The complete story for the Dragons Week 2019. Â Prompts in order: Kija, Shin-ah, Jae-ha, Zeno, Family Bonds, Old Gen vs new Gen, Future. Â ~~ breaks left in because Tumblr posts weird Â
AU story, Canon divergence. Each of them came from different backgrounds, but there was something that tied their lives together and, in the end, they learn how family meant much more than just by blood. Â Â
Donât get it wrong, Kija had a good life, great family, anything he possibly could need, but he was so⌠lonely.  Toyâs werenât much fun if you didnât have anyone to play with.  School was miserable when all the other kids were, well, stuck up. Sometimes he wished his parents would just send him to the local public school.  Whenever they passed by it, the kids in the playground looked like they were having so much fun!  And then he would arrive by chauffeured car to his private school, where all the kids had their noses in the air and were more interested in one-upping each other in who had the most of, whatever was the item of that day.  Kija wasnât like them at all.  Oh, he could act a bit on the spoiled side but, letâs just say, his personality was much more naĂŻve and preferred simpler things.
Their neighborhood wasnât much help in this regard, the other families with children around his age either attended his school or the matching girls one.  YeahâŚ. Life for Kija were days often spent with nannyâs trying to keep him entertained.  But he did have one saving grace.  Mr. Mundok down the street had taken in his grandson Hak just over a year ago and they were only one year apart in age.  Kija had heard his parents whispering about it at the time.  Father died while serving in the military overseas⌠mother couldnât handle the loss and took off leaving her son behind. That boy was sure lucky to have a grandfather to take him in. Â
Kija knew old mister Mundok because their families were acquainted and of course the idea that another little girl was always over at that house caught the boyâs attention too. At first Kija thought little Yona was the manâs granddaughter but turns out her father is an old business colleague. Not that young Kija cared about such details for the only thing that mattered was the blooming of hope and maybe friendship for a lonely child. Â And Yona was a total darling. Â There was just something special about her and she was turning into the little sister that Kijaâs parents never gave him. Â Â
But Hak, now there was a kid that wasnât the easiest to be around.  If he wasnât being moody or sarcastic with Kija, the boy would sometimes not talk at all preferring to tinker around with his grandfatherâs martial arts stuff rather than deal with people.  Mr. Mundok explained once that his grandson was still dealing with some of the things that happened and hopefully, heâd get better with people soon. By far, the best times was when Yona was visiting and the three of them hung out.  That girl had a knack for getting Hak to play with them no matter if he whined, heâd still do as she asked.  Yeah, the three of them was still a whole lot more fun than none and things were about to get even betterâŚ
In another section of their vast metropolis, a young boy had glued himself into the corner of a closet. Â For all of his short life, the shy but astute child knew nothing of warmth or affection, just the bitter darkness that was his world. Â The few interactions he had with adults were mostly formalities, they fed and clothed him, taught him basic language skills but that was all, he didnât even know who he was for they only referred to him in pronouns. Â It was a strange life to say the least. Â They never harmed him, at least not physically laid a hand on him, but it was as if they didnât really want to touch him or get too close.
The sparsely furnished room was all he really knew about the world aside from the few storybooks that gave him a fantasy view of what might exist. 23 hours a day locked in with only a bed, a lamp, a desk with a chair and a handful of toys like a small bouncy ball that he had to play with quietly or risk getting yelled at.  Even at such a young age, he realized something was very odd about his circumstances, but he was too shy or scared to say anything like now as he huddled in the closet.  The weird chanting and sounds coming from the other room.  He could hear many adults talking⌠about him.
Look at his eyes, they are not normal. Â Evil. Â We have told you, he will grow up and bring anger from our Gods. Â We will not tolerate this blasphemy any longer, either you get rid of the spawn or you must leave our sanctity! Â
âShin-ah, Shin-ah wake upâŚâ
In a start, the young boy shrieks, scrambling over the bed and pressing himself against the wall with his eyes screwed shut.  He feels the bed shifting and a warm hand coming to rest on his knee.  A sweet girls voice breaking through his panicked mindâŚ. It was so soothingâŚ
âShin-ah itâs okay, was it that bad dream again? Â Youâre safe now remember, here at grandpa Mundokâs.â
Shin-ahâŚ. Thatâs the name she gave me when I got here.  He flashes back again to the river and tries to shake the memories out of his head.  That was 3 months ago.  Heâd been so scared when the adults yanked him out of the closet and left him near a river with nothing more than the clothes on his back.  After a day, starved and cold a passerby found him and took him to the authorities but with no way of identifying who he was, they placed him in this home for boys.  Thatâs where I am now. Â
He peaked out with one eye, and sure enough the angels voice belonged to Yona. Â Seeing him coming around she smiles and moves her hands to take hold of his. Â âItâs gonna be okay Shin-ah, no one will hurt you anymore, I promise.â Â There was still a lingering fear but so far, she had spoken the truth. Â It was all so different for him to go from a lonely existence to one where the people actually talk to him and make him feel wanted. Â He nods his head slowly and after Yona scoots off his bed, crawls back under his blanket. Â âGoodnight Shin-ah!â
As much as he didnât want to get his hopes up, the peace that little girl could always bring him began to lull him to sleep once more.  Maybe⌠maybe it will be okayâŚ
There was no way Jae-ha was gonna let them catch him and take him back to that hell hole of a home. No thank you! Â He truly thought that no one would believe the stories of how he was beat and starved, shackled by a long chain to the wall heater so he couldnât escape. Â Freedom was what he craved for and it fueled his drive to break free. Â
Too bad freedom didnât come with a meal. Â
It had been a week now of playing cat-and-mouse with the authorities. Â But as his stomach growled, he stopped to looked around and realized he had wandered onto a street of affluent homes. Â Thievery was not something Jae-ha wanted to resort to, but what other options did he have? Â All the darkened homes, quiet while their occupants slept peacefully in beds. Jae-ha scoffed, lucky bastards. Â These were the kinds of people that could afford to share their food, right?
Picking the simple lock was the easy part and luck have it that the back door had led straight into the kitchen! Â Hallelujah! It was like sun rays shining down upon him as he opened the fully stocked refrigerator! Â
âShin-ah is that you raiding the fridge again?â Â The young boy freezes in place, slowly turning around to see another boy, slightly younger, rubbing his eyes and staring at him. Â âYouâre not Shin-ah, what are you doing with our fridge?â
âYoon, whatâs going on down there?â
Shit! Â Itâs an adultâs voice! Â Jae-ha glances at the back door. Â He could out run the kid, no problem and takes a step in that direction.
âAre you hungry?â Â The kitchen light snapping on causing Jae-ha to flinch again. Â He was busted, the older male was standing near the door now. Â Jae-ha presses himself against the counter afraid to say a word, studying the situation and looking for his way out. Â But again, the older gentleman asks the same question and this time Jae-ha is starting to notice the softness in the manâs tone. âBoy, I can see you must be starving. Yoon will you make him a sandwich?â
âSure, thing grandpa!â the other child ignores the fact that there is a stranger in the room and simply goes around focused on his task. Â
âMy name is Mundok, gramps to these boys.â Â He stays his ground near the door for now watching the frightened child. Â âIâm not gonna hurt you.â Â
Jae-ha was sure this was just a ploy to catch him so they could call the police.  Since when are people so kind?  He continues to watch the old man until the other child walks up and sticks the plate out to him.  âHere, you should eat.  It hurts when your stomach is empty, I know.â  Jae-ha looks at the plate, it did look so temptingâŚ.  âGramps isnât lying,â Yoon cut through the young boyâs thoughts. âHe ainât my real grandpa, just the guy that took me in.  Thereâs two other boys that live here too.â
âI can help ya boy, but you need to talk. Â If you ran away from home it was for a good reason, Iâm sure, cause no one runs away unless they got a dang good one.â Â He moves away from the door and takes a seat on the opposite side of the island counter. Yoon places the plate on the counter and fixes a glass of water too. Â âYoon, you should get to bed itâs late, but could you grab one of Hakâs outfits and bring it to me first, I think it would fit this young man.â Â Yoon nods and leaves the room on his task. Â Mundok chuckles, âYoon is such a great kid,â turning to look at Jae-ha who still hasnât moved a muscle, âhis family was too poor to care for him, so he had resorted to dumpster diving. Â I convinced the family to let me adopt him and brought him here.â Â
Yoon returns a few minutes later and places the shirt, shorts, and underwear on the counter before waving and skipping back upstairs. Â âTell ya what son,â the old man stands up slowly, keeping his hands resting on the counter, âIâm old and tired so Iâm gonna go back to sleep. Â You should eat so ya ainât starving tonight, take the clothes too and if you want,â he points to a utility room, âthereâs even a shower if you wanna use it.â Â Standing straight now, âstay, go, the choice is up to you, I wonât stop ya if you wanna leave.â Â Mundok starts to walk away, still talking as he does. Â He points to another room, âliving rooms got a couch if youâre tired,â waving without turning around, ânight kid.â
Was it really possible that this old guy was for real?  Jae-ha stares at the food, the clothesâŚ. He glances around the room as tears slowly trickle down his face⌠Â
It was a little weird when he first moved in. Â Youâd think heâd be used to living in a house full of boys, but these werenât his relations. The old man that took him in, told him to call him gramps and think of this as his new family. Â Could he really do that? Â They were all younger than he was. Â The two oldest Jae-ha and Hak didnât seem very interested in getting to know him. Â Shin-ah, well that boy was just eerily quiet, but Yoon at least said hello. Â Â
Zeno knew that they often wondered about him, this aloof kid, how the hell could he smile after what happened to him?  To be honest, he wasnât sure either.  To the world, Zeno practically radiated sunshine but inside the nightmares still plagued with him, toying with his sanity.  Mundok had sat all the kids down, including Kija and Yona, like he always did when a new child joined the household and told them.  But the old man only gave them the info they needed⌠a lone survivor of a horrific car crash with no living relatives.  That was how the 11-year-old came to live with them.   Â
But Yoon knew the truth. The roommate heard the quiet sobbing or witnessed the sleepless nights and did his best to comfort his new friend. Both boys assumed gramps had designed it that way, pairing them up while putting Jae-ha and Shin-ah in the other room. That old man had a knack for tactical strategies and a gift for the human condition. Â Somehow, he just knew the young boy would provide a comforting shoulder without being laced with judgment. Â It came-in handy when once, after a pretty terrible nightmare Zeno confided that he felt bad for out living his other siblings or parents, that he couldnât understand what had made him special enough to survive.
That had to be tough to live with. Â
âThere must be a reason,â Yoon had pointed out that night, âlook at how much you make people smile around you Zeno, thatâs a pretty cool thing, I think. Â Thereâs so much bad stuff in this world, it needs people who can still be so happy.â Â
âHow are you so smart for an 8-year-old?â Â Zeno had sat back in his bed and laughed from the young boyâs serious expression.
Yoon had just shrugged,âthe library is free, so I spent a lot of time there.â
Zeno had settled under the covers at that point, âThanks, itâs nice having someone to talk to, makes me feel less lonely.â
âSame,â the boy smiled, âgood night Zeno.â
After a few months the nightmares fizzled away and while he still thought about his family, Zeno realized that he had been blessed with a new one. Â Three brothers had been lost, but even more gained plus a sister, and that made Zeno smile. Â He loved them all, even the sarcastic Hak. Â With Yona, it was absolutely wonderful having her around and while Kija didnât live there, he visited so frequently it was as if he was part of this mixed family unit. Â Zeno had gone from being the baby of the family to the eldest sibling. Â Â Â
As he looked around the dining table one evening, watching everyone laughing and talking about their day, he couldnât help but smile and believe it⌠ Maybe there was a reason after all.
All the previous years had barely prepared them for this moment. Â They were better now and now it was their turn to be the strong ones. Â The six young men huddle around the young teenage girl as she stares at her fatherâs casket. Â Mundok places a hand upon her shoulder, âitâs gonna be okay Yona, weâll help you get through this. Â Iâll make sure your fatherâs business and legacy continues, I promise.â
Yona could only stare forward in disbelief.  Her hands hung at her sides, âBut I still donât understand w--whyâŚ.  How could he hurt my dad like that when he was just trying to do the right thing?â  She looks up at her best friend Hak who just stood to her side.  The whites of his knuckles, the scowl and narrowed expression⌠her dad had treated him like a son, so his anger made sense.  Yona tugged gently at his sleeve, âHak?â  He was so focused on the casket that it took a couple of pulls to gain his attention.  Â
When he finally turns and looks, to see her riddled with pain and eyes misted over, his heart clenches tighter along with his fists.  Yona didnât deserve this, that bastard!  How could he hurt his cousin like that! Her eyes crinkle at the corners causing the tears to pool in them.  Sheâd held back the tears but there was no stopping them now and in a surprising move she launches into his chest, buries her face into the fabric and hands gripping. It takes a couple seconds to register in the young man but when it does, he wraps his arms around the girl.  His anger swept away by the need to console her instead.
Each of the other five boys immediately moves in to embrace Yona until she was buried beneath a sea of arms and bodies. Â She was their little sister and big brothers protect little sisters. Â If she was in pain, they would be there for her, just like she had been for them years ago. Â Her sobbing continued but at a milder pace, tucked away in Hakâs arms and soothed by the rest of them. Â Kija, Yoon and Zeno, Shin-ah and Jae-ha all cooing and whispering their consolations. Â Â Â
There wasnât a dry eye to be seen. Â
Mundok simply stood back and watched it unfold.  He never imagined all those years ago when heâd taken the first child in, that this would be where his life would end up.  It warmed his aging heart, and in that moment, he knew they truly would be okay. All of those boys with heartbreaking stories of their own had come so farâŚ. They will be great men, he mused, no, they were already amazing young men. Bonded through adversity, they would stare down the future together in a way that was yet to be seen, but Mundok was certain, they would be victorious in wherever their paths led them to.    Â
After a few minutes, they untangle themselves and lead Yona to the seats that were set up for the family so the funeral could commence.  As she sat between them, Yoon held her hand on one side, Hak kept his arm around her from the other, and the other four sat behind like guardians. Mundok took a seat next to Hak and closed his eyes, âSheâll be okay Il, you rest in peace old friendâŚâ
A couple of weeks later the lot of them were busy at the Il family home, âHey gramps,â Hak points at the faded scroll painting hanging on the wall, âdo you know what thatâs from, even Yona had no idea about it.â
âItâs a cool painting,â adds Yoon, âit like one of those fairy tale fantasy stories or something.â
Mundok walks over, âah the Legend of the Five Dragons, itâs an old tale that supposedly took place over two thousand years ago here in Kouka. Â Iâm surprised you kids didnât learn about it in history class.â Â Taking the painting off the wall. Â âTell ya what, were almost done packing up this house, so when we get home, Iâll tell you guys the tale.â
It took them about a week to pack everything up, and six strapping young men sure made the move a lot quicker. Â Mundok made sure that anything of real value or sentiment was kept for Yona in the future, but he had made the difficult decision as executor to sell her family home and for her to move in with them instead. Â She understood, a house was just a house, but being with a family unit meant more. Â Mundokâs home was already bursting at the seams but in a couple of months a new room would be finished and until then she could stay in Hakâs room. Â
Once the final moving process was complete and they are hanging out after dinner, Mundok pulls out the scroll, laying it out on the table. Â âYou guys ready to hear the story?â Â The group nods, some leaning forward, others relaxing back in their chairs. Â âKija, you sure you can stay longer for this?â
âYeah, I told them Iâd be staying through dinner.â
Mundok sits back and crosses his arms, âOver two thousand years ago this place we now call Kouka was nothing more than a land filled with warring tribes consumed with taking control and ruling over the peoples. Â There was much bloodshed and chaos. Â From the heavens the Hiryuu dragon watched all of these events unfolding and it began to break his heart because he loved humans and wanted there to be peace. Â So, against the wishes of the other dragons he descended and took human form, even forgoing his powers to do what he could. Unfortunately, he was eventually caught and just before he was to be executed, the Hakuryuu, Seiryuu, Ryokuryuu, and Ouryuu dragons stepped in. Â They didnât want to see their beloved friend die so they made deals with four warriors to take their blood and a part of their powers on condition to protect Hiryuu for all time.â
He takes a drink of water before continuing. Â âWith the four dragon warriors at his side, Hiryuu was able to sweep through the lands and finally after many hard-won battles, united the peoples into one and Kouka was born. Â So, what do you guys think so far? Â Crazy or maybe it really happened?â
Hak scoffs, âthese were probably just skilled warriors that the people called divine because they couldnât explain how they were so good at what they did.â
âThat could be true,â the old man nods, âit is often a human trait to attach such supernatural powers to those that seem inhuman.â
âWell I think itâs still cool to learn about the past,â Yoon smiles, âplease continue gramps.â
Mundok grins, âI shall describe these dragons first starting with King Hiryuu.  They say he had purple eyes that shone bright with kindness and a personality to match, and yet his wavy red hair was seen as a raging inferno to his enemies ready to burn them to the groundâŚâ  Suddenly the room fell silent as all head turned to young Yona.
âWhoa!â Zeno sits straight up in his chair, âyou match the guy in the story Yona!â
ââŚHakuryuu was physically strong with the power to crush his foes with his bare hands.  But his hair was softer, like the white snows from the mountains and eyes as blue as a glacierâs ice reflecting the skyâŚ.â  Now all eyes switched to Kija.
ââŚSeiryuuâs powers were the most dangerous of all for he could prey on peopleâs minds and drive them crazy.  One look from his serpentine yellow eyes and the last thing they may remember is his blue hair swaying in the breezeâŚâ  By this point, the coincidences were starting to become quite eerie and Shin-ah shrank in his chair from the extra attention. Â
ââŚRyokuryuu,â Mundok chuckles, âthey say he was quite a character always sarcastic but very caring. He loved keeping his green hair up in a pony tail and legend has it his purple eyes were fond with the ladiesâŚâ Â
Jae-ha smirks and crosses his arms, âsound like a charmer to me.â
ââŚAnd finally, Ouryuu, the yellow dragon warrior with golden hair and a sunny disposition.  He was beloved by his fellow warriors and Hiryuu for he kept their spirits up even under the harshest of times.â
Unable to take the similarities anymore, âoh, this is some crap,â Hak waves an arm at the others in a fit, âhow come they get to look like some ancient warriors of heaven! Did you just make it all up?â Â
Yona places a hand on her friendâs shoulder, âitâs just a coincidence Hak, you donât need to get so upset over it.â
âYeah itâs just a story,â Yoon chimes in, âI ainât in it either but Iâm not mad. Â You can see five characters on the scroll too.â
But of course, the jokester of the group couldnât stay quiet. Â âAwww, poor Hak. Â Maybe youâre the Prince who sweeps in and steals one of Hiryuuâs daughters,â Jae-ha grins and gestures at Yona. Â âWe can call you the black dragon, since youâre always so moody.â
Mundok shifts in his seat expecting a fight to break out between the two boys.  But Hakâs face switches from anger to contemplation. Bringing a hand up to rub his chin, âI kinda like that⌠blackâŚ. Maybe the darkness dragon,â turning and smirking at Yona, âyeah⌠the one who wins the Princessâs heart.â  Groan erupt around the table while poor Yona is turning bright red.  Â
âOkay, okay,â Mundok cuts in, âso basically, after uniting the kingdom, peace reigns, everyone lives happily ever after, the end.â
âWait thatâs it?â Kija questions.
âWell considering there wasnât anything of significance to happen since then, what else is there to tell?â Mundok counters. Â âThe rest seems even more farfetched.â
âWeâre listening,â Hak retorts.
âOkay fine, they say that the warriors had lived on, that their blood would be passed down along the generations and that one day a reincarnation of Hiryuu would bring them together once more.â
âTch,â Hak leans in, âold man what do you think this is?â Gesturing around him, âreincarnation,â he points at Yona, âfour warriors,â he points at the other boys, âyou think this is a farfetched?â Â
How many seasons have come and gone before this moment? Â While never forgotten, the years since the accident have become a distant memory and so many wonderful new ones have taken their place. Â Â Â
âNext we have our Philosophy majorsâŚâ
Zeno stood from his seat and followed behind the other students waiting in line for their diplomas. One by one their names are read as they stepped onto the stage and as his was called, shouts rang out from the stands.
âZENO!!!! ZENO!!!!! Â ZENO!!!â
His brothers and sister screaming and waving with banners.  Zeno chuckles when he sees gramps flashing away with a camera as he accepts his degree.  He shifts the tassel over and raises the diploma case above his head.  It was a proud moment for not just him but his family, all of them.  For the brothers and parents, he lost, and the siblings and father he gainedâŚ
âFirst of us to graduate!â Jae-ha claps Zeno on the back. Â âHow does it feel old man?â
With tears streaming down his face and a babbling wreck, âMy boy!â Mundok hugs Zeno tight. Â âIâm so proud of you!â
Hak rolls his eyes, âGeez gramps the water works, you gonna do this every single time one of us walks the line?â
âDamn straight I am!â Mundok wipes away the tears. Â
Zeno smiles, âThanks!â his eyes crinkling at the corners. Â âIâm glad I have you all here to share this moment with.â
âLast of us guys to move in, first of us to move on huh,â Jae-ha quips.
âWeâll miss you when you leave,â adds Kija.
âNope,â Zeno hugs the diploma to his chest, âIâm a homebody, so Iâm not leaving anytime soon, Iâd miss you guys too much.â
âAww, youâre such a dork Zeno,â Jae-ha rubs his head, messing up his hair. Â
For the next few minutes the boys joke around and chatter together sharing in some hugs, and a few more tears. Â Mundok hangs back with the widest grin still plastered on his face. He knew it was only a matter of time before one by one they will move on in their lives but that was okay. Â Yoon came starved and now look at him healthy and fit. Â Kija was such a lonely child and yet here he was laughing with life-long friends.
Shin-ah, sweet Shin-ah was still quiet, but heâs come so far from the emotionally bereft child he once was to one who could now be in the middle of a crowd without running away. Jae-ha, the problem child who swore to never be tied down. Â Mundok had a feeling he might end up being the last to leave the house. Â Then there was Hak and Yona and a knowing smile crosses his lips. Â Those two still hid their feelings, but as anyone watched them, like now, he stood with his arm around her shoulders as she leaned in to him. Â One day they would provide the next generation of the Son family.
Mundok thinks back to the dragon lore, wouldnât it be crazy if it had come true? Â Laughter rings in his head. Â And why not? Â They were like a modern-day version, he mused. Â
âHey boys,â gathering them back together, âletâs get a picture then we can head on home for a small party.â
âWhoo hoo! Food!â Â Shin-ah starts to sneak away.
âOh no you donât,â Jae-ha grabs his brother and pulls him to his side as the others bunch together in front of the camera.
Within the month a new canvas painting hangs prominently next to the scroll in Mundoks living roomâŚÂ
