Red hair shining in the light of dawn

I do not own magi or akatsuki no yona

Chapter 11: Ren Kouen

'' Red hair, purple eyes and a bodyguard.''

''I knew it you are princess Yona aren't you?'' Kouen smiles. But not with a happy smile, no. More like an evil ,smug, plotting something smile. While his red hair flows in the wind.

Yona's eyes go big in horror and Hak's grip on Yona's shoulders tightens. Kourin looks at them with a puzzled look.

He found out.

Yona eyes turn into a sharp gaze while looking at Kouen, showing she is not about to bow down.

At her look, and the one Hak is giving him Kouen has to laugh. He makes a sign with his hand and the soldiers take their swords.

''I only want to talk, princess Yona.''

Yona eyes him suspiciously, Hak turns around as he feels a threatening presence. Shou En comes from behind him ready to tear Hak away from Yona.

''Alone.''

''Princess?'' Kourin repeats in confusion.

''Kourin, can you take care of the women?'' Kouen suddenly asks her.

''Of-ofcourse brother.'' She answers as she bows. Giving Yona one last worried glance before leaving towards the women together with her maids.

''Are you always behaving so rude in front of someone royal, have you no manners?'' Kouen says disgust clearly seen in the eyes f his soldiers as their king is not being respected.

At his words Yona's despair grows stronger, what should she do? She isn't sure if they can escape with the two of them, and she has no idea where the others are.

''I...I am not... '' Yona says softly.

Kouen's gaze pierces through her soul.

''She is not the princess, she is my sister and she got captured.'' Hak lies.

''Really?'' Kouen says obviously knowing they are lying.

''Shou En take that man.'' He orders.

Suddenly Hak feels someone coming for him.

''kill him.''

Hak prepares to take his weapon only for Shou En to take a hold of it. While both men are tugging at it they are stopped by a voice.

''Wait!'' Yona screams

''Wait.'' she repeats in a softer tone.

''I am sorry, I am princess Yona of kouka, nice to meet you.'' Yona says as she bows.

'Kouen smirks and waves with his hand.

The soldiers put their swords away and Shou En stands down. Still watching Hak.

''Nice to meet you too, I am Ren Kouen first imperial prince of kou.

Kou...

Somewhere Yona has heard that name before but where? What was it about Kou?

''Well now, let's go to a place where we can talk quietly.'' Kouen says as he walks towards a big tent gesturing Yona to follow.

Yona glances at Hak who looks worriedly at her.

''We will not kill him, of course that depends on how he and you act. '' Kouen says.

Yona nods and follows him.

''Sit.''

Yona follows the order.

Is this man always like this?

A maid offers her a drink but Yona shakes her head and focuses her gaze on Kouen narrowing her eyes.

''I am wondering what a princess is doing here?'' Kouen says.

''Aren't you also here?'' Yona responds

''I am different am here for a political visit, with bodyguards and you all alone?''

''With my bodyguard.''

''The bodyguard that assumingly kidnapped you after he killed your father, should I give his head to the king Soo-won?'' Kouen asks raising his eyebrows.

Yona's eyes darken.

'' I was not kidnapped..'' she says with a strong voice.

''Then why are you here and not in the palace?''

Yona's and Kouen gaze meet.

''What happened to your father?'' the mood of the conversation changes as kouen's voice sounds more threatening, showing his authority. Commanding.

Yona chooses silence.

''Was it Soo-won?''

At this Yona flinches and Kouen smirks.

''I..I no-o...'' Yona stutters.

''Do not lie to me, body languages tells all. I have my answer. I knew he was just playing an act, men like him always are like that just like king Sinbad.''

King Sinbad?

Yona gives him a look of confusion before changing the subject.

''Why so interested in another country?''

Why is that man even in Kouka, what does he want with Soo-won? With me?''

''Because this country would have become kou's.''

''What? ''

Yona's eyes slightly widen.

''Seems like you father never told you.'' Kouen responds.

''Tell me what?'' Yona says her voice wavering desperate to know everything this man knows about her father.

Kouen takes a sip of his wine before answering her.

''You would marry my brother Ren Kouha and Kouka would become part of kou.''

Wha?

''Why would father do that?''Yona exclaims standing up so fast that her chair falls.

''To avoid war.'' Kouen explains calmly.

''War? With who? Would you attack us? What does my country have what you want? We are already threatened by other countries.''

''Kouka would become part of kou and in return kou would help kouka.''

''Help, do you not mean take over ? ''

Now Yona remembers she heard people in the palace talk about it before, about Kou. How Kou took control of Balbadd. That they are conquering other countries. Kou is very aggressive and uses any reason to attack another nation.

But why would they want kouka? Wouldn't they first conquer countries that are closer? Or have ones that have valuable resources.

''I know what Kou does. I know what you want, world domination.'' She says as she stares daggers at Kouen for wanting to conquer her country.

He wishes to increase both the power and territory of theKou Empire.

''Balbadd and this country are two completely different cases.'' Kouen begins while gesturing Yona to sit down again which she refuses.

''Even though just with this country there would be no war but a marriage, in Balbadd there wasn't one because of the people, here there will be a marriage. ''

''And how would that help us?'' Yona asks while deciding she should sit down.

''We would give food, medicine, build houses. Of course slavery won't be implemented here. You father had some conditions.''

''Still why? What does Kouka have what you want? There a better places, more useful places to conquer. '' Yona exclaims shaking in anger and confusion which can be heard in her voice.

''Didn't you just say that what I wanted was world domination? Your country is the perfect place to start conquering the other countries surrounding you. ''

Yona's eyes widen.

''Exactly, you may lay in a location that for your small army is dangerous but it would be the best location to conquer the other kingdoms. It would be the interior of the new conquered land. With you ruling. My younger brother and you.

''Me ?'' Yona asks sceptical moving her eyebrows up.

''Especially you since my brother has to fight.'' Kouen takes another sip of his wine.

''And I do not merely want world domination I want to stop the fighting in the world, for that the world needs to be one with one king ruling it.''

''And that will be you?'' Yona asks having calmed down a bit.

Kouen nods.

''I was supposed to visit your father, but he had been killed yet news reached me to late and I was already on my way. So I met with king Soo-won. ''

''So Father was going to marry me of?'' Yona interrupts him trying to fight her tears back.

Why would father?

''Well it was only an idea open for discussion that we were going to discuss. You would be safe, there is no chance of a revolution happening with us helping Kouka. Because of our help Kouka, the people would be saved. '' Kouen speaks while drinking the last bit of his wine.

Yona is lost in thought by all of this.

What this man is saying does sound logical. But too good to be true. Would life for the people really be better under the rule of the kou empire? Would she be able to marry a stranger? She never really thought about marriage unless it was with Soo- No don't think about a man like that. And there is still Hak. What would Hak do? Hak...

''But I still wonder why he didn't want you to marry Soo-won.'' Yona gets called back to reality by this sentence.

That is right her father was against a marriage with Soo-won, why? Does it have to do with Soo-won's father? or because they are cousins? But so many people do that.

''I don't know.''

Silence...

The silence gets broken when a soldiers comes in. He bows and when Kouen gives him permission to speak he says:

''Lord Kouen, something suspicious is going on, would you mind taking a look?''

''I will be there in a minute.''

The soldier leaves and Kouen stands up. Yona follows but Kouen holds his hand in front of her.

''I know what you want from me, but you should know my answer. I will not give my country to you.''

Kouen smirks.

''Don't you mean Soo-won's country?''

At this yona's eyes turn full hate/rage mode.

''Of course I could help you win it back. But it is not like this is my only option. Or you accept, if not than we will just invade it. If you do accept it will all go peacefully with the least deaths. Or..''

''Or Soo-won will accept...''

Yona's expression turns shocked, confused and hurt.

''It is your choice princes Yona.''

''Sin-ah what do you see?'' A voice sounds in the wounds.

''Do you see the princess or Hak?'' Another voice can be heard.

''I see... Ships...coming from the sea ...towards us.''

Author's note.

Sorry for the wait. A lot dialogue, again. This story will have one more chapter: Yona's answer. Well... that was the plan but then I thought what about Soo-won? Kouen did nothing really special. I completely ignored Yoon, and Shin-ah ect. So I wrote the last bit of this chapter and decided that Kouen will get a little chance to shine too. You should note I hate writing endings because I do not know if the end will be satisfying. Please review and tell me which loose ends you want me to tie together. Maybe there will be another chapter then. So maybe two more chapters, but probably one. Except if it all doesn't fit in one or two then it will be three. By the way you can also see the three last sentences as a preview for the next/last chapter. If you have any questions just ask them.