Title: Fire in Your Heart
Author: rese
Rating: M
Pairings: Zhen Ji/Cao Pi, Zhen Ji/Sun Ce
Summary: Ji begins to understand her world.
A/N: I suck at titles so I borrowed a line from Oasis.
Ok while the graphic parts aren't here yet they will be. I don't apologize for being brash and vulgar. If you don't like it, don't read it. If you're not old enough, stick your nose out. Thankyou.
Disclaimer: Koei owns Dynasty Warriors, Zhen Ji, Cao Pi, Sun Ce, Sima Yi, Zhang He and Cao Cao (basically all of Wei and Wu and Shu) and any other characters from the games. Although I'm pretty sure that the dude who wrote the poems in the first place has true copy write status. I made the story up but.
She felt so pathetic. The wife who dutifully awaits her husbands return. The wife who faithfully believes her husband looks only at her. The wife who would be duped by her blind ideals. She knew one day he would have more than wife. More than her. Perhaps the first would be a gift from a conquered enemy, the second an incomparable beauty, the third a strategic addition. It didn't matter who they were, it was what they would become to him. Oh gods! He hadn't even told her he loved her!
Head in hands, she tried desperately not to let the tears spill – she shouldn't waste them on him. If they fell her entire world would follow.
"My lady" a nameless servant appeared by the gate. "Our lord returns at noon from war in Jing. Sun Ce is among the prisoners." Why would she care who was among his men? Then Ji recalled a diplomatic meeting not months ago – a tall man with broad shoulders, thinly bearded with a light voice and striking eyes. "Very well" Ji waved the servant away.
So he had caught Sun Ce. Maybe things weren't so lost after all.
The room was freezing and now that they had stripped her naked she felt it all the more. They really should have heated it for her dressing but servants were forgetful at the best of times. A tall girl pushed her into the water and shock ran through her body. HOT! The water was boiling in comparison to the cold air of the room. Another woman bumbled across to her pouring water over her then rubbing her head with the vigour of a baker. Oils and spices were soaked into the tub and her hair, a strange sent of oranges and plums burning her nostrils. She prayed to the gods it wouldn't be this strong-smelling when the men arrived.
She was hauled out of the water again by the tall one who ran a cloth roughly across Ji's body, drying it thoroughly. Ji shivered as the cold touched her skin which was still wet by her hair. A large girl took her hand and dragged her to the window which she opened allowing a breeze to blow through the room. Ji was positively shuddering now and a robe was thrown on her as they laid her hair out in the weak sun.
When her hair had dried sufficiently the tall girl ran oils through it and fastened her hair high on her head with bells, combs and other various ornaments. Meanwhile two other girls were wrapping her body in warm coloured silks – a stark difference to the usual blues and purples she wore. A bright red belt was fastened around her waist with particular care and tightness. Odd, she had never seen this belt before. It must have been made with pure silk – and the embroidery!
Zhen Ji sighed with pleasure at the beautiful material, running her hands over it with unusual fondness. Make up was applied with artist's delicacy, appreciative of the figure's face that wore it. Finally done the servant girls ushered her into the gardens. Lady Zhen would be required at the official greeting and dinner. Until then she would make herself useless by staring at the greenery.