*** Chapter 4 - The Celebration ***

The Wei army was taking a moment to rest, having just barely avoided a catastrophic death. The officers and soldiers alike were now finally beginning to regain their strength as Yi directed them to fall in line. And past the fearsome force, a Samurai could be seen approaching the Wei strategist Guo Jia.

Samurai: Guo Jia. I should thank you for the elixir...but...

Guo Jia: You want to know what I meant before? Don't worry Samurai. All shall be reveled later.

Samurai: But...who is watching over me? Who is "she"?

Guo Jia: She watches over me as well. Truly we are two lucky individuals.

Samurai: ...You're not going to answer me are you?

Guo Jia: No. Now leave this place Samurai. You have your own path to follow and it is not here.

Samurai: Hm... Very well. I look forward to meeting this "she".

Jia watched as the Samurai headed down the mountain path. They would meet again, he was sure of it. So was "she". But now he turned to Yi. It was their time to go as well.
The Wei army took a long while to rest and gather their strength for the march back to Xu Chang. Thankfully, the march home seemed to go by much quicker and it was certainly more easier. During the march Sima Yi noticed a kind of...tension was lifted from this victory. It now longer felt like he was fighting with strangers. It now felt...like home. That is, until Yi actually got home and found Mitsunari and Cao Pi awaiting him...with this.

Sima Yi: *blink, blink*

What was before Yi was not the solid concrete of Xu Chang but...streamers. A lot of them. A damn lot. Blue and white ones stretching all the way to the castle beyond the gate he was under. There were also a ton of men screaming cries of joy and victory. And at the very top of the opened gate doors was a blue banner stating "CONGRATULATIONS, SIMA YI!" in big bold letters with a crudely drawn chibi Sima Yi jumping in joy. All of this, just for him.

Sima Yi: ...What the hell is this?

Cao Pi: You don't like it? I didn't think you would. But the men do. Now come. We have food inside the--*is trampled by 8 officers + Fang*

Mitsunari: ...You alright?

Cao Pi: Yes...just, a couple of broken bones.

Mitsunari: If it's any consolation the footprints match your hair.

Cao Pi: **** you, Mitsunari.

*** Inside Xu Chang Castle Dinning Hall ***

For these warriors the real party had only just now started as they dug into their respective plate fulls of various dishes. Especially Xu Zhu who probably had three of everything. The nine officers, Fang, Mitsunari, and Cao Pi were all arrayed along a particularly long table enjoying their food and the company of others. From left to right the warriors were placed as this;

Cao Pi at the end of the table followed by Sima Yi, Guo Jia, Fang, Zhang He, Cao Ren, Xu Zhu at the other end and looping around to Huang Gai, Zhang Liao, Guan Ping, Nene, Mitsunari, and finally returning to Cao Pi. With all these guess to serve the cooks and waitresses were literally running across the dinning hall as the plates piled up...

Sima Yi: Serving wretch! More rice balls!

Guo Jia: Some more wine too if you would...

Nene: I demand more sushi! Sushi, sushi, sushi!

Xu Zhu: Baozi please!

Huang Gai: You've had enough as it is! Oh, but get the baozi anyways I'm still rather hungry.

Cao Ren: Make that two servings of baozi please.

Needless to say, the waitress eventually passed out from exhaustion...

After several plates, two more waitresses, and seven more cooks, the warriors had finally had their fill. Cao Pi had dismissed dinner and given the warriors time to mingle and celebrate further as the troops did so down in the barracks as well. He also had Xu Zhu help the cooks clean since he eat most of the food. The warriors were now walking around the castle, engaging in their own conversations and activities.

Sima Yi: Jia.

Guo Jia: Yes, Zhongda?

Sima Yi: I've been meaning to ask you, your weapon... The rapier and shield. I've never seen you wield those before.

Guo Jia: Yes well, let's just say ambushes can be a troublesome thing when on the receiving end. There was an incident during this with a rather sharp piece of metal nearly spilling my brain open and it was then I decided a shield might not be such a bad thing apposed to a simple blade.

Sima Yi: Really? You fell into an ambush? I thought you better than that.

Guo Jia: In my defense I was up against your rival.

Sima Yi: Ha ha ha. So even the great Fengxiao cannot surpass the wiles of Zhuge Liang! I however would not have fallen for such tricks.

Guo Jia: Indeed. So the statue at the Wu Zhang Plains, that was just a fluke?

Sima Yi: Ha ha ha! I can predict the living, but not the dead!

Guo Jia: So I've heard. ...I wish I had been there for such a great battle.

(Silence)

Guo Jia: Lord Sima Yi, I am grateful to able to fight along side you. *holds up arm*

Sima Yi: *rolls eyes* Humph. Indeed. *crosses arms with Jia, forming a X* Imbecile...

Meanwhile...

Zhang He: Lord Cao Pi, I must say you've done wonderfully with the decorations. Although, the streamers are a bit...um...everywhere.

Cao Pi: Yes, I had Xu Zhu in charge of the decorations. I had intended this to be a punishment but I think he actually enjoyed it...

Zhang He: A punishment? Whatever for?

Cao Pi: I put him in charge of guarding the food. Worst mistake of my life.

Zhang He: But I thought General Xu Huang was going to stop him from eating?

Cao Pi: He tried. But when Xu Zhu wants food he's like the Hulk. He actually broke Xu Huang's ribs and fractured his skull just to get a pork bun.

Zhang He: O_O

Cao Pi: My thoughts exactly. Wait, is that Guan Ping heading over to Sima Yi?

Zhang He: Why yes, I believe it is.

Cao Pi: Oh dear, that's a blood bath waiting to happen...

Back to Yi...

Guan Ping: Lord Sima Yi.

Sima Yi: Hm? Oh, it's you. ...What?

Guan Ping: I wanted to say thank you on behalf of Huang Gai and myself. For saving us in the battle...

Sima Yi: Thanks accepted. Now I'm sure you have someone else to bother so you'd best get to it.

Guan Ping: Hey! I'm trying to say thanks, you jerk! You don't have to be such an ***!

Sima Yi: But if I'm not then how else can I get you to leave me alone?

Guan Ping: Y-you! Urgh! Forget it! *stomps off*

Sima Yi: Humph. Filthy brat. Someone ought to-

SMACK!!!

Sima Yi: OW!!! Jesus Christ, did you-did you just spank me!?

Nene: Yes I did! You are being way too hard on poor Guan Ping! Now either you change your attitude around him or next time I'll bend you over my knees and give you a real spanking! :O Paddle and all!

Sima Yi: ...Yes ma'am. ...You know, that should really bother me more than it does...

Nene: Good! Now don't let me catch you acting like that again! *rushes after Ping*

Sima Yi: *scoff* Can you believe that vixen?

Guo Jia: She does have a point. You are being too hard on him. What is it you have against him so?

Sima Yi: What don't I have against the boy? He was part of Shu, one of Guan Yu's sons no less! And he's done absolutely nothing to prove why he should be given the rank of officer, especially a Wei officer! The most he's done is swing a sword.

Guo Jia: Hm...I see.

Sima Yi: Oh, I know that look. You're going to do something I won't like, aren't you?

Guo Jia: Ha ha. No, no...well...yes. But not at the moment. I'm feeling rather tired. I believe I will retire for the night. Good night, Zhongda.

Sima Yi: Bah, very well. I should check on the others anyways. Good night. *bows*

Guo Jia: *bows, then retires*

The night continued on as the warriors returned to their minglement. Nene was eventually able to talk Guan Ping out of his childish rage and sent him to bed. Soon after the others thought it was time to rest as well and began pouring out of the room until all that remain was Sima Yi, Zhang He, Mitsunari, and Cao Pi. As Mitsunari then saw the young Cao off he turned to Sima Yi.

Mitsunari: Ah, Sima Yi. A moment, if you would.

Sima Yi: Hm, yes?

Mitsunari: I thought it would be appropriate if I gave you a former apology. For mistrusting you. I'd like you to know that you have my full support in the time to come.

Sima Yi: Is that so? I suppose I should be grateful. You are my superior after all. *bows*

Mitsunari: *returns the bow, and finishes with a nod before retiring*

Sima Yi: Humph.

Sima Yi then decided it was time to head for his own bed and he began to proceed through the hallways, Zhang He close behind him.

Zhang He: Well that was absolutely wonderful! I'm happy to see Mitsunari trusts you now.

Sima Yi: What, are you blind? He wouldn't trust me to watch his monkey.

Zhang He: Really? Are you sur--

Sima Yi: Yes. Now, can you find your way to your room on your own or do you need me to hold your hand the way there.

Zhang He: ...Well actu--

Sima Yi: That was rhetorical.

Zhang He: Fine... :(

Yi made a smuggish scoff as Zhang left for his own bed, leaving Yi all alone as he transcends the hallways to his room. Xu Chang may not have been the highest castle but it was certainly the widest. On his walk Yi began to really think about the situation. He left Wei to die, fought against them, and then returned like nothing had happened. And with all these new faces it almost seemed like an entirely different Wei. And to think; it really wasn't that long ago that he was sending an army on Wei's He Fei encampment...

*** Flashback - He Fei Cliffside ***

The sound of clashing metal could be heard all around. People dieing, limbs flying... Orochi's forces were waging a fierce battle against a Wei-Shu Coalition, and the battle wasn't going well for either side. Orochi's numbers and power would progress them further in, but precises and swift ambushes would only cause them to regain it back as the process was repeated on several points of the battle field. It was then that the command, Masamune Date, called in for support.

Sima Yi: Just look at this... All we're doing is wasting our resources...

Zhuge Liang: However, now that we have arrived the enemies defenses will falter by dawn.

Sima Yi: I still don't see why Da Ji ordered both of us here. I only would have sufficed. I suppose she's using this battle to see if we'd have the guts to fight our own men.

Zhuge Liang: Look at it this way; this could be your chance to upstage me.

Sima Yi: Good point. So should you start or I?

Zhuge Liang: I would be more than happy to do the honors.

Upon uttering this the strategist waved his fan, giving a signal. This signal, however, caused something truly shocking. Cliffs from above the enemy outpost erupted in a blaze of fire and explosions, causing the very earth crumple and succeeding in both destroying the enemies elevated cover and causing a rain of rock upon the enemy base below. Even Sima Yi had to admit that was an ingenious move. Of course he would never actually let those words escape his lips.

Zhuge Liang: Ninjas. Marvelously useful. They can get just about anywhere.

Sima Yi: Tch... Just wait. Remember, you don't have kill everything in sight to win a battle.

Messenger: Lord Sima Yi! Your covert troop is under heavy fire by enemy archers! They cannot progress to the main camp!

Zhuge Liang: Must be Shu's archers.

Sima Yi: What!? How do you know!?

Zhuge Liang: Wei's are all dead.

Liang then pointed down the cliff side Wei's watchpost...currently in flames. This of course warranted a snarl from Yi.

Sima Yi: Just send a freakin' assault force to take them out!

Zhuge Liang: Messenger, go and send some of the men in Keiji's unit to deal with the archers. Then have the reserve forces to reinforce the front line until the covert troop has taken the main camp...or supply base, Yi still hasn't told me where they were headed.

Sima Yi: ...Main camp.

Zhuge Liang: Excellent choice. Make it so, Messenger.

The Messenger did as he was told. Upon this Sima Yi's sneak attack left the enemies front in ruins as Date forces punched through them, Keiji at the head. The main camp was taken and the remaining Wei-Shu forces retreated. Sima Yi still refuses to admit he was outshone on that day...

End Flashback

Fading back into reality, Sima Yi now found himself at his door. Upon further inspection he saw Fang stationed before him...asleep on the floor. With a chuckle he opened his door and went inside. Fang would be allowed to rest this night, he didn't expect anyone to bother him tonight anyways. Yi then found himself back in the comfort of his bed. After all, even a genious needs his shut eye...

Fade to black, as Yi sleeps the night away...

*** End of Chapter 4 ***