Shin Ah – Wear a funny hat on your head for the rest of the game.

"He kind of already is," remarked Yoon.

Shin Ah's mouth fell open.

"Yoon, you've upset him," scolded Zeno. "Don't worry, Shin Ah. Your fur piece and mask combination might look a little freaky, but it's just a matter of getting used to."

"Subtle criticism. Me approves," said Jae Ha, with a respectful nod.

"You people have no honour… " scowled Kija. "Shin Ah, paid no heed to these frisky beasts!"

"Says the guy with a dragon hand," said Hak.

"Kija, this is no time to be giving free haircuts," called Jae Ha, when Hak dodged Kija's attack and got the tips of his hair sliced off.

Hak grinned and ran a hand through his black locks.

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

Kija glared at him furiously. "YOU FIEND! COME BACK AND FIGHT LIKE A MAN!"

"When you've made up your mind about what kind of creature I am," said Hak, who had stretched out on a thick bough and was now examining his fingernails idly.

"Kija, we've got enough firewood already," said Yoon exasperatedly, when Kija raked at the tree in a whirlwind of claws, taking out strips of bark in the process.

"Jae Ha! Give me a boost up!" demanded the White Dragon.

"Right-o!" said Jae Ha breezily. He lifted Kija in his arms and pushed off, taking them way past the tallest of the trees.

"STOP! WE'RE TOO FAR UP!"

Kija's indignant screech was quickly lost as the Dragons disappeared into the heavens.

Zeno shielded his eyes against the glare of the sun.

"Wow!" he exclaimed in amazement. "This must be a record!"

Meanwhile, Hak was laughing so hard he nearly rolled off the bough.

Yoon sighed heavily. "This is why I worry half the time."

"It's alright! They're just being their usual lively selves," said Yona assuringly. "I'd be more worried if they were moody and subdued."

"How long are they going to stay up there?" wondered Yoon, squinting up at the clouds.

"Shin Ah, what are you doing?" asked Yona. Shin Ah was looking around as if he'd lost something.

With a happy squeak, Ao peeked out from behind the Blue Dragon.

Upon sighting her, Shin Ah scooped up the squirrel and placed her on his head.

"A funny hat," he said, in way of explanation.

"Wow!" exclaimed Yona.

"Why are you so impressed?" asked Yoon exasperatedly.

Kija – Pretend you're underwater for thirty seconds.

When Yoon read out Kija's slip, Hak burst out laughing again.

"Wait 'til White Snake sees this!" he gasped, hammering the bough in his mirth.

"Where are they? It's been ages!" exclaimed Yoon, scanning the area with squinty eyes. "They couldn't have run into some kind of trouble, could they?"

"Shin Ah, do you see them anywhere?" enquired Yona.

There was a yell, and Hak dropped down all of a sudden. Kija was standing on the bough that he had just vacated, looking infuriated. His pale hair was also decorated with leaves and twigs.

"Did you think I couldn't guess what you were up to?" drawled Hak, staring up at the White Dragon and twirling his spear smugly. "Making use of your disappearance to plot an ambush… naughty, naughty."

Kija looked ready to blow up. Jae Ha, who was perched on the neighbouring bough, gracefully swept bits of foliage out of his hair.

"Sorry for the wait. We landed a little farther than expected," he smiled.

Kija rounded on the Green Dragon. "And whose fault was it?!"

"Kija, you're next," said Yoon.

Seething, the White Dragon stomped back to his spot.

"Pretend you're underwater for thirty seconds?" Jae Ha threw his head back and laughed for all he was worth. "Not bad, Kija! You get to experience both ends of the deep blue!"

Kija shoved the slip into Jae Ha's open mouth.

"DON'T!" Yoon leapt forward to rescue the slip. '"Will all of you stop treating these as food already?!"

"This is ridiculous. How on earth am I supposed to know what being underwater is like?" demanded Kija grumpily.

"Didn't you experience it once, Kija?" reminded Yona. "Remember, when Ao fell into a river and Shin Ah dove in to save her?"

"And how you idiotically jumped in after them despite not knowing how to swim?" added Jae Ha wryly.

Kija flushed. The memory was still vivid in his mind.

The White Dragon pushed back his fringe self-consciously. "So… I simply have to re-enact what I did last time, right?" he muttered.

"I have a better idea," said Hak. "Remember the fish Shin Ah caught for you the first time we met? Just copy what it did."

"Do you take me for an idiot?" scowled Kija.

"No. I take you for the biggest moron in the world."

"Kija, just get on with it," ordered Yoon irritably, as fire blazed from the White Dragon's eyes.

"It's OK, Kija! Just do what I do!" beamed Zeno. The Yellow Dragon flopped onto his belly and wriggled happily.

"What's that supposed to be?" questioned Jae Ha. "Looks like a good show of stomach cramps."

"It's a swimming technique," declared Zeno proudly.

"More like a drowning technique," observed Hak.

"No thanks, Zeno. Your last demonstration about quietening my stomach didn't help either," said Kija in exasperation.

"Kija, you know you're going to have to start sooner or later," said Yoon.

Blushing furiously, Kija raised his arms and made swimming gestures in the air.

Hak bowed his head, shoulders shaking. The corners of Jae Ha's mouth twitched.

"SILENCE!" screeched Kija.

Zeno – How far have you gone?

Yona and Shin Ah cocked their heads in puzzlement. Yoon, Hak, Kija and Jae Ha wore rigid expressions.

Zeno was stunned, too, but not in the way that they were.

"Zeno cannot possibly recall how far he has walked in the last two thousand years!" he exclaimed.

Yoon cuffed Zeno on the head. "That's not it! The biggest moron in the world isn't Kija, but you! You!"

Jae Ha couldn't hold in his laughter now.

"Zeno… are you honestly as old as you claim to be?" he chortled.

"He's not wrong, actually," said Hak. "It's our freedom to interpret the question however we want."

"You mean there's another meaning behind it?" asked Yona, surprised.

Hak sighed. "Yes, Princess. There's another meaning behind it, but it's not something you need to know."

"Don't be so restrictive, Hak," scolded Jae Ha. "If Yona plans to rule the kingdom, she has to get a headstart on social affairs."

"How is this a social affair?!"

"I have an excellent idea," said Yoon. "Let's have Yona draw a slip so we can continue the game."

Yona – If I was a food, what would I be and how would you eat me?

"What an eccentric question," commented Yona. Hak and Yoon were looking thunderstruck.

"Yona dear, would you like to hear my answer?" asked Jae Ha warmly.

"Gag him!" cried Yoon.

"Don't worry. I'll silence him permanently," said Hak darkly, jabbing the end of his spear at Jae Ha's neck.

The Green Dragon put up his hands in surrender.

"Take it easy!" he laughed. "I was obviously joking."

"You're obviously a joke," retorted Hak.

Kija was frowning.

"I don't understand. How can someone be a food?" he asked. And then his eyes widened in realisation. "Could it be… cannibalism?!"

Shin Ah stiffened, his way of expressing horror. Even Ao looked scared.

"Kija, I sometimes wonder how gloriously simplistic your mind can be," said Yoon dryly.

"Hak, I can see a number of perverted thoughts floating through your mind right now," grinned Jae Ha. "Ow! Take it easy!"

"So I guess everyone has to take turns answering the question?" said Yona delightedly. "How lucky!"

How can anyone be so infuriatingly naïve? thought Hak exhaustedly.

"We don't need everybody to answer it," said Yoon, with a nervous smile. "Shin Ah, why don't you be our representative?"

Shin Ah shook his head profusely.

Yoon grimaced. He needed anyone but Jae Ha to give an answer, but if Shin Ah was unwilling, the next candidate could only be…

He turned hopefully to the Yellow Dragon.

"What about you, Zeno?"

Zeno shrugged and said brightly, "Zeno has no idea what the question means."

"Liar! You're just trying to shift the responsibility!"

"White Snake, why don't you enlighten us?" suggested Hak.

Kija drew back, aghast. "I do not partake in human flesh, let alone the Princess's!"

"It doesn't have to involve cannibalism!" screeched Yoon.

"I refuse! Let's just go with Jae Ha's since he is being so accommodating!"

"It's OK, guys. I wouldn't make much of a delicacy anyway," said Yona, waving her hand and giving a carefree sort of laugh.

A deathly silence fell.

Jae Ha took advantage of the atmosphere to say his piece.

"Yona dear, remember the sugar candy we had the other day – ?"

"TAKE HIM DOWN!"

As Hak, Kija and Jae Ha engaged in an explosive tussle, Zeno finally chose to voice out his opinion.

"If Miss was a food, she would be an onion," he said sunnily. "Because cutting her up would make Zeno cry, so if Zeno can't cut her up, Zeno won't be able to eat her."

Hak and Kija halted in mid-fight. Another long silence fell.

Yona beamed at Zeno.

"Thank you, Zeno. That was really sweet," she said warmly. Her smile seemed to give her entire being a seraphic glow.

Kija grabbed his head in silent frustration. Why didn't I think of that?

Hak – If you could have anyone here be your slave, who would it be and what would you make them do?

"Droopy Eyes," said Hak, not surprisingly.

Jae Ha grinned. "I'm flattered, Hak."

Hak ignored him. "But I won't stop there. I'll order Droopy Eyes to make White Snake his slave so that they'll both be under my command."

"Is that even legal?" questioned Yoon dryly, but Jae Ha nodded as if Hak had said something meaningful.

"I see. And after that, you'll order Kija to make Yona his slave so that you can do lewd things to h – "

"On second thought, a corpse is all I'll need," growled Hak, burying the Green Dragon's head with his boot.

"Ouch! It hurts, Hak…!"

"Then what is that creepy smile on your face?"

"Thunder Beast, let him off already," said Yoon exasperatedly.

Jae Ha – Run around screaming like a lunatic until someone tells you to stop.

"But I've just been beaten half to death by Hak and Kija… " he whined piteously.

"Do it," said Hak ominously. "Or I'll take care of the other half."

"Don't be mean, Hak. Let Jae Ha recover his strength," chided Yona.

"Thunder Beast, don't get so depressed," said Yoon, upon catching sight of Hak's shocked expression.

"I think Jae Ha has already sent Hak to the other side more than Hak has done for him," said Zeno cheerfully.

"Zeno, don't say that now. Your turn might come next," warned Kija.

Yoon – What do you wear to bed?

"Whatever I happen to be wearing," answered Yoon frankly.

Yona was puzzled. "But Yoon, don't you sometimes put on a spare robe if the night gets too cold?" she questioned.

"Huh? Don't you have a blanket for that?" asked Kija.

Yoon had turned red. "Yeah… " he said embarrassedly. "But sometimes the blanket gets pulled around."

"Oh, I get it," said Hak. "You're afraid the Princess will get cold."

He had hit the mark.

"It's nothing like that!" growled Yoon, although the colour of his face had deepened. "I just feel more comfortable in a robe than a blanket!"

"Then why don't you make another one?" suggested Zeno.

"As if there isn't enough laundry to get on with!" seethed Yoon.

"Then Zeno will help!" exclaimed the Yellow Dragon happily.

"The only thing you helped to do was rip holes in our clothes! I had to spend three days mending them! It tore holes in my hands!"

Zeno laughed and rubbed the back of his head apologetically. "Ha ha ha! Sorry, sorry. Zeno just wanted to get it done quickly!"

"Anyway, that's my answer," said Yoon, folding his arms aloofly. "Shin Ah, you're up."

Shin Ah – Run around imitating a monkey until someone says you can stop.

Abidingly, Shin Ah got to his feet. He tried to run around, but each time he did so, Ao would tumble off his head.

Ao chomped on Shin Ah's fur piece, but only managed to hang on for three seconds before she was flung off.

On Shin Ah's twelfth attempt, Yoon brought him short.

"Shin Ah, I think you can stop now."

"Saved by the squirrel," remarked Jae Ha, stretching his legs lazily.

"Well, Droopy Eyes, it seems you're well enough to execute your dare now," said Hak.

Jae Ha gave a zealous laugh. "That's right! How could I forget?"

"It's a mystery, alright," said Hak dryly.

Jae Ha put on an exaggerated thinking expression. "Let me see… what was it again? Oh yes! I have to run around screaming like a lunatic for five seconds, right?"

"I thought you have to do it until someone tells you to stop," said Yona.

Jae Ha slumped onto all fours.

"Yona dear… do you have to sabotage me?" he laughed tearfully.

"Good work, Princess," said Hak smugly, patting Yona on the head. "Of course, I will be the one to give the command. Or to be more precise, I will be the one not to give the command." The corners of his mouth curled up even higher.

"Thunder Beast, you have that maniacal glint in your eyes again," said Yoon nervously.

"Get on with it, Droopy Eyes," ordered Hak.

Jae Ha straightened up, a confident smile slapped back on his face.

"Very well, my dear Hak."

For the next few minutes, the Green Dragon whizzed around the place, yelling at the top of his lungs. Hak was highly entertained, but after a while the amusement began to wear off.

"We're going to attract bandits at this rate," winced Yoon, fingers crammed in his ears.

Hak had no choice but to agree.

"Droopy Eyes, that's enough," he shouted. "Oi! DROOPY EYES!"

Hak wound up chasing after Jae Ha, who had either gone deaf or had transitioned into a real lunatic.

Suddenly, Jae Ha looked over his shoulder and grinned.

"Sorry, Hak! I'm a lunatic so I can't understand what you're saying!"

"You – !" Flames sprang up in Hak's eyes, and he accelerated until both he and Jae Ha were no more than two blurs skimming around the forest.

But Hak was no match for Jae Ha's Dragon leg. Ultimately, Jae Ha alighted on a low-hanging bough and watched Hak's stooped figure. The Thunder Beast was clearly at the end of his strength.

"Not bad, huh?" grinned the Green Dragon, swinging his ponytail idly. "Want to go another round?"

He dodged Hak's spear, laughing. Giving it up, the Thunder Beast stumped back to his place.

"I thought something like this would happen," sighed Yoon.

"Welll… Hak is the first man to have chased after me so passionately," smirked Jae Ha.

"Are you OK, Hak?" asked Yona with concern.

"Yona dear, would you like to know a secret way to rejuvenate tired men?"

"Droopy Eyes, don't you dare," glowered Hak.

"What is it?" asked Yona at once. "If it can help Hak, I want to know."

"Well, they say a little love goes a long way - "

"Did they tell you the same goes for violence?" growled Hak.

"Enough, you two," snapped Yoon. "Jae Ha, stop giving Yona the wrong idea."

"OK, OK. We all yield to the handsome genius," said Jae Ha endearingly.

...

RosePetals55 (review) - Noted! Sounds like an interesting idea, I'll give it a shot :)