YONHASHI (ON HOLD)

chapter three

:RAINE:

It's been three days since my argument with Adolas. I haven't been to Lower Azcher since that night, but I have seen the twins. They came late into the night after my argument with Adolas, which I suppose I should be thankful for.

Azcherem is a diverse city. It hosts other races like the Kunyuli, the Tixans, and the Hasch, among others. I have seen others of Kunyuli descent, but none like the twins. Not many like me and my grandmother. The Kunyuli are traditional people, superstitious people. We still are, but none abide by our Kunyuli traditions like the twins. I don't know what it is, but they feel different than others I've met.

I sigh, taking a sip of my tea. My grandmother was out, talking with a few of her friends. She'd taken a break from work today, upon my request. It had taken three tries, but she had finally given in last night. I didn't want her to work in this condition, not when she was so affected by the coming Dragon Hunt.

I peer out my window to see a group of men lugging a huge, covered weapon down the street. I furrow my brows. I still don't know why they're expending such costs on an unreliable hunt. It just doesn't make any sense.

I sigh again, turning back to the table. Honestly, why is Adolas so obsessed with the dragons? They're gone, everyone knows that, and the government is a puzzle, meaning that the hunt could be for a different move entirely. He could be walking right into a trap.

"A trap," I say aloud, furrowing my brows. "What would they need one?" I set my cup of tea down, and recline back, stretching my arms above my head like a cat. When I open my eyes again, I realise that Yang is standing right in front of me, face just inches away, with no signs of his brother. I let out an embarrassingly high-pitched yelp, falling back over the side of the chair. He holds back a snicker, and I glare at him, flipping him off when he holds out a hand to me.

"Woah! Scary Fang," he pouts, to which I continue glaring as I stand and brush myself off.

"What do you want," I say, the words coming out as more of a demand than a question.

The white-haired boy gives me an easy smile, placing his palms on the table and leaning back. "Adolas is leaving tomorrow. Figured you'd wanna see him off," he answers, getting straight to the point. I blink. Well, that's a punch to the face.

I don't speak for a moment, knowing better than to deny to one of the twins that I would want to. An argument with one of them would be in vain.

"Wheres Yin?" I question, breaking the silence that has built between us. For a moment, I swear Yang's smile falters, but it returns to normal in less than a second.

"Talking to Adolas. We're not always together, y'know," he grumbles, and I raise an unimpressed brow. He sighs, rolling his head and eyes. "Okay, maybe we are, but it's not like we're attached at the hip."

I crack a smile, folding my arms. "Really? I kind of thought you guys were, when we first met. Never left each other's sights."

"We did!"

"Did not."

"Do you think we went to relieve ourselves together?"

I make a thinking face, tapping my chin in mock thought. "Actually, if I can recall correctly, you two did go together," I smirk, eyes bright. Yang groans, signifying his loss for this round.

"Whatever, I got the job done. Run fast if you wanna say your farewells," Yang reminds me, tone grave. I blink, and when my eyes next open, he's gone.

Just how the hell does he do that?

>>>

Sometimes I regret the choices I make, sometimes I don't.

This is one of the times that I regret.

It's not the bustle of the fish market, not the rude people pushing into me, or even the disgusting smell. Those aren't my true regrets, the reason for the pang in my heart.

My best friend is leaving today. It's a fact that kept me up all of last night, despite my continuous attempts to smother any thoughts of the redhead. As much as I'd hate to admit it, I'd always held onto the delusion that we would never leave each other, that we would always be by each others' sides.

Maybe this was the world's way of crushing my fantasies. Or maybe Adolas just had enough of this, with no way to chase his dreams, or even form a new one. Not in the streets of Lower Azcher.

I sigh, clenching my fists in my jacket pocket. Why was I even here? I'd convinced my grandmother to take a break again today, and we don't need fish for our dinner. I have no reason to be here, really, since I wasn't buying anything.

I turn and began to make my way to Lower Azcher, knowing that even a terse goodbye would be better than nothing, better than regretting this day my entire life. I know myself well enough to know how it will go if I don't bid him goodbye, at least. Know myself well enough to know that I'll be wrecked without it.

I kick a stone, cursing myself for walking here. "Honestly, Raine, of all the places, you had to choose the fish market..."

"Um, excuse me, miss, but are you talking to yourself?" a sweet voice comes from behind me. I keep walking, assuming they're talking to somebody else. "Um, miss?" A hand reaches out and finds itself on my shoulder, causing me to jolt and smack it as I turn, surprised. Shocked blue eyes meet my equally shocked green ones.

My breath catches when I take in his face. He's blonde, the dirty kind, but everything else, from his eyebrow shape down to his lips and face shape...It's identical to Adolas' features. What in the living hell?

People with similar faces and traits exist, I know that, it's a common fact. But it's not very common for someone to look so much like your best friend, features matching them like Yin and Yang's features match each other. And it's not very common to meet them on the day that the aforementioned best friend leaves on a dangerous and stupid journey. It's almost like a slap to the face, except his eyes look too innocent to harm even the most annoying fly.

Okay, so maybe their eyes aren't the same. Adolas is far from innocent, and even further from pacifism.

"Miss?" he repeats, making me realise that I've been staring.

"Ah," I say, rubbing my eyes before blinking and looking at him again, disbelieving of his features. "Who are you?"

"Kydol Baudelaire, miss."

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WORD COUNT: 1152

I'm so sorry, this was quite the boring chapter. I've been distracted these past two weeks, please believe me when I say the next chapter will be better!!! But I didn't wanna be late so teehee

Question: Who do you think this blonde Adolas-lookin-ass is

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