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"Random Subject Prompts"
Chapter 047: Soo-Won
Anime: Akatsuki no Yona
Prompt: House Arrest
Chapter Warning(s):
Author's Note: Could be considered a sequel to "Chapter 46: Hak Son"
KH*SW*KH*SW
She should be queen.
It wasn't the first time Soo-Won had that particular thought about Kagome. He was confident it wouldn't be the last.
Aqua blue eyes observed as the raven haired princess smiled and laughed as she easily dodged Hak's grasping hands. It was obvious the dark haired General was only playing along, indulging Kagome's teasing mood. It warmed Soo-Won's heart seeing two of his childhood friends be so carefree, yet his heart also squeezed with the painful reality that these peaceful days would soon be over.
His plans were coming to fruition. The current King of the Kouka Empire would fall and Soo-Won would rise above the others. He would rule with an iron fist, uniting the nation as one so that the endless suffering would end – and his father would be avenged. King Il had been idle for too long, letting others take advantage of their people. Their country deserved a better Emperor – one who would stand for them and with them.
Soo-Won planned to be that Emperor.
And he planned to have Kagome by his side as his Empress.
"Soo-Won," said princess's voice laughingly rang out, catching his attention. He glanced up in time to easily catch her within his arms. "Save me! Hak is going to punish me again."
"Don't think he'll stop me just because you hide behind him, Princess," Hak intoned mock-menacingly.
Soo-Won smiled gently. One hand came up to brush through silky raven tresses. His heart skipped a beat when Kagome snuggled closer, always happy and willing to be openly affectionate with those she was close to.
"What crime did she commit against you this time?"
Hak comfortably crossed his arms over his chest. "Oh, the usual. That little wild cat is always disobeying me and running off." Leaning forward, he grinned teasingly at said 'little wild cat.' "I thought she had learned last time what the consequences were, but I guess she needs a refresher."
Kagome squeaked in alarm. "You wouldn't dare."
Soo-Won tilted his head to the side, curious. "What did you do?"
"I spanked her, like the naughty child she was being."
Blinking, the lighter haired male could only say in response, "Wow, Hak. You sure have guts."
"That's what I said," the raven haired princess grumbled, cheeks puffing like a squirrel.
Hak's expression turned serious. "Alright. Enough. It's time to head back to the castle, Princess. Your Father is expecting you."
Kagome sighed in resignation but nodded. "Yes, yes. I understand. We're still making preparations for mine and Yona's birthday party." She glanced up to smile warmly at Soo-Won. "Yona will be so pleased to see you, Soo-Won. She was so excited when she heard you would be celebrating with us."
With one pinky, Hak casually picked at his ear, a bored expression now adorning his face as he thought about the crimson haired princess. "Yeah, that little brat wouldn't shut up about you. I swear, all she thinks about is you and what the latest fashion trends are."
A bashful look painted across his features, but Soo-Won didn't otherwise vocalize his thoughts.
When comparing the Kouka Empire's twins, Yona and Kagome were complete opposites. Yona was like the dawn of new beginnings, while Kagome was like the midnight of peaceful endings. As the eldest, Yona would inherit the throne. As the youngest, Kagome would become the Empire's priestess.
Yona was bright, naïve, and cheerful. Kagome was mischievous, intelligent, and mysterious. Yona loved living her sheltered, privileged life without any worries or concerns, unaware of the outside world. Kagome wanted to live a normal existence, where she had the freedom to spread her wings and go where the skies took her.
One would walk the path to become queen, while the other was destined to become a shadow.
She should be queen, Soo-Won thought again, his gaze following Kagome's elegant form as she followed Hak back to the castle.
The day was soon approaching when he would make that thought a reality.
KH*SW*KH*SW
~Time Skip~
After completing his mission of finally eliminating King Il, failing to suppress Yona and Hak, and further securing his rightful place as Emperor, Soo-Won decided it was time to visit Kagome. He knew the raven haired princess would be restless wanting to know what was going on. No doubt she was pacing, wondering where Hak was. Her bodyguard had never been gone from her side for this long before. But she wouldn't need the Thunder Beast anymore. She had Soo-Won now.
Soo-Won nodded to the guards stationed in front of her room, quietly dismissing them. As soon as they were gone, he gently pushed the doors open before entering without announcing his presence.
He found Kagome exactly where he thought she would be. She was elegantly dressed in one of her layered kimonos, the color scheme matching her roiling emotions: all dark blues, black, with a splash of forest green. She stood in front of a window, looking out at the world that seemed a little more grey and dull. In that moment, she resembled her namesake: a caged bird.
Amethyst clashed with aqua blue. "Soo-Won," she softly greeted. "What's going on? Where are Father and Yona?" Her voice dropped, becoming almost too quiet to hear. "Where is Hak?"
Soo-Won's expression became solemn, his lips tingling from the lies that were not yet voiced.
"I… am so sorry, Kagome. Your Father… Your Father is gone. He was murdered."
Devastation morphed her features and tears instantly watered her eyes, clouding her vision and turning it blurry.
"Princess Yona and Hak… they rebelled. I don't know why. I found Princess Yona standing over your father's body, but he was already gone. It appears as though she and Hak were working together to overthrow King Il."
The helpless look on her face was enough to tear his heart out. "But… why?" she desperately questioned. "I don't understand. Why would they do this? Yona… Yona was in line to be queen. She was going to be queen!" This wasn't making any sense. Grief was fogging her mind. She needed answers.
She needed Hak.
Soo-Won reluctantly said, "I know King Il wouldn't have stepped down until Princess Yona was married. Perhaps… Perhaps she wanted to marry Hak, but your father was against it." It was an old argument. However, Yona had been insistent about marrying Soo-Won, not Hak. Although Soo-Won played the fool, he was far from stupid and he was not blind.
Kagome's brows furrowed. No. No, that wasn't right. This story didn't make sense. There were too many holes. Things weren't adding up. Yona had always been honest about her romantic feelings for Soo-Won.
And Hak had always been honest about his feelings for Kagome. He wouldn't suddenly betray her like this. She needed to talk to him, needed to see him. She needed to make sure he was alright. She couldn't doubt him or Yona.
"What… What should I do, Soo-Won?"
Soo-Won wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. He closed his eyes as he breathed in her sweet scent. "Leave everything to me. You don't have to worry, Kagome. I'll take care of you from now on," he soothed. "I will protect you."
But who will protect me from you? She silently wondered. Suspicion sparked within her mind. Her heart rejected the notion, but the evidence was piling up. Her twin didn't have what it took to cold-bloodedly murder someone, let alone their own father. Hak had always been fiercely loyal, and had admired King Il for his inner strength. They were two people Kagome spent every day with. A sudden rebellion and a hidden romance seemed too coincidental.
Kagome needed to find a way out of the castle. She had to find the answers to her questions on her own. She desperately needed to find Hak and Yona to hear their side of the story of what happened.
Determination shined within amethyst orbs even as she forced her tense body to relax, to accept the comfort Soo-Won offered. She would find a way out. She had to.
KH*SW*KH*SW
With the numerous guards and vigilant maids that Soo-Won had assigned to her, Kagome was beginning to feel suffocated. He claimed it was for her own protection, but she wondered if it was because he was worried she would run away once she learned the truth. One didn't need to be overly intelligent to see that the usual people around the castle were steadily being exchanged for ones loyal to Soo-Won.
Days had gone by, and Kagome found herself once again trapped within her rooms. It was hard to sneak away even if it was to visit the royal gardens. Most of the time, she spent hours staring outside her window, wishing she could transform into a bird and just fly away. Hak would at least indulge some of her whims when he was guarding her.
When her doors were opened without an announcement of who was visiting her, the raven haired princess knew who it was. She didn't turn to acknowledge the newly crowned Emperor, but he already knew he had her attention.
The silence was thick and heavy. Then Kagome broke it with one question that had been on her mind a lot lately.
"When will I stop being a prisoner in my own home?"