A/N: Yeah! Oh boy, I'm having way too much fun with this story! Hehe! big hug to reviewers See peoples? If you review you get a nice big happy hug from your favorite author Ra-chan. SO REVIEW!!

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Hua Wan, Daughter of Pirates

Chapter 8

A Father's Nightmare

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((Hua Wan's POV))

I waited in an anticipating trance of torture. Why does the sun take so long to set? This was going to slowly kill me. I knew what I had to do. I knew how I was going to do what I had to do. But I knew not of the eternal pain that it would cause me. In my impatience with waiting I had retreated to the court yard, so no one would walk by and ask what was wrong. There was only two other people in the garden and they seemed intent to avoid me as well as each other. Lord Kongming the Sleeping Dragon of Shu and his arch rival Sima Yi of Wei, glared at one another from behind their fans. I had once though of being a strategist but I decided there was too much devilry, treachery, and staring competitions involved. Their mouths were moving so I assumed that they were talking about something they either wished me not to hear of their mouths were having chaotic spasms. So, with the sun still an hour from setting I decided to have a little fun and eavesdrop. I got up onto my hands and knees and crept slowly from where I was sitting. Making no audible sounds, I crawled to a clump of bushes and sat down out of view.

"I don't trust you, Sima Yi," Zhuge Liang said with ice in his voice.

"Really now? I'll take that as a compliment I think," the purple robbed Sima Yi responded coolly.

Strategists really need to get lives I concluded as I muffled a giggle. Maybe it was just me, but old men are so funny when they fight! I listened to them talk till nightfall when Zhuge Liang finally blinked. They finally retired into the castle a few minutes after the sun had set. I waited for the sound of footfalls near the wall with anticipation. I could hear the hoots of owls and the rustling of the changing leaves in the wind. The sounds were so faint and relaxing my eyes drooped with tiredness and I fell asleep against my knee. I was awoken with a start at as a hand gently pulled away a stray hair out of my face and tucked it tenderly behind my ear. My eyelids fluttered open and I looked up to see Zhou Lin smiling sweetly next to me.

"Sleep much?" he asked teasingly.

I smiled seeing his happy face, but immediately was reminded of the reason my afternoon had been destroyed. As my grin melted into a frown, Zhou Lin looked at me curiously.

"There's something wrong isn't there?" he asked.

I nodded sadly.

"What is it?" he questioned with concern.

"Something Lord Xun has told me. He has said that we cannot be together. It would discriminate us from the rest of both our people as well as any children we would have if married. He has advised me greatly to take our relationship no further . . ."

"Stop! What do you mean? I don't care about discrimination!"

"You don't now, Zhou Lin. Think about it from twenty years from now . . . wouldn't it be tiring? Would you want your children to be outcasts?"

"Not particularly."

"See what I mean?"

"Yes, but why most it mean this?"

I sat beside me and held his head in his hands sadly. I hugged him and kissed his shoulder.

"Zhou Lin . . . I love you. I always will, and I'll never ever forget you . . ." I whispered.

"I as well, my sweet one," he said turning to me and holding me in his arms.

That is the last time I ever saw Zhou Lin again, for several guards were patrolling and gave us quite a fright when we heard their voices. Zhou Lin got up and leapt over the fence before they reached us. I went off to bed and cried myself to sleep. I miss him dearly.

((Li Wu's POV))

I woke up after a very sound nights sleep. I had gone to bed a little early so I was asleep before Hua Wan came in. She was now asleep on her bed across the room, so I'm sure I didn't wake up when she entered. I was just beginning to know my sister, and the fact that she was avoiding me most of the time really hurt me a lot. My own fault I knew, but the fact that she was so temperamental about it just made me want to fight back. "I'd best just leave it," I thought in my head. I got up from bed and crept on tiptoe to the door as to not awake Hua Wan. But as soon as my foot was out the door she shot upright.

"Sorry," I said softly seeing her bloodshot eyes.

"It's ok, I'm just a little jumpy," she said.

I couldn't help it. She looked so saddened. I walked over to her and sat next to her.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" I asked concerned for my older sister.

"No. Nothing happened. Nothing's wrong," she snapped.

"That's a bad lie," I said calmly.

Tears streamed from her saddened eyes and I felt pain for her.

"Hua Wan, please tell me what is wrong?" I pleaded wit her.

"Well . . . if it makes you happy to know . . . Zhou Lin is no longer in my life," she said with a cool tone.

Obviously I wasn't on my sister's good side right now. I'd best leave her be. Time passed and all representatives of the kingdoms had returned home. Hua Wan sulked around mostly still missing her beloved. I knew I was partly to blame for her sorrow and woe, but she was very good at holding a grudge and avoiding me for weeks on end. Mom and Dad were content and happy as usual. If seeing how fast you can catch up with friends was a sport my father was the King at it. Mom was a lot calmer than Dad and only said something to put her two cents in when Dad was talking in a huge group of people. I was checking out the lovely ladies of Wu. Dad was right. Wu did have the most beautiful women, but none could out glorify Xiahou Ting. Xiahou Ting was the main subject I discussed in my mind. I often found myself muttering her sweet name when I was alone, the sugary taste of the words leaving a delicious aftertaste in my mouth. Her face was a constant guest in my dreams. Bleh . . . the world was so dull to me now. Even the highly rumored Qiao sisters were wrinkled old hags in comparison to my Wei beauty.

"Son, what ARE you talking about?"

Jerking my head up off the desk I seemed to of fallen asleep at, I came face to face with my father. His eyes held a questioning look of concern.

"Nothing, sir," I said.

"Li Wu . . . if I am not mistaken you were talking in your sleep," Gan Ning said with a knowing smile.

"Maybe," I said, "How would I know? I was asleep wasn't I?"

"Or daydreaming," Gan Ning let out in a cough.

"Okay, Dad," I said getting slightly irritated, "I have a crush. Big whoop! Stop making a big deal out of it!"

He just laughed and shook his head as my mother walked in.

"What's so funny, Xingba?" she asked.

"Dad is amused by my fancy of a girl," I said with clenched teeth.

"Xingba stop laughing! Sun Quan wants you, so go!" she ordered my father.

"Oh he does? Tell him I'm deeply flattered, but unfortunately I'm married," chuckled Gan Ning.

"Ah, shut up you ungrateful sorry pirate! I conceived your two children and that's all I get?! Sun Quan has orders for you NOW GET!" my mother yelled as she planted a firm kick on my father's posterior.

"Ow! Evil nagging-," Gan Ning complained as he hobbled away, his voice trailing off.

Mom smiled at me and gave me one of those mom-hugs.

"Buy her some flowers," she said before walking off after my father.

((Gan Ning's POV))

Diao Wan bounded down the hall and caught up to me, poking her head around my left side she showed off a mischievous cat grin.

"Oh! What are you smirking about?" I asked her.

"Oh nothing!" she said, now walking by my side.

"Sure, love," I mumbled rolling my eyes.

She smiled girlishly and giggled. A rare event.

"Wan, did you just giggle?" I asked her teasingly

"Surprise! I'm a girl!" she said, rolling her beautiful eyes.

"So are you coming as well?" I asked her.

"No, just making sure you follow your orders without any unnecessary delays," she said.

I laughed. Who needed a mother when you had a wife like Diao Wan? The door to Sun Quan's study was opened as we approached.

"Hello, Ning. Thank you for fetching him for me, Lady Diao. You're the only person capable of finding him. He has a knack for hiding when I need him," Sun Quan said.

"Oh, it's actually quite simple, Lord Sun. All you have to do is shout "RUM" and he comes running as fast as Red Hare. Well, I must be on my way, good day, sir," she said.

The guards outside closed the door behind her.

"They got you a very fine wife, Ning," Sun Quan said from behind his desk.

"Aye, best there is in my opinion," I replied.

"Take a seat, friend," he said.

I plopped into a lavish velvet cushioned chair across from him.

"The only time you ever call me in here and invite me to sit down is when we talk about battle plans or some kind of special mission that might kill me even if I am successful. By the way, they never have," I implied with a smirk.

"Yes . . . but this time its about a letter from Liu Bei. He has sent me a request. You know my nephew Liu Shin do you not?"

I nodded.

"Well he has requested something of me –well technically you. Liu Shin is already married..."

"Whoa! Wait! That young buck ALREADY has a wife?" I interrupted.

"Aye. He's my brother-in-laws favorite son."

"What happened to Liu Chen? He's not married yet and he's at least thirty."

"He's not my sister's son, now is he?"

Yes . . . Liu Bei favored Sun Shang Xiang over his other wives. It was natural for him to favor Liu Shin as well, and give the boy anything he wanted.

"Liu Shin has asked his father for Hua Wan as his second wife," Sun Quan blurted.

"What?" I asked.

This was not happening. My daughter was NOT getting married, and she was not going to be someone's SECOND wife. Not my Hua Wan!

"Sun Quan you WILL NOT give my daughter over to some young spoiled prince who has done nothing to make his name known in life!" I snapped.

"Liu Shin has fought in several skirmishes . . ."

"SEVERAL SKERMISHES! Has he fought in a war? A true battle? Lead a night raid on Wei with only one hundred men and not have a single solider die?"

"Not all of us can be the Great Gan Ning of the Bells. And I am ashamed you would think I would give your daughter away without your consent!" said Sun Quan with anger.

"Then why does the letter in your hand to Liu Bei and not to you?" I said coldly.

Sun Quan became quiet. Yes. He was holding a letter that was written by him to Liu Bei. It was a reply to Liu Bei telling him he accepts the request.

"Sun Quan . . . why have you double crossed me?" I asked.

"I had no choice on the matter! It could not be helped! Plus, you daughter is twenty, Gan Ning! She has to marry someone! She is older than most girls just getting married so she's lucky she got an offer at all! Women can't make names for themselves by fighting anymore, Ning! I'm doing you a favor!" Sun Quan shouted.

I glared at him with pure anger. I raised my fist to strike him when I felt a strong hand squeeze my elbow strongly.

"Xingba, go calm down please," Lu Meng said calmly.

I lowered my hand to my side, still clenching my fist. Even if my trusted friend Sun Quan double crossed me; I would not argue with Lu Meng there. Walking out of the study, I shoved the doors open with a massive push, therefore, sending the guards in front of them forward and into the opposite wall. Lu Xun, who had also been in front of the door, stared at me with wide eyes as the guards were thrown on either side of him. I stomped past him then stopped.

"Lu Xun . . . have you seen my daughter?" I asked.

"No, but Lady Diao is down the way," he said pointing down a staircase at the end of the hallway.

I nodded and stormed down the hall. I ran down the stairs and fell into Diao Wan.

"Sorry, love," I apologized as she rubbed her forehead.

Her head had crashed into my chest, hurting her nose and her forehead had hit my collar bone.

"Why in such a rush?" she asked with a nasal accent.

I quickly explained what had happened with Sun Quan to her. She seemed vaguely upset, but overall she had no reaction.

"Don't you understand, Wan?!" I said loudly, looking into her eyes.

"I agree that he shouldn't of done that, but its is time Hua Wan was married. I had expected her to be when we came back. Ning she needs a husband now otherwise I'm afraid our daughter will never be wed and have children," she said.

"Why would she need children?" I asked, half pouting.

"Ning you know perfectly well that even though she is Gan Ning's daughter . . . She is your daughter. A woman. Women in this world aren't often fighters like Zhen Ji, Yue Ying, Zhu Rong, or even me. They make themselves known by their sons and husbands," she said softly.

Her words were of truth. I gritted my teeth in frustration. Even though I knew my daughter had to marry . . . I didn't want to let her go. She was my little Hua Wan. AS I laid in bed that night I couldn't help but flashback in my mind all the memories of little six-year-old Hua Wan.

"Daddy! Daddy! Watch me!" squealed my small daughter.

Hua Wan swung the sheath of my sword around as she spun in a circle, the weight of the cover too heavy for her to pick up. I laughed as the little pig-tailed girl fell over in a heap of cuteness. She sprung back up and ran to me as fast as her dizzy head could direct her.

"Daddy, did you see me?" she asked proudly.

"Yes, I did!" I said picking her up and holding her.

"I did a musou, Daddy! I'm a ferocious Amazon warrior! I'm going to beat up all the icky boys! Mommy said I was gonna when I growed up!" giggled Hua Wan.

"Oh really? Mommy said that? What else did she say?" I asked her.

"I'm not going to tell you!" she said covering her mouth with her little hands.

"Did Mommy tell you not to tell me?" I asked.

She nodded yes and giggled. Always such a giggler!

"Then I'll tickle it out of you!" I yelled and tickled her little belly.

She laughed hysterically and squirmed around squealing for me to stop. I stopped and she kept on laughing. Suddenly she became quiet as we were surrounded by Wei troops with drawn swords and spears.

"Give us the girl!" I heard one of them say.

"I'd rather not, and kill you instead . . .," I threatened.

"You have no choice!" yelled the solider.

I sat Hua Wan down and she clung to my pant leg. Drawling Sea Master, I held out and glared at them.

"Fine, it is your life . . .," I said.

Quickly, they retaliated and swarmed in on me. I blocked their swings and stabs but I was outnumbered to great! They pried Hua Wan from me, taking her away. I was sliced in the back, blood flying everywhere.

"DADDY, DON'T LET THEM TAKE ME!" she screamed.

"No! Not her! DON'T TAKE MY LITTLE GIRL!" I bellowed with a plea.

I suddenly awoke in a cold sweat, my heart racing as I sat straight up. It was dark and Diao Wan slept soundly close at my side. She stirred a little at my movement but didn't wake up. I had fallen asleep. It had been all a dream. I got up carefully and walked quietly to Hua Wan's room. I opened her door a bit to make sure she was there. Sound asleep as well . . . and twenty-years-old. I closed the door and started to walk back to bed, but my feet would not move. I felt something wet on my cheek and when I reached up to touch it I realized that it was a tear. A tear? Was Hua Wan going away really that scary to me? Yes. It was. I didn't want to loose my little girl.

End Chapter

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A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry it took forever to update I was working on my Revise of my first story. The first section of it has been posted on if you want to check it out lol. My penname on there is: Ra-chan the Sunray