Chapter 5: Dance of Ages
Yona pouted as once again Hak was picking on her about her pudgy cheeks. Saying she ate too much and didn't move around enough to counter how much she ate. In laymens terms, he was calling her fat! This infuriated the thirteen year old red head. Since Hak had become her bodyguard she had never been alone, which was nice; but like every thirteen year old girl, she wanted her privacy too! Hak took his duty way too serious and when he wasn't serious, he picked on her! Su-won on the other hand liked to praise her beauty, her hair color or when she'd dance for him.
She was currently learning the dance of ages. A dance that was said to have been created by the first priest of Kouka, the former Ouryuu. It was said that after King Hiryuu's death, the Ouryuu warrior was the only one to remain at the palace to help raise and guide the first king's beloved son. The dance of ages was created during the Red Dragon Festival to honor the dead king and to ensure peace and prosperity. So Yona had learned the beautiful dance, using fans instead of two swords to dance with. The two fans had the Red Dragon upon them and as she moved, it was as if the dragons were dancing with her.
She practiced every day in her private gardens with Hak looking bored on her back porch. Hak was leaning against a red column that overlooked the garden with his guandao that never left his side. The curved blade shone in the sunlight and drew attention from anyone willing to want to challenge the young man.
Unaware, far above them in the nearby tree, Zeno watched daily as Yona danced, did her studies, art class and even, in secret, learned the young one of the government of her country. Zeno watched as Yona went from being a child to the cusp of womanhood. It was both a happy and safe experience for him. Happy because the King had listened and Zeno had not needed to intervene. Sad because soon Yona's life would be upended by her cousin. Oh yes, Zeno knew what the young Prince was planning. He also knew Su-won was well in his rights to do this, as King Il had killed his own brother.
Turning his attention towards the young Hak, he wondered if Hak would be prepared for the day he would have to fight his best friend in order to keep Yona safe. Zeno leaned back against the trunk of the tree with his hands over his head. Zeno could always steal Missy away when the coup d'etat begins. He could imagine Missy being so scared that day. With the chaos, she could be hurt. Those within the rebellion could try to kill her to ensure there would be no other to claim the throne. Zeno wonders if anybody within Little Prince's circle knows of the curse that is surely going to ravage his body one day soon?
Zeno peered down upon Yona, her dance made him smile. He remembered the day he came up with that silly dance. All he had been trying to do was make young King Yak-Shi laugh. It had been the first red dragon festival since his three dragon brother's had left the palace. Yak-Shi had been so sad. So Zeno had told the people he was going to channel Ouryuu's will into a dance that would bring peace and prosperity for a hundred years. For the next hundred years he had fought every enemy that would come to the boarder of Kouka, and for a hundred years Kouka had flurished. However, even Zeno had his limits and fighting for that long had drained him.
Looking down once more Zeno watched as Yona took off towards the porch when Hak had been watching her. The two disappeared within. Taking his cue, Zeno decided he would leave Yona be for awhile and begin following up on some leads on other things. It was time to see his new friend Ogi.
M-Angel: Sorry for this chapter being much shorter. Promise the next one will be a bit longer. This one was mostly to show that Hak became her guardian and a bit of nostalgia for Zeno. Next one will be a bit more interesting.