Okay, seeing the life of my previous document. Almost a month and then I'd update again. Wow, how long is that. Anyway, here is the next chapter where dear Ai Xin has to go with the chores. Go girl!!

Happy reading!


Where am I...

The area was covered in mist, very thick mist. From slow footsteps, it broke into a run, trying to find a way out.

Hello?

Voices answered.

Hello... Hello... Hello...

Echoes, hollow echoes; but where are they coming from?

The running stopped when it crashed against a hard wall. A hand rested on the wall's cool surface. The mist began to clear and a small ray of light shone through. The light reflected against the wall.

It's a mirror.

Behind the mirror, there stood a pale face with an expression different from the one facing it.

Who are you

The mirror answered, I am you.


A chime tinkled from her small window as the dawn air breezed in. Her eyes half-opened against the pillow, staring at the small chime. She remembered opening the little gift Sima Yi had given her before going to Tian Shui. Too bad there was no time to say thank you. The chime has a small bell hidden underneath the wings of the bird-shaped ornament and a tassel was flapping against the wind.

"Can't believe I'm a year older," she muttered to herself while pushing her body up from the mattress.

She looked out to the window. The sun has not yet risen and the sky was already fading into color. Sighing and grumbling about a little more sleep, Ai Xin changed her clothes to start her work.

She gently closed the door of her room and proceeded down the hallway. From her perspective, the servants and staff would be awake a little later than her supposedly new schedule.

She breathe in deeply, trying to recall what were the tasks given to her by her new superior General Xiahou Dun. Awkward enough, he can get very intimidating in this business.

'Like that cockroach you saw in your room?' her conscience suggested.

Shut up, she thought.

Her conscience sniggered, 'Admit it. You're still afraid of the certain cockroach even though it's already dead.'

Shaking her head, Ai Xin was getting quite pissed at the voice in the back of her head. It's like some sort of different entity to its own but still part of her.

"First thing to do is... Clean his room," she muttered in recall. But if the sun has not yet risen, wouldn't that be like he's still sleeping? Or maybe his quarters are so big, considering being Cao Cao's right hand man, that there is a bedroom within the bigger room.

Her footsteps were light as it stepped upon the wooden planks to the higher floors of the castle. Now where would his quarters be? She looked down to the right, not much there, and then to the left, there was a single door at the end. That could be it. Walking lightly down the corridor, she stopped in front of the door and noticed a small plaque. It bore two words, quite rare for family names.

Xiahou.

Ai Xin raised her hand in a closed fist to knock. She stopped for a moment. What if this is the other General Xiahou's room? That would be rude, although she could ask where exactly the room of his brother is.

She knocked three times. There was no answer. Her internal clock was ticking that she needs to finish this task soon or cleaning the horses will make her late. Softly opening the door, she stepped into the lowly lit room. She traced a finger on a desk. There was hardly any dust on it.

He has got to be kidding me, she thought. This place seems spotless.

She entered deeper into the room. Simplicity was the theme to this general's taste. There are hardly anything elaborate to count in this room. But there are a few misplaced things, she picked it up and placed it neatly on the desired places. Soon enough, the room was clean as well as the rest of the quarters except for the bedroom. No way is she going inside.

In a few minutes of last checks, she left the room and went down to the stables. Unknowingly, the occupant of the room she left was wide awake and watching her descent on the steps.


There are a few servants already awake and began their daily chores. Some of them greeted Ai Xin a good morning and she smiled to greet them back. She wondered to herself if she could dance with her blade again. That feeling from the very first time was exhilarating and wonderful. Down at the stables, here she could easily determine where the well-bred horses of Xiahou Dun are. She gathered the grooming materials and brought along a pail. She stopped in front of the first horse.

"Hello there," she greeted to the black stallion. "I'm going to give you a bath now."

The horse let out an airy snort, reluctantly letting Ai Xin wash it down. Quite clear that it is unaccustomed to any other hands than its master.

Ai Xin had finished the first horse and started on the next. She looked at the line of stalls, this could take a while.

He retreated to his bedroom, his inner sanctum. Looking out to the window, the sun is just an inch from the horizon. How tranquil dawn could be, he thought. A gentle wind whipped his hair back from its rest on the shoulders. His thoughts flew to the day's tasks. There would be some additional time ever since that girl came. He looked away from the window and stepped into the screens, gearing up for today.

What could go wrong... hmmm...

Ai Xin was almost done with her task of grooming the horses. Her hands had easily adapted to the tools and this work was familiar to her during her time in the fields. But her mind was drifting far, far away from the present.


She was sitting on a ledge, swinging her legs, watching a man grooming his brown horse.

"Papa, can a horse talk?" she asked.

The man looked up to the ledge. "No, I don't think so. Why?"

The little girl shrugged her shoulders. "Because I thought I heard one of them talking. I heard them saying that you look funny with your hat on."

He laughed heartily. The innocence of the young minds amused him. "Well, do you think I'm funny with my hat on?"

She shook her head. "No... I think you're one of those big guys riding the ships."

The man raised both eyebrows. To add the fun of his daughter's imagination, he swung his little grooming brush like a pirate.

"You mean the big guys saying," he changed his tone. "Shiver me timbers..."

Before he could finish the line; his brush accidentally smacked against the horse's backside. The horse, in painful reaction, lifted its hind legs and kicked the man out of the stall. The man crashed on the green grass.

The little girl jumped off the ledge and rushed to her father's side.

"Papa, are you alright?" she asked worriedly.

The man rolled to his back with a smile on his face. He looked at his daughter in the eyes and placed a large hand on her shoulder. He started to laugh. The little girl beamed and started laughing too.

"You're funny Papa."

Her smile faltered to a sad face when she turned to face her father. No eyes, no mouth, he's faceless.


"Ai Xin."

The call surprised her. Her boot accidentally got stuck into the pail of water and she fell off balance onto the stack of hay. She blinked twice and swathed the hay off her face.

"G-General Xiahou," she stammered. "You're... I mean... Good morning!" She also remembered to report, "I have finished the tasks you ordered sir."

Xiahou Dun crossed his arms. "You made a mess Ai Xin. I expected better than that. If this poor performance keeps up, there would be no exceptions for you," he said stoically. Giving a last check up on the place, he turned his heel and left the stables.

Ai Xin rolled her eyes and sighed in contempt. If he didn't just pop out of nowhere, this would have NEVER happened. Pushing herself up from the haystack, she cleaned up the place and patted the freshly groomed horses before leaving the stables.


Right in time, the servants are already preparing the morning meal. Ai Xin passed the mess hall and proceeded to her room. She'll need to at least get herself clean before going to eat.

A quick refreshing shower later, Ai Xin geared up and left her room and headed down to the mess hall. Before, she was used to eat amongst the servants, but now, she simply sat alone on a table, eating while staring outside window.

"There you are Ai Xin!" came the fruity voice of Zhang He.

Ai Xin was halfway eating her baozi. "Oh, Zhang He.. Good morning."

Zhang He took his seat across her. "You don't sound happy." He picked something from her hair. "And you got hay on your hair."

Ai Xin bit her baozi to fume quietly. "Just a bad start that's all."

"Oh come now, I'm sure doing those tasks such as cleaning and grooming isn't bad," Zhang He said jovially.

Ai Xin knew that Zhang He's trying to cheer her up. "Thanks Junyi..."

Out of the blue again, Xiahou Dun growled behind Ai Xin, "Training starts at nine. Don't be late."

Ai Xin almost choked on her tea. "Y-Yes sir!" She turned around and he was gone. She had a bewildered look on her face. "Does he always do that Zhang He?"

Zhang He chuckled, "Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't."

Ai Xin groaned. How worse can this day get?


Blitz: Yes, your day is about to get worse than that.

Ai Xin: i hate you

Blitz: I love you

lol

So, Read and Review guys to keep me going!