(Rewrite) Life & Death | Akatsuki no Yona Fanfiction

Chapter 17: Why so Blue?

The floorboards creaked as someone trekked past the firepit, and Hak glanced at them. The swordswoman. From the column he sat against, he shrugged. His head fell back against his guandao.

He didn't know how to feel about them yet— the yokai. While Yona was determined to befriend them, Hak was hesitant. Yun was sure they were who Ik-Su wanted them to meet, and the princess was all too happy to agree.

Honestly, Hak was sure too, but that hardly waived his worries. There was something... off about them. Not the yokai, but the siblings. He glanced at the one as she stumbled up the grand staircase.

Her leg was still hurt...

That other yokai, he was badly injured. Maybe even worse than her. And yet, the others hardly cared. Like he was already healed. In opposition, they treated her like she was going to shatter.

Maybe yokai healed quick. But if that was the case, then why was a petty injury still affecting her? From weeks ago, too?

And the food...

Hak knew they all were imagining that the yokai ate raw meat. They were even positive at one point when that Eichi dude flicked a raw piece of boar into his mouth as he butchered it.

And yet, they grilled the meat. Granted, that's all they ate. Skewered and bloody rare boar meat. Some rice too.

And the siblings? They ate the stew. Hak frowned.

Maybe he was overthinking— overreacting. Besides, like the rest of his friends, he knew next to nothing about yokai. Let alone Yama Inu.

The two were still odd, however. Detaching the whole yokai thing, Hak felt ever wary of them. She didn't have a level head, and he was too hard to read.

And there was something else— something so incredibly off about them. They were like chaos waiting to happen. The calm before the storm. It was too risky.

And yet, they didn't seem too bad a people. The idiots and Yun were growing fond of them, Hak could tell. Perhaps, he was as well.

He glanced at the second guest to pass him by. It seemed his point was proven.

The beast stared at the mask of their shy dragon and grunted. Shin-Ah hummed, sitting opposite of him. Ao squeaked as she scurried about the fire.

Quietly, Shin-Ah surveyed the room. He paused as he spotted the swordswoman that awoke him. He watched her shovel her way up the shrine's staircases. Beside him, Ao snatched spare kindling and chomped on it.

Hak followed his gaze and sighed. "Fond much? Or are you just mad that she beat your ass?" Shin-Ah regarded him, tilting his head. Hak huffed. "Guess not. Didn't think you were the type to hold grudges anyway."

The thunder beast yawned, leaning back to the column. As he shut his eyes, Shin-Ah stared at him, pondering his words. The dragon sighed.

Was he mad? He glanced back at her just as she disappeared to the next floor. He frowned.

Sure, he was frustrated while they clashed. And yes, he was angry at her for threatening Yona and hurting Kija. Why wouldn't he be?

But he didn't feel as angry with her anymore... especially after watching Yona beam and drag her around. Or after Zeno babbled about with her. Ao patting her cheek too.

He stared at the fire. Mad... no, that wasn't the right word. Fond neither.

He glanced at his sword. Sighing, he doubted that she felt anything positive about him either. Again, he frowned.

Ao skittered after him as he rose and explored the shrine. His steps were hollow as he approached the stairs, swerving around piles of scrap and furniture. They echoed his thoughts as he chased for a word— any word that would save him from this frustration.