Chapter 12:
Joo-Doh left to the other side of the room in search of the washbasin that kept evading him. All the while his heart raced like a drum inside of his chest.
Get your emotions under control. You are not a child anymore. Even though…. It's been a while since I've seen a woman in that state… AGH! Stop thinking about it!
Joo-Doh opened a sliding door with a loud bang before noticing where this side door went to. The sound of running water and steam rose into the air.
This is a private hot spring… Would have helped if that bastard would have told us.
The masked fire tribe leader complained inwardly as he walked into the small cove-like area. All around were bushes and rocks that separated this place from all the others.
"It is very secluded… I can see why they would want to hide us here. No one would know where we were or what we are doing."
What we are doing…. The sight of Yona's bare back resurfaced in his mind. Stop it! Stop thinking like that! She is a princess who, more than likely despises you for turning your back on her!... That's right…. She just thinks of me as healer…..Not who I really am.
These thoughts seemed to calm down the sky tribe general's active imagination. Quietly, he turned around and returned to where the princess was sitting on the bed. Yona turned to look at him. Her face confused that he returned empty handed.
"Princess…. We won't be needing the wash basin… Connected to the room is a small bath so you can wash yourself." Joo-Doh states while trying not to look too closely at the exposed parts of her back. Yona stayed silent for a moment just looking at him. Her face slightly tinted pink. "Princess?"
"Healer… I have a request…." Yona started off saying while turning her body to face him.
"A request?" Joo-Doh repeated as he looked through the drawers to find some clothing for the Princess to wear after her bath. Yona stayed silent and unmoving as if debating something in her mind. When she looked up at him, her eyes were filled with determination.
"Please bathe with me!" She exclaimed causing the unsuspecting general to drop her new clothes onto the floor.
"W-W-What are you saying, Princess? That's too far for a joke." He responded, his voice cracking ever so slightly. What the hell is she thinking?! Asking a grown man to bathe with her… That's ridiculous!
Joo-Doh fought to regain his composure as he picked up the clothes that had been dropped.
"It's not a joke. I'm very weak, and I don't think that I have the strength to properly wash myself. It hurts to lift my arms so I couldn't hardly wash my hair or my back… I will wear a towel.. So please…." Her crimson cheeks and begging eyes nearly caused Joo-Doh to lose his newly regained composure. She looked just as embarrassed as he did. It was obvious that she really was too weak to be able to truly wash herself. After a brief silence, the masked man sighed in defeat.
"Very well… But you have to wear a towel. Do you understand?! A princess should never be this undressed in front of a man, but since I'm your healer.. I'm the exception. Do not ever ask a man to do something like this again, unless he is your husband?! Understand?!"
"I understand! I wouldn't ask if it was under normal circumstances!" Yona retaliated. She couldn't help but feel the way he talked to her just now was extremely familiar.
"Okay. Then… cover yourself up with this towel.. When you are decent let me know and I will help you to the bath." The General handed her a towel and turned away from where she was.
"Don't look over here." She ordered, her voice a little shaky and embarrassed.
"As if I would do such a thing!" The swordsman stated in a growling, embarrassed voice. This elicited a small laugh from the girl.
"I'm ready." Yona stated as she tried to stand up by herself. However, her body gave out and she fell against Joo-Doh's broad back.
"Ah.. Sorry. I guess I'm still weak.." She felt embarrassed, but… she couldn't help but notice how broad his back was.
"It's okay… hold onto me. I will take you to the bath." He responded while wrapping his arm around her waist.
Her waist is so small.. yet so appealing…. She looks so soft….
He couldn't help but notice a small amount of cleavage peeking out from towel.
Ah… Don't look at those things you idiot. He silently scorned himself while looking up at the night sky. Once at the edge of the bath, he helped Yona get in. The way the water stuck to her towel and curved around her body was extremely sensual. He swallowed unconsciously as she sank into the hot water. Her shoulder's glistening from the steam and her breathing seeming to calm. He watched as she closed her eyes and took a semi-deep breath.
Cough Cough Cough
"Princess!" He said, nearing the edge.
"I'm okay.. Sorry. My throat and lungs still are not fully healed… I shouldn't have tried to breath in so deeply. It just feels so nice." Yona smiles up at her masked hero with a peaceful expression.
"Take it easy…. You still have a long way until you are fully recovered…."
"Of course I will….. But Healer… Are you going to be able to wash me dressed like that?" The princess inquired, a slight blush beginning to form on her cheeks.
What is she- It didn't take long for Joo-Doh to understand what she was meaning.
"….. You want me to?"
"Ah.. If you are uncomfortable then…." Yona's blush became even more apparent as she sunk down into the water.
"….. I will go change." He says while walking back to the room. Control yourself.
His clothing fell to the ground as he draped a cloth around his waist. He touched his chest where an all too familiar scar cascaded across his muscles. Taking a deep breath, he grabs the soap, wash clothes, and small bucket before walking outside. Joo-Doh saw Yona, her back remaining turned as he wadded into the water.
"Are you ready to wash yourself, Princess?" He asked as matter-of-factly as he could.
"Yes." Was her one-word response. It was the only response that he needed. Grabbing the soap bar and wash cloth, the Sky Tribe general ushered her over to him.
"I'm going to start off by washing your hair." He says while trying to figure out what to do next. Taking the wash cloth, he dips it into the water and lathers it with soap. Then clumsily, he places the soapy towel onto her hair and begins scrubbing.
"U-Um… I think I need to wet my hair first… Don't you Healer?" Yona asks in a sweet voice.
"Ah, yeah…. G-Go ahead." Joo-Doh responds, his voice clearly embarrassed. The princess smiles and sinks under the water, allowing her hair to become soaked. When she resurfaced, a smile is on her face.
"Now… You use your hands and wash my hair with the soap…"
"My hands?" He responds causing the princess to laugh.
"Yes, women's hair is too long to use a towel to wash… That will just tangle the hair even more. You need to get lots of soap on your hands and massage it into the hair."
The Sky Tribe general did exactly as she instructed and ran his long fingers through her hair. He watched as Yona leaned back and closed her eyes.
"It feels good." She compliments causing Joo-Doh to smile.
"I'm glad." His comment was sincere while he continued to wash her hair. It wasn't long before the tangles, dirt, and blood began to come undone. The strands of her hair now slid through his fingers like silk. Such pretty hair….
"I think that is good." Yona states before leaning down and rinsing her hair out. After that, she turns around and hands him the washcloth. "Now, you can use this…"
Joo-Doh takes the cloth and starts softly washing her shoulders. He allowed himself to move her hair off her shoulders. His fingers traced her the skin along her shoulders and back, causing the young woman to gasp slightly.
"Sorry…"
"No… It's fine.. I don't mind." The princess answers, her voice slightly breathy.
Her body is so soft… so small…. Shit… I'm losing it….
Joo-Doh thought to himself as he bit his lip. However, he didn't stop his hands from wandering all over her soapy back. He traced the old scar from the sword of the drug dealer and gently touched the other injuries from her torture sessions.
A princess does not deserve a body like this… Her skin should be flawless…. Even so… It is still so beautiful…
"Your touch is really gentle." The princess spoke up while touching his hand which was on her shoulder. "When you touch me like this… I can't help but feel that… I'm something.. precious to you…." Yona looks over her shoulder and up at the masked general. Her wet hair dripped down her flushed face. Her eyes seemed to look into his soul, her bare skin shimmered under the moonlight.
"Maybe… It's just me, but…. you've become so precious to me… It makes me.. want to give my all to you." Yona admits with calm steady eyes. Joo-Doh, on the other hand, let go of her shoulder and backed away in order to keep himself from grabbing onto her. He immediately longed to pull her close into his arms.
"You shouldn't say those kinds of things…. Do you want me to lose what little self control I have left?" His voice sung of desperation… A need to make her his. Yona turned towards him, the water swooshing with her movements.
"Right now…. I see everything. Your entire body… The scars… the bruises…. But…." She looked up into his eyes and touched his masked cheek. "Would it be bad… If I take off this mask… and see your face?"
"I want to know you…. I feel I know your heart…. But I want to know your face… I want to see the man who has saved me and kept me safe from harm." Yona goes to grab the mask only to be pulled into Joo-Doh's arms.
"A healer only has his identity as a healer… I'm sorry.. But I cannot yet show you who I am… I cannot tell you my name.. I can't tell you my secrets…. But please believe me when I tell you that you are more important to me than life itself.. I will do anything and everything I can to keep you safe, Princess Yona. So please, forgive me… But seeing my body… Is all that I can show you…. My face.. must not be seen. I'm sorry." His constant apologies caused Yona to regret what she had just asked. It was obvious by his voice that he was plagued with many demons of his own… That there was a reason why he could not show her his identity.
Yona wrapped her arms around his back and pressed herself up against his body.
"You have nothing to apologize for… It was a selfish request from me…. After all you have done for me…. If you will not allow me to see your face… and only your body… Then I will show my gratitude through your body." The princess leans up close to his neck and plants a soft kiss on him. This causes the healer to gasp slightly as her hands moved down to his chiseled chest. Her small hands caressed every crevice of his chest causing him to gasp.
"Princess Yona… Please… Stop." He says causing Yona to lean down and kiss his bare chest where his heart is.
"I apologize…. I couldn't help myself…." She responds while grabbing his hand in hers. Then, doing the absolute unthinkable, she brings his hand up to her chest. Joo-Doh's heart nearly shot out of his body upon feeling the soft squishiness of her covered chest in his hands. "Do you feel it?"
Joo-Doh didn't know what to say and didn't dare to move as he tried to pull away from the girl, only to have her continue to hold on tightly to his hand.
"My heart is racing…. It's racing for you…" Upon hearing this, The General turned his attention to the pounding feeling that hit against his hand. It's true that her heart was racing… Just as much as his.
"This… This is proof of how much I care for you… Every time I see you, my heart immediately does this. I know you have your reasons for not taking off your mask.. But it doesn't matter, because I can see beneath the mask into your heart. I can see that you truly care for me.. and that is all I need to know. I just wish… There was some way that I could repay you…." Yona's confession caused Joo-Doh to lean closer to her… He wanted nothing more than to kiss her and confess to her that he loved her.
From this moment on I have sworn loyalty to Su-Won..
His pledge ran through his mind just as he was about to lean in and kiss her.
….That's right…. My loyalty is to Su-Won…. The only reason I am here is because I have received permission from his majesty to be here…. I…. I'm one reason that she is in this mess… I have no right to love her or stand beside her.
Pulling away from her, he silently stood up.
"Healer?"
"… I am touched by your words…. But, there is nothing you can do for me. You are a princess, and I am a healer… All I can do for you is to heal you… All you can do for me is take care of yourself and escape from here safe…." Joo-Doh turns away and walks out of the bath, his glistening back facing her. "Once this mission is over, I will return to where I belong… and you will be returned to your companions… We will never meet after this…..So please.. Your feelings that are beginning to bloom… Cut them from your heart. I cannot heal wounds to your heart and have no desire to be the cause of them…."
"But.. Healer… I thought…." Yona stood up and began walking over to him.
"You thought correct… That I do truly care for you…." Without turning around, Joo-Doh delivered the final blow. "But I care for you as the Princess of Kouka… Nothing more. Nothing less. Please do not get any false ideas on my feelings. If you need help getting dressed, please call me… If not, then I will be in the room fixing your medicine." With that, the masked man left the hot spring and disappeared inside of the room. Yona stood there silently looking at the sliding door. A small tear sliding down her cheek as his words echo in her mind.
I care for you as the Princess of Kouka…
Inside, a half naked Joo-Doh began putting on his pants.
I don't deserve you… I could never have you…. Even if you hate me… I will keep you just away from my reach so that I will never be able to reach out and say… "Be mine.." Like I nearly just did now…. I'm sorry Yona.
Joo-Doh thought to himself as he finished tightening his pants and slid down the side of the wall. He sighed and looked down at his empty, calloused hand. I am Su-Won's shield… Not yours… I stopped being your shield when I betrayed you…. For that.. I cannot allow myself to be anything more than your healer. How foolish of me to temporary forget such an important fact….
-End of Chapter 12-
And that is the end of Chapter 12! Eeek… I'm kind of scared to post this… lol. I hope that you guys enjoyed it! Have a great rest of the week! :D
~Responses To Chapter 11 Reviews~
TiredWierdo- You are so sweet! I'm glad that you were happy to have the update! This review made me so happy when I read it! So thank you!
Haru- Ah! Don't hit me! Don't hit me! Is all I could think when writing this chapter! LOL! Haha… This is true.. They are sharing one room after all… All these complicated emotions! Why does it have to be so complicated?! Haha… Kage… He is so much fun to write.. He really is an A**… lol but a fun one! Hope you liked this one! :)
Elsiek2001- AWWWW! Love you too dear reader! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and review! I always love to hear responses from those reading my stories! I hope you liked this one! Have a great day! :)
Kris11993- Thanks so much Kris! I hope that you liked this chapter as well! It's kind of a filler chapter, but has some important stuff thrown in.. I think lol! :)
Amu – Haha….. Please don't hit me! Especially after reading this chapter…. :p Thank you for reading and reviewing!
Mutemuia – Ah! Thank you so much! I am super excited to be getting married. Sometimes it still doesn't feel real :p haha True True True! His poor sanity….. ah…. I do hope that you enjoy the chapters to come! Thank you for your review and for reading! :)
Melusina's Descendant – HAHA! Well, it was minor, but I do hope you like it… More Adult themes will be coming later on so look forward to that ;)