Erased (Akatsuki no Yona X OC) Yona of the Dawn (COMPLETED)

Busted

"Again!"

"15 more!"

"Again!"

I've been training with Yona for about 4 hours. I'm honestly surprised no one has come to find us. We've been doing basic strength building skills with some combat training here and there. Yona looks like she's about to pass out. I told her to take a break but she stubbornly refused. Saying, 'I have to get stronger. I have to be able to fight.'

Yeesh, she's so annoying sometimes. And I mean that in the best friend way, of course.

Her determination to get stronger is admirable for sure. But you can't rush it. Getting strong takes time and getting injured from overworking yourself isn't going to help.

'It's getting dark out. We should head back.' I think, looking up at the sky. The moon's almost fully out. I don't know what it was, but the moon gave me an uneasy feeling. Maybe it wasn't the moon. I don't really know. Maybe it's just me. But, I feel like something big is about to happen.

I shrug it off and clap my hands, grabbing Yona's attention.

"Alrighty. That's enough for today. We should head back before they start to worry. You'll ride on my back on the way there. That way you'll have to time to not look so...sweaty." I say, crossing my arms.

"Can't we take a bath before we go there? I stink! They're gonna suspect something." Yona asks, crinkling her nose in disgust. I sigh, shaking my head. "There isn't anywhere to bathe for miles. You know that. But you're right, they suspect something. You stink." I tease, waving my hand in front of my face. "You didn't have to agree!" Yona yells. I chuckle, giving Yona a friendly smile.

"Don't worry about it, Yona. I gotcha covered!"

*Timeskip*

"Hm?"

"What's this?"

"Did I miss something?"

"Princess! Why are you so wet! Did something happen?!"

"You stink."

A chorus of words almost immediately swarm Yona and I when we get to camp.

"We just ran a few laps. Nothing too serious." I say with a smile, waving my hands in front of me.

"Princess! You mustn't overwork yourself! What if you got hurt?" Kija cries, swarming Yona. "I'm alright, Kija. It's not that big of a deal." Yona says.

"And why were you running, again?" Jea-Ha asks, crossing his arms. "Well, I was already running. Yona just wanted to join. And if you ask me, building up endurance wouldn't be the worst thing for her." I shrug. 'This is turning into a pile of lies.' I couldn't help but think. Sure, I felt bad for lying. But, like it or not, Yona needs to train. And they'll just try to talk her out of it.

"Then why does the Princess look like spaghetti?" Hak asks, chirping in, referring to Yona's tired form. 'Always so perceptive, stupid beast.' I irk, my eyebrow internally twitching. I know there's no way fooling Hak. But, Yona didn't seem to want to give up just yet.

"I had to carry some supplies away so the soldiers wouldn't find them." Yona says, stepping up. "Or...you know, you were training behind our backs." Hak suggests, walking right up to Yona intimidatingly. "Alright alright, maybe we did a little hand-to-hand combat training. It wasn't anything too serious just enough to make sure Yona can escape if we're not around." I admit. "That won't happen." Hak sneers. ", I would like to agree to that statement. But that just doesn't seem to be the case." I say back, remembering multiple occasions where Yona gets herself into trouble and no ones there to protect her.

"Even if something would happen to the Princess, we would know." Kija says, referring to the dragons and their weird psychic blood. "Just because you know something's wrong, doesn't mean you'll be able to be there. You could be busy with other enemies and not able to get to me." Yona argues.

"The training was harmless. All it was, was combat training if I ever needed to escape. I learned things that would've been helpful in many past occasions. Like with Kum-Ji. Or when bandits appeared on countless occasions. Or when I was lost in the caves before we met Shin-Ah. That training would have made everything much easier and safer." Yona snaps.

Hak grunts and grabs Yona's wrist, bringing her hands close to his face. "Really? Then what are these from?" He barks. The group leans in, looking at Yona's hands that are blistered from the sword training we did.

"Nothing! Stop!" Yona yells, pulling herself out of Hak's grip.

"What the hell have you been teaching her?" Hak snaps, glaring in my direction.

"The necessary." I answer, trying to stay calm. Two hotheads won't help deescalate the situation.

"Why? There is no reason! There are 4 dragons, and two warriors. There's no need for the Princess to burden herself." Hak says.

Anger started to bubble up inside of me. I understand that Hak doesn't want Yona in danger, I do. But, he needs to except that there's nothing he can do to prevent that from happening. It's going to happen and it has happened. She needs to be able to protect herself. Especially with her circumstances.

"You'd think that be the case, but apparently we have a knack at sucking at protecting her when it matters most." I say. "Besides, it doesn't hurt anyone to make sure the Princess has the skills to escape a dangerous situation. Like it or not Hak, she's going to get into trouble and you won't be able to save her. I understand you don't want her to get hurt, but she'd get even more hurt if she was left completely defenseless."

"Think about it, if Yona had basic knowledge on self defense, would she have come out of Kum-Ji's ship all beaten and battered? Would she had almost died when I almost failed to protect her?!?" I shout, glaring up at Hak with angry, yet scared eyes.

Multiple people in the group gasps. They now understood why I was so hell bent on training Yona.

I was scared.

Scared I won't be able to protect her.

Hak and I are in the same boat in a way. We're just choosing to handle it differently.

But, Hak's too mad to see anyone else's point of view.

'Calm down.'

I take a deep breathe, trying to calm myself down. I cross my arms and keep myself from punching some sense into Hak and close my eyes.

"It's not like we're sending her to the front lines or making her a soldier. We're just adding extra security as a safety precaution." I say with forced calmness.

Hak stares down at me, a mix of fear and anger swarming his eyes. Same as me.

He couldn't argue with my points. But that doesn't mean he still agrees with me.

'Don't say it, Yuri.' I think.

I feel my mouth start to open.

'It'll make things worse.'

'stop.'

"You're not her bodyguard anymore, Hak. Stop clinging onto the only thing you have left from the past and let her go."

A shadow is covering both mine and Hak's eyes.

Everyone's silent, not knowing what to do.

They know it's true. But everyone—including me—knows that was a low blow.

A sudden stinging sensation is felt on my cheek. My head to pushed to the side. The sound of a slap echoes through the quiet camp.

Everyone's eyes widen at Hak's sudden actions.

But, if you ask me, I deserved it.

"Hey—" Yoon tries to think of something to say that will calm down the situation. But his mind went a blank.

Blood started to slowly drip out of my mouth, causing a few people's eyes to widen. But no one dared to move. The air was stiff, keeping everyone's posture straight.

BOOM!!