She wondered why all the bright-eyed people of Klikk always watched her as she passed. It was not as if she looked so very different from them or behaved in a strange manner. It seemed like so much time had passed since she had awoken in the strange city. Wearing a crown of flowers each day was actually starting to feel normal.

Falina could see the man in charge of the city just up the stairs, speaking with some small children. She climbed the wooden stairs, step by step, trying to get ready for any response no matter how shocking. "I will be prepared! I will accept anything," she told herself firmly.

Falina approached the ancient wizard Matataki slowly. The question she had come to ask was burning in her mind, but she still feared the answer.

"Excuse me, Sensei..." she began tentatively.

Matataki turned and brushed a few strands of silvery hair out of his face, "Yes, Miss Falina?"

"Although this is a nice place, I really miss my friends and so I was wondering when I could leave and rejoin them," she asked softly.

The elderly man looked at her silently for what felt like an eternity to Falina, before turning away,

"Sometime soon...perhaps..."

Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni

"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"

Chapter 57- One Last Night

Sanada sent a message directly to the capital by way of a pigeon. It was not like the flowery dispatches she composed for the other rebels, but a succinct demand; "We have taken Prince Jonathon prisoner. Release the Beast Rune and you seal his fate." She knew that Kiyon would recognize her handwriting. She knew that Emperor Leo Maximillian could not ignore the threat. There was no need to sign it.

"Do you think the fact that we have Juran, Kinold, and Xiu Kio as well could have helped at all?" Mio inquired timidly.

"It's a nice thought, Mio, but if the emperor won't hold back to save his second son, than a few measly Imperials won't even merit a second glance," Sanada sighed, "At least they're not ready to turn that monster on us yet...according to Han Li, that is."

"He says he has a plan for that, right?" the orange-haired strategist questioned.

Sanada shrugged and put the Imperial note down on the table, "He keeps telling me that, but without any real information on this plan I don't really know what to think about it. You'd think he wouldn't mind some help coordinating it, but you've seen how he is. Let's not waste anymore time, Mio. Let's go to Rugcnul now."

Mio nearly jumped out of his chair, "Now? Do you think we're ready for that? We haven't even told Kiisan about the emperor's response!"

The dark-haired woman rose from her seat and pushed past her companion, heading out of the tent, "Well, I'll leave that to you. I'm spreading the order to prepare for the departure we worked out earlier."

Mio stood in the silent command tent for a few more minutes, looking around hopelessly. When Sanada had made up her mind there was no way for him to talk her out it. His eyes eventually wandered to the small piece of parchment she had left on the table. It stated in no uncertain terms that, "We have reached the breaking point. No one may turn back. I leave Jonathon to you, to do with as you will. Prepare yourselves for imminent defeat," and it was signed, "Emperor Leo Maximillian."

He closed his eyes and thought about Sanada Morin. She was intelligent, proud, and fearless. She could accept threats of this kind without a word. "Lady Sanada, I promise I won't let you do anything too dangerous," Mio vowed silently, "I promise won't let anything happen to you in the battles to come, because...I don't know what I'd do..."

An important part of the strategy behind the upcoming battle was that no one could see rebels entering the forest. Those acting as bait on the road could be the only ones visible to the enemy up until the critical moment. After Jeiku led Ocha to the woods so she could become familiar enough with the area to teleport there from the encampment she proceeded to travel in such a manner back and forth with small amounts of the army. Sanada and Jeiku supervised as the warriors prepared silently among the trees. Between the two of them, Han Li and Sasshalai even added to the subterfuge by causing dust to blow on the road to obstruct the vision of any sharp-eyed Imperials.

The encampment was keep looking lively by some assorted revolutionaries under the command of Tej and his lieutenants who were not entirely comfortable with the idea of fighting among the trees. Rift and Okino keep the soldiers moving about unnecessarily to create the illusion of greater numbers than were present and as night fell to light extra campfires.

The forest was growing cold. Hai-Yong pulled his cloak tighter around his broad shoulders. The lack of campfires contributed to the chill of the season. He looked up at what little of the cloudy night sky he could see through the tree branches and pondered what Sasshalai had told him earlier in the day. "You know, Big Sister Falina misses you. She's going to run straight over to you the next time she sees you."

The reddish-haired man could picture the boy's large, bright eyes in as he smiled earnestly. Certainly there was truth to the message, but how long would he have to wait for its fulfillment?

Mai Mai's long, striped tail touched his side as it flicked rhythmically back and forth. The wildcat was curled up beside Kiisan who was snoring gently in his sleep.

Hai-Yong could barely wait to see Kiisan's face when he awoke.