Between Love and War
By: Mako-chan
Mako_chan@tekken.cc
Author status: scarcely eaten
a whole meal in two days
pauper for two days
dreaming of spam and scrambled eggs for breakfast, red pepper spaghetti
for lunch or dinner for two days
will pounce on the first ATM that opens tomorrow
will pounce on an all-you-can-eat pizza dinner
Nyep...while people are still stuffing themselves well into the
first week of the New Year, here I am in my dorm, actually experiencing
a holiday famine of all sorts. Anyhow, at least my brain is still
working. I'm actually contemplating on this chapter - because I
personally think that my pacing has gone too fast - of delaying a
crucial detail in the story. But since I don't have any idea of
what to add, well...and you may find interesting to know that a minor
character of mine bears the name of a popular guy from a popular pop
group in Taiwan...er, not just in Taiwan, fine...sorry, not very
familiar with Chinese names and that's the best I could come up with,
you see...
*DISCLAIMER: No profits. No ownership but the story. DW and
its characters belong to Koei.*
Between Love and War
Chapter Seven
The days had turned into a week, and
it was finally time to leave. The villagers waved and said their
goodbyes, praying for Lu Bu and Diao Chan's safe journey to the castle
of Xia Pi.
"Waaaait!"
Instantly, Lu Bu pulled on Red Hare's reigns, causing the steed to
stop. He looked down and dismounted. The little boy -- whom
he had rescued from Niou Fu and whose name was Young-min, had ran and
followed them.
Lu Bu knelt down and held him by the shoulders. "Go back," he
said, as would a father to his son.
But Young-min didn't move from his spot, instead, he sprang suddenly
and hugged the general as far as his tiny arms could reach.
"Bye-bye. Please don't forget me."
Humbled and touched by Young-min's words, Lu Bu, who was supposedly
ruthless and callous answered, "If you want, someday, you will become a
powerful warrior like me...and you will be the one to protect this
village...your people." Watching the boy as he played with his
headress, Lu Bu plucked a feather and tucked it in Young-min's
hand. "That's yours. And someday, you will have the same
thing adorned on your head, but at that time, it would be far more
glorious than mine," he said and then ruffled his hair.
"Farewell, little one."
It was two days before their departure
that he had received a message from Xia Pi. A camp had been set
up in the plains awaiting his arrival. From there, they would be
escorted to the castle.
"That witch of a girl will die a brutal death at the hands of Lu Bu...his men have set up camp just some miles away from the next region. If you make haste, you may be able to make it just in time for Lu Bu's welcome celebration."
Red Hare trotted gracefully and serenely as they traveled the ricefields. Savoring this moment of bliss, Diao Chan eased herself on Lu Bu's chest, resting her head on his shoulder as if she was an infant being lulled to sleep. Enjoying this display of intimacy, Lu Bu placed both reins on one hand, and gathered the fragile maiden to him closer with his free hand.
Dusk had fallen, yet the skies were too dark and grey. The sun had disappeared abruptly, yet only shunned by massive rain clouds. Moments passed and not long after a drop of rain splotched Diao Chan's delicate nose. One, two, three drops, soon enough, it covered the entire land.
"Argh, a thousand curses," Lu Bu grunted as he flicked his steed's reins. They were in the middle of a drenched road whose soil had become so soft and muddy. Worse, there was not even a tool shed to be seen nor have they encountered any peasants whom they could ask for assistance. The farther they went, the harder the rain slapped and stronger the wind blew .
"...cold," Diao Chan squeaked
unintentionally as she tried her best not to shiver.
Lu Bu looked at Diao Chan with deep concern in his eyes. She will catch fever if we don't get to some place safe and warm, he thought. He then tightened his hold on her, hunching slightly so that he could protect her with his body. Thick fog soon obscured their view, now the road had turned into something long, endless and winding. Lu Bu flicked the reins harder, forcing Red Hare to struggle, running at top speed despite the harsh blasts of wind. Red Hare grunted, its strength starting to wane.
"Not yet. Not yet."
Just then, a small abandoned hut came into view. It was as if Lu Bu had been tested by the gods and now his reward had been handed, just when he was nothing but frustrated and severely agitated. At the same time, the storm had come to pass.
Lu Bu and Diao Chan finally came upon the hut, with Lu Bu asking her to go ahead inside while he tended to Red Hare. He tied his horse to a nearby tree, and as soon as he did, Red Hare's knees sank, giving into exhaustion. "I'm sorry my friend," Lu Bu said as he pat the horse's mane. "Here. Eat and rest."
Diao Chan had been drying her hair when Lu Bu entered. He felt his knees turn into water, his breath arrested at the sight of her. Feet firmly planted at the spot, he sureptitiously watched her every move, and a sudden urge to play with her chocolate tresses was overwhelming, as she tossed them and came tumbling about her shoulders. She was now doning a night dress, and by the light of a dim candle, his traced every curve and hollow of her body. He had been so enchanted that sweat and rain had started to mix on his body.
"Oh, my lord." Diao Chan whirled around and stopped, abruptly bringing back the general to his normal senses. Her graceful brows furrowed into a frown when she saw him shaking his head. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing," he lied, fire building up fast inside of him.
However, she knew better. Diao Chan took stalking steps towards Lu Bu, who seemingly has found himself unable to move. She came close enough that their breaths mingled.
"Take them off."
"What?" Lu Bu asked almost stupidly, turning as red as the scarlet linings of his armor.
"I said," she paused for effect, "take them off. Your armor." With that, she stepped back and looked into his eyes.
Lu Bu did as he was told, his eyes never leaving hers, as if an unbreakable spell had been casted upon him.