This Chapter's sole purpose is to make the Reader see more of (Y/N)'s thoughts of what she feels and thinks after everything that happened.

(Y/N)'s POV
It's almost been an hour since we left the Castle walls and I still couldn't believe that all of this is really happening. It seems like it was only yesterday when I went to Hiryuu Castle and met Yona and Soo-won for the first time, and now we're fleeing for our lives with Yona-hime when Soo-won decided to betray our trust on Yona's Birthday. Her damn Birthday of all the dates! Did he think that King Il's death is a good enough present for her? Hak was leading the way through a path that was a bit familiar to me, I just hope that we're going to a place that could actually do us some good. I then saw Yona catching her breath as she stopped to lean her back on a tree we just passed.

"Yona-hime, do you need a short break?" I asked the silent Princess, seeing her nod her head at my question.

I gave a soft sigh, making sure that not a single piece of paper fell from my satchel. I was about to suggest to Hak that we should start finding materials so that we could survive for the night, but I was cut off by a voice I thought wouldn't speak.

"(Y/N)... Hak... Did Min-soo die? I wonder... will I die too? Will Soo-won take your lives?"

"As long as I am here breathing, I will not let anything happen to us." I reassured Yona as I gave a small smile.

"I'll never hand my life to that asshole." I glared at Hak at what he said, he should know that he should pick his words carefully around Yona with this topic.

"Don't leave me... Because if you die, I won't forgive you two." Yona-hime replied quietly as she was slowly falling asleep.

I frowned when I saw Yona's tears were still visible on her cheeks. I instinctively wiped her tears gently with my hand, making sure that I wouldn't wake her up. I gave one last glance at the sleeping princess as I stood up and faced Hak with a neutral expression.

"Let's start getting materials for our stay here tonight. I'll be in charge of the fire and shelter while you find some water and food for us."

"Aye aye, Captain." Hak gave me a mock salute before turning his back to me and walking away to get what I asked him.

I couldn't prevent myself to give a soft giggle at the attempt of making me smile from Hak, making me remember the time where he made me laugh accidentally when we first met. But I didn't noticed that Hak heard it and knew that he somewhat succeeded in his plan.

•
•
•

"Aren't you going to eat?" Hak asked Yona as he handed her a cooked fish on a stick, seeing her staring at the distance with a dull face.

"If you don't want fish, would you prefer bird instead?" Hak suggested, but he still didn't got any answer from the silent Princess.

"You should eat something Yona-hime, even if it's just a little. The next mountain pass will be more dangerous. I don't know if we will be able to find any more food. Eating is the best option on staying alive." I said seriously as I was trying to trigger something in Yona to just eat and talk a bit more, but just like Hak, my attempts were in vain.

I was getting more and more worried for Yona. I noticed that she was getting weaker as time goes by... She stopped trying to stand on her own or walk anywhere, she stopped talking and learned to talk when necessary but still made it short, and it was pretty obvious that she now stopped eating too. At this rate, it might get even harder getting the old Yona that I used to know. The one that was looking forward to every day that passes, the person that learned to keep her head high in every problem thrown her way, the Princess that would always be there to cheer me up when I can't handle another stressful day. She was replaced with someone that had been wondering if she'll live another day, a person that would easily give up if another problem was added on her fragile plate, the broken hearted Princess that didn't notice when I was now the one cheering her up in her saddest day.

I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn't bother to give a reply when Hak excused himself to escort Yona to take a bath in a nearby pond and left me here on my own. I looked down at my dead fish that was thoroughly cooked, I took out the stick jabbed into it as I snapped the head from it's body with no hesitation. I was remembering what happened these few days, wishing and hoping this will soon end. Why must things always go wrong for me? Does the world get pleasure in my suffering? I just hope that I could still witness a day where I'll be truly happy with my life. I hope Yona would be able to smile happily again, I hope Hak would be able to worry about himself more too, and I hope that Soo-won knew that what he did will never be forgotten from us all...

•
•
•

I leaned my back on the wall of a cave that we picked for our new place to sleep in, the sun was about to set so I already prepared the fire for us. I was just trying to wrap my head at any more ideas that could come into my mind on how I could help Yona, but every single time I think of something, it fails like all the rest of it did.

"Ah!" I shouted in frustration as I took a small rock and threw it across the cave as a way to let out my anger.

It soon hit the walls as it reflected a soft sound of a punch, making me the only one to hear it. Yona and Hak weren't with me, but I'm not surprised, I'm the one that told Hak to be the person to retrieve the silent Princess when it's been too long for her to be away from the cave.

I then remembered a memory that just happened earlier that I wanted to keep in the back of my mind. I just hope that what happened before wouldn't happen again...

•••

I was in the part of the mountains in the forest, far away from Yona's and Hak's location. I just wanted to be alone for a while to deal with my emotions, something that I didn't want them to see. I started punching the tree over and over again as I tried to let my anger out by doing this. I could feel that my hands were burning from pain that I just tolerated by every thought that crossed my mind.

'If you got Hak's trust, then you're important and you got ours too.'

Another punch.

'Here. So you don't get lost.'

Another punch.

'Hello Hak, (Y/N). It's so nice to see you.'

Another punch.

'Can't you even listen to a small request like that?!'

Another punch.

'I was never the Soo-won you knew to begin with. If anyone stands in my way, I will eliminate them. No matter who it is.'

Another punch.

'Lady (Y/N), please take care of Yona-hime.'

Another punch.

'You can ask Yona-hime, because she witnessed the death of the King with her own eyes.'

Another punch.

'(Y/N) listen, I'm well aware that what I did was stupid of me. So I wanted to tell you that I'm so-'

Another punch.

'Don't leave me... Because if you die, I won't forgive you two.'

A hard punch.

"It's your fault!"

A hurtful punch.

"It's always your fault!"

Another painful punch.

"You."

Punch.

"Piece."

Punch.

"Of."

Punch.

"Ahh!" I screamed as I made one final blow to the tree in pure hatred.

I could feel my fists burning, feeling the power that I tried to control slip out of my grasps as I stared at the spot where my fists landed. The part of the tree where I hit was slowly burning, making me sigh in annoyance at myself for almost burning down nature. I placed my hand on the fire as I could feel the cool sensation I experience whenever I touch or feel fire. I was able to remove the spreading fire before it could burn down the leaves of the tree. I stared at the tree that had scorch marks at the level of my waist to my head.

I started to walk away from that spot as I didn't want Hak to find me and see that I was next to a suspiciously burnt tree. I was just far enough from the sight of the burnt tree as I just wanted to get back to them now. The never ending thoughts in my head just kept coming back every time I just think of one negative thing as it just keeps on adding and adding itself. I stopped in my tracks as it was hard to block away the memories of everything wrong that I did. I fell on the ground to my knees as I just couldn't take it anymore.

"Why am I just so pathetic..." I said to myself as I held my hands up to my crying face.

I cried on the floor as I just felt so horrible when my thoughts just couldn't leave me alone in peace. I hugged myself while I was still a sobbing mess, trying to just let my sadness out in peace. It did made me surprised when I felt myself engulfed in a hug by a new pair of arms.

"It's alright, it's just me."

It made me feel relieved a bit to know that Hak was the one hugging me and not a complete stranger, but it still didn't help with the fact that I didn't want him to see me like this.

"Hak... I'm so sorry." I said as I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his chest.

"You have nothing to apologize for (Y/N), remember that. Don't blame yourself for things that you clearly didn't do yourself nor had any power to even change it." Hak whispered to me as his arms were still gently holding me.

I just didn't want him to let go, I just want him to be with me longer. It just feels so lonely when I have to deal with my own mind, even if I don't want anyone to see me in this vulnerable state. I just started balling in Hak's chest as I just let go of every negative emotion that I've been keeping to myself ever since we left Hiryuu Castle.

•••

I wiped the tears forming in my eyes with my sleeves. I know that Hak is going to question me about it at some point in time, but it's best to just pretend that it didn't happen and wish that he would forget about it ever happening. I just don't want to confront Hak about it, if I did then I'm sure that I'm going to break again in front of him; something I hope that wouldn't ever happen again. I should just stay focused and remember to wait for Hak and Yona to arrive. I just hope that nothing bad happened to them while they're outside.

"If my anxiousness starts to hit me again then I'll immediately go out of here to find them. What's even taking them so long? I swear, if they get attacked by a swarm of snakes or something then I'll be angry at myself for not helping them."

"Still talking to yourself when you're alone, huh?"

"Ah!"

I screamed as I didn't expected to see Hak and Yona arriving so suddenly. At least their safe, it looks like they were just running from something. I have nothing to worry about since it was just a snake bite on Hak's leg- Wait... What?!

"What trouble have you two placed yourselves in this time?!" I exclaimed as my worried voice echoed along the walls of the cave we were in.

I immediately placed Yona-hime on the wall where I was previously laying my back on. I then helped Hak with his snake bite, I wasn't worrying too much since it wasn't the first time he was bitten by a snake. I could still recall the times when we would chase snakes when we were little, but soon would run away when they suddenly multiplied to attack us.

"You should stop worrying too much, I could see wrinkles forming on your forehead." Hak tried to reassure me, but it soon backfired when he grunted in pain when I tied the piece of cloth he gave me on his injury.

"Just look out for yourself too, I don't know what I'd do if anything happens to either of you." I gave a sad smile to Hak as I wiped the blood from my hands on my clothes, not caring if the blood was visible on my light (F/C) kimono.

I then glanced at Yona's direction, seeing her with a guilty face was something I couldn't ignore. I wonder what made her so motivated to get lost out there without anyone with her...

"Hak will be fine. I know how to treat venomous snakebites." I said reassuringly at the Princess, the guilty expression she had was still on her face.

"Is this what you were looking for?" Hak turned to his side as he took out a hair pin that suited for Yona-hime.

"I won't forgive Soo-won. But besides from that, I want you to live." I was so confused at the scene unfolding in front of me, but I didn't want to interrupt their little moment.

I should have gotten used to being excluded in important events, since it looked like something important happened before and because of that, I couldn't understand a single thing they were talking about. So I did what I could do to comfort myself from my messy thoughts, hugging my legs to my chest with my head on my knees as I was just too tired of everything. Too tired to even do anything simple and useful for Yona and Hak at the moment.

•
•
•

I opened my tired eyes as a small yawn escaped my lips. I stood up and looked at Yona and Hak's direction, seeing them both still asleep. I started to remove any signs that someone was in the cave we were in. It was a bit tiring since the hot morning sun made the temperature rise up, making me start to sweat a bit. It only took me a few minutes since there were only a few scattered materials here and there, so I now just removed some dirt and blood that got on my kimono. I gave out a contented sigh when I saw that everything was done. I took another glance at my two sleeping companions, making me smile at seeing their peaceful faces.

"From this point on, I promise I will never let anything happen to either of you. My life will always be in your hands." I whispered to myself with a sad smile forming on my face.

I then ripped out a part of my long ribbon wrapped around on the waist of my kimono, making it look tattered from the part I ripped out. I made it sure that it was sanitary as I took a quick trip the the nearby pond. I came back with my clean cloth as I stood in front of the sleeping pair. I immediately threw the cloth in my hands hard enough at Hak's face with no regrets. Hak woke up from the cloth hitting his head as he gave out a small grunt, making sure that I noticed his glare that he gave me.

"Relaxation is over sleeping Prince, your wound bled out and made the cloth bloody. Make sure to clean it before wrapping it up again." I didn't care about Hak's reaction at my unnecessary actions.

"And what was that for?!"

"It's my payback for you making me barely sleep from worrying over you. So get yourself out of the cave to get your weapon as I wake up Yona-hime. It's too heavy for me to move since I am tired from again, not being able to sleep much." I said as I ignored Hak's annoyed stare that he was giving me.

As Hak stood up and made his way over to his weapon, lazily might I add, I went to Yona's side as I woke her up in the opposite way I did to Hak.

"Wake up Princess, we're going to head out now. Everything is done so we just need to start walking away from here again." I quietly said to Yona, seeing her slowly open her eyes as she looked at me and gave me a small nod in reply.

I smiled at Yona-hime as I helped her stand up, walking away with her from the cave to go to where Hak was. As soon as we met Hak, I saw that he was just waiting for us to go to him. Of course, he was still giving me an annoyed stare, making me reply with a raised eyebrow. But before I could say anything, I felt a tug on my arm, making me look to my side to see the confused face of the crimson haired Princess.

"Um, (Y/N)..."

"Yes Princess?" I asked with a reassuring smile.

I was trying to hide my shocked face that she was finally going to talk to me. Maybe last night really had an affect on her...

"Why did we go to the mountains? Any village below would have food and medicine."

"Well Yona-hime, some people are dangerous even if the villages didn't know us or the castle guards didn't know where we are, Soo-won could have sent portraits of us."

"Then where are we going?" I then turned my gaze to Hak, giving him the same confused expression as Yona.

"I'm as clueless as you are Princess, Hak hasn't told me where we are heading."

"That's because you didn't asked." I gave Hak a deadpanned look at his answer.

Is this my payback from what I did? I wanted to give him a snarky remark in return, but he already knew I was going to do that so he cut me off.

"Because of what (Y/N) pointed out, there is only one place that could guarantee our safety. The Wind Tribe's Capital, Fuuga."

I gave a wide eyed stare as I was shocked that we were going to the Wind Tribe. The one place where we can be sure that we won't be worrying about anyone planning to kill us or capture us.

"Our Hometown..."

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Published:
6/25/20

I'm as sad and confused as the Reader is in this chapter. I apologize in advance for not going into detail of the anime's manga chapter, I just didn't feel like I can spend my time on the chapter in the manga when Yona was looking for her hairpin from Soo-won, I just wanted it to just go to the chapter where they're in Capital Fuuga.

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Remember to stay safe (especially in these times), sleep well, and keep shining my lovely starlights!