Chapter 38
"Wow, it's bigger than I remember." Xun commented.
"Really? It looks the same to me." Zuo Ci replied. "But maybe my eyes are just getting old."
Xun laughed, swinging his single piece of luggage easily over his shoulder as the two walked down the long road toward Han High. It was reminiscent of Xun's first day oh so long ago when he then too had missed the bus and been forced to walk. He couldn't help noticing that there were more cars passing them toward the school than usual on the quiet country road.
"So your eyes now match your hair." Xun tossed over his shoulder at Zuo.
"You're the cause of most of my white hair. Who needs kids when I've got to look after you?" Zuo shrugged to himself. "And it just makes me look timeless."
"Yeah right, you look like an old man."
Approaching the school now, Xun noticed a startlingly large number of cars parked in a substitute parking lot in the grass. There were men and women extravagantly dressed flocking to the main doors of Han High and inside. Faint music could be heard over the rustle of the breeze through tall grasses.
"What's going on?" Xun wondered.
"It's your school, you tell me." Zuo looked just a bit too clueless. "But if I had to take an educated guess, I would suspect a Halloween Party."
Xun's eyes narrowed, "You knew, didn't you? That's why you wanted to get back early."
"Only two days, and this was merely a guess. Oh, and it's a masquerade, so you'll be needing this."
Zuo pulled a black mask from his bag. It was shaped to cover the upper half of one's face and had gold feather like patterns across it. Xun took it in his hands, turning it over and his face going blank before looking questioningly back up at Zuo.
"You expect me to walk into a private party wearing this?" Xun was only slightly appalled; nothing Zuo did really surprised him anymore.
"It's a tradition." Zuo stated matter-of-factly. "Imagine what fun you could have if no one were to recognize you at first."
Xun thought for a minute, then something of a smirk touched his lips and he pulled the mask on over his head and let the elastic close about his head. Looping his now long hair into the loop for a small ponytail he was able to further his disguise, but his newfound height would be his best way to hide. He'd grown at least half a foot and couldn't wait to measure up to the others. Surely after that kind of growth spurt he would no longer be the shortest in Wu.
"Are you going to ask a certain 'tomboy' to dance? You're much better suited for the occasion now." Zuo teased slyly.
"You know, if you had a girlfriend you would have something to do other than spy on me." Xun groaned at the teasing.
Xun strolled up to the door, depositing his bag behind a planter when no one was looking before stepping inside. The main hall was lit up with dozens of candles and soft music lofted from a far corner where Xun caught glimpses of a small collection of musicians. It was nothing like The Prefects music, this was soft and slow and couples twirled about the middle of the room in time. Others congregated in small circles that sometimes enveloped each other when discussions continued. Wu was easy to spot; most of them looked bored out of their mind. Only the Qiaos seemed to appreciate the stiflingly formal clothes. Zuo was already deep in conversation so Xun decided to mosey over to see if he could over hear what was going on. He immediately noted that Da was trying to convince Ning to dance with her. Ning looked like he'd rather do anything else in the world, much to Da's displeasure.
"C'mon, don't be a meanie." Xiao came to her sister's aide.
"I'm not dancing. Only girls dance." Ning scoffed.
Xun took this as something of in invitation to intervene. When would he ever have a chance like this to humiliate Ning? Xun took care to hide his voice in a foreign northern accent. What fun would it be if they recognized him anyway? Maybe this whole mask thing wasn't so bad after all.
"Then perhaps might I ask the young lady for a dance?"
All heads in Wu turned. Ning's eyes narrowed menacingly as he eyed Xun up and down. Da saw trouble coming and tried to play peacekeeper.
"I'm sorry, but I must decline." Da apologized politely.
Ning smirked, his arms crossing as he leaned back lazily in his chair.
"Oh, it is I who must apologize." Xun now directed his speech more to Ning. "Seeing such a fair woman as yourself idle seems almost a crime, but if that is how your boyfriend prefers it, I shall not intervene."
The hint of the smirk reflected from Xun just about threw Ning into a rampage. There were some snickers form Tong and Ci and Da blushed faintly.
"At least I didn't show up dateless." Ning retorted.
Xun didn't have a comeback for that. He instead lowered his head in a respectful nod. As his eyes rose from the tile, they met with Sun Shang Xiang's. She was standing far to the back wearing what appeared to be a suit of sorts that was tailored to her dimensions. It looked stunning in a way much different than the Qiaos' lovely dresses.
"And why, miss, do you stand so far to the corner? You do not look unlearned in the art of dancing." Xun complimented.
Ning snorted and a few others couldn't help but laugh aloud. Xun feigned surprise to this reaction.
"Shang Xiang? Dancing? You can't be serious." Ning guffawed.
Shang went from looking pleasantly surprised to furious in the blink of an eye as she smacked Ning over the head.
"She looks a more capable dancer than yourself." Xun replied with a small shrug.
Ning stood, staring Xun eye to eye. Xun found himself to fell more than a little triumphant that he was no longer looked down upon. In his mind crowds were cheering.
"I don't know who the hell you think you are, or why you came over here, but you better get your posh little ass out of here before I get mad." Ning threatened.
"By changing the subject, do you admit to your lack of skill?" Xun inquired.
Xun knew that look in Ning's eyes. He wasn't going to back down from a challenge. Ning held his hand out to Da who took it with an ecstatic smile.
"Hold it! Shangie needs a dress first!" Xiao piped up.
"It wouldn't be fair if he got stuck with her. Two idiots can't hope to dance without hurting each other. You take care of him, Xiao." Ning rolled his eyes.
"Give me 5 minutes." Shang declared before stomping away back toward where Xun guessed the Qiaos already had had a dress waiting in hopes she would wear it. As he expected, the Qiaos ran off after Shang to assist her. Xun took this break for a quick departure. Already, Xun felt eyes on him. In his time away he'd forgotten about how fast news could travel around here.
"Didn't take you long to pick a fight, now did it?" Zhang He asked.
Xun hadn't noticed his classmates approach. Xun could tell Zhang knew it was him and didn't bother hiding it.
"How could you tell it was me?" Xun asked.
"Masks don't hide faces from me. Although I admit your height threw me off at first." Zhang admitted.
"Gah! I give up!"
Jiang Wei came to stand next to Zhang. He was glancing over his shoulder at Zhao Yun and Ma Chao, the latter brushing tears of laughter from his eyes which had obviously had something to do with whatever was tormenting Wei.
"Don't give up on life. Suicide is not the answer, Wei." Zhang reprimanded.
"I'm not the one I want to kill. Next week I'm building a time machine and going back in time to kill the person who created the Spanish language." Wei glared over at Chao again for emphasis.
"Did you ever think of just getting a Spanish-English dictionary?" Xun asked.
"Takes too long to look up words." Wei sighed.
Wei suddenly froze, and then his head shot up comically as he pointed at Xun with his mouth agape.
"You!"
"Shh!"
Xun grabbed Wei's arm and forced it back down to his side and covered his friend's gaping mouth with his hand.
"It won't be a secret it you just announce it." Xun hissed.
"Oh, right, you challenged Ning, huh? This should be good. If you lose I'll have to disown you I hope you know." Wei joked.
Zhang tapped Xun shoulder. Xun looked over to see that the taller boy was pointing over Xun's shoulder. Turning, he wondered for a second if he was still in reality. A beautiful young woman was gliding down the staircase between the two Qiaos. Her long red dress just touched the floor and her short brown hair was pulled from her face by a rose clip. Xun had never seen Shang in a dress before, it almost seemed surreal, like this was a completely different person. Taking his leave of his friends, Xun met her at the bottom of the staircase with a low bow and held out a hand to assist her down the last stair.
"May I have just one dance, fair princess?" Xun lightly kissed her hand.
Shang blushed and Xiao squealed before whispering in Shang's ear. Xun knew he was probably going over the top and that he would never live this down but he was actually enjoying himself. He couldn't recall having done that in a long time. He also figured that as long as he was pretending to be someone else he might as well be a uncharacteristic of himself as possible.
"Yes, you may." Shang smiled warmly at him.
Xun escorted her to the dance floor. Ning and Da arrived just a few minutes later. Xun held Shang close, much like that night long ago before he had departed. As they stepped back and forth, he noticed that Shang was lost in thought.
"Is something the matter?" Xun questioned.
"I don't know. It's just… that last time I danced was with a dear friend." Shang murmured softly.
"And why does that plague you now?"
"I miss him."
"Then do this in memory of him. As something to tell him when he returns."
Twirling Shang Xiang in a circle, she at first looked puzzled before a smile bloomed over her fair features.
"So are we just showing those two up or going for full embarrassment?" Shang inquired.
"Whichever pleases you." Xun grinned.
Never before had Xun ever been able to understand just how like battle dancing was. Sure he had dueled Shang many times before, and this felt like another rematch of sorts. Her arms followed motions as graceful as her deadly sweep with the chakram. Every movement was a fluid as a well practiced fighting routine. Her constant exercise also supported her stamina. There was more than once that she watched him as though expecting him to give in. The steady twirling of the first night was far from the high-spirited confrontation that now raged. The too short song ended with Shang dipped back as Xun stared down into her eyes. She suddenly gasped. Xun pulled her up to her feet as applause erupted from the spectators.
"Yo."
Xun looked over to Ning. He looked angry, and more than a little red in the face. Xun congratulated himself on having beat the 'Great Gan Ning' in a challenge, even if it wasn't the norm. Ning had his arms crossed but Da didn't look the least bit upset as she patted Ning's shoulder lightly.
"You win, but don't let it go to your head." Ning huffed.
The rest of Wu arrived bustling about them. Shang was speechless, watching Xun through the crowd. Ning held out a hand to shake.
"So no hard feelings, right?"
"Wow, can't say I expected you to mature that much." Xun admitted.
Ning's jaw dropped. He looked baffled, looking around at his classmates but they were no less confused by Xun's comment.
"Hm, you still don't recognize me?" Xun tilted his head to the side.
Reaching up, Xun pulled back his mask to let it rest on the top of his head. His beaming face betrayed just how excited he was to be back. Ning's jaw dropped and he pointed dramatically.
"You!"
"Something about this feels like Déjà vu…" Xun pondered to himself.
"Xunnie!"
Xun found himself suddenly swarmed. He was being clapped on the back and so many voices were talking at once that he couldn't tell them apart. He had to wave his hands to finally get some breathing space. Tong was holding up a hand to the top of Xun's head.
"No. Way. Pipsqueak grew!" Tong wailed.
"Hah! I'm not the shortest anymore!" Xun patted Tong's head, bestowing that title of Shortest-in-the-Land upon his friend.
"Jerk." Tong crossed his arms and sulked.
Ning also seemed to be in shock. Da was trying to snap him out of it. Shang was standing just outside the huddle watching him with eyes that struck Xun as being as wide and unblinking as a cat's. Xun separated himself from the others to step up to Shang. He had replaced his mask and gave her a sheepish grin.
"It's good to see you." Xun offered.
Shang's eyes narrowed and Xun saw the punch before it came. He was still warmed up from the dance and his reflexes kicked in, dropped him just below the assailing fist connected to his masked face. She followed with three more in rapid succession.
"Sh-Shang Xiang?" Xun panicked.
He darted through a crowd to duck behind a pillar. She gave pursuit and he was soon scrambling for another safety position.
"Quit running!" Shang ordered.
"Why are you attacking me?"
They were starting something of a commotion. Most of Wu was laughing, watching the game of cat and mouse moving through the otherwise boring party.
"I won't tell you until you let me hit you!"
Xun skidded to a stop. Turning to face Shang, he had to force himself not to move out of the way of the first hit to his cheek. She paused for a moment, calm as a lamb it appeared, before her eyes got teary.
"Why didn't you move out of the way?" She demanded.
"But you said-"
"You're not supposed to listen!"
Shang pounded her fists on his chest out of anger. Her hits didn't have any real strength behind them. Xun caught her hands in his, ducking his head to try to see her downturned face.
"Shang Xiang?"
She sniffled. Suddenly, a second attacker had descended on Xun. His arms were wrenched painfully behind him before he could react. Trying to fall and let gravity assist his escape, his captor twisted one arm over the other sending ribbons of pain shooting up his arm. Xun writhed but he could get no leverage for a counter attack and his opponent didn't seem the least bit affected by his struggling. Many of the guests had stopped to watch now and were whispering amongst themselves. Liu Bei looked ready to come to assist if necessary. Wait, if no one knew who he was or would step up for Xun, then exactly who was-
"Would somebody mind explaining what's going on here?" Sung Jian demanded, his tone practically dripping with anger. "Did I not make myself clear that all fighting was banned? This is not your playhouse."
Xun had let his arms go limp, knowing that any further resistance would only result in his shoulders being popped out of their sockets. Sun Jian's grip didn't loosen at all when he saw Shang's tears, they actually got tighter and Xun knew he was in deep trouble, and began praying that he would have any arm left after this ordeal.
"Shang, what's wrong?" Sun Jian asked in a softer voice.
Xun felt his blood flow in his fingers slowing. Shang rubbed at her eyes with the back of her hand, and her voice was quiet, trying not to let it waiver.
"We weren't fighting, dad."
Xun felt a little pressure leave but the blood flow failed to return to his hands yet.
"Mr. Sun Jian, sir, I can't feel my hands." Xun grimaced.
Sun Jian's hands suddenly released for a moment. Xun found himself being spun around by his shoulders to see Sun Jian face to face. Or mask to mask. Whichever phrase you prefer.
"Is that you, Xun?" A wide grin broke out over Sun Jian's face. "I didn't recognize you. You've grown quite a bit."
Xun smiled nervously. He'd already been witness to the anger of the youngest Sun. He really didn't think he could take much more beating. He cringed when he felt an arm snake over his shoulders and he was turned. When nothing began to hurt, he reopened his eyes to see that Sun Jian had one arm over his shoulders and was waving someone else over with the other.
"Is that him? He looks too big!"
Xun grinned at Huang Gai's comment. Huang Gai shook his hand enthusiastically, leaving Xun's still recovering limb to shake at his side from the vigorous shaking.
"How've you been? We weren't expecting you back for a week or so." Huang Gai ruffled Xun's hair. "You're looking better."
"Yup. Zuo fixed me up." Xun grinned.
"But I'm not a medic on call so try to keep an eye on him."
Zuo had made his appearance. His comment seemed more directed at the father and daughter duo. Shang's eye had just about cleared up and she stared back at Zuo defiantly but Sun Jian had to grace to show some embarrassment.
"I didn't recognize our little Xun all grown up." Sun Jian shrugged.
"He let me hit him." Shang shrugged.
Only a blind man could mistake the family resemblance in that simple movement. Huang Gai chuckled but Xun wasn't quite as amused.
"You said you would calm down if I stopped." Xun reminded.
"You should never let someone get a free hit on you!" Shang scolded.
Xun opened his mouth to protest but a calming hand from Zuo choked the words before they could come forth.
"As you grow older, Xun, You will learn in life that women are always right." Zuo said wisely.
Xun nodded obediently and let his mouth remained closed. Shang didn't seem sure whether to be pleased or offended. In any case, she dragged Xun back to the rest of Wu. The trio watched them leave before Sun Jian turned back to Zuo.
"He looks a lot better." Sun Jian commented.
Zuo nodded. "But I can only do so much. He's clamed up and won't talk about his father. It'll take some time for him to open up."
"Why don't you just sit them both down and make them talk?" Huang Gai reasoned.
"Thos two are stubborn. You'd need bulletproof glass and then they wouldn't be easily able to speak through that now would they? And what of the one who put Xun in that situation? Do you think he would forgive no matter the result?" Zuo raised an eyebrow.
"If Lu Jun wasn't under the influence of alcohol they might be able to get along easier." Sun Jian's voice was low, dangerous.
"It's more complicated. Much more so than even Xun knows… The next few months will be critical for them. See if Xun won't listen to reason from yourselves and his classmates while his father is far away." Zuo advised.
"What doesn't Xun know?" Sun Jian demanded.
"Nothing for you to worry about on your part." Zuo waved him off, checking his watch as he did so. "Well, I have a train to catch. I leave Xun in your capable hands. I'll check in when I get a chance. Oh, I almost forgot to give you this."
Zuo pulled out a manila folder from who knows where. Sun Jian received it and opened it, pulling out some of the many crisp white papers inside.
"That should be everything Xun needs to stay enrolled. The consent form should be the first one." Zuo informed.
Sun Jian looked at said paper. On the signature for the parent of the student, Lu Jun was scrawled out in pen. Sun Jian looked up at Zuo in surprise.
"Why would his father let him continue to stay here?" Sun Jian asked.
"Lu Jun isn't as horrid of a person as he seems. He wants what's best for Xun, even if he doesn't always show it." Zuo said.
"That's and understatement." Huang Gai muttered under his breath.
"Well, I'm off. Have a good party gentlemen." Zuo inclined his head before slipping out the main doors.
Xun caught a glimpse of Zuo's figure as he disappeared out the door. He gave a small smile as he looked back to his classmates. He was back. He'd missed a lot and would have to work overtime to catch up with everything. He was satisfied that his entrance was enough to show he was back. Han High had taken the 3 months break as much as he had. Unfortunately for the school and its occupants, he wasn't going to be that same meek little child as before. It was time for the real fun to start.
This will be serving as the ending for now, and hopefully this will only be temporary. Please see next chapter: 'Dedication' for details.