The Golden Dragon [Akatsuki no Yona]

Chapter 9: Hurt

What was he doing here again? He was holding a bigger bag and according to my wonderful sense of smell. It was... FOOD!

Hak crouched down and rubbed his eyes. "Hmm. I wonder if I am seeing things? Apparently, I can see the second son who caused trouble and ran away the other day."

"Y... You've got the wrong person..." Tae-jun replied. Hak swung his spear next onto the tree next to Tae-jun's head.

"I see wrong person? Then you are suspiscious. The penalty is death," Hak stated.

"Wah! Tae-jun! I'm Kan Tae-jun!" He shouted in fear.

"I see. Very suspicious. The penalty is death," Hak replied.

"I am dead either way?!" He asked. "I wanted to see Princess Yona... Could you pass this on to her? It's fine. I haven't told those at the office of my whereabouts." Hak simply remained silent. "Say something Hak!"

"After that I had a dream that you carelessly broke your promise three times in a row," Hak replied. "I wanted to kill you."

"You are awake, thunder beast..." He replied. "I came today because I have something to give to the princess... It's this!" He showed the bag. Hak grabbed him by his collar and walked to Yona. I followed quietly behind out of amusement and curiosity.

"Hey! Let me go!" he struggled.

"You're here again?" Yona asked when Hak placed him down.

"I am visiting today to... um... to give you a gift..." The guy was blushing extremely red. Hak took the bag and opened it. I was right, it was food! Without thinking twice, I took one and ate it. "It's delicious! No poison, don't worry."

"Where did you come from Ash?" Yona asked.

"I am here, I am there, I am everywhere!" I replied, pointing everywhere.

"She was following us and spying on Tae-jun," Hak replied for me.

"My identity has been exposed!" I shouted in shock.

""You can eat these, princess," Hak said and passed the box to Yona.

"Wow! I'm delighted! Thank you!" Yona said and went to give them to the villagers. The guy was dancing in happiness, but flopped down when he heard her.

"Princess! I wanted to give that to you..." he said.

"They've all had almost nothing to eat since this morning, so this is helpful," Yona replied.

"Princess... Aren't you getting enough to eat?" he asked.

"Me? I'm fine. I'm healthy. I had the luxury to last anyone a lifetime when I was a child," Yona replied.

"That's..."

"I've... Been thinking about it lately. If the extravagant things I had thrown away back then... Were brought here... If that had happened... Would that have made the country more equal...?" Yona sighed. "As if, I've come to understand that... even something like that is not so simple."

"Mister," a child came up to ask. "Is there... any food for my mother?"

"...That was all I brought. There's... no more..." He replied. The child's stomach growled as he frowned and walked away. Taejun grabbed his shoulder "W-Wait. There's water."

"Water?" the child asked. "Thank you."

"I only have this for now, but... T-Tomorrow I'll bring your mother's food, too."

"Really?" The child asked with hopeful eyes.

"Y...Yeah..."

+++

That guy started to come every day, bringing food for the villagers. He was being ridiculous sucking up to Yona every day.

He asked me. "Why don't the people here work?"

"Because everyone here is too young or too old, all the people who can work have been taken away to become soldiers. They try to work, but the soil is infertile," I replied, hiding the burning hatred I have for the fire tribe. I walked off, if I did not, I probably be yelling at him.

I went into the forest to rest.

The fire tribe... They held strongly in belief that they were the descendants of KIng Hiryuu. What pathetic lies. King Hiryuu...

"Ashurin..." I heard his kind voice say to me as I remembered.

"What is it my king?" I asked.

"How do you feel about me?"

"Whatever do you mean my king? Is the illness making you hallucinate?"

"Not at all Ashurin."

"Stop calling me Ashurin... Ash is fine!"

"Sorry Ash... Being on Earth for so long has really taken a toll on me... The other four will do fine, it's my fault they have to die earlier though..."

"Don't say that, I am sure you will recover!"

"Thanks Ash... I loved you, you know?"

"... I am sorry, my king..."

"Ash!" I heard Zeno's voice call out to me.

"Z-Zeno..."

"Why are you crying?" He asked.

Eh? I am crying?

I touched my cheek and felt something wet.

Oh, I was crying...

"I-I don't know... But I feel so sad... King Hiryuu..." I cried softly. Zeno hugged me and gave me a shoulder to lie on.

"There there..." He patted my head. "I have not forgiven you, but you are my friend..." 

"T-Thank you Zeno... I'm sorry... I can't seem to remember what happened..." I cried as I wiped my tears.

When I made a deal with the golden dragon, I promised her something... What was it?

I can't seem to recall...

Nor can I remember what happened after he confessed...

But, it makes me so... hurt.

"You were the last one to see Hiryuu!" Shuten shouted at me.

Was I?

"Did you do something?" Abi asked.

"King Hiryuu was ill, but he should not have died so early," Guen stated.

"Stop pinning the blame on me! I did nothing!" I shouted and glanced over to Zeno. "You believe me right?"

"... I'm sorry Ash..."

... Why? Zeno...