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Chapter 21 - Without You, Not Beautiful As Yesterday Night
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"Yona, your bleeding—?!", Lily is taken aback from her blank look "…Yona?".
Soo Won is stunned, looking down to the bloodied hairpin in her hand.
She just used it as a weapon. To kill people.
Though, Hiyou deserves for it. Had Yona not killed him with her own hand, maybe he is the one who would have killed him with his own hand.
Soo Won reaches out his hand "whatever, let's treat your wound—".
Before Soo Won touches her, Yona bats his hand like that night, sending her best icy glare "do not touch me with those filth hands of yours… which have killed my father directly and killed Hak indirectly…".
Before Soo Won realizes what just happened, Joo Doh has pushed him out of the way, hovering above him as he deflects the bloodied hairpin using his sword. Soo Won is stunned and drops to his butt. He can't believe what he has just witnessed.
He was barely killed by Yona with that hairpin on her hand.
Yona takes a step backward, pointing the hairpin forward "move aside, Han Joo Doh".
"do you think I will move?", Joo Doh lifts his sword, defending Soo Won before he furrowing his eyebrows, looking how much her blood has been dripping to the ground "more importantly, you have lost too much blood. You should treat your wound".
"if you want to stop me, you should kill me", Yona throws the bloodied hairpin to the ground before spreading her hands to the side, preparing herself for the upcoming so-called killing-blow "do it".
Joo Doh lowers his sword to the side, eyebrows knit deeper "…I couldn't. Just stop this".
"why? I'm only weaponless, pregnant woman. It should be easy for you to kill me. If you want to protect your master, just stab me with your sword if you could", Yona's Amethyst orbs changes into Sapphire orbs as she trades place with Hannah. Hannah smirks dangerously and scoffs, wrapping the torn pieces of her robe to the bleeding on her palm as emergency bandage "I don't understand, why should you feel doubt only to kill me? Kan Soo Jin could kill me so easily and made me drowning. The stupid second son of that bastard chased after Yona and Hak which ended killing Hak and left Yona's side, only leaving the baby in her body. Or what? Are you afraid to take the Queen's life now, Han Joo Doh?", looking to shocks of Joo Doh, Mu-Ah, Gyoku and Soo Won, maybe finally feel convinced of who is she, Hannah tilts her head to the side and crosses her hands "surprised? Should I say long time no see first?".
"ever since I choose Lord Soo Won as my master, I couldn't have any feelings left for the princesses and I know I shouldn't be shaken, but I never wished for your death, neither you, princess Hannah, nor princess Yona… I prayed that somewhere far away, somewhere my eyes wouldn't reach, you and your sister were living… but you have passed away years ago, right? after you came back from the dead even if only using your little sister's body, how could I kill you after I failed to protect you?", Joo Doh grits his teeth before drop one knee in front of her "princess Hannah, knowing how your family were killed, no wonder you couldn't rest in peace. As Sky Tribe General, I apologize for not being able to protect you and your sister but right now, the King is Lord Soo Won. I serve the King for the good of the Sky Tribe and Kouka Kingdom".
Hannah touches Joo Doh's chin, tipping his chin up so he can see straight into her eyes "huh… I don't know you could be this soft and naïve… your advisor said Hak is a naïve but looks like you're also still a naïve, Han Joo Doh. Does my mother's figure in your memory have influenced you this much?".
Realizing how his body stiffens, Hannah chuckles "come on, showing your mercy or kindness to your enemy in the battlefield, means your naivety will kill you, General", the look on her eyes and face get hardened "if you couldn't lay your sword on me, move aside".
After chopping the side of Joo Doh's neck using her right hand, Hannah kicks him on his epigastrium with her right leg, surprisingly it successfully sends him flying several feet before Joo Doh coughs blood due to internal injury. Mu-Ah lifts his sword from her side but Hannah ducks and swipes her leg to tackle his leg. After Mu-Ah drops to the ground on his bottom, she pulls several throwing knives to him, pinning him down on the ground.
"huh?", Jae Ha checks his pocket before realizing those throwing knives indeed his and he squeals "my throwing knives!? Again?! Since when did you steal it, dear?!".
"I just borrow them for a while, don't be stingy", Hannah waves it off before dealing with the last of Soo Won's bodyguards. Gyoku swings his sword and she dodges it. In her effort to avoid his attack, after crouching herself, she lunges into him and stabs his thigh with her dagger, Hak's dagger which become hers ever since his death. Pulling it out of the screaming man's thigh, Hannah licks the blood in her palm before deadly looking straight to Soo Won, slowly walking forward "you know, I wouldn't have to do this, had you not betrayed us… so, you can't blame us at all, right?".
Joo Doh clutches his midsection where Hannah has kicked him hardly "raise your sword?!".
Alarmed by Joo Doh's shout, Soo Won barely dodges Hannah's dagger. It turns out as the fight between Soo Won and Hannah. With her tears streaming down her face like the flowing river, she keeps swinging her dagger "had you not killed father, chased my sister and him out of the Castle, Yona wouldn't have to left all alone?! Maybe I should have come out sooner before you killed them?! Father was right, you maybe could become a great King but you are the worst man alive?! Ever since father told me that your father killed my mother, that's why he never could give his blessing to your relationship with Yona, I should have warned my sister sooner?! Or killed you, before you killed them…".
"it's nonsense?!", Soo Won deflects her dagger using his sword "my father would never—".
"just check on the King's secret archive!? Inside father and grandfather's archive?! It was clearly written that your father was the one who killed my mother but my father still has a mercy, that's why you and your mother are still alive although you and your mother should have been executed along with your father… and look what you did?", Hannah laughs severely before she charges him again, snarling "your men said it's for the good of Kouka Kingdom as they pointing their sword to my sister… but tell me honestly, Soo Won… Actually, what made you choose this path? Your concern of this Kingdom, or revenge?".
Soo Won gulps under the illogical fear stirring his heart. He feels his throat and chest tightened as his eyes widen slightly.
"see? We've got our answer", Hannah raises her eyebrow before pushing Soo Won backward "you only would make my sister suffering more?! You should die directly in my hand!?".
"what should we do?", Lily turns her head "why doesn't anyone move at all?".
"when it will be dangerous for her, we will", Zeno only crosses his arms with deadly serious expression "but I guess no one of us have a reason to stop our Queen here".
Jae Ha feels he can hear someone whispering behind him "lend me your body".
"maybe I'm really stupid, till I couldn't understand your heart and feeling to me all along this time. Never I hate someone this far, Soo Won... and I also never love someone this deep, Hak", Hannah's Sapphire orbs change and trades place with Yona. Yona lifts her dagger with more tears flowing freely of those blank eyes "if you meet Hak or my father, tell them my apologizes…".
Jae Ha wraps his hands around Yona's torso, dragging her away from Soo Won and carrying her in his arms, walking backward.
Yona frantically struggles to freed herself from his iron grip "Jae Ha, let me go?!".
The gust of wind blows his ponytail. He doesn't let her go. Instead, he hugs her from behind, not letting her go, carefully not put too much pressure that may put her body on more distress as he gently whispers "stop it, princess. The baby could hear you".
Yona gasps and stops struggling. She slowly turns her head back and what she finds isn't Jae Ha's long straight green hair and gentle Amethyst orbs, instead Hak's messy raven hair and piercing, yet warm and intoxicating Sapphire orbs. Too focused on his figure which doesn't change that much, just like how he had been before he passed away, Yona doesn't realize that the Lapis Lazuli on her necklace has turned back into its place, hanging on her chest and shining like it was, back then when they were on the cave of Blue Dragon's village.
"Hak…", Yona drops her dagger, cupping his cheeks "I thought you have left me… that I lost you…".
"how could I abandon you, just because of death? Take it easy, you don't need to worry. I never really leave your side, I would never go anywhere, I promise", he takes her bleeding palm that cupping his cheek, kissing her palm before frowning "you're so stubborn… what I told you before the last time we met?".
Yona shakes her head "then why… why do you come to me this time after you've left me alone here? with our child? You have no idea on how I missed you…".
Hak sincerely apologizes as he leaning his forehead into hers "because you're always crying, as if your tears wouldn't stop… what I told you before? You could just forget me if it's too hurt for you to bear it and you should find your own happiness".
"how could I forget… how could I find my own happiness if my happiness has long gone… it feels like my heart has died at the same time with your death, Hak…if it had not because of our children in my womb, I would have died since long time ago… at first, I thought what move me only my anger and hatred. Anger and hatred are poisons which will destroy me from inside, but instead that poisons have strengthened me, for I am able to reach my purpose, but… with these children in my womb, our children, how could I die easily and follow you to another world after I finish what should I strive to do for this Kingdom?", Yona feels as if all of her power has left her body, her knees buckle beneath her and she drops to her knees. She clutches the front of his robe and lightly smacks his chest or bicep, crying harder desperately "you promised me… you said you wouldn't leave and would always stay by my side, but why? Why you should die and leave me alone?! Liar!? Why don't you just let me die and take me with you?! Take me with you, Hak… just take me with you…".
Hak pulls her into his tight embrace and furrows his eyebrow with so much pain on his face "how could I? you know that I could never, I can't… the last thing I would do and I would never do is to kill you with my own hand, no matter how you want it if it means we can be together…".
"I regret it", Yona sobs violently, digging her fingers on his back "I always pretended that I didn't love you because of big sister Hannah's death… because I thought you only loved big sister Hannah… after knowing to whom your heart had belonged… why couldn't I be honest with myself and realize my feeling to you sooner? but now, I only could regret it…".
Stroking her back and running his fingers on her hair, he glares to Soo Won "had I survived it and still alive, I would have killed whoever hurt you, betray you, but I couldn't even touch you without lending another people's body…".
Yona sniffles as she burying her face on his chest, scolding him with muffle sounds "…you moron, make sure you meet with Jae Ha to apologize to him later…".
"no promises", Hak chuckles dryly before kissing her forehead "what keep me in this world by your side is my regrets… for not able protect your father, for not able to survive and stay by your side… and I have caused unbearable pain on you… forgive me…".
Yona shakes her head and leans forward, slowly closing her eyes "don't apologize".
Hak kisses her as his tears falling onto her cheeks "live, princess. I would always stay by your side even if you could no longer see me again. I would watch you over, to make sure you have your happiness back. If you really couldn't forget me, you don't have to always remember me, just remember me sometimes. Because right now, we only could meet in the dream...".
"…I understand', Yona sniffs and kisses his wet eyelids, blinking her tears away "even though it still feels like my heart has long died along with your death, I'll live for the honor of your death and for the sake of the baby that will come to this world… and when it comes for us to meet again on another life, make sure you pick me up, so you have to wait for me… think of it as your punishment, for leaving my side this soon, you moron".
Hak chuckles, sincerely laughing like he had when he was still alive "as you wish, my love".
Hak's figure slowly fades as blue light comes out of Jae Ha's body. Yona closes her eyes and collapses on Jae Ha's embrace with tears glistening on her face.
After Jae Ha covers his eyes as a single tear cascades down his cheek "ah… so that's what happened…".
Soo Won reaches his hand out but Jae Ha pulls Yona's body closer to him and glares to the King, snarling "stay away… do you think you still have the right to touch her or even to concern about her, after causing so much pain on her?".
Soo Won flinches and retreats his hand back, lowering his head further in shame. Jae Ha stands and carries Yona bridal style on his hands, asking his comrades to leave and turning his back, walking away with his back facing Soo Won and his fallen comrades "this is last warning from us. LEAVE, or else even I would kill you… I will not have mercy upon whoever dare to hurt her, just like him".
A/N :
I CRIED!? *sniff
Okay, but from the next chapter, Yona will start to move on and starts to consider about set her eyes on Jae Ha. No worry.