"I know that this is something none of us wants to face...for a good number of valid reasons," Kiisan began shakily, "However, I will not abandon my cause...more importantly, I will not abandon all of you. And that means this thing will be set out on our trail."
"I understand your point entirely," Sanada nodded, "But, don't give up hope yet. You have yet to meet our Imperial hostages. I believe it might be possible to use them as a bargaining piece."
Sita tugged on Kiisan's white sleeve in anticipation, "Come, let's go! I can't wait to see your response to them!"
Sanada and Tej watched quietly as Sita and Mio led Kiisan and Carlos out of the tent. The dark-haired strategist took a long deep breath and let it out slowly. "It's not so bad, Lady Sanada," Tej suggested, "Han Li appears to have come quite prepared for this wolf. Ocha tells me that he's getting to work on all sorts of things."
"I'll take your word for it, Tej, but it still doesn't take any of the pressure off of me," she sighed, "If that man would let me know what he was doing it might help somewhat, but he keeps to himself. Our plans could be completely contradictory for all I know. He can't take Kiisan away from Rugcnul. After that he can go hunting for that monster or whatever else might suit him."
Tej sat down beside his strategist and put his arm around her, "Don't get upset by it right now. Handing over Prince Jonathon might be enough to convince the emperor to use some restraint."
Before Sanada could respond, Sasshalai peeked into the tent, his eyes darting around thoughtfully. "Is it okay if I come in?" he asked.
Tej waved him in silently with a gloved hand. The little boy moved quickly to the table where Sanada's battered map of the empire was laid out. He appeared to be studying the western regions rather intently. "Um, do want something?" Sanada inquired softly.
"Just to tell you something good," he smiled, only glancing up from the map for a brief moment.
Still a bit confused Sanada questioned the boy from Klikk further, "Well, what is it that you are here to tell me about?"
"Some help we're going to get. They won't get here fast enough to fight at Rugcnul, but they really want to be useful to us," Sasshalai explained with a broad smile.
"Whoever they are, they sound like nice people," Tej laughed, "Good job, Little One."
Sanada leaned over Sasshalai to get a better idea of the section of the map he was examining. "...The west. How could I have forgotten about them?"
The boy gasped for breath as Sanada suddenly wrapped her arms around him, "Thank you, Sasshalai! You are absolutely fantastic! Stay with me and I'll make an excellent strategist out of you!"
He smiled again, this time in a more forced manner, "If it's all the same to you, Lady Sanada, I think I'll pass."
Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni
"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"
Chapter 56- Sasshalai's Work, Lucien's Work
Carlos beamed at Sasshalai as he approached him slowly; dragging his feet and carrying what looked to Carlos rather like the lid of a large pot. "You seem to have been quite busy lately, Sa-ssha."
The chestnut-haired boy shrugged, "I had a lot of things I needed to do, but this one is the last one, so I'll get some rest soon."
"Yes, you should, I don't think you get nearly as much sleep as someone your age should. You'll make Kiisan worry about you," Carlos agreed. "So..." he began again, eyeing the object Sasshalai stood with his arms wrapped around, "What are you bringing over here? That looks a little hard for you to carry. Would you like me to help you with it?"
"Actually...it's for you, Father Carlos, so you can take it," the boy told his companion, offering the shining azure shield.
Carlos accepted it gingerly, turning it around in his hands to get a good look at the smooth metal.
"Ah! Sasa! There you are!" Hai-Yong exclaimed, "Kiisan told me to come get you and put you to bed! I've been looking all over the camp for you!"
"Yes, Mr. Hai-Yong," Sasshalai submitted to the red-haired man's demands, and allowed Hai-Yong to pick him up and carry him away.
Carlos watched in confusion, mumbling to himself as he practiced holding the shield, "You didn't even tell me what I'm getting this for..."
"Ayu! Get out of there!" Lucien called in exasperation. The bandit had climbed up the rigging into the crow's nest of the small fleet's flagship. When deciding what ship to put Ayu and his followers onto, Lucien had faced a tough choice. He could put them under one of the others or take care of them himself. The reason the older man had finally decided on watching over the mischievous bandit on his own was actually because it felt cruel to pass on the responsibility to someone else.
Ayu did not appear to hear him. He waved back happily.
"All right! That's it!" Lucien threw down his black beret and his coat and began to make his way up the rigging. He was going to teach Ayu to follow orders if it killed him.
Coming out of the ship's kitchen, Haneh was shocked at the sight of Lucien climbing up towards the sails. She pushed past some of the sailors and ran over to her friend. "Stop it, Sir Lucien! You're too old to do things like that! Get out of there this instant! I'll get Ayu for you!"
She began to pull herself up one loose rope, rapidly catching up with Lucien. "Climb down right now! I'll go drag that troublemaker back to the deck!"
Lucien gave in with some frustration; "All right then, just make sure that by the time he reaches the deck there's enough of him left for me to give him a big piece of my mind!"
"Certainly, Grandfather," the blond woman smiled, continuing up towards the crow's nest.
From the deck of the slightly smaller Whistling Lily, Jirobane could see his companions move about the rigging like spiders in a web. All and all, it was a rather entertaining sight. "What are you looking at, Sir?" Captain Zajan, the owner of the ships, inquired.
"Some of my friends," he laughed, raising a hand to point out Haneh as she grew closer to Ayu. "This is something you might enjoy to observe..."
That evening Lucien went down to bed early, lying in his hammock with an arm thrown over his eyes. "Are you feeling unwell?" Haneh asked with concern.
"I have a splitting headache. Watching "you-know-who" for so long is tiring."
Haneh nodded with understanding, "I will take two watches tonight."
"Are you sure you can take that much?" Lucien asked, not wanting to overburden his friend.
"It's nothing I couldn't do any day. I'm self-trained for this sort of trouble. I don't need much sleep," she shrugged it off, "I will stay with Ayu on his watch and take care of my own. His watch is at three o'clock in the morning. I made sure of it. I don't think he'll be awake enough to be much trouble."
"Thank you so much, Haneh, that makes me feel better already."