THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MILD LEMON

Chapter III

Persuaded

Masamune had never actually been intoxicated before, but waking from what seemed like an eternal coma, he decided never to make it a tendency. His head pounded like two clubs against his skull and he felt as if he was stuck inside a suffocating rain cloud. Wherever he was, he was lying on his stomach with his hands bound behind his back. The ground was warm against his cheek and chest, and after registering the sensation, it was then he realized his breastplate and helmet were missing. In fact, his entire upper half was stripped of everything he had been wearing prior to…

When? It felt as if he had been passed out for a lifetime.

The Dragon stirred, groaning at the heightened pain the movement triggered. Unable to push himself to his knees or sit up, he rolled to one side with his eye still clamped shut. He could feel the light of the sun pounding the exposed skin on his back and the rough ground jabbed him every which way. Then he felt a shadow block the sunlight.

"So you have woken," said the shadow rather darkly, "We were beginning to believe you were dead"

It took a moment for Masamune to register the brusque and clearly aggravated voice, then he murmured rather curtly as he let his eye open and begin to adjust, "W-who are you…? Where am I?"

"That is none of your concern," The figure appeared only as a vague distortion and gradually gained distinction. Masamune recognized him as the general he had shot in the shoulder the evening before; the familiarity brought back a few more memories with it. He remembered attacking some village and being shot by his riflemen, from there was a wall with all other recollections locked behind it. It was peculiar; he remembered being shot yet he felt no pain of such a wound.

"Tell me where I am!" Masamune demanded in a raspy voice, "Why are my hands tied?"

"Consider yourself fortunate," The general, who was now dressed in full armor to shield the wound, said with narrow eyes, "If it weren't for someone as sympathetic as Lu Xun, you wouldn't be here now"

"Gee, I feel so lucky to be here," Masamune retorted sardonically, and then he writhed against the ties that bound him, "Release me!"

"Still your old self I see, Masamune Date," Another figure, this one more familiar, said as he approached behind the first general. He was considerably younger and had an oddly feminine face. He held a lengthy katana at his side as he regarded Masamune with a frown.

"Eh?" Masamune scoffed, attempting to sit up after gaining the strength.

"How did you heal your wounds so quickly?" The older general inquired sternly.

"What?" The One-Eyed Dragon replied with a raised brow before looking himself over. Suddenly he remembered being cut at the side by someone and then fleeing into the forests. But then the wall obscured any further recollections about what happened there after.

"Don't be coy," The older general snapped, trying to cross his arms, "You were found in the woodland this past evening after ambushing this village, how is it you are so suddenly cured?"

That woman! It was Nu Wa, it had to be. Her cunning face appeared in his mind with a wide sinister smile. That…was actually real?

Masamune absorbed the sight around him; he was sitting in the market square of Ti Sang Village. It was in utter shambles and drenched in blood from bodies that had been recently removed. Many of the homes were burnt or completely demolished. People whose loved ones were stolen or whose homes were gone sat at the in the empty market stalls. Unfortunately, this sad sight didn't touch Masamune's cold soul they it should have. Remorse had to grasp upon his stony heart.

"That's none of your business, now let me go or you'll regret it!" He growled just as another general approached the churlish rabble. He was perhaps the youngest and he didn't seem furious or critical like his fellow generals, in fact he seemed slightly afraid if not completely blank. Something caught Masamune off guard about this individual.

Despite having a virtually vacant expression, the general's russet eyes were sad and tired. His lips were pinched in a thin line as if he were trying to decide how to regard Masamune. His shoulders were slightly slouched as if he had had a troubled slumber, but his hands were balled into tight fists.

"You…" Masamune addressed the newest general as if he were having a revelation, as if this something in his thoughts was blooming, but then, "You're the one who stabbed me! You ruined every—!"

'If you value your soul, you best watch your tongue, child'

The dark voice hit Masamune like a thunder bolt and it sent chills down his spine. It was her, Nu Wa, and she didn't sound at all pleased. None of the people, not even the generals standing over him, heard the voice.

'Our game will begin now, remember the rules well, child; commit one terrible deed to the one whom I've chosen, and your soul is mine'

Masamune inwardly growled, 'How am I supposed to know who that is?!'

'The one I have chosen will carry the mark of harmony,' Nu Wa said before becoming still in his mind.

'What?'

The silent general seemed indifferent about the Dragon's outburst though; it was the general with the katana who seemed most affronted.

"Show your respect, if it weren't for Lord Xun, the soldiers would have killed you!"

Masamune remained silent, though he desired so to snap back. It was evident that this so called person Nu Wa had chosen was near, if they weren't, she wouldn't have said anything. Yet anger swarmed in his head and he gritted his teeth to keep from shouting. This mystic was powerful; even a dragon knew better than to defy her.

"Fine," Masamune murmured in a low growl, "What do you want?"

"You've committed a crime against this village," The eldest of the generals explained, half turned, "Since you are fortunate to have Lu Xun's blessing, you will live. However, you are now under the command of the Wu Army for the act of mutiny"

Lu Xun gazed at the general on the ground, unable to breathe a single word. His throat felt as dry as sand his heart pounded against his chest as if it would come burst out. He kept his fists clenched tight and rigid as if to hold in the anxious desire to…do what? It was an emotion he had yet to label; apprehension perhaps or that was what he hoped.

The night before, after the sudden ailment he suffered, Ranmaru had come to comfort him. Yet Xun had been far too exhausted to discuss what had happened. And unfortunately, when Xun awoke that morning, he still had the strange symbol on his wrist which was now hidden neatly under his thick arm wraps. He had been tempted to discuss it with Lu Meng, but it was evident that Meng was rather displeased that Xun wanted Masamune alive after what he had done.

So instead, Xun stood there, alone in his perplexity and unable to tear his eyes away from Masamune.

Ranmaru watched as Lu Meng turned and trudged off, ordering the soldiers to prepare for departure. The young samurai addressed Lu Xun as he returned his eyes to the Dragon, who had remained silent and his eyes pasted to the ground below him.

"What shall we do with him now?"

Xun hesitated to answer the abrupt question. When he spoke though, he was stunned to hear it flow so easily, "Go and prepare to leave, I will tend to him myself"

Ranmaru nodded and turned to follow after Lu Meng.

Masamune didn't look up in speculation or even budge for that matter. His slender shoulders were slouched forward and beads of sweat were beginning to form on his bare skin as the midday sun. That caused a strange twinge in Xun's stomach and he wished Ranmaru had stayed with him as he did when he insisted on following him into the forest the night before.

Moments passed and the soldiers bustled all around them, but where Xun stood everything was still. His fists were trembling; he despised this anxious feeling that invaded his thoughts and sent his heart racing.

Xun couldn't see Masamune's face from where he stood over him. He couldn't distinguish if the man was angry or dejected.

"So," The Dragon murmured suddenly, his tone was rather conniving. Slowly he raised his face to meet Xun's eyes as a suspicious smile formed on his handsome face, "You're the noble one they keep preaching about, eh?" He must have been referring to Meng and Ranmaru as he glanced callously behind Xun, before returning his eye to the strategist, "If that's so true, how about you cut the ties and we forget this entire thing, alright?"

Another moment passed, and Xun could see Masamune's impatience increasing.

"I'm afraid I cannot do that," the young strategist replied finally.

Masamune gritted his teeth as he glared at his captor, who unfortunately didn't take the bait. The devious smile on his face faded and faintly, he could hear the mystic's dark laugh in the back of his mind. No, there was no way he was going to lose her. He would beat her at her own deadly game no matter what he had to do.

"Fine then…" The Dragon growled, "Do what you want"

The Wu palace had been newly rebuilt after suffering damage when Orochi created the twisted land. It still stood in what was once Jian Ye though the land was morphed together like a strange puzzle. The loyal generals of Wu had been reunited after the Serpents defeat and until recently, was rejoicing in the peace it brought.

Sun Jian, the Kingdoms beloved Emperor, had disregarded the rebellions in attempt to avoid another war if it came. Wu had suffered; his last intention was to witness that suffering again. Yet, officials and citizens were growing wary of the numerous revolts occurring throughout the strange land.

Zhou Yu had received news of such insurrections, including the Ti Sang assault, which wasn't far at all. He had yet to express his thoughts to Sun Jian or anyone for that matter, but he was certain the rebellions weren't occurring simply out of spite. They had a reason to keep fighting; a sinister hope. Even their diminishing numbers didn't leave them undaunted; no, there was more than what met the eye.

But for now, he remained silent.

"What are you up to?" Yu inquired in a bland tone from where he stood contemplating in an almost empty corridor. Sun Ce, his closest friend, had never been a light walker and Yu had, once again, foiled the prince's attempt to startle him.

"Damn," Ce replied with a grin, "I'll get you one of these days"

Yu turned to him from where he was staring out a window at nothing in particular. Ce noticed his discontent rather quickly and sighed in exasperation as he glanced from Yu to the window where mountains lined the blue horizon.

"Hey, what's up with you," Ce inquired in concern, "Something's been bothering you lately and don't say it's nothing, 'cause I won't fall for that"

"It isn't important, Ce"

"Oh, that's the same thing as 'it's nothing!'" The Little Conqueror groaned. Unfortunately, his silly demeanor wasn't working its magic on Yu the way it once had. Yu had always been somewhat of a closed book and Ce had been a book with all the pages flying out; perhaps that was why they had always been such great friends, with some benefits of course.

"Won't talk, will you?" Ce asked with a conniving undertone.

"There is nothing to discuss," Yu replied, raising a fine brow, "Why are you looking at me that way?"

"No reason," Ce said still rather conniving as he backed Yu against the wall.

"No, Ce," Yu protested, placing an objective hand on Ce's chest

"Why, are you busy?" Ce asked without withdrawing from Yu.

"No, but I—" Ce abruptly planted a ravenous kiss on his lips as he constricted the strategist's hands against the wall over his head. Vaguely, he could feel Yu's heart feverishly pounding against his own.

A melodramatic moan escaped Yu's lips as Ce placed bites along his jaw and neck. His taut grasp on his wrists and slid ever so slowly down to his hips where he clutched Yu firmly to his body. Seduced, Yu let his hands fall onto Ce's shoulders as he leaned into the pleasure of the fervent kisses being placed at his collar.

Ce paused to Yu's dissatisfaction and inquired with a grin, "Will you talk now?"

Yu scowled, his lengthy auburn tresses falling over his face, "You're not that good" He lied.

Ce beamed at that before combing his fingers through the sleek locks and drew the strategist in another messy kiss. Yu's mouth battled his own, crazed and yearning for a better taste. Ce pressed him against the wall again, gaining pleasing cry as he grinded his hips against his lover's. Delving his nails into the small of Ce's back, Yu felt hands tugging at his collar.

"Not here," The strategist protested, catching Ce's hands in his own.

"Are you gonna talk to me?" Ce asked once again.

"It is truly not important, Ce,"

"Then you will with a little more persuading," Ce replied ardently, breaking Yu's grasp and grasping his collar. He dragged Yu you down the corridor and into a vacant chamber. A thick drapery blocked the windowpane, casting a dark throughout the silent room. Ce slid the thin door shut and turned back to Yu, though he could only see the objecting expression on his gentle face.

"How improper," Yu murmured.

"Since when do I obey all these formalities?" Ce replied, approaching and moving to draw Yu into another profound kiss. But the strategist placed his index finger before his lips and the prince withdrew with a pout.

"I'm sorry, Sun Ce," Yu said, his eyes were unusual poignant, "Something is going to happen, or perhaps it is already happening"

"What do you mean?" Ce inquired with furrowed brows, "Orochi?"

"I'm not certain; with so many insurrections occurring…" Yu trailed off with a sigh, "It would be best to wait for Lu Meng's to return"

The last part was for a friend ;) Sorry I cut it off early tho, but there will be more I promise