Chapter 10 – The Wings of Memory

Memory, something that keeping what had happened in the past

It can't be changed, nor can be doubted if you know what had happened

After she rolls her blind eyes around like searching for the prey, she crosses her hand before her chest, turning her head to her first prey "Geun Tae Shogun, your wife, Lady Yun Ho has gotten nausea and felt dizzy nearly every morning, threw up mostly that she ate which make her more often laying in bed lately, right?".

Geun Tae can't loosen his guard here, this thing maybe able to investigated by her "…that's right, at first she only hasn't feeling like eating these past few weeks and I've asked her to come to check her condition by doctor before I came here, but she persisted to asking me to going here as quick as possible because she's only caught a cold".

With reassuring smile on her face, Setsuna waves her hand "ah, needn't to worry because her condition became like that because of Boze".

"Boze?".

Setsuna explains what she knew "Boze is baby's soul before born, or so-called spirit of soon-to-be-human. People said if woman who already married sauntering on the midnight, Boze will come into her womb. Boze is God's creation, no one knew from where it originally".

Geun Tae nods his head before narrowing his eyes "oh, Boze… eh? wait, it means…".

"from the size of Boze inside her womb, looks like it's been 2 months. On other word… your wife is pregnant, so… congratulations?".

THUD!

Somehow, Geun Tae has fallen to the floor with his chair drops behind him, make other surprised but not too confused.

Setsuna lifts her head as she hears sound of something fall "oh my, are you alright, Shogun?".

"that's… it's true or not, I'll know when I'm back to Chishin, but…", Geun Tae rubs his hip, standing and pointing Setsuna with his tremble hand "but how could you know about it while you're blind, princess?!".

"right, I can't see because I've became blind since 4 years ago, but it doesn't mean I can't see other people's heart and soul, right?", Setsuna waves her hand "and, Koharu? lay down your weapon…".

Koharu points her her dagger to Geun Tae's neck "no insulting princess about her eyes, Geun Tae Shogun".

Geun Tae lifts both his hand up "I wouldn't be dreaming about it, little girl, especially not in front of Elder Mundok… I only wonder if she has eyes behind her head and I've too excited about what she told me before... what's more, since when did you standing behind me?".

Setsuna puts her hand reassuringly to Mundok's shoulder because her Ojii-sama is ready to throwing his dagger to Geun Tae "I know it's hard for you to believe but I can speak this way because Tomoe Onee-sama has Boze in her womb lately, she's pregnant as well… that's why I asked her to not fight and come into the middle of the battlefield, which I know about your wife because I've seen her on your memory".

Soo Won rolls his eyes, looking to Lily in worry because her face become blank expression "really, Setsuna… should you mention about it here now? If you really knew about people's heart, then you're supposed to know that Lily is in love with Geun Tae Shogun, what would Lily think?".

Setsuna raises her eyebrow "sooner or later, Lady Yun Ho's pregnancy would be known by public, so know about it now or later just the same".

Tae Woo narrows his eyes "who are you speaking with, Lady Setsuna?".

"whoever think that I'm answering his mind".

Soo Won sighs "this woman, really…".

Next prey, Joon Gi "you're questioning in your head about how can your daughter become stronger than before, right? her change because she met princess Yona, it's true, but half of that because she wants helping you to protect Water Tribe's people as your daughter and she thinks your wait-and-see stance really grate her nerves, that's why she's fled no matter how many times you locked her which make her become disobedient in your eyes. The reason of why you've locked her simply because you don't want something happened to your daughter which will make you lost her like how you lost your wife. Am I wrong?".

"Setsuna-san?!", Lily blushes before she narrows her eyes "eh, wait? What's the good of you locked me inside Suiko's Castle have to do with my late Ohahaue, Chichiue?".

"…you don't remember?", Setsuna turns her head to Joon Gi before she sighs "calm down, Joon Gi Shogun, I have no place to talking about it here to Lily-chan… you're the one who have the right to tell your daughter when you think you're ready and you can tell her, only when you think Lily-chan ready to know it. It's your privacy".

Joon Gi's shoulder relaxes a bit "likewise, you shouldn't mention about it here from the first place, princess Setsuna".

"oh? I'm sorry… but I should reveal hidden thing that perfect to become a proof to make you all believe about my power, 'Reishi'… beside, your daughter has the right to know about it despite looks like Lily-chan doesn't remember what happened because she's still too young at that time…", Setsuna tilts her head, smiles bitterly "and just let me tell you one thing, don't blame yourself for what happened to your late wife. If she was like what you know, she wouldn't be pleased because you always trying to find the atonement through your daughter".

"Chichiue, Ohahaue passed away because of sick when I'm only 4 years old, right?".

Joon Gi lifts one hand back "no speaking about it here now, Lily".

"Lily-chan", Setsuna puts her finger above her mouth "I know you're curious about it but can you be patient and believe your Chichiue, that your Chichiue only wants the best for you? answer of your question has always been inside your memory, you just can't remember it yet... If you can't wait for your Chichiue's answer, you should remember it yourself".

"because no one Chichiue who want his daughter suffering, that's why I kept it as a secret… how could you know all of that, princess Setsuna? are you truly able to see through people's heart?".

Setsuna smirks "should I mention here about the reason of why your sight become weak at the same time with you must lost your wife?".

"…fine", Joon Gi lifts his head "Elder Mundok, you don't mind if I have private conversation about it with your granddaughter before I go home?".

Mundok nods his head "as you wish".

"Kan Kyo Ga Shogun", Setsuna smiles when she feels the Fire Tribe Shogun's body tensed by his name mentioned by her "relax… I'll only give the answer of the question that bothered your head. Someone's death becomes very heavy because the death comes suddenly, or he is a very precious person to you. People said the highest level of sadness is when your tears can not go out anymore because it's so sad for you and ... sorry, I mentioned a bit about your late Chichiue here, but as you remember, I had a chance to face Li Hazara and I had time to see his memory before I killed him, one of that was when Li Hazara has a conversation with your late Chichiue. The reason of why your Chichiue didn't tell you and carried out the burden of his plan for rebellion alone on his shoulder, was because he knew, his son would also receive the consequences if the rebellion failed, so he thought let him be punished and guilty of the rebellion alone but the main reason your deceased Chichiue didn't speak to you, the matter of this rebellious plan is because he was afraid if you would hate him. I know, it's not my place to talk casually about your late Chichiue but the only thing you can do for him now is just correct the mistakes your Chichiue made and bringing prosperity back to Fire Tribe. I will not ask you to forgive him, for you who have to bear it all, but please remember that there are still your brother and your mother who are there for you. Don't try to weight the burden on your shoulder alone, your brother worried about you lately".

This time, Tae Jun sniffs with flushed cheeks "princess Setsuna… thank you…".

Kyo Ga lifts his head, only to finds blushing Tae Jun covers his face with his palm and starts crying, he quickly turns his head with slight smirk on his face. Kyo Ga covers his eyes with one of his palm before leans his elbow leans on the table, his voice sounds vibrate, he clenching his other hand which trembling "thank you so much for answering my question… princess Setsuna…".

Setsuna smiles because she realizes, even merciless man like Kyo Ga can crying after she's helped to lifting the burden weighing on his shoulder "you're welcome, Kyo Ga Shogun".

"oi, greenhorn, don't crying here", Geun Tae chuckles "your granddaughter really something, Elder Mundok… she's able to make four man crying here".

Kyo Ga slams his other hand on the table "I'm not crying?!".

"then why are you still covering your eyes, greenhorn?".

"Geun Tae Shogun, please don't call me greenhorn?!".

"and why are your eyes become a bit red, youngster?".

"Geun Tae Shogun, enough, don't tease Kyo Ga Shogun any further".

"as you wish, princess Setsuna", Geun Tae chuckles, he rolls his eyes to where Soo Won, Joo Doh and Keishuk standing "so, the last prey is Sky Tribe?".

Lily tightens his jaw, the knot inside her stomach makes her feels nauseas. She feels not only the war of words, but the fight from the tension that become strained and cold so sudden. Lily feels her mind doesn't wrong at all when she sees how Setsuna smirks.

"Joo Doh Shogun, you've promised Lord Yu Hon to protect King Soo Won on that night, before Lord Yu Hon killed that night. But what's more interesting, you're trying to fulfill your promise to your first love and you still love her… so, that's why you're not married till now?".

A vein pops on Joo Doh's head "can you not speaking about it here, can you?!".

Setsuna shrugs her shoulder, looking to Soo Won "King Soo Won, you had trapped on that building with black-haired little girl around your age when the fire burning it".

Joo Doh's jaw tightens because of tensed, Soo Won's body tensed as well.

"you saved by Joo Doh Shogun who told by black-haired little girl that told Joo Doh about you're still on that building. Because of that fire, you…".

Soo Won rises from his seat and slams his hand on the table "SHUT UP?!".

They are startled, not only because his unusual high-pitch voice, but his reaction as well.

Only Setsuna who stays unwavering, sly smirk carving her face as she leans her head above her palm "why? because 'that' is your weakness?".

With fist clenched hard, he swallows his rage before turning his back to others "Five Tribe meeting today is over, Shogun… you're all dismissed".

"King Soo Won", Setsuna rises from her seat "like people said, the scar on the back is insult for a Warrior but yours… it's nothing compared mine because what you saw that night under the moonlight only a quarter".

Soo Won stops his track right in front of the door of throne room before he looking back over his shoulder "only a quarter? What do you think about 'yours' while you're always covering that?".

"I never thought 'this' as my weakness. The only reason of why I cover 'mine' because I hate the negative emotion of whoever it is when they know about 'this', like afraid, disgusting or a pity. This is the part of my past, part of myself which create 'myself' now till I can become I am now. I can't abandon or cast 'myself' aside, no matter how hurt or bitter it".

Soo Won turns his back, this time looking straight into her "and how about three fourth that left?".

Setsuna smirks, sticking her tongue out "do you think I'm going to tell that to a stranger I just met? Ba-ka~".

"princess Setsuna?! an insult for the King…".

Setsuna waves her hand to Keishuk "yeah, yeah… I see, so that's why you put your loyalty to King Soo Won, no wonder… should I mention who is your Chichiue, Advisor Keishuk? You think you deserve to call someone as the illegitimate child while you're the illegitimate child of…".

Keishuk's body stiffens as well, he is gritting his teeth while steps backwards when Soo Won interrupts them and lifts his hand, cut her words off when standing between her and Keishuk "Setsuna, it's other person's privacy too, please".

Setsuna snarls back, pointing to Keishuk "then tell your Advisor to not so casually labeling someone as the illegitimate child of whoever, King Soo Won… dare to say or think about it again, remember I can tell everyone who is your biological Chichiue, and I know you won't like it, Advisor Keishuk".

Tae Woo clenches his fist, hand trying to reach the dagger on his pocket "how dare you?! you shouldn't be insinuating about…?!".

"calm down, Tae Woo… beside I need to clarifying about this soon or later. Whatever others think or say about me, I don't care at all but if you dared to insinuating about Hak, you would regret it and you can't blame me. I'm only trying to depend on one of my dearest people…", Setsuna brushes her bang, tucking it behind her ear "Son Hak… or Soron, he is the legitimate son of Lady Fong Mulan with her first husband, Hakuya, the strongest warrior of Kai Empire before Kai Empire has fallen and divided".

Setsuna explains that Mulan's Chichiue from Nomads but Mulan's Hahaue from Gozen Clan. It has tradition from Gozen Clan that their Head of Clan always be a woman because woman from Gozen Clan only acknowledge strong man as their husband which make mostly of the woman on Gozen Clan married with soldier, warrior or nomads.

"do you think Hahaue, Lady Fong Mulan would marry the man as her husband, other than the strong man who acknowledged by her because he's able to win against her on the match?".

Geun Tae who lose against Mulan, has acknowledged her power "it's understandable… but, actually how strong her first husband whose able to make Lady Fong Mulan fallen to him?".

"this would become long conversation… how annoying…", Setsuna clasps her hand, smiling "okay, it's enough, right? the meeting has over, so can we going home to Fuuga, Ojii-sama?".

Tae Woo crosses his hand on the back of his head, whistling "that's right, since the King has ended the meeting, let's go home~".

Mundok slaps his forehead "both of you really carefree as usual".

"we are the Wind Tribe, we live as free as the Wind~ right, Tae Woo?".

"right, Lady Setsuna~".

Mundok only can sighs this time as he follows Setsuna who walks to the door, followed by Lily, Tae Woo and twin. When other Shogun is standing from their seat, Soo Won halts her on the halfway, he puts his hand between her and the door.

Setsuna rolls her eyes, looking to him from the corner of her eyes "what? You're the one who announced that the Five Tribe Meeting was over, King".

"you know everything about us and you're so casually speaking out loud about our secret, yet you haven't fully explained what you know about Hak's real identity, and about yourself… it's unfair, right?".

"unfair?", Setsuna laughs, severe laughter to mocking him "oh, very funny… I don't want to hear that from someone who always use a mask in front of other people, Trickster".

Setsuna throws sharp cold gaze that able to make other Shogun shudders, but Soo Won who unwavering, shoves her to the door before locks her between his arm, whispering beside her ear "I don't care whatever you think or say about me, but don't think I'll let you go till we make it fair, Setsuna".

Tae Woo held by Lily and the twin, while Mundok held by Geun Tae and Joo Doh because both Wind Tribe Shogun ready to punch the King for saving Setsuna.

Ignoring the other people's gasping and staring, Setsuna leans her "oh? Not using your mask this time?".

"you're the one who starting… you want me to be honest? Fine, you're the first woman who able to really grating my nerves…".

"geez, it's so annoying… it's too complicated if I must be explaining all of it, yet you really don't want let me go till I've explained what you wanted to know?", Setsuna sighs, covering her eyes with one her palm before furrowing her eyebrows "…I have no choice then, but with one condition… don't blame me if you see something that you don't want to see, King".

Soo Won furrows his eyebrow "what do you mean?".

Knowing what his granddaughter wants to do, Mundok who held back by Geun Tae and Joo Doh yelling at her "Setsuna, don't?!".

"too late…", Setsuna brushes her bang from her forehead which there's a tattoo of a pair of wings on her forehead that appears like the watermark which actually, that isn't tattoo but it's Setsuna's birthmark. That birthmark shines with the glow of orange reddish, like the sunrise "Tsubasa no Kioku".

The light with the color of orange reddish like the sunrise envelops this room and when all of them open their eyes again, they find themselves in the different place without they know that they are on the different time as well, except Mundok who know about this.

Tae Woo looks around "where are we?".

All of them except Setsuna are standing in the wilderness, wondering where they are till they get the explanation from Mundok. He knows this is one of Suzaku's vessel's power "Tsubasa no Kioku (The Wings of Memory), that's one of power that owned by Suzaku's vessel. They can show the memory from someone's heart that she has ever seen. We can't see it, but from her back, Suzaku's vessel has a pair of wings that able to be seen only when they'd died and their soul was about to left this world to the Heaven. That wings created by memory, not only her memory as long as she's alive but also other people's memory that she has ever met when she's still alive".

Right now, they are in the midst of the realm of the dream and the reality. Their body's state in the reality just like fall asleep and dreaming, while their mind and soul inside this world, the reflection of memory that showed by Setsuna. No doubt, this is the quickest way to make them understand about what had happened in the past rather than explaining one by one, but looks like they have no choice to get out from this realm except witnessing this memory. Lily is the first who realize someone's shadow over there, on the valley under the cliff while other still wondering about to where and when their soul right now.

"no way… that's… Setsuna-san and Hak?".

"no, Lady Lily", Mundok denies her statement "that's me when I'm only around his age and Shoka, princess of Kai Empire from two generations ago".

If they're looking closely, they'll see the different. Strangely, young Mundok looked like Hak a bit except his long hair with the same style with himself now and Shoka, Setsuna's Obaba is like the duplicate of Setsuna, she's really resemble with Setsuna but the different is, her eyes were the pair of the Jade. It's their first meet, when the young Mundok who gravely injured met with Shoka.

A/N Yoan :

Tsubasa = Wings

Kioku = Memory

Finally, I know this would become long detour but I hope you enjoy this fic and about the point of view, just read it and you'll know from who. Don't like, don't read but thank you for whoever is it that still want to read this even if I know, it has bad grammar because I'm writing terribly but I'm still practice and want to improve. Please leave review if you know what I must fix as my grammar education.