Till The Ryu Tree Blossoms

*** (Let Me Know)

Palace of Eternal Prosperity, the Royal Courtyard

THE DOORS SLID OPEN and Yoon-ki exited, rolling the stiffness out of his joints. The payment for the fur would come in nine days, though Yoon-ki knew they weren't going to get the real worth anytime soon. With the payment having to pass through the treasury, secretariat and finance, the money would be only slightly above average when it came in. Such was bureaucracy.

He looked around. "Where's Ryu?"

"Washroom," No-mu replied. Then he sighed. "Though she's been there a very long time, so I have reason to believe she might have left the courtyard through the side gate."

Something in Yoon-ki's demeanour changed. "What?"

The straw hat tipped backward an inch until No-mu's eyes could be seen peeking out. His eyes paused briefly on Yoon-ki's face.

"What - "

The royal magistrate's robes swished violently around his feet as he descended the steps and marched toward the side gate.

"Did you permit a lady to exit this courtyard within the last hour?" he demanded of the guard.

"Y-yes, she said she was with you - "

"When was this?"

"About ten minutes ago."

At this point, the rest of the hunting party had walked up behind.

"She left the courtyard?" Faye asked. "She's not supposed to do that."

Taehyung yawned. "This is Ryu we're talking about. When did she listen?"

"Find her," Yoon-ki barked, tone curt. "Now."

Faye nodded, and took off at a jog. Taehyung followed at a more leisurely pace, the dogs bounding around his feet. No-mu did not leave, but instead walked closer to Yoon-ki. The royal magistrate was staring into the distance, every part of him tense.

"What's going on? It's just a stroll around the palace, she won't get into much trouble even if she's caught. She's got your name behind her, after all."

"Any other day, perhaps. But not today." For a second his composure broke as he let out an angry, short exclamation. "I told her never to leave the courtyard!"

No-mu moved into his line of view, persistent. "What do you mean? Why not today?"

A pause. And finally Yoon-ki looked at him.

"Because the second prince has just returned."

☯

The heavier sword clashed down on the rapier and Ryu's knees buckled. She gritted her teeth and glared daggers at her opponent, who was too busy smirking to notice.

"How pathetic." He had a very nasal voice that grated on the ears. "Is that all you have?"

On the sidelines, his friends cheered. Ryu watched his eyes flick momentarily to the pagoda full of ladies, and his chest puffed higher. From this position she could see the tip of his shoes very clearly; they were emblazoned by the imperial flower, which meant that he was of royal blood. But his clothing had none of the motif, so he wasn't a direct descendant of the throne - a cousin, probably.

Turning her blade, she let the heavier sword slid off and took a step backward. Her challenger gave her no time to breathe before lunging again, and Ryu barely blocked the thrust. He pushed onward, forcing Ryu's sword arm to swing away from her side, and she felt it more than she saw it, the slam of a turning kick into her ribs.

Winded, she hit the ground gasping. The sword clattered. "Tha - that's cheating!"

"All's fair in love and war, didn't you know?" The smirk widened. "Or are you as dumb as you are weak?"

Now Ryu knew her sword skills were not up to par, and a remark on that was acceptable. But an insult just to demean was something her pride would not allow her to be subjected to. Grabbing her sword she jumped back on her feet.

"Well you would know a thing or two about being dumb now, would you?"

The smirk vanished.

They clashed blades for several minutes, and a crowd began to gather. Though not as adept as Faye, he was good enough to make Ryu realize she was on the losing side. Already she could feel the bruise forming in her side from the kick earlier, and a late dodge had resulted in a cut on her sword arm. She gritted her teeth.

She would not give up either way. If she was going to go down, she was going to go down fighting.

The match ended when Ryu tilted a little too much to the left and recovered a little too late. her opponent's eyes gleamed and he moved, swift. Ryu froze as the tip of the sword stopped half an inch from her exposed throat.

"Victory!" someone yelled, and the watching audience cheered.

Her opponent reveled in it all, raising both hands as if holding a trophy. Ryu massaged her sore side. Very unwillingly she stuck out a hand, as the etiquette of a duel decreed.

"Well-played," she muttered.

The nobleman sniffed the air like it was beyond him, and barely touched her hand as they shook.

"Perhaps you should consider taking lessons from me." Ryu resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his tone. "Lee Shi Jun is my name. What's yours?"

Crap. She forced a smile, and could almost hear Taehyung's voice drawling in her ear. Grovel when you're in trouble. Your pride does you no good when you are dead.

"I'm not of much status, good sir, and my name is hardly worthy to speak of in your honorable presence."

Shi Jun snorted. "Come now. These are the palace gardens, after all. You do not test your sword here unless you are of royal blood. A commoner would have been executed!"

Well then. Someone really needs to erect a sign on the grass. Ryu looked around at the dispersing crowd that wasn't dispersing fast enough, and wondered what would the consequences be if her identity was found out. Though she was a member of the royal hunting party, she hardly had blue blood coursing through her veins.

"My sincere apologies," she said. "I'm afraid I've suddenly recalled of a need for pressing business to attend to, and must take my leave immediately. It has been a pleasure sparring with you."

Ryu bowed, picked up her sword and began walking toward the weapons store.

Don't run.

"Hey!" Shi Jun called. "I'm not done talking yet!"

Don't run.

"At least let me see your face!"

Don't. Run.

A hand yanked on the straps of her mask. "I said, I'm not done - "

The mask hit the ground with a clatter. A hush fell over the gardens as Ryu's ponytail swung like a light pendulum in the wind.

It took a moment for Shi Jun to respond, and the incredulity in his voice was apparent. "A common - girl?"

She dropped everything and ran.

Commotion broke out but she didn't dare look back. She fled, and as she passed the corridor where she had first come from, she could only look at it helplessly as it zoomed past out of sight. It was all the way on the opposite side of the gardens, where she could not reach in time, and now she was hurtling toward the main gate.

Toward the inside of the palace.

Where Yoon-ki had warned her, many many times, that she was not to go.

She skidded into a corridor supported by white timber pillars and lined with portraits of ancient kings. For a second she convinced herself that it had been foolish of her to run, and that they were not coming, but then there was the clatter of shoes on stone and she took off. Straight down then left then right again, or maybe it was left because she wasn't sure, she was so confused now. The whole place was a maze, and as she ran past closed doors and indistinguishable hallways she realized that she could very well end up back where she had left.

She rounded into a large plaza and immediately saw guards marching the length of it. She came to a hasty stop and doubled back, but it was too late - men's voice and shoes were coming from her front, behind her were the guards, to her left were closed and undoubtedly locked doors. The footsteps thundered nearer and nearer, the place was wide open and there were no nooks to hide; she was about to disgrace the royal hunting party and be kicked out and disappoint Yoon-ki -

A hand came out of nowhere and grabbed her shoulder, spinning her around. As she whirled a force acted on her hairband and her hair came close, cascading over her shoulders and over her face. Her back slammed against one of the corridor's pillars and she caught only a short glimpse of clothing and a veined, muscular hand before arms locked around her and pulled her close.

Ryu snarled and fought the hold, pushing her arms up and outward, but the lock refused to budge. Instead the person stepped even closer, until every breath Ryu inhaled carried the scent of clementine flower and orange blossom, with a sharp tang of musk that tingled every last one of senses.

The voice that whispered in her ear was smooth like midnight velvet.

"Stay still, unless you want to get caught."

It was not loud, or even commanding, but it carried a quality that seemed to say it was ignorant of disobedience. Ryu's arms faltered, and slowly she let them drop.

Shi Jun and his cohort streamed past and she instinctively shrank backward. The arms around her tightened even as out of the corners of her eyes, she saw the feet of her savior take one step closer.

By Baro's beard did this man smell good.

The last of her pursuers vanished out of sight and she was just about to relax when -

"Well well well. If it isn't the prodigal son come home." Shi Jun's voice was unmistakable.

Ryu squeezed her eyes shut and crossed her fingers and prayed that she was hidden well enough to not be seen. Or that the earth would suddenly shake and a hole would open up that she could disappear into. Or even for a sudden bout of blindness to strike Shi Jun. Only temporarily of course. She wasn't that mean.

Ryu heard him walk closer. "Now who is that you're hiding?"

Her heart was thumping so wild she was sure that the entire palace could hear it through her chest.

"And since when did you have any right to question me of my business? Or to address me informally, even?" This new voice was like ice and fire. "Need I remind you of your place?"

Ryu could not see Shi Jun, but she could hear him snap.

"You think just because you are born of the throne - "

"It is because I am born of the throne that I have every right to lord it over you. Especially when you refuse to show me the proper amount of respect."

"I will not - "

"You will leave now."

"How dare - "

"Would you like to visit your mother?"

Dead silence.

Then an angry swish of the robes, and Ryu knew Shi Jun had left. Flounced off, most likely.

For a moment, nothing moved. Not the air, not Ryu, and not the mysterious stranger. Her cheeks were pressed into an alien chest that rumbled with every word the stranger had spoken, and the touch on her skin both warmed and chilled her all at the same time. Then the stranger stepped away and Ryu could look up.

"Pray tell," the stranger asked as he dusted off his clothes, "what is a girl like you doing - "

Their eyes met.

And in that one second, everything left Ryu. Her power of speech, her ability to breathe, the knowledge of how to stand. If she had not been leaning against the pillar in the first place her knees would have buckled to the floor; she opened her mouth and nothing came out. Only in her head could she say -

"You," he whispered.

Time stopped and her world dissolved until all she could see was that beautiful, familiar face that should not have been real. In that moment she fancied both her and his expressions as twin mirrors, a canvas of shock and stunned discovery, reflecting the disbelief and intensity that gripped the heart and etched itself along the ridges of the jaw and in the pupils of the eyes.

She was the first to start back time. Her hand reached out unconsciously, and the stranger flinched. He took a step back, this gorgeous man in robes of black and gold, and even then in her shock she should have known what his clothing meant, but she was too dazed to tell.

He snarled, and the magic broke. "Do not touch me."

She blinked. Her lips tried, yet again to speak, but no sound came out.

His face was pale, almost bloodless, and it was clear he was struggling to control his emotions. There was fury in his voice, but trembling in his fingers; he curled away from her as if repulsed, but at the same his eyes burned aflame as if he couldn't look away. And Ryu - she had gone beyond bewildered, because this man, this man was not supposed to be real.

He was not supposed to be real.

"You - " He choked on his words, stopped, then attempted again. "Stay away from me. Do not - you do not - I will not have you near."

Ryu stepped forward. He stepped backward. She had to ask, she had to find her voice, she needed to know!

"Who are you?" she whispered.

His face closed up and he turned still. Nothing moved save his lips. His voice hardened, taking on a harsh undertone.

"My identity is not of your concern. You will remove yourself from the premises immediately, or I swear by Soyou's sword that I will call the guards here and let Shi Jun have his way with you."

"You know me," Ryu insisted, and a little bit of strength crept back into her words. "You know me, I saw your face, you know me and I know you - "

"Silence your mouth!" he roared. His cheeks had gone so white it stood out in stark contrast to his black hair. "I will not have you spreading blasphemy - I do not - I do not know you - "

He stopped himself short, closed his eyes, and Ryu saw his jawline tensed. By the time he looked back to Ryu again all traces of emotion had fled, and his face was a blank, expressionless mask. The harsh rasp in his voice too had vanished, replaced by the smooth quality Ryu had first heard him use.

"I give you to the count of ten," he said quietly. "Vanish out of my sight, or face the executioner's axe. I'm sure you're aware that no females are allowed in the inner court save the King's women."

"I'm not going until you tell me who you are!"

"One."

"I know you, I've known you all my life" - Ryu saw something in his eyes flickered - "tell me, who are you?"

"Two."

"You can't - you can't just deny it, I know you know me. I - my name is Ryu. Tell me your name. Why do you know me? Why do I know you?"

"Three."

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. "I dreamt of you. So many times. You told me your name, but when I woke up I forgot . . . I don't really remember, only - only bits and pieces - "

"Four."

"I might get it wrong."

"Five."

"Tell me - tell me if it's right."

"Six."

She hesitated for a heartbeat. "Ahn - Jimin?"

He stopped counting. Ryu looked at his face and knew at once that she had gotten it correct.

An enormous tidal wave of rage seemed to rise up from nowhere, collapsing down on the stranger's features like a tsunami hitting shorefront buildings. He was less shouting than bellowing out his next word.

"Guards!"

Like shadows from the night, spears materialized out of nowhere around Ryu's neck, interlocking and forming a hexagon. She hadn't even seen them running over or standing around, but here they were - six sentries with their spears up and ready. One false move, and her eye would be taken out.

"Stop!"

Yoon-ki was walking toward her, accompanied by the rest of the hunting party. She looked at their faces and squirmed, uncomfortable.

She was in a hell lot of trouble.

The royal magistrate stopped just five feet short. Placing a fist to his chest he bowed. "Your Highness."

The rest of the hunting party followed suit, chorusing, "Your Highness."

Your Highness?

The man in black and gold gestured to Ryu like she was dirt smeared on his pristine shoes. "Is this one of yours?"

"I apologize, Your Highness." Yoon-ki's voice was oddly formal, stilted like an awkward accent. "I have failed in my duty to educate her properly on the royal etiquette. I assure you, this will not happen again."

The look he sent Ryu's way made her dip her eyes with immediate effect.

"See to it. And remove her from my sight. Now."

Yoon-ki nodded, and the spears retracted. Faye stepped forward and gripped Ryu by the elbow, but not before muttering,

"You are so dead."

But Ryu was barely listening, her gaze was locked onto the stranger, memorizing every last detail on his features, burning his image to memory. Not that it required much effort, because she had seen this face so many times that she had utterly lost count. But here, in the real world, it was so much sharper, so much clearer.

So much more beautiful.

The stranger left, strides arrogant and long, and the six guards melted back where they came. The plaza was quiet again, no sound could be heard save for the panting of Taehyung's dogs, and the very fast, irregular breathing of Yoon-ki, which Ryu knew was a sign that not only was he livid, he was apoplectic.

So instead she turned to Faye and asked, "Who was that?"

Faye gave her a look like she was an i***t, which Ryu was rather accustomed to. And she replied,

"The second royal prince, Kang Jimin."