her arms with all the weight she was enduring. Surely Yoon would find a way to save them before…

Another jolt, more violent this time, showed the rope holding them was dangerously close to snapping. Something had to be done and soon.

"Princess…" Hak gently called, looking up to gaze directly into her eyes. His princess, his dearest friend, his only love. "I'm sorry…"

"Stop it! No! " Face now shrouded in hair Hak released his grip. Yona tried desperately to hold on but his massive hand slipped through her fingers in seconds, his body plummeting downward and swallowed up by the thick mist swirling underneath.

"HAK!" Yona's horrified shriek reverberated off the cliff's sides, tears cascading down her face as she reached out to where he'd just been.

" HAAAAAAAKKKKKK! "

a~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Water dripped off the red-headed princess's skin, the rain soaking her to the bone yet she felt none of it's chill.

Yona had not wept when they hoisted her from the frail rope, nor had she screamed once on solid land. She simply sat there, tears pouring down her cheeks, face a mask of shock.

Motionlessly she stayed knelt beside the cliffs edge where the bridge remains hung, staring at the lightning beast's glaive in her hands.

Yona remembered when he'd first got it, the immense strength he possessed when wielding it gave him great pride. He had used it when training her, had taught her to fight and protect not only herself but others as well. And yet what good had that done her? Skill had not saved Hak when he needed help most. The knot within Yona's chest tightened at the thought. Once more she'd been too weak to save anyone, and this time Hak paid the ultimate price.

She saw her violet eyes in the reflection of the blade's surface, drained of any emotion save a hollow sadness gazing back at her.

Hak.

A flash of lightning and thunder boomed overhead, replacing the reflection of mournful eyes with ones of sky blue. A steely gaze surrounded by tanned skin and hair of deepest black. Within those eyes she saw silent admiration and a love so intense gazing back at her. Eyes that did not regret their decision.

Yona felt something within her snap, taking the pieces of her already broken heart and shattering them to dust. Her hands gripped tightly the hilt of his weapon.

"HAK! "

With a strength she did not know she possessed, Yona raised his glaive high, bringing it down with force enough to bury the blade in the ground before her. Her shoulders shook heavily as she sobbed anew, certain the ache she felt within her heart could never heal. He was gone. Gone in the blink of an eye. Gone...because she couldn't hold on.

There she stayed till dawn broke through the sky, it's radiant light painting the scattered clouds intense shades of crimson. And yet none could enjoy the beautiful sight, the only color seen above by the group was that of sky blue.

a~~~~~~~~~~~
a~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: *cough and sniffs* Yeah i'm all good, this is fine we're fine.

If it's any consolation, Shang DOES live in the end, soooo who's to say Hak doesn't also? Eh? Eh? ;D