.one.

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"I just...I feel so much jealousy in my heart and I don't want to feel that. He's my brother, and I love him. But I just can't help but think that life has always been unfair to me. And just when something good comes our way, Soo Hyun gets the best part of it."

-

fifteen years later in japan, after the events in the courtyard.

For fifteen years, prince Wang Han and Soon Deok managed to keep themselves and their family hidden from the rest of the world. They got by on vegetables and fruit they planted, animals they hunted in the forest, and Soon Deok taught the children how to read and write. About once a month, Han would go into the village in disguise. Even though they were in Japan, he didn't want to risk anyone recognizing him and word getting back to the king. But he'd go to the village to drop off and pick up letters that he'd write to his brother Baek-ah.

He knew that it was risky, but it was a way to keep updated on what was happening in the palace. The eleventh prince had learned that Yo's rule only lasted about three years. That was when the guilt had finally consumed him for murdering his younger brother Eun who was innocent the whole time. After Yo, So was the next one in line to take over the throne. Han had no problem with his brother So, and later wrote letters to him as well. But he head heard from Baek-ah that Yeon Hwa and So had gotten married and that she was going to bear him a child. With children of his own, and his brother's children to take care of, he knew Yeon Hwa would stop at nothing and get anyone out of the way to get her child on the throne.

So was king for ten years, yet Han did not move the family back to Goryeo. Soon Deok still did not trust that they would be safe there, and she had promised her sister that she would keep the children safe.

But Han was starting to think that maybe they should take the children back to their original home. He had heard from Baek-ah that So had gotten their homes rebuilt to look exactly as they were before that fateful day so long ago. And the children had never seen any other human beings other than each other, Han and Soon Deok. The two parent figures were starting to worry for their mental health and their thoughts. Since they only ever saw each other, Han was starting to see the way his daughter Hei Ran and nephew Jin Ki were just a little too close with one another.

In Goryeo it wasn't uncommon for two siblings to get married, let alone two cousins. But he didn't want that for hid daughter. He wanted to give her the possibility of choosing, seeing other people. In the jungles of Japan, they had no one else to interact with.

But after So's passing, Han put off their moving to Goryeo off once more. That was when So's son with Yeon Hwa took control of the throne. There were no other people in line for the crown now, other than Han, Jung, and Baek-ah. Han was hiding out in Japan, Jung had given up his prince title to spend his time in the military full time, and Baek-ah was not allowed to be king due to a law Yo had passed during his reign, where sons or daughters of fallen nations could not rise to the throne. Wook had passed away from an illness, and Won had been killed in prison for his crimes.

That only left So's son to take over. But he was just a little boy controlled by his mother. And his reign didn't last long anyway.

Two years into his reign the child passed away, as did his mother, and most other nobles of Goryeo due to an epidemic that spread through their nation. Han thought to himself that it was probably a punishment for them, to cleanse the royals because of what they did to Eun. Only Baek-ah and Jung survived. And since neither of them could be king, the thirteenth prince was quick to write his brother a letter.

In the letter he explained that Soo Hyun was next in line for the throne. At twenty years old, he had long since passed marriage age, and was not even remotely ready to be king. But Baek-ah promised to train him with the help of Ji Mong who came back when he heard that the throne was in jeopardy.

Han and Soon Deok were hesitant.

Would the people even accept Soo Hyun as their king? He was handsome, charismatic, strong, likeable. But he had never been around other people before and that was likely to work against him. The couple talked about it for days when they heard the news, and Baek-ah had asked them to please hurry because there was word that some members of a surviving noble family wanted to take the throne from the Wangs.

Soon Deok had reminded Han that it was always written in the stars. It was Soo Hyun's destiny to be king. They couldn't take something like that from him just because they wanted to keep him safe. If he was going to be safe, it would happen in Japan or in Goryeo. The worst of it had already passed and they couldn't continue hiding forever.

They then talked about it with the children, who were not so much children anymore. The twins were both twenty. Jinki was seventeen, Hei Ran was sixteen, Ara and Eun Ji were both fourteen. They explained that they had been in hiding the entire time they were there, but that things were safe now and that it was time to go home. They had also explained to Soo Hyun that he would be living separate from his siblings and from them. He would be living in the palace because it was his destiny to become king of their nation. It had come as a shock to Soo Hyun, and he didn't want to leave his family. But Han asked him to understand that he had to think about his people too. He would have to take care of them like they were his family.

Jin Ki couldn't help but feel jealous of his older brother. Soo Hyun was taller, more handsome, in good health. Soo Hyun was also smart and did well in their academics. He was also incredibly optimistic and smart. Then there was Jin Ki who would be on the verge of death from even a mere cold. He always knew he was the lesser of the two and he always thought he would most likely die young. He wanted the life that his brother had. He wanted to be the well liked one, the important one for once.

But those kinds of things only happened for Soo Hyun.

On the night before they were to move back to Goryeo, Jin Ki sat on the porch of their tree house by himself. As the children got older, they were able to expand the house into the other surrounding trees, since there were more hands to help with construction. By then, Jin Ki had his own room in his own tree, separate from his siblings and his parents, who were actually his aunt and uncle. But he and his siblings had taken to calling them mom and dad because they had been the ones to take care of them all those years.

He turned his head slightly when he heard the noise of someone climbing into his porch. A small smile broke out onto his face as he noticed it was Hei Ran. He was the one person he could never get annoyed at because she had always been there for him. When he was sick and bedridden over the summer and it was humid and sticky, and the others went down to the lake for a swim, Hei Ran was the only one who stayed by his side the entire time.

Jin Ki considered her his closest friend, his guardian angel.

"What are you doing sitting out here by yourself? You'll catch a cold." She scolded him as she plopped down on the wooden porch next to him. Their feet dangled off the edge and they could see down into the dark forest floor. But they were not allowed to leave the house after dark because Han warned there were dangerous animals lurking in the forest.

Jin Ki scoffed at her words. "When do I not have a cold, really?"

Hei Ran giggled at at in agreement. "I guess you're right."

The seventeen year old then blew a raspberry at her in retaliation. "You're not supposed to agree with me."

She responded with a shrug of her shoulders. "You said it, not me."

There was the slightest moment of silence between them before he broke it with a sigh. His good mood was now gone and was making way for the things that were really bothering him. He knew he could always be himself around her, and he could always tell her when something was wrong.

"I was just thinking about what eomma and appa said to Soo Hyun today." He explained to her with slumped shoulders.

"Ah." She nodded, remembering the conversation as well. It had come as a surprise to all of them. "That's funny how we all lived out here in the forest, unaware that we were in hiding, when appa is a prince, and that makes us all princes and princesses."

"And Soo Hyun will be king." Jin Ki pointed out.

Again, she nodded in agreement with his words. For the moment, she seemed to be oblivious to the hints of resentment in his voice. She was more cheerful that they would finally get to leave the forest and see other people. It was a nice bonus that they were all royals and would be treated as such when they returned to their real home. But she wondered who or what they had been hiding from in the first place. Her parents never told them that.

"He'll make an excellent king." She said with a smile. "Soo Hyun has always been such a kind and gentle person."

By his side, Jin Ki's hand balled up into a fist. He really didn't want to feel that sort of anger and jealousy towards his brother. But he just did and he couldn't help it. Now, Hei Ran had noticed his tight fist and clenched jaw.

He held his head down and she tried to look into his eyes for answers with worry on her face. "Are you okay, Jin?" She asked.

His response came at her through gritted teeth. "I just...I feel so much jealousy in my heart and I don't want to feel that. He's my brother, and I love him. But I just can't help but think that life has always been unfair to me. And just when something good comes our way, Soo Hyun gets the best part of it."

Hei Ran gulped back nervously. "That's not good, Jinki."

"I know." He agreed with her, still keeping his head low. "I don't know how to stop it. Believe me, I've tried. My heart wants to love my brother and be happy for him, but my mind keeps yelling at me that it should be my turn to have something nice for once."

Not knowing what else to do, Hei Ran rached forward and grabbed his balled fist. In her hold, his hand relaxed and opened, grabbing a hold of her hand in his. He looked down at their entwined fingers and seemed to calm down a bit. She always had that effect on him. Hei Ran and his mother Minji were the only ones who could calm him down, ever since he was a small child. Now he only had Hei Ran to rely on.

"If I have with you by my side, I know I can be a better person." He finally said after a moment.

With his free hand, he reached up to caress her face and she relaxed into his touch, closing her eyes slowly. Jin Ki's eyes roamed her face until they found her soft lips and he bit his own lip hesitantly, wondering if he should really do what he wanted to do. When they were children, Soon Deok had always told them stories of her childhood, or even made up fairy tales about the handsome prince who fell in love with a beautiful princess. Then he gave her a kiss to symbolize their love. He always thought that if he were to ever give someone a showing of his love, it would have to be to Hei Ran. He was the only one he could think of who was always there for him.

The one person he truly felt that he loved.

He leaned in slowly and caught her off guard when his lips met hers. She opened her eyes quickly in surprise, but found herself sighing into the kiss, as she could also not imagine herself giving her first kiss to anyone else. 

-

this is exactly the same chapter i posted for #95 of "rain of my soul". but i just did it to show that these two stories will be connected. but this story takes place in a future goryeo.

so it will revolve around the kids--soo hyun, eunbi, jinki, heiran, ara, and eunji.

please let me know what you think and please support this story. it would mean the entire world to me. 

have a wonderful night!

-clary