Chapter 21: Memories

The sounds of quick breathing filled a dark room that held the red haired Princess Yona. Her cheeks were flushed as she tossed to and fro in her bed. Her eyes scrunched together as her heart began to race. Within her mind she was lost in a memory dream sent by her former self. She'd had these before, of his days being trained by the warrior monks at the red dragon temple, of the moment he first met a beautiful woman who had set his heart at a fast pace as his loins had seemed to be set on fire with want, and the most recent being when he had met his wife Hakura years after he'd become the leader of the new nation of Kouka. This newest dream was set during a storm, a fight was occurring...

Hirryu could hear the sounds of swords clashing in the middle of the night. Sitting up in his bed, he listened carefully as he suddenly heard screams within the walls of the temple. He had lived and trained here since he had descended from the heavens four years ago. When found by the warrior monks, they had estimated that his human body was around the age of sixteen. It made sense, he was the youngest of the five Kami blessed dragons, though there were others of his kind, it was him and his brothers who were blessed by the Kami. As he had aged, he'd found that human males had very unusual needs that had to be met, though meditation did seem to keep those desires at bay. Waking up to that the first time had been a real eye opener, being thrown into a pool of cold water for the cure for the morning wood, was an even bigger shock. Four years later, he had begun to explore outside of the temple, the villages and helping the people around the temple. Raids weren't unheard of, but the bandits had seemed to stay away from his temple; until now.

Grasping the golden handle of dragon head handle of his sword, Hiryuu quickly ran out of his room to protect those who had taught him so much, without thinking to dress as he was in nothing but his night clothes. It surprised him when he saw Gortrum, the second in command to the high priest, Zenro, run his sword through Zenro without much thought. "The old ways will die with you tonight." he muttered as Zenro's body fell to the ground dead.

The heavens above opened, rain fell to the ground as thunder rumbled, the ground shaking from the intensity of the rumble as lightning struck overhead. Blood seeped from Zenro's wound towards Hiryuu's feet. Gortrum snickered at him. "Can't sleep Lord dragon?" he sneered at the word dragon.

Hiryuu looked at him with sadness in his eyes. "Why?" he asked, he didn't truly expect an answer, but his heart was now breaking at the sight of not only Zenro's body on the ground, but he could see others littering the temple courtyard along with several traitors with bloodstained clothes and weapons dripping with blood.

Lightning struck overhead causing the monk to smile wickedly at Hiryuu. "Does it matter?" he asked Hiryuu, "You'll be dead by morning. Your soul will return to where it belongs and humanity will kill itself off."

Hiryuu frowned. "I won't let that happen, no matter how many times I have to come back, Ill bring humanity back from the brink. If I can't, then at least I tried." he swore to his would-be murderer.

"Then I'll be sure to come back and stop you, no matter what." he chuckled as he rushed towards Hiryuu, who blocked the first strike. An arrow came from the side of the temple towards him. Hiryuu took a step back, the arrow moved between the two combatants before striking the ground. From behind him, Hiryuu heard another monk with a spear cry out as he rushed towards him. Side-stepping, Hiryuu narrowly missed being killed. Now with three opponents, one hiding high above and two facing him face to face, Hiryuu could feel worry begin to eat away at him.

His feet moved him, kept him one step ahead of the three as arrows flew at him, a spear stabbed at him or a sword slashed to disembowel him. He was tiring though as heavy pants escaped his lips. He knew that if he didn't kill one of them soon, he wouldn't survive much longer. As much as it pained him, it was them or him.

He moved around a pillar, came around the back of the spearsman with a downward slash that cut the young monk in half from shoulder to opposite hip. Blood splattered onto the floor and on his face. Shuttering breaths escaped his lips as his eyes widened. Memories of that young monk surfaced, making his heart clench as tears threatened to fall down his cheeks.

Quick tempo footsteps caused Hiryuu to turn towards Gortrum and block his sword from coming down upon him. With his other hand free, Hiryuu punched his once long time mentor in the stomach before pushing his sword away from Gortrums and slashed the swords blade through his neck, severing the head from the shoulders. Upon hearing the sounds of quiet footsteps, Hiryuu pressed himself up against a wall as the adrenalin in his system was pulsating through his veins. As the archer came into the room Hiryuu jumped out at him and cut his body from head to groin in a single motion of his sword.

Others who'd been fighting their own battles came into the room. Hiryuu, who's eyes glowed like fire, turned towards them, thinking they were coming for him as well; when they suddenly fell to their knees and faces to the ground. "Lord Hiryuu, do not attack us!" they yelled.

One of the men who'd he'd saved a few months prior from a slave encampment, still stood. "So, even an assassination attempt can't kill you." he suddenly smirked. "You really are an interesting man. I think I'll stick around after all."

Hiryuu looked at the dark haired man incredulously, before giving a sigh. "I hope I don't disappoint you, Shuten." he said with deep sadness in his voice.

Shuten looked down at the old monk. "Too bad he died, he seemed lime a good man." he said before looking at Hiryuu just as dawn's light crested the horizon. Shuten's eyes widening as he took in Hiryuu's appearance. With blood splattered across his form and the red hair with intense gaze, Hiryuu truly looked like the red dragon Kami he claimed to be. He almost makes me want to believe. Shuten thought as he looked at the dead men in the courtyard. Best help them gather the dead before the fowl come in to claim a free meal. he thought as he turned away from Hiryuu.

Yona woke up with a gasp. Tears were falling from her eyes as she shook from the memory dream. Quiet sobs escaped her lips even as she covered her mouth to stop them from escaping. She didn't want anybody to hear her crying. Suddenly the doors to her room opened, fear ran up her spine. A lantern was lit on her vanity. As Her eyes got use to the light Yona found herself looking into the golden eyes of the Seiryuu, her Shin-ah.

"Shin-ah." she whimpered his name, tears coming down in streams as he suddenly pulled her into his arms.

"Yona." he said her name softly. Earlier he'd felt a burning sensation in his chest causing him to wake up from a deep sleep. Having been walking around the grounds, he'd made his way towards Yona's private chambers in order to just check on her before going back to his own apartments. He was glad he'd been close when he'd heard her cry out. It hadn't been a very loud cry, but because he'd been close he'd been able to hear it.

Yona felt his arms tighten around her as he ran his hands up and down her back confortingly. She couldn't stop the tears from escaping her. Sniffling, she lifted her face from his shoulder. "Shin-ah, thank-you."

The blue haired youth flushed at the innocence in her voice. As bad of an idea it was, he so very much wanted to kiss her. The urge was so great, but he turned his head away from her and fought against that urge. "Ill always be there for you." he stated as the flush on his cheeks deepened.

Yona felt heat come to her cheeks as Shin-ah knelt next to her bed. She was highly aware that they were alone and she really wanted to talk about earlier when he'd confessed to her. Opening her mouth she spoke quickly. "I like you too."

"Huh?" Shin-ah blinked in shock at the sudden confession.

"Earlier you said-" she begun.

"Oh." he said recalling the interruption from earlier. "I meant it." he said feeling embarrassed. Looking towards the door he saw two figures step into the room. "Hak. Su-won." he greeted the two.

"I heard something." Su-won said worriedly.

"So he woke me up." Hak stated in a deadpan voice. "You okay Princess?"

"Just a bad dream." she told them. It was a memory though. she thought to herself. One that's etched into Hiryuu's soul because of how violent it was and how shocked he was of the whole incident. She touched her chest.

"Thank goodness." Su-won sighed. The sixteen year old looked around to make sure nobody else was in the room. "Is there anybody else coming?" he asked Shin-ah, who looked around with his eyes, but saw nothing. Seeing the shake. Su-won approached Yona. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you." he said with an all too serious tone. Hak raised an eyebrow at him as Yona and Shin-ah instantly took notice of his tone. "Kye-sook and Soo-jin are planning to kill King Il." Lightning struck behind him causing a deep rumble to cause the ground to shake slightly as rain began to once again fall from the heaven's above.

M-Angel: Yay, I've got another story updated this week. I'm on a roll! I just may be able to update one more tonight. Time Chages perhaps?