Two more days had passed, much like the one before, except there were minor changes. Shion and Han-wi brought their friends and the side of the orchard they were harvesting got done very quickly. The Dragons and Yona climbed around inside the trees, while Rensa, the children, and Shin-ah all worked from the ground. It went by very quickly, and Harvest was nearly done. They needed to continue around to the other side of Hoshu to complete the circle and join where the villagers were making headway. A few other changes began to happen as well. Whenever Rensa went to empty the baskets, followed by the children, a few of the mothers greeted her. Ja-ri even asked how she was doing and made brief conversation with her before returning to work. It was more acknowledgement that she had in the last two years. She and Jae-ha had small moments together too, where they would continue to talk as they walked through the town to join their friends around the campfire, throughout the day when Jae-ha would make sure she got a decent rest before continuing the game she had created with the children. She was pleased that they were continuing to get closer.

After everyone had eaten on the third day, Yona called the attention to her. "It's time for us to move on." She announced. "We're leaving tomorrow morning." All the men nodded like they were prepared to leave and had been awaiting those orders.

It felt as if all the air had been knocked out of Rens's lungs. Yona had said they would only stay for a few more days, yet she had not been prepared for them to say they were going to leave.

"I'll see if I can trade with some of the villagers tomorrow morning." Yun said as he cleaned up dinner.

"Other than that, we should be ready to go." Hak said as he lounged.

"Where are we going next, Princess?" Kija asked Yona.

"I'm not sure yet. We'll discuss it more before we leave tomorrow." Yona replied.

"With our track record it'll be another town seriously in need of help." Jae-ha let out a laugh.

"Indeed." Zeno agreed.

Rensa was having a hard time following the conversation. She didn't understand what they were talking about anymore and was starting to feel like an outsider again. "Well, while you guys make preparations, I'm going to bed." She said loud enough for all of them to hear. A chorus of good nights sounded around the fire as she got to her foot and crutch.

Though she had said she was going to bed, she did not go to sleep. Instead she curled up at the head of her bed, in the corner. It was dark, her hut had no windows like the other homes. If she wanted light she would need to build a fire. She tried not to cry, she really did, yet the heat did not leave her eyes and her throat hurt the more she attempted to hold them in, so she didn't anymore. She allowed the tears to fall, they were hot and fast against her cheeks, and she tried to muffle her sobs with her hand. They hadn't even left yet. She hated the idea of Jae-ha leaving, but knew he had to, knew that he wanted to follow Yona as he had said.

It was heartbreaking.

That was what it was. Her heart was breaking. The only man she cared about was leaving in the morning, and there was nothing she could do. She would not beg him to stay. She was determined to not be the one who imprisoned him to the ground. So she would cry then, but would not shed a single tear as he left. She would be strong.

Rensa cried herself to sleep.

The next morning, Rensa was the last one up. She changed her clothes and when she finally made her way outside, she saw that they were already ready to move on. Their tents were taken down and their bags were packed. Yun still had the fire going and was cooking breakfast. A little ways away, two women were speaking with Jae-ha and Hak, they were the same two women from before, Anreya and Eriki. They seemed to be gushing over them and giving them something. Jae-ha spoke to them with a smile and accepted their seemingly heartfelt gifts.

She hoped it was something for them to eat while on the road. She sat next to Yona who was awaiting breakfast to be served.

"You look like you're ready to go." Rensa greeted.

"Yeah. It's always hard though." Yona sighed.

"What is?" She wondered. Everyone was ready and willing to follow Yona.

"Not having a permanent place to stay." Yona continued. "Saying goodbye over and over again is hard, I never know if I'll see any of the friends I made again."

Rensa could understand how that would be hard.

"But it's all worth it. I'm working hard, and I won't complain." Yona said, raising a determined fist.

"What are you talking about, you complain all the time." Hak stuck his tongue out at her as he sat down. It seemed like he was finished talking to the women. Jae-ha did not join them yet though.

"No I don't." Yona huffed, folding her arms and looking away.

"Uh, yeah you do." Yun said as he began to serve bowls of food.

"Hey!" Yona whined.

Hak laughed and Yona got up to march over and whack his shoulder. He tried to roll out of the way except she was still able to land a hit on him.

"Zeno wants to join too!" Zeno called out and jumped into the fray. His weight knocked Yona down and they both landed on top of Hak who groaned like he had received an elbow to the stomach.

"You sure are a lively bunch in the morning." Rensa noted.

"We have to be, usually we are up by the time the sun is and are already moving on." Yun said.

"Why do you travel? What is the purpose?" Rensa asked. It was the one thing she had never asked.

"We are on a mission." Gija joined the group too, accepting a bowl from Yun as he came up and sat beside him. "Princess Yona desires to save the Kingdom she grew up in all her life."

So she was royalty. Rensa could tell that the first time they had met

"It's not easy, but the journey is worth it." Yona said after she had untangled herself from the wrestle. Rensa nodded her understanding and picked up her bowl of food.

After they had eaten, Jae-ha touched her shoulder to get her attention. "Do you mind if we take a walk?" He whispered. She nodded and he helped her to her foot. They walked a little ways into the forest, she could feel the eyes of the group on them as they disappeared.

Rensa suddenly didn't know what to say, she felt awkward. Luckily, Jae-ha seemed like he had a lot to say.

"Well, it looks like I'm leaving." He stated, except he too sounded a little awkward.

Rensa was feeling many emotions, but the one that surfaced was a laugh.

"Why are you laughing?" Jae-ha asked, sounding as if he was hurt.

"I'm sorry, I just have so much I want to say, and yet I don't at the same time. I feel so awkward all of a sudden, even though I know I shouldn't because you're the same as you've always been." Rensa giggled and leaned her back against a tree.

Jae-ha let out a laugh too. "I was thinking the same thing."

"There's no need for us to be different now that you're leaving." Rensa smiled up at him. "Do you want to go first, or should I?"

"I'll speak first." Jae-ha said, absentmindedly taking her hand, an action he had never done before. "I realized I never answered your confession."

After he said that, Rensa realized he was right. He had shown her his sky and had kissed her, and she had forgotten all about how she had confessed all of her feelings for him, yet he hadn't said he felt the same way. She guessed he did because of the kiss. "Are you going to say it now?" She asked, perhaps a little teasingly.

"That was the plan." He grinned, and then he became serious and squeezed her hand. "I care about you too, Rensa. At first I just wanted to help you because I recognized the situation you were in. It was after you started to accept me, that I decided I had feelings for you." He explained.

Rensa understood, because that was when she too began to feel different towards him. "We're strange, aren't we?" She asked lightly. "We're perfect strangers, and after a few days we've formed a bond that has changed us."

"I like to think it's a good change." Jae-ha chuckled. "I won't forget. I'll hold on to these feelings." He promised.

"Good." Rensa said, tilting her head up to stare into his eyes. "Because I won't forget you either. You've helped me so much, Jae-ha, thank you."

"I'm glad I was able to save you, Rensa." He murmured softly. "Thank you for allowing me to."

"I'll remember what you have taught and shown me. I won't go back to the way I was. I'll be better, and stronger." She too promised. "I'll show you the life I created for myself, if you ever come back."

"I look forward to seeing it." He whispered.

The atmosphere around them turned solemn and sorrowful. Jae-ha wrapped an arm around her waist.

"It makes me sad that I had to find this with you and now you're leaving." Rensa's voice broke and she struggled not to cry again. Her vision blurred as the tears filled her eyes.

"I know." He said and leaned down to press his forehead against hers, his hair brushed her face. "Be happy, and wait for me, okay?"

She nodded, knowing she would start crying if she said anything. She leaned against him, raising her hands to touch his face, and tilting her face up to connect her lips with his.

The kiss was different from the first one. It was filled with a different emotion. Rather than joy and exhilaration, this was sad and filled with goodbye, as well as a promise. It was still sweet and gentle, and only lasted a few beats of her heart.

They simultaneously pulled away, and a single tear rolled down her cheek. They walked back hand in hand. When they exited the forest, Yona and the others were waiting for them with packs strung onto their backs. Yun had put out the fire. They were ready to leave.

As Rensa approached Yona lurched forward and threw her arms around her. Rensa dropped her crutch but hugged the girl tightly. When Yona finally stepped away, all the men patted her on the shoulders. Except for Zeno, who engulfed her in a big hug.

"Stay safe, alright?" She said with a smile.

Yona laughed and that was when Rensa noticed the tears on her face. "We will. You stay safe too."

"I will." Rensa choked out. Her throat felt tight, she knew she would break down soon. She turned to Jae-ha. "Protect her, and protect yourself, okay?"

He nodded.

"I'll miss you." She was only able to force out a whisper. If she spoke any louder she would cry.

He hugged her again. "I'll miss you too."

And then he was all but ripped away from her with three simple words. "Let's go, Jae-ha." Yona said.

Jae-ha released her, picked up her crutch and gave it back to her, she accepted it with a small thanks she hoped he could see in her eyes. Then he turned and walked away, following Yona into the forest.

He didn't look back. That both made her happy and saddened her at the same time. She made her way back to her hut and allowed herself to sit, crying alone for a few hours.

When she was sure she didn't have any left to cry, she got up and set to work.

As she approached the orchards, the children raced out and Shion hugged her. "I heard they were leaving, are you okay?"

Rensa smiled down at him. "Yes, I'll be alright. Are all of you ready for a good game of hardwork today?" She asked.

They all cheered and raced around, looking for a good place to start.

Ja-ri approached her. "You seem down, are you sure you're alright?" She asked, studying her face.

"Yes. Goodbyes are sad, are they not?" Rensa felt herself tilting her head to stare at the ground, and had to fight to stop the action, but she was able to lift her head back up and look the woman in the eyes.

"That they are." She sighed her reply.

"We do not have the time for sadness, though. We have too much work to do." Rensa steeled herself with determination and readiness to work. Maybe The Harvest would provide some distraction, and she was grateful to be able to work.

Ja-ri agreed.

Han-wi waved his arms across the orchard where all of them awaited her underneath an unpicked pear tree. She limped over to them and got to work. Much to her surprise, after two or three trees, some of the adults began to climb up into the trees, copying what Yona and the Dragons had been doing, and were picking the fruits from the higher branches. Ja-ri and Han-wi's father, Lukau, were among them. Many of the others still deliberately ignored her, but just a few were willing to help her, even if they didn't interact with her a whole lote. Everyone seemed to have more energy, and The Harvest was moving along faster.

It was the beginning of Rensa feeling accepted in Hoshu once again.