A/N: This is my very first fanfiction, and writing this fic brought me so many smiles. Since the manga is moving a bit too slow in the romance department, as a Hak x Yona shipper, I took it upon myself to make things happen :D Thank you so much to my dear friend, Blu, that proved to be my writing inspiration. Thanks a mill chick ;)
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Akatsuki No Yona.
CHAPTER 1
"I still can't believe the inn owner allowed us to stay, no questions asked." Yun said in slight disbelief. "Not that I'm complaining."
"Mmm, yes indeed. It really would be refreshing to rest somewhere that caters to my delicate beauty. It's such a shame I've been neglecting it for so long. Being on the road for a long time like this has really taken a toll on my beautiful skin and face." Jae-ha said with a sigh.
"A bath will brighten it right back up. Wouldn't you agree, Kija?" he whimsically said, glancing at Kija's ever so slightly haggard face.
Exhausted more than he led on, the white dragon mumbled an agreeable response, eyes fixed on the path the Happy Hungry Bunch were wearily walking on.
"I couldn't agree with you more, Jae-ha." Yona chimed in, eyes sparkling at the prospect of a long overdue and well deserved bath just moments away.
"All this walking and running and hiding and fighting really does have an effect after a while..." She giggled then. "Even though we've been roughing it for a while now, wasn't it all worth it, to see the look on the villagers' faces when we showed up?"
The group murmured in agreement at that.
"I'll say. Who knows what would've happened if we didn't show up when we did. Those bandits were well on their way to completely taking over the village." Yun recalled with disgust. "The women, their businesses, even the children were taken. Ugh. Those bandits got what they deserved."
"I couldn't agree with you more. It was kinda nice teaching those thugs a good lesson." said Hak, a wicked smirk spreading across his face.
"Hahaha! Mister and Hakuryuu had lots of fun!" Zeno laughed, throwing an arm around Hak and Kija's shoulders. "You two moved so fast, Zeno couldn't keep track of who took down more!"
"Of course I did Zeno. It goes without saying." the White Dragon said with pride, forgetting his fatigue, standing tall and strong.
"Oh really? If I recall, White Snake, weren't you the one that was scared to even enter the battle because of an itty bitty rattle snake?" Hak taunted, quirking an eyebrow.
"Wha?!" came the flustered response.
"Honestly White Snake. Being the Snake of Legend, you should be more eager to embrace your relatives. No matter how distant they are." Hak commenced his whistling then.
"H-h-h-how was I supposed to know when I came into the forest the snake would fall from the tree and land on me?!" he yelled, face red with indignation.
"The snake was pretty big too an- I AM NOT A SNAKE AND THEY ARE NOT MY RELATIVES! HOW DARE YOU!" He readied his Dragon Claw.
"Now now, Kija, take it easy. Don't take Hak too seriously. You'll give yourself an aneurysm." Big Brother Jae-ha managed over the others' snickering. He caught Hak's eyes, and stifled his own laughter then.
"...Look..." Shin-ah softly spoke, pointing somewhere ahead. "The inn is just a few metres away..."
"Pukyuu!" Ao squeaked in agreement, chewing the white fur on his head.
"Really?! No way!" Yona beamed. "Come on everyone! Let's pick up the pace!"
"Yes Princess. I'm coming, I'm coming." Hak said as she tugged him along.
"I can hardly wait till its time to eat! Food!" Zeno said with hearts in his eyes, bounding faster to catch up.
"Sigh. Let's hurry up before he eats everything and forgets all about the rest of us. Man, what a pain." Yun grumbled, trudging along.
The remaining dragons looked at each other, shrugged and picked up the pace.
A warm reception awaited the bunch, much to their merriment. The inn owner, a sweet old lady with the warmest smile, made advanced preparations for their arrival and there was certainly nothing lacking.
Upon their arrival, the help - more like a beautiful bevy of over eager dragon enthusiasts - greeted them with bright smiles, shining eyes, tight embraces and all the swooning they could bear.
"Kyaa! Oh my! You've gotten even more handsome than the last time I saw you! How is it even possible!" a brown haired girl fawned over Jae-ha, instantly lifting his spirits.
"Wow, how cute! He's almost as cute as you..." a red headed beauty cooed at Shin-ah, latching onto his arm while reaching for Ao.
"This hair! This face! This sophisticated charm! Kyaa! I can't stand it!" a green eyed blonde literally draped herself across Kija, much to his bewilderment.
"Sunshine and Smiles! I missed you so! Life has been so grey without you around! I'm so happy to see you again!" a beauty with dark hair tightly embraced Zeno, tucking a flower into his hair.
"Tall, dark, rugged and manly. Everything I've been missing since you went away...It's nice to see you again, Gorgeous..." a dark eyed, dark haired flirt purred at Hak, walking her fingers along his arm. "Let's make up for lost time, ne?"
Yun stared flatly at the scene unfolding in front of him. Before a retort got to leave his lips, the sweet looking inn owner beat him to it.
"And what do you ladies think you are doing?! Is this anyway to greet our guests?! Honestly! I trusted that you were familiar with the way things worked around here!" she ranted, with a voice clearly not suited to her body.
"Food first, flirt after! Didn't your mothers teach you that?! You can't land a husband if he's dead on his feet! How do you expect them to stay strong and valiant if they have no food in their bellies?! Mae-su! Quickly! Ready the treats!"
After a few moments of chaos, commotion and barked out orders...
"Welcome! Welcome! Please enjoy your stay!" they all bowed respectfully to their guests, warm smiles spread across their faces.
Seven sweatdrops was their reply.
"Come now! You must be tired from your lengthy journey. Please! Rest! Eat! Make yourselves at home! Mae-su, our cook, has laid out a feast for you to enjoy. Now, we don't want it to go to waste." the old lady said, ushering them into a room off the side of the entry way.
There, laid out on a large pine table, was platter upon platter of sumptuous meats, succulent seafood, steaming tea and mouth watering desserts. It was a sight to behold, worthy of inducing tears...which in Zeno's case, it did.
"Wow! This all looks so good!" Yona chirped. "But we should probably take a bath first. I mean, we-"
Her words froze up under the menacing eye of the sweet old lady.
"Oh come now, my dear. I insist. We don't want all this to get cold now, do we?" she said, as she seemingly loomed over the bunch with a glint in her eye.
"...heh heh heh...I suppose not...heh heh. Mae-su sure must've went through a lot of work to put all of this together." Yona replied, rubbing the back of her head. "It won't hurt if we bathe after a home cooked meal. Thank you so much for your kind hospitality."
"Thank you for the food!" the Happy Hungry Bunch merrily said, bowing graciously before launching their attack on the once neatly arrayed buffet.
"You're welcomed! You're welcomed! Hahaha! After your meal, Kita will show you to your designated rooms. Please stay as long as you like. You will always be welcomed here, no matter what. So please, enjoy your stay."