Suzu's pov:

I skipped on the roof tiles while humming. 😊 After I exterminated the demons, I accidentally transported to this place. 'I wonder what happen to Yoko-san and the others.' I pouted. They're probably staying overnight in the campfire while eating Yoko-san's onigiris.

I jump off the roof and landed softly on the ground on my two feet. Being small and light-weighted really does helpful. But I'm still thinking about the onigiris. Waaah!! 😭😭😭😭🍙🍙🍙🍙🍙🍙🍙🍙🍙 RICE BALLSSSSS!!!

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Master Tae-jun. What brought you here today?" i turn to the source of voice and saw Soo-won-sama approached to the silver haired man. Well, it's fine to get close to them because they can't see me. ^_^

To his surprise, Tae-jun-sama's face is filled with the colors of grief, guilt, burden, and despair. I wonder what happened to him, or maybe...

"I apologize... For coming one day before your important coronation ceremony. I came because...there is something i wanted to give you at all costs." he handed a neatly folded cloth to Soo-won. He unfolded it and saw a familiar strands of red hair tied together in a yellow ribbon. "Princess Yona...has died."

My eyes widened in shocked and disbelief as I heard his last word like in a slow motion.

"On the border of the Fire and Wind...in the northern mountains...we pursued General Hak and Princess Yona... We almost had them, but the two of them fell to the bottom of the valley... Along with their companion, named Yoko." he added.

My protective instincts started kicked in as I balled my fist in anger, ready to punch that guy or shredding him off layer by layer. In reality, i calmed my anger down. I know they didn't die. If they did, then i would feel broken inside my heart, twice perhaps, adding Kahuryuu's death.

As for Soo-won-sama, he is still speechless while staring at the very familiar red hair on his hands.

"What? They fell from that cliff...?" Kye-sook broke in. I really hate that guy -_- for ruining the moment here. "Lord Soo-won gave you the orders to inform him if they were found. And of all the things you could have, you chased Yona-hime and ended up killing her. This is a big act of treason, Kan Tae-jun-sama."

I crossed my arms and narrowed my gaze at those two real traitors. 'As if... You guys were the ones who committed upon a bigger crime than Tae-jun's.'

"That's right... I...killed her." Tae-jun lowered his head. "Please pass your judgment on me..."

"Lord Soo-won?" Kye-sook turns to the blond male.

Soo-won was quiet for a while then spoke, "Rest at the castle for today. I want you to attend the coronation ceremony tomorrow." that's all he said, but I know in his eyes there were hidden sadness and regret in it.

"No! Punish me! Please!" Tae-jun begged as he rushed to the lord.

"Tae-jun-sama!" Kye-sook blocked him as Soo-won left the two.

Should i follow him?

I turn around and left them with a dark aura emitting on my face. I don't know if i could see more of this.

Time skip>>>

The light started to brightened. 'Dawn already?' i yawned and stare at the sunrise peeking out from the mountains.

My ears twitched as i heard noises nearby. Curiously, i followed it and saw the main courtyard filled with Kouka citizens and the five tribe generals are also participated.

'The coronation...' I muttered.

Third person's pov:

Flashback...

"Welcome, Soo-won! Come quickly! We have peach stew today!" Princess Yona called, popping out from the window on the second floor building.

Lord Soo-won didn't answer and just stared at her, until someone hit him at the head earning an 'ow' from the blond male.

"You're slow, Soo-won-sama." Hak grinned. The general was on a fence with his knees bent down. He had his Quandao with him.

Soo-won rubbed the pain on his head. "It's natural for you to be strong, because you must protect Yona-hime."

"What's that supposed to mean?" the Raijuu raised his brows.

The silver fox rested under the pavilion until she heard their conversation. She didn't bother to look closer to them and decided to listen for her own amusement.

Her resting position --->> _(:з」∠)_

"But i truly am jealous. That Yona has you for a servant." Soo-won added.

'Really...?' she hummed then laid her back on the lawn.

"You have servants too, Lord Soo-won. You and Yona-hime even shared Yoko, as your servant." said the black haired male.

"I want you!"

😕 'Eh?' is this he specifically wants to do? The female fox thought in confusion.

"Become a king, then."

"Huh?"

"Marry Princess Yona, and become king."

"W-what? But i could never marry Yona." the lord protested in disbelief.

"You want me, don't you?" his childhood friend asked him.

"It was just a figure of speech." He shrugged.

"Either way, as far as I'm concerned, you're the only man who becomes the next King. When you do, I'll be your right arm. I'll stand by both of you until the day you die." said the Raijuu. "By the way, you'll also need to tell Yoko that I'll need three meals a day and naps." he added. "It's a great deal. After all, I'm Thunder Beast of Kouka."

He hesitated. "Ah, that is..." he rested his head on the Raijuu's shoulder. "...a wonderful dream." it made the Raijuu grew puzzled at his actions. "Hak, please protect Yona." the blond male added.

Yoko interrupted the two. "Sorry for the disturbance..." the female servant bowed for an apology." But, Soo-won-sama..." she turns her gaze to the lord. "Yona is calling for you. And you..." she pointed her index finger at the black haired man. 😠 "Where have you been Hak? I DON'T APPRECIATE OF LEAVING ME ALONE TO TAKE ALL YOUR WORK, BAKA!!"

The two males began to shiver as the dark aura spread around the masked female.

😨 😨 <<--- Hak and Soo-won

"Soo-won, hurry!" the red haired girl yelled in impatience.

The three froze at the Princess' impatience, but the two boys were glad that Yoko had finally calmed down 😰. Then, they immediately went to Yona.

Present time...

The huge gates opened to reveal Lord Soo-won in his coronation robes, that traditionally worn by the king in his coronation. His three childhood friends are gone. He made this far to betray them and broke their bonds of friendship.

The crowds murmured at each other about the young lord.

"That's our new king...?"

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

"Oh, that Lord Yu-hon's... Then he'll definitely be a magnificent king."

He kneeled down then the man set the crown on Soo-won's head. Then, the new king stood up and faced to the people.

"The five tribes who approved are present. I crown his majesty King Soo-won...the Sky tribe's 11th King of Kouka."

The nine tails was watching them the whole time on the roof. Her gaze locked at the five tribe generals, one by one, bowing to their new king. She doesn't seem fazed or angry at it. Her eyes are quite transparent that is hard to tell if she's done good or evil.

The former general, Elder Mundok bowed to the king, and then spoke up, "Your majesty. As you may know, the castle does not have a priest now. Even so...the gods in the heavens are watching us." the old man informed. "Your majesty, on top of your many sacrifices... What is it you will accomplish? This old man will see through until his death...so he can go to where his majesty Il is and convey it to him."

"Lord Mundok...!" Adviser Kye-sook snapped, but stopped when King Soo-won said, "Is that right?"

"I would like you to see it, Elder Mundok." he replied. "But it doesn't matter to me if there is one watching us from the heavens. Because what i want is not the power of god, but the strength of the people." said the king. "I will reform Kouka kingdom into the strong country it was like the time of our ancestors. Should anyone stand in my way, even if they be a god, i will crush them underfoot!"

The crowds erupted in cheers, shouting, "Long live the king!"

Her eyes widened in amusement at Soo-won's speech. 'Humans are really complicated when it comes to their way. Struggling to live and to drag others down to get what they want.' she muttered. 'That's what i really like about them. Humans are such interesting creatures yet at the same time very special.' she gaze up the sky and spoke, 'Odd... Why the sun is still hiding in the clouds?'

She slid the fox mask off her face to let herself visible then dashed to the only specific location where she usually go right after on the King's crowning ceremony.

Yoko's pov:

"Where am i? Did i go to heaven?" I felt pain throughout my body, but there's an odd flavor is in my mouth as i tasted it. It's like . . . citrus?!

"Like how did it get here?! I don't remember falling off a cliff then... Of course! Someone found us."

"Where's Yoko?" i heard a familiar voice close by.

"You're another companion? Over there." another voice spoke up.

"Yoko!" i felt something warm touches my hand. Not only by that had I even felt tears soaked on my bandages. I cannot see a thing due from a bandage covered my eyes.

"She nearly died as well. Her damage is even worse than the black haired man, i don't even know if she could even survive the surgery." he explained. "She has a fever as well. Here this will help her." it felt like someone forcefully stuffed a sliced citruses on my mouth. "Don't do that way!"

That's it!

I spit the fruit out from my mouth and i heard it crashed on the ceiling. "Gah!" i exhaled deeply with a mix of irritation. "Yona?" i coughed.

"Yoko!" she hugged me with a cry of relief. I winced in pain and the other voice told her to let me go.

"Hime-sama. Where are we?" i asked and covered my mouth from coughing. My throat felt dry.

"We're at the bottom of the valley."

Third person's pov:

"Jeez... It is a miracle that she's awake." the strawberry blond male mumbled as he gave her a cup of water.

He is a boy with a feminine face and has a pair of bright blue eyes and short strawberry blond hair with long bangs parted in half. He also had two small white feathers hang on the left side of his hair.

"Who are you?" the blind folded patient asked curiously as she drinks it.

"I'm Yoon. I'm just a good-looking guy passing through. You can forget that." he replied while grinding the herbs on the large wooden bowl.

Yoko sat up while Yona sitting beside her and the Bishounen was filling the small jars with grinded herbs. She tried to put her feet on the floor but Yoon stopped her.

"Idiot...! You can't stand up. Your leg is broken!" he urged her to lie down but she refused.

"Yoon! Yoon!" a man covered in dirt called as he rushed into the hut. "Listen! Listen to what i have to say!" he has curly blond hair that tied behind his back. He has purple eyes that are completely covered from his curly bangs. For attire, he wears simple robes that held together with a sash and for footwear, a pair of slippers.

"Hold it." the boy halted him. "Jeez! Why are you covered in mud?!" he scolded the older man.

The blond man explained, "While i was praying for everyone to be happy. I slipped and fell!"

"You're such a pain! The heavens deserted you!"

"That's harsh! T^T"

The two girls did nothing, but to watch the argument except for Yoko which she listened at the other two.

The blond male gasped as he turned his gaze to the Princess. "You woke up!! Thank goodness!" he clasped his hands in relief. "How do you do? My name is Ik-soo. I'm kind of Yoon's guardian."

"I'm..." Yona can't tell her identity especially this place is still close to the land of the Fire tribe.

"Y-you're really...suffered a lot, haven't you?" they grew puzzled as he cried for no reason.

Yona-hime thought it was her injuries. So she answered, "No. I haven't... Hak shielded me, so..."

"No, i meant from the time when you made the decision to start your trip." he replied.

"Huh? My trip?"

"Even more for a person like you, Princess Yona. And your companion the Phantom Assassin as well."

"Hold on... How did you know about me......?" she gaped. On the other hand, Yoko's eyes widened in shocked and murmured, "Phantom Assassin???" ⊙_⊙

"God told me tha..." Yoon cut off his sentence.

"Are you stupid?" the Bishounen retort. "You really can't tell a lie, can you? There's no point in living in seclusion if you tell others so casually."

The older man didn't listen to Yoon's words and said, "Oh shoot! I wanted to look proper and neat when i greeted the Princess... I'm sorry." he apologized and scratched the back of his head.

"Is he the Priest?!" Yoko thought.

***

Hello dear readers! I'm so sorry for not updating for sooooo long. Please don't be mad at me. 🙇🙇🙇 I got a writer's block and it took me a forever to find a way to update this chapter. And I was able to fix my wrong grammars and words for your sake readers. Since my writing is improving, I will update a better story on the next chapter, I guess.

Special thanks to everybody who read and supported this book. I'm so happy when it hit to more than 200 votes. Waaahhh!!! At first, I was only writing this story just for fun then people started to vote and comment on it which you don't know how loud I squealed when I got my first vote and comment. I know that is embarrassing *hides in the corner*.
Then, next year (this 2017) I checked my stories and found out that "The Lost Dragon" just hit 8,000+ reads. It was my very first published book and "OMG!" I can't describe how happy I am! I want to hug you all!
Thank you! Thank you!!

~Cat :-)