It would be beneficial for you to read chapter 7 again and relate on what Tane/Maui's exchange on that chapter.

As soon they were outside, Akoni expediently instructed a few guards to take care of Moana for the night and prepare her canoe for her departure the next day. As Tane headed to his fale, he thought of Moana.

'How dare she! That ungrateful, obstinate girl had actually rejected him―him! The bravest, strongest and most powerful mortal around, no doubt the most suitable candidate that could quench her thirst for the ocean adventure.'

The woman who married him would never need to worry about shelter, food, and clothing. She would be guaranteed to be dressed in fine cloaks, covered in expensive jewelry, own more riches than she could ever wish for, and would spend her night in the arms of the strongest man alive. She would be the world's most envied woman.

Everyone around here knew this, especially among all the maidens racing to win his affection and wishing to be his consort, nevermind if they had to share him with a few other girls, a little is better than none. And here he was, giving his undivided attention for Moana, who he had chosen to be his one and only, and she dared to turn him down. But that's not the worst of it.

Tane was no fool. He had seen the look in her eyes when she pleaded, hearing the earnestness in her voice at the mention of that man's name. Tane had enough of seeing the tenderness in her eyes as she contemplated about that idiotic Demigod and she dared even to propose exchanging her freedom in his stead!

That creature was the one she loved. No, calling him creature would be too kind, he was a monster, a devilish thing who nearly killed all his tribe and was selfish enough to steal something for his namesake. All that stupid Demigod could think of was his own glory and exaltation. The words of Moana's defense justifying the Demigod briefly echoed in his head. Maui didn't do this for himself! And he never intended to harm anyone! But Tane's infuriated mind was unwilling to listen to other reasoning and brutally silenced any form of rationalization from contradicting his opinion.

Tane growled angrily. This was more than he could bear, especially Moana's impertinence by stating this: "He is no monster Tane―you are!"

Such a terrible insult was simply intolerable, especially when he remembered how dedicated he had been to her, showering her with everything a girl would ever wish for. Tane knew all too well that Moana would never turn her heart for another, not until he destroyed the object of her affection. Killing that foolish immortal creature would serve Tane well in many ways: it would give the punishment Moana deserved for her insolence; it would serve as revenge for unwittingly eradicating his tribe to a border of extinction, and expand Tane's long list of accolades; the first mortal to vanquish a demigod.

Tomorrow. He promised to himself. Tomorrow… I shall kill him. Put an end to all this, and bring back my island's glory.

Maui knew that at the moment, his life was dangling precariously on a single thin thread that could snap at any time without warning. But it wasn't death that feared him, he had faced so many of them without thinking many unhappy thoughts. But it was it was Moana's reaction that he dreaded the most. Would she be upset? Would she blame herself for it?

But the thought of giving his life to lift up the curse would be his last chance of redemption, earning the forgiveness that would set his heart at ease. He had once wished he could give humans the gift of life by stealing the Heart of Te Fiti, and now he has the same chance, to give the people of Kailua their life back in exchange for everything he had; his demigod superpower, his magical Fish Hook….and his life. All these used to be a big deal for him, yet now, Maui couldn't bring himself to care.

'I've lived a long life anyway.' He consoled himself with the thought of dying.

...a long lonely life, the voice in his head added. The only regret he had was not having to spend the end of his life with his favorite mortal, and perhaps there won't be any proper goodbye either. Maui quickly shook the sentiment and any emotional baggage to stain the thought of his rationality.

Everything he had was like meaningless rags compared to how much happiness Moana had offered him in the brevity of their friendship.

For a few thousand years of his life, he had met many women who adored him. Undoubtedly, he had fallen in and out of love, but there would ever be only one Moana Waialiki. Even when she angered him, he admired her: the fire of defiance that blazed in her eyes, her tiny frame that stood unwavering against his massive ferocity. He could have easily snapped her like a twig, yet she remained completely unfazed, unlike any other mortals.

And when she was in a better mood, her beautiful smile felt like the Pacific sun, it warmed his soul. And more and more, he coveted that gentle curling of her lips. He remembered when he successfully morphed into other animals for the first time, her infectious courage as she helped him to practice using his skill again. Her boundless courage and bravery as she fought alongside him, and her willingness to tolerate his narcissistic inclination. Moana had made him feel alive for the first time in a millennium. She taught him that his sad beginning didn't make him who he was, that the gods didn't make him 'Maui,' he did.

Sure, despite the fact that he was abandoned by his parents, his life wasn't that bad at all. The gods took pity on him and granted him immortality, great strength, and a magical Fish Hook, making him the most powerful creature around. And the list didn't stop there. As a man, he considered himself quite a heartthrob material: muscular and charming. Many mortal men would die in envy, watching him using his powerful hands saving humankind from danger and later on surrounded by a horde of beautiful girls that fought for his attention.

But despite all of his privilege, he had never been truly happy. He had never known peace and contentment until the moment he met Moana. She treated him like a friend, not a distant demigod or a celebrated hero that demanded to be worshiped by his subject. She accepted him for who he was. These past few weeks had been the happiest of his life.

But it's all over now.

Perhaps, if not because the situation forced otherwise, Moana would still be angry at him. He had betrayed her trust. However, the fact that killed him the most was the thought of her being enslaved, marrying the man she despised for the rest of her life.

Maui's musing was intervened by a sudden ruckus at the door.

It was early in the morning, before anyone else awoke, Tane went to the hut where they held their immortal prisoner.

Approaching the hut, Tane gestured to two imposing doorkeepers for access. In the middle of the room was a cage, heavily guarded by Kailua's best warriors to ensure they met the level of security needed. The young mortal gestured towards all the guards to come out and give him a moment of privacy.

He heard the Demigod stirred as he scooted closer to the railing. Maui's movement was sluggish, and his limbs trembled, but some of the wicked gash he saw yesterday had begun to heal, and the whip that had bitten through his abused flesh had become nothing but a scratch mark. No matter how much Akoni had tortured him, if the treatment weren't inflicted daily, this powerful creature would be bound to escape and eventually draw revenge.

"Morning, Demigod," he sneered.

"Tane?" came Maui's feeble voice. "I….I need to tell you something."

Tane gave him a vicious glare, sharp words of rebuke formed in his mouth.

"I… I heard from one of your people about what happened to your parents," and that claim was enough to stop Tane at his track.

"What does it have anything to do with this?" he replied to Maui with an indignant scoff, putting an intimidating stance as he prowled closer to the cage. His finger grazed the hilt of the spear that he had anointed with the most lethal poison he could find.

"Look, I know I am the one that caused this mess. It's all my fault. So, if there anything that I could do to make it right, I will," Maui managed, his words sounded firm and genuine.

For a moment, Tane wondered what Maui had known that suddenly drawing so much sympathy from the decadent immortal.

"Don't pretend to be sympathetic now, Demigod! It's much too late!" he chided.

"I know you've lost so many things in your life, Tane. I know what happened to your people… to your island. And if I…―" Maui paused, took a large measure of breath. "I regretted saying mean things to you when we first met. I really do."

Tane was taken aback by Maui sudden remorseful statement. It was so unlike him! The Maui he met weeks ago was a prideful, impetuous and temperamental crook. And now, kneeling behind the bar, he sounded like a completely different individual. There was a genuine shame and regret in his voice, as though these couple of weeks of traveling to Kailua had transformed him into an uncharacteristically mature, humble and sentimental man.

"Where is your pity when the ocean took my parents? Even when you don't know the consequences of stealing the Heart of Te Fiti, it doesn't make our suffering and loss any easier!"

Despite his acidic statement, Tane realized that Maui perhaps understood all too well the loneliness and despair he experienced. Being an orphan himself, the Demigod could relate to his situation―now that Maui knew his past.

While Tane contemplated, Maui seized the chance to voice his resolve. "Look, I am not asking you to release me….to let me escape unpunished, no... neither do I ask for your mercy or your pity, but consider this: Moana is innocent, she was just a victim of my stupidity and her Father's feud with Akoni. She is the one who deserves your leniency."

"How dare you propose such things! You think you are capable of taking her from me?"

"No no… you misunderstood. I am not taking her. I just want her to be free."

What? Is he doing this for….her? Tane mused in his head. He hardly could believe that his accusation weeks ago in Motunui was real! The Demigod loved that mortal girl, deep enough that he was ready to reduce his pride and dignity to plead with him.

But, revisiting the situation again, Moana was a bold, beautiful and charismatic girl. It was easy for any men with eyes to favor and cultivate the desire to own her, even Maui was no exception to be able to resist her mortal charm. Since their plan to kill the Demigod, Moana had been Tane's next conquest, his trophy, and he won't let Maui manipulating his mental fragility to overrule his logic to get away releasing her.

"If you love her, why did you let her go?" he inquired suspiciously.

"I had never truly lost anyone in my life. You were dead right when you told me I had no emotional empathy and cared for nothing other than myself." Maui hung his head in shame. "For the longest time, my Fish Hook was my most treasured possession. The thing that makes me Maui. The symbol of my power that defines me. Until Moana came, and she showed me who I truly am, even without my Fish Hook."

Maui's untypical remorseful voice disturbed his conscience. It was then Tane could draw the parallel. He had lost his parents, a place he could call home, numbers of his tribesmen, and many other things that he held dear. In contrast, as a solitary demigod, Maui didn't have this kind of emotional connection with anyone, he had never experienced the pain of losing someone he loved, not until Moana came, and became the Demigod's only and most precious treasure.

Tane stared mutely at him, his facial expression inscrutable. Yesterday, he had witnessed, even with the atrocious torture severed on the demigod's immortal body, they could hardly bend the stubborn willfulness of the ageless warrior without them threatening to hurt Moana.

"What are you suggesting?" Tane's anger subsided, and his tone dwindled into conversational level.

"I have no regret if you kill me here and now. Truly, I know I deserve it," Maui confessed. Truthfully, Maui rather died than returning to the prison of loneliness and isolation, and dwell there tormented forever without her.

Tane blinked, disbelieving Maui's surrender. However, his hand quickly picked up the spear and ready to place a single lethal ambush that would end Maui's immortality.

Seeing that the young mortal was preparing his strike, Maui closed his eyes, submitting to his fate. That moment, Tane began to have doubt in his heart, his mind flew into the events that happened months ago.

This was the side of the story that was unheard of by many people. Despite Tane's potent hatred, he never had the desire to end the Demigod's life with his hands. It wasn't because he was a coward or he felt squeamish. Tane remembered the night the warriors of Kailua under the direction of Akoni plotted their plan of murder. They'd had all brainstormed vicious way to end the Demigod's existence, but Tane managed to convince them of the less brutal and traceless ploy by using the poisonous berry. The plan was then, to take the Demigod's body to be presented to the God of war and agriculture in exchange for his promise to bless the cursed soil of Kailua.

During their meeting, Akoni constantly used the word 'punishment' and 'vengeance, a ' but Tane had refused to call it anything else, however noble his intention was, murder was still a murder. Never in his life, Tane would imagine him coming to this, prearranging, plotting, executing an outright assassination. Even when he often led his people to plunder, he always told them not to kill a single soul.

As a mighty warrior, Tane had killed many people in his life, but it was always in the heat of a battle where there was very little options. He never planned to kill anyone. But this….this would make him a murderer, no matter how much good came forth from Maui's death, no matter how much satisfaction it would make his people feel.

And after losing his parents and two of his younger brothers, Tane knew how precious life could be….and the thought of him. Him. Out of all the people, with his hands, taking the precious life out of someone, really consumed him. However, the warrior side of him argued that he wasn't doing this merely for his satisfaction. His people had demanded justice, and he, as their leader, was obliged to serve it.

That moment his spear fell, both warriors stared at each other, both trapped at their own shock. As they exchanged mute glances, Maui began to understand Tane's emotional struggle.

"Take me to see Tūmatauenga, and I will do everything I can to restore your island's fertility back. I'll be willing to exchange it with my life." Maui promised. "But, I want you to leave Moana out of this."

"You asked me to nullify our nuptial arrangement?" Tane confirmed, not with a jealous voice, but with curiosity.

"Yes, if your land's fertility is restored and your harvest replenished. Please promise me… to extricate Moana from this mess. Of course, it's fine if she still...wishes to marry you. But please, let her do so willingly," Maui implored. He gnawed on his lips to curb the lashing desire to say otherwise. Deep in his heart, he wished for nothing more than to have her for himself.

"Very well," Tane agreed, placing his hand on his chest signifying a vow. "She shall return to Motunui… and let this be the conclusion of our case."

Perhaps this was just a nightmare. Moana was futilely hoping they were still drifting in the endless ocean, tucked lightly next to Maikai with his arms possessively draped around her shoulder as she slept. Sadly her life wasn't a fairytale where the heroine at the end would have all she wanted and lived happily ever after. In her life, there were sacrifices needed to be made to ensure the happiness of others, and Moana had accepted the painful awareness of her fate with open arms.

A sudden creak of the door snapped her from her reverie. It was Tane, nodding authoritatively and signaling all the guards to leave them alone. Moana was about to spit another contemptuous statement when suddenly Tane removed the ropes that fettered her limbs. "Come," he said, in conspiratorial whisper. "Someone wants to see you, but we must be quiet."

The secret tone in his voice and the easy way he released her made Moana wonder what Tane had up his sleeve, but she could sense the guy didn't mean any harm. She followed him willingly.

They both skirted out of the village and cut through Kailua rocky landscape to get to the other side of the island. Yesterday, Moana didn't pay much attention to how astonishingly barren the land was. The ground was hard, dry and dusty; the air was arid and hot―no wonder if nothing could grow here, no single vegetation could be seen. Among the jutting rocks, Moana immediately recognized her canoe, moored by the beach, and a silhouette of someone imposing moved under the scrutiny of pale sunrise.

Maui! Her mind screamed. But there was no sign of guards or anyone else around, could it be….? How could he be out here? Who set him free? Moana shot a confused glance at Tane. The young mortal just paid her a thin smile, insinuating her to keep following him.

"Demigod," Tane called. "She is here. I'll be on the edge of the forest if you need me." And the man left, leaving Moana baffled.

"Did he… just set you free?" Moana turned to Maui, frowning incredulously. She was too dumbfounded to even remember the state of Maui after the torture they inflicted on him yesterday.

Maui didn't answer. Nonchalantly, he plucked her from the ground and deposited her on the canoe that was ready to set sail.

"Maui!" came her cry of objection.

He ignored her indignant protest, flicking his sight briefly before saying. "I am sending you home," he stated with almost toneless voice. Maui looked towards the ocean which began to stir, and the familiar tendril surfaced, nodding its agreement as though they'd come to common understanding. "Don't worry Mo. You don't have to come back here with your dad. He is safe."

"What?! Maui! Explain this! What did you….―!" She tried to bat his hands and oppose his strong grip.

Before she knew it, she felt Maui's warm, soft lips on her, creating a wave of electric like sensation throughout her body. Moana jerked back in shock, fighting the adversarial gravity to stay on her feet. But while she was letting her guard down, something sharp and small stung her waist, and her knees immediately weakened. Guided by her reflexes, she glanced, only to find Maui had pierced a blowdart on the line above her skirt.

"Maui, what are you… ―?!"

"Mo… listen, don't ever come back for me, whatever happened. I am sorry I have to do this to you."

"What? But…. ―?!" Moana asserted, her eyes locked with Maui, expression bewildered.

"Forget about me, about us. Live your life to the fullest, be that amazing Chief and Wayfinder you've been destined to be. You can marry anyone, and I want you to be happy….to be that Moana that I used to know…. and love. Do it for me will you?"

She looked at him in perplexity and disbelief. There were an unmistakable desperation and fragility intermingled in his words. Not to mention the final resolve he hinted at the end of his line, as though he was….he was bidding his goodbye.

"Maui! No, stop…! You can't do this! Ack, what are you….?"

"Forgive me," he whispered, adjusting her paralyzed limbs safely on the boat. A somber smile graced his lips as he gestured the sea to take her home―to Motunui. Moana's eyes glazed with unshed tears as her heart crunched and wilted from his words.

She had lost him again.

Note: sorry, angsty chapter I know. But... on the brighter note. I've posted a few closing chapter of this story, a three-shot called "Five More Days." The piece contains spoiler on how this story will end. Meanwhile, 2 more chapter to go on this fiction! Hold on tight! Yyou might be surprised by this, but Tane had never intentionally killed someone. If you remember the islands where Tane and his men plundered, there was no corpses, no blood… he and people of Kailua had driven their victim away.

Also, this week I had a chance to see Skydrathik's deviantart... It's amazing. Go and check! Also daniela-miha-arts in Tumblr.

Special thanks to gsmith who beta-ed this chapter.