Chapter Six: in the aftermath
A\n: A bit of a filler this chappie, but I sort of thought it would be nice before we really started getting into the heavier parts of the story coming right after this chapter. Mostly bonding a bit, which is much needed. Anyways, thanks to everyone who has favorited, followed, reviewed, etc. ! You all are so kind! Enjoy the chappie! Happy readings!
Edit: I really have to stop uploading when I'm about to fall asleep xD Anyways! I fixed some mistakes! Hopefully it's better now! Anyways! Enjoy! Lemme know your thoughts!
It was a week and a half before Yun even felt comfortable letting Tian up to walk around. It was probably due to her more stubborn nature, saying how much she absolutely hated just laying around, and Yun not wanting to argue any further that allowed for her to even do small things.
"Still, I don't think you should be getting to work any time soon. You're still healing, and you could make it worse if you do anything strenuous." Tian nodded, glancing at him.
"Alright." She relented, already knowing how the boy could be.
"Here, go get some water for the dinner." Yun handed her the pot. Tian nodded, taking it. She huffed, holding in her breath for a moment. She wouldn't admit it, but her arm still hurt terribly. Yun watched her with perceptive eyes." If it hurts, I'll go get the water while you cut up the vegetables." Tian bristled. Yun was being earnest, she knew, genuinely concerned about her, but Tian was stubborn. She shook her head.
''No. It's OK. I got it." She answered, lifting the pot up, and walking towards the river.
Tian sighed as she sat the pot down. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure that Yun wasn't looking before quickly rubbing her shoulder. It throbbed, and she was thankful the others had decided to go to town. She wouldn't have to worry about anyone else looking her way. Well, expect for Shin-Ah, but he seemed to have kept a slight distance from her. She didn't worry about him looking her way. Much less interfering. Or telling Yun on her.
She sighed as she dipped the pot into the water, biting her lips as she thought of how she was going to carry the cooking instrument to the vampire without making it blatantly obvious that she was still in pain. She hissed under her breath as her shoulder popped painfully as she moved her arm up and back to lift the pot out of the water.
Tian pursed her lips. She tried to think of way to lift the pot without showing how much her shoulder still bothered her. However, she didn't have to think. After a moment, warm, gentle, firm hands replaced her own on the pots handles. The green eyed woman looked up in surprise. A small 'pykuu' was heard as the squirrel popped it's furry head from the fur of Shin-Ah's mask. She wasn't sure what to say for a moment. She felt grateful.
"You don't have to." She spoke softly, tucking some hair behind her ears. He was silent as ever as he looked at her, and then shrugged slightly.
"You're hurt." He pointed out needlessly. Tian felt a bit annoyed, but couldn't find it in her to really say anything back." Jae-Ha worried. He kept watching the tent." Tian blushed, surprised by not how simply the strange masked man spoke, but how blunt he was.
"I'm fine." She repeated, looking away. She didn't have to see his eyes to know he was staring at her. She could feel it.
"You're hurt. Jae-Ha worried about you. That's why he followed you sometimes." Tian wasn't sure what to think. She had never had a conversation with the strange masked one before. His bluntness had taken her off guard.
"Yes, well..." She trailed off, not sure where else to really go." Thank you. I'll be more careful." Honestly, she just didn't want to argue or somehow upset the one she had the least amount of contact with.
However, in the short conversation they had together, she found out more information than she had before. She felt oddly happy about it. Shin-Ah regarded her for a moment longer, and then turned on his heel,and walking the short distance back to the camp, setting the pot down by the fire. Tian sighed, standing up, and walking back to the camp herself. Yun immediately sent her back to lay down.
"You can't even pick up the pot! Go lay down before you hurt yourself more!" He told her, pointing directly to the tent. She went without much more complaint. She needed time to digest the information the silent one gave her anyways.
It was the next week, when she was finally feeling better about her shoulder that she went back to working. Although her ribs still gave her some trouble, as far as breathing and such, she found it much easier to deal with than her shoulder had been. It still hurt her at times. But she found it a bit easier to deal wit as the days went on. She had had worse pains. Like when she broke a rib. A simple shoulder injury was NOTHING compared to that pain.
As she went back to work, Jae-Ha seemed more adamant about making sure she got to her place of working safely.
He worried. That's why he followed you.
Shin-Ah's voice rang through her mind almost in an irritating manner whenever she felt annoyed by the seemingly constant contact. Like she was some child that couldn't take care of herself. But she supposed a deeper level of her didn't totally mind the treatment. Welcomed it, even. It felt nice that someone was worried for her. Still, she tried not to let it show too much.
Sometimes they'd be accompanied by Yona, which always included Hak. Or one of the others, but usually when one of the others came, it usually meant an entire trip for the whole group. Which usually meant a trip for provisions, or simply to look around. She had to admit that she was getting too used to the group much faster than she had anticipated.
Going back to work had it's own nuances. Mostly from Ha-Seon, who seemed to have been having guilt for her injuries.
"I feel bad. If I hadn't been such a coward, I could have prevented you from getting hurt." He would tell her.
Tian was caught between amusement and annoyance. He had always fussed over every injury she received ever since they first met. She was used to it, but it didn't stop her from being annoyed.
"I'd rather you be a coward than be reckless like me, and wind up hurt all the time. You're sensible. Unlike me, who will likely die in an embarrassing way. Like falling into a hole in a forest I was exploring. Or pissing off the wrong five year old. Or something." She would hope joking would at least make him laugh, and distract him. And it worked. For the most part, and only for a bit before he'd go down the guilt line again.
"Still. I know you can take care of yourself, but I don't like it when you get hurt knowing I could have prevented it from happening at all." Tian sighed,shaking her head. She glanced at him, noticing the way his eyebrows drew together. A frown set on his face. She didn't like that expression on him.
"You're adorable when you're like this." She told him with a giggle, hoping he would stop, and he did. Each time. At least for awhile, but she made sure to enjoy the moments of silence while she could.
Of course Min-Soo caught wind of the news, and also fussed. Annoyingly so.
"I knew something bad would happen if you went with those guys! I just knew it! I told BaaBaa! I told her for sure! Believe it! I said 'she's only gonna get more reckless than before, and wind up dead or something!' I told her! Didn't I BaaBaa?!" Min-Soo would turn her head towards her grandma in just about as dramatic as her voice was at the moment.
"Yes, honey, you sure did." BaaBaa would say with slight amusement, continuing to sew as if a over dramatic blonde wasn't two feet in front of her.
Min-Soo turned to look at Tian with a pointed expression. Her hands on her hips. Tian sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Don't roll your eyes at me! I'm being serious!" Tian looked at her dramatic friend with an eyebrow raised. Tian was a bit more amused now than annoyed. She couldn't stop the grin that was forming on her face."Don't you dare put those googly green eyes with that smirk on me! They won't work on me!"
"Stupid. I'm not trying to seduce you. You just amuse me." She mumbled, trying to hold in a giggle as she concentrated on sewing the intricate lace on the wedding dress.
"Good! I don't like you like that! I like men! Strong and handsome men! They provide a certain comfort no scrawny pretty girl could ever offer!"
"... Thanks for that information nobody asked for." Tian answered on a deadpan voice.
"And stop changing the subject! We have a serious problem here!"
"For the record, you changed the subject."
"You're doing it again! I'm telling you, you need to come back home where you won't get hurt!" Tian sighed as her friend pulled her into a tight hug." Seriously! You're lucky that-"
"Those people I've been with have been very nice to me, thank you." Tian rebuttled, pushing her friend away slightly." One saved my ass, and the other healed me. I'd figure, you of all people, would be thankful to them." Min-Soo sighed, finally calming down.
"I am. I just worry. I heard those officers you got into a fight with are looking for you. I just don't want my closest friend to suddenly disappear without a trace." Tian sighed heavily, patting her friend on the head.
"Silly. I'm going to be fine." Min-Soo nodded, biting her lips as she started working on another dress.
After the whole incident, Tian found herself letting her guard down with the group. Although she was reminded of the initial goal, she didn't see any harm in befriending them just the slightest.
Tian seemed more at ease with Jae-Ha than she had ever been before. She wasn't sure exactly how to feel about that, but he had saved her when he didn't have to. He worried about her, even if he didn't admit to it. She softened towards him slightly, but that didn't mean she had completely changed her attitude towards him. For the most part, she still kept him on his toes, which seemed to excited him, but there were moments when she had her softer side towards him.
"You seem pretty skilled at alot of things." Jae-Ha had casually mentioned.
For once, everyone had taken a slow day. Yona was off practicing her sword skills with Hak. Kija was apparently worrying over the red haired girl getting hurt while Zeno was trying to calm him down. Shin-Ah and Yun were studying some sort of plant they found growing on the rivers banks. Apparently the youngest boy was wanting to see about it's medicinal properties.
Tian and Jae-Ha were on a log that had fallen just outside the camp grounds. More specifically, Tian was sitting on the ground,sewing up a patch in her dress while Jae-Ha was casually laying on the log with a book in his hands. He glanced at her as he spoke with his usual half smirk.
''Nah. I'm not like Yun over there." She replied after a few moments, making sure to look up at Yun before continuing to sew up the patch." My mother was a seamstress. She taught me herself." She continued, smiling just the smallest. It was the first time she spoke about her parents without feeling bitter. It was a nice feeling.
"You never talk about your parents. Understandable though. Must be painful." He surmised, setting the book aside as he sat up, giving his full attention to the dark haired woman beside him.
"Sometimes, but it's also nice as well." The green haired man was silent for a few minutes as he watched her. He had to admit that he liked the smile that he saw there. It wasn't often he got to see such a genuine smile from her.
"I'm sure it is." He concluded, not sure he should pry any further.
"My mother was a seamstress. Quite talented. I would say she could put Yun to shame, but I'm afraid he'll hear me, and cut me off from his delicious food." She chuckled to herself, and shook her head. The green haired man stayed unusually quiet as he settled for watching her with a smile on his face." I'm nowhere near how talented she was. Guess I got that trait from my father. He was a jack of all trades but master of none. Although, I wouldn't shake a stick towards his blade work. He was pretty good at swordsmanship. Not the best, but decent enough. He would teach me to fight. I was an only child, and he thought I should learn to defend myself. Especially since I was girl." It was the most Jae-Ha had ever heard her speak about her past, and he found himself rather intrigued. He wanted to learn more,but didn't want to stumble upon something that could make her contract completely. He settled for throwing small enough remarks.
"If he taught you, he must have been pretty good at hand to hand combat." He added on after a few seconds on debating what he should say.
"Kinda. Not the best around, but he taught me well."
"I can tell." He answered, his smirk widening slightly. He rubbed his nose unconsciously. Tian looked up at him as she finished the last stitch, smiling slightly to herself.
However, as much as she got closer to the green haired man, she also became closer with others of the group. Particularly, she became close with Yona. Although the girl was younger, she felt close with her. Yona just had a magnetizing personality that drew others to her. Tian was just caught in the drift
"So why are you traveling with these men? I've been curious about that since before day one." Tian asked her during one of the nights neither could really sleep and instead stayed up late talking in low tones so as not to disturb Yun, who Tian was quick to find out was quite grumpy if awoken before his natural alarm went off.
"It's sort of hard to explain, but we're simple travelers, helping towns in need." Tian could tell the younger woman was hiding something, but she was never one to pry. Everyone had their secrets anyways. Besides, she had a deep feeling she'd find out sooner than she thought.
"I see." Tian replied after a moment, looking at the ground, poking at the white fabric with a slight frown. Yona's purple eyes looked at Tian for a moment, and then looked away.
"What about you? Why did you travel?" Yona questioned, smiling as she looked at the girl with much curiosity. Tian shrugged slightly.
"I like my freedom. I never liked being in one place."
"Do you remember your hometown?" She asked. Tian froze. Of course. How could she forget?
"Yes. I was five when we left, but my father and mother all told me it was bad, so we left." Yona looked at her with sadness. Tian couldn't look at her." My family wasn't treated the best. We were considered a bad reminder of something the townspeople wanted nothing to do with. They tolerated us, but only bearly. When the last thing tying us to the village disappeared, so did we. We didn't want their anger, their fear, projected towards us." Tian sighed, poking at the ground.
"Why were they afraid?" Tian shrugged, sighing. She truly hated bringing the subject up. She had mostly tried not to think about it all, but Yona just brought something out in her. Tian found herself wanting to talk,and had let out more than she ever intended to tell anyone.
"Because..."
Those people are simple minded. Never seeing beyond tomorrow. We left for you. Their fear would have been projected on us. On you. For fear of bringing it back, and we didn't want that on you. Now, do you understand? That kid died leaving. We will not suffer the same fate.
Her father's admament, angered voice rang through her mind at that moment. She gasped, and then shook her head. Yona frowned, and touched her shoulder. Tian looked at her
"It's OK. We all have scars. We don't have to talk about it anymore." Tian nodded, grateful for that small opportunity.
"Thank you." She whispered, smiling. Yona smiled, and then nodded. With that said, they thankfully let the subject drop as Yona started talking about other girly things. Tian found herself in full attention, and engaging. She didn't want to really think about her home village ever.
The first time Tian saw Shin-Ah's eyes, she could have sworn her very breath was taken away. Not out of fear, but out of sheer surprise at how beautiful they were.
Up until that point, she had never seen him without his mask on. She assumed he must have been really ugly. Or had something to hide. Something embarrassing. Like an embarrassing birthmark, or a scar. Or something. She had often thought of taking the mask off herself, but never did. So when she saw them, she was amazed.
She was getting some water for Yun so he can make dinner. The silent one had gone to the river to wash his face, or so he had stated. Still, she kept her eyes firmly in front of her, and dared not let her eyes travel. Just in case.
However, when she noticed Kija standing next to him fully clothed, she relaxed a bit. However, she noticed the others mask was on the bush. Being as discreet as she possibly could, she looked over at him through her peripheral vision. And what she saw amazed her.
Like the rest of the group, this silent, reserved kid was handsome. Not a mark on his pale skin. Was it possible that it was even more pale than her own ivory skin? The only mark on him was two, deep red fang looking tattoos under his brilliant golden eyes. It was his eyes that drew her in.
They were like two liquid pools of gold. The most beautiful, brilliant, and bright color she had ever seen. It was breathtaking. She never thought she'd feel jealous over someone's eyes, but his were so beautiful, she felt herself become jealous. However, he looked at her, and she forced herself to look away. She blushed out of embarrassment, quickly getting up with the pot in hand, and hurrying towards Yun. Shin-Ah quickly put his mask back onto his face.
Yun was the one she perhaps spent the most time with. Perhaps it was simply because she cooked the meals with him, but she also found the way he mothered the group, even herself, a bit endearing. Even simple little things such as calling himself a pretty boy genius as cute. Perhaps it was just his age. Or Yun himself. Either way, she also found herself having conversations with him that she didn't totally expect.
"Most boys I know your age can't do half the stuff you do." She told him one night, smiling up at him. He smirked slightly, nodding.
"Of course! I'm a genius after all!" Tian would smile at the comment, and then shake her head out of amusement.
"But you had to have started somewhere.." She noted, glancing up. His eyes seemed to lid for a moment as he obviously went to another place. The smile on his face confirmed her theory. For a moment she feared she had stepped on something sensitive, and was about to reply when he answered.
"When you're taking care of an idiot, you have to learn how to do pretty much anything." He answered. Tian nodded, smiling as she looked away.
"I'm sure taking care of him wasn't easy."
"Not at all. He was totally useless without me around, but I'm thankful for him. He taught me alot. Things I wouldn't have learned without him." Tian looked up at I'm, and smiled.
"I see. That's wonderful."
"Yeah, yeah. Let's just get this meal over with, OK?" Tian chuckled slightly, nodding, but agreeing to the child's words.
The one she found the most fun to be around was the one who always seemed like a big child. Zeno. Although he had his moments where he seemed like a completely different person, he was mostly a big ball of fun. Tian couldn't explain it, but he felt like a big warm sun, and it was nice to be around him. Sometimes she'd go of picking berries with him from the wild for one reason or another. They didn't really speak much, except for the occasional question on how the other was doing, or if there was a sudden mention for a contest. Tian, although not liking it because of her competitive nature, always took up a challenge.
"Whoever picks the most berries this time gets to have an extra serving of soup, OK Miss!" Tian would laugh, and then nodded, smirking slightly.
"You're on!" She called out, being sure to laugh just slightly. They would the begin their hunt for the most berries.
She would win, much to her happiness, but she also felt that he had let her win. It annoyed her.
"We had fun, miss! That's what matters, and besides! Look at all the good berries we got!" He would laugh, popping a few into his mouth, and eating them. Tian would laugh, and shake her head.
"Alright. Fine. Next time, don't let me win though." Zeno would just grin at her, humming as he moved along.
The first time she had any interaction at with Hak outside of the others was actually because of the red haired girl. Tian had learned of her archery and sword practices. Liking both herself, but never really bothering to learn herself, Tian settled for watching. She noticed just how close the two seemed, and smiled slightly to herself. They cared for each other. It was obvious to anyone, but there were times when she noticed a glance or two lasting a bit longer than it should have. A gentle motion. Or even the teasing.
"You like watching the princess practice that much?" Hak mentioned with a slight teasing tone as he sat next to her, watching Yona like a teacher watching a student, but Tian couldn't help but to notice another emotion in his deep blue eyes. Tian looked away quickly.
"You always call her princess. Why is that?" She questioned.
For a moment, he seemed taken by surprise. Unsure of what to say, even, but then he just laughed. She had never heard him laugh. A deep sounding laugh, but it ended in just a moment.
"It's a nickname. Since she has the same name as the old princess, sometimes we call Yona princess." Tian smiled slightly, nodding.
"You're always with her. You must care deeply for her." She didn't mean to sound as forward as she did, but it was too late to take back the words now. There was a moment of silence. Tian didn't look at him, but she could tell his wheels were turning.
"It's a man thing. When he finds something precious to him, he wants to protect it at all costs. But you should know that first hand." The last part caught her by surprise. She looked at him in confusion. He just glanced at her.
"What do you mean?" She questioned, tilting her head slightly. Hak just grinned, and shook his head.
"Nothing at all." He answered, standing up, and then walking over to Yona to correct a stance. Tian was left confused.
Then there was Kija. She wasn't exactly sure what to make of him. He was stubborn, and a bit overdramatic at times, but he was also loyal. He was kind. He cared deeply about the group, and it showed very much. In every action and word, he seemed to be thinking of his friends. She also found something mysterious about him, but like with Zeno, Jae-Ha, and especially Shin-Ah, she found herself mostly curious. They all gave off a mysterious vibe anyways.
However, she was most interested in his hand. It was strange, and nothing like she had ever seen before, but she felt too embarrassed to ask him about it. So she didn't, and instead waited for the opportunity to present itself, which happened much sooner than she thought it would.
She was washing clothes in the river. She had found herself spending less time in the village, and more time with the group, which was the opposite effect of what the group was doing. Spending more time in the village. Some stayed behind on occasion, mostly to watch the camp, but to also keep Tian company.
One day, she just happened to be washing clothes while they went into town for something. She wasn't quite sure what, but to her surprise, it was Kija that had stayed behind.
It surprises her, but she thought nothing of it until he decided to come sit by her. Not that she was unwelcome to it, but mostly because she just wasn't used to him being around her.
"You don't mind if I help, do you?" He questioned, taking a shirt,and began to wash it. Tian glanced at him, and shrugged.
"You don't have to, but feel free." She answered, wringing out a cloth, and setting it aside.
There was a silence that was set for a few moments. Tian found herself enjoying the rhythmic noise the water and clothe made together. She would glance up at the unusually silent Kija, noticing an equally unusual serious expression, and then look away.
"I should thank you for staying this long with us." He finally said after a moment, catching her surprise.
"What do you mean? You guys agreed to help me with the trouble around here. I-"
"No. It's more than that. You chose to become close to us. You also somehow managed to ground Jae-Ha as well." Tian blushed, looking away.
''No. He's just persistent.'' She answered. She then looked at his hand." May I ask why your right hand is bandaged?" She went with the more tactful route than asking why it also looked strange. Kija looked up at her, catching gazes, and then looked at his arm with a fiercely proud expression.
"I was born with the power of the white dragon in my right hand. I was gifted from the heavens, and plan to fully serve my master with this hand." Tian looked at him in surprise. He spoke with such pride. Such honor." And my dragon brothers as well. We have all gathered to serve and protect our master." He added on, and then was silent, but still held that prideful smirk. Tian felt herself both become happy at hearing such pride coming from him. However, a sinking feeling also began to settle into her gut. She then made it a point to never ask about his hand again.