Chapter Text
For once I dreamt. And it was not a nightmare. It was not about my traumatic past. It was painful still. It held a promise unfulfilled. It held gentle touches and empty kisses and sweet words. It held nothing more that I would still want. There was nothing in this dream that I could possibly want...
Tears fell down my cheeks in reminder. The salty taste of my sadness was familiar, despite my best wishes. He held my face in his hands with such feeling, that my desire to tear away from his hold, to push him away, slowly dissipated. I was angry with him, I hated him. I cried, despite my mind telling me it wasn't worth it. I couldn't fight it when his lips met mine. I wanted to feel like this forever. I wanted us forever. But now, the only other thing I felt except for love, for longing, was pain. It was pure, undiluted pain that held the promise of never seeing him again. I couldn't help but think that he knew all along, that it was his fault our story could never end well, could never end happily. When his lips parted with mine, he held his forehead against mine. My eyes kept open, staring at his closed lids. I kept telling myself that if I could still see him, maybe my pleading gaze would be enough to keep him here. The moment I closed my eyes, he would disappear.
"Farewell, Lone...", he whispered.
I woke up, my breaths coming out fast. I brought a hand to my chest, calming the rhythm of my heart. Panic rose in my chest at the reminder of a forgotten memory ; one I'd fought hard to push away. But the panic was never associated with the dream in itself, just the reminder.
Next, my hand traveled to my face, feeling the tears as they left dry streaks against my skin. I brought the stray hairs away from my tears-covered cheeks. I felt disgusted with myself, but the only thing I could do was hope this wasn't a sign and wipe away the tears, the pain and the anger that came with the dream and the recent racing thoughts. I couldn't help but wonder why I thought about that, and why now, after all this time. I had put so much effort trying to push it away, trying to ignore it. And it had worked, so why remind me of this now?
I didn't want this anymore. I didn't want him. Was it because my heart wanted to forget him before loving another? Was it because I had pushed away the pain, but not the memory? Was it because I had ignored it instead of acknowledging it? Because yet, I still loved him, and maybe that was why I couldn't love the other guy, why I didn't reciprocate his feelings, when my heart told me to, screamed at me that I could if I just let go. But how did I do that when I had no idea how?
I let my head fall forward and stared at my hands. The bandage still covering the cut had kept its white color through the night ; Yoon would be happy. I ran my right hand over my face, tried to wipe away the tears completely, but didn't know if it worked.
I finally got up and exited the tent.
The mountains were treacherous, even worse when there were trees surrounding our every sides. The rustling of the leaves and our steps were the only thing we could hear for a while, before Hak spoke up.
"Princess. Is your leg alright?", I turned around, watching as Yona had taken a break. I slowly started to walk down, closer to my bestfriends, watching my step.
"Y...yes", she breathed out. "It's perfectly alright!"
Hak looked down at her smiling face. Well, until she fell right unto his chest. I stopped in my tracks, surprised. She stood up straight, lowering her head in shame. Red traveled over her face like blood would stain. "You see?!"
"No, I don't see. Should I carry you on my back?", Hak asked, suddenly very annoyed by the fact she was lying.
"N-no! I'm fine!", she countered angrily.
"Thunder Beast", Yoon called, which made him turn around. "We've been walking along Sei's border, right? So are we in the Wind Tribe's territory now?"
Hak brought a hand behind Yona's back, urging her before him. "Yeah... we're at the very edge of it, but I guess we are", he answered as we started walking again.
"The Wind Tribe! The land where Hak was raised, right?", Jae-Ha exclaimed, turning halfway toward Hak as he continued walking. He met my eye when he turned back around. I looked away rapidly, heat going over my face. "Are we gonna make a trip to Fuuga?"
"No, we're not going to the capital", Hak answered, unbothered. Silence followed his words, but soon enough, he spoke up again. "You're not gonna make a comment about the women there, Droopy Eyes?"
"I don't particularly care about the women back at your home city, no offense", Jae-Ha said as he looked straight at me. I didn't react. But I could see when his attention lifted to Hak and he offered another smile. I couldn't have felt more ashamed. Hak knew what he had done.
"If this is Wind Tribe territory, though... then that means we're not close to Sei, but to... Shin-Ha", he called, which made me realize what the odd feeling creeping in my stomach was.
"Yeah... someone's watching us", Shin-Ha announced and I brought a hand to my sword. But Jae-Ha pushed down on my wrist, telling me outright that he didn't want me to fight.
"You're not straining your wounds on my watch, Love", I brought my hand away from my sword then, turning away.
"From over there, I think", Shin-Ha added as we all turned toward where his attention lay. A figure stormed through the trees and Jae-Ha jumped in action, as he left his bag behind. I caught it before it fell to the ground and raised my head to watch him as he landed before the stranger. He wore a black mask that covered below his eyes.
"Hey, there!", Jae-Ha shouted. "Did you have some business with us?", and I noticed the exact moment when he realized someone stood behind him. I didn't even have to warn him. Or anyone else for that matter, because Ki-Ja placed himself at his back and activated his ability, his dragon hand getting bigger and bigger by the second. Around us, many shadows loomed in the forest, behind the trees. But they weren't attacking. "Oh? Looks like we have a bigger audience gathered than I realized. Look at them, gazing at us so passionately!"
"Who are you all?!", Ki-Ja shouted as Shin-Ha reached for the sword at his back.
"We have come from the country of Xing", one of the shadows said, discovering themselves. He still wore his mask though. My eyes widened in surprise, trying to guess whether their intentions were good or bad before their weapons were imbedded in our hearts. "Are you the monsters of Kouka Kingdom?"
"First you appear without warning, then you ask us if we're 'monsters'? That's pretty rude if you ask me", Jae-Ha started. "After all, look how beautiful and good-looking we are!"
The man kept looking at him with neutral eyes. When he didn't say anything for a few seconds, I doubted this was going anywhere. "Are you the beautiful monsters of Kouka?", he repeated, quite differently this time. Jae-Ha seemed to have fallen for it.
"Are you asking for me?", he sang.
"You're a push-over, Droopy Eyes", Hak let out.
"Even if we were these beautiful monsters you speak of..."
"What business do you have with us?", Ki-Ja asked then, cutting Jae-Ha off. Another man stepped forward then. He slid down the mountain side and joined my two dragon friends. He had been accompanied by other guys, too. They suddenly all were poised to fight, but I was kept from my sword by an overly protective green dragon, so I abstained. But before we even knew what was going on, every single one of the strangers present fell to the ground.
"We surrender!!!", they shouted, courteously bowing to the ground. We were all very much taken by surprise by their sudden decision, it might as well have been called complete and utter shock.
"...Huh?"
"Eh?"
"Wait a second", Hak warily let out.
"We surrennnn-"
"No, really, even if you tell us that you're surrendering without a fight..."
"Raise the white flag!!!"
"We get it already! Geez, what's with you guys?!"
"Apologies for our rudeness...", the guy that first approached us said. I had to stop myself from making an ugly comment. "My name is Vold, and I am a servant to the second Princess of Xing, Princess Tao"
"A Princess of Xing?!", Yoon exclaimed.
"I don't think we can trust people who hide their faces", Ki-Ja said, bringing his claws out once again. I had an underrated desire to laugh in this very moment.
"Eek! It's the real thing!", one of their people squeaked, taking Ki-Ja by surprise. "It's just like the rumors say! The monsters of Kouka Kingdom really do exist!"
"So it's true, Kouka Kingdom is the land where monsters live!", another one beside him said.
"How come there are rumors about Ki-Ja and the others in Xing even though we've never visited?", Yona wondered aloud.
"Citizens of our country were also taken and enslaved by the country of Sei. They were also at the construction of the fort", one explained. "Everyone who returned told the stories. They said that Kouka Kingdom had a white-haired monster who would violently swing about his giant claw, and also a monster who could fly in the sky, and had green grass growing out of his head"
"Was there a monster like that there?", Ki-Ja asked and I was actually unsure if he was being sarcastic or not.
"They're talking about you, Ki-Ja", Jae-Ha announced.
"And you too, you flying monster", Hak added.
"We figured that if those rumors were true, then those powers must be godlike", the Vold guy said. "And that's why we came to Kouka to search for you, in order to confirm the rumors"
"I guess we've become pretty famous", Jae-Ha said.
"Because you're colorful", I commented.
"Jaelous, my love?", he asked, bringing his head down to my level. I turned my attention away. He eventually turned back to Vold. "So? Now that you've find us, what do you plan on doing next?"
"Would be willing to meet with Princess Tao?", the sudden question had my head turning toward him in a frenzy.
"We refuse!!!", Ki-Ja bluntly announced.
"And that's that!", Jae-Ha exclaimed, as if our response didn't need further explanation.
"Hakuryuu makes quick decisions!", Zeno sang.
"You see, we aren't some circus act for rich kids", Jae-Ha added.
"I understand that you might have some reservations 'cause this is so sudden", Vold continued. "But please believe me when I say that our Princess does not intend to treat you as merely a spectacle. And she also has no intention of harming any of you"
"That just makes it all the more suspicious", Hak commented.
"Please, we have no time", Vold pleaded as he got back on his feet. He spent the next seconds pulling his mask away from his face. "We wish for you to meet with the Princess for the futures of both our Kingdoms"
We ended up following them, of course. And made it to the city nearest the border to Kouka. San San.
"Shin-Ha, isn't it kinda hot?", Hak asked.
"It's humid", the blue dragon answered.
"Please try not to look around too much", Vold said. "Try to act normal around people here. Though it may be a small town, it is still unsafe to reveal your nationality"
"Then don't bring us here in the first place", Yoon mumbled under his breath.
"Thanks for carryin' our luggage! Sorry for the trouble!", Zeno exclaimed behind me.
"Yes! That panicked person right there was the ruler, Kushibi!", a voice called out, snatching my attention. Yona seemed to have realized it as well, because she followed me as I approached the small group of people. "With his fort in shambles, and the girl lined up for execution escaped, his minions fell one after another! They took down their spirits, bodies, and stripped them of everything down to their ass-hairs!"
"Is that...", Yona wondered, making me stop walking. "The battle at Kushibi's fort? Turned into a theater play...?"
"So that is why the rumors of the Four Dragons spread here", Ki-Ja realized, stopping just ahead of Yona, at my side.
"And that's when it appeared! Kouka Kingdom's White Monster, the bearer of a sharp claw for a blade! Meow meow meooww!", the storyteller exclaimed as he held up a cat in his hands. I couldn't help but find this scenario quite cute. The others were just about to piss their pants in laughter, though.
"??? is that... supposed to be... me?", Ki-Ja looked completely shocked.
"Seems like it!", Jae-Ha called out, currently crying because he was laughing so much.
"The monster's sharp claws dug into the soldiers, taking them down one after another! Without even realizing it, he had freed all of the slaves! But the White Monster's rampage still continued regardless!"
"Just what part of that resembles me?", Ki-Ja shouted, frustrated.
"It's actually so perfect!", Hak laughed. I was shaking my head, grinning, staring at both Hak and Jae-Ha as they laughed their asses off.
"My stomach hurts!", Jae-Ha cried out.
"Hold it right there, you!", someone screamed, pointing at the storyteller. "What's with that play?! I don't like it one bit! Where do you get off talking about those Kouka monsters like heroes?! Are you trying to challenge Lady Kouren?!", he said, now grasping unto the storyteller's colar.
"No, not at all... This skit was purely about the battle at Kushibi's fort, so it really doesn't have anything to do with Lady Kouren..."
"Hush, you! Any talk of Kouka Kingdom's victories will only lower our country's morale!"
"What's up with him?", Yoon wondered, startled.
"Some kind of pessimist, probably", I commented. "Probably ruins this play like he ruins his life"
"If you have any pride as a citizen of Xing, then you should be telling stories about...", the angry man started again, now grabbing at the cat's neck as he swung it over his head. The pure terror that now filled my face's expression couldn't have been avoided. "How to smash those monsters to pieces!"
But before he could actually smash the kitty to the ground, a foot met with his face so unviolently that it took me by surprise. The man in itself looked quite handsome, dare I say. He had light short hair with a braid let loose at the back of his head. He was also dressed in fine Xing clothes, by the looks of it.
"There we are... There, there", he said as he picked up the cat in his hands and pet it. "It's alright now"
"Hey, you... get your foot off me", the man muttered.
"What was that?", the stranger asked, looking not so pleased. "Go take a trip to the afterlife, octopus-face!", he screamed as he kicked him away effortlessly. He landed on the ground, not far away, the door against which he had fallen broken in now. "Pride in a country whose people think it's okay to toss around kittens? I'd rather comet"
"Don't you mean 'vomit'?", Yoon asked then, unimpressed.
The stranger gave the kitty back to the storyteller and turned back to us. His lower jaw fell and his face went red as his eyes locked onto Yona. "Wh- what's up with you?! Don't stare at me like that! It's way too cute, dang it!!", it took me a moment to realize he was actually talking to Ao, who was sitting on Yona's shoulder all this time. But I figured it out before he started petting Ao. "A tiny tiny kitty! So tiny! Pukkyu! What a funny sound! You've gotta be kidding me!"
"It's not a cat, but a squirrel", Yona corrected.
"Huh?", the stranger interrupted, suddenly confused. He backed away a second later as he noticed the people that stood at Yona's back. "Whoa! Who are you guys?!"
"Algira!", Vold called out, sounding not very happy. "Are you making a mess in town again?! I told you so many times, don't do anything that'll make you stand out!"
"Ahh? A little kitten was in danger so I dealt with it nice and quietly, all right, Voldopus?!"
"I know that your idiocy is beyond hope, but don't you dare cause trouble for us too, Idiot-Gira", Vold exclaimed.
"You're a schemer just like always. Why don't you go cuddle with a kitty or something and maybe your cold heart will finally warm up?"
"Um, excuse us...", Yoon started. "But who is that person?"
"Apologies, this is Algira, my colleague", Vold presented him, forcing Algira to bow down his head with him.
"Oi, what is that thing, that pukkyu meower?", Algira suddenly asked.
"I know nothing about that pukkyu meower, but I have brought back with me the monsters of Kouka Kingdom"
"Seriously? Are they strong?"
"We are not monsters! We are the Four Dragons!", Ki-Ja corrected him hastily.
"I'm trying to bring them to Touchi valley", Vold said.
"I see. Got it, come along then"
"Urgh, darn it", the pessimist let out then, making me and Yona turn around. "I'm going to report this to Lady Kouren..."
"Give it up, that was Algira you know...", another man said, kneeling by the other guy's side.
"Damn... a dog of that treacherous princess, huh..."
"Don't worry. Lady Kouren will do something about it all eventually. Lady Kouren will surely destroy Kouka Kingdom and protect our country", disgust appeared on my face at his words.
"Yes... Death to the monsters... Death! Destroy Kouka Kingdom! Destroy!"
I put a protective hand on Yona's shoulder and made her turn away from them. This was not a pretty sight, and less was it something good for the ear. So, we followed after Vold and Algira.