Chapter 3: Big Brother Ouryuu

Zeno had been away from Kuuto for a long time, mostly he had been looking out for the other dragon warriors. Brother Ryokuryuu was giving him a headache. The boy had escaped his confinement in his village and was constantly on the move. Seiryuu was hidden away and Hakuryuu was basically being worshipped as a god and thus was being overly protected by his village. It made his head hurt at how different each village treated their guardian. Returning to check on little Miss gave him something to look forward to. Her smiles and laughter as she played with her friends, he couldn't wait to see her.

The celebrations for the red haired princess were already on the way as Zeno entered Kuuto. The town was in full swing of the joyous occasion. Highly decorated with children laughing and playing in the streets. Guards were on the walls but looked relaxed.

Zeno grinned happily as he walked through the town. Everything seemed alright. He almost stayed to enjoy the festivities. However, before he could settle down, Zeno had to see the Princess. He knew she was probably playing with her cousin or the wind general's grandson, but he could always spy on her from afar. Climbing through the badly degraded tunnels under the palace, Zeno came out into the royal family's personal gardens. Zeno could spot the large ponds that Shuten had created when he had been testing out his new dragon leg and the even larger pool that had been created when Guen had punched Shuten for testing the leg out. Grinning at the memories, Zeno threw his arms over his head as he strolled through the gardens unseen because of the foliage.

Zeno then spotted her, Princess Yona was hiding behind several bushes with her legs tucked under her. Her dress was ripped at the hem and her right sleeve had been ripped. Her arm had adult hand sized bruises on it, but what caught Zeno's attention wasn't these things it was the fact the Yona was crying softly, as if she was trying to not be heard.

Anger filled Zeno. Feeling an unbelievable amount of anger, Zeno wanted to know who had done this to his King! Without thought of the reprucusions, Zeno ran up to her, wrapped his arms around her and held her as she cried.

Yona had thought she'd found the perfect hiding place. Mistress Thessia was the worst person to ever live. She mistreated Yona and what was ever worse than that was that her father, King Il didn't seem to notice! So now she cried and cried and cried even harder than before. Her chest hurt from crying so much. She hadn't see Hak or Su-won in years. Her soul felt like it was being stomp on because of how lonely she felt. The beatings didn't help. The newest means of abuse was the whipping she'd received on her bottom if she didn't sit correctly and if she began crying in front of her etiquette teacher she'd be smacked by Thessia later and locked in her room for a day or two.

Keeping a hand over her mouth to not be hear, Yona cried out of shear desperation. She couldn't runaway. She couldn't fight back. She had nobody to tell what was happening to her. She had no way to escape this horrible nightmare that had become her life!

Suddenly she felt an unbelievable warmth surround her. It was warm, gentle and smelt like sunshine. Her tears began to dry up as she clung to the person this feeling of safety was coming from. As she pulled back to look at the person holding her, one word came to mind; Ouryuu.

The person before her had bright yellow hair, as bright as the sun. He had blue eyes that held a gentle kindness to them. His clothes were rags and smelt bad; but it was a warm spring day. So she dismissed that. He had puffy cheeks, and wasn't thin. His smile though made her feel as if everything was going to be alright.

"Little Miss, who's been hurting you?" his voice was filled with concern. Those words meant so much to Yona and that was what broke the dam once more. As she cried she told him everything! How could she not?

Though her voice cracked, and sometimes her crying was too much for him to understand her words, Zeno got the gist of things. From what he understood, Yona had snuck out of the palace with her friend Hak and cousin Su-won. She'd been kidnapped and Hak had saved her. The children had been punished, as they should've been. However, Yona hadn't seen either for years, had been put under the care of a woman named Thessia who was abusing Yona.

"Zeno will make sure Little Miss isn't ever hurt again." he promised.

"Zeno?" Yona's voice questioned. "Zeno is Ouryuu Zeno, are you not?" Zeno froze at those words. "I feel it here." She pointed at her heart.

"Yes." he answered as he stood up. "Zeno is Ouryuu."

Yona stared up at him. "Then you're my big brother?"

Zeno smiled down at her. "Yes." He then touched the crown of her head. "And as your big brother I will protect you."

M-Angel: So I'm back to writing this story again. Updates might be sporadic but there will be updates, I promise! ^_^