Chapter7: Pretty Genius Baby

Warmth was the first thing the tiny baby boy registered after being cleaned and bundled. His belly full of his mother's milk; which was lulling him off to sleep. In the background voices could be heard. "He's too pretty to be a boy."

"Hush, he's your son." A feminine voice said in a harsh tone. "What do we name him?" She asked, her voice growing soft.

"Tch." The male voice said in disgust. "Call him Yun for all I care."

"That's a girl's name!" The woman gasped loudly.

Too loud. They were being too loud and it was waking him up. Why were these people being loud? He just wanted to sleep. He was happy and they were making him...well...unhappy. So he gave a whimpering cry that turned into full blown crying episode. He wanted comfort now.

"Quiet him!" The male voice yelled.

The child felt itself being held tightly before it was moved. He began to quiet down as he felt the gentle sways of it's mothers body. "Don't worry my precious boy. I love you, even if you are pretty." His mothers voice spoke softly and soon the child fell into a deep sleep.

After that first day, Yun hadn't seen or heard the loud man's voice. It didn't matter to him, he had his mother's love. After two months of being loved by her, carried by her and taken care of by her; Yun found he wanted something more. What that more was, he had no idea.

At three months he was sitting up by himself. Without any help from his mother, who was now dressing him in very warm clothing because of how cold the air around them had become. He didn't understand why it had gotten so cold. He didn't know why he had to wear the warmer clothes, but he wasn't going to complain; much.

One day, at four months old, Yun's head felt like it was going to explode. Why did it feel this way? He was hot, but cold too. His ears burned. His throat hurt and he felt achy everywhere! He cried and cried and cried some more. His mother's look of worry told him that she knew what was going on, so why wasn't she doing anything to alleviate his pain? So he cried even more than before. He didn't know how long this lasted only that one day the pain stopped and the heat was gone from his body. His mother looked relieved, but no one was more happy than he was.

At six months old, Yun began noticing something odd was going on around him. The dull empty dead branches of the trees near his home were budding out with green colors. His bright eyes were looking up at the trees from the blanket he was laid out on it. He was watching the buds with a curious expression. He'd never seen such a pretty color like green. What seemed like days, was in fact several weeks, suddenly pink blossoms began to show up in the full green trees and bushes. It was amazing to him. Pretty colors were appearing everywhere he looked! He giggled and smiled happily up at the trees. Some of the buds seemed to be the same color as his hair or the deep blue color of his mothers eyes.

A week after the pink buds appeared, they turned into large flowers or that was what his mother called them. She'd pick them from the tree and lay them out near him. He'd crawl, yes he was crawling, over to them, touch their soft petals and sometime put them into his mouth; which he'd get chastised for.

As the days of spring continued, Yun began to learn how to walk. It was a basic human function that he was certain he was not meant to learn. His mother was patient with him though. She encouraged him and he would try, only to fail. It was during this time he said his first word, unsurprisingly it was Mama. His mother beamed when she heard that word leave his lips. Of course it was more of a cry as he fell again, but she'd take whatever he'd give her. It wouldn't be for another month before he'd take his first real step.

His first birthday wasn't a very happy one. It was storming outside. His mother was flushed, her hair wet and she was laying in bed panting and moaning, as if in pain. Once again Yun did not understand what was going on, he just knew something was awfully wrong with his mother. That day he wasn't given the yummy food she made him. That night he shivered in his bed. By morning he was crying because he was wet and dirty from not being cleaned when he messed himself. His mothers breathing was ragged and his crying worsened. A noise caught his attention, the old lady that his mother helped out suddenly came in, went over to his mother before coming over and picking him up. He never saw his mother again after that day.

At six years old Yun was a hellion. He was constantly getting into trouble, mostly because of his looks. Older boys mistook him for a girl, both because of his looks and his name. Yun would get all red with anger before trying to make them stop calling him a girl. It always left him with a bloody and bruised face. He was not a fighter, not at all.

When the drought finally hit his village in the fire tribe the first to feel it's effect were the old. It was during this time that the old lady he was living with died while he lived. He was seven when the drought began to worsen.

He was nine when he tried to kill a man, a priest no less. He swore he was going to be struck down by the Kami after he learned what that bumbling fool actually was. He took care of the man, Ik-su until his wounds were healed. Ik-su in return taught Yun how to make shoes; something the priest couldn't even do properly. It gave them something to bond over and it gave Yun something to trade with for food. When the priest left, Yun didn't care that he was once again all alone; at first any way. The nights were lonely and cold without somebody nearby. He couldn't believe how quickly that priest had wormed his way into his life, it was frustrating! By the time the priest returned, he really didn't want Ik-su to leave him behind.

When he was eleven years old Ik-su returned to their home, that was in the gorge between the fire and the wind tribes, one day all beaten up. His gold had been stolen, and so had his gift to Yun. This made Yun even madder that Ik-su had wasted money to buy him something. It was then he saw a book clutched in Ik-su's hands. Out of all of the books Ik-Su had bought for him, he only had been able to save one. Yun's face became red not from anger, but from both embarrassment and some love towards the priest who'd become like family to him. He proceeded to take care of Ik-su's wounds in silence.

Through the next few years Yun took over their finances. He was stingy with them, giving Ik-su an allowance; while keeping the rest hidden for a rainy day. They made money from Yun's sewing skills, cooking skills and the herbs they'd both find in the wind and fire territory. They did well for themselves, made enough to survive without having to beggars. Yun also learned to use his looks to bring in customers. Older men, and some women, were more likely to buy things from a pretty girl than they would be from a pretty genius boy. They never suspected a thing and he didn't correct them for their mistake; though there was one time some guy called him Lad before buying something and leaving. He never put much to that day until years later.

A few months after spring had come in his fifteenth year, Yun found two bodies near the river by their home. The red haired girl had groaned, in return her companion did the same; but neither woke up. Yun thought it to be bother to save them, but after pulling them both onto dry ground, he was rewarded with Ik-su showing up out of nowhere. Between the two of them they were able to move the two strangers back towards their home. It was here that he learned who these people were and how is life would forever be changed by them.

In the end, Yun was proud to have been the one to have found Princess Yona and Hak. They became his closest friends that he'd ever had in his life. After finding the dragon warrior descendants, he began to refer to them as Yona's beasts; after all now she not only had a raiju protecting her, but also dragons as well. His life had never become so complicated, but interesting, as it was once he met the beasts and their Princess and he became their mother; but he'd forever deny that part.

M-Angel: Yay, I put out another wonderful chapter. I hope everybody is enjoying this story. Also, if you read Greek stories, check out AstralSakura. She is new to fanfiction, so let's get her some readers! ^_^