Beginning Of The End

Chapter 38

Tiānshǐ had spent the night with her sister and woke up wrapped in her arms. After sighing happily and sitting up slowly, Tiānshǐ decided to make breakfast.

As the smell of food drifted through the house, Xishi awoke slowly and rubbed her eyes tenderly. " T...Tiānshǐ? "

Xishi stood up and slowly walked into the kitchen. As she sat at the table sleepily, Tiānshǐ put a plate of hot eggs in front of her and kissed her forehead gently. " Good morning Shi. "

Xishi smiled. " Good morning little sister. Sleep well? "

Tiānshǐ smiled as she put her arms around her sister. " Better than i have in years. Being in your arms while i slept reminded me of all the times i slept with you when i was scared or had a bad dream. Reminded me of all the best memories from our childhood. "

Xishi smiled as she ate her breakfast. Once she was finished, Xishi decided that she wanted to do some training. Tiānshǐ asked to join her after getting her armor and weapons. Xishi agreed happily and Tiānshǐ ran off to get her equipment.

After deciding that she needed a weapon, Xishi walked towards the armory. As she walked in, her eyes glistened with wonder at the amount of weapons to choose from. After looking through the weapons carefully, Xishi picked a sword with a flame shaped blade that had purple decorations along the middle of the blade. As she swung it slowly, A slight purple glow followed the movements of the blade. After finding a sheathe and tying it to her belt, Xishi walked out of the armory and towards the training arena.

When she arrived, she saw a warrior in jet black armor fighting Shang Xiang. As she watched, the warrior in black moved like a ghost. The speed and grace of the movements was breathtaking. Once the fight ended, Xishi stepped into the arena and drew her new sword. As she waited for someone to fight, she looked around slowly.

The other fighters were all sitting down. They all looked exhausted. As Xishi motioned to sheathe her sword sadly, The warrior in black drew her swords and entered the arena.

Xishi smiled as she spoke. " Don't go easy on me just because I'm a girl! I want your best! "

Shang Xiang watched cautiously as Xishi spoke and thought to herself quietly. " Wait till she finds out thats Tiānshǐ. She is gonna flip! "

Xishi charged forward quickly and moved to strike but Tiānshǐ dodged with a roll and fired an arrow with her bow. Xishi dodged the arrow and again motioned to strike. This time, Tiānshǐ drew her daggers and blocked the strike as she dropped to her knees.

Xishi looked disappointed as she spoke. " I said to give me your best...is this really it? "

Tiānshǐ giggled." I'm just getting warmed up. Get ready! "

Tiānshǐ moved her daggers and fell backwards into a roll, pulling Xishi over and tossing her to the ground.

Tiānshǐ sheathed her daggers and picked up her twin katana that she dropped when she fired her bow. As she entered her fighting stance, Xishi stood up. After looking carefully at Tiānshǐ, Xishi noticed that the armor was a lot like her sisters. After shaking her head slightly, Xishi charged. As she once again motioned to strike, Tiānshǐ broke into musou.

Xishi barely managed to dodge before breaking into her own musou to collide with Tiānshǐ. After several minutes, Tiānshǐ rolled backwards and spun in a circle, making a cloud of dust rise into the air. Xishi rolled forward into the dust cloud to strike again but Tiānshǐ had vanished.

Xishi looked around slowly but had not seen the arrow flying towards her. The arrow hit the hilt of her sword and bounced off. Xishi spun around to find who fired the arrow but no one was there. Another arrow bounced off the hilt of her sword from the opposite direction and once again Xishi turned to find no one there.

Xishi continued to look around carefully and noticed the third arrow flying toward her. As she blocked the arrow, another arrow hit her sword and knocked it out of her hand. As Xishi spun around, Tiānshǐ lunged from her position and pinned her sister to the ground with her katana at her throat.

Xishi was speechless. As she looked up at the helmet, Tiānshǐ giggled again softly. " Not bad for a little sister huh? "

Xishi's jaw dropped slowly. " T...Tiānshǐ? "

Tiānshǐ slowly removed her helmet and smiled before kissing her sisters forehead and helping her up. Xishi hugged Tiānshǐ gently.

" Where did you learn to fight like that?! Its like fighting a ghost..." Xishi smiled as Tiānshǐ spoke.

" I learned here. The lords and generals have all trained me. I have also received training from the lords and generals in Shu. Even Xun taught me some things. I used everything i learned to create my own style. " Tiānshǐ smiled as Xishi complimented her style.

" Its very fearsome. Using distractions and misdirection to play upon your opponents fear...then striking swiftly without mercy. Its amazing to watch you fight. " Xishi smiled.

" She was an excellent student. " Lu Bu was walking towards them. Xishi quickly up her sword and started backing away slowly. " Stay back! "

Tiānshǐ ran to her sister. " No Shi its ok! He wont hurt you. "

Xishi spoke with fear in her voice. " Lu Bu is the most dangerous warrior in all china. What the hell do you mean he wont hurt me?! "

Tiānshǐ smiled as Lu Bu put his arms around her gently. " He is my birth father. "

Xishi's jaw dropped as her sword hit the ground. " Your birth...but.."

Tiānshǐ spoke softly as Lu Bu smiled. " I thought so to. But they were alive. "

Xishi fell to her knees. " That means Diao Chan is.. "

" Her mother. " Diao Chan had arrived and was standing beside Tiānshǐ.

Xishi looked up at Tiānshǐ with tears in her eyes. " So we aren't really sisters?! "

Xishi turned away sadly as a look of pure shock and terror streaked across Tiānshǐ's face. Tiānshǐ quickly put her arms around her sister.

" Of course we are really sisters! How could you think that?! You are and always will be my sister. No matter what happens. Your the one i grew up with. The one that kept me safe when i was hurt and made me feel safe when i was scared. You helped me through all the times i was upset or couldn't express myself. Your my big sister and nothing will ever change that. Ever. " Tiānshǐ held Xishi as she turned around.

" I'm sorry...I just..." Xishi spoke softly as tears streamed down her face.

" I know Shi... But I'm always going to be your sister. No matter what happens. I love you big sister. " Tiānshǐ kissed Xishi's head gently.

" I love you to. And Ive missed you more than you know. " Xishi cried softly as Tiānshǐ held her.

After Xishi had calmed down, Tiānshǐ took her home for some food, a bath and some sleep. As they sat in Tiānshǐ's bath, Xishi admired the waterfall and the beauty of the garden in her sisters home.

" Its so beautiful. I wish i had a home like this. " Xishi moved to sit under the waterfall as she spoke.

" You do have a home like this Shi. I want you to come live with me. This is your home as much as it is mine. You belong here big sister. " Tiānshǐ smiled as Xishi broke into tears again.

" Id love to live here with you! I spent so long letting you think i was dead. But never again. Ill never leave your side again little sister. " Xishi moved over to Tiānshǐ and held her lovingly.

The two sat in the bath for an hour before drying off and going to bed.

Spending precious moments with family thought long dead.

Is this peace a momentary relief before the coming storm?

Or will it shatter and reveal the true nature of the world?

Read on to find out!

There we are! Chapter 38!

I know it takes forever between chapters and i do apologize for that. I'm managing 4 stories atop an original book I'm writing so please be patient with me.

As always i hope you enjoy the coming chapters as we near the end of this journey.

Read and Review ^_^