Author's notes: Ok, this is something totally new. Set in 2000, this is about the three kingdoms as gangs in an empires style story. This is my first alternate reality so bear with it please!
Cao Cao was starting to regret his decision. The cops had been all over the north end of town ever since Xun Yu's suicide. It's a shame, Yu was an excellent man, but somehow he believed he had lost his bosses favour and took a massive overdose. When his body was found several days later there were so many needle marks in his veins it was impossible to tell which one had ended his life. Never the less, this regrettable incident had left Cao minus one good man.
The Sun clan in the east had married off one of their daughters to a Lu, the cowering boy Xun, nothing of a threat but his father was a hard Cop, and with the force on Sun's side Cao could not touch them for the moment. But this wasn't the only problem Cao was facing. Sometimes he wondered if his men were as paranoid as Zhou Yu! Ma Zun, the boss of one of the brothels in the west had burned it down, another one of Cao's businesses crushed. All because of a certain rent boy called Jiang Wei. Zun had been certain that the boy was a spy from the south, so locked him in and torched the building. The life was no big loss, the boy hadn't been pleasing the clients recently anyway.
Cao's misery seemed endless, leaving all the recent activity up to his son Pi. He was a merciless boy, just like father had taught him. The gang wasn't going to suffer under Pi's supervision. One day, when Cao's situation seemed bleak, a strange man appeared in the local park, beat up two of Cao's men and requested a job. He said his name was Sima Yi, and as well as being an excellent fighter, he was smart. Smart as Xun Yu used to be. So, despite his odd manner, he was accepted, and quickly became a valued member of the Gang.
One Zhang He was not overly pleased with having a new boss.
Zhang He tapped gently on the heavy iron door, awaiting the usual grunt of the doorman. There was a rough cut hole in the door at about eye level, covered over by a scrap of metal. It slid back as an accusing pair of eyes looked Zhang He up and down.
"We don't want any." the doorman grunted, about to slide the hole shut, when Zhang He laughed, pulling down the collar of his shirt. There was a huge tattoo of a red phoenix sprawling across his left shoulder.
The eyes stared for a moment, then laughed, the hole shut and the door opened.
"Sorry about that Zhang He, you know the rules!" The man chuckled, knocking a curled fist into Zhang He's in a playful gesture.
"I know, its ok, Cao likes to keep this place safe." He smiled, talking his leave of the doorman and heading up the stairs.
Zhang He had started his career in a way he had never expected. He grew up in the country, working on the farms for as long as he could remember, but when the money dried up his parents moved to the big city to get Jobs, Zhang He, naturally, fell in with the wrong crowds.
Yuan Shao took him in, taught him to be ruthless, but it became apparent soon that Shao's following was doomed. So, he hopped train, along with his best friend Gao Lan and took shelter with Cao Cao. As proof of his loyalty, he returned once more to Shao's home, and put a bullet between his eyes.
Cao was more than happy to accept him after that.
Cao's office was always loud, it was above a nightclub, one that Cao owned of course. He owned every nightclub strip club and brothel in the area, in fact, the north was famous for them. Not many people knew they were all owned by the same man but of course Cao's primary concern was the money, he didn't care how many there were as long as he was still making profit.
Zhang he hesitated by the door, The stern eyes of the two Xiahous, Yuan and Dun staring down at him. He cocked his head, smiling, Which rose a happy chuckle from Yuan, but a sneer from his brother.
Xiahou Dun hated Zhang He. He was one of Cao's bodyguards, and his cousin. Dun had lost his eye when a stray bullet struck him in a shoot out with Cao Xing, one of Lu Bu's cronies. But Zhang He was never truly accepted By Dun, even after 'the incident'.
Zhang He always cursed the day, it was his first big fight with the Westerners, Liu Bei too cowardly to show his face, sent his pet and personal plaything, Zhao Yun to fight for him. Needless to say, the fight had been brutal and ended in the death of two men, Liu Pi of the west, and Gao Lan. Zhang He had for years been refining his plan for revenge, how to Crush that Zhao Yun so completely, that not even his master/lover would recognise him, but sadly, such an opportunity had not yet presented itself. But he was patient, and with his 'brother' Zhang Liao at his side, they would soon put a stop to the Westerners. It wasn't the life he had expected for himself as a child, but here he was respected.
It was seven Am, cold. The sky was still dark above the ever fading glare of the streetlamps. It was going to be a cloudy day, maybe rain. Liao sighed, pressing back against the wall and looking up at the angular corners of the houses. He knew every house, every turn, every brick in these Northern streets. He reached into the pocket of his jacket, pulling put a cigarette and a lighter. He sparked it up, but didn't drag, just let it burn down to cinders on it's own.
Zhang Liao had sworn brotherhood with Zhang He a few years ago, after the death of his best friend. Liao was more compassionate then he let on. He had gained somewhat of a reputation of being a hardcore fighter, because of his stint at Lu Bu's side. Needless to say he was feared by many people. He was gruff looking, his years in the street taking their toll. He would never admit it, but he had quit smoking. He never saw anything good in it anyway.
He didn't remember his parents much, he never got to see them after they moved out to the suburbs, leaving him on his own. Not that it was a burden, they had never seemed to be the caring family he so needed anyway. His boss Cao was a better father than his own.
"Hanging out on street corners Liao, do you want to look like a hooker?" Zhang He's playful voice resonated in the darkness. Liao sighed.
"No, I was just thinking. You see Cao Cao?" Liao sighed shifting his feet so more of his back was supported by the cold stone wall.
"Yeah, its all good. What were you thinking about this time?" Zhang He sighed, his voice turning to a worried tone as he came into view and stood beside his 'brother'.
"Don't you think this is all just a little futile?" Liao mumbled, looking over at his friend.
"Futile?" He questioned, bending down to move the lock knife in his boot into a more comfortable position. "What do you mean futile?"
"Does it really matter who controls the city ultimately? Its all going to end in blood." Liao sighed.
"Now, don't let Cao catch you talking like that! You are one of our best men, we need you!" Zhang He smiled, straightening up and giving his friend an affectionate nudge with his arm.
Liao nodded, "I know I can't leave here, I have no where else to go, but I just….. You know sometimes I'd like to live a normal life. It doesn't really matter to me who wins." Liao mumbled.
"You wouldn't say that if you were in Cao's position." He murmured.
Liao grumbled quietly. "I guess you are right."
It was no way to raise a son. He didn't want his boy thinking that Gang war was a good thing. Truth was, he would much rather be living a normal life, perhaps an office worker or salesman, anything to get him out of here. But fate had dealt his cards and he would not fold yet.
He had a good post though, Cao treated him well, his share of money, women… not that he would ever take them, he was content with his wife and no other woman could replace her. Never the less he maintained his content façade, sure that soon something would come along to liberate him. And sooner than he would think…
Liu Bei polished his Harley compulsively. It was as if he had actually paid money for it. He wiped his brow, leaving a trail of greasy polish on his forehead.
"Isn't she beautiful Yan?" He purred.
Wei Yan shrugged. "Why…. You… clean it? It … just get… dirty again." He grumbled.
Liu Bei laughed deeply, slapping his side. "Oh Yan, sometimes you crack me up!"
Yan refrained from saying he wasn't kidding, Liu Bei always seemed to see the funny side of any situation. Everything was a joke to him. In a normal man this would have been a redeeming feature, but not in the boss of one of the three largest gangs in the city. Yan always worried that someday Liu Bei's joking attitude would get him killed.
Wei Yan was never given a fair lot. He had moved to work with Liu Bei, and several times nearly shot up by Bei's brains, Zhuge Liang. Liang was crazy and no one else could see it. He guessed only people on his bad side could see it, and Yan seemed to be the only one in that position. At least Liang's attention was distracted for a while. He had a new toy.
Liang Pushed Yan aside in the same contemptuous manner he did every time. There were plenty of other places to walk, Yan was the only other person here. It was just Liang's way of letting Yan know exactly how much he was valued. It wasn't a lot.
Jiang Wei clung to Zhuge Liang's side like a limpet, jumping at every little noise and movement. Liang smiled darkly, curling an arm around the boy's flank and pulling him close.
"Its alright Jiang Wei." Liang purred in that same monotone voice he used for every emotion. Liang had an ability not to show what he was feeling or thinking, which usually worked to his advantage.
It was a few days ago.. Maybe a week that Liang had bought home a young boy from the north. He was abandoned to die when one of Cao's brothels burned down. He was so shaken up and frightened, that everyone thought him mute for the first few days. Until he actually spoke, the only thing they knew about him was he was a whore from Cao's territory. He bore a tattoo on the side of his neck of a blue phoenix, Cao liked to mark his whores. Liang had taken him under his wing. Shame. Soon enough the boy would discover that Liang's benevolence was only a façade. In a few days he would just become another play thing. Liang liked them young.
"Liu Bei, Xing diner has not been paying it's protection money, I advise we send some men there to shake them up." Liang said in his flat voice, allowing his grip on Wei to loosen. The boy broke away for a second, not straying for from Liang. When his gaze met that of Wei Yan, who was standing behind him, he inadvertently made a double take and stared. It wasn't the same stare that every normal person gave him, not the 'he looks tough' or, 'why is that man wearing a mask' stare….
Of course Yan had noticed it, who wouldn't? That same entranced look that the new boy, Wei had given him, It wasn't the first time. Every time he had seen the boy, same reaction, but he ignored him for now. He could see that the boy liked him, perhaps even loved him, he had been used so many times perhaps his tastes lay in odd places. But he would continue to refuse Wei's advances, try to scare him away. If Liang Found out his pet was interested in someone else, Yan knew that the poor boy would probably wind up dead.
Yan curled his lip so his teeth bared and growled lowly at Wei, making the boy jump and skitter back to Liang's side, like a little cockroach.
"We should get Huang Zhong on it." Liu Bei smiled, caressing his bike.
"Indeed, I will find him." Liang said, bowing slightly as he turned to walk away from Bei, pressing his pet close to his side and shooting Yan a glare. If looks could kill…
Yan was sick of his deal. He loved working for Bei, but Liang was making it increasingly hard to stay loyal. He would be content to pop a cap in Liang's face and end it, but he knew he would be killed. He wouldn't be able to help anyone then.