**WARNING!**

This chapter has vague implications of *attempted* rape. Nothing too specific or graphic, but different people have different triggers. I've bracketed off the section like this:

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This chapter has been both one of the easiest and one of the hardest chapters to write. The scene flowed easily enough. It was the details that I struggled with. There was just so much going on in my mind, it was difficult translating that into words. This 'chapter' was originally over 6,000 words! I ended up breaking it up so it wouldn't be such a wall of text (and to give myself some more time to work on the other two parts). As always, thanks for reading along. Let me know what you think, the good AND the bad! Does it flow well? Does the ending feel too cut off? Good or bad, I want to know! ^_^

Disclaimer: I do not own Akatsuki no Yona, its plot, nor its characters. I've simply thrown my own original character into the mix because I'm a curious creature and chased a plot bunny down a rabbit hole. I'm stuck. Please send rum.

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The chatter of birds, soft breathing, the bright morning... Together, they slowly roused the small girl from her sleep, her back and side protesting sharply when she tried to stretch. With a grimace, and definitely more awake than she had been, she slowly forced her eyes to open. They were reluctant at first, but soon shot open in alarm, her breath catching in her throat as she forced herself to remain quiet.

There, inches away, a young boy slept. He was.. pretty, though, she doubted he'd appreciate being called that. Most boys didn't want to be called "pretty". "Handsome", yes. Maybe even "cute", but certainly not something considered so girly as "pretty". He had the palest, smoothest skin she'd ever seen, with bright red marks under his eyes that arched delicately down each cheek. She'd never seen anyone with tattoos on their face before, but even that wasn't what had her attention right now. Instead, her eyes were currently locked on his hair. His blue hair! With blue eyebrows to match!

She reached out with her hand tentatively.

The one the boy wasn't holding. Because

she certainly wasn't holding his hand! Just like she definitely wasn't blushing.

Scarcely believing he could be real, she gently touched the soft blue tresses, stroking her fingers through the silky strands. Once… twice… and once again before they moved down, touching the marks on his cheeks curiously. It was then she noticed the bandages on her arms. Her confusion only lasted a moment before she stiffened, the memories rushing back.

The men.

Mama and Papa.

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Hands grabbing her, choking her as they ripped her clothes off. Held her down as she fought and raged. He'd laughed! Taunted her as the dagger sliced through her side. Shoved her to the floor, dirt digging into her tender back, hand tight on her neck as he held her down. She knew what he was trying to do. She pushed and shoved, twisted, anything to try and get out from under the man looming over her.

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Ironically, it was the blade he'd cut her with,

just within reach, that had ended his life. The look of surprise on his face as the blade entered the side of his neck was one she would never forget. He'd jerked back, causing the blade to rip out, her grip tight on the handle. He'd pressed a hand to the gaping hole, desperately trying to hold back the fountain of blood that spilled out.

Leaving his torso open.

She stabbed again, and again, watching with savage triumph as his eyes widened, body jerking with each thrust. But she didn't care. Didn't stop until he collapsed to the floor and his hands fell limp to the side. Not giving the adrenaline a chance to wear off, she'd hastily grabbed her robes out of the red puddle and dressed before tearing out the door nearby, blade forgotten in the dead man's chest.

Her body was shaking from the memory, remembering the terror.. and the anger. Her jaw clenched tight as she fought down the emotions surging through her. She wouldn't cry. She refused!

She'd cry for her family, for her home, but she would not cry because them. They'd already taken enough. She wasn't about to give them anything else.

Her family… Her village...

She took a deep, shuddering breath, forcing her mind back to the present, focusing back to the boy in front of her as she struggled to distract herself.

She supposed she should feel afraid right now, being around a male, after… after what happened, but she was surprised to find she couldn't bring herself to be anything more than just a little nervous. It was hard to be afraid of someone who looked so peaceful. And actually… Now that she was looking at him again, he honestly didn't look like he was much older than she was, still just a young boy. She watched as he slept, the serene look on his face and his slow steady breaths further calming her… She resumed stroking his head absently, closing her eyes as she let her other senses take in her surroundings.

She could hear a waterfall in the distance, the steady rumble of the water as it crashed down was a steady thrum in the background. The wind sang a soft melody to her as it blew down from the high canyon walls, leaves whispering as they rustled against each other while it danced through the trees. She smelled a campfire nearby, the smell of ash and embers and scorched earth reaching her nose before the light breeze pushed it away, replaced by the smell of wild flowers and a woodsy scent. It was similar to that of the Deep Woods she called home but.. lighter. Old, but not nearly as old as the forest she knew and loved. She felt the sun heating her skin, its rays a gentle caress that-

She froze, her eyes flying open when the hand holding hers squeezed lightly. The world around her went still, waiting with her as the boy stirred under the hand still buried in his hair. Bleary eyes fought to stay closed. Golden at first glance, but so much more. Yellows, oranges, reds, purples, blues, greens… Prismatic and iridescent, the colors danced and shimmered. Slitted pupils gazed back, expanding and contracting as they struggled to slowly bring the world into focus in the bright morning light. She couldn't move. Couldn't think. Couldn't breathe.

She could tell the moment his mind caught up.

His eyes, those beautiful eyes, had shot open in alarm. She heard him inhale sharply as he jerked back away from the hand resting gently on his head, yanking his own hand free and literally slapping it over his eyes as he retreated. His knees drew up in front of him, body curling up defensively, trembling, as he hid beneath the blanket he'd been sleeping under.

Her own eyes were now wide open as well, too stunned to feel much embarrassment at having been caught essentially petting a stranger. Whatever she had been expecting when he woke, it hadn't been.. this. Was he..?

'Afraid?

Of..

me?'

She tried to get up, to somehow comfort this strange boy, but quickly regretted the idea, remaining on her stomach with a hiss as a sharp pain tore through her side. Her back protested mildly as well, though more of a dull throb in comparison.

The sudden sound seemed to get his attention and she saw him turn away quickly, still wearing the blanket, and rummage through a bag near what appeared to be a cave. Looking at her surroundings for the first time, she realized she had no idea where she was, or how she'd gotten here. She felt terrible, and if the bandages she felt covering most of her body were any clue, she probably looked like it too. She was just about to try to get up again when she heard… were those bells?

Following the sound, she turned her gaze back to him and jumped slightly, startled. The blanket was gone and over his face, he wore a horned half-face mask now. Long blood-red triangles, one above and one below below, pointed away from each of the empty, black sockets, the shadows revealing nothing of the eyes peering at her from within. It was intimidating, to say the least. The overall effect only eased by it's disproportional size. Not enough to look comical. Just a little too large compared to the person wearing it.

She tried to push away the feeling of disappointment at this latest change. She wanted to see his face again, especially those stunning eyes, but judging by the way he'd covered them so quickly and the anxiety nearly radiating off of him in waves, she realized he must have a reason for hiding himself. It wasn't hard to guess that something bad had happened and she felt a pang in her chest as she wondered what kind of trauma could have caused such bright eyes to cloud with such fear.

She sent him a soft smile when she saw him turn to look over at her, not missing the irony that she was trying to put him at ease, even though she was the one currently laying down and injured, not to mention being the smaller and weaker of the two. He approached cautiously, though her smile seemed to confuse him for a moment, before stopping just out of arm's reach. Crouching down, he extended one arm out towards her, a bag dangling from his hand. She tried to push herself up once more only for a second spasm hit. She grit her teeth and clenched her eyes against the pain. Nope, she wouldn't be going anywhere. Not without a lot of hurting at least.

Breathing carefully, she waited for the burning sensation to dull before she looked at him again, noting the way his lips pressed together slightly, his shoulders tensing. Even though she couldn't see his eyes anymore, she could practically feel the concern rolling off of him. She licked her lips and swallowed, trying to get her throat to work.

"Can you help me sit up?" She winced, the words coming out hoarse, voice dry and scratchy and cracking from disuse.

The boy seemed to stare at her for a moment, then... a small nod. He sat the bag down and moved closer, helping her roll onto her back before gently easing her up into a sitting position. Her back stung a bit, the skin feeling warm and stiff, but it was her side that hurt the most. A wave of dizziness washed over her.

He must have noticed something was off because, even though she was upright, he didn't let her go. She gave him a grateful smile, sure that she would have fallen over if not for his support. He opened his mouth, before seeming to change his mind and closing it again. Instead, he reached into the bag and pulled out a water pouch, offering it to her awkwardly. Once she had a firm hold of it, he let go, waiting for her to finish drinking before he motioned again. Pointing to her, then over to the nearby wall. It took her a second. It was obvious he was asking something...

"Are you.. wanting me to move over there? I'm sorry, I.. I don't think I can. I'm feeling pretty shaky and light headed right now."

He shook his head slightly. Moving slowly, he motioned with one hand towards her lower legs while the other tightened slightly around her waist, making sure to avoid the side that hurt. He was asking if he could carry her.

"Oh! Yes, I'd appreciate it! I mean.. if you're sure you don't mind?"

He didn't answer, and instead of helping her to stand, he easily lifted her up into his arms, blankets and all, and carried her over to the wall before easing her to sit on the ground once more. He was careful, gentle, despite the tension in his muscles and the pounding in his chest that even she could feel. As she settled against the stone behind her, he patiently waited until he seemed satisfied that she was comfortable before withdrawing his support. She leaned against the firm rock behind her, allowing it to support her and relishing the feeling of the cold from the stone seeping through the fabric and soothing the warm skin on her back. She thanked him softly, a genuine smile spreading across her face as he pulled away. For a moment, neither of them moved, not quite sure what to do next. Her eyes were drawn from his face, well.. his mask, by a small motion. She'd barely had time to catch his hands clenching nervously at his sides before he disappeared into the opening beside her.

'Not much of a talker, it seems.'

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