The Empire Long United Chapter 9
Escape from Xu Chang: A hero reborn
'This place is hell.' Xiahou Mei thought. She had been in this jail for only a few days, but she had been rotated between prisons and cells for at least a month. 'When will it end?' She thought. She had, however, begun to notice they were moving her around in a certain pattern. After one month, she had figured out the rotation order. Now all she had to do was get the message to Zima Hui and then escape. 'How long that will be, I don't know.' She thought.
Ji Jia sat on his throne, a slight smirk on his face. In his hand, he held Dark Wolf. 'You're new vessel is being readied master. I must ask you to have some patience.' He muttered. 'I grow impatient. I have been waiting for centuries and my patience grows thin.' A deep voice said. 'I know my lord. However, soon it shall be time.' Ji Jia replied. 'I shall not allow it!' A new voice said. Dark Wolf began to glow a bright green, and the throne room began to shake. A blast of light shot out of Dark Wolf, knocking Ji Jia from the throne. The deep voice spoke again, and Ji Jia's eyes widened. 'That was his soul?!' He yelled
The ball of light flew into a tomb, the once pitch black tunnels lighting up for the first time in centuries. It came to the main chamber and hovered over the stone coffin. It slowly descended into the coffin, and a roar was heard. The coffin was shattered, and in the shadows stood the body. 'So I am back.' He muttered. 'This time, my mission shall succeed. This time, I will take Dark Wolf with me to hell' He said. 'First, I must free those that are closest to Dark Wolf's grip.'
Zima Hui lay still on his bed after another day of training. 'This place is hell.' He muttered. 'I have to escape.' He thought. 'I have to get Xiahou Mei and escape this place!' He stood up, wincing as pain erupted from the countless cuts, bruises, and gashes that covered his body. He punched the wall in fury. 'I have to! Before Ji Jia decides to invade Yang again!' He yelled. Suddenly, an arrow flew in through the window and lodged itself in the wall. He noticed it had a note tied to it. Opening it, he gasped at what it said. 'Be ready five nights from now. You and your friend shall escape.' It read. Was this a trick? He ran to the window, but saw no one around. 'This must be a trap. But who would set it? Could it be real?' He wondered. Regardless of whether it was real or not, Zima Hui resolved to escape in five nights, regardless whether or not this was real. 'Everything falls apart. You're carefully constructed plan will crumble!'
'Lord Liu Fan, a message has arrived.' A guard said. 'Who sent it?' Liu Fan asked. 'It's unknown my lord. It's contents, however, deserve your scrutiny.' He said. Liu Fan took the note. 'Have your forces in Xu be ready five nights from now. Your taken generals will be returned.' He read the note aloud. 'Do you think it's real Emperor?' Yue Mei asked. 'I'm not sure my bodyguard. I'm not sure.' In the month that had followed Zima Hui and Xiahou Mei's capture, Yue Mei had, at Sun Liao's insistence become the emperor's bodyguard. 'If it is, then it means getting Zima Hui and Xiahou Mei back. If not, it may mean the decimation of one of our armies.' She said. 'I'm not sure. This could prove to be a fatal mistake.' Sin Liao said. 'It may be a mistake, but it may be authentic. I owe Zima Hui for rescuing me from Xu Chang when it was taken. I must take every available opportunity to get him back.' Liu Fan said.
The five days passed quickly for Zima Hui, and the night couldn't have come at a better time. 'The protector of Xi Liang has made a move against us. Tomorrow, you're taking the main army to stop those Xi Liang bumpkins.' Ji Jia had told him. These last few days had seemed off though. The guard had been increased, and Ji Jia wasn't acting like his usual smug self. It was as if he knew about the note. 'Regardless, I swore to myself I'd escape this night.' He thought. Suddenly, he found a knife to his throat. 'You're Zima Hui?' The man asked. 'Are you the one who sent me that note?' Zima Hui asked. 'No. I am one of the members of the resistance against Ji Jia.' He said. 'I'm to take you to our new leader. He's helping lady Xiahou Mei escape.' He said. Suddenly, several explosions were heard, and flames erupted around the palace. 'Come now lord Zima Hui! Our lord awaits you!' He said. Zima Hui grabbed his sword and followed the man out the window. 'Hurry my lord!' He said. 'Quickly! Put the fires out!' Soldiers were running all over, filling buckets of water and emptying them on the fire. Zima Hui cut down several guards who attempted to stop them. The man now turned to Zima Hui. 'This is where I go now Zima Hui. My lord shall be along with Xiahou Mei soon.' He said. 'Wait! I never got your name!' Zima Hui called out. The man stopped and turned to Zima Hui. 'Jin Long is my name.' He said. 'I thank you then Jin Long.' Zima Hui muttered as he vanished into the flames. Two new dark shapes appeared to his right, and Zima Hui turned towards them. 'Who goes there?' He yelled. 'Zima Hui! Is that you?' Zima Hui felt his heart skip a beat. 'Xiahou Mei?' He called out. Sure enough, Xiahou Mei and another person came out of the flames. Zima Hui ran towards Xiahou Mei and embraced her. 'You're safe. I'd thought they would've done something to you.' He said. Xiahou Mei felt tears coming to her eyes. 'It was hell. I was starved, sometimes for days. They barely gave me enough to survive. I was harassed, beaten, humiliated. I wanted to die for a time. I just gave up.' Her tears flowed freely now, and Zima Hui began to stroke her hair. 'It's all over. We're escaping now.' He said. 'I don't really wish to break up this touching reunion, but we do have an escape to complete.' The other said. Zima Hui, still holding Xiahou Mei, looked at the man. His body was covered in a large cloak that surprisingly hadn't caught fire, and his face was hidden by a hood. 'I don't know who you are stranger, but thank you for saving us.' Zima Hui said. 'Don't celebrate too soon. We have yet to escape.' He said. 'Come on. We must go now before they reorganize themselves.' He said. Zima Hui reluctantly let go of Xiahou Mei. 'You ready?' He asked. She wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded. 'Yeah. Let's go back.' She said. 'I don't think so fools.' A voice said. Ji Hua appeared, his sword glinting in the fire light. 'You aren't going any where. You three are going to die right here!' He said. Zima Hui stood up and pointed his sword at Ji Hua, only to have the stranger step forward. 'I shall handle this one.' He said. He pulled a sword out from his cloak and drew it out of it's scabbard. It was the Demon Fang. 'My sword.' Xiahou Mei said. 'I shall return it once this fool is dead.' The stranger said. He threw the cloak off, revealing his armor, and showing Ji Hua his face. Ji Hua's eyes widened. 'It's impossible! You're supposed to be dead!' Ji Hua said no more. The stanger had already ran forward and stabbed Ji Hua with Demon fang. Ji Hua fell to the ground, his wound bleeding heavily. 'How is it you've returned?' He muttered before passing out. Without looking at Zima Hui and Xiahou Mei, he put his cloak back on and sheathed Demon Fang. 'Come now. The time is here.' He said, walking off among the dying flames. 'Let's follow him. He may lead us out of here.' Xiahou Mei said. 'I still don't trust him.' Zima Hui said. The stranger appeared again, this time with three horses. 'Take one and follow me.' He said, mounting a midnight black stallion. Zima Hui reluctantly mounted an amber colored horse, while Xiahou Mei mounted a cinnamon colored mare. They followed the stranger, cutting down any Song soldiers who tried to stop them. They came to the city's east gate, which was up in flames. 'Jin Long already got here. Now hurry. We have to ride fast. Liu Fan is waiting for us at Xu's border.' The stranger said. 'How do you know that?' Xiahou Mei asked. 'I know that because I asked him to wait there for your arrival.' The stranger replied. 'You really thought this escape out. Just who are you?' Zima Hui asked. 'That shall be revealed soon my friend.' The stranger said. 'Just follow me now!' He said as they rode off.
The three of them now sat around a small campfire. The stranger had made a soup which was quickly eaten. The empty pot was set aside, and silence dominated them. They sat there, Zima Hui finally giving up on finding out the stranger's name. For now anyway. Xiahou Mei had been silent since the escape, and Zima Hui didn't try to talk to her, figuring she wanted to be left alone. Xiahou Mei abrubtly stood up and ran out of the camp. 'Xiahou Mei! Where are you going?' Zima Hui asked. She didn't answer as she ran into thesense woods surrounding them. 'Go after her. She's unarmed and if she's found she'll be captured again.' The stranger said. Zima Hui jumped up and ran after her, intent on finding her before any pursuing Song soldiers did. When he finally found her, she was sitting on the edge of a cliff, looking down. He stopped running, and walked up behind her. She looked up at him, and Zima Hui saw tears in her eyes. He sat down next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She didn't say anything, but rested her head on his shoulder. His arm made it's way around her shoulders, and hers around his waist. He heard her sobbing, and pulled her closer to him. Absentmindedly, he began singing. 'Hontou ni taisetsu na mono igai subete sutete shimaetara ii no ni ne, genjitsu wa tada zankoku de. Sonna toki itsu datte, me o tojireba waratteru kimi ga iru. Itsuka eien no nemuri ni tsuku hi made, dou ka sono egao ga taema naku aru you ni. Hito wa minna kanashii kara wasurete yuku ikimono dakedo aisubeki mono no tame, ai o kureru mono no tame dekiru koto. Deatta ano koro wa subete ga bukiyou de toomawari shita yo ne? Kizutsuke atta yo ne? Itsuka eien no nemuri ni tsuku hi made, dou ka sono egao ga taema naku aru you ni. Deatta ano koro wa subete ga bukiyou de toomawari shita yo ne? Tadoritsuitan da ne.' Zima Hui finished the song, and looked at Xiahou Mei. She had fallen asleep. He smiled and picked her up, heading back to the camp. When he did arrive, the stranger looked up, mildly interested at the sight. 'You'll have to wake her up. The sun's rising and if you want to get to Xu soon then we need to get going.' He said. 'There's no need. She can ride with me.' He said. The stranger nodded. 'Aside from that temper of yours, you're just like Zima Shi.' The stranger said. 'How do you know what my ancestor was like?' Zima Hui asked, shocked. The stranger said nothing as he mounted his borse. 'Hurry up now.' He said. Zima Hui nodded, still shocked by the stranger's statement. He lifted Xiahou Mei onto his horse and followed after the stranger.
'Do you really think what that note was true?' Son Kai asked. 'I don't know. We can only hope it is.' Zhen Gong said. 'It had better be or whooever wrote that note will regret it.' Zima Qi said. 'Three riders approach my lords!' A soldier said. 'Three riders?' Son Kai asked. 'Yes. They're approaching from the east.' Hearing this, Zima Qi kicked his horse in the sides. 'It must be them!' He said. Arriving at the camp's east entrance, he indeed saw three riders approaching. 'Cousin! Is that you!' Zima Qi yelled. One of the figures waved it's arm in the air, and Zima Qi grinned. 'It's Zima Hui and Xiahou Mei!' He yelled to Son Kai and Zhen Gong as they came up behind him. As the three rode up, they were surrounded by a large group of Shu soldiers yelling greetings to the returned generals. Son Kai put Zima Hui into a headlock, while Zhen Gong hugged Xiahou Mei. Zima Qi grinned at his cousin. 'Next time don't do anything stupid like get captured.' He said. Once the greetings were finished, Zima Hui turned to the the stranger. 'It was you who masterminded this entire thing. Tell us, what is your name?' he said. The stranger chuckled. 'I suppose it would be alright to tell you all.' He said. He threw his cloak off, revelaing dark blue armor and a black cape. His hair was long and black, and his eyes were blue. 'I am strategist to first Lord Zima Shao of Chen, then to Lord Zima Shi of Shu. The one who slew Jin's general Bardiel and first wielder of Dark Wolf, Xiahou Shang.'
A/N: I know the song I used isn't chinese, but I don't know any chinese songs and this one suited what I had planned. The song is called Dearest, and is the third ending song for Inuyasha.
'This place is hell.' Xiahou Mei thought. She had been in this jail for only a few days, but she had been rotated between prisons and cells for at least a month. 'When will it end?' She thought. She had, however, begun to notice they were moving her around in a certain pattern. After one month, she had figured out the rotation order. Now all she had to do was get the message to Zima Hui and then escape. 'How long that will be, I don't know.' She thought.
Ji Jia sat on his throne, a slight smirk on his face. In his hand, he held Dark Wolf. 'You're new vessel is being readied master. I must ask you to have some patience.' He muttered. 'I grow impatient. I have been waiting for centuries and my patience grows thin.' A deep voice said. 'I know my lord. However, soon it shall be time.' Ji Jia replied. 'I shall not allow it!' A new voice said. Dark Wolf began to glow a bright green, and the throne room began to shake. A blast of light shot out of Dark Wolf, knocking Ji Jia from the throne. The deep voice spoke again, and Ji Jia's eyes widened. 'That was his soul?!' He yelled
The ball of light flew into a tomb, the once pitch black tunnels lighting up for the first time in centuries. It came to the main chamber and hovered over the stone coffin. It slowly descended into the coffin, and a roar was heard. The coffin was shattered, and in the shadows stood the body. 'So I am back.' He muttered. 'This time, my mission shall succeed. This time, I will take Dark Wolf with me to hell' He said. 'First, I must free those that are closest to Dark Wolf's grip.'
Zima Hui lay still on his bed after another day of training. 'This place is hell.' He muttered. 'I have to escape.' He thought. 'I have to get Xiahou Mei and escape this place!' He stood up, wincing as pain erupted from the countless cuts, bruises, and gashes that covered his body. He punched the wall in fury. 'I have to! Before Ji Jia decides to invade Yang again!' He yelled. Suddenly, an arrow flew in through the window and lodged itself in the wall. He noticed it had a note tied to it. Opening it, he gasped at what it said. 'Be ready five nights from now. You and your friend shall escape.' It read. Was this a trick? He ran to the window, but saw no one around. 'This must be a trap. But who would set it? Could it be real?' He wondered. Regardless of whether it was real or not, Zima Hui resolved to escape in five nights, regardless whether or not this was real. 'Everything falls apart. You're carefully constructed plan will crumble!'
'Lord Liu Fan, a message has arrived.' A guard said. 'Who sent it?' Liu Fan asked. 'It's unknown my lord. It's contents, however, deserve your scrutiny.' He said. Liu Fan took the note. 'Have your forces in Xu be ready five nights from now. Your taken generals will be returned.' He read the note aloud. 'Do you think it's real Emperor?' Yue Mei asked. 'I'm not sure my bodyguard. I'm not sure.' In the month that had followed Zima Hui and Xiahou Mei's capture, Yue Mei had, at Sun Liao's insistence become the emperor's bodyguard. 'If it is, then it means getting Zima Hui and Xiahou Mei back. If not, it may mean the decimation of one of our armies.' She said. 'I'm not sure. This could prove to be a fatal mistake.' Sin Liao said. 'It may be a mistake, but it may be authentic. I owe Zima Hui for rescuing me from Xu Chang when it was taken. I must take every available opportunity to get him back.' Liu Fan said.
The five days passed quickly for Zima Hui, and the night couldn't have come at a better time. 'The protector of Xi Liang has made a move against us. Tomorrow, you're taking the main army to stop those Xi Liang bumpkins.' Ji Jia had told him. These last few days had seemed off though. The guard had been increased, and Ji Jia wasn't acting like his usual smug self. It was as if he knew about the note. 'Regardless, I swore to myself I'd escape this night.' He thought. Suddenly, he found a knife to his throat. 'You're Zima Hui?' The man asked. 'Are you the one who sent me that note?' Zima Hui asked. 'No. I am one of the members of the resistance against Ji Jia.' He said. 'I'm to take you to our new leader. He's helping lady Xiahou Mei escape.' He said. Suddenly, several explosions were heard, and flames erupted around the palace. 'Come now lord Zima Hui! Our lord awaits you!' He said. Zima Hui grabbed his sword and followed the man out the window. 'Hurry my lord!' He said. 'Quickly! Put the fires out!' Soldiers were running all over, filling buckets of water and emptying them on the fire. Zima Hui cut down several guards who attempted to stop them. The man now turned to Zima Hui. 'This is where I go now Zima Hui. My lord shall be along with Xiahou Mei soon.' He said. 'Wait! I never got your name!' Zima Hui called out. The man stopped and turned to Zima Hui. 'Jin Long is my name.' He said. 'I thank you then Jin Long.' Zima Hui muttered as he vanished into the flames. Two new dark shapes appeared to his right, and Zima Hui turned towards them. 'Who goes there?' He yelled. 'Zima Hui! Is that you?' Zima Hui felt his heart skip a beat. 'Xiahou Mei?' He called out. Sure enough, Xiahou Mei and another person came out of the flames. Zima Hui ran towards Xiahou Mei and embraced her. 'You're safe. I'd thought they would've done something to you.' He said. Xiahou Mei felt tears coming to her eyes. 'It was hell. I was starved, sometimes for days. They barely gave me enough to survive. I was harassed, beaten, humiliated. I wanted to die for a time. I just gave up.' Her tears flowed freely now, and Zima Hui began to stroke her hair. 'It's all over. We're escaping now.' He said. 'I don't really wish to break up this touching reunion, but we do have an escape to complete.' The other said. Zima Hui, still holding Xiahou Mei, looked at the man. His body was covered in a large cloak that surprisingly hadn't caught fire, and his face was hidden by a hood. 'I don't know who you are stranger, but thank you for saving us.' Zima Hui said. 'Don't celebrate too soon. We have yet to escape.' He said. 'Come on. We must go now before they reorganize themselves.' He said. Zima Hui reluctantly let go of Xiahou Mei. 'You ready?' He asked. She wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded. 'Yeah. Let's go back.' She said. 'I don't think so fools.' A voice said. Ji Hua appeared, his sword glinting in the fire light. 'You aren't going any where. You three are going to die right here!' He said. Zima Hui stood up and pointed his sword at Ji Hua, only to have the stranger step forward. 'I shall handle this one.' He said. He pulled a sword out from his cloak and drew it out of it's scabbard. It was the Demon Fang. 'My sword.' Xiahou Mei said. 'I shall return it once this fool is dead.' The stranger said. He threw the cloak off, revealing his armor, and showing Ji Hua his face. Ji Hua's eyes widened. 'It's impossible! You're supposed to be dead!' Ji Hua said no more. The stanger had already ran forward and stabbed Ji Hua with Demon fang. Ji Hua fell to the ground, his wound bleeding heavily. 'How is it you've returned?' He muttered before passing out. Without looking at Zima Hui and Xiahou Mei, he put his cloak back on and sheathed Demon Fang. 'Come now. The time is here.' He said, walking off among the dying flames. 'Let's follow him. He may lead us out of here.' Xiahou Mei said. 'I still don't trust him.' Zima Hui said. The stranger appeared again, this time with three horses. 'Take one and follow me.' He said, mounting a midnight black stallion. Zima Hui reluctantly mounted an amber colored horse, while Xiahou Mei mounted a cinnamon colored mare. They followed the stranger, cutting down any Song soldiers who tried to stop them. They came to the city's east gate, which was up in flames. 'Jin Long already got here. Now hurry. We have to ride fast. Liu Fan is waiting for us at Xu's border.' The stranger said. 'How do you know that?' Xiahou Mei asked. 'I know that because I asked him to wait there for your arrival.' The stranger replied. 'You really thought this escape out. Just who are you?' Zima Hui asked. 'That shall be revealed soon my friend.' The stranger said. 'Just follow me now!' He said as they rode off.
The three of them now sat around a small campfire. The stranger had made a soup which was quickly eaten. The empty pot was set aside, and silence dominated them. They sat there, Zima Hui finally giving up on finding out the stranger's name. For now anyway. Xiahou Mei had been silent since the escape, and Zima Hui didn't try to talk to her, figuring she wanted to be left alone. Xiahou Mei abrubtly stood up and ran out of the camp. 'Xiahou Mei! Where are you going?' Zima Hui asked. She didn't answer as she ran into thesense woods surrounding them. 'Go after her. She's unarmed and if she's found she'll be captured again.' The stranger said. Zima Hui jumped up and ran after her, intent on finding her before any pursuing Song soldiers did. When he finally found her, she was sitting on the edge of a cliff, looking down. He stopped running, and walked up behind her. She looked up at him, and Zima Hui saw tears in her eyes. He sat down next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She didn't say anything, but rested her head on his shoulder. His arm made it's way around her shoulders, and hers around his waist. He heard her sobbing, and pulled her closer to him. Absentmindedly, he began singing. 'Hontou ni taisetsu na mono igai subete sutete shimaetara ii no ni ne, genjitsu wa tada zankoku de. Sonna toki itsu datte, me o tojireba waratteru kimi ga iru. Itsuka eien no nemuri ni tsuku hi made, dou ka sono egao ga taema naku aru you ni. Hito wa minna kanashii kara wasurete yuku ikimono dakedo aisubeki mono no tame, ai o kureru mono no tame dekiru koto. Deatta ano koro wa subete ga bukiyou de toomawari shita yo ne? Kizutsuke atta yo ne? Itsuka eien no nemuri ni tsuku hi made, dou ka sono egao ga taema naku aru you ni. Deatta ano koro wa subete ga bukiyou de toomawari shita yo ne? Tadoritsuitan da ne.' Zima Hui finished the song, and looked at Xiahou Mei. She had fallen asleep. He smiled and picked her up, heading back to the camp. When he did arrive, the stranger looked up, mildly interested at the sight. 'You'll have to wake her up. The sun's rising and if you want to get to Xu soon then we need to get going.' He said. 'There's no need. She can ride with me.' He said. The stranger nodded. 'Aside from that temper of yours, you're just like Zima Shi.' The stranger said. 'How do you know what my ancestor was like?' Zima Hui asked, shocked. The stranger said nothing as he mounted his borse. 'Hurry up now.' He said. Zima Hui nodded, still shocked by the stranger's statement. He lifted Xiahou Mei onto his horse and followed after the stranger.
'Do you really think what that note was true?' Son Kai asked. 'I don't know. We can only hope it is.' Zhen Gong said. 'It had better be or whooever wrote that note will regret it.' Zima Qi said. 'Three riders approach my lords!' A soldier said. 'Three riders?' Son Kai asked. 'Yes. They're approaching from the east.' Hearing this, Zima Qi kicked his horse in the sides. 'It must be them!' He said. Arriving at the camp's east entrance, he indeed saw three riders approaching. 'Cousin! Is that you!' Zima Qi yelled. One of the figures waved it's arm in the air, and Zima Qi grinned. 'It's Zima Hui and Xiahou Mei!' He yelled to Son Kai and Zhen Gong as they came up behind him. As the three rode up, they were surrounded by a large group of Shu soldiers yelling greetings to the returned generals. Son Kai put Zima Hui into a headlock, while Zhen Gong hugged Xiahou Mei. Zima Qi grinned at his cousin. 'Next time don't do anything stupid like get captured.' He said. Once the greetings were finished, Zima Hui turned to the the stranger. 'It was you who masterminded this entire thing. Tell us, what is your name?' he said. The stranger chuckled. 'I suppose it would be alright to tell you all.' He said. He threw his cloak off, revelaing dark blue armor and a black cape. His hair was long and black, and his eyes were blue. 'I am strategist to first Lord Zima Shao of Chen, then to Lord Zima Shi of Shu. The one who slew Jin's general Bardiel and first wielder of Dark Wolf, Xiahou Shang.'
A/N: I know the song I used isn't chinese, but I don't know any chinese songs and this one suited what I had planned. The song is called Dearest, and is the third ending song for Inuyasha.