A few hours after discovering her fire abilities, she decided that she needed a bath. This also served as a perfect opportunity to talk alone with Lily.
Lily sat down in the hot spring and turned around waiting for Yona. Her bodyguards were sitting out of earshot making sure that the six guys back at camp didn't decide to spy on them.
Yona gulped, "Lily, I-I was told that have some large scars."
Lily smiled and reached out her hand, "Don't worry Yona, I won't stare at you. You made this decision and I respect that."
Yona shook her head, "D-do you have a mirror by any chance?"
Lily nodded and called out to her bodyguards, "Bring me the largest mirror you can find!"
One of them nodded and rushed off to camp to comb through Lily's massive amounts of luggage (most of which were supplies that she wanted to leave for Yona and her group).
Yona took a deep breath and began taking off her dress. Each layer and piece of fabric that fell made her more nervous and anxious. 'Get a hold of yourself Yona! You knew this was going to happen!'
Before she took off the final layer of clothing, Lily's bodyguard came back and laid the hand-sized mirror on a nearby rock.
Lily nodded, "Thank you." She shot a warning to her bodyguard sending the message, 'don't look.'
The bodyguard nodded and made her way back to her companion. They turned their backs to the noble ladies.
Yona took a final deep, trembling breath and let the last layer fall. Immediately, she saw a large scar across her stomach. Again, it looked like a burn scar. 'That's what I was feeling when I collapsed in the shrine.'
The scar was a teardrop shaped flame. It covered her skin from below her navel to just below her breast line. She could almost make something out within the flame but she couldn't figure out what it was. Yona felt a tear run down her cheek as she turned to grab the mirror. She wordlessly handed it to Lily and stepped back. Nervously, she looked at herself through the tiny mirror. She gasped.
Reaching her hand up to her right shoulder, she saw another burn scar of a dragon. It's head was nuzzled up against her collarbone and neck. She lightly stroked it and smiled, 'Hiryuu.'
Tracing the rest of her body with her gaze.
Hiryuu's body was wrapped around her in an embrace that went all the way down to her left ankle. His body wrapped around her back and appeared again, wider this time, merging into the scar of the flame. Continuing, the tail crossed down over her left hip and appeared again within her left inner thigh. It then wrapped around her leg and knotted itself around her left knee. The final section of the dragon's body thinned and wrapped around her shin before the tip of his tail was nestled against her pale ankle.
She looked up at Lily and saw her expression.
Lily looked up at her and smiled, "Yona, your scars are beautiful."
She smiled sheepishly, "I-I... Thank you Lily."
Lily put down the mirror and held out her hand out to Yona. She smiled and took it as she was led down into the hot spring. Settling down next to each other, they leaned back against the bank and relaxed. Yona brought her left hand up to her right shoulder and stroked Hiryuu's head in absent comfort, Her right hand was lightly tracing his tail wrapped knotted around her right knee.
"Why did you do it?"
She was snapped out of her daze.
Lily turned her head over with a saddened expression, "Why did you put yourself through so much... pain?"
Yona smiled, "I wanted to be able to protect my friends." her gaze wondered to the sky and she stared into the light blue expanse. "I feel so useless, and I can't stand to see them get hurt because of me. I knew, going to that shrine was going to make me stronger... somehow."
Lily nodded and furrowed her brows, "Yona, please don't ever do that to me ever again. It hurt to hear you scream. I couldn't..."
Yona reached over and placed her hand on the shivering girl's shoulder, "I'll can't promise that Lily. You know that."
Lily nodded and silently cried.
"I'm sorry that I dragged you into my own selfish desires. I put you in danger and made you worry about me." Yona paused and smiled, "You're a great friend to me Lily and I hate how I took advantage of that."
Lily snapped her puffy eyes at her, "You didn't take advantage! Don't you dare think that you ever take advantage of our friendship!" Lily twisted her body to face her and rested her hands on Yona's shoulders. Red crimson locks tangling through her fingers. "You have done so much for me and my people Yona. This was the least that I could do for you. You've been almost like a sister to me Yona. I'll always be there if you need me."
Yona smiled and silently teared up at her proclamation. "Thanks Lily."
-x-
The girls returned from the hot spring as the sun began to go down. The girls hugged each other and said goodnight after sitting down to eat dinner. Lily decided to leave in the morning since now she knew that Yona was okay.
She watched the fire go down as Hak and Zeno, the two remaining people, approached Yona who was in her own little world. "Princess. Are you going to bed anytime soon?"
Yona smiled and didn't turn to look at Hak, "No, I want to stay out here for awhile."
Hak began to protest before Zeno cut him off, "Don't worry mister, Zeno will watch the miss."
He sighed in defeat, "Fine. Goodnight you two."
Hak walked over to the larger tent that he shared with the dragons and disappeared behind the flaps.
Zeno silently sat next to Yona on the log she was on. Yona laid her head on his shoulder and he rested his head on top of Yon's crimson hair. She reached over and grabbed his right hand with her left.
The couple remained that way, silently listening to the world around them, seeing the stars and moon illuminate their surroundings, and feeling each other's touch.
Yona felt Zeno sigh in content. A smile danced across her lips as she sat up and lovingly stared into his blue eyes. Without looking away, he raised her hand and kissed the scar on her ring finger.
She giggled as he smirked. "Yona, are you okay?" She intertwined her fingers with his. He only called her by her name when they were alone and she was okay with that.
She nodded her head and looked at their interlocking fingers, "I'm fine Zeno."
He followed her gaze and untangled their hands. He turned to face her and held her hand in both of his. His thumb brushed over the dragon on her finger. "Yona, do you know why this is here?"
She smiled and nodded. "Ouryuu put that there as a way of telling me that he trusts me with you and your power."
She cupped his cheek and they met each other's gazes, "I don't know how yet, but I will help you Zeno. Hiryuu told me that was one of the reasons why I was called there."
Sadness began to circle in his eyes, "You didn't have to put yourself through so much pain for Zeno miss."
She shook her head, "It wasn't just for you Zeno. I did it for myself as well. I told you that I would do everything in my power to make sure that you will see your brother's again. Hiryuu gave me that power. You won't be alone ever again."
He smiled and brought the hand on his cheek down over his heart, "Zeno would be honored if you did that."
The warmth from that soaked through his clothes onto her hand was comforting. Just below it, she could feel the bright golden flame that was the Ouryuu. A kind and gentle soul was cradled within it. She let out a deep breath, "Zeno, I will save you, but I need you to hold on for me a little bit longer. I have no right to ask you this, but I need you."
He cupped her blushing cheek. "Zeno would do anything for you Yona. You are our guiding light and I will remain by your side until you longer need me or want me."
She nuzzled into his hand, "I don't think that I won't ever not need you Zeno. You're... my sunshine."
He blushed through his fanged grin, "Yona, can Zeno be selfish for a moment?"
She nodded and he cupped her other cheek. He slowly pulled her closer with nothing but admiration and love burning in his eyes. She closed her eyes as he gently kissed her.
It was a slow kiss, but it was full of everything that they meant to each other. The world around them was gone. She could feel the golden flame begin to grow and almost hum with happiness.
They pulled back gasping for air, "Zeno, I love you."
He smiled and rubbed his thumb across her cheek, "I love you too... Yona."