"Are you sure you want to stay behind, Sassha?"
The umber-haired boy nodded seriously, "Kiisan is coming here. I have to wait for him. Since Mitsu is feeling a little better you should get going while you can. It's been a long time since you've all seen the citadel."
Louis Abdul sighed pensively, "I'm pretty sure you're right about all that. General Sasaki, Bishop San-Feng, it's not that far now. We would be honored if you would visit our headquarters."
The two men looked and each other and a silent agreement passed between them. The scarred military man spoke, "We welcome the chance to see this Slalain Citadel firsthand, and to surrender ourselves to your leadership and that of Father Kiisan of Serif."
"Hey, they're serious, aren't they?" Sowari gawked.
Carlos shook his head, "Of course they are, Sowari."
Sasshalai interrupted the respectful interchange between Louis Abdul and the two state leaders by stomping a small sandaled foot on the tile. The sound was not very loud, just loud enough. All eyes turned to the small boy. He looked at his older companions in frustration, "Are you going to stand here all day? Get going!"
Mitsu coughed softly into his handkerchief and added his thoughts to Sasshalai's outburst, "He's right, you know."
No one had anything to say to that. The revolutionaries hurriedly paid their respects to Lady Cat de Kiron, thanking her for her hospitality, and rushed northward. San-Feng Li and Sedge Sasaki had looked quite sheepish, Sasshalai noted to himself.
"Little one, what about you?" the artisan leader asked.
Sasshalai turned to look at the dark-haired woman. Her long-lashed blue eyes were wide with concern. Despite himself he could not help but feel a little weak. "I...you want to know why I stayed behind? I'm waiting for Kiisan."
"You rebels are all so rough. And you're only a child. Let's get you cleaned up," she smiled, reaching out to take his hand. As he offered his hand to her, he started to forget. There was time until Kiisan arrived. There was time to consider her thoughts later.
"I...uh...Lady Cat..."
She looked at him quite seriously, her dangling earrings jingling as she turned, "Yes?"
"I..."
Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni
"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"
Chapter 51- Some Distance from Our Fears
Sanada pointed at the map spread on the table with her fork. Tej sighed, "Do you really have to do that?"
The revolutionaries' head strategist rolled her eyes. "I have to eat sometime! Just be quiet and listen to my idea."
"This reckoning will be at Rugcnul. I am certain that if we leave a small detachment up the road to taunt the Imperials they will march up that way. They are most accustomed to fighting on flat terrain and Kiyon doesn't like waiting for the enemy to come to him. Our main attack with come from the forest that flanks the road," she explained.
"Who will lead the decoy troops?" Sita inquired.
"It has to be someone brave," Sanada mused, "They have to hold their ground until the Imperials have come a certain distance up the road no matter what happens."
Tej began to speak, "I could-"
"No," the strategist refused him flatly, "We need you in the trees. You and your lieutenants are somewhat specialized in fighting on rough terrain."
"Let me do it!" a young voice piped up.
"Tiko?!" the three schemers exclaimed in unison.
The orphan pushed the priest's hat he was wearing back out of his eyes and smiled, "Why not? It'd be perfect. There's no way they wouldn't all come rushing forward if they saw me- I mean, "Kiisan", glaring at them from down the road."
Sita frowned, "You are right about that, but you're so young. I wouldn't want to put you into unnecessary danger. You've already performed such an important service for us by masquerading as Kiisan around the camp..."
"No, Sita...he should do this," Sanada said calmly, "Tiko, you recognize the importance of not being pushed back, correct? We've moved this far with only a small amount of interference. We cannot risk loosing any ground. We must be victorious at Rugcnul."
The boy looked nervous for a moment, before grinning, "Hey, count on me! If there's work to be done, I'm your man!"
Jirobane got up off the ground and rubbed his arm. "Can't you learn to teleport people so they land on their feet?"
Ocha looked at the bruise she had just acquired on her knee, "I wish I could. You should just be happy that I could remember how to teleport at all. I wasn't sure it would work in this time period."
The swordsman glanced towards the Citadel, which sat about a quarter of a mile away from them. "You could work on your precision too."
"I'll get to it someday..." the time mage groaned, turning to see what her companion was looking at so intently, "What's going on at the Citadel?"
"I don't know."
She brushed some dust off her red dress and picked up her short staff, "Let's get going. I want to see what the fuss is about. It looks like they're flying a lot of flags."
The two rebels recently returned from the Omasas Plains hurried to Slalain Citadel, arriving in time to catch the big scene being made at the gates. Introductions and "Happy to see you"s were exchanged all around. Louis Abdul, Mio, Hai-Yong and the rest of the rebels who had headed back through the mountains were finally home. "Amazing..." Ocha marveled, watching the swirling crowd around her.
"It seems like we're going to win already," Jirobane murmured, "This enthusiasm..."
Just inside the gates Louis Abdul, who had hoped to get back to his room and take a quick nap, was found by his wife. Mio watched Kona shake a letter, most likely Sanada's, at him before throwing her arms around him. "Louis Abdul...why haven't I ever been introduced to your wife?"
The captain struggled out of Kona's grasp and took a deep breath, "I've just never had the opportunity. Kona, this is Mio Silverberg, our strategist and a good friend of mine."
The apron-clad woman's brown eyes narrowed in sympathy, "Poor boy, getting dragged all over the company by you! What does his wife think of this?!"
"I'm not married..." Mio pointed out quietly.
"Well, there you are," Kona fussed, "When this is all over, you should get married and settle down. It will be much better for you than all this war and such nonsense. Really Louis, I want this country liberated as much as anyone else, but does it have to take so long and be so messy?"
Kona's long braid flipped back and forth as she looked around for her husband. He had snuck off while she was speaking with Mio. "That man of mine!" she fumed.
Han Li slipped quickly among the excited revolutionaries until he found Hyoko and Hittoko. "I have returned, ladies."
Hittoko giggled cheerfully and Han Li pressed a bracelet into her hands, "That's for you from the south. Hyoko, what happened in Crona?"
Hyoko smiled and then gave an exaggerated sigh, "Ayu happened, that's what!"
"Who's Ayu?" the cloaked man questioned, but did not need an answer as he as Ayutureik rushed over and slapped him on the back, putting the rune bearer slightly off balance. "Hey! I'm Ayu! What's your name? Someone told me you're one of the leaders! Where's Father Kiisan? The old man and I've been waiting to meet him!"
"Uh...I'm called Han Li. Kiisan's not here with us, but you shouldn't have to wait much longer..."
Tasrinym limped over to his son's side and studied Han Li intently, "You...I think we've met."
"Perhaps," the dusty man conceded, "I've met many people."
"You see, it's very important to me that I see Father Kiisan again...it's been ages since that day in Crona. And I want to be very sure of something..." Tas continued.
"You old frog, he's not here yet," Ayu laughed, "You have a little more waiting to do."
"Ah, that so?"
Kiisan cautiously followed Anamaria and Ignatius into the main courtyard of the Kiron Manor. "Civilization at last..." Ignatius muttered.
The young priest stood staring up at the large windows of green-tinted glass. Anamaria tapped him on the shoulder, "Uh, Kiisan? What is it?"
She looked up into the particular window that seemed to be catching his attention. A small child was waving furiously, an enormous grin filling his face.
"That's Sasshalai," Kiisan told her pleasantly.
The three travelers advanced to the main doors and just as Ignatius lifted his hand to knock, the doors opened to reveal Lady Cat de Kiron with her hand on Sasshalai's shoulder.
"Big Brother!" the boy shouted, his eyes sparkling.
"Hey Sassha..." Kiisan smiled.