The Fellowship of the Heart

" So now what?...."

    UKISS stood in front of the Busan airport, all wearing caps, scarves, and sunglasses to mask their identities. It was rather awkward as cars simply passed by, and they were a a stalemate. They arrived at Busan, but how do they find a single person in the vast region?
They had tried calling Eunbyul, but the area she was in did not have signal. It was a major hide and seek game, and they were not off to a good start.

" You're the leader hyung... What should we do?"
Jaeseop looked around the facility adjusting his cap.

Soohyun raised an eyebrow.
" Kevin is in charge of this mission, so don't look at me."

Kevin simply stood there looking at the sliding doors, and Hoon sighed.
" So.... We have no way of contacting Eunbyul, no way of figuring out her specific location, and no way of getting to her general location without being on the down low... To sum it up... We are on an impossible mission...."

Eli smirked.
" And we aren't backing down... Well at least Kevin isn't..."

Kevin shook his head as he stared forward. They were right. They needed a miracle, HE needed a miracle. But he wasn't going to give in.
" Well.... Eunbyul would've done the same for us, so I'm going to do the same for her. I mean come on. She's done a lot of impossible things for us."

Kiseop gave Kevin a skeptical look.
" Well she isn't exactly the average person is she...."

Soohyun snorted.
" Kevin's right. We gotta be optimistic about this! Now let's think... What's the one thing that will give us a good chance of finding Eunbyul?"

UKISS all gave their suggestions.

"... A tracking device?"

" Helicopter?"

" Megaphone?"

" That weird gear she wore before?"

" A compass?"

" A satellite?"

" Something that we can actually get, guys..."
Kevin wanted to smack his forehead. This wasn't any help at all, and time was running short. What could help them search for someone who doesn't want to be found? What could find a mysterious person? what could find the most unpredictable person they've ever met?
Then it hit him.

It's not something, it is someONE. Who is as unpredictable and cryptic as Eunbyul?
" Her father...."

UKISS all looked at Kevin perplexed.
" Mwuh?"

A deep set voice behind them interrupted their game plan.
" You called?"

UKISS turned around to see a tall lanky man with semi long black hair, stony onyx eyes, angled facial features, and an intimidating aura and gaze that resembled Eunbyul all too much.

Kevin simply was muted in shock. Impeccable timing seemed to be a family trait for them.

Skylar looked unamused by the surprise as he shoved his calloused hands into his black leather jacket. He leaned on his foot and tilted his head with a patient expression.
It took UKISS a few seconds to realize who exactly the man was.
His posture, his features, and especially his eyes, or one of them per say.

Kiseop spoke up.
" Your......"

Skylar's flat calculating eyes met Kevin's determined brown ones.
" Pardon me. I haven't formally introduced myself that other time. My name is Skylar William Lee. I am the father of Stella Caelanox Lee."
He sounded polite yet he kept his distance from the seven, and eyed them with a wary gaze.

Dongho scratched his cap.
" Who's Stel-"

" Eunbyul. He is Eunbyul's father."
Kevin informed them as he stared at her father.
Both males refused to back down from the staring battle.

Skylar was rather impressed with Kevin's guts. Few people ever held his gaze.
His eyes.... They look like Annabelle's shade of brown.... How Disturbing...

Everyone except for Kevin bowed immediately to the authoritative man.
" Annyeonhaesayo!"
They said rather shakily.

Kevin simply stood tall and warily.
Skylar let out a snort of amusement as he adjusted his bag, and strides towards them, only to continue and pass Kevin. UKISS turned around rather hesitant to grab Skylar's attention.

Skylar stopped and turned around with a knowing look.
" You know my reason for being here, and I have a good idea of what your reason is. Are you seven coming or not?"

Kevin simply gave the man a curt nod and followed while the other members followed behind him.
" Yah... Kevin ah? Did you guys already meet? He looks really freaking scary."
Jaeseop whispered attentively.

" Yes, but I haven't had the pleasure of conversing with Mr. Woo, and thank you. I'll take that as a compliment. Do try and be a bit more conspicuous while you're whispering, Jaeseop shi."
Skylar remarked monotonously, not even glancing his way.
Jaeseop paled at the mention of his name.
The guy has the ears of-

" I have sharp hearing."

What the?! Does he-

" And no I cannot read minds. Telepathy is not possible, I merely have intuition."
Skylar commented as he walked to the street.

He stood in front of the pick up street and faced the seven idols.
" I'm assuming you came rather ill prepared to search for my daughter's whereabouts."

They didn't answer, confirming his guess.

" Very well."
He flipped out a phone and made a quick call.

Kiseop frowned confused.
" Who are you calling?"

" Transportation obviously." Skylar rolled his eyes as he gestured to his right. A massive sturdy tinted black van skidded to a stop and a man in a suit came and bowed to Skylar.

" The ride you have requested."

Soohyun was startled by the large van.
" You knew we were coming?"

Skylar gave a stiff shrug.
" Again, intuition. I always come prepared for even the most unlikely situations."
And with those words he went into the drivers seat of the van. UKISS simply stood there for the longest moment.

Eli sighed.
" He's even worse than Eunbyul...."

Skylar opened the van window.
" She is my daughter... So mind you, we do have similarities."

They stared at the man rather dumbfoundedly.
He heard that too?!

" No I can lip read."
Skylar replied to the silent question as he buckled his belt. UKISS simply stood there until Kevin made the first move and sat in the passenger seat. He seemed undeterred by the suffocating aura Skylar seemed to emit.
It was much more... Antisocial than Eunbyul's.
UKISS obediently went in one by one into the backseat.

******************

Eunbyul slightly heaved as she made it to the summit of Angel's Mountain. Her limbs burned from the continuous incline of the mountain trail, but she had made it in record time nevertheless.

The smaller temple chapel was still the same as ever. Oak pillared structure and stone plated roof with a single cross on the front.
And there she was again. The same lady she had first met nine years ago. The lady wore the same traditional white gown looking more aged. Her eyes were more wise, and small dimples were on her cheeks that didn't show the first time around.

Eunbyul bowed to the lady.
" Miss Maryanne."

The lady gave a warm smile to the girl, and spoke in a melodious aged voice.
" You've grown since the last time I saw you."

Eunbyul gave her a small smile.
" Not really. My height stayed the same."

The lady gave a huff of amusement.
" No... But you're different. There seems to have been a growth in here." Maryanne placed a delicate hand right under the cross necklace.
" And that growth shows my dear... Especially in your eyes. It makes you even more beautiful."

She removed her hand and turned.
" Now come on. He awa-"

A wheezy old voice came from the small structure.
" I know that voice anywhere. The sound of those steps... ALL of it!"

A gnarled hand opened the sliding door roughly, as shaky end of a wooden staff appeared to step out into the open. A thin old man came out of the comforts of the room rather wobbly. Silver hair matted his head as a silver beard grew in thin streaks on his pointed chin.
His eyes were hidden behind the wrinkly lids of his skin as he seemed to look around. He made his way to the two women rather slowly, a solid thud with every step as he leaned to the firmly shaped staff for support. His woven sandals shuffled through the dirt step by step.

He halted in front of the women with a final thud.

" Grandfather, you should be resting."
Maryanne sounded rather exasperated.

" Nonsense! Why rest at times like these? Especially when the lone wolf's cub is here?"

Eunbyul bowed politely to the old man. She stared at his eyes, scrutinizing their odd appearance. They were different than before. Almost milky in appearance.

" Yes... Time eats away at the old. My eyes have lost their ability to see since last winter."
The man wheezed as he propped his stick.

" I'm sorry..."

He scoffed as he waved his frail hands.
" Don't be sorry for things out of your control. Was it your fault that I'm old and full of baggy wrinkles? I didn't think so."

Maryanne let out a small tired sigh.
" Grandfather-"

" I'm not some weak old man that needs to be followed! And don't roll your eyes at me little wolf cub!"

Eunbyul snorted at his assumption.
" I didn't.... You're turning senile Priest."

" Fe~ treating me like an old geezer. I may be blind but you're as clear as day to me. One does not need eyes to see when there are those that see for them."

Eunbyul was perplexed.
" What?.... Never mind, you still speak in riddles."

He suddenly pointed his stick at the empty space next to her.
" And you still don't truly see! You're a sharp child, Eunbyul, but you're still dull to things beyond."

Eunbyul refrained from scoffing at his ridiculous behavior.
" Priest.... I'm to your right."

The man gave the empty space a toothy grin.
" Oh.... I know."

Maryanne sighed and briskly walked away.
" Oh here we go....."
 

Faster than the eye could see, the staff seemed to move to Eunbyul's head, as the old priest swung forth. Eunbyul barely had enough time to duck when the priest sent a quick and steady kick.
Eunbyul managed to grab the foot before it kicked her gut, but she stumbled at the surprising force. The shabby old man was stronger than he looked. 

She shoved the foot away and jumped a few feet back, wary of the cackling blind senior.
" I see where your great grandson gets his childish games." 

The man stopped cackling as his murky white eyes met her bright blue and black ones.
" More of a feline than a wolf aren't you? Don't underestimate your opponent child, regardless of their impairments. Now let's see if you still retained some of my old tricks."

Eunbyul sighed.
" I'd rather not. I don't harm priests, nor do I wish to attack one that is slowly rotting away."

Priest cackled more as he stabbed his staff upright and let it stand.
" You and your sense of honor. Too much like your father. And the Holy Lord knows we only need one of his kind."

He poised to strike.
" Come little kitten. I may be a batty old fool, but I am a Wing chun master."

" I sa-"

" Too slow!"
He came at her, all the pretense of weakness gone. His fists came fast, as wind rushed passed. Eunbyul was determined not to go on the offense as she blocked each hit with her own style. Priest had taught her father Wing Chun, and thus through him, he taught her. He struck with stunning accuracy, despite his inability to see. He managed to get a few blows on Eunbyul, but she was able to think on her feet. He had skill, and she had the speed and physical superiority. 

He went for a quick knee jab, but she parried the blow and slide kicked his feet. The man fell back, only to spring back up on his arms and send a double kick to Eunbyul's defense.

Her feet skidded back from the force of the kick, and Eunbyul dusted herself off as the priest poised like a monkey.
" I thought you said Wing Chun .... I recall that move being Monkey style Kung Fu."

The man seemed to hop between his feet like a gleeful monkey.
" You do not restrict yourself to the rules of technique. You of all people know this."

Eunbyul snorted and muttered something under her breathe.
" Senile baboon.... Hypocrisy seems to come with age as well."

She dodged a palm strike and parried with her own techniques.
" I may be a blind baboon full of baggy wrinkles, but my hearing is as sharp as a hare."
The man wheezed as he crouched in a monkey fashion.

Eunbyul blocked more kicks and blows as she kept evading him.
" I think your visual impairments more of a fraud. How can one target and anticipate the opponent without seeing? I don't recall you having foresight."

The man scoffed and stretched out his wrinkly lids to show his milky white eyes.
" Does this look fraudulent to you? And as I said before. You do not need eyes to see all that there is to see, when there are things that see for it. One day you'll understand. It is a sense of foresight per say."

Eunbyul rolled her eyes at his behavior, and crouched into her own style. The priest froze in his tracks and tilted his head to the wind. He sniffed a long whiff as if he smelled something curious and raised a wrinkly brow.
" Tiger style isn't it? How amusing...."

Eunbyul twitched at his accurate guess.
He could tell by sniffing the air?

" Every technique has an edge that can be felt by those who know what to seek."

Eunbyul was tired of his riddles. She traveled all the way here not to fight some senile old crone with a rotting sense of humor.

Eunbyul went on the offensive, lunging forward like a hunting feline. It was like a jaguar after a baboon.
The priest cackled as he slipper away from each assault, until she sent a double palm strike, he had to kick up a roof plating on the side, and used it as a shield. The force of her strike shattered the stone plate like glass as debris and dust clouded around.
The old man coughed as he dropped the fragments with a solid clink.
" Yah! You trying to kill me?!"

Eunbyul shook the dust from her fist with a bemused look.
" Theres no need, and besides... at your age you should be thanking me."

" Witty tongue."
He snapped as he grabbed the staff impaled on the ground, and swung it at her. Eunbyul blocked it with a wrist move and went for a side strike.
" You were wrong about my style..."

" Hmmm?"
The priest raised an eyebrow, but Eunbyul struck again.

Priest anticipated the move and used the two prongs on the end of his staff to pin her wrist and stab her shoulder socket and lower abdomen.
Eunbyul hissed in pain as she kneeled on the ground.
Before the old senior could gloat his cheap victory a cold bucket of water was dumped on him, wetting Eunbyul as well.

" Ah!! CHAGAWAH AISH!!!!"
The frail old man yelped and began to shake uncontrollably. Maryanne stood over both of them with an empty bucket and a reprimanding face.
Eunbyul quickly uprighted herself and shook the water from her soaked hair as she rotated her shoulder.

" Serves you right grandfather-"

" YAH! This is SIN what you're doin to your old man! Harming an innocent old priest that dedicates his life to the Lord. Do you know how easy it is for an old man to catch a cold! It'll kill me!"
The old man went back to looking frail and bedraggled, water dripping from his silvered chin. 

" Oh don't be such a drama queen. If you spent as much time praying as much you spent with your martial arts then you would be a saint!"
Maryanne tossed the bucket and looked at the soaked Eunbyul rather apologetically.
" Sorry dear. Didn't mean to get you wet as well."

Eunbyul tried not to shiver as she folded her arms.
" I-It's fine...."

Maryanne looked at the broken fragments scattered on the dust.
" Now look. I have to sweep this place up again. Can't you just greet her in a normal way grandpa?"

The man snorted as he supported himself with the staff.
" There is no 'normal' way. Merely by opinion. However... She has improved, and I was right! It was tiger style you foolish youngling."

Eunbyul sighed as she wrung out her shirt.
" You are the old fool, Priest. It wasn't just tiger. It was leopard."

The priest stood there in silence, eye twitching.
"........... That explains the speed.. BUT!" he swung his stick out and she had to duck once more.
" It still is tiger to me!" he briskly turned and wobbled away.

Eunbyul scoffed.
" Stubborn old ha-"

" I HEAR you!"
He croaked as he walked into his room.

Maryanne shook her head.
" He's gone mental, cabin fever I take it."

" But he's been here his entire life...."

" Well it's long term. Lost his head after last winter. Kept trying to speak to a squirrel."

She didn't even want to ask.

Maryanne lead her into the inner area of the old building and brought her a towel.
" You know where the bath is."
She nudged her to the old bathroom and shut the slide frame. Eunbyul stripped herself bare and gently entered the steaming stone tub, the tingle of heat creeping up her sore legs.
She settled into the hot tub and closed her eyes shut with a sigh.

******************

The gravel grinder against the tires as UKISS sat awkwardly in the van while Skylar was on the wheel.
"..... so..... Eunbyul Ajjushi?"

Dongho spoke up attentively, uncomfortable with the three hour silence. Everyone stiffened at his sudden voice.

"..... Yes?"

".... What was noona like as a child?"
The question has been in his mind the instant he saw her war hardened father.

The other members were silent, but they had their ears in the conversation as well. Skylar paused for a moment before responding.
" She.... She was different."

" How so?"
Hoon asked as Dongho seemed perplexed.

"..... She was always out of place. From elementary school to highschool, every school or daycare she went to. That's why her public school days never lasted long."
Skylar remembered with some amusement the incidents Eunbyul seems to have caused.

" Out of place? Like an outcast? Was she bullied?"
Soohyun pushed on.

Skylar Couldn't help but be amused by the plethora of questions they had about Eunbyul.
" She never talked about herself much did she?"

" No..."
Kevin spoke softly as he stared out into the twilight.

Skylar scrutinized Kevin for a moment before eyeing the road.
" To answer your questions, Soohyun shi. She was the loner of the school, and inevitably by being so, she targeted herself to be bullied."

" ....And you knew? You didn't stop it?"
Kiseop spoke in quiet outrage as he imagined their Eunbyul being bullied.

" It was vital to have her learn how to fend for herself at a young age, especially with the lifestyle we lived. However, I did not leave Eunbyul defenseless. You forget what she is like."

UKISS remembered when she took down a facility in a matter of ten minutes.
Skylar continued.
" The bullies she faced never lasted long. In fact there were several occasions when they were hospitalized. She had no friends, no one except for me and her mother, and she had no social life."
He spoke rather bluntly as if he were reciting an informative essay, and UKISS felt a bit bothered.

" Why did yo-"

" I never forced upon her the limitations she had. She set those herself. I merely cautioned her to be careful, our family wasn't exactly in the safe zone, especially with my job. She took it upon herself and set up her own limits."

Skylar smirked in amusement as he reminisced about Annabelle's antics. 
" My wife had a hard time trying to create a normal life for her, but Eunbyul wasn't a normal child. She was too mature for kids her age. I guess that was my fault. Our lifestyle didn't have the luxury of developing slowly, and she had to grow up fast. She had too much of me in her. Always silent and observant rather than loud and hyperactive."

" What about her capabilities? Who taught her that?"
Jaeseop asked. They all listened to Skylar acutely.
" Capabilities? Oh... You mean her training."

Training?

" As I said before, I didn't leave my daughter defenseless to life's hardships. Both my wife and I taught her a few tips here and there with our profession."
A few tips?..... They practically trained her into a super soldier.......

" What is her mother like?"
Kevin suddenly asked.

Skylar's grip on the wheel twitched as he drove. A whimsical look was in his dark eyes.
".... Her mother.... She was strong. Selfless. Stubborn. She was the loveliest woman I have ever met in my life. Rather a bit fierce. She was a good mother, a formidable fighter, and quite the strategist. Certainly talkative and sociable, but also manipulative when she needs to be."
He let out a small chuckle at a particular memory when she played psychological tricks on Eunbyul.

" ....Now I have a question for you guys. Kevin in particular."

UKISS became nervous as they waited.
" What brings you guys to come here?"

" You kno-"

" I know you came for Her, but what I wish to know is why."

UKISS went silent as they stared at Kevin to explain.
"..... There was a misunderstanding."
Kevin muttered as he stared at the window.

" She didn't tell you why she wouldn't come to Japan?"

" That and Hyung said some stupid things."
Dongho muttered as he glared at Kevin.

".... Stupid? How so?"

Skylar grew eerily curious, and Kevin felt his heart rate increase.
"..... Let's just say your daughter is dense and I am a fool."

" Dense?"
Skylar felt a bit insulted until Kevin corrected himself.
" Not in intellect. But..... When it comes to.... Relationships... And emotions.... That.... Are...."

Skylar began to comprehend and let out a bark of laughter.
" Ah..... Yes... She is a bit impaired when it comes to emotional expression and understanding. Especially in that particular area. I never thought to advise her on that. I didn't need it and I turned out perfectly fine."
UKISS didn't answer to that as they stared at his calloused and scarred hands and arms.

They drove again in silence, until Kevin asked a question that's been gnawing at him.
"..... Mr. Lee?"

" Yes?"

" Does Eunbyul.... Why does she think so lowly of herself? Does she hate herself?"

Skylar went rigid for a moment. The man was keen, but Kevin wasn't keen enough nor did he have enough knowledge to truly understand.
".... So she still does...."
He muttered. Kevin looked disturbed as Dongho blurted.

" She DOES hate herself? B-

Soohyun cover his mouth and waited for Skylar to talk.

" ....... Yes... And no....."

How can she hate herself and not hate herself at the same time? She isn't emo.....

It seems that Skylar knew what he was thinking and looked at Kevin with an almost fatigued look.
Skylar sighed exasperated.
".... Do you really understand so little of Lee Eunbyul?"

Kevin was about to rebuttal that, but he clamped shut. She was always so distant to him. It was as if she only allowed him near her out of her own volition. He couldn't risk that by trying to forcefully dig something up.

Skylar noticed his fallen look as he stared back at the bleak dirt road.
" It is not entirely your fault. Eunbyul has always been rather difficult to understand even from a young age. But you should know her better than any other friend she has."

Kevin sighed.
" She always seems to push me away."

" Because she fears that she can't hold onto you. Eunbyul's mind is different from civilians. She has come to a realization that nothing good can last. Call it insecurity, but she doesn't see what others can see in her. All she sees is the darkness."

Kevin was curious to understand why she would.
" Why though? Did you raise her to see the world as unmerciful and cruel? Did you make her believe she was evil as well?"

Skylar had a sad look in his eyes as he stated grimly at the road.
" Yes... And no... You forget, not everyone had an upbringing as good as others. I did raise her to see things from a darker perspective, but that is because I have seen the darker side of humanity myself. I have seen innocent people fall to the dark. Betrayal, abandonment, bloodshed. All of it, and to have my daughter vulnerable to such horrors..., it wasn't an option. Call it paranoia or whatnot, but I took precautions. I was truthful when I told her the cruel truths society has hidden from the naive."

Kevin remained silent at the thought of Skylar's own lifestyle. One question was still on his mind.

"..... She never told you did she?"

Skylar's voice was suddenlt quiet and sad.

They all stared at his sudden question with confusion.

The sun was sinking as orange light struck the side of Skylar's face.
".... Would you like to know how her mother... My wife died?"

Kevin frowned. He was curious but that seemed out of the point.
" What does that-"

" I think you will understand. It will answer something about my daughter."
Skylar's eyes sparked with a knowing look. They remained silent for the story.
".... Her mother and I... We had hazardous lives separately, but combined, it became even worse. Especially for Eunbyul, for an innocent child to be involved with such dangers. Our jobs made us targets, and I happened to have even more enemies. I didn't realize how severely it would affect Eunbyul until nine years ago on November 23rd at night. Eunbyul was walking out from detention, and Annabelle was the one to pick her up at that time. She didn't realize there was going to be a sharp shooter at a public school." Skylar sighed and tightened his grip on the wheel. Knuckles turning white.
" It was my fault really. The assassin sent was meant for me, but the assassin seemed to have done something neither my wife or I had expected. He was targeting our child in order to harm us. A child... An innocent little girl that had never experienced war, saw the corruption of power, or known the darker secrets in government. He had the sniper aimed at my daughter. She was only able to live because of her mother. My wife shielded Eunbyul in the nick of time, but she sacrificed her own life. The bullet ended up going straight to her heart. Eunbyul was injured as well but not as severely."

Skylar was silent as UKISS simply sat there shocked. Jaeseop's fist clenched as Dongho felt a choking sensation in his throat.

Skylar looked pained and beyond agonized as he continued his narrative.
" My daughter watched, and held her very own mother die in her very arms, bleeding, And the madness didn't stop there. The assassin went to check if he killed his target, and Eunbyul had to defend herself from him. She took her mother's gun and shot the man until he was dead. A ten year old girl, already took a life of another. I had arrived in time to witness her kill him."

His jaws clenched as he looked forward with a burning gaze.
" I have regretted every single day of my life for letting Annabelle die, but more than that, my own daughter had to do things that she should've never done, experienced things she should have never experienced, all because of our pasts. A child shoulder never pay for the crimes of their parents."

Kiseop whispered hoarsely.
" How did she.... How did it affect her?"

".... I had never seen Eunbyul cry after her mother died, as a defense mechanism, her mind seemed to have tried to suppress any emotion. She had rarely smiled or laugh.. The death of her nearly crippled me with agony and guilt. How do you think it affected Eunbyul? She had to watch her mother die. She had to hold her as she bled. Most importantly of all, she had realized her mother died for her..... Do you now understand why Eunbyul has self loathing?"

Kevin felt a pain in his chest. He couldn't empathize to Eunbyul's own agony. She blamed herself as the sole reason for her mother's death.
"...... She's such an idiot."
He whispered as he clenched his jaw.

Skylar let out a hollow chuckle.
"... Yes she is.... However..... I have seen a change in my daughter, and I suppose I should thank you for it."
He has seen a certain rekindle in her eyes as he observed from afar. She looked happy.

UKISS didn't say anything as they remembered Eunbyul's first time meeting them. Now they knew why she was so distant at first.
Skylar interrupted their thoughts.
" I suppose you will be looking at Eunbyul in a whole new perspective....."

Dongho was the one to reply in a confident tone.
" Not really.... Noona is still noona to me, regardless if she had to kill someone. I love her all the same, only difference is that my respect for her is even higher. Higher than respect for Soohyun hyung."

Soohyun chuckled at the magnae's declaration and ruffled his head.
" Dongho's right. We don't care about Eunbyul's past crimes. She wouldn't be the person we adore if she wasn't who she was. She's..... Well she's Eunbyul. We've seen a side that people wouldn't expect from someone who's supposedly 'dark and icy'"

Kevin smiled.
" I'll prove something to her and you. It's going to take a lot more than history to get rid of us. I'll prove to both of you that the greatest things in life can and WILL remain long lasting. That there are things that are permanent."

Skylar remained silent as he stomped on the breaks, causing everyone to lunge forward breathlessly, ruining the warm moment.
UKISS coughed and hacked as Skylar unbuckled his belt and looked at them bluntly, all sadness and gentle wisdome vansihed from his eyes.
" How my daughter met such sappy and prissy people, especially one like you, Kevin... I'll never know..... On the other hand, we have arrived."

UKISS all gasped and groaned as they stepped out into the orange sun. Her father was even more devoid of good touchy emotion than Eunbyul was...

They stood in front of the massive mountain with a determined look.
Kevin readjusted his shades as he stared at the worn gates.
" Let's go..."
Kevin stepped forth and entered the domain. He was one step closer to Eunbyul. Skylar looked at them with a curious expression.
You certainly picked a strange crowd to be with..... You never cease to surprise your father, do you Eunbyul.
 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Eunbyul looked at the dark cavernous tunnel before her. It was a tunnel carved through the very mountain, leading straight to the lone grave sight on the very edge near the peaks. She couldn't see the end of the tunnel, only a darkness as red moss coursed throughout the mountain walls. Tomorrow was the day, and she simply stood here, as she always did. Strange enough, the wind seemed to be pulling her towards the cavern as if her mother was beckoning her to visit. A part of her heart felt a sudden bolt of excitement or caution, as the mountain seemed to whisper.

The priest stood next to her with a bored expression.
" If you stand there long enough, you'll turn to stone."

" Wonder what she would say....."
She muttered as she stared into the abysmal mouth.

" Hmmm?"

" About my life right now....."

" Well if you simply stand like a statue, you will never know."

Eunbyul looked at the priest with a sad sigh, and noticed his feet were bare.
".... Is there any reason why you're barefoot in the cold weather? It can't be good for your circulation."

The old man didn't seem to mind her intended insult as he snickered.
" heeheehee. My dear, I am simply seeing...."

" Seeing what? You're blind."
This man is really senile. Maybe it's Alzheimer's.

He continued to laugh as he clunked his staff.
" Oh by the Lord's heavens above. It is you who is the blind one, and apparently deaf. Again, I will repeat... One does not need the eyes to see, when there are others that see for them. I may not have my sight, but I can see things you can't see. For instance.... The mountain is telling me it has visitors, through my feet. It speaks like angels above."

Eunbyul thought it was obvious that it had visitors. Her father was coming as well.
" I think I will go greet them...." he turned and walked away shakily.

" Greet them? It's only one."
Eunbyul turned to the old man, impatient with his riddles.

He simply laughed and lifted a foot as he thought hard.
" Is it...? The mountain says otherwise..... There is a wolf, but you already know that.... But there are more.... A pigeon... A puppy... A lion, a snake, a bunny rabbit, a house cat.... And.... A particular fish...."

Eunbyul gave him a weird look and snorted. Priest simply waves it off with his foot.
" Go on now. It's rude to make your mother wait."
He began walking away slowly. The wooden end thumping with every little step.

" Mental old geezer..."
Eunbyul muttered.

" HEARD that! I'm blind not deaf!"

She ignored him and looked at the tunnel with a final inhale of breathe and took a step towards the very woman who paid the greatest price for her.
 

 

Author's Note

- I have decided to put a sort of preview for the next chapter a few days after I publish a chapter. To keep the suspense... I won't be doing this very often maybe... Not decided yet, but now its a sort of test trial. So next Chapter ===========>

 

I want something... Something permanent, but all I wish for right now... I want him to be here. All I wish for is for him to be with me.. Right now... It's okay if he doesn't return my feelings, but all I really want is for him to be here. I wish for Kevin to be here with me.

A silent tear rolled down her cheek and fell onto the rock's pool, rippling the moon's reflection.

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A wheezy squeaky laughter was heard from above, and Kevin looked around in panic. There wasn't enough light to see who was making the disturbing noise, and fear struck him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" OW!"

Dongho clutched his head painfully as the staff clonked none too gently on him.
" Tsk tsk tsk little puppy. It is sad that one that is blind must guide the one that can see."