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From Woman and Man Who Love Them
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Chapter 26 – Back to Suiko
Between the father and his colleague
Between him and her
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Mundok, Lily and Tae Woo took their departure at the same time with Kou Ren and Tao, right after the dawn (Geun Tae had gone home with Kyo Ga who dragged his stupid brother home at dawn before his disgrace family doing something stupid again which make the Dragons or Mundok wanted to kill him). Before left, Kou Ren had asked them to give the news, in case if something happen or changed. Tao who hugged Yona asking Yun and the Dragons to take care of Yona and Hak, after tell them to needn't hesitate to asking them if they need a help. To eased Yun and the Dragons who felt upset last night, Lily had convinced them (only several of them) that Yona and Hak must be thought of them as their family so they needn't to overthinking about it and before left, Lily looked doubt at first.
Realized of her worriness, Yona smiled "don't worry, i've had promised myself that i won't cry again... next tears will be the happy tears because he wake up. Just thinking, he fell asleep to hibernate this time".
Kou Ren snorted amusingly and on the corner of her eyes, she saw the Dragons like Jae Ha try hard to held their laughter. She herself couldn't hold her giggle and covered her mouth "what is he? A bear?".
Jae Ha wiped his tears and back from his laughter "and i can imagine clearly, that beast would scold you for calling him as a bear with scowled face, Yona Dear".
"fine, so looks like i can go home quietly", Lily put her hand on her hip before she give Yona a bear hug, she did the same with Yun and the Dragons even if this time, she hugged Jae Ha a bit longer than the other, whispering "just come flying to me if something happen, okay?".
Jae Ha patted her back of head and smiled "of course i will".
"we arrive, Lady Lily".
Lily blinked, lift her head that leaned to his chest and saw Tae Woo looking to her from above. Surpised, Lily nearly fall from her seat but Tae Woo wrapped his arm around her waist so she safe.
After that, Tae Woo straightened her position upright "be careful... did you still fall asleep?".
Really, since when she fell asleep? How can she fell asleep on the middle of their horse-riding? She should be careful to not let her weakness showed in front of the others but she loosened her own self-protection in front of Tae Woo.
"since when i fell asleep?".
"not long after we departed from the last town... looks like you felt tired, so i let you sleep".
Was it right? Did she really feel tired? Maybe it was right, because she must passed of stressed and messed days for last week and the long journey from Wind Tribe territory to Suiko make her really need the rest, thus make Tae Woo let her riding the horse with him, not to mention she felt warm and safe on Tae Woo's arm and she fell asleep without she realize. After Tae Woo dismounted and help her to down on the ground, she greeted by her guards, servants and lady-in-wait who working at her house when they arrived in front of her house, Suiko Castle on Capitol Suiko.
When she saw Tae Woo turn his back with clear intention to up into his horse, Lily stopped his track "please wait, you want to go home right away!?".
Tae Woo waved his hand without looking back "yes, beside your father won't be pleased if i sticking close around you".
Lily grabbed his back of robe, stopped his track halfway "sorry, i can't let you go home alone... the harsh of the Water Tribe make its land become humid, we don't know when the avalanche occured".
"you think what am i? a children at five?", Tae Woo snickered before asking her to let him go "that's fine, in the Wind Tribe's land, the harsh of Winter worse than here".
Ignored the guards, servant and two of her lady-in-wait (bodyguard, more specifically) around them, Lily wrapped her arm around Tae Woo's waist. The other stared them with widened eye when Lily hugged him from behind and leaned her head to his back.
"wait!? we're in front of your house...", Tae Woo whispered before sighed heavily because she gave him no response, he lifted his face to look the sky and sighed, his breath coming out in white, knowing well what make her stressed "hey, i knew if the last thing you discovered from your 'big brother' make you feel depressed and how you try hard to not crying in front of them when parted, so whatever you want to lamented, i'll heard it properly but you should come inside quickly if you don't want get a cold".
When he felt Lily's grip loosened a little and his back felt burning, he felt something wrong so he stepped forward. He turned his back and surprised because Lily collapsed, luckily he caught her body before she fell to the ground.
After looked at Lily's face where her cheek starting flushed with teary eyes, Tae Woo put his palm on her forehead before he carried her bridal style "just i said and you've already caught a cold?! Don't make me confused like that?!". Now, he could look twister on her eyes when he let her head leaned to his chest.
"sorry... my head only feel dizzy... put me down...".
Tae Woo raised his eyebrow, he lifted his palm when Ayura and Tetora wanted to approaching them, put Lily down on the ground "just try walk to Tetora and Ayura if you're really okay".
Only one step further forward, Lily felt dizzy and lost her balance. Behind her, Tae Woo who had prepared himself, wrapped his arm around Lily's waist to caught her before her face fell to the ground.
"see? You're not okay, at all?!", Tae Woo gently carried her bridal style again after he wrapped his cloak to covered Lily "let me carry you inside and relax, stop fretting around or flailing".
An Joon Gi sat with a woman that resembled with Lily. When Joon Gi rises from his seat, the woman frantically rises at the sight of Tae Woo carried bridal style Lily who looked not well.
A woman, of course Lily's mother, Lien approached them "oh my, Lily!? what happened?!".
"forgive my rudeness and my suddenly arrival, my Lady... she passed out not long ago, maybe she caught a cold or too tired", Tae Woo bowed his head in front of Joon Gi "my apologize, General Joon Gi, i should be more careful...".
"don't mention it, just take my daughter to her room".
After Tae Woo put her down on her bed and covered her with blanket, Lily woken up and saw her mother sit beside her "...mom?".
Lien caressed her head and smiled "the doctor said you get a cold because of tiredness, Dear... just go to sleep".
"yeah, no wonder she is...", Tae Woo sighed before turn his back, he felt relieved because at least, of course she'd taken care on good hands but when he wanted to left, one more time he stopped by that porcelain hand.
Lily grabbed his outer robe's back of fabric "wait, where'd you go?".
For the sake of heavens, Tae Woo felt his head sting because of the irritated stare from Joon Gi and excited stare from Lien "seriously, Lily?! in front of your mother and father...".
"why did you become three?".
Tae Woo turned his head after heard her rambling "go to sleep already?!".
"don't worry, Lily. I need to talk with him for a while and he would stay for tonight", Joon Gi offered, pointing his finger to Tae Woo who felt a sword pointed at his neck.
Lien couldn't help but giggled, patting Lily's forehead "like he said, Dear... go to sleep, i'll let you know if he'd done his conversation with your father".
Not long after Tae Woo and Joon Gi left the room, Lien asked her prodding question about her daughter relationship with young General from Wind Tribe.
"mom, let's not discussing that topic this time, i'm dizzy", Lily snuggled her head to her pillow and curled into a ball inside her blanket "and why did you suddenly asking that yet you're so ignorant after i exiled?".
"oh? sorry for that, but you must know... i take a fight with your father about it at first, though... and i can tell", Lien whispered next to her daughter's ear "you must be feel something to him, right? don't tell your father about this, that young General of Wind Tribe is my type. He is so polite, handsome and hot~ did you ever hugged by his strong arm?".
Lily woken up and yelled with swinging her pillow to her mother, she bet her face must be red as Yona's hair because she can tell her temperature's body heightened "MOMMY?!".
Lien giggled when avoiding her daughter's pillow attack, looking amusement. Sure enough for Lily to have Jae Ha joking around her about her relationship with Tae Woo, like Geun Tae did to her every time he get the chance, why did her own mother must joined with them?
Joon Gi invited Tae Woo to one of gazebo on Suiko Palace. After he dismissed the guards and the servants, left him with Tae Woo, he holding gaze when sat face-to-face with Tae Woo on the table.
"so, what do you want to talking about with me, old man?".
"like i told you at Five Tribe Meetings, the Water Tribe people isn't fond of conflict like water swaying to and fro, we are a peaceful person...", Joon Gi sipped his tea before glaring Tae Woo "for countless time, i've had locked her up because if i let her take off too far, it make me feel like my daughter would run far away, too far for me to stop or reach her again. And as a father, i don't want if she dive into danger by herself which make her endanger her life like what had happened to her on Sei. Without i know, she had grown too far and involved into something big. Looks like i can no longer shut my eyes and pretend as if nothing happened".
"did you mean, you only pretend as if you know nothing but now, you want to know what kind of the situation had caught your daughter inside and knowing you invite me to talk, i guess you think both i and your daughter had gotten into the same situation... am i right?", Tae Woo stared him in disbelief, snickered "so after our meeting with princess Kou Ren and at the same time, your daughter unaveilable because your majesty sent her to Wind Tribe Territory and you came into conclusion... your daughter unavailable not because your majesty willingness but because she can't available for some reason, you concerned that your daughter may involved in some action with Her Majesty from Xing Kingdom, that's why you can't shut your eyes but if you've such a sharp perceptive, why not asking your own daughter instead asking me to tell something to you?".
"you're still so young, General Tae Woo... even if former General Son Hak younger than you when he titled as General, you're not prepared like him, it's understandable if you upset with your own position and i know how hard it would be for you from what Lily told me about you, but it worth to be patient in order to protect your people even if you must left all your behalf behind, like your title, your home or your family".
"are you talking about my ex-leader?", Tae Woo relaxed his back, have no intention to argue back because he thought it wasn't right thing to do, to arguing with your senior on governance as the head of the Tribe "thanks for your advice, old man... of course, i have no intention to put your daughter's life into danger as long as she is around me because i've promised someone to take care of her so don't worry about her. I can tell, she is innocence instead righteous".
"can you tell me what you know?".
"i'll answer your question, just only if i know the answers and i can tell you".
Please Wait...
After asked Tae Woo some questions, looks like Joon Gi really had good idea on his head about what happen on this country "let's talk about something private then... what do you think about my daughter? She is amazing, right?".
Tae Woo raised his eyebrow, but he must be careful in front of this man so he only pointing out his thought as generally "yes, i realize that everytime i looked at her, she is truly amazing woman and she is the coolest woman i've ever seen. I understand, that's why she acknowledged and respected by her tribesman".
"i'm asking you, what your opinion about her, as a man?", Joon Gi held his gaze to Tae Woo "before you say something or trying to avoid, youngster General... we are man, and as the same man, of course i know from the way you look at her... that you attracted to my daughter".
Tae Woo lose this time, he couldn't avoiding anymore "yes, i want her warmth and her smile... that's why i wanted her to be happy, even if she doesn't belong to me...".
Joon Gi put his bowl above the plate "then think about this properly...".
When Lily woke up in the midnight, she found her mother sleep beside her and Tae Woo slept on the chair beside her bed. Carefully to not wake them all, Lily take her Haori and shawl for covering Tae Woo. After she covered Tae Woo with her Haori and wanted to wrap her shawl around his neck, Lily nearly screaming because Tae Woo grab her wrist.
"what do you think you're doing?", Tae Woo touched her forehead with his palms "better than before, but you're still warm... Go to sleep".
"of course, but i believe it's my line", Lily sat on the corner of her bed, feel thankful in her heart because it was dark here or Tae Woo might have realize her cheek flushed just now not because her fever "why are you sleeping here with such a thin fabric? You want to caught a cold, too?".
"your mother really spirited and talkative, just like you", Tae Woo told her that he dragged here by Lien as he intend to went to Lily's room for checking her condition after talk with Joon Gi and he talked with Lien till they fell asleep.
After asked him about what did he talk with her mother, Lily want to scolding her mother for tell Tae Woo about how Lily as a children (like story about Lily who sneaking into her mother's bedding because she couldn't fall asleep because of nightmare or when she crying because her high fever enough to make her couldn't fall asleep). Looking at Tae Woo's shaken body with his hand covering his mouth, Lily realize he trying to hold his laughter back.
Lily grabbed his collar and whispered, half-yelling actually "what's so funny, Tae Woo? that's my story when i'm still 5 years old...".
"ah, no... only to think you can act like that in front of your mother while i remember how you being so bold to slap his majesty's face... it's hard to believe that you can be so cute like that...", Tae Woo pushed her back to her bed and patted her head "okay, don't get yourself worked up, or your fever will rise. Now, rest".
Lily grabbed his wrist and threw her prying gaze "what are you talking about with my father?".
Tae Woo smiled and brushed her bangs from her temple to put wet rags above her temple "nah, like i told you... just rest and needn't to overthinking about anything for now, we can talk about it later when you get better".
Lily grabbed shawl that wrapped around Tae Woo's neck "...will you stay?".
"sleeep... i'll watch you tonight, okay?".
Somehow his presence make her felt relieved and soothing touch from him when he caressed her head. Longing like her mother's touch and protecting like her father's touch when her head caressed as she caught a fever when she still a child but his touch increasing her heartbeat for some reason. She wonder, she must called this feeling as what?
Lily sat again and leaned her head on Tae Woo's shoulder, whispering beside his ears "hey, is there a cure to make me feel better than only sleep or medicine?".
"...people says, if you let someone caught your cold, you will heal up", Tae Woo brushed her bangs aside and smirked "gonna try it?".
"do it slow down, it would be my first...", Lily caressed his cheek "and i don't mind if it taken by you".
As Lily closed her eyes and wrapped her arm around his shoulder, Tae Woo push her till her back of head leaned on the wall, he brushed his lips to hers and stole her breath. When Lily's head collapsed backward on his arm, Tae Woo put unconscious Lily's head back to her pillow.
Covered half of his face, he whispered "what am i doing?".
After sure Lily had fallen asleep, Tae Woo sighed and took off shawl that wrapped around his neck. Leaned over, Tae Woo kissed her forehead and whispered "i'm sorry, Lady Lily... but i must go before i lost my self-control again... i'll listen you when we meet next time".
When Lily woke up next time, she informed by her mother that Tae Woo went home at the dawn. She felt better even if she still a bit dizzy and her fever hasn't broken yet.
Joon Gi asked Lily to stay at home with her mother this time before he went to Hiryuu Castle for the New Year's Banquet. When he arrived at Hiryuu Castle, all General surrounding Soo Won to greet him for New Year's banquet, except Tae Woo.
Geun Tae tilted his head, looking behind Joon Gi "where's your daughter, General Joon Gi? She supposed to be here this time with you as your representative, right?".
"Lily caught a cold, so i locked her on her room. She won't feel lonely since her mother taking care of her".
Keishuk looked around "only General Tae Woo who isn't here, huh?".
Joo Doh's grumpy face turned into scowled "to think he is late at this time of a year...".
Kyo Ga agreed with Joo Doh "yes, a youngster from Wind Tribe really carefree, huh?".
Mundok appeared behind them suddenly "sorry about that, but that youngster must stay home because this old man can't let him out of his home with that condition and this old man won't late if not because that youngster must forced to sleep by me and others Wind Tribe Member".
Soo Won raised his eyebrow "what happened to General Tae Woo?".
Mundok sighed "he caught a cold...".
Geun Tae smirked "hoho... how can General Tae Woo and Lady Lily caught a cold in the same time? Are they kissed or something?".
Joon Gi cleared his throat "better not insult my daughter, General Geun Tae... she caught a cold because of tiredness, anyway".
"and that youngster of mine caught a cold because he fell to river when he tried to get a children whose playing ice skating above frozen river to safety. After he threw all of that children to riverbank to catch by other who waited at riverbank, the ice couldn't hold his weight and he fell going under the river before he got himself into safety", lamented Mundok who scrathcing his bread "luckily, i manage to caught him before he fell too deep or swept by the current river, but he still persisted to go here even if he nearly get hypotermia, so we forced him to sleep".
"that so sound like Hak...", Soo Won thought as he feel sorry for Tae Woo.
"but are you alright, your majesty? You looks lost some of your weight and tired".
Soo Won only waved his hand and smiled "ah, i'm just lack of sleeping, Elder... it's alright".