Chapter 27: Sweet Sixteen

Some years went by after the failed coup. A pre-teen Yona smiled happily as she rode her filly next to Hak's large black stallion. "Does he suspect?" she inquired from him.

Hak smiled, the feathers and heads on his headband blew in the wind as they rode at a leisurely pace. "I don't think so." Was his answer as the horses went up the steep incline easily. "Are you glad now that your cousin taught you how to ride a horse last year?"

Yona grumbled slightly. "I am." she made a pouty face at the memory of her horse riding training. Falling off the beasts had been the worst. She patted the white coat of her filly and smiled softly. "It was worth all the bumps though." A shadow from above gained her attention for a brief moment. Her smiled broadened at the sight of the green haired man flying through the air.

Above everyone Jea-ha bounced from free limb to tree limb. His green hair was tied back with an orange ribbon that matched the orange in the blue tunics sleeves that he wore. His eyes scanned ahead of them to ensure their group wouldn't be ambushed, though the likelihood of that happening with Shin-ah around was nill. Landing on a huge tall tree about a mile away from the group, he spotted their destination, and grinned.

Behind the entire group Kija and Shin-ah rode in silence. Kija wasn't sure what had brought Yona to wanting to take a trip out into no man's land, and up a mountain no less. He would rather be back at the palace practicing his fighting with Hak, though the teen seemed quite content to be riding next to his master. Glaring at the back of his younger brother he found himself feeling jealous at Hak's proximity to her. Yona was on the cusp of womanhood. Her red hair was now growing longer, almost halfway down her back. The red and white kimono dress that she wore was beautiful and caused her light colored skin to have a slight rosey look to it. Suddenly as they passed by a waterfall Kija felt a sense of familiarity to it. Frowning he got his horse to move a bit faster so that he was now riding next to Yona on her left side. "Princess," he began only to gain a glare from her. Remembering his promise to never call her that when it was just their group of friends, Kija took a deep breath before speaking. "Yona, where are we headed?"

Yona just smiled at him. A month before her birthday, Yona had asked Zeno to find something for her. Her had found it and reported back to her as to where it was. It was her birthday gift to her fear friend. "It's a surprise!" she said with some excitement to her voice.

Hak chuckled gaining his brother's attention. "You know!" Kija accused him, Yona giggled.

"Maybe." Hak said coyly.

"I know as well." Shin-an said with a rare grin.

Kija puffed his cheeks out of frustration. "Why don't I know?" he pouted.

Yona touched his dragon arm causing his face to heat up. "I wanted to surprise you." she stated, her voice gentle, reminding Kija of a soft breeze.

His heart beat wildly as her hand remained on his arm a bit longer than normally. "Uh..." his brain suddenly shut down and he couldn't even speak.

Suddenly Shin-ah's horse rode ahead, his sword coming out and cutting an arrow in mid-air. "Go back!" a voice yelled as most began to cover their path. "You are not welcome here!" The voice continued.

Suddenly a whistling sound came from above as two more arrows came through the air. That was when Kija pulled Yona from her horse and shielded her from the arrows, as Hak pulled his guandao spear weapon out from beside him, having had it strapped to his hoses side. One arrow was cut in low-end by Hak as the second one passed by and hit Kija in the right shoulder.

Yona screamed at that exact moment as the arrow head came through Kija's shoulder.

Above them all Jae -ha heard the scream and came flying down from the sky. Landing on the branch the attackers were on and began kicking them off of the branches. As they tell Shin-ah went to bring his sword down upon their heads when the old man among the attackers yelled out. "Hault!" Just as the old man yelled this Hak cleared the air by spinning his weapon above his head. Jea-ha could be seen with two dagger crossed over a young man's throat, as others were barely hanging into the limbs they'd been standing on.

The old man's eyes were side as he stared at the youth on the horse. Even hurt Kija had his dragon arm extended, ready to fight in Yona's defence. "L-Lord H-Hakuryuu?" the old man questioned as to whether or not he was truly seeing who he thought he was seeing. The sword at his throat caused him to look at the other man that was closed to him. "Lord Seiryuu." He then felt a twig drop onto his shoulder and looked up to see the green haired man with his daggers to his son's throat. "Lord Ryokuryuu." He suddenly fell to his kness, as did the others. "Forgive us Lord's!"

Hak raised an eyebrow before looking towards Kija who was grimacing in pain but was trying to keep his composure. "Kija!" China's cry seemed to break whatever spell had come over everyone. Jae -ha released the younger man and jumped down near Yona who had tears running down her cheeks. "Jea-ha, he's bleeding!" This wasn't how she had planned this day!

Jea-ha saw the blood and quickly pulled the arrow out which caused Kija to cry out at the painful experience. Yona took her haori off and pressed it against the wound from behind him as Jae-ha handed Kija a cloth to press against from the front.

"Please, let us make up for this horrible mistake." The old man pleaded, his face still to the ground.

Shin-ah looked behind himself to Hak who gave a nod at the other teen. Pulling his sword away from the men, Shin-ah spoke. "Take us to the nearby village." Then he gave a warning. "Should he die, so shall you."

"Die!?" Kija suddenly cried out in alarm before crying out in pain as he jerked in surprise. Was it really that serious?

"Idiot, don't move too much!" Yona chastised him as their horse was led away towards the village.

Early morning in the small hidden away village was the same as always. Life continued on, though most still mourned the loss of their Lord's child that had been asked away from them years ago, others tried to forget. One could not, the great-great grandmother of the Hakuryuu. Grandmother, as most called her, sat on the porch of her home. Over the years she had seen Hakuryuu Lord's come and go without the red haired master coming for them. First her own son, then his son and the his son after him; but none had caused her as great of pain as when her great-great grandson, Kija had been stolen from them. He had been a wonderful boy, with such a sense of honor and love. The boy had been kind to everyone and had not demanded anything of anyone. Her heart tightened with deep sadness at remembering him. After his disappearance many thought they would find him, but after a year of search of had become evident that the search would not yield anything. Then the current Hakuyuu had become ill, only for his power to suddenly vanish one night. His death was felt by all. A year after that loss many pregnant women began to think they'd carry the new Hakuyuu. So, they began the waiting game, but none carried the child, this could only mean that Kija was still alive and as long as no woman gave birth to the next child, her hope of seeing him return would remain.

"Grandmother." Tired eyes turned towards the youthful woman next to her. The woman was one of six assistants that helped her get around the village. "My sister just told me that there has been a development. Some intruders have been caught and are being brought here."

"Brought into the village?" she inquired from the young woman who nodded. "Why?"

"A young man was hurt badly and the young woman with him seemed quite worried." she answered. " the elder did not say anything more than this. "

"I see." Old eyes closed as if the conversation was over. The young woman stood to leave. "Take me to him."

"Ma'am?" the young woman questioned, uncertain who she meant.

"Take me to the young man who was injured." she said clearly so there would not be any confusion as to what she wanted.

With wide eyes the young woman spoke. "Yes Grandmother!" She then helped the other woman to a moveable podium where her siblings helped move the older woman.

Kija groaned as he looked at the wrapped wound, Yona looked remorseful. "Yona." he called out to her causing the young girl to look up at him. "This isn't your fault."

Her shoulders slumped. "Yes it is." she began tearfully. "If I hadn't planned this, you wouldn't have been hurt."

"You don't know that." He said with a chuckle. "Hak could be hurt me today in training, like he did two months ago."

Hak grinned. "What, can't take my beatings white snake?"

"Ankokuryuu." Kija grumbled back at him, grimacing as he moved to get comfortable. It was then he noticed an old woman at the doorway, it took several moments, but suddenly an old memory came forward. An old woman holding him when he had been a child. He had been crying because his mother had become sick, a sickness that would kill her. She had held him and allowed his tears to stain her clothes. Being brought back to the now Kija felt tears begin to come forward. "Grandmother?"

The old woman stared at him in shock before using strength she hadn't used in years as she walked over to him. Jea-ha and Shin-an moving to allow the old woman better access to him. "K-Kija." she stumbled over the words as tears of joy ran down her cheek. Wrapping her arms around his neck at the same time that Kija hugged her. Kija cried for finally finding his village as his grandmother cried for the years stolen from her when they had lost him. The years may have been stolen from them, but now they had the future to see what could be salvaged.

After all, life goes on...

M-Angel: One more chapter to come...