Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters (EXCEPT Lu Kyoko and Jia Li)

Chapter 12: Bad News

Ling Tong was sitting on a bench in the plaza, he was impatiently waiting for the Fan Castle army to return, he kept tapping his foot on the floor, he hated to admit it but he was nervous. He looked around the plaza and saw the families gradually filter in; Jia Li came in with the stragglers 'What kept her?' Ling Tong thought, he heard the gong chime which signalled that the army was in sight. Ling Tong stood up and went up the stairs onto the wall, he didn't like the army's slow pace and the black flag... he felt his heart miss five beats when he couldn't see a white horse 'No! ... She couldn't be' Ling Tong took a deep breath and watched them come slowly towards the castle.

Gan Ning slowed his pace to match the others and he fell into step beside a large brown horse "So... what do you think they'll make of this?"

"I don't know" Lu Kyoko answered 'I can't believe that my horse died as well, even though we won it feels more like a defeat to me... At least Lu Meng's horse lived, now that and his spear are all I've got of him"

Lu Xun was on her other side, he hadn't spoken all journey, Lu Kyoko felt bad for him as well, she knew he was trying to redeem his family and Lu Meng had had great trust in him, and she knew how, he was younger than her but much smarter than her.

Ling Tong watched them get close to the castle gates, he went down off the wall and he sat down on the bench and placed his head in his heads, Jia Li and Xiao Qiao walked over to him "What's wrong?" Jia Li asked and Xiao Qiao sat down beside him "There's a black flag..." Ling Tong started "And... And I can't see Lu... Lu Kyoko's horse..."

Xiao Qiao looked surprised "What? No... She can't be"

"That's what I'm hoping... but then... who died?" The way Ling Tong saw it no matter who had died he'd have been upset, 'If Lu Kyoko had died then I doubt I'd ever recover... If Gan Ning or Master Lu Meng died, I'd lose either one of my best friends... Lu Xun, well we'd have lost a great mind, but he's a good kid I would miss him'

The gates started to open and Ling Tong looked over to the gate, almost so sharply that his neck felt glued to place. He saw Lu Xun come first and then Gan Ning, he almost didn't want to see who came next; he'd either lost his greatest friend and teacher or the only person he'd ever loved. The coffin came through first with black flags on either side of it and Lu Kyoko came behind it, Ling Tong released the breath he'd been holding, he heard some footsteps and turned around to see Sun Quan coming down the steps.

Sun Quan approached the coffin and looked at the officers, "What happened?" Lu Xun dismounted the horse and walked towards him "He lost a duel to Guan Yu, but he didn't kill him" Gan Ning dismounted and came level with Lu Xun "Kyoko stepped in and she defeated Guan Yu, killing him in the process" Lu Kyoko came forward, dismounted Lu Meng's horse, she stayed by him patting his neck. "Guan Ping went in a rage and tried to kill me from behind, but Gan Ning killed him before he got to me"

Jia Li went over to them and hugged Gan Ning, Xiao Qiao patted Ling Tong comfortingly on his shoulder and walked over to Lu Kyoko and gave her a hug, Ling Tong raised an eyebrow 'I thought Jia Li would have said hello to Kyoko first if at all' Ling Tong remembered her arriving late 'What's wrong?' He wondered, and his eyes met with Lu Kyoko's, and he saw that even though she didn't seem to have changed there was a strange darkness in her eyes which had taken over the sparkle which had once dominated them. Ling Tong stood up and walked over to them, he clasped hands with Gan Ning and Lu Xun and stopped in front of Lu Kyoko, she smiled weakly at him and he pulled her into a comforting embrace, Xiao Qiao patted her on the shoulder and decided to go see Da Qiao.

Ling Tong kissed Lu Kyoko's head and she wrapped her arms around him, he felt her breathing get faster and deeper and she buried her head into his chest and he could almost feel her crying.

Gan Ning patted Ling Tong on his back and he whispered into his ear "I need to talk to you"

Ling Tong nodded and he moved some hair away from Lu Kyoko's face "Will you be okay?" He whispered to her, she let go of him and nodded "I'll go find Xiao, she probably went to go see Da Qiao"

He held her hand for a second and he let Gan Ning drag him away to the dorms corridor "What's up?" Gan Ning opened the door to his room and went inside, Ling Tong followed him "What's with all the secrecy?"

"Okay, Lu Meng said that Kyoko take his place as Field General, for Lu Xun to become strategist and for me to take the step above that... He also said that he supported the idea of you and Kyoko from the very beginning and I figured I should tell you first..."

"Tell me what first?"

"Okay, Lu Meng, Jia Li and I sort of had a plan... to get you and Lu Kyoko together, and the old man said for her to ask me, but I figured you should know first"

Ling Tong hadn't been expecting that, he sat down on the trunk at the foot of his bed "Sorry" Gan Ning said, Ling Tong just waved his hand "It doesn't matter... will you tell her?"

Gan Ning nodded "I will if she asks me"

Ling Tong nodded, then he looked up at Gan Ning "Was Jia Li alright with you? Or has she had an argument with Lu Kyoko?"

Gan Ning looked thoughtful "Not that I know of, and yeah she was fine, why?"

"Because she's been acting weird, albeit I don't know her but she seemed... off while you were gone, barely left her room and she was late today for the greeting..."

Gan Ning looked surprised "Really? And what about the Kyoko thing?"

"Well she never even greeted her, I know they were best friends, but even Xiao greeted Kyoko"

"I didn't even notice... hey you're right."

Ling Tong stood up "Yeah, well I'll keep out of it if you don't mind... I'll go see Lu Kyoko, see how she is"

"Well I know she's definitely better than she was during the battle, but I hope I told you what you need to know, so don't ask her"

"I wasn't planning to"

Ling Tong bid his farewell, he heard Gan Ning leave after him and walk down the corridor but he knocked on a door, Ling Tong hoped he hadn't told him anything that would make Gan Ning go crazy, he headed towards the leaders chambers, next to it was the Qiao's two rooms. He knocked on Da Qiao's door and Xiao Qiao answered, she was dressed in shorts and a top with her hair loose and butterfly clips in her hair, keeping it out of her face, she smiled "Looking for Kyoko?" She asked, Ling Tong nodded and she went back inside, Ling Tong looked in, Da Qiao was sitting in a chair, she was wearing a skirt and corset type top with her hair in a single bun, Lu Kyoko was sitting on Da Qiao's bed, Xiao Qiao sat down beside her, said something and grabbed hold of her hand and pointed towards the door. Lu Kyoko bid farewell and left the room, closing the door behind him, for the first time in many months, he didn't know what to say.

"How you holding up?" He asked

"Yeah I'll be fine" She answered and held onto his arm and they walked back towards the warrior's dorms "Brother made me Field General"

"So I heard" Ling Tong said and he cleared his throat "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure"

"Have you and Jia Li got into an argument?"

"You noticed? Okay well... I shouldn't be saying this"

"What?"

"If I tell you... and she finds out I told you"

"She won't" Ling Tong promised "I don't exactly speak to her"

Lu Kyoko looked even more upset, she took a deep breath and checked no-one was nearby "She's cheating on Gan Ning, I found out before He Fei, and before I left for Fan Castle I asked her if she was going to keep Gan Ning while she kept cheating on him, and she said it had nothing to do with me whether she cheated on him or not..."

Ling Tong eyes widened "She's cheating on him?" He held Lu Kyoko's other hand and stopped walking "Who with?"

Lu Kyoko shrugged "All I know is that he's a highly positioned officer in Wei, but I think I know who it might be..."

AN: Okay so another cliff-hanger, I'm actually torn between two officers (they're actually two of my favourites) so I'll decide on who. And I know it didn't seem like I focused on Lu Meng's death for long but I think I'll give him a funeral, not sure though. Please R&R

And just wanted to give a personal 'sorry' to jusdatgiirl about Taishi Ci