Lu Bu's Puppet
Chapter One - Granted
"Great! I'll see you in three days, Master." She heard Jeff snicker slightly, "You never call me that." She grinned back, "I didn't have to until today." Her shins were bruised horribly and her arms were painfully just recovering from being twisted behind her back so much. And to top it all off, pulling a muscle in her abdomen wasn't exactly all that enjoyable either. For one may see, today was her final black belt test. She was now going to be dubbed a Grand Master. Age of twenty-one and a Grand Master.THERE was something to be proud of.
Metal clicked and glittered in the moonlight as she got into her car, placing her duffle bag behind the driver's side seat. It was such a beautiful car too. A sleek black Honda accord now surrounded her with the clean lemon smell of leather, the flamed steering-wheel cover, not to mention the three glowing dials. Yes. She was a street racer. Cops had never caught her, nor taken away her license. To many, that was a surprise. But she happened to be trained by the best.
Prince was his name. And old flame from long ago had helped her along this road. Now, he was gone. First, he had been committed to CJC, the Colorado Justice Center. Then he died. Just like that. One sharpened pencil in the correct place had done it. He just disappeared. All she had left of him was the subtle fact that in the afterlife, a person who cares will watch over whomever they cared about. Perhaps he cared that much about her right now. Who knows? She never had the guts to tell him how much she loved him. He died when he was twenty. She was nineteen.
Washing away the memory, her mind was again a clean slate. The thunder of her engine gave her mind color; and the speed gave it beauty. Watching as the lights flickered by, blurring the entire road into one large rainbow of shadow, A 7-11 was just made out through the thickness. The next thing, she was parked at the gas station about ten miles away. A 7-11 in downtown Colorado Springs. The Springs had gone downhill since the killing incident. A Springs Man, Eric Brian, had lured a girl, Holly Adams, to the eastern part of town. That was the one he was caught for. The rest.Well they took longer than most expected (three years), but they nailed him for each and every one. He's now spending life in prison for rape, assault, and murder on eight accounts.
Placing the topping on a slurppie, she moseyed to the counter, digging around in her pocket for some change. To have to break her twenty would mean she would spend the whole thing tonight, and she preferred to keep that money for once. Clink. Clink, clink, claaaaaang. She watched a penny roll over the other side of the counter. The cashier had bent down to pick it up. Then the next thing he knew, the silver would glint into his eyes like he had seen so many times before. Two trademark guns were being held on both of the only people in the store.
"Money. You know the drill." A gruff voice quietly said. Yet she didn't let the gruffness fool her. Intelligent and strong. Desperate. Very well known traits. She grew up with people like that. Prince was one of them. Two guns. The position of the man's feet lolled over in her mind for about twenty seconds. How he held his guns.sideways. How he gazed.nervously. And how he looked at her. Threateningly. That was it.
A hand grabbed the Gunman's wrist, breaking it as she twisted it. What the twist for? One of the worst head butts he will ever receive in his life was the quick answer. Another crack. There goes his nose. In the meanwhile, the other gun was still swinging around to face her. She still had the other one. Twisting his wrist back, she flipped the barrel to his chest. And then.
BOOM.BOOM.
Her mind's eye grew curious. She only fired once. That's when the thought occurred. The tilt of her head made the thought truth. She had been shot.
The world began to turn on its side and black film started to fill the edges of her vision. How had this happened? This wasn't calculated and wasn't thought of. Oh but it was, she began to realize as the Cashier bent over her, calling her name. ~Oh, James, I'm sorry.~ "Jade! Jade.answer me."
~*~*~
"What's our morale so far in this war?" Her head pounded. Her shoulder felt like it had been stabbed and her eyes. Well, she opened them in a matter of seconds. Snapping up, cold steel was placed at her neck. A thin blade was felt digging into the upper layer of her skin. Not enough to hurt, but enough to know that if she moved, he would surely kill her. Who was he? A tilt of her vision brought her eye-to-eye with her attacker. A tall man with the most vicious eyes she has ever seen. Dark eyebrows peaked which made him look like a villain from the southern boarders. His face was not full oriental. But the high cheekbones had given him a handsome look. Golden armor adorned his body. Such a beautiful weapon was at her neck. And such a beautiful man so close.and so dangerous.
He had reminded her of Matthew Turner for the facial framing and Prince Batts for the eyes and the strength. He was everything she saw in the two loves of her life. But he was also what she feared the most. He hated her.
"Take this one to my chambers. Since she's awake, she may able to tell us now from what side she is." His voice was deep and gruff. Sounded so familiar yet so far away from her. Still on the verge of blacking out, two hands lifted her. One by her good arm and one by the bad. Instantly, a high kick back loosened the grip on her left arm and freed her right. That which was hurting lay in a bandage, but then it no longer hurt. It BURNED! Fire gripped her eyes as she landed a backwards summersault.only to be seized again by the great.Man.
Now her breath was shortened and her back straight against one of the soft wooden walls. His breath, however, smelled sweet of cherry blossoms and springs winds.even though it was winter. "Don't test me for I will kill you with no question. You attacked my Officer and that, in my books, deserves a death penalty. But.you seem a little too valuable to let go." The same two guards began to move towards her and he swung his weapon towards them, signaling a final halt. "Never mind. I'll take her myself. You two idiots are obviously incapable of it." They bowed without any looks whatsoever. And for obvious reasons. He was nearly crushing her windpipe.
Diao Chan. She heard that name uttered from the man's lips. Of course. He already has a woman. How ignorant of her. They always do. Yet she surprised herself even more. Why would she want this man anyway? He threatened to kill her. That answer dawned not too long after the question. Matt. Prince.
"You wear odd clothing for an enemy. The oddest clothing I've seen since the Nanman Territories. Why have you come to challenge my highest-ranking Officer, Diao Chan?" So that was it. He was a General. The hand grew tighter and she gasped, clawing at the unforgiving strength he owned. "Answer me." This one wasn't desperate. He was a leader. "I don't remember," was all she could tuff out.
Next thing, she had landed on her bad arm, feeling the wound tear. Dear God, if that didn't deserved a quick yelp or even a gasp then she knew not of what did. She looked up as he sneered at her from the sky. That wasn't for long. Even the largest of giants can be taken down. And she did just that. A scissor sweep to the back of his knees and chins were enough to make him fall face first. He was quick.but she was always quicker.
~You think you aren't strong now, but wait until you come across that one person who you can't seem to extinguish.~
She glared at him for a split moment as he struggled to get a blow off before he and she got to their feet.
~A rush.an anger will fill you half way; enough for you to know when to stop and when to go on.~
He ran towards her as she backed away behind a desk that only went to her ankles.
~Then, you will watch their eyes. If they flicker, so do you. If their arms move, so do yours. Never lose yourself.~
There was a slow motion high strike towards her head. And in just the same way, she took advantage of being shorter. She bent her left knee just enough to miss his kick and to deliver one of her own. She caught him in the jaw. Crack. The jaw was dislocated.
~And finally, you will either draw or checkmate. If you lose, you die. Consider your situation and choose wisely.~
The General flew over the lower table. In order for him to turn around, he would have to roll off the table quickly. His armor was too thick to be twisted the way he normally could. Once he hit the carpeted floor, a deadly display sword was being held to his jaw. Her instincts were amazing. Slowly, a hand moved up to relocate the bone, giving the present of a quick and painful gasp. Then he gazed at her. Hate was still there. But now respect was added to the brew. His voice stayed the same.
"Your name."
"Jade."
"Not good enough."
She thought for a moment. "Jiyun Jade."
"Ranking."
"Unknown."
His eyes glinted from getting narrowed quite a bit. She returned her own look. He smiled and tilted his head, "A worthy opponent." Standing, he was a good four inches taller than her. "How interesting." Jade shook her head. "I am neither friend nor foe." He interrupted, "If not friend, then foe." She responded just as quickly, "And if not foe, then friend? I don't think so!" Her mind drifted for only a second. Jiyun Jade. Sounds catchy. God, she loved having a quick imagination.
They stood eye locked like two lovers in a starlight gaze.but this was twisted. These gazes didn't make sense. His was an orgy of hate and admiration and fun. Hers was spiteful, confused, and lost. Where was she? What happened to the bullet in her arm and where did these people come from? Soon her mind began to wander.and Lu Bu took advantage of that.
Taking hold of her only wrist, she was unknowingly spun around. Her free arm trapped her right one, causing pain every time he put pressure on it. If she tried to lift her legs, he would only squeeze harder. "My turn to question." He had the right to question while he was down. Why shouldn't she? "Name." He merely stood quiet for a moment before administering a light shrug. "Why not? Lu Bu." He waited for the second question. "Year." He looked at her and raised an eyebrow. She rephrased. Or she attempted to at least.It was hard to concentrate when his male cologne kept tickling her nostrils. "Okay.Area." "Wei Territory." And it dawned on her.
She was at least 300 A.D or somewhere around that era. Jade was never really achievable at World History. But this also meant something else. She was in a game. ~Dynasty Warriors.SHIT!~ Oh there was no doubt in her mind that this was real. Recently, she ceased to dream, so there were no more dreams. This was real.and Lu Bu.He was the worst and hardest character in the game.but now that she was part of the game, it was up to her on which side she decided to be on. Every character she mastered in that game.and she knew every ending. Even Lu Bu's.in the end, everyone would be fine. But that was the end. As of this moment, The General had placed her on the floor next to the table that was only around five inches high.
"So I take it you know nothing." Jade solemnly nodded. He gazed at her for a while, seeming as if he were trying to decide what he should do with this one. Jade had one more question. "How did my right arm become injured?" Lu Bu raised and eyebrow. Jade knew he could tell when someone was pretending or lying.or telling the truth. As he finished reading, he finally answered very shortly and simply, "I shot you with an arrow."
Again they glared at each other. It was his turn to question once more, "What am I to do with you now? You are of no use to me. You know nothing of the other armies and even if you wanted to join, your arm is torn." She looked at him now with a look of seduction and animosity, a ready reply for every question he may come up with. "But.if you haven't noticed.I was able to take you down with one arm.how many people do you know that can at least accomplish that?"
~*~*~
He cursed at himself. She had a point. She was useful and from the looks of it, she was offering to join sides. Yet he couldn't be sure unless he put them to the test. Battle was the only way to do that. Battle. Could this one survive in battle? Sure.She could take him to his knees, yet she didn't seem ready to face fifteen people alone. ~Well.if she doesn't survive, then it's her loss and not mine.~ "Fine. You will be in the front line with Diao Chan and I. And you will be the one to lead right after us." He stood, the Royal Cape swaying gently behind his step. "We'll see if you can fight as well as you can boost." From there, he left her to her thoughts. Placing his own two bodyguards at her door, he gave her his chambers for the night. Let her enjoy her last day.
"CHAN!!!" The bellow echoed through every hall of the building. Wherever he was, Diao Chan was sure to be close by. And soon enough, as if on cue like a rainstorm, came the butterfly Officer. She bowed softly. He knew she was much tougher than she looked. Yet without her Maces, she seemed pale and fragile. That would be one great underestimation as her foe.
"Diao Chan. There is a woman in my personal chambers. Dress her tomorrow for battle properly. Make sure her arm is secure beneath armor. If she heals quickly, she may be of some use." Damn it, another female Officer. How much will one General take? He watched as the only woman he will ever trust jogged down the hallway. She didn't have that type of giddiness that most girls had, but she was still female. And she was good.
He walked into the guest room that had recently been prepared for the arrival of Liu Bei, but he had never showed. He simply sent a messenger with a letter, declining every request respectfully. He had beliefs that did not match Lu Bu's. And the General respected that. Not many men would have shown up and it was no surprise that he did not. But, this one, Liu Bei, was indeed a warrior. They had never met previously, and they will meet on the field tomorrow.
He sat along the soft furs and silks that covered the floor, gazing at the picturesque paintings that adorned his room for the night. But he was not thinking about the room. He was thinking about his new puppet. A small grin crossed his face. She was a fiery person with a type of past that no one here seems to know of. Perhaps her father died in battle or something of the sort.to have those kind of eyes, something horrible had to have happened at least once.
Hmmm, dark brown hair that had been well taken care of had made him think, at first, that she was the daughter of one of his defeated enemies. Perhaps Zheng He or Zhang Lao. But no, she had no idea who they were. And her eyes.well, those eyes had made him think she was a ranking Officer, but no, she had no idea of that too. So where she came from was the question that was on his mind for that night. Then it occurred to him that he had never asked. He checked the time out the window. Daylight was done and dusk was finding itself disappearing as well. Perhaps.surely, she was still awake.
Relieving himself of his armor, he left his chest showing. It was a hot summer night and it was hot enough all day with his armor on, the nighttime armor had to go. More often than not, he would walk around without anything to show for a shirt. Most of his did that anyway, so why the hell shouldn't he? Making sure his sash was tight, considering he had almost lost his pants today but means of that woman, he strolled down the halls. They were empty. People were either in their rooms, reading, writing, or doing something; or they were out and about the town, enjoying themselves before battle. As he thought, a window overlooking the nearby population had lights and music wafting through the air. Hmmm a festival. He wasn't the festival type, but for a fleeting moment, it sounded enjoyable. Back to business. His own quarters weren't but two steps away. The floor creaked and the door was flung open. She was indeed finding herself falling in love with the display weapons. He had to leave all of that in THAT room, hadn't he.
She spoke nothing as she shook her head and re-sheathed the weapon, placing it carefully back onto one of the racks. "First you shoot me, then cure me, not to mention attack me.now you disturb my sleep?!" She looked at him with an expression of disbelief. It was quite annoying, but humorous at the same time. "What's wrong with you people?!?! Ever heard of Zantac or.weed at least?!" He looked at her plainly and she shook her head, "Men." ~Women~ He thought just as sarcastically. "I had a question to ask you." She dismissively waved a hand and he silenced his quick temper for just a minute. "Where do you think you come from?"
She looked at him. It was a look of confusion and it was indecisive. He figured she either 'didn't know' or she was pondering whether or not to tell him. Finally, she came up with an answer. "I come from Colorado Springs, Colorado. It happens to be in the future AND oh! You want to hear a funny part? Some guy was robbing a store that I was in, I tried to stop him and I was shot! With a gun.Not an arrow. So now I have no FUCKING idea what the hell is going on, but I do want to know one thing." She was obviously distressed. He never heard a female go off like this. "WHERE the HELL are your BATHROOMS?" He continued his blank look to her and merely pointed to a window. "Out the window, look down to your right." She did just that and seemed to slump down. "No indoor plumbing?" He shook his head plainly, "No." He turned to leave and glanced back to see her gazing out the window at the stars. He almost believed her but it was also somewhat obvious. She had lost her mind.
Later that night, the entire camp was asleep. Except for him and one other person. Her. He was watching her smoke the common tobacco of his land like she was trying to smoke it all in one night. Indeed, it had been a rough day, but one shouldn't over do it. From his window, he watched as she sometimes looked at the stars.then sometimes she would watch the town, still glowing from the ongoing party. On the ledge, she was all alone. It looked like she was used to that. Perhaps he would put her out of place by joining her. She fought well enough and he had a few more questions to ask before he couldn't go to sleep.
As he approached her, she hung her head as if she already knew who it was. Turns out she did. "What? Am I not supposed to be out after dark for fear of 'enemy army' approaching? Or is it the fact that I might run at any moment? And if I do run, where the HELL would I go?!" This was riding Lu Bu's patience, "You talk to your captor as he were any common folk. Let me reiterate on whom I am.I am the one that could order your life to end at any moment. To have two armies bearing down on you, a single person, would most certainly mean death. Watch your tongue." Her shoulders relaxed and she shook her head, "Whatever." He had finally won that argument. Standing next to her, she merely looked out and never at him. She had no need to. It would only make her want him and hate him at the same time. At least that's what he figured. He had enough women though. But this one. This one was from a place he had never heard of and her look was totally different from the women here. She was different and, therefore, desirable.
"How did you learn to fight so well?"
"Kung Fu Shao Lin classes. Three-hundred dollars a pop. Finished yesterday."
"Dollars?"
"A type of money."
Again, he looked at her as if she were crazy, but hey, what would someone expect from a woman who wished to begin a fight with Diao Chan? Of course she were a little insane. Yet, perhaps she was capable of beating Chan. "Then how did you get here?" This set her off on one of her tangents again. "Ya know?! If I knew, don'cha think I'd be going home right now?!" He bit his tongue on a response. People get distressed. Even he has been that way before. Normally, though, he hasn't come across anyone this bad until now. He took a seat. Perhaps standing wasn't the best position right now. He watched her as she glanced to him with this look in her eyes. Tears were welding. God damn it. Yet he was so curious, he had to ask.
"And you are mulling over what?" She shook her head quickly. "Nothing. I just miss home." He replied ever so perfectly. "Someone like you doesn't miss a home and works with the new one." She sighed and laughed. "You would know from what experience? You look like you're doing well enough." He half glared out into the darkness. "Yes, but I have no home. Why do you think my army is camped out in Wei Territory?" No response came and when he glanced at her, she had her head in her arms and was shaking badly. But there was no sound. She had done this so many times before. It reminded him of a torn child. Perhaps she was, at heart. This wasn't his thing.
He stood and placed a hand on her should. She twitched, suppressing a jerk evidently. "Get up and go to bed. You need sleep, not tobacco." She quietly stood and turned to him. He looked down at her with his normal expression. Angry yet plain. She quietly declined. "I wouldn't be able to sleep if I wanted to. YOU, on the other hand, should go to bed. You have a battle tomorrow." He looked at her a bit more common, "I don't sleep." On that note, he turned on heel, heading towards his room; his own room; his chambers and sat to polish his blade. He never retired and neither did Jade.
Chapter One - Granted
"Great! I'll see you in three days, Master." She heard Jeff snicker slightly, "You never call me that." She grinned back, "I didn't have to until today." Her shins were bruised horribly and her arms were painfully just recovering from being twisted behind her back so much. And to top it all off, pulling a muscle in her abdomen wasn't exactly all that enjoyable either. For one may see, today was her final black belt test. She was now going to be dubbed a Grand Master. Age of twenty-one and a Grand Master.THERE was something to be proud of.
Metal clicked and glittered in the moonlight as she got into her car, placing her duffle bag behind the driver's side seat. It was such a beautiful car too. A sleek black Honda accord now surrounded her with the clean lemon smell of leather, the flamed steering-wheel cover, not to mention the three glowing dials. Yes. She was a street racer. Cops had never caught her, nor taken away her license. To many, that was a surprise. But she happened to be trained by the best.
Prince was his name. And old flame from long ago had helped her along this road. Now, he was gone. First, he had been committed to CJC, the Colorado Justice Center. Then he died. Just like that. One sharpened pencil in the correct place had done it. He just disappeared. All she had left of him was the subtle fact that in the afterlife, a person who cares will watch over whomever they cared about. Perhaps he cared that much about her right now. Who knows? She never had the guts to tell him how much she loved him. He died when he was twenty. She was nineteen.
Washing away the memory, her mind was again a clean slate. The thunder of her engine gave her mind color; and the speed gave it beauty. Watching as the lights flickered by, blurring the entire road into one large rainbow of shadow, A 7-11 was just made out through the thickness. The next thing, she was parked at the gas station about ten miles away. A 7-11 in downtown Colorado Springs. The Springs had gone downhill since the killing incident. A Springs Man, Eric Brian, had lured a girl, Holly Adams, to the eastern part of town. That was the one he was caught for. The rest.Well they took longer than most expected (three years), but they nailed him for each and every one. He's now spending life in prison for rape, assault, and murder on eight accounts.
Placing the topping on a slurppie, she moseyed to the counter, digging around in her pocket for some change. To have to break her twenty would mean she would spend the whole thing tonight, and she preferred to keep that money for once. Clink. Clink, clink, claaaaaang. She watched a penny roll over the other side of the counter. The cashier had bent down to pick it up. Then the next thing he knew, the silver would glint into his eyes like he had seen so many times before. Two trademark guns were being held on both of the only people in the store.
"Money. You know the drill." A gruff voice quietly said. Yet she didn't let the gruffness fool her. Intelligent and strong. Desperate. Very well known traits. She grew up with people like that. Prince was one of them. Two guns. The position of the man's feet lolled over in her mind for about twenty seconds. How he held his guns.sideways. How he gazed.nervously. And how he looked at her. Threateningly. That was it.
A hand grabbed the Gunman's wrist, breaking it as she twisted it. What the twist for? One of the worst head butts he will ever receive in his life was the quick answer. Another crack. There goes his nose. In the meanwhile, the other gun was still swinging around to face her. She still had the other one. Twisting his wrist back, she flipped the barrel to his chest. And then.
BOOM.BOOM.
Her mind's eye grew curious. She only fired once. That's when the thought occurred. The tilt of her head made the thought truth. She had been shot.
The world began to turn on its side and black film started to fill the edges of her vision. How had this happened? This wasn't calculated and wasn't thought of. Oh but it was, she began to realize as the Cashier bent over her, calling her name. ~Oh, James, I'm sorry.~ "Jade! Jade.answer me."
~*~*~
"What's our morale so far in this war?" Her head pounded. Her shoulder felt like it had been stabbed and her eyes. Well, she opened them in a matter of seconds. Snapping up, cold steel was placed at her neck. A thin blade was felt digging into the upper layer of her skin. Not enough to hurt, but enough to know that if she moved, he would surely kill her. Who was he? A tilt of her vision brought her eye-to-eye with her attacker. A tall man with the most vicious eyes she has ever seen. Dark eyebrows peaked which made him look like a villain from the southern boarders. His face was not full oriental. But the high cheekbones had given him a handsome look. Golden armor adorned his body. Such a beautiful weapon was at her neck. And such a beautiful man so close.and so dangerous.
He had reminded her of Matthew Turner for the facial framing and Prince Batts for the eyes and the strength. He was everything she saw in the two loves of her life. But he was also what she feared the most. He hated her.
"Take this one to my chambers. Since she's awake, she may able to tell us now from what side she is." His voice was deep and gruff. Sounded so familiar yet so far away from her. Still on the verge of blacking out, two hands lifted her. One by her good arm and one by the bad. Instantly, a high kick back loosened the grip on her left arm and freed her right. That which was hurting lay in a bandage, but then it no longer hurt. It BURNED! Fire gripped her eyes as she landed a backwards summersault.only to be seized again by the great.Man.
Now her breath was shortened and her back straight against one of the soft wooden walls. His breath, however, smelled sweet of cherry blossoms and springs winds.even though it was winter. "Don't test me for I will kill you with no question. You attacked my Officer and that, in my books, deserves a death penalty. But.you seem a little too valuable to let go." The same two guards began to move towards her and he swung his weapon towards them, signaling a final halt. "Never mind. I'll take her myself. You two idiots are obviously incapable of it." They bowed without any looks whatsoever. And for obvious reasons. He was nearly crushing her windpipe.
Diao Chan. She heard that name uttered from the man's lips. Of course. He already has a woman. How ignorant of her. They always do. Yet she surprised herself even more. Why would she want this man anyway? He threatened to kill her. That answer dawned not too long after the question. Matt. Prince.
"You wear odd clothing for an enemy. The oddest clothing I've seen since the Nanman Territories. Why have you come to challenge my highest-ranking Officer, Diao Chan?" So that was it. He was a General. The hand grew tighter and she gasped, clawing at the unforgiving strength he owned. "Answer me." This one wasn't desperate. He was a leader. "I don't remember," was all she could tuff out.
Next thing, she had landed on her bad arm, feeling the wound tear. Dear God, if that didn't deserved a quick yelp or even a gasp then she knew not of what did. She looked up as he sneered at her from the sky. That wasn't for long. Even the largest of giants can be taken down. And she did just that. A scissor sweep to the back of his knees and chins were enough to make him fall face first. He was quick.but she was always quicker.
~You think you aren't strong now, but wait until you come across that one person who you can't seem to extinguish.~
She glared at him for a split moment as he struggled to get a blow off before he and she got to their feet.
~A rush.an anger will fill you half way; enough for you to know when to stop and when to go on.~
He ran towards her as she backed away behind a desk that only went to her ankles.
~Then, you will watch their eyes. If they flicker, so do you. If their arms move, so do yours. Never lose yourself.~
There was a slow motion high strike towards her head. And in just the same way, she took advantage of being shorter. She bent her left knee just enough to miss his kick and to deliver one of her own. She caught him in the jaw. Crack. The jaw was dislocated.
~And finally, you will either draw or checkmate. If you lose, you die. Consider your situation and choose wisely.~
The General flew over the lower table. In order for him to turn around, he would have to roll off the table quickly. His armor was too thick to be twisted the way he normally could. Once he hit the carpeted floor, a deadly display sword was being held to his jaw. Her instincts were amazing. Slowly, a hand moved up to relocate the bone, giving the present of a quick and painful gasp. Then he gazed at her. Hate was still there. But now respect was added to the brew. His voice stayed the same.
"Your name."
"Jade."
"Not good enough."
She thought for a moment. "Jiyun Jade."
"Ranking."
"Unknown."
His eyes glinted from getting narrowed quite a bit. She returned her own look. He smiled and tilted his head, "A worthy opponent." Standing, he was a good four inches taller than her. "How interesting." Jade shook her head. "I am neither friend nor foe." He interrupted, "If not friend, then foe." She responded just as quickly, "And if not foe, then friend? I don't think so!" Her mind drifted for only a second. Jiyun Jade. Sounds catchy. God, she loved having a quick imagination.
They stood eye locked like two lovers in a starlight gaze.but this was twisted. These gazes didn't make sense. His was an orgy of hate and admiration and fun. Hers was spiteful, confused, and lost. Where was she? What happened to the bullet in her arm and where did these people come from? Soon her mind began to wander.and Lu Bu took advantage of that.
Taking hold of her only wrist, she was unknowingly spun around. Her free arm trapped her right one, causing pain every time he put pressure on it. If she tried to lift her legs, he would only squeeze harder. "My turn to question." He had the right to question while he was down. Why shouldn't she? "Name." He merely stood quiet for a moment before administering a light shrug. "Why not? Lu Bu." He waited for the second question. "Year." He looked at her and raised an eyebrow. She rephrased. Or she attempted to at least.It was hard to concentrate when his male cologne kept tickling her nostrils. "Okay.Area." "Wei Territory." And it dawned on her.
She was at least 300 A.D or somewhere around that era. Jade was never really achievable at World History. But this also meant something else. She was in a game. ~Dynasty Warriors.SHIT!~ Oh there was no doubt in her mind that this was real. Recently, she ceased to dream, so there were no more dreams. This was real.and Lu Bu.He was the worst and hardest character in the game.but now that she was part of the game, it was up to her on which side she decided to be on. Every character she mastered in that game.and she knew every ending. Even Lu Bu's.in the end, everyone would be fine. But that was the end. As of this moment, The General had placed her on the floor next to the table that was only around five inches high.
"So I take it you know nothing." Jade solemnly nodded. He gazed at her for a while, seeming as if he were trying to decide what he should do with this one. Jade had one more question. "How did my right arm become injured?" Lu Bu raised and eyebrow. Jade knew he could tell when someone was pretending or lying.or telling the truth. As he finished reading, he finally answered very shortly and simply, "I shot you with an arrow."
Again they glared at each other. It was his turn to question once more, "What am I to do with you now? You are of no use to me. You know nothing of the other armies and even if you wanted to join, your arm is torn." She looked at him now with a look of seduction and animosity, a ready reply for every question he may come up with. "But.if you haven't noticed.I was able to take you down with one arm.how many people do you know that can at least accomplish that?"
~*~*~
He cursed at himself. She had a point. She was useful and from the looks of it, she was offering to join sides. Yet he couldn't be sure unless he put them to the test. Battle was the only way to do that. Battle. Could this one survive in battle? Sure.She could take him to his knees, yet she didn't seem ready to face fifteen people alone. ~Well.if she doesn't survive, then it's her loss and not mine.~ "Fine. You will be in the front line with Diao Chan and I. And you will be the one to lead right after us." He stood, the Royal Cape swaying gently behind his step. "We'll see if you can fight as well as you can boost." From there, he left her to her thoughts. Placing his own two bodyguards at her door, he gave her his chambers for the night. Let her enjoy her last day.
"CHAN!!!" The bellow echoed through every hall of the building. Wherever he was, Diao Chan was sure to be close by. And soon enough, as if on cue like a rainstorm, came the butterfly Officer. She bowed softly. He knew she was much tougher than she looked. Yet without her Maces, she seemed pale and fragile. That would be one great underestimation as her foe.
"Diao Chan. There is a woman in my personal chambers. Dress her tomorrow for battle properly. Make sure her arm is secure beneath armor. If she heals quickly, she may be of some use." Damn it, another female Officer. How much will one General take? He watched as the only woman he will ever trust jogged down the hallway. She didn't have that type of giddiness that most girls had, but she was still female. And she was good.
He walked into the guest room that had recently been prepared for the arrival of Liu Bei, but he had never showed. He simply sent a messenger with a letter, declining every request respectfully. He had beliefs that did not match Lu Bu's. And the General respected that. Not many men would have shown up and it was no surprise that he did not. But, this one, Liu Bei, was indeed a warrior. They had never met previously, and they will meet on the field tomorrow.
He sat along the soft furs and silks that covered the floor, gazing at the picturesque paintings that adorned his room for the night. But he was not thinking about the room. He was thinking about his new puppet. A small grin crossed his face. She was a fiery person with a type of past that no one here seems to know of. Perhaps her father died in battle or something of the sort.to have those kind of eyes, something horrible had to have happened at least once.
Hmmm, dark brown hair that had been well taken care of had made him think, at first, that she was the daughter of one of his defeated enemies. Perhaps Zheng He or Zhang Lao. But no, she had no idea who they were. And her eyes.well, those eyes had made him think she was a ranking Officer, but no, she had no idea of that too. So where she came from was the question that was on his mind for that night. Then it occurred to him that he had never asked. He checked the time out the window. Daylight was done and dusk was finding itself disappearing as well. Perhaps.surely, she was still awake.
Relieving himself of his armor, he left his chest showing. It was a hot summer night and it was hot enough all day with his armor on, the nighttime armor had to go. More often than not, he would walk around without anything to show for a shirt. Most of his did that anyway, so why the hell shouldn't he? Making sure his sash was tight, considering he had almost lost his pants today but means of that woman, he strolled down the halls. They were empty. People were either in their rooms, reading, writing, or doing something; or they were out and about the town, enjoying themselves before battle. As he thought, a window overlooking the nearby population had lights and music wafting through the air. Hmmm a festival. He wasn't the festival type, but for a fleeting moment, it sounded enjoyable. Back to business. His own quarters weren't but two steps away. The floor creaked and the door was flung open. She was indeed finding herself falling in love with the display weapons. He had to leave all of that in THAT room, hadn't he.
She spoke nothing as she shook her head and re-sheathed the weapon, placing it carefully back onto one of the racks. "First you shoot me, then cure me, not to mention attack me.now you disturb my sleep?!" She looked at him with an expression of disbelief. It was quite annoying, but humorous at the same time. "What's wrong with you people?!?! Ever heard of Zantac or.weed at least?!" He looked at her plainly and she shook her head, "Men." ~Women~ He thought just as sarcastically. "I had a question to ask you." She dismissively waved a hand and he silenced his quick temper for just a minute. "Where do you think you come from?"
She looked at him. It was a look of confusion and it was indecisive. He figured she either 'didn't know' or she was pondering whether or not to tell him. Finally, she came up with an answer. "I come from Colorado Springs, Colorado. It happens to be in the future AND oh! You want to hear a funny part? Some guy was robbing a store that I was in, I tried to stop him and I was shot! With a gun.Not an arrow. So now I have no FUCKING idea what the hell is going on, but I do want to know one thing." She was obviously distressed. He never heard a female go off like this. "WHERE the HELL are your BATHROOMS?" He continued his blank look to her and merely pointed to a window. "Out the window, look down to your right." She did just that and seemed to slump down. "No indoor plumbing?" He shook his head plainly, "No." He turned to leave and glanced back to see her gazing out the window at the stars. He almost believed her but it was also somewhat obvious. She had lost her mind.
Later that night, the entire camp was asleep. Except for him and one other person. Her. He was watching her smoke the common tobacco of his land like she was trying to smoke it all in one night. Indeed, it had been a rough day, but one shouldn't over do it. From his window, he watched as she sometimes looked at the stars.then sometimes she would watch the town, still glowing from the ongoing party. On the ledge, she was all alone. It looked like she was used to that. Perhaps he would put her out of place by joining her. She fought well enough and he had a few more questions to ask before he couldn't go to sleep.
As he approached her, she hung her head as if she already knew who it was. Turns out she did. "What? Am I not supposed to be out after dark for fear of 'enemy army' approaching? Or is it the fact that I might run at any moment? And if I do run, where the HELL would I go?!" This was riding Lu Bu's patience, "You talk to your captor as he were any common folk. Let me reiterate on whom I am.I am the one that could order your life to end at any moment. To have two armies bearing down on you, a single person, would most certainly mean death. Watch your tongue." Her shoulders relaxed and she shook her head, "Whatever." He had finally won that argument. Standing next to her, she merely looked out and never at him. She had no need to. It would only make her want him and hate him at the same time. At least that's what he figured. He had enough women though. But this one. This one was from a place he had never heard of and her look was totally different from the women here. She was different and, therefore, desirable.
"How did you learn to fight so well?"
"Kung Fu Shao Lin classes. Three-hundred dollars a pop. Finished yesterday."
"Dollars?"
"A type of money."
Again, he looked at her as if she were crazy, but hey, what would someone expect from a woman who wished to begin a fight with Diao Chan? Of course she were a little insane. Yet, perhaps she was capable of beating Chan. "Then how did you get here?" This set her off on one of her tangents again. "Ya know?! If I knew, don'cha think I'd be going home right now?!" He bit his tongue on a response. People get distressed. Even he has been that way before. Normally, though, he hasn't come across anyone this bad until now. He took a seat. Perhaps standing wasn't the best position right now. He watched her as she glanced to him with this look in her eyes. Tears were welding. God damn it. Yet he was so curious, he had to ask.
"And you are mulling over what?" She shook her head quickly. "Nothing. I just miss home." He replied ever so perfectly. "Someone like you doesn't miss a home and works with the new one." She sighed and laughed. "You would know from what experience? You look like you're doing well enough." He half glared out into the darkness. "Yes, but I have no home. Why do you think my army is camped out in Wei Territory?" No response came and when he glanced at her, she had her head in her arms and was shaking badly. But there was no sound. She had done this so many times before. It reminded him of a torn child. Perhaps she was, at heart. This wasn't his thing.
He stood and placed a hand on her should. She twitched, suppressing a jerk evidently. "Get up and go to bed. You need sleep, not tobacco." She quietly stood and turned to him. He looked down at her with his normal expression. Angry yet plain. She quietly declined. "I wouldn't be able to sleep if I wanted to. YOU, on the other hand, should go to bed. You have a battle tomorrow." He looked at her a bit more common, "I don't sleep." On that note, he turned on heel, heading towards his room; his own room; his chambers and sat to polish his blade. He never retired and neither did Jade.