Forbidden Dreams
By Natsue Arishima
Chapter Nine: Meeting the Past
The officer's eyes narrowed, glinting out of the shadows of his bronze battle helmet. Something wasn't right. He was sure of it.
It was late, at least after midnight. The moon drifted in and out of the clouds, as if unsure whether or not it wanted to be covered.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Slowly and silently, he slowly drew his spear out in front of him, his mind calm and hands sure. A flash of light illuminated the strangely arched blade, the small tuff of blue, and the long, slender green handle.
His horse snorted underneath him, tossing its grand head. The man merely placed a soothing hand on its neck, and the horse was still.
Such well trust between horse and rider was hard to find. As if they could read minds.
Silently, he nudged the stallion forward, moving as one. The horse's keen ears flicked, and it turned its head towards the right, over a roof. The blue eyes looked quizzical, and Ma Chao nudged it forward.
Like a shadow from darkest dreams, the battle horse leapt up, landing gently on the roof. Such was the grace and elegance that barely any sound was heard. Four hooves scraped the shingles quietly, but after that, all was still.
Ma Chao scanned the ground below him. Dark figures could be seen, he was sure of it. It seemed to be a small party, of only one or two members. A proud man was at the front, his steps light and quiet. The burden on his back didn't seem to bother him.
Dark eyes squinted. It looked like...
No. It couldn't be.
However, as the man jumped smoothly towards a patch of shadow, he was suddenly outlined by moonlight for a quick second.
It had been sudden, but Ma Chao knew.
That figure was Zhang He.
And on his back, the small form of Jiang Wei could be seen.
*~*~*
Zhao Yun was exhausted. His horse seemed to feel the same, but continued it's proud pace, the white neck arched grandly.
Brushing dark hair out of his eyes, the Tiger General glanced at the sky. The sun was just rising, and a ring of light could be seen from the distant hills. Opposite of it, the moon hid itself once again, waiting patiently for another night.
His head slowly started to nod, and he snapped upright. No... he should continue searching. He had to continue searching.
Hoofbeats suddenly sounded from behind him, and he spun around, Fierce Dragon clutched in his hand. The fierce glow in his eyes faded as he spotted Zhuge Liang, accompanied by his wife, Yue Ying.
"Prime Minister," Zhao Yun mumbled, nodding his respect. Instead of the usual smile in return, Zhuge Liang cast a worried eye over the young officer.
"I've been informed that you've been searching all night." Zhuge Liang carelessly waved his fan. "Take a rest."
Zhao Yun shook his head, about to turn his stallion around. With a whirl of colors, Yue Ying was suddenly in front of him, her eyes glinting. Her beautiful chestnut mare whinnied, shaking her long, bay colored mane.
"Ma Chao has come back with news about Jiang Wei's disappearance." Her voice was its usual calm, the smooth tones washing over him. Indeed, if some had merely listened to her speak, they could have mistaken her to be beautiful as well. "If you wish to hear him out, come back with us."
Zhao Yun hesitated, his mouth partially open as if to reply, before turning around obediently and heading back to Cheng Du.
Zhuge Liang sent a gracious look to his wife, who cocked her head and smiled.
*~*~*
The man slowly opened his eyes. The surroundings were faintly blurry, and he was aware of a faint throbbing in his head. Slowly, he pushed himself up and winced, rubbing his ribs.
The covers of the silk sheet fell off of him, revealing a bandaged chest. He blinked, raising an eyebrow under the cinnamon brown spiky hair, as he remembered what happened.
He suddenly felt a heavy blow whack him upside the head. Blinking stars out of his eyes, the pirate groaned, before turned around sharply, ready to blow and yell.
"YOU LITTLE - Lu Xun?" His eyes widened owlishly. "Thanks a lot."
"You deserved it," Lu Xun mumbled in a small voice, his golden eyes downcast. He was sitting on the foot of Gan Ning's bed, gazing mindlessly out the window. His hat was no where in sight, and Gan Ning had to admit that the strategist did look a bit strange without it.
But he's sorta cute that way...
Gan Ning smirked, before sighing. He closed his eyes, leaning back. "What's up with you this time?"
The little strategist slowly turned his eyes onto his friend. The pirate was slightly taken back to see glistening, unshed tears in the golden orbs. "How can you be so STUPID!?" Lu Xun yelled, raising his hand to slap Gan Ning again.
Shutting his eyes tightly and waiting for the blow, the pirate blinked as the seconds passed. Looking up, Lu Xun's hand was inches away from his face, and the young boy himself was clutching the sheet with his other shaking hand. His head bowed, small droplets of water kept steadily hitting the bedspread.
"Hey..." Gan Ning murmured, softening slightly. "You okay?" He tentatively reached out, lifting Lu Xun's face with a finger. The young boy glared back at him, tears streaming down his face. "When will you stop worrying me like that?" he whispered, every word biting into the pirate like ice.
The two remained motionless before Gan Ning grinned. "Ah... I see." He playfully fingered Lu Xun's soft hair.
"Shut up," the other muttered, forcing himself not to blush and wiping the tears roughly from his face.
He was shocked when he felt himself being pulled forwards, and tumbled into Gan Ning's arms. The pirate held him close, his chin lightly on top of Lu Xun's head. "Sorry..."
Gan Ning, apologizing? This was so abnormal... Lu Xun mentally slapped himself. This is a dream, I'm sure of it...
Minutes passed, and he slowly relaxed. I could get used to this... The strategist smiled. "If you move anymore, Da Qiao's gonna freak. And she's not planning to re-dress your wounds again..."
"You just have to ruin this, don'cha?" Gan Ning growled, smirking as he released Lu Xun.
*~*~*
"You're sure of this?" Zhao Yun questioned, eyes shocked.
"Yes," Ma Chao mumbled, once again glaring at his rival. "Do you always have to ask me twice? Or are you just slow on the uptake?"
Zhao Yun clenched his fists, but Yue Ying raised her hands. "Please! Please! Let's not get off the subject here!"
The Little Dragon snarled slightly, but kept his mouth closed in a thin line. Ma Chao, slightly satisfied, continued his story.
"So Jiang Wei has been taken back into Wei..." Zhuge Liang murmured a few minutes later, nodding slightly. "And I believe I know the reason why..."
Zhao Yun perked up. "What?"
The Prime Minister smiled grimly, his eyes flashing cleverly. "Nothing. Ignore me..."
But Zhao Yun continued to stare curiously at him. Zhuge Liang shook his head, and Zhao Yun was sure that he had just said, "Some people..."
Shaking his head, Zhao Yun turned his head intently to Liu Bei, who had remained quiet since the beginning of the discussion. "We have to go and get him back!"
"Yes, yes..." The lord stated, nodding. "But the question is how we can manage to get him back, and safely as well."
The Little Dragon had no reply to this.
*~*~*
It was so dark... cold... His world seemed to have become swallowed up.
Where was he?
Hell, perhaps?
No... couldn't be...
He was running, running, but the blackness had no end.
There... there...
There was something up ahead.
His mahogany eyes adjusted to the dark, and he crept forward. He gasped, and was hit by sudden recognition.
There was a man in front of him, smiling warmly. Dark bangs crept near his bright green eyes, and pulled back into a long ponytail. A band was placed on his forehead, and he cast of a feeling of...
Home.
"Jiang Wei..." he whispered, reaching out a hand It brushed right through his cheek. "Just wait. I'm coming..."
His eyes snapped open, and he sprung up, breath coming in heavy gasps. Pain suddenly swallowed him, and he doubled over in agony.
"Where... am I...?" he whispered, his eyes alight with discomfort. Squinting, he realized with a jolt that he was no longer in Shu. The walls were covered in blue, not green. A candle flickered weakly in the corner. Scrolls littered the ground, scattered with brushes and ink.
There was another presence in this room. He could feel it. Where...? Where...? It seemed so familiar...
"You are in Wei." The voice, so calm and yet cold, rang throughout the room. Jiang Wei jumped, and then sat up as straight as he could. "W-who...?"
And he felt his breath catch in his throat. The robed man smirked in front of him, his dark eyes flashing. "Welcome back, Jiang Wei."
"S-Sima Yi...?"
**********
A/N: *sigh* well, I can't really think of anything to mention right now, so just continue with the usuals! Please R&R! Even if your support isn't exactly... positive... *COUGH* ^^;; and for those of you who are loyal, thank you! ^^
--Natsue Arishima
By Natsue Arishima
Chapter Nine: Meeting the Past
The officer's eyes narrowed, glinting out of the shadows of his bronze battle helmet. Something wasn't right. He was sure of it.
It was late, at least after midnight. The moon drifted in and out of the clouds, as if unsure whether or not it wanted to be covered.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Slowly and silently, he slowly drew his spear out in front of him, his mind calm and hands sure. A flash of light illuminated the strangely arched blade, the small tuff of blue, and the long, slender green handle.
His horse snorted underneath him, tossing its grand head. The man merely placed a soothing hand on its neck, and the horse was still.
Such well trust between horse and rider was hard to find. As if they could read minds.
Silently, he nudged the stallion forward, moving as one. The horse's keen ears flicked, and it turned its head towards the right, over a roof. The blue eyes looked quizzical, and Ma Chao nudged it forward.
Like a shadow from darkest dreams, the battle horse leapt up, landing gently on the roof. Such was the grace and elegance that barely any sound was heard. Four hooves scraped the shingles quietly, but after that, all was still.
Ma Chao scanned the ground below him. Dark figures could be seen, he was sure of it. It seemed to be a small party, of only one or two members. A proud man was at the front, his steps light and quiet. The burden on his back didn't seem to bother him.
Dark eyes squinted. It looked like...
No. It couldn't be.
However, as the man jumped smoothly towards a patch of shadow, he was suddenly outlined by moonlight for a quick second.
It had been sudden, but Ma Chao knew.
That figure was Zhang He.
And on his back, the small form of Jiang Wei could be seen.
Zhao Yun was exhausted. His horse seemed to feel the same, but continued it's proud pace, the white neck arched grandly.
Brushing dark hair out of his eyes, the Tiger General glanced at the sky. The sun was just rising, and a ring of light could be seen from the distant hills. Opposite of it, the moon hid itself once again, waiting patiently for another night.
His head slowly started to nod, and he snapped upright. No... he should continue searching. He had to continue searching.
Hoofbeats suddenly sounded from behind him, and he spun around, Fierce Dragon clutched in his hand. The fierce glow in his eyes faded as he spotted Zhuge Liang, accompanied by his wife, Yue Ying.
"Prime Minister," Zhao Yun mumbled, nodding his respect. Instead of the usual smile in return, Zhuge Liang cast a worried eye over the young officer.
"I've been informed that you've been searching all night." Zhuge Liang carelessly waved his fan. "Take a rest."
Zhao Yun shook his head, about to turn his stallion around. With a whirl of colors, Yue Ying was suddenly in front of him, her eyes glinting. Her beautiful chestnut mare whinnied, shaking her long, bay colored mane.
"Ma Chao has come back with news about Jiang Wei's disappearance." Her voice was its usual calm, the smooth tones washing over him. Indeed, if some had merely listened to her speak, they could have mistaken her to be beautiful as well. "If you wish to hear him out, come back with us."
Zhao Yun hesitated, his mouth partially open as if to reply, before turning around obediently and heading back to Cheng Du.
Zhuge Liang sent a gracious look to his wife, who cocked her head and smiled.
The man slowly opened his eyes. The surroundings were faintly blurry, and he was aware of a faint throbbing in his head. Slowly, he pushed himself up and winced, rubbing his ribs.
The covers of the silk sheet fell off of him, revealing a bandaged chest. He blinked, raising an eyebrow under the cinnamon brown spiky hair, as he remembered what happened.
He suddenly felt a heavy blow whack him upside the head. Blinking stars out of his eyes, the pirate groaned, before turned around sharply, ready to blow and yell.
"YOU LITTLE - Lu Xun?" His eyes widened owlishly. "Thanks a lot."
"You deserved it," Lu Xun mumbled in a small voice, his golden eyes downcast. He was sitting on the foot of Gan Ning's bed, gazing mindlessly out the window. His hat was no where in sight, and Gan Ning had to admit that the strategist did look a bit strange without it.
But he's sorta cute that way...
Gan Ning smirked, before sighing. He closed his eyes, leaning back. "What's up with you this time?"
The little strategist slowly turned his eyes onto his friend. The pirate was slightly taken back to see glistening, unshed tears in the golden orbs. "How can you be so STUPID!?" Lu Xun yelled, raising his hand to slap Gan Ning again.
Shutting his eyes tightly and waiting for the blow, the pirate blinked as the seconds passed. Looking up, Lu Xun's hand was inches away from his face, and the young boy himself was clutching the sheet with his other shaking hand. His head bowed, small droplets of water kept steadily hitting the bedspread.
"Hey..." Gan Ning murmured, softening slightly. "You okay?" He tentatively reached out, lifting Lu Xun's face with a finger. The young boy glared back at him, tears streaming down his face. "When will you stop worrying me like that?" he whispered, every word biting into the pirate like ice.
The two remained motionless before Gan Ning grinned. "Ah... I see." He playfully fingered Lu Xun's soft hair.
"Shut up," the other muttered, forcing himself not to blush and wiping the tears roughly from his face.
He was shocked when he felt himself being pulled forwards, and tumbled into Gan Ning's arms. The pirate held him close, his chin lightly on top of Lu Xun's head. "Sorry..."
Gan Ning, apologizing? This was so abnormal... Lu Xun mentally slapped himself. This is a dream, I'm sure of it...
Minutes passed, and he slowly relaxed. I could get used to this... The strategist smiled. "If you move anymore, Da Qiao's gonna freak. And she's not planning to re-dress your wounds again..."
"You just have to ruin this, don'cha?" Gan Ning growled, smirking as he released Lu Xun.
"You're sure of this?" Zhao Yun questioned, eyes shocked.
"Yes," Ma Chao mumbled, once again glaring at his rival. "Do you always have to ask me twice? Or are you just slow on the uptake?"
Zhao Yun clenched his fists, but Yue Ying raised her hands. "Please! Please! Let's not get off the subject here!"
The Little Dragon snarled slightly, but kept his mouth closed in a thin line. Ma Chao, slightly satisfied, continued his story.
"So Jiang Wei has been taken back into Wei..." Zhuge Liang murmured a few minutes later, nodding slightly. "And I believe I know the reason why..."
Zhao Yun perked up. "What?"
The Prime Minister smiled grimly, his eyes flashing cleverly. "Nothing. Ignore me..."
But Zhao Yun continued to stare curiously at him. Zhuge Liang shook his head, and Zhao Yun was sure that he had just said, "Some people..."
Shaking his head, Zhao Yun turned his head intently to Liu Bei, who had remained quiet since the beginning of the discussion. "We have to go and get him back!"
"Yes, yes..." The lord stated, nodding. "But the question is how we can manage to get him back, and safely as well."
The Little Dragon had no reply to this.
It was so dark... cold... His world seemed to have become swallowed up.
Where was he?
Hell, perhaps?
No... couldn't be...
He was running, running, but the blackness had no end.
There... there...
There was something up ahead.
His mahogany eyes adjusted to the dark, and he crept forward. He gasped, and was hit by sudden recognition.
There was a man in front of him, smiling warmly. Dark bangs crept near his bright green eyes, and pulled back into a long ponytail. A band was placed on his forehead, and he cast of a feeling of...
Home.
"Jiang Wei..." he whispered, reaching out a hand It brushed right through his cheek. "Just wait. I'm coming..."
His eyes snapped open, and he sprung up, breath coming in heavy gasps. Pain suddenly swallowed him, and he doubled over in agony.
"Where... am I...?" he whispered, his eyes alight with discomfort. Squinting, he realized with a jolt that he was no longer in Shu. The walls were covered in blue, not green. A candle flickered weakly in the corner. Scrolls littered the ground, scattered with brushes and ink.
There was another presence in this room. He could feel it. Where...? Where...? It seemed so familiar...
"You are in Wei." The voice, so calm and yet cold, rang throughout the room. Jiang Wei jumped, and then sat up as straight as he could. "W-who...?"
And he felt his breath catch in his throat. The robed man smirked in front of him, his dark eyes flashing. "Welcome back, Jiang Wei."
"S-Sima Yi...?"
**********
A/N: *sigh* well, I can't really think of anything to mention right now, so just continue with the usuals! Please R&R! Even if your support isn't exactly... positive... *COUGH* ^^;; and for those of you who are loyal, thank you! ^^
--Natsue Arishima