"O dear!" Hanaka cried, seeing some poor stranger on the shore. She ran to the strange man, his feet licked by the incoming tide, and knelt beside him, noting with no small curiosity the large ears and the horn. "What. What's wrong with him? What is he?" She gently patted his cheek, trying to wake him. "Mister? Mister wake up!" She called. Finally, she gave up, and began dragging him away from the shoreline. She was shocked by how light he was, but then noted how thin he was as well.

She pulled him up next to the tree line of the forest by the shore, letting his face fall in a bed of soft flowers and grass. Hoping he would be safe while she left, she ran quickly to her village to find someone who could help.

Reaching the village, she ran first to the old wise woman, Miwako, and her son, Runaku. She was good friends with Miwako, and she had a crush on Runaku. However, in her panic, she didn't even notice his striking face when she ran up to him and Miwako at the plaza. "Miwako, Miwako, I found a strange man on the shore, not far from here. He was passed out and wouldn't wake up and he looks hurt, and like he hasn't eaten in forever!"

Miwako looked somewhat alarmed, but used to calming people, and so said, "Hush now child, calm down. Lets get over to my house so we can get some herbs for your strange man and then we'll get there quick as we can to help." Hanaka nodded, racing up the street towards Miwako's house, then back to Miwako and Runaku, then towards the house again, impatient, worried about the stranger.

Having reached the house and gotten all the herbs Miwako thought would or could be necessary they went quickly, following Hanaka's eager lead. On the way, she continued to describe the man. "He has curly red hair, and he looks really skinny, and like he was strong once but not anymore 'cuz of not eating! And there's stains and dirt and stuff all over him, on his clothes, and stuff tangled in his hair and smudged on his face and stuff, and he's all cut up and bruised all over and it looks like his skin is kind of pale, but it's hard to tell with all the wounds and grime. And he's got huge droopy ears and a horn!"

Finally they reached him and Miwako gasped, shocked. "Come on now, this poor fellow is in desperate shape!" She checked his pulse and breathing right off, relieved to find both, but upset by the inconsistency in both.

She began looking for the worst, setting his left arm, which apparently broke and started growing back funny, in a rough splint. She rubbed various creams and poultices over different inflictions, constantly double-checking pulse and breath. Each slowly became slightly less erratic, as Hanaka and Runaku watched silently. Miwako took a bottle of water they had, luckily, brought, and slowly tipped it down the man's throat, being carefully not to give him so much at once he choked.

Slowly the man's eyes opened, revealing glossy blue orbs that refused to focus. Tears gathered in the corners, and the man said, "I'm not dead," his voice rasping horribly.

Miwako brushed his bangs from his eyes, and whispered, "No, you're not dead. But are you alive either?"

She did not expect a reply, but got one anyhow. "No. Not without Touya. I'll never be alive again." Hanaka felt tears drop from her on eyes, at the stranger's hoarse words.

A/N Wow, twice, crying at Jin's predicament. hmmm. not as much on this chappie as my last Jin chappie though. Yup.