Chapter 5: Fishing

Kija had to admit that once he got to know the people that lived within the wind general's home that they were interesting. Most interesting was the general himself. He had such wonderful stories, both war and non-war stories. The wind tribe was rich with history and more than once did the five year old find himself wanting to hear more about the stories of the past from the older man.

The next interesting person he'd met was also the first person he had originally met. Hak or Son Hak as he was called was the adopted grandson to General Mundok. The two fought with each other, Hak often would provoke Mundok into these fights with back talking. It was as funny as it was cringe worthy as Mundok rarely put up with Hak's back talking. The three year old boy never seemed to learn either and that just made it funnier.

After a week of healing and three weeks of not being allowed outside of the manor, Kija finally got to see the city of Fuuga; of course no adult knew of this. The day started like any other...

The sun came up over the capital city of the wind, causing the residents to begin their daily duties. Mothers woke up to make breakfast for their families, husbands did their morning chores before eating said breakfast and as soon as they could the children ran out of the door after they ate their morning meals to join their friends. As the sun rose higher in the sky it cast its light upon the open window that lead into the young Hakuryuu Kija's room. Squinting, the silver haired boy cast a glance at the open window and spotted the young dark haired boy, Hak grinning at him.

"Morning, white snake." he said with a wide grin.

Kija felt his blood boil at the new nickname. He really hated that name! "I'm not a white snake!" he yelled harshly, his face flushing with anger.

"I guess somebody doesn't want to have an adventure." Hak stated as he threw his hand behind his head, a grin still plastered on his face.

Kija perked up at that. "Adventure?" he asked.

Hak grinned before giving a nod. "Yeah." he said before jumping off of the window ledge and running over to Kija's futon. "So get up!" he yelled throwing back the blankets that were on the older boy.

The chill hit Kija's bare legs making him shiver. "Too early!" he complained before feeling a tug on his dragon arm. Hak was trying to drag him out of bed. Sighing, Kija gave up and got up out of bed. Dressing in his new clothes he walked out of his room in clothes that matched Hak's blue and black ones. Both quietly went by the generals room before making a beeline for the kitchen where they snagged a freshly baked loaf of bread and took off for the back garden.

It wasn't the first time Kija had been to the manor gardens, they were beautiful. Large blue flowered trees in full bloom covered the entire back wall with vines climbing up the walls. At the center of the garden was a small training field.

The two boys raced for the back wall, eating the loaf as they did so. Once they reached it though Hak began to climb the vine foliage. Looking down he grinned at Kija. "Race ya to the top." he said with a challenge in his voice.

Kija loved challenges. Climbing the foliage, he found that the wall was a bit higher than he'd thought. Getting to the top the two straddled the wall. Kija's eyes widened as he looked out at the city. It was glittering in the morning light. "Pretty." he said softly causing Hak to grin at him.

Bringing his other leg around the top Hal began to climb the vines down. "Let's go." he told the older boy.

"What about the guards?" Kija asked.

Hak grinned at him. "They don't patrol the back wall." he stated as he began the descent.

Kija could've facepalmed at this. Why hadn't I thought of that? "Wait up." he told the younger boy. As he climbed down from the wall his clawed had snapped the vine branch that he'd grabbed causing him to loose his grip and fall. Kija landed upon his bottom but it had hurt, really badly.

Hak ran over to the other as soon as he got to the bottom of the wall. "Are you okay?" he asked with concern lacing his voice.

Kija began to chuckle. "I don't think I've gotten hurt this many times in all of my life." he announced. "First the waterfalls and now this."

Hak chuckled. "You're crazy Kija." he then grinned once again. "But I like crazy, otherwise I wouldn't like gramps." He then held out his hand to help Kija stand.

"I thought you hated him." Kija stated as he took the offered hand before standing.

"No." Hak told him as he turned towards the city. "Come on. I'll introduce you to the city."

The city, as it turned out was not as big as Kija had thought it to be. Everyone seemed to know Hak and who is grandfather was. They greeted him as I'd he was one of their own children and when they spotted Kija they'd ask who he was. Without missing a beat Hak introduced him as his brother and that seemed to make everyone just smile before going about their day. Kija on the other hand was shocked that Hak saw him that way, but quickly accepted it.

"You know," Kija began as they dipped their feet into the river water. "since I'm Hakuryuu and you're in calling me your brother, then that means you're an unofficial dragon brother."

Hak looked at him with surprise. "Really?" he then grinned. "Which one?"

Kija took a moment to think on this. "Well, you can't be Seiryuu or Ryokuryuu. You don't have golden eyes or a green right leg." At this Hak looked at of his leg this caused both to laugh. "You could be a dark dragon, the Ankorkuryuu."

Hak stopped swinging his legs before grinning wildly at that name. I like that name. he thought because for some reason it just felt right. "Okay." he said happily. "You're the Hakuryuu and I'm the Ank...korkk..uryuu." he said trying to pronounce the name but found it was really difficult. "What you said."

"Ankorkuryuu." Kija repeated.

"You're the white one and I'm the dark one." Hak said before tugging Kija's silvery hair. "Our hair even states this." he said As he tugged his own hair. "We're meant to be brothers. It's fate."

Kija hadn't thought of that one. It was then he spotted a group of women walking towards the dock to do laundry. A few older women were with them along with some men. "Do men help women with the laundry here?" Kija asked in a whispered voice.

Hak turned his head to look. "Not always, but those men are wind soldiers. The one with the green shirt is gramps' lieutenant. The other one next to him in the blue shirt is the third lieutenant. They're cousin's." He then waved at the two men "Xa'dan!" he yelled gaining the attention of the man in the blue shirt.

"Well if it isn't Son Hak." Xa'dan grinned as he approached the two boys. "Your grandfather is looking for you."

Hak laughed nervously. "You won't turn me over, will you?" he asked.

Xa'dan looked Kija over, the clawed hand gaining his attention. He knew exactly what the young boy was. He had been raised upon the story of the creation myth. Chuckling he crossed his arms over his chest. "On one condition." he told the two boys. "If you two come fishing with my cousin and I." he told then gaining confused looks from the two. "You see, my cousin isn't a very good fisherman."

"I heard that!" his cousin yelled. "I'm still a better fighter than you!"

"In your dreams Zen!" Xa'dan yelled back.

"Then why am I the first lieutenant?" Zen questioned as he walked over to his cousin's side.

"Because, you're ten years older than myself." The two stared at each other before laughing.

"I don't get it?" Kija said in a whisper towards Hak, who have a nod in a agreement.

"Come on, we'll teach you boys how to fish." Zen told them as he picked Hak up and placed him on his shoulders.

"Eeep!" Hak squeaked in surprise at being picked up.

"I know how to fish." Kija told Xa'dan. "Grandmother had an elder teach me." As he stood up and followed the two men.

"So you have a family?" Xa'dan asked as he picked the poles up from the ground near the women who were already deep in their gossip.

"Just my grandmother and father." Kija then seemed a bit sad. "However, my father is not allowed near me without someone with him."

"Why?" Hak asked from Zen's shoulders.

"When I was born my father hurt me." he said. "I do not blame him though for it was a great disappointment for him that he would not be the one chosen."

"Chosen?" Xa'dan inquired with a frown. What could have driven a father to harm his own son, a son that was a Hakuryuu no less.

"To serve the master that's to come." Kija told him. "It's been passed down that the reason the Hakuryuu continues to appear in our clan is because Hiryuu will one day return. It is because of this that my father was upset when I was born. He wanted to serve him but I was born; so I might be the one to do so."

Xa'dan blinked in surprise. "You father, he was a Hakuryuu?" he asked the young boy.

Kija gave a nod. "He was." Kija answered freely.

Once they arrived at the spot to fish, the two men began to quickly teach the two how to fish with both a pole of a string. An hour later and no fish had been caught by either man, though they did exchange several stories about their youth and how they had each become lieutenants. Kija ended up showing them how he had been taught how to fish. Jumping on a few large rocks Kija waited until he saw a few large fish. Pushing the sleeve of his shirt up, Kija waited until the right moment came before thrusting his clawed hand into the cold water, slapping the fish with such force that they went flying through the air and landing on the ground at the feet of the men.

"Well," Zen began as he looked from the fish to Kija. "that's one way of doing it." That caused everyone to laugh lightly. It was definitely a unique way to fish.

When the two boys returned to the manor they found Mundok looking a little upset at them for having snuck out of the manor. When they relayed to him what they had been up to, Mundok found himself quite impressed with the people of Fuuga. They hadn't treated Kija any different than if he'd been one of the tribe.

"Did you like the city?" he asked Kija as they walked through the halls of the manor towards the dinning area.

"I did." Kija told him. "Your tribe reminds me of my clan. They are very nice to me."

"The wind welcomes all who are willing to become our friends." Mundok stated, both children could hear the quotes in his statement.

"It also has a very long memory." Kija said. "Grandmother told me that the wind can be calm, but betray them and the mighty wind can destroy an entire nation within a single night."

Mundok chuckled. "Our strength comes from our people." he looked at Hak who was grinning. "You seem happy about something grandson." He sat on the cushioned seat as he waited for d inner to be served.

"I'm not your grandson." Hak muttered at him as he sat down as well, just as their dinner was being served. "But he's my brother." he said pointing at Kija who sat next to him. "He says I'm an adopted dragon brother. I'm the Ankor...kuryuu." he said proud that he hadn't mispronounced it this time. It was still a big word though!

Mundok coughed a bit. "Ankorkuryuu?" he questioned. The name making him a bit worried that it'd go to Hak's head.

"Yes." Kija said with a nod. "He is the ying to my yang." He looked at Hak. "I am light and he is dark. We are brothers this way." Hak grinned at this, something Mundok rarely saw from his grandson.

"Well," he began as he took a drink. "this makes you my unofficial grandson then. I'll be sure to make it official one day soon."

Kija blinked in surprise. "Are you saying you're going to marry my grandmother?" Mundok began choking on the sake he'd drank. Both children grinned at each other as the older man tried to regain his composure.

M-Angel: Woohoo! Another great chapter finished. I hope everyone s enjoying the story.