Iris

The One Who Waits

"Gulfan", Yona suddenly said while they are eating. "Hak, Gulfan... he was also at the battlefield", Yona said. "I didnt see", Hak replied. "Who's gulfan.", Kija asked. "Ah, look there are fireflies all around", Nari pointed. "Thank you for following me, Hak", Yona whispered.

Gulfan is the eagle they both raised. Hak and Soo Won.

Even if I wanted to stay, there are some things that I should do. When all of this is done, I hope that the three of them will be back to who they once were.

If it's only in my dream, some days, I hope not to wake up.

You dont deserve to be misunderstood, Soo Won.

You don't deserve to be cast away, Yona

You dont deserve to fight someone whom you also love, Hak

Palace Kouka Capital

"Maybe just my imagination but you always do that, Your Highness", Kye Suk said while serving tea at the porch. "You're anticipating someone to come back", Kye Suk added. "There are these days that I just cant help but feel scared that someone wouldn't return here", Soo Won said.  A shadow crept inside and Soo Won's smile crept in his face. "And my heart would just jump when I am reminded she promised never to leave my side", Soo Won chuckled.

"What are you laughing at, Your Highness?", Nari asked while she was approaching. "Where have you been?", Soo Won asked. "Sorry, I just went to do some stuffs", Nari bowed. "Dont apologize. Whatever you do, as long as it wouldn't harm you is okay for me", Soo Won smiled. "Soo Won...", Nari held unto his robe. Kye Suk turned his back. Nari bit her lips and just leaned her head on Soo Won's chest. "Is there something you want to tell me?", Soo Won asked. "I heard that something is happening in Shisen. I ask for permission to investigate in that area", Nari reported. "I'm still having some paper works here. I'll ask General Geun Tae to accompany you", Soo Won suggested. "Alone... I want to go...alone", Nari requested. "Nari... that place is...", Soo Won furrowed his brow. "I know. That's why we are going to overcome the next mountain", Nari raised her head and looked at Soo Won with teary eyes.

8 years Ago...

"We arrived here at Shisen. Shall we have some fun first", the soldiers sent to get Nari smirked and looked at her. She was sold into a red district light and forced to drink drug. She lost consciousness and never remembered what happened next. The next thing she remembered was nakedly lying down a room with her hips hurting. She cried in fear realizing what happened to her. She looked around where the soldiers could have been but she was sold at the area. For the rest of the history, she was forced to work and serve Nadai drug to the customers.

Present

"Give me a chance to redeem myself", Nari burrowed her face on Soo Won's chest. The King hugged her tight. "I don't want to let you go but if it's something that would make you sleep easier, go. Wait for me. Until that time, hold on", Soo Won smiled.

Shisen...
After some days...

Hak, Jae Ha and Kija are at the red light district to catch the culprit. They were all looking at one lady. "You look familar", the said in unison. "Oh, dear. You might be captivated by her. She's a veteran in this place when she was young. It's such a great thing that she came back few days before. "Are you someone we know?", Hak asked while trying to stand. "I'm afraid I'm not", the lady gave a bow. "Impossible, what am I thinking?", Hak sighed. "Why don't you all go away? You're disturbing my work, leeches", the lady said with sarcasm. The rest of the girls went out. "We're offering a special kind of drink", she got a bottle and started to offer it to them.

"What are you doing here? About being a veteran, what are they saying?", Hak furrowed his brow. The lady pinned Hak on the ground. "It's something you shouldn't know. You should focus on something right", Nari winked at him. "Here's a drink for all of you. I heard that some people are messing up with the business that we have here. Why don't you just sleep here since it's not safe outside?", Nari sat straight and served the drink. She drank it herself to show them that it's just water. "Enjoy yourselves", Nari smiled.

Why do I always get to meet these people in the weirdest place?!!!

They pretended to be sleeping but they are actually awake. They were able to catch the one delievering the Nadai. "You betrayed us, Nari", the chief lady raised her voice and slapped Nari so hard. Kija was about to step in when Nari signalled not to. "I came back to save every lady in this place. I grew up with them and stayed for over two years. I missed the midnight laughters and also despised those days where we were forced to do something unacceptable. I will free them", Nari looked straight on the chief lady. "No one is going out of the business. We have no other means of living. We're already disgusting individuals", one of the lady cried. Nari gulped and gave a warm smile. "I'll be removing you from that place. I promise", Nari said before the chief lady closes the door.

"What a good acting you pulled there", Jae Ha chuckled. "You were once working like them?", Kija asked in concern. "That's all in the past after all", Nari chuckled. "I have some lead of the leader of the Nadai distributor", Nari said with a serious tone. "His name is Hiyou", Nari informed. "Guys!!!", Yona came running towards them. "Princess", Nari turned to see her. Yona was startled and saw Sai's swollen face. "What happened to you?", Yona asked and cupped her face. "I just got into some conflict", Nari smiled. "It's good to see you again", Yona hugged Nari. "Princess, it's dangerous to stay here. These people are lost in a drug named Nadai. It's hard to uproot the main cause of this. If we create a commotion. Kai Kingdom will proclaim a war against us. This beautiful land will be drenched in blood", Nari said in a sad tone. "King Il doesnt want bloodshed, am I right?", she said in order to convince Yona.

"I just cant leave them. I feel pity for these people. I am staying for them", Yona patted Nari's shoulder. "Why is it that you sound like you dont want me to be here?", Yona asked. "It's not like that", Nari gave a bow. After a while, some Nadai users appeared. They were caught off guard. One aimed for Yona and pierced a sword but he failed. Someone used herself as a shiled. Nari got pierced on the back. "Sai!!!", Yona shouted. Jae Ha kicked the guy and went unconscious. "Take her to Yun. Go now", Yona said while using her bow to hold the others.

Jae Ha carried the girl. "You're quite jumpy, arent you", Jae Ha sighed. "I hate this place", Nari said while panting for air. "We're near the inn", Jae Ha informed.

Inn.
Yun washed the wound and applied herbs to stop the bleeding.

Yona and the rest came back to the inn and checked on Nari. "She's like a mushroom. She appears and disappears", Hak commented. "I'll stay here and watch her. You guys can rest for tonight", Yona informed. "But... I mean... She's a complete stranger who doesnt even disclose so much information. Why is it that she's too invited in this group?", Yun asked. "I dont know but she's so close to my heart. I can also sense a painful background oozing from her. I just think that she deserves something better than the past", Yona smiled.

Outside the Inn.

"Regarding Sai.. or Nari. I saw a soldier crest on her inner clothes. Hak, what if she's a spy from the palace", Jae Ha asked. "If she is.. then we'd be long dead by now", Hak yawned. "You're hiding something, aren't you? You're relationship with her is something that have a story behind", Jae Ha asked. "Nari was like a younger sister to me. During some days, she would visit me and the princess. She used to be a frail and pale little girl but now she became tall and also a bit fiercer. At other time, I visit her at the Sky tribe because she would ask for me to play with her tiger", Hak informed. "Regarding that tiger... I think she released it just recently. That's the reason we've met after all", Jae Ha also narrated. "Why does Yona doesn't seems to recognize her?", Jae Ha asked. "Princess doesnt like her because of some various reasons. Whenever she's around, the princess would lock herself inside the room. Nari also changed a lot and so maybe she wasn't able to remember at all", Hak explained.

I remember a stupid girl who came running towards me when some bandits kidnapped me. She was trembling when she stood for me. The bandit engraved a huge scar at her back. Even when I hated her, she still protected me.

"Sai, let me check on your back", Yona made her turn around and saw a lot of scars made from slashes and also a huge deep scar was engraved. "Sai... what are these...", Yona trembled caressing her back.

Chapter end.