A/N: This is my first DW fic, so please forgive me if things seem a little off. This takes place in the DW5 universe, shortly after the battle for Wu, led by Sun Ce. This is before his confrontation with Yu Ji.
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Mind and Body
There was a CRASH as the two sets of weapons collided. The deadlock lasted for only a few seconds, then the two sabers were wrenched from the young man's grasp. They flew behind his opponent, whose chakrams were now in his face. He sighed. "Your match," he said in resignation.
Sun Shang Xiang laughed. "You know, Lu Xun, if I didn't know better, I'd say you were distracted."
Lu Xun scowled. "I just don't understand why you can't act more ladylike, as your sister-in-law, Da Qiao, does."
Shang Xiang sniffed. "Meh. I don't like being ladylike. Wearing dresses makes me rather uncomfortable. Plus, I've been a fighter ever since I was a young girl."
"That's my sister for ya!" said a new voice. Looking up, they saw Sun Ce, Shang Xiang's elder brother, walking up. "Trying to get her to act ladylike is like trying to convince the sun to rise in the west."
Behind him, Da Qiao giggled a little. "It wouldn't be so hard, but I think she inherited the same stubbornness you did."
"HEY!" Ce spun around. "Whose side are you on, Da?"
"Yours, always, my lord," she replied, giving him her best disarming smile. It worked.
"I don't know how you do it, but I can't stay mad at you," he said, embracing his wife. Seeing this, Shang Xiang coughed a little.
"I'll be in my room if anyone needs me." She left, but not before she caught the semi-scowls that Ce and Da sent at her. She smirked a little. At least they aren't more open while in public, she thought. Then her mind hurled her to a very odd visual place, involving Ce and Da in a rather scandalous position. It wouldn't have been so bad, if the other generals of Wu hadn't been there, cheering them on. Shang Xiang shook herself. Yeesh, girl, quit daydreaming, or at least daydream about something sensible!
The fact that she was now in her room caused a slight mental disconnect, wondering how she'd gotten there, before remembering she was heading there after sparring with Lu Xun. "I must've gotten here purely through habit and instinct," she grumbled. She decided a nap was in order, and stripped off her clothes while finding a nightgown that didn't look overly wrinkled. A tomboy she may be, but she was still a girl at heart. Which meant she cared about her looks.
As she dropped off, her thoughts ran around somewhat in circles. Finally, the darkness of sleep claimed her…
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The pair shared a lingering kiss. They felt their love pour out from their hearts, not caring that they came from different backgrounds.
"Mmm, don't stop," Shang Xiang said.
"I won't, unless you want me to," replied Lu Xun. Their lips met again, and when they broke apart, Lu Xun looked into the eyes of the Princess of Wu. "I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too," she replied.
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Shang Xiang sat bolt upright in bed, breathing heavily. "What the hell? Me and Lu Xun? My dreams get too weird sometimes…"
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Later, at dinner, the various officers were enjoying a rare meal together. No territories were under attack, and no emergencies had arisen within the kingdom. It was a rare enough occurrence that everyone was mellowing out due to the friendly atmosphere.
Lu Xun, however, was pointedly trying to avoid the gaze of a certain Princess. Being beaten by her…how humiliating! At least Master Meng didn't see that…it would have earned me another lecture on not letting my guard down and some such. He calmly ate, occasionally adding his opinion to some strategies that Zhou Yu and Lu Meng were discussing. He wasn't very fond of large social gatherings.
Shang Xiang, for her part, could partially understand why Xun was avoiding looking at her, having been beaten earlier that day. She was, likewise trying to avoid looking at him. She had tried to dismiss her dream, but every time she looked at him, she felt her breath catch and her heart start to flutter. When the meal was over, she walked at a much slower pace than usual, trying to sort things out. All the evidence she had felt pointed in one direction. "Oh, gods…I'm in love with him."
That little revelation was tearing her up. "What can I do? I can't just walk up to him and confess, he'd probably faint!" This was true; the young strategist-in-training was rather shy by nature, even insisting on bathing alone. She didn't understand that very much at all. True, he was young and innocent, but with all the brash, vulgar men around, she would have thought he wouldn't have any problems. She continued thinking, and then snapped her fingers. "I know! I'll talk to Lu Meng about it. He knows Xun, he should know what to do!" With that, she changed directions.
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The strategist in question was currently writing a letter to his family, who resided a fair distance from the kingdom's center in Wu. Lu Meng was always one to pay close attention to things like family and friends. He had meant to talk to Lu Xun about a few things. He had noticed that his protégé was trying to not look at Sun Shang Xiang. Come to think of it, they were trying not to look at each other. I wonder why…?
He was interrupted in his thoughts when there was a knock at his door. Putting down his letter, he called, "Come in." He was rather surprised to see Shang Xiang enter. "Well, Princess, what can I do for you?"
"Um, do you have a minute?" Meng nodded, and Shang Xiang closed the door. "Meng, you're training Lu Xun, right?"
Looks like I'm going to get part of my answer, Meng thought. Nodding, he answered, "Co-training, actually. As Lord Zhou Yu is the ranking strategist, he handles it most of the time."
"Well, how well do you actually know him?" asked Shang Xiang.
Meng considered this. "He's a rather shy boy, but that, I believe, can be attributed to his age and rank. He feels that he sticks out in social gatherings, such as that meal we just had. He couldn't seem to look at you, though…"
"Um, that might be because I beat him in a sparring match earlier. He must have been humiliated," explained the princess.
Meng arched an eyebrow. So that's why he's also been avoiding me somewhat. He didn't want to talk about it. Chuckling, he said, "Yes, that would do it. But, you seemed to have a bit of trouble looking at him, too…"
Shang Xiang flushed at the comment. "Um…" was all she could say.
Meng, however, could guess what was making the Princess blush like a tomato. "Princess, do I detect a more than casual interest in our young strategist-to-be?" Her deepening blush said it all, and he chuckled. "Don't worry, I won't tell a soul."
She breathed a sigh of relief, her cheeks returning to normal color. "Thanks, Meng. I was wondering, actually…you think you could hook him up on a date with me?"
Meng looked mildly surprised at the request. He considered, and then nodded. "I'll talk to him. But I won't mention your feelings."
"Good. I'd hurt you if you did," she said, walking off. Meng chuckled again. Now, how to go about this…
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"Let me get this straight," Lu Xun said, addressing Lu Meng. "The princess wants me to meet her and leave the castle for awhile?"
Meng nodded. "You spend so much time with your nose stuck in a book, you need to get out and relax a little."
"But still…just the two of us?" Xun pressed on, anxiety slipping into his voice.
"Don't worry," Meng assured him. "Both you and the princess can handle yourselves. I'd think that your sparring match earlier proved that."
Xun's eyes widened. "She told you about that?!" he yelped.
"Yes, and while we're loosely on the subject, let me make your choices clear to you: Either 1) You go with the princess and I conveniently forget hearing about that match, or 2) We can have another lecture about sparring."
Xun glared at him. "That's borderline blackmail, Master Lu Meng. Alright, I'll do it, if only because I don't wish to go through the lecture again."
Meng chuckled. "Very well. Meet the princess outside at sundown, near the west gate." Xun nodded, and left. Meng then sent a messenger to the princess's room, telling her the details. "Let's just hope that this doesn't blow up in our faces…"
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At sundown, Lu Xun made his way to the west gate, wearing a more ornate version of his usual outfit. He decided it best to make a good impression. I will not be intimidated, he thought. As he neared the gate, he spotted someone leaning against it. It took him a second to recognize Sun Shang Xiang.
She was wearing a dress rather similar to Da Qiao's, only suited to her measurements. The look on her face said she was not happy at the outfit. As Xun approached, however, she forced a smile onto her face. "Hiya, Xun!"
Xun couldn't help but smile at her forced enthusiasm. "Hello, princess. Tell me…did the Qiaos somehow get wind of this little outing?"
Shang Xiang grimaced. "Yes, and they forced me to wear this. At least it's in my size, and not one of Da's actual dresses. That would be REALLY embarrassing."
Xun tried very hard not to picture the princess in a dress too small for her. Surprisingly, he managed to succeed. "Well, where did you have in mind for us to go?"
Shang Xiang perked up immediately, this time with a sincere smile. "Just follow me," she said. Xun followed her out of the gate, wondering what the mischievous princess was up to…
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As it turned out, Shang Xiang had led him into a rather nice restaurant, and then they had gone for a quiet walk around the town surrounding the castle. Now they were perched on the rooftop of an empty house, gazing at the stars.
"This is the best place for stargazing," Shang Xiang said. "I come here a lot when I have things on my mind…"
Xun could understand the sentiment. It was rather quiet in this section of town, and there was nothing impeding their view of the stars. "It certainly is peaceful, princess."
Shang Xiang nodded. "You know, I actually got us away from everyone for a reason. I don't want anyone finding out yet."
Xun looked at her curiously. "Find out about what?"
She hesitated a moment. "I had a really odd dream, when I was napping earlier. The only people in it were you and me…"
Uh-oh, thought Xun. I can suddenly tell where this is going…
"I didn't know what to make of it, and at the meal, I couldn't look at you without getting butterflies," Shang Xiang continued. "It was when I was walking back to my room that I realized…" She turned to look at him. "…I realized that I'm in love with you."
Looking into her face, Xun could almost feel the princess's emotions. His own heart suddenly began to flutter. NO! he thought, quashing the feeling. He looked away from her. "I can't…" he whispered.
"What?" Shang Xiang asked, confused.
"Princess, it's not possible. We can't be together," Xun said with great reluctance, forcing himself not to look into her eyes.
Perhaps a wise move on his part. Shang Xiang looked crushed. "But…why?" she stammered, her voice breaking.
"You deserve someone who can give you want you want, what you need. I'm just an apprentice strategist, not even an officer yet."
"I don't care!" she managed to cry out, her eyes filling with tears. "All I want, all I need, is just you! I don't care that you're not an officer, I just want you!"
Xun leapt down from the rooftop. "I'm sorry, Princess, but we can't." With that, he left, leaving her, heartbroken, on the suddenly lonely rooftop. You wouldn't understand, Princess, why we can't be together, he thought. God, I feel like such a cad. Perhaps a nice warm bath will take my mind off things.
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Xiao Qiao walked down the halls of the palace of Wu, heading for the bath room. She was wondering how Shang Xiang was after her 'outing,' as she called it, with Lu Xun. Wouldn't it be so sweet if the two of them got together? she thought. Then all the ladies here in Wu would be married! Hmm, I need to check on her once she gets back…and when I'm done with my bath.
As she approached the bath room, she noted the absence of any guards. Guess that means it's clear, she thought. She opened the door, went in, and closed it. Turning around, she froze as she spotted a set of clothes on the rack nearby. Uh-oh, those are Lu Xun's clothes! This was a problem. Lu Xun always bathed alone. Thinking quickly, she dove into the closet…and just in time.
Lu Xun surfaced, having been completely submerged. His back was to Xiao, so she tried to get her heart rate down. Then Xun turned around, and Xiao could've sworn her breath stopped.
Xun got out of the bath, retrieved the nearby towel, dried off, and got dressed, and left; all the time, completely unaware that Xiao had been watching. She allowed herself to breathe again. "Lu Xun…is a girl…" she whispered.
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Xiao got her bath done in record time, trying to forget what she had seen. Now I know why 'he' insists on bathing alone. Posing as a guy, it would be embarrassing if someone walked in on that. Xiao shook her head. "I need to see Shang Xiang."
As she neared the Princess's room, she became aware of something amiss. It sounded like…crying? But Shang Xiang never cried. Xiao stepped up her pace. Reaching the room, she tentatively opened the door, calling out, "Shang Xiang?"
The Princess had buried her head in her pillow, not wanting to be disturbed, it seemed. On hearing Xiao's voice, however, she sat up. Her eyes were bloodshot, indicating that she had spent a good deal of time crying. "Xiao?"
Xiao zipped to her side. "What happened?"
Shang Xiang tried to stifle her tears. "Lu Xun, he told me…that we couldn't be together…that I deserved someone better. But I don't want someone better, I want him!" She broke down again, sobbing into Xiao Qiao's shoulder.
Xiao was about to reply, when an idea struck her. She pondered it, then mentally smiled a very evil grin. "Don't worry, Shang Xiang. I'll talk to him tomorrow. Trust me, he'll open up once I'm through with him."
Shang Xiang looked at her young friend, and managed a small smile. "Thanks, Xiao."
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Xun sat at the desk in 'his' room. It was the day after that royal fiasco of an outing with the Princess, and 'he' was reading a book. A knock on the door got 'his' attention.
"Enter," 'he' called out, not looking up from the book.
"Hiya, Xun-Xun!" chirped a very cheerful voice. Xun smiled. Only one person used such nicknames.
"Lady Xiao Qiao," 'he' said, turning around. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Shang Xiang cried her eyes out last night. You must have been really hard on her," was the surprisingly flat response.
Xun sighed, reaching for the cup of wine nearby. "All I said was that we weren't right for each other."
"Why?" asked Xiao. Xun started to take a sip. "Something deep, Lady Lu Xun?"
It was a testament to Xun's strength of will that she didn't choke or forcefully eject the wine she had been drinking. As it was, she made sure her mind was in working order again before swallowing, and spinning to face Xiao. "How…?" she said, still using her adopted male voice.
"You forgot to post a guard last night in the bath room," Xiao said flatly. "Don't worry. Soon as I saw your clothes, I ducked into the closet."
"You spied on me while I was bathing?!" yelped Xun.
"Well, sorta. But from what I saw, you've got nothing to be ashamed of." Xun blushed bright as a cherry tomato. "Oh, come on, don't be so uptight. Zhou Yu and I have consummated our marriage once or twice."
This did nothing to alleviate the heat in Xun's face. "Thank you for that lovely image, Lady Xiao Qiao," she mumbled. She decided to drop her adopted voice. "So why are you pestering me?"
Xiao blinked at the unfamiliar voice, but continued. "Just answer me one question. Do you feel anything at all for our dear Princess?"
Xun had been dreading that question. She wanted to lie, but the Qiaos had an uncanny knack for knowing when someone was lying. Sighing, she closed her eyes, and whispered, "Yes."
Xiao nodded. "Then here's what you're going to do. Talk with Shang Xiang, somewhere private preferably, and tell her the truth."
Xun looked at her. "On which point?"
"Both," was the simple response.
Xun jumped up. "Are you crazy?! I can't tell her I'm really a woman! Do you have any idea what she'd do?"
"Look, Xun, if you really feel something for her, you'll tell her. Otherwise, you'll estrange her even more when she does find out. You've been dressing as a man for God-know-how-long, you should have collected some courage."
Xun felt like she'd been slapped. "But…"
"No buts, Xun."
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Later, Shang Xiang was walking toward Lu Xun's room. He had sent for her, and she couldn't help but wonder why. Truth be told, she was somewhat angry. After last night, he better have a damn good apology lined up for me.
She knocked on the door, and heard a somewhat subdued, "Come in." She went inside, and saw Xun sitting on his bed, looking like a person caught between a rock and a hard place. He looked up, and Shang Xiang felt her anger slipping away as she looked into those light brown eyes. Why can't I stay mad at him?
"Princess, I feel I owe you an apology. I barely gave you a good explanation last night. You deserve to know the truth, the real reason why we can't be together."
"The truth?" Shang Xiang echoed. Xun nodded, then slowly stood up and faced away from her. She was confused by this, but before she could voice it, he spoke again.
"I only lie when I have good reason to. If anyone else found out about this, I'd be kicked out of Wu so fast I wouldn't know what happened." As he said this, Xun was slowly undoing the clasps that held his jacket in place. Finally, it dropped to the floor. When Shang Xiang looked back up, she saw something very out of place on a guy's body.
Bindings? she thought. Then Xun turned around, giving her a good look at the decidedly female chest the bindings worked hard to conceal. Shang Xiang was stunned into absolute silence, and again when Xun spoke, in her natural voice.
"Women are not respected as strategists nearly as much as men are, Princess. That's why I hide myself from the world, why I dress as a man. I can't afford to lose the favor I've gained in the eyes of Lord Zhou Yu and Master Lu Meng. I want to be a strategist, and for that, I need to be male."
Shang Xiang nodded, understanding. The guys don't like it when I fight; they think women are useless on the battlefield, she thought. She walked over and sat next to Xun, who was sitting on the bed again. "But why don't you want to be with me?"
Xun shot her an incredulous look. "Princess, have you not been paying attention? It's not that I don't want to, it's that we can't be together. We're both women; it hardly makes sense to-" She was silenced by one of Shang Xiang's fingers resting on her lips.
"No one said it had to make sense, Xun. Love is funny that way. And all I know is that, guy or girl, I'm in love with you; and if you feel anything for me, you'll know that gender doesn't matter." Not waiting for a response, she closed the distance between their lips.
The kiss sent electric thrills through their bodies. Xun was trying to keep herself in check, but those feelings she had worked to suppress last night burst through to the surface, and she yielded to her princess. Absently, she threw one of her sabers, closing the door and effectively locking it. Then the two of them let their hearts do all the talking that was needed.
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Outside, Xiao Qiao smiled as she heard the sounds of two people getting busy. She walked away, but then snagged a guard, telling him to make sure no one went into Lu Xun's room for awhile. Lu Xun's got a good mind and body, as does Shang Xiang. But mind and body aren't enough. Without heart, there would be nothing on this world. Mind, body, and heart…that is what makes us human.
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A/N: Well? What do you think? How many people saw this coming, really? I told you that this was going to be different. Depending on the reviews I get, I may make this oneshot into a chaptered piece. Speaking of reviews, constructive criticism only, please. General things like "This SUCKS!" are going to be ignored. If you point something specific out, I'll try to work that out.
Now for a disclaimer: I own none of the characters seen (thus far(!)), Koei does. I do not own Koei (if I did, I'd be happy as a clam) or any other company that helped in producing this legendary melee series. This is my own work and any relationship to any other author's work is purely coincidental. I will make additional disclaimers if necessary.
"To be forgotten is worse than death."
-Freya Crescent, Final Fantasy IX