Han Li grumbled in irritation at Kiisan, who grinned at him cheerfully. "We were taking a nap under the same tree. He's not my "buddy." I don't have "buddies," for your information."

"Yeah, yeah, sure..." the younger man replied with a hint of laughter in his voice.

While Kiisan teased the older man, Mio and Sanada conversed with the gate guards from the state of Naco. They had just passed through apple orchards in the southwestern corner of the state and wanted to attempt heading through the mountains by way of the Riftern Trail, which began just past this checkpoint. The two guards warned the strategists about the treacherousness of the path and suggested the rebels leave their horses behind. Sanada squabbled loudly with the young men about their trustworthiness after they offered to hold onto their horses until the revolutionaries returned. Mio, afraid to take a side in the conflict, watched nervously. After a few minutes a third man, wearing a large straw hat over two long golden blond braids appeared in the doorway. He yawned softly before turning to Sanada and asking, "Is Kiisan here?"

She blinked in surprise and glanced at Mio who answered, "Yes, he is," in confusion.

The young man suddenly seemed to come awake. His eyes widened and he pushed between the two strategists and the guards, rushing out of the gatehouse. He stumbled around the assembled rebels searching for Kiisan. Louis Abdul looked at him curiously, wondering why the crazed-looking figure seemed so familiar. After a few moments of dashing about with no destination than wherever Kiisan was the young man spotted the person he was looking for.

Kiisan stood below Han Li who was perched on a flimsy-looking branch of a nearby tree. "Kiisan!" the colorfully clad man called as he ran toward the rebel leader.

Kiisan turned in surprise to look at the person who had yelled his name. Before he had the time to recognize the figure the young man had his arms around Kiisan in a tight hug. "Kiisan, I set out as soon as I was sure it was you!"

Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni

"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"

Chapter 33- Into the Mountains and Warm Confirmations

"Yuki! Lemme go!" Kiisan scowled the flush of embarrassment reddening his face. The blonde man, Yuki, dropped his arms and drew back slightly, but continued to smile jubilantly.

"Kiisan, this is amazing. Last time I saw you was way back in Serif! I haven't seen you since I visited you in the field hospital that morning after the surprise attack! It was spring!"

Yuki was entirely unaware that everyone was looking at him. Even Sanada had paused her argument with the guards to watch the energetic man talk. He continued his speech, still focused only on Kiisan, "Then I started to hear all sorts of things about revolution and some "Father Kiisan" person! I mean, after Captain Louis Abdul left the army I knew something big was going on! I was stuck in Ablin City while General T'Rumour staged his siege and the whole time I was thinking, "Is that the Kiisan I know?" I mean, if you had heard that I was doing something so... great...awe-inspiring...fantastic you'd be curious too, right? I was sort of unsure though, since you're a farm-boy and they kept on blabbing about some priest and the Circle Rune, but I read the description off of some Imperial dispatch and then I was pretty sure it was you! Since, you know, you're sort of small and have hazel eyes, you're more unusual than someone like me or something. I wanted to join up so bad! But by the time I was sure it was you, I was down here in Naco visiting my cousin and I was afraid I'd miss you. Then went to Lady de Kiron's court and asked around about the rebels. They told me you were going up through the moutains, so I thought I would just wait around for you- and it's been three days now, but here you are!"

Kiisan's head was whirling from everything Yuki had just said. The man with the braids had also served in Serif's State Army, but in a different division. Kiisan had met him when the blue-eyed man was trying to get extra rations from the cook. Yuki was one of those magnetic people who always knew how to have a good time and Kiisan had admired him a bit for that.

Before the overwhelmed priest could respond, Sanada asked, "We'd be pleased to have you, especially since you seem to be an old acquaintance of Kiisan's, but are you sure you can handle this?"

"Handle this! Che!" Yuki grinned proudly and retrieved his spear from the gatehouse; "I can handle anything thrown at me!"

"I wouldn't argue with him," Han Li agreed, "Anyone crazy enough to chase Kiisan all the way out here must have some spirit. And that's what it takes to be a rebel."

Sanada nodded silently and turned to the two gatehouse keepers, "Take good care of the horses. I'll see that you are compensated when we return."

The young men in Naco's green and white army uniforms happily said their good-byes to Sanada as the revolutionaries headed up past the gates onto the path. After she was out of sight one sighed and, looking to his companion, inquired, "Has anyone ever hassled us that much before?"

********

Two hours up the trail Mio could barely keep up the pace. He lagged behind and limped slightly from a fall he had taken early on over a tree root. Yuki looked at the orange-haired strategist over his shoulder, "Hey, are you okay?"

Mio shrugged and smiled, "It hurts, but I'll probably become numb soon..."

Yuki shook his head and looked around thoughtfully, "Aww, that's no good. You can't keep going like that. How long should it take to get through the mountains?"

After pausing for a moment to make a quick mental calculation Mio responded, "About three days, I think."

"Well, you need a break...Mio, right?" The golden-haired man scurried ahead and stopped Louis Abdul. He whispered to the captain for a moment before returning with the caped figure at his side. Louis Abdul gave Yuki his sword and pack and then, having unloaded himself of any extra weight, approached Mio.

"Yuki says you're having some trouble here. Come on. He volunteered to take my stuff so I could carry you, so let's go then."

Mio clambered awkwardly onto his friend's back and wrapped his arms loosely around his neck. The black-haired man shifted his passenger slightly and stifled a laugh; "You better appreciate this Mio! I must look like a fool."

"Well, at least you don't have to be carried..." the strategist told his friend in consolation.

"Yeah, that's right. Think my wife'll be impressed if I tell her I carried you to down to Efttal?"

"Sure, why not?" Yuki giggled, "But she might want you to start working harder around the house if she knew your true strength and endurance!"

Louis Abdul groaned, "That's right...I think I'll have to sacrifice my pride to save myself from housework..."

"Are you goin' fool 'round all day?" called Kusa.

"No!" the three men replied in unison.

"Then stop slowing us all up!"

"Yes Ma'am!" saluted Yuki.

***********

Falina looked at her wavering reflection in the cold mountain stream they had stopped by for the night. The water was so clear she could make out each pebble lining its bottom. Although the current appeared to be slow, the occasional leaf sailing by proved otherwise. Unlike the many creeks and streams they had encountered in Onwya and the other states near the citadel this one was not teeming with mosquito fish or minnows. The green-eyed girl could see the leaves on the trees changing color. The warm tones swept across the mountainsides like a wildfire. Sanada had hoped they could aid Sita Katyana and Father Jie Jhin in fortifying the states they led and return to the citadel before snow blocked the passes. Falina could feel the last traces of summer slipping away.

The sound of twigs cracking and straw sandals flapping alerted her to Hai-Yong's presence. He crouched down next to her silently and peered into the stream. She watched at he leaned in closer and squinted at the water, his brow creasing in thought.

After a few moments he looked back up at her and asked, "What were you looking at?"

Falina laughed at his question. Hai-Yong was glad to see her looking so happy.

"I was just admiring the stream. It was nothing special, but it's nice to see your interest," she answered, after pulling herself back together.

"Oh!" he exclaimed, growing excited, "Um, I found something I think you might like. Give me your hand."

She offered her right hand to him and with a large grin Hai-Yong took something out of his pocket and dropped in out of his large hand into her much smaller one.

Three dark brown, circular seeds shaped like coins lay in her hand.

"These are wisteria seeds, aren't they? ...Thank you."

"Yep," he responded, "I knew you'd like 'em."

Falina closed her fingers tightly around the seeds, gripping them firmly. She looked into Hai-Yong's shining eyes, feeling her own eyes welling up with tears.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Falina sobbed, throwing her arms around the older man.

The former Imperial soldier was surprised by Falina's movement and forgot the thoughts he had planned for the situation. His tan face began to turn a bit pink as he put an arm around the crying girl to hug her back.

And as Falina's crying quieted and she sat by the stream leaning against him, examining the wisteria seeds in her hand the tall man who had never been much of an observer of the world thought he saw the most beautiful pink and blue sunset in his life.