A Twist in Time
Chapter Six: Ambush
Sun Jian stood quietly on the edge of the hill. The breeze swept up and tickled his face gently. Taking off his helmet, he sat down in the long, flowing grass, overlooking Jian Ye.
Sun Jian turned his face towards the sun. It was early morning. He should be getting back soon.
There was suddenly a faint crunch behind him. The Lord tensed, his hand curling around the deadly Savage Tiger.
"You of all people should know not to wander off from Jian Ye alone," a voice whispered.
Sun Jian spun around, his eyes narrowing at the person before him.
"Oh? With your helmet off too? Don't you know how easily I could behead it that way?" The man laughed. "That's right. It's me, Liu Biao. And after you die, I can easily take over your precious Wu territory."
Sword clashed on sword as Liu Biao lunged.
**********
Lu Xun looked up from his parchment. The young strategist shuffled to his window and stared past the trees, golden eyes wide.
The door behind him burst open and he turned around sharply in a blur of red, his young face covered in worry. It was Zhou Yu.
"Have you heard it also?" the handsome man asked hurriedly as he impatiently pulled a strand of long, dark hair away from his face.
Lu Xun nodded. "Yes. Swords clashing. A battle has begun."
The older strategist walked past Lu Xun, staring past the gates of Jian Ye and beyond. His eyes narrowed as he realized what was happening.
"Has Lord Sun Jian returned yet?"
Lu Xun looked up, confused. "Returned? Has he left?"
But Zhou Yu was already near the door. "Quickly. We have things to do." He stepped over the threshold and out of sight.
**********
The city was in chaos. An Yu looked over the panicking faces, hiding a smile. Wu was so disorganized. They would probably be the first kingdom to go.
The Qiao sisters ran past her, fans billowing and running towards the gate. Sun Ce and Sun Shang Xiang closely followed.
An Yu turned around as she heard footsteps heading towards her. She smiled when she saw two of her officers.
"Ah," she smiled, "Xin Tai, Niu Kuoang. I was waiting."
"Forgive us for our tardiness, my Lady," Niu Kuoang said hurriedly, his dark ponytail falling over his shoulder and onto his white cape as he reached for his three-section staff. He looked up, gray eyes gleaming and his black leather outfit crinkling slightly, watching his leader's face carefully.
Xin Tai walked up behind him. His hands, underneath his finger-less black gloves, held his twin, short swords as his reddish brown eyes with flecks of gold glowed a golden shade of amber in his excitement. He also wore a black outfit, except that his shirt was sleeveless and had dark blue lining.
Sun Quan hurried past them with Huang Gai and Zhou Tai behind him. Lu Meng stood with Lu Xun and Zhou Yu. Archers with flaming arrows nodded to Lu Xun and disappeared into the trees. The three officers soon left also, and they cast looks towards An Yu before leaving the gates.
The girl nodded back, and smiling at her officers, they jumped with their mysterious godlike speed over the gates and out into the trees.
Flirting from tree to tree without leaving a trace, the girl looked behind her at her officers. Her eyes sent a meaningful message to each of them and they both nodded, jumping away in different directions. Indeed, they were so fast that only the ones with the keenest of eyesight could see the faintest blur.
Plotting her own course, she breathed deeply and ran faster.
Up ahead, the sound of fighting was getting louder. The trees were gradually clearing out, and she could see two forms dueling on the edge of a hill.
It seemed as if she had been the first to arrive.
Perfect.
**********
Sun Jian winced as Liu Biao's sword found its way past Savage Tiger's defense and cut into his arm.
Pulling back, the Lord scoffed, spitting into the grass. It wasn't a deep cut. His sword bearing hand was still as fresh as ever.
Liu Biao smirked, raising his sword once again. The tip was covered slightly in blood. That Tiger of Jiang Dong would pay. He looked down at his legs, both of which were sliced. His speed had been reduced. Gritting his teeth in faint anger, Liu Biao glared up with flashing eyes.
A chained Shuriken suddenly flew out of nowhere and wrapped cleverly around Liu Biao's sword. The man looked up in surprise at the deadly Ninja Star.
"What the -" he whispered, stunned. His surprise was turned into anger when his sword was jerked out of his grip.
A hand was extended in the nearby bushes and caught the sword cautiously.
An Yu gave her usual cold lipped smile as she rose from her small sanctuary. Her cold, thin eyes never left Liu Biao's face as she calmly unwrapped her Chain Shuriken from the sword.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "Is this yours?"
She held up the untangled sword tauntingly. "Come on," she whispered, throwing it back. "Let's play."
Liu Biao bit his lip sharply, drawing blood. Damn.
He didn't notice Sun Jian draw away.
"Well?" the girl asked, cocking her head to one side and looking impatient. She threw her Chain Shuriken again. It wrapped around the other's still neck this time.
"Oh?" she stated, eyes widening, "This is disappointing." Drawing the star away again, she smiling when one of the glinting six points nicked his neck lightly.
Liu Biao suddenly whistled desperately. His call echoed around the still woods. Below the hill, An Yu caught the faint sounds of fighting.
Hearing a crunch, she turned her head to see a dozen or so bodyguards cautiously walking towards Liu Biao. She sighed, looking almost bored.
"This is pathetic." Walking forward, her light shoes made no sound on the leaf-covered ground as she slowly stalked her shivering prey.
**********
Xin Tai held out his two swords in front of him. The other men closed in menacingly, and he smiled, suddenly disappearing. Landing softly a few feet away, he flicked an amber eye behind him and watched the group of men fall uselessly to the ground with faint thuds and occasional splatters of blood.
Shoving his three-section staff into a row of four stunned soldiers, Niu Kuoang turned just to see another soldier sneaking up on him. Pulling his staff out, he quickly swung it. The soldier suddenly found the staff pressing into his neck. Niu Kuoang smiled as he heard a crack, dropping the limp man onto the thick carpet of forest leaves. "So sorry, sir!"
The Qiao sisters were fighting back-to-back in a whirl of colorful fans. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were near them, taking down at least fifty or so soldiers. The Kingdom of Wu was easily taking over the intruding force, but Lu Xun still looked worried. Sun Jian was nowhere in sight.
As if he was cued, the Lord of Wu burst out of the nearby trees, fighting off the soldiers blocking his way. Sun Ce and Sun Quan immediately went to their father's side, and Sun Shang Xiang spun her Sol Chakrams playfully around her fingers, killing the ones that opposed her brothers and father.
Setting off another explosive, Huang Gai turned his head gratefully toward Sun Jian. "It is good to see you again, my Lord."
Sun Jian nodded in thanks, and Sun Quan suddenly looked surprised. "Father, you got cut..."
His father looked down carelessly towards his wound. "Oh, that? It's nothing. Don't worry."
Sun Quan didn't look reassured.
"Don't worry, Pop. Bro and I'll take on anyone who dare challenges you," Sun Ce said cheerfully, smashing his tonfas into his opponents face.
"Liu Biao is up there." Sun Jian coughed, pointing towards the high hill behind him. "He's fighting An Yu."
Xin Tai and Niu Kuoang both smiled faintly to each other.
"Then we must go too," Zhou Yu said fiercely. Lu Xun nodded in approval, pushing his hat back on his head.
**********
With an easy swipe of her Chain Shuriken, An Yu thoughtlessly slaughtered the dozen bodyguards. She yawned. "How feeble."
Eyeing Liu Biao, she suddenly closed her eyes and lowered her Chain Shuriken. Pointing at her forehead, towards her black headband, she whispered, "Give me all you've got."
Liu Biao glared at her fair face, his whole body trembling with hatred. Though beautiful, she was surely more powerful then him. Jian Ye would never be his. But running now seemed like a cowardly thing to do.
She opened one eye towards him. "Something wrong?"
He answered by lunging at her. His sword slashed through open air. An Yu blinked from his right side. "Too slow."
He made a sideways slash, and missed once again. She was behind him now, and he could feel the prick of her Ninja Star against his back, feel her breath blowing onto his neck.
"Oh?" She sounded amused. He breathed in sharply as she slid her Chain Shuriken slowly, making a deep, horizontal gash.
She appeared in front of him, smiling coldly. "Let's try that again."
He lunged in rage, blood dripping down his back. She jumped up lightly and aimed a downward kick onto his already bleeding wound. Liu Biao gave an agonized yell.
Landing a few feet away, she eyed him again. Suddenly, she sensed other forms around her. Her eyes darted towards the trees and spotted movement.
Lu Xun.
His small form was leaning against the tree, smiling slightly at her fighting skills. She was talented, that was obvious.
She looked back at him, and saw him raise his hand in silent command. Archers were placed all around him, in the trees, on the grass. Liu Biao had been surrounded.
She nodded faintly towards him and focused back towards Liu Biao.
"I would love to play some more, but I'm afraid I must go." Jumping invisibly for a second, she appeared on a high branch of an overhanging tree.
Liu Biao made to follow her, but her Chain Shuriken wound its way around his foot. "I'm afraid that you misunderstood me. You're not going anywhere."
Xin Tai and Niu Kuoang accompanied her just as Lu Xun swung his hand down.
Burning arrows flew out of the trees and near the ground. The flickering light danced tauntingly over the clearing, playfully swarming around their target.
Liu Biao was soon a burning, human carcass. His eyes widened in surprise and pain as he slowly fell onto the ground.
**********
Heading back towards Jian Ye, Sun Jian looked over at An Yu and her officers. He couldn't believe their incredible speed, and even after watching it, he still thought of it as some trick.
And he had to admit that he had been lucky.
His eyes flickered back towards his city and suddenly narrowed.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
He suddenly broke into a run after realizing what it was. His people followed him, faces in anger, surprise, and revenge.
Running to a close-by hill, Sun Jian's worst fears were confirmed. "No... no, it can't be..."
**********
A/N: Chapter 7 up! Yay! Okay... *snicker* We are so evil... but everyone should like a nice, ol' cliffhanger... hopefully... But if we have a few more reviews, we just might be able to write a little bit faster *grins cheesily* *HINT HINT* So, R&R!
--Kimi-chan & NatNat
Chapter Six: Ambush
Sun Jian stood quietly on the edge of the hill. The breeze swept up and tickled his face gently. Taking off his helmet, he sat down in the long, flowing grass, overlooking Jian Ye.
Sun Jian turned his face towards the sun. It was early morning. He should be getting back soon.
There was suddenly a faint crunch behind him. The Lord tensed, his hand curling around the deadly Savage Tiger.
"You of all people should know not to wander off from Jian Ye alone," a voice whispered.
Sun Jian spun around, his eyes narrowing at the person before him.
"Oh? With your helmet off too? Don't you know how easily I could behead it that way?" The man laughed. "That's right. It's me, Liu Biao. And after you die, I can easily take over your precious Wu territory."
Sword clashed on sword as Liu Biao lunged.
**********
Lu Xun looked up from his parchment. The young strategist shuffled to his window and stared past the trees, golden eyes wide.
The door behind him burst open and he turned around sharply in a blur of red, his young face covered in worry. It was Zhou Yu.
"Have you heard it also?" the handsome man asked hurriedly as he impatiently pulled a strand of long, dark hair away from his face.
Lu Xun nodded. "Yes. Swords clashing. A battle has begun."
The older strategist walked past Lu Xun, staring past the gates of Jian Ye and beyond. His eyes narrowed as he realized what was happening.
"Has Lord Sun Jian returned yet?"
Lu Xun looked up, confused. "Returned? Has he left?"
But Zhou Yu was already near the door. "Quickly. We have things to do." He stepped over the threshold and out of sight.
**********
The city was in chaos. An Yu looked over the panicking faces, hiding a smile. Wu was so disorganized. They would probably be the first kingdom to go.
The Qiao sisters ran past her, fans billowing and running towards the gate. Sun Ce and Sun Shang Xiang closely followed.
An Yu turned around as she heard footsteps heading towards her. She smiled when she saw two of her officers.
"Ah," she smiled, "Xin Tai, Niu Kuoang. I was waiting."
"Forgive us for our tardiness, my Lady," Niu Kuoang said hurriedly, his dark ponytail falling over his shoulder and onto his white cape as he reached for his three-section staff. He looked up, gray eyes gleaming and his black leather outfit crinkling slightly, watching his leader's face carefully.
Xin Tai walked up behind him. His hands, underneath his finger-less black gloves, held his twin, short swords as his reddish brown eyes with flecks of gold glowed a golden shade of amber in his excitement. He also wore a black outfit, except that his shirt was sleeveless and had dark blue lining.
Sun Quan hurried past them with Huang Gai and Zhou Tai behind him. Lu Meng stood with Lu Xun and Zhou Yu. Archers with flaming arrows nodded to Lu Xun and disappeared into the trees. The three officers soon left also, and they cast looks towards An Yu before leaving the gates.
The girl nodded back, and smiling at her officers, they jumped with their mysterious godlike speed over the gates and out into the trees.
Flirting from tree to tree without leaving a trace, the girl looked behind her at her officers. Her eyes sent a meaningful message to each of them and they both nodded, jumping away in different directions. Indeed, they were so fast that only the ones with the keenest of eyesight could see the faintest blur.
Plotting her own course, she breathed deeply and ran faster.
Up ahead, the sound of fighting was getting louder. The trees were gradually clearing out, and she could see two forms dueling on the edge of a hill.
It seemed as if she had been the first to arrive.
Perfect.
**********
Sun Jian winced as Liu Biao's sword found its way past Savage Tiger's defense and cut into his arm.
Pulling back, the Lord scoffed, spitting into the grass. It wasn't a deep cut. His sword bearing hand was still as fresh as ever.
Liu Biao smirked, raising his sword once again. The tip was covered slightly in blood. That Tiger of Jiang Dong would pay. He looked down at his legs, both of which were sliced. His speed had been reduced. Gritting his teeth in faint anger, Liu Biao glared up with flashing eyes.
A chained Shuriken suddenly flew out of nowhere and wrapped cleverly around Liu Biao's sword. The man looked up in surprise at the deadly Ninja Star.
"What the -" he whispered, stunned. His surprise was turned into anger when his sword was jerked out of his grip.
A hand was extended in the nearby bushes and caught the sword cautiously.
An Yu gave her usual cold lipped smile as she rose from her small sanctuary. Her cold, thin eyes never left Liu Biao's face as she calmly unwrapped her Chain Shuriken from the sword.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "Is this yours?"
She held up the untangled sword tauntingly. "Come on," she whispered, throwing it back. "Let's play."
Liu Biao bit his lip sharply, drawing blood. Damn.
He didn't notice Sun Jian draw away.
"Well?" the girl asked, cocking her head to one side and looking impatient. She threw her Chain Shuriken again. It wrapped around the other's still neck this time.
"Oh?" she stated, eyes widening, "This is disappointing." Drawing the star away again, she smiling when one of the glinting six points nicked his neck lightly.
Liu Biao suddenly whistled desperately. His call echoed around the still woods. Below the hill, An Yu caught the faint sounds of fighting.
Hearing a crunch, she turned her head to see a dozen or so bodyguards cautiously walking towards Liu Biao. She sighed, looking almost bored.
"This is pathetic." Walking forward, her light shoes made no sound on the leaf-covered ground as she slowly stalked her shivering prey.
**********
Xin Tai held out his two swords in front of him. The other men closed in menacingly, and he smiled, suddenly disappearing. Landing softly a few feet away, he flicked an amber eye behind him and watched the group of men fall uselessly to the ground with faint thuds and occasional splatters of blood.
Shoving his three-section staff into a row of four stunned soldiers, Niu Kuoang turned just to see another soldier sneaking up on him. Pulling his staff out, he quickly swung it. The soldier suddenly found the staff pressing into his neck. Niu Kuoang smiled as he heard a crack, dropping the limp man onto the thick carpet of forest leaves. "So sorry, sir!"
The Qiao sisters were fighting back-to-back in a whirl of colorful fans. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were near them, taking down at least fifty or so soldiers. The Kingdom of Wu was easily taking over the intruding force, but Lu Xun still looked worried. Sun Jian was nowhere in sight.
As if he was cued, the Lord of Wu burst out of the nearby trees, fighting off the soldiers blocking his way. Sun Ce and Sun Quan immediately went to their father's side, and Sun Shang Xiang spun her Sol Chakrams playfully around her fingers, killing the ones that opposed her brothers and father.
Setting off another explosive, Huang Gai turned his head gratefully toward Sun Jian. "It is good to see you again, my Lord."
Sun Jian nodded in thanks, and Sun Quan suddenly looked surprised. "Father, you got cut..."
His father looked down carelessly towards his wound. "Oh, that? It's nothing. Don't worry."
Sun Quan didn't look reassured.
"Don't worry, Pop. Bro and I'll take on anyone who dare challenges you," Sun Ce said cheerfully, smashing his tonfas into his opponents face.
"Liu Biao is up there." Sun Jian coughed, pointing towards the high hill behind him. "He's fighting An Yu."
Xin Tai and Niu Kuoang both smiled faintly to each other.
"Then we must go too," Zhou Yu said fiercely. Lu Xun nodded in approval, pushing his hat back on his head.
**********
With an easy swipe of her Chain Shuriken, An Yu thoughtlessly slaughtered the dozen bodyguards. She yawned. "How feeble."
Eyeing Liu Biao, she suddenly closed her eyes and lowered her Chain Shuriken. Pointing at her forehead, towards her black headband, she whispered, "Give me all you've got."
Liu Biao glared at her fair face, his whole body trembling with hatred. Though beautiful, she was surely more powerful then him. Jian Ye would never be his. But running now seemed like a cowardly thing to do.
She opened one eye towards him. "Something wrong?"
He answered by lunging at her. His sword slashed through open air. An Yu blinked from his right side. "Too slow."
He made a sideways slash, and missed once again. She was behind him now, and he could feel the prick of her Ninja Star against his back, feel her breath blowing onto his neck.
"Oh?" She sounded amused. He breathed in sharply as she slid her Chain Shuriken slowly, making a deep, horizontal gash.
She appeared in front of him, smiling coldly. "Let's try that again."
He lunged in rage, blood dripping down his back. She jumped up lightly and aimed a downward kick onto his already bleeding wound. Liu Biao gave an agonized yell.
Landing a few feet away, she eyed him again. Suddenly, she sensed other forms around her. Her eyes darted towards the trees and spotted movement.
Lu Xun.
His small form was leaning against the tree, smiling slightly at her fighting skills. She was talented, that was obvious.
She looked back at him, and saw him raise his hand in silent command. Archers were placed all around him, in the trees, on the grass. Liu Biao had been surrounded.
She nodded faintly towards him and focused back towards Liu Biao.
"I would love to play some more, but I'm afraid I must go." Jumping invisibly for a second, she appeared on a high branch of an overhanging tree.
Liu Biao made to follow her, but her Chain Shuriken wound its way around his foot. "I'm afraid that you misunderstood me. You're not going anywhere."
Xin Tai and Niu Kuoang accompanied her just as Lu Xun swung his hand down.
Burning arrows flew out of the trees and near the ground. The flickering light danced tauntingly over the clearing, playfully swarming around their target.
Liu Biao was soon a burning, human carcass. His eyes widened in surprise and pain as he slowly fell onto the ground.
**********
Heading back towards Jian Ye, Sun Jian looked over at An Yu and her officers. He couldn't believe their incredible speed, and even after watching it, he still thought of it as some trick.
And he had to admit that he had been lucky.
His eyes flickered back towards his city and suddenly narrowed.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
He suddenly broke into a run after realizing what it was. His people followed him, faces in anger, surprise, and revenge.
Running to a close-by hill, Sun Jian's worst fears were confirmed. "No... no, it can't be..."
**********
A/N: Chapter 7 up! Yay! Okay... *snicker* We are so evil... but everyone should like a nice, ol' cliffhanger... hopefully... But if we have a few more reviews, we just might be able to write a little bit faster *grins cheesily* *HINT HINT* So, R&R!
--Kimi-chan & NatNat