Author's Note: We're getting down to it, kiddies! I think I'll only have
about 7 or 8 more chapters in part three, then we're getting on to the climax! Oh, boy! For now, enjoy this chapter please, I worked hard on it
just for you!
Enjoy!
Part 3
The Romance of the Four Leaders
Chapter 37
Starry Starry Night
Zhang He ran down the gentle slope, cutting through the thin mist like a needle floating across a vast, empty ocean. Mitsuko followed, slightly slower because of her injury. Zhang He wanted to be home very badly, to have Diao Chan leap into his arms, followed by a flying hug. He could almost feel the warmth of her body right now, even though they were miles apart.
"Zhang He, slow down!" Mitsuko panted, trying to keep herself from tripping over her own feet.
"If we run, we can get there by this morning!" Zhang He explained, not declining his pace. Zhang He ran and ran until he could not even notice the pain he felt, all the time Mitsuko was falling farther behind. His strong legs swept across the empty plain, not letting a second escape to allow injury to occur. It felt almost as if he were flying, and soon, he was feeling lightheaded enough to believe it. After about an hour, Mitsuko was has almost disappeared into the horizon. Zhang He, glancing back for a moment, perceived this and halted, wheezing and holding his chest. Yes, a break, it would not be such horrible delay. He sat down in the soft, semi- moist grass and breathed heavily. One or two beads of sweat dripped from his forehead onto the green blades. Soon, Mitsuko caught up, huffing and puffing and clutching her side. She winced as she sat beside Zhang He, gasping audibly.
"Sorry," He said, sounding almost equally winded. "Didn't mean to go that fast and leave you behind. I just got to thinking about Diao Chan . . ." She nodded and smiled a bit. Zhang He looked over at her, staring deep into her bluish-gray eyes. They were filled with melancholy, a sweet sadness he couldn't identify. Then he remembered. She'd been separated from her fiancé, Jiten, back in Japan. He watched her for a moment, feeling sorry for her every second.
"Mitsuko. . ." He said, alerting her attention. She turned to look at him, her eyes a bit wide. "I . . . want to help you." He declared. A look of confusion spread across her near-perfect complexion.
"I don't understand you, Zhang He." She said, looking seriously at him. He returned the look, and matched the feelings with his voice.
"I can fathom your pain, Mitsuko. I can feel how you want to be with Jiten, and I'll do all I can to reunite the two of you." Zhang He explained. Mitsuko looked touched, but shook her head.
"Zhang He, he's all the way back in Japan. It would be hard to get over there in the first place, and even harder to track down Jiten. I don't even know if he's still alive, much less where he's being held. . ." She left off.
"If he's being held captive, he'll be with the other man who wanted to marry you! I could come in with a couple of troops, break my way in, search the dungeons, and be out with Jiten before the Lord knew what was going on!" Zhang He told her.
"Jiten made a promise to me, I'm sure he'll come and find me . . ." Zhang He shrugged.
"Suit yourself. But if you ever need something done, don't be afraid to ask." She nodded and smiled a little sadly. After this short talk, they both decided it would be best to set off again, but this time at a slower pace. They continued on for several hours at the least. About the time of sunset the air began to cool and the rain clouds in the air started to look more and more ominous. Zhang He began to run again in spite of his body telling him if he would run more he would get a cramp in his legs later on. Mitsuko did better to keep up this time; she pulled the strings on the ends of her Hakama so that they would not trip her. Once the sun sank completely below to horizon line, it went below zero. Zhang He shivered as he ran, his joints sore and begging for another break, but he would not. It was getting colder and more frigid by the second, and he did not want to spend the night in the wilds again. But with nothing in his stomach, he found it difficult to keep his gait hastened.
An hour after dark, the worst had come to life. Small white flakes began to drift down from the clouds and powdered the meadow lightly. Zhang He stopped for a moment and looked up, five or six snowflakes landing on his face, melting instantly and creating wet splotches. He wiped it away belligerently, hating the snow for being wet and cold, then tore off again, keeping his head down for fear of more snow. Mitsuko began to fall behind and slip again.
"Are you doing ok, Mitsuko?" Zhang He called back to her. She gasped some and called back.
"Yes, keep going my Lord." She assured. They kept running until the snow had completely blanketed the ground, except for the footsteps they were creating as the trudged along. Zhang He slipped and fell once, growing wet and even colder, but he launched right back on his feet. When the moon was nearly overhead Mitsuko came to a dead halt. Zhang He stopped when he heard her footstep cease and turned to look at her. Her face was extremely pale save the bright pink marks on her cheeks. She swayed a bit and teetered side first into the snow. Zhang He yelled and rushed over to her, snow flying in every direction around his feet. She lay unconscious, surrounded by the sparkling white, one arm outstretched, her Hakama and Kimono splayed like the delicate wings of an injured bird. Zhang He knelt beside her and shook her gently.
"Mitsuko? MITSUKO!" He said, shaking her a bit harder. She still would not wake. Zhang He looked at her chest and spotted a blossoming splotch of scarlet where her wound was. Zhang He shook his head and picked her up. The camp was only about an hour away, he could tell by the glow of lights on the snow. Cradling her between his arms and bowing his head to keep the snow out of his eyes. The wind blew harshly now, pushing Zhang He back slowly, but he still made progress. He could see the top of the roofs now.
"Heeeeey!" He called down, but he voice was blocked out by the roaring of the wind. He took a few more steps, struggling between Mitsuko and the cold winds. She was a burden, but he couldn't just leave her behind . . . His whole body began to feel numb, but he refused to let go. He stumbling steps got more and more ragged.
"I . . . Won't . . . Give up . . ." He told himself through gritted teeth. As he trekked on through the bitter cold, he felt his vision blur. He arms, shaking with cold and wasted endurance, felt as though they might give way at any second. Then he saw it, the great looming gate of the Shi camp, not twenty feet in front of him. He gasped with joy and with his last effort. Just as he got close enough to touch the smooth wood of the door, his left leg suffered a massive cramp. He lost his footing and dropped Mitsuko in the snow beside him. He moaned in pain as he grasped his frozen leg. He felt his toes sticking out at weird angles in his shoes and only wished for his leg to free up, but the pain only increased. This time he cried out into the night, the snow raining down on his body. In a matter of moments, he was completely covered in the fine white powder that bit at bare skin. His seized leg began to loosen a bit as he rubbed it furiously. Then he lay back on the snow, feeling totally exhausted and incapacitated. The sharpness dulled and all he saw was the glistening flakes dancing in the sky. He heard fuzzy voices around him, and then saw dark shapes above his head.
"Mumble Zhang He mumble mumble inside mumble right now mumble." Was all he could translate right now. He felt warm hands on his back and began to lose consciousness. Suddenly he remembered.
"She's hurt. . . Help her . . ." He gasped, trying lamely to point at Mitsuko. After this he quickly slipped into darkness, warm, glorious darkness where none of the world matter for a few sweet seconds.
It was the sun that brought him out of this wonderful lull, the sun reflecting painfully off the snow. When he opened his eyes and they finally focused, he saw the anxious expression of Diao Chan floating above him. He lips formed a contented smile and he reached for her like a sedated drunk. He tiny hand wrapped around his and she placed it on the white sheet by his thigh. She put a finger to her lips, and stroked his hair gently.
"Don't try to talk." She said delicately, resonating softness.
"Is everyone all right?" He said, surprised at his own slurred speech. "Mitsuko? Is she alright?" Diao Chan looked a bit surprised herself.
"You knew? When did you find out?" She asked a bit more urgently.
"When we were lost in the woods. Where is she?" He asked, waking up a bit. Diao Chan looked suddenly looked sad.
"That Lu Xun guy. He was in the room when they found out. He's going to have her executed in a couple of minutes. Poor thing. If it wasn't for that silly rule. . ." Zhang he sat up suddenly, eyes wide. He was beginning to sweat again.
"Where is she? I've got to save her!" He yelled. Diao Chan looked frightened.
"R-right out there." She told him, pointing through the door.
"That fool! No one can execute my officers without my authority, woman or not!" He snapped at no one. Diao Chan rose and helped him walk a little, but he quickly regained his steps and hurried outside. Outside, about 30 feet away, Mitsuko sat bound by her ankles and wrists. She kneeled in front of Lu Xun and Lu Meng, who looked a bit uncertain. Their faces lit up with a sinister glow as they saw Zhang He. Lu Xun glided over and gave a quick bow to Zhang He.
"I was just about to take care of this, my Lord. As you probably know, the samurai is a woman. The penalty for masquerading as a man is death. I have my Lord's permission, I assume?" He asked, sounding a bit frightened.
"Of course you don't!" Zhang He spat back at him, feeling angry. He looked around for his sworn brothers, or anyone else sensible, but found no one. In fact, the camp looked completely deserted. Lu Xun looked taken aback.
"B-but, my Lord! It's the law!" Lu Xun stammered, looking as if he'd made a bad mistake, which indeed he had done.
"I don't care! This is my army, and it has my laws, and I say that any woman who wants to join, can. Especially my good friend Mitsuko." As he declared this he walked over to Mitsuko and brought her to her feet. She smiled gratefully at him and muttered something that sounded like:
"I don't deserve your kindness . . ." After Mitsuke was taken care of, Zhang He wheeled back on Lu Xun, who was cowering a little in his presence. Diao Chan drifted over to him, looking a bit like Zhang He might fall over again and grabbed onto his arm.
"Where is everybody?" He asked in a bit calmer tone, much to Lu Xun's relief.
"They've gone to look for you, my Lord. They have been doing so every night and day since your absence. They should be returning shortly." He said grandly, which almost didn't suit his size.
"Is my brother here?" Zhang He asked peering around. He spotted Sun Quan looking surly and watching with half interest in the corner of the courtyard. Xu Huang was, who was sparring with Taishi Ci before Mitsuko had been brought out was gazing over at them as well. Huang Gai and Lu Meng were obviously around, but he supposed most of the ones who weren't out were resting in the warmth inside.
"If you mean Sima Yi . . ." He said, putting a bitter tone on the Zhang He's sworn brother's name as if it were a rude curse word "Then, no, he's out with the others, my Lord."
"No, I mean Zhang Liao." He said plainly "Are Sun Shang Xiang and the Qiao sisters here, as well?" He asked. Lu Xun shook his head.
"Lord Zhang Liao has also gone with them, but I do not know the whereabouts of the women." Lu Xun informed.
"Their in our building." Diao Chan piped up. "I was in there just a moment ago." Zhang He nodded.
"Thanks Lu Xun, you've been helpful. If you don't attack my officers anymore, I might just like you one day." He said jokingly. Lu Xun looked a bit stunned at Zhang He's informality. He simply bowed and strutted off. "Come on, Diao Chan, Mitsuko, let's go talk to the others." He said cheerfully. Everything was right once again. He wasn't lost in a cold forest, people weren't being attacked, and no one was kidnapped. He made a note in the back of his mind to tell the others what he'd found at the ruins of Yuan Shao when they were all together again.
As he pushed open the light brown door leading to the girl's rooms, a squall of high-pitched voices erupted from everywhere. Xiao Qiao Jumped around him happily, chorusing, "He's alive!" in a gleeful sing-song voice. Da Qiao rushed over and with her hands clasped together told him how glad she was that he was back safely. Sun Shang Xiang, evidently relieved, scolded him viciously about deserting them, all the while with a smile on her face. After they were all done speaking, Zhang He pushed Mitsuko forward gently.
"Girls, let me introduce you to your new roommate." He said happily. Everyone was silent as the grave, staring blankly at Mitsuko and Zhang He. It was Xiao Qiao who broke it.
"But he can't sleep in our room, he's a man!" She said in a concerned, whiney sort of voice.
"No, I'm not. I was masquerading as one because I was in hiding." Mitsuko said boldly.
"Seriously?" Said Sun Shang Xiang, sounding astonished. "That's amazing! How did you live sleeping near all those stinky men?"
"Aww, it was only Gan Ning. He's not stinky, just talks a lot." Mitsuko joked. A round of girlish laughter was heard for a second and Zhang He could tell they would all make fast friends.
About an hour later Zhang He's sworn brothers returned. The rode up through the gates, waving, shouting happily and 'whoohooing' loudly.
"Zhang He, I'm so glad! I kept thinking it was my fault you two were lost. . ." Sima Yi said in tones of evident relief.
"Man, I thought we'd never see you again! You are sooooo lucky!" Sun Ce yelled, punching Zhang He in the arm softly. Zhou Yu shook his head at Sun Ce.
"I'm glad you all made it back safely. I assume Mitsuke is all right?" Zhou Yu asked placidly.
"Mitsuko, actually." Zhang He said, preparing himself for the long explanation.
"Mitsuko? But that's a girl's name!" Sima Yi said, a puzzled expression overtaking him.
"Exactly . . ." Zhang He sighed. He launched into retelling the story. They were all very surprised at the end, but Zhang He was glad to see none of them objected in the slightest.
It was with a happy heart that Zhang He retired that night. He had missed the peaceful and near silent sighs of his sleeping of his brother's around. He thought of Diao Chan resting in the room beside his, next to all the other girls, now including Mitsuko. He remembered how Diao Chan got into this entire mess in the first place. It was because of her father, he wanted Dong Zhou and Lu Bu dead. He was ready to put his own daughter a risk because of this want? Zhang He decided he disliked her father, even though he had never met. Anyone who was ready to put such a lovely creature such as Diao Chan in danger's way was his immediate enemy. But I must never say this to her . . . He thought She probably loves him, as any daughter does her father, adopted or not. He wondered if Lu Bu would ever return to claim Diao Chan back. If he did, Zhang He would be ready this time; he wouldn't let Lu Bu win. He suddenly had this glorious vision of himself standing triumphantly over Lu Bu's body, his Talons raised, gleaming in the sun, perhaps an injury or two on his person. Diao Chan would run up to him and leap into his arms, laughing and crying with joy.
"I Love you, Zhang He!" She would cheer. "Won't you marry me?" This very thought brought a contented grin to his face. Zhang He slipped into a serene sleep, still smiling from his wonderful 'victory'.
At first there was only blackness, seemingly a few second to his subconscious, but possibly three or four hours in real time. But images began to develop from this unthreatening gloom. He saw a girl, perhaps fourteen or fifteen, sharpen from the blurry moving shapes. She stood barely five feet, but something about her radiated respect. Her hair reached all the way down to her ankles and was jet black. It undulated in thick curtains, swaying like a pendulum in the wind. Her eyes were also a black, deep and empty, like pools in a dark cavern. Her skin was pale, so pale that with a trick of the light, it blended in with the whites of her eyes. Her face bore no menace, but looked rather sad and docile. Her attire was a solid black, with a red sash around her slender middle. She was in a gloomy forest in the middle of the day, the light shining through the trees creating splotches of glow on the shady forest terrain. She drifted among the trees, wander aimlessly and humming a bit.
The oddest part of this dream, as Zhang He later remembered, was that it wasn't like a dream at all. It was like watching someone else's life, through your own eyes, but you couldn't control what you saw. A fixed position over the forest, sometimes the view would change, but Zhang He couldn't look left if he'd wanted to.
She ascended up a hill, covered with dead leaves from last fall. On top the hill was a small bench, carved from stone, which looked well used and smooth. Up top was a canopy of a large oak tree, the leaves browning in the late autumn. They floated down lazily, making small rustles as they joined their fallen brothers on the earth. She sat delicately down on the bench, gazing up at the looming branches of the massive tree. Her expression was placid, vacant, and almost confused. She looked like a person who'd had amnesia, like she wanted to remember the life she used to know. After a few more seconds of watching her gaze up into nothing, a crunching of leaves was heard. Out of the corner came a man. A man who looked exactly like . . .
Me?
Zhang He stared at him for a second and realized it definitely wasn't him, though the resemblance was striking. His hair was shorter and a bit fairer in hue, but his complexion was almost identical to Zhang He's.
As he ambled carelessly through the clearing, he caught a glimpse of the girl on the bench. He stopped to look at her, a look of soft apprehension showing through his eyes. His mouth hung a bit open and kept moving as if he wanted to say something.
"H-hello . . ." He said in a weak voice to the girl, who wasn't even looking at him. Her gaze, directed towards the branches, replaced itself on the man's eyes.
"Who are you?" She asked innocently, her eyes pupil-less and sad. She looked almost scared of meeting someone, even though Zhang He could tell he meant her no harm.
"Just a nobody." The boy answered more calmly. He walked up the hill and sat down beside her, her eyes following him every step of the way. She gazed deeply into his eyes, but with no emotion, no look of excitement or displeasure.
"Justanoboy?" She asked finally. "That's an odd name . . ." He laughed a little.
"No, I meant my name isn't important." He grinned. "Do you . . . come here a lot?" She nodded, breaking eye contact and staring at her knees.
"I like this place . . ." She said with tired criticalness. "It's . . . quiet." He looked at her, his eyes narrowing with something that resembled fear.
"I see you in the village all the time. You just look out the window a lot of the time, but I wonder about you. Is . . . is it true what they say? About you having special powers?" He asked, his voice trembling in the very slightest way. She looked back at him, her eyes seeming to shine.
"I . . . Don't know. I have bad dreams sometimes. . ."
This left the man a blank. Who was this mysterious girl? What power she supposedly bear?
"Bad dreams? About what?" He asked, his eyes darting up and down her body. She shook her head, looking like she remembered something terrible. Her lips moved and shivered, but no sound came I out.
"I . . . Don't remember. But . . . But . . . Why do people kill?"
"Why do people kill?"
"Why do people kill?"
This phrase repeated in Zhang He's mind over and over until the worlds dimmed and all was black once again. He woke up, his forehead drenched with cold sweat, feeling, more tired than he had when he had gone to sleep. Sima Yi's face bobbed into view, looking apprehensive and intimidated.
"Zhang He?" He asked carefully. "Are you alright?" Zhang He sat up with difficulty, wiping his brow.
"I'm fine, I just had another weird dream . . ." He grunted, massaging his temples.
"You were mumbling stuff like 'Kill, kill. . . . Why?' " Sun Ce yawned from beside him.
"Why do people kill?" Zhang He inquired. They were all silent for a moment, looking half at him and each other. "It's what she kept saying . . ." He explained.
"She?" Asked Sima Yi, his eyes wide. " Like . . . The Lady in Black?" Zhang He shook his head.
"Someone different this time. She was alive, at least." He left off. He did not want to explain the entire thing to them this early in the morning.
"You really ought to find a way of combating Her next time She shows up." Zhou Yu said softly. Zhang He pondered this for a moment. All of a sudden, Sima Yi perked up with a little cry.
"That's reminds me!" He yelled, beaming. "I was thinking about you little episode with Liu Biao, Sun Ce. The proceedings during which Zhang He's fortitude Dobutsu was activated in addition to Sun Ce's is remarkably analogous to one another. Therefore, my theory is the concurrence of these measures is, in fact, not a coincidence but identical varieties of enchantments! And, if this is the case, I assume I can identify an individual who is capable of facilitating us with harnessing that supremacy. A single Dobutsu intended for every one of us. One that we can use at will." Sima Yi said, his eyes alight. Everything was silent as the grave for a moment.
"What the hell did you just say? Was that Chinese, because it sounded like a different language. . ." Sun Ce said stupidly. Sima Yi sighed.
"I forgot, Sun Ce is in our midst. Why bother using intelligent conversation . . ." Sima Yi said, sounding exasperated.
"Hey!" Sun Ce yelled indignantly.
"Sun Ce, you moron. He said that he thinks that what happened what happened both when you and Zhang He happened across those miraculous events, it was the same type of magic, and he thinks he knows someone who can help us use that power at will." Zhou Yu translated easily. Zhang He felt glad upon hearing Zhou Yu's harsh tone that he hadn't been the one who asked what Sima Yi had said.
"Why didn't he just say that, then?" Sun Ce asked, a patch of blush on his face. "Besides, I knew what he was saying, I was just testing you, Zhou Yu . . ." Zhou Yu shot him a dirty look before Zhang He spoke again.
"Wait, you know someone who can help us use that magic at will?" Zhang He demanded. Sima Yi smiled wryly.
"Precisely . . ."
"Do tell, then! Don't keep a secret!" Zhang He grinned, crazy with excitement.
"Well, you seen my grandfather, Sima Hua, is a great mystic . . ." He began, when Sun Ce made a belligerent noise.
"Were going to go out on some lousy quest that probably is just a stupid wild goose chase because you grandpa is smart?" Sun Ce complained.
"Shut up, Sun Ce, you don't know what you're talking about." Zhou Yu said coolly. Sun Ce piped down and returned to his seat.
"As I was saying . . ." Sima Yi continued. "He knows about every type of magic that ever was created. He was the one that gave me the Soul Transfer spell. I'm almost positive he would know how to use this. It could be a powerful asset to each of us if we learned how to control it."
"That's great! Good thinking, Sima Yi!" Zhang He said, smiling from ear to ear.
"There is one tiny, little problem, though. . ." Sima Yi said unexpectedly.
"Problem?"
"Yes, he lives way up in the mountains. And I'd bet it's snowing up there, too." Sima Yi said softly.
"Oh, that does put up a dilemma . . ." Zhang He said.
"I still think we should go." Announced Zhou Yu. "If we somehow found out how to use this magic, we could be invincible. Zhang He, you can heal people that have died or been injured, and Sun Ce can destroy vast amounts of soldiers at ease. This with the addition of my and Sima Yi's unknown power would provide us with supreme power. We could probably take over China, no questions asked."
"I agree with Zhou Yu, I think we should leave as soon as it's possible." Zhang He said, eager to learn about this wonderful new magic.
"Alright! A new quest! I'll go tell Da Qiao!" Sun Ce said, blasting happily from the room.
It was a week into their trip, and already there was snow around. The women had been easily excited by the sound of a new quest, and Mitsuko decided to come as well as Gan Ning, Zhen Ji, and Zhou Tai.
"Oh, the snow will be so lovely!" She cheered. "I will look like a siren of winter." Zhang He thought privately she had an overly romantic knowledge of snow, but kept that to himself. He was not willing to turn down help when he needed it. Gan Ning, who absolutely loved the snow, decided to come along as soon as he heard the word.
"Aw! Ning! It's gonna be so Ningish! I'll be all jumping around, Ning! Oh, Ning'll beat up the bad guys again, Ning!" Zhang He was sure he would, which is the reason he would endure his endless 'Ninging' throughout the journey. The rest of them were ready to go, almost excited to be back in the action once again.
Zhou Tai had only been interested in protecting his son. "You almost got yourself killed the last time you went away, I had better accompany you."
"Father . . ." Zhou Yu protested. "I'll be fine on my own. I don't need you babying me. . ." He added softly.
"Like or not, I'm coming. You little brats need some sort of elder around, and I'm better than any." He said, in his cruel guttural way.
It had been a treacherous climb up the mountain, which Sima Yi identified as the right one. The ascent was steep and frequently the road was covered with patches of near invisible ice. The scenery was most beautiful; almost every turn sheltered a breathtaking vista to the left, or a faultless waterfall, trickling gently off the side of the mountain to the right. The lush trees and rare bushes flourish around them, growing steadily and with bravery off the side of the cliff. All the way up it was steady climb, they never got behind or were in need of supplies. Now with the first week gone, there were certainly more than halfway up. Old piles of snow mixed with slush were piled around the side of the cliff as they went up. Gan Ning couldn't resist and picked it up at once, throwing it at random officers, making everyone else wet and cold and Gan Ning scapegoat-for-a- day.
After spending the night on an intermediately large flat that joined with an alcove in the rock face, the setting abruptly changed. It had suddenly transformed itself into a sparkling winter wonderland, complete with towering pines decorated with heaps on unflawed snow adorning their branches. The snow on the ground was shallow for now, but Zhang He knew there would be difficulties soon approaching. They hiked up the step road, everyone's breath plume out more and more rapidly.
"What's the deal with this?" Cried Sun Shang Xiang, causing a pile of snow to avalanche from its perch on the tree beside her. "Why am I so out of breath? Am I getting fat or something?" Sima Yi shook his head and stepped beside her.
"It's the air. I assume that since we are up higher, less air is pushing down on us, which means it's scarcer up here. It's just harder to breath, I'm sure your in fine shape." He finished, giving her a quick and undefiled look-over.
"Wow, I would have never thought of that . . ." She said, putting her hand around her chin and looking around to see if she could perhaps see this absence of air, but it did not feel like showing itself. "You're really smart, Sima Yi!" She cheered, leaning her shoulder against Sima Yi's, probably without thinking. Sima Yi blushed and stammered inaudibly.
"T-thanks." He managed.
"Ten times, no, a hundred time smarter than my brother! He's so irresponsible . . ." She ended with a snarl, shooting a dirty look at Sun Ce, who was engaging in a vicious snowball fight with Gan Ning, who obviously didn't care that his face had been pummeled with hardened snow at Sun Ce speed. While Gan Ning tried to wipe of the residues, laughing like a maniac, Sun Ce launched another two in his direction. Gan Ning quickly dodged and the frosty missiles landed right on the back of Da Qiao's head, dislodging her near-perfect hairstyle.
"Oh! I'm sorry, Da Qiao! Don't hit! Don't hit!" He said unable to hide his grin and he cowered in front of an angry looking Da Qiao. All at once her expression changed to an impish grin. She hastily plucked two handfuls of snow form the ground and dumped them all over Sun Ce. He and Gan Ning exchanged dumbfounded looks.
"Come on! If you two stand there like idiots I'm going to win!" She giggled, throwing some snow at Gan Ning. Sun Ce laughed heartily and they were off once again, this time with Da Qiao. Xiao Qiao, who had been speaking lightheartedly with Zhou Yu, pointed at her sister and the rest and smiled. Zhou Yu motioned for her to go and play with them, but she grabbed the front of his robes and dragged him along. He shook his head, blushing a bit, trying to resist. Soon the tension between them failed and the both fell back in the snow. Zhou Yu sat up looking ruffled, Snow littering his hair and wet spots all over his face. He had fallen in the deep snow and soon found it difficult to dislodge himself. Xiao Qiao, who had gotten up with no problems, was laughing at bit at him on the sidelines. He figured out that he could push himself up, because his hands would sink in the powder, and standing up was nearly impossible. A bewildered smile on his face showed that he could concoct no plan to free himself from the snow trap, so Xiao Qiao, holding her side with laughter, extended a hand to him. She tried to hoist him up, but being the very small person she was, she ended up on Zhou Yu's chest.
Zhang He smiled as he watched this little episode, wondering how they would get out. Sima Yi, watching them with interest, Sun Shang Xiang still at his side, finally gave them a hint.
"Roll!" He called to them as he passed by. Zhou Yu look dignified and mouthed something that looked like 'no' but Xiao Qiao energetically flipped on her side and made her way out of the trap. Zhou Yu, putting his pride aside, decided to try this and emerged wet and covered in powder, but smiling. Diao Chan trotted up briskly beside Zhang He, and, beaming, took his arm.
"It's so lovely up here." She said, breathing in the clean air. "Look at all the fun everyone's having." She said, gazing around at everyone. The fight had now developed into an all out melee. Sun Shang Xiang had been hit by a snowball gone astray and was now pelting Sun Ce with snowballs as fast as she could. Sima Yi, fearing she might actually hurt him, was trying to call her off. Mitsuko and Zhou Tai had hung to the back, speaking in low voices, but nonetheless looking peaceful.
"Just wait till that snow melts on them. They'll be cold and whiney." Zhang He said, eyeing their light clothing.
"Oh, lighten up. You never take a break, do you?" She asked inoffensively, putting a hand in his hair.
"I'm just a bit stressed. These dreams I keep having. . ." He left off.
"About the Lady?" She asked a bit more seriously.
"No, this time it was something different. It was like watching something that happened a long time ago. And there was a man who looked like me. Almost identical, in fact. It was unnerving." Zhang He explained, feeling the beginnings of a headache.
"Do you have a twin brother? Maybe you're seeing his thoughts or something." She guessed.
"No, Liao would have told me." He told her. "There was a girl too, with really long hair, in black robes. She almost looked like you."
"Odd. Maybe it has something to do with . . ." She touched at the area near her collarbone where the unidentified, mark was.
"Never figured that one out, did you? What do you think it could be?" Zhang He asked. She suddenly stopped and Zhang He stopped with her. Her eyes narrowed a bit. She looked thoughtful, and with her brow furrowed she spoke.
"I'm . . . Supposed to find someone. The one that was lost, the one who was . . .betrayed. When we are reunited, then . . . then . . ."
"What? What does that mean?" Zhang He asked, for some reason getting that unsure feeling of mystery, that feeling you were disturbing something that was put to rest long ago, something that shouldn't be disturbed.
"She's . . . in the ground now." She continued, looking as if she had no idea what this meant, she was just saying it. "The sacrifice got away, she's angry. She . . . wants . . . him . . ." Zhang He started to feel afraid. It was like he was losing Diao Chan to some unknown force. He had to stop her.
"Diao Chan! Snap out of it!" He yelled suddenly, making everyone around him stop what they were doing and look at them.
"She's . . . coming . . . coming . . . for . . . me . . ." She said, sounding out of breath. Zhang He grabbed her shoulders and shook her once firmly and she came back to being herself.
"Diao Chan are you all right?" He asked, his heart thumping again. He was getting used to the frequent scares.
"I'm sorry." She said, sounding frightened. "That's the first time that's ever happened to me. I just suddenly felt like . . . Someone I knew a long time ago was talking to me . . . In my head.
"You know . . ." Zhang He said, looking around. "This place is fine, we'll spend the night here." Everyone hastily agreed.
about 7 or 8 more chapters in part three, then we're getting on to the climax! Oh, boy! For now, enjoy this chapter please, I worked hard on it
just for you!
Enjoy!
Part 3
The Romance of the Four Leaders
Chapter 37
Starry Starry Night
Zhang He ran down the gentle slope, cutting through the thin mist like a needle floating across a vast, empty ocean. Mitsuko followed, slightly slower because of her injury. Zhang He wanted to be home very badly, to have Diao Chan leap into his arms, followed by a flying hug. He could almost feel the warmth of her body right now, even though they were miles apart.
"Zhang He, slow down!" Mitsuko panted, trying to keep herself from tripping over her own feet.
"If we run, we can get there by this morning!" Zhang He explained, not declining his pace. Zhang He ran and ran until he could not even notice the pain he felt, all the time Mitsuko was falling farther behind. His strong legs swept across the empty plain, not letting a second escape to allow injury to occur. It felt almost as if he were flying, and soon, he was feeling lightheaded enough to believe it. After about an hour, Mitsuko was has almost disappeared into the horizon. Zhang He, glancing back for a moment, perceived this and halted, wheezing and holding his chest. Yes, a break, it would not be such horrible delay. He sat down in the soft, semi- moist grass and breathed heavily. One or two beads of sweat dripped from his forehead onto the green blades. Soon, Mitsuko caught up, huffing and puffing and clutching her side. She winced as she sat beside Zhang He, gasping audibly.
"Sorry," He said, sounding almost equally winded. "Didn't mean to go that fast and leave you behind. I just got to thinking about Diao Chan . . ." She nodded and smiled a bit. Zhang He looked over at her, staring deep into her bluish-gray eyes. They were filled with melancholy, a sweet sadness he couldn't identify. Then he remembered. She'd been separated from her fiancé, Jiten, back in Japan. He watched her for a moment, feeling sorry for her every second.
"Mitsuko. . ." He said, alerting her attention. She turned to look at him, her eyes a bit wide. "I . . . want to help you." He declared. A look of confusion spread across her near-perfect complexion.
"I don't understand you, Zhang He." She said, looking seriously at him. He returned the look, and matched the feelings with his voice.
"I can fathom your pain, Mitsuko. I can feel how you want to be with Jiten, and I'll do all I can to reunite the two of you." Zhang He explained. Mitsuko looked touched, but shook her head.
"Zhang He, he's all the way back in Japan. It would be hard to get over there in the first place, and even harder to track down Jiten. I don't even know if he's still alive, much less where he's being held. . ." She left off.
"If he's being held captive, he'll be with the other man who wanted to marry you! I could come in with a couple of troops, break my way in, search the dungeons, and be out with Jiten before the Lord knew what was going on!" Zhang He told her.
"Jiten made a promise to me, I'm sure he'll come and find me . . ." Zhang He shrugged.
"Suit yourself. But if you ever need something done, don't be afraid to ask." She nodded and smiled a little sadly. After this short talk, they both decided it would be best to set off again, but this time at a slower pace. They continued on for several hours at the least. About the time of sunset the air began to cool and the rain clouds in the air started to look more and more ominous. Zhang He began to run again in spite of his body telling him if he would run more he would get a cramp in his legs later on. Mitsuko did better to keep up this time; she pulled the strings on the ends of her Hakama so that they would not trip her. Once the sun sank completely below to horizon line, it went below zero. Zhang He shivered as he ran, his joints sore and begging for another break, but he would not. It was getting colder and more frigid by the second, and he did not want to spend the night in the wilds again. But with nothing in his stomach, he found it difficult to keep his gait hastened.
An hour after dark, the worst had come to life. Small white flakes began to drift down from the clouds and powdered the meadow lightly. Zhang He stopped for a moment and looked up, five or six snowflakes landing on his face, melting instantly and creating wet splotches. He wiped it away belligerently, hating the snow for being wet and cold, then tore off again, keeping his head down for fear of more snow. Mitsuko began to fall behind and slip again.
"Are you doing ok, Mitsuko?" Zhang He called back to her. She gasped some and called back.
"Yes, keep going my Lord." She assured. They kept running until the snow had completely blanketed the ground, except for the footsteps they were creating as the trudged along. Zhang He slipped and fell once, growing wet and even colder, but he launched right back on his feet. When the moon was nearly overhead Mitsuko came to a dead halt. Zhang He stopped when he heard her footstep cease and turned to look at her. Her face was extremely pale save the bright pink marks on her cheeks. She swayed a bit and teetered side first into the snow. Zhang He yelled and rushed over to her, snow flying in every direction around his feet. She lay unconscious, surrounded by the sparkling white, one arm outstretched, her Hakama and Kimono splayed like the delicate wings of an injured bird. Zhang He knelt beside her and shook her gently.
"Mitsuko? MITSUKO!" He said, shaking her a bit harder. She still would not wake. Zhang He looked at her chest and spotted a blossoming splotch of scarlet where her wound was. Zhang He shook his head and picked her up. The camp was only about an hour away, he could tell by the glow of lights on the snow. Cradling her between his arms and bowing his head to keep the snow out of his eyes. The wind blew harshly now, pushing Zhang He back slowly, but he still made progress. He could see the top of the roofs now.
"Heeeeey!" He called down, but he voice was blocked out by the roaring of the wind. He took a few more steps, struggling between Mitsuko and the cold winds. She was a burden, but he couldn't just leave her behind . . . His whole body began to feel numb, but he refused to let go. He stumbling steps got more and more ragged.
"I . . . Won't . . . Give up . . ." He told himself through gritted teeth. As he trekked on through the bitter cold, he felt his vision blur. He arms, shaking with cold and wasted endurance, felt as though they might give way at any second. Then he saw it, the great looming gate of the Shi camp, not twenty feet in front of him. He gasped with joy and with his last effort. Just as he got close enough to touch the smooth wood of the door, his left leg suffered a massive cramp. He lost his footing and dropped Mitsuko in the snow beside him. He moaned in pain as he grasped his frozen leg. He felt his toes sticking out at weird angles in his shoes and only wished for his leg to free up, but the pain only increased. This time he cried out into the night, the snow raining down on his body. In a matter of moments, he was completely covered in the fine white powder that bit at bare skin. His seized leg began to loosen a bit as he rubbed it furiously. Then he lay back on the snow, feeling totally exhausted and incapacitated. The sharpness dulled and all he saw was the glistening flakes dancing in the sky. He heard fuzzy voices around him, and then saw dark shapes above his head.
"Mumble Zhang He mumble mumble inside mumble right now mumble." Was all he could translate right now. He felt warm hands on his back and began to lose consciousness. Suddenly he remembered.
"She's hurt. . . Help her . . ." He gasped, trying lamely to point at Mitsuko. After this he quickly slipped into darkness, warm, glorious darkness where none of the world matter for a few sweet seconds.
It was the sun that brought him out of this wonderful lull, the sun reflecting painfully off the snow. When he opened his eyes and they finally focused, he saw the anxious expression of Diao Chan floating above him. He lips formed a contented smile and he reached for her like a sedated drunk. He tiny hand wrapped around his and she placed it on the white sheet by his thigh. She put a finger to her lips, and stroked his hair gently.
"Don't try to talk." She said delicately, resonating softness.
"Is everyone all right?" He said, surprised at his own slurred speech. "Mitsuko? Is she alright?" Diao Chan looked a bit surprised herself.
"You knew? When did you find out?" She asked a bit more urgently.
"When we were lost in the woods. Where is she?" He asked, waking up a bit. Diao Chan looked suddenly looked sad.
"That Lu Xun guy. He was in the room when they found out. He's going to have her executed in a couple of minutes. Poor thing. If it wasn't for that silly rule. . ." Zhang he sat up suddenly, eyes wide. He was beginning to sweat again.
"Where is she? I've got to save her!" He yelled. Diao Chan looked frightened.
"R-right out there." She told him, pointing through the door.
"That fool! No one can execute my officers without my authority, woman or not!" He snapped at no one. Diao Chan rose and helped him walk a little, but he quickly regained his steps and hurried outside. Outside, about 30 feet away, Mitsuko sat bound by her ankles and wrists. She kneeled in front of Lu Xun and Lu Meng, who looked a bit uncertain. Their faces lit up with a sinister glow as they saw Zhang He. Lu Xun glided over and gave a quick bow to Zhang He.
"I was just about to take care of this, my Lord. As you probably know, the samurai is a woman. The penalty for masquerading as a man is death. I have my Lord's permission, I assume?" He asked, sounding a bit frightened.
"Of course you don't!" Zhang He spat back at him, feeling angry. He looked around for his sworn brothers, or anyone else sensible, but found no one. In fact, the camp looked completely deserted. Lu Xun looked taken aback.
"B-but, my Lord! It's the law!" Lu Xun stammered, looking as if he'd made a bad mistake, which indeed he had done.
"I don't care! This is my army, and it has my laws, and I say that any woman who wants to join, can. Especially my good friend Mitsuko." As he declared this he walked over to Mitsuko and brought her to her feet. She smiled gratefully at him and muttered something that sounded like:
"I don't deserve your kindness . . ." After Mitsuke was taken care of, Zhang He wheeled back on Lu Xun, who was cowering a little in his presence. Diao Chan drifted over to him, looking a bit like Zhang He might fall over again and grabbed onto his arm.
"Where is everybody?" He asked in a bit calmer tone, much to Lu Xun's relief.
"They've gone to look for you, my Lord. They have been doing so every night and day since your absence. They should be returning shortly." He said grandly, which almost didn't suit his size.
"Is my brother here?" Zhang He asked peering around. He spotted Sun Quan looking surly and watching with half interest in the corner of the courtyard. Xu Huang was, who was sparring with Taishi Ci before Mitsuko had been brought out was gazing over at them as well. Huang Gai and Lu Meng were obviously around, but he supposed most of the ones who weren't out were resting in the warmth inside.
"If you mean Sima Yi . . ." He said, putting a bitter tone on the Zhang He's sworn brother's name as if it were a rude curse word "Then, no, he's out with the others, my Lord."
"No, I mean Zhang Liao." He said plainly "Are Sun Shang Xiang and the Qiao sisters here, as well?" He asked. Lu Xun shook his head.
"Lord Zhang Liao has also gone with them, but I do not know the whereabouts of the women." Lu Xun informed.
"Their in our building." Diao Chan piped up. "I was in there just a moment ago." Zhang He nodded.
"Thanks Lu Xun, you've been helpful. If you don't attack my officers anymore, I might just like you one day." He said jokingly. Lu Xun looked a bit stunned at Zhang He's informality. He simply bowed and strutted off. "Come on, Diao Chan, Mitsuko, let's go talk to the others." He said cheerfully. Everything was right once again. He wasn't lost in a cold forest, people weren't being attacked, and no one was kidnapped. He made a note in the back of his mind to tell the others what he'd found at the ruins of Yuan Shao when they were all together again.
As he pushed open the light brown door leading to the girl's rooms, a squall of high-pitched voices erupted from everywhere. Xiao Qiao Jumped around him happily, chorusing, "He's alive!" in a gleeful sing-song voice. Da Qiao rushed over and with her hands clasped together told him how glad she was that he was back safely. Sun Shang Xiang, evidently relieved, scolded him viciously about deserting them, all the while with a smile on her face. After they were all done speaking, Zhang He pushed Mitsuko forward gently.
"Girls, let me introduce you to your new roommate." He said happily. Everyone was silent as the grave, staring blankly at Mitsuko and Zhang He. It was Xiao Qiao who broke it.
"But he can't sleep in our room, he's a man!" She said in a concerned, whiney sort of voice.
"No, I'm not. I was masquerading as one because I was in hiding." Mitsuko said boldly.
"Seriously?" Said Sun Shang Xiang, sounding astonished. "That's amazing! How did you live sleeping near all those stinky men?"
"Aww, it was only Gan Ning. He's not stinky, just talks a lot." Mitsuko joked. A round of girlish laughter was heard for a second and Zhang He could tell they would all make fast friends.
About an hour later Zhang He's sworn brothers returned. The rode up through the gates, waving, shouting happily and 'whoohooing' loudly.
"Zhang He, I'm so glad! I kept thinking it was my fault you two were lost. . ." Sima Yi said in tones of evident relief.
"Man, I thought we'd never see you again! You are sooooo lucky!" Sun Ce yelled, punching Zhang He in the arm softly. Zhou Yu shook his head at Sun Ce.
"I'm glad you all made it back safely. I assume Mitsuke is all right?" Zhou Yu asked placidly.
"Mitsuko, actually." Zhang He said, preparing himself for the long explanation.
"Mitsuko? But that's a girl's name!" Sima Yi said, a puzzled expression overtaking him.
"Exactly . . ." Zhang He sighed. He launched into retelling the story. They were all very surprised at the end, but Zhang He was glad to see none of them objected in the slightest.
It was with a happy heart that Zhang He retired that night. He had missed the peaceful and near silent sighs of his sleeping of his brother's around. He thought of Diao Chan resting in the room beside his, next to all the other girls, now including Mitsuko. He remembered how Diao Chan got into this entire mess in the first place. It was because of her father, he wanted Dong Zhou and Lu Bu dead. He was ready to put his own daughter a risk because of this want? Zhang He decided he disliked her father, even though he had never met. Anyone who was ready to put such a lovely creature such as Diao Chan in danger's way was his immediate enemy. But I must never say this to her . . . He thought She probably loves him, as any daughter does her father, adopted or not. He wondered if Lu Bu would ever return to claim Diao Chan back. If he did, Zhang He would be ready this time; he wouldn't let Lu Bu win. He suddenly had this glorious vision of himself standing triumphantly over Lu Bu's body, his Talons raised, gleaming in the sun, perhaps an injury or two on his person. Diao Chan would run up to him and leap into his arms, laughing and crying with joy.
"I Love you, Zhang He!" She would cheer. "Won't you marry me?" This very thought brought a contented grin to his face. Zhang He slipped into a serene sleep, still smiling from his wonderful 'victory'.
At first there was only blackness, seemingly a few second to his subconscious, but possibly three or four hours in real time. But images began to develop from this unthreatening gloom. He saw a girl, perhaps fourteen or fifteen, sharpen from the blurry moving shapes. She stood barely five feet, but something about her radiated respect. Her hair reached all the way down to her ankles and was jet black. It undulated in thick curtains, swaying like a pendulum in the wind. Her eyes were also a black, deep and empty, like pools in a dark cavern. Her skin was pale, so pale that with a trick of the light, it blended in with the whites of her eyes. Her face bore no menace, but looked rather sad and docile. Her attire was a solid black, with a red sash around her slender middle. She was in a gloomy forest in the middle of the day, the light shining through the trees creating splotches of glow on the shady forest terrain. She drifted among the trees, wander aimlessly and humming a bit.
The oddest part of this dream, as Zhang He later remembered, was that it wasn't like a dream at all. It was like watching someone else's life, through your own eyes, but you couldn't control what you saw. A fixed position over the forest, sometimes the view would change, but Zhang He couldn't look left if he'd wanted to.
She ascended up a hill, covered with dead leaves from last fall. On top the hill was a small bench, carved from stone, which looked well used and smooth. Up top was a canopy of a large oak tree, the leaves browning in the late autumn. They floated down lazily, making small rustles as they joined their fallen brothers on the earth. She sat delicately down on the bench, gazing up at the looming branches of the massive tree. Her expression was placid, vacant, and almost confused. She looked like a person who'd had amnesia, like she wanted to remember the life she used to know. After a few more seconds of watching her gaze up into nothing, a crunching of leaves was heard. Out of the corner came a man. A man who looked exactly like . . .
Me?
Zhang He stared at him for a second and realized it definitely wasn't him, though the resemblance was striking. His hair was shorter and a bit fairer in hue, but his complexion was almost identical to Zhang He's.
As he ambled carelessly through the clearing, he caught a glimpse of the girl on the bench. He stopped to look at her, a look of soft apprehension showing through his eyes. His mouth hung a bit open and kept moving as if he wanted to say something.
"H-hello . . ." He said in a weak voice to the girl, who wasn't even looking at him. Her gaze, directed towards the branches, replaced itself on the man's eyes.
"Who are you?" She asked innocently, her eyes pupil-less and sad. She looked almost scared of meeting someone, even though Zhang He could tell he meant her no harm.
"Just a nobody." The boy answered more calmly. He walked up the hill and sat down beside her, her eyes following him every step of the way. She gazed deeply into his eyes, but with no emotion, no look of excitement or displeasure.
"Justanoboy?" She asked finally. "That's an odd name . . ." He laughed a little.
"No, I meant my name isn't important." He grinned. "Do you . . . come here a lot?" She nodded, breaking eye contact and staring at her knees.
"I like this place . . ." She said with tired criticalness. "It's . . . quiet." He looked at her, his eyes narrowing with something that resembled fear.
"I see you in the village all the time. You just look out the window a lot of the time, but I wonder about you. Is . . . is it true what they say? About you having special powers?" He asked, his voice trembling in the very slightest way. She looked back at him, her eyes seeming to shine.
"I . . . Don't know. I have bad dreams sometimes. . ."
This left the man a blank. Who was this mysterious girl? What power she supposedly bear?
"Bad dreams? About what?" He asked, his eyes darting up and down her body. She shook her head, looking like she remembered something terrible. Her lips moved and shivered, but no sound came I out.
"I . . . Don't remember. But . . . But . . . Why do people kill?"
"Why do people kill?"
"Why do people kill?"
This phrase repeated in Zhang He's mind over and over until the worlds dimmed and all was black once again. He woke up, his forehead drenched with cold sweat, feeling, more tired than he had when he had gone to sleep. Sima Yi's face bobbed into view, looking apprehensive and intimidated.
"Zhang He?" He asked carefully. "Are you alright?" Zhang He sat up with difficulty, wiping his brow.
"I'm fine, I just had another weird dream . . ." He grunted, massaging his temples.
"You were mumbling stuff like 'Kill, kill. . . . Why?' " Sun Ce yawned from beside him.
"Why do people kill?" Zhang He inquired. They were all silent for a moment, looking half at him and each other. "It's what she kept saying . . ." He explained.
"She?" Asked Sima Yi, his eyes wide. " Like . . . The Lady in Black?" Zhang He shook his head.
"Someone different this time. She was alive, at least." He left off. He did not want to explain the entire thing to them this early in the morning.
"You really ought to find a way of combating Her next time She shows up." Zhou Yu said softly. Zhang He pondered this for a moment. All of a sudden, Sima Yi perked up with a little cry.
"That's reminds me!" He yelled, beaming. "I was thinking about you little episode with Liu Biao, Sun Ce. The proceedings during which Zhang He's fortitude Dobutsu was activated in addition to Sun Ce's is remarkably analogous to one another. Therefore, my theory is the concurrence of these measures is, in fact, not a coincidence but identical varieties of enchantments! And, if this is the case, I assume I can identify an individual who is capable of facilitating us with harnessing that supremacy. A single Dobutsu intended for every one of us. One that we can use at will." Sima Yi said, his eyes alight. Everything was silent as the grave for a moment.
"What the hell did you just say? Was that Chinese, because it sounded like a different language. . ." Sun Ce said stupidly. Sima Yi sighed.
"I forgot, Sun Ce is in our midst. Why bother using intelligent conversation . . ." Sima Yi said, sounding exasperated.
"Hey!" Sun Ce yelled indignantly.
"Sun Ce, you moron. He said that he thinks that what happened what happened both when you and Zhang He happened across those miraculous events, it was the same type of magic, and he thinks he knows someone who can help us use that power at will." Zhou Yu translated easily. Zhang He felt glad upon hearing Zhou Yu's harsh tone that he hadn't been the one who asked what Sima Yi had said.
"Why didn't he just say that, then?" Sun Ce asked, a patch of blush on his face. "Besides, I knew what he was saying, I was just testing you, Zhou Yu . . ." Zhou Yu shot him a dirty look before Zhang He spoke again.
"Wait, you know someone who can help us use that magic at will?" Zhang He demanded. Sima Yi smiled wryly.
"Precisely . . ."
"Do tell, then! Don't keep a secret!" Zhang He grinned, crazy with excitement.
"Well, you seen my grandfather, Sima Hua, is a great mystic . . ." He began, when Sun Ce made a belligerent noise.
"Were going to go out on some lousy quest that probably is just a stupid wild goose chase because you grandpa is smart?" Sun Ce complained.
"Shut up, Sun Ce, you don't know what you're talking about." Zhou Yu said coolly. Sun Ce piped down and returned to his seat.
"As I was saying . . ." Sima Yi continued. "He knows about every type of magic that ever was created. He was the one that gave me the Soul Transfer spell. I'm almost positive he would know how to use this. It could be a powerful asset to each of us if we learned how to control it."
"That's great! Good thinking, Sima Yi!" Zhang He said, smiling from ear to ear.
"There is one tiny, little problem, though. . ." Sima Yi said unexpectedly.
"Problem?"
"Yes, he lives way up in the mountains. And I'd bet it's snowing up there, too." Sima Yi said softly.
"Oh, that does put up a dilemma . . ." Zhang He said.
"I still think we should go." Announced Zhou Yu. "If we somehow found out how to use this magic, we could be invincible. Zhang He, you can heal people that have died or been injured, and Sun Ce can destroy vast amounts of soldiers at ease. This with the addition of my and Sima Yi's unknown power would provide us with supreme power. We could probably take over China, no questions asked."
"I agree with Zhou Yu, I think we should leave as soon as it's possible." Zhang He said, eager to learn about this wonderful new magic.
"Alright! A new quest! I'll go tell Da Qiao!" Sun Ce said, blasting happily from the room.
It was a week into their trip, and already there was snow around. The women had been easily excited by the sound of a new quest, and Mitsuko decided to come as well as Gan Ning, Zhen Ji, and Zhou Tai.
"Oh, the snow will be so lovely!" She cheered. "I will look like a siren of winter." Zhang He thought privately she had an overly romantic knowledge of snow, but kept that to himself. He was not willing to turn down help when he needed it. Gan Ning, who absolutely loved the snow, decided to come along as soon as he heard the word.
"Aw! Ning! It's gonna be so Ningish! I'll be all jumping around, Ning! Oh, Ning'll beat up the bad guys again, Ning!" Zhang He was sure he would, which is the reason he would endure his endless 'Ninging' throughout the journey. The rest of them were ready to go, almost excited to be back in the action once again.
Zhou Tai had only been interested in protecting his son. "You almost got yourself killed the last time you went away, I had better accompany you."
"Father . . ." Zhou Yu protested. "I'll be fine on my own. I don't need you babying me. . ." He added softly.
"Like or not, I'm coming. You little brats need some sort of elder around, and I'm better than any." He said, in his cruel guttural way.
It had been a treacherous climb up the mountain, which Sima Yi identified as the right one. The ascent was steep and frequently the road was covered with patches of near invisible ice. The scenery was most beautiful; almost every turn sheltered a breathtaking vista to the left, or a faultless waterfall, trickling gently off the side of the mountain to the right. The lush trees and rare bushes flourish around them, growing steadily and with bravery off the side of the cliff. All the way up it was steady climb, they never got behind or were in need of supplies. Now with the first week gone, there were certainly more than halfway up. Old piles of snow mixed with slush were piled around the side of the cliff as they went up. Gan Ning couldn't resist and picked it up at once, throwing it at random officers, making everyone else wet and cold and Gan Ning scapegoat-for-a- day.
After spending the night on an intermediately large flat that joined with an alcove in the rock face, the setting abruptly changed. It had suddenly transformed itself into a sparkling winter wonderland, complete with towering pines decorated with heaps on unflawed snow adorning their branches. The snow on the ground was shallow for now, but Zhang He knew there would be difficulties soon approaching. They hiked up the step road, everyone's breath plume out more and more rapidly.
"What's the deal with this?" Cried Sun Shang Xiang, causing a pile of snow to avalanche from its perch on the tree beside her. "Why am I so out of breath? Am I getting fat or something?" Sima Yi shook his head and stepped beside her.
"It's the air. I assume that since we are up higher, less air is pushing down on us, which means it's scarcer up here. It's just harder to breath, I'm sure your in fine shape." He finished, giving her a quick and undefiled look-over.
"Wow, I would have never thought of that . . ." She said, putting her hand around her chin and looking around to see if she could perhaps see this absence of air, but it did not feel like showing itself. "You're really smart, Sima Yi!" She cheered, leaning her shoulder against Sima Yi's, probably without thinking. Sima Yi blushed and stammered inaudibly.
"T-thanks." He managed.
"Ten times, no, a hundred time smarter than my brother! He's so irresponsible . . ." She ended with a snarl, shooting a dirty look at Sun Ce, who was engaging in a vicious snowball fight with Gan Ning, who obviously didn't care that his face had been pummeled with hardened snow at Sun Ce speed. While Gan Ning tried to wipe of the residues, laughing like a maniac, Sun Ce launched another two in his direction. Gan Ning quickly dodged and the frosty missiles landed right on the back of Da Qiao's head, dislodging her near-perfect hairstyle.
"Oh! I'm sorry, Da Qiao! Don't hit! Don't hit!" He said unable to hide his grin and he cowered in front of an angry looking Da Qiao. All at once her expression changed to an impish grin. She hastily plucked two handfuls of snow form the ground and dumped them all over Sun Ce. He and Gan Ning exchanged dumbfounded looks.
"Come on! If you two stand there like idiots I'm going to win!" She giggled, throwing some snow at Gan Ning. Sun Ce laughed heartily and they were off once again, this time with Da Qiao. Xiao Qiao, who had been speaking lightheartedly with Zhou Yu, pointed at her sister and the rest and smiled. Zhou Yu motioned for her to go and play with them, but she grabbed the front of his robes and dragged him along. He shook his head, blushing a bit, trying to resist. Soon the tension between them failed and the both fell back in the snow. Zhou Yu sat up looking ruffled, Snow littering his hair and wet spots all over his face. He had fallen in the deep snow and soon found it difficult to dislodge himself. Xiao Qiao, who had gotten up with no problems, was laughing at bit at him on the sidelines. He figured out that he could push himself up, because his hands would sink in the powder, and standing up was nearly impossible. A bewildered smile on his face showed that he could concoct no plan to free himself from the snow trap, so Xiao Qiao, holding her side with laughter, extended a hand to him. She tried to hoist him up, but being the very small person she was, she ended up on Zhou Yu's chest.
Zhang He smiled as he watched this little episode, wondering how they would get out. Sima Yi, watching them with interest, Sun Shang Xiang still at his side, finally gave them a hint.
"Roll!" He called to them as he passed by. Zhou Yu look dignified and mouthed something that looked like 'no' but Xiao Qiao energetically flipped on her side and made her way out of the trap. Zhou Yu, putting his pride aside, decided to try this and emerged wet and covered in powder, but smiling. Diao Chan trotted up briskly beside Zhang He, and, beaming, took his arm.
"It's so lovely up here." She said, breathing in the clean air. "Look at all the fun everyone's having." She said, gazing around at everyone. The fight had now developed into an all out melee. Sun Shang Xiang had been hit by a snowball gone astray and was now pelting Sun Ce with snowballs as fast as she could. Sima Yi, fearing she might actually hurt him, was trying to call her off. Mitsuko and Zhou Tai had hung to the back, speaking in low voices, but nonetheless looking peaceful.
"Just wait till that snow melts on them. They'll be cold and whiney." Zhang He said, eyeing their light clothing.
"Oh, lighten up. You never take a break, do you?" She asked inoffensively, putting a hand in his hair.
"I'm just a bit stressed. These dreams I keep having. . ." He left off.
"About the Lady?" She asked a bit more seriously.
"No, this time it was something different. It was like watching something that happened a long time ago. And there was a man who looked like me. Almost identical, in fact. It was unnerving." Zhang He explained, feeling the beginnings of a headache.
"Do you have a twin brother? Maybe you're seeing his thoughts or something." She guessed.
"No, Liao would have told me." He told her. "There was a girl too, with really long hair, in black robes. She almost looked like you."
"Odd. Maybe it has something to do with . . ." She touched at the area near her collarbone where the unidentified, mark was.
"Never figured that one out, did you? What do you think it could be?" Zhang He asked. She suddenly stopped and Zhang He stopped with her. Her eyes narrowed a bit. She looked thoughtful, and with her brow furrowed she spoke.
"I'm . . . Supposed to find someone. The one that was lost, the one who was . . .betrayed. When we are reunited, then . . . then . . ."
"What? What does that mean?" Zhang He asked, for some reason getting that unsure feeling of mystery, that feeling you were disturbing something that was put to rest long ago, something that shouldn't be disturbed.
"She's . . . in the ground now." She continued, looking as if she had no idea what this meant, she was just saying it. "The sacrifice got away, she's angry. She . . . wants . . . him . . ." Zhang He started to feel afraid. It was like he was losing Diao Chan to some unknown force. He had to stop her.
"Diao Chan! Snap out of it!" He yelled suddenly, making everyone around him stop what they were doing and look at them.
"She's . . . coming . . . coming . . . for . . . me . . ." She said, sounding out of breath. Zhang He grabbed her shoulders and shook her once firmly and she came back to being herself.
"Diao Chan are you all right?" He asked, his heart thumping again. He was getting used to the frequent scares.
"I'm sorry." She said, sounding frightened. "That's the first time that's ever happened to me. I just suddenly felt like . . . Someone I knew a long time ago was talking to me . . . In my head.
"You know . . ." Zhang He said, looking around. "This place is fine, we'll spend the night here." Everyone hastily agreed.