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Chapter 6 – Inheritor
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After they have successfully run away from Keishuk and his man on that room, they hiding in the corner of Saika Castle to decide to where they will go after this or to where they will set their encampment tonight. They disperse into two, where Zeno goes with Jae Ha who leaping into the air while Yona goes with Hak, Yun, Kija and Shina. Iguni approaches them and gives a key to Yona, telling them that this key is for her private residence on the mountain not far from here.
Since it's Iguni's private residence, only her trusted subordinates who stay there, so it's safe place for them to hide for a while. She promises she will come to see them later, because she still has something to talk about with Yona and her group. Besides, unlike her son, Keishuk doesn't watch her movement. When Yona's curiosity and other's suspicion growing, Iguni tells them that she knows who they are, including about Yona's identity as princess of Kouka because she knows Yona's mother.
"your hair color is different so it didn't click at first, but you have Lady Kashi's eyes".
Yona's eyes sparkle in excitement "Kashi… you knew my mother?".
"we interacted for a bit when we were younger. When we both took on our positions, we didn't meet up very much".
"I see".
"but when you were born, I went to celebrate".
Yona's reaction when knowing someone acquaintance with her mother is adorable, then she asks if she helping them because she's her mother's acquaintances.
Iguni eyes Hak and others before answering "actually, my reason is not only because of that but also because I have a promise to someone, she is your mother's and my old friend but Lady Kashi is closer to her rather than me. Besides, I don't want to let that advisor who laughed at my son just do whatever he wants. I have bad feeling about His Majesty Soo Won who won over Kyo Ga, too. About Kyo Ga, don't worry that much, that stubborn son of mine needed to be knocked on his head sometimes".
Yona can't help but giggles, thanking her to her kindness.
Yun and all of men beside Yona bow their heads "thank you so much for your help and your generosity, Lady".
Hak raises his eyebrow "he laughed at Lord Tae Jun? that's irritating".
Shina stands and informs them that Jae Ha and Zeno fall because archer has aimed for them and Jae Ha using his body as cushion. Yona and the others want to help them but Iguni tugs Yona's sleeve when Yona is about to follow the mans of her group "it's dangerous. Leave this to the gentleman… a woman's role is to see men off as they go into battle".
Yona smiles and shakes her head "thank you, but I'm going. Since they've appeared by my side, I've had so much happiness that I don't know what to do with it".
After Yona and her group run away from here, Iguni looks up to the sky "she is really your daughter, are you watching? look at how grown up your daughter has become, Lady Kashi… looks like 'the time' that you told me has come, huh?".
Iguni remembers of Kashi's words long time ago when the late Queen still alive, about how she realizes what kind of fate that would befall to Yona but she would be alright since she has the protection of Four Dragons, also something bad things about Soo Won and how she must beware of him. Her late husband's action has been a warning for her, then she remembers about other woman with the same raven hair but instead, she possesses blue eyes like her son. Iguni remembers of how that raven-haired blue-eyed woman holding her son in her arm, she has been holding her son as long as Iguni and Kashi warn her about her son's fate.
With tears brimming on her eyes, she pleads to them to let her be "I only hope one thing of him, just let him live his life as a human?!".
Iguni sighs, realizing how Darkness has been lingering within that electric blue eyes which he inherits from her mother "well, what will you do now, Queen from the realm of the death?".
It has decided that Kija and Shina will take care of Jae Ha and Zeno when Yona, Hak and Yun will wait for them after looking for Lady Iguni's residence on the mountain. On their way to looking for entrance to sneak and run away, a soldier notices into them but before Hak gets rid of him, he collapses to the ground.
"just barely", blonde-haired red-eyed man who slashes that soldier put back his sword in its case before waving his hand "come with me, Lady Iguni said you're looking for her private residence, right?".
He leads them to strange entrance, the hole with swirl like sea wave with black smoke as the black night and there's flash of lightning cracking around it, like portal. He points that portal "this portal will lead you into the woods near Lady Iguni's residence".
Yun asks in suspicion "who are you and what this is? How can we believe you?".
"my name is Kazama Yukimura. If you wanted to know who I am, just ask Ouryuu Zeno. We are from Yukimura Clan have owed to Ouryuu Zeno for saving Princess of Wild Beast, the daughter of our previous Head's Clan", Kazama explains that the real heir who inherit the position as the Head of Yukimura Clan will be his fiancee that practically like his little sister, but Hokuto Yukimura, the elder and the biological grandfather of Sakuya, Princess of Wild Beast has adopted Kazama with intention of making Kazama as his successor before Zeno come to bring Sakuya. Even if Chikage, Kazama's Clan is one of Yukimura's sub-clans, Chikage clan is the strongest among Yukimura's sub-clans, that's why his clan was chosen and as the son of the head of Chikage clan, Kazama was chosen by them to be next head of Yukimura clan and engaged with Sakuya, Princess of Wild Beast "Even if the main reason of why I help you all is because my fiancée has asked me".
Oh, hell no… not again…
Crap, that's what Zeno thinks right now.
Yona and the others have run away successfully, but Jae Ha and Zeno are aimed by archers from below. Luckily, Zeno's clothes hadn't ruined yet, only gotten dirt with his blood but he cringes internally as he sees Keishuk and other soldier reaction's when they see Zeno's hand where arrow has stabbed him, slowly recovers. Like with Mizali and what happened on Xing, he is dreaded by what the effect of them witnessing his recovery. As he's suspected, Keishuk tries to catch him and Jae Ha. Kija has come with Shina to help them but they're surrounded by the soldiers. Suddenly when they want to catch Four Dragons, they hear someone or you can consider it something groaning from the bushes.
Keishuk orders the soldiers to prepare their weapon "who is that?! Show yourself?!".
Instead of someone shows himself, a pair of unique heterochromia eyes, purple of Amethyst and red of Ruby appear and shine in-between the darkness, before Siberian White Tiger with thin-crescent-shaped scar across his left eyes jumps and roars to them. Not only the fact of how come this Wild Beast come inside Saika Castle that standing tall within the core of Saika which must have been busy and crowded by the citizens, but also because someone cladded in grey cloaks rides the Wild Beast on its back, whispering something to White Tiger before the White Tiger hovering itself in front Jae Ha and Zeno, as if trying to protect them. Its sharp fangs threaten to devour them, whoever it is that dare to come closer, as it opening its mouth. This gigantic White Tiger must be abnormal, because its size isn't like others normal Tiger.
Grey cloaked-figure above that White Tiger, from the voice looks like a woman, reaches out her hand to Four Dragons "get on my father's back, hurry?!".
An idea about who this woman pops inside Zeno's head after listen to that woman calling the White Tiger as her father, she isn't their enemy and he can believe her, so he drags Jae Ha up on his feet "come on, Ryokuryuu!?".
Kija and Shina come with them as well. After the four of them land above its back, she asks them to hold on before patting the White Tiger's neck "let's go, father?! Now?!".
Of course, Keishuk and the soldiers are afraid and they're failed to stop them from running away.
After Saika Castle is no longer able to be seen and they're entering the wilderness, Zeno calls for the White Tiger rider who has saved them "you…".
She slides her hoods down, reveals her short messy raven hair that similar with Hak's. She has purple of Amethyst on her right eye while her leather patch-eyes covers half of her face on her left side's face so her left eye is covered as well. She looks behind over her shoulder, smiling to Zeno "it's been a while after the last time we met, uncle Zeno!?".
"like I guess?!", Zeno tosses his hand into hers "thank you, Sacchan!? but what are you doing here?".
"ah, I just happened to be near here, but sorry!? because I and father are in hurry, we will put you guys down somewhere safe and go after that, okay?".
Kija thanks her "no problem, thank you for the ride and nice rescue, Lady…".
"Sakuya, that's my name", Sakuya pats her White Tiger's neck which in result, the White Tiger lower its speed "also, you're supposed to be more careful next time!? You're lucky this time because I'm here or like that time when you brought me to Yukimura Clan, mother was there?! What if no one helped you and they caught you after witnessing your power like that?!".
"yes, yes, Zeno will, niece…", Zeno shoots his glance to her in suspicion "but wait, did your mother know that you're here? It's so unusual for you to go outside your house".
Sakuya lifts her hand "no, I'm running away from home?!".
Jae Ha slaps his head and murmurs behind Zeno "God, I can't believe that we were saved by cute young girl who ride White Tiger to run away from her home".
"father, stop?!".
As quick as its appear, the White Tiger immediately stops which sending the four flying off its body while Sakuya who has predicted this, holds on its tightly. She simply lifts her hand as she sees them landing on the ground a bit hard "oops, sorry, sorry".
Without waiting for their reaction or waiting for Yona, Hak and Yun who come approaching, she taps her White Tiger's neck. The Beast runs off from that place after Kazama, blonde-haired guy who helping Yona, Hak and Yun to run away from Saika Castle get in above its back behind Sakuya.
Her heart pounds in her ear as she clenches her hand onto his fur "faster, father, faster… my brother… your son is in danger…".
"I know, my daughter", the White Tiger answers before jumping high.
Meanwhile, Yun freaks out again after protesting Zeno who make his clothes dirty with blood again "just who is that girl and how did she can ride that gigantic White Tiger?!".
Yona adds "is she the Princess of Wild Beast, Sakuya? And what were you doing in the past that have to do with they have owed to you that make them helping us?".
"nah, Zeno can guarantee, they are not our enemy, so don't worry that much?!".
After treat Jae Ha's wound, they think that's enough for tonight. They go to Iguni's residence and get proper treatment. What they need to do only wait for Iguni to come tomorrow. They are surprised though, because when Iguni comes and is about to discuss with them like she has promised, they are ambushed by black cloaked bunch. Who else, other than Gobi's man and mercenaries that work for him.
A/N Yoan :
Yona's mother's name has officially announced, her name is Kashi. So, in this book I will use her real name because I know, in Book 1 I used other name as Yona's mother's name.