A/N: Gomen, minna! Gomen for not updating sooner. I've been quite busy with some projects lately. But here's the 4th chapter. Thank you for the reviews! I appreciate them very much. ^___^
Jackie, thanks for the compliment. Are you a member of the Words of the Mind forum as well? ^___^
Disclaimer: Characters depicted in the story aren't mine. They belong to Koei and W-Force.
Of Exquisite Beauty
"If you want to stay here with me, you have to tolerate my excessive fondness for this garden," Zhang He smiled teasingly. "I could tell you just what and how many of each species of trees are in here. But that would be too boring, wouldn't it?" Her breath catching, Zhen Ji didn't say anything but merely stared at him as he reached out his hand to her.
His smile was her undoing. She had never before seen any astonishing transformation a simple smile can do to a man. And it wasn't everyday she got to see Zhang He's face light up in an almost boyish expression; it was quite… endearing. The warmth and sincerity in that one simple act lured her to him, to trusting him. He was truly a magnificent creature and she didn't know how she could defend herself against his alluring charm.
Zhen Ji watched his long fingers close around her smaller right hand as he pulled her up the tree toward him, his other strong arm wrapping around her slim waist to steady her while she regained her footing on the high tree branch.
"Welcome to my humble abode," Zhang He murmured, releasing her and gesturing to the garden before them. Ji followed his gaze and marveled at the beauty of the area. The colors of the setting sun bathed the garden in a warm golden light. The brook reflected the light of the sun, glistening like little diamonds on a clear silken cushion. The symmetry of the design encouraged the serene concept of the garden, which made the divine hand of nature and the hand of human blend into breathtaking harmony and equality.
Ji smiled. Her companion truly appreciated nature and its beauty. She had once found him resting on a branch, much like what he was doing before she arrived, during their stay in the Yuan Dwelling. He may be a fierce, cold blooded warrior in the battlefield but it was refreshing to discover this gentle side to his character.
His humble abode…
Aye, he belonged here. Much like the colorful butterflies that fluttered around them, careless and free. And she was quite glad she was standing there, next to him and his quiet strength…
Until he ruined it with an unexpected remark. "So Lady Zhen, those natural blushes on your cheeks are just quite divine. It was no wonder Lord Cao Pi has fallen for you."
"W-What?" She asked, confusion marring her perfect brows.
"Now don't tell me you don't know the majestic effect of your beauty on the soldiers here?" Junyi continued, dramatically placing a hand on his chest in surprise. Zhen Ji continued to frown up at him. What in the world made him say such a thing to her? She then realized that he was unusually talking quite loudly, as if an audience was there to hear him. His dark eyes were guarded, glittering with warning. "Lord Cao Pi should always keep an eye on his beloved at all times."
"That was why I asked you to look after her for me, Zhang He." Zhen Ji realized a second too late why her companion acted that way. The second son of Cao Cao was standing there under the tree. She quickly whipped her head toward the newcomer, totally forgetting that she stood on a high narrow tree branch, and swayed due to her sudden movement. Zhang He quickly shot out an arm and wrapped it around her waist to steady her.
Zhen Ji automatically grabbed hold on his muscled forearms until she regained her footing. Climbing a tree on high heels was stupid, she thought lamely.
"Come, Lady Zhen, we must retire for the day." Cao Pi frowned at the familiarity between the two but quickly dismissed it. His future wife and the eccentric Zhang He? Pi shook his head. It was impossible. Zhang He of Heijan was different from the other generals in the army. He saw open admiration in the eyes of his comrades whenever they looked at the Lady Zhen. But not Zhang He. Interest never lit his face. He was always indifferent, as if oblivious to the lady's unparalleled beauty.
Hell, the arrogant peacock might even think he was far more beautiful than Lady Zhen, Cao Pi mused as he watched the deadpan face of the lithe warrior with hawk eyes. If it were the other generals, they wouldn't have been able to take their eyes off his lady, fascination apparent. Satisfied with his reasoning, he motioned for Zhen Ji to follow him back to the castle.
The eccentric Zhang He posed no threat for Ji's attention. So he was the perfect general who could look after her.
Junyi felt more than saw the reluctance of the woman in his arms to comply with the lord's orders to follow him. Her hold on his arms tightened as if he suddenly became her only friend in the whole of China, as if she was gathering strength and courage from him to face Cao Cao's son.
She didn't want to go with him. Zhen Ji thought in sheer panic and hoped that Zhang He would interfere. She stilled. Since when had she started depending on the angel-faced warrior beside her? And when had she become a helpless infant, unable to take care of her own problems? And yes, she admitted to herself ruefully, Cao Pi's attention was a problem.
She straightened her shoulders, released her hold of Zhang He, and stepped away from him. Sensing that the Lady Zhen was prepared to go, Junyi assisted her slow descent from the tree, with Cao Pi reaching out to her to receive her in his arms.
Zhang He then witnessed the lustful gaze Pi bestowed on Ji before he lowered his head toward her and claimed her mouth. Zhen Ji's body turned rigid as she stood, her hands fisted on her sides as she tolerated his kiss.
"Come with me to my bedchambers, Lady Zhen," Cao Pi growled low when he released her soft lips. "I want you tonight," he said, grabbing her hand and dragging her along with him.
Zhen Ji couldn't do anything but follow. For she knew that to defy the lord's wishes was foolish. It could cost her her life. She sighed and gave a helpless glance toward Zhang He who remained behind her.
Only to find him propped up against the trunk. Sleeping.
* * *
The Battle at Bo Wan Po…
His feathers were ruffled, so to speak. The mighty generals of Wei noticed as they watched Zhang He mount on his horse and lead his force toward the enemy. As what was planned in their strategy.
The arrogant peacock, the name they called him behind his back, didn't have the usual laid back and bored expression on his face, which was undoubtedly a first. His lips were set in a grim line; his eyes were dark with, to their surprise, anger. Whatever triggered that rare emotion, which they thought never existed, from him must have been something of great magnitude. It looked like he was ready to kill a thousand in his current disposition.
And they now knew that a furious Zhang He was not someone who should be crossed. After all, if a calm and almost nonchalant Zhang He was enough to send lesser men running in fear, then what chances did the enemy soldiers have against an angry and definitely a murderous one? A cold shiver ran through the soldiers of Wei as they watched Junyi disappear from their view. One thing was for certain. They were quite glad that the eccentric general fought with them and not against them.
The lithe warrior reached his assigned destination, where Shu soldiers were clustered together for a tactical attack. Dismounting without halting his horse, Zhang He plunged into the enemy like a burning torpedo, killing most of his opponents in one blow. He continued his graceful dance of death until none of the enemy stood alive. His gleaming iron claws were the last thing the enemy soldiers saw before they succumbed to a painful death.
Junyi smiled menacingly as he bestowed deadly and unmerciful slashes upon the frightened Shu soldiers. If they saw him a demon in battle, then so be it. They would know and fear the name…
"Zhang He." The lithe warrior flicked the blood from his iron claws and slowly turned around to face Cao Pi.
Tch. What does he want now? He thought in irritation as he walked toward his horse. "Yes, my lord?" He asked calmly as he mounted his steed.
"Head North, General," Cao Pi ordered, "Lady Zhen is breaking through the enemy force there. I want you to assist her."
A muscle in the long haired warrior's jaw clenched, the only sign that he was fast losing patience on the man before him. "With all due respect, my lord, but shouldn't you be the one who should look after her? After all, you have already claimed her as yours."
"You know very well that I have more important matters to attend to than baby sit Lady Zhen."
Baby sit? Zhang He narrowed his eyes. "She will be quite offended to hear that, my lord," he shook his head. "I believe Lady Zhen can take care of herself. She is a warrior of Wei after all. No harm will come to her---"
"She is going to be my future wife, General. I don't want her beauty marred," Pi cut him off in mid sentence. "As a higher ranking officer, I expect you to follow my orders. Else I'll view your reservations as an act of treason," Pi threatened. "Now, go."
A long cold silence settled between the two men as they gauged each other, measured each other's power. Cao Pi sat high on his black steed, his eyes challenging Zhang He to dare defy him. And he knew he won when Zhang He's face returned to being nonchalant. He knew that the lithe warrior never stood a chance against one of Cao Cao's son, for to defy a lord would mean one's immediate death, no matter how trivial the subject of their disagreement was.
"As you wish," Zhang He conceded tight lipped. He bowed stiffly before Pi and galloped away, leaving a thick cloud of dust in his wake.
Damn that Cao brat.
* * *
Zhen Ji was just finishing off the last of her enemies when Zhang He arrived. He watched her calmly beat the soldier senseless with her Dark Moon Flute, with a hand resting on her hip. She then lowered her weapon when her opponent finally crumpled down the floor, unconscious. Junyi's eyes narrowed. They were fighting in a battle. There was no need for sympathy. She should have killed her enemies. Not merely render them unconscious.
"If you've come here to assist me," Zhen Ji suddenly said, her back still to him, "then you're a little too late. I've already cleared all the enemies on this area."
He looked around him, at the unmoving bodies sprawled on the cold hard ground. The count was roughly a hundred, he estimated. "So I can see," Junyi drawled as he dismounted from his white steed.
Zhen Ji noticed his cold attitude as she turned around to face him. "You can leave now." She found herself reacting to Junyi's detachment and became distant herself, the Ice Maiden back in place. She stood regally before him, her face masked with serenity.
"As much as I want to, I can't."
"You think me that helpless?" She demanded. "I don't need your constant supervision. I can take care of myself!"
"With which I do not doubt."
"Then what are you still doing here?" She asked in exasperation. Why she always found herself reacting to this particular man, she didn't know. She just always did, unreasonably so. "The strategy won't work if you're here instead of your assigned post." Zhang He didn't move as he remained stonily silent. She then sighed. "It's Cao Pi, isn't it? He sent you, didn't he?"
With just the mention of the lord's son's name, Junyi felt his hackles rise. Yet, he remained stubbornly silent. "He should know by now that I can handle myself. I told him so last night," Zhen Ji continued almost quietly.
"Seems that you weren't very convincing," Zhang He replied almost acidly. Ji was taken aback by his anger, she never saw him act that way before. "Besides," Junyi continued, "talking about it in bed was stupid. He couldn't possibly think of talking while you're there lying naked beside him—"
"Stop it!" Involuntarily, Zhang He did when the woman in front of him almost shouted. He clamped his mouth shut when Zhen Ji raised her eyes to his face, her body visibly shaking with anger. "I never slept with him! How could you even think that when I'm—" She suddenly stopped, realization finally dawning into her.
Now she knew why. Why she always found herself reacting to him, why she couldn't stay detached, nor remain calm and composed, whenever he was around. Everything about Zhang He mattered to her. His thoughts. His words.
It was because she found herself in love with him. And it scared her.
For the second time.
She only thought it was attraction when she first laid eyes on him, and did her best to trample her fascination toward him before it developed into something more serious. She even had malicious rumors spread back in Yuan so that he would leave. It was selfish of her, yes, but she had to do it. She was married to Yuan Xi, and to find herself attracted to another man was unjust.
Unjust to whom? She mentally chided herself. The late Yuan Xi had several concubines and his loyalty was never hers alone, while she on the other hand, tried her best to remain faithful to her husband. She did that because it was the right thing to do.
Then again, Yuan Xi's lack of loyalty never bothered her. In fact, she was quite glad he had a mistress who he can lavish his unwanted attention with. And perhaps, that was when the Ice Maiden was born. Her indifferent attitude toward her husband became known in the whole of Yuan, that there was no love lost between the couple, which suited Zhen Ji just fine. There had been hundreds of men who tried to pursue her, but none she found interesting.
Until Zhang Junyi came along.
It only took one look on Zhang He's tall and lean frame to know that she would be captivated by the sheer physical beauty of the man. Her reaction to him had been new and different, as if he was pulling her to him, to get to know him. But she didn't act on to the temptation. She refused an introduction to the angel-faced warrior and always kept to her chambers whenever he was around.
Back in Yuan, she didn't know why she reacted to him that way, why she always found herself breathless during the very few times they passed each other on the corridors, why she felt scared and vulnerable.
But now she did, eyeing his angry yet still beautiful face warily. She had loved him from the beginning. And she didn't know what to do now since it was the first time she felt the rare emotion she thought she'd never experience.
Junyi narrowed his eyes when Ji took a step back. "Suddenly afraid of me, are you?" He challenged. "And here I thought you're finally going to fight your own battles."
Meeting up his challenge, she stood ramrod straight, her hands calmly folded in front of her. She raised her chin and answered, "I always had."
"Retreating to your serene mask again, I see," Zhang He tipped his head sideway, his dark gaze meeting her not so steady one. "Do you realize that you use that cool front of yours whenever you're afraid?"
"I'm not afraid of anyone," Zhen Ji replied calmly, "least of all you." The only thing that betrayed her brave front was the rapid beating of her heart. Why did he always know how she felt? Was she that transparent? And as easy to read as an open book? She sincerely hoped Junyi didn't see how scared she really was, scared not of him but of the feelings he awakened inside her.
"Indeed?" Zhang He asked softly, closing the distance between them. "I have a little theory about your haughty disposition, the iciness in your attitude," he continued, "would you like to hear it?"
When Ji was about to say no, a soft rustling sound behind the bushes alerted them both. With their conversation completely forgotten, Zhang He moved stealthily toward the noise, motioning toward Ji to watch out for ambushes. He jumped on a nearby tree and hid himself behind the leaves to scout the area. And there he saw a number of Shu soldiers slowly making their way to the clearing where he and Zhen Ji stood moments ago. Gauging that he could easily defeat them, he jumped from his hiding place, somersaulted in the air, and executed a perfect swan dive.
Some of the soldiers looked up just in time to see the lithe warrior descend upon them like a dark angel intent on ending their very existence. The light of the sun behind him gave him an almost ethereal glow, striking fascination and, at the same time, fear to the hearts of the soldiers. And then, they saw nothing more.
Zhen Ji tore her gaze off her comrade and concentrated on the soldiers who came after her. Zhang He was no merciful death, she thought as she placed her flute to her lips and produced an ear piercing note, rendering most, if not all of her opponents unconscious. She was quite occupied with her fight that she didn't notice a lone crossbow wielder aim his weapon at her.
Zhang He looked up to see how Ji was doing but instead spotted the cowardly archer who hid behind the bushes, preparing to pull the trigger that'd release the arrow. Without thinking, he turned his back on his enemies and found himself running toward her, the Lady Zhen's safety foremost in his mind. He arrived in time and was able to push Ji out of harm's way.
But the arrow caught his right shoulder, piercing the exposed flesh between his armored shoulder and chest. The force of the speeding arrow pinned him to the tree behind him, knocking the breath out of him for a moment. Hissing in pain, he grabbed the arrow and tried pulling it out to no avail. It embedded itself deep in the trunk and it required someone else to pull it out for him.
Before he could even snap the arrow in half so that he could pull himself free, Junyi saw Ji calmly walk right into the enemy. "Ji!" He shouted. "What the hell are you doing?!"
Instead of answering, Zhen Ji twirled her flute with her fingers, brought it to her lips, and produced a high pitched note. He soldiers around her dropped their weapons and fell to their knees, pressing their hands to their ears to block off the sound. But it proved useless. Their ears started to ring and began to bleed.
Horrified, the enemy soldiers retreated. Junyi stood pinned to the tree, unable to believe the power the Lady Zhen unleashed a moment ago. He was truly impressed that she was hiding such a remarkable skill. And here he thought having a flute for a weapon was ridiculous.
Collecting himself, Zhang He neatly sliced the arrow with his talons and pulled himself free. The pain intensified and the bleeding got worse. He swore, taking only a few steps forward before he leaned toward another tree for support. His right arm suddenly felt numb and heavy. Yet a sharp pain on his side took his mind off his wounded shoulder. He looked down and realized he acquired a deep cut on his left side. It must've been when I turned my back on the enemy, he thought sheepishly. A stupid move but at least Lady Zhen was safe.
"Zhang He," Ji called softly as she stood before him, "are you all right?"
"Mere flesh wounds, my lady. Nothing to worry about." Zhang He answered lightly, grinning despite the pain, suddenly wanting to wipe the worry that creased Ji's perfect brows. Instead, he got the opposite effect when she frowned up at him.
"You stupid, stupid man!" She almost shouted at him. "How could you let something like this happen to you?!"
"Take pity on the wounded man, my lady," Junyi groaned. "This is the first time I made a mistake, you realize?"
"I do!" Zhen Ji replied hotly, ripping the hem of her dress and pressing the cloth to his shoulder to stop the bleeding. "That's why I'm angry at you for being so careless!"
"You are?"
"Of course I am!" Zhen Ji snapped. The thought of Zhang He acquiring a more critical wound because of her made her knees weaken. She was never going to forgive herself if anything happened to him. "Hold this," she indicated the cloth that was pressed on his shoulder. He complied, careful of the talons that he was still armed with. She then proceeded to inspect the wound on his side, her fingers caressing him in featherlike strokes. Zhang He hissed sharply.
"Does it pain you?" She asked worriedly, pulling back her hands.
If only that were true, Junyi thought. Her touch on his hot skin felt good. "No," he managed to say between gritted teeth, "I'm just ticklish."
"R-Really?"
"Of course not. I was merely joking."
"Oh." Ji returned her gaze to his wound, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks. She just realized how intimate she was touching him. And it felt right. Yet she couldn't take the thought of this fierce warrior in front of her being ticklish out of her mind. It was absurd, yes, but she found herself wanting to know if he really was. It made him so human.
"Would you like to know?"
"W-What?!" Zhen Ji choked out in embarrassment. Had he somehow read her mind?
"My theory about the Ice Maiden."
"Oh." She felt stupid. Why was she even imagining such intimate things about Junyi when it was only polite conversation he was after? Remembering his question, she shook her head no. "Whatever that brilliant mind of yours conjured up, it's wrong. I am called an Ice Maiden because I am." She knew how cold and unresponsive she was with Yuan Xi before. And her reaction to Cao Pi's kisses was the same. It really was just the way she was. And it was going to kill her if Zhang He found out how indifferent she was. She wouldn't be able to take it, if the same pitying look appeared in his beautiful eyes.
"I highly doubt that."
"Are you calling me a liar?" Ji bit out, once again displaying her fiery side, much to Junyi's amusement. Ji saw the smile that was slowly forming on his lips and frowned. She was never going to understand this man! This man she loved…
"Wait here, while I go get help," she muttered and stalked off. But before she could even take a step, Zhang He reached out, snaking a strong arm around her waist, and pulled her back to him. Before Ji realized what was happening, Junyi's head dipped and his lips met hers in a gentle kiss.
It was so different from the kisses she had before. It was not demanding nor hurting like Pi's but there was still a gentle insistence on his hard mouth that she open up to him. Zhen Ji felt her knees buckle beneath her when he deepened the kiss, quite glad his left arm was supporting her. She leaned toward him, reveling on his strength and, at the same time, his tenderness. She placed her hand on his armored chest and slid them up to his strong neck, which was a mistake when he suddenly hissed in pain and released her soft lips.
"This shoulder wound might be more serious than I thought," he groaned, summoning back his control. He never thought kissing the Lady Zhen was the most amazing thing that ever happened to him. He looked at her and smiled at her bemused expression. "Well now," he said as he released her, "that certainly proved something, didn't it?"
"W-What?" She asked in confusion, trying her best to regain her composure, her beautiful face flushing bright red. Zhang Junyi had just kissed her!
"That the Ice Maiden never existed," he answered silkily. "You are as responsive as the next woman," he added, "much more responsive, if truth be told."
His comment doused the loving warmth that enveloped her a moment ago. So, he only kissed her to prove a point, did he? She shook with anger and disbelief, not trusting herself to speak. The kiss was nothing to him but an experiment, while she had thoroughly enjoyed his attention, hoping that she meant more to him than just a comrade, an acquaintance. For she knew, he certainly meant a lot to her.
Without even responding to his cutting words, she walked off, angry at herself for succumbing to his charms. For falling in love with him.
Zhang He watched as she disappeared from his view, and weakly leaned back on the tree. He had hurt her, he knew. But it was necessary. He didn't like it that he enjoyed kissing her. And he was now starting to crave for more.
He shook his head as he pushed away from the tree, intent on following her, to make sure she arrived safely in the main camp. It was wrong to pursue her, no matter how much he wanted to, how much he wanted her. She was already claimed, forbidden to any other man but Cao Pi.
Unless he did something about that first…