Disclaimer: Koei owns all characters, except Lu Kyoko which is mine.
AN: I've had a request to make this chapter in perspective of Lu Kyoko, i'd already written this but the next chapter is, why i've uploaded the two together
2: Sun Ce's Denial
Sun Quan noticed that Lu Kyoko was quiet compared to how outspoken she normally was at banquets, well until Lady Lu arrived and she became a 'Lady' like her mother wanted her to be, Lu Kyoko had showed she was easily capable of doing it, but Sun Quan knew she wouldn't be happy with that life, she got bored too easily and he knew she by far preferred her life as "Protector of the Sun Family", ever since last year in particular she had built up a fearsome reputation over the land, even though she was an 18 year old girl, very few warriors dared to mess with her.
Soon they reached the entrance to the banqueting hall, Sun Quan let Lu Kyoko go first. Personally he'd had had enough of the rumours that had been going around the castle about him and Lu Kyoko. He waited for Sun Ce to arrive, he wasn't waiting for his elder brother very long, who was looking smarter than he usually did at a banquet, and Sun Quan was almost completely sure that it wasn't for his birthday. "You're looking very smart brother" He commented
"I am?" He asked, and re-checked how he looked in the mirrors which adorned the walls around the two brothers "Anything for family"
Sun Quan winced at the familiar words and the painful memories it brought, Sun Ce must have realised for he winced himself "Sorry, I quote Pop more than I mean to these days"
"Don't worry, there's nothing we can do about it really"
Sun Ce nodded, "Ready?"
Sun Quan thought, now he wished more than ever he'd not answered the door but he nodded all the same, and in a way that made Sun Ce chuckle slightly, "Don't worry Quan, you should be impressed"
Sun Ce winked slightly and Shang Xiang approached them, she was wearing a dress as well, also deep red, and her hair was tidier than normal and she didn't have her weapon with her, Sun Ce deliberately widened his eyes "Sorry, I was expecting my sister" He smirked
Sun Quan decided to join in, both the brothers loved to torment Shang Xiang, they'd stopped doing it lately as she could hit pretty hard now, but Sun Quan stood by Sun Ce and folded his arms, looking quizzical at his younger sister "You do look a bit like her..." Shang Xiang glared at them both "May we have the honour of your name my lady?" Sun Quan put an emphasis on the word 'lady' and both he and Sun Ce both laughed
"Oh! Ha! Ha! How terribly funny! My sides are splitting with all this laughter!" She said sarcastically, laughing mockingly and hit them both in their arm, making them all laugh, Sun Ce recovered first
"Speaking of changes, did anyone see Lu Kyoko?" He asked them
Sun Quan almost laughed, but he even refused the smile that came to him, 'Yes... in fact she basically forced me to attend tonight on embarrassment grounds' He thought, but he shook his head "Not yet, why?" Sun Ce suddenly got a look of disappointment but hid it quickly, but not so quick that Sun Quan didn't notice it.
Shang Xiang nodded "Yes, she's wearing a gorgeous dress! Seriously, she looks stunning. She came to me complaining that Lady Lu made her dress up, and then she did that same to me... but only through the pout"
"The pout?" Sun Ce asked her, confused. Sun Quan almost smiled, his elder brother had yet to experience the pout of a Lu Kyoko 'Lucky devil' He thought
"Seriously Ce, she could make you, or anyone, do absolutely anything she wants you to with that pout. She does that almost scarily like her mother... but admittedly it looks soooo much cuter on her" Shang Xiang quickly filled him in, and Sun Ce understood while Sun Quan nodded in agreement. "If I tell her I'm bailing tonight she'll probably do it..." The he looked to his sister "The pout gets you as well?" Sun Quan felt slightly happier now he knew he wasn't alone
"Yeah, kind of, but I only really did it because she's like, my best friend"
Sun Quan forced a smile and tried to make it look as genuine as possible; he didn't know why it bothered him so much. Sun Ce sensed some tension and turned to the announcer as he had seen his late lord and father Sun Jian do so many times, now it was his job, and then the announcer turned towards the ballroom and shouted into the room and the doors opened, Sun Ce in the centre, Sun Quan on his right and Shang Xiang on his left. They walked down the stairs and the chatter continued when they separated among the crowds. Sun Quan tried to look for Lu Kyoko but when he saw her with her mother, who was fussing over her hair, he decided to leave them to it, fighting off a laugh at the look on her face, normally it wouldn't bother him, but there was something about Lady Lu that made him feel strange... and not a good strange.
Eventually the food was served; Sun Quan could see several new faces down the table, he recognised the Two Qiaos sitting next to Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, and it was obvious that they had their undivided attention, he raised an eyebrow at this and Lu Meng, who was sitting next to him, noticed and laughed slightly "Oh there's many rumours going around about that" He admitted, then he looked slightly uncomfortable "But you still hold the record for rumours I must say"
Sun Quan rolled his eyes, he could only imagine what the rumours were but he had given up listening to them about three years ago, he still didn't know what spurned all the rumours, hadn't people figured out they were just friends? "Unfortunately I think you're right" He agreed, laughing quietly and some more wine was poured.
...
Later that night the Two Qiaos were with Shang Xiang and Lu Kyoko, Sun Quan watched them from far off with Sun Ce and Zhou Yu. Lady Lu was still around nearby with some of the other lords wives, professionally ignoring how hyped up and loud her daughter was, or her daughter being normal, being herself. Lu Meng had left early with some of the lords to discuss... something Sun Quan hadn't actually been listening to him really; Zhou Tai and Gan Ning were nearby having a drinking contest, which Zhou Yu was watching with interest as he and Sun Ce had a bet on who would win. Sun Quan noticed that Sun Ce couldn't take his eyes off the elder Qiao sister and he found it rather amusing. "Hey Ce! You in?" Sun Quan said down his brothers' ear.
Sun Ce jumped slightly; he looked at Sun Quan for a second or so and then looked back "What? Oh, yeah"
"Sure, even though you haven't stopped staring at Lady Da Qiao since she got here"
Sun Ce snapped his attention back to his younger brother, "Well with all the rumours I've heard I'm surprised that you're not courting Lu Kyoko" He retorted.
Sun Quan was surprised at his brothers sudden hostility, he'd hit a nerve with Da Qiao and now Sun Ce had returned the favour, he knew all the rumours had bothered his brother. "Even if I wanted to Ce, I severely doubt Lady Lu would comply... And I mean both her and her mother by that before you get smart"
His brother leant against the table they were by, looking very amused "Not what I've been hearing... Personally I think they'd BOTH be fine with it" And he walked over to some lords nearby, tapping for Zhou Yu to follow him which he did, leaving Sun Quan on his own, confused. 'What did Ce mean by "Not what I've been hearing"? Is there a new rumour going around? Oh good I wonder what this one is' He thought, he could hear the sarcasm strong in his thoughts, but then pushed them aside
He walked out onto the balcony and leant on the railings, lost in thought when he felt someone tap his shoulder; he turned around and saw Lu Kyoko. "Hi!" She said, he blinked slightly "Oh, hi" He said.
She tilted her head "Are you okay?"
"Yeah... I'm just thinking"
She gave him a fake concerned frown "Sure that's a good idea?"
He glared at her and she smiled "Mom says it's time to go... I'd stay if I could but, you know… But! If mom goes to sleep early then I can sneak down again"
He smiled "Great" and she hugged him and then kissed his cheek lightly "Happy Birthday Quan" She let go and walked back inside, he saw her go to the group of girls, he brought his fingers up to his cheek and touched the place where she had kissed him, he smiled slightly and leant back on the railings.
*
Shang Xiang hugged Lu Kyoko goodbye, despite the glares they were getting off Lady Lu, and then Lu Kyoko left. Shang Xiang sat back down with the Two Qiaos, Xiao Qiao was looking quite bored and kept fidgeting but Da Qiao was sitting fairly still, she turned towards Shang Xiang "Does Lady Lu Kyoko have a suitor?"
Shang Xiang shook her head, "Despite the rumours flying around about her and Sun Quan she doesn't have one, but I hear that some of the lords are getting very very interested in her now… And don't use formality with her, she can't stand it"
"Right, but anyway I can see why she is gaining interest" Da Qiao said, Xiao Qiao shuffled again and sat on her knees "She's very beautiful"
Shang Xiang laughed "Yeah, compared to you? And she looked beautiful tonight, but she's about as much as a tomboy as me... Her mother, Lady Lu, sort of forced her to wear that dress, as much as it suited her" Da Qiao thought she picked up a hint of jealousy in the tomboy princesses voice.
"Tell me some of these rumours about her and your brother" Xiao Qiao said, acting quite excited
"Xiao! That's not right" Da Qiao said
"It's alright, I'll tell her" Shang Xiang said and whispered in their ears, they both laughed, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu both looked over and eventually joined them.
…
The night had cooled down significantly and the rain had started to pour heavily so Sun Quan had gone back inside the hall and joined the group, including Zhou Tai, Sun Ce had lost his bet and Gan Ning was passed out at a nearby table but Zhou Tai had admitted that he'd had less to drink beforehand so he did have an advantage over the pirate, Sun Quan had been surprised not to have seen Ling Tong tonight, his father had left with Lu Meng earlier that evening but hadn't divulged any information about his son not attending, it wasn't like him to miss a party, but then some other rumours returned to him, and Sun Quan couldn't help but wonder if Ling Tong's absence was due to him, and Gan Ning hadn't spoken to him all evening... Maybe those rumours were true.
Shortly after Lu Kyoko entered the hall; she was back in her armour, with her hair loose and looking happier than earlier, even though she was soaking wet. Shang Xiang stood up concerned "What happened to you?"
"Oh" She laughed slightly and sat down beside Sun Quan, Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao smiled secretly at each other remembering Shang Xiang's rumour "Well mom went to sleep early enough but she told the guards not to let me out!"
This time Shang Xiang laughed "So what did you do?"
"I have a tree outside my window, I climbed down it. The guards outside the main door got a kick out of it I'll tell ya, but they let me in…"
"You left through your window… And came in through the front door?" Sun Ce asked, sounding rather amused, a large smile across his face.
She nodded, unfazed by Sun Ce's amusement "Yeah, I suppose I COULD have climbed over the walls easily enough, but with all the extra guards they might have mistaken my intentions or not recognised me... so, the front seemed like the more appealing option than potential death..." She then looked over to Gan Ning and then smiled at Sun Ce "You lost your bet then?" Sun Ce just glared lightly at her and everyone continued talking and laughing, even Zhou Tai was enjoying himself, as it turned out the Two Qiaos were staying for the season. "Wow, what a season to come for!" Lu Kyoko said, she sat back and tucked her feet under her. "Rain, rain and, yes, more rain… The summer is so much better"
Da Qiao smiled; she nodded "Well hopefully we'll be here for a while"
"Yeah, it's gonna be really cool!" Xiao Qiao added
"It'll be a new experience to actually have ladies in Wu" Sun Quan said, which got him a glare off Lu Kyoko and Shang Xiang "Maybe I shouldn't have said that when I'm in arm's reach of one of them and she's much faster than me" Sun Quan said to Sun Ce, Lu Kyoko gave him a fake smile and nodded, Sun Quan scooted along the couch away from Lu Kyoko, enough to be out of arm's reach.
The guys laughed and left to go get them all refills, Da Qiao and Shang Xiang started chatting, Xiao Qiao went over and sat down beside Lu Kyoko, "Do you have a suitor yet?" She rolled her eyes "Why is this suddenly an issue? I'm 18 so I guess I could expect it to happen pretty soon, hope my Mom doesn't pick a perverse, pompous, boring, weak loser like Lord Bi'Zhen…" Both the Qiaos noticed Shang Xiang cringe "Eurgh! I hate him!" She said, Lu Kyoko nodded in agreement
"He doesn't sound great... But it happens Kyoko, I mean people are practically begging for Da Qiao already and she's two years younger than you" Xiao Qiao said, "Don't you want one? You are beautiful"
"Yeah right… My mom's making this whole 'suitor' thing a big issue now. She keeps asking me if the rumours are true but I've never heard any... Well about me at least" She said, she looked intently at the Qiaos, but neither of them noticed, but Shang Xiang, on the other hand, did.
Xiao Qiao fought a giggle, which Lu Kyoko raised an eyebrow too, and then the guys came back, Xiao Qiao patted Lu Kyoko's hand gently, still smirking cheekily and sat back in her seat and carried on talking actively with Zhou Yu. Lu Kyoko noticed that the hyperactive, bubbly girl, had the calm warriors attention easily.
Soon everyone went upstairs to their beds, including the barely conscious Gan Ning, Lu Kyoko had commented about the supreme hangover he was going to have the next day, and this was the first birthday in a few years where Sun Quan had actually gone to bed happy. He rolled over and over running the nights events in his head, what had made him so happy, it had been loud and everyone had talked loudly, and Sun Quan had spent most of his time trying to avoid Lady Lu's extremely annoying friend, Lady Huang, until the food had been served, then it had been relatively quieter and calmer, especially after... But birthdays, actually just banquets always went like that.
Sun Quan rolled over again, avoiding Lady Huang had not been easy to avoid for the entire evening and was happy when she had left without saying goodbye, but she was being considerably more hostile towards Sun Quan, which he had to admit he was grateful for, he had often expressed his lack of interest and rejection towards her feelings, tonight she had just said something about how 'the rumour must be true' and Sun Quan wondered what rumour had got everyone in such a buzz, Shang Xiang knew every rumour that circulated around the land, he'd ask her tomorrow morning.
He closed his eyes and he was suddenly on the balcony with Lu Kyoko, the memory came back to him
He smiled "Great" and she hugged him and then kissed his cheek lightly "Happy Birthday Quan" She let go and walked back inside, he saw her go to the group of girls, he brought his fingers up to his cheek and touched the place where she had kissed him, he smiled slightly and leant back on the railings.
He swallowed slightly, was that why he couldn't sleep? And then last night's dream…
...he caught her rather easily, his arms around her and they were laughing.
He opened his eyes wide and sat up, he could feel the sweat on him already, he felt that strange feeling in his chest again, and once again he pushed it down, he refused to acknowledge its existence, he didn't want to know what it was.
Standing up and dressing he left his room and marched towards Shang Xiang's room and barged in, he felt sort of bad waking her up but he had to know, she woke up with a jump. "Quan? What are you doing?"
"What's this new rumour? Tell me"
Shang Xiang groaned, "You have to know now? Who are you kidding?! What even makes you so sure that I know?" She sat up, rubbing her eyes, but Sun Quan was determined "Because you know every single rumour in this entire land! You know everything Tomboy"
"Okay… Okay, the rumour is just another one about you and Kyoko, but this is a big one... and just for the record, I didn't make this one up, I'm not getting the blame for how you take this…okay?"
Sun Quan nodded, his ears eager to hear what his little sister was about to say.
AN: Okay writing next chapter now and it'll be done soon. Please review