Chapter Seven: Memories and discussions

There was a silence after Ayura and Tetora had made their true intentions known. Normally, if it was just the group, they would have agreed right off the bat. No hesitation. Or, at least, Yona would have agreed without hesitation. If only because Lilli was a near and dear friend, and the others would have followed with whatever Yona decided to do.

In fact, Yona opened her mouth almost immedtaley, ready to help out her friend as she had promised when they last departed, but then hesitated as she remembered Tian's own predicament with the Kai empire, which the country of Sei boarded. The red haired girl closed her mouth, adapting a more serious and inquisitive expression as she tilted her head towards Tian, gauging her expression and reaction. Yona wanted to know what Tian would want to do. What would make Tian most comfortable. Before Yona made any sort of decision. After all, the stakes were way higher for Tian in this situation than they were for anyone else, since the Kai empire still had that bounty on Tian's head. Now that Tian was once again a part of the group, and it looked like she wasn't planning on leaving again anytime soon, Yona felt they needed to do whatever would make Tian feel most comfortable.

Tian stiffened as soon as she had learned the news. She could feel not just Yona's eyes, but everyone's eyes were on her, but she wasn't afraid. Not necessarily, anyways. She was more... Uncertain. She knew how close Ka and Sei were to each other. Not just in proximity with one another as far as land goes, but with politics as well. They were allies, though she wasn't sure how strong that alliance really was. True, Sei had given some of it's land to Kouka, as a peace agreement with King Soo-Won, and some of their precious crop a while back, but she had also heard rumors of Sei and Kai working together, and how they were building stronger relations with one another as of late. If any of those rumors were true, then if anyone recognized her in Sei, it wouldn't be a far stretch to say they'd hand her over to the Kai empire, where she would surely be executed for not only escaping their slave work, but freeing other potential slaves as well.

Tian knew that if it was up to her, and it was just herself, she would play it safe, and not go. However, she was now back with Yona and company, which made whatever decision she made, have draw backs as well. Staying in Kouka, and playing it safe, would be the best option for Tian, but Lilli was also a close friend of Yona and company. Or so Tian deducted, otherwise why would these two, the personal bodyguards of this Lady Lilli, go so out of their way to find and try to convince Yona and the others to help? Tian didn't want to be the reason they couldn't do as they really wished. At the same time, however, if Tian was caught, and turned over, Yona and company would also be turned over. Guilty by association. The last thing Tian wanted was for any of them to be in danger because of her own actions. She didn't want anyone, especially them, to be in harms way, or be in danger, because of her own actions.

"Is there something we should know about?" Tetora asked tentatively when the silence dragged on for too long. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she tilted her head slightly. The pause had become too long for her to be comfortable with, and since most of the company before them was looking at the dark haired newcomer, who looked contemplative and serious, she knew there was something wrong, and it had to do with the newcomer.

"If there's a problem, please let us know." Ayura came right behind her companion, looking up.

"Exactly. If there's a problem, and you guys can't help, please let us know. If we can't fix it, perhaps we can figure something out." If Tetora sounded like she was pleading, begging, she didn't exactly care. She was desperate to do something, anything, to help and protect her Lady Lilli.

"Well, we need to do what makes Tian most comfortable. She's wanted by the Kai Empire, and since Sei is so close to Kai..." Yona replied, glancing at Tian, and then at Tetora and Ayura with an apologetic expression, hoping they would understand.

"I... We don't want to put her in a dangerous position if we can prevent it." Jae-Ha quickly spoke up, putting a hand firmly on Tian's shoulder.

Tian jumped a little at the action, her heart rate increasing, but then quickly relaxed, glancing at his hand, and then at him with a tiny grin and a nod to let him know it was alright to have his hand there. She knew he most likely placed it there to put her at ease, and she appreciated that gesture. She reached up, and gripped the tips of his fingers, and then closed her eyes as she took a deep breath, held it for a moment, and let it go slowly, relaxing herself as she decided how to word what she wanted to say. She opened her eyes, looking at her feet, and then squeezed the tips of Jae-Ha's fingers just a little tighter before relaxing them, and then looked forward at the two hopeful expressions on the two women.

"You two obviously care and love this Lilli. Otherwise, why would you have gone through all this trouble to look for them. Yona obviously feels a closeness with this Lilli. You guys have worked together, and trust each very much. I know how much Yona wants to help. I can see it written all over her face. I don't want to be the reason that she can't do something to help someone she cares about. I know the feeling of wanting to do anything and everything you can to help someone you love and cherish very much. I also know how devastating it can feel to know that you were unable to help that person when they needed you most, and for whatever reason you were asked to help, and were unable to do so. I don't want any of them to feel that way, especially when they've been so good to me." Tian took another breath, and then glanced at Yona, who was looking at her with wide eyes, looking surprised, but thankful at the same time. Tian smiled softly." I can handle myself no matter what happens. If I suspect anything is amiss, I don't want you guys to be dragged into my mess. So, I'm warning you all right here, right now, I will run, and get attention away from you guys if I think anything is wrong, or someone suspects or recognizes me. I don't want you guys to be dragged into my mess." She looked at everyone with a hard expression, making sure they understood.

Everyone gave a soft nod understanding her take on things, and what she was trying to get across. Hak even seemed a little impressed and thankful that she said what she said. Tian looked at Jae-Ha, who looked more hesitant. She gave him a harder expression, nodding her head slightly. He looked at her, trying to get her to understand his view without saying anything, but he could see she wasn't budging on this decision. He knew that his blood would first dictate Yona's safety first before anyone else's safety and needs, and he knew that Tian understood that as well. He hesitated, but nodded anyways.

"So... What are you trying to say?" Tetora asked softly. Tian glanced at her through the corner of her eyes, and then back at Yona.

"What I'm trying to say is that I'll go along with whatever you decide." She said softly and firmly. Yona smiled widely, and then took a breath as she took another moment to decide. She then nodded, and looked at the two women before them.

"Ok. We'll help." She said softly. The two women grinned, standing back on their feet.

"Great! Let's go to her right away." Tetora said simply, excitedly, turning on her heels,a nd started walking. Ayura nodded, standing up.

"Who knows what she might do before we can stop her." She said simply. Yona smiled, walking behind the two women, she glanced at Tian, who had already started walking.

"Thank you." She said simply. Tian looked at her, and smiled softly.

"No problem." She said simply, looking forward as they followed after the two women.

They walked the few hours distance to where Lady Lilli was currently staying in the Water Tribe capital of Sensui. On the way there, Tian learned quickly of Lady Lilli's status as the water cheif's rather impulsive daughter, which is why she was wanting so badly help out the situation with the water tribe.

As they came closer to Lilli's proximity, and were able to take in the situation just from eye view alone, Tian was able to get a better idea of what this girl was all about, or at least from just what she could gleam by looking at the young lady.

Tian's first impression of Lilli was a bit mixed. She looked young, probably around Yona's age, about sixteen or seventeen years old. She had dark blue eyes that looked rather annoyed as she seemed to be walking away from a very flustered looked solider, perhaps a guard. She had long black hair that went to the ends of her shoulder blades, and half of it was tied in a half ponytail held up by some jeweled, flower hair ornament. Two, long, thick strands of hair were thrown over each shoulder, held with a long ribbon on each side, otherwise seemed to flow free in her front. She was wearing a plain white robe under a skirt that was tied above her chest. The skirt was tied with a ribbon, and the ribbon stopped just a few inches above her robe's bottom hemline. From just a passing glance, Tian wasn't exactly sure what to think of her. She was young, seemed pretty, but also looked rather stubborn, if the exasperated expression of the solider, and her annoyed expression, was anything to go by.

Only a few moments passed before anyone felt the need to speak up. It was Tetora that spoke up, giggling as she did so. Tian wondered if such a scene was rather common, since Tetora looked so comfortable with the scene, as if it were an every day thing.

"Oh ho, Lady Lilli. We can't relax for even a second around you." Tetora called out in a teasing tone, a grin on her face. The voice of Tetora made the gril freeze up. Lilli seemed to relax after a moment, turning her head with a soft grin on her face.

"So you're back, Tetora..." She said softly, but her face immediately froze upon seeing that it was not only her two bodyguards, but Yona and her crew, plus one new member, that had come to greet her as well. They all stood with grins on their faces. Her face seemed to drop all color, surprise perhaps, and her eyes widened.

"We'll give you guys some time to talk. Looks like Lilli may need a moment." Jae-Ha said simply, putting a hand on Tian's shoulder, and leading her towards a little pond that was filled with fish.

"Yeah. We'll come in a little bit." Yona said simply, the others following after her.

"It's filled with Koi fish." Tian happily said, kneeling in front of the pond.

Zeno smiled widely, dipping his fingers in, and watching with seemingly childish amusement as the fish gathered around his fingers, paused for a moment,and then swam away. Yun leaned over the pond, trying to gather the fishes attention, but as annoyed when Zeno yelled about seeing some turtles, scaring the fish away. Yona, Kija, and Shin-Ah were leaned over on the other side of the pond, looking at the fish that gathered around them. Hak and Jae-Ha stood up a little but away, smiling as they looked at the scene.

"Didn't think you had such childish excitement in you, Tian." Hak teased Tian, who was still smiling as she tried to beckon some turtles towards her. She looked up, rolling her eyes slightly.

"Turtles are kinda cute." She said simply, making Jae-Ha chuckle slightly. Tian looked at him with a deadpan expression, eyebrows raised."Something wrong with that?" She questioned. Jae-Ha softened his expression, and shook his head.

"Not at all." He said simply. Tian smiled, and then looked back at the turtles and the fish.

"I'm going to see if there's some way I can convince Lilli not to be so difficult. Maybe she needs to hear from me that we don't have a problem. She'll back down,and be less stubborn if it's me, I'm sure." Yona said quickly, standing up, and walking towards where the three ladies currently were.

Tian watched the scene carefully, standing up, and dusting herself off, and then walked over to where Jae-Ha was, and stood beside him, arms crossed over her chest. The others also stood around them, watching the scene to watch would happen next. Tian watched with slight amusement as Lilli looked a bit depressed,a nd teared up, turned bright red with embarrassment, scowled, and yelled Ayura's name one moment, and then teared up with wide eyes as Yona patted her head, smiling softly. Then, Lilli seemed to straighten out, looking a bit more serious. They spoke for a few more moments, and then Yona turned to look at the anxiously awaiting group, and gestured for them to follow, which they did with curiosity filling them as they walked into the lavish villa.

"Merchants from Sei are smuggling in Nadai?" Tian questioned in a hard, flat tone the moment Lilli revealed the information. There was a bit of ice in her tone as she knew all too well what Nadai did to a person, especially after witnessing and taking it herself during her imprisonment at that slave camp. She wasn't pleased that such a thing was going on, and was even a little angry and incised about such information, but she tried to keep it contained. Tian understood now why Lilli wanted to go to Sei. This was her home, and she was trying to protect her land and people from such a dangerous drug.

"I'm afraid so." She spoke softly, but it was obvious how displeased she was as her arms crossed over chest defensively, her body half turned from the group."No matter how much Nadai is destroyed in Sensui, more just keeps popping up." She sounded so frustrated as she spoke, but Tian understood the annoyance."The trade route from South Kai should already be severed. I asked some merchant in Sensui to ask around just in case, and there's rumors that merchants from Sei are selling Nadai to the water tribe in the black market." Lilli paused long enough for Yona to speak in a quiet, but firm voice as she tried to process the information.

"Black Market?" She questioned, not understanding what it was exactly.

"It's where people take things that are illegal, and sell them to those that are interested." Tian explained. Yona nodded, and then Lilli nodded, but she didn't seem to understand what was going on around her, and then continued after a few moments.

"The other thing is, there have been multiple cases of people going missing on the boarder between Kouka and Sei." This seemed to stop all conversation for a moment as Tian tensed up. Lilli looked around the room."What's going on?" She questioned, sounding a bit impatient.

"That's... A little scary." Yun said, a sweat drop going down his face. Lilli looked at Tian, whose arms were crossed as a heavy expression came over her face.

"Do you have something to say?" She questioned. Tian's eyes clouded over for a moment, her mind slipping into memories,and then sighed as she looked up.

"So... It's happening again?" Tian questioned, leaning forward, a hand covering the lower half of her face. Lilli's eyebrows drew together, waiting for Tian to continue on." It happened before. When I was living in the Earth Tribe Territory. That's how I met Yona, since they helped out a bit with that situation, especially after I got caught up in it, but I thought... Maybe it had ceased... Though...No, I suppose I knew that they would continue on... Somewhere else... I had hoped..." Tian sighed as her voice trailed off, shook her head, looking at Lilli with a much more serious expression. She didn't want open that can of worms without first knowing everything that Lilli had to say first. Then, she would put her information in if it was needed."Don't mind me. Continue on." Lady Lilli seemed recalculant, but nodded after a moment, and carried on.

"I see. So, it's undeniable that Sei is defiantly planning something suspicious. If we just leave it alone, the water tribe will face danger, yet again. I want to stop that from happening no matter what." She spoke so firmly, so passionately, and the worst thing? Tian understood all too well where the younger girl was coming form. That's exactly what she wanted back then... To stop the evil from spreading... Hak brought the tension up by laughing, which seemed to annoy Lilli."Hey you, why are you laughing?" She questioned, annoyed. Hak grinned as he spoke.

"Ah, no. Sorry." But it didn't sound convincing in the least bit,as it was obvious he was till holding back some laughter. He looked at Tian, as if to say this sounded all too familiar, but then looked at Yona." I just thought the second princess has arrived." He teased, which made Yona frown.

"Hak." She spoke firmly, her eyebrows drawn together, but it didn't seem to faze Hak as he still looked at her with that teasing grin of his.

"It must be really tiring for you." Jae-Ha whispered at Tetora, looking at her. Tetora nodded.

"It really is." She replied, but it was with a small smile on her face, and was said with affection.

"Tetora!" Lady Lilli called out, embarrassed and not understanding the loving sentiment behind it. Tian couldn't help but let out a soft, gentle laugh.

"Lilli, we will defiently help you out." Yona said in firmly, smiling at Lilli, who seemed taken a back.

"Yona..." She said softly.

"I will go with you too!" Kija called out, and everyone nodded in agreement.

"So, tomorrow, let's go to the town along the boarder and investigate first." Jae-Ha replied.

"Right. I think you guys could use a rest. Follow me, and I'll show you all where you can rest." Ayura said, taking the lead as the others followed to where they would be resting for the time being.

Tian waited around in the halls just a bit longer, even longer than Yona, who was stopped out of earshot by Tetora for a moment, both of them seemingly having a serious discussion before they moved on. Tian watched the scene the entire time, but wasn't interested in what they were saying. She stayed watching the spot for a few more moments, and then sighed heavily as she lowered herself to the ground, and sat with her face in her hands.

Her eyes clouded over as she retreated back into her memories. The slave camp. The sounds. The smells. The taste of the Nadai laced wine. How she feared for her safety, her life, nearly every day. The sting of the whip on her skin. Hearing the tortured screams of those being punished for one reason or another. The smell of copper-salt of blood as it not only seeped into her skin from holding her dearest friend, who was injured and dying, but from her own wounds again. The feel of his skin go cold against her own skin. The feelings of despair, and loss, and grief that she would never forget no matter how old she would live to be, and feelings she wished never to experience again. Was she really prepared to go through that, or more, again?

"I know this will be hard for you." Tian looked through her fingers at Jae-Ha, who leaned against the wall as he looked at her. She felt momentarily surprised. She hadn't expected him to come to her."Aren't you still wanted?" He questioned. Tian sighed, shrugging slightly.

"Yeah." She said simply, sighing. Jae-Ha paused, glancing at her. He then sat on the ground next to her, and put an arm around her, bringing her to him. Tian sighed, dropping her hands from her face, relaxing her legs out, and leaning her head against his shoulder. He then began to gently caress her hair in an attempt to relax her.

"There's more to this." He said simply, looking down at her. Tian nodded,and then shrugged.

"It just... Brings back so many memories. Things I didn't want to remember ever again." She whispered softly, closing her eyes. Jae-Ha sighed, leaning his head atop of her head.

"I know. I figured this would probably be hard on you. You don't have to come along with us, ya know. You could stay,and be safe. If it would help, I would-"

"No. I already agreed to come along, and besides..." Tian opened her eyes, and looked at Jae-Ha." You're a dragon warrior. Your duty is first to Yona. Besides, I have information that could be of use. I was involved with this way back then, and whatever information I have, I want to give it if it can be useful. Yona wants to do this for her friend. Yona checked to make sure it was alright with me, and I said I would go along with whatever she decided. I can't back down now. I just... Need to have a few moments to get over this, and I'll be alright."

"Are you sure?" He questioned, looking back at her. Tian smiled a thin smile, and nodded.

"Yeah." She said softly. Jae-Ha nodded, kissing the top of her head before leaning his head back against the wall as both of them fell into silence.

He would sit here with her, even in silence, until she felt alright again. If she had to, he would stay behind where she felt safe and comfortable. He would be here for her, if she needed him, because he wanted to do that for her. Because as much as he cared for Yona, and how much he knew he was duty bound to her, he knew Tian would need him much more,and that felt almost as important as anything Yona would need from him. For as long as Tian wanted him to be there, that is.