Forbidden Dreams
By Natsue Arishima
Chapter Five: Guilty Desire
Red Hare whinnied, rearing up into the sky on a high, overhanging cliff. He snorted, his fierce red eyes glaring at the sun, his dark mane glowing from the light. Swishing his tail impatiently, he nickered softly, pawing the ground. His rider sat proud on his back, Blue Moon Dragon held firmly in his hands.
Guan Yu squinted towards the horizon. His thoughts swirled effortlessly in his mind. Something was there, yes, but too far away to determine...
A white stallion passed him, stopping at the edge. The grand horse looked down into the far plains below him, shaking his head. On top of him, the Little Dragon narrowed his piercing emerald eyes. Two minuscule suns were reflected in each eye as he raised his Fierce Dragon, pointing towards a specific area.
"There." He stared at the designated spot for a few seconds longer before turning his horse around. "Wu troops." The stallion whinnied, raising his head proudly as he waited for further orders.
Red Hare followed, eager to run, his red ears flicking forward, and Guan Yu steered him towards Cheng Du. "I must go inform Lord Liu Bei."
Zhao Yun nodded, nudging his own steed towards the faint figures in the distance.
He frowned.
What was going on?
*~*~*
Jiang Wei looked up, slightly shocked, as a fierce whinny came from the grounds below. Besides him, Zhuge Liang got up, walking towards the window. His face became grave and he rushed towards the door, beckoning Jiang Wei after him. Puzzled, the young genius followed, his mind still lingering on the previous night's fantasy.
Calming down Red Hare, Guan Yu watched as Zhuge Liang, Jiang Wei, Yue Ying and Huang Zhong hurried out towards him. Liu Bei ran out a few seconds after them, Gold Moon Dragon already in his hand.
"What is it?" he asked, walking towards Guan Yu.
"My Lord..." Guan Yu began. "It is Wu."
The leader of Shu stood still, a strange expression crossing his face. Finally, he struggled out, "Is Lady Sun with them?"
"From what I could tell, yes. Sun Jian does not appear to be with them. They seem injured greatly, and Zhao Yun is already there. I believe Ma Chao is on his way also, since I passed him on my way here."
The Lord hesitated, and Jiang Wei frowned, trying to read his face. "Perhaps we should go assist them." He immediately thought about Zhao Yun. What if the officers of Wu were perfectly fine and Zhao Yun was in danger? Of course, the general had Ma Chao to help him, but even so... two Tiger Generals facing a whole kingdom couldn't possibly win... He looked back towards Liu Bei as the Lord spoke again.
"Let us go," he whispered before running towards his horse.
*~*~*
Sun Ce looked up wearily as he saw a white stallion gallop towards his troops. The Little Dragon sat unmistakably on its back. The flash of his Fierce Dragon wasn't easy to miss.
The grand horse reared up in front of them, its dangerous hooves flashing. Landing back on all fours, it nickered, standing still a few feet away from the intruders.
"Officers of Wu," Zhao Yun stated clearly, Fierce Dragon propped up against his arm. "What business do you have with Shu?"
"Nothing to do with fighting, anyway," Sun Ce drawled, his dull eyes full of caution. Now was not the time to mess with any officer, especially a Tiger General.
"As you can see, we have placed our weapons away," Sun Quan muttered, coughing. "We had no intention of fighting. We ask only for shelter and the friendship that Wu and Shu once had."
Zhao Yun lowered his weapon, staring at the sorrowful group. Indeed, Sun Jian wasn't among them. Huang Gai was being supported by both Lu Meng and Taishi Ci, who each had one of his arms slung across their shoulders. Lu Xun once again had his eyes closed, in the arms of the playful pirate. The two Qiaos were both up but injured, both attempting to comfort the three homeless survivors that weren't officers.
Zhou Yu was limping, helped by his also hurt sworn brother. Sun Shang Xiang held her Sol Chakrams and lowered them when Sun Quan sent her a meaningful look. Zhou Tai stood quietly in the back of the group, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
The Little Dragon sighed, and at the same time, another rider raced in front of them. His horse whinnied and reared, its figure outlined against the sky. A man sat on top, fierce, with a bronze battle helmet and a deadly spear. Zhao Yun turned to look at his rival, his lips thinning into a line.
"Where is your leader?" Ma Chao questioned, his fierce eyes glinting.
Sun Shang Xiang looked angrily at him. "Our -"
"He has fallen," Sun Quan interrupted in a soft voice. "We were attacked during the night by Wei."
The great horse Lord paused, as if about to speak, before he turned and looked icily at Zhao Yun, who nodded, though coldly. "Wei is a common enemy here," Ma Chao stated, "having murdered my father."
Zhao Yun turned his horse, looking over his shoulder. "We can lead you back to Cheng Du. I am sure that Liu Bei will allow your presence."
The Sun sister swallowed on the name of her husband.
They had not moved for five minutes before a distant horde of horses could be seen...
And Liu Bei rode in the front, his eyes fixed on Sun Shang Xiang.
*~*~*
An elegant and soft melody flowed over the quiet city of Xu Chang. Combined with intensity, grace, and beauty, the many tired Wei officers looked up, refreshed.
As the sound washed over Xiahou Dun, he sighed and closed his single eye. The song was more than music to him.
It was a melody that, though beautiful, carried a weight of sadness, never ceasing to remind him of the wound in his heart that refused to go away. The pain that was shared with another, who knew perfectly well of their impossible fate.
He opened his eyes as the melody changed, from sweet and elegance into pain.
Why should the Lady be feeling so?
He quickly stood up, sprinting through the many halls of Xu Chang. His sharp eyes scanned every corner, but he did not see the figure that he constantly dreamed of.
Finally, the garden came into view, and he saw a form sitting alone on a stone bench. Long, dark, silky hair was tied up with a gold ribbon, flowing down to the small of her back. A graceful peacock ornament was placed gently on her lovely hair and a single pink jewel hung over the center her forehead.
An elegant dress clothed her body, shades of purple covered in gold patterns and black, feathered lining. Splitting in half and showing her long, slender legs, purple high-heels were revealed.
He stepped forwards slowly until he was right behind her, watching her every move with yearning. Dark eyelashes hid her eyes as she blew into her elaborate, purple and gold flute with her rose-colored lips, creating the longing and emotional melody.
Feeling a hand on her shoulder, the beautiful woman opened her eyes, pausing. The loss of sound was sudden, and the garden seemed strangely quiet.
"Lady Zhen Ji," the Wei officer whispered, his eyes narrowed in concern. "Is there something that bothers you?"
She sighed faintly, gazing at his hand. Leaning back into his embrace, she closed her eyes, avoiding his question. "You have come here again when you shouldn't. If Cao Pi ever found out about us -"
He hesitated before sitting down beside her. She opened her eyes again, and he stared into the gentle warmth of those two orbs. His usual gruffness faded away. "Your music contains pain. Why?"
She looked at her flute, averting her eyes. "I feel like such a disgrace."
"For attacking a kingdom during the night?" he questioned.
He heard her breath in sharply. "Sima Yi claims that fighting this way is faster, easier. However... I believe that if we had attacked during the day, we would still be fighting now."
"What do you mean by that?"
She slowly stared into his face. "I believe that Sima Yi fears that we are no match for Wu. He is afraid that we may fail, and so uses the darkest way to win." She sighed again. "Can love really stretch that far? To force a person into doing something so cowardly just to get back what he wants? I will never know..." She clenched her fists. "I am married to one that I will never love."
Lifting a callused hand, he brushed a strand of her perfect hair out of her pale face. She looked at him sadly, raising her own slender fingers and covering his hand with her own.
"Zhen Ji..." he whispered, unconsciously sliding his other hand around her slender waist. She felt faint tears prick her enchanting eyes.
He pulled her close, and she willingly obliged, even though her body shook. This was not allowed. If anyone were to find out...
It could reach the extent of her losing the one that she truly loved.
And yet she didn't pull back. It was as if she didn't care anymore, as long as she had this one precious moment to fully enjoy.
She stared into his face, taking in every inch. Xiahou Dun was handsome, though there were definitely others who outranked him in looks, but his courage and bravery were the things that she found herself attracted to.
She didn't care that he only had one eye, didn't care if he was a bit gruff. He was gentle on the inside, and that was all that mattered.
He had always loved her and she him. Their hearts had been torn when Zhen Ji had been forced to marry Cao Pi.
And now...
His own long, dark hair brushed her flushed cheeks as he leaned forward...
So close...
He could feel her soft breath on his face, smell the scent of flowers in her hair...
Merely inches apart, she heard a voice in the hall, becoming gradually louder.
She knew that voice.
She could recognize it anywhere.
Cao Pi.
Xiahou Dun frowned, confused, as she pulled away. "I must leave," she murmured, tears falling from her eyes. Picking up her Dark Moon Flute, she quickly hurried towards the empty corridor. The clicking of her shoes soon faded away.
**********
A/N: Okay, so I wanted to continue this story. As do others so... I think I've got down all of the couples in this story. Sorry if you wanted to see some more yaoi couples! But, as a bright spot for you, I'm planning to write a Gan Ning x Lu Xun fic soon... It's called Innocence but that's as far as I've got... >.>... A Sima Yi x Zhang He fic is also in the works! Oh, and if any of you like Xiahou Dun x Zhen Ji coupling, I've already posted a chapter of it in the story Dark Pleasure. But anyway... I'll stop advertising now. Please R&R!
--Natsue Arishima
By Natsue Arishima
Chapter Five: Guilty Desire
Red Hare whinnied, rearing up into the sky on a high, overhanging cliff. He snorted, his fierce red eyes glaring at the sun, his dark mane glowing from the light. Swishing his tail impatiently, he nickered softly, pawing the ground. His rider sat proud on his back, Blue Moon Dragon held firmly in his hands.
Guan Yu squinted towards the horizon. His thoughts swirled effortlessly in his mind. Something was there, yes, but too far away to determine...
A white stallion passed him, stopping at the edge. The grand horse looked down into the far plains below him, shaking his head. On top of him, the Little Dragon narrowed his piercing emerald eyes. Two minuscule suns were reflected in each eye as he raised his Fierce Dragon, pointing towards a specific area.
"There." He stared at the designated spot for a few seconds longer before turning his horse around. "Wu troops." The stallion whinnied, raising his head proudly as he waited for further orders.
Red Hare followed, eager to run, his red ears flicking forward, and Guan Yu steered him towards Cheng Du. "I must go inform Lord Liu Bei."
Zhao Yun nodded, nudging his own steed towards the faint figures in the distance.
He frowned.
What was going on?
Jiang Wei looked up, slightly shocked, as a fierce whinny came from the grounds below. Besides him, Zhuge Liang got up, walking towards the window. His face became grave and he rushed towards the door, beckoning Jiang Wei after him. Puzzled, the young genius followed, his mind still lingering on the previous night's fantasy.
Calming down Red Hare, Guan Yu watched as Zhuge Liang, Jiang Wei, Yue Ying and Huang Zhong hurried out towards him. Liu Bei ran out a few seconds after them, Gold Moon Dragon already in his hand.
"What is it?" he asked, walking towards Guan Yu.
"My Lord..." Guan Yu began. "It is Wu."
The leader of Shu stood still, a strange expression crossing his face. Finally, he struggled out, "Is Lady Sun with them?"
"From what I could tell, yes. Sun Jian does not appear to be with them. They seem injured greatly, and Zhao Yun is already there. I believe Ma Chao is on his way also, since I passed him on my way here."
The Lord hesitated, and Jiang Wei frowned, trying to read his face. "Perhaps we should go assist them." He immediately thought about Zhao Yun. What if the officers of Wu were perfectly fine and Zhao Yun was in danger? Of course, the general had Ma Chao to help him, but even so... two Tiger Generals facing a whole kingdom couldn't possibly win... He looked back towards Liu Bei as the Lord spoke again.
"Let us go," he whispered before running towards his horse.
Sun Ce looked up wearily as he saw a white stallion gallop towards his troops. The Little Dragon sat unmistakably on its back. The flash of his Fierce Dragon wasn't easy to miss.
The grand horse reared up in front of them, its dangerous hooves flashing. Landing back on all fours, it nickered, standing still a few feet away from the intruders.
"Officers of Wu," Zhao Yun stated clearly, Fierce Dragon propped up against his arm. "What business do you have with Shu?"
"Nothing to do with fighting, anyway," Sun Ce drawled, his dull eyes full of caution. Now was not the time to mess with any officer, especially a Tiger General.
"As you can see, we have placed our weapons away," Sun Quan muttered, coughing. "We had no intention of fighting. We ask only for shelter and the friendship that Wu and Shu once had."
Zhao Yun lowered his weapon, staring at the sorrowful group. Indeed, Sun Jian wasn't among them. Huang Gai was being supported by both Lu Meng and Taishi Ci, who each had one of his arms slung across their shoulders. Lu Xun once again had his eyes closed, in the arms of the playful pirate. The two Qiaos were both up but injured, both attempting to comfort the three homeless survivors that weren't officers.
Zhou Yu was limping, helped by his also hurt sworn brother. Sun Shang Xiang held her Sol Chakrams and lowered them when Sun Quan sent her a meaningful look. Zhou Tai stood quietly in the back of the group, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
The Little Dragon sighed, and at the same time, another rider raced in front of them. His horse whinnied and reared, its figure outlined against the sky. A man sat on top, fierce, with a bronze battle helmet and a deadly spear. Zhao Yun turned to look at his rival, his lips thinning into a line.
"Where is your leader?" Ma Chao questioned, his fierce eyes glinting.
Sun Shang Xiang looked angrily at him. "Our -"
"He has fallen," Sun Quan interrupted in a soft voice. "We were attacked during the night by Wei."
The great horse Lord paused, as if about to speak, before he turned and looked icily at Zhao Yun, who nodded, though coldly. "Wei is a common enemy here," Ma Chao stated, "having murdered my father."
Zhao Yun turned his horse, looking over his shoulder. "We can lead you back to Cheng Du. I am sure that Liu Bei will allow your presence."
The Sun sister swallowed on the name of her husband.
They had not moved for five minutes before a distant horde of horses could be seen...
And Liu Bei rode in the front, his eyes fixed on Sun Shang Xiang.
An elegant and soft melody flowed over the quiet city of Xu Chang. Combined with intensity, grace, and beauty, the many tired Wei officers looked up, refreshed.
As the sound washed over Xiahou Dun, he sighed and closed his single eye. The song was more than music to him.
It was a melody that, though beautiful, carried a weight of sadness, never ceasing to remind him of the wound in his heart that refused to go away. The pain that was shared with another, who knew perfectly well of their impossible fate.
He opened his eyes as the melody changed, from sweet and elegance into pain.
Why should the Lady be feeling so?
He quickly stood up, sprinting through the many halls of Xu Chang. His sharp eyes scanned every corner, but he did not see the figure that he constantly dreamed of.
Finally, the garden came into view, and he saw a form sitting alone on a stone bench. Long, dark, silky hair was tied up with a gold ribbon, flowing down to the small of her back. A graceful peacock ornament was placed gently on her lovely hair and a single pink jewel hung over the center her forehead.
An elegant dress clothed her body, shades of purple covered in gold patterns and black, feathered lining. Splitting in half and showing her long, slender legs, purple high-heels were revealed.
He stepped forwards slowly until he was right behind her, watching her every move with yearning. Dark eyelashes hid her eyes as she blew into her elaborate, purple and gold flute with her rose-colored lips, creating the longing and emotional melody.
Feeling a hand on her shoulder, the beautiful woman opened her eyes, pausing. The loss of sound was sudden, and the garden seemed strangely quiet.
"Lady Zhen Ji," the Wei officer whispered, his eyes narrowed in concern. "Is there something that bothers you?"
She sighed faintly, gazing at his hand. Leaning back into his embrace, she closed her eyes, avoiding his question. "You have come here again when you shouldn't. If Cao Pi ever found out about us -"
He hesitated before sitting down beside her. She opened her eyes again, and he stared into the gentle warmth of those two orbs. His usual gruffness faded away. "Your music contains pain. Why?"
She looked at her flute, averting her eyes. "I feel like such a disgrace."
"For attacking a kingdom during the night?" he questioned.
He heard her breath in sharply. "Sima Yi claims that fighting this way is faster, easier. However... I believe that if we had attacked during the day, we would still be fighting now."
"What do you mean by that?"
She slowly stared into his face. "I believe that Sima Yi fears that we are no match for Wu. He is afraid that we may fail, and so uses the darkest way to win." She sighed again. "Can love really stretch that far? To force a person into doing something so cowardly just to get back what he wants? I will never know..." She clenched her fists. "I am married to one that I will never love."
Lifting a callused hand, he brushed a strand of her perfect hair out of her pale face. She looked at him sadly, raising her own slender fingers and covering his hand with her own.
"Zhen Ji..." he whispered, unconsciously sliding his other hand around her slender waist. She felt faint tears prick her enchanting eyes.
He pulled her close, and she willingly obliged, even though her body shook. This was not allowed. If anyone were to find out...
It could reach the extent of her losing the one that she truly loved.
And yet she didn't pull back. It was as if she didn't care anymore, as long as she had this one precious moment to fully enjoy.
She stared into his face, taking in every inch. Xiahou Dun was handsome, though there were definitely others who outranked him in looks, but his courage and bravery were the things that she found herself attracted to.
She didn't care that he only had one eye, didn't care if he was a bit gruff. He was gentle on the inside, and that was all that mattered.
He had always loved her and she him. Their hearts had been torn when Zhen Ji had been forced to marry Cao Pi.
And now...
His own long, dark hair brushed her flushed cheeks as he leaned forward...
So close...
He could feel her soft breath on his face, smell the scent of flowers in her hair...
Merely inches apart, she heard a voice in the hall, becoming gradually louder.
She knew that voice.
She could recognize it anywhere.
Cao Pi.
Xiahou Dun frowned, confused, as she pulled away. "I must leave," she murmured, tears falling from her eyes. Picking up her Dark Moon Flute, she quickly hurried towards the empty corridor. The clicking of her shoes soon faded away.
**********
A/N: Okay, so I wanted to continue this story. As do others so... I think I've got down all of the couples in this story. Sorry if you wanted to see some more yaoi couples! But, as a bright spot for you, I'm planning to write a Gan Ning x Lu Xun fic soon... It's called Innocence but that's as far as I've got... >.>... A Sima Yi x Zhang He fic is also in the works! Oh, and if any of you like Xiahou Dun x Zhen Ji coupling, I've already posted a chapter of it in the story Dark Pleasure. But anyway... I'll stop advertising now. Please R&R!
--Natsue Arishima