It was a cold day in the mountains. Every cloud that passed across the glowing face of the sun darkened the ground below like a candle extinguished at night. A few more resilient creatures like the finches had ventured out into the snowy landscape. Despite the cold, the breeze blowing in from the south was warm and served to make moving about on the damp ground a more viable act for an ebony-haired captain from the Aronian Imperial Army.

Juran raced down the slick path running the fastest had had ever run in his life. Everything went by him as just a blur. Which stopped, abruptly, as he skidded to a halt in front of one person he least expected to see: Hai-Yong Pavlen. Despite this shock, a young man commanding a lot of authority had given him orders, so he shouted out disjointedly, "Hai-Yong! Come quick! You've got to do something! We fired on them! She's hurt really bad!"

"What?!" the red-haired man roared.

Juran cowered, trembling, "She needs help," he squeaked.

Hai-Yong's face blazed with ferocious anger. He threw a heavy punch that connected squarely with Juran's cheek, knocking the smaller man down hard into the snow. Sasshalai and Han Li looked on in mild confusion as the wavy-haired man ran up the recently cleared path without a word.

"We need to follow- quickly," Sasshalai commanded softly, his voice beginning to shake. The two True Rune bearers had come outside because of the tremendous energy they had sensed from the Circle Rune. It did not take Sasshalai any mind reading to discover what had happened. With the same cause in mind, Han Li and his young companion raced after Hai-Yong.

Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni

"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"

Chapter 44- Where There is Wisteria...

Hai-Yong dropped down into the snow and lifted Falina easily. "Why didn't we have Dr. Clark come back north with us? That was dumb! He's not here, but don't worry, Falina, I'll take good care of you!"

Kiisan did not say anything. He remained on his knees in the slowly melting snow, blood spattered on his robes and splashed on his hands.

Han Li took a quick detour around the rocks to swiftly examine the bodies of the Imperial soldiers before crouching beside Kiisan and putting an arm around him. "Calm yourself now, Kiisan," he began, but the young revolutionary did not appear to be listening.

He looked over his shoulder to see what Sasshalai was doing. The boy was standing near Hai-Yong. From what Han Li could see it seemed that the boy from Klikk was trying to speak with Falina.

"Big Sister!" Sasshalai called. Hai-Yong stopped his nervous pacing as he saw a hint of pink return to Falina's face, like an unfolding blossom.

Han Li watched curiously, his arm still around Kiisan's shoulders. He knew that the son of Matataki could read minds, but this was taking all that he had heard a step further. He narrowed his eyes, observing the boy's every movement.

Kiisan suddenly brushed the older man's arm away and stood up. He wiped a long white sleeve across his face, drying salty tears. "I have to go," he stated clearly.

As Kiisan began to walk away to the north, Sasshalai turned away from his task to look anxiously at his friend. The boy's face turned red as his miss-matched eyes filled with tears, "Don't go," he pleaded.

The young priest did not respond. He raised his head slowly to meet Sasshalai's wavering gaze, and slowly looked back down again. Han Li spoke for him in a soft, but firm tone, "Let him go, Sassha."

Kiisan wandered off around a bend in the path. The remaining rebels watched him until he was out of sight. Sasshalai seemed to shake his concern for Kiisan away and returned his attention to Falina. "Big Sister Falina...We need you here," he murmured.

Unable to stand by as a spectator any longer Han Li broke the question that had been formulating in both his and Hai-Yong's minds, "What are you doing?"

"I'm speaking to her spirit," the chestnut-haired boy said plainly.

Hai-Yong's teary face brightened somewhat. Han Li raised an eyebrow skeptically, "What will that do? Why are you doing that?"

The boy responded as though conversing with lingering spirits was a common enough occurrence, "We don't want Big Sister Falina to leave us. Big Brother cast a spell here, you know. He was exchanging those lives for hers. 'Cause, it's a circle. Just like all of the other things. Friendship and love, he's returning it. ...But, of course, he doesn't know that. Her spirit is okay, but her body is hurt pretty bad."

"Can I do anything to help?" Hai-Yong asked desperately. He honestly believed the words of the child standing before him. Since the siege of Serif City the former Imperial had seen so many strange and mysterious things that anything seemed possible from some of his fellow rebels.

"You can pray for her," Sasshalai replied, "I only know one person who could understand this spell. I have to take her to Klikk."

"Can you get there by yourself?" Han Li shot back rapidly.

"Of course. I can teleport there. It's my home. It calls to me," he explained patiently. Sasshalai reached a dainty hand out towards Falina, and grasped her delicate hand.

"Take care of her!" Hai-Yong growled.

"Don't do anything foolish!" Han Li added.

"She will see the wisteria there. I will do the best I can," he informed the two men before vanishing into thin air, taking Hai-Yong's light burden with him.

*********

It was difficult for Han Li and Hai-Yong to explain the situation to their remaining companions. First Juran told his side of the story, and then Han Li related what had occurred after his arrival. Carlos broke into tears immediately, and had to be reassured repeatedly that Kiisan was physically unharmed, and that Falina was not necessarily gone forever. He clung to Yuki's arm like a lost child and cried even after Han Li's myriad of calm explanations. Mio and Louis Abdul fell into a deep silence after hearing the tale, while Yuki turned his attention to Carlos to keep his mind occupied. Yuzumi and Nolan seemed confused about where Sasshalai had gone with Falina, but accepting. Nolan was upset by the fact that he had believed it was safe enough to leave the two alone for a few minutes. Juran himself assured the mountain man that their presence was a fluke.

After giving had he promised himself was the final explanation Han Li sat down beside Mitsu, who was wrapped up tightly, shivering with fever while he slept. No one had wanted to wake the sick man for bad news. Han Li took a few slightly crushed leaves out of his pouch. Falina had dropped them in the snow when she and Kiisan had been attacked. They were exactly what he had suggested to give Mitsu's for his fever. The strategist had dark lines beneath his eyes and felt hot to the touch. "I'll wait," Han Li decided, "I can make him something later."

**********

Kiisan stumbled along, blinded by icy tears that stung his face. The path he had chosen to follow had not been cleared by Nolan who had only shoveled off part of the main trail. Kiisan did not care at the moment where he was going. All that mattered was that he was going away. Away from that terrible sight...away from his crying companions...away from her.

As he pushed his way along he caught a loose white sleeve on the branch of a dead tree and as he pulled it loose roughly, the sleeve tore at a strange angle. It surprised him somewhat, distracting him from his emotionally charged mind. The breeze blew past, making his sleeve flap about like a tattered flag while his hair blew into his face.

*********

Yuzumi was busy attempting to convince the rebels to eat some rice she had cooked when Mitsu finally awoke. He looked around the room in confusion, not sure exactly where he was. This was not his home in Rupanda. He chastised himself for not being able to recall what had occurred over the past weeks. How could his mind possible breeze over the miles he had traveled on foot? He squinted at his companions seated on the floor around a small table. The looked fuzzy to him like a coin dropped in a fountain. He opened his mouth, about to call to Mio and ask what had been happening while he was sleeping, but the call as not to come. Mitsu began to cough hard, his already weak body tossed like a dead leaf with each strain.

There was no need to call, even if he could have; everyone turned to see what was wrong. "Sir Mitsu!" Louis Abdul shouted. Mio felt himself cringe despite himself. Mitsu had finally stopped coughing. He took his hands away from his mouth and grew even paler when he saw red spots on his palms. He had coughed up blood.

*********

Nearly three hours passed before Kiisan reached a small building with a roof of loose shingles that rattled when the wind blew. "This must be that temple..." he thought. The sun was sinking out of sight and the temperature was dropping with it. "I can't spend the night out here," he decided, "And it would be difficult to get back to that house in the dark. I'll stay here."

Kiisan pushed against the door which, although it appeared fragile was actually rather heavy. The inside of the temple was dusty and in some places wet. However, that was not what caught Kiisan's eye. It was the design painted up and down the halls. Even in the fading light he could make out the pattern of curled tendrils snaking off of a long green vine that reached up and out with its smooth leaves to catch the sunlight. Purple and white blossoms hung from the vine in clumps like grapes. The looked so real. Kiisan reached out with his hand to touch the paint and make sure it truly was only a temple wall in front of him. He could practically smell the inviting, sweet scent of the wisteria.

*********

The following morning, someone did awake to the scent of wisteria blossoms in late fall.

The soft tan blanket was covered in wisteria flowers scattered as though they had fallen that way off of the vine. Falina sat up slowly and winced in pain as she did so. The wisteria was not the only flower in the room. It seemed filled with vases and bundles of every kind of flower she could name. A garland of various purple flowers woven green leaves and grasses sat atop her head. Her long black hair was not tied back like usual, but hung loose around her. She blinked and looked down to see her chest bandaged tightly. The bandages were marked with glowing letters that she could not understand and the clothes she wore were not her own, but white and green garments with blue and brown speckles, reminding her of Sasshalai's tunic.

Suddenly she became aware of the person standing beside the bed to her right. Sasshalai seemed to be simply another part of the room with his speckled tunic and golden dandelions. He smiled broadly, but did not say anything to her.

"Sassha..." she began, "I'm every bit glad to see you, but where am I?"

The boy's smile did not change. He did not open his mouth, but she heard the word distinctly in her mind, "Big Sister Falina, this is Klikk."