Chapter 20: The Search

Blue hair swayed in the breeze as a young boy ran through fields of gold. The plants that grew from the earth was taller than Seiryuu. After leaving his village he had begun his long journey to find the red haired girl. With Ao's sword upon his back he had traversed the mountains, an old Seiryuu village at the base of the mountain and into the desolate villages that littered the fire tribe. The mask that was on his face warded people away, as it had always done. At first he thought they knew he was the Seiryuu and that was why they backed away from him or crowds parted to give him way. Then again it could have been the giant sword on his back that made them wary of him.

Standing outside a village, Seiryuu's eyes scanned the village, but he found nobody that had red hair. Turning to leave quickly he paused in his movements. A presence he'd only felt once before in his life, though the memory was a bit fuzzy; something to do with a ball and a friend playing with him. The Ouryuu was nearby, more than that though, he felt very close. Looking above himself at the foliage he saw an older boy sitting in one of the trees on its large and heavy looking limb. The older boy had bright yellow hair, blue eyes and a medallion that hung from the left side of the green headband that was wrapped around his head. The older boy jumped from the tree limb, spun in low-end and landed face first on the ground. This made Seiryuu flinch because he knew that had to hurt. Unsure of what to do, Seiryuu cautiously approached the older boy.

"O-Ouryuu?" he asked, unsure as to why he felt that this boy was the Ouryuu. It just felt right to call him that.

"Zeno hasn't been called that in a very long time." Zeno stated as he looked the boy over. Cheeks covered in dirt, as were his clothes. Zeno supposed the young Seiryuu hadn't faired very well in his long journey. Carefully, as to not startle him, Zeno plucked the mask off of the boy.

Seiryuu froze up instantly. Nobody had ever touched his mask, never! Fear came over him in an instant. Not wanting to harm Ouryuu, he closed his golden eyes tightly. He was startled when he felt gentle hands against his face. His eyes opened when he felt something touch his forehead.

Zeno had leaned his forehead against Seiryuu's, the memory of a long ago good-bye coming to the forefront of his mind. "Don't worry," he said with tears forming in his eyes. "Seiryuu cannot hurt Zeno with his pretty eyes." Zeno wasn't sure why it was Abi's descendant that was making him tear up when it had been Guen he had made his promise to. Perhaps it was because Abi would be ashamed that his descendant was being treated this way or because Zeno could see the kindness that radiated from the boy, just as it had from Abi.

Seiryuu felt overcome with emotion and wrapped his arms around Ouryuu, Zeno as he called himself. The younger boy felt wet hot tears run down his cheeks. His face turning a light pink color from his emotional outburst, causing the two red marks on his face to brighten slightly.

Zeno's arms tightened around the emotional child. He realized that this must have been the first time the young boy had, had true human contact since the day his predecessor had died. Yes, Zeno knew when the older Seiryuu had died. Since realizing that there would be other generations of dragon warriors, Zeno had felt when each one would come into existence and when one would die. It hurt him emotionally to feel them, so he had tried, in vain, to not feel their deaths.

"Ouryuu?" the small voice from Seiryuu reached his ears.

"Hmm?" Zeno answered as he felt the boy push himself away from Zeno's person. "Are you looking for her too?"

"Huh?" he asked with surprise.

Seiryuu's golden eyes bore into Zeno for a moment before he went on to tell Zeno about his dream. Of the flames swallowing up the red haired girl and the darkness covering the entire country. He described the others with the green scales and white scales. The deaths he foresaw.

Zeno sat there listening to the little boy. When he was finished, the wind blew their hair and clothes. It would seem the Kami Seiryuu was warning Abi's descendant of something that was about to happen to the little Miss. Looking up at the sky, Zeno felt the breeze brush against his skin. Perhaps it is time Zeno returned to the Castle for good. His thoughts derailed when he heard a noise. A glint of something shining in the sunlight caught his attention. Narrowing his eyes, Zeno quickly stood up and spotted the six bandits immediately. First Zeno just protect Seiryuu from them before we go to the Miss' side. "Stay close." Zeno warned the boy, who replaced his mask on his face before giving a nod.

A fight was imminent and the victor became clear the moment Zeno's arm bled from an arrow fired from one of the bandits. Neither the bandits, nor Seiryuu, could've foreseen what kind of warrior the Ouryuu truly was. Zeno's movements were fast and his strikes were precise. Not a single bandit stood when the fight was over. Seiryuu grasped Zeno's golden scale covered hand, pulling Zeno's mind back and away from the fight. Zeno's face was covered in scales, as were his arms; but nobody could see those of the other scales covering his body.

Zeno looked down at the boy. "Let's go find the Miss and our brothers." he told the boy who have him a silent nod.

Kuuto was the biggest city in all of Kouka, as it should be. It was the country's capital for a reason. Not only was it the birthplace of the mythical King Hiryuu story but it was the home of the royal family. Merchants from all over the country entered the city daily to sell their wares in hope that perhaps the King or one of his wives would come and buy something. Swordsman came to the city to train at the army barracks in order to serve their King, so sword craftsmen would bring their best weapons to the city for the soldiers to buy or commission a sword they wanted that craftsman to build for them. Jewelers brought their necklaces and pretty trinkets for women and men alike to oogle and buy.

Kuuto's marketplace was packed by afternoon, which Zeno found to be something not any different from now it had been all those years ago. On his shoulders Seiryuu clung to Zeno for his dead life. Zeno wasn't a very strong person, but he could at least carry a child of this size without much difficulty. Making his way through the difficult crowds, Zeno smiled when he saw Hiryuu Castle upon the bill ahead of them. The red roof and glistening walls seemed to shine in the full afternoon sunlight.

"Red hair." Seiryuu said softly in awe before stiffening.

"What is it?" Zeno asked, knowing the boy had seen something. Looking up he saw that Seiryuu was no longer looking at the Castle but towards the horizon.

"An army." Seiryuu stated eerily. "Many men with weapons drawn are coming towards the city."

Zeno frowned. So it begins. he thought as he forced his feet to move quickly through the city streets in order to get to his brothers and find the little Miss quickly.

Above the city towards the western mountains, Yu-hon sat upon his black stallion with his army of thousands ready to go against his father and destroy the myth of the red haired king forever by sacrificing the only people who could prove his existence.

Inside the palace Kija felt something in his very being stir as at the same moment Princess Yona pulled his arm as they faced towards an unknown destination. All the while the Kami above waited and watched to see how the unfolding events would come to a conclusion and if there would be another need for their intervention to save their foolish little brother.

M-Angel: Yay, I got another update out before the end of the month! I'm sorry if the chapter seemed short. The next several chapters will be the battle that is to come. It should be interesting since I'm doing this with everyone as children.