A hoarse breath escaped your lips as the trees finally opened up and the foot of a mountain appeared. Fields stretched out between clear streams.

Flowers grew in red bloom. A gentle wind caressed her hair. Something else came with this wind. Humidity. But it wasn't the kind of mist or rain. It was warm and gentle, like the vapours from a hot bath.

"Hmmm.", smiling, Jin closed his eyes and lifted his nose to the wind. "Can you feel that?"

Your eyes found him. Goose bumps spread across your arms. He was really handsome. The hairs of his beard had grown, sharp edges softened. Even though he wasn't old, he seemed mature.

"What's that?", you weren't sure whether you were asking him or yourself.

Something pulsed in your chest, warmed at the sight of him. You liked his face. It was like a torch in the dark. When he looked at you, he smiled, warmly and almost lovingly. As if he was looking at a friend. The beat of your heart quickened. You wanted to be his friend.

"These are the vapours from hot springs.", he made Nobu ride on the road of dust and earth.

"Hot springs?", you tilted your head in confusion.

Nobu picked up a faster pace, running with the wind and letting his black mane blow. Flowers bloomed.

"Don't you know any hot springs?", Jin's hair blew like his stallion's mane.

"No. All there was on the ships was sea and disease."

Jin snorted. All at once he grabbed your hands and led them to the reins. When you grabbed hold, he let go and leaned against you with a deep sigh.

You took the lead, letting Nobu run as freely as he demanded. Dirt and rainwater splashed up under the thundering hooves.

Small shadows woke up in the distance. Wind chased through the fields. Houses built of wood grew out of the earth.

"You'll like it.", the expression on Jin's face brightened as you rode through the gate of the small village.

Frowning, you watched as he slid off the horse and held out his arms to receive you. You eyed him sceptically. Nothing had bled through the bandages yet, so everything must still be stitched up as it should be.

Nevertheless, you couldn't help thinking that he had to take painkillers to be able to move normally. So you decide to slide off the horse's back on your own.

Protected by Nobu's body, you looked around, pulled a hood over your (H/C) hair and sighed.

"It would be better if I kept a low profile.", you said, handing the reins to him. "Can we put Nobu somewhere?"

Jin nodded.

"There should be a stable.", he fished a few coins out of his pocket. "Leave that to me. You go on ahead."

He dropped a few coins into your hand with a clink. You looked at the strange-looking money. They were round coins with a square hole in the centre. The metal shone like bronze but was as heavy as iron. It was definitely not gold.

You looked around. The village wasn't very big, just a few houses for farmers and stables where farm animals lived. A mountain rose steeply into the air, on the edge of which the village had been built. The walls were neither high nor made of stone.

The Mongols had not yet reached this place, but if they did, there would be no defence. This was a place for ordinary people. As a samurai Jin even made an impression. Not to mention you.

"Where to?", you asked with raised eyebrows.

He raised a finger with a grin.

"To where the steam comes from.", he said and disappeared with a wink.

Completely dumbfounded, you stayed behind, your hand still tightly closed around the coins.

"To... the springs?", you frowned and looked around again. "But... we don't have to..."

Before you could finish the sentence, Jin had disappeared with Nobu. You looked thoughtfully at the shimmering coins in your hand.

You didn't know the value of Japan's currency. Even less did you have any idea how much something was worth. The Mongols had given you most of whatever you had needed to do your work.

You had stolen everything else. Even the sword on your belt. And when you got right down to it, Jin too. He was a special kind of stolen property.

Lost in thought, you strolled along the small street that meandered between the houses. Plants you had never seen before grew out of the ground, tubes of green holt with leaves so thin they looked sharp.

Eyes watched you. It was obvious that you looked like an outsider, a traveller. You had no place in this village. It didn't help that you wore your hood pulled so low over your face that you couldn't even see the beginnings of your eyes.

With every step you took, the trees grew denser and denser. Red flowers grew between wet stones and wood. The vapour obscured your vision. Gentle touches caressed your cheeks, making your face seem less dry. A strangely strong odour hung in the air.

"Sulphur?", you looked up to see the pools.

Hot water bubbled in these very stone pools. They all looked so natural, created by the seam. Only small bridges, painted red, connected some places.

There were no people visiting the hot springs at this hour. They were all out in the fields, working. You stopped in front of a large house. It was beautiful, with a black roof and red pillars. Two silhouettes moved behind the paper doors.

Out of politeness, you knocked before kneeling down on the top step. One of the shadows moved behind the door. The door opened.

"A traveller?", the woman looking down at you was old, dressed in a red kimono with elaborate decorations.

She had pinned her black hair up in a hairstyle. You bowed politely.

"I'm looking for a place to spend the night.", you hoped your Japanese sounded good enough not to attract immediate attention.

She looked you up and down with a raised eyebrow.

"Alone?", she asked.

"Two. A man is with me."

Her eyes narrowed.

"We only accept married travellers. If you are travelling as two, you will have to look for something else. We don't have single rooms."

You thought for a moment. The money Jin had given you couldn't be enough for two rooms. And even if you did, she wouldn't give you a room.

He would certainly understand. With a smile, you raised your head so that she could see it.

"But we're married.", you said. "Please. We only need the room for one night."

"Hmm.", she frowned. "Well..."