First of all, I think I need a Beta. Second, I'm gonna repeat the same old song; I do not own Faith and its OC. Third, reviews are welcome.

Previously...

When Choi Young involuntarily opened his arms, she broke into a run.

He reached for her at the last remaining gap and she crashed onto him. Body and heart and soul. Time seemed to stop. He held her against him, his arms around her back, so tight she could feel his armor pressing onto her like a brick wall. Even under those thick metal, she could hear the pounding of his chest, his uneven hot breath swept her hair. A trickle of tear felt warm against her cheek, before she could move to wipe it away, he had her face in his hands as he kissed her.

He kissed her with longing, the way he had always wanted to, as if the world was about to end and they stood on ice, engulfed in flame. He tasted her tears and the sweet tenderness of her lips, his hand found its way to the small of her back, the other at her hair, claiming.


Chapter 4 - Return to the Realm of Goryeo

Choi Young didn't know for sure how long he had slept. The sky wore the same bright blue, so it couldn't be more than an hour, when a presence put him in alert. I swear if any of the Woodalchi comes to disturb me, I'll shave his head clean once and for all.

But instead of getting closer, the sound was drifting away and he turned to see at what it was. Someone was there at the meadow, a woman. He jerked up at once. Could it be you?

The glimpses of white robe moved further among the wild grass, limping a little. That person seemed to wobble on a walking stick, the hat hid everything he wanted to see. If only I can see a little more, I-

He could have sworn he saw a bit of auburn hair under that hat, but this wasn't the first time he thought he saw something that wasn't there. My eyes once again are playing tricks on me. He sat back, leaning with a sigh. I keep seeing you everywhere.


Choi Young eyed the sword by his right, his hand rested on its hilt as if words were exchanged between the two. A sudden warmth crept onto his face, shadows played accross the field and he looked up at the distance white cloud that was coming ever so slowly. The sun is shifting. Right now his men were probably done with their lunch, some would mobilize in their patrol and the rest ... those new recruits under Deokman as his third hand in command, were stationed at the inn. There shouldn't be any problem, this one trip was just another routine check afterall.

He scooted a little to the left to avoid the sunrays, a spider came dangling above him and he watched quietly as it pulled a catch onto the web. Busy little fellow.

Just as he mused about it, he picked out the sound of uneven footsteps right behind him. Someone rushed toward the meadow, half running. His hand reached for his sword, only to pull back, hesitating. The voice in his head was telling him something he had heard countless times before.

She's coming back.

Five winters had passed, all in which he believed that was the day she would actually appeared in front of him and he went back empty handed, only to come again the next year, holding onto his only hope of surviving.

The approaching footsteps slowed down and eventually stopped. As he sensed no danger from the intruder, he stood slowly without picking up his sword, and turned. When he saw her standing there, his first thought was that she looked exactly like the way he remembered her; her big bright eyes glinted with delight, looking straight at him, soft auburn hair, that scent of her that could bring him spring in the coldest winter, and her lips ... oh those lips,

As if you're really here, he thought bitterly as he turned his back on her with his eyes shut. I must be dreaming again.

He wondered if she would still be there when he opened his eyes. But there was something different in this dream of his. He didn't remember seeing her wearing that white robe before. And that hat, what's with the hat? He'd seen that, not so long ago.

Choi Young gasped a sharp breath, his eyes snapped open and he spun boldly, hoping he was right. Is it- really you? He swallowed. "Imja..."

She was still there, a slight smile tugged at the corner of her lips when she took off that hindrance of a hat. Before he realized what was happening, Choi Young found himself opening his arms and she ran toward him, the way she did five years back when he asked her to wait at their rendezvous point.

He pulled her close as she crashed onto him, slightly trembling. He felt her unsteady breathing matched to his heartbeat and he enclosed her in his arms like a ship holding onto an anchor. Her hand left his back, he was too afraid of her leaving, too afraid of this being no less real than another dream that he might just lost her again. The mind did the torture, the heart found the cure. And so he kissed her.

A kiss he longed to have. Her lips tasted like honey and tears and he claimed them with a roar in his chest. He pulled back a little, only to kiss her again. Her soft- delicate fingers touched his cheek and he was willing to die at that very moment as much as he wanted to live in it forever.

He breathed in her scent, and again transfixed at the new fragrance. She still had that flowery scent on her, but this was different. This- was soft and calming, something to add on his list of wonders. Her hair seemed to have grown a lot longer...

He rested his forehead on hers, too overwhelmed to notice another soul arriving in view. "You're here," he wiped her tears with his thumb as he swallowed back his own. "It's really you." She smiled at this, he saw his own reflection on her eyes as she softly traced his subtle beard and he bent down to capture those lips again, when a sound of utter disbelief startled them both. His hand automatically reached for a knife at his belt, only to freeze before a wide-eyed Daeman.

A bag full of food fell off from his hands and an apple rolled onto the General's left foot. Choi Young heaved a sigh at the thunderstruck young man. Beside him, Eun Soo let out a small gasp, pulling away as much as she was allowed. Choi Young had her hand in his, though his eyes were looking at another person by then, his gesture made it clear for her not to move a little further than she already had.

Daeman was standing a few feet away from them with his mouth hung open. Choi Young shot a glare to send him away but the young man's attention was on somewhere else entirely.

"D-ddoctor ...?"

The General watched him with narrowed eyes. Why does he stutter in all sudden? He turned his attention to the forgotten bag of food, and back at Daeman, gesturing him to pick them up. When he got no response, he picked the apple by his foot and threw it at the young man who failed to catch it and the red fruit hit him square in the chest.

Eun soo took a glance at the man beside her, that startled look he had just a moment ago was replaced by something near irritation. Despite of his new look, she couldn't help but to smile at the fact that he still had that same shyness he tried so hard to hide behind his infamous-stoic face and rude gesture. Daeman was stuttering something while picking up the food that kept falling from his hands no matter how hard he tried to gather them up. She had pulled her hand free and ran to help before Choi Young could do anything to stop her.

"He's still rude, isn't he? your General." She offered a smile at Daeman, who froze in that instant and just stared at her. Eun soo was halfway done and about to tie the bag when she felt a force knocked her down, hard.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Choi Young was shouting somewhere near, and Daeman was suddenly yanked away from her small frame. Eun Soo blinked in surprise to see Daeman near tears, Choi Young had his hand on the back of his collar where he had pulled the young man, a look of pure disapproval on his face.

He shoved Daeman aside, saying; "Get back and tell the others not to wait for me and proceed with the inspection."

"N-now?"

Choi Young offered a hand at Eun Soo to pull her up, it was hard for her to tell what he was thinking at that moment. "Go!" he replied, not very kindly.

Daeman, being himself again, stood straight and bowed his head. "Yes, General!" He paused, swallowing hard. "H-how about you? Are you ... bringing the Doctor back t-to the Palace?"

"Just Go!" came the harsh reply. Daeman scratched his head, hesitating. At this, Choi Young sighed as he approached the young man. "Get us a place to rest at another inn. And no one is to know about the Doctor," he looked at him in the eye, repeating; "no one."

Daeman grinned at this, his eyes sparkled as he bowed once more, and left. Twice the speed. Eun soo watched as he turned to look at them from the distance, waving a hand before continued running, leaving a trail of excitement and an irritated General behind.

Eun Soo heard him mumbled something that sounded like 'punk' as he picked up the food, his little dimple itself was a tease to her. She let him pulled her hand as he brought her to sit under the tree, her eyes never left him.

He stared back at her, "What's wrong?"

She shook her head, smiling a little.

"What is it?" He asked again, uttering that endearing lines she had missed so much.

He smiled back involuntarily, something beyond his self control when he was with her. He rubbed the apple onto the fabric of his shirt before he offered it to her. Eun Soo took the apple and was about to taste a bite when her right upper arm protested. she winched a little, suppressing a cry as she tried to look away from her escort.

His reaction was immediate. She had yet to chew the small chunk inside her mouth when his questioning eyes set on her, his hand reached for her sleeve, almost pulling. "It's not as bad as it looks," she tried to reason when she saw his eyes widened at the sight of her dark bluish skin, that reddish swell from the bump had already turned into an ugly purplish color, forming around the dark blue area like a bad job of an amateur tattooist.

His shoulder tensed in the slightest gesture, she watched as his adam apple bobbled up and down when he swallowed angrily. Eun Soo crunched at her apple with vengeance. If he was about to yell at her for not being careful, she might as well got yelled at with her stomach full. She could feel his eyes on her as she ate, the way she would check on him at his return from work which mostly involve cuts and blood.

"Why?" she asked after a full moment of silence, the anger was still there, a mixture of guilt made its way up his eyes. He gave her a look so intense that made it hard not to give in. It was her turn to sigh in defeat. She pulled up her skirt, showing an ankle length of bandage on her left foot, with scrathes of wound peeking from beneath. "I fell into a pit, but that's all. No bad guys involved, I swear."

She waited for his angry reply, ones to channel his guilt toward himself for not being able to protect her. He was angry at himself and she knew this, he looked at her foot so intensely she could almost imagine he had an X-ray vision like those so called super heroes she saw on TV. His thumb and forefinger caressing her wound, his eyes slowly moved up to meet hers -finally-, and he spoke- almost a whisper; "Is this why you need a walking stick?"

"I didn't bring my s-" she frowned. "How did you know? Did you see me before? When? How? Why didn't you call me?" She cupped his cheek, the subtle beard dug into her palms, "I was looking for you. I thought ... I had thought that I went to the wrong time, again."

Choi Young couldn't bear it any longer. He had vowed to keep her safe against all odds, and somehow he always ended up finding her with either bruises, or deadly poison flowing in her veins. And yet, she took this lightly like it didn't even matter for her to get hurt, so long as he was fine. Didn't it ever occure to her that he would be nowhere near fine with her life in the line? How on earth did someone could be so foolishly selfless?

He took her in his arms ever so gently, whispering; "I'll never let you out of my sight again. Ever."

Eun Soo felt herself flushed against him, leaving no gap but the thickness of his armor. "You're not going to get mad at me?" she asked, wondering. "Aren't you going to tell me how reckless I am? Or scold me for being a clumsy Woodalchi who stupidly fell into a pit? Or at least say how disrespectfull I am as a new recruit toward the General?"

Choi young breathed against her hair, his hot breath swept the line of her neck, causing her to shiver. "Be quiet," he said in good measure.

She smiled at this, closing her eyes. "I've missed you." She whispered back, and he kissed her hair in return, their fingers entwined as the sun shifted above them. The wind sung a balad, and the air hummed with sublime.


It was near afternoon when Daeman came running toward them, carrying Eun Soo's bag and her walking stick along. He had yet to wipe a crooked grin from his face since he last left them. He ran that scenario over and over in his head as he run. The General embraced the heavenly Doctor, the General kissed the Doctor, the heavenly Doctor had returned and he- himself had the chance to hug her. That last bit of scene was stamped in his brain like a birthmark; him, hugging the Doctor. Him, throwing a full force of a well-trained woodalchi onto her small frame. Him, falling on top of her, the heavenly Doctor.

Daeman stopped short on his track like he did several times before, scratching his head at the image of a wide-eyed Choi Young.

I am dead. He thought to himself. Why did I do that? A handshake was enough reason for the General to get mad. He's going to kill me. He scratched his head for the countless times that day, a habit long dead and now revived. I am so screwed.

But the Doctor is back! He cheered himself as he continued stepping forward. Surely the General know how happy I am too see her again. Right? Right? He pictured them together, smiling at him and the rest of the Woodalchi. Her, making an enormous pot of raisin tea for them, the General sharing his cup. Daeman grinned foolishly at the image. The tree came into view, and Choi Young stood at his presence, looking straight at him. Daeman's smiled faltered. Oh, man. I am in trouble.

"Oh, you bring my things," Eun Soo was the first one to speak, "thank you," she said with the very smile he had missed. He tore his glance off of her once she stood, and bowed, both to her and the General.

"I have given your instruction to the Woodalchi, General," He began, "and I've found you another inn for the night."

Choi Young remained silent.

Is he mad? He's still mad at me, isn't he? Daeman smiled nervously at him. "It's not so far from here, that's why I don't bring your horse. I- I know that you'd rather walk."

He was rewarded with a good smack on the head, something that had became rare recently, and he appreciated it with a fitful of supressed chuckles. Choi Young tossed him the sword, which he carried gleefully. Does that mean I'm forgiven? It has to be!

"Put your arms around me," he heard the General spoke to Eun Soo and she looked up at him with questioning eyes. Choi Young ignored this and carried her instead, something that brought Daeman to the day they rescued her from the bandits. As the General lifted her up in his arms, Daeman could see the white bandage wrapping her ankle, the skin around it was bruised and swollen. Now he knew what the walking stick was for. But Eun Soo, being hard-headed and all, threw a protest and insisting that she was fine on her own.

This wasn't the first time he witnessed the two having argument, and not the first time either for the Doctor to win over it with only half an effort everyone else needed to get Choi Young to listen to them. This caused the young man to smile. He watched as the General set her down carefully, accepting defeat. That man, feared by most people, could look at someone the way he saw her looking at the Doctor, wasn't something believable for those who didn't get to know them like he and his fellow woodalchi did. He had had a hard time trying to make an excuse, lying to both Cheong shik and Deokman when he took the Doctor's belongings from the inn. The waitress asked him where the strange lady went and what to do with the food, he was so scared of being caught red handed when Cheong Shik came with the same questioning eyes. Either he had guessed of what was going on, or he simply could tell something was off, he let Daeman did his bidding.

"Which way is the inn?" asked Choi Young from a good distance ahead with Eun Soo by his left, walking hand in hand. The General was seemingly taking most of her weight in his, whispering something into her ear before he took a short glance at Daeman and back at her.

"Are you hurting?" Choi Young whispered, "do you need your stick, or shall I carry you?" he glanced at Daeman, eyeing the walking stick on his hand and then looked back at her, searching for any sign of pain that might showed on her face.

She shrugged this away, saying; "stop scaring the boy."

"What?" he frowned at her. "What do you mean? How am I scaring him?"

"That-" she pointed out, "that look says 'you better be afraid of me' on all times."

He paused, causing Daeman to look away and stopped eavesdropping. "What do you want me to do? Wasn't it hurting when he-" he struggled to find the correct word, but before he could say it, Eun Soo had cut him off.

"He didn't cause any of these, and so do you," she squeezed his hand reassuringly, "I did. I wasn't careful. So stop blaming yourself." She gently touched his cheek, and something he suddenly wanted to do made him wished that Daeman wasn't there at all.

He cleared his throat. His head turned toward the awaiting young man. "Why are you still there? Lead the way!"

"Y-yes, General!"

He rushed forward eagerly, a little too fast that Choi Young had to remind himself not to smack him on the head when he saw Eun Soo tried her best to keep her pace. He wanted to just carry her and get it over with, but she wouldn't let him and the last thing he wanted to do was to upset her. Something he knew still needed fixing.

When he sensed her eyes on him, he had to keep himself to look at Daeman's back or pretty much anything else which he had no desire to smack his lips on to. The Inn wasn't that far, but the journey seemed to have taken a lot longer than it should, and it wasn't because of Eun Soo's injured leg.

The Inn wasn't as big as the one he took for Woodalchi troops, but at least it looked clean and there was a small bar with two round tables where they would serve food if they need any. they defenitely would need that, he didn't know what Eun Soo had been through before she returned, but she had lost some weight. He looked at her. And she seemed so tired that he wanted to just wrapped her in his arms and let her sleep all the long hours she had lost, doing whatever she had to do to survive like she always had.

Daeman took them to the second floor and showed Eun Soo her room. She took a peek at the bed, and all her exhaustion started catching up at her. She was about to ask if she could have a hot bath when Daeman opened another door by their left.

"This one's your room, General," he said. "I asked them to give you a room next to the Doctor..." he paused, grinning. Eun Soo bit back a smile. His face was saying; I did great, right? I make it so you both can be close to each other, her room is only next to yours, really- really close.

"Two rooms?" the question had left his lips before Choi Young could stop himself. That wasn't in the plan. Why would he need a room? He could sleep by her door the way he did before, that way- would be easier for him to protect her. That way- he would know if anything went wrong at night. If she should have nightmare- which he hoped she wouldn't, or anything at all.

Two-separated rooms, he repeated inwardly.

Daeman was looking at him cluelessly and Choi Young realized he had been standing in front of Eun Soo's door, unmoving. He cleared his throat. "The room looks fine," he settled finally. "Get some rest, I'll be right next door if you need anything." He let go of her hand, leaving for his room. He stopped by his door to look at her, something he always did before he left. This time though, it was too hard to tear his eyes away.

She smiled reassuringly at him, holding his gaze a moment longer before she turned to Daeman and started asking about a bath and clean bandages for her wound. Choi Young entered his room and sighed at the familiar darkness, stripping himself from the weight of his armor.

Should he wait until Daeman leave? but he knew of course, that young fellow wouldn't move an inch from the Inn. He had clearly said that he was going to be guarding downstairs, bouncing in excitement. With that behavior, people might find out about the heavenly Doctor sooner than expected. He couldn't risk it anymore than the distance between them now.

I've promised I won't let her out of my sight, he thought to himself, pacing. It was only logical for him to stay by her door to keep watch, wasn't it? It would be hard to protect her from this dark room, he wouldn't be able to get to her fast enough should there be any danger. Had she treated her wound? she had always did that for him, shouldn't he help her to change her bandage at least? He wasn't too bad at it either, he did quite a number of nursing back as a red moon's youngest.

It took a while for Choi Young to stop his antsy legs, his jaw set. He opened the door and was greeted by none other than Daeman, whose happy face was starting to annoy him. "Why are you here?" he asked coldly.

"D-downstairs ..." Daeman gestured with his hand, "they're serving dinner, General. Would you like to have some? I can bring it up here for you."

"The Doctor?"

"Ah, She's in her room. She said she isn't hungry," Daeman seemed to be thinking, "Do you want me to ask her again?"

"No," was the General's reply. "I'll ask her myself. You go and eat."

Daeman bowed once and left, the soles of his shoes made heavy noises as he descended the wooden stairs. Choi Young was thinking whether to let the young man stayed in his room or keep his post downstairs as he had said earlier, none of which was optional for him. So he followed, and waited.

Daeman was quick in almost everything, the way he ate, he would have finished before the others decided which dish to take. He was halfway drinking from a big bamboo jug after he emptied his plate. He looked nowhere near tired when he suddenly slumped a second later, his face hit the table with a thump, and his breathing slowed to a steady pace, soft snores followed soon after. A small rock rolled from his collar and fell freely onto the floor.

Choi young stood at the bottom of the stairs, the corner of his lips twitched upward, admiring his own good throw. He left triumphantly, knowing for sure those faint snores would last until morning.

He paused when he reached her door, his hand at the knob, pondering if it was fine to enter and check on her. That was when she called out; "Are you there?"

"I'm here," he replied instantly. The familiarity of the situation was pounding at his heart with such urgency that he pushed the door open without further a do. "Are you alright?" he asked at the door frame, watching as the poor light flickered from a burning candle on the small table by the bed.

Eun Soo couldn't see his face as he stood in the middle of the door frame, blocking the light from the narrow hallway. He waited for her permission- she knew, and almost smiled at this. Some things never changed.

"I need your help with something," she spoke carefully, "can you come here?"

"Yes," he sounded glad as he slowly moved toward the bed, where she sat with her left foot atop of a small wooden chair, her hair reflected the candle light, seemingly dancing. She pushed her bag aside and tapped the empty space beside her, gesturing him to sit down.

Choi Young placed his sword on the table, smiling unknowingly. He picked her thin bag and set it down beside his sword before he sat next to her. "How's your foot?" he asked, eyeing the new bandage covering her wound.

"Better," was her answer. "but my arm's a bit sore. Can you help me close the window? It's cold." He stood at once, a movement too swift for her tired eyes to follow.

The window creaked against the wind, its hinges were too rusty and the lock broke when he tried to clamp it close. Choi Young cursed inwardly, looking for something he could use to tie the stupid window before he finally jammed his dagger into the hook of the windowsill.

When he turned back toward the bed, Eun Soo had settled herself under the cover, pulling it so high above her chin. He sat by the bed in silence, only staring at her face, her long eyelashes fluttering close as she yawned. It made him smile.

He could just sat there all night, watching her sleep. He brushed a lock of hair from her face with his fingers and she caught his hand, opening her eyes to look at him. "Aren't you going to sleep?" she asked, as if she could read his mind.

A smile made its way up his face as he settled himself next to her. Outside, the moon shone a pearly light against the starless night, owls hooted from afar and the tree branches were snapping against the wall. The little light in the room was gone when the small candle finally gave away to the fire, leaving them both in complete darkness. Eun Soo was a little surprised when Choi Young pulled her close, his breath was hot against her hair.

Just for tonight, he told himself. Let me cross the line just this once.

Eun Soo rested her head against his chest, his heartbeat drummed onto her ears and she smiled at the warmth he was giving her. "This will do," she whispered, so soft he could barely hear.

"What?" he asked, kissing the top of her head.

"There are so many things I want to ask you," she answered sleepily, "but this will do. for now." She finished with a light kiss on his chest. Choi Young felt himself tense, his skin was burning under the fabrick where she had kissed him.

It was long before he could tame his heart and allowed himself to relax, Eun Soo- who was completely unaware of the effect she had on him, had slept peacefully in his arms. Choi Young kissed her hair before he closed his eyes and let the night claim him in a dreamless sleep. It was the most peaceful rest he had in years.

Ends of Chapter 4


Author's rant; I planned to write a much much much longer chapter, but my days have been hectic so I had to cut it down until here. If you wish for lemons, you're gonna have to wait for the wedding. Also, I hate to ruin the happy moments, but a hero needs a Villain. I guess that's more than enough spoilers I could offer. -dr. Phantom-