"My name is Han Li," the dusty traveler, explained with a smile, "But I think a little way down the road is a more appropriate place to talk."

Mitsu stared in surprise as Han Li raised his right hand and in a flash of light they stood outside an old wooden tavern. He looked around anxiously before returning his gaze to Han Li, whose lips curled up in a small smile. "Wh-what kind of sorcery is this?" the strategist stuttered.

"Now, now, nothing to be concerned over. Have a seat," the cloaked man said calmly, pulling out a chair at one of the wobbly tables for his more fragile comrade.

Mitsu sat down slowly, still somewhat in awe of the mysterious stranger. Han Li slipped inside the tavern's door and returned moments later with two steaming cups of tea. The strategist accepted a cup gratefully and sipped it tiredly while Han Li sat down and began to talk.

"I'm impressed that you walked all the way here from Rupanda. I don't think many in your condition could've done it. I suppose I'll be sparing you the trouble of going the rest of the way on foot. ...You see I am a friend of the revolutionaries. ...Actually, I've long been a friend of revolutionaries...if you could ask Naco's T'Rumours or Imei's Chief Tsuna they would be able to attest to that."

The dark-haired strategist cut Han Li off sharply at this point, "You knew the T'Rumours?! And Chief Tsuna from Amur?! Did you fight with Perin and Asp at the Battle of Rapids? Did you witness the burning of the Omasas Plains? Did you know Kristoff the Hawkeye?"

Han Li closed his eyes and swallowed some tea, unsure of if this should make him pleased or uneasy, and responded with one word, "Aye."

Mitsu took off his yellow hat and set it on the table, becoming afraid to make eye contact with the dark man on the other side of the table, "...then you truly are a revolutionary...and you certainly are old..."

Han Li downed the rest of his tea in one gulp, but did not say anymore to the strategist. Mitsu sat thoughtfully for a few minutes before saying more, "You were young during Emperor Henry Ryn's reign, weren't you? ...the first real revolutionary, weren't you? ...until they burned everything..."

"That's right..." Han Li sighed, "That was a long time ago...It's all blown away back dust...it started as dust...I'm sort of happy that someone has been taught about those things..."

Mitsu smiled hopefully, "One more time then?"

"Yeah, that's right...I think this could be the one...one last time..."

Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni

"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"

Chapter 37- Dust to Dust

Mio tugged on the reins of the horse that Father Jie Jhin was lending him as he and Sanada reached the top of the hill. The roan horse whinnied softly as Mio looked up at the trees. His eyes widened at the sight of thousands of brilliant leaves, not just red, yellow, and orange, but scarlet, crimson, tangerine, and goldenrod, floating down like slow drops of colorful rain all over the hill. Sanada stopped behind him and dismounted, curious as to what had caused Mio to stop so suddenly. The orange-haired strategist stared at the sight in wonder, unable to tear his eyes away from the sea of waving flames. "The leaves are starting to fall..." he remarked, "Is it autumn already?"

*******

Kiisan sat in the main hall of the government building in Tanrensho with most of his companions assembled around him. The new boots Father Jie Jhin had given him were comfortable and fit rather well, but he was somewhat reluctant to part with his old army boots from his short time in Serif's state army. He was less thrilled with the heavy chest plate he had received from Lord Hal. Although Kiisan appreciated the gesture and understood the importance of protecting himself in battle, it was rather heavy and made him feel silly.

"Hey! Kiisan!" called a happy voice, distracting the rebel commander from his minor troubles. Kiisan looked up to see Falina walking up to him with a teapot in her hands. Hai-Yong, wearing a frilly apron, followed her closely with some teacups on a tray.

"You've come a long way from the Imperial Army, haven't you, now?" Louis Abdul snickered at the former soldier. Hai-Yong swatted at the captain as he passed, but was concerned that he might drop the cups, so he avoided any serious fighting for the moment.

Falina sat down next to Kiisan and set the teapot on the table. Hai-Yong poured some of the steaming liquid into the cups and handed one to Falina and the next to Kiisan. "I know that you can't go to battle on a full stomach," Falina explained, "But it's a little cool out and I thought you might like something to drink."

Tiko laughed and pointed at Sonoa and Mai Mai, "I don't think they'd want to go to battle on an empty stomach!" The Shensa clanswoman and her feline companion were messily eating a roast bird of some kind, completely oblivious to the stares of their companions. Louis Abdul rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair.

Yuki wiped his blade with a cloth as he complained, "I'm getting tired of waiting. I want to at least get out there and take my position."

"Everyone is anxious..." Hai-Yong added, "That's the way sensible people are before any battle. Heck, General T'Rumour himself could get pretty antsy before a battle."

Kiisan swallowed some of the tea before replying to Hai-Yong, "But you're not going to fight, are you? I thought you were staying here with Falina."

Falina looked at Kiisan indignantly, "You expect me to stay back here and sit around while you're out there in danger? I can't do that!"

The young priest frowned, "I don't want you to be out there...even with our plan it'll still be dangerous...I don't want anything to happen to you..."

"I know how dangerous it is!" Falina shouted, "I've fought too! And I don't want anything to happen to you either, Kiisan! You've gotten hurt before- that rune on your hand doesn't make you invincible!"

"I didn't say anything like that! Consider yourself one of our reinforcements! You should stay here with Tiko and Sasshalai!" Kiisan yelled in response.

The young leader of the state of Miiro stepped up behind Falina and tapped her on the shoulder. Falina turned to look at Sita Katyana, who motioned for the peasant girl to follow. The two young women left Kiisan sitting at the table with Hai-Yong in confusion.

"Don't fight like that..." Carlos cautioned Kiisan, "It'll only hurt more later..."

Kiisan sighed and gazed down into his cup of tea, "I hate to fight with Falina...even if it's just about something stupid like that...I feel bad about it..."

Carlos took Falina's chair between Hai-Yong and Kiisan and put a sympathetic hand on his friend's shoulder. "You two are close, so she'll understand and forgive you. It's just this atmosphere makes everyone's nerves a little frayed."

"Thank you, Carlos," Kiisan replied in a lighter tone.

Just as Carlos was about to open his mouth and speak more with Kiisan the large double doors opened loudly. Yuber stood in the doorway with Sasshalai at his side. The little boy's arms were filled with bluebells and his eyes shone in the light. Yuber's black armor glinted and his ominous presence seemed to fill the room as he said, "Sanada wants us to get moving."

The black knight turned and left the way he had come. Sasshalai approached Kiisan and gave him a handful of bluebells with a smile. Hai-Yong looked at them cautiously; "It's bad luck to pick those flowers. The chime of a bluebell is the sound of your death."

Kiisan looked at the delicate flowers and pondered Hai-Yong's words. He tucked the flowers carefully into his sash. "I don't hear them...but maybe our enemies will."

"I can hear the ringing..." Sasshalai said calmly.

"It's all just folklore anyway..." Louis Abdul reminded Hai-Yong.

Hai-Yong ruffled Sasshalai's hair; "You're a brave kid."

"You hear it too, don't you?" the boy asked the red-haired man.

"Maybe..." the warrior replied with a shrug, "Who knows?"

"That's brave too," Sasshalai explained.

Hai-Yong laughed hard and Carlos joined him as he arose from the table, "Sassarai is pretty smart, isn't he?"