Title: Sister of Dragons
Summary: A series of one-shots revolving around a girl from our world being born into theirs, but not as any regular person, but as the sister, older or younger, of a Dragon. Whether it be the Original Dragons or the Present, expect Fluff and Angst Galore!
Word Count: ~4400
Disclaimer: I do not own Akatsuki No Yona; though I did create Chae-Seon and her stubborn personality.
Notes: This is related to the previous Jae-Ha Bean Buns Story, actually pretty close in the timeline to it. It's basically about the time prior to Jae-Ha's escape, and about Chae-Seon's choice to not be the chains that keep him to the ground. And also more Garou!
Warnings: Alternative Universe, Original Character, Language, Violence, Blood, Emotional Angst, etc.
o0o0o
~~~~~~Fly Without Me~~~~~~
o0o0o
Sibling: Jae-Ha the Ryokuryuu
Position: Precious Little Sister
Brother's Age: 12
Her Age: 9
Summary: Jae-Ha is fine with being chained to the ground if the thing keeping him down is Chae-Seon. He would never want to lose her, no matter how his spirit sings to be free…so what happens when he does?
o0o0o
"Jae-Ha." Chae-Seon's voice held a tone of seriousness.
"Hmm?" Jae-Ha looked up from where they were playing on the ground. She had come up with some sort of game using rocks where she drew four small circles in a diagonal pattern with two larger circles on each end, facing them. She used smooth pebbles that she had collected from the nearby river with there being around thirty pebbles in total, an even number being in each circle. The goal of the game was to choose circles and try and to get the highest number of pebbles in your own big circle. She had called it a 'modified version of Mancala', whatever that was. She must have learned it from some traders.
"You…" She seemed to hesitate, something he saw her do often, as ifs he was holding back her true thoughts or ideas—it upset him that, even though it was obvious she would do anything to comfort or support him, he couldn't do the same for her—before speaking again. "You know…Garou…doesn't have much time left."
He stiffened, some sort of tight feeling in his chest, but he shook it off, grabbing the pebbles and skipping around the board to end up three circles away from his pile—damn. "So what?" He said, trying to sound nonchalant. "I don't know what you see in that bastard…"
It would be impossible for Chae-Seon to spend so much time with Jae-Ha without Garou knowing. In the beginning, he would chase her out, scream, and even report her to the villagers. But she never seemed to hold it against the older man, coming back again and again, even bringing Garou extra food—though the man always rejected her—and skillfully arguing with the other to the point that the man would even smile at her, sometimes. Usually, every time Garou saw her, he did the same old routine, but Jae-Ha had noticed him spending more and more time away from this secluded hut of theirs… He said that he was doing jobs, but Jae-Ha was grudgingly grateful at the obvious slip in security his predecessor was providing…
Though, whenever she showed up and saw the bruises on his face, the flash of expression on her face was so dark that he found himself wanting even more to know her true thoughts.
She smirked, but it fell after another moment. "You…your chance to escape is coming."
He paused, a moment passed, before he gestured towards the board. "Your turn."
She obediently picked up a group of pebbles, somehow skillfully ending up in perfect distance of getting another five rocks into her pile. How was she so good at this game? He knew that it was probably related to arithmetic skills—which she had been teaching him, to his bewilderment, where had she learned them?—and that he shouldn't get annoyed but…damn, his darling little sister was kicking his ass.
It was quite for another few minutes. It was only when she won, again, and was resetting the makeshift board that she spoke again. "You can't keep avoiding this," She spoke, her tone strangely uneven. "When…when Garou loses all the power of the Dragon Leg, nothing will be stopping you anymore from leaving."
"Yes, there will," He said pointedly, if a bit resigned. "…I couldn't leave you here. What kind of brother would I be? I…I hate it here…but—"
"That's not good enough." She slammer her hand against the floor, emotion fervent in her eyes as she stared at him with intensity. "You have to get out of here! You're not meant to be trapped and shackled like this!"
He wanted to smile, and tried to, but the feeling of despair was clawing up inside of him once more. It usually didn't show up too much when Chae-Seon was around, but he just couldn't help when it did…
"It's okay…" He found himself saying, though the words felt thick on his tongue. "It's…not so bad, you know? When…Garou's gone, there'll be nothing to keep us spending time together," How selfish, insinuating she'd even want to waste more time with her inhuman brother. "And it's probably going to be a while until the next Dragon is born—"
"No!" This time she slammed her hands down so hard that he felt worried that she had injured them.
He tried to speak, but with one look she silenced him.
"Listen to me, Jae-Ha," There was a sense of urgency in her tone, maybe even pleading. "You're already twelve. You're not meant to waste away in this god-forsaken village—"
"And you are?" He interrupted, his brows furrowing. "You know the rules, Chae-Seon. No one is allowed to leave. I don't even know how you manage to talk to traders and go pick rocks by the river without anyone catching you. And anyone who tries to leave is shot at with arrows and hunted down—"
"You'll be fine!" She insisted, her shoulders straightening defiantly. "Your leg will make it easy to avoid the villager's arrows—"
"You're not understanding!" He shouted loudly. "I'm not going to leave you! It's either we escape together, or not at all! And I'm not going to risk you!"
"But…" For the first time in this conversation, she seemed to falter, looking so lost. If not for the subject matter, he would feel ashamed for putting such a look on her face—he still did. "But…you have to leave…I'm not…don't you get it? This…all of this," She gestured to the floor and to herself. "Is all for you. I'm not worth—"
"Don't say another word," He said coldly. "Don't ever say you're not worth it—you are." Pain filled his eyes and he reached up, tangling a hand in his dirty hair. "I can't even believe we're having this conversation…"
Reaching over to his right pants leg, the chains rattling as he did, he forced himself to pull it up and exposing the Leg of the Green Dragon—staring at her intently as he did so. To his disappointment—relief—she didn't react, only looking at him with obvious question in her eyes at his action. He wanted to laugh, though he was sure that it would be a bitter sound.
How was it that the one time he wanted to impose on her the truth—that he, her beloved older brother, wasn't even human; but instead a monster that even the gods had forsaken and cursed—she couldn't instantly understand. She was so clever…but also so slow at times. It was as if the things she believed and thought were from a completely different world. He didn't know why he, of all the Ryokuryuu to be born, had somehow received the little sister who would care when generations upon generations of his predecessors had no one…but he was truly grateful… and upset at the same time.
Ever since Chae-Seon had entered his life…his escape attempts had lessened. To the point that even Garou had seemed puzzled—that is, until one day he had caught them playing together; after that, something seemed to have clicked for him. Jae-Ha had been confused as well, why the urge to just run had diminished from an all-consuming need to a steady, but occasionally sparking, flame of want. It took him a while to figure it out, but he realized that having someone—anyone—there who cared and relied on him—or, in his case, having someone to rely upon…
…it was a good feeling…
It was one of responsibility as well. He knew he was a terrible older brother, couldn't even do something as simple as follow her out of this wretched house, but he really did try to figure out ways to be better. She was so independent, so strong, and he was so weak, that it was hard, but he figured the least he could do was let himself be trapped in this miserable village along with her. He knew…that she, too, would never be able to escape. She may not have chains on her wrists and ankles, may have the potential for so much more…but this place would likely be her grave just like it would be his…
He dreamed sometimes…of flying, high in the sky. Of leaping up so far and free that nothing and no one could tell him what to do or where to go. He would be so excited, ready to finally fulfill his dreams and live his life—
But, then, he would look down. There would be someone there on the ground. A small, but recognizable figure.
Chae-Seon.
He would see her there and, every time, he would stop...and let himself fall. Let the power that the gods had given him fade as he crashed down to the earth, willingly let chains reach up from the depths and locked him down so deep that even sunlight was nothing more than a memory…
But he would let it, because, if it was for Chae-Seon…he could manage.
He breathed out, his mind returning to the present conversation. He stared at her, her expression that of someone torn and wanting to say something, but not knowing how to get the words out. He smiled, thinking about how cute she was, and reached over, ruffling her matted green hair. The chains rattled as he did so, but he found he didn't mind so much.
"Let's not talk about it anymore, ok?" He said softly, returning to their scattered board of Mancala, picking up the pebbles and arranging them. "I'm going first this time, might help me win…"
It was quiet for a moment, before something changed in her expression. For whatever reason, it unsettled him. It was some sort of mix of resignation and sadness, yet with more than a hint of determination. He had no clue what type of thoughts could cause such a face, but…it twisted at his stomach.
"Okay," She said softly. "...I'll do it your way…"
o0o0o
His leg ached, for whatever reason. It did so when he was particularly antsy, when breaking free was more tempting than ever. He contained himself though, firmly telling himself that he was done with all of that. After all, if he started something and annoyed Garou, then it was doubtful that Chae-Seon would be able to—
"Jae-Ha."
Jae-Ha startled. He looked towards the door where the elder man stood, wondering what Garou wanted. It was a bit early for their daily meal—nearly rotten raw eggs, so appetizing—and he knew that Garou usually wasn't done doing chores yet so…
"What is it?" He asked, feeling his heart pounding in his chest. Why was he getting so worked up? Why did his leg just itch to get up and move? He didn't feel like this even when he knew that Garou was going to go on a rampage and beat him so badly he couldn't move for days.
So why…?
Garou seemed hesitant, an emotion that Jae-Ha had rarely seen the other man exhibit around him, before stepping further inside. He covered the door, and Jae-Ha almost snorted if not for the tense atmosphere. What did Garou think he was going to do? He hadn't tried to escape for weeks—
"Something happened in the village." Spoke the man suddenly, causing Jae-Ha's violet eyes to snap at the other.
"What?" Jae-Ha barely managed to ask, feeling his palms sweat as he nervously drummed his fingers against the mat beneath him. "What happened?"
"…" There was that hesitance again. "They think…someone fell into the river, late last night. They…they're pretty sure the person didn't make it. They've been searching, but—"
"Who?" Jae-Ha found himself asking, his pulse beating in his ears as he wondered why it felt like he was suffocating. "Who was it? Garou!"
The man's eyes—why were they filled with pity? That bastard, why don't he just tellhimthename—filled with remorse as he spoke the name that Jae-Ha knew he would.
"Chae-Seon."
Jae-Ha's heart stopped.
"She fell into the river and…she's gone, Jae-Ha."
o0o0o
The villagers had searched the surrounding area for her body, traveled up and down the river both ways for miles—yet not a trace of her was found. Eventually, they gave up, stating that some wild animal must have dragged her drowned body off, and stating there was 'no way she could have survived being out there this long anyway' and 'it's her own fault for always sneaking off…'.
Jae-Ha, however, refused to listen to a word it.
His escape attempts started up again and even increased in frequency, as if making up for lost time. But it was less of that and more just the feeling of sheer urgency inside of him. If only, if only he could get free, could get out, then maybe, no, he would find her! It hadn't been that long, right? Surely she was still in the area—he wouldn't accept it, would kick anyone who said she was de—and he could catch up with her if just given the chance. She was probably hiding from those stupid villagers. She was smart, she could survive—what type of nine-year-old could survive that—and just waiting—
He isn't sure how much sheer pleading he had done to Garou, probably had spoken to the other more in the past week than he had in years. He had even swallowed what pride he had, and bowed, begging because if he didn't have Chae-Seon, he had noth—
Jae-Ha pleaded for Garou to let him free—only for a bit!—so that he could find Chae-Seon. He promised that he would come right back, wouldn't complain ever again about being here, would never try to escape again if Garou would just let him find her—
But Garou did nothing.
No, he had just stared at him. Looking at him with that sad expression—
It was the first time in a long while that he had tried to break his chains. He had easily ripped his right leg from the wall and was well on his way to breaking the others when Garou finally stepped in. As usual, the other came at him but Jae-Ha was like a demon possessed. His right leg met Garou's rising one and, for a moment, he thought he was going to overwhelm the other when his leg's strength gave out.
He felt himself get knocked to the ground—Damn leg! Why didn't it the one time he wanted, no NEEDED IT—but was prevented from getting up by the feeling of Garou's foot on his back.
He had raged, wreathed like some sort of rabid animal underneath Garou's boot. Shouting profanities at the other about how much he hated him, about what a monster Garou was because Chae-Seon was out there and had loved Garou too and why was he just standing there—
All the while, Jae-Ha was expecting the other to finally snap and start beating him. He actually welcomed it. If he got Garou enraged enough, he may make a mistake. Maybe would even break one of the chains as he broke Jae-Ha's arm or rib.
But Garou did nothing, only stood on Jae-Ha quietly as the other eventually ran out of steam. He had a weak body, after all. Years of constant malnutrition and abuse had certainly taken its toll, making Jae-Ha even more pathetic than he already was. That coupled with his emotional distress…yeah, it wasn't long before he was shaking so bad he couldn't voluntarily move.
'Weak,' He thought to himself, tears welling up and pouring out from his eyes and snot from his nostrils on to the disgusting and dirty ground. 'Why am I so weak!?'
"Chae-Seon..!" He whimpered, rolling up as he cried his sorrows from beneath Garou's sad gaze.
He had never needed to tell her, but he knew that she knew how much he hated seeing her leave after every visit. Hated watching her have to walk away and leave, not only him, but herself alone. He knew that she didn't have any friends in the village, obviously didn't get along with their sad excuse for parents, and had heard how the adults called her unnatural…
She had never talked about it, but he knew…that she felt just as alone as him. It eased the guilt he felt when she broke the rules for him, when she showed up with marks that weren't there before…
Eased the self-centered pain inside of him…
But now…now there was nothing…nothing but the pain.
o0o0o
A month passed, and Jae-Ha was as fervent as ever with his escape attempts. Garou was just as fervent with stopping him…but something had changed between them. There were less words exchanged between them, only half-hearted insults from Jae-Ha and quiet rambles about being cursed from Garou. Even the beatings were half-hearted at best, and, sometimes, didn't even occur as Garou just held him down sometimes, looking at him with that damn expression…
He wondered if Garou felt the same as him, as if the reason for keeping up this whole charade, for this struggle between them…was meaningless. Jae-Ha would escape, he had to, and he was starting to feel that Garou…that Garou—
Finally, one day, he felt it.
Felt the power of the Ryokuryuu transfer completely to him. That night, he was filled with more determination than ever to escape and prepared to fight—
But Garou had only stared at him. A moment of silence passed between them before Garou started talking. Apparently, he too had tried to escape multiple times, and had actually managed when he turned fifteen. But…when he had, he had realized that there was nothing out there for him…no one who could care.
It was then, Garou said, that he felt Jae-Ha being born. He had returned because he had known that no one in the outside world could possible accept him for the monster that he was. That, for all he hated Jae-Ha for stealing his life and power…he knew that brat would be his only companion…
But then, he said, his story changing, that little girl had shown up. Had changed something, something that Garou couldn't even begin to understand. No matter how clear he, and Jae-Ha, had made it that they were monsters, she had just kept on coming back, never once looking at them like they were anything less than humans. He wondered if she was a fluke, some sort of freak of nature like them, but no matter how he looked…she was at least normal, on the outside that was.
So…so who was he, Garou spoke, to say that there was nothing out there? He…he had been too much of a coward to try, too afraid to be rejected and hated by everything in this world that he had preferred groveling for something he knew he would never get here in the village. But Jae-Ha…Jae-Ha had a chance, he thought. That little girl surely seemed to think Jae-Ha could do it…so…
It was quite for a moment as Garou finished his tale, and Jae-Ha felt shocked. He had…he had never, truly, despised the other, he thought. Even as the other obviously hated what he was, beat him without reason, chained him up…the screams of pain that Garou made caused Jae-Ha's heart to ache. He didn't really understand it…but he didn't hate Garou.
It was then that Jae-Ha reached his hand out, asking the other to come with. That he didn't need to die in this miserable village, that he could come with, could fly—
But Garou had only let out a bitter laugh, tears gathering in his eyes as he said that there was still nothing out there for him. This village had been all he had ever known…he would never survive in the outside world.
When Jae-Ha tried to say something, Garou suddenly started shouting loudly, yelling about how the Ryokuryuu is escaping and Everyone GET UP before turning his attention to Jae-Ha, looking more stable and at peace than Jae-Ha had ever seen before.
Garou had said that the little girl wasn't here anymore to pamper and baby Jae-Ha. No more would she be around to be an excuse for Jae-Ha to be a coward like Garou and stay here settling for scraps when he could be reaching for the sky.
So, Garou gave him an ultimatum.
Either he leaves now…or…
He would kill Jae-Ha himself.
It wasn't long before he heard the villagers waking up, panicking, no doubt getting their bows and arrows. And…Jae-Ha knew, from the look in Garou's eyes, that the other was being dead serious.
Things were a bit of a blur after that, evading the villagers and leaping up to avoid their arrows. They called for Garou to chase him, bring him down, and Garou did jump and reach for him—
Only to fall back to the world.
The last thing he saw was the sight of Garou's body, filled with arrows, as the man stared up at the sky in wonder with tears running down his ragged face. His last words, still on his lips as he manically laughed to the heavens.
"See? Their arrows can't reach you! No one can match you now! Jump! Fly wherever you want! Not even her memory can catch you now! Forget her! Forget me! Forget all of this! Just be free!"
o0o0o
He knew that he wouldn't find anything but, despite that, he found himself returning to the river come nightfall. It was insanely foolish to backtrack, he knew the villagers were still looking for him in rabid hoards, but he couldn't stop himself. A part of him didn't want…
He made it to the river, the water slowly moving over the rocks with a long swwwwoooosssshhh. It was peaceful, he could see why Chae… she had come here often.
That entire night, he discreetly made his way up and down, checking every river bank, nearby tree, and foliage that surrounded the area. Nothing. No sign that someone had recently been there, no sign that anyone had been hiding there, nothing…
Grief etched at his heart, and he wondered why it was still so raw even after weeks since he had first learned about his sister's sudden disappearance. What had he been thinking? She was an nine-year-old child. How in the world could she possibly survive on her own out here in the middle of nowhere!? Not only were their wild animals, but what would she have eaten? Where would she have slept? And the villagers were fastidious in their searches for people who try to leave—
He reached down, picking up one of the pebbles that laid upon the river's side. It was smooth and shaped like an oval, soothing to the touch as he rubbed his thumb over its even surface. It would have been perfect for their games of Mancala. Chae…she had complained about how hard it was to find rocks that matched one another—honestly, he thought she was just picky—but he knew that she would be pleased with the rock in his hand. He didn't know where their set of rocks were, he realized that he had left them behind at the hut with Garou. Something ached inside of him at the thought he had left their treasured game behind, but he knew he couldn't go back for them. They were lost to him…
…just like Chae-Seon…
Chae-Seon who had gone somewhere where even his leg wouldn't let him travel.
He went to drop the pebble, but his hand shook. For whatever reason his fingers wouldn't release. He didn't know why he was holding on so tightly to this random pebble, that she probably hadn't even looked at once…
His hand trembled as he slowly brought his fist holding the pebble to his chest, cradling it as if it held his heart and wasn't just some worthless rock. He knew, then, he wouldn't be able to let go of it. He found…that he didn't mind his weakness, for once.
He knew…if she were here, she would be telling him to run. To fly up into the sky and get so high that the world below couldn't touch him. But now…while he still wanted to run, to escape…he feared, if given the chance, he would just keep on flying upwards. That, if gravity didn't bring him down, he would just keep on going up and up and up and up, reaching to a place where she surely was waiting for him…
But…no. He knew that wasn't what she wanted…would want. She would want him to fly, yes…but also to live, to experience all this world had to offer. It would be good…good to have something weigh him down to the earth, remind him…of the good that it once held. He may…not be able to reach her now but…one day…he would. Until then…
He leapt up into the night sky once more, turning his head away from the village—the place he had been with Chae-Seon, the place where Garou had died for him—as he flew away. But, he didn't let himself forget as Garou had asked him to, would never let himself forget them. Even if running from those memories would save him from pain, he found it a wound he was willing to bear.
And, never once, did he let go of that pebble.
o0o0o
Haha, poor Jae-Ha. I'm actually patting myself on the back for using Mancala. I was wondering what type of simple game you could play with only rocks and imagination, and that popped up somehow. It turned out so much greater than I could imagine.
Also, with Garou, Chae-Seon's interference really did change their lives. As Garou said, he didn't think it was possible for anyone to care about them—anyone normal that was (which she isn't, but let's ignore that…). That, along with Chae-Seon's words and relationship to him, as well as 'sudden death' (I'm thinking about writing an extra where Chae-Seon tells Garou her plan, but eh) has changed Garou greatly. You might think it too strange, but you would be very surprised what interjecting even an OUNCE of care can do to change someone's life… to know that there is someone who accepts you, even if it's some weird little girl, especially after the lives the Ryokuryuu have lived…it's altering. So, no, in this ALTERNATE UNIVERSE, Garou and Jae-Ha didn't have their amazing but sorrowful 'I HATE YOU' and 'I HATE YOU TOO' but secretly care so deeply for one another spat.
I did mourn its loss, but it would have been honestly strange for this conversation to go the same when it's under such different circumstances.
Review what you think please!