Chapter 15: Spring Has Sprung

Kija stretched his arms up over his head as his eyes adjusted to the blue sky above his head. He had fallen asleep after training with Hak and Su-won in the fields outside of Hiryuu Castle. Lady Kashi sat under and tree as Yona played on a blanket with her toys. During the winter they had come to Kuuto for the winter festival which is when Jae-ha had met Princess Yona. Ever since that day Jae-ha hadn't left Kuuto, having claimed he couldn't. Kija believed it was more likely that he didn't want to leave because of Yona. Now that it was spring and Yona's birthday was upon them, Lord Mundok had brought him and Hak to visit for the week.

Thinking of Hak, Kija looked next to himself and found Hak and Su-won curled up on either side of his body. A rustle inthe tree above his head caused him to look up and see Jae-ha having fallen asleep on one of the limbs. The sound of grass moving caught his attention next. Yona was walking over to him with one of her blue and white balls clutched between her hands. "Ki-ji play wit me?" she asked in her oh so innocent voice. Kija had gotten use to the nickname Ki-ji. It had become his name within the walls of the palace and the wind mannor when she visited. Hak still teased him and whenever she said it in front of Jae-ha there was a feeling of jealousy coming off of his brother. All she called Jae-ha was Ryo and that usually annoyed the young green haired teen.

"Sure." He said with a grin as he tried to extract himself from Hak and Su-won.

"Thunder Kitty and birdie don't want ta move." Yona said with a giggle.

"I'm not a kitty." Hak muttered as he opened an eye to glare at Yona.

"Why am I a birdie?" Su-won asked groggily before sitting up.

"'Cause, I say so." Yona said as if that should be enough.

Jae-ha chuckled from on high before jumping down from the tree limb. "Yona, sweetie," he began as he kneeled down to her eye level. "didn't you and I have a talk about you being bossy?"

Yona pouted, having down the puppy eyed look perfectly. "You said it's not nice," she said, "but I'm a Princess. Lulu says Princesses are bossy."

"Who's Lulu?" Hak whispered to Su-won.

"Nanna." Su-won answered. "She's been her nursemaid since she was a tiny baby."

Jae-ha knew exactly who Lulu was. The nursemaid was one of the bossiest women he'd ever met. Mean too. She only became Yona's nursemaid because she had lost her own son after birthing him. She had worked for Lady Kashi for years until that happened. Since royalty didn't nurse their own children Lulu had become Yona's wetnurse after that she had been born and now her nursemaid. "I don't care." he said as he stood up and crossed his arms over his chest. "You won't have friends if you are bossy." He looked at Hak and Kija.

Hak gave a nod. "I don't want to be friends with someone like that." he stated having yet to let go of Kija.

Kija looked down at his little brother. "You're one to talk." He muttered gaining a glare from the younger boy.

As Yona was talking to her friends Lady Kashi was smiling softly at her daughter. She was daydreaming really of the things her child may or may not accomplish. Upon hearing someone walking through the tall grass towards them, Kashi felt for the dagger in her haori. Her clan always taught the daughters of the clan how to fight or defend themselves. As headman of the clan, her father had ensured she had the best education and was taught by the best of best when it came time to fight. Turning her head she saw the red robes of her beloved coming her way. Releasing her hand from her dagger, she smiled warmly at him.

"Yona seems to be enjoying herself with her friends today." he noted as he sat next to his wife. Touched her cheek with the back of his hand he felt the coolness of her skin. "Are you cold?" he asked her, his voice filled with worry.

"I'm fine." she assured him. Taking his hand from her cheek, she nuzzled into his palm. "She is happy." she replied as she returned his gentle touches with her own.

Leaning forward, Il kissed her forehead. "Are you?" he asked as he looked into her beautiful violet eyes that their daughter shared with her.

"Yes." she answered truthfully. "I only worry for her."

The two parents looked away from each other as they held one another's hand. They watched their daughter suddenly jump onto Jae-ha's back and giggle loudly as the green haired boy took to the sky. Kija, Hak and Su-won yelling at the unfairness as they gave chase as a new game began.

Inside the palace Yu-hon stared down his father. Stubbornness was the key ingredient between the two men. "How many men?" Joo -nam inquired. "Where is it that you are taking them this time?"

"Kin province." he answered, hoping his father wouldn't read in-between the lines of the war plans he had been forced to deliver to him. The truth was, he was going to leave behind a few reliable men who would ensure the deaths of his niece and those two boys. Their loyalty was key to this operation.

Joo-nam looked at the thousand or so names on the list that his son wished to use for this campaign. Most of the names he recognized as minor generals, but not one of them were of the five general council. Meaning, his son was up to something; but he was unsure what is was. With no evidence of anything as sinister as a coup d'etat Joo-nam had no choice but to sign off on this. The towns that were across the river in the Kin Province were apart of Kouka nearly a hundred years ago during his grandfather's reign, but was given to the Kin Province in hopes of ensuring the ruler there wouldn't attack Kouka; it had worked. Giving his signature on the document, he only hoped he was doing the right thing. As he watched his eldest walk away, a feeling in his gut just wouldn't leave him and he'd always believed in following those gut feelings of his. Tapping his staff twice on a stone to the right of his throne, a doorway behind his throne appeared when the wall slid away. Standing, he walked inside. Walking down the steps and standing in a room with a stone coffin inside he gave bow to the man who laid there. "Forgive me Hiryuu, but unlike you I am only human and do have the divine power to save this country." He knew the man laying there was the first king, but he wondered that with Yona's appearance that if the red King's reappearance meant that a new age would come to Kouka. "Please, protect her." As he said this he looked upon the statue of the golden dragon, the Ouryuu looking down upon him. "She is powerless, just as he was when they went to harm him."

"Yet unlike him, she has protectors." A voice stated, startling the king.

"Who are you?" He asked the short teenage blond haired boy.

Stepping into the light a bit more the boy answered. "Zeno is Ouryuu Zeno." He stated before looking at his dead Kong's sarcophagus. "It has been a long time since Zeno has been here, but you shouldn't worry; she is safe."

"You have been-" Joo-nam froze as he remembered a time when he had met this young man before. "You were there..." He pointed at Zeno. "At the Great Wall War."

Zeno smiled. "That was a long time ago." he stated as the two looked upon each other and were reminded of a different time.

M-Angel: Sorry for not updating this story sooner. Been so busy updating other stories and with my job. I will try to update again this weekend. No promises though!