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Tale of TAL: Ch 15

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((Because why the fuck not. It's been established I don't own TAL, Kang Im does. WONT STOP ME AND MY SIS FROM KICKING SHIT UP. Warning: we DO spoil shit. Mostly what hasn't been translated yet from the Korean chapters, so there ARE spoilers if you haven't seen the non-translated pages.))

Silence had fallen in the wake of Noah's offering.

Sae Ha's pipe had fallen to the floor, both he and Mano staring at the Yongma user in shock. "...Ya kiddin', right? ...An injury that old..."

Ei Mae was watching Min Jun, who had a mixture of emotions on her face.

"I have to try, right?" Noah glanced at Gamun Be. "...I've gotten stronger...So isn't it worth a shot?"

Min Jun's outburst made everyone jump. "NOAH YOU FUCKING IDIOT!" She was shaking. "DID YOU FORGET HE HAS GLASS EYES YOU CAN'T GIVE HIM HIS SIGHT BACK."

"...Are you saying, out of everyone, you don't want me doing this?" Noah quietly asked.

Yu Jin was looking between them, holding Baek Jeong's hand tightly.

"Idiot!! If you heal his eyes then you'll be the one going blind!"

Noah gripped his knees, the TALs and regular Chachaoongs watching as though it were a tennis match. "Only for a bit! Maybe not even for a while!"

"You're not listening! Hiljo doesn't have real eyes! He has glass ones, meaning you have to make new ones for him to be able to see--meaning you'll lose yours with how your powers work!" Min Jun snapped, Hiljo looking shellshocked as his 'eyes' went back and forth uneasily.

Noah bit his lip. "Maybe I won't?! I mean, what happened to Gamun Be didn't actually take from me, so maybe it'll be different again!"

"You can't just fucking gamble with your health like this!  If you keep up that attitude then you'll try to heal something that won't fix itself on its own!" She snarled, a couple tears dropping to her lap as she looked anywhere but him.

He purposely tried to lean into her view. "Then that's how it'll be then! I'm a Healer Nunim, it's my purpose to do stuff like this! Don't you want him to see his kids?! To see you?!"

"I do, but your self-sacrificial bullshit is going to get you killed one of these days!!"

Her snap stung a bit. "I'll be fine!"

"...I...I don't want Hyung to do it either..." Yu Jin softly spoke, startling Noah. "...Hyung was so hurt...I don't want to see him like that again..." The redhead's shoulders trembled.

Ei Mae then pitched in, his arms folded in a nonchalant manner. "Besides, Gamun Be was likely a fluke. You couldn't even heal your Nunim, after all." Noah flinched visibly at that, looking hurt and feeling an even deeper sting. Min Jun clutched her shoulder, and looked away with a morose look.

"...Do whatever you want, then. What do I know. I'm not the healer."

Noah flinched again, gritting his teeth. "Nunim..." Min Jun slammed the door open, running out across the yard and kicking the front gate open to keep running. "NUNIM!"

Yu Jin was up on his feet before he realized Baek Jeong had his wrist. "But, Nuna-"

"Let it be...This is between them." The Butcher said, eyes dilated and slightly white around the pupils.

Noah's jaw hung open, then clenched shut. "Usagi: Protect." The Yongma chirped, disappearing into the ground. Noah rubbed at his face as Cho-Yi came in, frowning when he looked at the younger Chachaoong. "Fuck, I..." Noah cleared his throat unsuccessfully. "I thought she'd be happy."

"Ya got a nice sentiment, but ya gotta think of her feelin's too." Sae Ha told him, holding Mano's shoulder.

Noah looked just as morose. "...I thought I was..."

Several streets away, Min Jun was angrily storming through the muck Usagi was trying to impeded her with. "Usagi, enough!" She snapped, halting and face-palming as the Yongma reduced to its tiny form, crying. "No, no, baby don't cry..." She turned and crouched down, coaxing Usagi into her arms. "Shhh, it's okay..."

It really wasn't. Noah was gambling at this point, too cocky. She knew it had to be 'Noah', because her Big Sis wouldn't be making such irrational decisions.

'Is the separation getting stronger? Noah already hauled off and punched Chau Yong that time...Maybe our characters are becoming too much a part of this story..' She pondered as she stretched Usagi to calm herself.

[The web is spinning in new direction.]

'Godammit! You are the LAST person I want to talk to right now!'
She scowled.

[So you don't want my help?]

Min Jun blinked. That was when Usagi screeched and dragged her forward, and something hit and broke the pavement where she'd just been perched.

She raised her head to stare into white angry eyes and deep black sclera. 'Mother of fuck...'

Ryu-Guheul looked pissed.

"...sHITNUGGETS-!" Min Jun scooped up Usagi and did her best to dive away from the other Yongma's next attack. Her legs immediately pulsed with pain upon impact with the concrete. "Usagi, I know you're scared but please-" The rabbit warbled in a panic, covering her just as Ryu-Guheul's strap-like tendrils aimed for her.

The straps dug in deep, Usagi crying out in pain as it pushed Min Jun behind its semi human form, coils clattering in warning. Ryu-Guheul hadn't expected this change, and blinked at the rabbit beast.

"You'd better watch it, you BDSM asshole! Usagi might look cute but a beast is a beast!" Min Jun hollered, 'Min Jun' having a flashback of bloody messes and a toothy bloodthirsty expression where it didn't belong. "I don't know why the fuck you're attacking us but you'll want to leave us alone!"

Bi Gak's Yongma growled and stepped forward, several more tendrils of cloth whipping towards them. Usagi's own ribbons wrapped around Min Jun and strapped her to its back under the Yongma's coils, Usagi leaping away and climbing up the side of the nearest building, hoping onto a rooftop and weaving between the fences as Ryu-Guheul followed. "Usagi, can't you teleport away?!" Min Jun prompted as she summoned her crossbow and aimed for the other Yongma's head.

Usagi 'talking' was more like the feeling of someone speaking. The Yongma 'told' her that while another Yongma was around, they ran the risk of giving away their destination.

"Fucking great."

Usagi continued to weave between cluttered roofs as Ryu-Guheul pursued them, his cloth straps breaking and slicing apart obstacles and grabbing Min Jun's bolts as she fired on him. A useless effort, given that moving and firing on a moving target made everything so much fucking harder, but she had to try to get any space between them that she could.

[You could call for backup.]


'I CAN HANDLE SOME BDSM FREAK, THANKS!'
Min Jun snarled at Kang Im's text, aiming again for Ryu-Guheul.

[Are you just worried that he'll refuse?]

The next bolt burst into a dozen, Ryu-Guheul slowing as a few managed to pierce his body. Usagi leapt off the roof and landed in the lower bowels of a building Min Jun vaguely recognized. Then she saw another building nearby, and her heart skipped a beat.

'SHIT! I'M NEAR THE RESTAURANT! TOO CLOSE! TOO CLOSE!'


She grabbed onto Usagi's coils. "Usagi! Just teleport, don't go to King-Nim! Go anywhere but just go!"

The Yongma screeched, but obeyed, the portal opening as they dove through. The minute they landed, Usagi threw Min Jun into the nearby brush, the two now somewhere in the mountains. The Yongma snarled on all fours as Ryu-Guheul appeared not even a moment later, looking even more pissed as he yanked the last of Min Jun's bolts from his side.

Min Jun knew why Usagi had put her in the bushes. As her scope formed and she summoned a bolt to place inside, she began to aim at Ryu-Guheul's head. Not exactly nice, given that was how he always died, but hey, bitch attacked her, he deserved it.

The enemy Yongma jolted as his leg was suddenly run through and pinned, glaring in Min Jun's direction. His attention was then pulled to Usagi as the rabbit beast pounced him, and sank sharp teeth into his arm through his clothing. The mute beast struggled and pierced Usagis sides with his free hand, Usagi ripping off Ryu-Guheul's arm from the middle of his forearm, spitting out the useless limb piece as tarry blood dripped from the rabbit's side.

And Usagi only looked more incensed to get more of Ryu-Guheul shredded apart, eyes blown wide with an animalistic rage.

Min Jun fire again, rendering Ryu-Guheul's other arm incapacitated as it was pinned into his side, the mute Yongma struggling in pain. She felt no remorse for each bolt she aimed to pin his clothing down so he couldn't use it, remembering Bi Gak slicing into her shoulder and rage boiling in her stomach.

'You couldn't even heal your Nunim, after all.'


It wasn't Noah's fault. It wasn't his fault Bi Gak had come after her. It wasn't his fault her legs didn't work. It wasn't his fault that his powers made him suffer! It wasn't his fault she just wanted to protect the first kind person she had in this world!

'If I don't understand pain, how can I understand others? How can I fight for anyone?'


"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUGH!"

Min Jun's bolt glowed a vivid red, and as she fired with a cry of fury, it turned into a massive fireball that engulfed Ryu-Guheul, Usagi teleporting out of range as the fireball exploded. As the dust cleared slowly, the two took in the sight of the entire cliffside blown away by her attack.

Min Jun stood and breathed in deeply.

And screamed.

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

"AAAAAAAAUUUUUGHHHHHH!"

Noah was writhing on his back, clutching at his head as Gamun Be, Mu Young, and Baek Jeong held him down. Sae Ha was preparing a sedative with Mano's help, looking over at the hysterical Yongma user in worry. "Dammit, th' hell's happenin' now?!"

"Noah-Hyung, please hang in there!" Yu Jin begged as he held Ga Ram and Ga Be in his arms, the two frightened by seeing their second parental figure like this.

A grinding sound, and Cho-Yi ran to throw open the front door, staring as Usagi's bleeding massive form with Min Jun atop its back. She had her hand over her face, which was bleeding heavily, and as she slid off Usagi into Cho-Yi's arms, her arm fell away to show something the TAL would never forget.

He immediately carried her in and Sae Ha cussed loudly, Noah still fighting even as he was stuck in the neck with a needle. Once Gamun Be could safely pin Noah to his chest, Sae Ha barked orders at Mano, who darted from the room to retrieve tools and bandages. Yu Jin took the girls from the room, pushing them into Ara's arms and begging her to take them upstairs, Ha Na Rin trailing after her girls with a glance at the panicking Yu Jin.

Ei Mae watched the scene going on, quietly stalking around the main room and over to Yu Jin. "...Are you okay?"

"...Doesn't..."

The TAL tilted his head quizzically.

"It doesn't matter...if she can't speak...or if she can't move...Don't even need to be sentient...As long as she's alive..." Yu Jin's voice was hoarse and deeper, and his pupils were dilated strangely and unseeing.

Ei Mae realized what was going on. "...Who am I...talking to right now?"

"...I am..." Yu Jin shuddered.

That was when the moment ended as Baek Jeong popped in, Noah now safely sedated and out cold. "Hey, Sun Bi's got her in his hands now. Getting her stable, but-" He paused as Yu Jin turned and hugged him tightly, burying his face in the TAL's neck. "...C'mon...they've survived worse, right?"

A hiccup met his ears, and he hugged Yu Jin back, looking at Ei Mae with a raised eyebrow. The masked TAL offered no words, heading to the rooftop.

Ha Na Rin's aura was hiding the house, as were Ga Ram and Ga Be. Yangban was sitting outside, watching the going-ons inside with a detached air, though even Ei Ma could see the aristocrat had a tight hold on his own sleeves. Ignatio comforted Cho-Yi with a tight hug as Sae Ha and Mano worked, Hiljo holding his kids as they sat outside, Jenna weeping into her father's chest as Haje gripped his own hands to whiteness.

When Maru showed up in the morning, he had the feeling it was the right decision to bring groceries. Mu Young was smoking outside, and from the numerous cigarette butts by his feet, had gone through nearly half a pack before the blond showed up. The older gunner threw his half-smoked one to the ground and stomped on it, rushing to Maru and throwing his arms around his boyfriend in a tight hug.

No words were exchanged, but he did take the grocery bags from Maru, kissing his boyfriend deeply before they went in. Yangban was sitting with his back to the wall, Hiljo and Jenna on the walkway with Haje nearby, Mir's arm thrown over the mute's side.

Maru's eyebrow went up, until he saw Noah in Gamun Be's arms just inside, and Min Jun under a thin blanket stained with blood, her face wrapped up as Sae Ha and Mano sat nearby, quietly discussing what to do. The blond nearly yelped, Mu Young covering his mouth just in time and hushing his now teary-eyed mate. Ara appeared and took the groceries in, Baek Jeong too preoccupied with the sleeping Yu Jin in his lap.

The clouds overhead did nothing for the mood as everyone but Noah and Min Jun awoke and shuffled through the day like zombies full of worry and fear.

Cho-Yi showed up an hour after Maru, and Ignatio and Ara reluctantly left the house, Ha Na Rin staying behind with the excuse that she didn't feel well. Jenna stayed loyally by Min Jun's side, Hiljo lounging in a very uneasy manner near her. Yangban nearly broke his fan swatting Mir and Haje as they disastrously played in a botched attempt to bring a bit of calm to the house.

Yu Jin could barely concentrate, mistakenly preparing for school despite having the weekend off. He returned and stayed by Baek Jeong's side, looking lost and soulless. 

"...This house...doesn't feel like a home anymore..."

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

[...Hey...Don't give up because it hurts.]

'...'

[...I'm interested in this story you've made.]


'....'

[I want to see the ending you give it. You can't just let things go here.]


'...Do you ever shut up?'

[Oh my god she lives.]


Min Jun's head throbbed in pain, and as she shifted, she became aware of a searing pain and the bandages around her head.

[Yeah, I suggest not trying to move or open your eyes. Or use any part of your face.]


'I wish I could see yours, so I could PUNCH it.'


[Rude.]


Her head was definitely on a pillow, and she felt a cool sheet over her...Well. She was undressed, that didn't bode well. Her arm twitched, and her skin was brushed by a stiff patch...Likely blood.

'...Well fuck...Ryu-Guheul did a number on me, didn't he?'


The last thing she really recalled was the sight of Ryu-Guheul lunging for her...Then everything went red and black...

Usagi.

Usagi must've brought her home.

Then Noah-

[No.]

'...?'


[He was unconscious.]


'! Then...'


[You should have taken your own warning.]


She attempted to open her eyes - only to gasp in pain as her left eyesocket throbbed. Her stomach turned as she realized the bandages were sticky and itched around her left eye, and considering Ryu-Guheul's ability...

[Sun Bi TAL did his best...I'm sorry, 'Min Jun'.]

Her right eye opened.

Hiljo was sitting over her, head bowed and arms crossed as he slept, Jenna leaning against his right side. Her hand was holding Min Jun's.

It was quiet...Really quiet...The sounds of everyone in the room, breathing, shifting...It was bizarre to suddenly wake up and be so hyper aware of such things. Her hand twitched, letting go of Jenna's warm fingers and lifting towards the ceiling, her own fingertips moving until she had the view of her own hand.

"..."

She lowered her fingers and brushed her forehead, her bangs having been over her lashes. That got her to notice Cho-Yi, legs folded with Ignatio latched onto his arm, both deeply asleep.

"...?"

Her throat was too dry to use. But she knew a better way. First, though...

'....Big Sis?'


It was a moment before a tired voice replied. '....He's out cold.'

'....I'm-'


'Big Sis' interrupted her. 'Don't even. We...Well. We've got to reign in ourselves to reign in our characters, right? You know I love you, little sis.'

Min Jun's chest heaved with a quiet sob.

'...Sae Ha...'


She gritted her teeth. 'Kang Im told me.'

'I'm sorry.'


Min Jun breathed as deeply and evenly as she could manage. "....?" A noise, and Cho-Yi's head lifted, his eyes blinking tiredly before it registered to him that Min Jun's had was in the air, and stretched out. "...Nu....Na?"

"..." She squeaked. Then promptly turned red because it sounded like a goddamn mouse.

Cho-Yi fully woke up, and his mouth wibbled. Igntio stirred and blinked himself awake, the sound minuscule but powerful in the quiet of the house. "Nuna...Min Jun..." Cho-Yi's hand trembled as it touched her cheek. It made the tears streaming down his cheeks even more pronounced. "Nuna...Good...m o r n i n g..." His jaw clenched, and the tears became a waterfall, relief clear in the TAL's eyes.

"...B..." Nope, her voice still wasn't working. "...H...l...n?"

But he knew her well enough. "Two days...Heh, the old man is worried."

"...Hhh." Her voice cracked into being. "Boss...Bossssss..." Her own eye was blurry with tears, and she let him scoop her up into his arms, Ignatio's joining a moment later.

Now that she was upright, she could see the others around the room. Sae Ha had Mano sprawled over his lap, and Noah was in Gamun Be's lap, out cold with the girls laying on them. Yangban was nowhere to be seen, which meant he was either upstairs or outside...Crazy dickhole.

[Good to know you're just as descriptive as ever.]


'What, you saying you like him?'


[Oh hell no, he's an asshole.]


Min Jun sniffled to cover her snort of amusement, which turned into another squeak as Yu Jin walked around the doorway and spotted her.

"...NUUUUUUUUNAAAAAAAAA!" The redhead wailed, succeeding in waking up everyone that she hadn't. He was in front of her in seconds, clinging to her waist as the others jolted to awareness. "NUNA I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE OKAY!" He sobbed, his grip iron tight.

Her sides throbbed.

"Oi, ya feelin' okay?" Sae Ha asked, Mano rubbing his eyes and refusing to get up until his teacher rolled him off his legs.

Min Jun wasn't able to do more than croak, Ignatio getting a water bottle and cracking it open for her. As he held it for her to drink from, it occurred to her the bizarre image this made; her in what counted as patient clothing from Sae Ha, tucked in Cho-Yi's arms, and being fed water by Ignatio.

Thank god Noah was feeling awful because if he made a joke about this she'd clothesline him in the face.

"...Thank you." She managed once her throat stopped feeling as dry as lizard boobs. "...I..." Yu Jin was still sniffling, rubbing his eyes, and it was such a pitiful sight she couldn't help but sigh and put her hand on his head. "...I'm okay, King-Nim...Aren't you a big boy?"

He whimpered and snuffled loudly in reply, Baek Jeong appearing looking half-awake. The girls went over to him and clung to his legs as he leaned against the doorframe attempting to wake up enough to talk. Gamun Be was awake as well, but was looking between Min Jun and the still sleeping Noah.

As Ara and Ha Na Rin peered in, Min Jun made her way from Cho-Yi to Noah, putting a hand on his cheek.

"...Oppa..."

A moment before his face twitched, brows furrowing.

"...Noah-Oppa..."

A fiercer twitch, his face staying in a frown.

"...Hey. Shithead."

Noah's eyes popped open, and he took a moment to take in Min Jun smiling in amusement, before he screamed in her face and picked her up, peppering her face with kisses. "NUNIM NUNIM NUNIM NUNIM NUNIM NUNIM-"

"PUT ME THE FUCK DOWN, DON'T KILL ME WITH YOUR LOVE!"

Cho-Yi sagged in relief as he watched them return to normal, Noah smothering Min Jun in affection and Min Jun clearly not caring for it.

Yu Jin was getting his breath back as he clung to Baek Jeong, the girls now back with Gamun Be as they watched their 'mother' and 'aunt' gleefully reunite. "I'm so glad things are back to normal...You really scared us Nuna!" The redhead sighed. Ei Mae's black hair fell into view as he peered upside-down from the roof edge.

"...So?" The TAL questioned. "Who did that to you?"

Min Jun paused, Noah slowly setting her down but still clinging to her tightly. "..." She looked at Yu Jin, and sighed. "Bi Gak's beast. Ryu-Guheul. He attacked me in the streets, so Usagi had to get out of th- SHITBUCKETS! USA!"

"He's fine, Nunim." The rabbit popped up next to Noah's legs, then the blackness slowly curled around Min Jun's bare legs. The scars all over her limbs tingled a bit as the Yongma's darkness enshrouded her skin protectively, Min Jun taking hold of a tendril as it wrapped over her bad shoulder with the same pulse of tingling.

Not exactly healing, but comfort. "Good baby. Good boy." She kissed the darkness, Usagi chirping.

"...So...He was likely hunting after Mano." Gamun Be said after a moment, the medic bristling. "Mano was our doctor, and Bi Gak was very protective of his skills..."

Sae Ha held his student's shoulder tightly as Mano looked away, clearly shaken.

"...He won't...get anyone." Noah was shaking a bit. "He hurt my Nunim twice..." She grabbed him by the cheek.

Min Jun then pressed her forehead to her oppa's. "I'm alive. We're safe here. This house is safe. You're hiding it, so is Ha Na Rin-Nim, and the girls. I was the idiot who ran out there on my own."

"Not an idiot, I am." He sniffled, hugging her tightly.

She nuzzled him and ran her fingers through his hair, humming a very familiar tune. And when it became familiar to everyone else in the house, the atmosphere calmed and for Yu Jin, that meant it felt like a home again. A home where his Nuna and Hyung were now safe and sound, recovering where he and Sae Ha and Mano now could watch them.

Cho-Yi returned to the restaurant despite it being their collective day off, letting the others know Min Jun was awake and safe. He returned soon with plenty of food and a message from the old man Cho-Yi paraphrased quite obviously.

Usagi covered Min Jun and guided her until she became used to navigating with one eye. Yu Jin's house was good practice, especially with the new second story. It took several tries to get the steps right, but the Yongma bound to her legs kept her safe as Ara, Yu Jin, Jenna, and Noah hovered near her. "Jesus Christ, you guys, Usagi's got me."

"I-I know!" Noah's chibi remained close by though.

She rolled her eyes and continued to walk up the stairs, turning with a slight difficulty before carefully making her way back down.

That was when Usagi suddenly got distracted by Shadow popping up in the hall, and Min Jun's legs went weak. Thankfully, Cho-Yi smoothly slid in and grabbed her, Ignatio keeping her torso upright. "Nuna! You gotta be careful!" The longer haired twin 'scolded' with a grin.

'USAGI YOU USELESS HORNBALL.' She yelled over the link as Usagi nuzzled Shadow with an affectionate purr.

Noah was grinning as he smothered his smile. 'HE KNOWS YOU.'

'YEAH AND IF BOSS WASN'T THERE I'D BE EATING MY TEETH RIGHT NOW.'
She snarled as Ignatio ruffled her hair.

Noah only shot her a smirk. 'ENJOY THE EMBRACE.' That was when Maru poked his head into the hallway. "Rabbit-Hyung! I'm ready to go shopping for gifts today!"

"Oh shoot, right!" Noah face-palmed.

Maru then looked at Min Jun and frowned. "Uhm- I-I still wanted Nunim to come too but-" His chibi put a finger to his mouth in worry.

"I can carry her!" Ignatio offered. "I want to get gifts for everyone too!"

She went red.

"She'll be stayin' HERE today, go t'morrow if ya need her with ya." Sae Ha put his foot down, motioning for them to hand her over. "I know ya hate needles missy, but it's necessary."

Noah bristled. "I-I can-"

"YOU. Won't be doin' anythin' until I'm sure ya not gonna do something stupid." Sae Ha jabbed him in the forehead.

The Yongma user whined. "But-But-But-!"

"Oppa, I'll be fine." Min Jun smiled. "Besides, we'll be in touch." She tapped her head. "I'll be safe here with Sun Bi-Nim."

He seemed less than assured, moving to nuzzle her like a pet would before going to Maru. "We'll be back in a few hours..."

"Gooooo. And get my gift first." She teased with a grin as he snickered and saluted her.
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Sara0jan's avatar
Firstly, MIN CHAN IS GONNA BE ALRIGHT, RIGHT?! SHE DID NOT LOSE HER EYE FOREVER, RIGHT?! IT IS GONNA RECOVER RIGHT?!

secondly.... All the time when I was reading the manwa I was sympathize with bi gak's youngma but .... After this chapter... I will say he is just A BASTARD JUST LIKE HIS OWNER!!!! THAT %£~&6;%{\£~;"/ 

ah~ Noah is so kind and cute >~< but I want him to care about himself as well!! If he continues on like this just like what min chan said he might do something beyond his abilities T-T