Kiisan stared curiously at the boy who entered the room and sat down at Matataki's feet. He looked terribly small and fragile. His eyes were large and very clear, one azure blue and the other hazel. His long, dark brown hair was topped with a wreath of fluffy yellow dandelions. "Dozo yoroshiku," he whispered melodiously, bowing his head slightly to Kiisan and Ocha. "This is my Sasshalai...he is a child of the stars and has an unusual talent that I think might interest you. Sassha, could you please tell us what Father Kiisan's first impression of you was?" The boy turned and looked over his shoulder at the magician, "He was surprised that I'm just a kid. He also wondered what I could do that would be very helpful and decided I like a girl." Ocha laughed, "Kiisan, is that really what you were thinking?" The young priest looked away indignantly, his face flushing an intense shade of carnation, "Okay, so the little kid can read my mind." Ocha slipped off her chair, falling hard on her bottom, shaking with laughter, "Great guardians Kiisan, you don't need to get so upset! What a funny face you're making! You look hysterical!"

Kiisan gritted his teeth and squeezed the hem of his left sleeve with his right hand. "He's wondering how much longer you can possibly laugh before you can't breathe anymore. He's also angry that I understand his thoughts better than he thinks he does." The boy looked at the strange pair with a solemn expression. None of his remarks were meant in jest. Ocha's laughter slowed and she got back onto the wooden chair. Kiisan's face gradually lost its pink blush as he stuttered awkwardly to Matataki, "W-what kind of joke is this? This Sasshalai, who is he, and how does he do this? What do you want me to do with this little kid anyways?!" The old magician smiled gently, "Now now... Honorable Father, you are not being forced into anything, so if Sassha is going to be too much trouble for you I will not be crushed by your rejection of my aid. And to answer your first question, this is no sort of joke at all. Sasshalai was born with this gift. He has chosen to lose it wisely and accept it as a blessing, rather than as a curse. Some see it other ways. It was my belief that it could be used to see what faults the people saw in your vision and so you could use that knowledge to sway their hearts. I know that you'll be untrusting at first, but the stars prophecy that Sassha will be standing next to you for many years to come, living even as your last true companion. I see it in your destiny Honorable Father Kiisan, just as I see you standing at the head of this new nation for centuries to come."

Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni

"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"

Chapter 13- The Rush to a Confrontation and the Dangers of Faith

There had been no further discussion in Klikk between Kiisan and Matataki. Kiisan had risen from his chair, taken Sasshalai's hand, and led him out of the building and straight through the gates back to the Highroad. Kiisan was disturbed by the idea of ruling a nation, but determined to continue fighting with the revolution with his companions. It was not the time to fight fate. He had to keep walking...this was not the time to stop for a moment. Ocha had been surprised by his rather sudden action and was curious as to what had come over Kiisan so suddenly. Up until a few minutes ago he had seemed fairly content to be led around and have his path decided for him. She could not figure out what had snapped in him in those moments when Sasshalai read his mind. Kiisan himself had no idea what the identity of the thing controlling him could be was, but to his younger companion it was all too clear. The Circle Rune pressed Kiisan to slow and stop, to fall into a calmness he could not control. "Big Brother, why are you hurrying now?" Sasshalai tugged at Kiisan's sleeve, causing him to miss a step and nearly trip. "I'm hurrying because I'm worried about--" he broke off suddenly and leaned down slightly to stare Sasshalai directly in the eyes, "Alright, smarty, why are you asking me a question about what I'm thinking all of the sudden? And what's with calling me "Big Brother?" I'm not your brother and I know that you know exactly why I'm picking up the pace. What going on with you?" The small boy took a step backward, his vision blurring momentarily, "D-don't be angry with me... I just wanted to hear it from you..."

Kiisan straightened up and began to raise his voice, "Okay kid, I know that you want to be just like a normal person and have to ask the questions, but I don't have the time for this right now. All you'll hear from me for the moment is complaints if you keep slowing me down." The boy shrunk back even further, his dark tan face seeming to pale, while his eyes wavered, filling with water. Kiisan, realizing the damage he had dealt, knelt down and put his arms around the child, feeling guilt rise like the high tide, as he heard Sasshalai sniffle, trying to hold back tears. "I'm sorry. Will you forgive me Sasshalai?" Their eyes met again and the dark-haired boy pushed the wreath of dandelions higher on his head somewhat crookedly, "I forgive you Father Kiisan. I'm sorry too. I won't bother you again." Kiisan shook his head slightly in emphasis as he told the child firmly, "You don't have to be sorry! It's not your fault! And, you can call me "Big Brother" if you like. I think I like that better than "Father Kiisan" anyways. Ask me whatever you want to ask me. ...Can I ask you a few questions too, Sassha?"

Sasshalai wiped his teary face on his sleeve and smiled weakly back at Kiisan, "Go ahead. Ask me whatever you want." "Hey! What's taking so long back there?" called Ocha, who had gotten quite far ahead when she stopped paying attention to the pace of her companions. "We're coming Ocha! Just hang on!" Kiisan stood back up, picked up his staff, and attempted to brush some dust off his robes. He took Sasshalai's small hand in his empty one and began to walk down the road as he made his inquiries. "How old are you?" "I'm seven." "What was it that Sensei wanted to tell me about you before we started talking, anyways?" "He wanted to explain that I'll only be able to stay with you as long as you're an idealist. He thinks that some real-world experience will be good for me, but Big Brother, you have to take care of me or he'll get upset with you." Ocha grinned at the two as they approached, hand in hand; "There you are now, let's get back up to speed, okay?"

The trio continued along the Highroad and Kiisan and Sasshalai's question and answer session dragged on. "Why does Matataki care about you so much, Sasshalai?" The boy stopped for a second, looking into Kiisan's eyes, "That's simple. He's my father." Kiisan blinked at the statement, "Oh..." The young man's thoughts wandered awkwardly, "Of course the old man really cared about how I treated him... But isn't Master Matataki a little old to have a seven-year-old son?"

*********

Falina gazed sleepily over the side of the wall, observing silently the fields and orchards that spotted the landscape like a quilt. The soft breeze that seemed to signal the arrival of summer stirred the plants below like the ocean's tides. She was undisturbed by the sounds of the city below, only hoping feebly that Kiisan would show over the horizon with his silly hat and his tall staff. "Hey Falina, what're you doing up here?" Her surprise quickly evaporated as she turned and looked at Father Carlos who leaned weakly on a thick staff. "Are you feeling better? You've been so quiet lately...is there anything I can do?" He sighed and sat down slowly, leaned back against the parapet, "You saved my life, didn't you Falina..." It was more of a statement than a question. The green-eyed girl glanced down at her feet, unsure of what to say in reply. "Thanks. I don't think that I deserved it, but I'm glad you did. ...I...uh... I don't think any of the others would've done that for me Falina...just you and Kiisan...They don't really care about what happens to someone like me. I'm just a nuisance. I'm slow, I'm sort of a complainer, I have bad judgement, and I think you find me to be narrow-minded. I...I don't want to be weak anymore." He fiddled anxiously with his pendant and retied the bandage wrapped around his wrist as he spoke.

Falina sat down next to the tiny priest and put her hand on his shoulder, "It's okay Father Carlos. It's hard to be strong. I'm weak too. That's why people need each other, isn't it? I'd protect you again if I needed too. I was really scared...that day...you know... I'm still scared. I want Kiisan to come back."

Carlos jumped up as quickly as his frail frame would allow and drew a dagger from his sash. Falina's eyes grew large in shock as it glinted in the sunlight, "W-what are you going to do?!" The young cleric took a deep breath and grasped a handful of hair in his left hand. In the painfully awkward style of someone who was unused to handling knives, he hacked away the strands of fine ebony hair. He proceeded a little further with some more hair from the other side until his eyes had filled with tears and he could fight no further. The dagger fell from his hand and clattered onto the stone wall beside his feet. Strands of black hair floated away on the wind or clung to Carlos' robes. Falina could only stare in confusion. His once very neat hair was now cut at many strange lengths and looked rather ragged. "Father Carlos..." she murmured and began to rise. He wiped a long sleeve across his face and turned back, rushing allow the wall back into the fortress-like government building, almost falling as he pushed through the door past Russ, who had just been walking up to find Falina.

Russ rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully, causing his blond hair to stick up awkwardly. "What was that all about?" Falina shrugged, it was too complicated to explain right away, "Were you looking for me Russ?" "Yeah," the lean soldier replied, "Turan wants you off the wall...Imperial troops are approaching from the other direction and you don't want to be in range of enemy fire. Come on Falina, let's go back down."

*********

"Turan Magno! Step out and state your position! If the rumors are true and the state of Serif is trying to fight against the Kingdom of Aronia you will be crushed!" The tall man, whose silver armor shone in the warm light, was none other than Keiichi T'Rumor. He came from a family that had famously fought against Aronian rule in the northern regions, but he had betrayed his home and been rewarded with a high position in the Imperial Army as a general. The traitor general was honored by the emperor as a hero and hated by the people for turning on his own relatives. He appeared aloof to both opinions of his behavior and was interested only in strength. His troops were the wonder of all the Aronian military. The soldiers despised him...but they also respected him, in a way unlike their respect for anyone else. Aronia was a nation that had been established by traitors. He was only a product of a corrupt system that would reward disloyalty that aided the central government.

Yuber smiled pleasantly; "This should be fun. Let them attack...what a party we'll have... I hope you're up for some blood my friends." Lucien wrinkled his nose in disgust; "I'm not your friend." Yuber shook his head in disdain, "If you're not my friend, old man, that must make you my enemy...and you know what happens to my enemies...Old Yuber here has never given mercy even once in his life..." Lucien shivered. Sonoa glared at Yuber, "Save it for the Imperials." Yuber laughed loudly, "You're impatient too!"

The Turan stood with Rizu, Junsuke, and an archery squad from the State Army atop the wall above the main gates. "General, the rebellion will include you if you want a place in it so badly." The armored man below shook his fist at Turan Magno; "I'm not here to play games! I want the heads of all rebel leaders! That would be you and a priest called Kiisan, I believe! I'm not a revolutionary Magno. There is no strength in this enterprise! I will take your words as a declaration of your stand against the nation! Prepare yourself for imminent destruction!"

********

Ocha stopped suddenly in the center of the road, causing Kiisan to nearly walk into her. "Ocha! What was that for?" he complained. Sasshalai glanced about fearfully and stood on tiptoe to whisper into Kiisan's ear, "She thinks that soldiers have come this way just recently headed toward Serif City. She's trying to figure out what might have happened and who they might be. She's going to cast a spell to see who came through here, so be quiet, okay?" Kiisan nodded and stood waiting beside Sasshalai. Ocha's staff began to glow with a white light; she raised a hand, also glowing with the same white light and snapped. Ghostly images of footsoldiers, archers, cavalry, and a general in armor traveled through them down the road in the direction of Serif City. The wraiths disappeared as suddenly as they had appeared and the glow around Ocha faded. Kiisan tapped her lightly on the shoulder, "What did you do?" Ocha flipped some pale hair out of her face, "I cast a spell to reveal who had passed along this road during the past couple of days. A large battalion from an army it looked like." Kiisan agreed, "They were Imperial soldiers. That can't be a good sign. I think they were coming back from an expedition in the Senai Mountain area...maybe they were supposed to crush the revolution on their way back to Rupanda. ...So if they're heading through the state of Serif we'd better hurry! That's where my friends were headed!" Kiisan rushed down the road as fast as his long robes would allow, followed by Ocha and Sasshalai. The spark had ignited the nation and the fire of war, fueled by revolution was burning.

A sentry who had been left to watch the temporary camp established by the Imperials saw the trio hurrying down the road in his direction. The funny looking woman and the strange-eyed boy meant nothing to him, but the young priest whose staff was topped with an emblem of the sun was another matter entirely. "Captain Hai-Yong! Captain! I think I've found the rebel leader!"