Chapter 2

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The first thing Yona felt was a numbness throughout her body.

As her mind slowly started to come out of its haze though, all of her aches and pains began to make themselves known.

Overall she surprisingly didn't feel too horrible but she couldn't quite push past the harsh stinging sensation she felt along her chest.

She was becoming aware of the multiple bandages wrapped around her but there was a pressure on her right hand that felt completely different.

She couldn't quite make it out but it was oddly comforting in some way.

Still a bit groggy her eyelids finally started to flutter open. It took a few blinks to clear her vision before she gingerly took in her surroundings.

A warmth spread through her at the sight before her.

From the looks of it, she was lying on the cot in Gi-Gan's small courters. And sitting on the ground next to her, sound asleep, was Hak.

She realized the pressure she felt was his hand on hers, his head resting on his arm that was half on the cot.

Yona could see the dark circles under his eyes. He must've been exhausted after fighting all night like he did.

She made to sit up but the movement sent a jolt through her chest, causing her to gasp in pain.

Hak jerked up in an instant at the sound.

"Princess!"

He immediately eased her back down onto the cot.

"You're awake," his eyes brightened as relief filled his voice.

The look he gave her made Yona's heart melt.

"H-How long was I asleep?" She asked weakly.

"3 days..."

Her eyes widened at that.

"Oh," was all she said.

She looked away in contemplation.

"How do you feel?" he asked gently.

Suddenly the events with Kum-Ji all came flooding through her mind.

She remembered the panic she felt as he lit the arrow. She remembered thrusting the sword into his chest. And then the blinding pain of his own sword slashing her as he fell.

"Kum-Ji…" she subconsciously put her hand over her bandaged chest.

"He's really gone?" she said without looking at him.

He sighed knowingly.

"Yes," he confirmed.

Hak could see the conflict in her eyes.

"Princess…" he said as he placed a gentle hand on her cheek, willing her to look at him.

She turned to meet his eyes.

"You saved us," he told her seriously. "And the people of Awa are in your debt."

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Hak always knew what she needed to hear.

And he truly meant it. He was so unbelievably proud of her.

Suddenly a thought struck Yona and her expression changed to slight panic.

"Is everyone else okay?" She asked desperately. "How's Yoon? What about those women? Did they -Ah!" she winced.

Unthinkingly she had started to sit up again in her outburst, causing her injuries to protest.

"Woah easy!" Hak grabbed her shoulders and eased her back down again. "They're all fine, just calm down."

As her breathing evened out he continued, "All of the women are back safe with their families. Yoon was pretty banged up but no permanent damage," he offered her a small smile. "He and everyone are fine, so let's just worry about you okay?"

As she nodded in relief Hak could see beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

"Yoon should check you out again now that you're awake," he said.

As if on cue the door across the room opened.

Yoon's face lit up as soon as he saw her.

"Yona!"

"Yoon!" Yona smiled in return.

He came over and knelt beside the Lightening Beast, who had moved slightly to give him some room.

"We were so worried," he told her with emotion thick in his voice. "It's so good to see you awake."

"It's good to see you too," she said, her face mirroring his emotion.

He too noticed the beads of sweat on her forehead and the slight flush to her cheeks.

His eyebrows knit together as he placed his hand to feel her temperature.

"Hmmmm, well your fever has finally subsided but you are still a bit warm."

He turned to grab the small basket of medical supplies he had by her cot.

"I need to change your bandages but then you should probably get some more rest," he said.

"Thanks Yoon," she said with a soft smile.

"I'll give you some privacy," Hak said as he moved to sit facing the door at the foot of her cot.

Yoon untied the loose robe that covered her bandages so he could get to work when his eyes suddenly widened.

"Oh uh, I'm sorry Yona," he stuttered as a blush crept over his face. "Would you be more comfortable trying to do this yourself? I just didn't want you overexerting yourself but since it is over your entire torso –"

"Yoon, it's okay," she cut him off. "I trust you."

He was in many ways like a Mother to them after all, and she trusted him completely. There was no doubt he had only been doing everything necessary to help her recover.

And for his part, just seeing her wound and remembering how she got it was more than enough to steal his focus anyhow.

Seeing no hesitation in her eyes, he gave her a small nod and began unwrapping her bandages.

He still got a shiver every time he saw the long diagonal gash. Although it was incredibly similar to the one he had treated on Hak before, it just looked so harsh against Yona's innocent features.

Remembering Hak's wound reminded him –

"Yona," he turned to look at her, "I don't want to upset you or anything but…"

Hak was listening intently.

"You are going to have a pretty nasty scar once these stitches heal," he told her gently.

Yona's eyes widened for just a second before she looked away from his solemn gaze.

The room was silent for a moment.

"I–I understand," she said quietly.

Hak's heart broke at her words, as did Yoon's.

It killed them that they couldn't protect her from Kum-Ji. And to have her body marred permanently was the last thing a Princess should ever have to go through.

Especially when that Princess was Yona.

"I'm sorry Yona," Yoon said sadly.

Yona looked up at Yoon in an instant.

"Oh no, Yoon, I'm just happy to still be alive." She gave him a warm smile.

"Thank you for taking care of me," she added.

She had such sincerity in her voice that it made Yoon's eyes start to water.

"And besides," she continued after a beat. "I'm proud of my scar."

She looked at the black-haired head in front of her.

"It makes me strong like you, right Hak?"

Hak's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"You got your scar from protecting me…" She blushed a bit. "And now I have one from protecting you!"

Leave it to Yona to be excited about having a scar.

Yoon gave her a knowing smile.

Hak had so many emotions running through him that he was grateful they couldn't see his face.

"Yeah Princess," he nearly choked out. "You're strong like me…"

His hand subconsciously felt over his own scar that matched hers. He could feel his vision getting a bit blurry.

He had to get out of there.

"I uh," He said as he stood up, still keeping his back to them. "I should go tell the others you're awake Princess. They've been worried too."

With that he swiftly exited the room, closing the door again behind him.

Yoon could only chuckle as he shook his head.

"Ya know, that's the first time he's left your side since we got you back." He said as he continued wrapping her fresh bandages.

"Really?"

She looked at him surprised.

She didn't know why but the thought sent butterflies to her stomach.

"Yeah… He blames himself for not being able to protect you from Kum-Ji," he said sadly. "He wouldn't eat anything and he's barely slept."

He loosely re-tied her robe having finished. "He was so afraid he lost you."

He looked up at her.

"We all were."

Yona started to tear up.

Yoon looked away suddenly with anguish on his face.

"Yona," he said before pausing.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't stop him from taking you. If you hadn't tried to save me… and then seeing you on that boat…" his own tears resurfaced at the thought.

He looked back at her as he started full on sobbing.

"I was so worried!" He cried.

Seeing his face, Yona couldn't help but throw her arms around him as she started sobbing as well. The movement was painful but she didn't care at the moment.

"Oh Yoon, I thought they were gonna kill you," she choked out as she hugged him tighter.

After holding each other a moment longer they finally broke apart, wiping away the remaining tears.

"I'm just glad it's all over now," she said with a small smile.

Just then they heard an urgent knocking at the door.

"You can come in," Yoon said having a good idea who it was.

As predicted the door burst open as 3 dragons stumbled in, a much calmer Hak not far behind.

"Yona!" Kija exclaimed.

Jae-Ha grinned brightly, "Hey kiddo."

"Yona," Shin-Ha said quietly while staring at her from behind his mask.

Ao jumped off his shoulder and ran up to Yona's lap. She giggled and put her up on her shoulder, cuddling her against her cheek.

"Hi everyone," she beamed seeing all of her friends.

"Yona," Kija knelt down beside her, "you are so brave!" He gushed.

He took her hand in his.

"I heard all of the horrible things you went through," he bored into her eyes.

"How dare anyone lay their hands on the Princess!" He was really riled up. "If I could, I'd bring Kum-Ji back to life just so I could kill him myself for harming you!"

You and me both, Hak thought as he stood quietly in the corner.

Yona couldn't help but smile at Kija's dramatic protectiveness.

She placed her free hand over his, "Thanks Kija."

"You really scared us there kiddo," Jae-Ha said, "glad to see you're okay."

Yona smiled up at him warmly.

A soft knock against the doorway drew everyone's attention.

"Captain Gi-Gan," Yona's face lit up with surprise.

"I heard you were up," Gi-Gan said while leaning against the door frame.

"Glad to see you're doing better," she took a puff from her pipe.

"Can't go losing one of my favorite dumb asses now can I?" she added giving her a smirk.

Yona beamed.

"Ya did good girly," Gi-Gan told her seriously. "Real good."

Yona couldn't help the pride that washed through her at hearing those words from the Captain.

As she looked back with a tired smile, Yoon could tell her energy was draining from all the emotion since she'd woken up.

"Not to cut the reunion short but Yona you should really get some more rest," he said.

She easily agreed as Yoon helped her lay back again.

Kija pulled her blanket up around her before getting up himself.

"Sleep well," he said smiling.

As Kija stepped away, Shin-Ha quietly came over beside her. Without a word he took off his fluffy white fur and draped it over top of her blanket for extra warmth.

It was his way of saying he was glad she was okay, and to get some rest.

"Thanks Shin-Ha," she said warmly in understanding.

With a slight blush he nodded before turning to leave with the others, Ao having jumped back onto his shoulder.

She sleepily gave them all one last smile before they filed out, the exhaustion catching up with her.

The only two left were Hak, still standing in his corner, and Yoon.

"I'll come check back on you in a little while," Yoon told her as he picked up the dirty bandages and made to leave.

"Mk," she said.

Yoon looked over at the Lightening Beast before walking out.

"You should get some rest too ya know," he told him.

"I'm fine."

Yoon knew better than to push it, so with an understanding nod he left.

"Hak, I think Yoon's right," Yona said hesitantly.

He could see the concern in her tired eyes as he walked over.

"Trying to get rid of me?" He teased, resuming his spot on the floor but with his back to the cot.

"No!" She blurted out before she could stop herself.

Hak looked over at her in surprise at the unexpected outburst.

Yona blushed as she looked away.

"I–I just meant you seem tired is all," she said while twittling the hem of the blanket with her fingers anxiously. "Please don't leave..."

Hak couldn't help the blush that crept over his own face.

Stealing his emotions, a look of understanding washed over him.

"I already told you," he said casually, "if you ever came back to me with so much as a scratch, then I'd be glued to your side for the rest of your life."

She stole a tentative glance up at him.

"So I hate to break it to you Princess," he gave her a million dollar grin, "but you're stuck with me."

Yona blushed again but he could see the small smile on her lips as she looked down at her hands.

"Maybe having to put up with you forever wouldn't be so bad after all…" she said timidly.

Hak's heart fluttered.

"Princess?"

He tried, and failed, to keep his emotions in check.

"Hak," she paused.

"When I saw you on that ship, and he lit that arrow…" She continued, starting to get a bit choked up. "And then when his sword came across my chest…"

Both of them winced at the memory.

Yona lifted her head with tear filled eyes to look at him.

"I was so scared I was never going to see you again," she said in nearly a whisper.

He had never seen such anguish in her eyes. It was even worse than when Soo-Won had killed her father.

He would do absolutely anything for her to never have to look like that again.

"Princess," he said urgently, his gaze unwavering.

He gently cupped her cheek with his hand, wiping away a tear with his thumb.

"I am so sorry I wasn't there to protect you."

She could see the pain behind his eyes.

"But there is nothing in this world that will tear you away from me," he said in complete seriousness. "I won't let it."

She smiled warmly at him as she reached up to put her hand over his.

"Thanks Hak," she said genuinely.

He smiled in return.

"Get some rest Princess."

He gently moved his hand to pull Shin-Ha's fur up a bit farther.

"Now that you're alright, the Pirates will no doubt be partying tonight," he gave her a grin.

She let out a tired giggle as her eyes finally started to droop closed.

Hak sat back to get more comfortable.

He rested his arm on her cot for a moment to shift himself when suddenly Yona reached out from under the blanket and placed her hand on top of his.

He looked up in surprise only to see her eyes still closed. A content smile on her face.

His face immediately softened.

He turned his palm up to hold her hand and settled in.

"Sleep well Princess," he whispered as she drifted off to sleep.

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To be continued.

As always thank you for reading and for any reviews.

- J