Chapter 13

*Previously on BTM*

"Please bathe with me!" She exclaimed causing the unsuspecting general to drop her new clothes onto the floor.

'Her waist is so small… yet so appealing… She looks so soft'

"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.

'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…'

"I care for you as a Princess of Kouka.. Nothing more.. Nothing less. Please do not get any false ideas on my feelings." With that the masked man left the hot spring and disappeared inside of the room.

…..

Yona didn't say anything as she entered into the bedroom in which they were staying. Her healer was already dressed and nearly finished with the medicine by the time she had regained enough composure to see him.

"Finished bathing?" His tone was hardened, professional.. lacking the warmth it once had. Yona didn't say anything, instead she merely nodded her head.

"Then please allow me to apply medicine to your wounds." Picking up the bowl of medicine, Joo-Doh walked over to her. Her body was slumped.. looking defeated and tired.

'I'm doing this for both of us.' The sky tribe general thought as he positioned himself behind the princess. Yona remained quiet as she stripped her towel from her back. However, this time Joo-Doh was prepared. He didn't allow his heart to race or his thoughts to wander. He finished with her medicine after a few minutes and returned to the table.

"You should get some rest." He told her to which rustling bed sheets responded as a sign of obedience. "If you need anything just call for me. I'll be resting in the corner of the room."

She was still silent for a moment as Joo-doh cleaned up the mess. Once he was finished, a small voice called out to him.

"If I wasn't the princess... would you feel different about me?"

The masked man stopped in his tracks, his hands turned into fists. He knew what she was asking. If I wasn't the Princess, would I mean anything to you? Would you want me, love me, need me… If it weren't for my social status. That's what she was asking.. That's what she wants to know.

Say it Joo-Doh… You have to end this here and now. The man told himself as his knuckles turned white from the tension in his hands. The silence was unbearable as he took a controlled breath.

"...If you weren't the princess... You would have been left to die. My duty is to make sure you stay safe. I have no attachment to you other than caring for you as a princess of this kingdom."

"So the reason I am more important to you than your own life… is that I am the Princess and your duty is to keep me safe?"

"Yes."

His answer felt like a million rocks had crushed down on the princess. Her hope seemed to crumble away and her heart felt heavier than it has ever felt. Yona didn't say anything, instead she lay there motionless, like a statue. The remainder of the night was unbearable silence. Neither one of them could sleep, neither one of them had words to say either. As the sun began to shine, the door opened. Yona sat up from her bed, at the same time, Joo-Doh stood protectively in front. The silver haired man strode in and looked at both of them.

"I see that you have washed yourself, your highness. Just that alone has made you seem much healthier." In his hands were food provisions for breakfast. He set them down on the table before walking up to the princess. "Lord Kage will be coming to your chamber this afternoon to check on your condition. Please greet him with the respect and kindness that a wife should."

With those words, the man walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Silence once again falls on the room.

"….You should eat."

"I'm not hungry." Yona stated as she unsteadily stood up and began walking towards the bath.

"Princess, if you are going to get up please let me-"

"I am fine healer. I walked back last night by myself. Thank you for your concern." Her tone was formal but not hateful. She left the room alone, Joo-Doh looking after her. Upon getting outside, she stripped her clothing and began to wash herself again.

I need to be fresh.. clean… Smelling nice… I can still feel the blood on my body and the stench of that place... and... My eyes need to show no signs of tears…..' Yona thought to herself as her eyes steadied with a new found resolve. 'If we are to get out of here… I have to play my role well.'

All last night, situations and scenarios ran through the Princess' exhausted mind. She had no choice, it was the only way to keep from breaking down at her newfound knowledge of the Healer's intentions.. Ultimately, she came to one decision….

'It's the fastest way to get out of here…'

After bathing, she returned to the room to see a surprised man standing there with food and medicine.

"You bathed again?"

"Yes." Her response was short, but it was the only response needed. Yona knew where she stood with this man. If she continued to feel close to him, it would only be hard on her.

"Couldn't get the smell off you?" The princess stopped at these words. Her body still wrapped in a towel and her hair still dripping onto her shoulders and chest.

"You could tell?"

"It's a normal side effect of torture... The mental aspect of it." Joo-Doh answered, his eyes continuing to avert hers. "Now... Please allow me to put some medicine on your wounds."

"That is not necessary."

"Of course it is necessary…. You need to treat your wounds." The Sky Tribe General watched in confusion as Yona looked through the wardrobe of clothes. After a few moments, the young woman pulled out a beautiful kimono that looked similar to one a geisha would wear. It was deep red and yellow which matched Lord Kage's preferences. The Princess then took it and looked at her healer.

"Will you help me put this on?"

Joo-Doh was silent.

"What are you planning, Princess Yona?" She didn't respond to him; instead, she began undoing her towel that was wrapped around her waist.

"P-Princess…" Joo-Doh looked away as the towel dropped to the ground.

"If you are not going to help me, then I will do it myself."

"T-That is not the issue-"

"There is no issue. You do not care for me anyways. Seeing me in this state is nothing for you who only thinks of me as a princess." She tightened the obi around her kimono as best she could before looking at him. "I'm modest now... will you help tighten this? I can't do it alone."

Joo-Doh was hesitant for a moment before walking over to her. He clumsily helped her adjust the clothing and tightened it only to the point where it would steadily hold the clothes.

"I will not tighten it anymore... it will hurt your back."

"That's fine. Thanks for the help." With that she walked over to the small mirror and began to try to fix her hair. The Sky General couldn't help but notice beads of sweat on her brow, her face was pale as well. Still she worked diligently to put her hair up in a small bun. Just as she was finishing, her breathing became faster and he could see her grimace in pain.

"Stop." Joo-Doh orders while taking her wrist in his large hands. "You are hurting yourself."

"I'm fine"

"I know better than that...Why are you doing this? It's almost like you are trying to get that bastards attention." The masked man refused to let go of her wrist as he stared deeply into her eyes.

"As long as we don't get married, there is no harm. If we gain his trust, it will be easier to escape." Her tone was matter-of-fact, emotionless.

"How exactly do you intend to do that? If you are the 'obedient bride' then he will-" Joo-Doh cut himself off when seeing the look in her eyes. "You plan to let him-?!"

His grip around her wrist tightened causing Yona to flinch.

"Let go!" She yelled only to have him pull her closer.

"You are a princess! How can you plan to defile yourself in such a way?!"

"Do you think I want to?! I will avoid and prolong as long as I can... but if it comes down to it... I will make that sacrifice. It's not as if anyone else would know. Just you, me, and Kage.. It's not like it matters to you… As long as I am kept safe, then your duty is fulfilled." Yona pulled away from his grasp and walked a few steps away from him. "Also, I may be a princess.. but I am one who is forgotten and presumed dead. I was thrown away, betrayed. I lost everything. I don't know why you or your master want to keep me safe or how you know about me….. But as far as I'm concerned, I have nothing to offer you."

Job-Doh barely manages to keep himself calm as she walks over to the bed and sits down.

"I will handle Lord Kage... I can at least do that much." The General remains quiet as she lays down on the bed. "If it will get us out of here, I will suffer the humiliation."

Joo-Doh remained quiet as he watched her close her eyes.

'Why? Why is she being so reckless? Does she really think I'm going to let her do that to herself? I won't let anyone touch her….'

...

"I wonder if that guy was able to find the people who took off with that girl?" The same old man from before remarked as he sipped on some sake. "She sure was a pretty thing..."

"Oi... old man... what was that you mentioned about a girl being taken?" The old man turned around to see a man with jet black hair and piercing blue eyes. His expression was worried, hardened, focused, and most of all... distraught.

"Who is asking?" The man asked, sweat forming on his forehead.

"Someone who doesn't like being kept waiting. What did the girl look like?" His eyes became even more fierce.

"S-She had red hair and a pink kimono... She looked young.. but a real beauty."

"Where did they go?"

"I-I'm not sure... They seemed to be from Kai from their clothing... they dropped a golden pendant that had a bat and a moon on it. I don't have it on me. I gave it to another guy." The old man answered, his voice shaking slightly.

"Other man?"

"Yes, a loud, angry fellow with a scar on his right cheek." He answered. At that moment, the young man's blue eyes widened. He immediately turned and began running the way he came.

"What a strange man... He has such an intimidating aura about him…." The old guy remarked to himself, his sake still sitting on the table where he set it down.

…..

Another chapter is up! Thank you so much for your patience! Yes, I know that Yona probably wouldn't do these things if she were in her right mind. However, I am playing off of the psychological damage aspect of this. She was brutally tortured, humiliated and stripped down to just her undergarments, taken to her abuser's castle to become his wife, and just found out the only person who helped her only did so due to her social status. Given the situation, I would feel that she would be grasping for any means of control. That is where control over her body and what she does with it comes into play. Anywho.. Please do not hate me! Things will be heating up even more so.

Until Next Time!