The last drop of rice wine lingered on the rim of the jug before falling into the wine cup. Gi-gan gazed at it disappointedly and let the jug drop to the table with a clatter. Although it was the first time in decades she had no reason to stress, she was more anxious than ever. Today was still clear, but tomorrow held emptiness. What was there to do now?

Becoming a nun seemed to be the most common practice for women without a family. A friend of hers had done that some thirty years ago… a beautiful friend with a voice of honey. Perhaps they might meet once more. Which convent had it been? Gi-gan furrowed her brows. What was her name, again? All she remembered is the back of her friend's shaved head as she walked away.

The captain laid back in her chair and sighed. No, convents weren't for women like her, with so little faith in the Dragons. And having to sit still for hours everyday? Maybe in another lifetime. Gi-gan closed her eyes. Tomorrow, she will think of it tomorrow…

Bang!

Gi-gan woke up with a snort. She looked around, uncertain how long she had been asleep.

"Hey beautiful, may I join you?" Jae-ha asked cheerfully, standing in the doorway. Gi-gan felt a strong desire to punch him in the nose. Did he not listen the million other times she told him to open the door gently?

"Get lost."

"No matter how much I hear them, your words always enchant me," Jae-ha sighed, entering despite the cold welcome. "Captain is my ideal type of woman. I was not when you were born, you were old when I was born..."

Captain Gi-gan coughed. Jae-ha didn't notice the storm clouds gathering above his head, and continued, "Really, if only I had been born fifty years sooner..."

The lightning struck. Gi-gan picked up the wine cup and threw it at Jae-ha, aiming at his right shoulder.

"That's where Kum-ji shot you, right? Curse his lousy aim!"

"Captain, age is not something you can alter," Jae-ha said, catching it with ease. "Is it the fifty years that's bothering you?"

Gi-gan scoffed.

"I thought a sweet-talker as you would know we don't mention age to women. I feel sorry for the miserable person that falls in love with you."

"Now, now, don't curse her so easily," he laughed, seating himself opposite the captain. "It isn't her fault - who could resist falling for me?"

"Me," said Gi-gan curtly. "Then there's Ya-young, Su-ah, Ji-na…"

"Captain, you're reopening old wounds."

"I was hoping to create a new one," she replied. "What are you doing here, anyways? Go celebrate."

"If I had a day to live, I'd want to spend it with you, captain," Jae-ha said with a smile. "What is skipping out on some festivities compared to that?"

His charming smile was met by Gi-gan's deadpan expression.

"Go find someone who'll fall for your words," she said. "Maybe Yona might like them? You'll have a long time to try."

"I'd rather not," Jae-ha replied. "She's not nearly as venomous as you. Though the way she shot that arrow… you could easily make her your successor."

"Successor of what?" Gi-gan sneered. "A few rotting fishing boats? Young people should find their own paths instead."

After a moment's pause, she added, "Even if they need assistance sometimes. But you'll be there for that."

"You sound very sure, captain."

"I saw the way you looked at her. Dragon's fate and whatnot. And what else are you going to do? Elope with that scrawny bookworm?"

"I'm not that useless," Jae-ha laughed, deciding it would be wiser not to mention that the scrawny bookworm might join the princess too. "I am my own person, with goals and dreams-"

"Really?" The captain looked him up and down skeptically. "Go follow them, then. And don't you dare come back."

"You don't mean that, captain," he said. "What would you do without me?"

"Find a man whose pickup lines actually work."

The two stared at each other seriously for a second before they both burst out laughing. Wiping her tears, Gi-gan said, "Alright, then, enough of that. Go waste air somewhere else."

"Your wish is my command," Jae-ha said, standing up. His heart ached as he walked out the door - something he would not do again for a long time to come.

….

The black sky turned a lighter gray as a thin yellow glow appeared on the horizon. Shivering from a gust of cold wind, Yona pulled her blanket closer around her shoulders. She would have liked to sleep a little longer, but even that little bit of morning light made her unable to do so. Letting out a small sigh, she sat up and looked around. Everyone else around her was still in a deep slumber. Quietly, as not to disturb them, Yona stood up and tiptoed away. Although she had made no more noise than a mouse, her movements had woken up Hak. He watched her silently as she made her way through the sleeping bodies before closing his eyes once more. The town was safe now. Nothing bad would happen… right?

The princess, unaware that she'd been noticed, walked cheerfully along the empty streets. Despite no one being around, the town felt less dead than it had before. Yona felt a touch of pride knowing this was in part due to her help. How long ago the days of her being a useless princess seemed!

Wandering aimlessly, she eventually found herself before a place she had never planned to revisit - the house where she had seen the officers murder a child. Her eyes darkened. Sen said they would face justice. She promised. The boy would surely find peace.

After whispering a small prayer, she turned around and began to walk briskly towards the ships once more. I'm already too far. Everyone will worry if I'm gone for too long.

Turning around a corner, she ran smack - straight into the back of an unsuspecting bystander. Letting out a pained cry, she fell on the ground.

"I'm sorry," she muttered. "I should've paid attention…"

"No worries, Miss. All you alright?" a gentle voice asked her. Yona's eyes grew wide. It couldn't be… She looked up to confirm her worries. Realization hit the man at the same time.

"Yona?"

The princess did not respond.

After all, what can you say to the man who murdered your father?

Su-won, the man she loved. Su-won, the man she loathed. Su-won, the reason she cried every night.

Why had he not killed her yet?

"King Su-won!" a voice called out. A voice that was all too familiar.

Ju-doh, the general of the Sky Tribe, the man who served her for so many years. Why were all these old acquaintances showing up now, of all times?

Yona turned to escape, but Su-won was faster. Pulling her to his chest, he threw his cape over her head to hide her identity. Yona froze at his sudden touch, barely holding back a scream.

"King Su-won, I must report - what on earth are you doing, your Highness?" she heard Ju-doh ask. "We did NOT come to sleep around with women."

Su-won gave an awkward laugh, saying that the whole thing was a misunderstanding and it wasn't at all like that.

"Do not worry, my highly respected General," another voice called, presumably one of Su-won's bodyguards. "Not everyone wants to die a bachelor."

"Well I was going to report about you-know-who, but I might as well skip it. I will never let information slip to- to such a person," Ju-doh said with utter disgust. The soldier laughed.

"Oh, come on, General. Everyone knows Yang died. I say we wait out of town, and let our King say farewell to his lady."

No, please, don't leave me with Su-won! Yona pleaded silently. The closeness of the king was beginning to drive her insane. She could hear his heart beating in his chest and wished it would stop. She glanced at her surroundings and noticed that Su-won's sword hung temptingly near. The same sword which he killed her father with.

If only Su-won would die like that...

It would seem like fate. And people do say you should take fate into your own hands, don't they?

Yona touched the hilt of the sword. Her heart beat fast, it felt as if it would jump out of her chest any second. She was about to unsheathe it and drive it into Su-won's heart when his hand caught hers. Yona wanted to vomit when she touched his skin, but didn't dare move anymore.

When Ju-doh, and his men left, Su-won decided to speak.

"You want to kill me?"

After seeing Yona did not answer, he continued.

"Of course. Why wouldn't you?" He paused and let out a sigh. "But I can't die just yet. There is still something I must do."

He lifted his cape and let her go. She took several steps backwards, doing her best to put the most possible distance between her and Su-won, but her legs could not take her far. He watched her shaking form with a strange emotion in his eyes - regret, perhaps? Or was it pity?

"Good-bye, Yona."

With that, he turned around and left, his steps stable and his bearing proud. It was a true King that Yona watched disappear as she fell to her knees in the dust, her trembling legs unable to support her. Once he was out of her sight, she couldn't hold back her tears any longer.

Su-won, General - why?

Why did they abandon her?

She covered her mouth, trying to silence her sobs. No one was to see the Princess of Kouka's tears.

Hak stared at her from a side street. He had left her alone for only a short period of time, only to find her crying once again. He blamed himself even more than before and swore again to never leave his princess's side.