Chapter 22: Ryokuryuu

Zeno wanted to smack someone. Mainly, Ryokuryuu. Ever since Seiryuu, now named Shin-ah, had joined their group a week ago, Ryokuryuu had been literally bouncing everywhere to avoid them. Kija had passed out from exhaustion a day ago trying to figure out where Ryokuryuu was. Zeno could've told him but…it was fun to watch the younger man try and figure it out. Awa Port. That's where they needed to go.

Currently it was nighttime, Kija was sleeping with his back to the campfire, Shin-ah was all pulled into that fluff of his with Ao acting as a headpiece on top of his head. Yona and Yun were talking, the young boy was blushing as he announced that he wanted to call her by her name. Hak was out patrolling. Zeno felt content.

Suddenly Zeno felt Ryokuryuu move again. Growling slightly, Zeno was close to just up and leaving the group just to go and smack the little jackass. Sighing, Zeno knew getting upset about this wouldn't help. It was partly his fault that Ryokuryuu a.k.a. Jae-ha, was the way he was. If only I had taken him away that night. Zeno thought grimly. Finding the boy chained to a wall, clearly starving and being beaten; Zeno had left him behind. Now that Jae-ha was an adult, Zeno could only imagine what kind of person he had become. I only pray he's not a bitter person like his predecessor was. Zeno thought sadly.

Meanwhile situated on the coast, Awa Port is a busy port for ships and boats that transport goods from Kouka Kingdom to foreign countries. The homes and businesses are mostly two stories high and are covered with red tiled roofing. At the end of dock, a small lighthouse can be seen near the edge. On the very top of the lighthouse a figure was hidden by the moonless night. A slight breeze caused stray green strands of hair to blow. Violet eyes looked angrily out into the bay as three ships could be seen going out into sea. Crouching down the man pushed away from the lighthouse and flew into the night sky, disappearing from sight.

The waves lightly tossed the three ships about in the bay as they made their way out to sea. The crew kept watching the night sky, all alert and wary for what was out there. Everyone knew the rumor of the green haired demon that was out there. Yang Kum-ji had warned them that if the bastard or the pirates grabbed these boats the next ones would their families aboard to be sold.

Swallowing hard the captain and his men continued to leave the bay quietly. "Maybe he's gone." a crewman whispered quietly nearby.

"Most ships never make it this far." Another muttered.

"Quiet!" the captain hissed at the men, pulling a short sword from his waist as he did so. "Check the ship." The captain had a bad feeling. His men were right. Most ships don't make it out this far, meaning the bastard could already be on his ship! Turning towards his second the captain was about to say something when a rope fell around him, tightened and he was airborne.

"Good evening gentlemen." The violet eyed, green hair man spoke from the main mast. In his hand was a dagger. "I'm afraid these ships are about to be taken and their loot shall be released."

"YOU!" the captain screamed from his dangling position from the mast. "KILL HIM!" He ordered his men. Kum-ji had specific orders for this man to be killed and he'd be damned if he disobeyed those orders.

"My, my, how violent." the green haired man stated before throwing his dagger at the rope holding the captain up.

Upon hearing the splashing sound of their captain hitting the water, all crewman began to attack the strange man. Most were knocked out by a straight kick to the face or a gut kick. A few were thrown overboard from the force of a kick.

As if their night couldn't get any worse yells from the other ships told them survivors that the pirates had shown up. Dread filled them as they knew their fates were now sealed and so were the fates of their families. Some of the men, decided that committing suicide would be better than being captured only for a dart to be blown at them and pass out before committing to the act.

Walking off her ship, an older female stood looking over the group of crewman who her crew had captured. "You looked as magnificent as always Captain."

The older woman swung her hand at the man beside her, stopping it inches from hitting him. "I told you to be discreet with this one, Jae-ha."

"You know that's not my style." the green haired man grinned knowing there was no heat in his captains voice. She wasn't really angry, just annoyed.

"Is the cargo safe?" she inquired causing his smile to vanish as a solemn look came over him.

"Yes." He then led her into the cargo hold. "However, it seems people are not the only things these ships are transporting now." He pushed the door across from the one holding women in open. Inside were pots full of white and yellow dust. When the older woman tasted one, Jae-ha continued. "As of human trafficking wasn't bad enough, he's begun making drugs as well."

Grinding her teeth together in frustration, Captain Gi-gan clenched her fist together and punched one of the vases full of the drugs. Jae-ha jumped slightly from the action. Withdrawing her fist revealed cuts on her knuckles from the sharp edges of the vase. Pulling a handkerchief from her pocked, she went to leave the room, pausing she spoke. "Burn the ships after removing the people from them."

"Yes Captain."

Far from the scene, a man stood watching the sea. He suddenly saw three dots of fire ignite in darkness. Fisting his hand he slammed it onto stone edge of the balcony window. Damn you! Damn you Gi-gan! You and your green demon will pay! He growled before returning inside his home and began to plan the downfall of the pirates. All the while his mind playing what led to these events. Yang Kum-ji would not be threatened by an old woman! She will pay!

M-Angel: Good news everyone! I've gotten myself a job. Bad news, I've only just now had the energy to write this chapter. *sigh* Okay. I'll try better.