Forbidden Dreams
By Natsue Arishima
Chapter Four: Kiss
He didn't know why he had done that. He felt so stupid, helpless. His footsteps faltered as he thought about turning back.
No. It would signal as a bigger sign of defeat.
And no matter how much his heart hurt, he knew he couldn't show any signs of weakness, or else Jiang Wei could be taken in a second.
Another yell came from the inside of Cheng Du, sounding suspiciously like Zhang Fei. Zhao Yun should have known.
He clutched Fierce Dragon hard, his knuckles turning white. Before the doors of Cheng Du, the Tiger General risked a glance behind him.
Jiang Wei was staring up into the sky, Blink once again in his hand. His clear, smooth face seemed confused and sad, lined with smooth, glinting liquid.
Tears?
Zhao Yun shook his head, pushing his dreams to the back of his mind. He stepped inside Cheng Du, and yet could not rid the image of Jiang Wei, his delicate body outlined against the clear sky, sparkling substances falling from his gentle, brown eyes.
"Damn," Zhao Yun muttered, rubbing his head with a callused hand and closing his green eyes. Perhaps he would attend the meeting with Zhuge Liang after all.
*~*~*
The sky with its many swirling colors held no interest for Jiang Wei. Everything was blurred, from the smallest bird to the dazzling rays of the sun.
He was crying.
For what reason, he did not know.
Jiang Wei absentmindedly raised his wounded hand to his face, examining the white cloth, now stained in red. He remembered the soft touch of the fierce Tiger General, the gentle green eyes...
He felt confused, lost, and most of all angry.
Why?
If only Sima Yi was here...
He clenched his fist, his nails digging even deeper into his already open wound. The pain was dull, blunted, and he was oblivious to the blood dripping from his hand.
Jiang Wei's head suddenly snapped upright and he stood still, ripping himself away from his thoughts. His keen, brown eyes darted among the distant trees.
There was something out there.
Unmistakably, he saw movement by the roots of a great pine. He narrowed his eyes, and saw the rustle of purple fabric.
He recognized it instantly as a Wei bodyguard.
And judging from the outfit, the man was obviously an elite bodyguard, for ones high up in rank. Jiang Wei's mind fell quickly on Cao Cao, Xiahou Dun...
... or Sima Yi.
His body immediately felt ripped.
Days ago, he would have eagerly jumped forward, ready to be taken back into Wei. But now, the man in the trees seemed more like an enemy, part of a kingdom of fear.
He didn't know what to do.
A giggle sounded behind him and he spun around, Blink raised menacingly in his hand.
The tip of his spear was pointed inches away from Mei Hua's surprised face.
"Jiang Wei?" she asked timidly, her big eyes dancing in shock. The girl swallowed, staring intently at Blink.
"Oh... forgive me..." The young strategist lowered his weapon, his eyes darting back towards the trees.
The scout was gone.
"Jiang Wei?" Mei Hua asked again. A faint gasp left her throat as she suddenly grasped his hand, her short brown hair falling over her face. "What happened?"
"N-nothing..." Jiang Wei sighed. "You should be back inside."
"But -"
"It's dangerous out here."
She pouted, her overly sweet face turning into a frown. Staring at him quietly, she nodded in defeat. "Very well." Turning around, she skipped back towards Cheng Du, singing contentedly on the way.
Jiang Wei started back towards the city too.
A sudden impulse drew him back.
He was sure that there had been more than one scout.
His clever brain automatically whipped into action as he realized the meaning.
What should he do?
He stood still for a moment, uncertain, before turning and running towards Cheng Du.
He would tell Zhuge Liang.
*~*~*
Zhao Yun arrived at the meeting during the last few minutes. Zhuge Liang sighed, a faint smile crossing his face, before continuing his speech. Pang Tong and Yue Ying stood by the doorway, and as the Tiger General stepped inside, Pang Tong looked up at him.
"A bit late, young one?" His old face was crinkled into a smile.
"I believe I was. Forgive me," Zhao Yun whispered back.
Zhuge Liang cleared his throat, looking towards his wife, who smiled gently at his slightly harassed expression. He cleared his throat loudly again, waving his fan at several people. The room slowly turned quiet. "As I was saying -"
He was interrupted, once again, as Jiang Wei burst into the room, panting and looking stricken. Zhao Yun, Pang Tong and Yue Ying all quickly moved out of the doorway as the young officer rushed past them. His hair a mess and eyes wide, he headed right up towards the Prime Minister without talking.
Zhuge Liang looked surprised as Jiang Wei stopped in front of him and promptly whispered soft words in his ear. The Prime Minister was silent, eyes closed, and then nodded. "Inform Lord Liu Bei immediately."
Jiang Wei bowed before rushing out of the room, stumbling on the threshold. His footsteps soon faded away.
Silence stretched as everyone leaned forward, anxious to hear the news. Even Zhang Fei was quiet, his red face intent. Yue Ying and Pang Tong looked at each other, confused. Ma Chao frowned, his eyes narrowed.
"My friends," Zhuge Liang stated, his voice strong and sure in the quiet room as he fanned himself automatically. "I'm afraid that Wei is declaring war."
*~*~*
Night had fallen. Zhao Yun was outside the city once again, except this time it was completely dark. No light shone from inside Cheng Du. Not even a spark.
The lonely moon was the only glowing source of light at night.
Faint rays of moonlight flowed over him, outlining his hair, body, and glinting off Fierce Dragon.
The meeting had been so long ago, and yet Zhuge Liang's words would not disappear.
Wei was declaring war.
Something brushed his arm, and he looked down.
Jiang Wei.
The young strategist stood next to him, his slender figure silhouetted against the moon. The graceful image permanently froze on Zhao Yun's mind.
"Are you prepared for battle against Wei?" Jiang Wei asked softly, his eyes never leaving the night sky.
Zhao Yun nodded. "As sure as ever." He examined Jiang Wei for a while. "Are you ready?"
At this Jiang Wei sighed. "I don't know..." His eyes were leaden, covered in sorrow. "I just..."
The older man looked back up into the sky. Stars glittered above them, creating a never-ending pattern of lights.
"You loved him, didn't you?" It was more of a statement then a question.
Jiang Wei blushed, his eyes reflecting the stars. "I guess I did," he admitted. He looked up at Zhao Yun, who sighed, a faint smile crossing his lips as he locked eyes with the other.
So that was it. The truth about Jiang Wei's past. He felt the strange jealousy overcome his body again. "If you must fight them, will you?"
Jiang Wei didn't answer for a long moment, and then whispered, "I'm in Shu now. Wei is the past."
Zhao Yun nodded, looking intently into gentle, sparkling brown eyes. Jiang Wei looked so innocent and young against the night sky.
"Even Sima Yi?" he asked.
Jiang Wei swallowed, looking towards the ground. He didn't know what to say. So many unknown emotions were fighting inside of him, and yet... "I can't forget him. Not yet," he whispered, looking up at the Tiger General again.
Zhao Yun looked down at his faintly glowing face, and slowly brushed a strand of smooth, dark hair from Jiang Wei's face. The young strategist shivered slightly at his touch but didn't pull away, falling once again into the radiating green orbs.
"I understand that your love is devoted to Sima Yi..." Zhao Yun whispered, pulling him gently closer. "... but..."
They stared at each other for several moments before the Tiger General leaned down, kissing the other softly. It wasn't a kiss exactly, more like a simple brush of the lips, but Jiang Wei's eyes widened in shock. Zhao Yun was so close and so warm, like the darkest protector...
He never knew a person could be so gentle.
Zhao Yun pulled away, staring into Jiang Wei's flushed face. Stroking the young strategist's cheek, Zhao Yun turned his head towards Cheng Du.
"It's getting cold. You should head in."
Jiang Wei was at loss of words. He stared up at Zhao Yun's handsome face and suddenly felt at home. Nodding wordlessly, he faced the city, but before he had moved, he stopped and turned around. "What about you?"
"I'm going to stay out here for a while longer," Zhao Yun said quietly, his eyes drifting back towards the moon.
Jiang Wei nodded, smiling faintly, and headed back inside, a hand reaching up to brush his lips.
**********
A/N: Fourth chapter up! How was it? And no, this is NOT the last chapter... there are still a lot more chapters to come, and I would also like to add that along with the chapters, there will be many pairings too (not ALL yaoi) ^^ However... I seem to be disapointing many reviewers... and I'm not that sure if I should continue this... But... I might... Anyhoo, R&R! And just maybe you will be seeing the next chapter of this!
--Natsue Arishima
By Natsue Arishima
Chapter Four: Kiss
He didn't know why he had done that. He felt so stupid, helpless. His footsteps faltered as he thought about turning back.
No. It would signal as a bigger sign of defeat.
And no matter how much his heart hurt, he knew he couldn't show any signs of weakness, or else Jiang Wei could be taken in a second.
Another yell came from the inside of Cheng Du, sounding suspiciously like Zhang Fei. Zhao Yun should have known.
He clutched Fierce Dragon hard, his knuckles turning white. Before the doors of Cheng Du, the Tiger General risked a glance behind him.
Jiang Wei was staring up into the sky, Blink once again in his hand. His clear, smooth face seemed confused and sad, lined with smooth, glinting liquid.
Tears?
Zhao Yun shook his head, pushing his dreams to the back of his mind. He stepped inside Cheng Du, and yet could not rid the image of Jiang Wei, his delicate body outlined against the clear sky, sparkling substances falling from his gentle, brown eyes.
"Damn," Zhao Yun muttered, rubbing his head with a callused hand and closing his green eyes. Perhaps he would attend the meeting with Zhuge Liang after all.
The sky with its many swirling colors held no interest for Jiang Wei. Everything was blurred, from the smallest bird to the dazzling rays of the sun.
He was crying.
For what reason, he did not know.
Jiang Wei absentmindedly raised his wounded hand to his face, examining the white cloth, now stained in red. He remembered the soft touch of the fierce Tiger General, the gentle green eyes...
He felt confused, lost, and most of all angry.
Why?
If only Sima Yi was here...
He clenched his fist, his nails digging even deeper into his already open wound. The pain was dull, blunted, and he was oblivious to the blood dripping from his hand.
Jiang Wei's head suddenly snapped upright and he stood still, ripping himself away from his thoughts. His keen, brown eyes darted among the distant trees.
There was something out there.
Unmistakably, he saw movement by the roots of a great pine. He narrowed his eyes, and saw the rustle of purple fabric.
He recognized it instantly as a Wei bodyguard.
And judging from the outfit, the man was obviously an elite bodyguard, for ones high up in rank. Jiang Wei's mind fell quickly on Cao Cao, Xiahou Dun...
... or Sima Yi.
His body immediately felt ripped.
Days ago, he would have eagerly jumped forward, ready to be taken back into Wei. But now, the man in the trees seemed more like an enemy, part of a kingdom of fear.
He didn't know what to do.
A giggle sounded behind him and he spun around, Blink raised menacingly in his hand.
The tip of his spear was pointed inches away from Mei Hua's surprised face.
"Jiang Wei?" she asked timidly, her big eyes dancing in shock. The girl swallowed, staring intently at Blink.
"Oh... forgive me..." The young strategist lowered his weapon, his eyes darting back towards the trees.
The scout was gone.
"Jiang Wei?" Mei Hua asked again. A faint gasp left her throat as she suddenly grasped his hand, her short brown hair falling over her face. "What happened?"
"N-nothing..." Jiang Wei sighed. "You should be back inside."
"But -"
"It's dangerous out here."
She pouted, her overly sweet face turning into a frown. Staring at him quietly, she nodded in defeat. "Very well." Turning around, she skipped back towards Cheng Du, singing contentedly on the way.
Jiang Wei started back towards the city too.
A sudden impulse drew him back.
He was sure that there had been more than one scout.
His clever brain automatically whipped into action as he realized the meaning.
What should he do?
He stood still for a moment, uncertain, before turning and running towards Cheng Du.
He would tell Zhuge Liang.
Zhao Yun arrived at the meeting during the last few minutes. Zhuge Liang sighed, a faint smile crossing his face, before continuing his speech. Pang Tong and Yue Ying stood by the doorway, and as the Tiger General stepped inside, Pang Tong looked up at him.
"A bit late, young one?" His old face was crinkled into a smile.
"I believe I was. Forgive me," Zhao Yun whispered back.
Zhuge Liang cleared his throat, looking towards his wife, who smiled gently at his slightly harassed expression. He cleared his throat loudly again, waving his fan at several people. The room slowly turned quiet. "As I was saying -"
He was interrupted, once again, as Jiang Wei burst into the room, panting and looking stricken. Zhao Yun, Pang Tong and Yue Ying all quickly moved out of the doorway as the young officer rushed past them. His hair a mess and eyes wide, he headed right up towards the Prime Minister without talking.
Zhuge Liang looked surprised as Jiang Wei stopped in front of him and promptly whispered soft words in his ear. The Prime Minister was silent, eyes closed, and then nodded. "Inform Lord Liu Bei immediately."
Jiang Wei bowed before rushing out of the room, stumbling on the threshold. His footsteps soon faded away.
Silence stretched as everyone leaned forward, anxious to hear the news. Even Zhang Fei was quiet, his red face intent. Yue Ying and Pang Tong looked at each other, confused. Ma Chao frowned, his eyes narrowed.
"My friends," Zhuge Liang stated, his voice strong and sure in the quiet room as he fanned himself automatically. "I'm afraid that Wei is declaring war."
Night had fallen. Zhao Yun was outside the city once again, except this time it was completely dark. No light shone from inside Cheng Du. Not even a spark.
The lonely moon was the only glowing source of light at night.
Faint rays of moonlight flowed over him, outlining his hair, body, and glinting off Fierce Dragon.
The meeting had been so long ago, and yet Zhuge Liang's words would not disappear.
Wei was declaring war.
Something brushed his arm, and he looked down.
Jiang Wei.
The young strategist stood next to him, his slender figure silhouetted against the moon. The graceful image permanently froze on Zhao Yun's mind.
"Are you prepared for battle against Wei?" Jiang Wei asked softly, his eyes never leaving the night sky.
Zhao Yun nodded. "As sure as ever." He examined Jiang Wei for a while. "Are you ready?"
At this Jiang Wei sighed. "I don't know..." His eyes were leaden, covered in sorrow. "I just..."
The older man looked back up into the sky. Stars glittered above them, creating a never-ending pattern of lights.
"You loved him, didn't you?" It was more of a statement then a question.
Jiang Wei blushed, his eyes reflecting the stars. "I guess I did," he admitted. He looked up at Zhao Yun, who sighed, a faint smile crossing his lips as he locked eyes with the other.
So that was it. The truth about Jiang Wei's past. He felt the strange jealousy overcome his body again. "If you must fight them, will you?"
Jiang Wei didn't answer for a long moment, and then whispered, "I'm in Shu now. Wei is the past."
Zhao Yun nodded, looking intently into gentle, sparkling brown eyes. Jiang Wei looked so innocent and young against the night sky.
"Even Sima Yi?" he asked.
Jiang Wei swallowed, looking towards the ground. He didn't know what to say. So many unknown emotions were fighting inside of him, and yet... "I can't forget him. Not yet," he whispered, looking up at the Tiger General again.
Zhao Yun looked down at his faintly glowing face, and slowly brushed a strand of smooth, dark hair from Jiang Wei's face. The young strategist shivered slightly at his touch but didn't pull away, falling once again into the radiating green orbs.
"I understand that your love is devoted to Sima Yi..." Zhao Yun whispered, pulling him gently closer. "... but..."
They stared at each other for several moments before the Tiger General leaned down, kissing the other softly. It wasn't a kiss exactly, more like a simple brush of the lips, but Jiang Wei's eyes widened in shock. Zhao Yun was so close and so warm, like the darkest protector...
He never knew a person could be so gentle.
Zhao Yun pulled away, staring into Jiang Wei's flushed face. Stroking the young strategist's cheek, Zhao Yun turned his head towards Cheng Du.
"It's getting cold. You should head in."
Jiang Wei was at loss of words. He stared up at Zhao Yun's handsome face and suddenly felt at home. Nodding wordlessly, he faced the city, but before he had moved, he stopped and turned around. "What about you?"
"I'm going to stay out here for a while longer," Zhao Yun said quietly, his eyes drifting back towards the moon.
Jiang Wei nodded, smiling faintly, and headed back inside, a hand reaching up to brush his lips.
**********
A/N: Fourth chapter up! How was it? And no, this is NOT the last chapter... there are still a lot more chapters to come, and I would also like to add that along with the chapters, there will be many pairings too (not ALL yaoi) ^^ However... I seem to be disapointing many reviewers... and I'm not that sure if I should continue this... But... I might... Anyhoo, R&R! And just maybe you will be seeing the next chapter of this!
--Natsue Arishima