Disclaimer: I only own the plot. Nothing else.
Chapter 21: Tiger Brothers
After infiltrating Yuan Shao's castle, Zhou Yu and Sun Ce returned a few days later, late at night. Both were too tired to try to drink to their success, so Sun Ce immediately went to his bedroom to surprise Da Qiao, while Zhou Yu quietly returned to his rooms.
The next morning, Zhou Yu opened the door of his bedroom, a bowl of dumplings in his hand.
"Ughh," the man groaned as he looked down at the figure on the floor, "Hey Chin Shin…"
The tiger gave a low purr raising his head.
"You're not going to move, are you?" Zhou Yu cocked his head at the tiger and the animal didn't budge.
Zhou Yu glanced down at his beef-filled dumplings, "You want a dumpling, I suppose."
With a rumble, Chin Shin opened his mouth and his tongue rolled out and began panting. He smelled beef.
"Yeah, you want some," Zhou Yu groaned and placed a dumpling in front of the growing beast. He stepped over the tiger, shaking his head.
Sun Jian sat back in his seat, "So, tell me what we have."
Zhou Yu pulled out the plans and maps, "There is little doubt that after Dong Zhuo is dead, Yuan Shao will attempt to seize more control over the Han than he can handle."
"But what does that mean for us?" Huang Gai cried in a panic.
"The Yuans will try to take some of Wu territory."
"Filthy pig," Lu Meng growled.
"So do we attack him?" Taishi Ci asked, looking worried.
"No," Zhou Yu said abruptly, before directing his advice to Sun Jian, "I believe we should do one thing at a time. Our biggest threat right now is Dong Zhuo. Yuan Shao is also more concerned with Dong Zhuo. Let's not break our 'alliance' with him. Let him comfortably think we have no idea what he's up to."
Sun Jian nodded, "And after Dong Zhuo is dealt with, we will tear the Yuans apart if they ever set foot on Wu soil."
Sun Ce stood, shocking everyone. Ce was not one to talk with anything of value, but this time he stood tall, his hand inside his robes.
"Yuan Shao probably isn't just looking at us. Look," Sun Ce placed the seal on the table, revealing its golden glory.
"Holy mother of the mountains!" Huang Gai gasped, his bearded jaw dropping. "That's the imperial seal."
"Where did you find it?" Lu Meng asked, staring incredulously at the seal.
"In Yuan Shao's office."
"Do you know what this means?" Cheng Pu turned to his lord. "Whoever holds the seal is destined to rule the land."
Sun Jian, however, was not amused with the concept, "It is all just superstition. You can't possibly think the fate of the land lies in a golden seal used to send dockets on how many cows are owed to the paymaster."
Zhou Yu spoke, "Permission to speak, my lord."
Sun Jian silently nodded his head.
"Most of the warlords and people believe in the tale. It could be advantageous."
Sun Jian stroked his goatee, "You're right, as usual. I am impressed that you found this Sun Ce."
"Aw shucks," Sun Ce smiled and shifted his feet, casually waving his had. "You're making me blush."
"Well, that took ten minutes," Zhou Yu sighed, disappointed that Sun Ce's serious streak was over.
Sun Jian slapped the table, "Now onto Hu Lao Gate."
The meeting was long. Zhou Yu drew up plans for each of the units, emphasizing the surprise attack unit that would take care of the ballistas and open the gate. The air made it seem like this was the final battle. It probably was, hopefully. Anything to make the confidence of the warriors of Jiang Dong rise.
Plans and preparation filled the next week. Sun Jian was gathering most of his forces that would make the march to Hu Lao and have them practice and drill. Formations and plans were given to generals to study. Surprisingly, Sun Ce was studying his formations hard.
The night before they were set to march, Sun Ce sat in Zhou Yu's rooms, inspecting his maps and asking questions, while the strategist stood behind a screen and stripped and pulling on a cloth around his waist. He wanted to take a bath tonight, but he was more than willing to answer any questions Sun Ce had.
"I am a part of the secondary force right."
"Yes," Zhou Yu answered behind the screen. "Once the doors open you and Taishi Ci will follow to first unit and take out the defenses inside. Sun Jian and I will remain outside the gate to deal with Hua Xiong's forces."
"Hmmm," Sun Ce grumbled and stood not tearing his eyes from the notes in his hand. He wasn't listening as Zhou Yu expanded upon the plan, instead he walked out of the man's room, not noticing a figure enter right past him.
Zhou Yu, not realizing that Sun Ce left continued on with the discussion, "Dong Zhuo's escape route will be blocked off so he cannot escape, so this battle will probably be his end-"
Zhou Yu appeared out of the screen in nothing but a cloth wrapped around his waist and was a little shocked that Sun Ce wasn't there. Instead, in a thin silk robe, was Xiao Qiao.
"W-wait, wasn't Sun Ce here a moment ago?"
Xiao Qiao shrugged, "I hadn't seen him."
Zhou Yu looked confused and turned his bewildered gaze to the door, but he noticed Xiao Qiao moving. She reached to her waist and undid the belt of her robe, letting it fall. She was completely nude underneath.
Zhou Yu blinked and his eyes widened, speechless. He couldn't work his tongue to make a retort it was so unexpected. The young woman strode over to him and he swallowed, unable to move, even as she pressed the length of her body against his.
Zhou Yu never knew that Xiao Qiao could be so straightforward…wait, yeah, she was straightforward enough to pull this stunt. Still pressed against him, her tiny hand reached over and gently pulled Zhou Yu's waistcloth away, tossing it on the ground. Zhou Yu looked down on her, his face stern, his breath on her face and she tilted her head up, kissing him full on the lips…
Sun Ce, with a broad grin on his face, entered his bedroom. Da Qiao lay quietly on the bed, smiling as he came in. Sun Ce stripped off his robe and settled right next to her.
"Man, the last thing I want is to think of that bloody battle," he smiled and kissed Da's lips.
"I still don't know why you wont let me go along with you."
Sun Ce rolled his eyes and flopped himself back on the bed, "Not this discussion again."
"You're adamant, aren't you," Da Qiao responded, disappointed.
Sun Ce nodded, "Maybe some other time, but not this battle."
"Hrm," Da smiled, "I wonder if Xiao is fairing better in persuading Zhou Yu."
Sun Ce's eyes widened, "You're pimping your sister so you can go to battle?"
"I do feel guilty," Da said with an edge of sarcasm. "I am honestly surprised how someone so small can handle Zhou Yu's supposed massive size."
"Okay," Sun Ce said sitting up wanting to stop the conversation right there. "By the way, he was not happy being hit in the groin."
"It was just a warning shot," Da said shrugging and smirking, chewing on her lip.
"Yeah, well, he returned the favor. So there's gonna be no kids and no nephews and nieces."
Da reached over and tugged on Ce's goatee, turning his face towards her and gently kissed him.
The next morning, Sun Ce and Da Qiao stood in the main foyer. She and her sister were helping him get the rest of him armor on.
"Hey thanks, girls," he graciously said when they finished. He tied his cape around his neck. With a satisfied sigh, he patted his wife on the head, "Don't worry gals. We'll be back before you know it. Although I am assuming that you, Xiao, were unable to convince Zhou Yu about letting you two join us."
The young girl's eyes widened and she smacked her forehead, "Shoot, I forgot all about that. It's just that he was in nothing but a towel and-"
"And you can stop right there," Sun Ce interjected her, cringing.
Zhou Yu approached the group in his warrior garb. He stopped right behind his wife and asked, "Sun Ce are you ready?"
Xiao Qiao's face flushed considerably and she giggled, "Lord Zhou Yu, calm down, it's pressing against my back."
Zhou Yu's brow furrowed in bewilderment before holding up his staff, "Sorry…my staff must've pressed into your back."
Sun Ce smirked and chuckled, "I so saw that going somewhere else…"
Zhou Yu ignored the both of them and headed out of the foyer, waving Sun Ce along, "Come on, Sun Ce. Your father doesn't like to be kept waiting."
Ce nodded, but murmured, "Ahh, such a romantic person."
"See you gals later."
As Sun Ce caught up to Zhou Yu, the latter pulled out a thick scroll from the pouch at his waist.
"Sun Tzu's Art of War…have you read it?" Zhou Yu asked weighing the scroll in his hand.
"Uh, no, I can't say that I have."
Zhou Yu, frustrated, slapped the scroll into Sun Ce's face, causing the man to fall back, "He's your ancestor, you motherfu-."
Zhou Yu didn't finish his sentence as he just walked away.
Sun Jian's army made it to an encampment outside Hu Lao Gate and prepared to join the Coalition forces of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao. They received news that Liu Bei's forces were being used to block Dong Zhuo's escape routes. Otherwise, Sun Jian had free reign to plan. Yet, as suggested by Zhou Yu, he did not mention to the warlords about the surprise attack planned once nightfall was reached.
About midday on the second day, Cao Cao led the first battalion to attack the gate head on. Sun Jian soon followed.
Zhou Yu was never far from Sun Jian's side battling the first defense force that Dong Zhuo sent out. Hard fighting lasted most of the day and well into nightfall. Cao Cao, who pulled his forces back for the night, was surprised to see the tigers of Wu fight into the night.
Sun Ce, after watching what Zhou Yu could do in the dark, utilized the same techniques hiding in the shadows and striking at distracted enemy soldiers. He snuck up to the wooden barricades and pulled the archers down and either outright killed them or knocked them out. And yet, despite all this espionage, the ballistas stationed at Hu Lao Gate prevented them from getting too close to the fortifications.
Sun Ce yelled as he slashed through an enemy, "Dammit! What the hell is Gan Ning doing?"
Behind Hu Lao gate, the calm river that flowed next to the rear entry, became disturbed. The guards patrolling were stunned as they saw the shadow of a spiky haired soldier slowly rise out of the river with a greedy smirk on his face. Several more soldiers followed suit and ascended to shore, easily finishing the guards that charged after them.
Dawn arrived and Cao Cao returned with his forces, impressed that Sun Jian and his soldiers fought throughout the night. Cao Cao's forces charged the gate, but were set back by the ballistas.
Lu Meng roared as he pushed some soldiers back, "Where is that sarcastic bastard, Ling Tong, when you need him?"
Glancing back behind him, he noticed a soldier charging after him. Shit. Suddenly, a small figure rushed in between Lu Meng and the soldier.
"Lu Xun what are you doing?"
The boy drew his sword and licked his lips, trying muster his courage. The soldier thrust his spear at Lu Xun and the boy jumped out of the way, grabbing the spear and wrenching it out of the soldier's grasp. One, two, three, swift strikes across the soldiers' torso killed the soldier.
Lu Meng, partially amazed, pushed the soldiers deadlocked against him back and rushed to the boy. Lu Xun stood still, stunned at what he did, and seeing the blood. It was obvious this was Lu Xun's first kill. He grabbed the weeping boy by the soldiers.
"I-I saw him go after you and I-I-just…" Lu Xun couldn't finish as he broke down in tears. Lu Meng patted the boy's head, "You did great, boy. You did great, but we need you to get a grip on yourself."
Lu Xun nodded wiping the tears from his face. Lu Meng put his arm around Lu Xun, "Why don't you head back to camp. Who taught you those moves anyway?"
"Taishi Ci!" Sun Ce hollered over the screaming and yelling of the warriors.
"Yeah!" Taishi Ci responded while hitting a soldier with his rods.
"How many is that for you?"
"40," Taishi answered before slamming his rod into the ground knocking a group of soldiers off their feet. "Make that 46. You?"
"I lost count after 60," Sun Ce responded. The two fighters were interrupted when they heard a loud roar. They both glanced over and found a unit of enemy soldiers fleeing for their lives. Chasing after them was Huang Gai, holding…what looked to be humongous iron grapple claw.
"Isn't-Is that-Isn't that an anchor?" Sun Ce asked, his jaw slack.
"Yep. Yep I believe it is," Taishi Ci answered.
The ballista firing faded and that was the cue that Zhou Yu's plan worked. Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were amazed at how the ballistas were dismantled. Subsequently, the doors to Hu Lao Gate opened and Sun Ce and Taishi Ci followed one Cao Cao's units in. Hua Xiong, however, rushed out of the gate, ready to thrash anymore who entered the gate.
Zhou Yu knocked a man in the solar plexus causing to poor man to hit the ground twitching and writhing in agony. He crushed another man's windpipe and just for a fleeting moment he thought Sun Ce was correct in establishing that he maybe a little too brutal. Well, it was only for a moment.
Nearby, he heard Sun Jian's powerful voice yell at his soldiers, "Come on men! Press onward! Let's fi-"
He was cut off and Zhou Yu glanced up. To his horror, an arrow was sticking out of his lord's chest. Sun Jian toppled off his horse and onto the ground. Immediately, Zhou Yu rushed to Sun Jian's side.
"My lord!" he called. Sun Jian got back onto his knees holding his wound and his sword was still in his hand.
"Go on!" Sun Jian ordered, waving him away. "I'm fine! Just go on."
It was against Zhou Yu's better sense, but he did as he was told and continued to fight. This time, he set his sights on Hua Xiong.
Zhou Yu wove around the groups of battling soldiers keeping his predatory gaze on Hua Xiong. The warrior obviously had this feeling that he was being watched. Yet, Zhou Yu prowled amongst the soldiers using them like foliage for a predator. With a roar, Zhou Yu charged at Hua Xiong and tackled him to ground. This man's soldiers wounded his lord and now he will pay. Zhou Yu wrapped his hands around Hua Xiong's thick neck and began crushing the man's windpipe. Hua Xiong began writhing and gasping until Zhou Yu decided to put him out of his misery and broke his neck.
The battle wore on and eventually, one of Cao Cao's soldiers beheaded Dong Zhuo, ending the tyrant's reign of terror. Sun Ce yelled in victory upon seeing the warrior hold up the fat, bloody head. He gathered Taishi Ci and his other Wu brethren and they stormed back to where the other troops were gathered. Instead of cheering he was met with grim faces. Sun Ce pushed himself through the crowd of soldiers and officers to see them gathering around a fallen warrior. Zhou Yu was leaning over Sun Jian, holding the man's head up.
"Dad?" Sun Ce called, not believing what he was seeing. "Dad!"
He rushed to his father and flung himself on his knees. Zhou Yu immediately moved away. Sun Jian was struggling to keep his eyes open.
"Sun Ce…" he managed.
"Dad…" Sun Ce was praying to whatever gods to let his father live; yet it didn't look like they would answer him.
"It…was…a good battle, right?" Sun Jian breathed.
Sun Ce laughed through his tears, "Yes. Yes it was."
He held onto his father's hand tightly and didn't let go.
"Good…" Sun Jian grinned and let his eyes roll in the back of his head. He died then, with a satisfied smirk on his face.
"Daddy?" a small voice called. Sun Shang Xiang called her father desperately, "Daddy…?"
Sun Ce shook his head in sadness and Sun Shang Xiang snapped and she broke into a run, desperate to get to her father.
"Daddy, no!"
Zhou Yu caught her and wrapped his arms around her, preventing her from doing anything irrational, "He's gone my lady."
She wasn't listening. The young lady started screaming for her daddy, "No Daddy you can't die! Daddy!"
She began fighting Zhou Yu's hold, desperate to go to her father, "Daddy!"
Sun Shang Xiang broke down into tears, sobbing into Zhou Yu's chest.
Sun Ce found his sister's cries unbearable. It was so heartbreaking to hear a daughter cry for her father, and realization sunk deeper. Sun Ce covered his eyes and sobbed, yet his heart felt a strange swell of relief. Sun Jian died doing what he loved to do.
The march back to Jiang Dong was solemn and heart wrenching. Sun Ce, though, remained strong, even if it was odd that he was leading the march. Zhou Yu couldn't get the entire event out of his head. He was right there, he could've pulled Sun Jian out of the way. Even if he was hit, he should've stayed there and tried to heal him before the damage was done. My god, was it his fault Sun Jian was dead? Was he just a corpse of misfortune? That was what he was, indeed. That was what that blind prophet said... Zhou Yu tried to shake the thoughts out of his head. It wasn't fair to Sun Ce, Sun Quan, and Sun Shang Xiang. It wasn't as if Sun Jian was his father.
Zhou Yu inhaled sharply, trying to keep tears from welling in his eyes. Who was he kidding? Sun Jian was his father. He was just like Muallim Uzair. He treated him like family, despite how he was used. Sun Jian treated everyone like family.
Jiang Dong cheered as they marched through the streets. The warriors tried their best to put on a brave face. Let Jiang Dong mourn another day. They entered the courtyard of the palace and were greeted by an excited Sun Quan. Sun Ce dismounted his horse.
"Ce!" the middle sibling greeted. "We heard that Dong Zhuo's gone for good."
Quan looked around trying to find the missing face, "Where's Dad?"
Ce blinked, his face pulled into a depressed expression. Quan's smile slowly faded, "Where's Dad, Ce?"
Sun Ce couldn't bear giving the answer outright, but his face showed the answer. Sun Quan grasped the collar of Sun Ce's cape.
"Ce, where's Dad?"
Sun Ce shook his head.
"No," Quan shook his head in shocked disbelief, "no, no, no. NO!"
Sun Ce embraced his brother tightly, whispering reassurances, "He died happy, Quan. He died happy, know that."
Sun Quan wasn't really listening. His body was wracked with sobs as he held tightly to his brother.
"His guards…what were his guards doing?" Quan said in anger, distraught beyond belief.
"Zhou Yu and Zhou Tai did the best they could…" Sun Ce whispered.
"Zhou Yu…" that was the first man that entered Quan's brain. Through his sobs, Quan pointed an accusatory finger Zhou Yu, "What were you doing? Why didn't you save him?"
Zhou Yu's jaw tightened and his eyes lowered to the ground in unbelievable shame, a tear finally falling across his cheek.
Sun Ce pulled Quan back before he could charge at the strategist. He slapped Quan across the face, "Get a hold of yourself! It wasn't his fault. It wasn't anyone's fault."
Sun Quan backed away and helplessly plopped himself onto the steps, his face in his hands
"What now?"
"We start where he left off," Sun Ce replied, regaining the determination in his voice.
Sun Jian's funeral was a large event and Jiang Dong mourned their fallen father. Yet, after they had time to let it all sink in, they came to accept it as fact and that the flow of the universe would eventually rebuild what was lost.
Sun Ce ran his fingers along the golden armrest of the empty throne, "Hard to believe a year ago I thought this position was so out of reach."
He turned back to Taishi Ci who stood dutifully behind him, his arms clasped behind his back, "I am now the leader of Jiang Dong. It's all so strange to me. Do you think I can handle the responsibility?"
Taishi Ci smirked, "Do you want an honest answer, my lord?"
"It was rhetorical question," Sun Ce chuckled before staring up at the throne in admiration.
"Are you going to the festival, my lord?"
Sun Ce spun around and plastered on his carefree grin, "Of course. Does a gay bear have anonymous sex in the woods?"
Taishi Ci opened his mouth but Sun Ce stopped him,"-also a rhetorical question, Taishi Ci."
Outside, he could hear cracking and popping. The fireworks were going off, even though it was midday.
"I gotta go Taishi Ci. Enjoy the festival," the young man childishly raced out of the palace and out of the gates. There, on a wooden bridge that arched over a stream was Zhou Yu, Xiao Qiao, and Da Qiao. They had been waiting for him. Da waved her hand.
Sun Ce smiled, taking in the clear day. Despite all that has happened, he had a gut feeling that everything was going to be okay. He rushed to Zhou Yu's side.
"Wow, Zhou Yu I don't think I have ever seen you have fun."
Zhou Yu rolled his eyes, "It's a festival…"
Sun Ce smirked and draped an arm around Zhou Yu, "We've come a long way. I mean look at us now. We are brother-in-laws."
"And I always forget about that, for some reason," Zhou Yu replied without emotion, but had sound of sarcasm. And yet he grinned at Xiao Qiao.
"Yeah, now you and you gals are stuck with us," Sun Ce said winking at Da before turning back to his-I guess you would call-friend. "Come on, we can shoot the breeze. And I found out from the Human Resources office that our spiteful bickering is healthy. It can be like our version of having sex with each other."
Zhou Yu's nose wrinkled and he shoved Sun Ce over the railing of the bridge and he fell into the shallow water.
"Hey! It was a joke!" Sun Ce called, sputtering, his robes and hair now wet. But he looked up and found the Qiao sisters and Zhou Yu running away from him towards the festival, laughing.
"Hey! Wait!" Sun Ce stumbled to his feet and gleefully chased after them.
A/N: And there we have it ladies and gentlemen. The official end. It was sad, I know, but it had to be done. Thanks to all of you who have supported this story. I really wanted to get this finished before the next installment of Dynasty Warriors. Consequently, I have a sequel. It won't be so much of a Sun Ce and Zhou Yu friendship story. I felt like I left too many relationships out in the open. Plus, I have submitted to the pairing community and sort of made it a Xiao Qiao and Zhou Yu story. It is called A Turbulent Addiction. Again, thank you all!
-your beloved sinister kitty kat