Chapter Three: A precarious Deal
The next day, Tian was awoke early so that she can start her busy day. She had to work four jobs today, and she was anxious to get them started. First stop was the bakery with Ha-Seon.
"Tian! It's nice to see you here today. I told you the other day you don't have to come in here everyday." Tian was surprised that it was Ae-Cha that greeted her. Normally Ha-Seon did that. But it only took a moment for Tian to recover. After a moment she just grinned.
"Ae-cha!" Tian smiled, giggling slightly." I told you, I need the extra money. Besides, have I mentioned you guys are my favorite employers ever?" Tian winked playfully at the older who woman, who just laughed, and slapped Tian's arm playfully.
"Oh~ Tian. You're such a charmer~" Ae-Cha giggled again, tucking a piece of hair behind her ears. Tian just grinned, standing up a little straighter.
"I always try my best." She replied with a small laugh. They shared another, albeit longer, snicker together before Tian dropped her playful mood, and got a little more serious.. "Anyways, what do you have for me to do today?" She questioned in hopes that she'd have something to do. It was quickly dashed away when Ae-Cha's smile wavered slightly.
"I hate to say it, but there's really nothing to do. Ha-Seon needs more to do than just lazing about doing nothing. He was happy to do errands for you when I told him you needed a break." Ae-Cha winked at Tian, who just blushed, and then laughed uneasily, rubbing the back of her head.
"I really feel bad just coming, and going. Are you sure there is nothing I can do?"
"Well, you can date my son." The older woman suggested for the hundredth time. Tian laughed wholeheartedly, and shook her head.
"Sorry. You're son is handsome and everything,but he's not really my type. Besides, that's a bit over stepping, and-"
"You know, your parents were good friends of ours. We knew them back before you all moved to the Wind Tribe. We just want to make sure that you settle with the right kind of man." Tian laughed again, out of nervousness, shaking her head. It was true, in all respects, but Tian didn't have any interest in settling down just yet. Not to mention not with someone who felt like a younger sibling. It would be too strange.
I know you mean well, and I appreciate it, but my parents always told me to enjoy my youth. To get married when I'm way past my youth. I don't think they wanted me to settle young like they did. I'm honoring their wishes. Tian thought the words but she didn't say them out loud. Instead, she just smiled and replied as tactfully as she could.
"Well, right now I'm still just wanting to be a free spirit. Marriage is a trap I'd rather not get myself tangled up in." Ae-Cha just shook her head, smiling slightly." Anyways, there's really nothing for me to do here?"
"Nah. We got it all today. But, here, take this lunch." Ae-Cha gave Tian a simple baked, stuffed bun. Tian smiled happily, and took it.
"Well, if there's really nothing for me to do, I guess I'll be on my way then." Tian wouldn't admit but the whole talk of marriage, or any of that sort of thing, always made her a bit uncomfortable. She could almost feel her skin crawling.
"Yeah. You be careful though, ok?" Tian nodded simply, smiling.
"You too. I'll be back later. See ya!"
"Safe journey, Tian!" Tian nodded, taking a bite of the steamed rice bun. Her next stop was the seamstress.
"Why don't we go talk to that girl?" Yun suggested that same morning as they were rolling up their sleeping mats. The couple had decided to let them stay for as long as they needed to when they made it clear they wouldn't be leaving just yet. Jae-Ha looked at him in surprise.
"Tian." He answered without really thinking. It was actually something he was already planning to do. This was just the perfect excuse."She would know something. Seemed she knew more than she let on." Yun nodded slightly.
"Why don't we go with you?" Yona questioned with a slight tilt to her head. Yun and Jae-Ha glanced at her, but it was the younger that had spoken.
"No it's OK, Yona."
"But-"
"Zeno will go wit them to make sure they don't cause trouble, Miss!" The yellow dragon immediately chimed in, smiling.
"Why don't the rest of you guys see if you can figure out anything more from the villagers. That's what we should do." Everyone nodded at this plan.
Although everyone left at once, everyone split off into their own groups to see if they couldn't find out anything more from the villagers. Yona was with Hak. Kija and Shin-Ah went off in another direction, while Jae-Ha, Yun, and Zeno went off in search of the girl. They started with the place that came to their minds first.
Jae-Ha lead Yun and Zeno straight to the girl's workplace. However, there seemed to be some sort of trouble. Standing in front of the shop were two rather muscular guys. They couldn't see their expressions with their backs turned towards the three. But they could clearly see the frightened woman's expression.
"I told you, we have nothing more to give!" The woman's grey-blue eyes looked at them with fright, almost cowering back. They were too far away to hear what the men said back, but it seemed to frighten the woman, if her tensing body was anything to go by anyways.
They couldn't hold back anymore, and walked straight to them.
"Is there a problem here?" Jae-Ha questioned. One of the men looked at him with his brown eyes narrowed.
"Ya better beat it if ya know what's good for you." One of the more burly men roughly replied, eyeing Jae-Ha for a moment.
"We were just coming to pick up something I had ordered. I saw this. Is there an issue?" He replied, glancing at the woman, but she quickly turned on her heel and disappeared into the store.
"Obviously you're new if ya can't get a clue. We said beat it." The other replied, a fist raised slightly. Jae-Ha and the others prepared themselves for a fight.
That's when the woman, who had disappeared, came back with a box.
"Take it! It's all we have. Business is slow." The men roughly grabbed the box, looking in, and then one of them raised their lips in disgust.
"Geez, you really expect payment to be paid like this? It's all garbage!" He roughly shoved the box back to the woman. Jae-Ha took a step to do something, but Yun beat him to the punch. So to speak anyways.
"Here, will this be enough?" Somehow, Jae-Ha had forgotten about Yun until he appeared with a bag of money that seemed at least half full. The men looked at him, grinning slightly.
"Well, well, well, isn't this your lucky day Lai? We still expect the money in full next time though. I doubt you'll be so lucky." The men snatched the bag, looking in. They grinned at one another, satisfied with what they saw, and then quickly left, talking about buying drinks.
Jae-Ha narrowed his eyes at them, but then looked at the clearly grateful woman with a softer expression.
"Thank you so much. I can't afford for those thugs to mess up the shop again." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ears.
"It was the last of our money, but no problem." Yun replied, looking over his shoulders for a moment."Actually, we're looking for someone. She works here. Her name is Tian. Is she here?" The older lady, Lai, stopped for a moment, looking at the men curiously.
"She's...She's not in trouble is she?"
"No, of course not, Ma'am. We just want to ask her a question is all. If the little miss wouldn't mind, that is." Zeno pipped in, smiling at the woman. Lai smiled, and then nodded.
"Then, please, come in, and take a seat. I'll go fetch her." She offered, stepping into the building. It was clear she expected the others to follow.
"Oh? Is she out?" Jae-Ha questioned as they followed the older woman into the business.
"Yes. I saw those men coming, and she would have just made things worse. I had to send her out for her protection. She's too hot headed for her own good."
"We have no problem going out to look for her." Jae-Ha suggested, grinning. The woman stared at him for a moment, and then shook her head.
"No, no. It's ok. I'll just go get her." With that said, the woman quickly left the shop. Jae-Ha sighed as he leaned against the wall.
"Well,this is going to be boring."
"Only for you. Maybe." Yun replied sitting down. Jae-Ha just smirked slightly, watching as Zeno looked at the fabrics. This place was getting more interesting by the moment.
To say that Tian was annoyed was an understatement. She was happy and fine until BaaBaa came, and told her that some strange men had come to the shop looking for her. At first, she was scared that those men she had beat up the other day had come looking for her. That is until the old lady described the men.
At which point, she immediately got annoyed. Hadn't she made it perfectly clear already? Why didn't they just leave? Some part of her worried for the girl that they traveled with. The longer they stayed in this village, the more it could bring danger to that girl, and she really didn't want that to happen. They may have been strangers, but she wasn't about to let anything bad happen to the innocent while she was around. Not again anyways...
"Just come down, and see what they want. Ok? Please?" If it wasn't for the woman's begging, Tian would have scoffed, and turned her down. But it was BaaBaa. She wouldn't do that to the woman who so kindly took her in, and gave her a job.
"Ok. Fine, but if they start acting weird again, I'm out." Sometimes she cursed her mind nature.
"OK, ok. I'll give you that much." Tian sighed heavily, and followed the older woman out of the place she was currently in to go to a place she was now dreading...
Which is how she ended up sitting alone in a room with those three, strange men. One was the pretty boy she mistook for a boy. The other was another strange kid with a talisman, and a headband in his yellow hair. The other was the green haired man that just couldn't leave her alone.
"We really don't want to take up your time, Miss. It's not an interrogation or anything." The one with the tailsman was obviously trying to put her at ease. Tian didn't need it. She was at ease. She was just not liking this whole situation.
"It's really hard to relax when I don't know anyone's names. Besides, I have alot to get done today. Can we just hurry this up, please?"
In truth, Tian had nothing to do. After delivery the dresses, she was told by all her employers to take it easy. She just assumed being a busy person was considered good. Apparently, work too hard without taking a day off in almost a year is "over working". Either way, this was not how she wanted to spend her day off. Not even in the list of "fun things that can happen". Not even close.
"Would it be easier if we introduced ourselves, Miss?" Tian looked over at the one with wild blonde hair. She had to admit that there was something oddly calming about him. She sighed, closing her eyes, and looking away.
"Sure. My name is Tian, but you already knew that." That last sentence, she looked directly at Jae-Ha. They held a gaze for a moment, and then she looked back at the one with bright yellow hair. The one that kept calling her "Miss"." I guess, let's start with you. What's your name?" When did she start taking control of the situation? She wasn't sure, but she was almost certain because she was trying not to feel so anxious. She just thought taking control of the situation was her way of dealing with it. Which was odd to her.
"My name is Zeno, Miss."
"I'm Yun." The boy replied when Tian had looked at him. Tian then looked at Ja-Ha. There was a split second of silence before he had replied.
"And my name Is Jae-Ha." The last one smiled at her, leaning forward. The one named Yun gave him an annoyed expression, but then looked at the girl.
"Listen, I know this may sound strange, but we're on a tight schedule too. We just figured that it seemed like you knew more than you let on, and none of the other villagers are willing to talk. Can you give us more information?" Tian was silent for a moment, and then she sighed, closing her eyes for a moment.
"Up until a year and a half ago, I was living in the Wind Tribe territory. My parents came here, and I came with them." She then opened her eyes, and looked at them." Listen, I can't give you much information. I haven't been here that long to really know exactly what's going on, but from what I've seen...Like I told you, you guys might find yourselves way in over your head."
"Miss, I know it may not seem like it, but we're much stronger than we appear." Zeno smiled at her. She looked at him. Tian couldn't explain it, but she was certain that he was telling the truth. Still...
"It's kind of insulting actually that you keep assuming we're weak." Jae-Ha added on. Tian looked at him with her lips pursed.
"Look, it's not that I'm underestimating you guys. I'm just trying to warn you. My parents were killed by these thugs, and plenty of other people have suffered the same fate. I'm not gonna sit by, and watch a bunch of travelers that most likely mean well get hurt because they are taking on more than they can handle. That's all I'm trying to do."
There was silence for a few moments. Tian looked away from their stares, and out the window, her jaw set into a hard line.
"We get it. Your parents were killed. I understand that." Tian looked at the youngest one, Yun, with surprise." But just like you don't want to watch innocent people get hurt, neither can we. We witnessed some of the bullying going on today. Not to mention some people that took us in told us about the corruption. Nobody in our group is just going to sit by or leave while this town suffers. We just want any information that you have, but we're not going to force it out of you." Tian's jaw slackened slightly, releasing some of the tension. Jae-Ha looked at her softly, attempting to reaching, but Yun stopped him. They caught eyes. Yun shook his head. Jae-Ha just sighed, dropping his hand.
"Well, if you go nothing to tell us...We'll just be on our way." Jae-Ha added on, standing up. Tian looked at him, and then the youngest as he stood up.
The only one who seemed hesitant for a moment was the one named Zeno, who hesitated, and then slowly got out of his chair. They turned their backs to her, and were ready to leave. Tian looked down at her lap, and then up at them.
"Wait." She said softly, making them stop. Jae-Ha looked over his shoulders at her. She looked at him, her eyes intense, passionate as she looked at them."Do you really mean to help us?" She questioned. This simple question made all three of them turn around, and look at her in surprise.
"Do you doubt us, Miss? We really mean to help out around here." Tian was silent for a moment.
She looked down at her lap, her hands tightening on the dress she wore. Her muscles tensed. Could she really trust these strangers? Ever since her parents died, she made the vow that she would rid this town of it's issues. End the corruption, and avenge her parents. She knew she couldn't do it alone, and waited for the chance to recruit people to help her. Now the opportunity was practically being handed to her on a silver platter, and she was about to just let it walk out the door?! No way in hell! She had waited much too long, and she couldn't let it go...
"Let me help you guys." She looked up at them, speaking with tense passion."Please." She added on in a hard tone. Yun, Jae-Ha, and Zeno looked at one another for a moment, and then at the girl.
"If you feel you're up to it." Jae-Ha teased, smirking at the girl. She gave a cocky smile back to him. If they only knew how long she waited for this moment.
"You have no idea." She replied. Yun, Jae-Ha, and Zeno looked at each other once again, and then shrugged.
"Sure, Miss. Just prepare yourself, ok?" Tian nodded, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. She was more than ready for this...