Author's notes: Hello, hello ! I'm reposting this chapter as it seems I've deleted it. Sorry guys, I didn't realize it before today. But as I'm currently writing the next two chapters, I happened to see a gap in the numbers of chapters going from chapter 6 to 8 without the seventh. Finally our dear HHB makes an appearance ! Thank you for your reviews, it made me really happy and inspired me to write this chapter. But why do I feel like this isn't what you wanted to read after the previous cliffhanger Lol ? Sorry sorry, I will do better in the next chapters. Hope you will like this new chapter, enjoy :D
Chapter 7 : Searching For Answers
Back in Tousui, two days ago.
They were sitting outside, in a place slightly isolated from the town.
"How is he ?" Yoon whispered.
"That's-" Kija tried to answer, only to be interrupted by Hak sitting a few meters away from them.
"DAMMIT !" he shouted as he clenched his fist and slammed it on the hard ground. "We haven't made any progress !"
Seeing Hak react that way was no surprise. He cherished Yona so much, probably more than anyone ever would. And she, the girl he loved ever since his childhood had disappeared because of his lack of caution and excess of trust towards a stranger.
"You should calm down mister, getting angry is bad for your health. Besides it won't help us find the miss." Zeno said.
"I know that, but I can't help it ! It's my f-"
"It's not ! It's not only your fault Hak. It's our fault so stop taking all the blame." Kija said angry at himself for letting the master he held dear out of his sight when he should have been following her and protecting her like he had done ever since she had appeared in his life.
"Yona.." Shin-ah said in a silent cry.
"Zeno thinks everyone should calm down. The miss is alright."
"How can you know if she's alright ? You said you couldn't feel her presence." Hak said.
*Uhm* "Right, Zeno and the others can't feel her presence, like we can between dragon warriors. But we can feel whether she's safe or not." the blond said.
"Eh ?" Yoon said surprised at the statement.
"Is that ... true ?" Hak asked as he looked at every dragon warrior.
"It is" Jae-ha answered. "If she was hurt or in danger, we would feel it, and right now Yona is safe." Kija, Zeno and Shin-ah nodded in agreement.
Deep down, this answer relieved him. I can trust them, if they say she's alright then she is. But, how much longer will she remain safe ? Hak thought.
"Anyway, sitting here getting depressed won't help us find where Yona and Lili were taken to. We should search some more." Yoon said.
"Yoon is right. We should go, we don't have any time to waste." Kija said.
"Wait" Yoon said. "We should split up to cover more ground. It may be easier to find what we want."
"That's right." Kija said nodding his head in agreement, then he fell silent for a few seconds, only to break the pause not long after. "Wait.. why would it be easier ?"
Yoon sighed. "Well people aren't really at ease when there's a group of strangers asking them a lot of questions. If it were me, I would run away, I mean we look suspicious and some of us can get scary."
"Ooh, I see so that's the reason." Kija said.
"Yeah, droopy eyes is scary. I remember when we were in Awa, he managed to make me afraid of him. That was the first time a person actually scared me."
"You're the scariest one thunder-beast !" Yoon added.
"Jae-ha ? What did he do to make you fear him so much ?" Kija asked.
"Just being his usual perverted self." Hak answered.
"Ouch ! That hurts Hak-kun." Jae-ha said putting his hand on his heart and making a grimace, faking being hurt by Hak's words. Hak took his glaive and gently slammed it's edge on top of Jae-ha's head causing him to let a little "Ouch" escape.
"You really seem to enjoy it Jae-ha." Yoon said expressionless as he grew used to Hak punching Jae-ha and immune to Jae-ha's personnality.
"Stop with the Hak-kun right now, it's downright disgusting !" Hak said frowning making Jae-ha smirk.
"What, it's just that ? I didn't think mister would be afraid just because of Ryokuryuu's personnality." Zeno said.
"He said he wanted me while holding my hand when we didn't even know each other, anyone would be scared." Hak defended himself.
"Eh.. so you did something like that Jae-ha." Yoon said narrowing his eyes and looking at Jae-ha with his usual look of disapproval. "No wonder Hak is always on his guard when you're near."
"It's not my fault if Hak doesn't know how to appreciate my beauty." Jae-ha turned his head so he could face Hak. "You refuse to admit it, but I'm sure you admire my beautiful self deep down." Jae-ha said smiling.
"I don't." Hak immediately replied.
"Eeh ?! How can you not love my marvelous self ?!" Jae-ha asked.
By the five dragon gods, here we go again. Yoon thought.
"I don't see anything but a pervert." Hak said.
"What part of me is a pervert ?"
"All of it." Hak honestly replied.
"You're harsh Hak !" Kija shouted. "Even though he's weird sometimes, harasses us with his stripping and can be annoying, Jae-ha is a good person !"
*Pff* Hak had one of his hand on his stomach and the other one covering his mouth to avoid bursting out in laughter. W-White snake that was amazing ! oh man I don't think I can hold it in much longer.
"Ahahah..ah.. Thank you Kija, I.. was that .. a compliment ?"
"Yay weird ! Zeno thinks we're all weird Ryokuryuu so don't worry." Zeno said happily throwing his hands above his head, convincing the innocent Shin-ah to do the same thing.
"Enough, I think it's time for you guys to grow up and stop bickering for nothing." Yoon said. "You're both being a pain."
"We have to find Yona." Shin-ah said in a soft voice.
"Shin-ah's right, listen to him. He's the most mature one here." Yoon added.
"Eh ? Even though Zeno is much older than Seiryuu, shouldn't Zeno be the most mature one ?" Zeno asked.
"You're the most childish of us all you eternal seventeen year old !" Yoon shouted.
"Childish ! childish !" Zeno said happily throwing his hands above his head once again.
He's a lost cause. I can't believe he's one of the original four dragon warriors. Yoon thought.
"Anyway, how do we split up ?" Hak asked.
Yoon was the one to decide how to divide their little group of happy idiots.
"We're six so we make teams of two people. Shin-ah and Kija, you're the first team. Zeno and Hak, you're forming the second team. Jae-ha and myself will be the third one. We should look into different part of this town. That's it."
Thanks the five dragon gods, I escaped being in the same team as droopy eyes.
"Shin-ah, let's do our best." Kija said smiling at his little brother. Shin-ah nodded.
"Well I'll be in your care Yoon-kun."
"Let's go." Hak said looking at Zeno.
"W-wait !" shouted Yoon as he saw the groups trying to leave.
They all stopped in a crouching position and looked in Yoon's direction.
"H-here take those riceballs and b-be careful." added the young boy as he blushed. They bowed to him thankful he was here and answered "Thank you mother" all together as they took the riceballs Yoon had made.
"I'm not your mom, you weird and rare beasts !"
"Here, you should also take this." Yoon added as he gave the little money they had gathered. "We don't know what kind of people we could run into. Be ready to give this if it can help us find any clue on Lili's and Yona's whereabouts."
They accepted the money, nodded and finally rose from the spot where they were sitting at and began walking towards Tousui once again.
"Ayura did you find anything about Lady Lili and Lady Yona's possible location ?"
"No, not yet. What about you ?"
"I haven't found anything either." Tetora said sighing. "But, I know how to get the information we want." she immediatly added.
Ayura lifted her brows, and the look in her eyes changed from surprise to determination. "How ?"
"That's our last resort: we should try looking in the neighboring town. No matter how hard we try to find anything here, I doubt the townspeople would tell us anything, and the culprits should have already left this town."
"I understand what you just said Tetora, but how do you plan on finding information in a town where the kidnapping didn't take place ? You're hiding something I can see it, you have that look."
"Eh which look ?" Tetora asked not really surprised Ayura's statement, but still acting innocent. She has always been so sharp when it comes to decrypting others' people attitude.
"The look of a child trying to hide something from his parents, now Tetora.."
"Fine, but it's not like I really hid it." she said pouting a little. "You remember when I told you I had this very good friend who's able to find out anything if you pay the good price ?"
Ayura nodded "I do". She recalled Tetora telling her about this friend in the past, not long after they had been appointed as Lili's bodyguards. The woman owned a brothel and saved Tetora's life when she was a child and they had stayed good friends ever since.
"Well I just remembered that, that woman moved in the neighboring town some time ago and currently lives there. She mentionned it in the last letter she sent me."
"Fine, let's go." Ayura said determined to find any info that would enable her to find her precious and cherished Lady.
...
Lili's bodyguards were standing in front of the famous brothel the mysterious woman owned.
"It's here" Tetora said before knocking two times on the back door."
"Wait, why don't we go in using the front door ?"
"Hihi, see it as a privilege reserved to friends." Tetora answered humming.
The door opened and revealed a man in his thirties.
"Is Erin here ?" Tetora asked.
"Depends on who's asking" he answered her.
"Tell her Tetora has what she wants."
The man looked at them from head to toe before speaking again "Fine, wait a second."
"Of course" Tetora answered smiling.
The man looked at them again with a suspicious look before turning away, closing the back door of the brothel leaving Tetora and Ayura standing outside the establishment.
...
"Ma'am, a woman named Tetora is asking to see you."
"And ?"
"She says she has what you want, and another woman accompanies her, but they look suspicious ma'am."
"It's good, bring them here."
"What ?"
"Didn't you hear me ?! You incompetent fool, let her and her friend in !"
"Y-yes ma'am !"
When the man readied himself to go back to the back door, a hand suddenly appeared on the thick deep red curtain, slightly pushing it to side of the wooden wall.
"You haven't changed, you still like to bully newcomers." a womanly voice said slightly laughing.
"Can't help it, they have to learn. It's been a long time Tetora" the elder woman said.
"Hey you, I didn't fetch you, how did you !-"
"Shut up Keita and get back to work !" Erin shouted clearly irritated at the man in his thirties.
"Y-YES MA'AM !"Eek the boss is scary ! I better shut my mouth and do what she wants ! the poor man thought as he quickly ran out from the room.
"The poor man won't last long if you keep bullying him."
"Oh please Tetora you can hardly call this bullying." she said rolling her eyes before smiling tenderly to her "You've become a beautiful woman, last time I saw you you were around thirteen, no fourteen ?"
"Fourteen indeed. Thanks for the compliment."
"Don't be so distant girl ! Come here." the elder woman said rising from her comfortable chair and opening her arms to hug her.
"Ha, seriously, I can't win against you Erin." Tetora said walking towards Erin's waiting open arms. Before long the two of them were hugging each other.
Ayura stared at them, surprised. I never knew Tetora and that woman were this close. Well that's a first, seeing her hug someone other than Lady Lili.
Ayura didn't want to interupt this moment of reunion, but they had a priority.
*Ahem*
"Um, I'm sorry to interupt you, but-"
"Ah, that's right." Tetora said.
Tetora took a few step backwards and introduced her friend to her benefactress. "Erin, this is Ayura, she and I were assigned to protect Lady Lili of the water tribe, she's also my closest friend."
"Pleased to meet you Ayura, I've heard a lot about you in her letters"
"The pleasure is mine Ma'am." she answered bowing to her.
"So tell me the reason you're here girl."
"You're still so sharp."
" 'Course I am, who do you think you're talking to girl."
"I will go straight to the point then. The Lady we work for was kidnapped a few days ago in Tousui, another lady was also with her and she also disappeared, do you know anything ?"
"Mmm...I heard some rumors." Erin answered.
"Here, this is all we have, please help us." Tetora said as she presented two golden necklaces.
"Are these ladies important to you ?"
"Yes, very."
"I see, then I will take one of these, keep the other."
"But-"
"No buts girl, it's a special treatment since you're an old friend." she said giving her a wink.
"Thank you so much Erin." Tetora said, throwing herself at her and hugging her thightly.
"Anytime girl. So, I need precisions about these two Ladies of yours. I won't be able to work otherwise."
"I understand. Our Lady's name is Lili, she has straight dark hair and wears hair ornaments. Last time we saw her she was wearing the traditional clothes of the Water Tribe. She also has a bandage on her right hand. Is that enough ?"
"Yeah, but I also need to know her age."
"Lady Lili is seventeen."
"Okay, I have all I want for your Lady. Now, you aslo mentionned another Lady what does she look like?"
"She is around the same age as Lady Lili. She has short wavy red hair. She wears no hair ornaments but wears golden earings with a little green marble at the top of it. Her skin is a little pale. She was wearing a long white dress and above it some kind of red vest stopping a little below her hips and it's tied with a pale pink ribbon at the waist. Um.. what else ? ... She may also be wearing a light green overcoat with a hood. That's all I can tell you."
"Okay, what about her name ?"
"That's-" Tetora said looking at Ayura.
"Classified ?" Erin questionned.
"Kind of, I can't give you her real name but will an alias do ?"
"Yeah it should be fine."
"Her alias is Rina."
"Okay that will be all girls. I will ask a few people about that problem of yours to know if what I heard is true, it will take some time so here go to this room" she said handing them a key. "It's my room you won't be disturbed, I'll tell someone to bring some food and drinks."
"Thank you very much ma'am" Ayura said.
"Don't mention it. Then I'll see you later."
"Okay, we'll be waiting."
It took an hour for Erin to come back to her room where her guest were impatiently waiting.
"So, were the rumors you heard founded ?" Tetora asked looking desperate.
"Some were, some weren't. Here's what I learned from my 'acquantainces': A witness saw the kidnapping happen. People were carried to a carriage, apparently they were unconscious. What's more, you said there were two women, however only one was kidnapped, your Lady." Ayura's and Tetora's eyes constricted when hearing the news.
"What happened to Rina then ?" Ayura said.
"That other Lady whom you call Rina was seen an hour after the kidnapping. Searching for tracks, tracks of the kidnappers. One of my acquantaince happened to be there, she questionned him and he told her the direction the kidnappers took of course he asked a certain fee for his knowledge."
Ayura was silent for a few seconds, deeply thinking about what Erin had just said. She looked at Tetora.
"Rina wouldn't have asked questions if she hadn't had anything in mind." Ayura noted.
"You mean ... you think there's a chance that she followed their tracks to get Lili back ?" Tetora asked.
"Yes, most likely."
"...Now that I think about it, it wouldn't be surprising knowing her. It's just...I don't feel at ease." Tetora added.
"Ma'am, what about the kidnappers, do you know who they are or where they are from and where they took lady Lili ?" Ayura inquired.
"Yes. Assuming the direction the carriage took, there's only one possible place they could be at : Sei."
"SEI ?!" Ayura and Tetora nearly shouted.
" And the kidnappers are likely coming from Sei too. I'm sure you want to know why they were taken to Sei, but you won't like it."
"Please Erin.." Tetora pleaded.
"Sei's political situation is currently unstable. Do you know how their country works when it comes to governing ?"
"No, I don't what about you Ayura?"
"I don't either."
"Let me explain then. There are three different branch: Military, Economy and Politics. Those power are divided and each have their 'leader'. Kuva, the woman who held the power in politics died two months ago, leaving her son and only heir Kazagumo on the throne. However her son does not hold any real power because both of his uncle are in charge of the other two branch. Taking care of military issues is Hotsuma's job whereas economy issues are in the hands of Kushibi."
"I see, but what's the link with the direction the carriage took ?"
"That's where I was getting at girl... Because Kazagumo doesn't hold any real power, his uncles made a move to claim the throne. To do so, they are competing by building forts to show their strenght, their power and their authority.
The people working in the forts, the people who are building them are people who were kidnapped. Sei is using Nadai to control their minds, which enables them to control their bodies as well, in other words, they force the people they kidnapped to work for them. The carriage carrying your Lady must have gone to either of the forts, I apologize, but I couldn't find out which one it was."
Forts - Kidnapped people - Nadai - Forced to work. Those words made Ayura and Tetora wince. Lady Lili, Lady Yona ! Tetora thought.
"We have to go back and inform the others, that way we can go to Sei and get Lady Lili and Rina back." Ayura said gaining Tetoras's approval.
"Thank you for everything you have done for us ma'am. I will not forget it." Ayura said bowing more than she had before to show her utmost gratitude.
"Thank you so much Erin !" Tetora said hugging her once again and leaving a little kiss on her cheek.
"You're welcome girls. And be careful, this will be dangerous, more than you can imagine. I will pray the five dragon gods for your success." They both nodded and exited the room with determination written all over their face.
Lady Lili, Lady Yona we're coming for you.
A few hours had passed and the Happy Hungry Bunch had met to share the informations they had found around a meal.
"You haven't eaten anything thunder beast." Yoon noted.
"I don't feel like eating right now."
"Hak, you have to eat." he added.
"Hak needs strenght ...Hak needs to eat." Shin-ah said really worried about his comrade whom he hadn't seen eating today.
"Don't worry Shin-ah, I'm perfectly healthy." Hak said giving him a friendly slap on the shoulder.
"Hak-kun ~ I will tell Yona if you don't eat. Poor Yona-chan, she will blame herself, she might even cry. It would be so heartbreaking ~"
"Droopy eyes you bastard.."
Hak could see his whole family worried about him, about his well being and was defeated.
"Fine I'll eat-"
"Say aah" Jae-ha said taking his fork in his hand and approaching it to Hak's mouth. Almost immediatly, Hak punched Jae-ha in the face.
"Ouch, it hurts ! Seriously, why are you always punching me ?!" the green dragon complained.
"You deserve that one Jae-ha." Yoon said
"You disgusting perverted creep. Looking for a painful death ?"
"Okay guys that's enough ! Eat your food, all of you !" Yoon said with a the reprimanding tone of a mother, and the guys couldn't do anything but comply.
Hak thought about the conversation that ended a few minutes ago as he began eating his meal.
"So, did you find anything ?" Yoon asked.
"No, not a single thing" Hak replied irritated.
"And you first team ?"
"Unfortunately we didn't either" Kija answered.
"If you're asking us Zeno supposes you didn't have any luck either" Zeno said.
"...Yeah..." Yoon said sighing.
Silence filled the space surrounding them.
Dammit-dammit-DAMMIT ! The princess' out here alone, without any of us to protect her ! I swore to King Il I would protect her till my own death but I can't even find a single clue to where she was taken to !
Hak was brought back to reality with the help of Jae-ha's voice.
"... Ayura and Tetora should be back any minute now, maybe they had more luck than us." Jae-ha added.
"Let's hope they got luckier than any of us" Yoon said.
"Let's go back to the camp for now." Zeno advised.
They all stood up and exited the restaurant.
Re-edited on november 19th, 2016.
