Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Dynasty Warriors except my fanfic! Well done KOEI! Great game! ^ _ ~
Author's note: This is my first Dynasty Warriors fanfic. Most of the focus will be on the interaction of certain characters rather than the battles…. Sorry. The focus is on Wu. Sun Quan is in charge. The pairing in my story is Sun Shang Xiang x Zhou Yu. Please don't flame me, especially if it is because you don't like the pairing. Any suggestions, friendly feedback welcome.
Chapter Seven: Blood and Blossoms
"What do you say, dear sister," Sun Quan asked her. "Are you willing to marry Liu Bei?"
Sun Shang Xiang glanced at Zhou Yu. He looked away.
"Yes, brother," Shang Xiang was hesitant. "I will marry Liu Bei for the good of Wu, and I will be happy."
"Of course you will," Sun Quan placed his hands on her shoulders. "Liu Bei is an honourable man, but he will be blessed by having someone like you by his side." He hugged her tightly. "It will be my misfortune to part with you, dear sister, for I shall miss you greatly."
"As I will you, brother," she told him, her eyes filling with tears. To add to it all just before she blinked to let the tears fall, over her brother's shoulder, she saw Zhou Yu looking straight at her.
Sun Quan and Shang Xiang parted. Sun Quan smiled, but it was evident that he too had shed a few tears.
"What's wrong, Shang Xiang? You're stronger than this," he teased her. "By heaven, I'm sure you're stronger than me," he laughed. Sun Shang Xiang smiled back, wiping her tears on her wristbands.
"I will spread the wonderful news, brother," she forced a great big smile, stepping backwards towards the door. "It has been long since there has been something to celebrate in Wu. Let the whole of Wu rejoice at this momentous occasion."
"Yes, indeed," replied Sun Quan, he looked pleased with himself.
"Will you not come too, brother?"
"I will join you later, sister," he paused. "Zhou Yu and I have many things to discuss. Why, now we even have your wedding to arrange."
Shang Xiang shook her head in acknowledgement and slipped out of the room. As she stepped out into the corridor, tears were evident once again. She felt sick, like she had been kicked in the stomach. Without another thought she ran as fast as she could to the one place she would get some support.
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"Ha, Zhou Yu," Sun Quan said in a tone of victory. "I told you she'd agree, didn't I?"
"Yes, my Lord, you did," Zhou Yu replied.
"I know she is my sister and she is beautiful, but you see, girls like her dream of the trivialities of love. As much as I don't like to admit it, where in Wu would Shang Xiang find love? Zhou Yu, have you seen a suitor worthy of my sister?"
Zhou Yu thought about this. He loved her… but no. He wasn't worthy of Sun Shang Xiang. Not when he wasn't willing to stand by her side. "No, my Lord," he said regretfully.
"Precisely. Yes, it is a shame, but with this alliance, I have given her what she seeks, as well as fulfilling the needs of my own ambition. Liu Bei may have my sister, but we will have the Jing Province."
"How can you say that, my Lord?" Zhou Yu was shocked at his words. "Surely, your sister is worth more than Wu could ever be. She is your blood."
"What has got into you, Zhou Yu? How dare you question my loyalty to my family?" Sun Quan was outraged.
"I question your love, not loyalty, my Lord," Zhou replied firmly.
"You are not yourself, Zhou Yu," Sun Quan turned his back on Zhou Yu. "Leave me at once, before either one of us says anything else we may regret. We will conduct a meeting tomorrow. Let us hope by then, you will have come to your senses."
"As you wish, my Lord," he gave a slight bow and left the room.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *~ * ~ * ~
"Su Ling, please. I must speak with Shang Xiang," Zhou Yu pleaded with her.
"I'm sorry but Lady Sun Shang Xiang is occupied," Su Ling told him formally. "She is not able to entertain guests."
"You know why I've come, Su Ling. She must have told you. Please…," Zhou Yu scanned the hallway to make sure no one else was listening.
"You hurt her."
"I know I was wrong," he said sincerely.
"You shouldn't be telling me, my Lord," Su Ling's tone was gentle now.
"That's why I've come to see Shang Xiang… to tell her."
"I have to respect her wishes, my Lord, not only as her maid but as her friend," she sighed. "I really hate seeing her like that, but I cannot permit you to see her against her wishes."
"Please, Su Ling. There must be some way I can… Please, just give me a time, a place and I'll be there. Somewhere we can talk alone just for a few moments."
"Will you promise not to hurt her anymore?"
"You have my word."
"The gardens, when the moon is at its highest."
"I'll be there. Thank you, Su Ling." Content with the arrangement he made with Su Ling, he hurried to his own chambers. He couldn't sleep; for fear that he may miss his opportunity to speak with Shang Xiang, but he thought it wise to rest up before the time of his meeting.
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"Shang Xiang, wake up," whispered Su Ling.
"What's wrong?" Sun Shang Xiang sat up quickly.
"Oh, forgive me. I shouldn't have woken you for such a small matter."
"It is all right, Su Ling. I wasn't asleep anyway," she sighed heavily. "What did you want me to do?"
"There's this flower, in the palace gardens, you see."
"A flower…?" Shang Xiang said this in disbelief. "Yes, go on."
"It only opens when the moon is at its highest. I really wished to see it, because today is such a day," Su Ling paused. "The problem is I'm not allowed in the gardens at this time. So I was hoping that you could go and see the flower for me and describe it to me."
"You want me to go outside at this time of night, just to see a flower?"
"Yes, well… it only blooms once every twelve years. They say if you wish on it, when it opens, good fortune comes your way and to those who know you."
"You really believe that?" Shang Xiang smiled.
"I was told the story as a child and yes I do believe it," Su Ling moped.
"Come on, Su Ling. Please, cheer up. I'm only teasing," she laughed. "I'll go and see your flower, okay. I could do with a walk. Besides, right now, with the way I am feeling I need all the good fortune I can get."
"Thanks, but I think you should go now, it's nearly time," Su Ling smiled.
"Right, I'm going… but first, don't you think you should give me at least a vague description of the flower?"
"Oh yeah, how could I forget," Su Ling considered this for a moment. "It's um…" she thought of Zhou Yu waiting in the gardens for Shang Xiang. She had to hurry. "I remember now."
"I hope so."
"It has crimson petals that are dotted with gold and it… kind of looks like a star."
"Right, I've got it. A crimson and gold star flower."
"Hurry, Shang Xiang," Su Ling told her, worried that Sun Shang Xiang would miss her 'accidental' meeting with Zhou Yu.
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Zhou Yu concealed himself behind bushes and in the shadows and there he waited for Sun Shang Xiang. This was his only chance to explain. He had to get her back, before it was too late… but where was she? As he wondered about this, he heard the sound of leaves rustling. Zhou Yu kept very still now for he heard footsteps. Could they be hers?
"I wonder where it is," she muttered to herself. "It's got to be here somewhere."
Zhou Yu was glad. It was Sun Shang Xiang. He watched her for a moment from the bushes, considering when to make his presence known to her.
She looked up at the sky. "I hope I haven't missed it. Su Ling was so persistent about that flower."
"Shang Xiang?"
"Brother?" Sun Shang Xiang looked startled. What was Sun Quan doing here…? From the shadows, Zhou Yu was surprised too. However, he decided not to dwell on this. It didn't really matter now. He had missed his chance.
"What are you doing out so late?" Sun Quan asked her.
"I… Why brother? What is it?" she asked him in reply, not wishing to tell him about the venture Su Ling had asked her to undertake.
"Something has been seen, lurking in these bushes for many hours now. It isn't safe. Come, we must go." Shang Xiang did as she was asked for her brother's concern seemed genuine.
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"Zhou Yu, mind if I join you?" asked Lu Xun.
"No, not at all," Zhou Yu seemed distracted.
"You're lucky Zhou Yu," began Lu Xun, trying to make conversation. He could tell that Zhou Yu was down about something. Maybe Zhou Yu would feel better if he just looked at the positive things in his life thought Lu Xun. "Shang Xiang's great. You two are great together." Zhou Yu didn't respond. "I just hope that one day I'll meet my soul mate," he continued. "What do you think, Zhou Yu? Do you think there's someone out there for me?"
Gan Ning burst into the room, "What happened, Zhou Yu?" he sounded out of breath. "I just heard that Sun Shang Xiang is marrying Liu Bei."
"Is that true?" Lu Xun asked taken aback.
"Yes," he shook his head calmly.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realise," Lu Xun said quickly. "How did it happen?" he added.
Zhou Yu glanced at them both. Then there was silence for a moment and Zhou Yu stared out at the horizon. Lu Xun and Gan Ning exchanged glances. They didn't want to rush him, but they needed to know so that they could help him.
"Say something," Gan Ning whispered to Lu Xun.
"I've tried, Gan Ning, you say -"
Zhou Yu spoke. "I… it has all gone wrong," he started. "I was a fool to think that this would all work out."
"What hasn't worked out?" Lu Xun presented him with another question, hoping to get him to continue.
"Shang Xiang," Zhou Yu sighed heavily, "I've lost her."
"You haven't really lost her, have you? She loves you, just like you love her."
"She won't even let me speak to her," he paused. "You heard what Gan Ning said. Shang Xiang wants to marry Liu Bei."
"How do you know that's what she wants?" Gan Ning intervened.
"Isn't it clear enough," replied Zhou Yu. "Marriage is a commitment. You don't just get married without being certain that's what you want."
"What if you can't be with the person that you want to be with?"
"It wouldn't have worked… Sun Quan would never have agreed."
"Sun Quan? What's he got to do with this?"
"Everything," his tone was harsh, "My first loyalty is to Wu, and with Sun Quan on the throne my loyalty lies with him."
Gan Ning hit Zhou Yu in the face. He fell to the ground.
"Gan Ning, are you crazy?" Lu Xun stood between Gan Ning and Zhou Yu.
"He's the one who's crazy," Gan Ning shouted, looking in Zhou Yu's direction.
Zhou Yu stood up slowly, his back was turned.
"That may be so," replied Lu Xun not wanting to argue with Gan Ning, in case it made him angrier, "but that's not the way to deal with it," Lu Xun added more firmly.
Zhou Yu turned to face them, his nose was bloody.
Lu Xun and Gan Ning both looked concerned.
"It's not broken… It is fine," Zhou Yu told them. "If you don't mind, can we continue this later?"
"Sure," said Gan Ning. Then he and Lu Xun watched Zhou Yu leave. Then Gan Ning spoke "We've got to do something, Lu Xun."
"Agreed… but what?"
"Somehow we've got to make him see sense, not to mention delaying the wedding."
"When's the wedding?" he asked him.
"Tomorrow."
"What…!? That soon….?" Lu Xun couldn't believe it. "We're going to need a miracle."
"Lu Xun," Gan Ning sighed, "I think you're right."
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Hope it was okay. I am working on the next chapter. Assignments due already, and just two months until exams, again. So many things, but so little time, eh?
Please let me know what you think.
Until next time. ^_~
~* Lady Leonhart *~
