Sandara squinted her eyes at the sun, whose light had become painful rather than beneficial. For three days they traveled by foot towards Busan, only resting when the sun is already replaced by the moon and setting off to their journey again when the sun is setting. Their captain wants to get there as soon as possible, and Sandara knew that even if he disregarded the general as his father, the old man still has a place in Jiyong’s heart. After giving the sun a tired look, Sandara looked back at the map spread across her thighs, stuffed it in her back and rubbed her horse’s mane before jumping off its back. Top clapped with her little stunt with a silly grin plastered on his face and he commented, “You don’t forget to show off, do you?”

Sandara wrapped An’s rope around her left fist and with a smile, replied, “Shut up.”

Behind them, Seungri groaned along with the other soldiers, their backs hunched in tiredness and as they walk along a farm, they sang in unison, “For a long time we've been marching off to battle.”

Daesung groaned. “In our thundering herd we feel a lot like cattles.”

Sandara heard the cattles on their left side mooed, and they sounded like they were offended. Top and she never missed a laugh.

Then in unison again, they groaned, “Like the pounding beat, our aching feet aren't easy to ignore!”

Their captain from the front shook his head, and shouted, “Hey! Think of instead a girl worth fighting for!”

“Huh?” Sandara gushed, perplexed.

Seungri wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and she looked at him, retaining the perplexity. He said, “That's what he said, a girl worth fighting for.”

Then he removed his arm around her shoulders and walked ahead of her. Top and Sandara looked at each other, both of their eyebrows raised but none of them knew why Seungri walked before them when the former always wanted to walk beside them. But their answers were answered immediately when Seungri looked dreamily on the sky, his clasped hands under the lining of his jaw and began to sing, “I want her paler than the moon with eyes that shine like stars.”

Daesung went beside Seungri and showed his biceps, flexing his arm to show off also his nerves. “My girl will marvel at my strength, adore my battle scars.”

Taeyang shrugged and beside Sandara, sang, “I couldn't care less what she'll wear or what she looks like. It all depends on what she cooks like beef, pork, and chicken. Mmm…”

Daesung looked at Seungri. “Bet the local girls thought you were quite the charmer.”

Seungri flexed both of his arms to make himself bulky, almost muscular, and replied, “And I'll bet the ladies love a man in armor.”

The other soldiers shrugged and in unison sang, “You can guess what we have missed the most since we went off to war.”

Seungri shouted, “What do we want?”

The others answered, “A girl worth fighting for.”

Jiyong joined in, and sang, “My girl will think I have no faults that I'm a major find.”

Seungri looked at Sandara expectantly, and in a whim, with her voice croaking, she sang, “How 'bout a girl who's got a brain who always speaks her mind?”

Top laughed, “Nah!”

Shaking off Sandara’s lyrics, Seungri sang again, “My manly ways and turn of
phrase are sure to thrill her.”

Top, mocking the song’s tune, whispered to Sandara, “He thinks he's such a lady killer.”

Sandara elbowed Top, urging him to say his type and after a few urging, Top gave in, “I've a girl back home who's unlike any other.”

Seungri laughed. “And the only girl who'd love him is Bominator.”

The others laughed but sang again, “But when we come home in victory they'll line up at the door.”

Seungri shouted, “What do we want?”

They answered immediately. “A girl worth fighting for.”

Seungri shouted again, “Wish that I had.”

“A girl worth fighting for.” They sang again. “A girl worth fighting—“

The singing was interrupted when they saw the village near Busan. Their captain stopped at the archway, and they all also stopped walking. Sandara dismissed her aching muscles but instead looked grimly at the village. It looked like a bomb blown it into bits, but the fire was still there, turning the surviving pieces of wood into ashes. After a few seconds of staring, their captain decided to enter the village and they followed him from behind. There were signs of war inside. There were several scraps of metal scattered on the floor, as if there was a haste attempt to end the lives of many using a heavy metal shield. Jiyong signed them to split into groups, check for signs of survivors or enemies, save what are needed to be saved and get what can help them on the way. Sandara didn’t follow Top and the others, but instead walked into an alley. It was lined with several scraps of wood that were being burned by the fire and looked like any other alley in the village but she could feel that something was calling her from the alley.

When she reached the end and could already see her captain holding a helmet on his hands, Sandara was about to turn around to go to Top and the others when a flash of pink caught her eye. She kneeled down, near the spot where she swore she saw the flash of pink, which was a small gap between two concrete houses, and reached out. She felt her fingertips brush against something soft and upon seizing it, the familiar sound of a squeaky toy rang in her ears. Sandara withdraw the toy and found the same girly toy she first had from her father. Turning it around, she saw initials carved at its back but wasn’t the same as hers. She just had the same toy. This has a different owner.

Sandara quickly stood up, brushing off dust from her clothes. Ahead of her, Jiyong was still holding the helmet on his hands. With a hurry, Sandara ran towards him, careful with her steps.

As soon as she reached him, she heard the familiar aching sobs and the sniffs. It was so over achingly familiar that she almost cried herself. Pulling herself together, Sandara sighed and put a hand on Jiyong’s shoulder. He doesn’t seem to mind.

“It’s not your fault.” She said, almost choking on her words. “He died for a cause.”

Jiyong replied, with gritted teeth. “I didn’t have to get to say goodbye.”

Sandara closed her eyes. “I know. I didn’t even get to say goodbye with mine either, yet alone meet him.”

Jiyong seemed to be getting calm, and he quickly withdraw his sword from his side. The he struck it into the snowy ground before he placed the helmet on top of it.

“A memorial.” He said, whispering. “To the brave and selfless.”

Then he turned towards the destroyed village behind them. Sandara could hear the distant cries of children as they run around, the market noises and the grunts of the merchants’ horses. It seemed to her that the doll holds a lot of memories from the village and it was too memorable to be brought or even left lying beside a burning wood.

“Hurry! We’re going to go to Busan to save the other citizens.” Captain Jiyong shouted, his voice roaring around the empty field. Sandara heard a lot of steps shuffling, and soon enough the other soldiers emerged from the burning firewood, their armors almost chapped from heat and their faces sweating profusely. Almost all of them were holding something retrievable, some of it were usable bombs and quickly, as soon as Sandara’s horse appeared, loaded them into the horse’s carriage.

Sandara watched as they run to catch up to their captain, who was already walking with his white horse beside him, to the path leading to Busan. They were more than a feet from her when Sandara knelt down, and placed the doll she picked up earlier at the bottom of the sword.

“Sanghyun! What are you doing?” She heard Top shout after her, and she immediately stood up to her feet. He was waiting for her with An’s rope around his palm. He shouted again, “Come on!”

Sandara ran up to him and never looked back at the doll, but her heart was aching as if it was shred into smaller pieces.

It was much colder at Busan and a snowstorm welcomed them as soon as they stepped on the borderline. Top and the others shouldered most of the burden since they were all around her but Sandara could still feel the storm’s strength, as if it was forbidding them to go to their destination. They were almost midway to Busan when a loud cry occurred. All of them turned, and saw men on horses slow lining up near the mountain’s edge. There were about hundreds of them. Sandara estimated that their ratio was about 20 to 1.

The leader of the bukhans sneered, and shouted, “Looking for your father, Kwon Jiyong?”

Their captain had stepped forward, and was now beside Sandara. He didn’t reply but the stern look on his face was already there and Sandara, who watched him very often, knew that he was making a plan.

The leader, who Sandara remembered as Shan Yu, withdraw his sword and began to wipe it with his bare hand. “It was memorable sight to watch him fight until the end when he was after all, a spy for us before. I really liked to collect blood from the same bloodline. First it was your grandfather, then your father and what about the next…” He smirked. “You?”

Jiyong clenched his jaw but didn’t reply. In his stead, however, Seungri shouted back, “You’re a mutt!”

“And it was also nice seeing the life from your father’s eyes ran out, Lee Seungri.” Shan Yu said, buckling his black horse. “Your fathers never fail to amuse me, the five of you. Kang Daesung, the son of one of the generals, designated in Seoul and died at the hands of mine. I will always remember how your father tried killing me when from the start, he knew he was no match.” He sneered again. “Taeyang, your father is a navy, out of the hands of the war, but he still got in my hands when his crew tried stopping me from sailing towards North Korea. I could remember when he drew his sword and fought, and I must admit that he was at par with me in sword fighting but nonetheless, he faced death.” His crew now sneered with him as he continued, “Top, the son of the right hand man of Kwon Jiyong’s father. You have quite resembled your father whom you have not met since you were young. May I describe to you, how he died in front of me after he sacrificed his life for yours?”

Sandara felt Top clench his knuckles and the shifting of Shan Yu’s gaze to the rest of the troop. Then after a few seconds he sneered, now much wider and shouted much louder than before, “Park Sandara!”

Sandara’s knees almost buckled and Shan Yu cocked his head to the side. “Pardon, you look almost like your sister, Park Sanghyun perhaps?” Sandara did not reply but the smirk Shan Yu gave told her he knew a much deeper secret than him knowing that she was a descendant of Park Woojin. “I didn’t kill your father, which is a shame since he was a general and he was known in all of South Korea as the soldier who killed a thousand of my men. Upon learning what he had done, I immediately wanted to kill him but before I reach the war field, he was already dead. Sustained about a hundred bullets all around his body right? But killed, what, a thousand of my men? Your father is so remarkable, Park Sanghyun. It makes me want to…” He smirked. “…kill you instead?”

“Do you not remember me, child?” He asked, grasping the hilt of his sword. “I am in your father’s funeral, the man in the black robes who refused to tell you his relationship with your father and the man who you gave your orange juice to.” Sandara did not remember for it was Sanghyun who did it. Shan Yu continued, “I can remember what you said back then, that you look up to your father so much you wanted to become just like him. I immediately knew you had potential, more potential than that sister of yours who trained after your father.”

“But I guess, I can’t recruit you because…” He smirked again. “I don’t know love.”

Sandara was suddenly pressed when there came a charging from both sides, and she watched as the South Korean soldiers fought the bukhans. There were swords and guns everywhere—arrows even, and Sandara could only watch.

“Come on, do something!” She heard a voice beside her, and she turned to see Kris, in his two feet tall self. “Come on!” He said, shouting. Sandara frantically looked around and saw the firecracker they got from the town they just visited. Looking up, she saw the tip of the mountain, covered in heavy thick snow. Hastily, Sandara grabbed the firecracker and Kris, and ran towards a possible site where she could fire the firecracker.

“Get out of the way!” She shouted, shoving both enemies and friends alike as she travelled upwards. Upon reaching the ground where she could fire the firecracker, she the package into the ground and leveled it to hit the tip of the mountain. Before she could light the matchstick, the sound of a trigger rang in her ears and she fell on the ground.

Sandara opened her eyes and saw Shan Yu glaring over her on his horse. There was triumph in his eyes as he glowered, his mustache going along with his mouth as he smirked. “At last, Park Sanghyun, I will—“

But his sentence was cut when someone barreled him out of his horse and into the ground. They rolled for a few times before they stopped, and Sandara saw her captain holding Shan Yu’s neck to keep him firmly on the ground.

“What are you doing?” Jiyong breathed, and punched Shan Yu who was trying to escape from his grasp. Sandara hastily went towards the firecracker and tried finding the matchsticks but it was already gone, buried under the snow. Her stomach hurts, where the bullet pierced her, and she groaned as Sandara struggled finding the matchsticks. She felt something, pulled it and found Kris instead.

“What?” He asked, scandalously and Sandara stretched him.

“Breathe fire, you crazy dragon!” She shouted, stretching him once again and Kris breathed a small amount of fire. The fire cracker zoomed past in the air, cutting through the clouds and hit the tip of the mountain.

“Run!” Sandara shouted and the others were smart enough to know. They all ran as Sandara tried standing up to her feet.

The five were still there, fighting the bukhans. Top already has a stab wound at his stomach, which he was clutching to stop the blood from escaping quickly and he was hardly keeping up with his enemies’ advantage. Seungri on the other hand didn’t have any wounds at all but all he can do was par the enemy’s sword. Daesung, on the other hand, was worse. He had so many cuts and bruises on his face while his legs and stomach had sword wounds. He was pale and was slowly turning white as a bond paper. Daesung kept on gasping and before his enemy takes the life out of him, Jiyong quickly parried the enemy’s sword.  Taeyang was keeping up with the enemy’s sword with his pocket knife but he can’t wound the enemy. Jiyong was yielding to swords at a time, one defending Daesung and one defending himself. With tears in her eyes, Sandara shouted again, “Run, you idiots!”

She quickly ran towards Daesung, wrapped an arm around his waist and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Sandara struggled as she lifted him up, and Daesung managed to smile and to grunt, “Thanks.”

Sandara turned to see the snow burying the North Korean soldiers until it was only the eleven of them left. While supporting Daesung, Sandara quickly withdraw five knives from her hip bag and turned to impale her friends’ enemies one by one.  They grunted and collapsed as the knives done their harm on their strong leg.

Sandara, breathlessly, shouted again, “Run, idiots!”

Top quickly grabbed Daesung from her and carried him instead. Despite his own wound from his stomach, he can carry Daesung better than Sandara, even run faster. They all ran to where the others are waiting, at a cave where the avalanche can’t kill them.

Sandara huffed and smiled partially as she saw the cave nearing. She was safe. It was the end. It was---

Sandara doubled over and fell face flat on the snowy ground. Her right thigh felt numb.

The others stopped and tried to help her but she shouted, “Just go, idiots!”

Jiyong shouted back, “No! You’re—“

But his sentence was cut off when he was also shot by his thigh. The others weren’t also saved because they were all shot in their thighs, each of them falling on the snowy ground. Sandara tried standing up but ended up hurting herself in the process.

“What shall we do with them, sir?”

Sandara’s vision started to feel blurry but before she could finally pass out and let it all go, she felt another pain at her back, near her spine.

“That would teach him a lesson.”

And that was the end.

Sandara woke up with her body aching all over and she heard a faint grunt beside her.

She turned and saw Jiyong. Sandara decided it was not best to praise him for his looks when they were both dying but she couldn’t resist staring at his handsome face since Jiyong got a little bit of sun from the training and his muscles were hard to resist.

She chuckled. “You look bad.”

Jiyong took a great look at her. “You’re the one to talk. You look worse.”

Of course she was. She sustained more shots than he had and the longer the cold wall presses against her shirt, the more she felt the pain. Jiyong was lucky enough to only have cuts and one shot at his thigh. Sandara couldn’t even feel her own legs since the North Korean shot both of them.

They were alone in the gray cellar but she knew the others were in the cellar beside them, because she could hear Daesung’s groans and Top’s shouts of telling him to stay in place because he can’t get the bullet out.

“I have treated my wounds while you were passed out.” Jiyong suddenly said, pointing at his legs that already has a bandage covering it. “Some of the North Korean soldiers took pity and gave me an aid kit. Not for first aid since it covers, um, nasty wounds.”

He turned to Sandara quickly, eyes smoothed with worry. “I can’t change your wounds without your consent so I waited until you wake up.” He moved so he is sitting facing her. “Let me treat it.”

Sandara bit her lip, brushing her right arm and looking at the opposite side. “You can’t.”

Jiyong rolled his eyes. “Of course I can. Now, give me your thighs, Sanghyun.” Sandara shook her head. “Or do you want your back first?” Jiyong added.

Sandara wanted to cry. “I said no! Leave me be!”

She felt Jiyong’s grasp on her arm and he said, “What are you say—“

Sandara sharply turned to him and snapped. “I’m a girl, okay?!”

Jiyong’s expression turned blank. “What? But—“

“I’m not Sanghyun!” Sandara said, her voice exploding and Jiyong was already holding both of her arms. “I am his sister. I’m Sandara Park! I left to replace him because he has no knowledge of fighting. So, take your hands off me because I’m not letting you heal my wounds since I’m a deceiver!”

Jiyong’s grasp on her arms tightened and his eyes dug into her own. “No,” He said, strongly. “I’m going to treat your wounds.”

“You can’t—“ Sandara tried to say but her words were muffled by Jiyong’s hug. It was sudden that she couldn’t pull him away anymore because he had wrapped his arms strongly around her already, and all she can do was cry her heart out.

“I understand.” He whispered. “I understand.”

Jiyong won’t break the hug until he could feel Sandara had already calmed down. After a minute, when he felt Sandara’s breathing already steady he broke the hug and ordered her to give him her thighs. She seemed so calm now that she obliged without saying anything. Jiyong cuts the fabric circling her wounds.

She was so silent that he wasn’t used to it so he decided to break the ice first. “So you trained under your father for how many years?” Jiyong asked as he cleaned the wound with Hydrogen Peroxide.

Sandara replied shortly, “5.”

“This will hurt.” Jiyong said as he readied to take the bullet out of her right thigh. Sandara closed her eyes as the metal contacted with her open wound and muffled her scream by biting her tongue when the bullet slowly comes out of her body.

Clank!

Sandara opened her tear-stained eyes and glared at the bullet that was once inside her body.

She heard Jiyong laugh, alongside with the familiar sound of a plastic being opened. “Don’t need to glare at the bullet, though.” He said.

She felt his deft, soft hands wrapping her right thigh with a gauze. Sandara sighed in relief.

“Not quite yet,” Jiyong said as he secures the bandage. “You still have one at your back.”

Sandara groaned, but turned when Jiyong ordered her to.

“How can I treat the wound if you’re not going to take your cheongsam off?” He said.

Sandara gulped, and carefully undo the strap of her cheongsam. It slid down her shoulders, revealing her skinny yet milky arms and the secret she had hidden underneath for almost two months, the vest she had always worn.

Jiyong caught sight of her bullet wound in her stomach and he growled, “How many wounds do you have?”

Sandara winced. “Four.”

“Four?” Jiyong scandalously said.

“It’s—“ Sandara tried to explain.

“Come on,” Jiyong cuts her off. “Lie down first on your back.”

Sandara gingerly laid her cheongsam down on the floor and lay down on top of it. Slightly lifting her body up, she undid the bottom half of the buttons of her vest to loosen it then lay down again.

Sandara hid her face under her crossed arms when she felt Jiyong’s deft and soft hands lifting her vest up. Cold breeze brushed Sandara’s bare stomach and she trembled, her teeth chattering.

But Jiyong had warmed her with his hands, which were pressed on her stomach softly as he cleaned her wound. When it was time for the bullet to be removed, Sandara muffled her scream by biting her arm as metal pushes right into her body, sending pain throughout—too much pain that she curled her toes, and he withdraws after three seconds again but giving her relief instead. She heard the familiar sound of the bullet contacting with the concrete floor. Jiyong tapped her hip and Sandara turned her back towards him. Again, Jiyong cleans her wound and Sandara, who got tired from biting , shrieked from the pain when she felt the metal pushing through her back, piercing her flesh. After the bullet had come out, she lifted her body an inch from the ground for Jiyong to wrap the bandage around her stomach.

Sandara catches a breath and groaned before collapsing back down the floor. She was so relieved of the pain that all she wanted was to pass out again.

And so she did.

Sandara slowly opened her eyelids and found a blurry face upon waking up. She blinked twice to adjust her vision and found Jiyong staring down at her, his dark brown eyes shining. She didn’t move from her spot since it was very warm and soft.

Jiyong cleared his throat, and quickly turned to the opposite side, brushing the back of his head with his face flustered. “You passed out after I got the bullet out from your, um, back and you looked kind of uncomfortable sleeping on the floor so I laid your head down my lap if that’s not somehow too, um—“

Sandara quickly sat up but found herself going back down on Jiyong’s lap again, where her head feels better and not heavy. “Thank you. I owe you too much even considering the fact I’ve deceived every one and you. I-I…” Sandara closed her eyes. “I’m really sorry for ruining your trust.”

Jiyong laughed. “You still have my trust you know. You told me everything I had to know except for your gender and actually, I have to admit that when I first saw you I thought you were a girl.” He laughed louder. “And besides, how can I hate you when you already have my trust? I mean, trusting means loving…” His voice trailed off. “I’d better shut up.”

Sandara laughed. “You have a split personality, I see.”

Something hit the metal door and Sandara quickly sat up, her senses sharpening and she stared at the metal door with alarm. Jiyong seemed to shift from behind her, his hands shifting to the aid kit behind him.

The metal door flew open and four men in orange jumpsuits materialized from outside armed with guns and night-vision glasses. The shortest of them dropped his gun to his side and pushed his goggles up.

“Good thing you’re both up.” Sandara recognized Taeyang amidst the cut visible starting from the end of his left eye, crossing the bridge of his nose then meeting the right tip of his lips. He flashed a very bright smile. “We’re here to save you.”

Top appeared beside him and tossed Sandara a gun but Jiyong moved faster than her and caught it before she does. “Don’t give her yet a gun.” He said, standing up.

“Her?” Seungri repeated, baffled.

Jiyong answered. “She’s a girl.” He motioned for Sandara to stand up and she obliged. Then he outreached his hand and stole a gun from Seungri’s hip bag. Jiyong gave it to Sandara, and that’s when she realized he gave her a better gun.

“Sanghyun’s a girl?” Daesung said, his voice sounded like as if he was accused.

“Sandara.” Jiyong corrected and stared at them. “Are we going on about Sanghyun turning out to be his sister all the night or going to escape from this place?”

The others seemed reluctant to leave the topic but they ran outside, leading the way with their night-vision goggles. Jiyong held Sandara’s hand, probably keeping her with them since compared to them her eyes can’t materialize with darkness.

“They’re not attacking at the 38^th parallel since it’s heavily guarded. We tortured information out of one of the North Koreans and found out that they’re going to attack from the Pusan perimeter instead since it’s lightly guarded.” Taeyang said.

Seungri asked, “How’d you know she was a girl even? Did you kiss her?”

“I didn’t.” Jiyong answered, hastily.

“But you wouldn’t know if she was a girl if you didn’t kiss her!” Daesung said.

“She told me before I treat her wounds.” Jiyong answered, and Sandara felt his hold on her hand tightened.

“You touched her stomach! You touched a girl’s stomach when you’re not even married to her!” Seungri accused, and Sandara could imagine him pointing at Jiyong with his long fingers, his face stunned.

“Come on, it’s the twenty-first century Seungri.” Top said.

“But it doesn’t mean we could be indecent or changed our traditions.”

“Just drop it.” Taeyang sternly said and Seungri fell silent. Sandara assumed that it was rare for the former to act cold.

They successfully went outside and the others brought them to where their things were kept. Jiyong didn’t let her hand go until they reached Sandara’s horse, An.

“Get my horse and strap a carriage to him.” Jiyong ordered Top and Daesung, and then turned to Sandara. “Go mount your horse.”

“Where are we going?” Sandara asked as she rides on top, Jiyong helping her up. Her bag was still strapped around An and she saw Kris’ red eyes glowing in the dark.

“You’re not coming with us. You’re safe with your family.” Jiyong answered as he opened the wooden gate.

“But—“

“The families in Busan are protected heavily by an arm force and regarding Sandara’s family, they’re too far from the perimeter to be in danger.” Taeyang cuts her off, before he scanned the surroundings again, looking for any threats.

“Come on,” Jiyong said, softly. “Just go and be safe. Be safe for us.”

“But—“ Sandara tried to say again but failed when Jiyong raised himself with the horse’s saddle and kissed her forehead. She looked around and saw that no one was looking.

She turned towards Jiyong instead. “But—“

“Come on,” He said, but to An. “Go back and be safe.”

An whinnied, brushing her head against Jiyong palm before her hooves thundered across the ground and set Sandara off back to her home. She turned around to see Jiyong ordering the others again, to try to help in the invasion at Pusan perimeter.

Sandara found herself crying halfway the ride, leaving An the one to steer herself. Kris went out of the bag to check on her, sat on top of An’s head and crossed his arms.

“It’s worse to cry.” He said, rolling his eyes. “A soldier doesn’t cry. Emotions like steel—“

“Nothing to feel?” Sandara cuts him off. “I hate it!”

“But you can’t do anything. He already told you that you can’t help!”

“I am going to help! They’re my family and I can’t risk losing one of my family again!”

Sandara quickly grabbed An’s rope and turned back to the intersection leading to the perimeter.

It was raining hard in Busan but the Emperor was standing still on his spot, guarding the perimeter with his army. Jiyong watched his black eyes that were a contradiction to his face, soft and scared as the war keeps on going.

“Do you know why I feel tired with the war ongoing?” The emperor asked, his calm regal face turning to Jiyong.

Jiyong quickly answered, “No sir,”

The emperor looked back to the edge of Busan. “It’s because this war has been going on for so long since I can remember and my people are so tired of it that we’re near to giving up, but as an emperor, I can’t. This land is a part of my power and of my promise. Giving it up means breaking my promises while losing means that we, the South Koreans are all just pawns of the North Koreans.”

“I don’t know why they would still get the land but I’m planning for a treaty. I want to end this peacefully without risking anymore lives, both from ours and the enemies.” He added.

There was a huge, booming sound that occurred before Jiyong saw them in the mist, about ten huge ships materializing from the fog all armed with a canon. The arm force raised their guns and readied their canons but Jiyong ordered them to lower it, and the emperor smiled at him gratefully. The soldiers were perplexed, anxious to lower their guards but they were smart to trust in their captain, who was also smart to trust in the emperor.

The prime minister of North Korea appeared from the mist, one of his legs propped up on the ship’s foremast’s edge. He seemed to be unafraid to be a hundred feet above water and one spur of the wind can end his life. Jiyong was amazed beyond words.

“Yunhyeong,” Shan Yu smiled devilishly, his eyes glinting in sheer madness. “It has been awhile, my friend. 30 years? 20 years?”

The edge of the emperor’s eyes crinkled as he smiled. “45 years to be exact my friend.”

“Hah, you still haven’t changed.” Shan Yu pointed out, baring his teeth and producing what seems to be a canvas case from his back.

“You too, my friend, as violent as ever.” The emperor commented, and Shan Yu only snickered. Then, emperor Yunhyeong continued, “Since you noticed that I haven’t changed, you know what I want now, Shan Yu. I want peace.”

“Which--” Shan Yu immediately said, without letting the emperor explain. “—can be done if you kneel down and acknowledge my power. Give up your foolish rebuts, Yunhyeong. It will not do well for your country and especially, for your people.”

The emperor lifted his clothes and started to walk where the ship was located. Jiyong hold himself from following the emperor since it was the latter’s wish for a treaty rather than war to be made.

Shan Yu welcomed the emperor in his ship by putting down a plank for him to walk and gingerly, the emperor made his way into the ship, taking one step at a time on the plank. When he was already on the ship, the emperor and Shan Yu exchanged smiles and shook each other’s hand.

Jiyong thought that was the end until one of Shan Yu’s men broke loose and shot Shan Yu on the back, making him fall down on emperor Yunhyeong. The emperor supported Shan Yu, flabbergasted but smart enough to murmur encouragement for his friend to keep on living.

Shan Yu’s soldier came into view and he held the emperor hostage by pointing a gun at the emperor’s head but the latter was busy reviving his friend to care.

“I’m taking your emperor as hostage!” He shouted. “Until you agree to our terms!”

His co-army were too afraid of him to not stop him and Jiyong doesn’t blame them. The lunatic just shot their leader.

The lunatic went inside with the emperor and the still breathing prime minister. Jiyong was about to think of a concrete plan when he heard a familiar voice in the misty air, “Captain!”

Sandara appeared beside him, breathless with her shoulder-length hair unruly. Jiyong raised a brow, “What are you doing here, Sandara?”

“Sandara?” One of them said, who was known as Kuku in the camp.

“Yeah, Sanghyun turns out to be a girl.” Seungri replied.

“How did the captain knew that?” Kuku asked again.

“Still a mystery to us.” Seungri shrugged.

“Did he kiss her?” Kuku asked again.

Top laughed and was the one who replied, “Still a mystery to us.”

“I think I’m in love.” Kuku said, in a daze.

Seungri glared at him, his arms crossed on his chest. “Stop that.”

“Well?” Jiyong prompted, now looking at Sandara.

“I want to save the emperor of course! It is my duty—“ Sandara tried to say but was cut off immediately by Jiyong when he said, “It is a man’s duty not a woman’s.”

“You’re so patriarchal!” Sandara shouted. “And I have a concrete plan!”

“I won’t allow you risk your life!” Jiyong answered, hissing.

“I don’t care! This is my life to decide on and I will help you no matter what!” Sandara answered, now punching Jiyong’s chest. The other members of the arm force were stunned since no one dared to punch their captain’s chest, much less even touch him. Girls were really scary and brave.

Jiyong was very reluctant. He didn’t want anyone important to him get hurt, especially that it was the daughter of the person he looks up at the most. But she was so brave like her father, and mostly brave people like them die with dignity. Of course he would’ve been proud if Sandara gets honored for her bravery but for her to die? Was that too much to take?

Sandara’s eyes looked up to him and there was a blaze in them, mirroring the same blaze inside her heart. Jiyong closed his eyes, shook his head and reluctantly agreed, “Fine. I’ll hear your plan out.”

Sandara immediately toyed with the ring in her left middle finger, which Jiyong noticed was new. An emblem was embedded on it, a swirl of mist with a shadow.

Sandara dropped her hands and Jiyong was forced to drop his gaze on her feet instead.

“Okay, I need five volunteers. The rest, guard the ship.”

After Sandara laid out her plan, Jiyong found himself wearing a light blue cheongsam, make-up and a long, wavy blonde wig. He tried his best to listen to what Sandara advised but he couldn’t act cute like the others. His calm regal face that he had practiced over the years just naturally come out.

Seungri blinked his eyes, which Sandara just dabbed mascara on. “I’m so pretty.” He praised, puckering his lips. His long black hair falls perfectly down his wide shoulders.

Top, who was always calm, placed his hands on his incredibly huge hips and said, “Ain’t I so beautiful?”

Taeyang only gave a soft smile, which complimented his simple yet elegant look while Daesung tried to hide his biceps with a shawl. Sandara, who was really a girl, looked the most beautiful. Her cheongsam was brightly decorated with Cherry blossom trees in their full bloom in spring, pink and beautiful like Sandara. Jiyong just realized her true beauty. Maybe because she always dresses up a man for the past two months or maybe because he thought all the time that she was a boy.

Sandara handed out fans, giving them the color that best compliments their dresses. “You know what to do.” She says.

They all walked towards the entrance of the ship and waked up the plank. All were calm and quiet except for Seungri, who kept on practicing how to talk like a girl. In no time, they reached a door with a peep hole and Sandara knocked, since she was the best convincer. A pair of dark eyes appeared behind the peep hole and looked at them from bottom to top.

“What do you want?” He growled, though his eyes looked interested.

Sandara batted her eyelashes. “We just had a call about several of you getting bored and wanting to have some good time.”

Jiyong raised his left leg and showed his milky skin. Top suppressed a laugh.

The person behind the door looked tempted and finally, after three seconds of Jiyong flashing his leg and running a finger over it, he gave in. “Fine,” He grumbled. “Just don’t make too much noise.”

There were series of locks being opened before the door finally opened inside. They all entered one by one but the man looked at Jiyong most particularly.

After the door was locked, Jiyong made sure he made the first punch on the soldier, and the latter fell holding his bleeding nose on the floor. Jiyong stepped on him and made sure he had several wounds and bruises before Seungri stooped down to inject a sleeping serum on the North Korean. Immediately, the soldier stopped holding his nose and curled, his thumb.

“Disgusting.” Jiyong muttered before producing his uniform from inside his cheongsam. He stripped until he was only wearing his shirt and pants, and wore his uniform. The shirt was better than the cheongsam since it was lighter and Jiyong felt he was free. Raising up his sleeve to his face, Jiyong wiped off his make-up.

After he’s done, he said, “Okay, this is where we separate.”

Sandara was reluctant but said, “Okay. You stay out of death.”

Jiyong gave her a smile. “I’ve been doing that all my life.” Then, he sprinted down the hallway.

Sandara watched his back as it goes farther and she felt a sense of dread. Only when Jiyong turned left and disappeared in her view before she said, “Okay, let’s go.”

It took them 3 hours to bring every soldier on the ship, except for the located in the control room where the emperor and prime minister was kept hostage, in dreamland. Sandara decided for them to take a rest near the control room, but hidden behind a wall. Everyone was catching their breaths except for Taeyang who always did treadmill exercises. After a minute, Top broke the ice. “You like Ji, do you, Sandara?”

Sandara immediately answered, “No, of course not.”

Top managed to smile. “I see.”

“So, what now?” Seungri asked.

“Well, we wait for Jiyong to come out of that control room and help him carry the two leaders.” Taeyang said in a matter-of-fact tone.

As if to confirm their plan, there was a large scream coming from the control room. They were about to stand up when the control room broke open but no Kwon Jiyong went out. Instead, two armed North Korean soldiers came out and guarded the door.

“What happened?” Seungri hissed “This is not like him!”

“Whatever the reason is, we should get in and help that idiot.” Top said, and Sandara quietly agreed.

They moved around to get to the door towards the balcony, which also has a door that leads to the control room. Upon arriving there, Top did his thing and picked the lock. The door swung open as if it’s opened by a real key and they crept in, walking slowly with Sandara on the lead. They kept their ears pressed against the walls of the control room, trying to make out sensible information.

You know, killing both of them could get me really powerful. Just by the thought of killing the emperor of South Korea and the prime minister of North Korea makes me overjoyed. The ruler of two countries, isn’t that great?

Yes, my Lord.

What do you think, Kwon Jiyong, would you take the job of being my right-hand man?

Of course not, idiot. My loyalties are only for whom I owe my life.

Well, if I save you and your friends today from death wouldn’t that made you owe your life to me?

Sandara waited but Jiyong didn’t answer anymore. Maybe because he was burned.

They continued walking until they reached the glass panes, and Sandara stuck to the walls closely to avoid her being noticed. Then, she crouched, and rolled sideways until she reached the other side, where the door towards the control room is located.

The others followed. Once was everyone was crowding to the other side, Sandara motioned Taeyang the wall. At first, it was something unnoticeable until he saw the screws that kept every piece of the metal wall in place. Taeyang grabbed something from the inside of his cheongsam and produced a screwdriver. He started taking out the screws at the top, reached out and bent the half part. Seungri grabbed something from his cheongsam and threw it inside the control room.

Beep beep beep

There was a large explosion. The glass panes broke as soldiers scrambled out to save themselves from the smoke, and the door flew open as soldiers struggled to save themselves as long as they’re still strong. Sandara and the others were already covering their noses before the glass panes and doors broke open, and they stayed out of the way as North Korean soldiers struggled to save themselves from the smoke that makes anyone weak.

A voice screamed from the inside, “Dumb! All of you are dumb! Why don’t you cover your noses until the smoke clears out? Why panic and run away? Dumb!”

Eventually, the smoke cleared out. Judging from the tapping noises, grumbles and voices, there are only about 4 people inside the room. Shan Yu, Emperor Yunhyeong, Kwon Jiyong and the North Korean soldier that broke loose. The other soldiers were sprawled eagle-spread on the balcony, groaning and feeling helpless.

Sandara didn’t know what to do anymore and charged inside. At first the North Korean soldier didn’t notice they were there, as he kept pacing around the room, took occasional glances at them and muttered to himself. They looked at each other, and Seungri decided to clear his throat. “Uh,” He said. “Excuse me, sir, but we’re trying to save the hostages.”

“Yeah, of course.” The North Korean said, still pacing.

Seungri whispered. “He’s crazy.”

“Gullible.” Taeyang added.

“Idiot.” Top complemented.

“Alien.” Daesung added.

Sandara shouted, “Excuse me, but we’re going to get the hostages!”

That got the North Korean’s attention. How? No one knows.

“South Koreans!” He said, spreading his arms. “I welcome to the room where you will find death also welcoming you.”

Seungri looked around. “Can’t see him.”

The North Korean pretended he didn’t hear what he said and just continued, “I have been fighting alongside General Shan Yu almost whole my life. Since I was seven, I have been training to become a soldier.”

“I have been training since I was in my mother’s womb.” Jiyong said, nonchalantly.

The North Korean continued, after giving Jiyong a glare, “My father died fighting while my mother died because your people tortured information out of her. I was completely abandoned when I was five, recruited for training when I turned seven and vowed to take revenge when I was twelve. When General Shan Yu gave in with your old emperor, I figured that my plan for revenge would not ever take place, and so I took them as hostages. Let me get this thing straight: I am not going to set them free until you promise Korea will not anymore be divided.”

“Figured.” Daesung commented.

The North Korean turned to Sandara. “You’re beautiful. You can be my wife.”

“Hey hey!” Seungri suddenly shouted. “Don’t you dare!”

But Sandara seized the moment before it slipped, and she began to walk slowly towards the North Korean. “I don’t know, but I have been single since birth.”

She reached for her obi and started undoing it. The North Korean stood frozen in his spot, almost drooling and not expecting for a show to occur in front of him.

Jiyong growled. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Sandara pretended she didn’t hear him and continued until the obi fell down on the floor. Her cheongsam obscured what it was hiding underneath, and the North Korean fell greedy, almost placing his hands out front.

“If you want be that badly,” She says, her thumb circling the North Korean’s left shoulder blade. “Well,”

It happened so fast. Sandara removed her cheongsam quickly, kicked the North Korean in the shin and he toppled on the floor, groaning. Instead of being , Sandara was wearing pants and a shirt.

“Go save the emperor and the prime minister!” She barked at the others, who was still standing stunned on their places. Jiyong was the first one to react and rushed to her aid. It took the others a complete five seconds before they run towards the hostages.

The North Korean groaned as he stood up but before he could stand on his two feet, Jiyong kicked him on his back and he went back to the floor.

Jiyong stood behind him and reached for his arms. He was tying the North Korean’s arms when the latter kicked Jiyong’s bottom and sent him flying. Sandara fumbled over her clothes but found no weapon except for her fan. Meanwhile, the North Korean unsheathed Jiyong’s sword and yielded it.

He turned around. “You’re a very good deceiver.”

Sandara croaked. “Actually, an actress.”

The North Korean his towards her and Sandara blocked it using her fan. The sword almost made her a kebab if it weren’t for her reflexes. Sandara twisted her fan and almost made the North Korean dropped his sword on the floor but his grip was too strong that it simply made the sword tilt.

He took another but Sandara kicked him on his stomach before he could stab her again. The North Korean lost his balance but his feet were equally as strong as his hands because he had regained them quickly as he lost it.

He run up towards Sandara again, ing his sword and she blocked it again using the fan. Using all her strength, Sandara twisted her fan and sent the sword skidding on the floor, reaching its original owner. Sandara slapped the North Korean’s face using her fan, hit his stomach using her knee and punched his face. He fell down on the floor and before he could even stand again, Sandara wrapped him up using her cheongsam and held him down as he thrashed wildly. Jiyong came into her aid and tied the North Korean, completely stopping him.

They both sighed and fell down on the floor, exhausted but relieved.

“I have felt something I’ve never felt before.” Jiyong said, catching his breath.

Sandara turned to him. “What is it?”

Jiyong shrugged. “How would I know?”

“Of course you would know!” Sandara complained, pouted and turned back on the ceiling. The North Korean’s grunts were their background music, and surprisingly, it was relaxing.

Jiyong laughed. “Yeah.”

“It was great honor for this country to be saved by a very brave soldier. A soldier, whose roots are the brave and selfless ones and whose heart lies to where we first find love. I am honored and proud to present the sword of Shan Yu as a reminder that not only she saved our country but also North Korea and my crest, as a reminder that we will always remember her braveness in times of adversity. And there’s once more that I asking you, dear, would you like it to be my royal advisor?”

Someone reacts violently from the side.

“I am very honored and glad to accept these gifts from you, Emperor. But I want to return home, to where my heart first lies.” Sandara said, softly.

The emperor smiled sweetly. “Of course. I will see fit that you return safely so I must insist you go home with General Kwon Jiyong.”

Sandara spared a glance to the man beside her, whose handsomeness and sternness never fades.

“Of course, sir. Whatever you say.” He answered, bowing.

Sandara handed over a bread to Jiyong, who was riding alongside with her, on his white stallion. He accepted it, muttering words of thanks and began to eat it. He was very quiet, not talking and pretty much like his own self.

Sandara gulped. “I’m very sorry.”

Jiyong answered. “You’re at it again.”

Awkward silence. They both reached the town without talking and Sandara began to lead the way with her horse. She stopped at the house near the mountain, beside the town’s bell. Sandara went down on her horse and beckoned Jiyong to follow her.

She saw her mother by the pond, crying and a Cherry blossom tree leaf on her lap. Sandara ran up to her mother and hugged her, taking her aback.

“I’m sorry, mother. I’m really sorry.” She cried.

Her mother hugged her back. “It’s okay. It’s okay. As long as you’re fine and alive I’m fine.”

“Who are you?”

Jiyong turned and saw a man who can pass as a doppelganger of Sandara. He outstretched his hand and said, “Kwon Jiyong, general of the arm force.”

Sanghyun took his hand and shook it. “And your business here is?”

“The emperor asked me to take your sister home safely.” Jiyong answered.

“Oh my! What a very handsome man!”

“Grandmother!” Sanghyun shouted, retrieving his hand from Jiyong.

Grandmother Park looked at Jiyong from head to toe. “To whom I owe such introduction?”

“Kwon Jiyong, madam. I was asked to return your granddaughter safely to home.” Jiyong said.

“Then I insist that you eat dinner with us!” Grandmother said. “If I knew I could meet such handsome guys like you in the imperial army, I would sign up for the next training!”

“Grandmother!” Sanghyun complained.

3 years after

Kris looked at his reflection at the pond. Sad, yes he was. Alone, yes indeed. Tao just couldn’t be replaced by anyone or anything.

Kris closed his eyes and heard a tiny whisper in the wind. Ge!

Kris opened his eyes and saw Tao standing before him, smiling brightly as he used to before. “Ge,” He said, softly.

Kris closed his open mouth. “Tao? What are you doing here? We have no spirit. We don’t reincarnate also. Am I hallucinating?”

Tao laughed. “Of course you’re not hallucinating, ge. I’m real. There are mysteries about guardians we can’t answer. It took me years to regenerate but here I am. Tao the time-shifter. “

Kris rushed forward and hugged Tao.  Then they both laughed.

“Hon, look! He’s laughing!”

Sandara rushed from the kitchen, a towel hanging on her shoulder and her apron messy from the abalone porridge she was cooking. She smiled at the sight of her family laughing, her husband holding their son.

“So cute! So cute!” Seungri shouted, playing with the baby’s hand.

Jiyong glared at Seungri. “Don’t touch my son’s hand.”

Seungri quickly retrieved his hand and stood up. “Uh, I’d better get going. I was just letting my wife’s hot head cool off. “

Seungri ran off their porch.

Sandara fetched the abalone porridge from the kitchen and came back to her husband. She sat beside him, as he sat their baby upright, and fed their baby a spoonful of porridge. Then she scooped another porridge once again and fed her husband.

Jiyong commented, “I really envy my son for eating such a delicious abalone porridge.”

Sandara continued feeding their son. “How’s the others?”

“Taeyang’s really focused into dancing, while Daesung decided singing was the thing for him. Top’s great at being a Captain but he’s still a er for his wife. Seungri, well you heard him a while ago. CL has been keeping him in a tight leash.” Jiyong answered laughing.

“Goo!” Their son said, flapping his small arms.

Sandara laughed, and Jiyong kissed the top of her head, murmuring something inaudible.

THE END.

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