From the back of a horse, the world seemed different. Flowers of all colours flew past you like a river. The crowns of the trees seemed close enough to touch.

Nobu galloped as if the stallion had never done anything else. The black of his mane danced in the wind while Jin held the reins with a firm hand.

You didn't realise how much time had passed as the trees grew further and further apart in your line of sight and plains opened up, covered in golden grain. The soft stalks waved in the wind like the rays of the sun.

The sky was still blue when you had left the mountain far behind you. With your eyes closed and a smile on your lips, you lift your nose to the wind.

"It smells of salt.", you said.

Jin laughed softly.

"The sea can't be far away.", he gave Nobu a little more rein to lean back.

His back bumped against your chest. Your heartbeat pounded against his spine.

All of a sudden, a heavy feeling filled your chest. Jin seemed to notice, his gaze wandered over his shoulder to you.

Since the Inn, he had tied his hair back into a small knot at the back of his head. Only a few strands fell into his face. Lost in thoughts, you tugged  one of them behind his ear.

"You're not with me.", he remarked with a gentle expression in his eyes and let Nobu slow down.

Snorting, the stallion fell into a calm trot. The grain in the fields was pushed to the ground by a gust of wind, rustled and then rose up again. The air was dry and warm.

Nevertheless, you felt goose bumps growing on your arms. It's not far to the coast, you realised as a thin strip of blue appeared on the horizon. The other side of the Tsushima coast.

Have you been travelling for so long?

You felt as if you had only set off on this journey yesterday. As if Jin had only escaped death a few hours ago.

You had been riding from the battlefield for a good two days, hiding with Yuriko and Tanaka for a few days. It must have been at least a week since you met. Strange, considering how familiar the samurai was to you by now.

Taking a deep breath, Jin let the horse run even slower. Now he just trotted along, his tail swinging in the wind.

"What will you do if you don't find what you're looking for?", he asked suddenly.

Torn from your thoughts, you looked up at him.

"What do you think?", you smiled. "I'll keep looking."

His grip on the reins tightened.

"What if you never find it? If you never get to where you want to be?"

Thinking, you had to remain silent for a moment. Your fingers curled at his waist, continuing to grip the fabric of his top as if it could stop him from vanishing into thin air.

You had already been betrayed once by a man because you had trusted too much. Still, it felt like he was expecting an answer that would ease his own burden.

Sighing, you put your chin on his shoulder. Your bodies were so close, but your souls were even closer.

"What kind of answer do you want from me, samurai?", you asked with a teasing grin. "That I will leave everything behind to fall with you in the war for Tsushima?"

Jin stiffened. Then he shook his head. Small strands of black hair danced around his head like feathers. Or did they snake around every morsel he loathed.

Although last night had been quite clear, you wondered if he liked you. Not just as a woman who could give him a pleasant moment, but also as a person.

Would it be possible for the two of you to be friends?

Neither the war nor the Mongol invasion would allow you to find an answer to that question.

"You gave me a second chance.", his voice was rough, thoughtful when he finally broke the silence. "And you are right. My honour will not save this island from fire and ruin. The Mongols... are just not like that. So I won't stand a chance if I'm like that."

You frowned.

"If you fight fire with fire, you'll cause an inferno, samurai."

He snorted.

"The Mongols are not fire. I am not a flame. We are only men. And men die when they drink poison and have daggers thrust into their backs."

You had to listen up at those words.

"I thought...", you were being tongue-tied, no word should sound like a reproach. "What about your honour as a warrior? As a samurai?"

This time he had to think longer. Eyebrows drawn together and a dark shadow on his face, he let Nobu come to a halt at the top of a hill.

Now you could see the coast in the distance and a village on it. Tiny boats sailed across the sea while the fields shone in lush gold. Jin took a deep breath, closed his eyes and lifted his chin. Salty wind stroked his hair and made you tremble.

"My honour... I can restore it. Or die with honour.", he finally said. "But my people. Japan. When it falls, there is no going back. No one can bring the dead back to life. It's just a small sacrifice for all of us."

You stared at him with half-open lips.

What should you have said in response?

Nothing you could have said would have been anywhere near as noble as the plan he had worked out over the past few days.

And despite everything, the thought that he might die one day gave you nothing but nausea and stomach ache. You didn't want him to give his life.

Laughing softly, you lowered your head. Your fingers detached themselves from his clothes.

"How incredibly selfish...", you whispered to yourself.

"Hm?", he looked at you over his shoulder.

But you just shook your head.

"Nothing.", you gave him a sad smile. "I... don't have the same impressive motivation as you."

He exhaled deeply.

"What if I really ask you to stay with me?", he asked suddenly.

A shiver crawled down your spine.

"I don't know... I'm... afraid. Giving my life for something... someone... it scares me to believe I could love this deeply."

His expression became sad.

"That's all right. Me too."