Disclaimer: I don't anything to do with Dynasty Warriors, except for my fanfic!

Author's Note: Hi there! It's been a while, right…? Wow… almost four years… :( Sorry about that. Anyway, this is for all you readers who wanted more. Word of warning though, I've been busy studying so I haven't written much for a while. Can't say I didn't try though, so I hope you'll like it! Please let me know and thanks for reading!

Chapter four: Love Thy Enemy?

It was decided then, although much too quickly for Zhuge Liang's liking, Zhen Ji was to be Zhao Yun's responsibility. For Liu Bei, granting the request of Zhao Yun was a pleasure, as it was a very rare occurrence. Zhao Yun's ability, as a soldier, was unrivalled and his passion for the glory of Shu unsurpassed by any other. He had come through for Liu Bei and his people countless times and turned the tide when all hope seemed lost. Zhao Yun was undoubtedly Liu Bei's champion. To honour him as such, Liu Bei would offer to grant him any wish but each time Zhao Yun would decline and answer, "Serving you is already an honour, my Lord." Hence, upon hearing Zhao Yun's request, Liu Bei's choice was easy. Besides, there was no doubt in his mind where Zhao Yun's loyalty lay, and Liu Bei trusted him with his life.

After the audience with Liu Bei, Zhao Yun escorted Zhen Ji back to his quarters. As they walked, Zhen Ji reflected on her brief encounter with the Lord of Shu. "There is certainly only truth in the rumours about Lord Liu Bei," Zhen Ji said with a surprised look on her face.

"Which ones have you heard?" Zhao Yun asked, curious after seeing her expression.

"Good ones," she smiled quickly. "He seems as compassionate as you said and he must certainly be a 'hero of the people'."

"Yes," Zhao Yun nodded in agreement, "and it is an honour to serve under such a great man."

"But there is no doubt that he is not the only hero in Shu," Zhen Ji's voice quietened as her eyes met Zhao Yun's. She quickly looked away and continued, "I mean… it was obvious even to me that Lord Liu Bei holds you in such high regard."

"It is true, but I am a soldier after all," said Zhao Yun.

"You are my hero," Zhen Ji said stopping just outside Zhao Yun's quarters. Then she glanced at him with a shy smile.

Zhao Yun smiled back at her. "Thank you, my Lady. It is kind of you to think so."

"Lord Zhao Yun," Zhen Ji began, now bravely fixing her eyes on his, "thank you." At that moment then, with their eyes locked upon one another's, words were not required. Zhao Yun's eyes were full of kindness and Zhen Ji returned his gaze with a warmth and longing. Their faces radiated a sense of comfort and peace.

"Excuse me." It was Zhuge Liang. "Zhao Yun, may I speak with you?"

"Certainly, Zhuge Liang," Zhao Yun answered, his eyes still on Zhen Ji's.

"Never fear, my Lady," Zhao Yun addressed Zhen Ji once more giving a slight bow to break the gaze between them. "Just as my duty to Lord Liu Bei and the people of Shu is foremost in my heart, neither will I give up in fulfilling my promise to you."

Zhen Ji bowed in response. As she looked up, the longing in her eyes had melted into sadness.

"Then the people of Shu are truly lucky," she forced a smile. With that, Zhen Ji turned with a bow towards Zhuge Liang before entering the lodgings where she had been staying.

"You wished to speak with me…?" Zhao Yun said inquisitively to Zhuge Liang, who was staring in the direction that the young woman, he did not trust, had disappeared.

"Yes, but I see your quarters are occupied," said Zhuge Liang, a look of disapproval on his face. "May I suggest we discuss the matter in my humble abode?"

"As you wish," he replied coolly, hoping to discourage Zhuge Liang from thinking he had interrupted something between him and Zhen Ji. Zhuge Liang had been suspicious about her from the start. As Lord Liu Bei's trusted advisor, it was his job. At times though, in his eyes it meant that anyone could be a suspect. Hence, Zhuge Liang was not the kind of person to have many social acquaintances although many knew of him. Tales of Liu Bei's advisor suggested that he was once a hermit and did not require such company. He did of course marry Lady Yue Ying. She was perhaps the only person who knew how his mind really worked. As for his demeanour towards Zhen Ji, he did not attempt to hide his disapproval of her staying in Zhao Yun's quarters. But why was it wrong? Zhen Ji had not done anything unlawful or such to be treated as a prisoner. She had been in trouble and Zhao Yun had to help her. It was his duty as a soldier to protect people, but also his duty as a man… His duty and… his promise…. Zhao Yun remembered the words they had exchanged, but also the intensity in which he had looked upon her. The same fire had also been present in her eyes when she returned his gaze. Then, Zhao Yun could not help but wonder. Had Zhuge Liang really interrupted something between them?

Zhen Ji felt frustrated with herself. 'You are my hero.' It had sounded childish, not at all the proper etiquette of a Lady, although Zhao Yun had been kind enough to humour her and actually seemed quite pleased by her words. Besides, childish or not, that is how he had made her feel. He had saved and her, and he treated her with such respect even though to him she had been a stranger. Chance had brought them together that day. Since then, for the first time in her life, she genuinely felt safe. It was as if she had known him all her life. In the night, she had been restless as her dreams stirred by the incident in the marketplace were those of terror. Intertwined with memories and premonitions, Zhen Ji had awoken abruptly, but there at her bedside was Zhao Yun. Maybe she could truly rely on him.

Deciding to get some rest now, Zhen Ji lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Covered in exquisite patterns of sea green that reminded of her of lush forests and the ocean, it made Zhen Ji covet freedom. She wished to live as in her days of childhood, with no care in the world but to pick flowers and feel the rush of the water between her toes. She let out a sigh, turning on her side to look away from what reminded of a world she was unlikely to experience again. Zhen Ji had been forced to marry at such a young age and only to be widowed very prematurely. Thinking of her husband, Yuan Xi, and suddenly realising she had not had the chance to grieve for him, Zhen Ji began to weep. She did so silently, tears streaming down her cheeks as she closed her eyes tightly for as long as she could, hoping to picture Yuan Xi and remember him while he was alive. However, much to her distress, every time his image became soaked in blood. She had never seen his body, but the news of his death had been that he had been defeated on the battlefield. With whispers in the wind that cried Yuan Xi's soul would never rest, for his head had been severed of which the whereabouts was unknown. On remembering this, Zhen Ji clutched at her stomach for a moment, feeling quite sick. She let out a cry of anguish. Then as soon as she could find the strength, she placed her palms together and prayed devotedly. She prayed for peace for Yuan Xi. To be sure, she had not known him for very long and his ambitions were few, but Yuan Xi had always been kind to her. He respected family. Ironically, it was this respect that had led him to do his father's, Yuan Shao's, bidding which in turn had ultimately led to his death. For Zhen Ji, it had meant that she would be alone, but maybe it would not have been so bad. Perhaps she could have had the freedom she so desperately desired.

Unwilling to shed any more tears, Zhen Ji sat up straight and tried to compose herself. Blurry-eyed and without realisation, Zhen Ji reached for the fabric lying on the small table beside the bed. Gently, she dabbed her eyes with it. It was so soft against her eyelids that it made her smile a little with pleasure. Then she used it to dry the rest of her face. As she came to fold the fabric, she realised it was much longer than she had thought, especially for a cleansing fabric. Perhaps the customs were very different in Shu. Zhen Ji examined the cloth closely. It was a sea green just like the patterns on the ceiling, but it also had a powder blue trim. The length of the material suggested that it would be more suitable as a scarf. Playfully, Zhen Ji wrapped the scarf around her neck. Then just as she looked to see the scarf hanging down against her body, she saw some embroidery in gold thread at the very bottom of one of the ends. She lifted it up to look at it. The stitching was of letters, more precisely a name. It was Zhao Yun's. Quite taken aback, Zhen Ji quickly pulled off the scarf and set it down beside her. She sat then, very still, eyeing the scarf and deep in thought. What had she expected? She was staying in his quarters and right now, she was sitting where he slept.

Feeling quite uncomfortable and confused, Zhen Ji got to her feet. Fear began to enter her mind, but why should she feel afraid? Zhao Yun had promised to help her. She had not known him for very long, but it was somehow obvious he was a man of his word. He had shown her kindness from the very beginning and Zhen Ji knew she could trust him. It was in his eyes. Then, again, when their eyes met in the corridor she had felt something else. But had Zhao Yun felt it too? She could not be sure. At that moment, Zhuge Liang had come upon them unexpectedly. Zhuge Liang… His every glance at Zhen Ji had been full of distrust. But Zhao Yun still believed in her and even asked Liu Bei to trust her on his behalf. Then she should feel safe in Shu. Moreover, they were wrong about a Liu Bei in Wei. Liu Bei was a kind… Wei…? That was to be her new home… at Cao Pi's side. Regardless of what she had learned about the real Liu Bei and Shu and her newly found respect for both, if her future connection to Wei was discovered then she would be treated as an enemy. Then was Zhao Yun her enemy?

A man, Zhuge Liang's servant, entered the room with a tray. On the tray, there was a small pitcher and two small cups.

"Drink…?" Zhuge Liang asked Zhao Yun as they both sat down.

"No," replied Zhao Yun. "Thank you."

"That will be all," Zhuge Liang told his servant. The man bowed, the tray still in his hands, and then left the room.

"Zhuge Liang, please forgive my outspokenness, but I trust Lady Zhen Ji," Zhao Yun told him firmly.

"You are too close to the situation to see it," Zhuge Liang watched Zhao Yun closely.

"See what…?" Zhao Yun looked puzzled.

"I am only doing my duty to protect Lord Liu Bei," he replied matter-of-factly.

"I have always sworn to protect Lord Liu Bei," he looked taken aback. "Do you doubt my loyalty?" asked Zhao Yun, sounding offended.

"Never, my friend," he paused briefly, "but I fear your judgement is clouded in this instance."

"How can you condemn her, Zhuge Liang?" he asked in disbelief. "She has done nothing wrong."

"Perhaps not, but neither do we know anything about her."

"She doesn't remember her past Zhuge Liang. Then how is she a threat?"

"Not remembering and choosing not to remember are two different things."

"Then you believe she is deceiving me." Zhao Yun spoke quietly at first. "Or maybe she has put me under a spell?" His voice was full of annoyance.

"Why don't you tell me?" said Zhuge Liang, his voice still calm. "You are the only one she seems to be sharing things with."

Angered by his words, Zhao Yun raised his hand in a fist aimed at Zhuge Liang. Just then, Yue Ying entered the room.

"Stop!" she cried, grabbing onto Zhao Yun's arm. "What is happening between you two?" She glanced at her husband Zhuge Liang, and then focused her attention on Zhao Yun. "Please," she pleaded with him, "don't do this Zhao Yun."

Zhen Ji was standing on the balcony. She looked up at the blanket of stars. It was late now and Zhao Yun had not yet returned. Down below, she could see the rooftops of the many structures within Shu's walls. The streets seemed quite empty now, but the people of Shu were not all asleep. Lights glowed, dotted in many places. Zhen Ji tried to imagine what the people might have been doing. Some, she guessed, would be returning to their families after a hard day's work in the field. Others would be celebrating an achievement or victory, or just having fun because they felt like it. She smiled then. Shu seemed like such a nice place to live.

Just then, Zhen Ji heard footsteps. Zhao Yun must have returned. Her heart fluttered with excitement and her palms were moist from nervousness. At that moment then, she knew she wanted to tell him everything. He had trusted her and more than anything she wanted to be worthy of that trust and be honest with him. What if she was to marry Cao Pi, she was not married to him yet, and maybe she would never have to? In her mind then, she was a free woman and for the first time, she finally made her own choice. Zhen Ji waited on the balcony in anticipation. From drapes, however, there emerged the figure of a woman.

"You are the lady who tended to me," said Zhen Ji, remembering her face. "Lady Yue Ying, is that right…?" She paused for a second, hoping to get some sort of confirmation but the woman gave none. "I wanted to say thank –"

"If you care for Zhao Yun, then you'll leave Shu and never come back," Yue Ying said forcefully.

"What has happened…?" Zhen Ji's eyes widened with fear. "Is Lord Zhao Yun safe…?"

"For now," she paused, "but he is not himself and I fear how things will become for him."

"What is wrong with him?" asked Zhen Ji, concern evident on her face.

"I have seen the way he looks at you."

"He is not the only one to do so," Zhen Ji retorted. "It doesn't mean anything."

"Who are you trying to convince?"

"Lord Zhao Yun is a man of duty. In the short time I have known him that much is obvious."

"You are observant indeed," her tone was sarcastic. "Or how else would you have appealed to his nature to gain his aid?"

"I did not ask for his help and neither did I deceive him into doing so," Zhen Ji sounded distraught.

"Then leave."

"Why are you so determined in getting rid of me?" Tears filled her eyes. "You have no idea what I've been through."

"Then you have remembered," Yue Ying's voice was quiet.

Unable to speak, Zhen Ji exchanged glances with Yue Ying. At that moment, Yue Ying saw a face full of pain, fear and a childlike innocence and vulnerability. Zhen Ji closed her eyes tightly and tears spilled down her face.

"I'm sorry," said Yue Ying. She moved closer to Zhen Ji and embraced her tightly.

"I don't want to hurt him," Zhen Ji sobbed. "I don't want him to be my enemy."

Should I continue…? :)

Lady Leonhart

[19/09/09]