Chapter 4: Worry Turns to Laughter
Light violet eyes looked up into the heavens, as a sly smile began spreading across the face of the man they belonged to. His dirty blonde hair fell back as he looked up into the sky. "This wasn't planned." He said with a chuckle as he heard the whispers of the dragon Kami's telling him what was happening to the current red King. Yona. He thought. Her challenges have only just begun and the greatest one is currently leaving her. He bowed his head. Su-won's heart is thawing. Once it begins it's beating again he'll feel a desire stronger than anything he's ever felt. Afterall, he is her shield, just as a Hak is her sword. The priest began to shake from his withheld laughter. Oh, the Kami certainly knew how to entertain themselves. That he knew for sure. "Oh Princess..." He said with a smile before his stomach rumbled. Smiling still, he stood from his seat and went to find a meal back in the cabin.
Blue hair fluttered behind a young woman as she walked through the halls of her home. She was carefully avoiding her bodyguards and friends Tetora and Ayura. She was An Lili, daughter to the Water tribe general, An Joon-gi who was suppose to be grand fighter, though she highly doubted it. As she came to the gardens she spotted a dirty red haired woman dressed in common clothes. Who is she? Lili wondered. The woman was watching a man leave her behind. Lili spotted her father standing on the walkway ahead of her and his behind a pillar. I really don't want to talk to him. She thought before looking towards the woman as she walked up the steps to him.
"What is you name again?" She heard her father ask the girl.
"Rina." She answered, her voice was full of authority which surprised Lili, but what surprised her even more was the sly smile that was spreading across her father's lips. It was like he'd discovered some grand secret and wasn't about to share it.
"Rina." He repeated her name as his smile disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. "You will stay with my daughter and her guardians in her apartments." He looked at her bruised covered face and reached out to touch them only to pause in his actions. "Such things shall never occur to you while you are a guest here. My guards will be on watch for those people that his majesty has spoken about." His eyes traveled to her clothes. "New clothes will be laid out for you as well." He smiled a kind smile. "I'm sure you wish to freshen up before dinner."
"Yes, thank-you." Lili heard the girl say. Turning on her heel Lili ran off towards her chambers and would wait there to ambush this girl with questions; like how did she know the King?
Zeno watched as Hak's eyebrow twitched as they had to hide when a group of soldiers had passed them. He watched closely as dark eyes turned even darker as a certain sandy blonde haired King rode by on his horse. They had entered Suiko only a few moments ago and had been forced to hide when Hak had spotted Joo-doh. Mister would be unrestrained if he knew who took the Miss. He thought sadly. He had been watching the two since the beginning of their journey. He had been at the castle for the Miss' birthday. Had seen the joy during the celebration. It had warmed his heart and made him wish for it to continue forever, but he had bore witness to the despair as it had happened and he never wanted his master feel that way ever again. He wouldn't allow it.
"Zeno." came a voice calling his name. Looking up Zeno saw Kija was tugging his clothes. "Let's go save our master."
"Hakuryuu." He whispered causing the silver haired man to flush lightly. In his mind he could still see the little boy who had climb that tree and watched Hiryuu's red star with him. He smiled. "Right."
The group headed into the city with Yun at the head of them. They passed the market places, the inn's and bars. The red light district was their last stop, mostly because that's where the others sensed Jae-ha to be. When they arrived at a tea house they found Jae-ha sitting on a cushioned seat with several ladies pressing their assets on him. The green haired man looked towards them with surprise only to have Hak slam his fist onto his head.
"My dear Hak, there's no need for violence." Jae-ha stated as he rubbed his head. "Unless of course you have some pent up stress you need relieved."
"Good grief." Yun muttered as Hak punch the green dragon in the stomach.
By now the ladies had already run out of the room. "Darn." Jae-ha groaned as he sat back and rubbed his belly. "I was just starting to warm up too."
Zeno chuckled. "Ryokuryuu really enjoys himself!" He said as he plopped down onto the seat near him.
Jae-ha eyes the golden haired man for a moment before he suddenly realized exactly who he was. "Hahaha.." He began laughing, his shoulders shaking. He looked at Hak. "Looks like you went and found Ouryuu without Yona dear." He smirked at the dark haired man and dodged an attack on his head by Hak's weapon.
"Speaking of our Master." Kija began as he lifted his clawed hand and grabbed Jae-ha by his clothes. "Where is she?"
Jae-ha looked at Kija's face. The young man's face was flushed with barely restrained anger. Jae-ha pushed him away from his face. "She's safe." He stated a sadness entering his voice. "She's unharmed." He looked at Hak. "I need to know. Who exactly is Yona dear?"
"She's our Master!" Kija cried out with excitement and love filling his features.
Jae-ha's eyes never left Hak's. "Who is she?" He asked once more.
"Does it matter?" Hak asked as he sat down across from the green haired man before stealing a drink of sake from one of the filled cups on the trays.
"She's her, isn't she?" Jae-ha watched Hak's hand pause in mid-drink. After arriving here in Suiko, Jae-ha began to listen to the whispers of drunken guards and citizens. He had been talking to the lively ladies here to gain information. He had heard them talking about the missing Princess Yona, how she'd been stolen away by the rogue and wild former Wind General and Raiju; Son Hak. How her hair was as red as fire and her eyes as violet as the deepest purple. How her beauty for someone so young was rare. It described his master to the tee. "So that's why they wanted her."
Hak's grip tightened on his weapon. "Where is she?" He gritted through his teeth.
Jae-ha smiled and bared his teeth. "I told you. Safe." He continued to tease.
Zeno shook his head. "Ryokuryuu is planning a dangerous game." He stated causing Jae-ha to look at him. "Raiju is not very forgiving. He doesn't like to be teased. Best to give him what he wants."
Jae-ha chuckled. "Yes. Yes." He sighed as he pushed the loose strands of green hair out of his eyes only for them to fall back in place a second later. "She's at the water tribe palace with General Joon-gi as her personal guard. He's been ordered by the King to protect her, no matter what. In return the King is going to get rid of Nadai that's destroying the port cities." He paused as he drank some sake. "Nadai is something really bad. It's from Kai. It's a drug that gets you so addicted to it that you cannot function without it. However when you crash on that stuff it kills you."
It was then everybody heard a vibrating noise and turned towards Hak and saw that his weapon was vibrating on the floorboards in his hand. "Are you saying..." Hak began his voice becoming dark. "that Su-won..." He practically growled the man's name. "had the Princess?" Hak's eyes were almost black with rage.
Jae-ha had never feared for his life like he did in that moment. The look on Hak's face was more frightening than anything he'd ever experienced. "Yes." Jae-ha said after a moment.
"She's alive?" He asked almost disbelieving.
Zeno swallowed hard. He'd never seen such hatred from someone so young. "Yes." Jae-ha said watching as Hak's body slowly stopped vibrating.
"I-I need to see with my own eyes." Hak stated as he stood to leave.
"Of course." Jae-ha stood to follow realizing that Hak needed to see her desperately. As the group followed the two Zeno couldn't help but feel a bit tense himself as to what would soon follow.
Yona looked at herself in the full length mirror. She was currently wearing a light purple kimono with a flora haori on her shoulders. It was made from silk and felt so good to wear. Her feet were cover by matching slippers. In her hair she had a single pink floral pink that was holding her hair out of her eyes. She stood looking at herself for a moment before looking at her hands. The scratches from her bow were a reminder that this was not her life any longer. She needed to leave, but a small part of her wanted to stay. It's safe here. She thought as tears began to brim her eyes. I don't have to fight so hard to live. She brought her hands up to her face. But I don't have my friends here. I don't have Kija, Shin-ah, Yun, Hak or - Jae-ha? She wondered. Did she even have Jae-ha to count on? He didn't wish to be a part of our group. He wanted to be free of me. She felt a small laugh bubble up before it was squashed. I guess he got what he wanted. She thought sadly. She suddenly heard the sliding door open. Turning around she saw a young woman dressed in a water tribe style kimono that was tied at the top near the chest instead of at the waist like her's was. It was floral in design and left her slippers uncovered.
"Hello." The blue haired woman said. "I'm An Lili." She stated as she introduced herself. Yona smiled at her and was going to tell her, her name. "I've been told your name is Rina. That you'll be my guest for awhile and that I'm to show you around while you are staying here." Yona saw two other girls appear behind Lili, one had a sword on her hip, the other did not. The one with the weapon was blonde, while the other had black raven colored hair. "This is Tetora and Ayura; they're my bodyguards and you'll see them a lot." She approached Yona and spotted dark spots of her cheeks. "Who hurt you?" She asked.
Yona covered her cheek. "I was in a fight before coming here." She stated. "I'm alright. I was protecting some people when it happened."
Lili's eyes widened. "You protected people?" She asked gaining a nod. "Who?"
"Some girls who were being kidknapped and sold off as slave to Kai."Yona explained. "But I didn't do it by myself. My friends help. We saved those girls from being sold off."
Lili couldn't believe what she was hearing. Slaves? Girls being sold to Kai? Who is this girl? "You're so brave." She spouted off without thinking. "I-I mean..."
Yona smiled sweetly at her. "Not really." She stated. "Those girls were the brave ones. They refused to break, even though they were scarred and didn't think anybody was coming for them; they stayed strong."
Lili looked at her with awe and was about to say something else when there was a crashing noise out in the garden. The four women ran outside to investigate what it was and what was there sent Yona into a fit of giggles that turned into full blown laughter. Hak and Jae-ha both had crash landed into a bush near a fountain. The bush was a huge rose bush and both now had bright red flowers stuck in their clothes and petals in their hair. Yona ran over to her two friends and hugged them both. Her laughter still shaking her petite form as her arms wrapped around their necks. She'd never been happier to see somebody.
M-Angel: Hak restrained himself just long enough for Jae-ha to "fly" them into the wind palace. I thought how funny it would be for them to crash land when they're trying to sneak in. LoL!
