Chapter Thirty: Hak's Plea
Over the two days, Tian was completely healed up. However, she couldn't help but to notice the shift within the group. They seemed on edge, waiting for something to happen, but whenever they noticed Tian, their worried smiles shifted to strained smiles, or the occasional empty laugh. Even Zeno seemed to be on edge, which was unusual for the usually sunny Zeno. Tian couldn't help but to notice this about the group, and become suspicious, but she didn't make any comments on it.
Tian stayed within the group, just to ebb whatever was on their minds. However, after a couple of days, she was growing restless. So, one day, she made a trip outside of the camp. She promised a very obviously worried Yun that she wouldn't go far, and would be back soon before she set off on the walk.
"I'm so bored just staying around the camp all the damn time, but I can't just go around doing as I please. I don't want to put them, or anyone else I care about in danger." Tian said out loud to herself as she balanced herself on a log that was across a rather river. Half-way through the log, she sighed heavily, sitting down on the log. On leg was up, resting her chin on it, while the other was dangling off the log, her feet skimming the water's surface. Her chin rested on her knee, while her dark green eyes looked at the water with no particular emotion.
That day, everyone was in the camp. She promised not to go too far… Actually, she promised Hak, who pulled her to the side with a worried expression.
"I don't want you going too far. If some other bandits, or whoever else, comes after you again, how are we supposed to protect you? You're a member of the group now, remember that. Don't think that you have to do everything on your own. We will fight beside you. That's why we're here, but even so… Don't go too far, ok?" He told her with a slight smile, ruffling her hair, but she could still see the worry in his navy blue eyes. His words surprised her, but,still….
".…Alright. I won't go too far. You don't have to worry about me." She made a promise not to go off too far.
Tian supposed in her worry, she traveled a bit further than she had promised to go. Once she realized how far she had gone, she stopped herself. So, here she was, sitting on the log, just thinking about everything. Wondering what it was she should do. Was it best for her to stay? Or to go? What was she to do now? She just didn't know, which frustrating because she was used to having the answers to her questions…..
"There you are. We were wondering where you had headed off to. Not leaving are you?" Tian straightened herself out at the familiar sound of Jae-Ha's voice. She couldn't help but to admit that she was happy that he was here with her. She glanced at him as he sat next to her.
"Nah. I just didn't realize how far I had walked off." She replied after a few minutes, looking off. Jae-Ha nodded, leaning back on his hands slightly as he looked at the sky, and then at her.
"Yeah. I've done that plenty of times. I usually turn around, and go back, though." He said with a teasing smile and laugh as he looked at her. Tian glanced at him, smiling slightly, and then looked at the water with a contemplative expression. Jae-Ha sighed, adapting a more serious expression as he straightened out." Tian, what are you thinking?" He questioned, touching her hand. Tian glanced at his hand, and then at him with a slight smile.
"It's nothing important." She lied, looking off. Jae-Ha frowned, knowing she was lying, but shrugged. He kept his hand atop of her own hand as he replied.
"I don't care." He said simply, surprising Tian. She looked at him with a blush on her face. Jae-Ha didn't look at her as he continued on. He knew that if he looked at her, he wouldn't be able to say what he was about to say." I want to know what you're thinking about. Even if all you're thinking about is the color of the sky, or about whatever minimal, stupid thing it is…. I want to know what you're thinking about." He stopped himself from going on as he looked at her with a slight smile.
"What if I'm thinking about a dream?" She said with a slight, teasing laugh, shaking her head as she looked away. Jae-Ha smiled softly, squeezing her hand gently.
"Espically if it's your dreams." He said softly, hoping she wouldn't hear. Tian glanced at him, having heard him, and then looked away with a shake of her head. Tian then grew more serious, sighing, as she rested her chin on her knees with her eyebrows drawn together.
"I just have alot of things on my mind." She said simply. Jae-Ha nodded, looking at her a bit longer, and then looked away.
"Well… I'm not one to pry, but if you want to share…. I'm all ears. Like I said, I want to know what you're thinking about, but I won't push." He said softly, gently tucking a piece of her hair behind her ears, and then gently caressing her jaw. Tian blushed, her skin getting goosebumps where he touched her, but didn't look at him still as she merely smiled softly.
"It's just everything." She said softly. Jae-Ha nodded, looking at her a moment longer before looking away." Why are you guys still here? This problem is so much bigger than I… Than any of you signed up for. Shouldn't Yona's protection and safety be your guys number one concern?" Tian questioned, her tone coming out much harder than she meant it to come out. SHe glanced at Jae-Ha, who looked at her in surprise, but then quickly wiped it off his face as he grinned, and shook his head, looking away.
"Yes, but… We're concerned about you too. We stayed to make sure that you're in safe hands. Until your safety is ensured, none of us are going anywhere." Jae-Ha stated, glancing at her once more.
"Yeah… You guys really shouldn't." She said softly, looking away. Jae-Ha looked at her a second longer, his eyebrows drawn together.
Did she mean that they shouldn't stay? That they shouldn't make sure she was in safe hands? That they shouldn't wait until her safety was ensured to go away? That they shouldn't concern themselves with her? That they should value Yona's protection over her own protection, and should just go?
Maybe the last part was true. Maybe they should just go, to ensure Yona's safety, but the thought of leaving Tian alone? The thought of her still being in danger? The thought of them leaving, and possibly never seeing Tian again? The thought of leaving without ensuring that she would be safe, be protected, bothered Jae-Ha.
It bothered the green dragon just thinking of leaving her without first ensuring that she would be alright. Most importantly, the though of never seeing her again, bothered him much more than he would care to admit at that point. He didn't want to ever separate from her, but he knew it was inevitable. If that was the case, he wanted to know that she would be alright. Leaving her in… Uncertain circumstances would bother him to no end.
"None of us would feel right leaving you in… Uncertain circumstances." He said softly causing Tian to once again look at him in surprise. She then relaxed her expression, and looked away.
Neither one said anything for a few moments. They sat in comfortable silence before Jae-Ha stood, and cleared his throat. Tian looked at him, and then at his outstretched hand. She looked away, frowning for just a moment. Jae-Ha dropped his hand, feeling somewhat disappointed that she didn't take it, and then sighed as he sat next to her once again.
"Jae-Ha.…" Tian paused, closing her eyes for a moment. The green haired man looked at her, adapting a serious expression as he studied her expression. WHatever was on her mind, it must be something she needed time to gather her thoughts on.
"Tian, what's on your mind?" Jae-Ha questioned when she didn't speak for a few moments. Her laid his hand atop of her hand, wrapping his hand around hers, and squeezing slightly. Tian opened her eyes, looking at his hand on top of hers, and then shook her head, and looking forward once again.
"What's going on?" She questioned, glancing at him. He looked surprised, as if not expecting her to ask that, which just raised her suspicions even more. She frowned, taking her hand away from his, and then looked at her lap." You all have been acting on edge, and pretending not to be when you all notice that I notice. Even Zeno is not acting like himself, and that's probably the most unsettling of all considering he's usually so…. Cheery." She sighed in frustration, shaking her head as she looked at him with a steely expression. Jae-Ha was taken aback by the expression, but tried not to let it show as he answered, looking at her with a steady expression.
"You know they're looking for you-"
"I know." Tian cut him, her frustration coming through in her voice. Her fists balled up as her eyebrows drew together. Jae-Ha looked at her with a more reproachful expression. He reached out, putting a hand over her own hand in hopes of comforting her. He was happy that she didn't pull away.
"Some people from the Kai Empire came in yesterday to BaaBaa's shop." He spoke swiftly, but softly, as if only wanting them to hear. Tian looked at him in surprise." Apparently, they were looking for a girl. Or… Whoever they were with were looking for a girl. They didn't say it outloud, but it was pretty obvious that they were-"
"Talking about me?" She finished in a soft voice, glancing at Jae-Ha. He paused, and then answered with a reluctant nod of his head. Tian felt a weight drop in her stomach. Jae-Ha noticed the frown on her face, and the worry in her eyes. He wanted to comfort her, even if it meant telling a half-truth.
"Those people are gone, so the most you have to worry about is the officers in town." Jae-Ha spoke most of the truth as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and brought her to him. Tian paused, her heart racing a bit at the sudden action, but then sighed, shaking her head as she leaned her head back against his shoulders.
"You don't think they'll come back?" She asked, turning her head to look at him. He looked at her, and then smiled confidently as he held her closer to him.
"Like we've all stated a million times, even if they do come back, you have nothing to worry about. We'll fight alongside you." He said firmly, squeezing her shoulder just a bit.
He wouldn't tell her how they were all sure that those people, if not higher officials, from Kai would more than likely come back. He wouldn't say how many times they had all discussed leaving, if only because that would be the only way to get Tian to leave as well, and how much he feared for her safety. No, Jae-Ha wouldn't say any of that, if only to keep Tian from worrying further. He would only tell her what was absolutely necessary for her to know. Anything more than that…. Well… He just wouldn't say.
After the little talk between Jae-Ha and Tian, they waited a few more moments, enjoying the silence together, before they both got up, and walked back to camp together.
"You idoit! You said you wouldn't go too far! What were you thinking! You had us all worried! Don't do that again!" Yun was the first to greet… Or rather, scold Tian, who just chuckled slightly." It isn't funny!" He told her, scowling again.
"Sorry, sorry. I just got lost in thought, and wondered further than I expected. I'm sorry."
"Yeah, yeah. Just help me with dinner." Yun stated, scowling as he turned around. Tian laughed slightly, shaking her head as she looked up at Jae-Ha. He just smiled slightly, shaking his head. Tian laughed slightly, shaking her head as she followed after Yun.
That night, it was the most relaxed it had been between the group in a long while. Hak managed to grab some sake from the town, and except for Yona and Yun, all engaged in a little drink. Tian felt utterly relaxed, and happy.
However, as they slowly began to fall asleep, Tian felt a weight settle in her stomach that wasn't from drinking. She thought back on what Jae-Ha had said earlier that day. Even if he had said that they would fight beside her, and she didn't doubt him in the least bit, she wasn't so sure she really wanted the weight of their lives on her shoulders. If anything ever happened to them…
Tian sighed, shaking her head as she turned around to look at Jae-Ha, who had fallen asleep beside her.
"You look like you need another drink." Hak stated with a little grin, handing her another cup filled with sake. Tian nodded, taking the drink. She began to drink it slowly, her eyes going back to the fire that Zeno was keeping lit.
"Zeno, he's got…. Well… His tolerance is a bit high isn't it? He doesn't seem at all affected, but he did have only a few drinks. Maybe he sobered up." Tian said, glancing at Hak, who simply shrugged slightly as he took a drink of his sake.
"Perhaps." He said simply. Tian looked at Hak a moment longer, and then sighed as she looked back at Zeno, who finally fell asleep on the ground. Tian laughed slightly, shaking her head.
"What remarkable carefreeness." She said with a laugh, shaking her head. Hak laughed slightly too, shaking his head. The laughter quickly died down as both of them became rather serious.
"So… What are your plans?" Hak questioned after a few tense moments of silence. Tian looked at him in surprise.
"My plans?" She questioned. Hak nodded, pouring them both another drink. They both remained silent as they took another drink. Hak waited for Tian to answer, while Tian was thinking of a way to answer.
"With everything that has been happening, that is still happening, I know you won't say them to anyone else, but… What do you have in mind? What do you want to do?" Hak questioned when Tian still didn't answer.
"I…." Tian hesitated, glancing at Jae-Ha, her heart dropped in her stomach once again. She hadn't thought about it in such a long time, but here she was, the question voiced that she had so many times asked herself,and still had no answer. How could she answer Hak when she didn't know herself?
"It's alright if you don't have the answer right now. Just… Please make up your mind fast." Tian looked at Hak. His eyes had an emotion in them that she couldn't place,and yet she understood it at the same time.
"You have nothing to worry about." She said softly, smiling at Hak. Hak glanced at her, and then nodded slightly. He slid against the log, resting his head against it as he closed his eyes.
"Don't worry about us. We will manage. We always do. Just think about yourself. Worry about your own safety, and then… Do what you have to do." Hak said, trying to sound comforting, but his words only further settled the stone in Tian's stomach.