Chapter 38: Battle

Red hair fluttered as the wind picked it up and played with it. Violet eyes watched the unseen play with it's hair and smiled ever so slightly. Lifting a hand those same eyes looked upon the digits of that hand. Hard calloused fingers from years of holding a sword. Sighing slightly those eyes closed as the hand fell back onto the ground. The wind picked blowing the leaves above and the grass all around the body of the crimson haired King as he laid and listened to the voices that the wind carried on it.

"King Hiryuu!" came a panicked voice from behind him.

Sighing sadly he realized that he'd been found by his friends and guardians. Slowly sitting up he yelled out for them. "Here!" His deep voice echoed off the trees in the area.

First one to appear was Zeno who looked especially excited. He was quickly followed by both Shuten and Abi. Guen looked like he was going to cry but was desperately trying to hold it back. "You blockhead King, ya can't just go off like that!" Shuten yelled.

"You vanish and set everyone off!" Guen cried out no longer able to hold back the tears. "We looked everywhere!"

Hiryuu smiled gently at his warriors and was about to speak when the ever quiet Abi spoke. "You should have at least told us where you were going."

Zeno plopped down next to his King. "I wasn't worried but I was curious as to where you'd gone." He leaned onto his hands and knees and looked at his King. Zeno's kind child-like attitude always warmed Hiryuu's heart, his kind Ouryuu had a hard and lonely journey ahead of him.

"I apologize for worrying everybody." He said before he released a sigh. "I needed a moment to gather my thoughts. I believe another battle may be on the horizon."

"Who?" Guen inquired.

"The south?" Shuten asked as he tightened his hold onto his spear. "Let them come! We'll send them packin' in minutes!" His eyes seemed to dance with a joy that always came over him at the thought of another battle. Ryokuryuu was truly a warrior who loved battle.

"Animals." Abi said with a low sigh. "We can only because of our powers. They challenge us because of this. It's an animalistic nature that makes them want to challenge the strong." His feathered friend landed on his shoulder. The tiny blue bird chirped at him.

"Tch." Shuten looked away from his fellow dragon warrior.

Their King gave another sigh. "No, it is not the south this time, it is the northern tribes. They have amassed themselves once again and are threatening war; however one of their allies have given me an ultimatum. If I marry his youngest daughter, he will pull away his troops and side with us instead." His cheeks flushed. "I have never thought of marriage before. Of course the council has brought the subject up once or twice; but I've never thought it to be the right time."

Shuten gave one of his more perverted looks that had Shuten sputtering at him and yelling at the green haired man. Abi laid a hand on his king's shoulder. "I am certain you will use what wisdom you have acquired through the years to come to the answer you need."

Hiryuu looked back up into the sky. "I believe I already know the answer." He looked back at his warriors. "I will marry her and we will gain an alley."

Blood dripped from Hiryuu's sword as the rain poured from the sky as if the gods were crying because of the battle below. Behind him were cries of battle from his warriors and their northern allies, in front of him was the barbarian warlord, his face was in a snarl, deep black hair surrounded his face with a thick black beard. Hiryuu didn't want to fight this man for he looked to be a great warrior, but he knew if he didn't that his country and the people therein would be killed.

Taking a deep breath he steadied himself and charged the man as the barbarian warlord ran towards him with his sword drawn. The two men clashed upon the battlefield with a clang from their swords. Lightning flashed across the sky, thunder roared in their ears but as metal clashed with metal sparks ignited between them. The warlords cry could be heard as he brought his sword downward as Hiryuu brought his sword up and deflected the attack. The heavy armor from the warlord tipped his balance backwards as his sword was push up and away from Hiryuu. Seeing his chance he thrust his sword through armor, skin, and bone. A gasping, gurgle came from the warlord as he fell dead as Hiryuu pulled his sword from the man's body.

Around him the sounds became muted. Blood seeped from the warlords wound. It was a mortal wound that had killed him almost instantly. His sword having cut through the warlords heart had stopped and killed the man. Merciful perhaps. But as the red dragon King watched the blood leak out of the body and into the ground he found that he wanted these battles to end. He wanted more than death to come from him, he wanted life.

Turning, he left the battlefield as the horns were blown for the enemy's retreat.

Yona's eyes widened as the memory ended. She looked upon the battle below and watched Hak's quandao come close to beheading Geun-tae's head. The earth general's sword came up and was blocked by the rod of the quandao. Sparks lit between the metal of the blade and the metal rod as the two were scraped against the other.

Both men pushed away from the other. Hak pushed forward after the earth tribesman. He kicked Geun-Tarim the stomach gaining boo's from half the crowd that was gathered. The earth general smiled as he rushed forward once again, kicking at Hak's head before bringing down his sword which was blocked by the quandao's blade. Both men grunted as they pushed away from each other. Panting they began to circling each other for one more attack.

Yona's eyes widened with terror as Hak's quandao came down upon General Geun-tae's sword and was blocked. Hak, however, did not let up this time and pushed with all his might downward. Geun-tae's eyes widened as his sword suddenly cracked under the pressure. Then with a sharp cling sound that reverberated across the stadium the sword's blade broke in half. The blade of the quandao came down and stopped in front of the earth general's nose causing him to become crossed eyed for a single moment before his focus ran up the weapons pole to the youth that held it. At eighteen years old Son Hak was still the number one champion of Kouka.

In the moments after the two opponents stopped their battle the arena burst into cheers and whistles. People who had placed bets collected, those who won their bets were happier than those who lost. Merchants began yelling to gain attention for their merchandise, venders yelled to get people to buy food, Yun-ho stood with a happy smile both proud of her husband for losing so valiantly and herself for making a new friend with a Kai tea tradesman.

"As the winner of this round is Son Hak," the announce began. "General Geun-tae asks that anyone who still wishes to try to defeat him to come forward, the winner of the next round will be given a special prize given by Princess Yona herself after they've also defeated a champion of her choosing."

Within moments people began to crowd the tournament announcer to get their names placed on the wall of challengers. Yona felt her cheeks flush at the crowd wanting to either fight the general in order to meet her or just to fight. She felt a touch on her shoulder a moment later and turned to see Hak still wearing the gems and ornament armor.

"Enjoy yourself?" He asked a teasing smile on his face.

"Yeah." She said with a giggle. "I have a feeling this is going to be a long day full of fights."

He chuckled. "These people do tend to like their battles." A smiled teased his lips. "They're a lot like the wind tribe, only less lazy."

Zeno burst out laughing at what Hak said causing everybody to look at him. "Mister is right!" He laughed. "The wind has always been lazy while the earth has always been ready for battle, but earth does better in battle when the wind is right next to it. They are like brothers. They always bring out each other's best in order for a great battle to be won. The same cannot be said about the fire and water tribes. Water will always overrule the fire, even when the fires flames are hotter and brighter, water only has to rouse it's tribesmen and it can turn the tides in a fight between fire and water."

"What about the sky?" Yun asked as he'd been quiet as Zeno had spoken.

"The sky is tricky, they always have been." He stated as he pulled a dumpling off the stick and gave it to Ao. The squirrel happily ate it. "They use to do well with the wind, in fact they use to be the best together; but then distrust came in between them. Only thirty years ago did the sky and wind become allies again." He sighed. "Only for distrust to return with the death of King Il." He looked at Yona. "Has the Miss decided on what we are to do?"

"I have." She stated. "Once Kija returns to us I will tell everyone my plans." They all gave a nod and look on as the next battle was about to begin.

Kija looked upon the older males which included one of the elders that he held in high esteem, Elder Tae-ho, was an expert archer, while two of his four sons were expert swordsmen, something he hadn't known about. His grandmother had been happy to allow him to take some of his tribesmen to the wind capital where they'd help Elder Mundeok prepare his own men for battle. A young man named Rin was an expert medic that could stitch up any type of wound. A middle aged woman would assist the men with making arrows while her husband would assist with making the arrows and blades for spears. In all nearly forty people volunteered to help his master's friends in the wind tribe.

Elder Tae-ho looked upon the Hakuryuu and bowed. "We shall take our leave my lord." He said as he signaled the people to begin their march towards the wind tribe.

As he watched them leave he felt his eyes turn skyward. Be with my people, Hakuryuu. He prayed to the dragon he had come from. Help us in our trials that are to come. He finished his prayer and turned towards the earth tribe's capital to rejoin his master and brethren that waited patiently for his return.

M-Angel: Okay, so I was originally gonna have this as the pt 2 of the festival, but decided to do it this way instead. The next chapter will be more of the festival. So I hope all my readers in the USA had a wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend. I know I did! As always reviews are most welcome.