The Second Bodyguard || Re-written (Any x oc)

Chapter 13

By the time Azumi had arrived in the Fire tribe, the Dark Dragon and the Happy Hungry bunch had already disappeared and could only find the results of their time as bandits. They had thoroughly improved not only the villages itself but the moods of the villagers themselves. Yona continued to amaze Azumi, with her power to draw people to her. However, this unfortunate development left Azumi stumped. She had just abandoned Guen-Tae and the earth tribe. She couldn't go running back now, so what was she to do?

Azumi was broken out of her thoughts as the sight of a merchant's market became visible up ahead. Azumi smiled at the convenience of the enormous market and briefly remembered learning of it while in the castle. It was a well-known market that attracted merchants from all across the kingdom and even from other kingdoms, which meant that the products and produce it sold had a wide range. You could find just about everything here, and it delighted Azumi to visit it. She had a wide smile on her lips as she strolled through the entrance and into the thick crowds of the market, observing the stalls and all the objects being sold.

However, Azumi was surprised to stumble upon a group that was obviously not merchants.

The previously notorious 'dark dragon and happy hungry bunch' were now merchants, and were using their good looks to attract customers. Yoon was sitting on a large strip of canvas, medicinal herbs sprawled out before him. He was in a debate with an elderly couple, a group of young women all waiting their turn next. Azumi then turned her gaze to the dragons and the thunder beast, who was the main attraction. Jae-ha was thriving, seeming to be in his element as a multitude of women of all ages surrounded him. Hak looked uncomfortable, but nowhere to the level of Kija and Shin-ha. Younger females swamped the two dragons, all cooing over their looks. Hak didn't really interact, he just there while many stared at him in adoration. Yona was nowhere in sight, thankfully.

Azumi grinned wickedly, amused by the attention they were gaining, and how they responded to it. Azumi, however, only realised that she had stopped moving when a bubbly boy ran up to her, just as she was escaping the clearing. Azumi blinked owlishly as the blonde boy bounced before her with a wide and childish grin. This grin was contagious, and Azumi found her lips perking at the sight.

"Excuse me! Please excuse my manners, but Zeno is horrible at convincing people. Would you be interested in some medicine?" The boy who addressed himself as Zeno grinned sheepishly while ruffling his wild mane of blonde curls. Azumi instantly identified him as the yellow dragon, if not for his gold themed clothing or the blonde colour of his hair. Azumi's smile grew wider as she silently congratulated Yona for finding the last of her party, in such a short amount of time none the less.

"Nonsense, your personality is alone to convince me. However, I recently restocked in a villager nearby" Azumi explained with a polite smile, making the boy visibly brighten at the compliment. Zeno took a quick glance over his shoulder to his companions, which were all busy with their various degrees of flirting, and turned back to hold out his hand.

"Thank you! The young miss is very kind! What is your name?" He cheered, making Azumi chuckle quietly to herself as she took his hand in a firm handshake. It was quite exaggerated, and the two could only giggle together as a bond was crafted right then.

"My name is Azumi, it is a pleasure to meet you. I presume your name is Zeno?" Azumi grinned, making the boy nod enthusiastically.

"That is Zeno's name!" He agreed. Azumi chuckled once again, finding his way of speech adorable. However, his comrades were now looking for him and Azumi had to depart before they caught sight of her.

"It was nice to meet you, Zeno. Let us meet once again" Azumi grinned brightly, making the boy once again perk up excitably.

"Zeno agrees!" He cheered, before skipping off in a blur of yellow and orange. Azumi smiled at his disappearing form, before hurrying off into the movement of the crowd and once again blending into the background. After she bought all the groceries and necessities she needed, Azumi departed from the market through a forest edge on the very outskirts of the desert. She crunched on an apple, chewing thoughtfully as she mulled over her options. With a glance over her shoulder, a mischevious grin spread across her lips as she observed Jae-ha and Zeno converse. Jae-ha was hurriedly looking around, desperate to find her. However, Azumi turned her back on him and disappeared into the shrubbery of the forest, a small chuckle escaping her lips. Jae-ha would have just realised that there is no village nearby and asked for Azumi's name. Having told Zeno, Zeno would have responded with 'Azumi', and now Jae-ha would become even more desperate. Azumi knew him so well that his actions and thoughts were obvious by this point, and this amused her deeply.