A/N: I was bored… So I played around with a little one-shot it seems really random and stuff, so basically, Zhong Hui fluff, heheh. Reviews are lovely, even if there's not really a big plot here. D:

I own nothing, sadly… KOEI owns all. Minji is mine though. :D

The moon was peaking high in the dusky sky, casting a glowing light that filtered through the windows of the large, lavishly furnished chamber. It mingled with the warm candlelight that illuminated the room, and shone a luminous sheen across the young woman's thin turquoise gown as she slowly paced alongside the edge of the large table that held a model battlefield. Her lovely features were rumpled from concentration and a scroll was tightly clutched in her hands as she muttered quietly to herself.

"Perhaps we can attempt a pincer attack and have our armor unit work their way around the hillside and strike from behind…"

"No, no. That won't do. Their archers will be in the towers, our units will be spotted from 5 miles away, Minji. They'll get struck right down." Zhong Hui lazily remarked, using a stick to push back the little figures that represented the stealthy armor units before leaning back into his cushioned chair, and watching the lithe figure before him turn to him with an exhale of displeasure.

Minji narrowed her hazel eyes at her lounging husband before continuing to pore over the painstakingly crafted battlefield model, oblivious to the amusement that Zhong Hui took in watching her formulate strategies. His piercing eyes travelled the length of her back, her willowy frame made prominent by the sleek robe that covered her, and the facets of warm light casted a warm glow onto her long, loose dark curls. A warmth stirred inside him as Zhong Hui watched his young wife move pieces across the table, and a pang of remorse flitted through him as he reflected on their life together.

He didn't spend as much time with her as he liked, for his occupation consisted of many duties and they would be apart for months and months at a time. Zhong Hui knew that Minji despised their partings and she constantly pressed him to take her along when he left. He wouldn't hear of it. He couldn't risk any chances of putting her in even the slightest danger, even when the stubborn Minji compared them to other married pairs.

"Lady Yuanji gets to be beside her husband, Shiji, and I want the same. Don't you know how easier it would be on me if I were able to be nearer to you? Do you not care for me enough to grant me that?" Minji implored, her hands entwining with his as she rolled onto her side.

"My final answer is no, whether you like it or not. Lady Yuanji is able to defend for herself which makes it different. You won't always get your way, Min." He kept his eyes averted, wishing she would just go to sleep. He was exhausted.

"And I am incapable of defending myself? Am I really so helpless and futile, Shiji?" Her features were stony and she had half-turned away from him in their bed. Her cool voice was a warning sign for Zhong Hui, and he reached an arm out to touch her shoulder.

"You know that was not what I meant, dearest. Do you think I would have married an incapable woman? You wouldn't have even been acknowledged by me if it weren't for the fact that you're intelligent as well as pleasing to the eye."

A cold, humorless laugh escaped her lips and Minji pushed his hand off her shoulder before turning her full, bare back to him and clearly showing she did not want to talk any more, and finalizing the fact that he would not be laying a single hand on her that night as well.

"Of course Lord Zhong Hui must have the best of everything, even his wife must be of the highest pedigree. Just like a horse and its breeder."

After a longing, lingering look at her pale, flawless back, Zhong Hui sighed and shut his eyes tightly, refraining from making another comment that was sure to earn him banishment from their marital bed.

Shaking himself out of his reverie, the pensive Zhong Hui returned his eyes to his wife, who was still bent over the various scrolls scattered on his strategy table. He could almost make out the curve of her elegant neck in the dim light, and a dark smile touched his lips. He stood, quiet as a mouse, and stepped across the stone floors to loom over Minji. Her understated cherry blossom scent overwhelmed him and he reached out a hand to push back her loose curls, slowly and gently. Minji froze as she felt her husband's cool fingers skitter across the back of her neck, and involuntarily emitted a quiet gasp as his warm, smooth lips trailed along her neck. The collision between the warmth of his mouth and the cool air was a powerful sensation, and Minji's body loosened, causing her to fall back against his lean frame. Her eyes fell closed as his arms wrapped around her waist securely, relaying a sort of urgent lust in the way he responded to her reaction. The tantalizing kisses on her neck lapsed into little nips and gentle bites as he worked his way up to her defined jawline, peppering lazy kisses along it before he took her by surprise and turned her around quickly. Her back collided with the wood edge of the table, but she didn't notice. Several figures went scattering onto the cold floors from the force, but the clattering went unnoticed. Minji moved her gaze up to his features, taking in his sensual lips and fine jaw before she looked into his dark, serious eyes with an equally smoldering intensity in her strikingly beautiful eyes.

Zhong Hui's hands trailed along her waist before he pressed her against the table with a dangerous look within his eyes, evoking both exhilaration and fear inside his beguiled lover. Her fingers moved to the buttons of his shirt, before he stopped her with a kiss. It wasn't anything special, just a peck, but his lips were still on hers even when he pulled back the pressure.

"My, my, you are getting too distracted by my presence, Shiji," she breathed, a thrill building up inside her as she fully felt how close he was to her. A quiet laugh escaped his lips, and he leaned in again, taking her bottom lip between his. He could slightly detect the taste of the tea she had made earlier that evening, the honeyed remnants still prevalent on her lips. Frowning at his restraint, Minji leaned forward and captured his lips in a more forceful kiss; she could feel his mouth curve into a smile as he backed off slightly. Minji gently pushed Zhong Hui's chest playfully, her lips taking his with a deep, yearning passion. Almost involuntarily, her fingers darted down to the hem of his shirt, sharp nails touching his bare, toned chest.

"It's not as if you don't enjoy partaking in my distractions, darling," he dryly smirked, his lips brushing her ear. His arms wrapped around her and she closed her eyes, reveling in the moment. These moments with him were all the more precious, especially since she would go for months alone in their bed, dining without him and waiting for him to come home. Minji inhaled his discreet, woodsy and pure scent with a happy sigh. It comforted her, and she would never feel as safe as she did in that moment. She could be locked into a fortress of the mightiest stone and protected by the guardians of war, and not feel as secure as she did with her husband. It amazed her, how different he was in the core than the outer shell that everyone saw of Zhong Hui. She learned to deal with his arrogance and even tamed him a bit, to her utter delight.

To her surprise, he suddenly picked her up and slowly navigated through the antechamber, and into their rooms, where he lowered her onto the plush down of the bed and pulled her back into his arms after he moved in beside her, his outer robe now gone. Resting her head on his thinly covered chest, Minji's fingers traced along his chest as he pressed kisses into her hair.

"I'm going to miss this, once you leave again… One side of the bed will be cold and empty, and your complaints won't echo through the house. I'll actually miss how annoying you can be." she drifted off, propping herself onto her elbows and appraising him. Zhong Hui frowned at how sad she sounded. Did Minji really miss his presence that much? His hand twisted gingerly into her hair and Zhong Hui kissed her with bruising force before moving to hover above her with a small, indulging smile.

"I don't think so… You'd best begin preparing to move out, Lady Zhong. We leave in two weeks," he grinned, before blowing out the pair of candles that lit the room.

The early light of morning found rumpled bed sheets, tousled hair, and a glowingly happy Minji nestled in Zhong Hui's arms. As it turned out, she did always end up getting what she wanted after all. Her wriggling woke her husband, who popped one eye open and asked her in an irritated voice.

"What seems to be the problem?"

"You don't have a strategy to propose to Sima Yi yet," she smirked, before burrowing under the sheets and curling up, listening as Zhong Hui cursed colorfully and jumped out of bed to run to his strategy table. Sima Yi was sure to throw a right fit when he found out that the talents of Zhong Hui were quite lacking during that day's council meeting.

Zhong Hui scowled. "You'll be the death of me, Min…"