Chapter 10: Undeniable Truth

Kija yawned as he followed Su-won down the pathway of the palace apartments. This was the first time he'd been down this way. Upon waking, Kija had gone out to enjoy the gardens this morning, only to be found by Su-won. The young boy seemed excited about something, what that was he wasn't sure of. Su-won currently held Kija's dragon clawed hand and was practically leading him by it. Yawning once more, Kija looked around at the red and gold walls as they passed them by. Some had gold dragons hanging from them, one had a large white statue in front of the room. Across from it was a green dragon statue. Kira's feet stopped when he saw these.

"Who lives in these apartments?" he asked Su-won who looked between the two buildings.

"Nobody." He answered quickly. "They have been empty since olden times."

"Olden?" Kija asked curiously.

"Since the first King's death." the blond boy answered as he played with the hem of his sleeves. "The statues use to frighten me, but father says they're not real dragons."

Kija chuckled. "They're not real," he said, "but they must represent the real Hakuryuu and Ryokuryuu." He walked up to the white dragon statue and touched the dragon paws. A spark of energy seemed to pass between the two. Kija felt a memory, not his, surface of a large unruly man with white hair laughing boisterously as a green haired man with sharp teeth yelled at him. When the memory ended he was back with Su-won leaving him in awe at the memory. Is this a dragon talisman? he wondered with serious thought. Father said that divine talisman existed and each could hold memories of the dragon's they represented. Was that the first Hakuryuu and Ryokuryuu that I just saw? A tug on his arm caused him to look at Su-won who was looking at him expectantly. "Let's keep going." he said as they continued down the pathway to their destination.

Mundok walked down the halls of the wind tribe apartments looking for Kija and Hak. He had just been notified that Yu-hon had just arrived the night before. This was bad as the first son of the King Joo-nam still had no idea about Kija or so he thought. He planned to keep the two boys in the apartments until Yu-hon left once more. Entering an open room, Mundok found Hak lounging on some pillows eat fruit. The open doors that led to the gardens allowed the morning wind to come into the room meaning that it kept the room nice a cool. Sighing that Hak was at least in the room, he decided to ask his grandson where Kija was.

"Hak, where is your brother?" he asked causing the young boy to look at him.

Hak had been about to eat the red fruit in his hand, but froze with it half way to his mouth upon hearing the question. "With Lord Su-won." He answered before taking a bite out of the fruit.

Mundok felt dread fill his being. "WHAT!?" he yelled, startling Hak who had never seen the older man move so fast in his life.

"Huh?" Hak asked as he saw he was now alone in the room. What's White Snake done now? he wondered with a sigh. Not my problem. As he sat there though a bad feeling seeped into the pit of his belly. Sighing he put down the fruit and ran off to find Kija, hopefully before their grandfather did.

Kija looked up at the large and imposing man in front of him. Su-won had just proudly introduced this man as his father. He was a giant of a man, but as frightening as he seemed to be, Kija felt excited to meet him for some unknown reason. It's a pleasure to meet you sir." He said respectfully as he bowed. He had been told that Su-won was the son of a prince, so that meant this was said Prince, the son of the King. Respect was entailed here.

"Hmph." You-hon said as he crossed his arms over his chest. "So you're the boy Mundok is parading around as the Hakuryuu Warrior?"

The question surprised Kija. "My adopted grandfather isn't parading me around." he assured him. "He only discovered who I was when he found me injured." He lifted his white claw up. "I was born with the Hakuryuu Claw. My father had it and so did his father before him." he announced with sincerity. "My clan can trace our origins to the very first Hakuryuu warrior." As Kija spoke he felt his chest tighten at the thought of his clan. He did miss them and he wished he knew where they were.

"Where is this clan of the Hakuryuu located." Yu-hon injured. He was hoping to stop this lie in its tracks but as he looked at the young boy's hand he realized that it was possibly real. This was something he did not like. "Where are the others that are like you?"

Kija shook his head. "I was stolen from my home and ended up in the river which took me to Fuuga." he stated with sadness in his voice. "It was there that I met Ouryuu, but he has since left Fuuga. As for my other brothers," he began as he thought deeply on the subject before touching his chest. "I can sense them but I cannot see where they are. Ryokuryuu is always being hurt and Seiryuu gives off a great sense of loneliness. That is all I can sense of them, however, if I was closer to them I would know where they were." Kija answered truthfully.

"Do you believe now father?" Su-won asked his father. Hoping he now believed and did not think he'd been lying.

Bending down to one knee Yu-hon touched his son's head. "I do." He answered as he ruffled his son's hair. Su-won grinned happily up at his father.

Just then a squeaking sound was heard as Hak's feet slid across the marble floors. "Kija!" he yelled as he ran up to the older boy. "Gramps is upset. We've got to go!" He grabbed Kija's wrist.

"Ah!" Kija cried out as Hak dragged him away from Su-won who looked a bit confused.

"I'm coming too!" Su-won yelled after them as he ran to catch up with them.

As the boys took off Yu-hon was left alone with his thoughts. If one exists then it's possible the others do as well. He then recalled what the clumsy priest had prophesied on the day after Yona's birth. That she'd bring together the dragon warriors of old. She can't be. he thought with a shake of his head. There's no way that is possible. The thought, however, would not leave him of her being Hiryuu's reincarnation. If she is, a revolution will occur once it is found out by the public. There was no other way to keep the peace. Yona must die, in order for peace to be kept. But how this would happen, had yet to be figured out by the disillusioned first son of the King. Yu-hon would never realize that his actions would one day have consequences.

M-Angel: I love how patient my readers have been on waiting for the next chapter to this story. Many thanks! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Hopefully the next one won't take as long to be written.