Author's notes :
I don't own Akatsuki no Yona. If I did, Yona and Hak would transform into animals each time they come in contact with someone of the opposite sex and- wait. I don't own this one either.
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Chapter 2 : Streets and treats
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He didn't have much memories of the time when he lived on the streets.
Sure, he wouldn't forget the day when an old couple of peasants found him in the boat that had crushed against their watermill. He thought all of it was a dream, that he just didn't loose all he knew. However it wasn't.
The old couple treated him well though, nursing him back to full health, happy because it had been a long time since they last saw their own children, and a little boy just came down in their life. The woman asked for his name, but was met with silence. He never talked around them, and sometimes he wondered if they had believed him to be mute or too shocked to recover his voice. Far from it, he was just keeping his promise to his mother.
A month passed by before he heard them again. He was helping the old man harvesting corn in the field, when they came to the farm. She went to meet them and asked what they needed, but was stabbed by one of the warriors. Her cry of pain resonated in the field, and in his head. Everything went still except the old man who was running towards her.
No, he wanted to scream, don't go ! They'll kill you too ! He couldn't.
'Run ! Go and hide away ! ' shouted the old man before turning toward his wife. Before meeting his death.
He did. He ran and didn't look back. They were gone and he was all alone again.
That was when he discovered how people in the Kai empire were living in fear and poverty. He hadn't led a life of luxury, truth be told, but at least he had felt loved and cared about. There, in a town close to Yuu-Kyou -capital of Southern Kai-, all he could feel was contempt and indifference. Ever since Northern Kai was invaded by nomads, people moved to the south, bringing more business for the country, but less food ressources. Southern Kai was gifted with a fertile land, but tensions with Northern Kai and the Kouka Kingdom left it scarred with terror and conflicts.
At the time he was still three year old, almost four, but noone seemed to care that he was living alone without food nor shelter. He was either going to die or get killed. He contemplated death : would it be less tiring ? Would he meet his mother ? And remembered his promise.
He would survive, even if it meant doing dirty deeds. Hence he started to steal.
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Truthfully, it wasn't even difficult for him. Sure, he was awfully smart and agile for his age, but it helped that people didn't see him as a suspicious person, thus letting him become quite proficient at his job. He still feared reprisals, consequently keeping a low profile and achieving only small thefts : coins drunkards dropped near a tavern, bits of food lingering on tables, money left in clothes in bath houses ...
Time passed, making him a year older, until one day he decided it wasn't enough anymore. He needed to get back home, to find out who were the warriors and why did it feel like they were still searching -and killing- for him. And to get information, he would have to make more money. He would grow bolder. He would go for a purse this time.
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The streets were crowded like always. Ever since that talk about a treaty with the Kouka Kingdom that would give Southern Kai more territories, merchants and nobles were flooding in town, hoping to get something out of the deal. Strangers too -although he wouldn't be able to tell if they were from Kouka, Northern Kai or elsewhere- kept visiting. The town had gotten more important, its closeness to Yuu-Kyou making it a considerable market road at the time. He would have a lot of choices for his victim.
A grandmother near the butcher caught his attention. She had two children with her – probably her grandchildren, he thought. She was rumaging through her basket to make more place for the chicken she had just bought. At her belt, a round purse seemed full with clinking coins. He breathed in, slowly, and prepared himself. This would be it.
Without anyone noticing, he was already near her, pretending to be looking at the sweet apples of the next stand like any child would do, waiting for the opportunity to snake by and slice her purse off her belt. She began to walk again, directing her grandchildren to the baker this time, and he made his move. Swift, deft hands cut the cord with a rusty knife, small fingers tightly holding the purse to stop the coins for clinking more than they should, and he was on his way again, hoping to get to the shadows before she would notice her loss.
His heart was beating so loudly he was certain everyone in the street had understood his crime, but there was the security of the shadowed alleys he was hurrying to.
' Says Granny, can I get a sweet roll for my birthday ? I never had one before !' said one child.
He stopped.
' That's because we couldn't sell the crops until today ' answered the older one.
His heart that was just racing began tightening. His hand clenched the purse even more.
'That's right sweetheart, but this year will be better, or at least I can offer you two pastries to celebrate your birthdays ' laughed the old woman.
He was already hidden. There was no need to fear. He just had to stay hidden …
She made a move to take her purse.
' I believe this is yours Ma'am. You let it fall just now.'
The grandmother turned her face towards him, surprised, and let her eyes fall onto the purse he was holding out to her.
'Oh ! Oh, yes it is mine ! Thank you, my dear, it is so kind of you to return it ' she exclaimed, and he could distinguish little wrinkles when she gave him a gentle smile. His heart clenched even more.
' I would like to give you something to thank you. Since my grandchildren and I were off to the baker, would you like a sweet roll as well ?' she asked with kind-hearted eyes.
He wanted to disappear and never walk on earth again. He didn't deserve her kindness. He didn't deserve anything. He was a criminal.
' N-no, thank you. I have to go home, my mother is waiting for me', he muttered while turning on his heels. Never a lie had seemed so difficult and horrible to him. He ran.
He didn't notice her somewhat crestfallen face. Shame was all he could see
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Once again the shadows were surrounding him. His breath was ragged, his palms all sweaty and he wanted nothing more than to curl himself in a ball and cry out. He was tired. He had never thought about the people he stole from, about what they would feel when they discovered what they had lost, and about the pride he had experienced when he succeeded a theft. Now he just felt disgusting. Who was he to be allowed to live off the hard work of others ? Was it the price of survival ? To hate yourself for what you became ?
He didn't like it. He wanted to disappear but at the same time he was afraid of going away without anyone to notice him. Noone would cry for him. Noone would mourn his death. He was still alone, even in the end. He drew his knees close to his body, and buried in head in his arms.
He cried. Alone.
The sun must have been rising because the black alley was becoming warm and a soft light was tickling his eyelids behind his muddy midnight hair. He thought about staying there all day, moping in a seating form against the garbage can. Maybe it would be better for everyone. If he stayed here and faded off the world.
A shadow loomed above him. With no sun hitting him anymore, cold seeped into his skin. He began to shiver. This was not normal. His eyes snapped open, and his heart started racing again.
Someone was here. And he didn't hear anything.
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Looking up with fear tying up his movements, he prepared himself to flee or – in case he didn't have the possibility- to fight for his life. He was so sure to come face to face with one of the warriors, that he stopped dead in his tracks when his eyes aknowledged an middle-aged man. He had light brown hair with wise grey eyes, the kind of eyes that had already seen a great deal of life. The clothes he wore were unknown to the boy, who labelled him as someone living outside Kai 's fashion influence. The stranger must have been in his fifties, but the child could sense the concentration and knowledge of an experienced fighter rolling off of him. Did they send mercenaries this time ? Was he a hunter coming to finish off what the warriors started ? How did he track him down ?
Movement caught the youngster's eyes : the stranger was raising a fist. Terror filled his limbs, his heart threatening to burst out every moment now. His mother's words reverberated in his fogged mind : ' Survive, and may you find happiness.'
He didn't.
But he wouldn't give the bastard the satisfaction of seeing him afraid.
He squarred his shoulders, clenched his fists and filled his mind with images of his nightmares, hoping to pass his hatred on to his eyes. Then he sent the man the coldest glare he could manage. The stranger's hand stopped middair, his own eyes widening with surprise. He didn't move, but didn't draw back either.
Suddenly, he was grinning :
' That's a nice look you have there, boy. I like it.'
The child was taken aback, narrowly stopping himself from gaping. What the ... ?
The older man pursued, undaunted :
' I saw what you did with the Granny yesterday. And by 'saw', I mean before the 'your purse accidentally fell on the floor and I picked it up' thingy, if you know what I mean.'
Shocked would be an understatement of the boy's feelings. He knew his cheeks were flaming up and his once blocked-with-fear legs seemed to obey once more. He took a hasty step back, ready to flight.
At this, the stranger panicked, flailing his arms around while explaining in a rushed voice :
'Ah, wait no ! I didn't mean it like I am going to bring you to the guards, of course not. Well, you did gave her the purse back, afterall .'
That stopped the boy once again.
No calling the guards ? That man is definitely weird, he thought. However, something in him was attracted to the stranger's antics. He was weird, but also appeared to be honest. The same something in him wanted to trust him. Could he ?
Seeing the youngster waiting for him to continue, the stranger obliged :
'Listen boy. I'd like to know what such a young kid like you is doing on the streets like this. Don't you have any family waiting for you somewhere ?'
No answer. The boy seemed to be gauging him.
'Ah, didn't you say something about your mom ?'
A light gasp, so faint he wouldn't have heard it if he hadn't noticed the child's pained gaze.
'… I see. Sorry.'
Back to no reaction whatsoever.
To be honest, he was expecting the stranger to turn back and disappear in the crowd, ignoring him like the others now that he was doing the mute-thing again. What was his surprise when the fist – the same fist that sent him in a panicked state at the start - entered his vision.
' Say, kiddo, do you want a candy ? ' the stranger asked, and with that he opened the fist, a fist that contained two colored sweets.
He couldn't take his eyes off the man's hand. Was he serious ? Were they poisoned ?
Maybe he shouldn't eat them...
His stomach grumbled loudly in disagreement, making him blush with shame. The older man seemed surprised, but smiled gently :
' It's okay, boy. I am not the kind of person who would put something bad in such good things.'
The youngster looked up, astonished that his thoughts had been read. He took the candies and wasted no time in eating them. It was good ! So good ! How can it be so good ?
Grinning, the stranger watched the boy devour the treats. Then he carefully put a hand on his shoulder. When there was no flinching on the child's part, he said out loud :
' That's it. I am taking you to my home. There are a lot of children there, we are like a big family. Would you like to become my grandson ?'
The child looked up, taken aback. What was this weirdo saying ? Becoming a grandson ? Was that even possible ? And where was 'home' ?
Sensing that he needed to explain things, the man pursued :
' I live in the Kouka Kingdom, and I was sent here for diplomatic business. Since I am the chief of my tribe – the Wind tribe -, and because I don't have a son, I can choose my successor by adopting a child of my liking. I just have to ask for the Emperor's agreement, but I wish you would accept to become that child. You're strong and brave, and most of all you have a kind heart.'
He was expectantly looking at him when he finished. The boy didn't know what to do.
He ? Did he really have a kind heart ? What about his previous life ?
He took another step back. He saw the man's shoulders slumping down in disappointment. The words he just said kept ringing in his head. This was the time for a life-changing decision : would he take it ?
Did he want to ? Well, yes. Without noticing, he had begun trusting this man from Kouka.
What of the warriors ? Surely they wouldn't search for him in Kouka, yes ?
A queasy feeling was lurking in his mind. They would. And they would do the same that they did with his family, or with the old couple.
' I am hunted ' he finally said in a rough voice, one that hadn't been used often.
The older man lifted his head in a sudden, surprised movement. Apparently, he hadn't thought the boy would talk, let alone to say something like this.
' W-what ? ' the stranger cleared his throat. 'What do you mean by 'hunted' ? Who would want to hunt you ?
The boy stared at the floor, too ashamed to look at that man -who wanted to give him everything – because…
'Sorry. I can't say. I promised.'
The older man stayed quiet, pensive. For a reason he couldn't understand, the youngster felt scared that he would leave him alone again. He continued hurriedly :
' I-it's not that I did something wrong, well I did steal a lot, but… but they're after me for another reason, one that I don't know, a-and Mother said to never say anything and to -'
He stopped, the words blocked in his throat. 'Survive, and may you find happiness'.
It made sense. Finally.
' She said that, so I could forget and move on. She told me to forget about the past so I could live on, without the fear of being striken down by the warriors ' he said slowly, more to himself than to the older man, who kept on listening.
He looked up to the man who noticed him and offered him another life. With blurry eyes and a heart so frightened he thought he wouldn't be able to speak, he finally said :
' I want to become your grandson. To be able to say 'I'm home'. To feel at ease by the side of people who will protect me and whom I'll protect. But that's impossible, because I'll put your tribe – your family – in danger. I don't want harm to come to people who have shown me kindness. Not again. Not anymore.'
The stranger kept silent for a moment, then sighed and put his hand on the boy's head while ruffling the black hair. He smiled – the smile that sent tears in his eyes, because it was the same as his mother's – and said gently :
' Stop worrying, boy. Nothing will harm us. I protect my family, and now you're my grandson. So I'll protect you too.'
Little drops fell to the floor. For the first time, they weren't tears of despair.
This was from hapiness.
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AN : That's it for chapter 2. Hope you liked it ! Please don't hesitate to tell me if I made mistakes.
About the stranger : I know he's not supposed to look like that for a few details, things that are not there (yet), but keep in mind that lots of things are bound to happen with a 'hunted' child…
Thanks for reading !
