Dreaming Alone
-Chapter 12-
Daydreamers

Yuushi was indeed happier now. His eyes lingered to the moonlit wilderness outside his window, the forest quiet and respecting him- it was quiet, not totally silent though. It was just the way he liked it too. He let out a sigh for what was perhaps the umpteenth time this hot, summer night- his forehead hurting.

He'd been sad before, that night when his fears for his daughters change in behaviour. She came with glazed eyes and rosy cheeks, but he said nothing- letting her rest. And then, he wanted to tell her to get some rest- - that Michelle was always a chatty woman and he knew very well she would not release Julia until all the details of the trip were exhausted from the girl. However, what he heard, the whispers that escaped his daughters lips-

"I don't even know whether he loves me or not... all I know is I love him..."

His blood froze in its tracks, a fury gripping his heart and he thought his daughters voice became unrecognisable-- no... not his daughter... an adopted girl... just some girl who he thought he understood but had failed. He didn't understand why Michelle fell in love with a half-cast man like him (not that it was noticeable, his mother from Hong Kong and his father from Korea), maybe because she was half-cast too. He didn't understand even more, when they held the white child in their hands, the girls large, light eyes fixed upon the pair. He wanted to argue with Michelle, why was she picking a child that would eventually grow up to know that they were not her biological parents... but then he stopped. The girl, baby Julia, looked so perfect in her arms that he was forced to smile and nod-- no matter what difference, no matter how odd they looked, they would face the world together. He'd never wanted his daughter to be hurt, emotionally or physically, his proud heart could not handle it, so he protected her... forgetting in his mind about when he was a child and the freedom he had. He thought he was protecting her... but he realised on the day she'd pleaded to him to let her go that he had caged the girl- and so on that day, he opened the door to her cage with a heavy heart.

And then she betrayed him. Yuushi could handle anything... except the betrayal of someone- he could not handle it. He would not tolerate it. So with disappointed eyes, he'd said the most bitter truth that a parent could ever say to a child.

"Today you've proven that you're not my blood..."

He visibly flinched as his mind replayed those words. They felt like poison on his tongue, as if he'd stabbed his own soul with those words. She may have betrayed him... but what he'd done to Julia... it was far, far worse. He still had the image of her on that night, the tears clinging to her eyelashes and the hate in those eyes... it hurt.

"A truth that is told with bad intent, beats all the lies you can invent." It was his best friends voice... Baek's voice. Baek was always like that- always making Yuushi look stupid and feel bad-- when they were boys, Baek had saved him from bullies. When they were men, Baek had saved him from himself... and he'd brought a beacon of light into his life, Michelle. However, he dare not go beyond those memories... that pain he felt when he was younger-- it was not something he wished on anyone, it scared him even today, it was not a normal loneliness to feel. He closed his eyes.

"Don't think about it..." he scolded himself harshly, breathing hard and focusing his thoughts on something more positive. Like Michelle's smile... Julia's twinkling eyes... yes- those were good thoughts. Now, how not to concentrate on the darkness before Baek had entered his life... the pain that nobody would ever know. He had to make sure to not worry anyone- especially his wife and children. To let them know that Yuushi Chang had also been a vulnerable boy and a pitiable man.

Later into the night, Michelle quietly came in after her exhausting day of talking to more guests. What she saw made her jaw drop- Yuushi was not in bed, but in the chair beside it, his hair out of it's pony tail and falling into his face- but she didn't gasp because he looked suddenly like he was the attractive, albeit very shy young man twenty years ago, no... she gasped because... he was crying. In his sleep.

---

"Damn!" Jin swore profusely once again as the cold water shocked him awake. "For being so darn rich, they can at least fit a modern bath or shower..."

He shivered, letting out a hiss of irritation as the cold water ran over his bare form. He was sitting hovelled in a tin bath, in a room as cold as the water. It was a good thing that there was some cover from the public with rice paper, but he was not really used to this fifteenth century bathing style. He'd take his shower any day and couldn't wait until he'd got back to modern Japan. Or even Arizona. But he had to bear bathing with cold water because the servants weren't up yet to heat the water, and also, he needed to be up early. To please the old coot that was Julia's father. Yuushi. During some talks with the men, he'd figured a lot of habits from them, and to get on his good side, he'd learned that Yuushi loved birds. And he fed pigeons. At ungodly hours. So that was the reason he was up at the crack of dawn- which wasn't really all that hard (damn Cockerels).

Jin bit his lip as he got out of the 'bath' and immediately wrapped a towel around his waist- another towel for his limp, black hair. He wasn't what people would call lean, he was exceptionally muscular, credit to his father's intense sparring sessions. However, one could not drool at his form for long, because he had a 'date with destiny' as he put it grimly. He threw his arms into the Yukata, tying the dark robe securely over his waist, it reached just above his ankles- - a near perfect fit. So... it was possible that Hwoarang was taller than him... just a little bit.

Scowling just slightly, the young man calmly made his way to the courtyard, the sun smiling down upon the mustard blossoms. He had become rather fond of the mustard blossoms- so yellow and bright. He recognised this place. It was where I said I love you... and the place where she was in my arms. He smiled wistfully, but immediately looked around at the expectant birds with their beady, black eyes, wondering who this foreigner in their midst was. He untied a handkerchief upon his waist, it fell open in his palm and inside it were an assortment of grains-- rice, maize, corn and others. Well... they certainly looked like rice and other grains, but he was no expert.

He took a small pinch and threw it at the birds, with a flutter of their wings they were content. So what if he was a foreigner, as long as they were getting food they were alright.

Alright! This is easy... I can do this! Jin thought with a smile, scattering some more seeds upon the ground. He was doing this for a while until he caught a movement of white robes coming from the same path he'd trodden before. Yes! The old coot's here!

Jin decided to not notice him until Yuushi had taken notice of him.

Yuushi was shocked to say the least, when he saw Jin at his spot. Yes... it was his spot and he used to feed the pigeons ages ago. After shock wore away, it was replaced by surprise. His eyes widened when Jin turned around and greeted the man with a sweet smile and a respectful bow.

"Good morning, father!" (Out of respect and to build a place in their hearts, he of course had to greet them like one of their own!)

Yuushi merely looked away, not smiling. Jin's smile also dropped, his lips tight and he went back to feeding the pigeons.

"Hurr! Hurr!" Jin called, mimicking the fluttering of their wings. His words died in their throat by the piercing look he'd received from Yuushi.

"God... when is he not PMS-ing?" Jin thought bitterly.

"Ao. Ao." Yuushi said in a low voice, scattering the seeds upon the earth.

Jin studied the sombre man, the man who could make the activity of feeding pigeons a battle of wills.

"Aah-oh, Aah-oh!" Jin declared bitterly, throwing the seeds a little more harshly than he should have. He swore that the pigeon nearest to him was giving him hackies (ultra dirty looks). But he bravely called on his 'Aah-oh's'.

Again his voice left him as he chanced a glance at Yuushi who was looking at him rather coldly.

"Hurr?" Jin suggested meekly.

Yuushi turned away again, his lips tight. Jin sighed- he'd got up so early... only to fail.

---

"Oy, Jin! Jin!"

Jin did a double take-- he knew that voice! Damn! He bolted in through the back door and tried to reassemble the dumb Yukata and in the end threw on the blanket, he hissed as he slipped off one sandal, but Hwoarang was already striding through the door.

"Oy, wake up Jin- we gotta go hunting!" he explained, putting stuff in a gun that Jin didn't know the name of.

Jin fell into his act, thanking his lucky stars for being a good actor. He coughed violently and he was glad to see Hwoarang's eyes widen in alarm. He experimentally poked Jin with his rifle, wondering what was going on.

"Hey... wake up Jin- we gotta go..." Hwoarang murmured. He drew back a little as Jin leaned into his face and coughed his guts out.

"I'm really -cough- sorry my friend, but -cough cough- I cannot go with you in any way, shape or form... I'm not well..." Jin choked out, his eyes tearing up and he pretended to swallow hard.

Hwoarang considered Jin, and then nodded sympathetically, awkwardly patting him on the arm. "Aww... man, you foreigners are weak... hurry and get better- I'll send for some medicines..."

He turned to go with a sympathetic shake of his head and a wave of his hand. "Get better..."

"Yeah my eternally bound friend!" Jin called after him, then his eyes narrowed at the door Hwoarang had left. "Idiot."

---

He was surprised to see a meek girl, the girl who he had bumped into earlier sidling into the doorway. What was her name? Jin couldn't remember, but it was another H name like Hwoarang... Hina? No it was... Hea! That was it!

Her cheeks were red and she timidly looked up at Jin, her blush deepening and she thrust the medicine in his hand and ran out of the room. Odd child.

Of course he didn't take the pain killers- because he didn't really need them at all. He sighed and proceeded to get to work. As usual, he needed to do this to become part of the family. The lightly put extended family. Did Julia know how many aunts and uncles she possessed? He was quite confident that she didn't.

---

He sighed and put on his original smile when he saw Michelle who was peeling carrots alongside a few other women that were also preparing vegetables. He dashed over to them, but not because he was able to help, but because he also spied Julia in the corner who smiled brightly at him. That was enough to make his stomach do excited back flips. He sat in front of Michelle, beside the small table she was preparing the carrots.

"H-hey, let me do it mother," he smiled good-naturedly and took the knife from her before she could protest. She looked at him in alarm and then sighed.

"Oh, Jin, you know we are from the girl's side, we can't ask anything of you!" Michelle said with an exasperated smile.

Jin looked at her, his bottom lip sticking out and he pretended to look wounded. "First, let's clear this up- first, do you accept me as your son or not? And if you do, then do what you do with a son!"

Michelle raised an eyebrow, catching the look of the woman across from her who also smiled. "Oh, and what are you meant to do with a son?"

"You're not meant to argue with a son."

"Okay sonny, we won't argue," Michelle laughed.

"Ah! That's great-- now I can tell you my real reason for helping out," Jin began with a small smile. "You know, I heard from someone that if you help out at a house that's going to have a wedding, then you're also destined to get a pretty bride."

"Oh, so all this is for a pretty bride?" Michelle laughed, causing the other women around her to giggle. Hea merely blushed even further, concentrating really hard on peeling her vegetables. Pretty bride? I wish... her eyes stole a glance at the handsome Jin and it seemed impossible for her cheeks to heat up further.

Jin nodded jubilantly, unaware that he was being analysed by a woman across. "Yep yep, you know how hard it is to find a good bride? Only lucky people get to find the woman of their choice!"

"Oh, what kind of woman do you want, sonny?" Michelle snickered not unkindly.

Jin looked at Julia from under his lashes and sub-consciously she'd leaned in further. Her eyes widened and she shook her head in alarm as she met his gaze. Don't! Don't Jin!

"Well... she just has to be in your shadow," Jin smiled coyly- glad the women didn't realise he meant literally because Julia was sitting behind Michelle.

Michelle smacked him lightly with the words 'pervert' rolling off her tongue and more women laughed. Jin laughed too and sped away before she could do more or think too hardly on it-- and also to follow where Julia had left to.

---

Ah, he'd seen her. She was kneeling on the floor on a tatami mat and there was Yuushi's wrinkly mum, Julia's grandmother, singing in her croaky voice. She was singing a love song. Jin idly wondered why she was singing a love and romance song when the marriage was arranged but he saw Julia and of course, he sat next to her. She stiffened a little, not knowing how to act. Jin joined in the clapping, because that's what the girl's were doing- clapping with the rhythm of the song. Her voice finally crackled away and everyone clapped enthusiastically.

"Hey, Jin, why don't you sing?" some of the girls cried, their gazes looking at him and pleading.

He gasped, shaking his head coyly. "I can't sing... me? Oh come off it..."

"Please sing..." He looked into Julia's large eyes and felt himself drowning in those light orbs once more. Her soft, silvery voice... her every order was his command. How could he refuse her?

"Jab pyaar kiya to darna kya? (When in love why are you afraid?)
Jab Pyaar kiya to darna kya? (When in love why are you afraid?)

Pyaar kiya koi chori nahi ki (Only loved, not committed a crime)
Pyaar kiya koi chori nahi ki,"(Only loved, not committed a crime)

At this point, Jin had stealthily placed his hand upon Julia's, he winked at her but carried on looking at all the others and getting them to join in the popular song.

"Chup Chup ahein bharna kya?"(So why are you crying your eyes are out?)

Everyone clapped enthusiastically as he drew his song to a close and unknown to him, Julia had left his side, her cheeks just visibly red. His gaze was upon the other girls and they were grinning and clapping. Hea had came out and sat beside him-- still unknown to him-- and he continued an anchor of his song, grabbing the hand of Hea (he thought it was Julia) and feeling mighty pleased with himself, but he dare not risk looking at her again. He was surprised to hear another voice, he gasped, looking around and found Julia with a mischievous smile and her arms around her grandmother.

"Your eyes are somewhere else, honey,
And your aim is afar,
Now leave your trophies (At this point Jin had turned around and to his horror found a blushing Hea and he left her hand as if he was electrocuted)
And aim for a shooting star."

He gasped and stood up, not wanting to sit beside Hea, and found a smile curve upon his lips-- Julia had left again, afraid people would suspect things because of his rather 'bold' actions. She was surprised to find a song about the lover that would take the bride. She smiled and shook her head... Jin would never change.

---

To say he was annoyed was an understatement. He was very annoyed. He couldn't find Julia at all after their little singing session- it was as if she had vanished. But he had managed to find Hea, blushing madly as usual. Then it had sunk into Jin, her hesitant speech and also her hyper-ventilation fits when she saw him. She had a crush on him! He sighed, rubbing his temples- just what he needed right now. Well, he knew what he needed right now-- or who. But she was nowhere to be seen.

He sighed, leaning against a column pillar, shielding him from the relatives so as not to get called by people. Just as he was about to give up hope, he saw her, looking as breath-taking as ever, her cheek covered in chilli powder.

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him- as if on instinct she reached her hand to slap him but his other hand was ready. He flashed her a toothy grin, but his eyes were glazed over with something that Julia could not discern.

"Hey... been searching for you all day..." he whispered, looking at her.

Julia tried to squirm out of his grasp and also that powerful gaze. "Wh-what are you talking about?"

"Give me one kiss."

Julia's eyes went wide, her face paling a little. "Have you gone crazy?"

"No..." he whispered, his face much closer.

Julia swallowed hard, but found herself already fighting a loosing battle. "Mum will know."

"Let her."

"Hea will come."

"Let her."

"Father will-"

Before Julia could finish her sentence, Jin had already closed the gap between them and pressed his lips against hers. They were warm and surprisingly soft, his breath hot and their noses were against each other.

Unknown to the two, someone had seen their moment with wide, brown eyes.

"What is going...on?"
---

Authors notes: Dun dun duun! So, who do you think it is? They finally got to kiss, but someone's seen them! Gah... it took me ages to find inspiration for this chapter. xP Well... so sorry... again for my laziness and my writers blocked-ness. xPP Oh and also, blame the man who made Naruto- darn... it's addictive! Ahem... anyway, thank you ever so much for the kind reviews that have lifted my spirits and also forced me not to give up on this fanfic! I love you all! Hehe, thought I should give Yuushi a little more spotlight and also the weird song is in the film-- I've translated it to 'crime' but the actual 'chori' translates as thievery... but in this situation I translated it loosely. ;; La la la la, love it or hate it? I've lost touch with writing for a while... please find it in your hearts to forgive me. ;;