The Golden Dragon [Akatsuki no Yona]

Chapter 21: My fault

ASH'S POV

"Ash! Lynlet! We have an emergency!" I awoke to the slamming of the door and frantic shouting. I saw Yun, Yona, Zeno and Shin-ah walk in. However, there was something wrong with Yona, after all, she was being carried by Shin-ah, unconsciously. I swiftly got up and let Yona lie onto the futon. Zeno and Shin-ah left the room as Yun took off Yona's top and I covered her front with a cloth. 

"What happened?" Lynlet asked.

"She got slashed by a sword downstairs..." Yun replied as he bit his lip. "Luckily it's only slight..."

"What happened?" Lynlet asked again.

"A smuggler named Hiyou was having a secret meeting here. It seems Yona happened to be there..." Yun replied.

She got slashed... Why wasn't I there to help? I should be with her at all times to protect her...

I stared at Yona's injury with solemn eyes.

It's... My fault...

+++

YONA'S POV

I was sitting in the middle of darkness... But, there was a distinct sound of someone crying... I glanced around for the source and saw four dragons. They were crying... Don't cry...

"Are you all perhaps?..." I muttered. The white one was probably Kija, he was hitting himself with his tail while crying. The green one must be Jae-ha. He was making such a sullen face that it was not like him. The blue one, Shin-ah was crying as well. I pat his head and muttered, "Please don't cry..."

Then I felt someone massaging my back. I turned my head to look behind and asked, "Zeno right? Are you trying to make my back better? I'll be fine... Oh I see... Are you all worried about my injury? I was injured because I didn't have enough strength. I prevailed a little bit with my sword skills. Ayura even praised my good form. Say Hak..." 

I glanced to the side and realized there was another dragon in a distance. I got up and walked towards it. The dragon was cowering and crying harder than the others as it bit its own tail. "D-Don't bite yourself..."

The dragon glanced towards me and muttered, "Hiryuu... Sorry... You aren't Hiryuu... Yona... I'm sorry... It was my fault..." The dragon had beautiful and shiny golden scales with a red tint.

"Could you possibly be...?" Then the dragon flew up onto my shoulder, its tail against my neck. I widened my eyes in fear. The tail was sharp and cold against my neck, almost like a knife.

"Hiryuu..." It was a voice that I did not recognize. 

"Who are you...?" I questioned.

I woke up immediately, the first face I saw was Hak's. Even though he was right in front of me, all I could think of was my dream. That fifth dragon... Was Ash right?

+++

ASH'S POV

"Ash..." Zeno muttered as he made his way to me. It has been hours since the word Yona got injured fell to our ears. Even the rest of them were back. I stayed in a small corner of the hallway just feeling a little depressed. Zeno sat beside me and my head fell onto his shoulders. I must have been a mess from crying for the past few hours, but I could not find the strength to care.

Zeno stroked my hair and muttered, "It was not your fault..."

"If I was there with her... That would not have happened..." I replied. "It was my fault."

"If that is the case, everyone else is blaming themselves as well. You aren't the only one," Zeno said. "If I had been just a little quicker, Yona might had not gotten hurt."

I know everyone is upset... But... Something about it, just made me too upset. A nostalgic pain stinging my heart. Yet, I could not remember exactly what was the source.

Then, I felt Zeno place something on my head. I moved my head up and touched it. It was a flower hairpin. "Zeno... What is..."

Zeno smiled and complimented, "I knew it would look good on you. Remember we were supposed to buy each other a gift? I got that for you, but I never got the chance to give ut to you."

I gazed at him aimlessly, melting in his smile. Zeno was always there making everyone else happy that was what made me fall for him. He was like a warm sunshine. He helped me so much, but he probably does not remember that 'me'. It has been ages...

But I also knew that behind that smile, is an unbelievably depressed human who is burdened by immortality. The reality of losing his friends and the people he loves to death. It was the same for me, however, I gotten a little numbed by it. Even so, he smiled and looked forwards to the future while encouraging everyone else.

I gave him a hug, surprising him a little. I muttered, "Thank you, Zeno... I'm sorry..."

He hugged back and sighed, "Why are you apologizing... It was not your fault..."

"I'm sorry..." I said again. "It was all my fault..."

My head felt light for a moment and a faint voice in mind spoke. "It's all my fault that Hiryuu died..."

+++

After a bit, I washed my face and went back into the room. Yona was awake and everyone else was there. They were talking a lot, but when I came in, they stopped and Lili had left past me.

"Ash..." Yona greeted. "Are you feeling better?"

"... I'm sorry Yona! If only I was there instead of sleeping!" I exclaimed. "How are your wounds?"

"Ash, they are fine," Yona replied, but she looked like she had something she wanted to say. She opened my mouth for a few second, then closed it again.

"Are you sure? It looked really bad," I said.

"It's fine Ash, do not worry," Yona replied.

"You don't need to keep blaming yourself. All of us are feeling that way. If I did not get sick..." Lynlet said.

"Stop beating yourself up," Hak said.

"Yeah, I won't... I guess... What are we going to do now?" I asked.

"We will be heading to Sensui," Yona replied. "Hiyou is the guy we are looking for. He is the guy who slashed me as well."

"I see... You don't mind... If I kill him right?" I asked. My eyes burning with passion.

"Oh right, where did you get that hairpin?" Yona asked, trying to change the subject.

"Oh this? I got it from Zeno," I replied with a smile.

"That's nice," Yona commented.

Ash is way too quick to change moods... Everyone else thought.