Chapter 17: The Myths Are Real

Yona yawned as she laid in the bed that she'd been given by Mr. Ogi. Once again she and Yun were stuffed in the same room, mostly because Yun hadn't corrected Ogi when the man had assumed he was a girl. Of course the others had called him a boy earlier, so either the older man hadn't believed them or he was forgetful. Yona didn't mind though. It was like having an over protective little brother that was way too motherly for his own health.

I wonder how Jae-ha and the others are doing? she wondered as she pulled the blankets under her chin. Kija seemed really worried about people seeing his claw and Shin-ah has been nervous since we entered the city. Yona took a deep breath as she closed her eyes and tried very hard to shut down her brain for the night, but she couldn't help but be worried about her new brothers.

King Joo-nam was a cranky old man since the disappearance of his granddaughter. The old man was known to be a man of no remorse. His eldest was the same, but Prince Il was a kind man; a little too aloof in some things. When his son's daughter had been born, and with red hair no less, Joo-man had believed that it was a sign that King Hiryuu had returned and good fortune would come to his country. Then she'd been stolen in the night and now he was old and about to die. The army wanted his eldest as their new leader and the council wanted Il.

They want Il because he will be easy to manipulate since his wife's untimely death. he thought as he shuffled his feet along the marble floors that lead towards the King's chambers. If only Yona was still alive. He looked up at the starry night and wondered what the Kami's plan had truly been for the child.

The sudden footsteps of a messenger was heard behind King Joo-nam. His bodyguards prepared to intercept the messenger, but he stopped them with a single hand rising up. "Your majesty." the messenger held out a scroll.

Taking the parchment, Joo-nam recognized the seal upon it. The information broker? he wondered what that man possibly want at this time of night.

That which has been lost, has been found. It read.

It didn't take a man of intelligence to understand that one lined message. I see. he mused with a smile. So, she is alive. He handed the message to his trusted bodyguard. "Destroy that." he ordered the older man.

"Yes sir." the guard walked over to a lantern and lit the parchment on fire.

Turning towards the messenger, the King stared at the youth. "Go back to your master and tell him to keep an eye on the precious cargo." he told him. "I will come to him personally and retrieve it in two days when I announce my heir."

"Yes your majesty!" the young man stood up quickly and took off through the secret tunnels that had brought him into the palace grounds.

A couple of days later, Yona was watching the city celebrate from the top of Jae-ha's shoulders as the others stood around the duo keeping an eye on things. Yun stood with his arms crossed over his chest. "Everybody is being loud and obnoxious." he stated.

Jae-ha chuckled, though it was Kija who spoke. "They're celebrating the ascension of the new ruler." he told the younger boy with a grin.

"I'm four, not stupid." Yun told the older boy with a frown. "All nobles are the same. They're put there in power to help us, the poor; but they get corrupted and think nothing about others and only themselves later on."

As young as that child is, he's quite perceptive. Ogi thought as he looked towards one of his lookouts. No sign of him yet. He frowned at this. Could there be trouble from the handover? He clicked his tongue against his cheek. I may have to send them away. He looked Yona over. Her bright violet eyes were wide with wonder and excitement as gypsies danced in the streets. As she began to giggle from Jae-ha's shoulders, Ogi spotted the older man he was expecting.

Walking up to the man, he grinned. "About time, Nam." he greeted the older looking man who looked nothing like the King he knew he was.

"I'm not as agile as I use to be." Nam told him as he turned his attention towards the group of children. His old eyes were not so old that they were blind. He saw the golden eyes and red marks of the blue haired child. The clawed hand of the white haired boy. The green hair of the older boy. He eyed the young girl upon the eldest boy's shoulder. She as definitely the one he'd come to see. "Let's see if she truly is the gem that was lost." he told the younger man.

Ogi grinned at him. "You doubt me?" he asked."I should be offended, but I'm not. You always have been hard to please when it comes to information." Ogi walked over to the children. "Yona?" he spoke her name to gain her attention and instantly had all of the children's attention. "There's someone I want you to meet."

Jae-ha picked Yona off of his shoulders and sat her on to her feet. Yona walked over to Ogi. "Who Mr. Ogi?" she inquired as she took his hand, only to be led in front of an old man. "Who are you?"

Joo-nam looked down at the child before him. He saw it then, the spark within her eyes that he'd seen on the day of het birth. It wasn't as bright, but it was there; sleeping. Her eyes were the right color of violet and her hair was the correct color of red, not dyed by coloring or an auburn color. "Yona." he sat his old and wrinkled had upon her head. "You truly are her. My missing granddaughter, Princess Yona." Looking up towards the boys he wondered who they were to her. "Who are they?" he asked, though his voice made it sound like a demand.

Yona suddenly felt nervous in front of this old man, but he did say she was his granddaughter. Does that mean we're family? she wondered as she looked at Jae-ha and the others. "They're my brothers!" she announced happily.

Joo-nam seemed pleasantly surprised by her answer, though he guessed he shouldn't have been. He looked at the youngest boy. Is he the Ouryuu then? he wondered, a bit curious. I thought the Ouryuu would have golden hair? He touched his chin. "You boys are the warriors of legend?" he asked the four.

Jae-ha scratched the back of his neck as Kija flushed. "O-Of course we are!" Kija yelled passionately. "Our ancestors fought next to King Hiryuu and protected him throughout his life!"

Shin-ah nodded in agreement. "Yona gave me my name." he told the King, not knowing who Joo-nam was.

"And you've protected Yona?" he inquired trying to understand these boys.

"Not like we have a choice there." Jae-ha stated. "The blood in our veins demands we protect her. So we will, always. No matter what." He grinned at Yona. "It helps that she's an adorable little girl too." Yona giggled at Jae-ha's answer.

Yun gave a deep sigh at this. The King's attention turned towards him. "You are the Ouryuu, correct?" Joo-nam inquired.

Yun looked around himself before pointing at himself. A surprised look appearing upon his face. "Are you nuts!?" he yelled questioning the man's sanity. "I'm not related to any of these beasts!" he yelled.

"Aw, Yun. That hurts." Jae-ha feigned hurt.

"I'm just keeping an eye on them." he huffed.

Yona giggled as she wrapped her arms around Yun's neck. "Yun's my brother too though!" she yelled. "He feeds us and makes sure we are happy." she rubbed her cheek against his, causing the younger boy to flush deeply.

"Somebody has to make sure they're taken care of!" he defended.

Joo-nam gave a nod in agreement. Indeed. Someone did. He looked towards Ogi. "What payment do you desire this time?"

Ogi laughed. "How about a King's feast and then the usual payment?" he answered gaining a grin from Joo-nam.

M-Angel: Next chapter there will be some drama in it.