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Chapter 10 - Without You, Taking Down Tyrant Lord

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Not everything will go smoothly. Their plan nearly fails as their identity known by the pirates but like old people say, no coincidence happens in this world but fate.

After Yona launches the firework, a mercenary grasping her hair from behind and her scalp feels burning. Last thing she remembers is the mercenaries screaming in pain as if someone has knocked them. Before Yona loses her consciousness and collapses on the ground, electric current crawling out of her body which attacking mercenary who holding her and that poor man collapses unconsciously after releasing Yona. Thunders from the sky hitting the mercenaries who trying to hurt her and Yun, that's what Yun remembers before he loses his consciousness as well.

There's still a respite in-between since Yun and Yona lose consciousness till Jae Ha and Shina arrive on this ship. For the remaining time, there are several mercenaries from the other ship and below who approaching them. Yona's finger moves, she opens her eyes and takes the sword from the nearest unconscious mercenary.

Jae Ha lands on the deck with Shina and saves Yona and Yun after dropping Shina on the barrack. He turns his head and surprised as he sees Yona swinging sword expertly like trained warrior. Jae Ha looks straight into her eyes and not a pair of Amethyst that he expecting, but instead he finds a pair of Sapphire pool within her eyes with her red hair swaying, blew by the wind, as if her hair in fire. Blue fire dancing on her eyes, red fire swaying from her head, the silver waves from the sword dancing in the air and mixed with scarlet from her enemy's blood.

She's so intoxicating, alluring and beautiful on Jae Ha's eyes "…who are you?".

Looks like this question rather surprising her, but she answers while swinging her dagger expertly "of course, I am Yona, silly… why you're asking me like that?".

"no, at least I know you're not Yona-chan".

"looks like your annoying Dragon blood has told you, huh? Right, you win this time. I will give you a clue as gift. I and Yona are one, but in the same time, we are different", Yona smirks, swinging her dagger that she put back on her pocket before lifting her finger on her lips "and since you've been here, I believe Yona in your care but keep my presence as a secret".

"oi, wait?!", Jae Ha is about to protest, at least help him to finish this battle, but the red-haired princess kisses him to shut his mouth. Jae Ha stunned by her sudden action before her body swaying and collapse backward and Jae Ha catches her, "good grief, I don't even know who was kissing me and speaking with me just now nor to whom I should keep her presence as a secret?".

Oh, right. She's just kissing him. For a second, his hand flies to cover his mouth. This red-headed blue-eyed girl that resemble with Yona just kissing him?! God, he can consider that just felt like Yona has kissed him but this girl really confusing him. She is not Yona, right? Yona always acts that she's annoyed by his presence like he does. So, there's no way the one who has kissed him is Yona, right?

Luckily, as innocence as he is, of course Shina doesn't understand about what that gesture meant, he doesn't even know the meaning of kiss so no wonder he acts as if nothing has happened as he slashing his opponent with his sword expertly, shielding Jae Ha's back "at least… we know she is not him…".

Jae Ha throws his knives to the enemy beside and in front of him "him? who?".

"Yona's guardian… he asking me to keep his presence as a secret to Yun and Yona…", Shina slashes the upcoming attack from behind Jae Ha's back "she did the same thing of him… with you…".

He? So, Shina also knows there is a guardian who protecting her as well? But the question here is, who is she?

It makes Jae Ha can't help but rolls his eyes in confusion. Yes, he knows that Yona has one guardian with her who following her like her shadow even if looks like she herself doesn't know or realize about it. He doesn't mention anything to Yona about her guardian as well because he only can sense him vaguely. As long as he knows her, he sees her guardian always using his beast form, the Beast made by Thunder. Only once he shows his human form in front of Jae Ha, when he asking him to protect her in his dream, after he jumping from that cliff to save Yona. He shakes his head, it's not the right time to thinking, they still have to fight in the middle of this battlefield.

Jae Ha cradles her head on his hand before gently patting her cheek, remembering her head's injury that hasn't healed up "Yona-chan? wake up".

Not long after that, Yona wakes up. This time her eyes just the same with he knows, the pair of Amethyst.

"ow, my head", Yona touches her head and sits back, blinking twice "huh? Jae Ha?".

Jae Ha welcomes her with his usual gentle smile "morning, sleeping beauty".

Yona looks around her surroundings before smack his head "not a joke, Jae Ha, we're still in the battlefield".

Yep, this is Yona-chan that he knows. Jae Ha notes this mentally.

"I can't believe that you did it, girl… so cool", Jae Ha lifts his thumb and helps her to straighten herself "can you stand? Does your head still hurt?".

"no problem… I'm fine, it doesn't hurt anymore…", Yona tries to remember about what happened. Could it be Jae Ha has saved them? the last thing she remembered of when that mercenary grasping her hair and… she gasps as she remembers her friend's state the last time she sees him "Yun?!".

In time, as Jae Ha protects Yona and asks her to hide, Shina approaches her, carrying Yun on his shoulder and slashing the upcoming mercenaries from other ship "don't be afraid, Yona… he's okay…".

Ropes that tied him is chewed by Ao after Shina puts him in front of Yona. After the he's freed of that ropes, Yona hugs him, barely teared up "oh, Yun?! thanks God!? I am so relieved that you're safe?!".

"yeah, I'm banged up here and there, those scoundrels really beaten me black and blue, but I'm alright", Yun smiles and breaks the hug, patting her head "looking at you even haven't had a single injury, it seems Jae Ha and Shina come in time to save us, huh?".

Yona hides with Yun like Jae Ha suggesting them just now "um, I guess so, but we still must find Yan Kum Ji to end this battle".

Yun contemplates where ships Yan Kum Ji will stay in the middle of this raging battle, he must stay near his merchandise and soon he realizes that Yan Kum Ji is right within the ship where Jae Ha and Shina fighting against so many mercenaries. Too many mercenaries inside that ship and that ship right beside this ship where all of woman from Awa kept as hostage. Jae Ha runs downstairs, kicking the upcoming mercenaries, slashing and ripping the curtain but find nothing. When he's on the deck again, Shina pointing to where Yan Kum Ji running away with a boatman.

"Yona, help us to tie the mercenaries", Yun calls her over his shoulder but shuddering once he realizes the fire lit on her eyes "Yona?".

Yona takes the bow and arrow, running to the front of the ship, tightening her arrow and aiming to Yan Kum Ji's heart as she sees Yan Kum Ji pointing his arrow to Jae Ha who has fallen to the sea, gripping his bleeding shoulder because of hit by Yan Kum Ji's arrow.

How dare you, Yan Kum Ji. For what you said about Hak. For hurting Yun and Jae Ha. For what you have done to Awa.

Die.

With that, her arrow launches, landing right on Yan Kum Ji's heart.

As the Tyrant lord's body plummeting into the sea, the dawn rises clearing the dark sky of the night. Yona lowering her bow, reminded of her precious person as she sees the rising sun at the dawn "father… Hak…".

One of pirate's crew approaches Gigan "Captain?! Captain Gigan! Kum Ji was shot and now he's in the ocean…".

Gigan closes her eyes slowly "…the night has dawned, hasn't it…".

It's new dawn. Awa has been set free from Yan Kum Ji who ruled throughout the decade, thanks to a small pirate crew and the single arrow of one girl. Gigan orders them to bring alcohol as much as they have so everyone in the town can get drunk. Jae Ha brings his erhu out, they think he will play it in this feast but then he takes off his robe, claiming he will strip with bleeding on his shoulder, this pervert. Yun scolds him to stay still if he doesn't want to die due to lost blood and starts treating his wound.

All of this joy makes Yona laughs heartily from the bottom of her heart, honest and sincere smile, the first time she is able to laugh and smile sincerely after she lost Hak and her father. Yun realizes it, but it's Kija who mentions about it. When Yona feels confused if it's weird, Kija explains what he meant with that, that Yona always smiles sadly and never laugh brightly recently so it's the first time to them to see it.

"it brings no harm, right? for smile and laugh heartily like that… it's only natural for us to smile and laugh when we feel happy", Jae Ha pats her head before cupping her cheek and offering his sweet smile "besides you should smile and laugh more often. It will bring your beauty become useless if you don't smile and laugh more often".

Actually, since when and why, only she who really understands the reason of why she can't smile and laugh like before. Maybe she can relax for a bit, just for the big feast today, she doesn't want to bring her somber mood. The truth is, she truly happy for Awa, so it will not bring harm if she celebrates the victory with this big feast along with the others, right?

Yona grins and bats Jae Ha's hand "yes, but if such kind words come out of the flirt's mouth like yours, it will ruin the goods of the word's meaning itself".

Jae Ha covers his mouth and puts his hand on his chest, pretending as if he feels hurt "aw, Yona-chan, your kind words really hurt me".

Yona turns her head to the Captain, pointing him "Captain, does he always like this?".

"just ignore him, girl. For him, insult is compliment", Gigan blows the smoke from her pipe before lifting her liquor "rather than wasting your time with that pervert flirt, how about the drink?".

Yona grins and joins the Captain "okay".

After that, they are spending the night with big feast for their victory till they fall asleep.

Yona rubs her eyes and finds everyone still fall asleep, all of them drinking too much after all. She wants to talk with Captain Gigan but since the Captain has retired alone to her room, she stretches herself as she walking outside Captain's room and yawning.

"oh well, it's a beautiful sky… I think I'll walk around for a bit", Yona wanders the quiet town's street where no one can be seen and it would feel just like ghost town's street if she didn't remember of how the others drinking last night. She looking up to see where the birds flying around above the clear blue sky "…it's quiet… Yesterday's battle… already seems like something that happened so long ago. I wonder if I was able to became a source of strength… to the people of this town… just a little bit? Hak, are you watching me somewhere alongside with my father? Father, did I become a little stronger?".

When she realizes that she shouldn't go too far or else she will make the other worry and she should head back as soon as possible, she bumps into someone and drops to her knee "kya!? I-I am so sorry!?".

"ah! No, no. I'm the one who should watch where I am going…", from the voice, that man reaches out his hand to help her stand back "excuse me".

"this voice…", Yona's heartbeat thumps loudly on her ears, she knows this voice. She lifts her head up, her eyes constricting in fear and surprise as she remembering what has happened between her and the man before her whose eyes widening in surprise as well, she covering her mouth and staring to him in horror "Soo Won… Why… Why is he here?!".

"…Yona…? this is… a dream, right? because you… I heard you died on the cliffs of the… Northern mountains…", Soo Won clearly distraught from the way he trails off but when he looking straight into her tremble hand, shaking right above her chest with pale face, her expression as if she's preparing herself because thinking that her head will be chopped off soon, he realizes that she is not only his imagination or his dream at all "…you really are… princess Yona… aren't you? …why are you here? What happened to Hak?".

She doesn't answer and his face pulls into that one can considered as relief smile "no, that's a foolish question. You're safe and sound. That must be because even now, he's risking his life to the end to protect you".

Her eyes widen, her entire body shaking as she remembers of Hak's fate "that's right, Hak has… if not because of him betraying us, Hak wouldn't…".

Yona takes the dagger that once belong to Hak from its scabbard, swinging it in front of Soo Won's face but Soo Won successfully dodges it and steps backward.

With his hand ready on the hilt of his sword, Soo Won narrows his eyes, he doesn't want to fight against her "…do you want to kill me? it's only natural that you do, but I cannot die right now, because there is something I must do".

"it's no use, princess… you won't do…".

Yona's heart pulsates uncontrollably and she doesn't believe her hearing right now. It can't be, right? but that alluring voice with mocking tone that usually tease her which she missed badly make her turning her face behind and find the figure that she missed so much, that she has thought she would never able to find wherever in this world. She is no longer care about Soo Won, what she cares about right now, Hak standing right behind her.

She lowers her dagger and furrows her eyebrow, her tears overflowing like the dam that contain her tears, ever since she has decided to stop crying and she has no longer able to cry no matter how sad she has been, finally breaks down "why do you think so?".

His smile still like before, the same smile with sad eyes that she considers as jealousy, sadness and grief of one-sided love that she just can understand now. With that smile, he narrows his eyes "because you still love him".

"no?! I am not…".

Hak's eyebrow quirks "dare to say that I'm wrong? The proof is, you will not keep that hairpin from him, if not because you still love him".

She lost her word. After he says that words which piercing her heart and observes her expression, he furrowing his eyebrows and turning his back, leaving her behind again.

She gasps and starts running to pursue him "no!? Hak, wait?!".

"with whom she was speaking? And whom does she pursue? Hak, she said? There's no one around here except us from the first place?!", Soo Won narrows his eyes and reaches out his hand before catching her wrist when she wants to leave him "Yona, wait?!".

Without doubt, Yona slaps his face, really hard till the corner of his mouth is bleeding "let me go, killer?!".

Despite her anger alongside her tears has caught him off guard for a while, Soo Won still wants to pursue her but before he's able to do so, he hears something from behind him.

"don't disturb her, Soo Won… just go… we let you go only this time…", that familiar voice sounds so menacing and venomous beside his ear "\next time when we meet, one more time you make her cry, I'll kill you, traitor".

Soo Won gulps and freezes in his place. He turns his head behind, looking over his shoulder but finds nothing. He clutches his chest, he needs to calm his heart down.

"Lord Soo Won!".

Soo Won exhales in relief "General Joo Doh…".

"what's wrong? Your face looks pale, as if you've met a ghost", Joo Doh, Sky Tribe General raises his eyebrows and his scowl deepens as he sees the blood line from the corner of King's mouth to his jaw "what happened?! Why are your mouth bleeding like that?!".

Soo Won just realizes that his mouth is indeed bleeding, Yona's slap really hard just now, he blinks as he swiping the blood with his fingertips "ah, this… a certain woman slapped me…".

Looks like he chooses the wrong words. Their reaction funny, though.

"I can't believe this, Lord Soo Won!? We are in the middle of investigating incognito and you flirted with random woman as you please?! just do it when we go back home?! Go back home?!", a vein pops in Joo Doh's head and he lifts his finger in front of his nose "and actually what kind of flirt that you've done till this certain woman slapped you?!".

"I-I understand, I understand, I'm sorry… I just didn't expect that her reaction would be this strict…", Soo Won turns his head behind swiftly when he feels like he hears the familiar voice from far distance.

"Lord Soo Won, what's wrong?"

"no, I think I heard the voice of someone's crying hard just now…", Soo Won shakes his head before lead the way to where their house waiting, listening to Joo Doh and his subordinate's report before mounting to his horse "let's go to Capitol Chishin".

"Hak, where are you? Please, come out?! If you're angry, if you despise me, if you disappoint or even hate me, so be it… but please don't punish me like this?! I need to know that you're still alive?! Tell me, your death that night only a nightmare?! It doesn't matter if you can't stay by my side anymore or leaving me because you've been freed from your job as my bodyguard since my father's death, as long as you're still alive, as long as we're still standing below the same sky…", Yona stops her step in front of the cliff that facing the sea where she can see clearly the horizon as the winds blowing the grass beneath her legs "Hak… come out, please… it's alright if you hate me or choose Soo Won as your master instead of me, but please… please tell me that you're still alive and your death that night only a nightmare?!".

Yona drops to her knees and covers her mouth, screaming and sobbing violently but no answer she gets in the middle of nowhere, only to make her screaming at the top of her lungs "HAK!".

It's no use. He has gone.

Breeze of the wind sweeps her tears, running through her hair, answering her pleading voice without mercy. She's crying harder, like she always has done back then after he has passed away. She's trapped in between the realm of her own dream and the reality again. She clenches her fist on her chest, her heart throbbing violently, getting louder in every second has passed. She knows how to get rid this feeling and wakes up from this situation. She makes sure no one will see her and takes her dagger but before she cuts her wrist, someone's hand catches her wrist.

"it's still too early for you to die, princess Yona".

Yona gasps and lifts her head, that voice's owner takes her dagger and slaps her face.