Iris

I'll be watching Your Back

Fire Tribe Village

"It's a bit creepy here. I dont want to stay any longer", Tae Jun walks around carrying his bag around. "There's no inn. And it's so cold", he complained while rubbing his hands on his shoulder. He saw a camp fire and went in front of it.

"Oh, the fire tribe chief son is here in disguise", Hak said in amusement. "What do you want?!", Tae Jun made a distance and prepared his flare. "I am here to see someone", Tae Jun informed. "And who is that someone?", Hak asked. "If you are alive... then maybe she is..also", Tae jun trembled at the thought. Everyday, he's been suffering with the thought that he cause the death of the person he admires. Now, he got that high hopes for Yona. "I just wanted to see the princess for the last time. I know I dont deserve it but I just want to apoligize..", Tae Jun clenched his fist. Hak yawned and stood up. Tae Jun also did and dropped the flare at the camp fire. "You came here to sell us out", Hak prepared his spear. "That was a mistake", Tae Jun was mortified.

"What happened", someone's voice rang into his ears. He fell down on his knees and burrowed his face on the ground. "This guy just fired a flare", Hak informed. "That wasnt my intention. It was an accident", Tae Jun tried to convince. "You seems familiar to me. Raise your head", Yona said while approaching him. Tae Jun looked to him with tears and snot. "He's crying", Jae Ha was startled. "Princess. Im so glad you are alive. I just can't think of any more words to be thankful that you are alive", Tae Jun cried once more. "Why did you come here?", yona asked. "I know it sounds so stupid but everyday after the time you fell on the cliff. I couldnt forgive myself and couldn't live the way I wanted to. I feel guilty and shameful for what I've done. No.matter what you would say... please... I would like to say my deepest apology", Tae Jun bowed once more. "Lift your head, Tae Jun. I am no longer that princess as I am before but then... prove your words", Yona challenged.

The soldiers are already marching towards the village. They were about to release arrows with fire to burn the village but someone came.running at the scene. "Fire", one of the soldier shouted. Nari ran towards Tae Jun and used her body to protect the young master. "Stop. It was a mistake. I am not harmed", Tae Jun waved his hands. Nari looked back to him. "You seems to have a good smile plastered on your face, lord Tae Jun", Nari noticed.

Palace
Kouka Capital

"Sorry to ask you this. Why do you trust that girl so much?", Kye Suk asked. Soo Won and the guy are walking at the porch. Soo won just stared at Kye Suk. "You have no answer, don't you?", Kye suk said with a poker face. "How sure are you that she is bounded by the debt of gratitude she has for your father?", Kye Suk opened. "Nari isnt following my orders because of that", Soo Won gave a confident smile. "What do you mean?", Kye Suk asked in curiosity.

Back at Fire Tribe Manor

Tae Jun and Nari were alone at the room. Nari washed her wound from an arrow that scratched her left arm. "Why did you ran in the middle of that raining arrow?", Tae Jun asked. "You came back because you dont want the village to be destroyed. Someone in that village must have said something to you. If you were that selfish guy back then, you could have allowed the soldiers to destroy the place. I was also sent here to have a monitoring. I dont want to give a record that the place I've been through was destroyed", Nari explained. "Even so... you could have just used your power to stop my soldiers", Tae Jun sighed. "If I do that... you won't be able to prove yourself to someone. I heard from the villagers that a young girl with red hair is at that village", Nari smirked. Tae Jun stood up and clenched his fist. "Are you going to tell his highness?", Tae Jun asked. "I will follow your command since you are the leader here. Your following action will determine my decision. Act well", Nari smiled sarcastically.

The next day, Tae Jun went at the village once more. He wandered and some kids invited him at a hut. They offered him tea but he tried to throw it. Zeno caught it in time. "Bring me the bowl", Zeno told the kids and gave it to them. "They are even starving to death because of lack of food and here you are wasting it", Zeno lectured. "Sorry", Tae Jun bit his lips. "If you are really sorry. Bring them some candies once you visit back. You're so considerate to come here at the village yourself", Zeno smiled. "You figured out who I am?", Tae Jun was caught off guard.

After a while, Yona and the rest are fixing some houses. Tae Jun went to stop Yona because it wasnt a work of a princess. "I am no longer a princess plus, it is a person's duty to help other people", Yona explained. Tae Jun tried to use the hammer but he hammered his hand. Yun came to ease the guy's pain. Hak suddenly went away from the group and prepared his spear.

At the corner, cold blade dropped on Nari's neck. "How dare you appear in such a time like this after leaving us at the hot spring in?", Hak said while releasing a weird aura. "I'm here to protect that clumsy son of the chief. It's good to see you again, Hak", Nari said not looking at the guy's face. "I can't really understand you. You went in between the soldiers and Tae Jun that night. who's side are you in?", Hak faced palmed. "I will side to whoever I think is right", Nari answered. "Princess was so frustrated when you left. White snake and Shinah are so worried about you", Hak informed. "Im so happy", Nari stepped forward and start walking away.

Yona and the rest of the group decided to go further in the villages. They saw a barren land and carried water to use in cleansing the other villagers wounds. Yona was taking care of them while Tae Jun hesitated. "Dont look away", Yona whispered.

The princess' eyes are full of compassion.

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The next day, Tae Jun looked for Nari and saw her lying on the porch."What a lazy monitor. Are you going to lie down here all day long?", Tae Jun sighed.

Nari peeled some apple and stuffed it on Tae Jun's mouth. "You havent eaten well this morning", Nari said while having a poker face. Tae Jun munched while looking at the girl's ocean blue eyes.

"I know you said that you'd be watching me. I acknowledge that I am just a spoiled brat who havent seen anything like what I saw a while ago at the village. I would like to ask for you opinion. The villagers are sick and they lack water. I know.my father was so obsessed of military power that he took all the young men. That means that the elder and the kids have no one to take care of them. Their houses are also rubbish already", Tae Jun informed. "What am I suppose to do with that information? You are the head of this place... you were given the task", Nari said with a bored tone. "I know. And I am so shameful that I havent done anything when I came here. Please, tell me what I should do...", Tae Jun bowed very low.
Chapter end:
I wont be going on how the story line went. :)

This is a fanfiction any ways.

Character for the chapter: Tae Jun