The snow gently swirls, opposed to the sullen grey skies. In contrast red dyed snow litters the ground, blood of the fallen soaking into the snowy plains. 'That way it will stay,' muses the raven haired girl as she gazes forlornly at the battle, 'At least until this horrid war comes to a close.'
Standing on top of Hu Lao Gate, the mournful girl watches the proceedings silently. With a slight frown she watches as her brother swings his mighty halberd. Many of their enemies flee in terror as he approaches, not daring to draw near to the legendary man. As he easily slit the throat of a man begging for his life she glances away, forcing down the uncertainty she feels.
'They should retreat,' Lu Yin thinks dully as she observes the land below her, 'My brother is nigh on untouchable. It is most unwise to try and reach Dong Zhou in this manner.'
Hearing footsteps to her left, the pale and fragile seeming lady turns to see Zhang Liao quickly ascending the steps. A frown graces the warriors face, confusion evident in his eyes, "My Lady, why are you so near to the battle? It is not a place for one such as yourself."
Bowing her head with a small bitter smile she replied, "Lord Dong Zhou instructed this one to provide aid to the troops. However, I cannot heal the dead."
"Then I will stay and offer you my protection, Lady Lu, since you have not even brought a dagger to defend yourself with. Naivety can kill sure as a blade, milady. Please take care to arm yourself in the future." Zhang Liao says, thinly concealing concern behind his gruff exterior.
Shaking her head she sighs, and holds up her slightly trembling hands, "These hands are for healing, General. Weapons are nothing more than instruments of pain and death."
Seeing a glint of green from the corner of her eye, Lu Yin turns her attention back to her brother, who is now confronting three men, each of which are garbed in green. The first man towers over his companions, nearing Lu Bu in stature. His eyes are hardened, that of a battle veteran and a long beard. The next has a kind, noble bearing with his hair pulled back into a simple and modest bun. Lastly, the shortest of the trio. His short beard looks messy and unkempt, while his face is red as if he had drunk too much wine.
"Fools," She whispers under her breath, watching the trio with disdain, "Surely they value their lives. Why fight a losing battle?"
The unkempt man sneers at Lu Bu tauntingly, "You are just a peasant with three surnames! Dismount your horse and fight us like a man."
She flinches at the first statement, then sighs at the second, "He just contradicted himself. He is the cowardly one, having two people to help him fight a single person. Idiot."
The famed warrior dismounted his steed with an enraged expression, "I don't need my mount to defeat vermin like you. Die!"
The three warriors barely move out of the way to dodge his first attack, and struggle to repel the second swing of his halberd. The three of them jump to the offensive, forcing Bu back. Surprised, he stumbles before quickly regaining his balance. He throws a fearsome glare at his opponents and rushes back into the fray. Surrounding him, the green garbed men take turns striking him. Bu is barely able to fend off their attacks and is steadily losing the momentum needed for his devastating strikes.
A flash of silver pulls Yin's attention away from the fight as she watches a young man clad in silver swiftly ride towards them atop a white horse. She freezes, analyzing the situation, and quickly realizing her brother is about to be overwhelmed by the enemy. As the silver warrior with his dark brown hair pulled into a low ponytail dismounts his horse and rushes towards her brother she reacts.
By flinging her black satin slipper at the newcomer. For a moment she worries that the wind may have swayed it off course, but there was no need for such fears. The shoe smacks him on the forehead and then immediately drops into the snow. He skids to a stop, staring at the shoe in confusion for a moment. Coming to a conclusion he looks up, to see Lu Yin standing on top of the gate, frozen from when she had released the slipper.
Taking advantage of the situation, Bu whistles sharply for his steed. Quickly mounting the infamous Red Hare, he makes his escape. Glaring at his opponents he calls out, "You have the spirit of a warrior! I'll let you go for now."
Zhang Liao instantly jumps into action, grasping Lu Yin's arm and pulling her down the staircase urgently. Yin trips over her formal midnight blue dress multiple times as the descend. Rushing to his stabled horse, he quickly mounts and smoothly pulls the black haired lady up behind him. Hurriedly the two ride after the barely visible form of Lu Bu only to be greeted with the sight of Luo Yang. Only the familiar city is up in flames.
Lu Yin closes her eyes and looks away, trying to ignore the hellish screams of those left to burn in the inferno. She forces the tears burning in her eyes to dry as she tries to erase the memories of the city she grew to be fond of out of her mind.
"...Unacceptable," She mutters, clenching her hands into fists, "He would see the city razed instead of surrendering? Absolutely unacceptable."
Pausing Zhang Liao looks back at her with a mildly worried expression, "Are you alright, Lady Lu?"
Taking a subtle deep breath Yin regains her composure, "Of course General Zhang, nothing is amiss. I am simply slightly shaken."
He nods in acceptance, "Well if you are sure. Tell me if you feel unwell, your brother would have my head if any harm came to you while you are in my care. Though I suspect his rage will be directed towards Dong Zhou this time."
Yin nods her head in agreement, pointedly not objecting to his former statement, "It is likely. Not only did he send myself onto the field, but also the Lady Diao Chan. He will be greatly displeased by these events."
Zhang Liao stiffens in alarm for a moment before sighing, "You are correct. Hopefully your brother will be able to contain his wrath."
Said man's sister is silent as they approach the tail end of Dong Zhou's retreating forces. Lu Yin smiles in relief as her brother and Diao Chan approach herself and Zhang Liao. The latter brings his steed to a halt, dismounts and helps Yin down.
Upon reaching them Lu Bu roughly pats his younger sister's head with a grin, "I never knew you had the guts, little sister. We might make a warrior out of you yet! A pity you had to waste your shoe on that insect."
Lu Yin smiles back at her brother warmly and bows politely as Diao Chan approaches her.
"I am pleased you are well, Lady Yin. When Lord Dong Zhou ordered you to the front lines I was fraught with worry, but nothing I said could sway him to allow you to remain. It is good my concern was unneeded."
Slightly narrowing her eyes in recognition of Diao Chan's subtle manipulation Yin smiles back at the older woman, "Unneeded perhaps, but not unwanted. I am glad you would think so highly of me as to worry about my safety."
Lu Bu growls as he glares darkly at the head of the army where Dong Zhou was yelling out orders. His gaze dropping to Yin he asks in a low, angry tone, "He what? My little sister was sent out to the front lines? Damn that ignorant pig! If something like this ever happens again Yin, tell me, and I will take that insects head!"
Lu Yin nods obediently, after all, that man burned down a city. He deserves to be killed.
"Lu Bu," Calls the panicked voice of Dong Zhou, "Diao Chan! Get up here now and help me already! Hurry up!"
Sighing impatiently Lu Bu levels another glare in his lords direction before glancing at his sister, "Just stay away from Dong Zhou. I don't want him around you."
Yin nods again in understanding as Lu Bu takes his leave, while Diao Chan bows her head in farewell and follows closely behind the departing warrior.
Zhang Liao sighs as he regards the young lady left in his care, "Lady Lu, you are much too careless. Please at least carry a dagger with you in the future, if not for anything but my peace of mind. It would be useful should you find yourself in a dangerous situation in the future."
Rejecting the idea and feeling slightly guilty Yin shakes her head as she explains, "I cannot. Weapons are against my principles. Weapons give birth to violence, violence gives birth to sorrow, and with sorrow comes hatred which again repeats itself in an endless cycle. To hold such a creation… I cannot bear to wield such a thing."
"Well, with someone like Lord Lu Bu as your brother you will likely never have to hold a weapon anyways. A few well placed words should be enough to keep most people from harming you." Zhang Liao says as he reluctantly accepts her opinion, though naive it may be.
"That is true." Lu Yin states with a small smile.
Hello! I uploaded this twice on my other accounts, which I no longer use. (xXShiroXx and Inoue Mika) But no longer use them. I decided to put it up on this account because I liked the character of Lu Yin to much to just leave it. Also, this chapter will we dedicated to my dear friend and fellow writer Mako. I decided to write this up tonight instead of a new chapter of one of my other stories for her, to cheer her up. I hope this will brighten up your day a little bit Mako-chan, I hope you enjoy the edited version of the first chapter!
-Miss Novella.