Haneh T'Rumour reached the fortress just as Sanada and Rema were leaving for Kirov. Their plans disrupted for the time, the strategist and singer headed back into Jao-Nyang with the blond woman to hear the news she carried.
"We've landed somewhat covertly on the shore to the northwest of Rupanda, Lady Sanada," Haneh explained, "We are prepared to move at your signal. It's just we want the whole attack on the capital to be coordinated, so..."
At that moment Mio entered the conference room, smiling nervously, "Oh! Ah, Lady Sanada, you're busy!" He glanced at the two women accompanying the strategist and turned back towards the door, "I-I think I'll come back later!"
"No wait, Mio!" Sanada called after the young man, "I have an idea and I think you'll be able to help us with it."
Mio shuffled back into the room, his face somewhat flushed, and stood beside the female strategist, anxiously fingering something he held behind his back. "Mio here is an expert on signals," Sanada explained, "Take him back with you and when the battle begins we'll use those flares or something to contact each other."
"That sounds perfect," Haneh smiled, "Thank you. Come on, Mio, let's hurry back to the ships." The former assassin grabbed Mio's sleeve and began to pull him along after her.
"Hey! Wait!" he squeaked in desperation, "There's still something I have to talk to you about, Lady Sanada!"
The dark-haired woman turned to look at her companion, "What is it, Mio? We don't have any time to waste."
"L-Lady Sanada," he looked her deeply in the eyes as she stepped closer to listen, his face changing from an embarrassed cherry to a fearful white, "After all this time we've worked together, I've realized what an amazing person you are and I think that I'd be a fool to let you go without ever saying anything..."
Sanada did not say anything, although the look of mild annoyance at being held up had vanished from her face.
"Lady Sanada, will you-"
Kanna and Jeiku rushed into the room, practically tripping over each other and managing to knock Mio down in the process. "Milady, we-" Jeiku panted, "There's an Imperial on the riverbank between here and Kirov and he's got a flag of truce. Young guy with long hair, says he wants to meet Father Kiisan."
"Young?" Sanada mused, "What is he here for?" She looked at Mio, who had regained his feet, "We'll talk later, Mio. It sounds important, but I can't let this opportunity pass me by. You need to get going."
"But-" he protested as Haneh dragged him away to the east, "But I'm afraid I won't have another chance..."
Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni
"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"
Chapter 71- Drizzle
The young man stood on the eastern bank of the river. Sanada and Kiisan approached from the west, along with Hai-Yong and a few other assorted rebels. "Hail Friend!" Kiisan called, "I'm Kiisan. What brings you here on this chilly day?"
"I wanted to meet you! My name is Aciano! ...Hold on!" he yelled back cheerfully, "I'm coming across!" He picked up the long pole that lay by his feet, stepped back from the river and then ran forward, using the pole to vault across the narrow waterway. The jump itself was rather graceful, but the landing left something to be desired as the young man fell in a heap in the dirt.
Kiisan approached somewhat cautiously and offered Aciano a hand. The brown-eyed Imperial took the offer and pulled himself up. "Thank you." He smiled at the rebels and Kiisan felt he would have no trouble trusting the young man. The smile was wide, unassuming, and bright. Aciano's entire face seemed to radiate sincere pleasure at meeting with the revolutionaries.
"You're the son of General Gonzales, aren't you?" Hai-Yong asked, "I think I sort of remember you."
"I am. You seem familiar as well, Sir, weren't you previously under General T'Rumour?" Aciano inquired in reply.
"That's right," the wavy-haired man laughed, "You're pretty sharp, kid!"
"Not exactly the first person I expected to come and desert the Imperial Army," Sanada grinned, "How's your father?"
"Quite well, Lady Morin," the young man replied, "However, your first remark is not entirely correct. I would never leave my father. I'm not a deserter, at least not yet."
"So, that's how it is..." the rebel strategist said, crossing her arms, "You've come to get some information and take a look at things."
"It's not a spying operation," he shrugged, "I really wanted to just talk, but I was afraid if I came too close to Jao-Nyang, I'd just get thrown in the dungeon without a chance to see Father Kiisan."
"What's the big deal about Kiisan?" Hai-Yong wondered aloud.
"Captain," Aciano asked, "Do you know a pretty girl with black hair and green eyes?"
"As a matter of fact," Hai-Yong teased, not realizing who the younger man was referring to, "I know plenty of girls. Including one who looks like that."
"No, wait, Hai-Yong-" Kiisan stopped him, "Do you mean Falina?"
"She was about your height, with shining eyes, and brilliant flowers woven into her silky hair," Aciano elaborated with a dreamy look on his face.
"That's definitely Falina!" Kiisan grinned, "Hai-Yong! It looks like Falina's coming to meet us!"
"When I saw that girl, your friend, I had the feeling that there might be more to this revolution than all the higher-ups in the capital let on, and so I decided that if I met you I could judge for myself."
"Well, um..." Kiisan mumbled, trying hopelessly to struggle out of Hai-Yong's bear hug, "The thing about it is that I want to make this country a more just and fair place for everyone living here. I want to create harmony."
Aciano stepped forward slowly, looking at Kiisan's hand, "Is that really the Circle Rune?"
"Oh, uh, yeah," the young priest volunteered, holding his hand out so the Imperial could examine it.
Aciano touched Kiisan's right hand gingerly and smiled as he peered at the symbol, "It looks just like this in books."
"Mitsu said the exact same thing once," Sanada noted.
"Thank you, Father Kiisan," Aciano Gonzales bowed politely. "I will return to my father and tell him what I have seen. Pray that this is the beginning of a peaceful relationship."
It began to drizzle at the citadel as Mitsu stepped outside to look around. It was getting colder and he was fairly sure that full blown winter would soon be upon the "Wheat Field States." Staying behind had not been Mitsu's own choice. The colder climate was not helping his health much and he would much rather have gone south to take part in the planning of the upcoming battles. He had hoped that his knowledge of the internal workings of the Imperial Army would be useful to the others.
"Lord Mitsu," Father Izador approached him, "You're not looking too well. Wouldn't you like to go back to your room. You're just going to get wet standing under the eves here."
"Thank you for being worried," the strategist replied, "But I'm not sure that it matters all that much. Looking out over the distance here I can practically imagine our friends on the plains of Omasas or the forests of Rugcnul. I haven't heard from Sanada for a while and I wish I could be there with them."
Mitsu wobbled a bit and steadied himself by leaning back against the wall. Izador watched with concern, "But you're just so sick..."
"Father Izador," the dark-haired man replied, "You're so very kind. The thing is, more rest will only save me for so much longer. I'm being eaten away and this disease won't be cured. All I have now is to look to the south and imagine what they must be doing now. ...I hope my sister and her family have left Rupanda. It would be safer if they did..."
Ocha stepped out the door and looked at the two men, "Are you out of your minds? It's raining! Come inside!"
They both followed her command without question, but once inside, Mitsu was struck by an idea, "Miss Ocha, do you think you could take me south? To where everyone is fighting?"
"Well, I could, but is that really what you want to do, Mitsu?" she asked curiously.
"It's exactly what I want. I want only to be of some use to all of you and I'm not being any help at all just wasting away here."
The time traveler was about to say no, but the strategist looked her in the eye, "This is going to be my last war."
She could not refuse.