First off...

SO INCREDIBLY SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING FOR SUCH A LONG TIME.

Well, I'm sure you all know why: Normal reality problems.

Anyway, I'm writing a special chapter for you so you'll forgive me right?

In the last chapter, I asked if you guys wanted to see Daiki at Soo-won's coronation. And yes, this is a part of the story, so even if you guys didn't want to see it I was planning to write it anyway. 

Please enjoy.

P.S. I'm having a internal conflict. I personally do find that using POVs is easier, but using 3rd POV helps set the story's mood...You know what? I'll do what I feel like. This chapter is going to be a 3rd POV chapter because I'm in that '3rd POV' feeling today.

NOTE: THIS CHAPTER IS PART OF THE STORYLINE.

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"Soo-won-sama."

A beautiful young man with long dark blond hair who was bathing in a spring acknowledged Kye-sook. He was the soon-to-be king, Soo-won.

"Elder Mun-deok, of the Wind Tribe, has arrived. The next general is with him."

Instantly an image of Hak, the Thunder Beast of Kouka, flashed through Soo-won's head, "Next general?" He questioned. Turning around fully to face his attendant, Soo-won had a serious look in his eyes, "So they have chosen."

"They must have thought it was necessary to protect their tribe. Anticlimactic as it may be, given Lord Mun-deok's temperament." Kye-sook suggested respectively.

Soo-won gracefully walked out of the spring, "Perhaps someone encouraged him by cutting ties with the tribe." He wondered outloud to himself.

"What?" Kye-sook questioned.

"Nothing. Who is the next general?" Soo-won asked with a slightly sheepish smile as if he didn't just change to conversation effortlessly.

"He's younger than General Hak. The youngsters of the Wind Tribe are full of energy." Kye-sook answered, his mouth curved into the slightest hint of a smile.

Soo-won chuckled. "Kye-sook, for someone so young, you sound like a grandfather."

"You're one to talk." Kye-sook sweat-dropped uncomfortably, he was only 25 years old.

"Its dawn." Soo-won noticed. A beautiful sun was rising ever so slowly over the mountains, the sky above lightening with a aura of light pink, orange, a brightening blue. 

"A truly fitting dawn sky for a coronation ceremony." Kye-sook stated, pleased.

However, if Kye-sook looked closely, he would have saw that Soo-won was staring intently at the dawn. But with dazed eyes, as if staring at a memory instead of a scenery. 

A certain princess whose hair was the living dawn. Like he complimented to her on her birthday, not too many days ago.

Not too far away, a slender black figure was sitting on the stone wall with her chin held up high, the aura of proud and confident surrounding her. 

Her original mission for the day was to spy on the future King as well as the coronation, however she was also distracted by the glaring dawn. Which reminded her so much of her mistresses' famous red hair. 

The black figure would be lying if she said that it wasn't one of the most beautiful dawns she has ever seen. The black figure's mouth was covered by a black cloth, leaving only her bright fire turquoise green eyes visible. Her glazed and serine look soon turned into a hidden scowl.

"Showing such a beautiful dawn for someone who has hurt your master's descendant and possibly reincarnation. Isn't that a little cruel?" Daiki, asked the sky, specifically the other dragon gods.

WHOOSH~

A sudden blaring wind attacked her so hard that she had to close her eyes and instinctively glance away, her long black hair which was tied in two twin tails unraveled, flying in harmony with the wind.

"Tch." Daiki clicked her tongue in annoyance as the wind died down, her hair gently falling down thanks to gravity, embracing her back and neck. Daiki's hair unraveled reached all the way down to her thigh. 

Daiki graceful fingers fixed her bangs which were messed up and fell in the wrong place thanks to the wind, then she glared at the sky. 

"Now your just mocking me, aren't you?"

A teasing breeze brushed her bangs again, making them fall into messily on her face once more. Daiki's eyes twitched in annoyance.

A small gentle voice with a teasing tone flowed with the wind. 

"You look better without a disguise."

Daiki eyes lowered, feeling a little exposed without her usual male disguise, which was merely a wig and some bandages around her chest. 

She then once more glared more fiercely through her eyes, slightly thankful that the black mask that covered her mouth and cheeks so the very little red on her cheeks could not be seen. Daiki was never complimented often, so she wasn't completely immune to them. Yet.

"Shut up. Be glad your already dead."

~O~

A/N: Just a quick note. When Daiki does not have her male disguise on, I will refer to her as with 'her' and 'she', but when Daiki is diguised as a male, I will refer to Daiki with 'he' and 'him'. Just remember that.

~O~

2 years ago...

"Your open!"

"Itai. (Ouch)" Soo-won turned around, rubbing his head, not at all mad but rather curious on who delivered the playful hit.

"Hak...?" Soo-won addressed, slightly slow to catch up.

"You're too slow, Lord Soo-won." Hak had a peaceful smile with playful eyes. "You'll get in trouble with the old man."

"What are you talking about? Master Mun-deok said I had a natural aptitude for combat." Soo-won protested, walking closer to Hak who was sitting on the stone fences of the castle bridge the connected the large palace garden.

"Heh... Have you ever beaten me in practice?" Hak's smile didn't change.

"It's natural for you to be strong, because you must protect Princess Yona." Soo-won stubbornly looked away and sighed.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Hak raised an eyebrow with a chuckle.

"But...I truly am jealous...that Yona has you for a servant."  

"Pffft." Someone laughed quietly on the side, but both men could instantly recognize the slight playfulness in the voice.

"Daiki?" Hak was surprised to hear a laugh from the stoic servant with the everlasting mask on his face.

"Where did you come from?!" Soo-won jumped back, surprised as the masked servant showed up from no where.

Daiki coughed. "I apologize, Hak-sama, Lord Soo-won. If I may have the permission to speak freely."

"Mou~ I thought I gave you permission to always speak freely." Soo-won pouted. Daiki paid no attention.

"Ja, may I say that Hak being Princess Yona's loyal, hard-working servant is a ridiculous and impossible thought. Whenever those two are together, they cause three times as much work for us servants then cleaning the entire castle. Besides..." Daiki turned to face Hak, his expression could not be seen thanks to the mask, but the obvious black aura he was leaking towards the General was heavy.

"No servant would dare steal the Princess's food, ditch classes, have food fights with the Princess, prank the Princess, shall I go on? But most importantly..." The black aura darkened 10 times more. "They would not miss my tutoring class session which I oh-so graciously give, my patience is everlasting thanks to your constant skips and runs, General Hak." Soo-won and Hak could just see the twitching smile through the mask.

"Heheheheh..." Hak laughed uneasily. Daiki, if he wasn't serving the King, he could very well have become the Kingdom's number one scholar. He was considered the genius of the century, but very few knew this fact, the very few included Hak, Soo-won, and the King himself, Yona was dense and uncaring so she never confronted Daiki about this. 

Because the King knew this fact, he has put Daiki in charge of Yona's learning. Hak and Soo-won joining on many occasions.

Daiki was normally very aloof and stoic. He rarely showed any emotions, however the times he did, that meant he was very annoyed. There was one time when Daiki finally snapped for the first time in front Yona, Hak, and Soo-won, he showed a personality which everyone felt instant fear from.

Daiki's only students, Yona, Hak, and Soo-won gave a name for it, being the only ones to experience it and never wish to experience again. "Inner Daiki"

Whether the main subject was aware of that nickname or not was a mystery.

Soo-won gave a pointed look at Hak who was sweating slightly, constantly looking around for a distraction. "A-Anyway, Lord Soo-won, you already have a lot of top-notch servants." Hak returned to the conversation he had with Soo-won earlier, signalling Soo-won with his eyes to play along.

Soo-won pouted, "But I want you."

Daiki's black aura had faded (both men sighed with relief), but Soo-won and Hak couldn't see that underneath the mask was a deadpanned expression. 'My, my, Lord Soo-won and General Hak eh? Princess Yona would be sad. What an unexpected love triangle... should I report to the King and General Mun-deok about this new discovery?' Daiki wondered to himself. Apparently, Daiki had took Soo-won's response the wrong way.

'Nah. Too troublesome.' Daiki thought in the end, looking at the conversing men who in Daiki's eyes seem to be in their own little world. Those two men didn't know the bullet they just dodged thanks to Daiki's laziness.

Hak seemed to forget about the earlier incident with the masked servant and smiled brightly at Soo-won. "Ja... Become the King then."

"Eh?" Soo-won's eyes widened with surprise.

"Marry Princess Yona, and become King." Hak repeated more detailed with a calm tone.

"Wh-What? But I could never marry Yona." Soo-won panicked.

"You want me, don't you?" Hak said in a playful tone as he leaned in.

'Oi. I'm still here. Don't go off into your own world.' Daiki thought. Very uncomfortable in his position. Should he just leave?

"It was a figure of speech." Soo-won said with a nervous tone.

'Oh. A figure of speech. Ok, false alarm then.' Daiki thought in the background.

Hak, lost the smile, a half-serious look in his eyes. "Ma, as far as I'm concerned. You're the only man who can become the next king."

Hak grinned, "When you do, I'll be your right arm. I'll stand by both of you, until the day you die."

'Whats with this scene. I feel like I'm going to cry here.' Daiki thought, shifting slightly, feeling somehow touched by Hak's bold yet truthful vow. Daiki felt like he was watching a beautiful play of brotherhood or something.

"By the way, I'll need three meals a day, and a naps. It's a great deal." Hak said playfully, not noticing how Soo-won's eyes were staring at him with a surprised expression.

"I'm the Thunder Beast of Kouka after all." Hak finished. Soo-won's eyes closed, his smile was gentle with wanting. 

"Ah, that is..." Soo-won leaned his forehead on Hak's shoulder, his voice ever so soft and happy. "...a wonderful dream."

Hak looked surprised and confused by Soo-won's sudden brotherhood affection.

Meanwhile on the side, Daiki quickly and swiftly wiped the little wetness in his eyes. He definitely was not touched by the act of brotherly love. Definitely not. He just had some dust in his eyes. Daiki blinked his eyes rapidly behind his mask. Just dust.

"Soo-won! Hurry up!" Yona called from a palace window. 

Daiki wanted to face palm. 'Great timing Mistress, great timing...'

Soo-won and Hak didn't seemed bothered, still in there own world. "Hak..."

 "...Please protect Yona."

Present...

'When I become King... Yona and Hak will not be by my side.' Soo-won wondered why the sudden memory flashed in his mind. 

The soon-to-be King stood outside the Palace's main country yard gates, in his new robes that were made for the King at his coronation. A warm breeze tickled against Soo-won cheek.

'Warm days like today make me doubt myself a bit,' The large wooden palace gates opened with a creak.

"Marry Princess Yona and become King. When you do, I'll be your right arm. I'll stand by both of you, until the day you die."  The Thunder Beast of Kouka had such a nice smile in that warm memory...

'However... now, my right arm is gone.'  The gong sounded throughout the country yard as the future King of Kouka made his way down the pathway made for him, on each side of the pathway were nobles, scholars, generals, warriors, and guardians of Kouka.

Soo-won walked slowly but with confidence, his head held up high, not an inch of hesitation in his stance.

'And so is the girl who gave me warmth' An image of a certain red-haired princess smiling happily at him faded in his mind.

'I have made it this far by casting them off and crushing them underfoot.' Soo-won continued walking, his eyes looking straight-forward into the future.

"That's the new King?"

"He's still young, but he's Lord Yu-hon's son."

"Hoh... Lord Yu-hon's son? Then I'm sure he'll make a great king."

Soo-won climbed the red stairs of Hiryuu's castle, before kneeling in front of the eunuch, the royal crown was then placed on Soo-won's head.

Soo-won gracefully stood up and turned to face the crowd of nobles and warriors gathered for his coronation. 

'I crushed them... so that I will doubt myself no longer!'

"With the approval of the five tribes. King Soo-won is crowned as the Sky Tribe's eleventh King of the Kingdom of Kouka!" The eunuch announced.

The nobles and warriors gave their cheers and roars of approval. But behind them, sitting nonchalantly with crossed legs, the Black Dragon Warrior, Daiki stance gave off the aura of 'casual'. However her eyes were dead serious, staring straight into the eyes of the newly crowned King of Kouka, who would have definitely noticed her presence if not using her dragon blood powers to hide her presence in the shadows.

Daiki ignored the groans of the unconscious guards behind her as she wondered why the royal crown and robes seem to suit Soo-won so much.

'... I wonder what's going on through his head right now...?' Daiki wondered, she then used her powers to enter Soo-won's mind....

...however...

"...I..I can't read his thoughts...no...more accurately... I can't enter his mind." Daiki whispered out-loud, her eyes wide for this was the first time her power has failed her.

'No. It's not my powers at fault... but this new King's mind. Was it a fluke? Or...or is Soo-won-sama's conviction just that strong? Strong enough to overpower my will?' Daiki thought disbelievingly as she stood up, her stance now wary as she watched the leaders of the great tribes make there way before the newly crowned king.

The Black Dragon's warrior's fist clenched tightly, her face expressionless but her eyes showing confusion, doubt, and worry.  

'If there comes a time where I have to eliminate the one who caused my Mistress to suffer from so much pain and sadness...'

'Will I truly be able to kill this man unhesitantly?'

~O~

(A/N: I still haven't clarified specifically what Daiki's powers are, but I'm dropping some hints here and there. Too be honest its been so long that I've updated this story I think I might have forgottened what I planned Daiki's powers to be... ;P)

~O~

"Your Highness, my new king." The leader of the fire tribe, Kang Su-jin bowed respectively at the bottom of the large staircase that was the grand entrance to the Great Hiryuu's Castle. 

Soo-won stood on top the grand staircase, looking down with a guarded face that showed no emotion.

"I congratulate you on your coronation. I, Kang Su-jin, leader of the Fire Tribe, on the behalf of all my people, pledge to you the absolute loyalty of the Fire Tribe." The Leader of the Fire Tribe raised his head, his eyes meeting Soo-won's like a hawk looking down on prey.

'The Fire Tribe...' Soo-won thought inwardly, nothing showing on his face. 'They pretend to support me, but their eyes are always on the throne.' 

The other leaders of tribes also came forth. 

A bearded dark-skin man with yellow narrowed eyes of a predator and proud snarl on his face showed confidence and experience in his aura and presence.

'The Earth Tribe submits to a powerful master, Lee Geun-Tae.' Soo-won observed.

The King Of Kouka's eyes then turned slightly to observe a calm man with his eyes closed and brows narrowed. His light blue garments showing his element.

'And the Water Tribe, with there leader, An Joon-Gi, waits to see how things go.'

Finally, an old man with a ferocious aura kneeled before Soo-won. 'And the Wind Tribe...' Elder Mun-deok didn't show any hesitation in his aura.

'Though they've been quiet since we put pressure on them, they have many strong warriors trained by Mun-deok.'

'There's no telling when they will learn of Hak's death and bare their teeth.'

Soo-won's eyes narrowed ever so slightly at all the walls he will have to face, break, and build up for the future he is walking towards. 'The crowning of a new king will draw the attention of the Kai Empire of the north, and Shin and Sei in the south.'

'However first...' The newly crowned King of Kouka raised his head and looked at the crowd of nobles and warriors, all pieces that were needed in the wall he was building.

'...I must unite these divided tribes.'

"Your Highness..."

Soo-won was brought out from his musing as he let his attention be taken by Elder Mun-deok's address to him.

"As you know, there is currently no priest within the castle. However, the God's above are watching. They will see what you accomplish, on the backs of what sacrifices...as will this old man." Elder Mun-deok narrowed his eyes at the new King. 

"Only after I have seen that will I join the late King II." 

"Mun-deok-sama--" Addressed Kye-sook at the disrespect the old man had displayed before the king.

"Your right." Soo-won answered calmly, ignoring Kye-sook's protest to Mun-deok. "I want you to watch, Elder Mun-deok."

Elder Mun-deok remained silent, a request for the King to continue.

"However, a heaven that only watches has no meaning for me. I want not the power of gods, but the power of people."

In the crowd of nobles, hidden under another disguise. Daiki eyes narrowed ever so slightly in her guise of a regular male noble.

"I will restore the Kingdom of Kouka to the mighty nation it once was. Should anyone stand in my way, even if they be a god, I will crush them underfoot!" Soo-won announced for everyone to hear, whether nobles, warriors...or Gods.

BOOM

Daiki's eyes widened, her pupils dilated so small that it almost disappeared. Staring in shock of the newly crowned king. 'That man...!' 

The crowd roared with approval, awe, and amazement. 

"Long live the King! Long live the King!"

"Elder... Can we leave? This place is full of annoying people." Tae-woo, the new leader of the Wind Tribe asked with an bored tone and was sweat-dropping. 

But Mun-deok remained silence, deep in thought as he wondered to himself, 'Since when has he had that look in his eyes?'

"Master Mun-deok, please teach me how to use a spear today!" Mun-deok remembered child Soo-won asking him excitedly with cheery eyes and a happy smile. 'Will I never see that kind smile again?' Mun-deok wondered.

Daiki was not far away from Elder Mun-deok, with some difficulty, Daiki was able to read Mun-deok's thoughts, by now Daiki had gave up on reading Soo-won's now blocked mind, so went for the former Wind Tribe's elder out of curiosity.

'Sa... I wonder that as well...' Daiki thought with an unreadable look in her eyes.

'Though I don't think he will ever make such a kind smile for me.' Thought Daiki, mentally chuckling at her thought.

'But if he ever smiles like that again...Ma, the world is a big place after all. You'll never know'

~O~

That night...

During the celebration party in honor of the newly crowned King of Kouka, everybody celebrated. 

The sun was now setting, but the music and dances did not stop, even though the person of the main attention was gone.

The new King of Kouka left early during celebration, only staying a few hours for respect towards the guests, most of the invited nobles and warriors will stay for the night at the castle before returning to there own homes in the next morning.

Soo-won was in his study, alone, reading a scroll. He ignored the sounds of music even though the party was dedicated for him, instead focusing on reading.

"King Soo-won-sama? We've brought one of the beauties to serve you." A servant announced behind the closed doors of Soo-won's study.

Most celebration and banquets in Kouka invited the most beautiful ladies from all over the Kingdom to serve sake to the nobles, and perform dances and play instruments. Or just be there for others to admire her beauty.

"Send her away. And I would like no one else to disturb me unless I say otherwise." Soo-won ordered, not looking up from his scroll.

"Understoo--Kuk!" The servant made a choked noise which made Soo-won glance at the closed sliding doors, watching one of the shadows fall to the ground, probably unconscious while other figure sighed loudly.

Soo-won unsheathed his sword, his stance ready for an attack. 'An assassin? Hm, how reckless to do it while the banquet is still going on.' Soo-won had expected an assassin or two, but not this early, maybe a couple of hours later into the night or the next day.

"How rude. To send a lady away so coldly without even sparing a glance..." The feminine shadow outside the closed doors sighed loudly.

'Her voice sounds strangely familiar... is it one of the ladies from the noble families I've met? Or perhaps a female servant?' Soo-won narrowed his eyes. 

"Even though I spent so much time readying myself for you..." The voice continued, a delicate and pale-skinned hand slowly opened the sliding doors.

Soo-won raised his sword.

"You should be happy that the one who came to serve you was me and not some other girl. If another girl heard your cold dismissal..."

The figure stepped in gracefully and elegantly, her face hidden in the shadows of the room, but she walked forward to Soo-won with no hesitation in her steps.

Soo-won widened his eyes in shock as his eyes got trapped within the turquoise green orbs that held the beauty of the blue sea and the will of a mighty green forest.

'...Only one person has those eyes...'

"...She would have left devastated, tears ruining her hours of makeup. Wouldn't that be a little cruel?..."

The figure stepped into Soo-won's full view.

(A/N: Imagine her with green eyes and no umbrella. And a stoic expression)

"Newly crowned King of Kouka, King Soo-won-sama?" Daiki asked with a elegant smile, her eyes fully enjoying the surprise in Soo-won's expression.

"...Daiki. Why are you dressed like that." Soo-won asked with confused eyes and disbelief along with a hint of barely hidden awe in his tone.

"To sneak in. To surprise you. Because its comfortable. I'll let you pick which one from those options. On the side note though, I don't think it looks absolutely terrible on me."

Daiki's calm voice and sarcasm somehow soothed Soo-won's presence to the point his guard relaxed. 'Whenever I'm in Daiki's presence...I feel strangely calm. It's as if he is the one I have no doubts upon. As if he's the one I'd trust my life with. Strange considering we are on the opposing sides.' 

Soo-won smiled a closed eyed smile. "It suits you very much Daiki. You would definitely be the most beautiful human in Kouka. Its almost a shame you weren't born a female." Soo-won was glad that his years of practice hid his shock. Soo-won was admittedly stunned at Daiki's appearance and had a hard time to get back on track.

"Flattery won't get you anywhere, King Soo-won-sama," Daiki said, his face returning back into one of no emotions, but inwardly Daiki thought, 'How ironic. I always believed I should have been born a male. Because my other dragon brothers were all male...'

"So, what brings you here? Are you considering to work for me?" Soo-won smiled an airhead smile which would have fooled almost anyone. 

Daiki would have been fooled himself if it weren't for his experience. 'What a malicious and devious man...' Daiki inwardly thought with a tense smirk. "Perhaps at another time and place. If we have similar goals. Now then, newly crowned King Soo-won-sama, would you like some sake?" Daiki asked as she raised a cup of sake out of nowhere.

"Ie (No), I think I'll pass. I wouldn't be surprised if you poisoned it." Soo-won said with a chuckle.

Daiki merely smiled ever so slightly. "Saa..." he took the sake cup himself and downed it in one shot. "It is poisoned. But not by me. Another assassin in guise of a female dancer was originally coming here earlier, I merely borrowed her position for a little bit. She should be somewhere in the palace stables, unconscious and tied up, I let you decide what you wish to do with her."

'Is Daiki trained to take poisons?' Soo-won briefly wondered,"Are you sure you don't want to work under the new King of Kouka? I can get you three meals and naps a day? Isn't it a great deal." Soo-won joked, making a mental note to send someone down to the stables.

"Hm.. that deal sounds awfully familiar..." Daiki's attention was then caught by the scroll, Soo-won was reading.

"That's..." Daiki started with a curious tone, though on inside, Daiki was wary, for her excellent dragon eyes has already caught the words of the scroll.

"Ah, I found this scroll hidden quite well in a certain book." Soo-won gestured to the book on the study desk he was sitting by.

"I'm sure you heard of it, the legend of the four dragon warriors of Kouka." Soo-won looked at the book nostalgically.

"Strangely, this scroll seems to be coded, why don't you have a look." Soo-won acted as if there was no tension between the two technically enemies. Soo-won tossed the scroll casually to Daiki who caught it and instantly decoded it because he recognized the codes.

'...This...this scroll is about my dragon god... its about the Black Dragon warrior..' Daiki thought in hidden shock.

Daiki then tossed the scroll back at Soo-won out of suprise and in pain which she insantly hid. Looking at her hands which were shaking slightly.

"Interesting, no?" Soo-won asked with a intrigued smile as he looked at the scroll once again.

"I suppose.." Daiki answered cooly, but she was still trying to calm down from the earlier pain.

'That scroll is blocking my powers and is reacting to my touch. I can't destroy it.' Daiki 'tched' in her mind, briefly worrying and wondering on who wrote the book and scroll.

'Ma, there is very little info about the Black Dragon on the scroll, and I doubt, he would be able to decode it anytime soon. The situation hasn't yet uprised.' Daiki thought, mentally sighing.

"If four dragon warriors were real, would you seek them out to fight for you?" Daiki asked with no emotion on face or voice, but she was choosing her words carefully, watching for any reaction.

Soo-won eyes narrowed for a second, his smile growing serious and tight. "It does not matter to me whether they exist or not, what I desire is not the power of Gods but the power of humans." Soo-won then let out a childish smile, "Though I would like to see them. I always wondered what a White Dragon claw would look and feel like."

Daiki hummed. "Interesting answer..."

Daiki took out another cup of sake (again which he pulled out of nowhere in Soo-won opinion) and placed it gently on Soo-won's study desk. 

"This sake is one of the finest throughout the kingdom. Why don't you toast your old self away and shed into the new light of the new king of this weak country. Its not poisoned. But I know you won't drink itm After all, why drink something an enemy gives--"

Soo-won took the cup and gulped it down in one.

"You..." Daiki breathed in slight disbelief of Soo-won's sudden act without hesitation.

"Wah~ that is some fine sake!" Soo-won said happily, his cheeks already turning red.

"I've could have poisoned that." Daiki said in serious tone.

"But you didn't. I don't know the reason why, but you are hesitant to kill me." Soo-won claimed.

Daiki's narrowed his eyes ever so slightly, prooving that the King had hit the mark, but her eye movement was so tiny that no one would have noticed, but Soo-won had his full attention on the former masked servant and with his trained hawk-like eyes, noticed.

The new King of Kouka rised gracefully from his seat and walked slowly, stopping in front of Daiki.

Soo-won raised a hand and gently cupped Daiki's cheek, his fingers slowly moving down, outlining Daiki's jaw line. Soo-won mentally was awed on how soft and delicate the former servant's skin was, it felt like the smooth touch of a priceless pearl, but also a gentle comfortness and softness like a swan feathered pillow.

Daiki watched silently, not panicking or looking flustered like Soo-won had seen so many other girls act. Though that was probably because Daiki was a male.

"You are aware that I am not a woman, Soo-won-sama." Daiki said, no emotions showing through her face. Inwardly she wondered if she should feel shame for lying about her gender.

Soo-won chuckled brightly, "Don't be so cold Daiki~ I still remember the time you slept with us when we were children."

"May I refresh your memory, you all forced me to sleep with you until I escaped when you all fell asleep. You and General Hak and Princess Yona." Daiki said the forbidden names in the conversation.

Soo-won merely smiled, but this smile held no warmth. "Shall I also correct your earlier statement? Whether that cup of sake was poisoned or not is irrelevant to me. Nor does it change the fact that I am now ruler of the weak kingdom of Kouka..."

Soo-won tipped Daiki's chin up to meet his predator eyes.

"...Whether humans, armies, beasts, or gods, I will crush anyone who stands in my way. In the end, what I want is not the strength of gods, but the power of people."

Soo-won then gave a happy smile as he skipped towards the exit. "I'm feeling a little tired so I'm going to go to my chambers, don't stay up too long--its not healthy."

"...Just what is your goal. Is it worth sacrificing what you have sacrificed so far?" Daiki asked in an emotionless tone.

Soo-won looked back with simple smile. "I am going to make Kouka great once more." Daiki was not facing Soo-won, but Soo-won smiled a gentle smile from his heart anyway.

"Feel free to give me another test of a leap of faith. My offer of working under me is always open~ If you still won't accept, then I hope for both our sakes as well as the kingdom's, that our goals allign in the future." And with that, the newly crowned king of Kouka left.

Daiki smiled, alone in the study room. A small smile of respect, excitement, and slight bitterness.

"What a frightening man... Truly deserves my respect. However, he is still a foolish human."

'To make Kouka great again? Don't make me laugh. No human was ever born selfless...I wonder what his true desires are... something he desires so much that he locks it away and  lies to his own heart. I'm amazed such a human exists.'

It was like a poweful soul stuck in a humans body.

In a single second, Daiki was on the tiled roof of the castle, out of her fancy dancer robes and into a comfortable black outfit, made for combat and stealth.

"He is very determined to use the power of humans, I wonder what he would do if he was granted the power of the dragon blood." The gentle voice once more swift past the Black Dragon Warrior's ear, along with another ticklish breeze.

Daiki narrowed her eyes at nothing as she watched the new King of Kouka walk away with effortless grace and already showing the presence of a king.

"Isn't that one of the many reasons you respect him? And also one of the many reason you haven't killed him. Yet...?"

"Don't question my actions, your era has ended long ago, First Generation of the Dragon Warriors, Aki, the first Black Dragon Warrior.

The whisper in the wind hummed. "Perhaps my era has ended, but that doesn't stop me from looking over the new era. Humans, after all, no matter how strong or smart, no matter how brave or passionate, no matter how good or evil, are beings that need to be watched over by others. A single human never makes it far without using other humans as stepping stones or having humans to support them from behind. The point is, a single human alone cannot do anything without other humans."

Daiki and the First Black Dragon Warrior watched as the new King of Kouka talked to his attendant, the gorilla--I mean Kye-sook, happily, not even sparing a glance back at the former servant who might be the most troublesome obstacle in his path to the new future he strives for.

"...Despite that man being the one who harmed your Mistress. He reminds me a lot of Hiryuu-sama." Aki, the first black dragon warrior said out-loud through the wind.

Daiki flinched ever so slightly as she lowered her head, her hair bangs covering her eyes and expression.

"...Don't tell me something I'm already aware of." She whispered with a tired sigh.

The wind flew strongly at Daiki's direction, Daiki let her hair be swayed by the wind once more.

Daiki then made a sudden sound of amusement as a warm memory drifted through her mind.

"Hak... Please protect Yona." 

"Do not worry General Hak-sama, I won't leave you alone when it comes to protecting our ditsy mistress. I'll even dare to say I'll do an even better job then you." Daiki smirked at the General.

"Heh.... Oi Soo-won-sama! Daiki says that he'll do a better job at protecting Yona-hime then I can!" The Thunder Beast called out to Soo-won, who was now walking there way with a flustered Yona.

"Really? Ja, Daiki! I'll also be counting on you!" Soo-won sended Daiki a beautiful bright smile.

The black dragon warrior eyes widen in surprise behind the mask, before relaxing into a smile that no one couls see.

"Of course, Soo-won-sama"

Daiki doubted that anyone would have remembered that promise. She was nothing more then a disguised male servant at that time after all.

But she remembered.

"Soo-won-sama... Your the one who made us make that promise..." Daiki mouth curved into the briefest hints of a smile, watching the newly crowned King of Kouka walked away.

"So you better be ready to bare the consequences..."

With that, the Black Dragon Warrior slipped into the shadows and left Hiryuu's castle silently with a content smile on her face.

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A/N: Longest chapter I've ever wrote so far. Hopefully this will be satisfactory enough until I write then next chapter and I promise that the next update time won't be an entire year.

On a side note, this chapter might have been slightly confusing because I kept switching between Daiki refering herself as a 'she' and 'he'

Let me confirm:

Because this is in 3rd Pov its harder.
When Soo-won is referring to Daiki, he refers Daiki with 'he' and 'him' because Soo-won believes Daiki is a boy.

When Daiki refers to herself, she calls herself with 'she' and 'her' because she is a girl. But when Daiki is in a male disguise, I refer her with 'he' and 'him'

I hope you get it.

Or you could always ignore it completely and just focus on the plot.

I know I mentioned this like 3 times already, but this chapter is part of the storyline.

Anyway, until next time~

Neko1290

Total Word count: 6335.

P.S. Its been so long since I've updated AnY: Black Dragon. I hoped Daiki didn't appear too OOC.

P.P.S. I still believe that the mystery of Soo-won is not solved yet, and that he's a good guy...somehow. I don't know why, but from the first time I watched Akatsuki no yona until now, Soo-won was like my 3rd favourite character.