Gi-gan's ships rocked and swayed from the wild, foamy waves of gray. Black clouds raced across the skies like a startled herd, their presence suggesting an oncoming storm. Strong gusts of wind rattled the windows and whistled through the cracks of the captain's door. Wrapped up in a shawl, Gi-gan shivered before setting down her writing brush.

"Drat this weather," she muttered, rubbing her cold fingers against each other. Jae-ha, who had been reading in the meager light of the candle on her desk, stood up and brought the iron brazier a little bit closer to her side. Gi-gan looked at him gratefully and held her hands above the glowing embers.

"Would you like your gloves, captain?" Jae-ha asked, starting for the cupboard. Gi-gan shook her head.

"Don't bother, they're not here," she said. "Tell me something funny instead. These winter days're as boring as ever."

"They're the same for me, captain," he replied, returning to his seat. "The snow means no visiting girls, so I've got no gossip, no anecdotes—none that we haven't heard."

Gi-gan nodded thoughtfully. Indeed she had heard every joke known by her pirates at least twice, even the ones told first by her.

"What are you reading?" she asked after a moment of silence. Jae-ha glanced at the cover of the book and said, "Just that old book of poems, captain, the one you bought when I told you I was bored in the winter. Remember?"

"You were such a cute kid back then," Gi-gan sighed. "And now…" she paused for a moment before laughing. "Never mind, at least you were cute then."

"Your cold words make my heart all the warmer, captain," Jae-ha said with a grin. "To think you've told them to me and me alone…"

"Snot-nosed brat," Gi-gan retorted, picking up her brush again. "Take the brazier away, will you? It might burn my skirt."

As Jae-ha did, he glanced uneasily at the snow sifting through the cracks in the door. The snowstorm had started. He hoped that Sen, the fool who refused to stay inside, was already sitting safely in her tiny cabin.

...

Ba-luo paced up and down nervously, his brows furrowed deeply. It would be too easy to get lost in such weather and then be found only as a corpse in the spring… but of course, she knew better than that, of course she stayed at that inn she mentioned she was going to, Sen was no fool. Only when she finally climbed down the steps leading to the deck, bundled in thick clothing and covered with snow, did his heart feel at ease once more.

"You're back," he laughed, taking her gloved hand in his, not minding the bitter cold burning his warm fingers. Sen glanced at him in surprise while his comrades who had been watching him in confusion, now came to a realization and exchanged looks of understanding. Completely unaware of their reactions due to his immense relief, Ba-luo went on, dusting the snow off her clothes, "Was it worth going out? Really, making others worry so much. Come, sit down. Would you like some tea? Some wine?"

"I'd like to take off my coat," Sen replied with a smile, squeezing his hand. Ba-luo flushed red.

"Of course, of course," he said, nodding. "Did you get frostbite? I'll get some snow - just wait you here."

Sen watched helplessly as he rushed off, carrying a small pail in his hand. Her eyes scanned his departing figure and found it satisfactory. Glancing at the pirates, she said, "Tell him to come to my room," before leaving. The men glanced at each other, eyebrows raised.

"Does anyone have beeswax?" one of them asked after a moment. "To stop up my ears. Just in case."

"Y'know how much that shit costs?" a comrade of his replied, wrinkling his nose. "I ain't sharing with no one even if I'd have some. Suffer with the rest of us."

"At least something exciting's going on," a third pirate added, somewhat hopefully. "I'm bored out of my skull. Let's listen, something fun'll happen."

Feeling that the days had been somewhat dull herself, Sen would have been lying if she said her intentions had differed from what the pirates were suspecting. She found that it wouldn't hurt to take a lover in the long winter months. The first sign that her plans would fall through was the appearance of Jae-ha in her room before Ba-luo even came back with the snow.

"I'm so glad you're safe," he said, pulling her into a hug. Sen stiffened before patting his back.

"Of course, of course, I wouldn't think of getting hurt," she muttered. "Especially not if it meant worrying you."

"And the captain as well," Jae-ha went on. "She had me bring you a brazier and a rug to warm your feet."

"I see she made sure to warm me up with a bit of alcohol as well," Sen said, glancing at the small bottle and cups standing next to her bed. Jae-ha shrugged.

"That was my idea," he told her. After a few seconds passed, he added, "The captain doesn't really need to know."

It was then that Ba-luo burst in, the pail in his hands filled with snow. He paused for a moment when he noticed Jae-ha and he set the bucket down.

"Oh, you're here?" he said, beaming. "Could you help? I've never really treated frostbite before, and I was kind of scared, but if you're here"

"I can do it," Sen replied. Ba-luo shook his head.

"I'm sure your hands are frozen too," he said, pushing the pail towards Jae-ha with his foot. "I'll make soup meanwhile, yeah?"

And before anyone could have stopped him, he set off for the kitchens. Sen made a face. Could she have misunderstood? Jae-ha looked at her with innocent eyes, unaware of the situation.

"See? I told you he doesn't dislike you," he said, helping her out of her coat. "All you need to do is meet him outside of training. I can't deny that he acts like an irritable tiger there."

"Indeed," Sen said. As she unwound one of her many shawls, she thought of the pity in his brown eyes whenever he saw her trembling with fatigue from training. "A kind person, isn't he."

"Although foolish at times," Jae-ha went on, no longer really thinking about the words coming out of his mouth. He watched Sen take off her shoes and said, "I don't really know much about frostbite. Do you?"

"More than anyone would need to," she replied, glancing at her redness of her feet, unable to find a hint of blue. "I grew up in a place far colder than this. There was this woodcutter I knew whose-" and recalling the gruesome details, she stopped. It was unbecoming to tell overly morbid tales, even if her audience was just a Jae-ha.

"What happened to him?" he asked innocently. Sen averted her eyes and said, "Just frostbite. It didn't look at all like this. Don't worry, I'm well."

"I'll stop worrying when you finally stop going to that weird village in who-knows-where," Jae-ha told her. Putting her shoes back on, Sen shook her head.

"I can't promise such things," she said. "The only fun in this dreary season is reading letters from my family. It would be unbearable if this source of joy were to disappear."

"But you have me," Jae-ha protested. "Aren't I amusing?"

"At times, in small doses," Sen replied with a smile. "One can have too much of a good thing. Just like now, when I'm trying to get Ba-luo—"

"Here, I've warmed up the soup," Ba-luo told her as he burst in through the door. He carefully placed a bowl in her hands and said, "It's still a bit hot."

"You're trying to get Ba-luo…?" Jae-ha repeated with a smile. It was difficult to tell whether he was teasing her or not. Regardless, Sen covered her eyes, letting out a small cry of embarrassment.

"Oh, not much, really," she said, her voice like honey, sweet and sticky. Jae-ha shivered at the sound of it. "I-I was just saying… I was trying to get Ba-luo to be my friend, but this is too embarrassing…!"

It was the first time Ba-luo had heard her talk so much and in such a tone, too. Touched, he held her hand and said, "Of course I'll be your friend, Sen, don't be silly."

"Really?" Sen asked, her eyelids trembling. Looking at her frightened rabbit-like appearance, Jae-ha couldn't help but laugh out loud. Ba-luo looked at him reproachfully.

"Jae-ha, you really don't know how to treat girls," he said reproachfully. Of course this made Jae-ha laugh even harder.

"Me?" he asked, clearly having fun. "Me? Why, you didn't even notice when—"

He let out a pained yelp as Sen pinched him viciously. He shot her a withering glare, but she continued to wear her sweet girl mask.

"Come, have a drink with us," she said to Ba-luo, giving him a most kind smile. "If you can avoid telling Gi-gan, that is. Our captain tends to be fussy at times, as you know."

"No, no, it's my turn to do the dishes today," he said, standing up. "Get better soon!"

...

In the following weeks, Sen continued to see much more of Jae-ha than Ba-luo. Nothing changed until the snow began to melt. It as then that Gi-gan announced the next date of attacking Kum-ji and training began once more.