Yona still missed her. It had been a strenuous year without her teacher but she still trained in secret. She hated betraying her father but she wanted to be able to protect herself and others. She would never be as amazing as Ennis was. Her master was out of this world. She didn't let her discourage her. A little was better than nothing. She kept knives under the floor boards and in some parts of the roof she would take out the tiles and place a sword on the empty patch and then cover it over.
Her pretence of ignorance continued. No one noticed the subtle depression sweeping over her. Sometimes, at night, she would wonder around the castle with a black hood covering her face. Ennis wore a lot of hoods. Especially in town. She didn't know why she was replicating it but she just felt like it. She also wore Ennis's clothes occasionally. She had looked through her house when she disappeared. Only a few things were left behind. She treasured those items. In secret of course. No one could find out that the innocent and young princess was a sword wielding sarcastic idiot who missed her highly dangerous mentor. If somebody found out…. She shook the unpleasant thought.
No one could ever find out about this. Ever. She would have to leave if somebody did. It had become almost a weakness. The constant worry, the what ifs… she practised continually imagining Ennis by her in the black of night "you need to build up your stamina. Your strength fades too rapidly." She imagined she'd say or "good work kiddo!" at the end of practise.
Since their meeting she hadn't been able to shake the dreaded nickname. When asked her teacher would say 'you're around twelve but you still look like a measly five year old!' she was an absolute tease. Yona knew that well enough to not take it seriously. She was just like Hak in a way. She liked Hak more than she ever could have without Ennis but she kept a safe distance all the same. They could not get to close. She had begun to feel lonely. Normally she would have shared her frustrations at keeping the pretence and hiding the truth with her Master but with her gone she felt like a ticking bomb ready to expose the reality of her situation. She desperately needed a friend. But there was no one around that could keep a secret.
I saw him multiple times after that. All of a sudden with Sora I could talk. I had never been a big talker in fact I spoke very little. But with him… I just exploded with stories and jokes. I saw him again in a few terraces and later, since we both had free time, I began to trust him enough for us to talk. At first it was only idle banter but then it became deeper. He was funny and told me I had a good sense of humour as well so I made jokes whenever I could after that small comment. It shouldn't have affected me that much but it did.
I became more expressive and actually developed a personality and along the way after a few months my friend turned into my object of desire. Without knowing it I had fallen in love with him. I hid it as best as I could, besides I didn't know if my feelings where returned and I was further more too shy to tell him straight out. I also dint want to risk our friendship. If he said he just wanted to remain that way there would always be the awkward knowledge that he had crushed my hopes and that I was still alone, clutching on strings.
I would sometimes lay awake at night thinking how I could tell him and promise myself I would do it the next morning. I knew I never would and I never did.
I asked Sora where he worked once. He answered simply 'I actually work at a bar in the evening and I sometimes run errands and do odd jobs!' I had expected something of the sort but the way he said it with such enthusiasm made me break down laughing. He looked mock offended for about three second before a wide smile stretched upon his face and he begun laughing too.
One night I decided to visit him at work at the bar. He was polite and charming and served me a drink. I spent most of the evening at the bar and returned home the usual way, except this time I was drunk on happiness. He was perfect. I loved him. I loved every inch and detail. His flaws were non-existent one or two people didn't like him for his sarcasm and never being able to take anything seriously but that was their opinion. I was in heaven every time we were together. He also seemed to enjoy it to which increased my cheerfulness.
And then one day I found out his flaw.
