((SXH: Sorry everyone! I am really sorry! I know I told you I would post a chapter a week but this week has been so hectic that I am studying for tests and doing so much work. Well here it is though, though there might not be one next week. I hope you enjoy it this continuation!)

Warning: Cursing...

Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the storyline and Little Ying!

/

To Hell & Back Again

Chapter 21: Among the Wreckage

/

Tired Wei troops drug themselves ashore after the war that had raged all that night. Some of them dragged their weapons; others, their closest friends. It was a terrible sight to behold, especially from the viewing of one who couldn't even move. The Wei prince struggled to untangle himself from the ropes of the wreckage.

Cao Pi stumbled, tripping from the ropes entangled around his feet together, and fell onto something hard, with a grunt. He cursed under his breath, his midsection hurting from the impact. He was, however, thankful that something caught him and kept him from going under the shallow water.

"Ow..." came a voice off to his left. It sounded rather closer than one would expect. To his surprise, it was Sima Yi in the same conditions as his. Only, the strategist was held in place by two support beams on either side of his head and one on the back of his neck. Sima Yi's right wrist was tied to the midsection of the upper beam while the other was trapped at the intersection of the other two beams.

But, what made the man's situation worse was the lack of his favored gloved upon his hands, the ones he normally fought with. When Cao Pi looked up at the other's face, he had to stifle a laugh. His hair had fallen in on half his face and was terribly ruffled. The look on Sima Yi's face showed utter annoyance. However, when he saw Cao Pi looking, it turned to mock politeness.

"So nice of you to join me, Lord Cao Pi. However, I wish you had fallen onto my injured leg a little harder," Sima Yi said his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do kindly untangle yourself so that you may- oh, just an idea but- GET OFF!" Cao Pi grimaced at the volume of his voice, and ran a hand through his hair, as to try and prevent his oncoming headache.

"The thought may have escaped your brilliant mind, but I am in the same situation as you are," Cao Pi bit back.

"Oh, I highly doubt that. I have been here since before dawn, and that seems to have been two hours ago," Sima Yi countered. "And I would say that you are in a better position to get the dagger out of my left boot than I am." Cao Pi couldn't to raise an eyebrow.

"Why do you have a dagger in you left boot?" Cao Pi asked as he managed to get his hand free from the fishnet. Cao Pi all but molested Sima Yi's leg to find the damn thing and take it out.

"I have my reasons," Sima Yi replied. The prince worked to get his upper body free but didn't even bother to look at the strategist.

"May I ask why you did not get it sooner?" Cao Pi queried as he worked on his feet.

"Do you honestly think I could? I have been here since dawn and I have not been capable of such a feat with 'my hands tied'(ITALICS)!" Sima Yi emphasized the last few words by yanking his hands against his bonds. Cao Pi stood up, taking in the whole view. He could see why Sima Yi was frustrated. Sima Yi's right leg was tied to a beam by the knee, and the other was immobile due to his injury. His robe had rode up to where one could see his thighs, and his tights made a torn path to and past the cloth line.

"Are you going to stare at me all day or cut me loose?" Sima Yi grumbled.

"Just enjoying the view," he taunted with an arrogant smirk. Sima Yi growled and was about to snap back when someone called out.

"Milord," came a feminine voice from the shore. Cao Pi turned his head and scowled. The prince dropped the dagger and made his way to shore.

"Zhen Ji," he said angrily. Cao Pi stalked up to her, stopping just in front of her. "Why is it that Lu Bu took away Zhou Yu? And why did he tell me to talk to you, hmm?" Cao Pi demanded, holding back the urge to strike her.

"Milord, I can explain-" Zhen Ji tried.

"You sure as hell better!" Cao Pi stated. "You of all people know I hate my possessions taken away from me. You should also know how I hate being left in the dark!" Zhen Ji shuddered at the darkness in his tone. She knew better, than anyone, that when he referred to a person as a possession, it would just be a nicer word than toy. And if he had his toys taken away, he would take it out on everyone. With that dark look in his eyes, Zhen Ji knew that he was going to focus his anger in her this time. "Explanation. Now."

"Diao Chan lied to us," Zhen Ji started, her voice rather weak. "She said that she came in the name of Lu Bu. Though, when I crossed paths with him, he told me that the decision was made without his consultation. Diao also forgot to mention that Zhou Yu was Lu Bu's servant, not hers." Cao Pi looked at her in anger and in horror

"Why?" he began. "Why did he not tell me this?" Zhen Ji put a hand on her husband's cheek.

"Milord, think for a moment," Sima Yi cut in the middle. "Zhou Yu may not have known himself. Remember how he reacted to the news. He tried to talk you out of it, before trying to run away. Remember how he said he hated Diao Chan." Cao Pi began to contemplate this, his anger slowly dying down.

"What do we do now?" Cao Pi asked softly.

"We wait," Zhen Ji answered. "The alliance is annulled for the time being. But, Lu Bu said that he will contact us to establish a legal alliance later on." Cao Pi nodded and stood straight again, glancing over the desolation.

"Right now let's salvage what is left and move on," Cao Pi suggested. His wife gave a curt nod, following him as he strode over to Cao Ren to get a full report.

"Wait!" Sima Yi yelled, struggling against his ropes. "Milord, wait! Come back and untie me!" Sima Yi's calls unfortunately went unheard. "Do not leave me like this!"

/

Chocolate eyes snapped open very suddenly. Lu Bu sat up, his body was aching again. This time, he was sure it was because he slept in his armor. Lu Bu proceeded to stand and look around, trying to piece the night's events together. He then took off his helm. The loss of pressure helped his thought processes.

Once Lu Bu remembered, he looked down at the man laying not three feet from him on the sand. Lu Bu didn't feel anything about saving him. He was taking back their part of the negotiations. Diao needed to be taught a lesson. She needed to remember who was really in charge. It does not matter if I am asleep or awake. Until I am truly dead and in the ground will she be in charge. Lu Bu thought.

Lu Bu stared at Zhou Yu. It appeared that he was still quite unconscious and would not be waking anytime soon. His eyes checked over him. The warrior sighed when his eyes met with the blood stained sand around Zhou Yu's mid back and head. Lu Bu silently wondered how through the entire battle and only received minor injuries. Lu Bu kneeled down and scanned the area for any cloth. Not seeing anything useful, Lu Bu tore the first layer of cloth of Yu's clothing and went to work.

Lu Bu examined Yu's head again. He moved himself so that he could prop the man's head on his lap. Lu Bu moved Yu's hair, seeing the wound on his temple better. He is very lucky that he is alive. Lu Bu wrapped the rags around Zhou Yu's head as gently as he could. After tying off the makeshift gauze, Lu Bu moved to Zhou Yu's lower back.

He stared at the servant's back in wonder. He couldn't even begin to think of how he was going to begin wrapping up his back. (Out of sympathy for the warrior, I won't begin to describe his pitiful attempts to nurse the wound on the unfortunate man's back.

After he dressed the wound, he went to the riverside and waited for his companion to awake. A little while past with Lu Bu becoming very impatient. He walked over to Zhou Yu in hopes that the man didn't die. He checked for his pulse, a little relieved when he actually found one. Lu Bu, not knowing what to do now, went to look for his weapon amongst the wreckage that washed upon the shore.

/

Zhou Yu's eyes fluttered open, his head splitting at his temple. He reached up to put pressure on it, but felt cloth instead of his skin. Zhou Yu sat up, despite the pain. Once he sat up, he noticed the unsettled sand around him, the blood painted on said sand, and his own torn up clothing. Yu looked closer and saw his other wound wrapped up, very poorly at that.

Before he stood up, he noticed the extent of the tearing in his robe. The cloth around his entire midsection was torn off, leaving his skin exposed. He scowled at that quickly tied the lower half of his robes together.

"So you are finally awake," said a voice near the water. Yu's eyes whipped to its source. Lu Bu had taken off his armor and was now sitting on a rock sharpening a long tree limb with a knife. "It is about time. I had to check and see if you were breathing about five times," Lu Bu grumbled, continuing with his work.

"How long was I unconscious?" Zhou Yu asked.

"Ever since we washed up here last night," Lu Bu answered, finishing his work. Yi looked up in the sky; it was about late evening.

"Damn..." Yu thought out loud, and stood up. He took in his surroundings. There was no one else in sight. Not another soul to be seen. They were the only ones on this side of the river. Zhou Yu walked to the shallows and searched through the broken crates and other items. He found a few weapons, cookware, clothes and some armor.

Zhou Yu took another robe and another pair of clothes. He tore the robes and replaced the bandages on him, listening to Lu Bu spear a couple of fish for each. Zhou Yu grabbed a dagger from the pile of weapons and tied the holster to his waist. Lastly, Zhou Yu set the other set of clothes on a boulder to dry.

Lu Bu had already built a fire pit, and was about to go get firewood before Yu stopped him.

"Lu Bu, where are we?" Yu queried.

"The wrong side of the river," Lu Bu grunted, about to leave again. Sadly, he was stopped again.

"Wait," Zhou Yu began. "What do you mean by 'the wrong side'?" Lu Bu frowned this time. He was beginning to get irritated, and it showed on his face.

"The trail on the other side leads to the main road. It is the one that leads to my castle. I do not know what is on this side." Zhou Yu had expected the irritation. That is why he stopped Lu Bu yet again.

"Wait just another moment," Zhou Yu persisted. He watched as Lu Bu tensed in frustration. Zhou Yu grabbed a sword from the pile. Right as Lu Bu turned around it yell at the bossy man, Zhou Yu threw the sword to Lu Bu. Before Lu Bu had time to react, the sword landed between his feet. Lu Bu voice stuck in his throat as his eyes traveled from Zhou Yu to the sword and back again. "I know where we are. We are in bandit country. You'll need that."

Zhou Yu turned away from the warrior, but he heard the sword being picked up out of the ground and Lu Bu walking away. While he was going to get firewood, Yu spent his time preparing the fish with his dagger and cleaning them. After he set the fish on a wok, he went to grab a weapon he was more skilled with.

Lu Bu came back to the sight of Zhou Yu practicing with a bow and arrow. To say Lu Bu wasn't surprised would be a lie. He is a master with a staff, a sword, and a bow? Lu Bu thought. Zhou Yu's form was perfect and his aim was even better. Lu Bu couldn't take his eyes off of him. And, from where Lu Bu was, Zhou Yu couldn't see him staring. He watched as Zhou Yu released his arrow. He was amazed to see that it had skewered a beetle on a tree a bit away from him. Zhou Yu got ready for another arrow, setting his form. Lu Bu stepped a little closer, trying to get a better look at the man, but stepped on a twig and broke it.

Zhou Yu's head snapped in his direction. Lu Bu froze only for a second before continuing to the fire pit. He could feel Zhou Yu's eyes follow him there. Lu Bu set up the fire, taking two rocks and lighting it on fire the first try. Zhou Yu then came up and put the wok over the fire, with four sticks supporting it. The two of them sat down and waited for the fish to finish, both of them tying to think of something to say.

"So," Lu Bu started. "How is it you know this area?" Yu just stared at the fire nit liking the question very much. Sensing that wasn't a good question, Lu Bu asked a better one. "Do you know what is down this river?" Zhou Yu seemed a little happier about that one.

"Xia Pi castle," Zhou Yu answered. "Judging from the terrain, I am guessing we are about... three or four days away." Lu Bu groaned. "I know, I am not very ecstatic about it either. However, that's not all." Lu Bu raised his head, setting his eyes on him.

"There is more?" Lu Bu questioned. Zhou Yu laughed at his reaction, before his face turned serious again. But, his voice showed some amusement.

"It will take another day or two to get to the bridge, not to mention the travel back to your castle. And if we add the possible bandit attacks..." Yu didn't even want to think about that. Though, Lu Bu stared at him expectantly.

"How long?" he asked. When Zhou Yu didn't answer, Lu Bu tried again but a little harsher. "How long will it take?" Yu sighed and looked away.

"Well, in all honesty, it would take about two weeks-maybe even more," Yu murmured, turning the fish over. Lu Bu looked like he was about to say something but merely laid down on the sand. It was a little longer until he spoke again.

"How do you know all this?" Lu Bu began to question. "How come you know the way to Xia Pi castle?" Zhou Yu sighed again and laid down as well. Lu Bu stared at him, waiting for an answer.

"Just a lot of bad memories there," Zhou Yu replied. Lu Bu took the answer and dropped the subject. He knew when a man didn't want to share bad memories. It was rather common amongst the veterans in his lands.

Yu sat up and checked the fish. Finding it to be done, he took the wok off the fire and set it on the ground to cool. Lu Bu sat up and the two ate in silence before they fell asleep.

/

SXH: Again, here it is! The continuation of To Hell & Back Again.

Zhou Yu: You do realize that the directions and description you gave isn't very accurate.

SXH: I know, but I don't exactly have a map of ancient China on my wall. And my PS2 isn't plugged up to look at one. Also it would take far too much time. So I thought I would improvise.

Zhou Yu: That's understandable.

Lu Bu: You know, come to think of it, I am a little tired now.

Zhou Yu: Me, too. Want to go grab a coffee while we watch Sima Yi try to struggle out of his bonds?

Lu Bu: *chuckles* Sure.

Sima Yi: Why hasn't anyone let me out?!

SXH: Sima Yi, didn't you know that Cao Pi was really supposed to let you go!

Sima Yi: WHAT?!

SXH: I bet he forgot his lines and just decided to leave you there.

Sima Yi: That bastard! I'll get him! Someone, anyone, get me out of here! *no one answers*

SXH: *giggles and sips on her warm tea* Forever alone.

Everyone: We all hope you enjoyed this chapter and continue on, faithful readers! Don't forget to tell us what you think with an awesome review!

Bye~!