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Chapter 3 – Another Encounter
New encounter
To new fate
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As wavy auburn-haired Amber-eyed woman is cladded in red armor with Camellia emblem on her armor's chest enters the clearing with black-haired silver-eyed man in middle-age, the man introduces himself and bows his head, kneeling one knee on the ground before Yona and the others "it's our pleasure to meet you, princess Yona and her comrades. This woman is the second princess of Northern Kai Empire, princess Tsubaki Yukie and my name is Sakaki Karasuma, the head clan of Karasuma clan, one of 'Sakura family' from Kai Empire".
Kija's jaw falls "princess of Northern Kai Empire?!".
Tsubaki groans "oh, come on… it's just a title which I've gained because the Emperor's wife has adopted me. I'm only lucky, what's more I'm Nomads".
Sakaki clears his throat "former Nomads, so behave as princess already, princess Tsubaki".
Jae Ha feels deja vu, similar feeling like when Vold and his man appeared in front of them to ask them to come to Xing for meet Tao. This time, they know they should act more cautious than before. He offers his usual gentle smile to her as he leans his chin above his intertwining fingers "and what do you want from us, princess Tsubaki?".
"oh, don't worry~ I will not disturb you guys too long because instead, I and this Grandpa will lend you our horse to ride after we came back from Xing for our duty", Tsubaki lifts her thumb, pointing Sakaki.
"right, after we sent our Empress's message to Queen Kou Ren and princess Tao, there's one more task for us to...", Sakaki nods his head in affirmation, before turning his head to her with scowl in his face "wait, who did you called as 'Grandpa' just now? I'm not that old?!".
Zeno chuckles, his usual toothy grin appearing on his face "no wonder Lady Camellia here calling you as Grandpa, you're around 50 years old already, Mister Crow?!".
Sakaki turns his attention back to Yona's group and lifts his hand "oh? yo, Zeno… looks like you're healthy as always, and not change at all. I'm a bit envy… besides, to correct you, I'm just turning into 50 years old this year?!".
"okay, for now we only want to send the messages for certain someone. First, for princess Yona from my adopted mother, the Northern Kai Empress, Lady Fong Mulan", Tsubaki explains about Yin Quelbo from Turan clan who has taken Li Hazara down and made Li clan under his clan as alliance. After informs that Li Hazara's and Yin Quelbo's troops will attack Fire Tribe territory very soon, Tsubaki simply warns them to be careful "because from what I've heard, looks like they're looking for Dragon Warriors. Li Hazara wants to take a revenge to White Monster of Kouka Kingdom for taking one of his eyes. Yin Quelbo is being attached to meet with Monster of Kouka. I knew you guys had met with Li Hazara once, but I give advice to more cautious with Yin Quelbo. That bastard will not step back only because of one time lose from his enemy".
Yun asks "and? any other business with us?".
"oh, right… and the second, Son Hak… do you remember this?", Tsubaki reaches out her hand into her pocket. She shows it to them, in her palm rested really beautiful hair ornament. Silver comb with gold edging has large butterfly-shaped with purple and maroon as its wing color, sapphire and azure mingling on the little golden chain between its wing.
"that…", Hak's eyes widen and he reaches out his hand to snatch that comb from her "you… from where you've gotten that comb?!".
Tsubaki jumps and somersaults backward before landing on the tree branch "so, it seems this hair ornament familiar to you, huh?".
"just answer me, how could you get that comb?".
"oh, I wouldn't say that I only want to give back this to you as memento from someone to her dearest people", Tsubaki swings her legs back and forth "before I answer your question, tell me… why did you over-reacted like that?".
"because that comb belongs to my late adopted little sister who passed away 2 years ago, Son Setsuna. Gramps said she passed away due to accident that make her drowning in the river on Winter but I know, before I'd installed as Wind Tribe General, many times she kidnapped, gotten herself into danger and barely died, more often than myself. I suspected she's not only 'drowning' due to accidents...".
"so, you've suspected her death as the assassination attempt?", Tsubaki leans her head on her palm, kissing that comb and glaring down to him "yes, this belongs to your Setsuna, your beloved sister that you've thought had passed away… but she is still alive".
"Are you kidding on me with saying that she's still alive? if she's still alive, why hasn't she told us...".
"I am not in the mood of kidding with you, and don't you dare to blaming her or why hasn't she told you and all of Wind peoples about her whereabouts!? you are the one who breaks your promise to her first!? She has waited for you to come home before decided to go to Southern Kai Empire or not, but when you're given the chance to come home, you didn't come home... So, don't blame her if she decided to go to Kai Empire instead without waiting or explaining the truth to you!?", Tsubaki jumps down to the ground and glares to him "Now, tell me, Son Hak… have you forgotten about Setsuna?".
Hak glares back and yells "if you think I'll forget her just because she's already dead, you're wrong?!".
Feels content with his answer, Tsubaki answers "Setsuna is known as princess of Kai Empire, the adopted daughter of Northern Kai Empress and biological daughter of Southern Kai Emperor, but she's also the biological granddaughter of Elder Son Mundok from Wind Tribe who has ever married with Lady Shoka, the late of last Empress of Former Kai Empire on King Joo-Nam reign before Kai Empire has fallen and divided into Southern and Northern", ignores the sudden noises below her once she has mentioned Setsuna's identity, she throws that comb to Hak "she's alive, and this is the proof, just check it yourself".
Hak catches it "what's the proof that this is not the imitation?".
"she said you gave that comb on her 13th birthday, the last birthday party where she can still see, the last birthday party that she spent with you before you were installed as Wind Tribe General, she also said that you made it yourself", Tsubaki looks up as Hak inspects the comb "she always keeps that because even in her most vulnerable state, no matter how hurt her wounds as she stayed in the Southern Kai Empire, it would bring her back to her sanity. Any objection?".
Only one thing that comes out of Hak's mouth after that "let me meet with her".
"that's it?", Tsubaki rolls her eyes and tilts her head "I thought you would ask about what has happened to her till she went to Kai Empire without informing all of you, even you, that she's still alive, or sort of that question… how cold…".
"true, this was what I've given to her but only one way to proof that she's the real Setsuna or not, with meet her. I needn't ask you about what happened to her because it's unneeded. I will know what happen to her once I meet her if our 'bond' still exist", Hak wants to put that comb into his pocket but raising his eyebrow as Tsubaki reaches out her palm in front of him "what?".
Tsubaki swings her fingers with gesture that asking him to give it back to her "oh, you mean your 'blood bond' with her? I wonder, if that bond were real, why wouldn't you know about what happened to her since a long time ago?".
Sakaki informs "that's because Setsuna herself who has sealed their 'blood bond' before she went to Southern Kai Empire. She has told me and Mulan once. I don't know what she's done to him to seal the bond, what I know is the bond only locked and still there. That's why, Setsuna still can feel what happened to him but he can't feel what happened to her".
Looks like he knows when that moment occurred but something complicated within his eyes visible before he covers his eyes with his palm and snickers "…I see, so that separation is also her act to seal our bond? That smart-ass girl…".
Tsubaki kicks him, only to dodged by Hak "don't you dare to insult her in front of me or I'll kick your ass?!".
Sakaki sighs and holds Tsubaki from hitting Hak "princess, remember our last task from your adopted mother. Lady Fong Mulan asked us to bring princess Yona and her group to Fire Tribe's territory because their urgent state where they will be ambushed by Yin Quelbo's and Li Hazara's troops soon, remember?".
Tsubaki sighs heavily and surrenders "...what a pain".
Finally, Yona's group decide to depart as soon as possible, to Fire Tribe territory.
A/N :
Yes, actually I've written in Book 1 that this fanfic is the continuation of Book 1 but looks like there's some misunderstand here so let me make it clear.
Book 1 is about what happened between Kouka and Kai Empire from the point of view from Soo Won, military and its government. Book 2 here is the different one, this story has same story timeline with Book 1 but from Yona's group point of view, so it doesn't matter whether you have read the Book 1 or not, you still can follow the story here. The continuation about what will happen to Soo Won next and his development within his government on Book 1 also will be mentioned here as well, a bit as explanation only, but the main story here will be focused on Yona's group. That's why I need to tell you that continuation of what will happen to Soo Won after Book 1 will be continued in Book 2, but this fanfic is not the Sequel of Book 1.