Dark Pleasure
By Natsue Arishima
Chapter Three: Dark Blue
Zhen Ji sat by her open window, the cool, morning air playing gently over her pale face. Her hair had been let down, and was swirling in small patterns with the breeze, standing out against her complexion. Ebony against ivory.
Slowly, in the distance, a long string of light spread out across the land, creeping closer and closer. It was dawn, and the sun would soon rise.
Her simple dark purple robe gave proof that she had not yet changed. It crinkled slightly as she stood up, stretching. A soft knock broke the silence, rapping gently on her door.
Zhen Ji blinked, raising an inquiring eyebrow, before heading towards the sound. She sidestepped her luxurious, violet and gold bed, running her slender fingers along the silken sheets.
The door opened before she reached it, her fingers still outstretched. A maid came scurrying inside, a tray of food in her arms.
"Still in bed at this hour, dear?" the fair, older woman asked gently, smiling as she put down the tray. Zhen Ji scoffed, but her lips pulled back in a faint smile. "Forgive me. I seemed to have lost track of time," she murmured, winding a strand of her own dark hair around a finger.
Her maid's eyes twinkled mischievously, hidden under the shortly cropped graying hair. "Missing you dear husband, hm?"
Her Lady froze, figure stiff. She was quiet for a few seconds before she bit her lip. "Never," she hissed, voice cold. A pale hand reached towards the nearby table, where a purple and gold flute lay quietly, along with a simple brush.
"No need to get angry, dear," her maid murmured. "Cao Zhi is also a wonderful man."
In the process of brushing her hair, Zhen Ji froze again, a dangerous red tinge appearing on her pale cheeks. She slowly lowered her brush. "Excuse me?"
Her maid smiled. "I'm not that stupid, you know. I've seen more that you'd know." She carelessly flicked imaginary dust particles off of her silk sleeves. "I believe he visited you yesterday as well."
Zhen Ji didn't move for a while, her back to her maid, before she breathed out sharply and spun around. "Please," she whispered, clutching her maid's hand. "You must never tell anyone. Never. If Cao Cao knew ever that those two were… he'd kill -"
"Don't worry, my dear." The older woman smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling, as she brought a finger up to her lips. "Not a word."
Then, as if thinking that she had spoke too much, she quickly bowed and slowly walked backwards out of the room. "Enjoy your meal. And don't forget your appointment with General Xiahou Dun around noon."
Zhen Ji stared after the retreating woman for a long time, even after she had gone. Then, sighing, she sat down at the foot of her bed and reached for her cup. It took her a while to realize that her hand was shaking. Quickly, she put down the glass.
Eyes glistening, she looked back through the open window. Several birds were perched on the sill, and as she smiled lightly at them, they chirped and flew inside, resting on her shoulders.
Automatically, the woman reached up and stroked the small birds. She blinked her eyes furiously before reaching for her cup with her free arm. There was no reason to get emotional. She wasn't low enough for that.
Sighing, she looked out the window. The sun was already nearly halfway into the sky. If she hurried, she could still meet Xiahou Dun on time.
"Not that I want to talk to that beast..." She turned coolly around, as if expecting Cao Cao or Xiahou Dun himself to walk in. "But it seems as if I'm being forced from my will."
Xiahou Dun staggered to the practice field, angry, grumpy, and walking as if there was a black thundercloud hanging over his head. He was already late, he knew, but walked even slower, chopping up grass and dirt as he went with his scimitar.
The practice field was empty. Xiahou Dun cast his one-eye glance over the field before turning around. He was just about to retrace his steps through the miniature path he had just created when a bloodcurdling note blasted through the nearby trees.
He could have sworn that blood had just erupted from his ears. Hastily, the officer clamped his hands over them, bent over in agony.
The note was raised even higher, so high that he thought he was going insane. Then, without warning, it stopped, and he was just about to straighten up when he felt something hard collide with his skull.
Now clutching his head, Xiahou Dun spun around, eyes blazing. "What the hell was that for!?"
He blinked when he saw no one. Slowly, he lowered his gaze, and saw Lady Zhen Ji. She had a hand on her hip - the other was gripping her flute - and her lips were formed in a thin, white line. Her eyes were blazing too.
"Mind your manners, you beast," she hissed, slapping his face. "Be happy I didn't knock you out."
"Like you could," Xiahou Dun snarled, ignoring the truth. Zhen Ji seemed to know he was lying, however.
"Liar," she whispered coolly. "I saw you over there, placed completely under the power of my flute." She glared up at him, and though shorter, the man almost cringed. "That's just one of your many problems. You're too careless."
He opened his mouth to snap back, but she slapped him again and continued. "I don't care if that's what you used to do. The fact is, you're wounded for life, so start taking more precautions. I bet I could beat you in my sleep right now."
Xiahou Dun scoffed. "Your problem is underestimating people. I'll take you on any day."
The fair woman smiled, lifting her flute to her lips. "How about now?"
Xiahou Dun blinked in surprise, before smirking. Before he had even said yes, however, Zhen Ji had already blown into her flute, eyes hidden under her dark lashes.
The gruff officer clamped his hands over his ears again, nearly dropping his own weapon, and Zhen Ji smiled faintly. The woman spun around, her long, high ponytail swinging around her face, and landed in a partial crouch, blowing a final, high pitched note.
Shaking his head, Xiahou Dun pushed himself up and lunged towards her, not caring if he killed her or not.
His opponent gracefully brought her flute up in front of her and parried the attack. The scimitar bounced off harmlessly and Xiahou Dun staggered off course, rubbing his eye.
Instead of attack, Zhen Ji waited until he was back on his feet. "I pride myself with my defense," she whispered, eyeing him with interest. "Only until you can get past my defense will I be sending you out to battle."
"Like I'd give a damn," Xiahou Dun growled, lunging forward again. To his surprise, Zhen Ji attacked too, and the two of them ended in a deadlock.
"Against Lu Bu, to satisfy your revenge," the woman murmured, smirking.
Xiahou Dun narrowed his hard eye, leaning into his blade. "Then I'll just kill you now."
She smiled, even though the strain on her arms were now becoming unbearable. "It's not that easy." She suddenly spun around. Xiahou Dun fell forwards, and she kicked him in the guts with her high-heels.
His eyes widened, and, coughing up blood, collapsed onto his knees. There was a dull thud as he dropped his scimitar and gripped his stomach. His hatred for his lost eye and Lu Bu expanded even more.
A cool hand cupped his chin and forced him to look up. Xiahou Dun clenched his jaw and glared with hatred up at Zhen Ji. She smiled coldly and knelt down in front of him.
"Don't think I enjoy being here at all," she snapped. "I have to. And only until you can beat me will Cao Cao allow us back on the battlefield."
To Cao Zhi, she whispered to herself, staring at Xiahou Dun but not really seeing anything.
Xiahou Dun, meanwhile, was in shock. Though he hated to admit it, Zhen Ji was beautiful… He had a sudden urging to pull her close, but jerked up instead, grabbing his scimitar and snapping Zhen Ji out of her thoughts.
She shook her head and stood up as well, twirling her flute. "Therefor, work with your limited patience, though I highly doubt that someone as wild as you has any anyway. I don't care if your eye bothers you. That excuse isn't worth anything."
She started to walk away before turning around. "And meet me here tomorrow. Everyday, at noon." She raised her flute again, as if threatening him. "And don't be late."
That said, she spun around abruptly, dark hair rippling with the wind, towards Xu Chang.
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--Natsue Arishima