A/N: *caugh* Yeeeaaah... Sorry? For the late update, I mean. Recent reviews reminded me, that there was something I needed to do. XD 

 Well, enjoy the new chapter. Hope, you're still interested. *nervous giggle*  

Chinu – the so called town of warriors was huge. What had started as a camp for bringing the Tsuchimikado warriors back and forth between the Crystal Island and Tsuchimikado as well as serving them as a source of supply, was almost a city on its own, stretching over the eastern coast.

He felt like he rode all day, to finally get here.

Luckily this time, no incident kept him away from his goal. Yet, the sun stood high already. He shouldn't have spend time to devour the breakfast the maiden had left in front of the stables for him. But he hadn't wanted to appear ungrateful. And so he dug into the meal, regaining the last bit of his strength the day before had taken from him. He was still wary about the maiden but he was helpless against her mercy. If she chose to betray him, he had no power against it.

With the hood over his head, Shimon rode into the town of Chinu and made haste to get to the harbor. He didn't want to waste another portion of his time to get to Crystal Island.

Now, he only had to get onto one of the boats that shipped warriors to the battle front. There he would try to get more information on the Crystal and find a way to split it. It sounded easy but Shimon couldn't ignore the fact that the final point in his plan was still blurry. Yet Shimon told himself to believe in his success. A man shall rather be a fool with beliefs than a fool without. Words Seigen-dono had taught.

He couldn't back down for the sake of his family and his country. He wouldn't rest until he reached the goal of his journey.

There was not a thing that men weren't able to destroy or harm. Not even the Crystal could be invulnerable.

Some would may call his act blasphemy. Splitting the Crystal was the same as attacking the source of all life. For Shimon it was the fulfillment of the sacred words of the legend. He didn't want to anger their god, he wanted to help the prophecy to come true, according to its ultimate will.

But he would need to be careful, when he made his research. If someone would find out about his plans, he might be burned at stake, no matter his true identity. Nobody would listen to his arguments if he told them about his point of view. They would still call his plan to be blaspheme and sinful. At the same time, Shimon believed they all had their sins. Only the Crystal should decide about life because it was giving it in the first place. Yet, this didn't count for the enemies of Narukami.

Peace. The very idea seemed to be a dream. For a thousand years people had lived for the Crystal, fought for the Crystal and died for the Crystal. Motivated by their fears, their anger and their hate as well as the belief that if they acted accordingly to the legend, it would one day become true. This – this mission of his was the only way to gain peace.

With these thoughts he fed himself on the courage, he needed to continue with the next of his steps.

Ignoring the hustle around him, he headed directly to the harbor. Beside him he spotted the fisher boats trolling around at bay, collecting their next catches of the day. His eyes travelled along the harbor and found a few big boats. Some of which he assumed to be boats to bring the supply to the camp on Crystal Island and some to transport the soldiers.

He had no idea which was the right one.

Clicking his tongue, he wondered, what he could do now. He hadn't thought about this before.

The wise thing to do, would be observing. The ships looked empty right now.

Looking around he saw a row of buildings, sheds and huts, and a market place to his left. To his right was a big public place with a fireplace and a fountain.

He chose to go to the fountain and take a sip, while observing the harbor.

Yet, not a thing happened at the harbor, while he drank the fresh water from the fountain. Was it usually like this? He would have thought, ships would head out to Crystal Island everyday. Had they been send off already, while he had been on his way from Shiromi to Chinu?

Just as he straightened his posture he heard the sound of armor rustling behind him accompanied by the crunching sound of footsteps on the sandy ground and voices.

He bend down again, to take another sip.

A dark, male voice complained, "Don't know, why we have to deal with this now. Such a drag."

"Right? It is pretty convenient. Just when we were supposed to head out to the island, the prince has gone missing," the other one nosily said.

The two warriors walked past Shimon, who still acted, as if he was thirsty, hiding himself in a bend down position with his hood falling over head.

The man with the dark voice snorted. "Which one is it anyway?"

"They said the younger one," Shimon could see them now. The one with the nosy voice looked at the other man with a shook of his shoulder.

"Hn. I don't think, he would be here of all the places. If I were a rich child with my ass stuck up full with money, I wouldn't be here of all the places."

The other guy laughed. His nosy tone transformed the laugh into a high pitched and broken noise, "True that. I would buy myself a brothel and make women bend to me all day."

A dark chuckle came from the other at the bad joke and before he nodded his head towards the boats. "Anyway, I hope, he is found soon. I can't wait to go back to the island and repay those Narukami bastards for what they did to my brother in-law."

Shimon waited for them to pass before he rose his body in an upright posture. The news that Prince Shimon disappeared had surely traveled fast.

This was bad news. The boat wouldn't set sail today and he was searched for. He could wait for the next day in hope that she ship would finally head for Crystal Island. But there was no guarantee, that they wouldn't search him, if he would even manage to stay unrecognized until then.

Why were they searching here already? Could it possibly be, that the maiden in Shiromi had sold his secret?

No, they weren't searching this area particularly and they weren't doing it like they would do it, if they believed him to be here for certain. She couldn't possibly have told them, otherwise they would have known the road he was heading. And that road was leading here, to Chinu.

More importantly, he had to devise another plan. And fast. Staying in town would be too dangerous.

Walking back into the direction of the harbor, he opted to hide himself on one of the boats in hope they weren't searched and the chosen one, would be the boat to depart to the island first. The chances weren't high. Three of the big boats lay at anchor. If he was unlucky, it would take him days until he was on the right ship. He had lost too much time already on his journey.

Letting his gaze swipe over the landing stages and boats he tried to think about an alternative plan. Something. There had to be something else he could do.

And then his gaze fell onto a small boat. A tiny rowing boat, hidden beneath the large shadow of the other boats.

It felt like an invitation. One he wasn't totally averse to.

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"That's it," she said and turned around to her companion, standing on front of her on the landing stage. A worried expression was planted on his face, clear as day.

Mayura smiled at him, trying to show him some of her resolve. She wasn't going to give up now. If she wanted for things to change she had to get active. She wouldn't wimp out. She wouldn't give up without trying. With pure honesty she told him, "Thank you, Jinya-sama. For everything you have done."

He raised an eyebrow and smiled generously, "It was an honor."

She looked at the boat to her side. It was big. At least twenty feet long. Currently men were loading several crates onto the deck. Soon it would start its journey over the sea.

She glanced at the monk again, who stood in front of her gracefully. Some day she would repay him for his kindness, once when she returned to Narukami and took her seat as princess again. Not only had he presented her a new perspective on the war as well as the Crystal but had saved her and showed her kindness among hate, hope among misery.

With a nod towards him, she said, "You can leave now. From here on I will manage alone."

"I hope you will gain what you seek. Let me give you some last word before we part." A slight frown formed on his head and he continued, "The Crystal makes no difference between people of Tsuchimikado and Narukami, between lord or servant, merchant or farmer. It's the mother of us all. Men chose to fight. They forgot about the history of mankind, and how we are all descendants of the Crystal's child."

She felt the truth in his words as they poured into her soul reflecting on the core of her. This was the ideal she had feasted on when she started her journey, the belief she had grown up with and desperately clutched on, the moment she had called upon her courage to free the prisoners. With her head help up high, she told him, "They will remember and be united once again."

Without a sign of shame Jinya-sama bowed in front of her, surprising her to no end. Worried Mayura looked around if someone noticed this strange scene of a monk bowing to a commoner, but luckily no one seemed to pay them attention.

When the monk rose again, his eyes were filled with tears. He took a step towards her and whispered, "I must say, I admire your strength, Hime-sama."

Mayura gasped before closing her mouth with a smile. So he had known, who she really was, huh? She had a hunch but now she knew, that he had recognized her indeed. She was glad, that he did not question her motif and didn't force her to return to her home. She hoped, she wouldn't disappoint the trust she received, "Thank you, Jinya-sama, I was glad to have met you."

He nodded at her. "Be aware. Most of us follow the path of the Crystal. But there are those, who want to abuse its powers and take it for themselves."

"May the Crystal guide you," she said the words of departing and for the first time in her life, they truly came from heart.

"And you. I pray for your safe return." With that he turned around and walked away. Soon the sight of his dark robes was swallowed by the crowd at the harbor.

While she waited for the man, who she was supposed to meet, she thought about the things she had experienced on her travel so far. If it hadn't been for Jinya-sama, she would never have reached this step. She would make up to him by reaching on without him.

If she ever was to marry, she hoped, it would be a man like him – only of her age. A man she could trust. A kind man. A man, who was wise enough to look through things. A man, she could give her heart to without regret. Not a man she was forced to marry, but a man she wanted to marry. Someday she'd liked to meet that man.

For the first time it dawned on her, that she would meet her so called fiance at her destination. She wondered, what he was like. A kind man, her father had said, but too soft on the inside. Yet, coming from her father, this had to mean nothing. He said such things about most people, even if he thought highly of them.

However, calling off the engagement had grown into the smallest motif for her discussion with the feudal lord of Tsuchimikado. Bringing peace had been important to her before, but after her experience within the world outside the estate it had risen in significance.

She let her gaze shift to the sea.

Beyond the horizon lay her destination.

Tsuchimikado, the country her people had fought against for generations.

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A/N: What do you think? What might happen?