Between Love and War
By: Mako-chan
Mako_chan@tekken.cc


One long chapter coming up. Thank you for your encouraging reviews!

*DISCLAIMER: No profits. No ownership but the story. DW and its characters belong to Koei.*



BETWEEN LOVE AND WAR
Chapter Four

"My lord, your bruises...they have not yet healed."

"Do not mind me, I will be fine."

Diao Chan was tired of Lu Bu saying he would be better off. It didn't seem right and much of their traveling was taking a toll on him. For the past few nights she knew he had always stayed awake, even being in the longest of wars, surely he was not deprived of food and rest. Unlike her, she knew she had to do something to force him to stop.

"I want to bathe in the spring."

"What?"

"I said I want to rid myself of dirt and grime."

"Lady Diao Chan, I don't think this is--"

"A good idea? The right time? These are years of turmoil. No time is right but the one right now. I may not be able to do the things I want and used to do ever again," she said in a sadder than usual tone.

Lu Bu pondered silently on Diao Chan's request. Wherever and whenever she was concerned, it always took the best of him -- he felt irritated at himself for that. The three greatest men of Shu have fought you simultaneously. Yet with a harmless woman you cower before her and get down on your knees, Lu Bu miserably thought.

"Very well," he said, breathing a sigh.

"Thank you, my lord," Diao Chan replied and rewarded him with her sweetest smile.

"We are here," he announced, looking at the beautiful scenery before them. Seeing the body of water himself, he wanted to soak and rest to regain his strength. However, Lu Bu could only do such after Diao Chan and it was also a question if he could bring himself to make her wait...but the most trying of them all was resisting temptation, when already his mind had begun entertaining impure thoughts.

"I-I changed my mind," she suddenly stammered.

"What?"

"I shall pick berries instead."

"At a time like this?"

"We shall be travelling and have long ways to go. The food would last longer if there was only one person, but we are two," she explained, "General, I am fully aware of that. And besides, I may be able to pick up some useful herbs along the way...Perhaps you should be the one to bathe in the spring."

Those were the words Lu Bu had been waiting to hear. "Don't wander too far off, my lady."

"I will do as you say so."

"I want that bastard's head."

"As you wish, my lord. Before the sun sets, the mighty general Lu Bu would die at the tip of an arrow."

"Be so sure to keep your word."

"However, there is one thing I should inquire," the assassin said, "Lord Cao Cao, what of the lady he is with?"

"What of her?" Cao Cao asked without much regard. "Let her weep and wail, let her live to tell the tale of the death of Lu Bu! Those are all women are good for -- mourning, entertainment, propagation and satisfaction...which reminds me, have you discovered the Two Qiaos?"

Lu Bu sunk himself deeper into the warm water, relishing the therapeutic and almost miraculous effect it had on his weary body. He rested against a rock, scooped water with his hands and wet his face. He let out a relaxed sigh, his arms now totally slack and his body spread-eagle...little did Lu Bu know that someone else was with him, lurking in one of the trees just behind. The man's arrow pointed to no one else but him...

The birds sqawked and flew past her. Diao whirled in the direction they had come from and quickly realized that it came from the spring, where Lu Bu was...

"Argh!"

Lu Bu grunted in seething pain, and immediately he started to pull out the arrow that had struck him in the left arm. With the instincts of a hound, Lu Bu instantly spotted a back retreating as fast as a rat.

"Worthless scum! Tell your master what a coward he is! ...S-sending someone else to do his job..."

The poison was reacting quickly, and Lu Bu's body began to burn. He was becoming light-headed and numb.

"Diao...Chan..."

"Please, wake up! Stay with me!" Diao Chan frantically said as she fought to keep the general alive. Just when he was about to plunge into the water, she had caught his heavy body. Managing to pull him to the ground, Diao Chan immediately searched for the injury.

Bravely, she pulled out the arrow from his arm. Now she was angry. Staring at the arrow's tip, she realized, "Someone's trying to kill him before he gets to reach the next battle."

Lu Bu was sweating profusely, his eyes were glazing and his breath was chappy. Diao Chan knew she had to do something. Without a second thought, she let his blood flow out and began sucking out the poison...

Dark came and she sat in front of the fire and beside Lu Bu, tending to him. She had placed crushed herbs on his wound and made medicine for him to drink. His breathing got back to normal gradually, and his temperature had dropped. Still, Lu Bu groaned and shivered from the cold.

Diao Chan smiled with relief and brushed his dark hair away. Red Hare was already curled asleep, and she felt her eyes shutting. Slowly, she eased herself beside Lu Bu, resting her head on the crook of his neck and wrapped her arms around him.

Lu Bu grunted loudly and tried to open his eyes. He looked up and made out a roof of a cave...What had happened?

The last thing he remembered was that he was bathing, and something had pierced his arm. Everything began to blur and the last he saw was figure draped in blue. If he had been spotted a second later, he would have had a watery grave.

"Unh."

"Huh?"

Lu Bu diverted his eyes to his side, and found Diao Chan sleeping. Drops of his blood had stained her beautiful dress. He raised his left arm, and saw that his wound had already been treated. His eyes widened and switched back and forth from Diao Chan to the cloth, learning that she had torn off a part of her skirt and tied it around to stop the bleeding.

"M-my lord, you're awake! How are you feeling?" she asked as soon as she sensed him conscious. Diao Chan quickly placed a hand on his forehead and neck, checking for temperature. "I-I set Red Hare out in search for help. If we're lucky, there may be a village nearby," she said as she tightened the knot on his bandage, "We have to let a doctor see your injury and have it properly treated. What I did would not last throughout our journey."

"You..did this?" Lu Bu asked even though he knew the answer, then touched his arm lightly.

Diao Chan nodded in reply. She got up and thrusted a bowl of white liquid at him. "My lord, please drink this."

Trusting her with his life, he did as he was told. Unceremoniously, Lu Bu's face contorted into a grimace. The drink was extremely and terribly bitter. "What is this?"

"Consider yourself lucky, General," she said kneeling before him. "The archer did not do his preparations very well. He didn't even bother thinking of using the appropriate poison for the job. This area is filled with life-saving plants...oh, your steed has come back!"

"Good morning, my lady."

Diao Chan was relieved, impressed and satisfied. Before her, a short, elderly man took his hat off and bowed deeply.

"I saw this magnificent horse carrying a scroll. He led me here. I understand that you are in dire need of medical aid. Please, let me bring you to our village quickly."

"Thank you. We are greatly indebted."

The kind peasant shook his head. "Such is unecessary."