"Due to the structure of the game, I have altered everyone's seating arrangements for the new round," announced Yoon.
Hak and Kija wound up next to each other, much to their displeasure.
"White Snake, don't even think of coming within three feet of me."
"That goes without saying," snapped Kija. "I have no intention of closing the distance between us."
Jae Ha noticed that Yona was seated beside the White Dragon. He grinned perceptively. "Of course," he said. "Kija wouldn't want to be deprived of intimacy with his young Master."
Kija blushed furiously. "Intimacy? What are you suggesting?"
"On second thought, White Snake – I forbid you from being more than a foot away from me."
"Huh? Why should I listen to you?!"
"Can we start now? Our last round was rudely interrupted by that rampaging beast," said Yoon impatiently.
"I must thank said beast. If it were not for its arrival, a calamitous event would have occurred," said Kija darkly, recalling Yona's near-penalty.
Yona blushed. Hak made a disgruntled sound.
"Well, Hak did a great job of hunting it down," said Jae Ha serenely. "It was quite a chase, wasn't it?"
"Let's begin," said Hak abruptly, cutting the Green Dragon off.
Kija – What is your most embarrassing fear?
"Well, that's no fun," disapproved Hak. "We all know the answer to that."
"Bugs," said Kija, looking relieved by the question.
"Bugs," nodded Jae Ha.
Yona - If you are given a chance to kiss a person in this room, who would you choose and why?
If the guys had ears, they would have perked straight up.
Yona reddened slightly. "Well… if I had to choose, I guess it would be Yoon..."
"Because he's the youngest," said Jae Ha knowingly.
''Y - yeah... " Yona nodded firmly, as though trying to convince herself.
Yoon looked embarrassed, but a little pleased. Hak and Kija shot him ominous looks.
"Hooray, it's Zeno's turn now!" declared Zeno happily, oblivious to the surrounding tension.
Zeno - If you had to go out with someone in this group, who would it be and why?
"Aw, jeez. This ain't fun," said Zeno in disappointed tones. "Of course it would be you, Miss. You're the only girl in this group after all."
"This question seems to have been made just for Yona," observed Yoon.
"Not quite, young 'un," said Jae Ha in sage tones. "If Hak here was the one who had received the question, for instance –"
"If you don't want an elbow in your ribs, I suggest you wrap it up, Droopy Eyes," warned Hak.
Yoon - If you are given a chance to kiss a person in this room, who would you choose and why?
"Another Y-question," said the self-proclaimed handsome genius. "Man, this game isn't moving forward at all. My answer would be Yona, of course – for obvious reasons."
Shin Ah - What type of life partner do you want to have?
No one knew how the Blue Dragon would get out of this one.
"I would want…" Shin Ah paused, and everyone leaned in closer to listen. "I would want someone who knows how to cook."
Jae Ha couldn't keep his lid on – he burst out in a fit of hysterics, hammering his thighs rapidly.
"Way to go, Shin Ah!" he gasped breathlessly. ''Someone who knows how to cook! Priceless!''
"But it's a good answer," said Yona sincerely.
"And given his history, it's actually not surprising," said Hak.
"If you've quite finished, there, Droopy Eyes, it's your turn to draw," reminded Yoon.
Jae Ha - Yell out the last word of every sentence you say for the rest of the game
"Well, what do you know! The first dare goes to… ME!" declared Jae Ha cheerfully.
Hak groaned.
"Shin Ah, I would advise that you plug up your ears," advised Yoon, for Shin Ah happened to be sitting right next to Jae Ha.
The Blue Dragon cocked his head.
Hak - What do you like the most in a girl or a boy?
"It's indefinite, but the most ideal feature would be an intolerance to the slightest insults," he said casually.
Yona grimaced. "Well, I feel sorry for her already."
"Oh, really? Don't you mean that you feel sorry for yourself?"
"See what I mean? Bullying is in your bones, Hak!"
"It's not my fault if you're sensitive to trivial criticism, Princess."
"OK, OK. Enough flirting, guys," said Yoon exasperatedly. "Kija, you're up next."
Kija - What do you like to do in your free time?
The White Dragon took his question seriously.
"In my free time, I usually take walks and soak myself as part of my cleansing rites," he said. "Sometimes I take naps, too."
"You're so salubrious, Kija," said Yona, impressed. "Unlike a certain someone," she added, directing a small scowl at Hak.
"Now who's insulting who?" drawled Hak.
Yona - Fold your arms and frown your hardest for the next three turns
"Gosh, this sounds tiring," fretted the Princess.
"No, it isn't. You're doing it already," said Hak slyly.
"You jerk! I'm gonna sew that mouth of yours shut!"
"Calm down, Princess! You can't expect a boorish man to have refined manners," said Kija, scowling at Hak, who scowled back.
"Kija, Hak - you're not the ones who got the DARE," reminded Jae Ha, making everyone jump when he bellowed out the last word.
Zeno - Repeat everything every other player says for your next three turns of the game.
Zeno laughed. "This sounds like fun! OK, people, it's time to let those mouths run!"
Yoon - Who was your first crush?
"Hmph. I was too busy fighting poverty and looking after that tiresome priest to be occupied with trivial matters as love," said Yoon dismissively.
"Hmph. I was too busy fighting poverty and looking after that tiresome priest to be occupied with trivial matters as love," repeated Zeno jauntily.
Shin Ah - Sing instead of speaking for your next three rounds of the game.
"Oh, Shin Ah – of all the dares you could have PICKED," said Jae Ha sympathetically.
"Oh, Shin Ah – of all the dares you could have PICKED," echoed Zeno.
"This is starting to get on my nerves," muttered Hak.
Jae Ha - What is the thing you like the least on your face?
Jae Ha tossed back his braid elegantly. "Absolutely nothing. My entire being is made to PERFECTION."
"Absolutely nothing. My entire being is made to PERFECTION."
"Hence the droopy eyes," muttered Hak. Yona whacked him.
"Hence the droopy eyes," recited Zeno airily.
"At least someone's having fun," said Yoon dryly.
Hak - Who is the most beautiful person in this group and why?
Hak barely suppressed a groan. There was no getting out of this one - he would just have to get it over and done with.
"The most beautiful person," he said, "would be the Princess."
Yona raised an eyebrow. "Because I'm the only girl in this group," she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"The most beautiful person would be the Princess. Because I'm the only girl in this group," said Zeno nonchalantly.
"That's a lie," said Kija at once. "You can't use that answer, Thunder Beast."
"That's a lie. You can't use that answer, Thunder Beast."
Man, I'm gonna kill him, glowered Hak, but outwardly, he maintained his cool. "Of course that's not it," he said with a grin. "It's because she really is beautiful."
''Of course that's not it. It's because she really is beautiful.''
Jae Ha sniggered. Kija looked disappointed.
Yona was flabbergasted. "It's unlike you to compliment me," she told her childhood friend.
"That's why the ladies love me," grinned Hak, and Yona's gratification dissolved.
''I take back my words. You're just as much of a bully as ever."
"It's unlike you to compliment me. That's why the ladies love me. I take back my words. You're just as much of a bully as ever," repeated Zeno idly.
Kija - Name an embarrassing situation that you've been through.
"The time I had to forfeit by kissing the Blue Dragon," he said. "No offense, Shin Ah."
Shin Ah shook his head; his way of saying, "None taken."
Yona - What does your dream boy or girl look like?
For some reason, Hak's face flitted through her mind. She glanced askance at her childhood friend. Was it her imagination, or did he seem to be watching her a little too closely?
"Appearance doesn't matter," she said finally. "It's what's on the inside that counts."
"Appearance doesn't matter. It's what's on the inside that counts," said Zeno brightly. "Well said, Miss!"
Hak drew back, looking disappointed. Jae Ha grinned. "Oh, don't look like that, HAK," he said jovially.
"Oh, don't look like that, HAK."
Hak resolutely ignored them.
Zeno – Every time it's someone's turn, stand up and sit down quickly three times for three turns
And it had to go to someone who's simply bursting with energy, sighed Yoon inwardly, as Zeno gave an exuberant cheer.
Yoon - Jump into a river with all your clothes on.
Yoon buried his face in his hands as Zeno leapt up like a happy kangaroo.
"It's freezing!" protested the handsome genius. "I'll be sick for a week!"
"It's OK, Yoon. I'll have a towel ready for you," promised Yona.
"It's freezing! I'll be sick for a week!" said Zeno. "Don't worry, Yoon! I'll have a towel ready for you too!"
Ten minutes later, a dishevelled Yoon emerged from the tent in fresh clothes, still shivering slightly. As promised, Yona had handed him a fresh towel as soon as he'd climbed back onto dry land.
"I am so not doing that again," swore Yoon to himself.
"I am so not doing that again," beamed Zeno, holding out his own towel.
"What? Why didn't you give this to me before?!" snapped Yoon.
"What? Why didn't you give this to me before?! Because Miss already did, and I didn't want to break my promise," said Zeno earnestly.
"No thanks." Yoon stalked right past him.
"No thanks? Jeez, you're so mean!" protested Zeno, and he set down the towel before scurrying back to his place.
Shin Ah - Do 20 push-ups (200 if you're kija or jae ha)
Zeno leapt happily for the sky.
"That's a bummer. I was looking forward to hearing the Blue Dragon SING," said Jae Ha, looking crestfallen.
"That's a bummer. I was looking forward to hearing the Blue Dragon SING."
"But Yoon, why did you scribble down something extra?" enquired Kija, as Shin Ah dropped to the ground on all fours and executed the dare with ease.
"Because the rest of us don't possess an extra-strong hand or leg, idiot," said Yoon irritably.
Meanwhile, Jae Ha was inching towards Shin Ah, his hand reaching out for the strap holding his mask to his face.
Immediately, Shin Ah leapt out of reach.
Jae Ha laughed and put up his hands. "Just kidding! You don't need to be so FRIGHTENED."
"Jae Ha, stop bullying Shin Ah," Yona told him off.
"As the Princess commands," bowed the Green Dragon, flashing a wry smile.
"Just kidding! You don't need to be so FRIGHTENED. Jae Ha, stop bullying Shin Ah. As the Princess commands."
Hang on, me. Only two more turns, thought Hak to himself, rubbing his temples.
Jae Ha - What do you like to do in your free time?
Zeno sprang up as though his legs were on springs.
"Well," said Jae Ha thoughtfully, though an impish grin was lighting up his face at the same time, "I do like to engage in – "
"OK, PRINCESS, NO NEED TO HEAR ANY OF THAT," said Hak loudly, clapping his hands over Yona's ears and drowning out the rest of Jae Ha's speech.
"Well, I do like to engage in - OK, PRINCESS, NO NEED TO HEAR ANY OF THAT."
Jae Ha pouted strongly.
"That was rude, Hak. I'm sure Yona would have wanted to hear how I exercise my free TIME."
"Drop dead."
''That was rude, Hak. I'm sure Yona would have wanted to hear how I exercise my my free TIME. Drop dead.''
Hak - If you are given a chance to kiss a person in this room, who would you choose and why?
"I called IT!" exclaimed Jae Ha gleefully, as Zeno jumped toward the heavens and shouted almost immediately, "I called IT!"
"I surrender myself to a forfeit," said Hak without preamble.
Jae Ha's arms collapsed. "Whaaat?" he said. "You can't be serious!"
"I surrender myself to a forfeit. Whaaat? You can't be serious!"
Yona tittered. "It's rare to see you out of your depth, Hak."
"It's rare to see you out of your depth, Hak."
Hak gritted his teeth as Kija smiled gloatingly. Then an idea hit him.
"Alright – allow me to deliver my forfeit," drawled Hak, promptly kissing three fingers and placing them briefly on Kija's cheek.
"URGH!" shrieked Kija, wiping the spot frantically. "YOU UNCOUTH MAN! THAT'S NOT A PROPER FORFEIT!"
"Why not? The rules didn't state that it has to be a direct kiss," shrugged Hak.
Yoon heaved a long-suffering sigh as Zeno repeated the respective dialogues.
"Enough with the loopholes already. Make it a direct kiss from now on or you'll be doing it twice and that's final!''
Kija - Lie on the lap of the person to your left for the rest of the game.
Everyone could practically hear Hak's vein snap.
Kija looked on the verge of suffocating.
"This – what – how – " he gasped, turning redder by the second. Only Yona looked unperturbed. In fact, she beamed warmly.
"Come on, Kija. Don't worry about it. I don't mind one bit."
Kija practically swooned. Hak's eyes resembled an inferno. Yoon cast him a nervous look. Oblivious, Yona continued to smile welcomingly. Nobody noticed that Zeno hadn't fulfilled his dares – their entire attention was focussed on the scene.
Slowly, shakily, as though the effort alone was causing him agony, Kija inched towards the Princess. His face was an explosion of profuse crimson as he put his head on her lap.
"Come now, Hak. It's just a GAME," grinned Jae Ha, as sparks flew from the Thunder Beast's eyes.
Suddenly, Kija bolted upright.
"I - I forfeit!" he gasped, and planted the most fleeting of kisses on Yoon's cheek.
There was a stunned silence. Everyone looked flummoxed but for the handsome genius, whose eyes were wide with shock.
"I'm sorry, Princess," said Kija, visibly downcast. "It would be most improper of me to lay my head down on your gracious lap."
Yona blinked. Next moment, she gave a short laugh.
The White Dragon gave her a confused look.
"I understand,'' said the Princess, her eyes twinkling. Kija could be so cute sometimes.
"See, Hak? It pays to be CIVIL," grinned Jae Ha.
The Thunder Beast merely grimaced. That had been another close shave.
Yona - Who is your secret crush in this group?
Again, Hak's face hovered in her mind's eye.
"No one," she said, a little too quickly. Why did Hak's face keep popping up at times like this?
Well, that's interesting, thought Jae Ha to himself. Out loud, he said innocently, "Are you sure it's not a certain black-haired - ?"
WHAM! Hak's fist impacted the Green Dragon's face.
"Sorry about that. Please continue," said Hak casually, wiping his fist on his robes.
Zeno - Pretend to be the person on your left for the next three turns
"Gosh, I'm tired already," sighed Zeno. "Three dares are all I can take."
And poor Yoon was subjected to three more kisses on the cheek.
"ARGH! Why is everyone only kissing me?"
"It can't be helped, Yoon," laughed Yona affectionately. ''You're just too cute.''
"It's ruining my good looks!" groaned the poor young genius.
''It won't,'' assured Yona. ''Come on now - your turn to draw.''
Yoon - What do you like the most in a girl or a boy?
"Maturity," said Yoon bluntly. "I won't marry a girl who is more childish than I am."
''Basically every girl in Kouka, THEN,'' said Jae Ha.
Shin Ah - Has anyone ever tried to seduce you seriously? Describe the experience.
There was a pause, and then the Blue Dragon shook his head.
Jae Ha sighed. "Two down, one to GO."
"What are you talking about?" frowned Kija.
"Shin Ah's dare, of course – the one where he has to SING. I was hoping he would get a Truth question so he'd be forced to sing out the ANSWER."
"Sometimes I think you enjoy bullying him."
"Hm? I don't know what you're talking ABOUT."
"Liar! You know exactly what I'm talking about!"
"Oh, it seems to be my turn NOW." Jae Ha bent to pick out a slip, ignoring Kija's indignant scowl.
Jae Ha - What is your most embarrassing fear?
"Being mistaken for a HOMO," said Jae Ha, with a meaningful grin at Hak.
''Don't know what you're talking about,'' said Hak irritably, reusing Jae Ha's statement.
Jae Ha clicked his teeth. "TOUCHE."
Hak - Piggyback someone while hopping around the group once.
Hak stared at the slip for a few moments. Then, with a sigh, he lumbered to his feet.
"Alright, Princess, it's time to go for a ride."
"What?" Yona looked startled. A blush began to spread across her face and neck. "Why?"
"You are the only girl in this group," Yoon reminded her.
''What does that have to do with me?''
''It means Hak will have the least chances of breaking his back carrying you, Yona DEAR,'' explained Jae Ha indulgently.
Kija looked slightly morose as the Princess, understanding the situation, reluctantly picked herself up.
''What's wrong, KIJA? Were you hoping that Hak would piggyback you INSTEAD?'' teased Jae Ha.
''WHAT? Don't talk rubbish!''
''If I carried the White Snake, my back would break for a different reason,'' said Hak dryly. ''It's widely known that snakes constrict their prey before swallowing them, you know.''
''You ill-mannered lout! Don't make me twist out that mouth of yours!''
Hak pretended not to have heard. He bent his knees as Yona climbed aboard. As she did, she suddenly became ten times more aware of how broad Hak's back was, and the warmth that was emitting from it. She fastened her arms around his neck, face flushed.
"Ready?" he asked her. His face was close to hers. Too close.
"Un," she nodded timidly, not daring to raise her eyes.
Hak began to hop his way around the circle. With every thump, Yona would jerk back a little, her hair whipping loosely. It was surprisingly enjoyable. Before she knew it, she was giggling crazily.
"What's so funny?" demanded Hak, startled.
"It's fun," she said, still giggling.
''Huh." Hak gave an amused snort. "You're just like a kid, Princess."
''Don't you tempt me!'' she snapped, smacking the back of his head.
Hak continued to circumvent the group in hops and leaps. Finally, after one last thump, he stopped, breathing heavily.
Realising that it was over, Yona slid off, a little taken aback by how fast it had been.
"Well, you looked like you were enjoying yourself," remarked Yoon.
"It would have been less exhausting if the load wasn't so heavy," said Hak carelessly.
Yona punched him in the ear and stalked back to her spot.
"Ouch." Hak rubbed the tender area, though he was careful not to let the Princess see his smile.
Kija - The group elects one person. This person has to pick anyone in the group to imitate and you have to guess who it is. Guess wrong and you have to pick another slip.
"Oh wow, this is interesting," said Jae Ha spiritedly. "I vote Hak."
"I vote Zeno," said Kija.
"So do I," said Yoon.
"Eh? Why me?" enquired Zeno.
"Because you're the only one who would be sporting enough to do this,'' pointed out the handsome genius.
"Zeno it is, then," said Yona. Shin Ah nodded.
"Alright!" said Zeno brightly. He took a moment to think. And then he grinned broadly.
"Well?" prompted Kija impatiently, when he had stayed like that for a minute.
"I'm doing it!"
"Oh, so that's why you're grinning," sighed the White Dragon. "Let me guess… you're imitating yourself."
"Bingo!"
"Well, that was awfully difficult," said Yoon sarcastically.