Author's Note: I'm not giving away anything in the note this time!
Mwahaha! THIS IS NOT THE LAST CHAPTER!!! Thanks to y'all who reviewed,
Petta, he's coming soon! *happy dance* I hope you like it!
Enjoy!
Part 3
The Romance of the Four Leaders
Chapter 44
The Last Twilight
"Follow me in, Zhang He." Sima Yi whispered as Sima Fang ushered Sima Yi into the 'conference' room. The walk back had felt uncomfortable to say the least. Neither father nor son had said a word and Zhang He felt foolish being around while they were both so vulnerable. They had stepped up to the palace gates and ignored the cries of "The young Lord! He's returned!" from the guards.
Now they were inside and Sima Fang wanted to have his little talk with Sima Yi. Zhang He didn't know what to expect, but Sima Yi obviously felt something was fishy.
"I can't, Sima Yi. Don't you want some privacy, anyway?" Zhang He whispered back, eyeing Sima Fang's suspicious glare.
"I don't really care what you hear, you're my brother! I just don't think I can defeat him on my own if he tries anything." Sima Yi hissed back. "Zhang He will join us, right father?" He said in a more audible voice. Sima Fang's forehead creased, but he said nothing.
"I'll just wait outside the door . . ." Zhang He whispered back, "If you need help, just yell out and I'll come in." Zhang He looked over at Sima Fang "Don't worry, I'll wait outside." Sima Fang's expression softened and he nodded. He held the door open and Sima Yi sulked into the room. Once the door was shut, Zhang He slunk over to the crack and put his ear up to it. He found he could hear what was being said quite nicely.
"Have a seat. . ." Offered Sima Fang's voice. Some shuffling was heard then all was quiet again. This silence lasted a long while, and then Sima Fang cleared his throat. "I just wanted to bring you here so that I could apologize . . ." Sima Fang breathed, sounding like an open wound that had recently been poked. "Apologize for everything I've done to you. I know it sounds strange to you, but I've only tried to make you happy from the moment you came into my life." He heard Sima Yi snort in disbelief and Sima Fang sigh.
"You have a rather harsh way of doing so . . ." Sima Yi replied, sounding vicious.
"Please try to understand, my son . . . No, allow me to explain. I never wanted to hurt you, but I'm not made out to be a parent. I just thought if I ensured that you would turn out to be intelligent, you'd never have to suffer failure and being a nobody. I thought for sure that would make you happy, but I was wrong. I got you everything money would buy, everything a boy your age would simply love, but that didn't please you either. I let you have freedom, power, and money. Whatever you wanted. But why do you not smile? I understand I let my temper get the better of me at times, but it's not like I choose to. I have something wrong with me . . . Something in my head. I can't control myself." For a moment nothing was said. Then Sima Yi broke the silence.
"It's . . . It's not so much that you hurt me. Bruises and cuts will heal, leaving nothing but a scar. It's true I have many scars . . ." Zhang He imagined the many rifts on Sima Yi's back and chest. "But you've done something that will never heal. I could never talk to you about this before because I thought I might suffer a similar fate, but-"
Sima Fang interrupted suddenly. "What are you talking about? What have I done that you can never forgive me for?" Zhang He peered through the crack and saw a look of unforced, pure puzzlement was on Sima Fang's face. It was as if he actually didn't know he had severed his wife in two.
"What am I talking about!?" Sima Yi yelled, sounding outraged. "WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT!?" Sima Yi was on his feet, pointing an accusatory index finger at his father. "I'm talking about the time you killed my mother! Or did you forget how you murdered her in cold blood!? You bastard . . ." Sima Yi, dropped to his knees, more tears rolling from his eyes. Sima Fang now stood, his eyes ablaze.
"How dare you!?" He spat, sounding appalled. "How dare you say I even laid a hand on my Mai Xeng!? I loved that woman more than you could ever dream of knowing and nothing on Earth could have driven me to hurt on hair on her head! You know that it was some horrible man who snuck in while I was asleep!" He yelled at Sima Yi, who was staring back with a look of pure hatred.
"You . . . lying . . . BASTARD!" He screamed back. "I saw it with my own two eyes! I was there! You weren't sleeping! You waited for us to return, you got so angry because she let me out of this wretched place and you decided to punish her! How can you deny something like that?" Sima Yi stopped there and put forth a fake laugh. "You just don't want to believe you did something that terrible, is that it? You just don't want to believe you're a dirty, cheap, lying bastard with no sense of honor who didn't even deserve to know my mother!" With this Sima Fang slapped Sima Yi across the face with such blinding force it let out a loud smack that could be heard where Zhang He stood. Sima Yi fell backwards, holding his face and whimpering a little.
"I may have a bad temper that cannot control and I may be the worst father that ever lived but I NEVER so much as yelled at Mai Xeng once in my life! I treated her well even before we were married. I wasn't even angry when she brought you back that day, I was just a little upset because when your training had come to an end I thought I would be the one to take you outside for the first time. That was all. I just wanted you to like me. I just remember telling her that, then it . . . stops there. That's all I remember. That and waking up to find her body. I swear to you, Yi, I never even remember her getting hurt in the slightest. . ." Sima Fang's voice ended in a short sob. Sima Yi looked into his eyes, eyes that were riddled with pain and sincerity.
"You're. . . you're not lying . . . You really don't remember killing her . . ." Sima Yi said in a short of breath voice. Suddenly Zhang He felt as if a rock was placed in his stomach. He remember Zhou Yu's voice, talking about his own mother's death. 'You did it twice Sun Ce, you pushed me in, and you pushed her in! She died because of you, Sun Ce! YOU KILLED HER!' He had said that. He thought Sun Ce killed Rai Lin. But Sun Shang Xiang told him differently. 'I think I remember Sun Ce grabbing his head, like it hurt or something and when Rai Lin turned back to see what was going on, he pushed her in the river. But it wasn't like he meant to do it, it was like when Sima Yi gets possessed by Zhuge Liang.' The two events sounded so frighteningly analogous. Was it possible Sima Fang was possessed under that same force that took over Sun Ce? Were all four brothers connected somehow? They all knew the song, that was enough to make Zhang He think, but now this was too much. There was definitely something going on with all of their lives, and Zhang He had a bad feeling it had something to do with the Lady in Black.
Sima Fang grabbed Sima Yi's shoulders a bit violently and shook him.
"I didn't kill her! I've never hurt a woman in my life! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!?" Sima Fang pushed Sima Yi forcefully back to the ground and began to pant deeply. Then his face contracted into a look of pain once again and he covered it with his hands. Sima Yi looked scared, lying on the floor with no defenses, but Sima Fang looked as if he would not try anything again.
"Oh heavens . . ." He wept into his porcelain pale hands. "WHY AM I LIKE THIS? I hurt you again . . ." Sima Fang drew the small dagger at his waist as quickly as lightening and looked at it for a moment with teary eyes. He thrust the hilt into Sima Yi's hand and closed Sima Yi's fingers around the ivory handle.
"What are you doing?" Sima Yi asked a little faintly.
"Kill me . . ." Sima Fang sobbed. His guttural voice was hopeless and dejected. "Kill me now. I don't deserve to live. I'd rather have you kill me than commit suicide, I want to feel the pain I've bestowed upon you. . ." Sima Yi took in a sharp breath, staring open mouthed at the shiny metal. It looked as if part of him would love to sink the cold metal into his father's flesh, and the other wouldn't even dream of such a thing. Then his eyes closed and he took another breath.
"I would never do that . . ." Sima Yi whispered. He threw that knife into the corner of the room and opened his deep brown eyes again. "I would never want to. Now I understand what you were trying to tell me. You were suffering just as much as I was, throughout those years. I know you loved mother, you truly did, and she loved you back. You wouldn't have hurt her, not for everything in the world. It was your body that murdered her, but it was your conscious soul. . ." Sima Fang looked back frantically into Sima Yi's eyes, his neat moustache now in disarray. Then he go back onto his knees and bowed so low to Sima Yi that his forehead touched the ground.
"I'm so sorry, Yi. If you never find it in your heart to forgive me, I'll understand. I'm sorry I'm such a failure, I'm sorry for hurting you, I'm sorry that I locked you up in that room, I'm sorry you ever had to meet me. I'm sorry that such a wonderful person like you had to have an awful man like me for a father. If I could have given you a better life, I would, oh believe me; I would have given it to you without a moment's hesitation. After you left I realized how terrible it was to be alone again, how that even having you around when your hated me was better than losing you forever. I now realize you can only be happy when your not around me, which is why I disown you as my son. Go and live your life without me troubling it any longer, I just don't want you to leave not knowing that I apologize for my wrongdoings. You may leave any time you like . . ." As he spoke these words, more and more tears poured down his face and he began to sob uncontrollably. Sima Yi stood, looking numb. Just as Zhang He thought Sima Yi was going to walk out of the door he bent down and brought Sima Fang back to his feet.
"I . . .I don't want to be disowned." Sima Fang looked his son in the face with a mixed look of hope and confusion. "I know your not the perfect father, b-but nobody is. . . I'm as much to blame as you are. I never gave you any chances . . . I should have been more open with you. I forgive you for everything you've done. . ." Sima Yi cried. Sima Fang's bottom lip quivered a bit and then without warning he grabbed his son as he had done before in the alley and held him close to his chest.
"Thank you . . . Oh, thank you . . ." Whisper-wept Sima Fang.
It was a few hours later and Sima Yi and Zhang He were standing just outside the entrance of Sima Fang's house. Twilight was just setting in and a line of gold was streak across the horizon. Both Sima Yi and Sima Fang had pulled themselves together and now Zhang He and Sima Yi were going to leave for Lu Bu's home.
"You will come back, won't you?" Asked Sima Fang a bit apprehensively as a guard brought two horses for Zhang He and his sworn brother.
"We will, but we need to save our friends. And remember, father, I live at the Shi camp now." Sima Yi put carefully.
"Yes, I understand." He said softly. He paused. "If there's anything I can ever do to help . . ." Sima Yi suddenly turned back.
"Actually . . ." He began, looking excited. "There is one thing . . . But we can't talk now! I've got to go, I'll be back father!" Sima Yi waved him off, mounted his horse, and then raced down the road after Zhang He. After more traversing through the winding stone pathways under the stone archways that occasionally showed up in the city.
"So what was this great idea?" Zhang He asked as he rode up next to Sima Yi once the ride had slowed a bit. Sima Yi flashed a mischievous smile.
"I can get married and so can you. All of us can, in fact. And we can all live in the house we dreamed of and maybe even have room for a couple more people." Sima Yi said slowly. Zhang He almost gasped at this news, not daring to actually believe it. But if Sima Yi were saying so, why would it be a falsehood?
"Why do you say that?"
"Because . . ." Sima Yi continued in his taunting tone. "My father has enough money to buy ten houses and still live comfortably for the rest of his life . . . And he's offered to grant us a favor. . ." Sima Yi raised his eyebrows.
"Would. . . would he really buy us all a house?" Zhang He asked. Sima Yi nodded enthusiastically.
"In a fraction of a second. He's very free with money. I suppose because there's so much of it in his life. Anyway, he wants to prove he's sorry, he'll do it." Sima Yi smiled wryly again then gave his horse a hard kick and he sped through the open exit. Zhang He's heart soared inside his chest and he flew off right behind Sima Yi. The wind blew back his hair and the humid pre-summer air filled his lungs as he rode on to the tiny castle that looked no more than a toy model from far away. I'm almost there, Diao Chan. . . He thought out to her as the castle grew bigger and bigger every minute. The pale purple tint at the top of the atmosphere spread farther out, like an enormous inkblot staining the sky. The moon snuck up from behind them, casting long black shadows on the road in which they were riding. The extreme lights and darks on the roofs and ridges of Lu Bu's house made it look weird and angular, like a giant made of splintered wood.
"They're in there somewhere . . ." Zhang He whispered as he and Sima Yi hid in the shadows just outside the building. Sima Yi removed Zhang He's clothes and dressed in his war uniform while Zhang He put on the one Sima Yi was wearing. Gripping the Dark Feather and Metal Talons, the stood and faced the looming tower with it's sharp Pagoda style roofs. Zhang He started to race towards the entrance, but Sima Yi caught him by the shoulder.
"Moron! Are you going to rush in there without a strategy? You'll be killed!" Sima Yi hissed, pulling Zhang He back into the darkness.
"Well, think of one soon, I'm getting impatient!" Zhang He sat and sulked while Sima Yi's brilliant mind went to work. He put his finger to his lips and looked to the sky while he thought.
"Sun Tzu says that 'Generally in warfare, keeping a nation intact is best, destroying a nation second best; keeping an army intact is best, destroying an army second best; keeping a battalion intact is best, destroying a battalion second best; keeping a company intact is best, destroying a company second best; keeping a squad intact is best, destroying–"
"Alright! I get the point!" Zhang He interjected. "Say a USEFUL quote already!"
"'If the general cannot control his temper and sends troops to swarm the walls, one third of them will be killed, and the city will still not be taken.' " Sima Yi contradicted. Zhang He shot Sima Yi a dirty look and went back to sulking.
"What he means is that we've got to focus on getting everyone safe and secure before we do any battling . . . But . . .we could use danger to our advantage in this situation. It's best to collect knowledge first though so we know the quickest escape routes . . . Which means I will have to go and find out the interior of the building . . . talk to the prisoners, and map and escape route. . ." Sima Yi said half to himself.
"Why do YOU get to go?" Zhang he asked rebelliously.
"Because . . ." Sima Yi mused, still thinking ad not looking at Zhang He. "You'll probably end up attacking some innocent bystander and ruin the entire strategy or forget about details . . ."
"You always get to do the cool stuff . . ." Pouted Zhang He, thinking he heard something behind him.
"I feel like I'm talking to Sun Ce . . ." Sima Yi sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Yeah?" Said a recognizable voice from behind Zhang He. Zhang He looked up and saw from where he was sitting and saw the underside of Sun Ce's chin. He knew it was Sun Ce because he identified the stubby little beard Sun Ce thought was so manly.
"Sun Ce!?" Zhang He exclaimed, nearly falling backwards. "How the hell did you get here?"
"Easy, we followed you guys . . . We lost your for a minute in that big city, but we could hear your horses galloping a mile away!"
"We?" Zhang He asked apprehensively.
"Yes . . ." Said a calm voice that sounded like water. It turned out to be Zhou Yu. "You know it was very foolish what you did Zhang He. . ." Zhang He laughed weakly and closed his eyes.
"Oh, hello Sun Ce, Zhou Yu . . ." Sima Yi said, noticing momentarily. "Then he turned back to his thoughts. Sun Ce jumped behind Sima Yi and put him into a 'gentle' chokehold. He took his other hand and ground his knuckles into Sima Yi's head.
"Didn't you miss me, little brother?" He teased, rocking Sima Yi side to side.
"Get off of me!" Sima Yi broke away and collected himself again in such a dignified way that it made Zhou Yu, Zhang He, and Sun Ce break out laughing. "Shut up, you imbeciles!" Sima Yi snarled. "Don't you know we could be discovered at any moment!"
"Calm down, we're alright." Sun Ce answer pushing Sima Yi away. Everyone stared at one another for a few minutes, and then Zhou Yu spoke.
"So, have we a plan of what to do?" He asked.
"Yes! I was just about to go in and map the area inside of the castle." Sima Yi remembered, and then he set off towards the castle.
"You're going alone?" Zhou Yu asked. He shook his head. "Let me come, you need someone with sense to help you."
"Thanks much, brother." Sima Yi said, handing Zhou Yu the pen while he grabbed some parchment for Zhang He's bag. Then they set off into the night, disappearing into the gloom below Lu Bu's castle. Sun Ce and Zhang he conversed quietly for a bit then decided they should try and regain their strength for later on and began to sleep. Zhang He learned that Zhang Liao was also on his way, but he left almost a day after Zhou Yu and Sun Ce because he wanted to take care of the last injuries.
So they slept on for two hours when finally Zhou Yu and Sima Yi returned with the news. After waking Sun Ce and Zhang He, He read from their faces this was not a good situation.
"We found them." Zhou Yu said shortly, placing the map flat on the grass. He then traced along then newly inked lines as he spoke. "There's a secret entrance on the west wall where we can penetrate into thee bowels of the castle. It's mostly just a waterway. Follow along the left path and you'll get to the trapdoor to the second basement. On this level are the dungeons, filled with rowdy and nasty prisoners. My only advice is don't step near to the bars." Zhou Yu shot a side looks at Sima Yi how looked at his own feet. "Well, we've mapped the way to the cell the girls are being kept in. . ." Zhou Yu pointed to a star on the map. "They've occupied the nicest cell in the castle, nice of Lu Bu to be thinking about things . . ."
"He kept Diao Chan in a prison!?" Zhang He yelled in an outburst.
"SHHH!" Zhou Yu hissed. "No, I was coming to say that all the girls are in the cell, except Diao Chan. She's being kept in Lu Bu's chambers. This is why it creates something of a problem . . ."
"It certainly does!" Zhang He growled, wish Lu Bu were the bug he's recently smashed between his fingers.
"Yes. Now, Sun Shang Xiang fro some reason gave up her food and blankets to Xiao Qiao early on and she's quite ill, but besides that the rest of them are fine. Now Lu Bu's chambers are at the top of the tower. The easiest way to reach them is walk up the servants stairs, as their all asleep at this time, this is the only area the guards don't patrol, so you should be alright. If you meet one of the servants, just run up and slit their throat before the see you, this should be the safest solution. Don't forget to HIDE THE BODY! When you get to the top you'll reach a long hall that is heavily guarded. You'll probably have to do some battle, but don't let any of them make noise or alert any other guards, that will destroy the entire plan."
"What IS the plan?"
"The plan is. . ." Sima Yi began. "That we each go in one at a time and get one girl."
"Why one at a time?" Sun Ce asked. "Wouldn't it be quicker if we all went at once?"
"Because it attracts less attention from the prisoners and its plays out well in the strategy." Sima Yi said exasperatedly.
"What strategy?" Sun Ce asked.
"Just listen and he'll tell you . . ." Zhou Yu sighed.
"Right, now we can resume . . . Well, once every girl but one is in a safe zone we've discovered in the waterway, we'll have one person go in and get the remaining person. Instead of walking to the safe zone, you head to the entrance, making as much noise as possible. Your mission is to purposely alert the guards so you can lure Lu Bu outside. Once he's out, two more of us will come to assist you while Zhang He runs up to get Diao Chan. When she's in the safe zone, come down and Zhou Yu, you, and myself will use Dobutsu full blast. Sun Ce will go back and escort the girls to safety back in Qiao. By that time Lu Bu should be dead, then we'll all rendezvous at my father's house."
Everyone nodded and prepared for the procedure, each in his own mental way. When everyone was ready and they reviewed once or twice, everyone got ready. Zhou Yu went in first, as his mission was the easiest. He would get Xiao Qiao and put her in the safe zone, then return as quietly as possible. Sun Ce's would be more difficult because he was . . . well . . . Sun Ce, and Sima Yi had to carry Sun Shang Xiang because of her illness.
Zhou Yu darted off to the secret entry at the base of the castle. Within a matter of minutes he returned, looking a bit harrowed.
"She followed orders fine . . . She's in the safe zone now." He whispered to the rest of them. He brought up his hand, which was dripping with some blood. "I cut my hand breaking the locks, can someone wrap it?" Sima Yi came up and expertly applied bandages. Zhou Yu looked at him with a bit of a doubtful expression. "Sun Shang Xiang's in pretty bad shape . . .Do you think you'll be able to carry her by yourself?" Zhou Yu asked.
"I should be able to. . ." Sima Yi replied looking uncertain.
"Look, let Sun Ce go now, then when it's your turn, go with Zhang He, just incase. . . Then, we'll meet you at the safe zone, and we can pick up plans from there." Sima Yi nodded and the plan was set. Sun Ce went and came back uneventfully, and then it was Sima Yi and Zhang He's departure time.
The two men walked silently to the edge of the castle. Sima Yi led him in the dark and finally his footsteps ceased. Zhang He looked into through the shadows at the outside base of the castle, which was piled with stones. Somewhere near the end of the wall was a black crawl space, barely big enough for a child to get through.
"It's a tight fit, try your best Zhang He. If Sun Ce can do it, so can you . . ." Sima Yi whispered before following after kneeling down. When Sima Yi had dissolved totally into the tiny, dark hole, Zhang He got down on all fours to fit inside. He discovered it a problem when his wide shoulders wouldn't fit, but he found when he turned them a bit diagonally they managed to squeeze in without so much pain. When he tried to stand up after he'd cleared the crawl space his head crashed into something hard.
"Ouch!" He yelled, falling on his knees and grabbing his head.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you to watch your head . . ." Sima Yi said a little apologetically. "Just crawl a little farther on and you'll be able to stand. Zhang He carefully experimented with Sima Yi's statement and found it was true. He extended his arm in the darkness and found Sima Yi's shoulder. He followed him until he heard a clanking noise ahead. Some rusty light filtered in and showed a worn stone ladder, an open trapdoor, and the highlights of Sima Yi's face.
"This way." He whispered, motioning to him. They both climbed quietly up the stone ladder. Zhang He emerged into a dimly lit hall, lined with dark cages on either wall. He heard small movements and breathes in each of them and stayed towards the middle. Their footsteps echoed in the eerie halls as Sima Yi headed all the way down the hall then took a direct left. At the end of the new hall was a door that was apparently broken. Then stepped down to the edge and examined the splintered wood and bent metal. Tiny spots of blood lay smeared on the stone, telling them Zhou Yu had been here. Sima Yi carefully opened the door and swept inside. Zhang He followed closely behind into the tiny jail cell, barely big enough for two, let alone four. Sun Shang Xiang Was lying in the corner, a blanket wrapped tightly around her and Zhen Ji was close at her side. Sun Shang Xiang was pale, but her cheeks were burning pink. Sima Yi went and knelt by her, brushing her scarlet hair off of her forehead. She opened her eyes slowly and looked at Sima Yi through clouded vision. She moaned a tiny bit and closed her eyes again.
"It took you long enough! When am I going to get out of here? I'm tired of waiting!" Zhen Ji sounded bossy, but Zhang He saw fear behind her eyes.
"Don't worry, Zhen Ji." He reassured her. "We'll be sending back Zhou Yu and the others after we get Sun Shang Xiang out of here."
"Good, because . . ." Zhen Ji left off. "Where's your brother? Why isn't he here?"
"He said he was coming, but he needed to take care of something before he could leave." Zhang He informed her.
"Tch." She scoffed, acting high and mighty, "Typical of him . . ."
"Let's get her out of here before it gets light." Sima Yi said, gently picking up Sun Shang Xiang and holding her against his chest.
"Let's go." Zhang He said stepping near the door, waiting for Sima Yi to catch up.
"Your leaving me alone!?" Zhen Ji cried. She ran over and caught Zhang He's arm. "What if Lu Bu comes back for me? I don't want to think what he'll do! Please, don't leave me alone here!" She batted her long eyelashes sincerely.
"It will only be for a short while, Zhen Ji." Zhang He said, carefully unhinging his limb from her grip.
"Hurry back!" She yelled at them as they shut the door behind them. Sima Yi went down the halls slightly slower as he continued on, cradling the sleeping Sun Shang Xiang. Zhang He followed behind his irregular pace, stopping whenever Sima Yi stopped.
"She's heavy . . ." Sima Yi whispered to Zhang He. "She doesn't look like it, but she is . . ."
"Want me to take her?" Zhang He asked, noticing Sima Yi's strain. He could understand this; Sun Shang Xiang was only a few inches shorter than Sima Yi, so they were probably around the same weight (Sima Yi might have weighed less, perhaps).
"I think I got it. . ." Sima Yi said, hitching her up gently. For the second that they stopped, Zhang He happened to glance into the prison cells to his left. Inside was a bearded man in his early thirties who was lying on the floor of the empty space. His face was wrinkled and worn, but he somehow looked familiar to Zhang He. He seemed to recall that heavily bearded face and those hard features. Zhang he walked closer to the bars and peered into the shadowed cell. The man inside stirred.
"Zhang He! You moron, what are you doing?" Hissed Sima Yi. Zhang he ignored Sima Yi and went up to the bars. He had his Talons if anything went wrong. The man inside moved around some and began to wake. Sima Yi approached the cell next to Zhang He and looked in cautiously. The man opened his eyes to slits and then suddenly shot upright.
"OH, HEAVENS!" He yelled, sounding strong at breathless at the same time. Sima Yi nearly leapt back but Zhang He was too stunned. The man stuck his arms, thin arms that had probably once been sinewy or at least healthy, through the bars and hooked them around Zhang He's ankles and calves. He yelled and tried to kick back, but he fell onto his backside instead. "I can't believe it's you, Zhang He! Oh, I thought I would never see you again! Forgive me, my friend, can you forgive me?" The man raved.
"What!?" Zhang he thought this prisoner must me totally mad and fought with all his might to escape. "How do you know my name?" The man let go suddenly, his eyes looking forlorn and misty.
"It's me Zhang He, don't you remember? Y-you're. . . old friend. . . ." He laughed weakly. "You'd remember me if I were still a great man . . . back in my splendid clothes and glory. . . It's me Zhang He, Yuan Shao!" Zhang He froze and he heard Sima Yi choke behind him.
"Yu. . . Yuan Shao. . .? Is that really?" Zhang He matched the man to his old master, and it was definitely the same. It was almost appalling to see him in such a disgraceful position. Zhang He found that he met him with mixed feelings. He first wanted to rage at him and leave him behind with nothing but cruel words, but then he remember Yuan Shao had been deceived. How could he be cruel to him? But then again, he did make the decision to have Zhang He beaten senselessly and abandoned with nothing but his Talons and Diao Chan in the winter forest. Hadn't he told him never to return? Zhang He was unsure of what to do at the moment, so he waited and observed.
"Please Zhang He, help me!" Yuan Shao begged, "I'm sorry. Guo Tu is all to blame, for EVERYTHING! Please . . . Please have mercy. . ." Yuan Shao bowed his forehead to the ground and put his palms against one another above his head. Zhang He, without thinking, slashed the lock on the side of the cell, letting the metal bars swing open freely. Yuan Shao scurried out like a starving peasant to food, nearly weeping with joy.
"Oh, Thank you!" He squealed, "You've forgiven me- "
"Quiet down!" Zhang He snapped, liking this switch of power. "I haven't done anything yet. You'll go along with our plan and we'll see what we can do about you later. For now, shut up and follow Sima Yi until you get new orders." Zhang He ordered. Yuan Shao nodded furiously. "Take him to the safe zone." He said, much more genially to Sima Yi. "Can you make it all the way there with her?" He motioned to Sun Shang Xiang. Sima Yi nodded critically. "Tell Zhen Ji's 'rescuer' to come up. The rest of you continue with plans as planned. Sima Yi obeyed swiftly and Zhang He ran back to the Girl's cell. He saw the entrance to the Servant's stairs were just beyond this door and Zhang He planned to race up them at full speed when he saw Lu Bu chasing after Zhen Ji. He his in a shadowy alcove just shy of the entrance and waited.
A minute went by.
Then five.
What was taking everyone so long? Suddenly the tip tap of footsteps came clocking up the corridor and Zhang He recognized Sun Ce's muscley form.
"Sun Ce . . ." He whispered to the silhouette. Sun Ce stopped.
"Who's there?" He asked.
"It's me. Zhang He." He whispered, not moving. Sun Ce's outline relaxed.
"Scared me brother . . . What's wrong?"
"What's going on? I thought you were taking everyone back?" He asked, heart jumping at the plip of a water drop somewhere in the darkness.
"Sima Yi wants to take the back because my sister doesn't want to leave him. . ." Sun Ce said indignantly. "Pretty, dumb if you ask me, but whatever works. . ." Sun Ce replied from the blackness.
"Alright, make sure Zhen Ji's safe during the time coming up. . . When she's out, bang your Tonfas against the bars and wake up the prisoners. Yell, scream, bellow, and make a commotion. Make sure Lu Bu gets himself down here. Once you see him, get Zhen Ji out of here as fast as possible, but don't go back to the waterway. Go through the entrance, all right? It's to the right and up the stairs. Carry Zhen Ji if you have to . . ." Suddenly Zhen Ji burst through the door.
"So I'm the bait!?" She raged. "I refuse to be treated in such a way! I'll never let you live it down if you do this to me, Zhang He! I thought you had more character than that! I know your broth-"
"JAILBREAK!!" Sun Ce screamed. "THEIR GETTING OUT! ESCAPING! BETTER HURRY, THEIR GETTING AWAY!" He smacked his Tonfa violently into a cell, creating an echoing clang throughout. Most of the inmates woke at this and starting jabbering a growling, which quickly turned into a furious uproar. Sun Ce broke off one or two locks and the men inside leaked out and ran off like water through a sieve. "WAKE UP, YOU CRAPPY GUARDS! THEIR RUNNING!" Sun Ce hollered. Zhang he laughed at him because it looked like he was having so much fun. He freed several more of the capture men and went on yelling his brains out, creating a din that even the dead couldn't have ignored. Sun Ce danced around and sang kicking random things and people as he went. Guards and soldiers poured in from all directions, spear raised and swords readied, but Sun Ce couldn't have been happier. Used all the martial arts and fighting skill in him and didn't attain a single injury. Skulls crunched. Noses broke. Blood flowed, arms cracked and all along Sun Ce was having the time of his life. Zhen Ji shrieked at the sight of the guards, but Sun Ce didn't give them a chance to get anywhere near her. Suddenly with a huge boom the wooden doors at the top of the stairs on the right side crashed open. Lu Bu, looking like a tornado personified, whirled down the stairs, bellowing dangerously. He was still half dressed in his night clothes and had some armor haphazardly hanging off his chest. When Sun Ce saw him he laughed.
"SUN CE!!!???" Lu Bu exclaimed, gritting his teeth.
"Lu Bu! It's been so long! Sorry, got to run!" Sun Ce slung Zhen Ji roughly over his shoulder and zipped under Lu Bu's arm faster than a cockroach. He scrambled up the smooth stone stairs and onto the main level where his footsteps boomed above them.
"FOLLOW HIM, YOU IMBECILES!" Lu Bu roared, charging up the stairs. All the guards suddenly drained out of the underground jail and all was relatively silent. Zhang He gave into his curiosity and poked his head through the door and observed the scene. Sun Ce was running like a bandit away from the raging stampede of guards with Lu Bu leading the way. Suddenly, Sun Ce tripped over some unseen thing on the stone floor and toppled forward, Zhen Ji flying out of his arms. He yelled, "Follow me!" to Zhen Ji as he got up and ran forward, but Zhen Ji was too slow. Her tawdry shoes caused her to tumble forward again when Sun Ce had long escaped the building. She rolled over onto her back and gazed at Lu Bu with utter terror.
"Please. . .!" She squeaked. Lu Bu halted right above her and raised his pike.
"I'll make you pay!" His face was streaked red with anger and he lifted his mighty weapon above his head, the point located directly downwards.
"NOOO!" She screamed covering her face with her hands and cringing. Lu Bu was ready to drive it down with a powerful motion, but he was surprised yet again. Zhang Liao himself rushed in, silent as could be and knocked the weapon away just in time. The tip of the Pike scraped across Zhen Ji's stomach, creating a gash, but she was still alive.
"What is this!?" Lu Bu screamed, becoming livid. Zhang Liao scooped up Zhen Ji as fast as he could and then followed Sun Ce's path out the door. Lu Bu went through a brief spasm of rage then hounded after the escaping hero. Zhang He sighed with relief, and then went back to his mission. He flew down the stairs, and then up the servant's stairs, climbing as fast as his feet would take him. Up flight after flight he went, never stopping, not for anything. Luckily he didn't have to take any innocent lives throughout the entire time he ascended the stairway. When he finally reached the top floor he sat and panted for a while, a drop of sweat rolling off his forehead and onto the wooden flooring.
When he was fully recovered from his romp up the stairs and he'd psyched himself up, he kicked open the door and prepared for battle.
The emptiness of the room came as a surprise to him. He thought that the guards must truly be second rate if they didn't protect this important area of the building. He shrugged off their absence and continued on the large double doors in the center of the hall.
He pushed them open swiftly with the palms of his hand and with a whoosh of air and stood impressively in the doorway.
"ZHANG HE!" Was all he heard before he went crashing to the ground. The next thing he knew Diao Chan was lying on top of him, her arms around his neck and he was being squashed. This is a heroic entrance . . . He thought, but quickly pushed the thought away when he knew that he was with his Diao Chan again and she was safe. "Oh, Zhang He! I thought you'd never come! I thought you'd been killed! But you came! Oh, Zhang He!" He felt her hot tears spilled onto his neck and chest and he resisted the urge to put his hand on her back (out of fear for hurting her with the dangerous Talons on his hands). "Oh no!" She cried, touching her tiny, delicate fingers to the ugly scar on the right side of his face. "Look what happened to you face. . ." Zhang He sat up carefully and smiled.
"I've missed you . . ." He said shortly. Diao Chan made a happy little noise and hugged him again. After they were finished with their joyful salutations, Zhang He stood promptly and led Diao Chan down the hall and the stair by her hand quite carefully. They came down to the entrance hall, which was deserted save the sounds of a roaring battle outside.
"What's going out there?" She asked, looking apprehensively at the doorway.
"We're fighting with Lu Bu," Zhang He explained. "This was an excellent strategy by Sima Yi." Diao Chan looked out at the battlefield with a strange look. Zhang He turned to her. "Are you alright? Nothing . . . bad happened, right?" She shook her head.
"I held him off as long as I could . . . I don't think I could have gone much longer . . ." She smiled. Zhang he patted her on the shoulder, loving her company.
"Now, go around the right side of the building. There you'll find Sima Yi and the rest of the girls . . .and big surprise. . . Yuan Shao. . ."
"YUAN SHAO!?" She asked, looking dumbfounded.
"I don't know the details, but we found him here . . . Just hurry along . . . Be safe, alright? I'll see you back at Sima Yi's father's house . . ."
"What? Oh, I missed so much . . ." She said hopelessly and trotted away in a style Zhang He found adorable. But these feeling quickly faded when he heard the raging fight outdoors. He flicked his Talons outwards and ran headfirst into the fray.
Zhang He surveyed the scene before rushing into the fight totally. He saw the ghostly form of a Lion and Dragon circling around Lu Bu's raging body along with Zhang Liao. Zhang He saw rows and rows of dead men all around them, and it appeared as if those four were the only survivors. A little voice in the back of his head told him this was an easily won battle as soon as the phoenix stepped in.
Zhang He stopped moving and closed his eyes. He tried so very hard to recall what Sima Hua had told him about the summoning. Try as he may, no such memory was brought up. All right . . . He thought; I'll just do what feels right. Zhang He remembered to himself what it felt like when the Phoenix came last time. He searched deep inside himself for that hidden power. The deeper he went, the more he began to feel energize. Suddenly, with what felt like an explosion of flames in his mind, the Phoenix erupted suddenly in front of him. He felt him and the Phoenix become as one spirit and it led him into battle.
This time Zhang He had some control. It was as if the previous time he'd been a passenger and now he was a co-pilot. He saw exactly whom he was attacking and could almost entirely control his movements. He charged up behind Lu Bu and completely ripped off his armors with one swipe of his Talons. His chest was now easily reachable through the light cotton robe he wore underneath.
"NO!" Lu Bu raged, something like the look a frightened animal in his eyes. "I won't go down this way!" He swung his pike in a circular motion again but Sun Ce stopped it easily with his Tonfa. A few more guards sprinted from the castle gates and stopped behind Zhou Yu. He and the meandering dragon turned towards them. Zhou Yu made a simple toss of his head and the Dragon roared. A seismic wave rippled out from where Zhou Yu stood and knocked all the men to the ground. Sun Ce saw what was happening and with a spurt of fire incinerated the enemy soldiers. Zhang He put his Talon's on Lu Bu's Pike and tried to twist it out of his grip, but the man held fast. This would be a difficult ask even with three Dobutsu and one of the Shi's greatest warriors. Lu Bu executed a spinning side kick and landed it right into Sun Ce's stomach, but he stood fast and instead counter with a crescent kick of his own, knocking Lu Bu's jaw loose.
He stumbled back and nearly felt backwards. Zhang He saw an opening and went in for the kill, but once again Lu Bu was too fast. Zhang Liao stepped in from behind and made an upward slash along Lu Bu's back, but with a lightening fast evasion, it only resulted in a scratch.
"Just die, already!" Sun Ce screamed, swinging his Tonfas and being stopped again. Zhou Yu came up while Lu Bu was dealing with Sun Ce and he thrust his sword right at Lu Bu's head. Lu Bu dodged, but was not so lucky this time. Instead of stabbing through his head, it impaled all the way through his right arm. Everyone took in a breath as the great warrior hesitated, then almost wanted to scream in frustration when he simply ripped out the blade with his bare hands and tossed it aside, easy as a toothpick.
"That's not possible!" Zhou Yu exclaimed, his Dragon fading for a moment. It looked as if his Dobutsu span was quickly running out for now.
"He can't be beaten!" Zhang Liao interjected. "He's a demon!" and he backed away.
"You punt little brats will never take down the mighty Lu Bu! NEVER!" He threw back his head and laughed maniacally, a crazed look taking over his eyes. Though blood flowed freely from his wide wound, he barely seemed to notice the pain. Suddenly, from behind them all came a cry.
"The younger daughter shall have Fatal Grace, release your wrath Qiao Grace . . .!" Said one voice. Then another continued. "And the older daughter shall have Mortal Beauty, unleash your fury, Qiao Beauty!" Then the Qiao sisters ran up, each clutching their brightly colored fan in each hand, looking ready for battle. They flew at Lu Bu and attacked unendingly, their weapons making blurry rainbows as they swung.
"Get off of me, you horrible little witches!" He said batting at their enormous fans. Zhang He looked back and there he saw Sima Yi, (now in Dobutsu, a ghost of a wolf by his side) Diao Chan, (holding up her delicate looking and hard hitting maces) Zhen Ji, (flute at the ready) and Yuan Shao (holding a pathetic little peasants sword and looking terrified). He saw that Sun Shang Xiang was carefully placed under a shady tree quite some ways from the battle, so she was in no danger. Zhang He looked back at Lu Bu, who appeared to be completely dumfounded. The sky behind him started to turn a light pale purple, signifying that dawn was on its way.
Every warrior on the battlefield simultaneously jumped onto Lu Bu and started attacking with everything they had. Even Yuan Shao and his amazing cowardice charged forth and swung the blunt sword. Lu Bu cried and raged, flailing violently to escape them. With a mighty lurch he threw everyone off and stood, chest heaving, covered in blood. Zhang He, Zhou Yu and Sun Ce's Dobutsu faded totally out and Sima Yi's wasn't far off.
"I WILL NOT LOSE!" He roared at the top of his lungs, and then brought his pike forward. Zhang He was in utter disbelief. No man could destroy this monster. No man . . . No man, he thought . . . Maybe a man couldn't kill him, but . . .
Zhang He looked at the space behind Lu Bu. The entire house was placed on a large cliff, and below those cliffs, Zhang He unmistakably heard and smelt the ocean. He ran over to the edge of the cliff and looked down, disregarding the fact he was totally exhausted after Dobutsu. There, nearly one hundred feet below were rows upon rows of sharp jagged rocks. Zhang He thanked the heavens for he knew that no man alive could live through a fall like that. He faced Lu Bu, who was still looking manic.
"Come at me, Lu Bu! It's me and you, we'll fight!" Zhang He challenged. Lu Bu smiled wickedly, the blood seeping into his eyes making him look truly satanic. He charged full speed at Zhang He, not even seeing the simple trap his was practically dancing into. As soon as Lu Bu got close enough to Zhang He, the clever man side –stepped, sending the one of the powerful in the world over the edge. A short shriek was heard as Lu Bu plummeted out of sight. Everyone exhaled weakly. Sima Yi dropped to his knees and Zhang Liao wiped his brow. Sun Ce let out a triumphant cry, but Zhang He felt a bit disappointed. He thought it was a very anticlimactic and dishonorable end to such a great warrior. But he soon shrugged this feeling off as Diao Chan came rushing into his arms. He thought of when he would get to Sima Yi's house, get the money, and the wedding plans would begin . . . He made up his mind to propose to his dear Diao Chan right after they had received word they could all go through with the group wedding. He saw that Sima Yi had gone over to Sun Shang Xiang, and the Qiaos were celebrating with what Zhang He knew would one day be their husbands. He even saw Zhang Liao and Zhen Ji together, then wondered if they could make so slight accommodations for his brother . . .
What a happy life we shall have . . .Zhang He thought tiredly as Diao Chan took his hand and began to lead him towards the group. Just as he stepped away from the cliff a sickening noise rang out and Zhang He felt and incredible force hit his back. It sounded as if a thousand eggs had been crushed in a fraction of a second. At once, Zhang He's entire lower body lost all feeling and he fell to the ground. A slight panic overtook him, but it felt distant. He was on his side looking hazily at the horizon. He felt Diao Chan drop down beside him and saw her face she was crying. He wanted to ask her what was wrong, but no words came out of his mouth. At once, only above a certain point in his back, the most searing, horrible pain over took him. This time he truly cried out, and he didn't like the sound of his own voice. People were crowding around him; he saw all of his friend's faces. They were all looking at his stomach. . .
Zhang He dazedly moved his head down and saw Lu Bu's enormous Pike sticking out of his stomach. It had almost completely severed the lower half of his body . . . Zhang He heart beat randomly in painful spurts. He was feeling dizzy and everyone's voices seemed distant. He saw Sun Ce kick the struggling form of Lu Bu over the cliff again. He must have climbed up . . . Zhang He thought through what seemed like a veil covered the clarity of his mind. He could feel Diao Chan's warmth on his chest, he could hear her crying and sobbing, along with some people above him . . . In the audience . . . wasn't he an actor? With the masks . . . He knew about the demon one . . . That was Hannya . . . SHE was Hannya . . . Why isn't She coming . . . could . . . it be . . .She . . .didn't . . .
Then it was. As the sun came up, Zhang He, the brave boy who had started out with nothing, who had rose to be a strong warrior, who had gotten through all the challenges so far . . . So it was that Zhang He, who had lived not seventeen years yet, who hadn't even lived to marry his Diao Chan . . . So it was at the break of dawn, Zhang He died. . .
TO BE CONTINUED!!!!
Petta, he's coming soon! *happy dance* I hope you like it!
Enjoy!
Part 3
The Romance of the Four Leaders
Chapter 44
The Last Twilight
"Follow me in, Zhang He." Sima Yi whispered as Sima Fang ushered Sima Yi into the 'conference' room. The walk back had felt uncomfortable to say the least. Neither father nor son had said a word and Zhang He felt foolish being around while they were both so vulnerable. They had stepped up to the palace gates and ignored the cries of "The young Lord! He's returned!" from the guards.
Now they were inside and Sima Fang wanted to have his little talk with Sima Yi. Zhang He didn't know what to expect, but Sima Yi obviously felt something was fishy.
"I can't, Sima Yi. Don't you want some privacy, anyway?" Zhang He whispered back, eyeing Sima Fang's suspicious glare.
"I don't really care what you hear, you're my brother! I just don't think I can defeat him on my own if he tries anything." Sima Yi hissed back. "Zhang He will join us, right father?" He said in a more audible voice. Sima Fang's forehead creased, but he said nothing.
"I'll just wait outside the door . . ." Zhang He whispered back, "If you need help, just yell out and I'll come in." Zhang He looked over at Sima Fang "Don't worry, I'll wait outside." Sima Fang's expression softened and he nodded. He held the door open and Sima Yi sulked into the room. Once the door was shut, Zhang He slunk over to the crack and put his ear up to it. He found he could hear what was being said quite nicely.
"Have a seat. . ." Offered Sima Fang's voice. Some shuffling was heard then all was quiet again. This silence lasted a long while, and then Sima Fang cleared his throat. "I just wanted to bring you here so that I could apologize . . ." Sima Fang breathed, sounding like an open wound that had recently been poked. "Apologize for everything I've done to you. I know it sounds strange to you, but I've only tried to make you happy from the moment you came into my life." He heard Sima Yi snort in disbelief and Sima Fang sigh.
"You have a rather harsh way of doing so . . ." Sima Yi replied, sounding vicious.
"Please try to understand, my son . . . No, allow me to explain. I never wanted to hurt you, but I'm not made out to be a parent. I just thought if I ensured that you would turn out to be intelligent, you'd never have to suffer failure and being a nobody. I thought for sure that would make you happy, but I was wrong. I got you everything money would buy, everything a boy your age would simply love, but that didn't please you either. I let you have freedom, power, and money. Whatever you wanted. But why do you not smile? I understand I let my temper get the better of me at times, but it's not like I choose to. I have something wrong with me . . . Something in my head. I can't control myself." For a moment nothing was said. Then Sima Yi broke the silence.
"It's . . . It's not so much that you hurt me. Bruises and cuts will heal, leaving nothing but a scar. It's true I have many scars . . ." Zhang He imagined the many rifts on Sima Yi's back and chest. "But you've done something that will never heal. I could never talk to you about this before because I thought I might suffer a similar fate, but-"
Sima Fang interrupted suddenly. "What are you talking about? What have I done that you can never forgive me for?" Zhang He peered through the crack and saw a look of unforced, pure puzzlement was on Sima Fang's face. It was as if he actually didn't know he had severed his wife in two.
"What am I talking about!?" Sima Yi yelled, sounding outraged. "WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT!?" Sima Yi was on his feet, pointing an accusatory index finger at his father. "I'm talking about the time you killed my mother! Or did you forget how you murdered her in cold blood!? You bastard . . ." Sima Yi, dropped to his knees, more tears rolling from his eyes. Sima Fang now stood, his eyes ablaze.
"How dare you!?" He spat, sounding appalled. "How dare you say I even laid a hand on my Mai Xeng!? I loved that woman more than you could ever dream of knowing and nothing on Earth could have driven me to hurt on hair on her head! You know that it was some horrible man who snuck in while I was asleep!" He yelled at Sima Yi, who was staring back with a look of pure hatred.
"You . . . lying . . . BASTARD!" He screamed back. "I saw it with my own two eyes! I was there! You weren't sleeping! You waited for us to return, you got so angry because she let me out of this wretched place and you decided to punish her! How can you deny something like that?" Sima Yi stopped there and put forth a fake laugh. "You just don't want to believe you did something that terrible, is that it? You just don't want to believe you're a dirty, cheap, lying bastard with no sense of honor who didn't even deserve to know my mother!" With this Sima Fang slapped Sima Yi across the face with such blinding force it let out a loud smack that could be heard where Zhang He stood. Sima Yi fell backwards, holding his face and whimpering a little.
"I may have a bad temper that cannot control and I may be the worst father that ever lived but I NEVER so much as yelled at Mai Xeng once in my life! I treated her well even before we were married. I wasn't even angry when she brought you back that day, I was just a little upset because when your training had come to an end I thought I would be the one to take you outside for the first time. That was all. I just wanted you to like me. I just remember telling her that, then it . . . stops there. That's all I remember. That and waking up to find her body. I swear to you, Yi, I never even remember her getting hurt in the slightest. . ." Sima Fang's voice ended in a short sob. Sima Yi looked into his eyes, eyes that were riddled with pain and sincerity.
"You're. . . you're not lying . . . You really don't remember killing her . . ." Sima Yi said in a short of breath voice. Suddenly Zhang He felt as if a rock was placed in his stomach. He remember Zhou Yu's voice, talking about his own mother's death. 'You did it twice Sun Ce, you pushed me in, and you pushed her in! She died because of you, Sun Ce! YOU KILLED HER!' He had said that. He thought Sun Ce killed Rai Lin. But Sun Shang Xiang told him differently. 'I think I remember Sun Ce grabbing his head, like it hurt or something and when Rai Lin turned back to see what was going on, he pushed her in the river. But it wasn't like he meant to do it, it was like when Sima Yi gets possessed by Zhuge Liang.' The two events sounded so frighteningly analogous. Was it possible Sima Fang was possessed under that same force that took over Sun Ce? Were all four brothers connected somehow? They all knew the song, that was enough to make Zhang He think, but now this was too much. There was definitely something going on with all of their lives, and Zhang He had a bad feeling it had something to do with the Lady in Black.
Sima Fang grabbed Sima Yi's shoulders a bit violently and shook him.
"I didn't kill her! I've never hurt a woman in my life! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!?" Sima Fang pushed Sima Yi forcefully back to the ground and began to pant deeply. Then his face contracted into a look of pain once again and he covered it with his hands. Sima Yi looked scared, lying on the floor with no defenses, but Sima Fang looked as if he would not try anything again.
"Oh heavens . . ." He wept into his porcelain pale hands. "WHY AM I LIKE THIS? I hurt you again . . ." Sima Fang drew the small dagger at his waist as quickly as lightening and looked at it for a moment with teary eyes. He thrust the hilt into Sima Yi's hand and closed Sima Yi's fingers around the ivory handle.
"What are you doing?" Sima Yi asked a little faintly.
"Kill me . . ." Sima Fang sobbed. His guttural voice was hopeless and dejected. "Kill me now. I don't deserve to live. I'd rather have you kill me than commit suicide, I want to feel the pain I've bestowed upon you. . ." Sima Yi took in a sharp breath, staring open mouthed at the shiny metal. It looked as if part of him would love to sink the cold metal into his father's flesh, and the other wouldn't even dream of such a thing. Then his eyes closed and he took another breath.
"I would never do that . . ." Sima Yi whispered. He threw that knife into the corner of the room and opened his deep brown eyes again. "I would never want to. Now I understand what you were trying to tell me. You were suffering just as much as I was, throughout those years. I know you loved mother, you truly did, and she loved you back. You wouldn't have hurt her, not for everything in the world. It was your body that murdered her, but it was your conscious soul. . ." Sima Fang looked back frantically into Sima Yi's eyes, his neat moustache now in disarray. Then he go back onto his knees and bowed so low to Sima Yi that his forehead touched the ground.
"I'm so sorry, Yi. If you never find it in your heart to forgive me, I'll understand. I'm sorry I'm such a failure, I'm sorry for hurting you, I'm sorry that I locked you up in that room, I'm sorry you ever had to meet me. I'm sorry that such a wonderful person like you had to have an awful man like me for a father. If I could have given you a better life, I would, oh believe me; I would have given it to you without a moment's hesitation. After you left I realized how terrible it was to be alone again, how that even having you around when your hated me was better than losing you forever. I now realize you can only be happy when your not around me, which is why I disown you as my son. Go and live your life without me troubling it any longer, I just don't want you to leave not knowing that I apologize for my wrongdoings. You may leave any time you like . . ." As he spoke these words, more and more tears poured down his face and he began to sob uncontrollably. Sima Yi stood, looking numb. Just as Zhang He thought Sima Yi was going to walk out of the door he bent down and brought Sima Fang back to his feet.
"I . . .I don't want to be disowned." Sima Fang looked his son in the face with a mixed look of hope and confusion. "I know your not the perfect father, b-but nobody is. . . I'm as much to blame as you are. I never gave you any chances . . . I should have been more open with you. I forgive you for everything you've done. . ." Sima Yi cried. Sima Fang's bottom lip quivered a bit and then without warning he grabbed his son as he had done before in the alley and held him close to his chest.
"Thank you . . . Oh, thank you . . ." Whisper-wept Sima Fang.
It was a few hours later and Sima Yi and Zhang He were standing just outside the entrance of Sima Fang's house. Twilight was just setting in and a line of gold was streak across the horizon. Both Sima Yi and Sima Fang had pulled themselves together and now Zhang He and Sima Yi were going to leave for Lu Bu's home.
"You will come back, won't you?" Asked Sima Fang a bit apprehensively as a guard brought two horses for Zhang He and his sworn brother.
"We will, but we need to save our friends. And remember, father, I live at the Shi camp now." Sima Yi put carefully.
"Yes, I understand." He said softly. He paused. "If there's anything I can ever do to help . . ." Sima Yi suddenly turned back.
"Actually . . ." He began, looking excited. "There is one thing . . . But we can't talk now! I've got to go, I'll be back father!" Sima Yi waved him off, mounted his horse, and then raced down the road after Zhang He. After more traversing through the winding stone pathways under the stone archways that occasionally showed up in the city.
"So what was this great idea?" Zhang He asked as he rode up next to Sima Yi once the ride had slowed a bit. Sima Yi flashed a mischievous smile.
"I can get married and so can you. All of us can, in fact. And we can all live in the house we dreamed of and maybe even have room for a couple more people." Sima Yi said slowly. Zhang He almost gasped at this news, not daring to actually believe it. But if Sima Yi were saying so, why would it be a falsehood?
"Why do you say that?"
"Because . . ." Sima Yi continued in his taunting tone. "My father has enough money to buy ten houses and still live comfortably for the rest of his life . . . And he's offered to grant us a favor. . ." Sima Yi raised his eyebrows.
"Would. . . would he really buy us all a house?" Zhang He asked. Sima Yi nodded enthusiastically.
"In a fraction of a second. He's very free with money. I suppose because there's so much of it in his life. Anyway, he wants to prove he's sorry, he'll do it." Sima Yi smiled wryly again then gave his horse a hard kick and he sped through the open exit. Zhang He's heart soared inside his chest and he flew off right behind Sima Yi. The wind blew back his hair and the humid pre-summer air filled his lungs as he rode on to the tiny castle that looked no more than a toy model from far away. I'm almost there, Diao Chan. . . He thought out to her as the castle grew bigger and bigger every minute. The pale purple tint at the top of the atmosphere spread farther out, like an enormous inkblot staining the sky. The moon snuck up from behind them, casting long black shadows on the road in which they were riding. The extreme lights and darks on the roofs and ridges of Lu Bu's house made it look weird and angular, like a giant made of splintered wood.
"They're in there somewhere . . ." Zhang He whispered as he and Sima Yi hid in the shadows just outside the building. Sima Yi removed Zhang He's clothes and dressed in his war uniform while Zhang He put on the one Sima Yi was wearing. Gripping the Dark Feather and Metal Talons, the stood and faced the looming tower with it's sharp Pagoda style roofs. Zhang He started to race towards the entrance, but Sima Yi caught him by the shoulder.
"Moron! Are you going to rush in there without a strategy? You'll be killed!" Sima Yi hissed, pulling Zhang He back into the darkness.
"Well, think of one soon, I'm getting impatient!" Zhang He sat and sulked while Sima Yi's brilliant mind went to work. He put his finger to his lips and looked to the sky while he thought.
"Sun Tzu says that 'Generally in warfare, keeping a nation intact is best, destroying a nation second best; keeping an army intact is best, destroying an army second best; keeping a battalion intact is best, destroying a battalion second best; keeping a company intact is best, destroying a company second best; keeping a squad intact is best, destroying–"
"Alright! I get the point!" Zhang He interjected. "Say a USEFUL quote already!"
"'If the general cannot control his temper and sends troops to swarm the walls, one third of them will be killed, and the city will still not be taken.' " Sima Yi contradicted. Zhang He shot Sima Yi a dirty look and went back to sulking.
"What he means is that we've got to focus on getting everyone safe and secure before we do any battling . . . But . . .we could use danger to our advantage in this situation. It's best to collect knowledge first though so we know the quickest escape routes . . . Which means I will have to go and find out the interior of the building . . . talk to the prisoners, and map and escape route. . ." Sima Yi said half to himself.
"Why do YOU get to go?" Zhang he asked rebelliously.
"Because . . ." Sima Yi mused, still thinking ad not looking at Zhang He. "You'll probably end up attacking some innocent bystander and ruin the entire strategy or forget about details . . ."
"You always get to do the cool stuff . . ." Pouted Zhang He, thinking he heard something behind him.
"I feel like I'm talking to Sun Ce . . ." Sima Yi sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Yeah?" Said a recognizable voice from behind Zhang He. Zhang He looked up and saw from where he was sitting and saw the underside of Sun Ce's chin. He knew it was Sun Ce because he identified the stubby little beard Sun Ce thought was so manly.
"Sun Ce!?" Zhang He exclaimed, nearly falling backwards. "How the hell did you get here?"
"Easy, we followed you guys . . . We lost your for a minute in that big city, but we could hear your horses galloping a mile away!"
"We?" Zhang He asked apprehensively.
"Yes . . ." Said a calm voice that sounded like water. It turned out to be Zhou Yu. "You know it was very foolish what you did Zhang He. . ." Zhang He laughed weakly and closed his eyes.
"Oh, hello Sun Ce, Zhou Yu . . ." Sima Yi said, noticing momentarily. "Then he turned back to his thoughts. Sun Ce jumped behind Sima Yi and put him into a 'gentle' chokehold. He took his other hand and ground his knuckles into Sima Yi's head.
"Didn't you miss me, little brother?" He teased, rocking Sima Yi side to side.
"Get off of me!" Sima Yi broke away and collected himself again in such a dignified way that it made Zhou Yu, Zhang He, and Sun Ce break out laughing. "Shut up, you imbeciles!" Sima Yi snarled. "Don't you know we could be discovered at any moment!"
"Calm down, we're alright." Sun Ce answer pushing Sima Yi away. Everyone stared at one another for a few minutes, and then Zhou Yu spoke.
"So, have we a plan of what to do?" He asked.
"Yes! I was just about to go in and map the area inside of the castle." Sima Yi remembered, and then he set off towards the castle.
"You're going alone?" Zhou Yu asked. He shook his head. "Let me come, you need someone with sense to help you."
"Thanks much, brother." Sima Yi said, handing Zhou Yu the pen while he grabbed some parchment for Zhang He's bag. Then they set off into the night, disappearing into the gloom below Lu Bu's castle. Sun Ce and Zhang he conversed quietly for a bit then decided they should try and regain their strength for later on and began to sleep. Zhang He learned that Zhang Liao was also on his way, but he left almost a day after Zhou Yu and Sun Ce because he wanted to take care of the last injuries.
So they slept on for two hours when finally Zhou Yu and Sima Yi returned with the news. After waking Sun Ce and Zhang He, He read from their faces this was not a good situation.
"We found them." Zhou Yu said shortly, placing the map flat on the grass. He then traced along then newly inked lines as he spoke. "There's a secret entrance on the west wall where we can penetrate into thee bowels of the castle. It's mostly just a waterway. Follow along the left path and you'll get to the trapdoor to the second basement. On this level are the dungeons, filled with rowdy and nasty prisoners. My only advice is don't step near to the bars." Zhou Yu shot a side looks at Sima Yi how looked at his own feet. "Well, we've mapped the way to the cell the girls are being kept in. . ." Zhou Yu pointed to a star on the map. "They've occupied the nicest cell in the castle, nice of Lu Bu to be thinking about things . . ."
"He kept Diao Chan in a prison!?" Zhang He yelled in an outburst.
"SHHH!" Zhou Yu hissed. "No, I was coming to say that all the girls are in the cell, except Diao Chan. She's being kept in Lu Bu's chambers. This is why it creates something of a problem . . ."
"It certainly does!" Zhang He growled, wish Lu Bu were the bug he's recently smashed between his fingers.
"Yes. Now, Sun Shang Xiang fro some reason gave up her food and blankets to Xiao Qiao early on and she's quite ill, but besides that the rest of them are fine. Now Lu Bu's chambers are at the top of the tower. The easiest way to reach them is walk up the servants stairs, as their all asleep at this time, this is the only area the guards don't patrol, so you should be alright. If you meet one of the servants, just run up and slit their throat before the see you, this should be the safest solution. Don't forget to HIDE THE BODY! When you get to the top you'll reach a long hall that is heavily guarded. You'll probably have to do some battle, but don't let any of them make noise or alert any other guards, that will destroy the entire plan."
"What IS the plan?"
"The plan is. . ." Sima Yi began. "That we each go in one at a time and get one girl."
"Why one at a time?" Sun Ce asked. "Wouldn't it be quicker if we all went at once?"
"Because it attracts less attention from the prisoners and its plays out well in the strategy." Sima Yi said exasperatedly.
"What strategy?" Sun Ce asked.
"Just listen and he'll tell you . . ." Zhou Yu sighed.
"Right, now we can resume . . . Well, once every girl but one is in a safe zone we've discovered in the waterway, we'll have one person go in and get the remaining person. Instead of walking to the safe zone, you head to the entrance, making as much noise as possible. Your mission is to purposely alert the guards so you can lure Lu Bu outside. Once he's out, two more of us will come to assist you while Zhang He runs up to get Diao Chan. When she's in the safe zone, come down and Zhou Yu, you, and myself will use Dobutsu full blast. Sun Ce will go back and escort the girls to safety back in Qiao. By that time Lu Bu should be dead, then we'll all rendezvous at my father's house."
Everyone nodded and prepared for the procedure, each in his own mental way. When everyone was ready and they reviewed once or twice, everyone got ready. Zhou Yu went in first, as his mission was the easiest. He would get Xiao Qiao and put her in the safe zone, then return as quietly as possible. Sun Ce's would be more difficult because he was . . . well . . . Sun Ce, and Sima Yi had to carry Sun Shang Xiang because of her illness.
Zhou Yu darted off to the secret entry at the base of the castle. Within a matter of minutes he returned, looking a bit harrowed.
"She followed orders fine . . . She's in the safe zone now." He whispered to the rest of them. He brought up his hand, which was dripping with some blood. "I cut my hand breaking the locks, can someone wrap it?" Sima Yi came up and expertly applied bandages. Zhou Yu looked at him with a bit of a doubtful expression. "Sun Shang Xiang's in pretty bad shape . . .Do you think you'll be able to carry her by yourself?" Zhou Yu asked.
"I should be able to. . ." Sima Yi replied looking uncertain.
"Look, let Sun Ce go now, then when it's your turn, go with Zhang He, just incase. . . Then, we'll meet you at the safe zone, and we can pick up plans from there." Sima Yi nodded and the plan was set. Sun Ce went and came back uneventfully, and then it was Sima Yi and Zhang He's departure time.
The two men walked silently to the edge of the castle. Sima Yi led him in the dark and finally his footsteps ceased. Zhang He looked into through the shadows at the outside base of the castle, which was piled with stones. Somewhere near the end of the wall was a black crawl space, barely big enough for a child to get through.
"It's a tight fit, try your best Zhang He. If Sun Ce can do it, so can you . . ." Sima Yi whispered before following after kneeling down. When Sima Yi had dissolved totally into the tiny, dark hole, Zhang He got down on all fours to fit inside. He discovered it a problem when his wide shoulders wouldn't fit, but he found when he turned them a bit diagonally they managed to squeeze in without so much pain. When he tried to stand up after he'd cleared the crawl space his head crashed into something hard.
"Ouch!" He yelled, falling on his knees and grabbing his head.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you to watch your head . . ." Sima Yi said a little apologetically. "Just crawl a little farther on and you'll be able to stand. Zhang He carefully experimented with Sima Yi's statement and found it was true. He extended his arm in the darkness and found Sima Yi's shoulder. He followed him until he heard a clanking noise ahead. Some rusty light filtered in and showed a worn stone ladder, an open trapdoor, and the highlights of Sima Yi's face.
"This way." He whispered, motioning to him. They both climbed quietly up the stone ladder. Zhang He emerged into a dimly lit hall, lined with dark cages on either wall. He heard small movements and breathes in each of them and stayed towards the middle. Their footsteps echoed in the eerie halls as Sima Yi headed all the way down the hall then took a direct left. At the end of the new hall was a door that was apparently broken. Then stepped down to the edge and examined the splintered wood and bent metal. Tiny spots of blood lay smeared on the stone, telling them Zhou Yu had been here. Sima Yi carefully opened the door and swept inside. Zhang He followed closely behind into the tiny jail cell, barely big enough for two, let alone four. Sun Shang Xiang Was lying in the corner, a blanket wrapped tightly around her and Zhen Ji was close at her side. Sun Shang Xiang was pale, but her cheeks were burning pink. Sima Yi went and knelt by her, brushing her scarlet hair off of her forehead. She opened her eyes slowly and looked at Sima Yi through clouded vision. She moaned a tiny bit and closed her eyes again.
"It took you long enough! When am I going to get out of here? I'm tired of waiting!" Zhen Ji sounded bossy, but Zhang He saw fear behind her eyes.
"Don't worry, Zhen Ji." He reassured her. "We'll be sending back Zhou Yu and the others after we get Sun Shang Xiang out of here."
"Good, because . . ." Zhen Ji left off. "Where's your brother? Why isn't he here?"
"He said he was coming, but he needed to take care of something before he could leave." Zhang He informed her.
"Tch." She scoffed, acting high and mighty, "Typical of him . . ."
"Let's get her out of here before it gets light." Sima Yi said, gently picking up Sun Shang Xiang and holding her against his chest.
"Let's go." Zhang He said stepping near the door, waiting for Sima Yi to catch up.
"Your leaving me alone!?" Zhen Ji cried. She ran over and caught Zhang He's arm. "What if Lu Bu comes back for me? I don't want to think what he'll do! Please, don't leave me alone here!" She batted her long eyelashes sincerely.
"It will only be for a short while, Zhen Ji." Zhang He said, carefully unhinging his limb from her grip.
"Hurry back!" She yelled at them as they shut the door behind them. Sima Yi went down the halls slightly slower as he continued on, cradling the sleeping Sun Shang Xiang. Zhang He followed behind his irregular pace, stopping whenever Sima Yi stopped.
"She's heavy . . ." Sima Yi whispered to Zhang He. "She doesn't look like it, but she is . . ."
"Want me to take her?" Zhang He asked, noticing Sima Yi's strain. He could understand this; Sun Shang Xiang was only a few inches shorter than Sima Yi, so they were probably around the same weight (Sima Yi might have weighed less, perhaps).
"I think I got it. . ." Sima Yi said, hitching her up gently. For the second that they stopped, Zhang He happened to glance into the prison cells to his left. Inside was a bearded man in his early thirties who was lying on the floor of the empty space. His face was wrinkled and worn, but he somehow looked familiar to Zhang He. He seemed to recall that heavily bearded face and those hard features. Zhang he walked closer to the bars and peered into the shadowed cell. The man inside stirred.
"Zhang He! You moron, what are you doing?" Hissed Sima Yi. Zhang he ignored Sima Yi and went up to the bars. He had his Talons if anything went wrong. The man inside moved around some and began to wake. Sima Yi approached the cell next to Zhang He and looked in cautiously. The man opened his eyes to slits and then suddenly shot upright.
"OH, HEAVENS!" He yelled, sounding strong at breathless at the same time. Sima Yi nearly leapt back but Zhang He was too stunned. The man stuck his arms, thin arms that had probably once been sinewy or at least healthy, through the bars and hooked them around Zhang He's ankles and calves. He yelled and tried to kick back, but he fell onto his backside instead. "I can't believe it's you, Zhang He! Oh, I thought I would never see you again! Forgive me, my friend, can you forgive me?" The man raved.
"What!?" Zhang he thought this prisoner must me totally mad and fought with all his might to escape. "How do you know my name?" The man let go suddenly, his eyes looking forlorn and misty.
"It's me Zhang He, don't you remember? Y-you're. . . old friend. . . ." He laughed weakly. "You'd remember me if I were still a great man . . . back in my splendid clothes and glory. . . It's me Zhang He, Yuan Shao!" Zhang He froze and he heard Sima Yi choke behind him.
"Yu. . . Yuan Shao. . .? Is that really?" Zhang He matched the man to his old master, and it was definitely the same. It was almost appalling to see him in such a disgraceful position. Zhang He found that he met him with mixed feelings. He first wanted to rage at him and leave him behind with nothing but cruel words, but then he remember Yuan Shao had been deceived. How could he be cruel to him? But then again, he did make the decision to have Zhang He beaten senselessly and abandoned with nothing but his Talons and Diao Chan in the winter forest. Hadn't he told him never to return? Zhang He was unsure of what to do at the moment, so he waited and observed.
"Please Zhang He, help me!" Yuan Shao begged, "I'm sorry. Guo Tu is all to blame, for EVERYTHING! Please . . . Please have mercy. . ." Yuan Shao bowed his forehead to the ground and put his palms against one another above his head. Zhang He, without thinking, slashed the lock on the side of the cell, letting the metal bars swing open freely. Yuan Shao scurried out like a starving peasant to food, nearly weeping with joy.
"Oh, Thank you!" He squealed, "You've forgiven me- "
"Quiet down!" Zhang He snapped, liking this switch of power. "I haven't done anything yet. You'll go along with our plan and we'll see what we can do about you later. For now, shut up and follow Sima Yi until you get new orders." Zhang He ordered. Yuan Shao nodded furiously. "Take him to the safe zone." He said, much more genially to Sima Yi. "Can you make it all the way there with her?" He motioned to Sun Shang Xiang. Sima Yi nodded critically. "Tell Zhen Ji's 'rescuer' to come up. The rest of you continue with plans as planned. Sima Yi obeyed swiftly and Zhang He ran back to the Girl's cell. He saw the entrance to the Servant's stairs were just beyond this door and Zhang He planned to race up them at full speed when he saw Lu Bu chasing after Zhen Ji. He his in a shadowy alcove just shy of the entrance and waited.
A minute went by.
Then five.
What was taking everyone so long? Suddenly the tip tap of footsteps came clocking up the corridor and Zhang He recognized Sun Ce's muscley form.
"Sun Ce . . ." He whispered to the silhouette. Sun Ce stopped.
"Who's there?" He asked.
"It's me. Zhang He." He whispered, not moving. Sun Ce's outline relaxed.
"Scared me brother . . . What's wrong?"
"What's going on? I thought you were taking everyone back?" He asked, heart jumping at the plip of a water drop somewhere in the darkness.
"Sima Yi wants to take the back because my sister doesn't want to leave him. . ." Sun Ce said indignantly. "Pretty, dumb if you ask me, but whatever works. . ." Sun Ce replied from the blackness.
"Alright, make sure Zhen Ji's safe during the time coming up. . . When she's out, bang your Tonfas against the bars and wake up the prisoners. Yell, scream, bellow, and make a commotion. Make sure Lu Bu gets himself down here. Once you see him, get Zhen Ji out of here as fast as possible, but don't go back to the waterway. Go through the entrance, all right? It's to the right and up the stairs. Carry Zhen Ji if you have to . . ." Suddenly Zhen Ji burst through the door.
"So I'm the bait!?" She raged. "I refuse to be treated in such a way! I'll never let you live it down if you do this to me, Zhang He! I thought you had more character than that! I know your broth-"
"JAILBREAK!!" Sun Ce screamed. "THEIR GETTING OUT! ESCAPING! BETTER HURRY, THEIR GETTING AWAY!" He smacked his Tonfa violently into a cell, creating an echoing clang throughout. Most of the inmates woke at this and starting jabbering a growling, which quickly turned into a furious uproar. Sun Ce broke off one or two locks and the men inside leaked out and ran off like water through a sieve. "WAKE UP, YOU CRAPPY GUARDS! THEIR RUNNING!" Sun Ce hollered. Zhang he laughed at him because it looked like he was having so much fun. He freed several more of the capture men and went on yelling his brains out, creating a din that even the dead couldn't have ignored. Sun Ce danced around and sang kicking random things and people as he went. Guards and soldiers poured in from all directions, spear raised and swords readied, but Sun Ce couldn't have been happier. Used all the martial arts and fighting skill in him and didn't attain a single injury. Skulls crunched. Noses broke. Blood flowed, arms cracked and all along Sun Ce was having the time of his life. Zhen Ji shrieked at the sight of the guards, but Sun Ce didn't give them a chance to get anywhere near her. Suddenly with a huge boom the wooden doors at the top of the stairs on the right side crashed open. Lu Bu, looking like a tornado personified, whirled down the stairs, bellowing dangerously. He was still half dressed in his night clothes and had some armor haphazardly hanging off his chest. When Sun Ce saw him he laughed.
"SUN CE!!!???" Lu Bu exclaimed, gritting his teeth.
"Lu Bu! It's been so long! Sorry, got to run!" Sun Ce slung Zhen Ji roughly over his shoulder and zipped under Lu Bu's arm faster than a cockroach. He scrambled up the smooth stone stairs and onto the main level where his footsteps boomed above them.
"FOLLOW HIM, YOU IMBECILES!" Lu Bu roared, charging up the stairs. All the guards suddenly drained out of the underground jail and all was relatively silent. Zhang He gave into his curiosity and poked his head through the door and observed the scene. Sun Ce was running like a bandit away from the raging stampede of guards with Lu Bu leading the way. Suddenly, Sun Ce tripped over some unseen thing on the stone floor and toppled forward, Zhen Ji flying out of his arms. He yelled, "Follow me!" to Zhen Ji as he got up and ran forward, but Zhen Ji was too slow. Her tawdry shoes caused her to tumble forward again when Sun Ce had long escaped the building. She rolled over onto her back and gazed at Lu Bu with utter terror.
"Please. . .!" She squeaked. Lu Bu halted right above her and raised his pike.
"I'll make you pay!" His face was streaked red with anger and he lifted his mighty weapon above his head, the point located directly downwards.
"NOOO!" She screamed covering her face with her hands and cringing. Lu Bu was ready to drive it down with a powerful motion, but he was surprised yet again. Zhang Liao himself rushed in, silent as could be and knocked the weapon away just in time. The tip of the Pike scraped across Zhen Ji's stomach, creating a gash, but she was still alive.
"What is this!?" Lu Bu screamed, becoming livid. Zhang Liao scooped up Zhen Ji as fast as he could and then followed Sun Ce's path out the door. Lu Bu went through a brief spasm of rage then hounded after the escaping hero. Zhang He sighed with relief, and then went back to his mission. He flew down the stairs, and then up the servant's stairs, climbing as fast as his feet would take him. Up flight after flight he went, never stopping, not for anything. Luckily he didn't have to take any innocent lives throughout the entire time he ascended the stairway. When he finally reached the top floor he sat and panted for a while, a drop of sweat rolling off his forehead and onto the wooden flooring.
When he was fully recovered from his romp up the stairs and he'd psyched himself up, he kicked open the door and prepared for battle.
The emptiness of the room came as a surprise to him. He thought that the guards must truly be second rate if they didn't protect this important area of the building. He shrugged off their absence and continued on the large double doors in the center of the hall.
He pushed them open swiftly with the palms of his hand and with a whoosh of air and stood impressively in the doorway.
"ZHANG HE!" Was all he heard before he went crashing to the ground. The next thing he knew Diao Chan was lying on top of him, her arms around his neck and he was being squashed. This is a heroic entrance . . . He thought, but quickly pushed the thought away when he knew that he was with his Diao Chan again and she was safe. "Oh, Zhang He! I thought you'd never come! I thought you'd been killed! But you came! Oh, Zhang He!" He felt her hot tears spilled onto his neck and chest and he resisted the urge to put his hand on her back (out of fear for hurting her with the dangerous Talons on his hands). "Oh no!" She cried, touching her tiny, delicate fingers to the ugly scar on the right side of his face. "Look what happened to you face. . ." Zhang He sat up carefully and smiled.
"I've missed you . . ." He said shortly. Diao Chan made a happy little noise and hugged him again. After they were finished with their joyful salutations, Zhang He stood promptly and led Diao Chan down the hall and the stair by her hand quite carefully. They came down to the entrance hall, which was deserted save the sounds of a roaring battle outside.
"What's going out there?" She asked, looking apprehensively at the doorway.
"We're fighting with Lu Bu," Zhang He explained. "This was an excellent strategy by Sima Yi." Diao Chan looked out at the battlefield with a strange look. Zhang He turned to her. "Are you alright? Nothing . . . bad happened, right?" She shook her head.
"I held him off as long as I could . . . I don't think I could have gone much longer . . ." She smiled. Zhang he patted her on the shoulder, loving her company.
"Now, go around the right side of the building. There you'll find Sima Yi and the rest of the girls . . .and big surprise. . . Yuan Shao. . ."
"YUAN SHAO!?" She asked, looking dumbfounded.
"I don't know the details, but we found him here . . . Just hurry along . . . Be safe, alright? I'll see you back at Sima Yi's father's house . . ."
"What? Oh, I missed so much . . ." She said hopelessly and trotted away in a style Zhang He found adorable. But these feeling quickly faded when he heard the raging fight outdoors. He flicked his Talons outwards and ran headfirst into the fray.
Zhang He surveyed the scene before rushing into the fight totally. He saw the ghostly form of a Lion and Dragon circling around Lu Bu's raging body along with Zhang Liao. Zhang He saw rows and rows of dead men all around them, and it appeared as if those four were the only survivors. A little voice in the back of his head told him this was an easily won battle as soon as the phoenix stepped in.
Zhang He stopped moving and closed his eyes. He tried so very hard to recall what Sima Hua had told him about the summoning. Try as he may, no such memory was brought up. All right . . . He thought; I'll just do what feels right. Zhang He remembered to himself what it felt like when the Phoenix came last time. He searched deep inside himself for that hidden power. The deeper he went, the more he began to feel energize. Suddenly, with what felt like an explosion of flames in his mind, the Phoenix erupted suddenly in front of him. He felt him and the Phoenix become as one spirit and it led him into battle.
This time Zhang He had some control. It was as if the previous time he'd been a passenger and now he was a co-pilot. He saw exactly whom he was attacking and could almost entirely control his movements. He charged up behind Lu Bu and completely ripped off his armors with one swipe of his Talons. His chest was now easily reachable through the light cotton robe he wore underneath.
"NO!" Lu Bu raged, something like the look a frightened animal in his eyes. "I won't go down this way!" He swung his pike in a circular motion again but Sun Ce stopped it easily with his Tonfa. A few more guards sprinted from the castle gates and stopped behind Zhou Yu. He and the meandering dragon turned towards them. Zhou Yu made a simple toss of his head and the Dragon roared. A seismic wave rippled out from where Zhou Yu stood and knocked all the men to the ground. Sun Ce saw what was happening and with a spurt of fire incinerated the enemy soldiers. Zhang He put his Talon's on Lu Bu's Pike and tried to twist it out of his grip, but the man held fast. This would be a difficult ask even with three Dobutsu and one of the Shi's greatest warriors. Lu Bu executed a spinning side kick and landed it right into Sun Ce's stomach, but he stood fast and instead counter with a crescent kick of his own, knocking Lu Bu's jaw loose.
He stumbled back and nearly felt backwards. Zhang He saw an opening and went in for the kill, but once again Lu Bu was too fast. Zhang Liao stepped in from behind and made an upward slash along Lu Bu's back, but with a lightening fast evasion, it only resulted in a scratch.
"Just die, already!" Sun Ce screamed, swinging his Tonfas and being stopped again. Zhou Yu came up while Lu Bu was dealing with Sun Ce and he thrust his sword right at Lu Bu's head. Lu Bu dodged, but was not so lucky this time. Instead of stabbing through his head, it impaled all the way through his right arm. Everyone took in a breath as the great warrior hesitated, then almost wanted to scream in frustration when he simply ripped out the blade with his bare hands and tossed it aside, easy as a toothpick.
"That's not possible!" Zhou Yu exclaimed, his Dragon fading for a moment. It looked as if his Dobutsu span was quickly running out for now.
"He can't be beaten!" Zhang Liao interjected. "He's a demon!" and he backed away.
"You punt little brats will never take down the mighty Lu Bu! NEVER!" He threw back his head and laughed maniacally, a crazed look taking over his eyes. Though blood flowed freely from his wide wound, he barely seemed to notice the pain. Suddenly, from behind them all came a cry.
"The younger daughter shall have Fatal Grace, release your wrath Qiao Grace . . .!" Said one voice. Then another continued. "And the older daughter shall have Mortal Beauty, unleash your fury, Qiao Beauty!" Then the Qiao sisters ran up, each clutching their brightly colored fan in each hand, looking ready for battle. They flew at Lu Bu and attacked unendingly, their weapons making blurry rainbows as they swung.
"Get off of me, you horrible little witches!" He said batting at their enormous fans. Zhang He looked back and there he saw Sima Yi, (now in Dobutsu, a ghost of a wolf by his side) Diao Chan, (holding up her delicate looking and hard hitting maces) Zhen Ji, (flute at the ready) and Yuan Shao (holding a pathetic little peasants sword and looking terrified). He saw that Sun Shang Xiang was carefully placed under a shady tree quite some ways from the battle, so she was in no danger. Zhang He looked back at Lu Bu, who appeared to be completely dumfounded. The sky behind him started to turn a light pale purple, signifying that dawn was on its way.
Every warrior on the battlefield simultaneously jumped onto Lu Bu and started attacking with everything they had. Even Yuan Shao and his amazing cowardice charged forth and swung the blunt sword. Lu Bu cried and raged, flailing violently to escape them. With a mighty lurch he threw everyone off and stood, chest heaving, covered in blood. Zhang He, Zhou Yu and Sun Ce's Dobutsu faded totally out and Sima Yi's wasn't far off.
"I WILL NOT LOSE!" He roared at the top of his lungs, and then brought his pike forward. Zhang He was in utter disbelief. No man could destroy this monster. No man . . . No man, he thought . . . Maybe a man couldn't kill him, but . . .
Zhang He looked at the space behind Lu Bu. The entire house was placed on a large cliff, and below those cliffs, Zhang He unmistakably heard and smelt the ocean. He ran over to the edge of the cliff and looked down, disregarding the fact he was totally exhausted after Dobutsu. There, nearly one hundred feet below were rows upon rows of sharp jagged rocks. Zhang He thanked the heavens for he knew that no man alive could live through a fall like that. He faced Lu Bu, who was still looking manic.
"Come at me, Lu Bu! It's me and you, we'll fight!" Zhang He challenged. Lu Bu smiled wickedly, the blood seeping into his eyes making him look truly satanic. He charged full speed at Zhang He, not even seeing the simple trap his was practically dancing into. As soon as Lu Bu got close enough to Zhang He, the clever man side –stepped, sending the one of the powerful in the world over the edge. A short shriek was heard as Lu Bu plummeted out of sight. Everyone exhaled weakly. Sima Yi dropped to his knees and Zhang Liao wiped his brow. Sun Ce let out a triumphant cry, but Zhang He felt a bit disappointed. He thought it was a very anticlimactic and dishonorable end to such a great warrior. But he soon shrugged this feeling off as Diao Chan came rushing into his arms. He thought of when he would get to Sima Yi's house, get the money, and the wedding plans would begin . . . He made up his mind to propose to his dear Diao Chan right after they had received word they could all go through with the group wedding. He saw that Sima Yi had gone over to Sun Shang Xiang, and the Qiaos were celebrating with what Zhang He knew would one day be their husbands. He even saw Zhang Liao and Zhen Ji together, then wondered if they could make so slight accommodations for his brother . . .
What a happy life we shall have . . .Zhang He thought tiredly as Diao Chan took his hand and began to lead him towards the group. Just as he stepped away from the cliff a sickening noise rang out and Zhang He felt and incredible force hit his back. It sounded as if a thousand eggs had been crushed in a fraction of a second. At once, Zhang He's entire lower body lost all feeling and he fell to the ground. A slight panic overtook him, but it felt distant. He was on his side looking hazily at the horizon. He felt Diao Chan drop down beside him and saw her face she was crying. He wanted to ask her what was wrong, but no words came out of his mouth. At once, only above a certain point in his back, the most searing, horrible pain over took him. This time he truly cried out, and he didn't like the sound of his own voice. People were crowding around him; he saw all of his friend's faces. They were all looking at his stomach. . .
Zhang He dazedly moved his head down and saw Lu Bu's enormous Pike sticking out of his stomach. It had almost completely severed the lower half of his body . . . Zhang He heart beat randomly in painful spurts. He was feeling dizzy and everyone's voices seemed distant. He saw Sun Ce kick the struggling form of Lu Bu over the cliff again. He must have climbed up . . . Zhang He thought through what seemed like a veil covered the clarity of his mind. He could feel Diao Chan's warmth on his chest, he could hear her crying and sobbing, along with some people above him . . . In the audience . . . wasn't he an actor? With the masks . . . He knew about the demon one . . . That was Hannya . . . SHE was Hannya . . . Why isn't She coming . . . could . . . it be . . .She . . .didn't . . .
Then it was. As the sun came up, Zhang He, the brave boy who had started out with nothing, who had rose to be a strong warrior, who had gotten through all the challenges so far . . . So it was that Zhang He, who had lived not seventeen years yet, who hadn't even lived to marry his Diao Chan . . . So it was at the break of dawn, Zhang He died. . .
TO BE CONTINUED!!!!