Chapter XVII

                                    

                                          
"Is Shang dead?" Tao asked, as Muta walked through the mouth of the cave. He had stayed with Byung Ho all night, hoping his friend would be alright. Muta nodded. "Yes. You did the pack good, Tao." He replied, walking closer to Tao. Tao looked at Muta. "I... I didn't mean to kill him... you must know that Muta... even if it was for the better." He sobbed, the everlasting tears kept flowing down his tanned cheeks. "I... I will take any punishment you are willing to give me, Muta." He cried, looking to Byung Ho. He gasped slightly, as he saw that Byung Ho was staring right at him. "You're okay!!" He exclaimed slightly. Byung Ho frowned. "Don't be hard on yourself, Tao." He said, sighing. "Who will be the new leader, now Shang's gone?" Byung Ho asked, looking at Muta. He shrugged. "Beats me, but if I were to say- you would be the new leader, Byung Ho. After all... you are the only remaining offspring of Cheol. Though... Shang did have a real son- but he seems busy enough as it is." Muta replied, scratching his chin and looking at Byung Ho. The boy looked at Tao, then back at Muta. "Shang's son?" He questioned. He didn't even know about Shang's actual son! He wanted to meet with him right away, and sort out the whole leader thing. "Yes! You didn't know, but Shang's supposed 'mate' gave the boy away to my aunt and told Shang that he was dead. I remember exactly who he is... if you... you know- want to meet him?" Muta said, looking then to Tao who was holding Byung Ho's arm. Tao nodded. "I think it'd be a grand idea." He smiled. Muta turned around. "Alright, then. Let me go see if I can find him, alright?" He said as he left. Tao smiled. "Alright. See you." He looked to the mouth of the cave, as Muta left then back to Byung Ho. The big green cat-like eyes glared at him. Tao thought of them as pretty; he'd never seen them this close before. "T-Tao... thank you." Byung Ho suddenly mumbled. Tao smiled. "No- thank you. If it were not for you, I'd be a total mess right now." Tao said in reply to Byung Ho's comment. He leaned forward slowly, looking at Byung Ho's eyes. "Your eyes are so pretty..." He commented. Byung Ho smiled. "T-Thanks..." He was blushing slightly. Tao looked away quickly. "Oh- I'm sorry... am I-" Tao began. "No... you weren't embarrassing me." Byung Ho said, cutting Tao's comment, then before Tao could say anything more; Byung Ho leaned forward, and kissed Tao's cheek lightly. Tao face flushed to a bright pink. Byung Ho quickly moved away. "Wow... t-that was..." He began, then Tao smiled. "No... that's ok." He said, touching Byung Ho's face. Tao smiled. "I am glad you're alive, Byung Ho. I couldn't live without you." He leaned towards Byung Ho. "Um... did I come in here at a bad time?" A voice suddenly said, they both looked toward the mouth of the cave to see Boa standing there.
                          
Muta walked down the path to where section F would've been, and into a small cave. "Good day, Jian." He greeted. Jian looked up. "Oh, hey Muta!" He exclaimed, smiling. "Do you need my assistance?" He asked, looking at Muta's serious expression. He had never seen Muta this serious, usually he would be joking around and have a good time. Muta walked over to Jian, and looked around the cave. "Is Jem not here?" He asked. Jian shook his head. "No, he's out with Li at the moment. You're free to stay here until they get back, I can make something for you." Jian offered. Muta sat down. "I'd like that, Jian."
                          
She was furious. "What the heck?!" She shouted, walking toward Byung Ho. "All this time, I had feelings for you- and... and you... you're in love with my cousin?!" She screamed, pulling Tao away from the young man lying on the small bed and glaring at Tao. He was shocked. "How long were you standing there?!" Tao questioned, quickly and looked to Byung Ho for help. He was lying there is silence. He was obviously in as much shock as Tao was. Well, it was unexpected. "I heard enough!!" She replied, looking to Byung Ho. "And you!! I loved you!!" She cried. "I was scared that maybe... maybe you were dead!!" She yelled, and collapsed down beside Byung Ho. He was confused. "I... didn't know..." He muttered under his breath. Then Tao stood, and left without a word- followed by Boa who left in a huff.
                          
Muta headed back to Byung Ho's cave with Jem, it was later and Muta was upset that he hadn't found Jem earlier. That's when he saw Tao. "Tao? Are you not with Byung Ho? What happened?" He was shocked. Tao had stayed with Byung Ho all night, and yesterday afternoon. Maybe the kid needed fresh air, but it was unusual. "I... I feel strange..." He replied, and sat down on the ground, crying. Jem crouched down next to the poor boy. "Why do you feel strange?" Jem asked, he was curious. He felt strange sometimes too, but he didn't know what kind of 'strange' this boy was feeling. "I... I think... I am in love with someone..." He cried. Jem felt a slight sadness for the poor kid. He hadn't been in love himself, but he knew from stories that love was tough. "It's ok!" Jem exclaimed, patting the boy's shoulder. Tao looked at Jem, and started taking in the boy's features. His eyes were interesting. They were blue- Tao thought it was beautiful. He'd never seen blue eyes before. Jem had an interesting facial structure, somewhat similar to Jem's grandmother. Though, the difference was his dark brown hair, which was a trait from Jem's grandfather. He had the opposite features to Byung Ho... and it somewhat appealed to Tao. Jem smiled, and stood. "I guess we better get going right, Muta?" He exclaimed. Muta smiled. "You go ahead, it is up the path, first cave on the right. I'll stay with Tao." Muta walked over and sat next to Tao.
                          
He walked into the cave, which he hoped was the right one. He smiled as he saw Byung Ho sitting up slightly. "Hey!" He exclaimed, smiling. "You must be my cousin, Byung Ho, right?" Jem walked over, and sat next to the boy. Byung Ho looked at him. "Y-yes... your name is...?" He asked, looking at the boy. He had strange eyes. But, then again Byung Ho had strange hair. So what was the difference? "Oh, my name is Jem!" He held out his hand, prepared for a hand shake. Byung Ho
                          
smiled, and hugged the boy. Jem was shocked, although he did like it. After all, this was his only family he had left. He had to make the most of it.