~ a lily among thorns~

"split up"

"We have to get out of here. We have to get out of here," Nari kept murmuring to herself as she raced through the crowded street, dragging a confused Ban-Ryu behind her. "I swear he saw me!"

"Who-who saw you?" Ban-Ryu stammered, tripping over his own feet as his body was pulled along.

Nari didn't answer. Instead, she kept pushing forward – as far away from the marketplace as possible. Soon the crowds began to fade, and the noise of chattering began to soften. The pair came to an eventual stop. Surrounding them were a few small houses and a local restaurant, around five people eating there. Some little girls ran around giggling beside it, and a group of mothers sat nearby – exchanging the midday gossip. Nari grasped Ban-Ryu's robe again, pulling him into a darkened corner.

"I think we're safe," she sighed, looking around to make sure of it. She wasn't going to let her guard down just yet.

"Safe from what?!" Ban-Ryu questioned, starting to get annoyed. He'd just been caught up in a misunderstanding concerning Soo-yeon, dragged through the streets of Silla without mercy, and hidden from the very reason why all of this was happening.

Nari glanced around once more before answering his question.

"Ji-Dwi's nearby."

Ban-Ryu stared at her with sudden discomfort. "What?"

Nari nodded, confirming her prior statement.

"When you were talking to Soo-yeon, I started looking around to make sure Master Wei-Hwa was gone. He was...but someone else wasn't," she spoke softly, her voice slightly shaking. "I really think he saw me Ban-Ryu. I really think he did."

Nari's eyes darted around wildly as she began to resort to panic-mode.

"What am I going to do now?!" she cried, her face scrunching up with distress. "I have no idea where he is...I have to get back to Hwarang somehow and-"

Ban-Ryu awkwardly placed his hands on Nari's shoulders, her speech fading because of it.

"Yah..." he rebuked her quietly, shaking her gently. "Calm down."

Nari looked into Ban-Ryu's eyes, his expression giving her a light source of comfort. She nodded her head, telling herself she was just over-reacting. Everything would turn out alright.

"So, what do we do?" she asked faintly.

Ban-Ryu glanced around, mapping out their surroundings. He thought for a moment, before looking back at Nari.

"Split up."

Nari crossed her eyebrows. "What?"

"Split up. I'll head one direction and you head the other. We'll meet near the gate of Hwarang. Find a mens cloak before then."

"Isn't it better if we stay together?" Nari protested, a little wary of the proposal.

"Think about it this way," Ban-Ryu replied. "I'm in my Hwarang uniform. I'll stand out to Ji-Dwi more than anyone else will. If he finds me, he finds you."

Nari nodded, beginning to understand the logic behind his plan.

"Alright," she finally agreed, a hint of worry still in her voice. "I'll stick around here for now. You go somewhere else."

Ban-Ryu hesitated, before disappearing. Nari slowly made her way out into the open again. From the middle of the street, she searched the contents of the shops nearby. None seemed to sell any clothing. Just before Nari could begin walking towards a more prosperous direction, she felt a tug on the bottom of her skirt. Surprised, she looked down.