A.N. - Hey, everyone, sorry it's been so long, but college has been rough from the start, and I think I mentioned before I wasn't sure how much time I would have for this. But what I do have, I am still working on this; it's not abandoned.

Hope you like it! Please let me know, any comments or constructive criticism welcome!


The air in the human world was disgusting.

It smelled foul, and was filled with contanimants; a single breath was enough to make Chun Hoo gag. How could Bi Ryeom - how could any god - stand to be here? How could they choose to remain here, of their own free will, when the Realm of the Gods was so much better?

But, the Realm of the Gods and the human world were nominally connected, and the winds here still came at her command, still rushed to obey her will, and still carried messages from beyond.

"You were right, my lord," Chun Hoo said, seemingly to empty air. She stood on the roof of a high rise, wanting to be as close to the sky as she could. The lights from the city outshone the stars, and that, too, was disgusting to her. "It seems Lord Habaek's powers are tied to that woman."

There was a pause, and then the goddess felt a breeze by her ear, as if someone had blown on her.

"Ah, how intriguing," said the Sky King, his voice carried on the winds. "Well, good to know. Now we can move on to the next phase. Do that as quickly as you can."

"Of course."

"Now what of Bi Ryeom, hmm? What did he say?"

Chun Hoo pressed her lips together; the very thought of seeing Bi Ryeom today, sharing his apartment, his life with that stuck-up witch, still made her blood boil. But she kept her tone calm, almost emotionless, as she answered,

"He...declines your invitation, my lord. Respectfully, of course."

"Of course," the king echoed, voice laced with amusement, before he sighed. "Ah well, it would have been good to have him on our side. I'm especially sorry for you, my dearest one. I know how fond you are of him; I'd hoped to bring him back for you."

Chun Hoo looked away, as if her master was right in front of her, to hide the blush that had crept up her neck. "I don't know what you mean, my lord. That pesky god means nothing to me. If it weren't for Your Majesty's will, I would never have asked him to return."

"Haha, of course. My apologies, Chun Hoo. I must be mistaken." There was a pause, before the king gave his final message, "Well, we're both very busy, I won't keep you. Follow the plan, and then return. Without his powers, Habaek cannot hurt you, and Bi Ryeom would not dare." His voice turned coy. "And I'm sure you can handle anything the witch throws at you, no?"

"You know I can, my lord," Chun Hoo replied.

A rush of air carried her master's laugh away into the night, and then all was calm.

...

So-ah sat on the couch of Ahn Bin/Bi Ryeom's apartment, gripping her phone in her hand. She had been cleared at the hospital, but they were keeping Sang-yoo, still unconcious, at least overnight. So-ah and Habaek had stayed with him until Hyung Sik and Hyun Ah could come. So-ah had wanted to stay, but couldn't bear seeing Sang-yoo simply lying there, and unable to tell his fiancée - unable to tell anyone - what had happened. So, when Mura arrived at the hospital and demanded that Habaek and So-ah take refuge at Ahn Bin and Mura's apartment, in case So-ah's house could be a target as well, So-ah reluctantly agreed.

She'd asked Hyung Sik to keep her updated, and the other woman had promised to do so, so the psychiatrist kept staring at her phone, hoping to hear something. In front of her, standing in the living room, were Habaek and Mura; Habaek held his hands behind his back, a brooding look on his face, while Mura paced back and forth, muttering names and what she would do to the god that was responsible for this attack. So-ah held no illusions that the goddess' anger was for her sake - Mura only tolerated So-ah because of Habaek - but she had to admit, it felt nice having a deity whose powers were much more constant on her side.

A movement at the door made all three of them look up. It was Bi Ryeom, returned from wherever he had been tracking down the minor gods to interrogate.

"Well?" Habaek asked, back straightening.

Bi Ryeom shook his head as he walked into the apartment. "None of them had any idea what I was talking about. And, before you say anything, yes, I made sure they were telling the truth. Jin Geon helped me - they trust him."

"So, to sum it up, we have no leads," Mura said flatly. She crossed her arms over her chest, still managing to look fabulous while she did so. "What are we supposed to do now? How are we going to make sure Habaek - and So-ah - is safe?"

"Well, I wouldn't say...no leads," Bi Ryeom replied hesitantly. Both his fellow gods looked at him more attentively, and Habaek stepped closer.

"What do you mean? Do you know something? Tell me, Bi Ryeom," Habaek ordered.

Before Bi Ryeom could respond, a strong, cold breeze rushed by; So-ah tensed, as it reminded her of what had happened in her office. Then suddenly, there was a fifth person in the room, standing behind one of the chairs, closer to the kitchen.

The other person was a young woman, with long black hair and golden eyes, attired in a fashionable blue dress. Immediately, the three gods moved - Habaek stepped protectively in front of So-ah; Mura placed herself in front of him, and Bi Ryeom moved to flank her. The newcomer's mouth twitched into a small smile, seemingly amused by the display.

"Lord Habaek," she said in a clear, soothing voice. "It is good to see you again." She bowed, but - from So-ah's limited viewpoint around the numerous bodies in front of her - it was shallow, almost disrespectful, despite her choice of words. But, not all the gods gave Habaek the respect he was supposedly due - Bi Ryeom certainly didn't, and sometimes not even Mura when she was in a particularly bad mood - so maybe it shouldn't be such a surprise.

"Who are you?" Habaek asked, tone cool, clearly displeased by the intrusion and lack of respect. He moved to stand in front, and reluctantly Mura and Bi Ryeom let him.

The woman had risen from her bow, and raised an eyebrow at the water god. "Do you not remember me, my lord?"

Habaek cocked his head, considering. Finally, he answered, "No. Should I?"

"No, my lord. It's been a very long time since we last met. I had merely wondered, audacious as I am." She bowed again, slightly deeper than before. "My name is Chun Hoo, my lord, and I am the personal attendant of His Majesty the Sky King."

"Sky King?" Habaek glanced at Bi Ryeom, who appeared tense, but whose expression So-ah could not see. "What does that..." Habaek clenched a fist and then swallowed, before finding the right words, "person...want?"

The woman, Chun Hoo, reached around and pulled a scroll from her pocket. She held it out in both hands, reverently. "I am glad you asked, Lord Habaek. He has sent me with a message of great importance to deliver to your lordship." She paused as Habaek slowly reached out and took the scroll, unwinding it. "Please remember in this instance, my lord, that I am merely the messenger."

So-ah stood while Habaek read the message, moving closer to him. She wasn't sure why, but she felt that she needed to be near him. Something didn't feel right.

"What does it say?" Mura asked, just as Habaek's hands clenched around the paper, crumpling and almost ripping it, as his head shot up, glaring at Chun Hoo.

"What is the meaning of this!?" he snarled at her. "This - this - this audacity! This is - this is treason, and you dare bring this to me, your king -!" He took a step closer to her, as did Mura, but Chun Hoo looked unconcerned.

"Please remember I am merely the messenger," she repeated. "Neither of you would dare break the ancient laws regarding messengers in time of war, would you?"

Mura, a ball of pulsing light in her hand, snarled at Chun Hoo, but let the weapon die, fading into her hand like mist. "You do not need to remind us of the ancient laws," she snapped.

"What's happening? What does it say?" So-ah asked anxiously. Something was digging into her hand, and a moment later she realized it was her phone. She put it in her pocket.

"Sky Country," Habaek ground out, without looking at her, "The king of Sky Country has...declared war against me and Water Country. He is challenging my right to the throne. He means to usurp me."

So-ah's eyes widened. "But - but if you don't become the king -!" she sputtered. She looked at Chun Hoo and burst out, "But if Habaek doesn't become king, he'll die!"

Chun Hoo looked back at her, an almost bored expression on her face. "That is no concern of mine. I seek only to serve my master."

"I am your master," Habaek reminded her, tone harsh. "I am your king."

"Not yet," Chun Hoo answered. "I am a citizen of Sky Country, not Water. And you chose to postpone your ascension to the throne of the gods, so as of now, you have no power over me." She shrugged. "Perhaps not ever, now."

Habaek thrust the scroll back into Chun Hoo's hands. "I will not let him get away with this," he said coldly. "Enjoy your immunity now, messenger, because the next time I see you, I will not hold back my anger."

"Of course, my lord," Chun Hoo replied. She smirked, then glanced over at Bi Ryeom, who had stayed strangely silent throughout this exchange. "And what of you, Lord Bi Ryeom? Have you reconsidered the Sky King's request?"

Habaek's and Mura's heads snapped to the side to look at the wind god. For his part, Bi Ryeom stared stonily at Chun Hoo, arms pressed against his sides. Finally, in a tired voice, he replied, "My answer is the same."

Chun Hoo nodded. "Very well." She then gave the same, shallow bow from before, and then disappeared in a gust of wind, just as she had appeared.

As soon as the other goddess was gone, Mura set upon Bi Ryeom, grabbing him by the arm. "What was she talking about?" she demanded. "What request? Have you spoken with her already? Did you know about this? Tell me the truth!"

Bi Ryeom looked pained in the face of his lover's verbal onslaught. "I spoke with Chun Hoo today, yes," he answered finally. "She came by earlier. No, I did not know about the declaration of war." He shook his head and snorted. "Though it makes sense now...no wonder His Majesty wanted me to come back."

Mura looked thunderstruck. "So that's why...when you said you were thinking about going back to Sky Country..."

Bi Ryeom nodded. "Yes."

"But you said no? You're not going back?" Mura pressed.

"You heard me now, didn't you? My answer is the same - no, I'm not going back."

"Did he ask you?" Habaek said suddenly. Bi Ryeom turned to face him. "Did he ask you?" Habaek repeated, an urgent note in his voice. "Or did he order you?"

Mura looked between the two gods as Bi Ryeom remained silent. "What does it matter?" she asked. "Habaek, you are his king. Only you -"

"Bi Ryeom is a citizen of Sky Country," Habaek said, cutting her off. "And - as Chun Hoo just reminded us - until I officially take my throne, I technically have no authority over gods of other countries. Not if their own rulers contradict me." He turned back to Bi Ryeom. "So. Did he ask you? Or order you?"

"He asked me," Bi Ryeom answered finally. He sighed, then ran a hand through his hair. "But it wouldn't surprise me if that changes, later down the road."

"And if it does?" Habaek pressed, taking another step closer. "What will you do, Bi Ryeom? If that happens?"

The tension in the room could be cut with a knife. So-ah and Mura stood, glancing between the males, each one of them anxious to hear the answer. Bi Ryeom stared at Habaek for a long time, before looking away.

"I won't go to war against you, Habaek," he said at last, still not looking at the other god. "I've told you before I'll fight you, and I still will, but...but I won't go to war against you. Not for him."

Mura frowned at that, but the answer seemed to satisfy Habaek, who stepped back, breaking the tension. He turned to So-ah, who came to attention, searching her boyfriend's face worriedly.

"Let's go home," he said softly.

So-ah blinked, surprised. "What?" she said, just as Mura protested,

"But, Habaek -!"

"Chun Hoo has done what she set out to," Habaek interrupted. "And the Sky King's letter gave me one full, human day to give a response. So, So-ah and I are going to go home and get some rest, and then early tomorrow we" he gestured towards himself and his fellow gods "are going to figure out how to proceed from here." His face darkened, then he shook his head, perhaps to clear it. "Alright?"

"But - are you safe at So-ah's house?" Mura asked worriedly. "If the attacker goes there -"

"It was Chun Hoo," Habaek said, one hand clenched into a fist as the other grabbed So-ah's. "That's what you thought, right, Bi Ryeom?"

Bi Ryeom nodded. "Yeah."

The other god sighed. "Yeah."

"Well...well..." Mura didn't seem able to come up with another answer, and with a huff, she gave up.

Habaek looked back at So-ah. "Ready?" he asked.

Well, she was tired...it had been a trying evening. She fished her phone out of her pocket to check if there were any messages, but her inbox was empty. Well, no news was good news, wasn't that the saying?

"Yes," she said eventually. "Let's go home."

Habaek nodded, and then led her out of the apartment. His grip on her hand had tightened, and she looked at him worriedly. Their lives, and their life together, she knew, had just changed completely.

Surely they would be able to weather these new challenges - as long as they were together.