History TearJerker / YonaOfTheDawn

** Tao, [[spoiler:in tears over Neguro's death, feeling responsible for Gobi's actions as she'd never considered how dangerous he could truly be until this happened]].

** [[spoiler:Zeno's bittersweet romance with Kaya, who he eventually marries. While Kaya slowly dies of illness, Zeno begs the dragon god Ouryuu to grant Kaya just a little longer to live, saying he's fine with being Ouryuu's slave for eternity. Ouryuu doesn't appear. Kaya dies shortly after, and it's implied Zeno stayed with her rotting body until she was nothing more than a skeleton.]]

* Chapter 125: [[spoiler:Su-Won's betrayal]] from Hak's perspective and really get an idea of how much it hurt him personally.

* Chapter 140: Jaeha has been suffering terrible nightmares about [[spoiler:his dragon leg being stolen and being unable to help Yona anymore. There's a real fear that [[DyingToBeReplaced a new Green Dragon is either on the way or already born]].]] Although it could also be from [[spoiler:being locked up as a child, and are more a reflection of his leg being metaphorically stolen by not being able to use it.]] Either way, it's a major tearjerker.

** There's also the death of the previous Blue Dragon, Ao. When he first realizes that [[spoiler:he's gone blind, he starts [[LaughingMad laughing]] from the joy that he's finally free from his eyes and about to die. It doesn't last long, though. He turns to the little Shin-Ah and, with tears streaming down his face, he apologizes, saying that he's going to be leaving him all alone]].
** And then, Shin-Ah's narration states that he can't remember Ao's face. Which sadly makes sense, considering he was a toddler when the man died.
* Kija revealed that the scar on his back was done by [[spoiler:his own father who flew into a rage when he found out his own son would be succeeding him as the White Dragon and scratched him shortly after Kija was born.]] This is taken further because [[spoiler:his father was never left alone with him nor allowed to touch his own son. Then, when Kija snuck out to see him, he found his father in the last minutes of his life, unable to see, begging someone to allow him to see Kija one last time. Kija jumps onto his father and they embrace properly, only for him to die soon after]].
* The fact that Jaeha, a person who heavily appreciates beauty, doesn't like the look of his dragon foot and prefers to keep it hidden. This is demonstrated very subtly in the side chapter "Upon That Back", in which he does not wear the sandals provided by the hotspring everyone is staying at, and instead opts to wear his usual boots. It is also demonstrated in chapter 125, in which he completely refuses to remove his shoes, despite that he has no qualms stripping anything else off.
** Made sadder when you realise that this insecurity likely stems from [[spoiler: his predecessor calling his dragon foot ugly and claiming that Jaeha would never be accepted outside of Ryokuryuu village because of it]].
* Zeno. [[spoiler: It's revealed his dragon power is immortality, meaning he is the original yellow dragon. It's been approximately 2000 years since King Hiryuu lived and died. While he brushes it off when Kija mentions how lonely that must have been, flashbacks reveal that the slow realization of his immortality was incredibly painful for him. Even more painful is that Hiryuu clearly knew (Zeno's iconic dragon ornament on his bandanna was a gift to remind Zeno that Hiryuu "would always be with him") and even tried to comfort Zeno while he was on his death bed.]]
** It gets worse in chapter 103. Basically the whole chapter is nothing but heartache:
*** [[spoiler: With Hiryuu dead, enemies are targeting the dragons. Seiryuu Abi gets captured. While he's rescued, the capture was apparently traumatizing enough that Abi begins to wear a blindfold to hide his dragon eyes.]]
*** [[spoiler: Because of the above Guen, Shu-ten, and Abi decide to leave. When saying their goodbyes, Zeno calls Abi by name and removes the blindfold so he can see Seiryuu's eyes. Guen tells Zeno to come visit him, that he'll wait no matter how many years it takes. Shu-ten comments that Zeno should bring alcohol when he visits Shu-ten. Then they have a group huddle before parting ways.]]
*** [[spoiler: Twenty years later Zeno, having stayed at the castle, acting as an advisor and secret one man army. One day, he goes out to take care of an invading army and senses Guen dying. As he's fighting, he thinks about how afraid he was to go visit like he promised and then calls out all their names and begs them not to leave him alone.]]
*** And right before that, [[spoiler:he's visibly shaking as he goes into battle, an expression of utter fear on his face. It has been established that Zeno is very weak in battle before he's injured, and he knows how much pain he'll have to go through in order to win. And then the battle actually starts, and right as he's going through the emotional pain of losing one of his brothers, you see him lying on the ground writhing in pain, impaled in multiple places.]] It's... it's just not very fun being Zeno.
** Zeno can't catch a break. In chapter 104, [[spoiler:he leaves the castle and then finds out there's a new Hakuryuu. The Hakuryuu's overzealous protectors shot him with arrows. He runs away, stops eating, and faints on the side of the road. He's found and saved by a woman named Kaya. He falls in love and later marries her. Kaya was already dying of an illness when they met. Zeno begs the dragon god Ouryuu to grant Kaya just a little longer to live, saying he's fine with being Ouryuu's slave for eternity. Ouryuu doesn't appear. Kaya dies shortly after, and it's implied Zeno stayed with her rotting body until she was nothing more than a skeleton.]]
* There's also the chapter where Kija becomes sick. After Yona, Hak, and Yun leave Jae-ha asks if [[spoiler:a new Hakuryuu was born. That's not the case but it starts a depressing discussion about how the dragon's are fated to die young once a new one is born with Jae-ha saying that he's nearly the same age as when his predecessor died. Yun overhears the conversation and cries over it, telling the dragons they have to live as long as they can.]]
** And there's some fridge sadness as well. During this talk Zeno is silent and has a sorrowful expression [[spoiler:because, unlike the others, he won't die. He will outlive Yona and his fellow dragons. ''Again.'']] So yeah, it's not very fun to be Zeno.
* And just when you thought we were done feeling sad about Zeno... [[spoiler:in chapter 107, Zeno reveals that he's tried to kill himself countless times in the past, and telling the spirit that's possessing Shin-ah that if he could die, he'd do it in a heartbeat. He ends it all by saying that his life is that of a monster, and that even when the world disappears, he probably won't.]] Boy, does this make rereading scenes with chipper, happy Zeno hard...
* The story of the ghost Seiryuu in the Lushing Forest arc is sad as well. [[spoiler: The Seiryuu was already feared and hated during his time, so the ghost Seiryuu grew up much like Shin-ah did. Then shortly after a new Seiryuu was born, bandits attacked the village. The ghost Seiryuu was used as a decoy and locked in the village's burial caves with the bandits, while the villagers escaped with the baby Seiryuu. He wasn't used to fighting or battle and was in tears in the flashback. He died in those caves, and his spirit was trapped there.]] Really, it's no wonder Shin-ah related to the ghost.
* Chapter 125 as a whole is this, as it's one of the few times we see [[spoiler: Su-Won's betrayal]] from Hak's perspective and really get an idea of how much it hurt him personally.

*** Made worse when you consider that neither can fight back without sparking a war.
* Chapter 134 shows that Yona, Hak, Argila and Vold have been travelling to Kouka without rest since they left Kouren's palace. After Hak points out that Yona needs rest--Argila and Vold agreeing--she begins to have a panic attack. Crying and hyperventilating, she gasps about how if she doesn't hurry, war will break out and her friends will die. She then passes out in Hak's arms, still insisting she's okay.
** This hits even harder when you remember how well she held herself together while talking to Kouren, and realize how affected she actually was by the others being taken hostage.
* In chapter 136:
** It is revealed that [[spoiler: Minsoo used to work at Suwon's castle before he worked at Hiryuu castle, and he used to visit and casually speak with Kye-Sook about his time there. However, Kye-sook had been manipulating him into giving intel on King Il and the castle during these talks, and that intel was later used in Suwon's coup. After being spared due to his mother having been Suwon's Mother's personal doctor, Minsu had been spending his time since that night stewing in his guilt over his unintentional involvement in King Il's death.]] The result? His once chipper disposition has been replaced with perpetual DullEyesOfUnhappiness.
** After this reveal, [[spoiler: Minsoo]] bows his head and tells Yona to kill him if she has even an ounce of resentment about that night.
** After Yona forgives him and tells him she's happy he survived, [[spoiler: Minsoo]] is moved to tears, thinking to himself about how amazing it was that Yona remains so bright and kind, despite the suffering she went through.
* In chapter 140, it's revealed that Jaeha has been suffering terrible nightmares about [[spoiler: his dragon leg being stolen and being unable to help Yona anymore. As a result, large portions of the fandom have worriedly speculated that perhaps [[DyingToBeReplaced a new Green Dragon is either on the way or already born]].]] Others, however, speculate the nightmares are more likely a result of being [[spoiler: locked up as he was as a child, and are more a reflection of his leg being metaphorically stolen by not being able to use it.]] Either way, it's a major tearjerker.
* [[spoiler:Neguro's [[TakingTheBullet death]]]] and Kouren having to leave him behind as [[spoiler: she, Tao and her stars, Yona and the HHB all try to escape her villa and Gobi's men alive.]]
** Mizari, finding [[spoiler: Neguro still standing in the courtyard of Kouren's Villa, and trying to talk to him. Subsequently Neguro, barely alive, using the last of his strength to throw Mizari out of the way of an arrow and taking it to the throat in his place.]]
** Tao, [[spoiler: in tears over Neguro's death, feeling responsible for Gobi's actions as she'd never considered how dangerous he could truly be until this happened]].

* [[spoiler:Neguro's [[TakingTheBullet death]]]].

* Neguro's UndyingLoyalty to Kouren, combined with [[http://kissmanga.com/Manga/Akatsuki-no-Yona/Chapter-143?id=373650#18 this page]] make chapter 143 a major tearjerker.

* In chapter 140, it's revealed that Jaeha has been suffering terrible nightmares about [[spoiler: his dragon leg being stolen and being unable to help Yona anymore. As a result, large portions of the fandom have worriedly speculated that perhaps [[DyingToBeReplaced a new Green Dragon is either on the way or already born]].]] Others, however, speculate the nightmares are more likely a result of being [[spoiler: locked up as he was as a child, and are more a reflection of his leg being metaphorically stolen by not being able to use it.]] Either way, it's a major tearjerker.

** After Yona forgives him and tells him she's happy he survived, [[spoiler: Minsoo]] is moved to tears, thinking to himself about how amazing it was that Yona remains so bright and kind, despite the suffering she went through.

** This hits even harder when you remember how well she held herself together while talking to Kouren, and realize how affected she actually was by the others being taken hostage.

*** Made worse when you consider that neither can fight back without sparking a war.

** Likewise, Jaeha begins to use himself as a shield over Kija's body and takes several hits that leave him bleeding profusely. Again, ''this'' was the guy who originally wanted nothing to do with the dragon brotherhood.
*** Neither can fight back without sparking a war.

* Both Yun and Kija break down crying when Algira tells them [[spoiler:that Zeno is still trapped in the burning building, because he's holding up the foundation pillar. Kija is particularly distraught, as he explains that Zeno either has to let the building collapse on top of him, or else wait for it to finish burning down around him. What's more, his regenerative powers are slowed down by the distance from Hiryuu Castle, so that he's healing ''just'' enough that his body won't shut down from his injuries, but not enough for his invulnerability to kick in]]. He finally staggers out and collapses in Yona's arms.

* Kija revealed that the scar on his back was done by [[spoiler: his own father who flew into a rage when he found out his own son would be succeeding him as the White Dragon and scratched him shortly after Kija was born.]] This is taken further because [[spoiler:his father was never left alone with him nor allowed to touch his own son. Then, when Kija snuck out to see him, he found his father in the last minutes of his life, unable to see, begging someone to allow him to see Kija one last time. Kija jumps onto his father and they embrace properly, only for him to die soon after]].

*** [[spoiler: Twenty years later Zeno, having stayed at the castle, acts as advisor and secret one man army. When he goes out to take care of an invading army he senses Guen dying. As he's fighting, he thinks about how afraid he was to go visit like he promised and then calls out all their names and begs them not to leave him alone.]]
*** And right before that, [[spoiler: you see him step into battle while he's shaking, an expression of utter fear on his face. It has been established that Zeno is very weak in battle before he's injured, and he knows how much pain he'll have to go through in order to win. And then the battle actually starts, and right as he's going through the emotional pain of losing one of his brothers, you see him lying on the ground writhing in pain, impaled in multiple places.]] It's... it's just not very fun being Zeno.
** Zeno can't catch a break. In chapter 104, [[spoiler: he leaves the castle and then finds out there's a new Hakuryuu. The Hakuryuu's overzealous protectors shot him with arrows. He runs away, stops eating, and faints on the side of the road. He's found and saved by a woman named Kaya. He falls in love and later marries her. Kaya was already dying of an illness when they met. Zeno begs the dragon god Ouryuu to grant Kaya just a little longer to live, saying he's fine with being Ouryuu's slave for eternity. Ouryuu doesn't appear. Kaya dies shortly after, and it's implied Zeno stayed with her rotting body until she was nothing more than a skeleton.]]
* There's also the chapter where Kija becomes sick. After Yona, Hak, and Yun leave Jae-ha asks if [[spoiler: a new Hakuryuu was born. That's not the case but it starts a depressing discussion about how the dragon's are fated to die young once a new one is born with Jae-ha saying that he's nearly the same age as when his predecessor died. Yun overhears the conversation and cries over it, telling the dragons they have to live as long as they can.]]
** And there's some fridge sadness as well. During this talk Zeno is silent and has a sorrowful expression [[spoiler: because, unlike the others, he won't die. He will outlive Yona and his fellow dragons. ''Again.'']] So yeah, it's not very fun to be Zeno.
* And just when you thought we were done feeling sad about Zeno... [[spoiler: in chapter 107, Zeno reveals that he's tried to kill himself countless times in the past, and telling the spirit that's possessing Shin-ah that if he could die, he'd do it in a heartbeat. He ends it all by saying that his life is that of a monster, and that even when the world disappears, he probably won't.]] Boy, does this make rereading scenes with chipper, happy Zeno hard...

* Spoiler tagged in case you're tired of seeing Zeno's name on this list: Both Yun and Kija break down crying when Algira tells them [[spoiler:that Zeno is still trapped in the burning building, because he's holding up the foundation pillar. Kija is particularly distraught, as he explains that Zeno either has to let the building collapse on top of him, or else wait for it to finish burning down around him. What's more, his regenerative powers are slowed down by the distance from Hiryuu Castle, so that he's healing ''just'' enough that his body won't shut down from his injuries, but not enough for his invulnerability to kick in]]. He finally staggers out and collapses in Yona's arms.

*** And right before that, [[spoiler: you see him step into battle while he's shaking, an expression of utter fear on his face. It has been established that Zeno is very weak in battle before he's injured, and he knows how much pain he'll have to go through in order to win. And then the battle actually starts, and right as he's going through the emotional pain of losing one of his brothers, you see him lying on the ground writhing in pain, impaled in multiple places.]] It's... it's just not very fun being Zeno.

* Spoiler tagged in case you're tired of seeing Zeno's name on this list: Both Yun and Kija break down crying when Algira tells them [[spoiler:that Zeno is still trapped in the burning building, because he's holding up the foundation pillar. Kija is particularly distraught, as he explains that Zeno either has to let the building collapse on top of him, or else wait for it to finish burning down around him. What's more, his regenerative powers are slowed down by the distance from Hiryuu Castle, meaning that his invulnerability isn't kicking in fast enough-- but they'll work well enough that he can't, say, faint from the pain]]. He finally staggers out and collapses in Yona's arms.

* The story of the ghost Seiryuu in the Lushing Forest arc is sad as well. [[spoiler: The Seiryuu was already feared and hated during his time, so the ghost Seiryuu grew up much like Shin-ah did. Then shortly after a new Seiryuu was born, bandits attacked the village. The ghost Seiryuu was used as a decoy and locked in the village's burial caves with the bandits, while the villagers escaped with the baby Seiryuu. He wasn't used to fighting or battle and was in tears in the flashback. He died in those caves, and his spirit was trapped there.]] Really, it's no wonder Shin-ah related to the ghost.

** There's also the death of the previous Blue Dragon, Ao. When he first realizes that [[spoiler:he's gone blind, he starts [[LaughingMad laughing]] from the joy that he's finally free from his eyes. It doesn't last long, though. He turns to the little Shin-Ah and, with tears streaming down his face, says that he's going to be leaving him alone]].

* Sinha's past. All the poor boy wanted was friends.

* And just when you thought we were done feeling sad about Zeno... [[spoiler: in chapter 107, Zeno reveals that he's tried to kill himself countless times in the past, and telling the spirit that's possessing Shin-ah that if he could die, he'd do it in a heartbeat. He ends it all by saying that his life is that of a monster, and that even when the world disappears, he probably won't.]] Boy, does this make rereading scenes with chipper, happy Zeno hard...

** And there's some fridge sadness as well. During this talk Zeno is silent and has a sorrowful expression [[spoiler: because, unlike the others, he won't die. He will outlive Yona and his fellow dragons. ''Again.'']] So yeah, it's not very fun to be Zeno.

* Gija revealed that the scar on his back was done by [[spoiler: his own father who flew into a rage when he found out his own son would be succeeding him as the White Dragon and scratched him shortly after Gija was born.]] This is taken further because [[spoiler:his father was never left alone with him nor allowed to touch his own son. Then, when Gija snuck out to see him, he found his father in the last minutes of his life, unable to see, begging someone to allow him to see Gija one last time. Gija jumps onto his father and they embrace properly, only for him to die soon after]].
* Zeno. [[spoiler: It's revealed his dragon power is immortality, meaning he is the original yellow dragon. It's been approximately 2000 years since King Hiryuu lived and died. While he brushes it off when Gija mentions how lonely that must have been, flashbacks reveal that the slow realization of his immortality was incredibly painful for him. Even more painful is that Hiryuu clearly knew (Zeno's iconic dragon ornament on his bandanna was a gift to remind Zeno that Hiryuu "would always be with him") and even tried to comfort Zeno while he was on his death bed.]]

* There's also the chapter where Gija becomes sick. After Yona, Hak, and Yun leave Jae-ha asks if [[spoiler: a new Hakuryuu was born. That's not the case but it starts a depressing discussion about how the dragon's are fated to die young once a new one is born with Jae-ha saying that he's nearly the same age as when his predecessor died. Yun overhears the conversation and cries over it, telling the dragons they have to live as long as they can.]]

!!TearJerker

* Yona witnessing Soo-Won murdering her father in front of her. And when she tried to escape and was about to be killed herself, all she could think about if [[WasitAllALie Soo-Won always hated her too]].
* Shin-Ah's past. All the poor boy wanted was friends.
* Kija revealed that the scar on his back was done by [[spoiler: his own father who flew into a rage when he found out his own son would be succeeding him as the White Dragon and scratched him shortly after Kija was born.]] This is taken further because [[spoiler:his father was never left alone with him nor allowed to touch his own son. Then, when Kija snuck out to see him, he found his father in the last minutes of his life, unable to see, begging someone to allow him to see Kija one last time. Kija jumps onto his father and they embrace properly, only for him to die soon after]].
* Zeno. [[spoiler: It's revealed his dragon power is immortality, meaning he is the original yellow dragon. It's been approximately 2000 years since King Hiryuu lived and died. While he brushes it off when Kija mentions how lonely that must have been, flashbacks reveal that the slow realization of his immortality was incredibly painful for him. Even more painful is that Hiryuu clearly knew (Zeno's iconic dragon ornament on his bandana was a gift to remind Zeno that Hiryuu "would always be with him") and even tried to comfort Zeno while he was on his death bed.]]

* There's also the chapter where Kija becomes sick. After Yona, Hak, and Yoon leave Jae-ha asks if [[spoiler: a new Hakuryuu was born. That's not the case but it starts a depressing discussion about how the dragon's are fated to die young once a new one is born with Jae-ha saying that he's nearly the same age as when his predecessor died. Yoon overhears the conversation and cries over it, telling the dragons they have to live as long as they can.]]

** Zeno can't catch a break. In chapter 104, [[spoiler: he leaves the castle and then finds out there's a new Hakuryuu. The Hakuryuu's overzealous protectors shot him with arrows. He runs away, stops eating, and faints on the side of the road. He's found and saved by a woman named Kaya. He falls in love and later marries her. Kaya was already dying of an illness when they met. Zeno begs the dragon god Ouryuu to grant Kaya just a little longer to live, saying he's fine with being Ouryuu's slave for eternity. Ouryuu doesn't appear. Kaya dies shortly after, and it's implied Zeno stayed with her rotting body until she was nothing more than a skeleton.]]

** Zeno can't catch a break. In chapter 104, [[spoiler: he leaves the castle and then finds out there's a new Hakuryuu. The Hakuryuu's overzealous protectors shot him with arrows. He runs away, stops eating, and faints on the side of the road. He's found and saved by a woman named Kaya. He falls in love and later marries her. Kaya was already dying of an illness with symptoms similar to tuberculosis when they met. Zeno begs the dragon god Ouryuu to grant Kaya just a little longer to live, saying he's fine with being Ouryuu's slave for eternity. Ouryuu doesn't appear. Kaya dies shortly after, and it's implied Zeno stayed with her rotting body until she was nothing more than a skeleton.]]