Chapter 24: Not Angry

Yona really didn't want to think about what Hak was doing in the supposed tea house. She wasn't stupid! She knew about men having needs that had to be taken care of by women of a curtain profession. She had heard rumors from maids about the general's whose men frequented those places in the red district area of Kuuto. She was sure those places were in every city.

Still…

Damn Hak! she mentakly yelled to herself as she felt her blood boil in anger. She wanted to flop onto a soft bed and scream, yell and cry into the pillows. Out of all the men she had met or known, never had she ever pictured Hak being one of those kinds of men.

Next to her, sipping tea, Zeno watched Yona very carefully. Much like Hiryuu, Yona had a slow to simmer temper. Once it simmered for awhile, it was quick to boil. Zeno knew it wasn't Hak's fault to being in that place, but he couldn't help the smile at the memory of Yona brushing it off, whilst Hak was trying to explain how he'd gotten stuck with the bill when some green haired bastard had vanished without a goodbye.

Ryokuryuu owes Hak. Zeno thought, as the smile once again appeared on his face. All the while wondering if Yona would ever forgive Hak for his misconduct. Upon hearing a low growl come from her as she stood from her seat and went for a walk, Zeno guessed it would be awhile before Hak was forgiven by the young woman.

The next day, as a whole group, Yona and the others went back into town. Hak insisted that she'd wear the hood of her cloak before he had left them in the market place. Yona felt hot from the heat of the day and really wanted to take it off, but something kept telling her to allow it to stay. Sometimes she swore she had eyes watching her. Zeno never left her side and Kija was never more than two feet from her. Shin-ah was watching everything from the rooftops. Yun was too busy selling his herbs and honey to really be watching over her.

Yona couldn't suppress the shiver that ran down her spine. As she and Zeno wandered around the market they came to a small shop. A disturbance inside caught their attention. Upon going in they saw a group of soldiers hassling the owners when one picked up a small boy and threw him like a rag doll. Yona heard the heart stopping crunch of bones. The boy didn't move. His parents ran to him as the soldiers laughed as they left the building from a different exit. Yona felt tears well up in her eyes.

Those soldiers had no honor. They weren't soldiers. They were murderers who didn't care if they're activities were seen by others. Nobody could stop them.

She realized why they were here now. It wasn't just to find Ryokuryuu but to stop the injustices in this place. Yona left the building and went outside, at that moment she heard Kija's excited voice as he came running with an oversized pot in his dragon hand. It wasn't the pot that got her attention but the green haired man who was in it. The man wiggled free from the pot and landed in front of her. When he did so, he froze up and almost fell to his knees.

Yona touched his head. She didn't know why she did that, except when she did his forehead was burning up. Like he was on fire or something. "Are you okay?" she inquired truly worried something might be wrong.

This girl? He thought as he looked into the most beautiful face he'd ever seen in his life. She's the ruler of the four dragons that I've been avoiding?

"You're burning up." she muttered with worry.

I must leave. he thought but his body wouldn't respond. When he did gain his strength back, he could only stand before her like he was expecting to be inspected. "Thank-you Miss, but I'm okay now."

"I'm Yona. What's your name?"

I underestimated the connection between the dragons and their master. He thought. Her voice is like a sweet seduction. His anger began to slowly rise. It's only the dragon blood making feel this way. These are not my feelings! "It's nice to meet you. My name is Jae-ha. I sincerely did not want to meet you."

"You know me?" Yona asked with confusion.

"I have been sensing the others for awhile now and knew they were gathering which meant their master must be near them." he look away. "I wasn't expecting a cute girl though." He then glared at her. "I have no intention of serving you. Please leave." Gasps from the others had Yona realize he truly meant those words.

"I have no intention of forcing anyone serve me." she spoke causing a green brow to lift in surprise. "I only came here because the others said you might be able to help in protecting me from those who wish harm upon me." His eyes widened at these words. "However, if you do not want to, than I won't force the subject."

"Missy." Zeno spoke with awe in his voice.

Yona looked at Zeno and smiled. "They're not servants who serve me any ways. They're my precious friends. They keep me safe and I help them with my bow. I'm not strong like them but I have advantages they don't by being small." She then looked at Jae-ha. "If you don't want to help me, that's fine. However, I am not leaving until I see Yang Kum-ji hang for what he's allowing in this place."

Zeno's eyes widened as he saw a spark ignite in Yona that he hadn't seen since their fight with the fire general's son in the mountains between the fire and wind. He knew Yona's determination could sometimes make her stubborn but in this case he knew that might come in handy.

M-Angel: AN: Sorry folks for the long wait. As always life got in the way of things. Caught the Vid last month after a bridal party. Then had a wedding. My birthday and my sister-in-law's birthday come up on me. Went Skydiving and had bills to pay. Now I'm getting ready to move into my own place, I may go MIA for a little while because of that.

So, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I'll hopefully post another this month before my big moving day.