Summary: Yujin lives in a world where there is a book that records everything that happened in your past life. Everything from birth to death is recorded- and there’s one question Yujin is dying to get the answer to.

Word Count: 32215

Hashtag: #JinjooFiesta_AlwaysYou

Authornim has decided to reupload the oneshot. Click the title below for the link.

 

Always You

 

Two and a half years.

 

Was that really not enough for Yujin? 

 

“AHN YUJIN!! YOU BETTER COME DOWN AND EAT BEFORE I BREAK DOWN THIS DOOR!!” Her mom yelled through the door, which caused Yujin to jolt unexpectedly on her bed, but her face remained unfazed. 

 

She’d been like that a lot these days.

 

“J- just leave it there Ma,” Yujin said as loud as she could, and she could practically see the crease on her mother’s forehead as she heard the plate gently placed on the floor, and the footsteps of the older Ahn walking fading into the distance.

 

Her mother was worried for her- definitely. Even Yujin was worried for herself— she hadn’t left her own room in 3 months.

 

3 whole months.

 

It had been 3 months since IZ*ONE disbanded, and it hurt Yujin like hell.

 

It hurt her so much she couldn’t even see her friends again. She didn’t want to be reminded of the life she lost- and the time she could never replay.

 

Eunbi unnie had debuted first, only a month after, as a soloist. Yujin sent her a congratulations message, which Eunbi replied to instantly, asking if she could come to the debut stage.

 

Yujin said no, she had an important family event to attend.

 

Said important event was building a brand new island in Animal Crossing.

 

Chaewon had joined Rocket Punch, and they finally bagged a first win- which Yujin also congratulated via text, no calls, no voice messages, no silly photos. Just a text.

 

Nako had graduated HKT and somehow joined SM Entertainment and made it to SM Rookies, which impressed everyone- thus earning her a signature congratulations text from Yujin.

 

Sakura and Hitomi remained in Japan, gaining fans and popularity all over Japan, and Yujin was thankful that they were doing well. Unfortunately, they received no texts.

 

Chaeyeon had left WM, making her change companies yet again, the eldest Lee now joining MNH Entertainment after an offer from none other than Kim Chungha herself. She was preparing for a solo debut, following in every dance legend's footsteps.

 

Hyewon got the role of a lead actress in the newest Train to Busan installment (and no, she wasn’t the zombie), and she did absolutely well for a person as shy as her. But everyone already knew that Hyewon is an amazing actress, Yujin thinks. Her popularity boosted immensely, and Yujin also- left her a text.

 

Yena, she left Yuehua, which the K-netz called a betrayal to Everglow (though they were doing perfectly fine without her), and ran off to Stone Music and debuted in a duo with Yuri. Yena also invited Yujin to their debut showcase, but she declined saying she was in Jeju at the time. Though she did give Yena a call instead of a text, since two months had already passed at that time, Yujin felt a slight bit better.

 

Highlight the slight though.

 

Wonyoung and her received 3 months off before having to return back to train for the new girlgroup.

 

Wonyoung was excited to debut again— she had the guaranteed position of center and maknae, and she’d already hung out with Gahyun and a few other Starship trainees last week.

 

Yujin on the other hand- felt like not wanting to debut at all.

 

It wasn’t because she was tired- or that she wasn’t passionate- or she lost the ability to dance and sing like before- or she lost interest in performing- or that she believed she’d done enough already-  it’s just that- she—

 

She can’t imagine herself debuting in a group without Kim Minjoo.

 

God. Why did you say that name?! 

 

Kim Minjoo.

 

If Yujin starts thinking about her, she knows she’ll never stop.

 

Minjoo was filming a drama. Minjoo went to Jeju to film the drama. Minjoo is in the drama with Kim Saeron, Park Sodam, D.O and Park Bogum. The drama was going to be called “Autumn in Love With You” Minjoo was the second lead. She’ll be a teacher in the drama. She’s going to be paired with Bogum (or Sodam, Yujin isn’t sure) in the end. She has to stay in Jeju for about 6 months to finish the drama. She’s recording an OST with Kreisha Chu for the drama. She’s recorded multiple songs already. She’s going to be an actress and soloist in the future, with a focus more on acting.

 

Everything about Minjoo— Yujin knows.

 

I sound like a creepy fool don’t I? Yujin thinks as she shifted slightly in the bed, her body shivering at the sudden movement after sitting as still as a stone for almost an hour.

 

Funny— the Yujin 3 months ago could have never stayed still for this long.

 

Yujin had been talking to Minjoo the entire 1st week- and she felt safe at that time- like nothing was wrong.

 

Then Minjoo got busy.

 

She was filming a reality show with Kreisha Chu, and they released their first song together (which Yujin listens to every day for that matter) and then Minjoo’s drama came in- and they’re always filming in the places with the worst signal in the entirety of South Korea.

 

And Yujin lost it.

 

It was near to impossible for Yujin to wake up if it wasn’t Minjoo waking her up- her body just refused it altogether. Anything that reminded her of Minjoo just hurt her like crazy, to the point where she couldn’t even sleep on the bed for two months- because beds reminded her of Minjoo and everything that was affiliated to the older girl hurt like hell.

 

She was glad she didn’t go to school anymore, because if she did, she probably would’ve been dead by now. The mustard colour? It was so Minjoo it hurt her eyes.

 

She also set a different ringtone and a different notification tone for Minjoo- so she would know when to pick up and when to not.

 

Yujin felt pathetic sometimes- why on earth did this girl affect her so much? Why did she feel so drawn- so attached to one singular person? They never dated- no- not even a single kiss was shared- but Yujin felt as if they’d spent multiple lives together, just the two of them.

 

Multiple lives together.

 

Past lives did exist. The entire world was well aware of those facts, and everything that happened in all those lives- and even your current life- was recorded in a book. Scientists can’t explain how the book came into existence, but it just did.

 

The public had no access to the books though- the United Nations came together and declared that exposing the books to the public was a hazard to society- after this one dude found out he was a legendary mafia boss in his past life and started going on a mass murder spree by following exactly what he did in his past life.

 

He really ruined the fun for everyone.

 

So the books were stored in a regulated vault somewhere in Sejong-si, in the building of the Ministry of Government Legislation, and you had to have a lot of credentials to your name to be able to have access to them.

 

There were stories of people sneaking into the vault in an attempt to find out who their soulmates were, or what their ‘destiny’s’ were. There were also stories from older people who were alive when they hadn’t banned access to the books yet. It was a well known fact among everyone that in the book would be filled with stories of you and your ‘soulmate’ throughout each and every one of your lives.

 

But- due to the years of not having access to the books- many have stopped believing in their existence.

 

“Destiny huh?” Yujin says to no one in particular as she shifts towards her bedside table, picking up her ipad. The screen flashes on, and she finds the smiling face of Kim Minjoo staring back at her with her bright pink hair- a photo she took of the older girl in the states.

 

Destiny.

 

Yujin unlocks the ipad, and jumps to safari- and searches up the thing lingering on her mind.

 

Past life books

 

The search pops up quickly, revealing thousands of articles and blogs talking about the topic. The very first one being from the UN themselves, talking about the reason as to why the books will be locked up from the general public. 

 

Below that article, were countless stories of old couples and their adventures throughout their lifetimes. There were even pictures of the book- and Yujin was convinced.

 

Could she get access to it? She has no clue. She’d never done anything illegal before- and she was rather well known- she thinks. Most people were bopping to Fiesta right? Thoughts of doubt and hope fluttered around in Yujin’s mind, trying to come to a conclusion.

 

Why was she doing this again?

 

Right. Kim Minjoo.

 

The probability of Minjoo being her soulmate was 0 to 100. Who knew, maybe she hasn’t even met her soulmate yet. Or maybe she didn’t even have one- and that’s why she felt so miserable. Maybe her soulmate died already before they could meet. What if her soulmate was way older than her? Even worse- what if her soulmate was a man?

 

Yujin shivered at the thought.

 

Then Yujin thought again- which made her realise that she's been thinking more in the time frame of these three months than she’d ever thought the entire time she went to school- and she realised that this could be her answer, the way she gets the ultimate closure.

 

There was a user on one of the forums that mentioned how the books were meant to be a guide- and a way for one to not repeat the mistakes one had done in their past life.

 

Yujin wonders what mistakes she’d made in her past life.

 

Knowing herself, she’s probably ed up a lot in her lifetimes.

 

“If I read the book- i’ll know if Minjoo is my soulmate or not,” Yujin stops, pondering for a moment. “And if she is, I‘ll finally know why I feel so miserable without her— but if she’s not…….”

 

Yujin doesn’t want to think about that possibility.

 

—

 

“Yujin!” Her mother screamed at the sight of her daughter out of her room the next morning, munching on bread and some snacks she found.

 

“Yeah Ma?” Yujin said with full, some of the cream from the bread staining the corner of her lips.

 

“Y- you’re up!” Yujin’s mother continued to say, her eyes turning glossy at the sight. Her heart felt immense happiness at the rare sight in front of her.

 

Her daughter was back.

 

She hadn’t seen Yujin eat properly in months- even the food she’d left in front of her room was only ever nibbled on- and now Yujin was here, wearing a sheepish smile as she ravished through their bread supply.

 

“Yeah! Sorry I didn’t make anything for you Ma,” Yujin said apologetically as her mom approached her, ruffling her daughter’s hair as a tear fell from her cheek, falling on to Yujin, the older woman trying to rub it off quickly, not wanting to cry in front of her child.

 

“Ma? Are you okay?” Yujin asked, though she knew why her mom was crying- she’d been acting awfully pathetic since she came back, and this was the first time she walked out of her room, of course her mother had been worried.

 

Ahn Yujin you selfish prick…. 

 

“No, no- just glad you’re okay Yujinie,” her mother hugged her, and Yujin felt warm all over. She’d forgotten how much human touch was important, and how much she really missed home since she’d always been away from it.

 

I hope I get the same mom in my next life too.

 

“So! Why are you up all of a sudden?” Yujin’s mom asked as she walked towards the fridge, searching for any drinks Yujin would like.

 

“Oh. I need to go somewhere,” Yujin croaked out, internally debating whether or not she should tell her mom she was going to hijack the government in hopes of seeking her true ‘destiny’.

 

Maybe she should also work on phrasing it another way.

 

“Out? Where to?” The older women questioned- she hadn’t even left her room for three months- now she was going out?

 

“Uhh- Sejong-si,” Yujin wasn’t in the mood to lie, and she didn’t really have an idea of what to lie about.

 

“What for?” Yujin’s mother questioned, her eyebrows scrunched together slightly.

 

“Just for fun,” Yujin tried to say nonchalantly, and her mother decided to let it slide- if her daughter wanted to go out to the government district- it was fine. As long as she left the house, hell, as long as she left her room, the eldest Ahn was fine with it.

 

“Will you be bringing anyone?” Mrs. Ahn asked, concerned for the younger’s safety.

 

“Uh, Yena unnie and Hyewon unnie will be coming,” Yujn lied about that part of the story, but her mother didn’t seem convinced.

 

“Sounds like you guys are just trying to cause trouble,”

 

“What! How can you think like that Ma?” Yujin said playfully, finishing her bread and walking over to the sink to wash her plate.

 

“Eh, I just know any sentence with you and Yena in it just spells trouble,” The elder woman joked, which Yujin just pouted slightly at, walking over to her mother and giving her a soft kiss on the head.

 

“I’ll be off now- I promise I won’t cause too much trouble,” Yujin said with a cheeky smile, and her mother gave her a look of doubt as Yujin walked out of the home, waving to her mother.

 

Oh… how I longed for you to smile like that again Yujin-ah……

 

—

 

Yujin was really good at riding bikes. She’d always been. She’d always imagined bringing a certain frog-looking (yet ridiculously beautiful) girl on bike rides, but it never happened. Maybe it was because Yujin was a total coward when Minjoo and ‘date’ were put into the equation.

 

What do you mean ‘maybe’? That totally was the reason you’re single right now!

 

Shut up inner Yujin.

 

I’ll shut up when you’re not single. 

 

OH MY GOD!

 

Yujin ignored her inner thoughts, enjoying the spring wind in her hair and the light shining into her eyes as she cycled through the city, nearing the grandeur buildings of Sejong City. The air was light and windy, which reminded her subtly of the soothing New York breeze, a time she pondered on very often throughout the three months.

 

In the time they went to America, Minjoo and her went on countless shenanigans with each other throughout the free time they had. They visited the most colourful parks in the state, and tasted almost every desert they could get their hands on. Holy - the things Yujin would do to feel that happy again.

 

Things.

 

Things like sneaking into a government building just to know if they were meant to be.

 

Just to know if she could be happy again.

 

Happy the way she was in New York. Happy in the way they endured the heat of Thailand. Happy in the way she’d eat grapes with Minjoo when the day was particularly hot. Happy in the way she’d tease the elder for her cameos in dramas. Happy in the way Minjoo would literally drag her out of bed to wake her up. Happy in the way she’d always tease Minjoo for being such a clutz. Happy in the way she was with Minjoo.

 

That was all she wanted.

 

Her arrival at the modest building shook her out of her wish to be happy, as she admired the government owned building adorned with silver walls that reflected all that was the gleam of the sunlight. She parked her bike at a designated area, locking it so she would at least have a getaway vehicle if she ended up getting chased by government officials. (See, she planned her crime well!)

 

She continued her adventure of sorts, walking up to the guard post, which marked the start of the compound, and she walked past the post confidently, smirking at the guard who seemed to be far too focused on his phone to realize Yujin’s silent entry.

 

Yujin let out a deep breath as she marched into the main lobby of the building, where all types of people were bustling around the lobby- mostly focused on their phones and what seemed to be important business calls- while Yujin stood in between it all, trying to find something that could help her.

 

There was a list of floors with the designated departments written on each metal plate, which lit the (albeit very few) light bulbs in Yujin’s head. The second youngest of what was once IZ*ONE walked up to the metal plates that were strategically placed next to the triplet of elevators. Yujin scanned the inscriptions, and she found it faster than she expected, the top most of the plates spelling out VAULT in big bold letters.

 

So much for trying to keep it away from the people.

 

Yujin clicked the button to go upwards, and the lift arrived almost in an instant. Yujin stepped into it, finding herself at ease with how easy it had been so far. She stepped towards the empty elevator’s buttons, and found her first challenge of the day.

 

You needed an access card to go up.

 

Of course you need one! Are you stupid Ahn Yujin?! Ahhh seriously. You are hopeless.

 

Why do you sound like Yena? 

 

Why is that wrong? You need me Ahn Yujin. More than Yuri does.

 

Holy . I think this is it. I’ve finally gone crazy.

 

Yeah yeah. Thank me later Ahn.

 

Omg- Yena- what if you’re my soulmate?

 

Dear God that’s worse than Yuri…….. and I’m just a fragment of your imagination- so try not to up so much will ya?

 

The sound of the elevator door opening startled the girl- causing her line of vision to fall onto the young woman who just entered as she swiped her card on the other side of the elevator, pressing the button to the fifth floor.

 

Yujin cursed under breath, but a sudden ingenious thought came to her. 

 

That— is such a Yena-like thought.

 

See! Told you you need me Ahn.

 

“Oh god. Seriously? How could I- ughhhhh,” Yujin groaned, startling the woman in the elevator with her.

 

“A-are you okay miss?” The woman questioned, and Yujin applauded her own choice of clothing today- she really looked like an office worker. A hot one too.

 

“Ah- no- I left my card at home, and I need to get to my floor,” Yujin lied effortlessly- perks of growing up with strict parents.

 

And by parents she meant parent. And by parent she of course meant Kwon Eunbi.

 

Chaeyeon was always the cool mom.

 

“Oh? What floor are you on?” The girl replied, eager to help.

 

“Twelfth,” Yujin said with no hesitation, and the girl’s mouth formed an ‘o’ in clear shock.

 

“Oh, wow, I didn’t think you were that high up of a position. I mean! Well- no offense- sorry,” the girl stuttered out- and Yujin couldn’t help but laugh.

 

“It’s alright,” Yujin said, trying to put on the most charming smile possible, and the woman returned the smile, bowing politely as she moved back to the buttons to slide the card once more, and pressed the button to the twelfth.

 

“Thank you,” Yujin said, and the elevator bell dinged, indicating the woman arrived at her floor.

 

“I hope i’ll see you again,” the lady said with a small smile, walking out of the elevator as it closed again, leaving Yujin alone once again.

 

“Oh I hope I never see you again,” Yujin said as the lift proceeded to go upward, and Yujin took another deep breath. Seeing that lady again would probably mean she was going to face a death sentence soon.

 

The elevator dinged once again, and Yujin let out a sigh of determination as the doors opened out to an empty hall, contrasting much to the bustling lobby she’d seen earlier.

 

Bring it on.

 

—

 

There are many things Yujin regrets in her life.

 

One of them- was asking the universe to bring it on.

 

Bring it on. Yujin tells the universe.

 

Oh I’ll BRING IT ON PEASANT. Replies the universe, snickering.

 

To that, Yujin says— you universe.

 

She’d spent the past 10 minutes arguing with a girl named Sooyoung who guarded the vault, begging her to let her in with ten different methods- but she just wouldn’t budge.

 

“How much do you want?”

 

“I don’t take bribes,” the woman rolled her eyes yet again, and Yujin couldn’t help but curse her.

 

“What do you want the most in the world Sooyoung-ssi? I’ll give you anything,” Yujin spoke with much exaggeration in her tone, and Sooyoung gave her a look of interest.

 

“Anything you say?” Sooyoung cocked an eyebrow, and Yujin nodded aggressively.

 

“Anything,”

 

“Well then—

 

I want you to leave,” Sooyoung deadpanned as she rolled her eyes at Yujin, who let out a frustrated groan.

 

“Please~” Yujin said with aegyo laced all over her tone, and Sooyoung almost barfed.

 

“Seriously? Aegyo?” Sooyoung said condescendingly, and Yujin only shrugged.

 

“It was worth a try,” Yujin said as she her heel, the sound irking Sooyoung to her wits end, but she shut up, considering the girl was leaving now.

 

It wasn’t that Sooyoung didn’t recognise Yujin- of course she did- Yujin Ahn was popular all around the world. It’s just that she wanted to keep her job, and besides, she was all for illegal vault trespassing (I mean- she’d done it herself, so who was Sooyoung to judge?) It's just that it wasn’t her place to help Yujin with doing so. So Sooyoung watched Yujin approach the elevator, with a small smirk on her face as she saw the small figure peeping out from the hallway nearby.

 

“Pssssssst,” a voice called out just before Yujin pushed the button, causing the young girl to jolt at the sudden noise.

 

“Yujin-ssi,” the voice called yet again, and Yujin turned to the direction of the voice to find a short woman, clearly a worker as she was dressed in regular work clothes, except she had a longer coat that covered her body. She had auburn hair with bangs that accentuated her cute features, and Yujin found herself involuntarily walking towards her. It just seemed as if the girl had a welcoming aura to her, that was literally dragging Yujin towards her.

 

Sounds like a serial killer to me!

 

Yujin stood tall in front of her, and the smaller girl smirked. They were in a rather secluded corner from Sooyoung, though Yujin was quite sure the echo was going to be quite loud here, so she felt a tiny sense of safety in the corner with this mysterious person. It was hard not to think of the possibility of this dangerously cute person harvesting her organs in this very hallway.

 

“I’m Kim Jiwoo!” The girl introduced herself rather loudly, causing Yujin to step back in shock.

 

“H- hi Jiwoo,” Yujin stuttered as she tried to maintain her balance, shaking Jiwoo’s extended hand quickly after.

 

“You want to read your book right?” Jiwoo asked with a high expectation of a yes, and Yujin- despite the sheer confusion written on her face- nodded in agreement to her statement, and Jiwoo looked pleased with her answer.

 

“Come with me then!” Jiwoo said with a smile that rivalled the sun, tugging Yujin by the sleeve as she brought her deeper into the hallway. Yujin allowed herself to be dragged, only stopping when they arrived at a large vault- not as big as the main one where Sooyoung was- but it was built in a similar way.

 

“W- wait!” Before Jiwoo could punch in the code, Yujin pulled her away, causing Jiwoo to blink in shock.

 

“Who are you? And why are you helping me?” Yujin asked in pure curiosity, and Jiwoo just laughed.

 

“I’m Jiwoo, I study past lives and stuff here. I used to agree with it- not letting other people look into their past lives- but after doing myself- I think it really does more good than bad,” Jiwoo said, as if pondering on what to say next.

 

“I’ve found that- you can’t judge things solely by their mistakes,” 

 

“Mistakes are there for you to learn from them- not forget about them,” Jiwoo said with a soft smile, and Yujin understood now- why she really was doing this.

 

So she wouldn’t make a mistake again.

 

So she would never let go of Minjoo again.

 

——

 

 

Yujin and Jiwoo walked through the seemingly never ending rows of books that were arranged in such a way that made the place look like a library of sorts, except all of the books looked identical to each other, only a name written in hangul adorning each and every spine of the books.

 

“You’re lucky your family name starts with an A! Or else we’d spend decades trying to navigate through this place,” Jiwoo commented as they arrived at a section that wrote 안 (AHN) in big bold letters, Jiwoo shooting straight to the end of it, slipping through the space in between metal shelves. The room was lit like a warehouse, so though it was dark in certain areas, Yujin could find Jiwoo perfectly.

 

“Found it! Ahn Yujin,” Jiwoo pulled a book out of the shelf, tip-toeing as she tried to reach the book. The book looked like all the others, except it had her name and ID on it, etched in gold. Yujin plucked it from Jiwoo’s hands, feeling the dust stick onto her hands as soon as she gripped it.

 

“Ugh- tell Sooyoung to clean this place more often,” Yujin said, causing Jiwoo to laugh brightly. Which proved once again that everything about Kim Jiwoo was brighter than the sun itself.

 

“Your soulmate’s lucky,” Yujin told her new friend,and Jiwoo couldn’t help but chuckle.

 

“If you knew who she was- you’d curse her instead,” 

 

“What? Why?” Yujin questioned the smiley Jiwoo, who waved her off.

 

“I’ll tell you later— now open it up! I want the tea,” Jiwoo pressured the younger girl, while Yujin pursued her lips as she flipped the book open to its very first page, which had a picture of Yujin on it. It was just her face, it looked pretty much hand drawn, but it put all of her most attractive features into detail, and Yujin had to give props to the artist- it was a nice photo.

 

“Flip it or I’m putting you in jail,” Jiwoo said, causing Yujin to sigh.

 

“Can’t you let a girl appreciate her good looks for once?” Yujin joked, but Jiwoo wasn’t having it.

 

“Mirrors exist kid,” Jiwoo teased back, flipping the page to the next, where a pearl necklace once was used as a bookmark, but it served that purpose no more. Yujin picked it up and observed it closely, and she felt a sense of deja vu surge through her, which caused her to look back at the page, wanting to know more about the story behind the necklace.

 

She inhales a sharp breath before she begins, praying to whatever deity that existed that she’d get the answers she’d been wishing for.

 

The happiness she’d longed for.

 

—

 

The First Life, the 3rd Dimension. 1780, January 30, South China Sea, Nearing the Guangdong Province, China.

 

Ahn Yujin has been bestowed upon the universe for the very first time. We hope she succeeds in living fruitful lives, and stays true to her soul. In any instance she does not- there will be no hesitation to remove her from the universe at once.

 

“Dimensions? You could have lived through different dimensions?” Yujin asked Jiwoo in awe, and the expert nodded. 

 

“The third dimension is this one- this earth- and also, the prime years of your life are written on a golden paper- so if you want to save time, we can skip to there,” Jiwoo suggested, and Yujin followed, skipping to the first set of golden pages.

 

In these moments, Yujin had it all.

 

Commander of the Black Flag Fleet. That was Ahn Yujin’s title, a feared pirate and respected captain among her crew- and even the crews of the other fleets for a matter of fact. It was the year 1808, and Madame Zheng- the leader of their massive pirate confederation- had risen to tremendous power, even after the death of Zheng Yi, her husband. Madame Zheng may have not built the confederation from the ground- but like hell did she raise it up as if it were her own.

 

And Ahn Yujin was very much glad to be a part of it.

 

Born into piracy, Yujin was a natural at her job- and after her father retired, Yujin took over the reins as a captain of the Black Flag Fleet.

 

“We’re going to raid them tonight, so everyone should be well rested today,” Yujin ordered her crew, who nodded in understanding.

 

The Lantau Island was one of the most wanted spots for their operation, the factor being how close the island was to the vast open water and how many trading boats stopped by to engage in trade and other things- it became the perfect place to establish financial offices and finally manage a proper base.

 

So here they were, waiting for dusk- where they could strike down their bay, ruin their docks and leave the chieftain begging for mercy.

 

Chinese commanders always fell weak to their confederation.

 

“Young master,” a voice called, and Yujin turned to see the wayfinder of the ship, Ryujin.

 

“Yes Ryujin?” 

 

“Some of ‘em are asking if we can bring some captives tonight? Rumour has it that Lantau has some of the best booty,” Ryujin said with a smirk on her face, and Yujin couldn’t help but cringe at the horrible joke her comrade made.

 

“Tell them yes- but you know the drill, take all their money and let them go, if you want to marry them- be my guest- but if I find any of you mistreating them, you’ll be answering to not just me- but also Madame Zheng,” Yujin said with venom in her tone, causing the previously joking Ryujin to gulp in fear.

 

“Actually, I take that back,”

 

“If anyone is found mistreating their spouses- they won’t even have time to answer,” 

 

“Yes Ma’am!” Ryujin said, jumping out of the main chamber to inform everyone of the news.

 

Yujin could hear the brief cheers from her crew, and Yujin simply clicked her tongue. They were all a bunch of lonely (and quite ) bastards really. But they were all good pirates and listened to her well, so Yujin couldn’t say much about them.

 

“Yujinie, Yujinie, you should learn to have more fun y’know,” a new voice called from the main entrance, causing Yujin to spin swiftly, ready to attack if the person was a threat.

 

“Ah! Seriously Yuri? Can’t you knock?” Yujin sighed as she saw Yuri walk into the room and close the door behind her, the commander turning back to a stolen couch, roughly taking a seat on the soft material.

 

“Knock knock,” Yuri teases, smirking as she approaches the captain. “Heheh- you’re teased too easily Capt,” Yuri continues, chuckling at the commander's antics, taking a seat on the stool across from Yujin.

 

Yujin was silent, looking out the circular window of the Captain’s Cabin. From the hole, they could see the sun beginning to disappear from sight, and as soon as the moon revealed itself- they would start sailing towards Lantau Island.

 

“You look lonely Yujin,” Yuri spoke up, and Yujin just stared at her, questioning her words.

 

“Hey- you know I know you better than anyone on this ship,” Yuri continued, trying to strengthen her point.

 

“And so? I’m not lonely Yuri- just strongly independent,” Yujin replied, but Yuri only snickered.

 

“There’s a difference between being independent and being lonely Yujin,” Yuri commented, but Yujin refused to give in.

 

“Alright- I get it, you’re still young anyways- but I’m just saying- everyone needs a co-captain— Captain,” Yuri tipped her hat as she uttered her words with much respect, standing up from the stool as she made her way out of the room, leaving Yujin alone to think about what she said.

 

I mean- even Madame Zheng has Zhang Bao as her right hand man.

 

It wouldn’t hurt Yujin to get a partner in crime right?

 

Yet Yujin still shudders at the thought of sharing her life with someone- even if it was just professionally- Yujin was just so used to being alone. Her mother passed away shortly after her birth, getting shot during battle against five American schooners, which they had thankfully won. Though Yujin clearly remembers the loss she and her father faced that night. Her mother- was indeed her father’s right hand, a part of him which he couldn’t live without, the change in her father’s behaviour- from being an easy going and open guy to the closed off and strict commander- was what drove Yujin to bring herself up in a more independent way, so that she would never have to rely on someone to become her other right hand the way her mother was for her father.

 

One right hand was enough for Yujin.

 

“Captain! We need orders!” The door busted open once again, and Yujin swiftly glanced at the window to find they were already off schedule for tonight’s raid, and Yujin sighs- standing up abruptly as she dismissed the young pirate who came to remind her of the raid.

 

Yujin steps out of the cabin and heads across the main deck towards the forecastle deck, stepping slightly on top on the bowsprit, that was ornamented with the design of Cerberus the three headed dog as the ship's figurehead.

 

Yujin really liked dogs. The more heads the better.

 

Simply ordering with her gestures, the ship began moving forward. Yujin had set a series of gestures that every one of her crew had to master- to increase their capability to sneak up on enemies. It was the reason they were given the name the Black Flag Fleet, they simply worked in the shadows.

 

It was a misty night, but Yujin could make out the multiple junks and sampans following her fleet, according to her lead. She looked a bit further, and spotted the red flag, indicating that she was on the same pace as Madame Zheng’s fleet.

 

Yujin saw the older woman on the forecastle deck of the monstrosity that was the Red Fleet’s commanding ship.

 

Madame Zheng lifted one finger, looking to Yujin’s direction- and the younger smirked at her, nodding at the silent order.

 

“Sampans and corvettes forward- Blue fleet will guard us from behind,” Yujin told Yuri, and she passed the order to the rest of the fleet, and they acted almost immediately, with the rafts almost arriving at shore with their masses of rope.

 

Ryujin looked back to their main vessel from her position at shore, and Yujin gestured towards herself, and Ryujin and the other rafters on their pitch black sampans began the first part of the operation, throwing ropes onto the larger ships as their getaway method once they'd captured everything and everyone that was shiny.

 

Yujin looked back to Madame Zheng, who was staring intently at their rafters, who were nearly done with their jobs. After a few silent seconds, Madame Zheng turned to Yujin once again, and nodded, lifting five fingers and gesturing them towards the shore, where Yujin’s own men were waiting for the next order.

 

A five? Madame Zheng must really want this place. Yujin thought as she turned back to Ryujin. 

 

A level five attack meant a rather brutal- all out attack on each and every house and store on the dry land- it also meant more captives and of course, a lot more loot than usual.

 

“Five,” Yujin said, alerting Yuri, who nodded with a slight bit of shock in her eyes as she turned to the rest of the crew, telling the anchors and the 15th squadron to remain on the ship just in case the villagers were feistier than usual.

 

Yujin looked to Ryujin, holding up a five with her right hand as Ryujin smirked, and all the masses of pirates began to swing from the ship onto the shore with the assistance of the fastened ropes, only the select few remaining on the ship to guard it from escapees and to help the rest load all the stuff onto the ship.

 

Once everyone was off, Yujin turned to her remaining comrades, which included Yuri of the 15th squadron. 

 

“Go on now- we’re not as incompetent as you think Yujin,” Yuri cocked her head to Yujin, who chuckled at her friend, the Ahn sliding off the ropes and onto the shore, where chaos was beginning to ensue.

 

“You’re a little late Ahn,” Madame Zheng said as Yujin caught up to her, smiling softly at her younger comrade.

 

“Couldn’t keep all the fun to myself now could I?” Yujin says with a smirk, running away from Madame Zheng to join the rest of the crew, Madame Zheng yelling in protest as Yujin arrived at the village.

 

And hey- one building was already on fire.

 

People were screaming, but Yujin was beaming. The thrill of being a pirate was at its absolute peak in times like this, when people begged for mercy as Yujin sliced through homes, looking for as much gold as she could possible get her hands on and slipping it into her knapsack.

 

Yujin stepped onto a pedestal of sorts, unsheathing the longsword Jian with her right hand, and proceeding to unsheath her personal favourite saber, Dao with her left. Yujin extended her right hand slightly, and a horse came rushing right through the blade, gruesomely taking out it’s owner’s head in the process as well.

 

“Wow, nice moves Capt,” Ryujin clapped her hands, proceeding to take out a military officer with a small knife, stabbing the official in the eye.

 

“Having fun with your little friend there?” Yujin teased Ryujin’s so-called dagger, and Ryujin only chuckled.

 

“You know I love my qiang way more,” Ryujin said as she rubbed her spear, that was slung behind her back.

 

“Then start using longer swords Ryu,” Yujin said as she tossed the jian to Ryujin, who turned around as soon as she received it, slicing a military officer who’d been sneaking up behind the wayfinder.

 

“Nice!” Yujin complemented, hopping off the pedestal to join Ryujin in her bloodbath, but another crew member from the yellow fleet, Yena, came up next to them, looking to ask something.

 

“Hey Capt, I know the goal is just the main hall- but should we really leave this big guy standing?” Yena asked as she pointed to the mini hall, most probably used for public affairs.

 

“Burn it,” Yujin ordered Yena sharply, who smirked as she lit the bottle of alcohol on fire, tossing it onto one of the village's mess halls, the spark of them flames acting as pure amusement to Yujin.

 

“Good girl,” Yujin cooed, Yena smirking at the commander as she threw her own saber directly into the skull of an equestrian trying to make his escape, Yena pushing the body off the horse as she claimed it as her own, riding deeper into the village, knowing they couldn’t stop until they conquered the great hall of Lantau island.

 

“Ryujin,” Yujin said, turning to her wayfinder.

 

“Yes Capt?” Ryujin said, and Yujin tossed her a small metal device- it was rare in their community, but it worked wonders- and every person who got her hands on it was undeniably the most powerful in the room.

 

“No way,” Ryujin examined the little western device, one that Yujin obtained from a raid in Vietnam when she was younger.

 

“Entertain me,” Yujin said and Ryujin cocked the gun, a devilish grin on her face as she walked forward, while Yujin followed from behind as they kept an eye out for military officers, or any of the locals that were trying to make their escape.

 

They marched up to a crossroad that was rather silent, where it seemed like the area was almost cleared, and there was a blazing fire in the distance, which marked the location of their biggest prize- the grand hall. 

 

Madame Zheng was for sure already at the top, despite Yujin joining the battle before her, the Madame would want to conquer the island as quickly as possible, and that meant threatening the lead military commander at gunpoint- or beheading him. 

 

It depended on her mood really.

 

“Did you hear that?” Ryujin broke Yujin out of thoughts, the commander now alert and in position to slaughter any man that came close.

 

“Barely,” Yujin said, standing guard as one of the bushes rustled again, Ryujin swiftly pointing the gun towards the bush.

 

Call Yujin crazy, but she was 1000% sure the bush just yelped.

 

Yujin couldn’t help but chuckle at their enemy, but Ryujin had other fun plans. Ryujin let the bullet fly, and the person in the shrub jumped out of the bush, clearly unharmed by how fast she ran off, shocking Yujin, but Ryujin remained unfazed.

 

“Stop,” Ryujin demanded. “Anywhere you go- you’re going to die anyways,” 

 

The strange enemy, now identifiable as a young woman around their age, stopped in her tracks, looking blank as she stared at the two Jin’s. Ryujin raised her gun at the girl, who seemed too stunned to even move at this point. The girl, Yujin realised, wasn’t staring at Ryujin- nor the gun pointed to her- but was staring at Yujin. Which made Yujin stagger back for a moment- no one ever looked at her with that intensity- especially when held at gunpoint.

 

Then Yujin met her eyes.

 

They seemed oddly familiar, the brown- somewhat black under the moonlight- orbs staring into her own as the girl stood there, seeming unsure about what she wanted to do in that current moment, trying to decide why she wasn't running away and why she wanted to come closer.

 

But she did, she definitely did want to come closer. There was a trance enveloping just the two of them, and Yujin would be lying if she said she wanted it to end. There was a certain pleasure in this moment, with this stranger staring right through her as her best friend attempted to murder her, and the pleasure was different from slashing through barricades of military officers of western navy. 

 

It was lighthearted, it was gentle, it was less of an adrenaline rush and more of a burst endorphins, it was— different—  to say the least.

 

The click of the trigger pulling had snapped Yujin out of her trance, the commander turning to see Ryujin already pulling the trigger- and for the first time in years- Ahn Yujin first saw the horror, and the sheer brutality of killing.

 

“WAIT!” Yujin yelled, despite knowing it was to late, but she was a fast thinker, and she hurriedly pushed Ryujin’s hand sideways, causing the shot to lose its accuracy as it simply grazed the girl’s shoulder, the civilian screaming due to the pain before shooting off- clutching her shoulder as she ran off, to the direction of none other than the grand hall.

 

“HEY! W- what was that for?” Ryujin seemed mad at first, but then she remembered that Yujin was still her superior, and she needed to address her as such.

 

The thing is, Yujin doesn’t know what ‘that’ was for- she simply didn’t want the girl to get hurt. It was weird. Feelings were weird.

 

“Look, she’s gonna get caught anyways- might as well take her captive. She looks rich,” Yujin said, but Ryujin narrowed her eyes at the captain. Yujin rarely cared about riches, it was the thrill of the kill that she really yearned for. Once, Yujin even called captives and riches ‘excess baggage’ after a raid, telling some of her men to return two whole chests of riches back to an orphanage because it took up too much space in the ship.

 

“Since when do you care about that stuff?” Ryujin asked, genuinely concerned for her commander’s sudden change of heart.

 

“J-just drop it,” Yujin said solemnly. “She can’t hurt anyone, she’s already injured,” Yujin’s tone turned into a sterner one, and Ryujin had no other choice than to oblige. 

 

They continued to trek up the hill, spotting the grand hall, Madame Zheng standing in front of the burning building with a nefarious grin on her lips. Right behind Madame Zheng was the chieftain of the island, a rope harshly tied on his neck, hands and feet, pulling at his limbs as if he was a puppet.

 

“Submit or perish,” Madame Zheng held a dagger to his throat, squatting on the ground to meet the chief's gaze.

 

The chief’s eyes were hollow, as if he’d come to a point where death seemed like the sweetest thing known to man.

 

“I-,” The chief said slowly, as if Madame Zheng was draining every drip of energy from the man.

 

 “I submit,” he said finally, and the grin on Madame Zheng Si’s face extended from ear to ear.

 

“Bring him on the ship boys,” Madame Zheng ordered, and Zhang Bao, her husband and a few other men hoisted the man upwards, dragging him on the many ropes he was tied to.

 

“Girls!” Madame Zheng said joyously. “Amazing work back there,” the woman complemented, and Yujin waved her off with a prideful smirk on her face, approaching the woman.

 

“All in a day’s work,” Yujin said, smiling at the utter chaos they caused.

 

“We finally have a proper base now,” Madame Zheng said fondly, looking at all the blood spills tainting the once pure dirt.

 

“We should head back to the ships,” Madame Zheng looked to Yujin. “Quickly divide the spoils and the captives,” Madame Zheng ordered, and the two younger pirates scattered, going back down the hill they came.

 

Though Yujin did turn her head back as they walked down, looking out for even the most macro glimpse of the girl earlier. Just to know if she was safe.

 

Why the hell do you care if she’s safe?

 

—

 

Yujin sat alone in her cabin, wiping the blood off her swords while her crew brought all the spoils from the conquest on top of the deck, where they would divide it under Yujin’s watch later.

 

Though Yujin knew some of the younger pirates were eager to pocket some of the spoils for themselves, she didn’t care that much, but Yujin knew that if anyone were caught, she’d just slice their heads off. It was a known fact that the commander of the Black Flag Fleet was especially brutal when it came to punishments. And she was definitely the most strict when it came to routine and rules. ‘She was like a mirror of the Madame herself’, was what was often gossiped about her, alongside ‘the most good looking commander’ and ‘she’s hottest when angry,’. 

 

Also, let's also not forget ‘her and her friend Ryujin can raid me anytime,’.

 

Yujin sighed as she thought of the other things people have said about her. Did she mind it? Not really, since they all came from some of the finest women the confederation had ever seen. Yet, it still made Yujin a little uncomfortable since Yujin haven't a clue of who these people were.

 

“I’M TAKING HER!” 

 

“WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE CAPTAIN!”

 

“I’m her best man! She don’t got a choice!” 

 

“Can’t you fools get back to work?!”

 

“She’s the last of the loot!”

 

“And the best of it too,” the sounds of nearly her entire crew cackling disturbed Yujin from her pure silence, since the cabin and the main deck were quite a stretch, it was rare to hear sounds from the deck here.

 

“!” Yujin heard again, but she just glared at the direction the sound was from, ignoring how loud her crew was being.

 

“NO! Stop it! She’s mine!”

 

“We can’t choose yet!” 

 

“Who cares?! Capt never cares about the captives n’ways!”

 

“Yeah! As long as we keep ‘em nice and pretty! We’ll keep our heads,”

 

“Capt don’t even care about riches! And this one is definitely the best out of all we got at that lousy island,” the man said in a snarky tone, as if he intentionally wanted to disrespect whoever he was talking to.

 

Yujin continued to ignore it, the sound of a sword being unsheathed, followed by a series of gasps made her perk up, rushing to her door to get a peek of what was going on.

 

The door creaked open, and Yujin could barely see the outside, but she could, and that was all she needed.

 

“Who wants her- oughta get through me first,” the man with the unsheathed sword said with a grin of determination on his face, and Yujin knew him as Sungjae, an older pirateer within the fleet. 

 

“YOU THINK YOU’RE STRONG SUNGJAE?! Back off!” Another man, a younger one this time, jumping down from the shrouds as he landed right in front of Sungjae. His name was Chenglei, a well known trouble maker before he became a pirate.

 

Yujin was too far away to see what they were fighting about, but Yujin knew it was probably over a captive, since they mentioned a she.

 

Where was Yuri? Why wasn’t she breaking up the fight? 

 

Before Yujin could ponder anymore, the familiar sound of metals clashing rang through Yujin’s ears, and the commander had her eyes wide in shock as she saw not just two- but an entire group of men fighting each other, all in order to receive the favour of their new captive.

 

How ridiculous could these fools be? There was no possible way a captive could be as valuable as every pearl in the sea- to the sheer point where you’d kill just to get a taste.

 

Yujin stepped out of her room completely, her dao in hand as she marched over to handle the situation. A stern look painted on her face as she finally arrived at the main deck, where a full fledged fight had begun, and Yujin couldn’t be more enraged, feeling the strong burn in her heart as she saw the tomfoolery that was her crew.

 

“YAH! ARE YOU ALL STUPID? STOP IT!” Yujin yelled, earning everyone’s attention, Chenglei so shocked to the point that he toppled over into the barrel behind him, Yujin just glaring at him in irritation.

 

“Don’t help him up,” Yujin ordered. “Let him get up himself,” Yujin warned, and her crew, despite their disheveled looks, were now all standing up properly, with their hands behind their backs and heads turned downwards.

 

“What are you idiots fighting about?!” Yujin demanded, looking at each one of her crew members, who all refused to look her in the eye.

 

“Answer me,” Yujin said in a deeper tone while raising her dao, placing the tip on Sungjae’s neck, the young pirate forced to look up at Yujin. The boy was trembling as he looked into Yujin’s eyes, because despite being the taller one, Yujin’s freakish aura ascended higher than the main topmast.

 

“Do I need to repeat myself?” Yujin said, and Sungjae inhaled sharply, trying not to move his neck in fear of it getting chopped off.

 

“T- t- the captive,” Sungjae stammered, trembling horribly now as he pointed to his right, showing a large cage that would usually fit at least 10 captives, but there was only one girl in the cage.

 

“Move aside,” Yujin said, and every one of them stepped ten feet away from the cage, giving Yujin space. Sungjae let out a great breath of relief, falling to the ground as soon as Yujin let him go.

 

Yujin marched up to the cage, where the girl was trembling as she faced the other side, not letting Yujin see her face. But the way she clutched to her bleeding shoulder, and with the clothes she was wearing, Yujin was almost sure it was her.

 

You should’ve ran faster. Yujin thought as she looked at the girl, putting her dao back in it’s sheath.

 

“Unlock it,” Yujin instructed, and Fai, the key holder, came up to the cage, quickly fiddling with the myriad of keys, trying not to further anger his commander.

 

The door unlocked with a swift click, and Yujin stepped inside slowly, not caring about all the eyes fixated on her.

 

The girl eventually took notice of her nearing presence, and quickly turned, kicking Yujin in the shin as she backed up into the bars of the cell, her breathing erratic as she looked at Yujin with fear in her eyes. Yujin ignored the pain from the kick, crouching down to meet the girl’s eyes.

 

“Stop it!” the mystery girl yelled. “L- let go of me!” the girl demanded yet again.

 

“You’re hurt,” was all Yujin said, using the softest tone she could possibly muster, gesturing to her shoulder. Her crew was shocked at their commander’s change of heart- since she often told them to simply kill off the captives, but the performance they were enjoying right now- was the complete opposite of that.

 

The villager calmed down a slight bit once she took a proper look at Yujin, though she was still trembling from all the shock. 

 

“Y- you saved me,” the girl said, remembering Yujin and how she pushed the gun away from her at the last minute.

 

“Yeah- but- you know- usually people run away when they see guns being pointed at them,”  Yujin joked, a small smile on her face- and she could hear the gasps of surprise from her crew.

 

“Did the captain just smile?”

 

“Did she just try to make a joke?” 

 

“Guys I think capt is dead,” 

 

“We should make it an ocean-wide holiday,” 

 

“I can help you,” Yujin said, still maintaining eye contact with the girl. “I’m Yujin,” Yujin introduced herself, waddling closer to the villager.

 

“Omg! She gets to call her Yujin! Even we don’t get to call her that!” Shuhua, another rafter complained, and Yujin had her hold herself back from slicing her head off on the spot.

 

“M- Minjoo,” the girl stammered.

 

“Can you- stand for me?” Yujin tried to request in the most polite form possible. (But what does ‘being polite’ mean to a pirate? We may never know) 

 

Minjoo outstretched her good arm, reaching out to Yujin, who took the hand slowly. Yujin began to stand up as slow as humanly possible, not wanting to hurt her acquaintance. 

 

As soon as they both fully stood up, Minjoo fell into Yujin’s arms, and the pirate held on to her, her eyes going wide at getting proper human contact for the first time since after her mom passed away. Yujin could see the large cut on Minjoo’s knee, and she knew Minjoo wouldn’t be able to stand for long.

 

“AWWWW CAPT IS BLUSHING!” Shuhua hollered again, and Yujin definitely knew who was going to walk the plank this week.

 

“Minjoo,” Yujin said as she attempted to soothe the girl, rubbing circles- if you could call it that, they were more like misshapen squares- against Minjoo’s back.

 

“Is it alright if I carry you?” Yujin asked while Minjoo buried her face in Yujin’s chest as if it were something as natural as breathing. Yujin didn’t mind either- because it did feel as natural as breathing- other than her heart wanting to burst out of her ribcage. This was fine. Her heart felt like it had just burst into flames- but really- this was fine.

 

“Okay,” Minjoo replied, her knees buckling slightly- but Yujin managed to keep her stable, adjusting so that she’d be able to carry the girl bridal style. 

 

Yujin finally managed to carry the girl out, after having to squeeze through the small door of the cage. Minjoo seemed comfortable in her arms, other than the tears in her eyes from the pain of the shot, but she wasn’t trembling anymore, and that was enough to put Yujin’s heart at ease.

 

“Listen punks,” Yujin announced as she stepped off the main deck and onto the quarter deck, realising that all eyes were still on her.

 

“None of you fools will ever lay a finger on her,” Yujin said, and their usual captain was back with her menacing looks and threatening glares.

 

“Do you follow?” 

 

“Yes captain!” They all echoed, and Yujin nodded.

 

“She’s mine,” Yujin said sharply, as if showing off her new prize. Some of the older pirates chuckled, but kept their mouths shut after seeing the glare Yujin shot them.

 

Yuri on the other hand, was still howling with laughter- even giving Ryujin a high five as she planned every single way she was going to tease the captain later.

 

—

 

“Wow Capt,” Yuri was in her room again, and Yujin quickly shushed her, Yuri lifting her hands in surrender, though a smile was still on her lips.

 

Yuri caught sight of the girl sleeping on the hammock nearby the window, and Yuri couldn’t help but smile.

 

“I told you so,” Yuri whispered, and Yujin stuck out her tongue, not wanting to admit that Yuri was right.

 

Companionship wasn’t half as bad as she expected. 

 

Minjoo had been around for a month now- and surprisingly, she fit in quite well, to the point where even Madame Zheng took a liking to her, saying that anyone who could make Ahn Yujin blush was more powerful than any number of canons on junks. They weren’t explicitly dating (yet)- but Minjoo definitely was her partner in a sense. She helped with the planning and the finances as well as helping the crew not get their heads cut off by their captain- so if anyone, the black flag fleet was the most grateful for her.

 

Yujin even brought her a present from their raid at Hailing Island, presenting her new partner with a pearl necklace, that she felt fit the girl well- for it was simple, yet beautiful in ways Yujin couldn’t describe with her pirate vocabulary.

 

Did Yujin mention Minjoo also taught her how to read?

 

Minjoo taught her how to read.

 

Though Yujin still very much prefers it when Minjoo reads to her.

 

“Why are you here?” Yujin asked, narrowing her eyes at her friend.

 

“Relax, I’m not here to mess with your relationship,” Yuri said, sitting down on her favourite stool.

 

Yuri looked to Minjoo, and back to Yujin with a sheepish smile on her face.

 

“I’m getting married,” Yuri broke the news, and Yujin almost choked on pure air.

 

“What!? To who?!” Yujin whisper-yelled, and Yuri couldn’t help but laugh at her captain.

 

“Yena,” Yuri said again, and Yujin cringed.

 

“From the yellow fleet? Seriously? They seriously have the worst sense of fashion,” Yujin questioned Yuri’s life decisions, and the girl just laughed.

 

“She’s my soulmate unfortunately,” Yuri said, though she seemed very happy about it despite her choice of words.

 

“The book said so?” 

 

“Mhmm,” Yuri had a dreamy smile on her face, and Yujin just had to cringe once again.

 

“Get your romantic out of my cabin,” Yujin sneered, but she also found herself smiling. “But, in all honesty, congratulations Yuri,” Yujin smiled at her friend, who tackled the commander in a bone crushing hug.

 

Yujin was stiff at first, but she relaxed into the foreign feeling of being hugged by someone who wasn’t Minjoo.

 

“Hey! You didn’t behead me! Love a good character development,” Yuri cheered the new side of her friend, who just sighed as Yuri let her go, ruffling the commander’s hair.

 

“Make sure to come- or else,” Yuri threatened, but Yujin only shook her head, trying to suppress a smile.

 

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Yujin confirmed, and Yuri smirked.

 

“Plus- you won’t feel so single anymore,” Yuri said, and Yujin cocked an eyebrow at her.

 

“What?”

 

“Well you do have a co-captain now,” Yuri teased, turning her head towards the sleeping girl and winking at the commander.

 

Yuri shot out of the room before Yujin could attempt to behead her for the nth time in her life, leaving Yujin alone with agape at the silly things Yuri says.

 

So now Yujin sits alone again, but this time, she wasn’t really alone- it’s just that her ‘co-captain’ was a huge sleepy head, and Yujin didn’t mind that. As a matter of fact, she didn’t mind sharing her life with someone any more. As long as she was sharing with Minjoo, Yujin figures, she’ll be alright. She may even be better because of Minjoo, and that was all she needed to hear. Yujin could never really be sure if Minjoo was her soulmate, since she was living the first life, but that thought didn’t bother Yujin anymore. Because now with everything in her life suddenly orbiting around one Kim Minjoo, and how natural the orbit was, Yujin thinks- that like her father once did—

 

She may have just found her other right hand.

 

—

 

“You know, the first lives are always the best ones,” Jiwoo said as she looked to Yujin, who didn’t really know what to feel.

 

It really was Minjoo.

 

“Really?” Yujin asked, and Jiwoo nodded vigorously.

 

“Definitely! Everything is new in the first life- and you basically have no direction or past wisdom- making it quite entertaining to read,” Jiwoo said, and it took a moment for Yujin to understand what Jiwoo meant.

 

“That doesn’t sound very nice,” Yujin narrowed her eyes at Jiwoo, who just chuckled.

 

“It’s like- watching a good movie for the first time,” Jiwoo explained. “Everything is new- you’re curious and you don’t know what might happen- but that’s the point- ignorance is bliss,” Jiwoo ended her explanation, but Yujin was still a bit confused.

 

“But pirate Yujin never knew Minjoo was her soulmate,” Yujin said, tilting her head. “I’d like to know who my soulmate is,” Yujin continued, and Jiwoo just smiled at her.

 

“Like pirate Yujin- you know it when you see it,” Jiwoo replied. “A soulmate isn’t something written on paper Yujin- it’s so much more than that- it’s something that transcends life and the universe itself- it’s something not exactly explainable by science alone,” 

 

“Sure, we can talk about the chemicals that coerce humans to love- to feel for each other- but soulmates? The connection isn’t like any typical love,” Jiwoo continued. 

 

“The connections between soulmates are ones that connect through glances, through screams, through silence- through everything- it’s a pair bond that’s simply unbreakable,” 

 

“Glances?” Yujin questioned. 

 

“Love at first sight- to me- doesn’t exist,” the older said. “But connections at first sight? To know you and someone are going to have one hell of a journey even with just one glance? That’s a soulmate thing,” she finished her sentence, and Yujin was left stunned.

 

“A soulmate is every good thing you never knew you needed,” 

 

She remembers the way pirate Yujin couldn’t stop looking at Minjoo- the same way Minjoo couldn’t stop looking at her. The sudden change of heart in pirate Yujin- definitely reminded current Yujin of an event that happened to her. Though there was less beheading, the sense of deja vu was still there.

 

Flashback.

 

Yujin found herself sighing as she waited backstage, the abundance of pink at the studio damn near hurting her eyes. (To Yujin, blue was always the superior colour)

 

They were waiting their turn to finally get evaluated for Produce 48, to get into a class and strive to debut. They’d practiced every hour of the day to prepare for this moment, not wanting to taint the name of Starship Entertainment as they entered the competition alongside the other 94 girls.

 

Yujin was definitely tired- but she couldn’t be- she had to play the part of main vocalist for their mini performance, and she couldn’t disappoint Wonyoung and Gahyun, both of whom had worked tirelessly to get to this point. They were both her friends, and Yujin had no intention of turning against them. 

 

Yujin glanced around the venue, and she didn’t know why- but she felt the need to walk towards all the equipment and lighting- giving a heads up to Gahyun before stepping away.

 

“I need to take a breather,” Yujin said after tapping the older girl. “Be back in a sec,” 

 

No, the lighting area didn’t give Yujin a breath of fresh air- the place was hot and humid, much to Yujin’s dismay. So she turned around, wanting to return to her fellow trainees, but something stopped her.

 

What stopped her- was a brightly coloured shirt that was surely an eyesore to anyone with eyes, the shirt possessing every colour of the rainbow splashed onto the shirt in horrendous stripes, which weren’t even put in a proper pattern.

 

Yujin gasped at the fashion disaster, her mind finding every possible way to insult the shirt. Yet when she looked up, her eyes meeting with the owner of said fashion disaster, she was rendered speechless.

 

Yujin understood what the stylist intended now, it was metaphorical, they put the most gorgeous woman in the ugliest shirt in the history of mankind just to prove how beautiful she could be.

 

“Wow,” Yujin said as she continued to make eye contact with her fellow contestant, and they were both absolutely speechless.

 

It was enchanting. The girl— she was so gorgeous, Yujin could feel the tremble in her knees as they continued to engage in the little staring contest. She felt literal goosebumps appear as she scanned each particle on the mystery girl’s face. It was undeniable- that contrary to her shirt, she was a matchless beauty.

 

“D- do I know you?” The contestant suddenly stammered, and Yujin almost did a backflip into her own grave.

 

Her voice was soft- it was sweet and raspy and shy and it made Yujin’s head spin and turn with all thoughts of cherry blossoms and vanilla and all things nice in the world.

 

Yujin had to leave with at least this girl’s name.

 

“I’m Ahn Yujin,” she introduced herself, hoping with all her heart she’d get a proper response.

 

“Kim Minjoo,” the no-longer stranger replied, and Yujin let out a sigh of relief.

 

“Yujin-ah! We’re up next!” Yujin heard Gahyun call, and she internally cursed at the cue to leave.

 

“I’ll see you around?” Yujin asked, her tone bright and hopeful as she wore her charming grin.

 

“I don’t think we really have a choice,” Minjoo replied, but her eyes turned into crescents- and Yujin prayed that it would be night forever.

 

The younger walked away, smiling foolishly to herself, Gahyun narrowing her eyes at her as Yujin joined her fellow trainees.

 

“What daydream are you stuck in now Ahn?” Gahyun teased, but Yujin stayed silent, only waving the older girl off.

 

Alas, it seemed like becoming a singer wasn’t the only dream Yujin would be chasing now. 

 

Flashback end.

 

“Hey kid? You done daydreaming?” Jiwoo asked, waving a hand in front of Yujin, and the young girl snapped out of it, her focus going back to the book at hand.

 

“Wanna read more?” Jiwoo asked. “Y’know, extract all the wisdom while you can,” Jiwoo suggested, and Yujin simply nodded, still a bit shaken by the realization.

 

Kim Minjoo is my soulmate.

 

Yujin is smiling like an idiot as she thinks about it, and Jiwoo is giving her a judging look— but did Yujin really care?

 

Kim Minjoo was her soulmate.

 

“Hey! Check this one out! It’s definitely from another dimension with how it’s written,” Jiwoo said as she pointed to a chapter, which intrigued Yujin- you could have lived in different dimensions??

 

“How do you know?” Yujin said with pure curiosity and shock written on her face.

 

“I told you I study these things! And I think you’re not in Korea too- and you can tell it’s in a different dimension because sometimes the timelines don’t match up- in the one at the end you’re in 1897 but in this one you’ve surpassed the 31st century…. it’s related to quantum physics and how time flows differently in different dimensions- I think it also has something to do with string theory and—”

 

“Okay, okay, I get it Jiwoo- now let's read?” Yujin cut her off, causing the PHD holder to cackle. 

 

“Yeah yeah Miss Romance, wouldn’t want my intellect to bore you-and plus- this one reads Dimension 7,” Jiwoo says playfully, pointing to the next series of words in the chapter.

 

—

 

The Third Life, the 7th Dimension.  3027, January 15, Central City of the 60 Nations. 

 

“Yujinie,” Minjoo poked the girl, trying to get her to wake up.

 

She didn’t.

 

“Yujinie~ I miss you~ please wake up,” Minjoo croaked out, but to no avail.

 

“Really Yujinie? I’ve been waiting a long time,” Minjoo said whilst pouting, but their moment was interrupted by the sound of the hinges turning.

 

“KIM MINJOO!” The door busted open to reveal Eunbi, one of the nurses that took care of the both of them.

 

“Oh no!” Minjoo slid under the bed- the nurse letting out all sorts of distress sounds as she looked at Minjoo, crouching beside the bed. 

 

“Minjoo-yah, you know you can’t keep leaving your room- the doctors will complain about you- and then you’ll never get better!” Eunbi scolded the young girl who just laughed at the nurse.

 

“Eunbi unnie is scared~ Eunbi unnie doesn’t want doctor Sakura to be mad at her~” Minjoo giggled after saying this sentence, and Eunbi could only sigh.

 

Minjoo was 18 now. Yet she still acted like a child sometimes. Eunbi knew it wasn’t her fault, it was Minjoo’s mind that refused to cooperate with her growth in age. Eunbi knows she can get better, it’s happened so many times before in her lifetime- with more mods and vaccines developing- most hospitals were bare of people with illnesses that were not serious. There hasn’t been a case of any fever for 500 years now, and the flu hasn’t existed for 1000.

 

“You know doctor Sakura won’t get mad at me,” Eunbi said as she picked Minjoo up from the floor, pulling the girl out from the room gently.

 

“Yeah she will! Remember when you were on break and you guys were fighting in the staff room and then you kept on screaming her name! Everyone in the wards heard it!” Minjoo went on to explain her point, and Eunbi almost choked.

 

“We weren’t fighting,” Eunbi said sternly, but Minjoo wasn’t convinced.

 

“Then what were you doing?” Minjoo asked, but Eunbi swatted her hand lightly, and Minjoo just laughed.

 

“You’re too young to know,” Eunbi said under her breath, and Minjoo didn’t say anything, just following Eunbi back to her room.

 

“Now go to sleep Minjoo- you’ll see Yujinie tomorrow,” Eunbi stated in the softest tone she could as she watched Minjoo slip into her bed, grabbing the golden retriever plushie she loved so much.

 

“Promise?” Minjoo questioned, fiddling with the pearl necklace on her neck with one hand while patting the retriever.

 

“I promise,” Eunbi replied, closing the door shut after they bidded goodbye.

 

Eunbi actually has no clue why Minjoo and Yujin were so close. Sakura thinks it’s Minjoo’s condition leading her to assume that Yujin and her were close friends- but in all truth, the two had never spoken in real life before. 

 

Minjoo had lived in the hospital for a long time. She’d been somewhat treated like a labrat by the senior doctors, using mods and new medicines to see if they could cure her. To the doctors, if they could cure her? Then they could cure anyone.

 

Eunbi wants to beg them to stop- to stop trying to cure something when they know they're only making it worse. Minjoo’s body rejected mods— but alas, she goes to work everyday finding new pills provided for the patient in Room 501, Kim Minjoo.

 

Minjoo shut her eyes, falling deeper into her most favourite place in the world.

 

“Yujinie~ Where are you?” Minjoo called out to the girl, they were now in a park- it was made specially for the hospital, since most of the people there had chronic illnesses and could rarely ever leave the hospital. Minjoo walked towards the tree where she and Yujin would sit- often talking about their Eunbi unnie and Chaeyeon unnie, who’d take care of them like they were their own children.

 

Sometimes they’d talk about their real parents too- but as their images began to fade from Minjoo’s mind, she found herself remembering less and less about them. She didn’t mind though, she understood that she was somewhat a burden to society, so she endured the pain of being alone. Though sometimes, the pain of being alone hurt more than the pain of the cancer.

 

“Woosh,” Yujin said as her upside down head popped in front of Minjoo, causing the older girl to jump backwards in shock. Yujin was dangling from one of the branches of the tree, and Minjoo snickered at the girl.

 

“Hey! You scared me!”

 

“That’s the point,” Yujin giggled as she continued to hang from the tree, with Minjoo rather impressed at how well she held herself onto the branch with just her feet on the bark.

 

“If you fall- I’m not calling Eunbi unnie to save you,” Minjoo warned, but Yujin only smiled, reaching her hand out to pull Minjoo by the collar, bringing their head closer together.

 

“I won’t,” Yujin said, and Minjoo could almost feel her breath on her lips.

 

“I know what you’re doing Yujin,” Minjoo said, and Yujin loved seeing the way Minjoo’s cheeks brightened, and the way she tried to look everywhere but her lips.

 

It was cute.

 

“Then let’s do it,” 

 

Yujin pulled Minjoo even closer, and they fell into an upside down kiss, and Yujin couldn’t help but smile against the kiss. She’d been practicing hanging for a while now- just to do this. And despite the slight buzzing from the blood rushing  in her head, it felt magical- it was a weird position- but that didn’t matter, no one was here anyways, this was their world they were in. Yujin pulled away first, and flipped herself off the tree, landing perfectly on her two feet, shocking Minjoo once again.

 

“You’re a monkey!” Minjoo exclaimed, a genuine smile on her face.

 

“Arf!” Yujin barked, and Minjoo couldn’t help but laugh, walking forward to embrace the taller girl, who accepted it greatly. 

 

They stayed like that for a few moments, enjoying each others presence in the limited time that they spent together. Sometimes, Minjoo feel like she has a timer on her head, and at any time- it’ll turn to zero. But sometimes, Minjoo wishes it would do that sooner rather than later. Then again, in moments like this, there was only one thing that Minjoo really wanted.

 

“You should wake up Yujinie,” Minjoo said with her head in Yujin’s chest, hearing the faint and slow beatings of Yujin’s heart. The atmosphere changed, it became slightly gloomy, and the clouds began to cover the sun.

 

“Why? I don’t get you for myself if I do,” Yujin replied, it’s not that she really had anyone else who cared about her- she might as well live in this heaven with Minjoo than wake up and face reality.

 

“I won’t be here forever Yujin,” Minjoo croaked out, and Yujin’s breath hitched. 

 

In the real world, Minjoo barely had control over her own body and how she acted, what she said- it was only here where she could truly be who she was before the cancer took over her body. Here she was just regular Minjoo- healthy and all. But it was just a dream- the perfect, picture-esque dream that Minjoo always wanted.

 

“I- how bad is it now?” Yujin asked as she felt Minjoo grip onto the material of her shirt, not wanting to let go.

 

“It’s the last stage,” Minjoo replied, and Yujin could feel her own heart twist.

 

The first time she ‘met’ Minjoo, was when she first arrived at the hospital after her parents' car crashed into an oncoming truck. Her parents died due to the collision, and Yujin fell into a coma. Minjoo had been undergoing surgery for the first time that day, and they met in the hallways of the hospital, which surprised the both of them at first- how were they talking? Where were they? How did this happen?

 

Regardless, they clicked. And every day after, whenever Minjoo would fall asleep, she’d see Yujin wide awake in her dreams, and when Minjoo would wake up, she would see Yujin stagnant in the bed, in a deep sleep, connected to wires so her body wouldn’t cease to function. This went on for a full year, and they both had to admit, their connection was like none they’d ever experienced before.

 

“I want to touch you for real Yujin,” Minjoo said some more, and Yujin couldn’t help but feel guilty.

 

“I miss you Yujin,”

 

She knew her parents were dead, she also knew how her aunt didn’t want to take her, thus she had no reason to wake up. Though now- with Minjoo begging her like this…

 

“I- i’ll try,” Yujin replied, but Yujin didn’t know if she could. She couldn’t wake up without a reason. 

 

“YOU ALWAYS SAY THAT!” Minjoo lashed out, pushing Yujin away from her.

 

“No- this time—”

 

“Everybody thinks I’m insane Yujin! Everybody thinks I can’t do for myself! You’re the only one who knows about what I really feel. BUT GUESS WHAT?! YOU’RE NOT EVEN AWAKE!” Minjoo continued to scream, but Yujin didn’t react, choosing just to plop onto the group, the tears b in her eyes.

 

“Yujinie- please. I don’t have t-time,” Minjoo said, falling onto her knees as the tears fell off her cheeks.

 

Minjoo was like that sometimes, her mood and behaviour would change in just a split second, and Yujin learned not to let it get to her over time- but this time— this time Yujin knew Minjoo meant it.

 

“Will you wait for me?” Yujin asked, eyes hopeful as she looked to Minjoo.

 

“I want to,”

 

“But it hurts Yujin. It hurts so much,” Minjoo said shakily as she fell into Yujin’s arms, clinging onto the younger girl like her life depended on it. And to a degree- it did.

 

“I don’t want medicine anymore Yujin, I don’t want their stupid mods- I- I just want you,” Minjoo continued to cry the pain away, the pain that would infiltrate her every s