"They left here just yesterday. I'm sorry, but you just missed them," Mayor Miranda told the boy. He took off his olive green cap and twisted it between his hands. The golden-haired woman shook her head sadly, "It's really too bad. They seemed like such nice people too. ...where did you say that you came here from, young man?"

He turned his dirty face upward to look her in the eye, "From Slalain, Ma'am. I'm from Wanyan Citadel."

"That's where the rebels are going! You're in luck! If you hurry I bet you can catch them! Their strategist told me they were leaving the Highroad near Geshi. Good luck!" she called as the boy pulled his cap back on and rushed out of the office.

He pushed through the crowd in the busy marketplace and dashed down an alley to avoid further congestion, making his way rapidly out of Giku. The Highroad seemed filled with travelers of all kinds and the boy darted this way and that to escape from horses, carts, and anyone else in a hurry that might block his path. As the multitude of people seemed to grow denser and not less as he moved away from Giku the boy left the road to rush through a field covered in watermelons. He stumbled and tripped over the thick vines and green melons. A farmer in the field raised his hoe and yelled at the boy, but he did not stop to listen. He had a mission to finish.

All the running was tiring him out. He had already hurried up to Giku in two days, instead of the three it would usually take someone on foot from Slalain. He had barely stopped for a thing, sleeping only as much as necessary and eating while he walked. The miles were catching up with him. He gritted his teeth and held back hot tears as he dragged himself on. He knew that the best road to his home village ran perpendicular to the Highroad. The boy had decided that if he cut across the fields he could shorten his trip and make up for some lost time. After barely a mile scrambling through hedges and around crops he began to wonder if his shortcut was saving him anytime at all.

"I can't stop...I can't stop...Father is depending on me..." he told himself sternly. He could see the path growing nearer just through a small grove of trees. "Maybe I haven't lost time after all..."

The brown-haired boy splashed through a shallow stream scattering the tiny mosquito fish that filled the water. He nearly fell as he tripped on a tree root rising out of the ground and as he pushed through the shrubbery, reaching the open grass he collapsed in pain.

"...Father Shiku...I'm a failure...I...I can't go any further..."

Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni

"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"

Chapter 25- Battles of Sorts

Jirobane leaned down over the prone form of the young teenager. He whistled softly, "Yo, Carlos- I think he's alive."

Carlos scurried over to Jirobane's side. He crouched down over the brown-haired boy and felt his wrist for a pulse. "Yes, he's alive." He cautiously turned the boy over to better examine him. Jirobane slung his scabbard back over his shoulder and knelt beside Carlos to watch. The priest listened to the dirty-faced boy's breathing and then placed a small hand on his forehead. "He's feverish..." The man with the uneven haircut took a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to his warrior companion. "Go get this wet in the stream."

The swordsman complied with his friend's request and strode to the stream, dipping Carlos' handkerchief in the water and wringing it out partially. He hurried back and gave the small piece of wet fabric back to Carlos who laid it on the boy's forehead. "I don't really know what to do without any medicine. I suppose we should take him with us and try to catch up."

Carlos rolled up his long sleeves to his elbows and stretched as though he was getting ready to lift something heavy. Jirobane tossed him his scabbard. "Don't even think about. Just carry my sword. You're too puny to do this right."

The black-haired priest clasped the scabbard in both hands and allowed his white sleeves to begin to unroll as Jirobane gently lifted the boy. The two rebels started down the path that their companions had left along earlier, worrying somewhat about the state of the boy they had found. Jirobane whistled a folk song nervously and Carlos carried the sword as carefully as if it were a holy relic. The path stretched far ahead of them, passing slowly, step by step.

***********

Han Li shook his head and sighed. "He must be enduring a great injustice in his mind," Ocha giggled, teasing Sasshalai.

"No... It's serious..." the young mage replied, "...But you were partially right. He can hear a great injustice being committed."

The time traveler was slightly befuddled by the response and she peered around the area curiously. Han Li looked at her coldly. "You won't see it because it's not here for you to see."

"He means something is happening close enough to hear, but far away enough not to be visible," explained Sasshalai, deciding it was best to function as a translator without being asked to avoid any confusion.

Mekkachi jumped to his feet followed closely by Kichitsu. "I thought a heard a woman scream..." the knight with wheat-colored hair stated anxiously.

"That's because you did," Han Li told the warrior, "You have better ears than I expected from someone with such a big mouth."

Kichitsu grabbed his partner by the arm, warning him not to fight back against the mysterious man, who so far has only spoken to them to insult them. "We should help her."

"That's the first sensible thing I've heard all day!" Mekkachi responded, "It came from this direction."

The two knights from Giku ran off through the trees toward where they had heard the sound coming from. Haneh glanced around at the three mages silently before taking her dirk and dashing after them.

"Aren't we going to help?" Ocha asked, puzzled. Sasshalai and Han Li both remained sitting on the ground. Neither had moved an inch.

"They'll be okay," said the boy wearing the garland of dandelions, "I'd just be in the way."

The pale-haired woman sat down and sighed. "What about you?" she asked Han Li.

"Waste of my time," he muttered.

"Oh..." Ocha pulled her legs up and put her arms around them, resigned to waiting in the clearing.

**********

It did not take long for Haneh and the knights to return. A thin barefoot woman accompanied them. Haneh's shining blade dripped a few drops of blood onto the grass. "There were Imperial soldiers," she stated emotionlessly in explanation.

"I didn't need your help," the woman complained. She had dark brown hair and clear hazel eyes. Although she seemed rather pretty her looks were less interesting than her clothing. She was not wearing anything on her feet, which were somewhat squarish with the toes spread noticeably apart. All she wore was a white gown. It did not have any sleeves and was not even tied around her waist. The hem of her robe was torn and frayed in a few spots. The only thing this strange woman carried was a fragile looking map.

"But you were-!" Mekkachi began angrily.

"I was fine," she insisted coldly, "And now I will be going on my way."

"We could accompany you, it's not always safe to travel alone," Kichitsu offered, "Where are you headed to?"

"I will be just fine. On my own."

She brushed the two knights aside walked through the clearing, stepping between Ocha and Sasshalai and disappearing among the trees.

"Ingrate," Mekkachi mumbled, tucking a loose strand of hair behind his ear.

"...you were right," Ocha marveled.

Han Li got up and brushed himself off, "Of course."

*********

The revolutionaries, who had broken into groups to aid the speed of traveling, had covered much of the ground to the ruins Han Li had spoken of quickly. Han Li arrived first; having the most familiarity with the area, along with Ocha, Haneh, Mekkachi, Kichitsu, and Sasshalai whom had accompanied him. The mysterious man had wished to go alone, but Kiisan had insisted and he found it difficult to deny the young rebel, who was beginning to feel very dear to him.

Kiisan himself arrived not long after with Rizu, Junsuke, Mio, Falina, and Hai-Yong in tow. The meeting place was some half-collapsed ruins that were nearly flooded with water. Kiisan was not sure why Han Li would want to meet up in such a place. Mosquitoes flew around the still pools of water, which has green with algae. There was only one logical explanation for the choice. "He knew that there was no way that we could miss it."

Han Li was standing on top of a wooden plank that looked rather old and rotten. Kiisan was slightly worried that it would break underneath him and dump the serious man in the rather questionable looking water.

"Are we going on ahead, or are we waiting for everyone else to arrive?" Kichitsu asked Kiisan politely.

"The plan was to wait," Kiisan said before growing curious, "Did something happen?"

"There were signals from the ruins of the citadel," explained Mekkachi, "They were fireworks. It's standard military code from the area down around Lake Dunan. Something like "Please Assist, Simple Circle Movement Okay" I think."

"I thought you said no one lived in those ruins!" Kiisan exclaimed.

Han Li shrugged nonchalantly, "It's been a while, but that is a surprise to me. It should be alright though. If they're requesting aid against Imperial soldiers that means they'll love us."

Mio dug through his pack while trying to stand balanced on the small stone ledge above the water level. He pulled out a notepad and flipped through the pages anxiously until he found what he was looking for. "They must be surrounded by Imperial troops if they're suggesting a simple circle movement. It's a good, solid sort of strategy. They attack from the inside; we attack from the outside. I think we should move closer to this citadel place to get a better look at the local geography, but someone should stay here to direct the rest of our comrades when they arrive. Any volunteers?"

"Sure..." Ocha volunteered herself; "I'll stay here as long as somebody stays with me."

Everyone looked around at each other awkwardly waiting for someone to make a decision.

"I'll wait with her."

Kichitsu smiled politely, "I can get to know Miss Ocha better. Don't worry, we'll hurry right along as soon as everyone shows up. You can count on me."

Mekkachi eyed his friend cautiously, "Stay right here, okay? I don't want to hear that you did anything stupid while I wasn't here to keep an eye on you."

"Sure Mekkachi, I've got it."

************

The situation clearly laid itself out in front of Kiisan. The Imperial Army was aware of what a good location the citadel was to station troops, but whoever was in the citadel had refused to allow the Imperial soldiers to set up a base there. They had closed up the gates to keep them out, but the troops had orders to get inside so they had no choice but to fight their way in. Whoever was inside the walls of the citadel was most likely seriously outnumbered, since they appeared to be refusing any outright combat.

"How will we coordinate with whoever is in the citadel?" Kiisan asked Mio.

"According to Sir Mekkachi they used fireworks as signals. I'm sure that Louis Abdul has some flares we could send up. I know the code they used...we just have to wait for our reinforcements to arrive if we want this to work."

Kiisan gripped his staff tightly, "I see... I hope the citadel can hold out that long..."