Chapter 29: Fate Begins to Awaken


The sound of liquid dripping awoke the violet eyed girl. Heat danced against her skin as she lifted her head up and away from the ground. Her head pounded as she moved. Lifting her hand to her head she pulled it back to reveal a red substance on it. Blood. She was bleeding from a head wound. Looking to her right she saw a river of blood pooling around her hand. Her eyes followed the stream to it's owner. Her fathers dull chocolate colored eyes stared blankly at her. At her fathers feet holding a bloodied sword stood the sandy blonde haired young man that she called her cousin; Su-won. His eyes were wide with surprise before suddenly turning from their stormy blues to ashen grey as he closed off his emotions and become something dark. Behind him she saw a shadowed figure and knew he had something to do with this tragedy. Before she could question her beloved cousin she saw him bring down his sword upon her and just before it touched her a flash of blinding light filled her visage. She grimaced at the sudden light and turned away from it. When she reopened her eyes she was no longer in her father's chambers but instead the open training yard with the soft stone ground that was close to her father's chamber's. In front of her she saw Hak and Su-won fighting each other. To her right she saw Shin-ah fighting against Ju-do and to her left she found men approaching her. She was frightened and felt dizzy; having just witnessed her father's murder and having been hurt somehow before that. She saw a gleaming sword in front of her between her and Hak's battle with her cousin, and instead of being frightened of it she ran for it. Snatching it from the ground she stood tall with it in hand and readied herself for the onslaught of soldiers. The rain pelted her skin as lightning struck overhead, the cries of the men could not be heard as thunder roared and shook the ground below. Princess Yona, daughter of King Il, heir to the throne of Kouka took the first steps in claiming she was not powerless as she ran towards her enemies and as she stabbed the first of many victims.

Violet eyes snapped open as a gasp made it's way out of small feminine lips. Yona sat up in bed and starred off at the closed windows next to her bed. That dream. She thought as she touched a hand to her chin. I've had that dream for the last week. Is it because I'm turning sixteen today? She recalled that all week she'd been having lessons in dancing; which were harder than they looked, and her lessons with her koto were coming along nicely since she'd begun playing it when she was fourteen. Is Su-won pretending to be nice in order to kill father and I? She'd wondered this since she'd been attacked a few years ago but she'd never had enough proof to accuse him of this.

Taking a deep breath she pushed those thoughts out of her mind. Sitting up straight and tall in bed she swung her legs over the side and stood up. Her nightdress that'd been bunched up slid down her slim muscular legs as she walked over to where she'd laid out her dress for the day. After having that dream the first time she'd decided against the red and white kimono dress she'd originally was going to wear; instead she had a dress made that reflected who she was now. The first layer of the kimono was white, the second was a dark blue, like Hak's clothes, trimmed with silver on the hem of the sleeves and bottom of the dress. It had golden buttons on the front with light blue and green flowers splashed across the back of the dress. This allowed her to have the colors of her dragons on her person even if not all of them were present today.

After her fifteenth birthday Jae-ha and Zeno had left, they had yet to return; though Zeno sent a letter once a month telling her in exact detail of the things they were doing. Kija, her easily embarrassed dragon, would leave for a week every two months to visit his village, he always returned. Shin-ah never left her side; except for at night. He had begun to wear the mask less and less; but still wore it in large crowds. Guess I won't see his pretty gold eyes today. She sighed sadly and then giggled as she recalled his embarrassed look yesterday when he'd been asked by Min-soo if he would be wearing something special today. He'd shook his head vehemently at that which caused the young servant to gasp in surprise. She giggled not only because of his embarrassment but because she'd left a surprise in his room the night before. She'd been inspired by Abi and his clothing and thought that for just today Shin-ah could wear something nice.

Looking at herself in her floor length mirror she nodded at her appearance as she pushed a piece of hair out of her eyes. For a moment she looked at the deep crimson red hair that flowed over her shoulders and down her back. She use to hate her hair with a passion. Nobody else had red hair, just her. Then Kija showed up and every time she stated she hated her hair he'd begin blessing and telling her why she shouldn't hate her hair, that it was beautiful and made her unique. Pushing her locks behind her ear, she smiled as she turned on her feet and began walking out to greet the day.

As her doors opened she was first greeted by Shin-ah who's cheeks were red as she looked over his appearance. He wore a light blue kimono that was tied at the waist by a dark blue fur. On his back was a dark blue dragon with kind and gentle golden eyes. On his shoulder was his furs he usually wore on his head. Hidden underneath it, she knew, was his sword. His chin length light blue hair was pulled back slightly with his mask tied to his waist. Golden eyes looked at her as the red marks on his cheeks seemed to be highlighted by his blush.

"Yona." He spoke her name softly causing Ao to pop out of her hiding place and jump from his shoulder onto Yona's which caused the young Princess to giggle as she held the tiny squirrel. "Thank-you."

Yona smiled at him. "You're welcome Shin-ah." She said as she held out her hand to him which he took. "I wanted you to look nice too." She smiled. "You never ask for anything and I've noticed that when your clothes begin to get raggedy that you'll disappear for few days before turning up with some new clothes. You know I want you to be happy, just like everybody else. So if I can give you clothing, I want to."

He was silent for a moment before speaking. "Being near you makes me happy." He stated truthfully.

Yona smiled as a light blush dusted her cheeks. "I'm glad." She said. "It makes me happy to be near you and the others too."

He sighed in relief that he hadn't overstepped a boundary in telling her that small secret. "Ryokuryuu likes being near you as well." He stated recalling the looks he'd last seen Jae-ha give her. How it looked like he'd been in torment at having to leave her side.

Yona's cheeks became redder as she tried to hide her face with her red hair. "I like Jae-ha too." She admitted in a low voice.

The two began to head down the long walkways until they reached the gate where King Il stood waiting for his dearest daughter. Standing next to her father on one side was Su-won with his dark haired councilor behind him. "Shin-ah." Yona whispered her guardian's name. "Be careful around Kye-sook." She glanced at her friend. "I don't trust him. I've been having dreams and I think he's gonna force Su-won to do something he normally wouldn't do. Keep alert." Her eyes met his golden ones for a moment and he gave her a single nod before she walked off to join her father.

Hak and Kija; who had watched off to the side, approached Shin-ah who looked at his two companions with a frown. "Yona says to be on alert." He stated in his normally soft voice which had a tightness to it.

Hak frowned as his grip on his quandao tightened. "They're gonna make a move?" He asked Seiryuu.

Shin-ah's eyes looked at Su-won's smiling face. "I can't tell." He said lowly. "Yona's been having...dreams." His hand felt for his own weapon unconsciously.

Kija frowned as he touched his chin with his dragon hand. "There are stories on how Hiryuu would have dreams and these dreams would give him warnings on when an enemy would attack him." He looked up. "Granny found some old books from the first generation dragon and he described these occurrences and said that if Hiryuu hadn't had these dreams that he and the others would've been killed in battle many times over."

"Tch." Hak snorted. "Before you dragons came into my life things were never this complicated." He looked up to watch Yona disappear with her father to greet the people who had gathered to celebrate her birthday. "Then again," his eyes narrowed as he looked at Su-won. "I probably wouldn't be alert enough to keep her safe." His eyes narrowed as he watched Su-won and his people leave the courtyard.

"Hak!" Kija cried out in shock. "Don't talk like that. You are a smart young man who I consider a rival when it comes to strength. If I didn't know any better I'd think you were a dragon as well."

"A dragon?" Hak questioned before smiling at that thought.

"Ankokuryuu." Shin-ah said softly as the sounds of drums began on the other side of the wall with Yona and her father soon coming into view once more.

Hak's smile became a bit dark as his eyes shone with a spark. He really liked that name.

Yona raised an eyebrow at the smile that was on Hak's visage. It kinda creeped her out, but she supposed he was teasing Kija again if the flush on Kija's face was to be gone by. She approached her childhood friend and wrapped and arm around one of his.

"You being nice?" She asked her own face flushing when his face came closer to her.

"Should I be?" He teased.

Kija began sputtering as he saw how close Hak's face was to Yona's. "That's it, you are a dark and evil dragon!" He cried out.

This caused Hak to pull away from Yona's face and begin laughing a deep rumbling laugh that had his entire being shaking. Yona giggled as well as she looked at Kija. "Kija, you're terrible!" Her laughter was light and gentle causing all who heard it to pause in what they were doing and look at or towards her direction.

Su-won felt his heart clench as he heard the gentle laughter of his sweet and often oblivious cousin. He turned when he felt eyes on him and gave a soft smile towards Ju-do. His guardian knew exactly what he was planning. Tonight it would happen.


Yona sat on a pillowed tatami mat on the porch overlooking the koi pond that was behind the building of her chambers. She closed her eyes as she drank some tea. The morning and afternoon had been filled with excitement. A hand drifted up to the hairpin that Su-won had given her causing a small ache to occur in her chest and knew the tightness was due to her caring affectionately for him and his well being. I really hope my fears are not real. She thought feeling tears begin to brim her eyes. I love him dearly, not as a future husband; but as family. He and father are my only blood kin left. She took a shaky breath and pulled out the dagger she had hidden in the sleeve of her kimono before replacing it.

Standing she walked over to her haori's that hung in her closet and pulled the light blue one out and put it on her body. Placing the obi on, she stepped outside into the cool evening air. She needed to speak to her father. She needed something to alleviate her fears. As she walked down the walkways she saw Hak sitting on the steps of one with a jug in his hands. She smirked as he tried to get Kija to drink some causing the silver haired man to squawk at him. She hid her laughter only to gasp when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning her head she found Shin-ah starring at her, his lips twitching as if he too wanted to smile at the scene.

He still can't smile, but I'm sure one day he will and when he does I'll smile with him. She thought. "Will you escort me to my father's chambers?" She asked him. "I wish to speak with him." He gave a single nod.

Yona looked up at the sky as they walked in silence. One of Shin-ah's many qualities was his silence. She loved that she could talk to him and run idea's by him or talk about her studies and he'd stay silent when needed then give her his thoughts on the subject. As her eyes scanned the reddening sky she could see dark clouds forming high above her. Rain? She wondered before a flash of her dream appeared in her mind. A shiver ran up her spine. I wish Jae-ha and Zeno were here. She didn't know why but tonight she wanted all of her dragons present. Her feet moved a bit faster as she made her way towards her fathers chambers.


M-Angel: Now we are going to get into the more exciting, though sad part of this story.