Shin Ah – Which three people are on your survival team for the apocalypse?
"Ao," said Shin Ah. "Whoa, I'm good."
"What?" said Yoon, as Ao gave a happy squeak and rubbed her cheek against Shin Ah's hand. "Wouldn't Ao have the slimmest chance of surviving?"
"But Ao is incredibly helpful," beamed Yona. "She chewed through our ropes during the siege in Awa and set us free. And she was Shin Ah's only friend before we met up. If not for her, his life would have been even more miserable. Right, Ao?"
Ao squeaked in agreement.
"From the first time I met you, it was love at first sight," nodded Hak. "I get where you're coming from, Shin Ah."
"And who would be the other two?" asked Yoon.
"Yona and Lilli. Whoa, I'm good."
"Shin Ah, is this really a survival team or are you just choosing people you want to save the most?" asked Yoon dryly.
Jae Ha laughed airily. "I see… so it's OK for the rest of us to die, huh?"
"I would gladly die for the Princess!" declared Kija.
"So would Zeno!" exclaimed the Yellow Dragon.
"And I!" interjected Lilli fiercely.
"And I!" said Tae Jun passionately.
"It doesn't mean much coming from you, you know," Kija told Zeno.
Yona smiled warmly. "Thank you, everyone. I wish it wouldn't come to that, though. I wouldn't want any of you to die. You're all very important to me."
Tae Jun was in tears again. So was Kija.
"Princess… " they said, voices overflowing with happiness.
"Hak, why aren't you saying anything?" demanded Lilli. "You would gladly die for Yona, too, wouldn't you?"
"From the first time I met you, it was love at first sight," said Hak wearily. "This is exactly why I didn't speak up. Besides, I believe that actions speak louder than words."
"Liar," accused Kija.
"Liar?" Hak was nettled. He removed his overcoat and tossed it down, thereby untethering himself from his dare. "Who do think risked his life the most to save the Princess's life? Not to mention the closest brush we had was when that Fire Tribe Prince tyrant dropped me and the Princess off the edge of a cliff!"
"He did what?" gasped Lilli. "Tae Jun, you brute!"
"H-hey! That's all in the past now!"
"It's OK. We forgave him long ago," said Yona quickly.
"That's right, Hak. There is no need to bring up ghosts from the past," said M'Lady.
"What does this have to do with you?"
"Hak!" said Tae Jun indignantly. "You're being disrespectful to the Lady."
"Oh, no. It's quite alright," smiled M'Lady. "The man is right – it is not my business to intrude."
Hak frowned hard. Something about this strange woman prickled him. It would be poor testimony to his years of honed insight to trust someone who was so secretive.
"Tae Jun, you're up," reminded Yoon.
Tae Jun jumped. Praying it wouldn't be another take-off-your-clothes dare, he reached for a slip.
Tae Jun – The group elects a person. You are to close your eyes and guess who it is by touching their face. Guess wrong and you have to pick another slip.
"What? How am I supposed to know who it is simply by touching their face?" demanded Tae Jun.
"That's the fun of this game, Your Highness," said Hak smugly. "Your next loss will mean taking off your robe, so don't think of worming your way out of this one."
Tae Jun paled. "Fine! I'll do it!"
The others huddled together.
"So who will it be?" whispered Lilli. "We should choose someone he isn't familiar with."
"Shin Ah," suggested Jae Ha. "Tae Jun will never guess it's him."
"Are you sure it's not because you want to bully him?"
"Ha ha ha! 'Bully' is a strong word, you know…"
"It definitely won't be the Princess," said Hak.
"How about you, Thunder Beast?" asked Yoon.
"I'll cut off his hands before they get anywhere near me," said Hak ominously. Then he narrowed his eyes. "On second thought, it would be a brilliant excuse."
"Easy now, Hak."
"Did you just volunteer yourself, Droopy Eyes?"
Jae Ha laughed breezily. "Oh, Hak! Your sense of humour never disappoints."
"We'll decide with chance," said Yoon with finality. "Ready, everyone? On the count of three, put out your hands. One, two, three!"
Moments later, a blindfold was secured over Tae Jun's eyes. Nervously, he reached out to feel the mystery person's face.
One of his fingers poked something squishy.
"OW!" yelled the person.
"Sorry!" the Prince began to apologise, but next second, fingers closed around his throat.
"YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF GUTS, YOUR HIGHNESS. SHOULD I SPILL SOME OF THEM OUT FOR YOU?"
Kija and Jae Ha dove forward to pry a livid Hak off of Tae Jun, who was steadily turning blue.
"Trust Hak to be the unlucky one," sighed Lilli. "This is why we shouldn't have made him go, Yoon."
"Well, I didn't predict that such a thing would happen…" said Yoon uneasily, as Zeno leapt happily into the fray.
"Zeno! Just because you're immortal doesn't mean you can play around!" screeched Kija.
Yona gave M'Lady an anxious smile. "My apologies, M'Lady. They might fight a lot, but deep down they truly respect each other."
M'Lady smiled back kindly. "There is no need to apologise, Princess. Some people fight to show their affection."
Yona laughed. "You're right. Oh?"
The Princess had furrowed her brows.
"Your eyes… " she said, gazing closely at M'Lady. "There's something strange about them… "
Suddenly, Lilli threw herself between Yona and M'Lady.
"Oh M'Lady! Yhe sun has been shining on your frail eyes all day! Wear this for your protection!"
And she promptly thrust an eye veil over M'Lady's face.
Yona blinked.
"Why, I didn't know you were so sensitive to the sun, M'Lady," she said in surprise.
"It's an unhappy affliction," said Lilli, clasping her hands sympathetically.
M'Lady frowned, clutching the veil with her forefinger and thumb.
"I already told you there is no need for this, Lilli."
"But M'Lady… " said Lilli urgently.
"It's stifling. Are you perhaps trying to suffocate me?"
"M'Lady, you are the one who wanted to venture outdoors," hissed Lilly. Then she caught sight of Yona's face. Quick as a wink, the smile was back on her face. "I mean, it's for your own protection, M'Lady. Please understand your servant's concern."
M'Lady sighed. "Very well."
The rest of the group had returned. Hak's eye was still slightly red.
"M'Lady, I thought you were against wearing your veil," said Tae Jun, frowning at M'Lady's appearance.
Lilli glared at him. The Prince flinched.
"Uh, I mean, that's right! Your eyes are sensitive to sunlight! How could I forget?"
Hak's attention had shifted back to M'Lady.
"Your eyes are sensitive to sunlight?"
"M'Lady is a fragile woman," said Lilli sadly.
"Hm… " Hak stared hard at M'Lady.
Yona felt another stabbing pain in her chest. She clutched her gown worriedly.
"Hak, why do you keep staring at the noble lady?" questioned Jae Ha. "Are you smitten with her?"
The stabbing pains increased. Yona looked from Hak to Jae Ha anxiously.
"Stop spouting nonsense," said Hak grumpily.
Kija was shocked. "Is it true? Are you smitten, Hak?"
Zeno was shocked, too. "Are you smitten with M'Lady? Are you?"
"I told you I'm not!''
M'Lady laughed delicately. "Don't worry, Hak. You are not the first man to be charmed by my beauty."
"I am not smitten!"
"Can we please get on with the game?" said Yoon with much exasperation. "And Thunder Beast, don't get so worked up. They're just teasing you."
So it was only a joke. Yona looked relieved.
"On second thought," said Hak suddenly, "I am smitten after all."
Yona's heart fell. The rest of the group looked as though a blizzard had swept through them.
"So," said Hak, fixing M'Lady with a rigid stare, "tell me more about yourself."
M'Lady blinked.
"What's wrong?" asked Hak. His eyes were practically boring into M'Lady's. "It's only natural for me to want to know more about the woman I like."
M'Lady's voice was composed as she said, "I have already established the reasons behind my anonymity – "
"It's not your details I need. I want another look at your eyes."
I've been thinking about it for a while, but those eyes seemed familiar… The rest of Hak's answer remained unspoken in his mind.
Lilli and Tae Jun darted quick, nervous looks between Hak and M'Lady.
"And why would you want to do that?" asked M'Lady coolly.
Suddenly, there was a panicked yelp from Lilli.
"Yona!"
Hak caught the Princess in time. She had been on the brink of fainting; her face was pale, and her breathing had grown heavy.
"Princess! What's wrong?"
Yona didn't seem to know what was going on. She stared dizzily at Hak's face.
"Huh?" she said vaguely. "What's wrong with me…?"
"It could be heat stroke," said Yoon, running his hands over Yona's face. "Someone fetch me a cloth and a basin of water."
"Tae Jun, do as he says," said M'Lady sharply. "Princess, are you alright?"
"I'm – I'm fine," insisted Yona, straightening up slowly. "It was just a brief spell…"
Ao pressed an acorn against the Princess's mouth and gave tiny, worried squeaks.
Yona laughed mildly. "I'm fine, Ao. Stop worrying, all of you. It's nothing serious."
Lilli breathed a sigh.
"You scared me!" she said poutingly. "And Hak, I don't know why you're so bent on seeing M'Lady's face, but do you think we're dense enough not to see through such a transparent lie?"
"What lie?" asked Yona, not catching on.
"Him liking M'Lady, of course," said Lilli in surprise. "Don't tell me you actually believed it?"
The leaden weight in Yona's heart dispersed at once.
"Oh," she said, eyes very wide. "Of course… of course not! It's not easy for Hak to fall in love. I've been with him my whole life and I've never seen him show affection for any woman."
Her words struck the Thunder Beast blow for blow.
"Yona," winced Yoon, "why don't you take a break from talking and save your strength?" Before the Thunder Beast passes on again…
Kija – How good looking is the person across from you?
Kija stared at said person, who so happened to be Hak.
"Is that even a person?" asked the White Dragon dubiously. "I thought it was a wild beast."
"Just so you know, White Snake, I am a man that is above childish insults," said Hak, picking up his spear and sharpening the edge of it with a vengeance.
"Thunder Beast, your true intentions are painfully obvious," said Yoon dryly. "Please put down the spear before an accidental massacre occurs."
Zeno – Run around screaming like a lunatic until someone tells you to stop.
Zeno was on his feet immediately. He raced around the group, flailing his arms and screaming his lungs out. He didn't stop even when the others shouted themselves hoarses.
"Someone tackle that devil-may-care idiot before the bandits arrive!"
Zeno skipped back to his spot at once.
"That was fun!" he wheezed happily. "Zeno can't wait to do it again!"
Lilli – How long have you gone without bathing?
"What a rude question! I'll have you know that bathing is my daily routine."
"We are one and the same," said Kija excitedly. "Baths are just as important as breathing, don't you agree?"
"It seems that Kija has found his soulmate," remarked Jae Ha, as Kija and Lilli launched into an energetic discussion about the wonders of sanitation. "Listen –I just caught wind of a wedding date."
"I heard that," scowled Lilli, swivelling around to face the Green Dragon. "If you weren't a guy I would have thought you were jealous."
Jae Ha laughed lightly. "You've got me, Lilli!"
"HUH?" Lilli's jaw sank to the ground. "So you really do like him?!"
"Like who?" demanded Kija.
"Jae Ha, stop creating misunderstandings," chided Yona.
"Yes, Yona dear. Whatever you say," grinned Jae Ha.
M'Lady – If you could wake up in the body of somebody else who would you pick and what would you do?
"I would choose the Princess."
Yona pointed at herself in astonishment. "Me?"
"Well, I would be curious to see how many suitors I have lined up for me."
Hak was dumbfounded.
Yona blushed demurely. "I'm sure I don't have any suitors," she said self-consciously.
"You're speaking too early, Yona dear," stated Jae Ha knowledgeably. "They say that there are always spiders within three feet of you."
"Spiders?" With a huge gasp, Kija leapt into Tae Jun's arms.
"Get off me, you white-haired maniac!" gasped the Prince, teetering under Kija's weight.
Kija's fright gave way to insult.
"What? Did you just call me a white-haired maniac?"
"You could have killed me!"
"There were spiders! Jae Ha was talking about them!"
"Hey, hey. Don't drag me into your lovers' quarrel," chortled Jae Ha.
"You –! This is all your fault!"
"Ah… it's so refreshing to see your enemies fighting each other for a change," smiled Hak serenely.
"Yona, beware of marrying someone with a dark side," Yoon warned the Princess, giving Hak an apprehensive look.
Yona – You are now related to the person on your right.
Yona smiled at M'Lady.
"So I guess we're sisters now!" she said happily. "I'm so happy! I've never had a sister before."
"I was thinking more along the lines of 'an aunt'," said Hak carelessly.
"Hak!" gasped Lilli. "What do you think you're saying?"
"Wait a moment. I was referring to the Princess."
"The nerve of you!" exclaimed Kija. "Princess, pay no heed to this uncouth beast!"
"It's OK, Kija. Teasing people is Hak's hobby," said Yona, who was not in the least bit perturbed.
"I think Hak simply dislikes the idea of being my brother-in-law," teased M'Lady.
Hak gaped at M'Lady. Yona cocked her head in bewilderment.
"Brother-in-law?"
Hak ground his teeth. This infuriating lady… had she actually seen through him?
"Princess, now that we are sisters, may I call you 'Yona'?" asked M'Lady warmly.
Yona beamed brightly. "Of course!"
Does she have a bone to pick with me? thought Hak in annoyance. Why does everything she does get on my nerve? Just who is she?
Hak – Seduce someone of the same sex.
"What excellent timing," smiled Jae Ha. "I'm in the mood for a good dose of seduction."
I am not in the mood for this, scowled Hak silently. Reluctantly, he turned toward the Blue Dragon.
"Shin Ah, you have beautiful eyes. Please go out with me."
Shin Ah disappeared in a cloud of dust.
Kija was aghast. M'Lady was laughing quietly into her hand. Jae Ha lifted an eyebrow.
"You're not very good at this, are you, Hak?" tutted the Green Dragon.
"Jae Ha, I think it would be best if you stopped testing his patience," advised Yoon.
Jae Ha – If I was a food, what would I be and how would you eat me?
"Cow dung," said Hak tersely.
Jae Ha gave a dramatic gasp.
"How cruel! Hak, don't you have a heart?"
"Jae Ha, your words don't match your facial expression," said Lilli.
"Cow dung isn't a food anyway," said Yoon.
"Then… dog chow," said Hak indifferently.
Jae Ha pulled at Yoon's sleeve tearfully.
"Yoon… I think Hak hates me… "
"Yes, yes. Please stop pulling me."
"Zeno, can you think of anything?" inquired Yona of the Yellow Dragon.
Zeno placed a finger on his cheek thoughtfully.
"Hm… Zeno's answer would be… a green pepper!"
"Because I spice up everybody's lives?" asked Jae Ha, whipping his head up in delight.
"No. Because of your hair."
"Huh… that's not so bad… "
"So how would we eat him?" asked Yoon.
"First, we grind him into pepper powder with my spear… " said Hak ominously.
"OK, OK - we get the idea," sighed Yoon.
...
Thank you NekoRyuuKo and cousin for the wonderful ideas! :)