Disclaimer: No one in this story belongs to me. Hurray! They all belong to
someone else.
Author's Note: This is your warning. I do not like Zhuge Liang. Well I'm sure that he was a great nice wonderful man.....but he's not my cup of tea. I am very glad that he is someone else's cup of tea though. ^_^ I don't go flaming everyone who portrays Zhang He as gay. Therefore, don't flame me for what I am about to do in the following chapters. This is your first and last warning. I'll get back to all reviews sooner or later via the author's notes. ^_^ Hope you enjoy this. P.S. This is just chapter one so far.
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My Ally, My Enemy
The day's promise of beauty had been fully realized by afternoon. The clouds wove their way merrily through the cerulean skies. Yue Ying paid no attention to the loveliness around her. Swinging her scythe in a high arc, she defeated another invisible enemy. She moved by instinct, her weapon a blur of silver and brown. Shaking her head she tried to clear her mind of the overheard conversation, but once again it crept into her consciousness.
"That girl is just too.plain. It would be difficult enough to arrange a marriage for her, but added on to everything she acts like a man."
"I know, Lady Qua. I have tried to persuade her to pursue more feminine skills. She enjoys her studies though, and claims womanly matters are too boring." Her father's footsteps had reached her as he paced the floor of their home. "If her mother hadn't died-"
"But she did. You must persuade her to study the womanly arts or she will be alone forever. That is all the advice I can give you, Master Yue. Good day."
Tears flowed from her brown eyes. *I wouldn't mind being alone for the rest of my life.* In her imagination, the scythe cut through Lady Qua this time. *What does that old goat know about men anyhow? Someone out there is looking for a person like me right this very moment.*
She stopped half way through an upward cut. *I shouldn't be so foolish. No one would ever want anyone as plain as me.* Holding the scythe in one hand, she dabbled at her eyes. *But that doesn't mean I'll ever allow them to change me.*
A soft cough came from behind her. Whirling, she twirled the scythe in front of her. "There is no need for that," an elegant looking young man in pristine white robes said.
"Who are you, and what are you doing on our farm?" Her brows furrowed as she waited for the man's reply.
"Do you really need to know my name? I came to offer you an opportunity of a lifetime." His dark eyes captured her own.
Breaking eye contact she took a step back. *He's hiding something.* "Me? Why would you come to see me?"
Waving a large white fan lazily, he smiled. "I understand that you are gifted in strategies and certain other studies that parallel my own."
"I can beat the local villagers in mahJong, if that's what you mean by strategies." She lowered her scythe so it pointed at the ground.
"That is part of the reason why I am here. It is said that your mind is as sharp as any man's, and your weapon as deadly as an cobra."
Color flushed her face. "Some say so."
His eyes locked with hers again. This time, there was no way to break their hold. "Perhaps you have not heard the news. The Han dynasty is at an end. The surviving heir is too young to take control of China. In the following years war is sure to break out. The men who fight will need strategists. I will be included in their rank. I will have need of a woman with a bright mind as well as one who has skill with weapons."
Shaking her head she took a step away from him. "My father will never allow me to go off to battle. Besides, I don't even know your name. I will not allow a man to take the credit for a job that I will end up doing."
His laughter was like crushed velvet. "My dear, I am Zhuge Liang. You will never have to worry about me stealing your ideas."
Her eyes widened. *Everyone has heard of him.* Giving a deep bow, she felt shivers run along her spine. "I'm sorry. I had no idea-"
"Nonsense. I should have introduced myself." His smile was warm. "And there is one way that your father will allow you to come with me."
She stared at him. *He's obviously lost his mind.*
With a flourish he dropped to one knee. "Yue Ying, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Her mouth dropped open. "You are mad."
"Perhaps." Giving another laugh, he boldly took her hand in his. "I can not promise you my love, but I can promise you a life like non other."
Looking into his handsome face, she felt a great calm settle over her. She would be in charge of her destiny. "Let us arrange the contract."
Author's Note: This is your warning. I do not like Zhuge Liang. Well I'm sure that he was a great nice wonderful man.....but he's not my cup of tea. I am very glad that he is someone else's cup of tea though. ^_^ I don't go flaming everyone who portrays Zhang He as gay. Therefore, don't flame me for what I am about to do in the following chapters. This is your first and last warning. I'll get back to all reviews sooner or later via the author's notes. ^_^ Hope you enjoy this. P.S. This is just chapter one so far.
~~}~~@~~{~~
My Ally, My Enemy
The day's promise of beauty had been fully realized by afternoon. The clouds wove their way merrily through the cerulean skies. Yue Ying paid no attention to the loveliness around her. Swinging her scythe in a high arc, she defeated another invisible enemy. She moved by instinct, her weapon a blur of silver and brown. Shaking her head she tried to clear her mind of the overheard conversation, but once again it crept into her consciousness.
"That girl is just too.plain. It would be difficult enough to arrange a marriage for her, but added on to everything she acts like a man."
"I know, Lady Qua. I have tried to persuade her to pursue more feminine skills. She enjoys her studies though, and claims womanly matters are too boring." Her father's footsteps had reached her as he paced the floor of their home. "If her mother hadn't died-"
"But she did. You must persuade her to study the womanly arts or she will be alone forever. That is all the advice I can give you, Master Yue. Good day."
Tears flowed from her brown eyes. *I wouldn't mind being alone for the rest of my life.* In her imagination, the scythe cut through Lady Qua this time. *What does that old goat know about men anyhow? Someone out there is looking for a person like me right this very moment.*
She stopped half way through an upward cut. *I shouldn't be so foolish. No one would ever want anyone as plain as me.* Holding the scythe in one hand, she dabbled at her eyes. *But that doesn't mean I'll ever allow them to change me.*
A soft cough came from behind her. Whirling, she twirled the scythe in front of her. "There is no need for that," an elegant looking young man in pristine white robes said.
"Who are you, and what are you doing on our farm?" Her brows furrowed as she waited for the man's reply.
"Do you really need to know my name? I came to offer you an opportunity of a lifetime." His dark eyes captured her own.
Breaking eye contact she took a step back. *He's hiding something.* "Me? Why would you come to see me?"
Waving a large white fan lazily, he smiled. "I understand that you are gifted in strategies and certain other studies that parallel my own."
"I can beat the local villagers in mahJong, if that's what you mean by strategies." She lowered her scythe so it pointed at the ground.
"That is part of the reason why I am here. It is said that your mind is as sharp as any man's, and your weapon as deadly as an cobra."
Color flushed her face. "Some say so."
His eyes locked with hers again. This time, there was no way to break their hold. "Perhaps you have not heard the news. The Han dynasty is at an end. The surviving heir is too young to take control of China. In the following years war is sure to break out. The men who fight will need strategists. I will be included in their rank. I will have need of a woman with a bright mind as well as one who has skill with weapons."
Shaking her head she took a step away from him. "My father will never allow me to go off to battle. Besides, I don't even know your name. I will not allow a man to take the credit for a job that I will end up doing."
His laughter was like crushed velvet. "My dear, I am Zhuge Liang. You will never have to worry about me stealing your ideas."
Her eyes widened. *Everyone has heard of him.* Giving a deep bow, she felt shivers run along her spine. "I'm sorry. I had no idea-"
"Nonsense. I should have introduced myself." His smile was warm. "And there is one way that your father will allow you to come with me."
She stared at him. *He's obviously lost his mind.*
With a flourish he dropped to one knee. "Yue Ying, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Her mouth dropped open. "You are mad."
"Perhaps." Giving another laugh, he boldly took her hand in his. "I can not promise you my love, but I can promise you a life like non other."
Looking into his handsome face, she felt a great calm settle over her. She would be in charge of her destiny. "Let us arrange the contract."