Chapter 28: Thistles

Yona sat on the edge of the dock overlooking the bay. The pirates and others were running around gathering supplies for the upcoming battle. Human trafficking and drugs. That's what Yang Kum-ji was doing to the citizens of her country. According to Captain Gi-gan the drugs had already begun to take effect in the water tribe while human trafficking was quite prevalent in the earth tribe. A memory of her own kidnapping came to mind. Hak had saved her from being taken out of the city limits but it had been Suwon who had coordinated with the guards and citizens of Kuuto to get her back safely.

Yona shook her head and steeled her resolve at the problem ahead of her. Picking of the needle she tentatively went to begin picking out the thistles in her hands when suddenly another hand stopped her. Looking up, Yona felt heat rush to her cheeks at Zeno's close proximity to her. "Zeno." she whispered.

Zeno removed the needle from her hand. "Miss you would've gotten hurt worse if you used this technique." he stated as he pulled out a bottle from his tunic pocket. He began to pour the contents onto her hands.

It took Yona a moment to recognize what the substance was. "Lotion?" she asked "Where did you-"

"Brother Ryokuryuu has a lot of interesting things in his room." Zeno stated with a smile. "Hiryuu use to love the roses that bloom in the wind tribe but he'd always hurt himself when he'd touch the prickly thistle ones." He smiled at the memory. "His wife, who was the daughter of the chieftain of the wind tribe, stayed lotion or honey would take the thistles out. He carried lotion with him after that first prickly experience."

"Honey?" Yona asked gaining a nod. She hadn't thought of that. "But General Mundok always used needles when Hak, Suwon or I got thistles when we were kids." Does he not know about this technique? she wondered.

Zeno started to laugh. His laughter bounced off of the rocks in the area causing an echo. The people walking by stopped at the sound as it took them by surprise. "Elder Mundok knows this, but used needles to harden children so they won't cry if hurt."

Yona glared at Zeno. "You're telling me I didn't have to be hurt for something like this!?" Her jaw dropped.

"He's a bit of a masochist." Zeno admitted. I feel sorry for him the next time she sees him though. The look of absolute disgust and anger was visible in her.

"Are you two talking about droopy eyes?" Hak's voice caught both by surprise causing them to jump slightly. Hak noticed the white liquid in Yona's hands. He glared at Zeno. "What's going on?" He asked with suspicion in his tone.

Zeno blinked in confusion at the tone. "Missy'a hands were full of thistles." He explained in one sentence.

"Hak!" Yona cried out causing him to jump slightly. "Did you know you could use honey or lotion to get thistles out of skin?"

Oh. Hak deadpanned. So she just- The memories of Yona and him being chased by Mundok holding a needle appeared in his mind. Uh-oh. "Yeah. I learned that a couple of years ago. The old man laughed once I realized it."

"Zeno thinks Son Mundok might want to stay clear of Missy for awhile." Zeno said going back to his unusual way of talking.

"I can't believe he'd do that to us!" Yona yelled sounding a bit more upset.

"At least you didn't use an unclean needle and heated it." Hak stated.

"Huh?" Yona said sounding confused. "Why would I heat it?"

"She almost did." Zeno stated as he held up the needle.

"Oh that's bad." Hak said.

"Why?" she inquired.

Both he and Zeno looked at her. "You could've gotten an infection and your hands would have fallen off because of it!" Hak stated sounding very convincing.

"What!?" Yona cried out. Hak lost it and began to laugh. Zeno covered his mouth to stop any laughter from coming out. Realizing she was being pranked by Hak, Yona snatched the needle from Zeno hand and jumped at Hak. "I'll stab you for that!"

In the distance Jae-ha watched with amusement dancing in his eyes. A smile appearing on his face. Interesting.

M-Angel: Hope everyone enjoyed that chapter. I know not much happened here but I liked this scene in the magna. It just got changed a bit. Life has been hectic, so I'm sorry I didn't post sooner.