The shaman seemed so confident.
"How are you so sure?" she asked.
"Because I have seen it," he replied.
Kira examined the shaman with sharp interest, noting the absolute sincerity with which he spoke.
"Please tell me what you have seen, master," she said.
"I have seen you," he said, his eyes boring into hers. "I have seen you in battle. I have seen the prince being crowned king. I have seen peace."
"And how are you so sure that this is the true future?" she asked.
"I don't know for sure," he replied, "but I believe it."
"And what if I fail?"
"Then there is no future for any of us," he said.
His words drove her to her feet. Grabbing her coat, she ran out into the cold, propelled by a fear of failure. Her chest was tight and her breathing agitated. She didn't want people depending upon her. She didn't want to be responsible for failing. Her job was solely to protect the prince.
And that is how you will save everyone, my little tiger.
Kira raised her face up to the bright blue skies. "Father, are you still watching over me?"
Grief brought hot tears to her eyes as she waited to hear her father's voice again. But she heard nothing except the sound of approaching footsteps. She wiped her tears and looked to see who it was.
Chief Kim walked slowly with his head down, his expression troubled. When he spotted her, a smile appeared on his face.
"You are the Demon Slayer," he said. "And you are a friend to my son."
Kira bowed. "Yes, sir. I'm proud to say I am."
"I'm glad to hear that. For he has been in need of good friends." He looked up at her with kind eyes. "Will you do me a favor? Will you find my son and bring him back? I plan to have a celebration for his return."
Kira was surprised. "But what of his mother?"
The chief heaved a great sigh. "She will not disturb us for the rest of the night. It will be safe for him."
Skeptical of his words but unwilling to turn down his request, Kira bowed and left the village. She'd been worried about Jaewon and had been on the verge of looking for him herself. Not too far from town, she ran into Seung. He brightened when he saw her.
"Young mistress! You are just the person my master needs to see," he said. "He will not talk to me, he is deeply wounded. But I'm sure you will do him much good."
"Where is he?" Kira asked.
Seung pointed at a clearing at the other end of the woods. "He's not that far from here. He's by a small pond, sitting on a rock. You can't miss him."
Kira thanked him and weaved her way through the forest. When she found him, he was whittling a piece of wood.
"What are you making?" she asked.
He didn't look up. "Nothing."
Kira climbed up the rock and sat next to him, noticing how he tensed up at her nearness.
"Are you ok?"
"No."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No."
"Your father asked me to come and get you," she said. "He is really happy to see you again."
"I can't go back."
They sat in silence, listening to the sharp flick of Jaewon's knife as it scraped at the wood. Kira blew on her hands to warm them up, watching a cloud of frosty air rise up. She thought about what she had witnessed, and relived seeing the torment on Jaewon's face as his mother attacked him. She may have lost her parents, but she never doubted their love for her. The pain she felt for her own loss was now directed toward her friend. She couldn't imagine how he must be feeling.
Impulsively, Kira leaned over and hugged Jaewon around his shoulders, resting her face against his. Jaewon went completely still, and then he dropped his knife and wood and embraced her. Burying his face into her shoulder he began to shake uncontrollably. He pulled her closer and hugged her tight, as if afraid to let her go. Kira held on, knowing how badly he was hurting and wishing she could take his pain away.
They stayed locked together for a long time. His tears slid down her neck, wetting her jacket, but she didn't move. Here, finally, was his release. He wept with hoarse sobs that brought answering tears to Kira's eyes. He held on to her as if she was the only thing real in the world.
She was no longer cold; heat cascaded through her. Sudden awareness of him caused her to shiver.
"You're cold," he whispered. He lifted his face to look at her.
Kira shook her head and swiped at his tears with her right hand. He turned his head to kiss her fingertips. Feeling a bit awkward, Kira scrunched up her face and swatted at his nose, laughing at his surprised expression.
Jaewon gazed at her with a tenderness that sent a rush of warmth up into her cheeks. Flushed and uncomfortable, she tried to free herself from his embrace.
"Don't," he whispered. "Please don't push me away this time."
His arms tightened, drawing her face right up to his. "I don't think I could bear it if you left me right now."
Kira tried to speak, but her mouth had dried up. She found herself staring mesmerized at his lips as he inched closer, until he breathed a soft sigh and placed them softly on hers.
She tasted ginger and honey, and something masculine and intoxicating. And then she lost any ability to think as he moved his mouth over hers. All she knew was that her body was aflame with the desire to get as close as possible to him. Her hands crept up his back and dug into his thick hair, grasping and pulling as the kiss turned more urgent. Dizzy and in shock, she pulled away and buried her head in her arms.
Her blood was still pounding in her ears when she felt the gentle brush of his hand on her hair.
"Don't be mad at me," he pleaded. He tried to pull her arms apart to sneak a peek into her face.
With a garbled curse, she straightened up and ran her hands through her short hair. Her face felt flaming hot.
"Are you mad at me?" he asked again.
"Yes."
"Don't be mad."
"Shut up."
He poked her in the ribs. "Please don't be mad." He poked her again.
Kira twisted his finger.
"Ow, ok are we even now?" he asked with a pained look.
"I'm fine," she snapped. "I'm just cold. My behind is frozen and it's all your fault."
"Why don't you sit on my lap, then?" he asked.
Kira whirled around to glare at a grinning Jaewon.
"Why don't I punch you in the face?" she growled.
He pulled an exaggerated frown. "Are you still going to hit me when I'm a weak old man?" he asked.
"Why do you think I'd still be hanging around you when you are old and feeble?" Kira cocked an eyebrow at him.
He lay back on the rock, folding his arms behind his head. "I believe that my purpose in life is to stay by your side and irritate you."
"Then you will probably never make it to old age," she retorted.
"At least I will die happy," he replied.
Kira rolled her eyes and glared at him. "Are you never serious?"
His smile faded as he sat up and he stared beyond her, toward his village. Kira felt instant remorse. For a few moments there, he'd forgotten about his troubles. Impulsively, she reached over and held his hands.
"Then your new life is with me," she said. "I'll just have to explain to the chief that as much as he would want you to stay, you are on a mission with us and I cannot spare you."
His eyes searched hers with a desperate longing that hurt her to see.
"You would want me to be with you?" he asked.
Kira sighed dramatically. "I am stuck with you. Your life is intertwined with mine. Didn't the monks foresee it? I will just have to keep you busy so you don't drive me crazy."
Jaewon leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. "Thank you," he whispered.
They returned to the village together. Jaewon was quiet but content as he walked close by her side. Kira wished she didn't feel so embarrassed. She had to force herself not to shy away from him when his arm would brush against her own, aware of how fragile his emotional state was. As uncomfortable as it was, she would never do anything to hurt him.
The chief met them as soon as they arrived. He'd clearly been watching for their return.
"Young mistress, why don't you and your brother go with our hunters and catch us some game to supplement our village feast tonight! Game is plentiful in this area, you will enjoy the hunt." The chief put an arm around Jaewon's shoulders. "I would like to talk to my son and learn all about his travels."
Kira looked around and saw Taejo in deep conversation with the shaman.
She hesitated. She didn't want to take Taejo hunting given the danger they were in, and she was unwilling to leave his side.
"The prince can stay here in the village," Chief Kim said. "He will be completely safe. Shaman Won is the most powerful shaman in the Seven Kkingdoms. It was because of his warning that we were able to flee from our village before the invasion. You can trust him."
Kwan came up to them, bowed to the chief, and passed Kira her weapons.
Kira gave her brother a questioning look. Kwan glanced at the prince and nodded. "He'll be fine," he said.