The next morning was the same as the day before. The children arrived again, but this time they were banging on all her walls with wooden sticks. Jae-ha chased them off again, and when she had gotten up to join them for breakfast she called him on it. "Thanks for getting them to leave." She tried to smile but found it hard so she left it at the gratitude.

He did smile down at her. "No problem."

After another delicious breakfast thanks to Yun, they once again traveled across the village to where the villagers were already working. They found another sort of secluded place to work and started quickly.

As Jae-ha was walking past her with an empty basket she leaned forward just enough to reach and brush his sleeve.

He stopped and turned to look at her. "What is it?" His deep purple eyes bore into hers, even though part of his face was covered by the way he styled his bangs.

She dropped her gaze and suddenly felt shy to ask him for help, but was determined to treat him better. "Would you help me again today? Like you did yesterday?"

He chuckled. "Sure."

Without any complaint on her end, or his, she allowed him to lift her onto a low branch after she had set her crutch against the base of the tree. After he handed her a basket he started to walk away.

"Wait…" She called out.

He turned back around. "Yes?"

She didn't know why she had called him back, so she came up with a quick excuse. "Umm… I was thinking you could help harvest this tree. I can only reach so far, and with your jumping ability you can get the fruits higher up." She felt awkward and self-conscious.

A strange look flitted across his face, like he was confused, but then a teasing smile formed on his lips. "I thought you didn't want help."

She willed herself to smile, though she sighed before she spoke. "I want to try."

They weren't the exact words she wanted to say, but he seemed to understand that she was trying to be better, and be nicer to him.

"Yeah, let's see if that way is more effective." Instead of jumping, he climbed the tree with ease and sat a few branches above her. They worked in silence before she decided to break it.

"Where do you come from, Jae-ha?" She said it as she plucked and examined an orange before placing it into the basket in the crook of her elbow.

"A far away village, though I made my home in the Port of Awa." He explained.

"What did you do? How did you work?" She asked to keep him talking.

"I was a pirate, working to liberate the port from the evil man who ruled the land." He chuckled. "It was a band of fishermen thrown together to fight. But they were my family." His words were filled with a wistful happiness.

"Why did you leave?"

It was quiet between them for a few fruit pickings. She didn't want to pry and she wondered if she had upset him by asking. She was about to say something, maybe apologize or change the subject, then his reply came.

"My master came to find me, so I chose to follow her." His words were filled with reverence and conviction.

Her? With that little piece of information, Rensa was able to put the picture together. Yona was travelling with the Four Dragon Warriors, and they were all gentle and polite around her. She must have been the Crimson Dragon King from the story. It explained her fiery red hair and care for others. The way Jae-ha spoke of the girl made her wonder if he had feelings for her. "You found your purpose and followed it, that's admirable." She murmured.

His voice sounded right above her, and when she tilted her head up she saw him just a few branches away. His violet eyes were soft yet filled with conviction. "My purpose is ensuring freedom for those who are bound. It just so happens that Yona wants the same thing." He said and then dropped from where he was perched, landing on his feet when he hit the ground. "Ready to move to the next?" He asked, waiting until she nodded to start reaching towards her to help her to the ground as well.

Instead of resisting his strong hold as he lifted her down, she allowed herself to relax and trust him. It seemed easier for him that time, and for her to rely on him for balance until she found her equilibrium with her crutch.

He raced to empty their filled baskets, and then walked beside her to the next pear tree. They fell into a routine and time passed quickly for Rensa as she helped harvest fruit and listened to Jae-ha's stories of his piracy and heroics, up until he had met Yona and her already large group of companions. He was funny and liked to tease and flirt a little. She shook her head at that, but it was accompanied by a small smile. He never mentioned his past before that, and Yona's inferences made her curious, but she did not ask.

As he spoke of the world he lived in, Rensa began to notice the beauty of the world around her. The sun was bright and warm though there was a soft cool breeze that teased through her long hair. The fruits smelled sweet and looked deliciously ripe. She enjoyed the different textures within her reach, the roughness of the wood, and velvet of the leaves. She felt like she could see so much just from where she sat upon a branch, and wondered if that was what Jae-ha felt when he soared high in the sky.

Once again, it was beginning to become dark as Jae-ha helped her down to the ground and went to join their harvestings with the large baskets for the last time of the evening. Yona and Hak were the only ones in sight and they walked ahead of her and Jae-ha.

"Thanks for your help today." She murmured, breaking the silence between them.

"You're welcome." He replied softly as well, and suddenly the air between them felt fragile, like one wrong word or move would shatter the small amount of trust they had established. He was still a stranger, and she wasn't quite used to accepting help, but she had enjoyed their time together, his stories, and watching him use his amazing ability. She realized she had been judging him harshly, like Yona had said, and that wasn't fair. Rensa wanted to apologize but couldn't find the words or right time to bring it up. She felt embarrassed and ashamed of the way she had acted. She tried to convince herself it was out of defense, but Jae-ha had done nothing to hurt her, he simply read the situation and understood.

They walked in silence until the lights of the village came into view through the trees. The houses were lit up with internal cooking fires and lanterns, and they led the way to the other edge where her small home was located. A strange feeling crawled down her spine and she paused to glance around, she felt like she was being watched but no one was in sight.

"What's wrong?" Jae-ha asked, he stood mid-step, waiting for her.

"It's nothing new, I just feel like we're being watched." Her words weren't exactly true, the villagers did watch and judge her, but this time something felt wrong.

Jae-ha looked around too, his long hair swinging as he did, though he didn't see anyone either. "Let's keep going." He edged a little closer to her as he kept pace with her slow limp, as if keeping a watchful eye out for her until they made it back. As they approached she could see the others already eating around the fire.

Rensa paused again and Jae-ha turned to ask her why she stopped again.

"Jae-ha, I would like to apologize for the way I've treated you." She formally announced, bowing as much as she could without toppling over. "It was rude of me to treat you harshly when we had only just met. I ask for your forgiveness."

"Consider yourself forgiven." His tone was teasing, though she could tell he was taken aback at her words.

She straightened. "Thank you… And I would also like to request your help again tomorrow…" She struggled to keep the awkwardness away from the politeness, though she was sure it still sounded strange.

"Why the sudden change of heart?" He questioned, sounding puzzled and confused.

She cringed internally, realizing the bad first impression she had made, and hoped he didn't think she was strange. "I realized I was treating you unfairly, so I decided I wanted to try to be kinder to you, rather than judgemental." She explained.

"Thanks for that." He smiled and it was genuine and filled with relief.

She smiled back. "I want to get to know you more, Jae-ha."

He nodded in agreement. "I'd like that too."