Hwarang

Chapter eight

The boys had spread out over the grounds of the temples. They knew a doctor was coming, but the pain some were feeling was also the dread of what punishment Youngmin would get. Lots of people here like him. No one wants to see him go.

When Ji-woo is brought in the front gates, she is met with the injured members.

"Oh my. Umm.... I'll need to set up somewhere, in order to treat them. All of them."

She gulps and looks around.

"Yes ma'am. We'll set up a station right away."

A patio is set up with tables and chairs. Ji-woo has the men sit down in one chair as she assesses their wounds. She goes one by one and stiches up cuts, puts salve on scrapes, and relocates a dislocated shoulder or two.

When Min-Jun sees her for his busted lip, he asks, "Are you Sang Ji-soo?"

"Yes, yes I am. Why?" She says startled.

"I'm friends with your brother, Youngmin."

"Oh? Where is he? I haven't seen him around." She casts a quick glance over the gardens before looking back at Min-Jun.

"Well, he is going to be punished soon, so he may be hanging back."

"What?! Why is he going to be punished? What did he do?"

"He's taking the fall in starting this fight."

Her mouth drops open, "Why would he do that? All he has ever wanted was to serve the kingdom. Why would he risk it all?"

"Umm...you might want to go find him. It's alright, there's no one left to treat besides him. He will need you. Go help your brother."

"I need to go talk some sense into him. He has to find a way to save himself."

She picks up her skirts and runs from the patio. She passes soldiers and staff with no change. Her eyes dance over the gardens and the halls. Youngmin is nowhere. She stops when she comes upon the next soldier.

"Have you seen my brother? Have you seen Youngmin?" she breathes out.

"I think he is somewhere in the back; I think."

She yells a thank you as she rushes around. She follows a path around the gardens. It leads her to a pond. The pond is connected to a small waterfall that comes from a stream that leads to a wall with a small opening in it for the water to get through. The sound of the turning water is calming to Ji-woo. She takes a few breaths as she looks around for Youngmin. She spots him sitting on a bench near the far side of the pond. As she walks over, she gently calls out, "Youngmin?"

He picks up his head, surprise written over his face. "Ji-woo? What are you doing here?"

"They brought me here as a doctor. I've been treating everyones injuries. Someone said you were in trouble."

He looks away. "Yeah. I'm probably going to be kicked out. I'm the reason everyone here is hurt."

"Why? Why would you start a fight, knowing that? You have always wanted to protect the kingdom, and this was your chance."

He fiddles with his hands, a long sigh escapes before looking up at the sky. "One of the members here pushed me to far. Before, he was annoying me, finding ways to get at me. But I can handle that. You know that, people have always tried kicking me because we're lower in society. And I can handle that. But this time, he just went too far."

She watches him as he talks. She can see the remorse and the pain as he speaks. She puts hand on his arm. "Youngmin, it's ok. But what did he do?"

"I needed to protect you."

"What do I have to do with this?"

"He was saying he was going to find a girl. Someone to have "fun" with. And then he started saying how he wanted to find you."

"Oh."

"Yeah. And I couldn't let him say that. He was talikng about you. My little sister. I had to do something. You're family. I'm sorry if I'm letting you down."

Ji-woo stands up and moves in front of Youngmin. She grabs his hands and says "Sang Youngmin. I am and never will be disappointed in you. Yes, you may no longer be in the Hwarang but you protected me. Father and Mother won't be disappointed in you. If anything, we'll be happy to have you back home."

Youngmin laughs a little as he wipes a tear away. He stands up and stretches. He lets out a little laugh. "Go home Ji-woo. If I am made to leave, I'll see you, Mother, and Father later. If not, then, I'll visit you on the next market day."

Ji-woo stands up as well. She picks up her satchel and turns back to Youngmin. " I know everything will turn out in the way it's supposed to. I know you really want to be here, so if you get to stay, try to enjoy it. Make friends."

"I will. Go home. Tell Mother and Father I love them."

She smiles. "I will. Try not starting anymore fights?"

"Alright, I will."

She gives a little wave before turning around and start to walk away. A thought comes to her before she turns around and rushes back to Youngmin. She rummages through her satchel and pulls out a little jar. She thrusts her hand out to Youngmin. He takes it and asks, "What is it"

"It's a salve for your cut." She gestures towards his forehead. "Apply it once every couple hours. It should heal up in a day or two."

"Thanks. Now go." he shews her off.

"Alright. See you later Youngmin."

Ji-woo leaves the temple grounds, humming to herself. Inside the temple grounds, Youngmin turns over the container and chuckles. He brushes off his robes as he starts walking in to the headmaster's office. His head is held high as he goes in to see what his fate is.