Hwarang: A Different Kind Of Halfbreed.

28

The villagers were crowded around Pari and the two strange men she'd arrived with. They all became excited when Pari told them that the men seemed to be searching for Aya.

Mei and Jiya were just coming out of the temple, it was Jiya's turn to clean but Mei decided to help her because she was bored. Jiya's little brother came running up to them and started jumping up and down with excitement. "There are white men in the village! Come see them, hurry you two!" He said and ran away again.

"Come on Aya let's go see them" Jiya said excitedly. She'd never seen white men before, she'd only heard of them and now she was going to get a chance to see them.

"Jiya why are you so excited, have you never seen white men before?" Mei asked. Jiya shook her head "I've never crossed the ocean before and as far as I know the last white man to come here arrived long before I was even born"

"Very well then, let's hurry I'll race you!" Mei exclaimed and started running, Jiya laughed and started running too. She was quite fast and soon she was far ahead of Mei.

Finally they reached the village square where most of the villagers were still gathered. Mei wondered if the white men spoke the English language, she'd only learnt a little of it and wondered if she'd be able to communicate with them.

She and Jiya pushed through the crowd until they got to the front.
Pari noticed them and smiled she pulled Mei forward and put her in front of the strangers.

"Aya" she said and smiled brightly.

Mei didn't want to believe her eyes, she couldn't believe her eyes. It had to be a dream, there was no way she staring at Jinheung and Pa oh.

"Aya these men are looking for you, they had a picture of you and I lead them here. They are not dangerous people are they?" Pari said. Mei smiled at the older woman and shook her head. "They are not dangerous, thank you for getting them here safely. Everyone, these men are my friends please treat them well during their stay here" Mei said.

The villagers made joyous noises and then took Jinheung and Pa oh away, Mei guessed it was to feed them and let them rest. She was left standing with Pari and Jiya.

"Who are they Aya?" Pari asked.

Mei didn't want to let them know who Jinheung really was, they might try to convince her to leave with him.

"It's like I said they are my friends from my home, I will let them rest before I go see them. They must be tired" Mei said and quickly walked away. She didn't want to see them, she did not want to be left alone with Jinheung. It was all too surreal, how did he find her why did he look for her. Couldn't he just move on with his life as she had moved on with hers.

Mei lived in one of the smallest houses in the village, since she was not yet married to anyone and didn't have a family. She walked in to her home and lit the lanterns and then she sat on her bed, she had planned to cook earlier but now she didn't feel like doing anything.

She lay down and closed her eyes, maybe if she slept and woke up she'd discover that it was all a dream.

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The village head gave Jinheung and Pa oh a room in his house to stay until they decided to leave. They were given food and then taken to the bathing area and given fresh clothes. Jinheung and Pa oh didn't mind wearing the strange attire, it was actually quite comfortable.