Sidenotes: Sorry, drowning in schoolwork again! This one took a really long time thanks to my English project and also, my Internet hasn't been cooperating (it hates me! Sob!). School's almost out, so I hope to be updating more frequently after that. (though I warn you, I'm not going to be anywhere near a computer for a week after school ends) I apologize for the sluggish updating!
Thank you's: Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers :) ! Alsospecial thanks to sideways for helping me choose out the appearances of my OC's. Also zhugeliangsgrl for making me update!
Embarrassing moment: I swear, I am SO stupid … I put the story title as "A Story Without Historical Accuracy" in every chap when it's really "A Story Written Historically Inaccurately." (thwacks self on head) I have edited them.
Warning: I have looked for the name of Zhou Yu's father and could not find it, so I have invented one. Also, this is a much shorter chapter than usual. Sorry! I'll try to make the next one longer.
Style names in this chapter: GONGFU . Huang Gai
Disclaimer: In no way do I claim ownership of Dynasty Warriors, which belongs to Koei.
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A STORY WRITTEN HISTORICAL INACCURATELY
Chapter Four: The Book
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Xiao Qiao was bored out of her mind.
She supposed it was her own fault. The last dinner had been so boring, she'd nearly cried. Zhou Yu had sat across from her, completely absorbed in that book of his and oblivious to all else, though he occasionally decided to show signs of life by sticking some food into his mouth.
Da Qiao had sat next to her, but was too busy flirting across the table with Sun Ce to notice. Xiao Qiao soon tired of eavesdropping. Fine, let them be head-over-heels for each other. By the end of the meal, this could not be more evident.
"Lord Sun Ce has invited me to breakfast!" squealed Da Qiao excitedly. "What shall I wear?"
"Clothes," Xiao Qiao replied tartly.
Da Qiao's eyes softened. "How was your dinner?"
"Should I be polite or honest?" spat Xiao Qiao. "A total disaster, that's what! This place is so … so … dreary!"
"I think it's rather nice," said Da Qiao. "Compared with our times at Dong Zhuo's … "
"That's not much of a comparison," Xiao Qiao pointed out.
"Just be thankful for what you have," sighed Da Qiao, quickening her pace. Soon she was out of sight.
Xiao Qiao's shoulders drooped. Just one more day until combat … just one more day …
x . x . x . x
"It's time to choose your weapon, Lady Qiao and, um … Lady Qiao."
Xiao Qiao nearly leaped into the air with excitement, but managed to contain herself. Da Qiao, on the other hand, was shrinking back in terror at the sight of rows and rows of glinting blades.
"Who makes these?" asked Xiao Qiao.
"The swordsmiths," answered Huang Gai, "though occasionally, a master swordsmith famous throughout the entire land makes a weapon especially for someone. Sometimes we generals make some of our own weapons, too, though they aren't very … usable." Huang Gai motioned to a hideously-disfigured spearhead, bent and marred, nicked and chipped, consistently grosteque throughout its misshapen form. "That was my first project," he admitted sheepishly.
"Can I try that one?" Xiao Qiao requested, pointing to a beautiful sword that seemed to glint with the pale sheen of moonlight.
"I think it's too heavy for you," said Huang Gai cautiously.
"No, it isn't!" protested Xiao Qiao, grabbing the sword by its hilt and lifting it off the wall. "Uggh!" she moaned as the sword carried her arm to the ground with a heavy clink. It really was heavy.
Huang Gai held his tongue to keep the, "I told you so" from escaping, instead taking long strides over and easily taking the sword from her hand. He lifted it like it weighed hardly more than a bronze coin, placing it back on its hook on the wall.
"Let's try something light. Sabers, perhaps? A dagger?" Huang Gai walked straight past the rows of glistening, elegant swords. Instead, he carefully examined a bunch of short, stubby miniature swords!
"I don't want a tiny sword," sniffed Xiao Qiao. Da Qiao nudged her. At times like these, it was easy to see who exactly was the baby sister of the two.
"I think the rods, swords, and polearms are all too heavy for you ladies," Huang Gai pointed out. "That leaves the sabers, daggers … or you can have a custom weapon made."
"What's a custom weapon?" asked Xiao Qiao.
"It's a special weapon made just for you," Huang Gai replied. "A special kind of weapon, mind you. I can put in a request for the blacksmiths if you have something in mind."
"I want something ladylike," interjected Da Qiao, speaking for the first time that day.
"Like what?" asked Huang Gai.
"Something … light," admitted Da Qiao. "Something elegant. Something I can handle fluidly, without thinking."
"Like your fans?" Xiao Qiao pointed out.
"Yes, exactly like …" Da Qiao paused. "I want a pair of fans."
"Very well," said Huang Gai. "I'll place a request today. You can use wooden sabers for today."
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Zhou Yu raced out onto the training field, still clutching his precious Ping-fa, as soon as Huang Gai and the girls stepped on it. "Gongfu, have you gone mad?"
Huang Gai crossed his arms, quite used to having to generate quick, snappy responses. "Me? Go mad? Never! Being insane's quite enough for me. Why do you ask?"
"Well, your insanity is obviously clouding your judgement," Zhou Yu snapped, motioning to the Qiao sisters. They were each clutching a wooden saber in each hand, eyes darting nervously to and fro as they observed the ferocity of the other soldiers practicing swordsmanship. "Girls have no place on the battlefield."
"Sexist," muttered Xiao Qiao.
"Excuse me?"
"You're a sexist," repeated Xiao Qiao. "Women can fight just as well as men can! Right, Da?"
Da Qiao was already hiding behind Huang Gai.
Xiao Qiao groaned and rolled her eyes. "In any case, I stand by my opinions."
"Right." Zhou Yu quickly brushed her off. "Huang Gai, do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"Umm … there's a squirrel living on the roof of the horseshed," offered Huang Gai.
"Let me rephrase that. Anything pertaining to letting the Qiao sisters learn combat?"
"They need to learn to defend themselves," answered Huang Gai, shrugging. "I thought it'd be a good idea. Besides, there's nothing to do here unless you're a soldier. Everybody knows that chaos is bound to happen with Dong Zhuo out of the picture. Men will pop out of their villages and proclaim themselves the next Emperor of the Han! If they don't know how to protect themselves … well, they're the Qiaos. You can connect the dots!"
"We have sufficient experience and more-than-sufficient credentials to keep them safe," Zhou Yu pointed out. "We are reliable. We are trained to protect others. Does this exclude the Qiaos?"
"Excuse me," interrupted Xiao Qiao as politely as she could muster. "Would this conversation be occurring if Da and I were men?"
"Xiao …" Da Qiao said warningly.
"Exactly!" cried Xiao Qiao. "Sister's here warning me to be silent. On the other hand, if I had been a man and had spoken up, I would be warned for my cheek but marked for my courage to speak up for myself!"
"Excuse me?" Zhou Yu couldn't quite believe what he was hearing.
"Instead, I'm being yelled at for picking up a stupid wooden sword! SEXIST!"
"Xiao!" hissed Da Qiao, elbowing her younger sister.
"Nobody here is sexist, Lady Qiao," Zhou Yu tried.
"Nobody here EXCEPT MAYBE YOU!" shrieked Xiao Qiao.
"Xiao, that is enough!" scolded Da Qiao.
"He's a SEXIST! He has a MALE BIAS! HE'S AN EGO FREAK!" Once Xiao Qiao was angry, she could not be stopped.
"What?" Zhou Yu was still struck dumb. Nobody—especially a lady—spoke like that, not even to people like Gan Ning. And that was saying quite a lot.
"NOT LETTING US FIGHT WOULD BE LIKE … LIKE …" Xiao Qiao's eyes strayed to Zhou Yu's book. "… LIKE NOT LETTING YOU READ FROM THAT STUPID BOOK THAT YOUR NOSE IS ALWAYS STUCK IN! DO YOU KRAZY-GLUE IT EVERY MORNING?"
"Why, th-that's ridiculous!" spat Zhou Yu. "Your fighting has nothing to do with my book!"
"WILL YOU LET US FIGHT THEN?" demanded Xiao Qiao so shrilly that Huang Gai found himself squeezing his eyes shut and firmly lodging his fingers deep within his ears.
"NO!" Zhou Yu yelled. "What do you think I am? Crazy?"
"WELL, THEN, YOU WON'T MIND THIS!" snapped Xiao Qiao, snatching the book straight from his hands before he could protest. She paused, fuming, before promptly ripping the book straight in half.
Zhou Yu's eyes erupted into smoldering flames as the halves were shredded into quarters, then eighths, until they were finally just a bunch of torn pieces dancing with the wind.
"THERE!" Xiao Qiao declared. "NOW DO YOU WANT TO STOP US FROM FIGHTING?"
Zhou Yu drew his steel sword, swinging it in a perfect silver arc with speed that a fairy would be envious of. But Huang Gai was faster. The Shadow Rod prevented Zhou Yu from even touching Xiao Qiao.
"ZHOOUU YUU!" the veteran roared.
"THAT LITTLE WITCH JUST RIPPED MY BOOK!" snarled Zhou Yu. "I SHOULD KILL--"
"It's only a book! STOP IT!" Huang Gai interlocked their weapons and pushed the strategist back. "STOP, I SAID!"
Huang Gai's power was so strong that Zhou Yu was forced onto the ground. "YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND! YOU'RE JUST AS BAD AS HER!"
"IT'S ONLY A BOOK!" screamed Huang Gai, trying to drill his point into Zhou Yu's head.
At last, there was silence. For a minute, all Zhou Yu did was stare at Huang Gai, anger etched deep within every one of his features. Then he broke the gaze and got up, dusting off his clothes in a defeated manner.
"Forget it," he muttered. "I have tried. But I can't expect you to understand."
Zhou Yu left the training field quietly, making his way back to where he had been before his chaotic encounter.
A piece of paper fluttered past Huang Gai, who reached out and caught it before it could blow away. Then he carefully uncrumpled it and scanned it for writing, brow furrowing as he read the contents of the fragment.
To my dear son for his sixteenth birthday.
Zhou Shen
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End of The Book
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A/N: Read and review.