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

Chapter 22

"Kija, how are you feeling?" Yona asked, peeking in through the doorway of the cottage with a small frown. The white-haired male glanced up at her arrival and sent her a shaky smile that did not reassure the red-head in the slightest.

"Princess... I apologise. To stop because of me..." Kija apologised, making Azumi flick his forehead between changing the cooling cloths. Kija muttered a small 'owie' and sunk back into the bed, making Azumi roll her eyes and go back to rinsing the cloth.

"You don't have to worry about that. Yoon?" Yona smiled warmly, before turning to the small boy who was occupied with grinding herbs for medicine. Yoon glanced up at the princess, before turning to his work with a determined smile on his lips.

"Yeah, I still haven't discovered the source. For now, I've given him medicine to reduce a fever. Right now it seems like a normal cold" Yoon explained, before scowling as he noticed Ao trying to shove an acorn into Kija's mouth. The white dragon choked on said acorn, but Azumi didn't bother to help him and instead laid the cloth on his forehead.

"It'll be fine, Yona dear. Kija has the vitality of a cockroach. We need to make sure you don't catch it," Jae-ha smiled reassuringly, turning to the redhead who frown nervously at him.

"A cockroach!?" Kija cried, spitting out the acorn before staring at Jae-ha in horror. Now that Azumi's duty was done, she leaned across the windowsill in the far corner and watched the movements of the soldiers in the distance. They had an organised mannerism to their movements that concerned Azumi greatly, for Soo-won was an unpredictable king who showed his ulterior motive at the last second. However, Soo-won wasn't the primary cause of concern, it was the Kai soldiers themselves. If Soo-won was as cunning as Azumi perceived him to be, this war was his, which meant the soldiers would retaliate and kill innocent people. Azumi almost felt a duty to help the future citizens of Kouka. However, she knew it wasn't her place anymore. After she rejected Soo-won, left her bodyguard position and banded with a group of outcasts, she lost her connection to the castle and the king.

"Azumi? Are you alright, my dear?" Jae-ha called, breaking Azumi out of her thoughts. Her eyelids fluttered as she glanced over to find the room devoid of any life except for the dragon. There was a sombre mood to the room that she instantly picked up on, so Azumi distanced herself from the wall and began towards the door.

"I'm fine, it is Kija we should be concerned about. However, I'll have to excuse myself-" Azumi began, only to be cut off by the hyperactive blonde that shot to his feet and instantly snatched up her hand.

"Wait, stay here!" Zeno demanded, squeezing her hand and staring at her seriously. Azumi frowned in confusion, glancing between the yellow dragon and his brothers.

"I thought..." Azumi muttered, words failing her as her gaze finally settled on Zeno.

"Someone needs to know" Zeno smiled brightly, making Azumi frown nervously but nod either way. Zeno dragged her over to the circle of dragons that surrounded the bedridden Kija, and she settled in between Zeno and Jae-ha.

"Well, then... Kija, how is your dragon arm?" Jae-ha spoke up once everyone was settled, making the white-haired male glanced up at the sudden question with a frown. Everyone stirred at the topic of the conversation, glancing at each other while Azumi watched curiously, not knowing what he was insinuating.

"My dragon arm...?" Kija asked slowly, just as confused as Azumi, who still felt like an outsider.

"Can you put your strength into it?" Jae-ha asked, his expression still calm while leaning back on his hands. Kija glanced down at the scaled hand that rested upon the blanket over him. His fingers twitched as he gazed down at them, before returning her gaze to the greenette.