Chapter 23: Defenders

Ja-ha watched Lady Kashi run passed him with the fallen Seiryuu boy. As impressive as the blue haired boy had been, his power had snapped back at him and taken him out of the fight for who knew how long. Zeno didn't look like much of a fighter, which left himself and Kija as the only two who could truly fight. Grasping the short sword on his hip, Jae-ha prepared for the onslaught of men coming their way.

Kija was the first to come into contact with the enemy as they approached the trio. Three fully grown men went to take his head only for him to stretch out his dragon arm, which expanded in size, and swatted at them as if they were mere flies on a wall. The three men went flying into the wall that surrounded the keep with them making imprints of themselves on the walls from the force that the young boy had used in his attack.

As three more came at Kija, Jae-ha landed in front of him, swung his leg around in a circle, kicking them away from the silver haired boy before taking his sword to the nearest one and slashing his throat. Blood sprayed onto his face and clothing as the man fell backwards. Grasping at his neck to stop the bleeding, the soldier gurgled his last words, which were not heard as more soldiers came at the young dragon warriors.

Zeno barely flinched as a sword slammed into his back. Spinning around, he used the momentum of his spin to kick the man in the face. Pulling the sword out of his spine the next momemt, he barely noticed any pain from the action. Two thousand years of trying to kill himself, Zeno was now practically unable to feel pain any longer. An arrow suddenly was shot at Zeno and hit the center of his raised hand. Barely registering it, Zeno jumped, fist closing around the arrow head as he came down upon a soldier and punched the man in the face. Two more hit him in the back before being pulled out by the forever seventeen teenager. Ripping the arrow out of his hand as well, Zeno could see the golden scales begin to spread. Grinning Zeno spoke words that frightened the soldiers coming at him. "You should've taken Zeno's head first." The next set of arrows bounced off of his body.

Mayhem broke out after Zeno's transformation. His fists broke faces in and kicks snapped spines as he quickly went through the crowd of soldiers and began to fight in earnest. He needed to stop the fighting before one of his brother's, or the little Miss, got hurt badly. Baby dragons shouldn't have to fight. Were his only thoughts as his golden fists went through another soldier's ribcage. When the fighting stopped, the dripping sound of blood caught his attention. Turning his head he saw the other two were staring at him in awe of what he'd just done. It was amazing to them that he had been able to fight like he had. Almost like a monster. He would have smiled ruefully at this if he didn't already known he was some kind of monster.

Zeno suddenly collapsed onto his knees and hid his face in his hands. He really had not wanted to show his true colors so soon, but when in a midst of a battle he always seemed to loose himself in them. Suddenly two small arms wrapped around his neck. Pulling his hands away, he saw Yona's tear stained face. "Please, no more!" she cried out. Above their heads lightning cracked.

Zeno agreed with her words wholeheartedly. Wrapping his bloodied arms around her, he pulled her to his chest. "Zeno agrees with Miss." he whispered, but he could already sense more danger coming their way. "Miss should stay in the keep with Lady Mother where it is safe." He pulled away from her embrace. "We are here to protect you. It is our destiny to do so, even if it means we get hurt in the process."

Yona shook her head vehemently. "NO!" she screamed at him. "No more fighting. I don't want this!" She began to cry, mostly because she was afraid for them and because of everything that was happening around them.

Kija placed his claw upon her shoulder. "Princess, Ouryuu is right." he spoke in a calm voice, the same voice he used to calm her when she had nightmares during storms. "We are meant to fight in you defense, so let us do so."

Yona looked at him with tears streaming down her face. "Kija..." she whimpered.

"More are coming." Jae -ha warned as he tried to stand, his left leg was injured from earlier.

Zeno saw the injury. "Brother Ryokuyuu should go with Little Miss as the last defense in case we fail." Jae-ha peered through his long bangs that hung over his eyes at Zeno. He knew why the other was saying this and knew it to be true. Jae-ha wouldn't be able to fight like he had been. Giving a nod, he picked Yona up and carried her back into the keep and barred it shut. Yona ran over to her mother and cried into her skirts as Jae-ha leaned against a pole to study how badly injured he really was.

An Joon-gi skidded to a stop as he came to the King's study, but found it to be empty. Turning towards the courtyard, lightning flash overhead causing the area to become alight. Rushing over to the downed body of the Earth General, he saw the younger man was injured, but alive. Off in the distance he saw King Joo-nam and his eldest son fighting. The two of them moved in tandem. Both bringing their swords up, striking in unison. Neither giving way. It was truly an amazing sight to behold. He had seen his majesty fight only a handful of times and had seen Lord Yu-hon fight many times. They were both very experienced with the sword. Pulling his bow from his back, he readied an arrow to kill Yu-hon with. As lighting struck the ground nearby, An Joon-gi saw Yu-hon's sword to through King Joo-nam's body. Knowing his King was about to die, the water general released the arrow. It struck to its intended target.

M-Angel: Yay, another chapter posted. I am sorry for the delay though. This week has been a hectic one.