Taming the Crazy Horse, Ch. 14 (Edited 3/11/11)
Previously:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Disclaimer: The SKKS-verse belongs to the creators of Sungkyunkwan Scandal.
Technical Notes: There are a number of explanations for why Yoon-hee and Sun-joon have remained childless until now. I think any one of them works. I just chose not to go into detail here, because I'm sure Sun-joon knows better than to discuss such intimate matters with outsiders, even if they're his closest male friends.
I have no idea what the Yongsan district was called during the Joseon era, so I'm calling it by its contemporary name. I also don't know if it was a poor neighborhood at the time - I just know that it's sandwiched between the Sungkyunkwan campus and the Han river, which makes it suited to the purposes of this story.
Also, although the police in SKKS mainly used swords, bows and arrows, there was at least one scene where they used guns so Jae-shin's team is perfectly entitled to pack some heat. Besides, according to Wikipedia, there were already guns in Korea at the time.
Author's Notes: I would as always like to extend deepest thanks to min7girl, Anonymous 1 and 2, akaironoyoru, Robelyn and Dorothy for the reviews!
Edited 3/11/11 - The final scene needed fleshing out. I hope it's better now!
Chapter Fourteen
Now, I know that I'm pregnant.
Ka-hai hadn't seen a doctor yet, but after confirming with Kwan-sook (and swearing her to secrecy) it seemed that she had already missed two periods in a row. That, and the fact that she was experiencing most of the symptoms described in her medical texts, meant that a proper examination would probably be but a mere formality.
Chul-moo nudged her shoulder and she heard herself chuckle over the pounding of her heart. "I'm sorry," she told the horse, "but I can't go riding today. You're lucky I can even stand to be around horses, with the way I've been feeling."
Of course, he didn't understand any of that, and stepped closer as if to make it easier for her to mount up.
"I said I can't," she repeated, combing her fingers through his mane. "First, I have to make sure that it won't harm the baby."
Her voice caught on the last word. Up until that moment, she had never acknowledged her condition out loud. Actually speaking of the child was like uttering a magic spell that placed it physically inside her body... and irrevocably changed the way she saw herself.
And the only one to hear it was a horse. Ka-hai's eyes filled and she buried her face in Chul-moo's neck so that she could let the tears fall.
Had things been better between her and Jae-shin, she would have told him the moment she became suspicious that she was pregnant. He probably would have been shocked at first, but she was sure that he would have been overjoyed later and insisted on being the one to break the happy news to his father. Sadly, husband and wife weren't speaking to each other and he was burying himself in his work, so he didn't know that they were going to be parents.
I won't cry. I won't.
Even though she wanted nothing more than to wallow in self-pity for a little while longer, Ka-hai willed herself to stop. Despite her sadness and worry over the state of her relationship with Jae-shin, acknowledging her pregnancy meant that she now needed to be strong, put those worries aside and focus on caring for herself and the baby. It may have been begun at a difficult time in her marriage, but it was definitely wanted and it would be loved, regardless of whatever happened between her and the baby's father.
She laughed self-consciously as she wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "Omo," she muttered, "I think I'm going to be one of those terribly weepy pregnant women. However are you going to stand me?"
While Ka-hai came to terms with the fact that she was carrying a child, Jae-shin found himself caught up in his work. Having nothing else more important to occupy their time and, as always, wanting to curry favor with the king, the higher-ups at the Ministry of War had told the police in no uncertain terms that the Blue Messenger case had to be closed, and soon.
It was clear to Jae-shin that In-soo took the added pressure as a personal affront. Of course, his partner was too much of a professional to make his feelings known to his superiors; instead, he threw himself into bringing the Blue Messenger to justice as soon as possible. "Instead of tracking her down," he proposed at the staff meeting that day, "why don't we force her to come to us by setting a trap?"
"What kind of trap would that be, Detective Ha?" Sergeant Ho asked him.
"All that the Blue Messenger really does is scatter subversive messages among the people, right?" the younger man replied. "What if there was a copycat, who was doing something else, like robbery, or vandalism? Wouldn't that drive the real Blue Messenger to confront the fake and clear her name among the people?"
His partner bowed his head to hide a smirk. Although he might not know it, In-soo was taking a page right out of his father's book - Jae-shin remembered all too well how the former Minister Ha had used a fake Red Messenger to try and draw him out.
"I don't know," one of the other officers said dubiously. "Would it?"
"It should," In-soo declared. "I think that anyone, if they're sane, would feel very strongly about another person besmirching their name or reputation; and if the Blue Messenger is a woman like we suspect, then she would be more emotional and would thus fall more easily into our trap. And once we flush her out," he concluded, "then we can catch her."
Based on his own experience, Jae-shin wasn't sure if that last part was true, but he had to admit that the plan had a good chance of leading the Blue Messenger into their hands. Although the Ministry's attempts to capture him using a false Red Messenger as bait turned out to be futile, he hadn't been able to resist the temptation to go up against the impostor.
"That sounds like it's worth a try, at least," Sergeant Ho said, and scanned the officers gathered around the table. "Do we have any volunteers to pose as the Blue Messenger?"
"Actually, if I may, Sergeant," In-soo interjected mildly. "I would like to nominate Detective Moon Jae-shin as the fake Blue Messenger."
Jae-shin's head jerked up. "What?!"
The commanding officer looked surprised. "Moon Jae-shin? Why?"
"I think he's the perfect man for the job, sir," In-soo replied innocently, appearing oblivious to the dagger stares from his partner. "Detective Moon is very athletic and an excellent archer, besides. Why," he added, "he may very well have been a burglar before he became a police officer."
"A burglar!" Sergeant Ho laughed uproariously, and the other officers at the table followed his lead. "What a crazy idea! Were you ever a burglar, Detective Moon?"
"No, sir," Jae-shin answered. "As you and Detective Ha both know, I was a Sungkyunkwan scholar before I entered the force."
Eventually, the older man calmed. "I think Detective Ha is right about your abilities, though," he said as he dabbed a tear from his eye. "You would make a very convincing Blue Messenger."
There were nods of agreement all around and In-soo turned to his partner, his eyes artlessly wide. "What do you think, Jae-shin?" he asked. "Will you do your part in bringing this most wanted criminal to justice, so that we can close the case and I can finally start planning my wedding?"
While it felt as though the trap was closing in around him as well as the Blue Messenger, all that Jae-shin could do was give In-soo one last glare and grunt, "Fine. I'll do it."
"Wedding?" Yong-ha repeated, and gave an impressed whistle. "So they're finally going through with it. After more than fifteen long years of waiting, Ha In-soo is finally going to get his woman."
"Did you say fifteen years?" Sun-joon asked, puzzled.
"Yes. He's been in love with Cho-sun since he was eleven."
"Oh." The scholarly young man's face broke into a smile. "It sounds like it's definitely about time, then."
Scenting the opportunity for new business, Yong-ha turned to Jae-shin, who was picking up another arrow. "Hey, Geol-oh," he called, "maybe you could remind In-soo where Cho-sun should be going for wedding clothes?"
"Maybe," he replied. He notched the arrow and sent it into the bull's-eye, splintering the one he had sent there just a few moments ago.
It was only the three of them at the Sungkyunkwan archery range that day. To Jae-shin, that felt strange; not just because the fourth member of the Jalgeum Quartet was absent, but also that Ka-hai wasn't there. Even when she didn't join them physically, he imagined her there anyway, looking over his shoulder and poking good-natured fun at his efforts. Now, because of their quarrel, the Ka-hai in his imagination had turned away from him. It was as though she was completely absent.
Nevertheless, he carried on anyway, in order to spend some time with his friends and prepare for his part in laying the trap to capture the Blue Messenger. He was still reluctant to get involved, but decided to think of it as a possible way to help, rather than betray, her. If he got close enough, perhaps he could warn her and she could escape as he once had. He couldn't neglect his duty to serve and protect, but he couldn't turn his back on what he once was, either.
"Sa-hyung," Sun-joon said to him then, "I couldn't help but notice that we're both unaccompanied today. Why isn't Ka-hai noonim here?"
Jae-shin was at a loss for a good excuse, but as always, Yong-ha came to his rescue. "I think I saw her shopping in town on my way over here," said the flamboyantly dressed young man. "You know how women can be about their shopping - you can't pry them away from it, and it'll probably take forever."
"You would know more than us about that, sa-hyung," Sun-joon answered with a laugh.
"Now that we know where Geol-oh's wife is, how about yours, Ga-rang?" Yong-ha asked, obviously trying to divert the discussion from Ka-hai. "Why isn't Dae-mul here today?"
"That's because she's feeling unwell," the other man replied, beaming.
The cheerful announcement was met with perplexed frowns. "If she's unwell," Jae-shin wondered, "then why are you so happy?"
Sun-joon's grin broadened. "Yoon-hee isn't feeling well because she's going to have a baby."
His words fell like stones into still water. The others stood, frozen, for a moment as the news sank in.
Yong-ha was the first to recover. "It took you long enough!" he crowed, clapping the younger man on the shoulder. "How long before the baby is born?"
"It'll probably be born late in the spring." Sun-joon still hadn't stopped smiling. "Both our families are very excited."
"I'm sure they are! Congratulations!"
"Yes," Jae-shin repeated, "congratulations."
He tuned out his friends when Sun-joon started talking about pregnancy symptoms, and occupied himself with shooting more arrows. He truly was happy for his friends' good fortune, but there were other things weighing on his mind.
Of course, the proud father-to-be didn't know that. "Hey, Geol-oh sa-hyung, aren't you happy for me?" he teased. "You're not embarrassed that you let your juniors get ahead of you, are you?"
Jae-shin dredged up a laugh for his friend. "I'll be happier when you buy your seniors something to drink after we're done here," he bantered back. "And as for the other thing...." He smiled crookedly, ignoring the sympathetic look from Yong-ha. "I'll see what I can do, all right?"
If he felt bad, he thought as he and Sun-joon went back to practicing their archery, it wasn't because he was jealous of Sun-joon for winning Yoon-hee and, now, having a baby with her. Rather, he was jealous of the bond between the couple, and the fact that it was now bearing fruit. For a while, he thought that he and Ka-hai had forged that kind of connection, but sadly, he now knew that wasn't the case.
Fortunately, Jae-shin couldn't afford to waste time brooding over that, because not long after he found out about Sun-joon's impending fatherhood, In-soo's plan sprang into action.
It felt just like the old days, except this time the police were looking over his shoulder (and, he thought with some amusement as he watched a group of officers copying out the message he had drafted, he had some help writing all those damn leaflets).
Dressed as the Blue Messenger, Jae-shin took to the rooftops to scatter the false messages. Their contents clearly contradicted that of the originals, and -it had to be admitted - the writing was quite a bit better. In addition, there were also nights when he swooped down from his lofty perch like a malevolent bird of prey to wreak havoc in the marketplace, smashing walls and windows, and destroying some hapless vendors' wares.
Soon, the city was buzzing over how the Blue Messenger had gone rogue. "This means that she will be brought up on additional charges if you ever catch her, whether or not she actually did those things," Minister Moon observed as he sat with his son in his study late one evening.
"We'll catch her, don't worry," Jae-shin said briefly, not wanting to think about his part in those additional charges. "In fact, I have a feeling that it won't be long now."
It seemed that the Blue Messenger's standing with the people was, at the very least, on shaky ground. Many were denouncing her as unstable and a criminal; and while a few bravely defended her to their peers, pointing out that the rogue Messenger was clearly a fake, most of those still on her side remained silent for fear that they would be suspected of having anything to do with her.
"I hope so," his father said. "It'll be nice to put an end to all of this, won't it?"
"Yes, Abeoji," he agreed, sounding tired. He couldn't wait to conclude the investigation so that, once the case was closed, he could focus his attention on putting his home life back in order.
Minister Moon gave him an indulgent smile. (Jae-shin couldn't help wondering how he could be in such a good mood despite the tension surrounding the Blue Messenger case.) "Well, I think I should let you go to bed. You obviously need your rest."
To be perfectly honest, Jae-shin didn't want to go to his bedroom and face his wife, but there was no denying that he was tired. Sighing, he nodded and said, "Then, if it's all right with you, Abeoji, I'll take my leave. Good night."
"Good night, my son."
He hoped that Ka-hai would be out of the room or already asleep when he got there, but from the sound of her maid chattering from within told him that he wasn't going to get either of his wishes. Further, as if he wasn't unlucky enough, the women were talking about the Blue Messenger.
"That woman you bought your new hairpins from lost everything the last time the Blue Messenger attacked," Kwan-sook was saying. "Isn't that terrible?"
"It is," Ka-hai agreed.
"Master Jeung thinks it's strange because the Blue Messenger was supposed to be on the side of the people."
Jae-shin expected his wife to launch into a tirade against the Messenger and how pointless and untidy it all was, but instead she said wearily, "Can we not talk about the Blue Messenger anymore, please, Kwan-sook?"
"But, my lady, don't you care that those poor people lost everything because some criminal is on the loose? You know a lot of them personally."
"I do care, but I don't want to talk about that right now. My head hurts."
Inexplicably, that was enough to silence the maid. "Yes, my lady," she said meekly.
"Just finish braiding my hair, please."
"Yes, my lady."
That seemed like a good time to enter the room. With a perfunctory knock, he opened the door and stepped inside. Kwan-sook looked up and, noting the look on the young lord's face, hastened to do her mistress' bidding.
Ka-hai mumbled her thanks when her hair was braided. She had been lying about that headache to shut her maid up, but now that Jae-shin was in the room, she really felt as though she was getting one. She was always painfully conscious of his presence whenever he was near, but in the past that consciousness had been a sweet anticipation of what would transpire when they were alone. Now, all he did was make her nervous in a bad way because there were so many things that she needed to say but couldn't find the words. For the thousandth time since their argument, she wished that she could move to another bedroom, but couldn't bear the thought of giving the whole household fodder for gossip, or of not having her husband nearby.
She jumped when he spoke. "I couldn't help overhearing... you have a headache?" he asked, his voice like a distant rumble of thunder in the silent room.
"Yes," she replied truthfully.
"Don't you have medicine or something to make it go away?"
"Yes, but it's not so bad that I need to take some." Ka-hai rose and made her way to the bed they still shared. "I'll feel better after I get some sleep."
"Good."
She rubbed her temples as she lay down. She supposed it was a good thing that they had progressed from total silence to stilted conversations, but getting through even the briefest of exchanges was draining. "Good night," she said politely, rolling herself up in her blankets.
"Good night."
The next day, Jae-shin and In-soo went on patrol as always. With everyone around them talking about the Blue Messenger and the rumors that the recent acts of vandalism were the work of an impostor, they knew that it was important to carry on as usual, not only to try and reassure the people of the police's continued presence, but (at least in Jae-shin's mind) also avoid suspicion that they had anything to do with the attacks.
However, it was difficult for him to see the aftermath of his actions in broad daylight. After the first incidents, he began taking careful note of the places hit by the false Messenger and finding discreet ways to give them money. Most of the time, he casually dropped a string of coins as he passed a wrecked stall. Sometimes he enlisted In-soo or Yong-ha's help, and other times he even personally gave his victims some money. He didn't know whether the sums were enough to help get the vendors back in business, but at least it assuaged his guilt somewhat.
"Does your father know you're doing this?" In-soo muttered to him after they dropped off the latest donation. It had been his turn to do it and the beneficiary was a wrinkled old ajumma who had covered his face with grateful kisses.
"Yes," Jae-shin replied. "Even though it's my money, not his." Part of his mother's dowry had come to him when he turned eighteen.
"If it's your money, then you should be the one handing it out - or at least let me deal with some of the younger ajummas. My cheeks are getting chapped."
"Sorry, but you're betrothed, remember? I don't want your fiancée accusing me of leading you astray."
He laughed unrepentantly as In-soo gave him a playful snarl and told him exactly what he could do with his apology. His partner then excused himself to "see a man about a horse," leaving Jae-shin alone.
As he waited for his partner to finish with his personal business, something bounced off his head. At first, he dismissed it as some loose debris sliding off the nearby rooftops, but when a bright blue pebble fell off the brim of his hat and dropped at his feet, he was forced to pay attention.
Jae-shin bent down to pick up the pebble, which turned out to be a tightly wadded piece of paper, then looked up in time to see a dark form disappearing from his line of vision. "It's a bit more crude than an arrow, but I suppose it does the trick," he murmured, unfolding the note.
Unlike the Blue Messenger's usual missives, the writing was more straightforward and it was directed at him:
You know I didn't do any of the things I'm being accused of doing. I have to clear my name so the people will listen to me again. I'll wait for you on the rooftop next to the blacksmith's. Please come; I need your help.
He didn't show up, of course. Instead, a few days later, the false Blue Messenger showered the town with threatening messages, warning the residents of Yongsan, one of the poorer neighborhoods north of the Han river, to beware. It was a broad hint that the false Messenger would hit that area next, and a blatant invitation for the real one to make an appearance.
Working discreetly, the police comandeered an abandoned hut in the Yongsan area to serve as their base of operations. It was there that the officers working on the Blue Messenger case were gathered, going over the final preparations for the trap that they planned to spring that very night.
In-soo turned away briefly from the map he was reviewing to raise an inquiring eyebrow at Jae-shin. "Are you all right, old man?"
"I'm fine," he replied curtly as he donned the false Blue Messenger's clothing for what he hoped would be the last time. "I'm just preparing myself for what is to come, that's all."
"One would think you had done this sort of thing before," the other man observed mildly, smirking when his partner only grunted in reply.
Jae-shin knew better than to rise to In-soo's bait, however good his intentions were. Although he wouldn't be in any real danger if everything went according to plan, there were always unforeseen risks - a misstep, a wrong turn, a bystander taking the law into his own hands - that could prove fatal if he wasn't prepared for them.
Despite his best efforts, though, his thoughts persisted in straying to the wife he had left at home. Thanks to the servants, she no doubt knew by now that he would be working until very late that night, and he could just imagine Ka-hai sitting in their bedroom, singing to herself as she sewed, blissfully unaware that her husband was facing his most dangerous assignment yet.
Or perhaps, he thought, she was worried about him? Jae-shin's father was away, too, visiting a friend out in the country, and so she was left alone with just the servants and a handful of Minister Moon's personal guards to protect her. Even though Joseon was currently enjoying a period of relative peace, tensions lingered between the Noron and Soron factions. What if one of his father's enemies attacked while they were gone?
He shook his head to clear it. It was highly unlikely that such a thing would happen; and if he knew Ka-hai, she would be able to take care of herself in such an emergency. There were lots of other important things to think about in the here and now.
Suddenly, an acrid smell assailed his nostrils and Jae-shin realized that In-soo and the others were arming themselves with guns. "Are those really necessary?" he blurted out, unable to hide his apprehension. "Gunpowder isn't exactly thick on the ground, you know."
"Our instructions are to capture the Blue Messenger by any means necessary," Sergeant Ho told him.
"And if the Blue Messenger can't see us coming," one of the veteran officers added as he tied a bag of ammunition to his belt, "then she can't get away."
"Don't worry, old man," In-soo assured him cheerfully. "If we do need to shoot anyone, we'll try our best to hit the right person."
Everything proceeded according to plan.
Jae-shin, dressed as the Blue Messenger, scattered sheafs of subversive messages, smashed a few windows and set fire to trash piles and roofs. Despite the light rain that had begun to fall, the fires burned long enough to distract all but a few reckless souls from coming after him. When someone did try take him on, he overpowered them easily and went on to wreak further havoc.
Then, as they had anticipated, the real Messenger appeared to confront him. The moment she appeared, Jae-shin paused just long enough to let any eyewitnesses see that there was indeed a false Blue Messenger, then darted into a wooded area to draw her away from the police stationed nearby (and their guns).
It was there that the unforeseen risks took over.
Once he was fairly sure that they were alone, Jae-shin stopped and turned to warn the Blue Messenger to escape while she had the chance, but just managed to dodge the slash of her sword.
He had no choice but to draw his own in order to defend himself. "It's me," he said, speaking in a low voice to avoid being overheard.
She didn't seem to have heard, because she tried to cut him again.
"It's me," he said again, louder this time.
"I know!" she snapped. "And I'm going to kill you!"
Their swords met once again with a loud clang. The Blue Messenger was a competent swordswoman, but his skill far outweighed hers. Jae-shin decided to press his advantage to try and force her away from Yongsan, where most of the police were concentrated, and across the river. (The plan, of course, was for him to try and apprehend the Blue Messenger as soon as possible, but you could never completely control how these things turned out, could you?)
"I'm trying to help you!" Jae-shin hissed as he deflected another blow.
"You call this trying to help? You led me right into a trap!"
"It was the only way I could think of to get close enough to do anything useful!"
"You could have just told me about all of this!"
The rain began to pour in earnest as they burst out of the woods and into the open. Water dripped into their eyes, making it hard to see, and drenched everything it touched. Their sodden garments grew heavy and the hilts of their swords slippery, making this confrontation a truly miserable one indeed.
As he tried to force the Blue Messenger onto the bridge without losing his footing on the slick wooden slats, all Jae-shin could think was that he wanted to go home to Ka-hai. Somehow, they had managed to create that peaceful refuge he had dreamed their home would be... and yes, while their marriage hadn't started out as a love match, he believed that they were at least on their way to that point. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to be warm, dry and in the company of a wife whom he knew he could count on to be there if he needed her, quarrel or no.
Maybe he was getting too old for this kind of thing.
Suddenly, there was a loud crack and the Blue Messenger spun, her sword swinging out wildly. Jae-shin dodged.
There was another crack. The Blue Messenger dropped her sword and fell to one knee, clearly hurt. He dashed forward to help her, but with a feral gleam in her eyes, she jumped to her feet and off the bridge.
He bit back a curse as the Messenger plummeted into the river below. She had been doing a good job of following his lead, at least when he was helping her with her writing. She should have done the same tonight and given herself a chance to get out of this alive, but of course contrary females just had to make things complicated.
Filling his heart and mind with the face of the contrary female waiting for him at home, Jae-shin followed the Blue Messenger into the icy waters of the Han.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Disclaimer: The SKKS-verse belongs to the creators of Sungkyunkwan Scandal.
Technical Notes: There are a number of explanations for why Yoon-hee and Sun-joon have remained childless until now. I think any one of them works. I just chose not to go into detail here, because I'm sure Sun-joon knows better than to discuss such intimate matters with outsiders, even if they're his closest male friends.
I have no idea what the Yongsan district was called during the Joseon era, so I'm calling it by its contemporary name. I also don't know if it was a poor neighborhood at the time - I just know that it's sandwiched between the Sungkyunkwan campus and the Han river, which makes it suited to the purposes of this story.
Also, although the police in SKKS mainly used swords, bows and arrows, there was at least one scene where they used guns so Jae-shin's team is perfectly entitled to pack some heat. Besides, according to Wikipedia, there were already guns in Korea at the time.
Author's Notes: I would as always like to extend deepest thanks to min7girl, Anonymous 1 and 2, akaironoyoru, Robelyn and Dorothy for the reviews!
Edited 3/11/11 - The final scene needed fleshing out. I hope it's better now!
Chapter Fourteen
Now, I know that I'm pregnant.
Ka-hai hadn't seen a doctor yet, but after confirming with Kwan-sook (and swearing her to secrecy) it seemed that she had already missed two periods in a row. That, and the fact that she was experiencing most of the symptoms described in her medical texts, meant that a proper examination would probably be but a mere formality.
Chul-moo nudged her shoulder and she heard herself chuckle over the pounding of her heart. "I'm sorry," she told the horse, "but I can't go riding today. You're lucky I can even stand to be around horses, with the way I've been feeling."
Of course, he didn't understand any of that, and stepped closer as if to make it easier for her to mount up.
"I said I can't," she repeated, combing her fingers through his mane. "First, I have to make sure that it won't harm the baby."
Her voice caught on the last word. Up until that moment, she had never acknowledged her condition out loud. Actually speaking of the child was like uttering a magic spell that placed it physically inside her body... and irrevocably changed the way she saw herself.
And the only one to hear it was a horse. Ka-hai's eyes filled and she buried her face in Chul-moo's neck so that she could let the tears fall.
Had things been better between her and Jae-shin, she would have told him the moment she became suspicious that she was pregnant. He probably would have been shocked at first, but she was sure that he would have been overjoyed later and insisted on being the one to break the happy news to his father. Sadly, husband and wife weren't speaking to each other and he was burying himself in his work, so he didn't know that they were going to be parents.
I won't cry. I won't.
Even though she wanted nothing more than to wallow in self-pity for a little while longer, Ka-hai willed herself to stop. Despite her sadness and worry over the state of her relationship with Jae-shin, acknowledging her pregnancy meant that she now needed to be strong, put those worries aside and focus on caring for herself and the baby. It may have been begun at a difficult time in her marriage, but it was definitely wanted and it would be loved, regardless of whatever happened between her and the baby's father.
She laughed self-consciously as she wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "Omo," she muttered, "I think I'm going to be one of those terribly weepy pregnant women. However are you going to stand me?"
While Ka-hai came to terms with the fact that she was carrying a child, Jae-shin found himself caught up in his work. Having nothing else more important to occupy their time and, as always, wanting to curry favor with the king, the higher-ups at the Ministry of War had told the police in no uncertain terms that the Blue Messenger case had to be closed, and soon.
It was clear to Jae-shin that In-soo took the added pressure as a personal affront. Of course, his partner was too much of a professional to make his feelings known to his superiors; instead, he threw himself into bringing the Blue Messenger to justice as soon as possible. "Instead of tracking her down," he proposed at the staff meeting that day, "why don't we force her to come to us by setting a trap?"
"What kind of trap would that be, Detective Ha?" Sergeant Ho asked him.
"All that the Blue Messenger really does is scatter subversive messages among the people, right?" the younger man replied. "What if there was a copycat, who was doing something else, like robbery, or vandalism? Wouldn't that drive the real Blue Messenger to confront the fake and clear her name among the people?"
His partner bowed his head to hide a smirk. Although he might not know it, In-soo was taking a page right out of his father's book - Jae-shin remembered all too well how the former Minister Ha had used a fake Red Messenger to try and draw him out.
"I don't know," one of the other officers said dubiously. "Would it?"
"It should," In-soo declared. "I think that anyone, if they're sane, would feel very strongly about another person besmirching their name or reputation; and if the Blue Messenger is a woman like we suspect, then she would be more emotional and would thus fall more easily into our trap. And once we flush her out," he concluded, "then we can catch her."
Based on his own experience, Jae-shin wasn't sure if that last part was true, but he had to admit that the plan had a good chance of leading the Blue Messenger into their hands. Although the Ministry's attempts to capture him using a false Red Messenger as bait turned out to be futile, he hadn't been able to resist the temptation to go up against the impostor.
"That sounds like it's worth a try, at least," Sergeant Ho said, and scanned the officers gathered around the table. "Do we have any volunteers to pose as the Blue Messenger?"
"Actually, if I may, Sergeant," In-soo interjected mildly. "I would like to nominate Detective Moon Jae-shin as the fake Blue Messenger."
Jae-shin's head jerked up. "What?!"
The commanding officer looked surprised. "Moon Jae-shin? Why?"
"I think he's the perfect man for the job, sir," In-soo replied innocently, appearing oblivious to the dagger stares from his partner. "Detective Moon is very athletic and an excellent archer, besides. Why," he added, "he may very well have been a burglar before he became a police officer."
"A burglar!" Sergeant Ho laughed uproariously, and the other officers at the table followed his lead. "What a crazy idea! Were you ever a burglar, Detective Moon?"
"No, sir," Jae-shin answered. "As you and Detective Ha both know, I was a Sungkyunkwan scholar before I entered the force."
Eventually, the older man calmed. "I think Detective Ha is right about your abilities, though," he said as he dabbed a tear from his eye. "You would make a very convincing Blue Messenger."
There were nods of agreement all around and In-soo turned to his partner, his eyes artlessly wide. "What do you think, Jae-shin?" he asked. "Will you do your part in bringing this most wanted criminal to justice, so that we can close the case and I can finally start planning my wedding?"
While it felt as though the trap was closing in around him as well as the Blue Messenger, all that Jae-shin could do was give In-soo one last glare and grunt, "Fine. I'll do it."
"Wedding?" Yong-ha repeated, and gave an impressed whistle. "So they're finally going through with it. After more than fifteen long years of waiting, Ha In-soo is finally going to get his woman."
"Did you say fifteen years?" Sun-joon asked, puzzled.
"Yes. He's been in love with Cho-sun since he was eleven."
"Oh." The scholarly young man's face broke into a smile. "It sounds like it's definitely about time, then."
Scenting the opportunity for new business, Yong-ha turned to Jae-shin, who was picking up another arrow. "Hey, Geol-oh," he called, "maybe you could remind In-soo where Cho-sun should be going for wedding clothes?"
"Maybe," he replied. He notched the arrow and sent it into the bull's-eye, splintering the one he had sent there just a few moments ago.
It was only the three of them at the Sungkyunkwan archery range that day. To Jae-shin, that felt strange; not just because the fourth member of the Jalgeum Quartet was absent, but also that Ka-hai wasn't there. Even when she didn't join them physically, he imagined her there anyway, looking over his shoulder and poking good-natured fun at his efforts. Now, because of their quarrel, the Ka-hai in his imagination had turned away from him. It was as though she was completely absent.
Nevertheless, he carried on anyway, in order to spend some time with his friends and prepare for his part in laying the trap to capture the Blue Messenger. He was still reluctant to get involved, but decided to think of it as a possible way to help, rather than betray, her. If he got close enough, perhaps he could warn her and she could escape as he once had. He couldn't neglect his duty to serve and protect, but he couldn't turn his back on what he once was, either.
"Sa-hyung," Sun-joon said to him then, "I couldn't help but notice that we're both unaccompanied today. Why isn't Ka-hai noonim here?"
Jae-shin was at a loss for a good excuse, but as always, Yong-ha came to his rescue. "I think I saw her shopping in town on my way over here," said the flamboyantly dressed young man. "You know how women can be about their shopping - you can't pry them away from it, and it'll probably take forever."
"You would know more than us about that, sa-hyung," Sun-joon answered with a laugh.
"Now that we know where Geol-oh's wife is, how about yours, Ga-rang?" Yong-ha asked, obviously trying to divert the discussion from Ka-hai. "Why isn't Dae-mul here today?"
"That's because she's feeling unwell," the other man replied, beaming.
The cheerful announcement was met with perplexed frowns. "If she's unwell," Jae-shin wondered, "then why are you so happy?"
Sun-joon's grin broadened. "Yoon-hee isn't feeling well because she's going to have a baby."
His words fell like stones into still water. The others stood, frozen, for a moment as the news sank in.
Yong-ha was the first to recover. "It took you long enough!" he crowed, clapping the younger man on the shoulder. "How long before the baby is born?"
"It'll probably be born late in the spring." Sun-joon still hadn't stopped smiling. "Both our families are very excited."
"I'm sure they are! Congratulations!"
"Yes," Jae-shin repeated, "congratulations."
He tuned out his friends when Sun-joon started talking about pregnancy symptoms, and occupied himself with shooting more arrows. He truly was happy for his friends' good fortune, but there were other things weighing on his mind.
Of course, the proud father-to-be didn't know that. "Hey, Geol-oh sa-hyung, aren't you happy for me?" he teased. "You're not embarrassed that you let your juniors get ahead of you, are you?"
Jae-shin dredged up a laugh for his friend. "I'll be happier when you buy your seniors something to drink after we're done here," he bantered back. "And as for the other thing...." He smiled crookedly, ignoring the sympathetic look from Yong-ha. "I'll see what I can do, all right?"
If he felt bad, he thought as he and Sun-joon went back to practicing their archery, it wasn't because he was jealous of Sun-joon for winning Yoon-hee and, now, having a baby with her. Rather, he was jealous of the bond between the couple, and the fact that it was now bearing fruit. For a while, he thought that he and Ka-hai had forged that kind of connection, but sadly, he now knew that wasn't the case.
Fortunately, Jae-shin couldn't afford to waste time brooding over that, because not long after he found out about Sun-joon's impending fatherhood, In-soo's plan sprang into action.
It felt just like the old days, except this time the police were looking over his shoulder (and, he thought with some amusement as he watched a group of officers copying out the message he had drafted, he had some help writing all those damn leaflets).
Dressed as the Blue Messenger, Jae-shin took to the rooftops to scatter the false messages. Their contents clearly contradicted that of the originals, and -it had to be admitted - the writing was quite a bit better. In addition, there were also nights when he swooped down from his lofty perch like a malevolent bird of prey to wreak havoc in the marketplace, smashing walls and windows, and destroying some hapless vendors' wares.
Soon, the city was buzzing over how the Blue Messenger had gone rogue. "This means that she will be brought up on additional charges if you ever catch her, whether or not she actually did those things," Minister Moon observed as he sat with his son in his study late one evening.
"We'll catch her, don't worry," Jae-shin said briefly, not wanting to think about his part in those additional charges. "In fact, I have a feeling that it won't be long now."
It seemed that the Blue Messenger's standing with the people was, at the very least, on shaky ground. Many were denouncing her as unstable and a criminal; and while a few bravely defended her to their peers, pointing out that the rogue Messenger was clearly a fake, most of those still on her side remained silent for fear that they would be suspected of having anything to do with her.
"I hope so," his father said. "It'll be nice to put an end to all of this, won't it?"
"Yes, Abeoji," he agreed, sounding tired. He couldn't wait to conclude the investigation so that, once the case was closed, he could focus his attention on putting his home life back in order.
Minister Moon gave him an indulgent smile. (Jae-shin couldn't help wondering how he could be in such a good mood despite the tension surrounding the Blue Messenger case.) "Well, I think I should let you go to bed. You obviously need your rest."
To be perfectly honest, Jae-shin didn't want to go to his bedroom and face his wife, but there was no denying that he was tired. Sighing, he nodded and said, "Then, if it's all right with you, Abeoji, I'll take my leave. Good night."
"Good night, my son."
He hoped that Ka-hai would be out of the room or already asleep when he got there, but from the sound of her maid chattering from within told him that he wasn't going to get either of his wishes. Further, as if he wasn't unlucky enough, the women were talking about the Blue Messenger.
"That woman you bought your new hairpins from lost everything the last time the Blue Messenger attacked," Kwan-sook was saying. "Isn't that terrible?"
"It is," Ka-hai agreed.
"Master Jeung thinks it's strange because the Blue Messenger was supposed to be on the side of the people."
Jae-shin expected his wife to launch into a tirade against the Messenger and how pointless and untidy it all was, but instead she said wearily, "Can we not talk about the Blue Messenger anymore, please, Kwan-sook?"
"But, my lady, don't you care that those poor people lost everything because some criminal is on the loose? You know a lot of them personally."
"I do care, but I don't want to talk about that right now. My head hurts."
Inexplicably, that was enough to silence the maid. "Yes, my lady," she said meekly.
"Just finish braiding my hair, please."
"Yes, my lady."
That seemed like a good time to enter the room. With a perfunctory knock, he opened the door and stepped inside. Kwan-sook looked up and, noting the look on the young lord's face, hastened to do her mistress' bidding.
Ka-hai mumbled her thanks when her hair was braided. She had been lying about that headache to shut her maid up, but now that Jae-shin was in the room, she really felt as though she was getting one. She was always painfully conscious of his presence whenever he was near, but in the past that consciousness had been a sweet anticipation of what would transpire when they were alone. Now, all he did was make her nervous in a bad way because there were so many things that she needed to say but couldn't find the words. For the thousandth time since their argument, she wished that she could move to another bedroom, but couldn't bear the thought of giving the whole household fodder for gossip, or of not having her husband nearby.
She jumped when he spoke. "I couldn't help overhearing... you have a headache?" he asked, his voice like a distant rumble of thunder in the silent room.
"Yes," she replied truthfully.
"Don't you have medicine or something to make it go away?"
"Yes, but it's not so bad that I need to take some." Ka-hai rose and made her way to the bed they still shared. "I'll feel better after I get some sleep."
"Good."
She rubbed her temples as she lay down. She supposed it was a good thing that they had progressed from total silence to stilted conversations, but getting through even the briefest of exchanges was draining. "Good night," she said politely, rolling herself up in her blankets.
"Good night."
The next day, Jae-shin and In-soo went on patrol as always. With everyone around them talking about the Blue Messenger and the rumors that the recent acts of vandalism were the work of an impostor, they knew that it was important to carry on as usual, not only to try and reassure the people of the police's continued presence, but (at least in Jae-shin's mind) also avoid suspicion that they had anything to do with the attacks.
However, it was difficult for him to see the aftermath of his actions in broad daylight. After the first incidents, he began taking careful note of the places hit by the false Messenger and finding discreet ways to give them money. Most of the time, he casually dropped a string of coins as he passed a wrecked stall. Sometimes he enlisted In-soo or Yong-ha's help, and other times he even personally gave his victims some money. He didn't know whether the sums were enough to help get the vendors back in business, but at least it assuaged his guilt somewhat.
"Does your father know you're doing this?" In-soo muttered to him after they dropped off the latest donation. It had been his turn to do it and the beneficiary was a wrinkled old ajumma who had covered his face with grateful kisses.
"Yes," Jae-shin replied. "Even though it's my money, not his." Part of his mother's dowry had come to him when he turned eighteen.
"If it's your money, then you should be the one handing it out - or at least let me deal with some of the younger ajummas. My cheeks are getting chapped."
"Sorry, but you're betrothed, remember? I don't want your fiancée accusing me of leading you astray."
He laughed unrepentantly as In-soo gave him a playful snarl and told him exactly what he could do with his apology. His partner then excused himself to "see a man about a horse," leaving Jae-shin alone.
As he waited for his partner to finish with his personal business, something bounced off his head. At first, he dismissed it as some loose debris sliding off the nearby rooftops, but when a bright blue pebble fell off the brim of his hat and dropped at his feet, he was forced to pay attention.
Jae-shin bent down to pick up the pebble, which turned out to be a tightly wadded piece of paper, then looked up in time to see a dark form disappearing from his line of vision. "It's a bit more crude than an arrow, but I suppose it does the trick," he murmured, unfolding the note.
Unlike the Blue Messenger's usual missives, the writing was more straightforward and it was directed at him:
You know I didn't do any of the things I'm being accused of doing. I have to clear my name so the people will listen to me again. I'll wait for you on the rooftop next to the blacksmith's. Please come; I need your help.
He didn't show up, of course. Instead, a few days later, the false Blue Messenger showered the town with threatening messages, warning the residents of Yongsan, one of the poorer neighborhoods north of the Han river, to beware. It was a broad hint that the false Messenger would hit that area next, and a blatant invitation for the real one to make an appearance.
Working discreetly, the police comandeered an abandoned hut in the Yongsan area to serve as their base of operations. It was there that the officers working on the Blue Messenger case were gathered, going over the final preparations for the trap that they planned to spring that very night.
In-soo turned away briefly from the map he was reviewing to raise an inquiring eyebrow at Jae-shin. "Are you all right, old man?"
"I'm fine," he replied curtly as he donned the false Blue Messenger's clothing for what he hoped would be the last time. "I'm just preparing myself for what is to come, that's all."
"One would think you had done this sort of thing before," the other man observed mildly, smirking when his partner only grunted in reply.
Jae-shin knew better than to rise to In-soo's bait, however good his intentions were. Although he wouldn't be in any real danger if everything went according to plan, there were always unforeseen risks - a misstep, a wrong turn, a bystander taking the law into his own hands - that could prove fatal if he wasn't prepared for them.
Despite his best efforts, though, his thoughts persisted in straying to the wife he had left at home. Thanks to the servants, she no doubt knew by now that he would be working until very late that night, and he could just imagine Ka-hai sitting in their bedroom, singing to herself as she sewed, blissfully unaware that her husband was facing his most dangerous assignment yet.
Or perhaps, he thought, she was worried about him? Jae-shin's father was away, too, visiting a friend out in the country, and so she was left alone with just the servants and a handful of Minister Moon's personal guards to protect her. Even though Joseon was currently enjoying a period of relative peace, tensions lingered between the Noron and Soron factions. What if one of his father's enemies attacked while they were gone?
He shook his head to clear it. It was highly unlikely that such a thing would happen; and if he knew Ka-hai, she would be able to take care of herself in such an emergency. There were lots of other important things to think about in the here and now.
Suddenly, an acrid smell assailed his nostrils and Jae-shin realized that In-soo and the others were arming themselves with guns. "Are those really necessary?" he blurted out, unable to hide his apprehension. "Gunpowder isn't exactly thick on the ground, you know."
"Our instructions are to capture the Blue Messenger by any means necessary," Sergeant Ho told him.
"And if the Blue Messenger can't see us coming," one of the veteran officers added as he tied a bag of ammunition to his belt, "then she can't get away."
"Don't worry, old man," In-soo assured him cheerfully. "If we do need to shoot anyone, we'll try our best to hit the right person."
Everything proceeded according to plan.
Jae-shin, dressed as the Blue Messenger, scattered sheafs of subversive messages, smashed a few windows and set fire to trash piles and roofs. Despite the light rain that had begun to fall, the fires burned long enough to distract all but a few reckless souls from coming after him. When someone did try take him on, he overpowered them easily and went on to wreak further havoc.
Then, as they had anticipated, the real Messenger appeared to confront him. The moment she appeared, Jae-shin paused just long enough to let any eyewitnesses see that there was indeed a false Blue Messenger, then darted into a wooded area to draw her away from the police stationed nearby (and their guns).
It was there that the unforeseen risks took over.
Once he was fairly sure that they were alone, Jae-shin stopped and turned to warn the Blue Messenger to escape while she had the chance, but just managed to dodge the slash of her sword.
He had no choice but to draw his own in order to defend himself. "It's me," he said, speaking in a low voice to avoid being overheard.
She didn't seem to have heard, because she tried to cut him again.
"It's me," he said again, louder this time.
"I know!" she snapped. "And I'm going to kill you!"
Their swords met once again with a loud clang. The Blue Messenger was a competent swordswoman, but his skill far outweighed hers. Jae-shin decided to press his advantage to try and force her away from Yongsan, where most of the police were concentrated, and across the river. (The plan, of course, was for him to try and apprehend the Blue Messenger as soon as possible, but you could never completely control how these things turned out, could you?)
"I'm trying to help you!" Jae-shin hissed as he deflected another blow.
"You call this trying to help? You led me right into a trap!"
"It was the only way I could think of to get close enough to do anything useful!"
"You could have just told me about all of this!"
The rain began to pour in earnest as they burst out of the woods and into the open. Water dripped into their eyes, making it hard to see, and drenched everything it touched. Their sodden garments grew heavy and the hilts of their swords slippery, making this confrontation a truly miserable one indeed.
As he tried to force the Blue Messenger onto the bridge without losing his footing on the slick wooden slats, all Jae-shin could think was that he wanted to go home to Ka-hai. Somehow, they had managed to create that peaceful refuge he had dreamed their home would be... and yes, while their marriage hadn't started out as a love match, he believed that they were at least on their way to that point. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to be warm, dry and in the company of a wife whom he knew he could count on to be there if he needed her, quarrel or no.
Maybe he was getting too old for this kind of thing.
Suddenly, there was a loud crack and the Blue Messenger spun, her sword swinging out wildly. Jae-shin dodged.
There was another crack. The Blue Messenger dropped her sword and fell to one knee, clearly hurt. He dashed forward to help her, but with a feral gleam in her eyes, she jumped to her feet and off the bridge.
He bit back a curse as the Messenger plummeted into the river below. She had been doing a good job of following his lead, at least when he was helping her with her writing. She should have done the same tonight and given herself a chance to get out of this alive, but of course contrary females just had to make things complicated.
Filling his heart and mind with the face of the contrary female waiting for him at home, Jae-shin followed the Blue Messenger into the icy waters of the Han.