Sanada perched daintily on the edge of her chair with the inhabitants of the citadel arranged behind her. She had a smug, catlike smile stretched across her face and laughed at Kiisan after he asked, "Is this everyone?"

The tallest man, who had short brown hair and a sharp face, responded bluntly, "No, Tiko isn't here right now. We sent him for help, but he hasn't come back yet."

Louis Abdul put his head down on the table in frustration, "Five people live here and one isn't home. This is ridiculous."

Lucien gave Sanada a look of wonder, "Lady, you did a fine job of defending this place."

Her smile seemed to increase at the older man's remark and she tossed an arm lightly over the back of the chair, "Thank you, it was my pleasure."

Han Li scowled at the men from the citadel, who stood nervously as the revolutionary leaders regarded them. The mysterious man was in a sour mood. He had refused to be seated at the long table and remained standing behind Kiisan's seat periodically leaning down and offering Kiisan an annoyed observation. "Why don't the four of you give us the honor of learning your names? It might speed things up a bit."

The tall man, who seemed to serve as their current spokesperson, began, "I'm Zawn. I don't know who made you king of the castle, buddy, but I think my pals here would rather have their dealings with Father Kiisan than with you."

Han Li's miss-matched eyes glowed with anger. He whipped out his dirk from under his cloak, pointing at the olive-eyed man who stood nonchalantly with his hands in his pockets. "You have not yet gained the privilege of being allowed to criticize me. Anymore complaints will be regarded as anti-revolutionary sentiments and you will be-"

The door creaked open loudly showering the group gathered in the hall in the bright afternoon light. Sasshalai stepped in and closed the large wooden door behind himself as quietly as possible. He scurried around Sanada and the citadel-dwellers to Kiisan's side, shoving Han Li in the process. Han Li nearly dropped his dirk in surprise, but reacted positively to the child's appearance by sheathing his weapon and dropping his fighting stance.

All eyes were turned to the seven-year-old boy who looked up at Kiisan happily, motioning his one hand for him to lean down. Kiisan leaned over slightly so Sasshalai could whisper in his ear. The watchers could see the rebel leader break into a wide smile as the bright-eyed boy opened his tightly clasped left hand to reveal a small white tooth.

Everyone not close enough to see what the child held tried to lean nearer or squinted to get a better look. Han Li saved them the trouble as he summed up the situation aloud, without a note of the earlier typhoon-force violence in his voice, "Sasshalai lost a tooth."

Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni

"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"

Chapter 27- A Certain Kind of Peace

Falina has assisted in setting up a makeshift clinic for some of the more drastically wounded Imperial soldiers who had been left behind by their companions in one of the emptier buildings of the citadel. Hai-Yong, despite his lack of any medical skill whatsoever, remained by her side, following the girl like a loyal dog. The meeting that had taken place in the large hall of the main building had ended just moments ago and the some of her aid in the "clinic" returned.

The two priests who had followed Sanada onto the battlefield followed closely behind Lucien, Hyoko, and the middle-aged doctor. The older priest had neatly trimmed, but thinning, white hair with a short beard and mustache. He was slightly stooped over with age, although his senses were still very quick. The old priest, Father Shiku, was flanked by a younger comrade, Father Izador, whose shiny brown hair was pulled back into a low ponytail which flipped up and down when his step picked up speed. Under the careful eye of Dr. Clark they tended to the wounded, both Imperials and revolutionaries while Falina gave what little aid she could.

Hai-Yong sat down on a stool and watched her for a few hours until Hittoko and Russ entered saying, "Kienda!"

"We made some dinner! Anyone hungry?"

He sat unhappily on the floor of the main building's hall where the meeting had been held earlier, stirring his soup with a spoon. Falina had opted to stay and eat with the injured at the request of Father Izador. Hai-Yong played over the conversation in his mind angrily. The priest smiling peacefully and saying, "If it wouldn't be much trouble Miss Falina, mayhap you could remain here and eat with us..." in a soft accented voice. Something about the educated-sounding clergyman bothered Hai-Yong. He had not been asked to stay, nor had Hyoko or Lucien. He gritted his teeth and shook his head, feeling his face grow hot.

A delicate-framed person sitting down alongside him shook the red-haired man out of his thoughts. All he saw out of the corner of his eye was a glimpse of black hair. He turned to look at Father Carlos who had a thick, gray cloak wrapped around his shoulders. "Are you alone too?" the rough man inquired with a sigh.

"It's quiet here..." was Carlos' response. Hai-Yong looked around to see that while he had been fuming all of the others had dispersed. He could hear the soft beating of his heart and in the distance the chirping of crickets and the mournful cries of cicadas.

The muscular man put down his spoon; his soup was cold. He pushed the bowl out of the way and scooted closer to Father Carlos, putting a large arm around the petite man. Carlos looked up at him curiously, but did not speak, leaning his hatless, dark-haired head on Hai-Yong's shoulder.

A wind chime tinkled outside the building as a night wind swirled around the citadel.

Han Li rose up from where he sat, knocking a pebble into the clear pond. It fell with a soft splash and caused tiny waves to ripple across the surface of the pool. The lily pads and lotuses rose up and over the ripples like miniature ships on the ocean.

Sasshalai hopped over the side of the stone steps over to the dark man's side. "Don't go...I came here to see you."

Han Li sat down again on the grass somewhat reluctantly and the boy sat down beside him. At first neither rune bearer spoke, both keeping their eyes away from the other, but after what seemed like an uncomfortable eternity Sasshalai turned to his comrade and spoke, "This belongs to you."

The older man looked at the pendant the brown-haired child held in his hand, "Yes, it does. Why are you giving it back to me?"

Sasshalai turned the golden circle emblem around in his fingers, gazing at it intently, "'Cause you'd like to wear it again...It does belong to you..."

Han Li took the offered pendant and slipped the chain over his head. The golden circle sparkled in the moonlight. He looked at the necklace for a moment before tucking the pendant into his tunic. "Thank you...Sasshalai..."

The boy grinned happily, revealing a black space in the side of his mouth where his missing tooth had been. "I was afraid you would refuse it."

"I almost did."

Sasshalai scratched his head thoughtfully, "Why didn't you?"

Han Li shrugged and then yawned, "It didn't seem like the right thing to do."

"You're a good person, Mr. Han Li." The child rose and began walking up the short flight of stone steps to the open square that lay in front of the main building, "Goodnight."

At first Han Li said nothing as he watched Sasshalai go, but he was struck by a sudden impulse, which he himself could have only described as a weakness of heart, and he rushed up the stairs, and lifted Sasshalai up in his arms. The boy's eyes widened in surprise. Han Li felt himself blush at the curious gaze and he muttered to the child awkwardly, "It's too late for you to be out here anyway, kid. What would your father say? Let's get you to bed."