Disclaimer: I don't own Akatsuki no Yona. Praise to Mizuho Kusanagi for creating this band of misfits.
Fleeting Chances
Chapter Four – Promise
Yona tightened her hold around a sturdy branch as she observed three of the castle's esteemed guests trailing down the halls. She recognised Mundok immediately; but for the two she had yet to acquaint herself with, Yona determined their identity through vague recollections.
That must be Geun-Tae… I think I remember him from somewhere. Her eyes rested on the long-haired General clad in blue. He's not Soo-Jin… and definitely not Joo-Doh… so that means he is An Joon-Gi, General of the Water Tribe… Lili's father, hm?
In her curiosity, Yona leaned forward for a better glimpse of the new face and gasped when her foot slipped and her grip loosened. The leaves rustled at the disturbance. Yona managed to secure herself, her heart beating wildly against her chest. That – That was close.
"Did anyone hear that?" she heard Geun-Tae ask. While it been soft to her ears, her sharp intake of breath had undoubtedly caught the keen ears of the Earth Tribe General. She held her breath. When Mundok stared straight at her, past the flimsy cover of leaves, Yona bit her lip to stop another gasp.
"I'm sure it's only a mischievous little mouse," Mundok said, turning back to the group. Yona breathed a sigh of relief. "Let's not waste any more time. Our company is awaiting our arrival."
Yona couldn't help a pout when they had all disappeared into the room. She had originally intended to spy on them from afar – ascertain their appearance; however, she found herself eyeing the rooftops with open-minded scrutiny. Would I be able to eavesdrop on them from the roof?
Her dallying rewarded her. Kang Tae-Jun had chosen that moment to appear, brimming with smug content and carrying a handful of drooping blossoms as he called her name. Priority stilled her; her hiding spot unspotted by the young lord. It was only when he settled under her tree did she begin to worry. His volume would distract the Generals… and her hiding would be compromised!
What should I do?
"Princess Yona? Where are you?"
True to her thoughts, the door soon opened and a stern Kang Soo-Jin passed over the threshold.
Upon laying eyes on him, Yona stiffened. She had not forgotten his goal either, and she wouldn't forgive it. Many had died that day… and so had her friends. So had Hak. Her nails dug deeply into her palms. She remained unmoving only by a thin thread of rationality; quashing ill-intentioned thoughts aside, Yona hoped he wouldn't glance upwards and catch her peeping.
"F-Father?"
"You're disturbing us. Leave."
Tae-Jun was mortified, but he wouldn't be deterred.
"I was looking for the Princess."
"She's not here," King Il supplied helpfully, having followed after the General. "You might find her with Hak."
Yona couldn't gauge Tae-Jun's reaction but his hesitant reply was enough to spread relief within her. Hak is the best choice after all.
With careful movements, Yona eased her rear onto a branch and watched the closed doors with a measured gaze. Eavesdropping is too risky but I want to know what they're talking about. Mundok might not tell me… but maybe Hak will! Since he's to join in the meeting, Mundok is sure to tell Hak whatever it is that they're discussing.
The matter solved, her dangling legs resumed a happy swing.
"Princess?" came the alarmed tone, and Yona peered down below her seat to see Min-Soo, appalled, the tea tray in his hands quivering dangerously. Oh, goodness. She offered him a tentative smile and then, as fast as she could, she hurried down the tree, much to his growing distress. "You – You were… tree…"
Words failed so he pointed upwards instead; and Yona sincerely hoped the occupants within the room didn't notice them. Their tea, however, she noted with mild pity, is getting cold. With that in mind, Yona swiftly said, "I was admiring the flowers."
After prompt ushering towards the meeting room, she fled.
It took the young servant a moment to realise that while the tree was ample in foliage, it bore not a single bloom.
It wasn't long before she was accosted by a very determined Tae-Jun. He had abandoned the flowers before reaching her; however, his excitement remained unchanged. He showered her with praises and invitations and Yona soon settled the young lord with her own invitation for tea.
"Will the Thunder Beast be accompanying us?" he muttered hesitantly as they entered the pavilion. At her shake of the head, a wide beam stole across his features. While Tae-Jun called out to a passing servant to deliver tea, Yona considered her situation. I hadn't planned for such an early encounter with Tae-Jun…
Upon the thought of finally gaining the Princess' attention, Tae-Jun launched into a tale of peerless performance, exulting in his victory over a competition that had recently taken course in Saika. She sipped her tea gingerly. His intention was clearly to impress; however, Yona's reaction left him dissatisfied.
"Well," he huffed dejectedly, "I suppose my battles wouldn't interest you."
Yona broke a cracker in half, slowly nibbling on the snack while she observed the young lord's every move. He's… tolerable. It does help that he's not coercing me into doing anything I don't want to. Once he realised she had been staring at him, he blinked then frowned unsurely.
"Is there something on my face?"
"No," she replied, dusting her hands off crumbs. She deftly changed the subject. "I'm going to observe something very interesting. Would you be interested in coming along?"
A smile split across his face. "Is this an alternate way of saying you want to spend more time with me?" The rejection was immediate, and Yona wondered whether it would greatly offend him if she were to retract her offer. But it was too late. He was practically giddy with anticipation. "I'll go!"
As they relaxed into silence, Yona's mind spun with familiar thoughts.
The location is peaceful… the afternoon tea is delightful… and company is decent. But something's missing. She took another sip. That's to be expected; but I'll bring us all together again.
"Princess Yona. A new garden has been added to my home. You should visit Saika Castle after the Five Tribes meeting."
The suggestion was harmless, and she inwardly delighted at such an opportunity. An excuse has been made for me. With this, one of her plans were in motion. Unfortunately, each plan had particular precedence and a necessary sequence, and Yona was not yet ready for this one.
"I already have plans to head for Fuuga," she admitted.
He blanched. "The Thunder Beast's home?"
Yona nodded.
"I'm sure you'd much prefer to visit the Fire Tribe," he insisted. She readied her protest but Tae-Jun must have anticipated it, for he grasped her hand. She tried to shake him off; however, his grip was tight and firm. "I won't let go until you agree, Princess Yona."
The tea set jostled when he drew her toward him and across the table. Her free hand came up automatically to stop herself from sprawling across its surface and her frustrations rose.
"Let go."
When he refused, she pulled out her folding fan from within her dress robe and brought it down upon the young lord's hand with measured force. Her release was immediate and he was left to nurse a reddening hand.
"You—!"
Yona's eyes flashed warningly, her displeasure palpable, and the young lord found himself involuntarily straightening his posture. "I understand your eagerness… but I won't condone use of unnecessary force. You have asked and I have answered." She tucked her fan into her sash in favour of tea, and she soon felt her nerves calm. "However, I never said I wouldn't visit. We can arrange a more appropriate time."
Tae-Jun visibly brightened. "Then, how about next—"
A hand slammed down on the table and Yona quickly moved to steady the delicate teapot.
"Oh? What do we have here?" Hak's voice bore a hard edge and Yona glanced upwards to find his smile had taken on a menacing quality. "Looks like fun; let me join in too."
Yona pouted as she trailed a step behind him.
"Whatever happened to that grand plan of avoiding him?" Hak chided, arms crossed and creases between his brows. "Somehow, you were able to defend yourself; but what about next time?"
"Hak, you worry too much," she said, and he sighed loudly.
"Honestly, Princess; what were you thinking, promising him you'd visit?"
"It's something I have to do." His eyes brightened with curiosity but as he didn't ask, Yona didn't answer.
"Where are you off to today?" he inquired instead. "Going to spy on the servants again?"
She yanked on his sleeve and brought a finger to her lips. "Shhh!" Her agitation amused him, and when he laughed and ruffled her red tresses, she blushed lightly. Swatting his hand aside, she resumed a slow pace down the halls. "I'm going to the archives."
"What for?"
She beckoned him closer and when he lent an ear, she whispered, "I heard Minister Ga-Yeon is going to be there; I'm going to spy on him." Her eyes shone with excitement. "Want to come too?" Before he could answer, she added, "Tae-Jun also agreed to coming along."
"You asked him?"
"The more the merrier!" she insisted.
"Princess," he stressed, and Yona almost laughed at the incredulity on his face. "I don't understand what you're trying to do."
She laughed.
"Will you come?"
"Of course," he replied with a sigh. Mumbling, he added, "Can't trust him, after all."
Yona found Minister Ga-Yeon to be a baffling man. He stood tall and proud, very straightforward, and extremely diligent; which was why he currently had his subordinates rustling through shelves of ledgers, hell-bent on receiving an answer. His scowl worsened and Yona nearly gave them away when she failed to suppress a giggle. It's so very similar to Joo-Doh's.
Stationed behind an untouched shelving, the three watched the officials work with curiosity ranging differently among the trio. While Hak was only mildly interested, Tae-Jun was downright unimpressed; and neither could see what Yona found so highly entertaining about their target.
Ga-Yeon let out a frustrated growl. "This makes no sense! Why aren't the figures adding up? Just what is happening in the Fire Tribe?"
"Sir, should we ask General Soo-Jin about this?" one of the civil servants piped up.
"No. I need to think this through." Yona started at a loud thump. "What a pain, giving me more work to do. As if I weren't busy enough already!"
Tae-Jun huffed unhappily. "Who does he think he is, insulting the Fire Tribe? I'll let my father know—" Hak was immediate in quieting the unwelcome volume of Tae-Jun's voice. At muffled protests, Yona quickly joined in hushing him. It would do them all no good if such an overbearing authority were to discover their unlikely activity.
When Tae-Jun realised what was necessary to ensure his release, Hak withdrew his hand and calmly wiped it clean on the young lord's attire. "That's horrible! How dare you wipe your filthy—" Hak raised his hand threateningly and Tae-Jun immediately quieted; however, he couldn't resist one final jab. "Princess Yona, I don't see how you can keep in his company for a prolonged— Princess Yona?"
Both men glanced to the spot beside the Thunder Beast, only to discover it void of one petite royal. Instead, they found her edging dangerously closer towards the fatigued mass. Hak made to follow after her but when one of the officials hurried in his path, Hak immediately ducked back behind the shelving… and accidentally elbowed Tae-Jun in the face.
Rubbing his injured cheek miserably, he glowered at his unrepentant assailant.
"Whoops."
Turning their attention back to Yona, they found she had snuck underneath a table. When she poked her head out to survey the area, Hak wondered just how badly the stress would affect his heart… and when she left her small sanctuary to slide four ledgers out from its stack, he realised it was better to not care.
He found it a little difficult to follow through, however, when she came barrelling into him, the ledgers still held tightly in a hand. Hak steadied her and, exhilarated, she kneeled in front of them. "I got them!" she whispered. Flipping one of them open, they soon observed the ledger dating back four years. "He said the numbers weren't adding up," she murmured. "Let's see…"
She ran a finger over the figures then turned a few more pages and repeated the same act.
"Looks like four years ago, taxes were at five thousand Ling per month." She grabbed the ledger for the next year and nodded to herself. "As expected, taxes rose… by five thousand Ling." Taking the other two into her hands, she opened it and spread it across the floor. "Same with the next year; and same with the…" No. Taxes didn't rise this year… it's still at fifteen thousand Ling. How odd. With their crops worsening, I would have thought taxation would increase.
Yona glanced at the ledger's cover. Touka Village?
"Eh? That's weird."
Yona looked up at Tae-Jun. "What is?"
"I'm sure the records in my father's office for Touka Village showed a different figure…" he muttered, staring oddly at the ledger.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes; to prepare me for when I am older, father set me homework," Tae-Jun said smugly. "I'm sure they were paying about five thousand Ling more."
Then where is it? Yona suddenly glanced up from the book. "That means all that is recorded is that the Fire Tribe hasn't increased the taxes… however odd that is, the figures seem to calculate correctly; so what was Minister Ga-Yeon talking about?"
"Oi, brats! Come out here."
All three stiffened.
"You knew we were here?" Yona squeaked, peeking around the shelf. He grinned and she warily eyed pearly-white teeth.
"The whole time." Holding a hand out, he quirked a brow. "The ledgers, if you please."
At the mention of the books, Yona hurried out from the shadows.
"I have questions."
Her shoulders were tense, her eyes tolerating no refusal. At the absurdity of the situation he found himself in, Minister Ga-Yeon snorted. "Ask them."
"What did you mean by 'figures not adding up'?"
"Your father would frown upon eavesdropping, Princess Yona."
"I'm sure," she replied, "but I would still like an answer."
He swiftly turned an open ledger towards her and everyone watched as she evaluated its contents. A frown marred her features.
"The total is incorrect," she murmured. Though each person's contributions remained consistently the same throughout, the total sum in Touka Village's current ledger had increased by approximately three hundred thousand Ling. Flipping the pages back, Yona noted the discrepancies between the earlier months in the year and the recent months. "Has a mistake been made?"
Minister Ga-Yeon heaved a long-suffering sigh.
"Doubtful; since the odd change has been consistent these last few months and I haven't received word of an error, I just can't write this off as one."
"So the question is," Hak asserted, "where has the unaccounted numbers disappeared off to?"
Should I change my plans? No, it's still early; but the missing figures worry me… could it be that it's being used to fund—
"Are you suspecting father?"
Tae-Jun had been unexpectedly quiet, and Yona sensed an uneasiness in the tension in his build. While he had been a wonderful help, his loyalty to his father was both admirable… and a hindrance.
"Of course not," Yona assured. "I'm sure there's a reason for all of this. As our suspicions are unfounded, it would be better to not tell your father about this; it would be best not to create a rift over something that might just be a mistake."
He nodded hesitantly.
"Tae-Jun, I would still like to view your gardens in Saika." Relief washed over her words successfully distracted him. "Would your father allow it?"
"I'll go speak with him now!"
He left happily.
"You're really going?" Hak said.
"Yes."
Before Hak could respond, they were all startled by a loud bark of laughter. Ga-Yeon eyed her with newfound appraisal. "How daring," he remarked. "Am I right to assume you're actually suspecting the Fire Tribe General of fraud?"
Blinking wide, innocent eyes, she replied, "I never said so."
"You never denied it, either."
Yona closed the ledgers and placed them neatly on a tall pile.
"It seems we've overstayed our welcome; and we've also missed lunch. Hak and I will be leaving now."
As they retreated, Yona wondered if she was doing the right thing in leaving him plenty amused and very curious by her display.
He had appeared like the wind, and she had been caught completely unaware. He was as she remembered, before everything had soured. The easy smile, his kind eyes, the soft call of her name; and she pondered over his ability to retain such a convincing mask in the light of one he would soon consider his enemy. Perhaps I never understood him as well as I thought I did.
"Soo-Won."
Meeting him again was… not as she expected. He would no longer reduce her to tears, but her heart twinged upon knowing what he had planned in the shadows. She recalled this day… and when he presented her with a box, she felt nostalgia bite her deeply.
"I have something for you," he said. Yona accepted the gift with daunting trepidation. When she saw the hairpin, her expression almost gave away the maelstrom of upset she was harbouring.
"Thank you," she murmured. Yona loosely twisted her hair and secured it with the pin. "Does it look good on me?"
"Yes."
He smiled… and she nearly cried.
Hak arrived at her room to find her listlessly twirling a hairpin, her expression a mixture of morose acceptance. He crouched by her feet and peered up into her face.
"Hak!" She was startled out of her reverie and immediately drew back. Yona settled when he reached over to pat her head. "What are you doing here?"
"Min-Soo asked me to fetch the little Princess for dinner since he's busy."
Her eyes darkened and her hold on the pin tightened. Dinner with father… and Soo-Won. I don't have much of an appetite right now… but if I don't go, they'll worry.
"Where did you get that from?"
Yona followed his gaze down to the object in her hands and she nearly hid it, much like she had usually done. "Soo-Won. A gift."
She didn't see the slight hardening in his eyes; and before she could, he had expertly masked it. "Then what's wrong?"
Her voice was soft and quiet, and Hak strained his ears to pick up the words. "I just realised that there are some things I'll never be able to escape." But it is better this way; it will serve as a reminder to what I need to do, what I must prevent. Lifting a hand, she reached over to touch a feather of his headpiece.
"Princess?"
"Hak… if I asked you to be mine, would you allow it? Would you swear your loyalty solely to me?"
His eyes widened and he would have teased her… but the weighty expectation in her eyes stopped him and brought him on bended knee. "Of course. I'd give my life to ensure your protection."
She'd rather he not offer his life. If she could, Yona hoped to prevent that; however, his words were clear, his meaning unmistakeable.
"I promise to become stronger. Strong enough to protect you. Strong enough to protect Kouka." Yona tugged gently at the feather before he could utter a protest, and remarked, "You won't be using this once Mundok appoints you as his successor. As a testament to our promise, would you give it to me?" She dithered, searching for something suitable, only to frown when she realised the most appropriate exchange was not yet in her possession. "I have something for you… but I don't have it yet."
Lapis lazuli. A stone to protect him.
"Here," he offered, holding the headpiece out to her. Her eyes lit up and he couldn't look away. She smiled as she wrapped it around her wrist. With this… I'm sure I will have the confidence to handle dinner.
"Are you eating with us too, Hak?"
"I've been invited to."
She's happy. He kept up a lazy pace… and he was surprised when she adjusted herself to suit him. Occasionally, she'd hurry ahead, but Hak soon noticed she was never out of sight… and her smiles were never far behind. Though she knows Soo-Won is waiting, she waits for me.
Internally, Hak was waging a battle against unwelcome feelings.
Her intentions were made clear but… This is why I didn't want this job. Damn. Hardened hyacinth-blue eyes slanted over to her wrist. She wears what's mine… but it means nothing. From the very beginning, she has always been hopelessly fettered to Soo-Won… and I have always accepted that.
Completed on August 18, 2015. 3504 words.
After copious substandard drafts and a bout with the flu, I present to you all: chapter four!
The lapis lazuli stone she promised him is canon, for those who don't know. I believe it was introduced in chapter 109 and 110.
I used 20, 000 Ling back in chapter 2. It's now been appropriately changed due to a new interpretation of their currency.
Touka Village – the barren village that Yoon lived in as a child.
To Guest (review #66): I'm going to direct you to my profile page; it shows the progress of the next chapter in percentages. In answer to your question: unless this story is deleted, it will continue. When it comes to updates, I can't promise anything; but I will try my best.