Derek wouldn't tell me about the punishment until we arrived home. He wanted to do the explaining first. We went on a date the next day after the arrival and strolled along the hills on the right side of the city. We held hands and smiled while talking about unrelated things. He had recovered enough to walk without problems, since I took care of keeping him resting on the ship.

At one point, we sat on the grass and looked at the city below. There was a nice breeze, brushing the warmth of the sunrays away for a few seconds. It was a very pleasant afternoon. Derek took out the note and told me to read it out loud for him. I turned red the second he gave it to me.

- Can't we just skip this?- I pleaded.

- No, this is just the begining of your punishment, which you said to accept.

- I know, but...

- I'm all ears- he grinned.

I looked at the note a few times. I had already memorized it. I breathed in and read.

- "I'm sorry for doing this, but I"- I stopped for a second, looking at him nervously-. "... love you too much to let anything happen to you if the deal is off. I'll accept any request or punishment when we meet again".

- So, let's divide it into parts and talk about it- Derek said, rubbing his hands against each other.

- Oh dear...

- First...

- Please spare me...- I asked him with puppy eyes, looking deeply into his and putting my hand on his chest.

- We had an agreement- he gave me a quick short kiss, taking me by surprise-. As I was saying, first, I want to hear your appology now, and with honesty.

- I'm sorry for leaving behind your back, it was wrong and I found that out the hard way. I didn't deserve for you to come for me but I am so grateful you did... Thank you very much, Derek. Where would I be without you?- I opened my heart to his-. You did so much for me, how will I ever repay you?

- Well... You did save me back then, at the sword fight... And we did return with a nice booty- he smiled-. But I do enjoy hearing you saying such sweet words to me- he held my hands and looked at me with tenderness, close to my face-. I also enjoy watching you blush.

- That's not fair- I looked away, embarrassed.

- Next part...- he pointed at the "love you too much" words on the note-. I especially want to hear you say those, but I'm leaving them for the end. You said you'd accept any punishment or request... I do have a request. But there will also be a punishment. First, the request. I fought for you back there not just to save you, but also to have you... now that we are out of there it is up to you. I want you, whether you want a ceremony or not. I give you two weeks.

- Wait wait wait... what?- I stood up, trying to understand-. Ceremony or not... Do you mean like... A wedding?

- Yes, my dear, I'm proposing... if this makes it clearer to you- he kneeled and asked for my hand with one palm open and the other on his heart-. Will you marry me?

- I... I...- tears started rolling down my cheeks. Tears of happiness and also relief, I had finally made a choice and had the opportunity to let him know without anyone coming between us-. Yes!

I gave him my hand, but he stood up and hugged me while I did the same. After that, I thought he was going to kiss me, but instead he sat with me on the grass again, still surrounding me with his arms and asked something that he really wanted to hear.

- About the second part... Let me hear it from your sweet lips- he said, caressing them.

I felt a bolt of energy run through my body and my heart started beating very fast.

- I love you too much to let anything happen to you...- I said, making an effort.

Right after that, I looked away and covered my eyes.

- I longed so much for those words...

I finally looked at him, it was worth the blush to see the look in his eyes, filled with love for me. Slowly, we kissed, taking breaks, over and over again. We didn't feel like we had to stop until we got hungry. Only then, we got up, looked at the sunset and headed home, following the last rays of the sun.

- I'm looking forward to having dinner together- I confessed.

- And I look forward to the desert after that... Which might be served in my room... or yours... If you feel uncomfortable in the dining room- he joked.

- Or the living room- I answered, playfully.

- I see someone else enjoyed our moment together- he winked at me.

At dinner, I felt there were still a few things left to explain, so I went for it and asked.

- How come you were able to come for me? When? How? Why? How did you feel reading the note? How did you find out anout the hiders and how did you escape the first time?

I had so many questions. Derek kept staring at me with an amuzed look on his face. He offered me a bite from his plate and I took the hint to stop asking. As I was eating what he gave me, he started to explain.

- My dear Jasy, how could I not come for you after knowing how you felt from reading that note? I needed to hear it from you. I left right away. I went to gather your crew and we sailes to the island. I rested during the journey, so I had the energy to fight, but I won't lie, it was hard and some of my wounds opened again.

- You did all that for me...

- I love you, Jasy, I always have, even when you didn't. I waited so long to finally be with you...

I stood up and approached him, putting my arms around his head and gently holding it against my chest. He closed his eyes and smiled, reaching to my hands and held them.

- Now we can be together, we won't be appart anymore- I assured him.

Later, he told me the story of how he discovered the hiders and that he trated some goods in exchange for his freedom and a free ticket to future negotiations if necesaary. He was welcomed to visit again and bring more of those goods which the hiders couldn't easily obtain. After last time, the price was so high (me), they told him not to come back again.

- I certainly hope we never go back- I told him.

- I'm not planning my honeymoon there, that's for sure- he joked.

- Where would we be going?- I blushed.

- There is this amazing island in Hawaii...

He started telling me all about it. It sounded great, but I felt a bit embarrassed to wear the local "clothes" he suggested to me, even if we would be married by then.

- Wouldn't you be looking at other girls dressed like that?- I asked, jealously.

- Not if I can see you dressed like that. Is that convincing enough?- he held my chin.

- Are you saying that if I don't you will look at other...?

He interrupted me with a kiss. I liked him to kiss me, but I prefered him to answer.

- If I kept thinking of you all this time when you were away, how would I look away now that you're with me? If I see other women I can't help but think of you and get ideas to ask you to wear attractive things- he winked at me.

- Alright, I believe you- I stuck my tongue out-. I mostly just wanted to hear your answer.

- You are the apple of my eye, Jasy. I'm not letting you out of my sight. Don't be afraid to go anywhere with me.

- I know, I'm not afraid... Except for that punishment you don't want to tell me about.

He kissed my forehead and told me to forget about it for the time being. There were other more important things to worry about, like planning the wedding. Soon we celebrated it and his parents and his sister came as fast as they could. My father didn't miss it either. My crew, the servants and some friends I met on my journeys, as well as some I met there, came as well. For our families, it wasn't a bad thing at all, I could still be in the same family I was supposed to get married into and marrying Derek was actually the how it should have been from the beginning.

Everything went smoothly until Derek wanted to make a toast to my note, when the banquet was starting. Everyone wanted to know about it and he made me read it in front of everybody. It was so embarrassing for others to know about it. We had to tell the story of how I left to that island behind his back and left that note, after which Derek came to get me.

- So, any suggestions for the punishment?- he asked the guests.

Inmediately, fun, strange and embarrassing ideas came out, as everyone wanted to amuze themselves seeing the bride to all sorts of things. Derek chose two. One was proposed by his sister and another one by one of the guests. The first one was that...

- Get the sword to cut the cake, let's give them a good show- he said, taking his own-. Remember everything I taught you.

- Easy for you to say, you're not wearing a gown...

- I've seen you fight pretty well in that.

And so, we recreated one of those times we met at the islands when I still hated him and he made me fall down and forced a kiss on me. The guests went wild and startes aplauding and commenting, even whistling. We got up and bowed, as if it had been a performance. The second one was a bit harder on us. The guest told me to tell Derek something I kept from him but wanted to ask him or let him know about. I knew exactly what I wanted to say and ask, but not in front of everyone.

- You don't want everyone to know, believe me.

- I'll take that risk- he replied.

- The thing is... I always hated you because of the incident with Edward...

- But you found out it wasn't me.

- But I hated the fact that you seemed insensitive to his death... You kept chasing after me as if nothing happened...

- Jasy... Only my most trusted man in my lost crew knew how I felt back then. It was only because of his encouraging words not to leave you suffering alone and keep you distracted that I could get back on my feet again.

- You put on a facade for me?

- Did it work?

- I guess it did keep my mind off it a bit... But deep down... I'm glad we shared the pain- I smiled at him.

- I could have, but I wanted to see you be yourself again and, little by little, get back the smile on your face. You did make it difficult for me though- he held my face between his hands and looked at me, smiling back-. Now I know I can make you happy, my love.

I blushed and closed my eyes while we kissed in front of everyone.

- Awwww- they applauded.

Afterwards we played some games, did some dares, like singing (even though we weren't the best at it so it was just for fun) and it ended up with a dance before cutting the cake. I tricked Derek into looking away and I put some whipped cream on his face. As a revenge, he did the same. Then, someone dared us to lick it from each others faces. Derek took advantage and put some more on my lips.

- I think I'm going to save some for later, when it is just the two of us- he whispered to me with a smirk.

- Hey!- I tried to grab him by the tie, but he moved away, playfully.

We had a great time and lots of fun, even after the ceremony. It was a day to remember, filled with laugther, romance and lots of blushing. But I enjoyed every moment of the day and night. The next morning we were heading to Hawaii on our honeymoon, with no specific date to return. It was the best time of our lives, followed by many other adventures and journeys that tightened the bond between us. We had some arguments and problems too, but that only made us realise how much we cared for each other and it made us stronger. I started my own sword art school while he focused on leading a trading company. Sometimes he would come to test my students and give them a show by fighting with me and telling them the story of how we met.

- It all started with a handsome young man teaching a spoiled noble young lady, and it ended up with the pupil being a suitable captain of her own ship, teaching lessons to her students and anyone who dared go against her- he explained-. And so, the pupil became the master- he held my waised and kissed my cheek.

- Oh, maybe I should teach you a private lesson later- I answered with a rogue look.

- You still have a few things to learn from your teacher- he replied in the same tone and stole a kiss from me in front of the students, which laughed and applauded.

- You really are a good match- one of them said.

- Is that so? Let's see if you are any match for me in a duel- I challenged them.

- I'm in, who's first?- Derek asked.

And so, the lesson continued. The school never stopped receiving new students even when I stopped teaching and decided to take care of our children after they were born. I still directed the school, but I dedicated my time to my family and our journeys across the world. The students became the teachers and took care of the school, it became a tradition. And every year when new students enrolled, the teachers would tell them about how it all began, the story of a teacher and his student, who also became a teacher and passed down their knowledge and teaching lessons for generations to come.

The End