"Get these bloody 'ooligans outta my tavern!" the emerald-eyed woman roared at Captain Mibari.
"Ah, come on, Lady" he pleaded, "The boys have been at sea two months now. They're not breaking anything yet, and if they do, I'll pay for it! We all need to have a good time every once in a while!"
"Pleesh..." Ayu cajoled, his voice slightly slurred, "This ish such a fine istablishment and all..."
"No pirates!" she screeched at the top of her voice, "Can't you read the sign?! We don't want pirates here!"
"Well, then," Mibari sniffed, "If it has to be that way." He turned to Ayu and placed a friendly hand on the bandit's shoulder, "Pirates aren't served here, but it doesn't say anything about ruffians like you. I officially turn my crew over to you for the evening."
"Ish an 'onor, I'm sure," Ayu grinned, giving a wobbly salute.
The dark-skinned woman looked as though she might burst. Her face was beginning to look as red as the low cut crimson dress she wore. "Mir?! Are you the one who let these people in?" she yelled across the room.
A small, freckled face popped out from among the pirates, "Who? Me, Ma'am?"
"Come over here!" the tavern-keeper called.
Mir approached hesitantly, clutching at an empty metal tray, "Well, it's not like I could exactly stop them," the young girl explained, shaking her head for emphasis, "There are an awful lot of them, Miss Serafina, and I didn't know what to do..."
Serafina, the owner of the tavern scowled. "Come on now, purty lady," Mibari's first mate pleaded, "I'll see ta it personally, that the men keep quiet an' don't break nuthin'. Purty please, lady?"
She scanned the room critically, mentally estimating how much money she could make off the pirates if she allowed them to stay, remembering to subtract the average costs of the damages she would incur. It was dangerous, but it was worth it. "Go ahead, Mir," she waved a hand vaguely at the young girl, "Serve the pirates."
"Yes, Ma'am!" the brown-haired girl replied.
Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni
"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"
Chapter 69- Father
"Kiisan, what do your remember about your father?" Han Li asked quietly as he stared out the window at the orange sunset.
"I barely remember anything about him. I can't even recall what my father did for a living. I guess he was probably just another farmer like the other men in the village. I must've seen him last when I was seven. I don't even know if he's actually dead. I mean, we all acted that way, but he doesn't have a grave and no one ever said anything about it right out. Falina's father might have known, but I can't ask him now," Kiisan mused sadly, "I know that he was tall and that he used to carry me, but that's about all."
"Hmm..." Han Li seemed to consider the information as he momentarily closed his miss-matched eyes.
Kiisan stood up and turned towards the door. The small boy sleeping on top of the bed caught his eye, "How's Rolen?"
The older man's focus shifted and he smiled, "He's much better now."
"That's good," the young priest replied, reaching toward the door.
"Are you leaving already?" Han Li frowned, "You didn't stay very long."
Kiisan shrugged apologetically, "Sorry. I have somethings to think about. See you later."
He closed the door quietly behind him, to make sure and not wake Rolen as he left. His father was not even much of a memory anymore. Kiyo and Osayo could not remember him at all and his mother said nothing. Kiisan wondered what sort of person he could have been, but he did not pursue it too far. He had no family, and thinking about the situation would only make it harder. The loneliness was piercing like a knife. Falina's absence did not help much either. Kiisan knew that she was out there somewhere; wherever Klikk might be at the time, but that was not enough. He wanted her there by his side, so they could talk again.
As he turned the corner he caught a glimpse of Matataki and Sasshalai standing in the hall. Some invisible urge compelled him to stay hidden and listen. He ducked swiftly back around the corner.
"Han Li has been rewarded, I see," Matataki observed calmly.
"Fate does tend to reward those who serve her," Sasshalai replied seriously, before his tone returned to its usual childishness, "And now you have something in common with him. He's a father too!"
The following sigh sounded more like the leader of Klikk than his son. Kiisan assumed he was less than pleased to have become more like Han Li.
"All the stars have an appointed task, right?" Sasshalai inquired, "And you know them, don't you? Tell me mine!"
"Now, Sassha, I don't know if I should be doing that..." the father stated in a stern voice, "That sort of information is not normally meant to be left floating about in the open. ...And don't you dare think of reading my mind to find out either!"
"Yes, Father!" the boy chirped back obediently. "Umm, Mr. Han Li... his task was to defeat the Beast Rune and to protect Kiisan, right?"
There was no response for a few minutes, followed by another sigh, "That's correct, Sassha. But really, I'd rather we didn't talk about destiny and it's tasks."
The receding sound of flipping sandals signified that Matataki and his son were moving on in the other direction. Kiisan ambled around the corner and down the stairs. At one of the large tables, Carlos, Fairwind, and Sowari were serenading Yuki with cheers of "Happy birthday!" Kiisan smiled. This was more the sort of thing he needed.
He rushed down the stairs and over to the table, "Happy birthday, Yuki!" he shouted.
"Hey Kiisan! Thank you!" the blond man laughed, "Come here and look at this pretty cake!"
Kiisan hurried around the table and leaned over Yuki's shoulder, admiring the chocolate cake, "That looks really good..."
"Carlos made it," Fairwind announced proudly, "With a little help from me."
"Well, I helped too!" Sowari protested.
"No you didn't!" Fairwind scolded at the ninja, "All you did was taste everything!"
"It was a tough job, but someone had to do it," Sowari snorted.
The five men laughed together as Yuki cut the cake.
This too, is Harmony.
Kiisan glanced over his shoulder suspiciously. "What was that?" he wondered, "Am I hearing things now?"
It took only a moment, however, for a piece of cake to be handed his way, and he quickly forgot the strange feeling as he took his first bite.
Jeiku, along with Sonoa, and therefore also Mai Mai, was given the job of watching the man formerly known as Celan Leblanc as he sketched a plan. Sanada had given the military engineer plenty of reason to work. His keepers were not to allow any unnecessary breaks. The only reason the head strategist had not gone so far as to request Yuber take the job, was her slight fear that a murder he would not be overly penalized for would seem be too tempting for the black knight. She wanted Machiu to feel threatened, not terrified. And despite his polite manner, Jeiku was quite a severe man.
The military engineer worked with a fervor fueled by anger. That pretentious strategist would certainly get what was coming to her. He had often worked with the Aronian government and he knew how strong the walls of the capital were. None but his best siege engines could conquer barriers of their style. She would see soon enough.
"You're not supposed to be stopping. What's this long pause about?" Jeiku inquired, raising an eyebrow. He squinted at the knife he was polishing, admiring it's sheen.
Machiu shook his head furiously and began sketching again, "It's nothing."
"Good," Sonoa snapped, "Don't let it 'appen again."
The military engineer twitched with fury. When the rebels fell he would certainly not be sad to see these two go.
"Rema, do you really know of another person who did that sort of work?" Sanada asked anxiously, "An engineer who might actually comply with our wishes?"
"Yeah, to tell the truth it was a woman in who lived near Kalekka," the singer smiled, "I think she'd probably be sympathetic to our cause."
"Anyone is bound to be more worth our time than that Leblanc fool," the strategist growled, "I've only gotten him to draw somethings up under lock and key with Jeiku breathing down his neck. ...Do you know this woman well?"
Rema grinned, "Yeah, I do. She's really nice. Maet and I have stayed with her a few times in the past. If you have nothing else to work on then I can come out with you tomorrow. It shouldn't take that long..."
"Nothing at all," Sanada replied, "I'm perfectly fine with going out there tomorrow, but Mio might want to tag along. He seemed like he missed me today."
"And you seem like you missed him too," she winked mischievously
Your ears do not deceive you.
Kiisan blinked and looked around nervously. No one else was in the room. He felt his chest tighten and his heart race.
Again, I advise you. Have no fear.
The rune on his hand was glowing.