Prisoner Of War…Or Not?

Disc.: I do NOT own 'Dynasty Warriors' or any of its' characters. They belong to Koei, so leave me alone already!

A/N: Finally Ch.4, and I fixed any errors that were apparent last time around such as misspelled names and other chapter problems. Last time, I mentioned three things: Xu Huang's confession, another pairing, and of course Zhang He needing to have a very serious discussion with Guo Jia…I'll try to work all three of them into one chapter as best I can, but for now let's get down to it!

Ch.4- Forgiving Oneself (and Everyone Else)

Guo Jia knew that Zhang He only made that face if he wanted to discuss something of grave importance, and this seemed to be one of those kinds of situations as he pushed himself off the wall and began walking towards one of the other gardens in the castle walls. Guo Jia simply followed after him, knowing that their discussion was of great providence. They kept walking in silence until they reached a somewhat bigger garden with a sand bed that had recently been raked with spring leaves settling into the white powder.

After a few more minutes of silence, Guo Jia initiated the conversation.

"So Zhang He, what exactly is it that you needed to tell me?"

Zhang He knew there was only one way to approach such a question, so he just came out with the truth- no need to hide it with deceit and lies.

"It's Xu Huang, he came onto your sweet little birdy and made him cry. I've had my suspicions about his feelings towards dear little Guan Suo, seems he too has been pining for him as you have but lost his chance when he found out you two had gotten together. He also told me that Huang had called you a snake that would only use dear Suo until you were satisfied and abandon him to the wolves, so to speak."

Guo Jia was both shocked and angered in the same moment, how could Xu Huang say such things about him? More importantly, he had dared to try and take Guan Suo from him?! That man was going to pay for such insolence, no one would have Suo but him!

"Where is he?"

"He might still be wandering the castle, but as for Guan Suo? He's in my room asleep, he could tell you what happened when he wakes up. Why don't you come with me and see for yourself?"

Guo Jia nodded and followed after the taller man, he knew that Zhang He would never go against him no matter what- the man already had himself a lover, it was no secret what he and Xiahou Ba did when no one else was around. After a few more minutes of walking, they reached Zhang He's room and He opened the door to reveal that Guan Suo was indeed asleep, he'd apparently pulled the covers over himself in his sleep. His boots were next to the bed and Guo Jia could see water stains on the leather, had something happened while he was in the meeting?

"Go and tend to him, he needs you right now Jia. He was crying when I helped him out of his little dilemma, and I get the feeling that he'll want to see you when he wakes up. As for me, I have a date with a certain little armored kitten, so I'll bid you both farewell."

Guo Jia watched Zhang He leave before he quietly walked into the room and sat next to Guan Suo. Jia looked down and saw dried tear stains on Suo's face, evidence that his encounter with Xu Huang had ended very badly for him. He almost cried himself for allowing this to happen, but instead settled on running his fingers through dark chestnut locks gently, eliciting a sleepy moan from Guan Suo. After a few more seconds of stroking the soft strands, Suo's eyes opened and Jia moved back so he could sit up and look at him.

"Guo Jia…"

"Hello, my dear. Did you miss me?"

Guan Suo just looked at his lover and threw his arms around the man in front of him, quiet sobs racking his frame as Guo Jia held him close in an effort to soothe him, his hands running comforting circles on Suo's back until he grabbed his shoulders and looked at him with a saddened yet reassuring smile.

"Tell me what happened while I was gone, and I shall do my best to make it all better."

Jia said this with the gentlest smile he could offer and kissed Guan Suo's hand to help ease away some of the sadness still evident in the younger boy's posture.

"Well, I went to the garden to wait for you like I had promised and Xu Huang paid me a visit. He said some horrible things about you and said that I should leave you for him, but I refused. He tried to talk me into it but he made me slip into the pond and soak the clothes you gave me, then he attempted to chase me down and I ran until I bumped into Zhang He, he helped me dry off and let me rest here for a little while. I'm sorry that I made you worry, my love."

Guo Jia just shushed any further words from his lover with a kiss that soon became passionate and comforting, the kiss broken after air was needed as the two lovers went back to their own shared room to pick up where they left off.

(Shu Empire)

Nearly 4 months had gone by without any word from Guan Suo, and even Liu Bei was beginning to doubt the boy was still alive. He wouldn't dare say such words in front of his brother or his children, knowing that such doubts coming from their Lord would only result in more crying and possibly yelling that wasn't really needed right now.

Liu Bei was currently in his castle resting up for his next confrontation with Wei, this time they would be getting assistance from Wu. When Zhao Yun heard the news, a smile had found its way to his face- this meant that he would finally get the chance to spend more time with his husband Zhou Yu. The two had gotten married three years ago, after Liu Bei himself had married Sun Jian's daughter Sun Shang Xiang. Lately with all the unrest shaking the land the married couples barely had any time to spend together, but after both marriages had come and settled the two empires had decided to declare a truce and work together to help protect the whole of China.

However, Wei was still causing trouble and Cao Cao had to be stopped for the good of the land as well as its people. His thoughts were interrupted when one of the peasants had burst in through the castle doors, causing Liu Bei to look up at him.

"My Lord!"

"What is it?"

"Cao Cao has sent you a message!"

"Hand it over then!"

The peasant did as instructed and handed Liu Bei a scroll wrapped in blue cloth. It was apparently a message of diplomacy, if the handwriting was any indication as his eyes scanned the message in a focused manner.

'Liu Bei, I would like to discuss something with you. Meet with me in one week at the summit of Mt. Tiandang.'

Liu Bei knew better than to approach this carelessly, for all intents and purposes it could be a trap.

Liu Bei got up from his desk and headed to the strategist's tent, Zhao Yun following behind him quietly. When they both reached the tent, they found Zhuge Liang already waiting there, he had his student Jiang Wei with him…they were discussing something but dropped the subject when Liu Bei and Zhao Yun had come into the tent.

"Is something upsetting you, My Lord?" Zhuge Liang asked passively.

"We have received a message from Cao Cao."

Zhuge Liang merely took the scroll that had been handed to him and began reading the document. After a few silent minutes, he set the scroll upon the table.

"It would seem that Cao Cao seeks diplomacy this time around, but we must tread carefully. This could be a ploy to make us drop our guard and strike while we are unsuspecting of such a trap."

"I am well aware of that, but I shall take your word for it. Whom shall I bring with me for this meeting?"

"I suggest we bring along Zhao Yun and Guan Yu. I myself will also attend this meeting, and I have already sent word of this to Sun Quan. He will be accompanied by Lu Xun and Zhou Yu, but just to be on the safe side Jiang Wei will also accompany us. Is that accepting to you, My Lord?"

"Yes, I believe that that will be enough. I will have Zhang Fei and his children help to guard the homeland while we are at this meeting, Guan Yu may want to bring his children with him- after all Guan Suo could still be alive, and they may want to know for themselves if this is true."

"If they wish to accompany us, then that is suitable…but they will have to stand guard outside the meeting place while we have our discussion. Relay this to them immediately and tell them to be ready to depart within a week."

After finishing up the meeting, the officers in the tent left to share the information with the others while Zhao Yun went to prepare to leave with a smile on his face. The last time they'd met under peaceful circumstances Zhou Yu had asked Zhao Yun to live with him in Wu, and Zhao Yun hadn't given him an answer at the time. But, Zhou Yu told him to just think about the question and he would wait patiently for his reply next time they met.

That had been nearly 10 months ago, and as Zhao Yun thought of the chance to be able to spend every day with his loving husband he knew his mind had been made up…all that was left now was to give his beloved the answer he had been patiently waiting for all this time.

(Wei Empire)

Xiahou Ba had just finished up his training with some rookie soldiers when he heard the most beautiful voice in the world.

"That was the most elegant performance I've ever had the joy of witnessing."

Ba turned to look at his lover and removed his helmet revealing dark honey eyes and disheveled dirty blonde hair that was stuck to his forehead with sweat from training for so long while wearing his armor. He flashed Zhang He a sweet smile, his sword now strapped to his back as he walked over to him.

"Oh come on, it wasn't really that special. It was just basic training, and those guys need at least 10 more years of it before they can hope to best me in battle!" Xiahou Ba said playfully as he let himself be enveloped in a hug from the taller man. There wasn't that much difference in height, Xiahou Ba standing at 5'7" but Zhang He still stood a good 7 inches taller than him at 6'4". Even so, that didn't serve to lessen his love towards the man that was stroking his hair gently.

"To me, that was as divine as any Noh play in the fall. Besides, I must tell you that I will be leaving in a week with Lord Cao Cao."

Hearing this caused Xiahou Ba to stiffen slightly against Zhang He's frame, his lover was leaving? Why would he leave, especially now when they finally had some time to spend together in the wake of chaos?

"Why? Why would you leave now?!"

Zhang He could hear the distress in his voice and feel the sadness in his posture, he really didn't want to leave either but Cao Cao had insisted that he accompany him along with Guo Jia and Guan Suo. It hurt him to have to leave his little kitten for any amount of time but he knew full well that Ba could take care of himself, and he had incentive to make the wait a little bit more bearable. It had been 3 years since Zhang He had told Xiahou Yuan of his feelings for the man's son, and it still surprised him to this day that the man had accepted so easily, but he made He swear on his life that he'd take care of Ba or he'd kill Zhang He himself, to which He promised diligently.

"Because our Lord insisted on it, it's a diplomacy meeting so it probably won't last long. Besides, I have something to help ease your loneliness during the wait."

Xiahou Ba was curious, he knew his lover liked surprising him with little gifts such as flowers, a nice homemade meal, or even a picnic near a lake on a calm spring day…but it seemed this time was different, because Ba was curious.

"What is it this time, Zhang He?"

"Do you not realize what today is, Xiahou Ba?"

Xiahou Ba had to think for a moment, but his mind couldn't come up with anything relevant until he started counting the days that had passed and he finally had an answer.

"March 16th, isn't it?"

"That's right, my dear little kitten. It's the anniversary of when I first asked your father Xiahou Yuan if I could be with you."

Xiahou Ba's eyes widened slightly as he realized that he'd forgotten all about that. He'd been so busy trying to help Guan Suo feel more at ease in the Wei Empire that he'd completely overlooked that such an important day was fast approaching, and now he felt like an idiot for not remembering until the day had actually come.

"That's right, it is! I got so wrapped up in helping Guan Suo settle in that I'd forgotten all about such an important day, I'm sorry Zhang He…you must be upset that I'd forgotten all about it."

"It's alright, I'll forgive you this time because I have something that will make you never forget this day ever again." Zhang He said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small cedar box about the size of his palm and got down on one knee.

'Now what's he up to?!'

"Xiahou Ba, three years it's been since we met and started a relationship. In that time I found myself falling in love with you at a slow and steady pace but it was never tiring for me at all. And now, I kneel before you with but a simple question that I hope you'll agree to…"

Xiahou Ba's eyes began widening ever so slightly as Zhang He opened the box to reveal a beautiful silver ring with a fire opal pearl sitting right in the center, the pearl had silver vines wrapping around it and 4 diamonds on the left and right sides of the pearl. It was so gorgeous that Xiahou Ba couldn't even find the words to speak at the craftsmanship of the trinket being presented to him, but Zhang He's voice brought him back to reality.

"Xiahou Ba, will you make me the happiest man on this great green earth and marry me?"

Xiahou Ba was speechless once again, and just started tearing up at the very thought of getting married to the very man kneeling before him. But these were tears of sheer happiness, and a smile formed on Xiahou Ba's face as the tears fell to the ground.

"Yes, Zhang He! I will marry you, my love!"

Zhang He was so happy that his little kitten had agreed that he removed the glove on Xiahou Ba's right hand and gently placed the ring on his right ring finger, even more joy filling his heart when it went on snugly without constricting him.

The two lovers just shared a tear filled and happy kiss right there in the arena, not even thinking of anything else but this moment right here and now.

T.B.C.- Wow, I can't believe this one's finished! I'm so thrilled that I could burst, but I'll manage to stay intact until a later time. For now, read and review please!