Hana of the Dusk | Akatsuki no Yona

Chapter 16: Hakuryuu.

Yona had been learning archery since the day she got the approval from her sister. She had been practicing nonstop, shooting at least one hundred arrows a day. Even though Hana did not like the idea of Yona using a weapon at first, she'd been giving her lessons every day, supporting her sister endlessly. Hak, of course, helped her too, though he was more of a teacher who loved to see his student's struggle.

"We're close to the village now," Hana said.

Yun nodded, "we should be there soon."

Hana stopped walking when she didn't hear the sound of footsteps behind her that was supposed to be Yona's and Hak's. She turned around, to see them standing in front of a tree, an arrow in her sister's grasp.

"What are you doing?" Yun inquired.

Hak looked over his shoulder at Hana and Yun. "Yun, Hana, you go ahead first," he told them. Yona was still staring at the arrow in her hand. Hana assumed that she tried to shoot something earlier but it escaped.

"Sure, but you'd better come soon. We're nearly at the place Ik-soo mentioned," Hana said and continued down the path towards the village.

"Okay, we'll be there," Hak nodded.

Yun caught up to Hana, "you're not staying with them?"

Hana shook her head. "No. Let Hak have a moment alone with Yona."

"You're not bothered by that?"

Hana noticed how mist began to shroud the forest. Her eyes darted around her cautiously but still replied his question, "why would I?"

"Don't you like Hak?" Yun asked.

"What?" Hana's eye twitched as she looked at him incredulously. "Of course not. Hak's attractive and strong and caring—" she abruptly stopped herself and scrunched her nose up. "I can't believe I said that— don't tell him I said that. Anyways, I see him as my brother. I can't imagine being in love with him."

"But he seems to like you?" Yun frowned. "He flirts with you at any given chance."

Yun couldn't seem to comprehend their relationship. He was smart, but book-smart. Anything related to heart and feelings weren't something that he could learn from books. Ik-soo didn't talk much about it so there was nothing Yun could learn from the priest either. Besides, there wasn't any specific girl Yun liked in his village, so he was nothing but clueless.

"You're not looking closer. Hak has a crush on my sister," Hana stated like it was the most obvious thing ever. "He flirts with me in front of Yona to see her reaction. Which has been underwhelming for him. Poor guy."

"That's weird. I was sure he liked you. I mean, he called your name when he's not even conscious, he said he ignored other girls while you're gone because he's loyal to you."

"And you believed him? Hak is a troll, Yun," she rolled her eyes playfully. "He ignored those girls because he was loyal to Yona, not me."

Hana halted all of a sudden in the middle of the forest, hand resting on the hilt of a blade on her back. The mist was so thick here that they could barely see their surroundings anymore.

Yun also froze in place after seeing her on guard.

"What's wrong?" Yun whispered.