The island was far smaller than it looked from a distance. Between high cliffs and steep slopes, there was only one good place to moor boats, a small bay between tall trees and a mountain that reached out to sea.

It was impossible to approach from the coast without being seen and the other sides of the island also seemed difficult to capture.

The locals had probably thought the same thing, because the only jetty for mooring was bent between rocks on the side facing the open sea.

Waves crashed against the bow as wood finally met wood. With an exhausted groan, you dropped the oars into the boat. Awakened from his sleep, Jin winced. His eyes opened a crack to see where you had come to a halt.

The blood on his face had dried, dark spots had formed. He looked as battered as you felt. It still hurt, burned when you swallowed. It felt as if your throat had collapsed. You rummaged through your bag.

Most of the medicine was gone, only a few bottles left and hardly any of them were painkillers. Your mother had taught you that some things didn't have to relieve pain but were used for healing. For a burning dry feeling in your throat, tea and honey were sufficient medicine. You had neither.

Sighing, you lowered your head and wiped your face. Pain exploded in your cheek at the touch and you winced. A hiss squeezed out from between your lips.

"That's going to swell.", Jin tiredly heaved himself into a sitting position and placed a hand on your cheek.

Again it felt like someone had hit you in the face with a stone. Dark spots were already appearing on the (S/C) skin. Bruised flesh was swelling.

The iron chain had hit you directly in the face and back. Now that the adrenaline was slowly wearing off, your whole body began to ache as if you had broken every bone in your body.

Taking a deep breath, you let your eyes fall shut. It took you a moment before you managed to get out of the boat and secure it to the jetty. Old wood creaked under your every step. Algae had collected on the stilts but the rest seemed reasonably new, marks of regular use had made grooves and notches.

It smelled of the sea and fish. Nets that had been laid over wooden racks to dry swayed in the gentle breeze.

"People live here.", you said as a gentle wind swept strands of your (H/C) hair into your face.

With your help, Jin also made it onto the footbridge. Clenching his teeth, he pressed a hand to his side and took a shaky breath. Your eyes fell on him, but he just shook his head with a grin.

"Let's look for someone first.", he said out of breath.

You wanted to help him but he took a step back.

"If you can't then..."

"We're so close. You're... almost there. Let's not waste a second now. You've helped me so many times before, I'm sure you'll be able to do it again.", he laughed quietly to himself. "But not now. Go, Amaterasu. Find what you're looking for."

You stood still, petrified. The sound of the waves beat gently and evenly against the cliffs. Even the wind seemed to sing a song that the leaves of the trees sang back.

What were you really looking for?

For an infinitely long time you had believed it was your mother. And if not her, then others who had fled in the night. But all the years that had passed would never guarantee that she was really still alive.

What if she wasn't in this place at all?

What if you were wrong?

Doubt choked your throat at this important moment. You had travelled so far, you had suffered so much. Now the destination was within reach.

And yet.

You could hardly say what it really was. Fear mingled with excitement and hesitation in your chest. Jin seemed to notice. The brown of his eyes sparkled warmly as he placed his hands on your shoulders.

"Even if this is not the place, we have a great journey behind us.", he kissed you on the forehead, like a man who loved someone more than life itself. "Nothing was in vain. You said it yourself. If they're not here, then you'll just keep travelling."

He didn't say it out loud, but something inside him fervently hoped that it would be so. Because if this wasn't the destination, if this wasn't a harbour to settle down in, then that would mean your journey would continue.

And you would still be together. Just the two of you.

Feelings of guilt plagued him but at the same time he couldn't help but think selfishly. His grip on you tightened.

He knew like everyone else that this was an important moment, something that had been plaguing your mind for years and for which you finally needed an answer.

But at the same time, the heart in his chest beat so hard with fear that it ached. He could lose you forever on this island. Or he would have to give up something so much bigger than himself.

Taking a deep breath, you stared at him, your eyes meeting.

"Jin...", your hands came to rest on his face, holding him close to you. "Thank you. For everything."

He smiled but there was something sad in his eyes.

"You saved my life.", he said. "I owed it to you."

Swallowing hard, you nodded. Then you kissed him gently. It was a bittersweet taste, like a farewell and yet a reunion.

Although you hadn't known each other for long, it felt like you were being separated from a friend. He sighed softly against your lips and as you parted, his hands twitched as if to hold you back one last time.

"I would have saved you too if you hadn't been Lord Sakai.", you said as you turned to climb the stone steps that led up the mountain. "I picked you up on the beach because you seemed like someone worth saving."

As you glanced over your shoulder, he smiled again.

"I really wanted to be worth it.", he whispered.

"You were... everything I needed. And I am eternally grateful to you for that."