Chapter 18: Lost No More

Lord Yu-hon stalked the halls of the palace with great intent. His father truly was insane. Placing his brother Il on the throne would be the ruination of Kouka. Not only was his brother weak of mind, but he was so easily manipulated. He was a lump of a man, if you could even call him that. True, Yu-hon did not fight for the power of the crown, nor had he shown any interest in it; but he was the eldest son of Joo-nam, it was a given that he should have been the next to become King of Kouka.

Upon his return from the festivities within Kuuto, he found that his father had taken in a group of young children and brought them directly to the castle. In all the years he'd known his father, never had Joo-nam shown any interest in helping orphans.

Coming to a stop at the back of the main palace to the large garden there, he found his eyes widening upon one look at the children, or at least the one being held by the eldest boy. A red haired child with bright violet eyes and impossibly red hair. It couldn't be anybody but her, the missing Princess Yona.

"Papa," his son, Su-won called out to him as he stood upon the porch looking out at the others. "Grandfather found Yona. Isn't this wonderful news?"

Was is wonderful news? Yu-hon wondered with a frown. The day his ignorant brother becomes King of Kouka, his missing daughter is found. Coincidence? Then there was the arm of that white haired boy. Were those talons? A white claw? Is can't be! he thought. Those are just myths!

"Papa?" Su-won looked up at his father and felt a shiver of fear go down his spine. Was his father not happy that Yona was found?

Yu-hon watched the young boys around the supposed Princess Yona. A blue haired boy with golden eyes. A green haired boy with matching eyes. The white haired boy with the claw. Then there was the strawberry blond boy. Just who are these boys exactly? he wondered as he clenched his fist. They are not them. I won't believe it until I see those scales myself! He began to stomp towards the children to examine them himself.

Jae-ha felt a sudden sense of danger coming from behind him. Turning his head he spotted a man that was heading towards them. Intense, was the word he'd describe the man as. Along with a terrible sense of danger was rolling off of the man in waves. Feeling as if they were in some sort of danger, Jae-ha prepared to have to fight this man off of his brothers when he spotted a second man approaching from behind the first.

"Y-Yona?" the stuttering voice of newly crowned King Il was heard by Yu-hon causing him to faulted in his steps.

Yona tried hiding behind Jae-ha's right leg. Grasping it with both of her tiny hands. Jae-ha touched the top of her head to reassure her that she was safe with him near her. Bowing, Jae-ha addressed the man. "Your majesty." he spoke trying to sound kind and sincere. "I apologize but my little sister doesn't know who you are. So you calling her by her name has startled her."

Though hurt that his daughter didn't know who he was, Il gave a sigh. "I see." he said as he approached them, passing his brother as he did so. Bending his knees so that he was eye level with Yona, King Il spoke. "I am your father. I'm sorry if I startled you."

I don't understand. Yona thought as tears began to well up in her eyes. I wanted to go home. This is home, but at the same time it isn't. She held onto Jae-ha's leg. They say Hiryuu wasnt my daddy and now this man is saying he is. What do I do? Hiding her face against Jae-ha, Yona tried to calm herself down. A memory, from a very long time ago appeared in her mind of a dark haired pudgy man laughing as he held her. A dark haired lady was with them. She was touching Yona's cheek and telling her how much mommy and daddy loved her. "D-Daddy?" Yona spoke confusedly.

"That's right." Il said with a nod.

Yona looked around for the dark haired lady before looking at Il. "Where's the lady with dark hair that smells nice?" she asked causing pain to appear in Il's face. "Where's mommy?"

Jae-ha seemed shocked. She remembers? he wondered before he smiled down at her.

Il cleared his throat. "Your mother, my wife, died a while back." he explained sadly. The pain of her death was still too new. "It's just you and me."

Yona looked up at Jae-ha and the others. "And my brothers?" she asked with an adorable smile on her face that seemed to stun Il for a moment.

"Brothers?" Il asked as he looked at the four boys, all of whom were looking a tad embarrassed at her calling them her brothers in front of the new King. Il gave a chuckle. "Of course!" he exclaimed gaining a cough from Yu-hon who sounded like he was choking on something. "Are you okay brother?" Il inquired, seeming to be concerned.

"You can't be seriously thinking of adopting these orphans!" he exclaimed. "For all you know, they could have been apart of her kidnapping!"

Il shook his head. "They're too young to have been apart of that." he said looking at his brother oddly. "Even the eldest would have been just a child when that occurred." he looked back at the children. "Besides, Yona seems to be quite attached to them."

Yu-hon could've openly groaned when he heard a throat clear behind him. Both young men turned to see their father standing there. "Good, you've met them." Joo-nam walked over to stand next to Su-won who seemed a little blissed out at being next to his grandfather. Touching Su-won's head, Joo-nam spoke again. "Now that this family is once again complete, this old man came pass on to the next life; but before I do that," he pulled his hand away from Su-won's head. "know this. Those boys are to remain near Yona until she no longer is of need of them. They are to be given certain training. They will protect her life with theirs. She is my true heir." This caused both his son's eyes to widen. "Don't seem to shocked. Il, you are kind; but you are too stupid and will be manipulated by those stronger than yourself. Yu-hon, you are a strong will man; but your lust for war would destroy our nation. Il will rule until Yona's eighteenth year, afterwards you will step down and give Yona your crown."

"There has never been a woman ruler in our nation!" Yu-hon yelled heatedly.

"Then she will be the first!" Joo-nam raised his voice over his son's. "I am old, but not dead. I will ensure she is taught how to rule before I take my last breath!" he looked at Il. "And you will obey my words."

Il sighed in defeat. "I will."

"Now," Joo-nam looked at the boys. "I have had rooms prepared near Yona's for your boys." Looking down at Su-won he addressed him. "Su-won, take these boys to the chamber across from yours, will you?"

Su-won gave a happy nod. "Yes grandfather!" he said as he ran over to Shin-ah and grasped his hand, shocking the other boy. "Follow me." He told the other boys as he took off running with Shin-ah behind him.

Jae-ha went to follow only to have Yona still grasping his pant leg. Laughing nervously, he bent down to her eye level. "I need you to let me go Yona dear."

Her cheeks puffed up as a light flush crossed her nose to her cheeks. "No." she simply stated. "You stay."

Jae-ha groaned. "I need to know where I'll be sleeping-"

"With me!" Yona yelled at him. "You're staying with me Jae-ha!"

"Yes, yes." he agreed. "But boys sleep in different rooms here than back at our home in the woods."

Yona thought for a moment upon that before deciding she didn't like that idea. "No."

Jae-ha sighed. "You could always argue with Yun about this." he stated trying to get her to let him go.

"You're bigger." she stated. "So you're warmer."

Where'd she'd get that logic? he wondered.

"Yona..." Yona turned towards Il. "You'll be sleeping in your own room."

Yona had slept by herself before and then she had met the boys and shared a bed with them for the last several weeks and had enjoyed having somebody next to her. "I want my brothers though." she pouted and gave her best puppy dog face to Il, who melted instantly at that look.

"This is crazy talk." Joo-nam told the girl. "Girls don't sleep with boys unless they are married."

Yona blinked at her grandfather before smiling. "Then I'll marry them all!" she announced.

Jae-ha snorted before laughing outright at that ridiculous notion. Yona looked at him confusedly. Il chuckled as well. "That's just not done." he said as he calmed down. Taking her hand, Il led her up to the porch. "When you get older you will understand how ridiculous that notion really is."

Jae-ha was still laughing as he walked off towards the direction the others had gone. Oh, this is getting interesting. he thought with a wide grin. He couldn't wait to see where life in the palace was gonna lead him or what interesting adventures Yona was going to lead them on to.

M-Angel: My story is sadly coming to an end. Not to worry though, I have many more that are to come. ^_^