I almost forgot to post this today. .-. I've been sick, and with all the snow we've received in the last 24 hours.. It has just been a sleepy kind of day. Anyways, here you all go!

Disclaimer: I do not own Akatsuki no Yona, its plot, nor its characters. I've simply thrown my own original character into the mix because I'm a curious creature and chased a plot bunny down a rabbit hole. I'm stuck. Please send rum.

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Meanwhile, the boy's heart was racing.

He had dreamed of warm hands tenderly stroking his hair and cheeks, so realistic he could feel it as it tickled his skin. The morning sun, bright even behind closed eyelids, had nearly blinded him as he'd opened his eyes, only catching glimpses of colors while his eyes gradually brought the world into focus. His gaze was drawn, almost hypnotically, to a slight movement. The sun's rays reflected off thousands of threads of silk, browns and reds and golds dancing and flickering in the gentle breeze. So many hues- from the nearly black of mahogany, orange as the warmest amber, reds like autumn leaves, and yellows as light and bright as honey. He was captivated, entranced. His eyes traced up the lengths, watching the colors shift and flicker, before he finally noticed the matching orbs in front of him.

Shaded from the bright light coming from behind, they were darker, but just as mesmerizing in their intensity. Warm and open, they pulled at something in him. He could see himself reflected back in those large, black circles, those very human pupils, as they watched him softly, without a hint of fear. Instead, they seemed to be just as enthralled as he was. Looking right back at him with equal intensity.

Staring. Right. Back. At. Him.

He'd panicked immediately, pulling out of her reach and covering his eyes before pulling the blanket over his head as well. Even pulling his legs up in front of him. Anything to put as much between them as possible, however feeble it may be.

He could have killed her!

He'd frantically tried to remember where his mask was, shaken and terrified at what could have happened. They had been lucky. He'd been so tired when he woke up, feeling peaceful in the morning's quiet after having finally gotten a decent sleep. What if he'd been having a bad dream? If he'd woken up, frightened... Feeling threatened?

She would have been dead.

That was twice now his carelessness could have resulted in her death! Twice!

A hiss of pain had roused him from his thoughts, quickly pulling his attention back to the injured girl. Pushing aside his anxiety for the moment, he had dug through the pile of stuff near the cave until he'd found what he was looking for, the familiar weight of the mask against his face an instant relief. Still rattled, but no longer worried for her immediate safety, he'd turned his attention towards making sure she was taken care of. He'd brought her something to drink and helped move her so she was sitting up comfortably against the wall. After an uneasy silence, he had practically fled into the cave, both to grab food for their breakfast and to get away for a little while.

Pausing for a moment now as he reached the cellar, he tried to settle his racing heart and his nerves while he collected what he needed. He grabbed the stew pot, chopping up some extra food and tossing it in as well now that there would be two people eating.

He felt a little foolish. He'd been taking care of her for two days now and hadn't had any problem with it. He knew she would be waking up soon. Knew that he'd need to talk to her eventually. But now that she finally awake, he was suddenly self-conscious and on edge. He needed to calm down and focus on his duties.

As he neared the entrance, he stopped and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Feeling more centered, he quickly settled into the routine he'd established over the last couple days. He sat the pot nearby as he stoked the fire, waiting until it was burning well before setting the food in the center to cook. The work and his thoughts gave him something else to focus on besides his frayed nerves.

It was obvious she didn't know who he was- what he was. She was a little wary, of course. He was a total stranger so it would only made sense if she were uneasy around him. But she hadn't pulled away from him. Hadn't screamed, or yelled at him to get away. Even now as he set about changing her bandages, she was watching him with open curiosity. Not an ounce of fear to be seen. If she flinched, it was because something physically hurt, not just because his hand brushed against her skin. Not only that..

She'd touched him.

He'd woken up to the feeling of fingers softly caressing his hair and another warm hand holding his own. Opened his eyes to her fearlessly gazing back at him. As he'd carried her, the front of his robes were clenched tight in her small hand, her warmth radiating through the fabric where her body rested comfortably against him.

He puzzled at the odd feeling in his chest. It didn't hurt. More like a warm, dull ache. He couldn't quite-

"Wh-What are you doing?!"

The startled noise jolted him from his thoughts and back to the girl. He looked at her, disconcerted, as he took in her wide eyes and reddening face.

Was she angry at him?

She stared at the boy, her face aflame.

She had been observing him since she'd woken up. The whole time, he hadn't made a single sound. She'd watched as he went about starting what appeared to be breakfast, studying him as he went about changing her bandages. He moved with confidence, now that his mask was in place, and his motions were practiced and sure. She'd held as still as possible, both so he could focus on what he was doing as well as a little trepidation that she might scare him again. She was just starting relax, wondering who he'd learned these medical skills from, when he'd begun to pull at her sash.

The small sound of alarm had been entirely involuntary as she'd grabbed the front of the shirt she was wearing, only now noticing that it wasn't her own, and held it tightly to her, drawing her knees up to block any further access.

They were staring at each other now, neither breaking the tense silence that surrounded them. She didn't know what was worse: that he'd been about to untie the fabric holding the shirt closed, or that he had done so with no apparent hesitation. He didn't even look sorry! Just… confused? She couldn't see his eyes to tell for sure, but the slight frown on his face and the way he tilted his head, like some baffled puppy, had her feeling certain that her assumption was right.

And he still hadn't spoken a single word.

He'd seemed to understand her earlier when wanted to move her, so he wasn't deaf and apparently spoke the same language. So why wasn't he answering her?

Could he even talk?

She was about to ask him another question when he held out one of his hands, showing her the bandages he held. He gestured to the places he'd already done before pointing to her throbbing side.

She rolled her eyes. "I figured that much. I just.. Why are you doing it? Isn't there someone else who can? You know… a woman?"

She looked around anxiously, but didn't see or hear anyone in the area. Surely his village hadn't left a him alone to take care of her? But when her eyes turned back to him, he just shook his head slowly before pointing to himself. She had a bad feeling about this.

"You? You've been taking care of me? By yourself? " She swallowed nervously. "Wh-Where is everyone? I haven't seen-"

He looked away from her, looking at the ground before giving a small nod. He opened his mouth a couple times, much like she had seen him do earlier. Like speaking was... difficult. If she hadn't been so on edge, so focused on him, she doubted she would have even heard him. His voice was whisper soft, yet rough. The syllables coming out haltingly, as if he were struggling to correctly make the sounds for the words.

"The-," he tried to clear his throat. "There.. is none.. no one here... Jy.. Just.. me..."

".. Just you? .. You're alone? What... Where are your parents? Where's your village?"

He frowned, shaking his head. "N-no.. no payr- parents… Village is.. far.. too far… You were.. too hurt." He paused for a moment, his hands clenching in his lap. "I was.. hunting…. Followed.. blood... I thought.. I thought you were-"

He broke off, clearly upset, and didn't try to continue.

Her grip on her front loosened slightly.

He'd… He'd been the one to find her?

She could only imagine the kind of shape she had been in then if she felt like she did now.

"... How long?" She asked.

How long ago had he found her? How long had this boy been tending to her? Taking care of her? A stranger? All alone, and away from home…

"Two days… I found you.. two days ago."

She looked down at the bandages on her arms, on her legs, felt the bandages on her torso. They well done and the wraps were clean. The wounds she had seen earlier as he worked were clean and healing. Her skin looked and felt clean. Her blankets were clean. Even her hair felt clean. He'd obviously been taking such good care of her, probably saved her life if his tone earlier were any indication, and she'd practically thrown it in his face. Her parents would have been ashamed.

She certainly was.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. Quickly bringing her hands together in front of her, she tilted her head as respectfully as possible, since she was unable to properly bow without potentially ripping her stitches and negating his hard work.

"Thank you.. For everything you've done, I thank you. You've done so much for me. I am in your debt."

"Ah!" The boy was shaking his head rapidly, waving his hands back and forth in front of himself frantically. "N-No! I.. No! I-I had to! I couldn't- couldn't just-!"

She giggled then, relaxing a little more as she watched the previously calm, quiet boy boy stammer and flail, the comical display going a long way towards relieving the little tension that remained.

"I understand," she smiled, having mercy on him. "Even so, it would be rude of me to not at least try to repay you for all that you've done."

She sobered quickly, her gaze moving to her hands fidgeting in her lap. After a small debate, she decided to put her trust in this boy. After all, if he'd meant to harm her, he would have done so already.

"Actually… I… If you don't mind… Do you think… I could go back with you? To your village?" She glanced up at him anxiously before staring at her lap again, struggling to keep her voice even. "My village… my family…. They're all… They're all gone. I don't- I don't have.." She swallowed harshly, trying to dislodge the lump in her throat. "I-I'm sorry! I know it's probably too much to ask, and it's so sudden.. I just.. I don't have anywhere else to go.. and.. I think those men will be looking for me. I.. I killed one of them. I had to! I-I had to do it, so I could get away and I'm- I'm sure they're still after me, but.. if it's not too much trouble... please… If they find me-"

"Th-They won't."

She looked up, scarcely daring to hope, her vision blurring, as she fought to keep the tears from falling. "How do you-"

"I… They're dead…. I… found them... Four men..."

He watched as relief washed over the girl, the tears she'd been holding back breaking free and streaming down her face. He had an urge to wipe them away, like he did when she was asleep, but.. After her reaction when he'd tried to change the last of her bandages, he wasn't sure whether he should or not. So he sat there, silently, while she cried.

Relief that she was no longer in danger.

Grieving for what she'd lost-

Her village.

Her home.

Her family.

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