Disclaimer: I don't own Akatsuki no Yona. Praise to Mizuho Kusanagi for creating this band of misfits.

UNEDITED. Warnings of possible plot holes and contradictions. Will go through it when I can.

Fleeting Chances

Chapter Ten – Of Revised Dances and Inconspicuous Weapons

Oh! She leant too far forward, her balance tipping and she immediately stuck a hand out to brace her fall. Reluctantly, Yona accepted the interruption for what it was – a call for a break. She flicked the folding fan open and swept slow, lazy motions to dispel the heat reddening her face.

Good news: my dancing isn't as bad as my koto skills, she thought only to then grimace. Bad news: that's not exactly a high standard. With a sigh, she brought her free hand up to gently tug at a lock of hair. It's just the more formal of dances that I struggle with. Dances so pretty, so perfect, like ones from a play.

"Not my style," she murmured. "Not anymore."

If it won't impress me then neither will it impress my audience.

Violet orbs fell onto the fan in her hands and she quickly admonished herself upon reaching a realisation. This is my weapon and I should have treated it as such. Yona drew herself up. Pretty dances don't suit me. It can't convey the message I want to send.

She had no need to weave the tales of fiction through her dance; many better dancers had told them plenty enough times. What resonates with me are my own experiences. I have loved and lost, I have borne witness to bloodshed and mayhem, and I've seen Kouka through my own eyes. No-one needs to know my story – but if I will dance to anything, it will be to that.

Her eyes lowered, the folding fan held before her face. A flick of her fingers and the fan fell open. She spun once, her dress flaring demurely. With a soft clatter, the fan closed – and then she moved.

A twist of her feet, a twirl of the fan, and Yona felt satisfaction, a sense of right, settle in her heart.

She ventured freely between moves that spoke of unyielding tones to ones of a gentle sorrow. Unsurprisingly, she found herself with thoughts full of a life before, of friends she had bonded with, fought with… and when she finally completed the last of the dance, she felt the tell-tale sting of tears.

Yona dashed them away with quick swipes of her sleeves before they had the chance to fall and sought another distraction.

One came quickly.

A soft gasp, quick claps resounded, and Yona looked to the doorway to spot Tae-Yeon peeking into the room with shining eyes.

"Yona!"

Yona beckoned him in and he hurried towards her.

"Good morning!" he chirped, and she immediately latched onto him in a tight hug. His cuteness heals my soul.

"Good morning, Tae-Yeon," she said, releasing him and running her fingers through his hair. "You're here quite early."

He nodded. "I woke up very early; I dressed myself today too!"

The little boy gently thumbed the dark smudge under her eyes. "Didn't you sleep enough?"

I barely slept at all. "I was so excited that I couldn't sleep," she said with a laugh.

"Excited?"

She nodded. "I have to convince someone very stubborn and worried to follow me home."

"That's weird."

"It's a weird sort of excitement," she agreed.

The mention of Yoon had her inwardly sighing. Rather than excited, she was at a loss.

Just what am I to do with Yoon? Absently adjusting and straightening Tae-Yeon's sloppy attempt to dress himself, she continued to immerse herself in her own thoughts. If only I had someone to bounce ideas off.

She shot a bitter glance at the morning sky. But the one I could talk to has already left for training! Without me! She grumbled inwardly at Hak. When she had tried to go with them this morning, he had stopped her. Apparently, today's training consisted of weapon handling and they both knew, with her father's rule hanging over their heads, she wouldn't be allowed to participate. Hak had been unbearably smug, knowing she would have no choice but to accept.

I just need a break, clear my head, she determined easily, rising to her feet and brushing Hak from her mind. There's three more days until I'm due back home. That's three more days to convince Yoon. Plenty of time.

But even she knew that this would be much harder than what she remembered. It was one thing to ask Yoon to accompany her as she roamed across Kouka; it was another thing entirely to ask that he follow her into Hiryuu Castle.

Yona rubbed a hand over tired eyes.

She could only hope her reasons would be enough to satisfy him.

Her thoughts drifted to another concern of hers and she looked to Tae-Yeon.

"Is there a weapons shop around here?" she asked. Her father's rule that she never lay even a finger on a weapon was as much a hinder as it was an unrealistic notion, and she would take advantage of both Hak and Mundok being out to search for one. "Could you show me there?"

He nodded then took one of Yona's hands into his own as they left the room. Tae-Yeon toyed with the feathered accessory attached to her wrist.

"When big brother said he wasn't going to wear this after his birthday, I asked if I could have it," he said. "But I guess it suits you more."

"Did he say he would give this to you?"

Tae-Yeon shook his head. "This is important to him; he said he couldn't give it away so easily."

Shame ran through her.

The memory of the night her insecurity, however brief, practically forced him to swear himself wholly to her was not something she was proud of; however, his willingness to do so told her one thing.

Her eyes looked down at the object wrapped around her wrist.

Hak was free to follow whomever he wished; but she knew with absolute conviction that no matter who he gave his loyalty to, when it mattered most he would always choose her and that was more than enough.

"Ah, what unlikely customers! Welcome Princess Yona, Tae-Yeon." The shopkeeper greeted her with a friendly smile as both she and Tae-Yeon stepped over the threshold before resuming his sorting of the stack of papers in his hands.

"There's so many," she breathed softly, bending slightly to survey a particularly fancy dagger.

Her fingers traced the curve of a bow, eyes lowered as she embraced the familiarity. As much as she wanted to, she knew it would be foolish to purchase the item and attempt to hide it in the castle, right under her father's nose.

I need something inconspicuous.

Yona was disappointed. Just where was she going to find something like that?

"Yona, what about this one?"

Tae-Yeon crouched by a sword, a finger rising to tap on the ruby resting rather grandly on its hilt. Yona balked at the near excessiveness of its design.

That's… quite a decorative piece," came her weak reply.

She was distantly aware of when the shopkeeper disappeared into the back of the shop, leaving them to continue their perusal of his wares. Upon his return, his hands full with fans, Yona eyed them curiously. A folding fan in a weapons shop? He propped one onto an empty stand and she made her way over.

"Do you also sell folding fans?" she asked. These are dull in colour, she noted carefully, and they're made out of… metal? "These don't seem like the ones I use for dancing."

"Ah, these are different. They're war fans. They may not be sharp like swords or as long-ranged a weapon as a bow, but they have their own strength. This particular one," he said, gesturing to the fully displayed fan, "is made from iron, and is undoubtedly heavy."

"Did you make them yourself?"

"No, no, I don't dabble in smithery, I only sell the products. I purchased these during my visit to the Earth Tribe."

Iron? She glanced down at her thin arms with uncertainty. More than any bow or sword, this would easily blend in with the right adjustments, but… Yona glanced up at the shopkeeper. "Would it be possible to have a fan be made from lighter, but still durable, materials?"

He nodded slowly, pondering. "There is a type of metal that I can think of; however, it's available exclusively in the Earth Tribe and they are quite protective of it as it's rather uncommon."

She frowned. "Is it?"

He nodded. "I've only seen it a handful of times myself."

By the purse of her lips and troubled furrow of her brows, it was clear that Yona was somewhat displeased… and yet, this war fan was an ideal weapon for her. She couldn't give up on it because of a minor setback!

I have to find some way to attain it. She thanked the shopkeeper for his help and exited the store, mulling over his words as she listened to Tae-Yeon's chatter. The Earth Tribe, hm? I suppose I ought to pay Geun-Tae a visit as well.

Yona's eyes brightened and there was a spring in her steps as she swept Tae-Yeon up into her arms, giggling when he squealed, and skipped off to find breakfast, already in a lighter mood.

Besides, if I need to get Geun-Tae's favour for this, I'm sure Hak wouldn't mind being his sparring partner for the duration of our stay.

She and Tae-Yeon were nearly finished with their meal when Hak returned from morning practice and slipped in-between them, cutting their conversation short. Upon seeing him, Yona sighed. He was littered with cuts, shallow but plenty.

"Wait here," she said, having risen from her spot on the veranda and hurrying back into her rooms to fish for the salve Jin-Woo had tossed her way after an ougi match.

"What is that?" Hak asked when she presented it to him.

"Salve. For cuts and injuries," she recited dutifully.

Rather than accept the small tin, he took to lying down on the wooden floor. "I'm fine."

"Take it."

"I'm not going to die from some cuts, Princess."

"If an infection settles, you might."

He steadfastly ignored her… and her growing ire.

"Big brother," Tae-Yeon piped up, legs kicking in a rhythmic motion. "Don't be stubborn."

"Hush, Tae-Yeon," Hak said, pausing to yawn, his eyes closed. "She's the one being stubborn."

With an exasperated sigh, she decided to take matters into her own hands; unscrewing the lid, she scooped out a considerable amount and began applying it to his wounds.

Hak's eyes snapped open in surprise.

"Princess—"

"Instead of me, Jin-Woo should've given this to you," she muttered dryly.

"Princess," Hak deadpanned, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them. Yona peeked sideways at him curiously, eyes inquiring. "Are you serious about visiting them every day until the end of our stay?"

"Yes." She blinked. "Why?"

"I was just thinking… rather than bringing him back with us, you'll probably end up scaring him away."

Truly, his impudence is something to be impressed by.

"Hak?" At his questioning hum, she ordered, "Be quiet."

The beginnings of a smile flittered across his face and they both relapsed into silence once more. A sudden draft of hot wind had her bringing a sleeve up to hide her eyes behind from the sand and dirt being blown about.

"What is it?" asked Yona, grooming her sleeve with quick brushes, when she sensed frequent glances on her person.

He pointed to his mouth and she grumbled under her breath. By the mirth dancing in his eyes, she knew he was teasing her again.

"Speak then," she allowed reluctantly.

"How do you plan to convince him?"

Yona hummed. "I don't know," she easily admitted.

Apparently, that wasn't the answer he'd been expecting.

"You don't know?"

"There's no solid plan." She folded her arms across her chest. "The thing is, Yoon's somewhat… biased, though he has his reasons. His life hasn't been without its hardships; he has no faith in those with power. Regardless, the plan is simple: convince him that the benefits to becoming the apprentice to the Imperial Physician outweighs his aversion to the nobility."

She allowed Hak to lead her away from a shallow dip in the ground as her mind drifted to Yoon's personality. "Yoon's a genius, and he craves knowledge – I'd always planned to entice him through that. The problem is convincing him – he's so stubborn, to the point where I'm not sure how to even begin."

There was a brief pause before Hak eventually divulged, "You've effectively solved your own troubles."

"What?"

"The solution to your problems," he clarified. "It's rather obvious what you need to do. Think back to what you just told me about him."

Yona blinked, then frowned. Convince him…? Benefits over disadvantages?

She made a guess, "Stun him with the offer; and attack with a list of gains?"

"It's even simpler than that." He grinned, eyes narrowing as he gazed down at her. "All you have to do is earn his trust."

Completed on September 8, 2018. 2162 words.

I am alive!

Sorry I haven't updated in two years. Sighhhh.

This should've been up a month ago (clearly) but I had a bunch of tests at the time and ended up forgetting about it. Sorry.

This chapter was initially meant to tie up the whole of the Fuuga arc, and meant to be significantly longer, but I haven't been able to finish it and it's honestly just been way too long since I've updated.

Long story short, I've just been really busy and haven't been able to find any time to write. Or read.

But anyways.

Just an FYI, this story is in the middle of being revised (mainly because I really don't like Kye-Sook and I'm gonna make him into the big bad villain instead of Soo-Jin if it's the last thing I do) so perhaps it's a little irresponsible of me to post up chapter 10, knowing it might be changed in the future but I don't know when I'll be able to finish with that so this is something to tide you guys over with. The overall changes shouldn't be too significant anyways.

(Hopefully it won't take another two years. Haha…)

Also, speaking of revisions, I just wanted to let everyone know that I've done a bit of an edit concerning the meal scenes. It doesn't affect the story but I thought it'd be good to inform you all anyways.

Basically, I've been doing it all wrong and it's only thanks to byungwha-chan who provided me with answers and advice — initially a year ago and then again, more recently, at the beginning of July *wince* — that I have (finally) managed to clear up this particular cringy-ness.

To end this all off, I'd like to express my thanks for all the support this story has been receiving. It's really quite amazing and equally overwhelming.

Also, I never considered Lili and Tae-Woo as a pairing until Pinterest.

But I totally ship it.

A oneshot may result from this. No promises.

This is 2 years late, but here are the replies I had written back then to some of the reviewers.

bookgirl18: I was actually hoping to incorporate both politics and battles in this story! I love both (though whether or not I'm any good at writing it is another story entirely) so I want to include them both in.

bunnies4thebrain: When I read your review, I couldn't help but think (after my initial thought of how timely it was) that I might have been a little too predictable with her choice of weapons, haha! Congratulations on guessing one of them!

Rui07349: Hmm, I won't outright reject the idea (because you never know), but as for my writing plans in the near future, I was thinking of doing either a Geun-Tae/Yun-Ho story after this one (just because I love them so) or another Hak/Yona AU inspired by Mulan.

Karlina101: Yeah… I debated on that topic for a really long time but eventually I assumed that as a spoiled princess, her daily needs were met by servants. Yona never worried for food; she also isn't aware of where the food she ate had come from (I mean that she never had to think that somewhere in her country, hard-working people were producing the food she ate). As for injuries, there's the imperial physician – best of the best – to patch up any scrapes or bruises. And money was never an issue for her.

So, then I asked myself: if she never had to think about it before meeting with hardships, how would she know of them? Would she have any survival skills? I mean, the girl basically lives in a safety bubble. So, I presumed everyone viewed as her as the naïve and sheltered princess that they know her to be. (I can't be too sure which part(s) of the story you were referring to, haha, but I hope I answered you correctly nonetheless.)

20AngelsDemons04: Yep, I agree; I mentioned it in the last chapter here: 'Halfway through, when one had managed to sneak up on him, she saw that his speed wasn't limited to horseback riding or his feet – his reaction time was just as swift.'