Chapter 2: Seas would rise when I gave the word

(Yu-Hon 1)

Yu-Hon listens to the servant's words, and drinks the tea to hide his expression. He waits a minute after the servant to finish before putting his cup down. "Are you certain of this?"

The servant doesn't raise his head from his position. "Yes, my lord, the chief-physician was very clear."

Yu-hon nods, and burying his anxiety, bids the servant leave, the instant the doors close he sighs, and stands up before exiting the room as well. The guards stationed by the door, slam the butt of their spears at his exit.

"At ease, soldiers. I am merely taking a walk, alert me immediately when the messenger returns." He says, and nods at them before leaving. Yu-Hon makes it one hall-way before he is joined by a dark-skinned unshaven man, wearing a green ill tied robe.

"Sheesh, don't you know it's too early in the morning for you to be this dour." Lee Geun-Tae, the youngest general, of the Earth Tribe mumbles, running his hand through his hair.

Yu-Hon keeps his stern expression the same despite the amusement he feels. "Oh, but I have so many reasons to be dour. There's this strange man who claims to be the General of the Earth Tribe, wandering the palace halls. He's constantly visiting, despite the fact that, his position demands he stay in Earth Tribe territory."

"Gak," Geun-Tae sputters, "You're killing me Yu-Hon, I come to visit you, and this is what I get."

Yu-Hon nods, "It's only fair seeing as you visit me with such an ill-kept appearance."

"Sheesh, you were so much funner in battle." Geun-Tae sends him a fanged grin, "Speaking of which, I've heard some news that the Water Tribe ships are being harassed by some pirates. Whaddya say we take a couple garrisons and show them what's what.

Yu-Hon's eyes narrow. "As much as I would like to take you up on that offer. I'll leave it to the Water-Tribe, to deal with its own business. They can put to the sword those pirates. I am required here."

Geun-Tae snorts. "Why? You, and I both know you're going to be named Emperor. You're the first born, well-loved by the generals and people from all tribes, and have personal experience in leading armies. While the other choice is your Brother Il.

Yu-Hon hides a frown, as he walks. He's heard it countless times, how he's so much better than his little brother. How his father was blessed with all that he could ever want with his first son, and then cursed with the second. Yu-Hon remembers growing up, and picking up a sword while Il focused on his brush strokes. He remembers growing tall and strong, while his brother, is short, and slightly chubby. It's always been that way. Yu-Hon, in the front, and his brother standing in his shadow. They even differ on the children they have. Yu-Hon was blessed with a son, while his brother only has a daughter.

Yu-Hon, despite that, loves his brother. He makes sure anybody who insults Il is chastised, and then laughed at. Yu-Hon hears people call Il weak, and laughs inside because they don't know behind his brother's soft exterior is a will that few can imagine. The only problem is getting his brother to show it. He and Geun-Tae stop, and look at one of the Imperial Palace's many gardens' where Yona is chasing a butterfly, her kimono is dirty, but the three-year-old doesn't seem to care. The "Royal Attendant" is watching over her, with a serene look in his eyes, his eyes snap to them, and Yun-Hon has to blink at the intensity of the gaze only for it to be gone, after he blinks.

"Sheesh, it's been a year. When are you going to stop giving that fool the death-glare?" Geun-Tae asks, leaning on the wall, eyes tracking the princess' every move.

Yu-Hon, continues walking leaving behind the idyllic scene. "When he stops having unmitigated access, and influence over the princess."

"You, and your hatred of anything to do with the priesthood is annoying you know that, right." Geun-Tae mutters from behind him golden eyes narrowed.

Yu-Hon stops and glares at Geun-Tae, "The emperor's power should be absolute, and should not be guided by the voices of men who claim to hear voices in their heads."

Geun-Tae lets out a long suffering sigh, and crosses his arms behind his head. Long used to Yu-Hon's rants, "Yes, because the current high-priest is such a nefarious villain. Besides, everybody knows you've tied the noose around the order by banning the legend of King Hiryuu, and that the priest's used what remaining power he had to get Zeno to stay in the palace."

"And, that's what worries me." Yu-Hon, mutters. "Instead of lobbying the Emperor to stop or reprimand my actions, the priest uses what good-will he has left to ensure a man with strange hair, is essentially Princess' Yona's foremost caretaker."

"Royal-caretaker, if I remember correctly, so you could always saddle that fool with your son. Hell, why isn't he here? I haven't seen him since he was born."

"I would rather not stress my wife, more than necessary, by taking our only son to the palace. She has been..." Yu-Hon struggles with the words, as guilt gnaws at his heart, "taxed since Soo-Won's birth."

"And yet you are still here." Is all Geun-Tae says, all amusement gone. Yu-Hon isn't dealing with the lazy general, but one of his closest friends.

"My father is worsening," Is all Yu-Hon says. "Some weeks he's the man that raised me, on others he calls for the guards to have me and Il thrown imprisoned for being intruders."

Geun-Tae, chokes. "It's gotten that bad! I've heard the rumors, but I'd just assumed it was a fire-tribe rumor made by the General."

"Those rumors, will stay rumors, you understand Geun, don't you?" Is all Yu-Hon says, and no-one will ever know how relieved he is when Geun-Tae nods. "Anyway, I'd rather be present at all times, for when father announces who succeeds him."

"You think Il, will use your father's state of mind, to announce whatever decision he makes is false." Geun-Tae snarls, and Yu-Hon is grateful that there are no guards or servants in this part of the palace. Otherwise Geun-Tae's words would spark a political storm that Yu-Hon does not have the patience for.

"You will not think that ill of my brother again. Il would never do such a thing.." Yu-Hon trails off

"But," Geun-Tae presses, arms folded over his chest.

Yu-Hon sighs. "It's not my brother's actions I fear, but those who support him, and those who support me. Il surrounds himself with those who think that the power in the kingdom should be more decentralized to the tribes, and I strongly believe the opposite."

"What, and for that reason they'd throw the Kingdom into chaos by protesting the King's successor." Yu-Hon is warmed by his friend's anger, on his part, only to still as his friend's eyes sharpen, "Wait, the reason your wife and child aren't here. You think that they would go after, your wife and child." Yu-Hon only nods.

Geun-Tae starts swearing. "You know that I have your back no-matter what happens." 'Whether or not you're crowned Emperor is left unsaid'

Yu-Hon's eyes narrow. "That's treason!"

Geun-Tae shocks him by kneeling. "You are the only man I respect, and I will follow you wherever you go!" He declares in another secluded garden they've found themselves in.

Yu-Hon smiles, and then it fades. "That devotion is what scares me."

At this Geun-Tae sighs, and the kneel turns into a sprawl on the flower beds. "Sky-Tribe politics, when will you realize that it's easier to run the country when nobody is trying to stab each other in the back. So who do you suspect, it's not me, by the way, murdering for politics is way too much of a hassle."

Yu-Hon, smiles, "Careful, now you'll sound like a member of the Wind Tribe." The smile disappears, "I don't know, the thought is alien to me."

"Hmmph," Geun-Tae says springing up. "You're too high-strung. Come on, let's go relax, drink some sake." He starts walking to the doors.

"Geun-Tae, if anything happens to me, stand by Il's side, and watch over my son will you." Yu-hon orders, the Earth General.

Lee Geun-Tae, General of the Earth Tribe, tilts his head back with one eye open. "Of course, you idiot, that's what friends are for."

Yu-Hon smiles, and then falls in step with the General. "Good, now on the subject of wives, how are you on that department, I'd assume you'd find a wife who in your own words. "Takes none of my crap, and can beat me in battle, and is as tall as me."

Geun-Tae groans, "Don't you start, I get enough nagging from my uncle...Although" Yu-Hon stumbles when he sees the makings of a blush, "There is one girl."

"Oh, tell me more." Yu-Hon presses, and temporarily forgets his worries

'We've been lucky to have such weather, considering last year.' Yu-Hon thinks, sitting in seiza position on the walkways, and gazing at the starry night sky. It's cold, yes, but this has always calmed him.

He hears the pitter-patter of footsteps, and watches as his niece turns the corner head turned to look behind her. She turns her head, and her eyes go wide when she sees him.

(for some reason Yu-Hon detects the slightest sense of apprehension in her eyes, but that's ridiculous.)

She slowly approaches him, and he scoots to the side, on the mat the servants laid out. "It's okay to join, Yona." He says to the three-year-old, who carefully kneels down in the light blue kimono. She smells like flowers, signaling she's just had a bath.

There's silence as they both gaze at the night sky. Well Yu-Hon's glancing at the night sky. His niece on the other-hand is glancing at him, and frowning before returning her gaze to the night sky.

After the sixth time it happens, Yu-Hon has enough. "Is something wrong Yona?" He asks careful to not sound harsh. Suu-Won has helped in this regard.

Yona turns her head a frown on her face. "You don't like Zeno." Is all she says.

"I do not like who assigned him to be your caretaker." Yu-Hon gently corrects her, keeping his words simple.

Yona frowns at him, "You don't like me?" she starts, lips trembling, and Yu-Hon remembers that it was the princess who begged the complete stranger to stay, all because he looked sad. At least that's what his brother says.

"No, I dislike the priests."

Yona tilts her head at him, and Yu-Hon is struck by how small she is. "Why?"

Yu-Hon opens his mouth, and then closes it. How to explain to a child that the Emperor should be the deciding factor in the kingdom, and nobody else?

"I do not like the control they have over the kingdom." Is what he says.

"But grandpa rules the country." Yona says staring right back at him.

Yu-Hon sighs. "Yes, yes, he does, and it is due to his leadership and not the priest or the gods that the country has stayed strong."

"No it's not." And Yu-Hon's head snaps toward her at the immediate answer.

"Yona, your grandfather has ruled the country for many years, do not be so disrespectful."

Yona leans back like she's been struck, but still holds his gaze, and Yu-Hon starts to feel nostalgic for some reason. "Grandpa's great, but he could not have done anything without help." She says this, like his father giving a command.

"But it is the Emperor who leads the people, who leads the kingdom to victory." Yun-Ho retorts

"But grandpa isn't an emperor without people." Yona says,

"Yes." Yun-Ho agrees, not seeing where she's going with this.

"So grandpa without the people would just be grandpa?" Yona mumbles like she's asking a question.

"Yes, but the Emperor sets the example that the people will follow. Without the emperor, the people would be nothing."

Yona's eyes brighten. "So they both need each other."

"Yes, but your grandpa is the most important person."

Yona frowns at that, "I don't get it." She admits surprising him. "I don't like it...but grandpa is good, and so are you. So everything's going to be fine." Yu-Hon stills because he swears that in his niece's eyes there are molten suns, that pierced him, and that's disregarding how large Yona seems right now.

(Yu-Hon will never know that his niece has her mind set on the far future. Will never know how determined she is to stop her mother from being killed, and to stop her family being torn apart by each other.)

"Miss, it's time for bed, Zeno thinks." The yellow haired fool comes across the corner, obviously looking for his niece. His eyes land on Yu-Hon, and then his charge. "It's time for bed, miss."

"But, I wanna stay with uncle." Yona protests hands clasped together. "Please Zeno."

Yu-Hon lightly cuffs the back of her head lightly. "Little girls should get plenty of sleep, off to bed, maybe if you're good Zeno will read you a story." He says, eyes focused on Zeno, while Yona's head snaps towards Zeno."

The attendant scratches the back of his. "Sir is right Miss. Zeno will read you a story, but you have to get in your bed first."

Yona's head turns back and forth between the adults, before she nods reluctantly. She stands up, and quickly hugs Yu-Hon, and before he can return it she is darting off past Zeno, and towards her chambers.

The two men stare at each other in an uneasy quiet. "Miss picks up on what's happening Zeno thinks." the yellow haired man starts, hair covering his eyes as he looks upwards.

Yu-Hon stares at the starry sky, "My niece is a little girl, and she will be referred to by her proper title."

"Ah, Mister is scary Zeno thinks." The servant starts off letting Yu-Hon know that he's going to ignore that order. "But Zeno thinks children are more perceptive than you might think."

Yun-Ho grunts. "I wish no ill-will toward my brother, only that Kouka Kingdom continues to prosper."

The man bunches his orange garment around himself, and then starts rubbing the strange medallion. "Zeno thinks that all the princess wants is for her family to be happy."

"A remarkably simple wish for a simple princess." Yu-Hon says not letting it show how the servant's words affected him, and how he cannot erase the image of the twin suns in his niece's eyes.

"There's more to the miss than you might think." Zeno says, and he's smiling like a loon at Yu-Hon.

Yu-Hon meets the servant's gaze, and fires back. "Like how, despite being a former vagabond you speak the ancient language, and know how to read and write."

"Ahh, Zeno had great brothers." Is all the servant says, and that does nothing to erase Yu-Hon's suspicions of the man, because Zeno hadn't flinched with swords pointed at him. He had calmly shoved the princess behind him, and had ignored the obvious threat to focus on the archer lining up a kill shot. Yu-Hon knows that for all Zeno plays the dullard he's more than he appears, and he does not appreciate an unknown being so close to his niece.

"You should go; you have a story to read after all." Is all Yu-Hon says, and ignores the comical look of shock the servant shows.

"This, Zeno completely forgot! Have a nice night, Mister." Is all he says before leaving in a rush, leaving Yu-Hon to himself.

"What a fool." Yu-Hon mutters, and ignores the two unopened letters in his pocket from his wife, and a servant taking down his son's words. "Still..."

'All the princess wants is for her family to be happy.' The words reverberate in his head, repeating themselves over and over. Yu-Hon closes his eyes, and thinks back to happier times. "It wouldn't be so bad to talk with my brother, and Soo-Won needs to meet the family." He mutters as he stands up the idea taking form in his mind.