((SXH: Hello, my wonderful readers. I am happy to say that this summer will probably be the last summer that I work on this story. Five years I've been working on this. I am making it my goal to end it this summer. That's right. I'm sorry, but it does have an ending. I love you all and hope you will see it to the end. I kind of lied when I said that the last chapter was the most intense chapter I've made. There will be more chapters that are more intense in the future. I still cannot express how much I appreciate Starchaser03 and SandDun for making fanart for this story. It makes me happier than you could imagine. Anyway, here is the next chapter. I hope you all enjoy!))

Disclaimer: I do not own Dynasty Warriors or its characters. I only own this storyline, the twins, Grandmother, Grandfather and Little Ying and the story of Rosarium.

Warning: A lot of cussing and Diao bashing!

/

To Hell and Back Again

Chapter 45: Arrest of the Murderer

/

Zhou Yu watched in horror as the man collapsed before him. He there is hesitation out the window and ran to the door. Yu threw the door open so fast he heard the hinges creak and the wood groan loudly in protest. He did not care, though. He cared only for the life of the man that now laid on his bedroom floor, poison spreading through his vein with each passing second. In Yu's hurry to get out of the door, he tripped and fell into the opposite wall. He caught the eyes of a couple of maids in his rush. He gazed at them with pleading eyes.

"Help! Get the medical staff, get Lord Zhang Liao! Hurry!" Zhou Yu pleaded. The maids' looks of confusion and concern quickly turned to fear. They turned on heel and ran in separate directions, hoping to look for the officer in question.

Zhou Yu strode back inside his room, ignoring his aching shoulder. He quickly went over to the fallen messenger and fell to his knees. He hurriedly leaned down to check the other's heartbeat and breathing. The poor man's heart was beating quicker and quicker. Yu moved his ear close to the messenger's mouth. He waited almost a full minute before he felt a soft wind of breath tickle the hair around his ear. The strategist began to panic. He had never faced such a fast acting poison before. He didn't know what to do or where to start. Zhou Yu felt helpless. He could not do anything to save the man. He hated this feeling. Even when he briefly served under Dong Zhuo, he still felt more in control. This was agonizing, frustrating, and painful. Tears began to fill his vision.

Just as he let the first sob slip past his lips, Liao ran through the door. He took one look over the scene and was over to Zhou Yu instantly. Having not realized his friend's presence until now, Yu jumped when he felt hands on his shoulders and a blurry figure in front of his eyes.

Zhou Yu! Zhou Yu, are you well? Did you drink the wine at all?" Liao questioned hastily, hoping that he wouldn't have to take two people to the hospital wing.

"N-no. L-Liao, I-I did not k-kn-know! I s-s-swear!" Yu choked out through his tears. Liao was stuck with the urge to embrace Yu and comfort him like he always did, like he did when Yu had nightmares. But, he didn't have the time.

"Zhou Yu, I am going to take him to the hospital wing," Liao spoke slowly. "I want you to lock the room and meet me there, once you have calmed down." Zhou Yu could do nothing but nod in agreement. Knowing he wouldn't get a better response, Liao left Yu to calm down. He picked up the fallen messenger in haste and hurried out the door.

The strategist was left o the floor, breathing very quickly, almost hyperventilating. His vision tunneled and panicked thoughts ran throughout his mind. Zhou Yu closed his eyes and tried to get control over his breathing. It took longer than expected but he filled his mind with other thoughts, happier and distracting thoughts. His breathing slowed and he opened his eyes. His vision was clear but his head ached. He looked at the servant's note and the bottle before standing. He picked up the note and shoved it in his pocket. He would need this later. His mind began to process what had just happened but it was slow.

As he staggered out of the room with his keys, he said to himself, "This is not good for my health, physical or mental."

/

It took very little time to walk to the hospital wing, even if it felt like hours for Yu. With each step, his body felt heavier. He was tired. He had one long day and this incident was that last insult to injury. His jaw ached from earlier, protesting with the same throb as his head. Now, as he walked through the halls, he could feel the servants' eyes on him, hear them whispering after he passed. Word has more has likely passed around even to Lord Lu Bu's ears now. He dreaded the thought

As soon as he stepped into the hospital wing, he saw the hustle and bustle over one of the beds. One of the medics caught signs of him and strode over. Yu guessed that he must have looked quite pale or ill because the healer began to look him over for any other signs of illness. Probably for any symptoms that poor man has. He thought offhandedly.

Once the healer was done fussing over him, he demanded Yu stay overnight in case any illness should arise from stress. Then the medic handed him a cup of tea to calm his nerves but he couldn't bring himself to drink it. What if he had drank the wine one night? What if he had become so frustrated that he drank the wine to calm himself? What if he decided to drown himself in his sorrowful state? I would be here. I would be dying just like him. I should have known better. I could have prevented this id I had just paid more attention!

The strategist jolted a bit when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He knew who it was but he didn't – couldn't – look the man in the eye. Liao sat next to him on the bed and drew Zhou Yu into a hug that he could not refuse.

"They say the messenger is in critical condition," Liao began. Zhou Yu scoffed.

"They do not have to say anything! One look at the man should give you an idea of what is happening," Zhou Yu snapped. Liao said nothing for a bit, sensing Yu's growing anger and frustration. "He is dying," Yu said, voice tinged heavily with sadness.

"Lord Zhou Yu, you should not say such things. We do not know that…" Zhang Liao tried to explain.

"I do. The medical staff does too. They just do not want to admit it," Yu spat with as much sadness as there was venom. "They know he will not survive and yet they cling to the idea that they can save him. They cling to false hope." The bitterness in Yu's voice made Liao pause.

"Yu, where did this come from? What happened to your over optimistic self?" You are normally the one telling me to have hope. Now you are saying there is none? Why?

"It is simple. The report said that they found traces of wine in Gou Si's stomach. That means he died before the wine could even be digested. Even if the murderer had evaded any conflict or struggle, Gou Si was dead within minutes," Zhou Yu relayed. "That messenger is dying because of me and my ignorance."

"Zhou Yu, it is not your fault. You did not know the wine was poisoned," Liao spoke.

At this, Zhou Yu shoved the officer away. "I should have known! I should have thought about it before I gave it to him. It was so obvious! What are the chances that the day I search for a bottle of poisoned wine I am gifted one by some admirers? I should have figured it out sooner, especially since we never found that bottle." Liao's brow knit in curiosity.

"Admirers? Your admirers gave you that wine?" Liao asked.

"Not exactly. Some of the servants gave it to me to thank me," Yu informed, staring at his feet. "Left a note and everything…"

"A note?" Liao questioned. Zhou Yu heaved a heavy sigh.

"Is there an echo in here? Yes, Liao. A note. I have got it right here in my pocket if you want to read it," Yu replied, exasperated and exhausted. Liao nodded quickly and waited as Yu sat down his cup on the nightstand and reached into his pocket. Confusion filled Yu's features when he pulled his hand out and looked. Liao stared in shock at the ashen remains of the paper. "I… I do not understand. This should not be here. I placed the paper in this pocket! Why are there ashes in its place?"

Liao was confused as well. He knew that Zhou Yu was shaken by the experience he just witness not an hour ago, but he should not be so worse off that he would make such a mistake. "I do not know what happened nor can I understand how but I know one thing, Zhou Yu."

Yu met his eyes with his own fearful ones. "Without the note, you could be tried for murder. If they connect the poison to that bottle as well, you would be the prime suspect for both murders, my friend."

Before Zhou Yu could even think about this news, Lord Lu Bu strode into the room. It was quite easy to tell he had because the medical staff had stopped for a brief few seconds to greet their lord. Both the officers turned to look at the large warrior, who was apparently accompanied by Lady Diao. Diao tried to rush over to the messenger but was stopped by the medical staff. They told her that she should not see the messenger, in case whatever ailed him was contagious. Zhou Yu was grateful for their distrust in the woman; it reminded him that he was not alone. It reminded him that he was not paranoid when it came to her. Lu Bu noticed them and immediately strode over.

"What happened?" Lu Bu demanded, not angrily but more… professionally. It did not go unnoticed by anyone in the room. Zhou Yu's eyes downcast to his feet once more. He just couldn't help but feel shame. And he knew that whatever he said was not going to aid him in any way. Zhang Liao noticed the change in behavior and also gained a sorrowful look. He slowly explained the events that had transpired.

Lu Bu's face displayed his concern as the story progressed. At some point, Yu had handed over the keys to his room, telling Lu Bu that nothing had been disturbed since the incident, except one thing. The note… Diao had taken this moment to pipe in.

"How do we know you did not write the note yourself?" She quieried. Zhou Yu's gaze shifted to the messenger for a brief second before snapping to Liao instead. Yu said nothing, at least for a few moment. Diao scowled and continued, "I suppose that answers that."

"I suppose a dog should keep their nose out of where it does ot belong bit I guess a bitch just cannot help herself," Yu shot back. The group gazed at Yu in shock, Lu Bu more than anyone. Diao's expression quickly turned to pure rage.

"You insolent little –!" Diao raised her hand to slap Yu across the face but Lu Bu sprung to action. He wound his arm around her waist and pulled her back just as she swung. Zhou Yu didn't even bat an eye as he felt the wind of her hand brush across his face. Liao leaned in and whispered fiercely into Yu's ear.

"Yu, are you out of your mind?! Lord Lu Bu will kill you!" Zhou Yu ignored the warning, knowing full well that the others heard it.

"Then let him. With or without the note, I am a dead man anyway. Besides," Yu began, looking into Diao's eyes as she struggled against Lu Bu's grasp. "She has not had a single part in this case since it began, and I will be damned if she steps in now. I may have had some sort of respect for you at one point, Lady Diao Chan, but you have long since lost that. I have been waiting to tell you just exactly what you are since the incident at Chi Bi. Now that I have, I can die in peace, especially since I know the truth. And the best part about knowing the truth is that one of these days it will get out, and everyone else will know it. I can say with all honesty that since I know it, I can revel in the fact that you cannot keep a secret very well, Diao Chan."

"Zhou Yu turned to Lu Bu, who gave him a strange look. "If you do not mind, my Lord, I will now escort myself to my new room in the dungeons. Or perhaps you would prefer Liao to get your halberds?"

"Yu… Are you really willing to die without telling Lu Bu the whole story?" Liao wondered.

"You and I both know I cannot, Liao. Until I am sure my information does not land in the wrong hands, I will not speak a word of it," Zhou Yu answered. "My Lord… I await your orders." Lu Bu was hesitant. He knew that determined look when he saw it. Yu would not back down. He was slightly angered by the fact that Yu dared to speak to Diao in such a way and call her a bitch so openly. However, he was more in shock at the strategist's ultimatum. Yu was ready to die. Why? Did he believe that just because he insulted Diao Lu Bu was going to kill him? In a different time he was sure that would be the case, but now he would not dream of it.

"Since there is no evidence yet to the murders being connected, I will hold you in the dungeons for the time being. Zhou Yu, if you give me whatever information you are withholding, it could only help you. Diao will not speak a word to a soul," Lu Bu tried. Yu answered without hesitation.

"If I speak now, I am afraid that it could only hurt me. I entrust my keys to you or Liao, no one else. Not even Diao Chan," Yu insisted. Diao had stopped struggling at this point.

"What have I done to warrant such mistrust?" the dancer demanded.

Yu looked at her and said frankly, "I am not sure. However, if I needed to know something, I would first check the gossip wine. The ones around here ring more truth when asked by the right people. Now if you do not mind, I have better things to be doing than wasting my time here. Good day, milord." With this Liao cuffed Yu in chains and walked him to the dungeon he was staying in. Thankfully, Yu was in a separate one from the other prisoners. He was in a single room with only one cell. Inside had a cot and two buckets. Liao released his friend into the cage and took one of the buckets.

"I shall go fill this with water. A servant will come to bring new water every day," Liao informed sadly.

"I do not trust the servants at the moment. I will not trust anything they give me for a long while," Yu replied, looking out the one barred window there was.

"Then I will do it myself or have Ying come by. Same with meals," Liao conceded. "If you need an extra pillow or blanket, tell me now." Yu looked at the cot and sighed. It looked very uncomfortable, but he survived with worse. Dong Zhuo had actually forced himto sleep at his feet like some common dog.

"A couple would do no harm, I suppose," Yu agreed. Liao was about to leave when he stopped in the doorway.

"Why? Why did you risk your life like that?" Liao begged. One look at the smaller man's face and he got his answer. "You knew he would not hurt you. How?"

"Believe it or not but Lord Lu Bu does have a sense of curiosity," Yu answered but he knew that wouldn't placate his friend. "He would not have agreed to search Diao's room if he truly believed her innocence." Zhou Yu smiled and sat on the bench and looked out the window. He could only imagine the look on Diao's face now, knowing her husband had not defended her honor. He knew that feeling of betrayal and would proudly say Diao deserved it.

/

SXH: Cut!

Zhou Yu: Thank the gods. Liao, could you get me an aspirin or two?

Liao: Sure thing. *leaves*

SXH: I think I might make myself some tea. Hey Lu Bu, wanna run to the store with me?

Lu Bu: Why not…

SXH: Oh, Yu, watch over the next scripts will you? Lu Bu and I will be back in an hour or two, k? *sets scripts on table off set and walks out*

Zhou Yu: Sure thing… While I'm at it, I'm going to have a nice cup of coffee. *tries to open fake cell doors*…. *tries again*…

Diao: *comes in with coffee and cake* Zhou Yu? What the hell are you doing in there?

Zhou Yu: The cell door is supposed to be fake, right?

Diao: That's what we ordered. Why? Is it jammed? *Sits down and sips coffee*

Zhou Yu: I don't think this is a fake door….. *pulls on door*

Mr. Cell Door: *loud metallic sounds*

Diao:… *looks on table with the scripts and a pen*

Zhou Yu: *looks at the scripts then to Diao* You wouldn't dare.

Diao: *grins and uncaps pen*

(Meanwhile In the department store…)

SXH: Shit…

Lu Bu: what is it?

SXH: I forgot that we were out of aspirin. Liao's probably going to be looking for it for a while before he realizes that…

Lu Bu: Well, it's a good think we're here. The line may be long, but we've got time.

SXH: Yeah… But I can't shake the feeling that I forgot something…

*The Forgotten Something: Thank you all so much for reading this chapter, hope you all liked it. Feel free to tell me what you think is going to happen next, I can't wait to see what all of you come up with. Tell me what you thought in a review or a PM. I am almost constantly checking my stats online. See you all next time!*

Bye~!