Chapter 28: Ally?


Yona's birthday came sooner than expected, Yona really had not been paying attention to what the servants were doing in preparing for it; instead shed gotten a hold of the reports in the fire tribe about the famine. She knew it was bad there, but these reports painted a picture of the tribe that was very different in what she'd been expecting. After finding out about this and that she was having a birthday celebration that would last an entire week, Yona decided to find someone to do her bidding once again. Kan Soo-jin was so busy in wooing her cousin into killing her father and her that he wasn't paying attention to his own children.

Yona shivered at what must be done, she really did not want to do this, but it needed to be done. Time for her to begin doing some wooing of her own. Taking a piece of paper she wrote out a personal invite and placed the person's name upon the front of the paper just as Hak came into the room and looked over her shoulder. Yona could feel the barely contained hatred and annoyance that was coming off of her friend.

"Really?" he asked, his voice sounding disgusted. "Him? You want him at your party?"

"Actually," she began as she folded the paper and placed her mark upon the melted wax. "I have plans for him, and he's coming before the actual party."

"Does your fiancee know?" he asked liking how her cheeks flushed and turned the color of her hair.

"Shin-ah isn't my fiancee yet Hak." she said with mild annoyance in her own voice. "And no." she admitted as she stood up to go find a messenger servant.

"He loathes him too." Hak muttered as he followed her through the halls and into the servant corridors. "Even worse than I do."

Yona sighed. "I'm hoping to use him to save the fire tribe." she told him, Hak raised an eyebrow. "I know he's a bit self-centered, but I'm hoping to find a shred of goodness in him."

"Good luck with that." was Hak's comment as he took the letter from her. "I'll make sure he gets this."

"Huh?" Yona questioned as he walked away. "Hak!" she yelled his name causing him to smirk as he entered one of the messengers rooms. Shaking her head Yona walked out of the corridors towards the study she'd been in before. "Now to see if the drug problem in the water is as bad as I fear it is." she said to herself as she began to sift through the old and new reports.


Su-won pushed his hair back away from his face as he walked down the walkway towards the main chambers of the palace. He'd just had another unfortunate meeting with Kye-sook and General Soo-jin, both still believing him to be on their side of things; however, it was becoming harder and harder to play the part of the betrayer. As discussed with Hak and Yona, he'd begun to pull away from them both over the last year. That was hard because he was to do Yona's bidding, but using the excuse of his mother's health becoming poor had been enough of an excuse to Uncle Il.

He did have a reprieve over the last two months though, General Han Joo-doh had been assigned to watch over him and have moved to the mansion that Yona had given him for his fourteenth birthday. It was nice to speak to someone who didn't loathe Yona or Uncle. He also learned some new sword fighting techniques from the older man. It was nice to have a friend who wasn't one of Yona's guardian's.

Su-won was kept in the loop of things by the blond haired Ouryuu, Zeno. The teen never aged and that seemed to not affect him very much. He was always smiling and though Su-won had caught Zeno with a haunted look upon his face a few times, Zeno always assured him that he was fine.

As he turned a corner he saw a messenger run off towards the stables. Hak watching the young man run off. "Hak!" Su-won called out causing the other to look towards him with a bitter look. Approaching his friend he spoke in concern. "Is everything alright?"

Hak sighed. "Princess has decided to invite someone to the celebrations this week." he stated with annoyance lacing his voice.

"Who?" Su-won asked, curious as to whom it could be.

Hak's lip curled in disgust as he spoke. "Lord Kan Tae-jun, second son of the fire tribe general." Su-won's eyes widened in shock. He knew the history the other man had with Yona and with Hak. A feeling of despair began to fill his gut as he felt that perhaps that would not be a good thing. He could only hope that his cousin knew what she was doing.


The sun shone brightly upon the city of Saika. The inhabitants grumbled at the heat, but within the marble walls of the fire general's mansion, more like palace, the two son's of the general were quite content; though the other more so than his elder brother. With his long brown hair pulled back, Kan Tae-jun was enjoying himself in one of the many apartments that littered the mansion. The wind was blowing through the window, keeping him cool. The long robes he wore with the tribe's insignia upon them, told people who he was; though it wasn't as if anybody would see him wearing such lavish clothes.

A messenger suddenly walked in, being led by Heuk-chi. The slightly chubby man waddled slightly as he walked. He'd been Tae-jun's most trusted servant for many years, he was also the commander of Tae-jun's troops. "What is it?" he asked sounding bored.

The messenger bowed his head before presenting the letter. "A messenger for you, Lord Tae-jun, from her highness; Princess Yona."

Immediately the older man was upon his feet and grasped the letter from the messenger. Ripping it open, he began to read it out loud. "My dear Tae-jun, when I heard you were not invited to my week long birthday celebration I was severely shocked." he began, Heuk-chi rolled his eyes. "So I personally wish to invite you, as a dear friend, to my party to discuss some important things that must remain between us." He grinned at those words. "Ah, I knew she felt something for me!" he gasped before looking at Heuk-chi. "Have my things packed immediately! We shall leave at once!"

"Shouldn't you read the rest?" Heuk-chi inquired, as the rest of the page seemed to have been ignored.

"I'm sure it's nothing too important." he told his servant. As the messenger and male servant walked out of the room, Tae-jun looked down upon the note to quietly read the rest.

I am worried about something and I fear that things here might be compromised. My guardians are keeping me safe, so there's no need to fret, but I have receive some troubling news about your tribe and I feel that only you can help me. Please do not say anything to anyone about my fears. In fact, destroy this letter in case it is found. Do be careful.

"Fear not Princess, your savior will come to you." he said to himself as a wide grin began to plaster itself upon his face.


On the boarder of the fire and wind tribe, the young teen Yun walked around the forest and meadows gathering nuts, wild berries that were surprisingly in season. Placing them in a basket, he went to check his nets he had left in the river. Once he found the nets and the fish, he cleaned said fish before heading back to the cabin he shared with Ik-su when he suddenly froze at hearing voices inside that were not coming from the former priest. Fearing the worst, Yun peeked inside and saw a man with pure white hair and a blond haired youth sitting next to him.

"Yun?" Ik-su's voice sounded with concern.

"Who are they?" he pointed to the two men.

The first turned towards him with a grin upon his face. "Has Lad brought enough for everybody?" he asked.

Face flushing Yun was about to yell at the other when the silver haired man voiced his opinion. "Zeno, we did not come here to eat!" he chastised his companion.

"But Zeno is hungry!" the man, Zeno, complained as he rubbed his belly.

"You're always hungry." the other complained. He then looked at Yun. "I apologize. My name is Kija." he pointed at himself with his right hand, a hand that had white scales and talons upon it!

"Your hand..." Yun began as he eyed the appendage.

Kija chuckled. "I keep forgetting that people outside Hiryuu Castle and Kuuto are not familiar with me or my arm." he said before pulling the haori sleeve up so Yun could see his arm better. "I am what's known as the Hakuryuu."

"Zeno is Ouryuu." the blond announced. "We've come hear to ask the priest to come to Missy's celebration." He then added. "Lad can come too. Missy likes making new friends."

"How did you find us?" Ik-su inquired knowing that this place was isolated, so nobody should've known where to look for him.

"Hakuryuu village has kept records of the dragon villages," Kija stated, "but we have also kept up on the rumors as to where the all of the priests have scattered to."

"You were the closest." Zeno stated as he put his hands behind his head and leaned back against the wall.

"Hakuryuu? Ouryuu?" Yun questioned, his mind finally catching up to what he'd been told as he dropped the basket he'd been holding. "THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!" he screeched.

"Lad is full of energy." Zeno stated with a grin.

Ik-su touched Yun's shoulder before speaking. "Why am I needed?" he inquired from the two who suddenly looked very serious.

"The Red Dragon is about to ascend." Kija told him. "Her father's life is in danger and there are those who wish to overthrow the Red Dragon."

Ik-su sighed before answering. "Then as her servant, I will come." Yun stared at Ik-su with wide shocked eyes before blurring out.

"So am I!" he yelled before standing. "He can't go five feet without falling on his face!" Ik-su chuckled before hanging his head in shame. "You'd never make it back to Kuuto without my help."

Zeno smiled at Kija who gave a soft smile of his own. "Then we welcome your companionship, Yun."

Yun grumbled something too low for them to hear before he ran out of the room to begin gathering supplies for the trip. All the while the Kami was smiling above as things began to fall into place for the next challenges of the Red Dragon's life to begin.


M-Angel: Yay, I finally updated this story. Sorry for making everybody wait so long for this update.