Pursuit
Chapter 5
By Yukira

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. Whoop de doo.

Author's Notes: I like writing about Sun Ruan Er. It's fun. And it's even more fun making Zilong the bad guy. Haha.

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I was trapped. Sun Ruan was out of sight. I was surrounded by a group of bandits and my weapon was nowhere to be found.

The bandits charged forth, wielding butterfly knives (AN: Kano from MK:DA!). Surrounded and defenseless, the only thing I could do was run. And then there was a scream.

Turning around, I could see Sun Ruan tied to a tree, the bandit leader holding a knife to her neck. I ran back, passing the bandits that pursued me.

Her eyes pleaded with his, and he pulled the knife away from her neck, then in one swipe-

My eyes opened and I sat up. I was in my tent.

*~~~~*~~~~*

Zhao Yun stretched for a few seconds, then walked out of his tent. It was early morning, but he didn't feel tired.

He changed into his usual armor and battle apparel, then walked out to the middle of the camp. Everyone else was still asleep. Mounting his horse, he rode by brandishing his spear. A voice stopped him.

Liu Bei walked out of his tent. "Zhao Yun, where are you going?"

Zhao Yun bit his lip, then promptly answered. "I was just going to the village...to collect my thoughts...I will be back."

As Zhao Yun sped off, Liu Bei already knew what he was going to do. "Good luck." He whispered, then went back to his tent.

*~~~~*~~~~*

Yes, the village was a noisy place, that is, until Zhao Zilong rode in on his white steed. Old and young women alike avoided looking at him directly but he was sure that they glared at him from behind.

An elderly woman accompanied by 2 younger women walked out of their house and Zhao recognized the old one as the wife of the village's leader.

Dismounting, Zhao Yun walked closer and the women stopped.

The three women bowed in front of Zilong but he stopped them.

"I-I need to talk to you." Stammered Zhao Yun.

The old woman surveyed him. "Hmm, you are Sun Ruan's husband, right?"

Zhao nodded slowly, then: "I wanted to know why she left."

"Follow me."

The elderly woman's home was a comfortable one that featured exotic furniture, and the walls were adorned with metal edged fans.

The woman sent the other two away, then poured Zhao Yun a cup of tea.

"Someone has spread rumors that you are... How do I put this? Well, someone spread a rumor...saying that you were...cheating on Sun Ruan."

Zhao Yun set his tea on the table in shock. "What!? I..."

"She probably heard..."

Zilong bowed in respect to the woman and left, mounting his horse again and riding off.

*~~~~*~~~~*

Sun Ruan sat on Zhang He's bed next to him, thinking.

"Well?" he asked.

"No, I can't. I will see you tomorrow." Sun got up to leave, when the door open, there stood Zhen Ji, smirking.

"What the-"

"Ha! He used you! He used you!" mocked Zhen Ji.

"What are you--!? Zhang He?"

"Zhen Ji, not yet! I didn't yet!" yelled Zhang He.

"So you tried to use me!?" cried Sun Ruan, running out of his room.

Sun Ruan ran back to her room, grabbing her sword and running out of the palace, finally mounting her horse and riding off. She didn't know where to go, now, she could trust no one.

She sped by a village, it looked familiar, and then she saw it. A cliff.

*~~~~*~~~~*

Zhao Yun heard something or someone passing by quickly. He saw a glimpse of the figure...Sun Ruan!?

*~~~~*~~~~*

Sun dismounted and stared at the area below the cliff. She could see nothing so far, because of the thick fog. There were jagged rocks, though. She walked back to the horse, not sure of what she'd do.

*~~~~*~~~~*

Zilong thought he saw someone near the cliff! He rode and saw it was Sun.

*~~~~*~~~~*

Sun looked over. It was none other than Zhao Yun, a person she had not seen in a while. She grabbed the Jade Dragon and backed away.

Zhao Yun dismounted as well, stepping slowly towards Sun Ruan.

"Just leave me alone."

"Sun, don't."

"Don't come any closer."

Zhao Yun stopped advancing.

"I know why you left, I didn't-"

Sun began crying, tears of anger and sorrow flowing from her eyes. "Goodbye."

And with that, Jade Dragon tucked on her sash, she jumped off the cliff, and felt free for once.

*~~~~*~~~~* End of chapter 5, now chapter 6. (My gift to you for updating slowly.)

*~~~~*~~~~*

Zhao Yun watched her jump off, then took a step forward. He could not see her anymore, the fog enveloping her.

*~~~~*~~~~*

Sun Ruan closed her eyes, bracing herself to die, but she opened them, realizing that she still wanted to live.

*~~~~*~~~~*

Lu Xun yawned and stretched out his arms, careful not to fall off of his horse. He was given the assignment of mapping out this area but the fog only made this harder.

"Hmm," he thought to himself. "There seems to be a path here, but there are no-"

He was cut off when he heard a large splashing sound up north.

Lu Xun took out his swords and began to cut his way through, and then, he saw an unconscious woman drowning in a wide river.

She was too far away to pull out, and it seemed that the river was heading for a waterfall. Lu Xun rode faster and pulled a rope out of a pack on his horse.

Maybe if...

Lu Xun tied a loop on the rope and tried to throw it around her. He missed, and she was getting closer to falling. He tried again, the rope wrapped around her waist and he pulled her closer until he was able to pull her out.

The woman seemed to be very young, around 17. Her hair was short and black colored. Her skin was very fair. She was clad in a white sleeveless cheongsam with a sword hung on her sash.

Lu Xun searched for a pulse and he found one. He tilted her head back and began to breathe air into her...

Seconds later, she sat up and started coughing out water. Lu Xun opened the pack on his horse and brought a towel to her.

Lu Xun sat across from her on a rock and they sat like this, silent.

The girl broke the silence by saying, "Thank you."

Lu Xun smiled at her. "Who are you?"

"Jun Li."

"So...what happened?"

Jun Li paused, then began explaining. "I was on my way to join the Wu army, but a large group of bandits pushed me off the cliff."

Lu Xun's eyes shifted from her to her sword. "Do you think I could see that?"

Jun Li took her sword off from her sash and let Lu Xun examine it.

"The Jade Dragon?"

Jun nodded. Then, she saw Lu Xun's swords. "Are you from the Wu kingdom?"

Lu Xun nodded. "I can take you there."

Lu Xun mounted his horse and motioned for Jun to sit behind him. She climbed up and held onto him as they headed for the Wu kingdom.

*~~~~*~~~~*

As Sun Ruan held onto Lu Xun, she felt strange... Maybe she was destined for the Wu kingdom, Lu Xun...being her savior.

They rode for a few hours, passing meadows and ponds, the scenery was beautiful.

And then, Ruan saw it. The Wu palace. A marvel, really. It was a large mansion constructed of strong woods and stone, built temple style.

As they dismounted, a few guards ran over to check over them. Lu Xun brushed them away and led Sun Ruan inside.

The Wu palace was similar to that of Wei's, but it glowed with a somewhat friendly aura.

There were large paintings on the walls and many corridors.

Finally, he led her to a conference room, where Sun Jian was sitting.

Sun Jian looked up as they sat down.

Lu Xun introduced Sun. "Lord Sun Jian, this is Jun Li. She wants to join the Wu army."

Sun Jian stared at Sun Ruan, then came to a conclusion. "Have I seen you somewhere before? You look familiar..."

Sun Ruan shook her head.

"Oh well." Thought Sun Jian aloud. Then: "Lu Xun, could you escort Jun Li to a room?"

"Yes sir."

As the two walked out of the conference room, Sun Ruan spoke up. "He does look familiar to me."

"He... does?"

"In a way... yes."

Several maids were scurrying around, setting up Sun's room.

Lu Xun leaned against the wall for a moment, then turned to face Sun. "If you want, I can ask the Qiao sisters to lend you some clothes."

"The Qiaos? Who are they?"

"You've never heard of them?"

"No."

"Come with me, I'll take you to them." Lu Xun walked to another room and Sun followed.

There were two rooms side by side and Lu Xun knocked on both doors. "Da and Xiao! Show yourselves!"

The Qiao sisters opened the door and Sun almost gasped out loud.

The Qiaos were about her size, but they looked so...childish...too childish...

"Uh, hi." Greeted Sun.

The two Qiaos whispered something to each other. "Hi!"

Then, the black haired Qiao ran back to her room and pulled out a silk robe, then handed it to Sun.

"You can wear this for now." She answered cheerfully.

"Thank you."

Sun decided to go back to her room, she was tired and didn't feel like talking.

*~~~~*~~~~*

Ahh...I'm so tired...

So...sleepy...

Can I have some reviews?