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Chapter 20 – Being Observant Is Needed
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Kayano had a little uneasy inside her heart when she was dragged by Yona and others back to the village. She remembered of what happened to that bandits. What if the villagers got scared of her because of that incident? Surprisingly, instead felt scare of her, the villagers worried about her because she lost conscious after that. They worried if because of using her power too much, it would sentence her to her death. The children of the village even more attached to her. Adult gave their gratitude for protect their village from the bandits like they did to Yona and others, especially Tae-Sik's parents because she had brought their son back from the death. Such warmth filled her heart, overwhelming her till she teared up.
Hak teased her, ruffled her hair "don't cry, little sis~ what a crybaby little sister of mine".
Kayano quickly wiped her tears before yelling with flushed, puffed cheeks "am not, Onii-chan?!".
They spent their daily activities, helping the poor villages and protecting villagers out of harm but Kayano realizes something was off, from the princess. When she asked her about what was wrong, Yona told her about what she should do to make Hak agree about teach her the swordsmanship and when she mentioned that she would beg to him with lowered her body and bowed her head in front of him, something snapped inside her brain as if a nerve of her brain detached.
Kayano grabbed Yona's shoulder and shouted "princess, don't ever do that or even thinking about it?! You are our master!? You aren't supposed to lower your head into us, your servants?!".
Yona blinked at her seriousness "then… what should I do?".
"princess, you just need to order us and we will obey you. It's your authority which we can never against with", Kayano smiled softly into her, chuckling as she pinching her nose before she rose and cracked her knuckles "but first, I must give a lecture to my stubborn stupid Onii-chan".
Yona's jaw dropped "eh?!".
Not long after that, Kayano came back with Hak while pulling his earlobe like a mother who would punish her son for being mischievous or rebellious. With their body height's difference, it made Hak walking with lowering his body to the side.
Rubbing his stinging earlobe after Kayano released him, Hak protested "what are you doing, Kayano?!".
Kayano pointed her forefinger in front of Hak's face, startled the Beast who taken aback a bit backwards "you, just stop your stubbornness and stupid pride?! I understand about what you are thinking but one more time, princess need to learn about how to defend herself?!".
Hak opened his mouth, about to protest "wha—".
But Kayano cut his off and pointed the ground beneath him, not giving him the chance "SIT?!".
Hak had no choice but to obey, he knew what best right now which nothing but listen her "yes, ma'am".
Yona who stood behind Kayano with agape, along with Yun and the Dragons who hid behind the bushes, watching in awe as Kayano gave a lecture about how to behave towards their masters to Hak who sat and obediently listened to his little sister. Hak was more than startle when in-between his little sister's lecture, Kayano had told him about what Yona was up to before she asked Yona not to. Yona averted her eyes off him when he stared in disbelief into her. Done with getting off the words of her chest, Kayano cleared her meant "princess need this, Onii-chan. What if we aren't there when she need the help, but no one can't help her? Did you forget what Grandpa said long time ago before our first training when we were children?".
"other people only can reach their hands out to us, the only one who can help ourselves the most is no one but ourselves".
Hak frowned. Yes, Mundok was right, and Kayano was right about the princess needed the swordsmanship to defend herself. He had experienced it that fateful night, only a second he was late, princess would…
He shook that thought off his mind, Kayano was right, but it wasn't change the fact he was not too fond of the sole option that he was the only one who must have taught Yona about the swordsmanship "in that case, why didn't you teach her, then?".
"no, I am her private doctor. My duty is to take care of her health. What's more, I am a doctor of our group. My duty is to take care of those injured or sick as if I take care of myself. If a doctor got injured, who would treat those injured, then? So I'll take care of myself for the sake of being able to heal others like I do with the fight as long as it needed… what's more, I've gotten enough lecture from Mama Yun and I needn't any lecture of him furthermore".
Yun was about to shout a protest, just if Jae Ha and his Dragon brothers not stop him.
"Hak, I'm sorry, I know maybe this will stress you out… but no matter what the reason is, I need this, so I can protect others like you guys always did to me. I don't want to have you guys to protect me all the time, I can't lose you all…", Yona clenched her fist on her chest before stepped forward "Hak, teach me the swordsmanship. It's an order".
Hak narrowed his eyes, he had no choice but kneeled in front of her and bowed his head further "as you command".
That day, Jae Ha was pestering Hak after accidentally knew from Kija when they told a tale about how they did when they met Kija "why, Hak? Why did you not tell me sooner that one of Four Dragon Warriors will be Kayano's partner of red-string? If I become her partner of red-string, that's mean this Onii-chan will truly become your brother, Otoutou".
"because I don't want my little sister is taken by pervert like you", Hak tightened the rope in the roof for strengthen the roof that made by hay, rolling his eyes with teasing tone in his voice "and stop call yourself like that or address me that way, big bro".
Yona also was curious. Yun was contemplating and analyzed about who would winning over Kayano. Hak was displeased. So, as they observing Kayano with Four Dragon Warriors, the three of them watched while talking.
Yona whispered "hey, you think who will be winning over Kayano's heart, Hak?".
Hak scowled "beats me, princess".
Yona smiled before she hummed with a sing song tone "Hak is being overprotective older brother again~ aw, so cute?!".
"it's not that?! I simply hate the idea that my sister will be taken with one of those Dragons just because of that ridiculous prophecy. If she truly loves that man and be happy with it, so be it, but I will not want my sister is suffering because of taken by someone out of her own will".
Yona and Yun blinked at how Hak really loved Kayano as his little sister, he simply wanted Kayano to be happy with the man she loved, not because pushed by her bond as Dragon Priestess with one of Dragons.
Yun caressed his jaw "hm, let's see… Kija is attached to Kayano, but only as comrade, their professionality and loyalty to Yona is what make them can get along well together at first, but right now they're just like brother and sister. Between Shina and Kayano, their relationship is just like son or brother with his mother or older sister. Jae Ha, he's always flirting with her—".
Hak lifted his hand "correct, the Droopy Eyes always flirts with all of human living with gender known as 'woman'. He's not only flirting with my little sister or the princess, but also other human that can be called as woman".
"right… last, Zeno is clearly enamored to her from the way of him always following her like lost puppy", Yun nodded his head in agreement "long story short, Four Dragon Warriors have their own way to show their affection towards Kayano and it's clear how attached they are to her. So, the question here is, how about Kayano herself?".
Yona made a choice "the quickest way is with asking Kayano".
Hak held her, halting her with catch her on her shoulders "just let her be".
When Kayano was checking upon grandma Mi-Rae's condition while Zeno and Shina were playing with the children in front of grandma Mi-Rae's house, Shina stood up suddenly. Zeno and Kayano noticed this and not long after Zeno asked what happened, Sein came with Hak because Yun sent him to bring Sein here to hide. Sein, old man Se-Dol, Katan village's chief told Kayano, Zeno and Shina that the soldiers came with strange man that called as 'Lord'. Shina confirmed that Yona was there with Kija, Jae Ha and Yun. Everything had taken care under control as the soldier left the village after Kija threw their leader to the sky, out of this village. It looked like they got new leader from Capital Saika to replace the previous officer of government, Kija and Jae Ha even commented about how stubborn and persist them after this new leader came. It decided then, they would strengthen the protection under villagers.
That day, Yun left with Jae Ha to another village while Kayano and Zeno stayed with the others in Katan village. After asking Zeno to take care of Sein and other child, Kayano was off to check upon grandma Mi-Rae's condition that got worsen, due to old man Se-Dol's condition.
Kayano gave the medicine that she had boiled to that old woman "I know the medicine is bitter, but you should drink it to get better, Lady Mi-Rae".
Grandma Mi-Rae only had a son that left their village to join the military like other young man of the Fire Tribe, leaving the elders, woman and children in the poor villages, this was usual in Fire Tribe. Kayano couldn't help but worry, along with Yun's assistance, she was using all of her knowledge as trained doctor to heal this grandma Mi-Rae, even using her healing power sometimes when petite old lady fell asleep, but her condition kept getting worsen sometimes.
Realizing the worry on her eyes, Mi-Rae diverted the conversation "where is other young lady and black-haired man, your older brother who usually with her?".
"oh, you mean pri… err, Lady Yona and Hak Onii-chan, they are looking for the wooden sword for her sword practice".
"I can't believe she's going to learning swordsmanship from your brother and that little girl still oblivious about his feeling. It's clear that your older brother is madly in love with her but trying to hide it. He does it well, though".
Kayano suppressed a giggle "you have no idea".
"you know, I prefer your group's presence there, rather than my ungrateful son who no longer care of me".
"don't mention that, Lady Mi-Rae… maybe your son just doesn't have the chance or too busy".
Grandma Mi-Rae snorted and simply waved it off "by the way, where is the blonde-haired boy who always following you like lost puppy?".
"now she mentions it, wonder if Zeno is doing alright or Yun is back?", without the petite old lady knew, Kayano discreetly turned her eyes to the side and activated her sight to check, from the corner of her eyes, she knew Yun hadn't come back yet but she found out there was a strange person who sat with Zeno and two other children. Zeno licked the spilled ginger soup in his hands after giving the bowl filled with ginger soup to Sein and another thin little boy. In her eyes, she felt somehow the heat succeeded to come to her face, which in result made her blushed because thinking about how hot Zeno was when she witnessed him licking the spilled ginger soup on his hands.
Kayano slapped her face and cupped her cheeks "wait, what are you thinking, Kayano?".
She blinked to the old lady when that old lady laughed, though.
Once she got herself together, the old lady smirked "heh, your cheeks flushed like tomatoes… do you love that blonde-haired boy, young lady?".
Kayano stuttered and shook her head, waving her hands "tha-tha-tha-that's not it?!".
"oh, so pure and innocence… youngsters and their Springs, no need to against your own feeling", Mi-Rae chuckled and waved her hand before patted her shoulder "listen the advice from this old lady, young girl, what you need to do only to be honest with yourself and him before other girl take him away from you".
"told you, you're misunderstanding, Lady Mi-Rae?!", Kayano stood and left the house, only after asking the old lady to rest and not exhaust herself. She felt really embarrassed, her face felt hot and her cheeks still flushed due to grandma Mi-Rae's words and her embarrassing mind. How could be she thinking that way of Zeno?
"Kaya-chan?!".
Crap. The source of her main embarrassment was approaching her.
After a little chat about grandma Mi-Rae's condition, Zeno touched her forehead with his knuckles "what's wrong, Kaya-chan? Do you get a cold or supporting a fever? Your face is sure red like Miss's hair".
"I'm alright, Zeno, really?! I'm just… feel a bit hot after kept near the fire when boiling the medicine?!".
"is that so? Well, maybe Zeno can offer a drink or—".
Before Zeno continued further, Kayano grabbed his shoulders from behind after spun him around, pushing him to go back to the campsite "duh, don't worry... it will get colder soon as the dusk settle, right? by the way, has Yun come back already or not yet?".
To distract herself, Kayano made it with busying her hands. Without they knew later on the night, they would get into trouble. Tonight, Jae Ha was off to other village so Hak would stay up for the night to watch on guard-duty. Unlike the capital or big city, poor villages like this village sure got colder like you would be freezing outside, so Kayano took blanket, steaming meat buns and ginger soup for her brother.
"Onii-chan?! You will watch on guard-duty for tonight, right? make sure you don't get a cold, alright?", Kayano approached him to give provisions that she brought for Hak. After she gave that to Hak who gave thanks to her, Kayano just realized other person near the campfire "oh? Who is this? your face is quite…".
Hak smirked with dangerous glint in his eyes "true, he seems familiar, don't you think the same with me, little sister?".
Kayano tilted her head to the side, innocently mumbling "I do, Onii-chan… not sure about why you're here but surely you're not used to camping outside, right?".
Hak put back the drink and food that Kayano had given to him before eyeing the stranger "you're shaking, young master".
That stranger's body stiffened before he rose while holding his belongings "what are you talking about? I am but s poor traveler…".
"Kayano, Raijuu, so you're here?! It's about Lady Mi-Rae's medicine, can I ask you or should I come with Jae Ha to looking for her medicine? We're running out of our medicine's stock and Raijuu, who's on duty tomorrow…", Yun came and noticed the other stranger "huh? who's there?".
Startled by Yun's appearance, that man dropped something into the campfire. They just realized that thing as firework once the firework was launching as Hak hid Kayano and Yun behind his back. That man tried to run away but Hak threw his Tsu Quan Dao in between the stranger's legs. That man slipped and Hak held his head, pulling the ribbon that tying the cloth that wrapped his Tsu Quan Dao's sword.
With murderous intention, Hak prepared to stab him "signaling for your allies, huh?".
Yun stopped him right away "wait, you can't kill him?! if he is spy, I have questions to him?!".
"Yun was right, Onii-chan", Kayano crouched beside two man and propped her head on her palms, tilting her head "though, it's only natural for people to not believe in someone who barely killed us~ right, Onii-chan?".
Yun furrowed his eyebrows, standing beside Kayano "Kayano, Raijuu, you know this man?".
Hak sat on top of Tae Jun's body nonchalantly "he is only stupid second son of someone particular…".
"Kan Tae Jun?! I'm Kan Tae Jun, second son of Fire Tribe's General?!", Tae Jun protested after some air knocked out of his lungs "you're heavy?! Get off?!".
"you think you have the right to protest?", Kayano pointed her needle in front of Tae Jun's face "you're our hostage right now, so better to get along with it for now".