Chapter 36: Found

Hak watched as both Kija and Shin-ah finished with their preparations to leave. Their bags packed with supplies, Shin-ah's sword had been cleaned and sharpened by one of the blacksmith's in town. The sword that had once belonged to his predecessor never looked as good as it did now. He was no longer wearing the kimono Yona had given him, instead he wore wind tribe clothing similar to Hak's clothing, except his was a lighter blue color. It was as they were about to leave with Han-dae and Tae-woo when Hak saw Seiryuu look up into the sky pulling his mask off as he did so.

Shin-ah blinked in surprise. "Jae-ha." He said the green haired man's name and a second later there was a crash in front of them as dirt and rock erupted from the ground. As the dust settled Ryokuryuu stood there looking a bit roughed up though he had a smile upon his face that always meant trouble.

"Jae-ha!" Kija cried out before looking the Ryokuryuu over. "Where's-"

"Yona dear is safe." He smiled at Hak. "In fact she's sent me to get you guys, though mostly you." He said as he pointed at Hak causing the young Wind General's eyes to widen in shock. His face betraying his shock. Jae-ha smirked inwardly at this. "Seems our beloved crimson haired master has made a new alliance with the Earth General and in order to gain his help she has to do something for him. So she's giving him a festival where people get to challenge him in a ring." His eyes met Hak's. "Sound familiar?"

Hak blink once before it finally came to him in which case he gave one of his mischievous smirks. "Yes."

"Are you in?" Jae-ha asked his eyes growing dark. "It's been awhile since we've fought seriously."

"Hm..." Hak hummed. "Who am I fighting?" His eyes glinting.

"General Lee Geun-tae." Jae-ha smirked at the joy filling Hak's eyes before he covered them with a blank look.

"I don't know..." Hak looked away before one eye looked at the green haired man. "I may be busy that day. You know, having just survived almost being killed by Him."

"Ah, that's true." Jae-ha said with a smirk. "You did look tired when I showed up. Raiju must've slowed down over the years." He saw Hak's eyebrow twitch in annoyance at the nickname. "I guess you don't want that surprise our dear girl is giving to the winner." He went to leave when suddenly both Hak and Kija grabbed his shoulders. "Eh?" He questioned them as he turn to look at their faces. Hak's bangs covered his eyes but he was radiating annoyance and anger while Kija had a look that Jae-ha had never seen upon Hakuryuu one that said he wasn't gonna pass up a challenge especially since it had something to do with Yona. Jae-ha grinned to himself, this was too easy.

Yona found that working with Yun-ho on the festival was fun. The earth General's wife grew her own tea leaves which meant that they could sell it during the festival. The flowery tea was actually very good and she could've seen this being served back in Hiryuu Castle. She then had Lady Yun-ho introduce her to some jewelers whom she asked if they could polish and set the stones that she'd had Jae-ha gather from one of the mines. The jewelers weren't the only ones curious why she'd ask them to do such a thing, but after they'd made a necklace she'd then shown it to the lady who thought it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. After that she'd had them make a set for her husband, this caused Yona to giggle. It was during the week of planning the festival that a messenger from Hiryuu Castle had arrived. Yona had then realized that it had been six days since her father's murder, six days since she'd been exiled from her home, six days since she'd learned that not everything was as it seemed. The naivety that she use to have was slowly leaving her, in it's place was a stronger person; but she felt that she'd lost more that night then her family, like a piece of herself had gone missing.

She was in the garden with Lady Yun-ho when Zeno had suddenly shown up and grabbed her wrist. "Miss has to hide!" He said and the desperate look on his face made her realize the severity of the situation. The two of them had gone to one of the outer buildings and hide there for some time.

Around noon Yun-ho found them waiting in the building, her husband was with her. Yona looked up at General Geun-tae. The look in his eyes made her realize that whatever he'd been told had been very important. "Su-won has called a meeting of the Generals." He said. "I believe he is wanting us to vote him into the position of being our new King." He looked at the young Princess. "I'm to be there the day after tomorrow. What should my answer be?" He inquired knowing what he already wanted to say.

"I believe you know the answer general." She said softly. "You and I have made our deal. I am standing by my word and I am going to help the earth tribe. Will you stand by yours?"

Geun-tae smirked, he liked this girl. She had a fire in her soul and she had a way with bringing people together. Oh he may have led her to believe that she and his wife were doing the planning for the festival, but in the background he was making sure merchants were being brought to Chi-shin, that the people of the countryside knew there would be a festival and that a Princess Yona would be there in person. He made sure his army would be alert for any Sky soldiers or assassins. The girls would have their fun in planning the festival but he was having his fun in making sure his people were kept safe. "I think Lord Su-won will know my answer very soon." He said. "Besides, I can't miss my own festival!" He laughed when Yona's face was graced with a smile.

Kye-sook had prominent frown upon his face as he briskly walked down halls and walkways until he reached Su-won, who was in the library reading parchments on the tax returns of the last decade. Su-won was convinced there had been some money that hadn't made it to the royal treasury. When his councilor entered the room he looked up from the papers to find a flushed Kye-sook. "What is it?" He inquired from the raven haired man. Kye-sook didn't speak; instead he handed him a paper. Su-won looked the parchment over, his eyes widening as he read and reread what it said before looking up. "Who sent this?"

"Unknown." was his answer. "A guard was given it by an orphan who was paid by a cloth masked man."

Su-won drummed his fingers on the desk as he looked over the message once more, a chill running down his back.

I know what you've done and it grieves me to say that your blood will run for the crime you have done.

"Ensure there are double the guards from now on." He said. "Have the generals responded to my messengers?"

"General Joon-gi has responded and will arrive in the morning. General Sujin is already here." He paused. "Unfortunately General Lee Geun-tae has excused himself until after the earth festival is over. Elder Mundeok hasn't responded."

Su-won sighed. "Do they not care that this country currently has no King?" He stood up. "I cannot become King without the vote. I need all five leaders to do so." Walking over to the firepit he threw the note inside it. "Talk to Sujin, see if he can convince Elder Mundeok in coming. As for Geun-tae, I'll wait until after his festival is over before sending a second messenger." Looking into the flames as the paper burnt he found himself wondering why the general of the earth tribe hadn't truly come. "See if you can find out what this festival is all about. I can't recall one ever being at this time of year."

Kye-sook bowed. "Yes, Lord Su-won." Turning on his heel the councilor walked out of the library leaving a tired Su-won behind.

When Jae-ha arrived in Chi-shin with both Hak and Shin-ah he'd been surprised to see all the festival decorations already hanging all around the city. Venders and merchants alike were setting up their stalls, children running about with smiling faces; but it was the guards that made his back straighten slightly. There were double the guards than normally. As he walked up to the gates to the earth general's palace he caught the tinkling of a familiar woman's laughter. Turning his head he signaled Hak and Shin-ah to stay back as he approached the woman.

Hak watched a nicely dressed noble woman give off a bit of a squeal when she saw Jae-ha. The woman gave the green haired man a hug before telling the merchant she'd been talking to goodbye. She then walked up to him and Shin-ah and Hak smirked as he recognized the woman to be Lady Yun-ho. The woman was really easily excitable, her personality matched the earth general perfectly, even though she was much younger than him. Hak himself couldn't believe such a beautiful woman liked the rugged earth general especially since the man rarely dressed like the noble he was. Hak didn't even realized she'd threaded and arm around one of his and was practically dragging him through the city talking about Yona this and that. The only thing he did hear was his Princess' name. Both Shin-ah and Jae-ha were walking behind him with Jae-ha smiling, that was until they passed through the palace gates. After that Hak found himself alone with the Lady of the earth tribe as she pulled him into a room, it wasn't until he saw the widely grinning earth general that he actually started regretting in coming here.

"Shin-ah!" Yona's cry caught both young men off guard as she came bouncing out from between some trees in the garden. She first wrapped her arms around the mid-section of the Seiryuu before spotting Jae-ha and giving him a sky hug around his neck. When she pulled away her cheeks were flushed. "I'm so glad you both got here so quickly." Her eyes scanned the area. "Where's Hak and Kija."

"Hak is with Lady Yun-ho." Jae-ha explained. "Kija went to his clan to see about something but promised to be here in time for the arena challenges." Jae-ha chuckled. "I think he believes that he'll be given a chance to spar against Hak or myself."

Yona giggled. "Nope." She said shaking her head. "None of you four will be participating. It'd be an unfair advantage." She giggled again at Jae-ha's pout.

"Yona dear." He whined.

Just then Zeno came into the area of the garden they were in. "Miss!" He cried out causing her to turn and looked at him. Her blue kimono dress spun as she did so. The wind caught her hair causing it to blow slightly into her face. Behind her golden haired guardian two people stood, both were a little dirty from traveling. The one wore clothes that she recognized as priest gowns, the other wore a blue shawl over his tan dirty clothes. Both looked worn out from their journey.

Zeno approached her. "Zeno found these two outside the city gate." He said with a smile. "The one is a priest." He whispered into her ear.

"Hm." She hummed before giving a nod.

"The priest wishes to speak to you, but nobody would let him." He explained. "So Zeno brought him and the lad in to talk."

The young man looked annoyed at being called a lad. Yona giggled at his annoyed look. "Okay." She said with a smile before walking up to them. "I am Princess Yona. What did you wish to talk to me about?"

Ik-soo looked at the crimson haired woman before him. Her beauty stunned him. She was far more beautiful that what he'd been expecting. It had been said that Hiryuu's inner beauty outshone his outer beauty, but he hadn't expected such a thing to be true about the young Princess. He could see her outer beauty easily, who couldn't? Her inner beauty, he couldn't. He couldn't sense it. Had he been wrong? He wondered. "I-" began only to be interrupted by Yun.

"Say what you came here to say already!" Yun yelled at the stunned priest. He hated nobles. Being here just made him want to run off.

Yona looked at the strawberry blonde for a moment. The scowl on his face held nothing but hatred and contempt; it screamed leave me alone! However something inside of her said that he wasn't a bad person, just someone who'd been delt a bad hand in life. Pursing her lips together in thought she decided to help him in some way, she didn't know how. So side stepping the priest she approached the young man.

Yun heard footsteps coming towards him. Looking from the garden back to the people in front of him, he found himself face to face with the Princess. Thinking she was irate at him for speaking as he did, he took a step back away from her. "What!?" He yelled.

Yona giggled. "You're easily angered aren't you?" She said causing him to blink at her in confusion. "I don't know why you are angry, but I want to fix that." Ik-soo's eyes widened.

Yun snorted. "Yeah right." He mumbled.

Yona cocked her head slightly. Frowning she gathered herself together and took another step towards him. "I don't know why you're so angry, but I'm not letting you leave until I've either figured it out or fixed it." Grabbing his wrist she began to pull him behind her. "So until then you're coming with me."

"Wha-" Yun cried out in surprise causing Ik-soo to chuckled. "Let me go!"

"Nope!" Yona giggled as she led him away from her friends. "You're gonna help me so I can help you." She stated with a smile as they vanished from sight with him protesting as she dragged him behind her.

"Who wants to bet that Yona dear will being friends with that boy by the end of the day?" Jae-ha said with a teasing tone.

"I'd say tomorrow." Zeno stated as he threw his arms behind his head. Shin-ah gave a nod in agreement.

Ik-soo smiled. "Yun is stubborn. It may take a week." He stated as he looked at the three men behind him.

"I don't know." Jae-ha said as he eyed where the two had vanished off to. "Yona can be stubborn when she gets an idea in her head." He eyed the priest for a moment. "It would seem you'll be staying here for awhile." He grinned. "Can I inquire on what you wanted to say to our dear Yona?"

"I have a prophesy for her from the Kami themselves." He bowed his head at the three of them. "It is of the up most importance that she's told what I am to say. Kouka Kingdom's fate rests within her hands."

M-Angel: Yay! I got another chapter out! I'm so pleased with myself. Next chapter will be on the festival. Oh, also I just posted the next part of this Gem series. It's on Su-won and Yona. So if you like that pairing, check it out. That story is called Citrine Lines. Enjoy!