Chapter Eight: The Party

A\n: Someone once told me that as long as it provides important information to the story, then it's really not filler but the last couple of chappie have felt largely like filler! Hahaha ^^; anyways! After this chappie, I promise! We'll start getting into the main chunk of the story, which will make me really happy to write about for one :D ahhh this chappie went longer than expected but oh well! I'm pretty happy with how it turned out! Thank to everyone who's given this a chance! Please! Lemme know your thoughts!


Although Tian had all intentions of going to sleep after the talk with Yona, the raven haired girl found herself unable to sleep for hours. She only a few, less than three, hours of restless sleep before her natural inner alarm clock went off, and she forced to stare groggily at the tent's northern wall.

Yun was already awake. Of course he was. He was always the first one awake so that he can start cooking for everyone. Normally Tian would be up as well, but she was far too tired. She felt almost a bit grumpy, which is why she didn't move despite the rumbling of her stomach caused by the delicious smell in the air. Nor did she move when she felt Yona awaken from her sleep. Tian knew in these moods, she really shouldn't be around others. She snaps way too easily.

"Tian?" Yona called to her softly. Tian didn't answer, not wanting to snap at the young girl." Are you awake?" She asked. Tian felt Yona shift after a moment of the dark haired girl not answering her. She waited another moment before answering.

"Yeah. I'm awake." She mumbled, turning to look at Yona, who was fluffing out her hair with one hand and rubbing her eyes with the other. After a moment, Yona looked at Tian, and then leaned over, getting a closer look at her face.

"You look bad. Did you get any sleep last night?" Yona asked in worry, tilting her head slightly. Tian nodded, frowning.

"Yeah. I did." If Tian sounded guarded, she honestly didn't mean to sound that way. She just didn't want the young girl to needlessly worry about her.

No use in telling her the truth.

Tian decided as she rubbed her eyes. Yona watched her for a moment, setting back in her original position. She watched her with a worried expression.

"Are you sure? You don't look like you got much sleep." The red haired girl answered after a few moments of silence.

Tian touched the bottom of her eyes as she sat up,wondering what the girl saw. Bags? Possibly. Tian's cheeks reddened from embarrassment. She wasn't going to tell the girl the reason for her restlessness the night before.

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine, Yona." Tian answered with a hopefully convincing grin. Yona looked at her a moment longer, and then nodded with a slight smile.

"If you insist." Yona replied, running her fingers through her hair for a moment, stretching. She then grinned."Come on! Everyone's waiting!" She announced, standing up, but waiting for Tian. Tian nodded, half smiling to herself. She was starting to be a in a better mood, but thinking about going outside... If Jae-Ha wasn't there...she tried not to think about it.

Tian tied the hair covering in be usual fashion, making sure everything else was in line, before she walked out of the tent behind Yona.

"Good morning, misses!" Zeno called out with a cheery grin, waving to the two girls.

"It's good to see you guys up." Tian let out a small breath when she saw Jae-Ha smiling a bit flirtatiously at them.

Good. He came back. That relieved some guilt.

Tian thought, nodding as she sat in the same spot she had been sitting in to eat her meals. Yona sat next to her.

The meal was once again the pastries she had given them the previous day with some type of strong smelling drink. As soon as Tian experimentally tried it, she found herself full of energy. That kid sure knew how to cook a meal, and wake people up.

"Tian?" Said girl shook her head, and glanced over at Yona, who had called out to her."You're not too busy today, are you?" Honestly, Tian wasn't sure what brought this question on for the red haired girl. But she answered anyways, despite not sure where this was heading. Or if she wanted anything to do with it at all.

"I'm... Not totally busy." Tian finally let out with a slow breath. Yona seemed pleased. If her smile was anything to go by anyways.

"That's good!" With that ambiguously said, the red haired girl continued her meal. Tian just sighed, and leaned forward to stare at the fire.


"When I said that I wanted you to visit, I didn't mean bring along your... Whatever they are." Min-Soo hissed in a whisper to Tian, leaning in to whisper the venomous words to her friend.

Not that her blonde friend ever approved of the situation Tian agreed to, after the fight with the officers, it had reached a new low. Tian knew that Min-Soo had a tendency to be over protective when it came to her, from many experiences,but at times like this it was a bit annoying.

"Open your mind to the possibilities, Min-Soo, they're nice." Tian whispered back in the same tone. Min-Soo pouted, glaring at her friend with her arms crossed.

"Just so you know, my approval of this situation is still less than sub zero."

"Just shut up, and grin and bear it. I sure as hell do." As if on reflex, Tian's eyes traveled over to the green haired man was glancing at her with a smile. He quickly looked away at the stand of herbs. Yun was next to him. Tian frowned,and looked forward.

They were currently walking down the street, look at various things. Apparently, Yun had decided to give them all a bit of money to spend, and Yona wanted to explore the town. It was just Tian's rotten luck that her big mouth had to open, and mention the promise she made with Min-Soo. That's when they suggested they merge the meetings. Rather, Jae-Ha suggested this, much to her annoyance. Min-Soo wasn't any happier either.

Regardless of the matter, what was done was done, and here they were.

"So, what's the festival for?" Yona asked, glancing back at Min-Soo and Tian.

The green eyed girl looked at her friend expectantly, but she just pouted, and looked off. Tian sighed, blowing some bangs way. She looked forward to answer Yona herself.

Geez. How pissed off can she possibly?

"Yona, it's-"

"It's for the town's one hundredth birthday." Min-Soo answered. Tian glanced at her, and then smiled in relief.

Good. She's not the to sulk all day.

"It'll be fun." Tian added on, sounding more like a question than anything else.

"Of course!" Min-Soo grinned over at her friend. Tian laughed slightly, linking arms with her friend as they walked forward.

Tian had fun to say the least. Much to her surprise, Min-Soo had warmed up to Yona much faster than Tian thought she would. Min-Soo dropped her poutiness, and once she did, the three girls had much more fun looking at jewelry, and trying the perfumes. Yona hadn't enjoyed such luxuries in such a long time, it felt wonderful to just be a girl for once.

After awhile, the girls went back to Min-Soo's home.

"You have such pretty hair! Let me play with it a bit!" Min-Soo begged Yona, grabbing her by the hands as she lead her to the bathroom. Yona seemed surprised for a moment,and then grinned as she allowed herself to be laughed slightly, crossing her arms as she shook her head.

"Alright! But I get to play with Tian's hair!" Yona called out, glancing over at a shocked Tian. Min-Soo just laughed, looking at her friend.

"You can do my hair, OK?" Min-Soo sounded as if she was compromising but Tian merely shook her head stubbornly.

"I don't even know how. I'm not girly." It wasn't a complete lie, and she was trying to get out of this. Min-Soo seemed to catch on to what her friend was doing.

" So what? I'm not letting you out of this. Yona will do your hair while I do hers and when I'm done, you do my hair! It's a girl's day, and you aren't getting out of it!" Tian sighed as her wrists were grabbed by both Yona and Min-Soo, and drug her to the bathroom. Why did festivals bring out such troubles?


Tian wound up wearing a loose fitting pure white under dress that was long sleeved. It reached her wrists, almost overlapping with her thumbs. Over it was a deep red chima* with a lighter red ribbon tying it together. On her feet were simple sandals. Her hair was completely down for once, save for a small hair accessories that Yona wove into Tian's hair.

Yona was dressed in a beautiful dress that flared a bit at the bottom. It was decorated with little red flowers that contrasted nicely with the white fabric of the dress. Around her waist was a light purple sash. Her red hair was half braided into a little crown on her head with a purple bow tying it together.

Min-Soo was wearing a dark red dress with a black vest over it. She had golden pins tying the dress together. Her honey colored hair was up in a simple braid with a flower hair pin to make it look girly. Tian was never good with hair after all. On her feet were black colored shoes.

All three girls were wearing lipstick, and perfume. While Yona and Min-Soo seemed to absolutely revel in the girly treatment, Tian felt anxious, and was wading it through to the end.

Tian wasn't even sure why she was surprised to see the guys standing outside the house the moment the girls emerged from the house. Those guys went anywhere Yona went for whatever reason. Still, she found herself surprised.

"Yona! You look amazing!" Kija called out with a slight blush. Hak grinned at Yona, making her blush as she looked at her feet.

"There's some type of speech that's supposed to be going on. We should head there before they begin." Min-Soo said before anything else could be said.

"We should head there. Sounds like fun!" Tian smiled slightly, happy that Min-Soo had warmed up to the group so easily.

The celebration was grand. Street musicians played their instruments while the people listened. Vendors were busy selling their things. Min-Soo made sure to keep close to Tian, but the green eyes girl was looking elsewhere for someone.

In fact, she was looking for Jae-Ha. Sometime during the speech, he had disappeared, and he had yet to return. Tian frowned, feeling unhappy that he would suddenly just go off and disappear. Although, it seemed he had told the others of the group where he was going. Yona kept her busy, smiling in reassurance telling Tian that sometimes he had a habit of wandering off. Even if it was a habit, Tian didn't like it.

"Min-Soo, I need the bathroom." Tian whispered to her friend, who had her arms firmly linked with Tian's arms.

"Fine, but you hurry back, alright?" Tian nodded, quickly unhooking her arms from Min-Soo's arms, and then went on search of Jae-Ha.

This is so stupid. Why am I even going to look for him? If he wants to be alone, I should let him. It's none of my business.

Tian would think to herself as she went in search of the green haired man.

Min-Soo is probably looking for me. I should head back.

But it was at that moment she heard something. Something very faint, but it was also a bit beautiful as well. Beautiful and sad. A tune she couldn't exactly place. It caught her attention, and she followed it.

Tian moved through a sea of people, making pardons, and generally trying to move fast as she followed the sound. She followed the tune to a more secluded area. There was few people here, since most of the people were in the town square where most of the action was taking place, but even at that she couldn't find the source of the music. However it stopped. She looked around curiously, eyebrows drawing together.

"Hey." Tian stepped back a few, and looked up at the roof. There was Jae-Ha, smiling at her widely.

"How the hell did you get up there?" She questioned, still looking up. Her eye narrowed out of habit whenever she looked upwards, her hands at her hips as she looked at him with a curious expression. He smirked slightly, and then stood up with a confident stance.

Tian wondered, for a moment, almost worried, how he can stand so confident on a roof top. She worried if he was going to fall off, but she was amazed to see him jump down with such grace and speed. When he landed, he didn't even seemed harmed. He just looked with a low 'heh', and then looked up at her with a slight smirk. Tian looked at him in surprise, her mouth up slightly.

"You...I...how..." She felt like a fool, stammering. She could feel her cheeks reddened from embarrassment.

"Do you plan on finishing any of those sentences?" He teased, walking towards her. Tian's blush deepened, and she scowled at him."I'm way too used to that expression to even be threatened by it." He teased, coming to a stop just about a couple inches away from her."What are you doing here anyways? I thought you were with Yona and the others." He casually sat on the ground, and glanced at her. Tian sighed,answering as she took a spot next to him

"I was, yeah, but..." She sighed, shaking her head. She wasn't about to admit she came looking for him.

"Ah, I see! You were so worried about me, and missed me so much you came in search of me! You missed looking at this beautiful face, amirite!" Tian blushed again as he came closer to her with a sly smirk on his face. Tian put both hands in front of her face, turning away with a scrunched face.

"Too close, and you wish." She answered, dropping her hands, and giving him a challenging expression. He merely raised an eyebrow at the action, but sighed as he leaned his head against the building.

"Did you think I'd run off again?" He questioned in a much more frank and solemn tone. He glanced at her with an expression that was between curious and serious.

Tian made an annoyed sound in the back of her throat, scowling as she looked off. There was a slight pang in her chest that she couldn't exactly explain.

I feel disappointed but relieved. I wonder why this all feels familiar.

She wondered to herself, scowling just slightly as she watched her fingers intertwine with one another before becoming detached from one another. Only for the same thing to happen again. She was playing with her fingers, working off her nerves.

I wonder why the thought of him just suddenly disappearing makes me sad.

Tian glanced at him, eyebrow drawn together, but her face holding a mode blank expression.

"Where did you go off to last night?" She questioned, biting her lips. He glanced at her again. He regarded her for a moment, and then looked off with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Not far. I stayed along the creek, and sat for awhile." Tian nodded, biting her lips as she looked away.

"W... Why did you leave?" She spoke so lowly, she was surprised she heard herself. She was even more surprised that she spoke the question that was on her mind.

There was silence for a moment. It wasn't tense, but it wasn't exactly peaceful either. It was somewhere in between.

''It doesn't matter why. I'm here now." He said in the same low tone, not looking at her. Tian glanced at him, and then away.

"I suppose you're right." There was silence again, but it felt more comfortable this time.

Tian smiled slightly, exhaling as she laid her head against the cold stone building. Jae-Ha glanced at her, biting at his bottom lip for a moment before signing just as loudly as he laid his head against the building, looking up.

The silence continued for another few moments before the green haired man spoke.

"Other than Yona, you have got to be the most frustrating woman I've ever met." He said in tone that was somewhere between being serious, teasing, and flirting. Tian looked at him with an eyebrow raised, and then looked away.

"I could say the same about you. You're the most frustrating man I've ever met." She glanced at Jae-Ha, only to see him smirk. She hated to admit to, but she found that little smirk attractive in its own right. She smiled slightly, and looked away.

"I'm glad you say that." He said, glancing at her. Tian looked at him with an eyebrow raised.

"You want me to consider strangling your neck?" She asked through a laugh, which just caused him to smirk, but she could feel it had more of a sexual meaning that he let on.

"Careful. I might enjoy it too much." He teased, winking. Tian blushed, and quickly looked away. Jae-Ha just laughed again.

There was a moment of silence between them. It wasn't awkward. Neither seemed to fill the need to really fill it with mindless chatter. Instead, they let it settle in comfortably, and basked in the simple silence. However, Tian was quick to break it. She glanced over at the green haired man with a slight smile.

"I really liked what you were playing. I hate to think that I interrupted it." Jae-Ha glanced at her, and then shrugged slightly with a grin still in place.

"Are you saying you want me sarande you?" He asked, a little sparkle coming to his eyes. Tian blushed, looking away.

"Keep dreaming." She stated with a slight laugh."I just never knew you played. Where did you learn?" She looked over at him curiously. He looked at her, and then shrugged as he looked away.

"I learned when I was young, and traveling. People like music,and I liked playing." He answered, looking off. Tian nodded, looking away as she bit her lips. It was the most she had heard about anything he had done before joining Yona. She was torn between wanting to learn more, and not wanting to stir anything up. She stayed silent for a moment as she debated what to do. She finally stopped worrying, and just asked.

"Why did you travel?" She asked, glancing at him, and then away."I mean... Didn't you have a home?" She glanced at him again, and was afraid she had stepped into a private wound. He scowled as he looked off.

"I never really had one." He answered after a few moments. Tian nodded, looking away.

"I won't pry. I was just curious. My own home, the one I was born into, really didn't like our family. We kept mostly to ourselves until we left." Jae-Ha glanced at her. Now he found himself curious about her.

"Didn't really like your family?" He repeated in a flat tone. Tian nodded, drawing her knees up to her chest, resting her chin on her knees as she drew invisible patterns on the stone walkway.

"I was never sure why, but I think I understand now. They were just idiots. Plain and simple." Tian glanced at him as she stretched out her legs with a smile."I don't really worry bout it too much anymore. I mean, I'm away. So I'm OK."

"I see." He answered, smiling just slightly. Tian smiled wider upon seeing the expression.

"I think Yona is worried about you. You've been gone for awhile." Tian brought up the original subject at hand, looking at the green haired man.

"Sometimes I go off on my own. They're used to it. I just want to live my own life, and not be shackled to her through some ancient bond. I plan to live my life as my own." He answered with a bit more passion than before. Tian raised a curious brow. First Kija. Then Jae-Ha. Although there was a remarkable difference. Kija was proud. Jae-Ha didn't exactly sound proud.

"The green dragon has the power to jump so high it's as if he's flying. Our ancestor had the same ability." Tian heard her father voice ring clearly in her mind. She shook her head, glancing at him.

"Green Dragon." She replied, eyebrows drawing together. Jae-Ha looked at her in surprise. "The one with the ability to fly." She added on, smiling. He just raised an eyebrow, sitting up straighter as he looked at her with full attention.

"You know?" He asked, eyebrows drawing together. Tian let out a small sigh, and then shook her head. It all made sense to her now, but somehow, she felt a weight descend on her shoulders.

"I asked Kija about his hand one day. He then went on to a full speech about everything. Guess I should have seen it coming really." She wasn't totally lying, but saying the whole truth would be a bit harder to explain. Jae-Ha smirked in amusement, shaking his head.

"And what did you think?" He answered, shifting closer to her. Tian blushed, feeling her heart speed up s their legs touched, but she tried to remain calm.

Why do I care what she thinks?

He thought to himself, but then again he knew the answer to that. Of course he knew.

"I don't know... I... I didn't think much on it." She answered. Jae-Ha nodded, watching her with a guarded expression. "What are you staring at?" She asked, laughing slightly, out of nervousness, she then frowned as she began playing with her hair.

"This is a beautiful hairpin." He said, touching the hairpin Yona had put into Tian's hair. It was golden in color with some shiny, crystal like, bead decorating the pin. It was decorated with a blue flower with a green stone in the center. Hanging off the flower were three rows of pearls. Tian blushed as she could feel his hand brush against her skin.

"Yona picked it out for me." She answered, turning towards him.

"Yona has good taste." He answered, his hands traveling down from her hair to her face. Tian's heart sped up.

"O-of course. She's a girl."

"Beautiful." He answered, cupping her chin so that their eyes met.

He leaned in closer, their faces were mere centimeters apart. She could feel his warm breath hit her softly, and she watched as his brilliant light green eyes looked into her own dark green eyes with an expression she couldn't quite place.

It was as if he was waiting for a signal, but what signal? She wasn't sure. Did she want to give the signal? She wasn't sure of that either. Her eyes looked everywhere, and yet, were focused solely on him.

She noticed a small scar on his neck. Where had he gotten it? Without thinking, she reached out subconsciously, perhaps to provide some sort of comfort. But comfort for what? She wasn't sure. However, he surprised her by stopping her hand.

She looked at their intertwined hands. His hand was so big. So warm. So firm. So comforting. How had she never noticed this before? It was a comforting sensation against her cold skin.

She then looked up to his eyes. They seemed even more lidded than usual, but they watched her with an intensity she had never before seen from a man, including Jae-Ha himself. It filled her with an emotion she couldn't place.

Her heart raced again in her chest, threatening to jump out at any given moment. Her body tensed, but not with fright. What was it she was feeling? Anticipation? Excitement? She didn't understand these feelings. Not in this situation. Nobody had ever evoked these feelings from her before. It was strange. Unusual. Foreign. And yet, strangely welcoming.

Is this what it felt like ina situation like this? Were these feelings normal? How did nobody reject these feelings? But she knew the answer, for it was right in front of her. Who would want to reject a moment like this?

Her eyes then looked at his lips. On how she had never noticed how plump and soft they looked. Suddenly, she wondered what they would feel like against hers, and she blushed even more at the thought. She could see, with his mouth slightly agape how his teeth were slightly sharpened. She briefly wondered why, it she found it fitting for him. But as quickly as the the thought came, it was gone.

She looked back at his eyes, noticing the intense expression. Her already reddened cheeks, reddened even more. How was that even possible? She wondered to herself briefly, before it was gone once again as Jae-Ha moved towards her, hands on her shoulders.

Tian tensed slightly, not sure how she was supposed to react. She had never been kissed before. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to react. what to do. When to do it. She never liked being made a fool. She didn't want to look foolish.

However, she disregarded those thoughts, doubts, and went on instinct. She closed her eyes, tilting her head slightly as their lips came closer. She could almost feel their lips touch when Jae-Ha tensed, as if remembering something. She opened her eyes slightly as he leaned his forehead against hers.

"I'm sorry." He whispered, as if he had done something he shouldn't have. Tian felt a bit sad. A bit disappointed. What happened? Why was he apologizing? He then smirked slightly, which erased all those initial feelings, and replaced them with annoyance."I really ought to learn not to play with fire. Why don't you just go back, hm? I'm sure you're friend is looking for you. Go and enjoy yourself." Despite his cheeky demeanor, his eyes were filled with a bit of regret. Sadness. Wanting. Tian wasn't sure how she was supposed to respond. She just stared at him, and then nodded, turning on her heels.

"Come back soon, OK?" She replied, looking over her shoulders at him with a small smile." You're own friends will be worried, no?" She replied, throwing his own words at him wit a small smirk. She then turned her head, and continued walking. Jae-Ha watched her, sighing heavily as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" He questioned under his breath, closing his eyes as he shook his head. But like before, he knew the answer to that as well..


Like Jae-Ha told her, town enjoyed herself much more after the little incident with Jae-Ha, which she tried not to think about. She enjoyed the games that were there. She even spent a little of her own personal savings to spend some things on herself, Min-Soo and Yona. Min-Soo brought a jade necklace, and a few perfumes. Tian brought some new cloth for a dress she wanted to make for herself. Yona, although reluctant, brought some perfume and some jewelry for herself.

Tian felt overjoyed. She hadn't felt so much excitement before. Her excitement seemed noticeable to the others as well.

"You seem happy! That's good!" Yona exclaimed, smiling at Tian as she fixed a pearl necklace around the others slim neck. Tian laughed slightly.

"It's a party! I minus well enjoy myself!" She replied, hooking her arms around Yona and Min-Soo's arms, and then lead them to a display filled with masks.

Despite her outward appearance, Tian couldn't help but to feel a bit anxious. Although he said he would return soon, Jae-Ha had yet to return. She couldn't see him anywhere. Hak was sticking close to Yona, as he always did, teasing her about a mask she had chosen for him. Yun was with Zeno, checking out some clothing display for the yellow haired man to wear. Kija was with Shin-Ah, checking out some swords. They had all stuck close by though. Jae-Ha though, was nowhere on eye sight.

Tian sighed, going back to the cloths. She felt frustrated. He had sent mixed signals. One moment going in for a kiss, and then pulling away as if it were a joke. She didn't think it was even possible for one person, one man, to seem so frustrating.

"Hey." Tian felt herself tense up when she heard Ja-Ha's voice right behind her. Playful. Almost like he was pretending like nothing had happened. She scowled, refusing to meet his eyes. Even as he stood next to her."I'm sorry about earlier. I know I confused you a little."

"A little? That's an understatement if I ever heard one." She replied under her breath. She could feel his eyes on her, studying her, but she refused to meet his expression.

"Yes, well..." He cleared his throat looking off. She glanced at him, noticing the way his eyebrows drew together. She sighed, looking away.

"It's fine." She replied, looking off. He glanced back at her, and then nodded.

"By the way, pink would look wonderful on you." He whispered, leaning into her ear. He brushed against her arm as he walked towards Yona with his usual grin. Tian blushed, looking at the pink fabric with white flowers. She contemplated for a moment before buying some.

A\n: A chima is a traditional Korean outfit worn primarily by woman. It's a skirt typically worn with a type of vest that I forget the name of and ties just above the breasts. An Lilli wears a type of chima in the series.