Diao Chan sighed and looked at the sky from the distant hill along the
sweet berry bushes and the pink blossom trees that grew wildly along the
area's backside. Everlasting dark blue was cracked here and there by the
gray clouds, which had brightly colored underbellies of orange and red. The
war was over. What was she to do now? Her life was like a rising day,
bringing with it all the might and power of the sun. Now that it was
setting, was she, too, supposed to set?
And what of her Lu Bu? How was the mightiest warrior of the land handling the conquer of all enemies? There always was the Nanman territory of the south, but they seemed like a small challenge compared to their armies. Meng Ho as a King was somewhat foolish in battle, always putting himself on the front lines and never having the common sense to retreat when it was needed. Yet he seemed to maintain a formidable army. Then again, there was really no point in attacking the Nanman. For the first hand, they would greatly be disadvantaged because of the heat and humidity. And for the second hand, the Nanman Armor was indeed tougher than their own armor. Still, she had the guts to bet that Lu Bu would crush them in the end.
Her Love was forever studying the tactics of other war generals and masters, placing into his knowledge more lethal information. Even now, she could bet that he was doing just that. His weapons nicely polished and spick would lie at his right and left side, the war plans and strategies skewed about him, and having his place looking like it had its own war. Tonight was the only night they would be spending outside. Workers were rebuilding the Imperial at this moment. It had been destroyed due to battle. Tomorrow was the day they would begin the maybe three or four day travel home. Home was where the heart is, right?
And what of that woman? What of her home? Did it exist or was she full of lies and deceit just to stay alive? It kind of reminded her of herself when she was under Dong Zhuo's rule. Life was horrible then. But now it would become boring. As for the girl...Well, she couldn't stay in Lu Bu's good graces for long, could she? Yet when Chan had fought this stranger, she would have almost been defeated if it wasn't for Lu Bu's arrow. And she was beautiful, Chan had to admit sadly. Such a rarity around these areas was always thought of as beautiful, and this 'Jade' was most defiantly a ruby. A ruby made from fire. Then again, all fires need a life, she almost lost hers. Perhaps a bit more water or dirt might do it. Then Lu Bu will find no more interest in a corpse.
~*~*~*~
Zhang Liao had to tilt his head at the sleeping wonder. How did someone of her size finish off so much sake? Three bottles had to be the camp record. He'd bet that Wang Fei would be fairly angered at having his own record of two and a half beaten by a female...but really; Fei couldn't do anything about it now. This sleeping beauty was Lu Bu's new pet. A puppet. Though she was the General's new plaything, she didn't seem to have any strings. Authority, to her, had to be challenged. To be her principal would mean beating her at her own mind.
He looked away from her as he stood and left the tent with the quietness of night. Silence covered the area, save the crackling of bonfires going in certain places of the camp. Obviously, Lu Bu had decided to leave the area and sweep the near by forest and fields clean of any lingering enemies. Crack! A twig broke. A weapon was drawn. Clang! Lu Bu's Sky Piercer blocked the sword as Liao glared for a moment. "Your reflexes are still intact, my friend." Liao sheathed his weapon and relaxed, nodding. "Indeed, Sir."
They began their walk back from the edge of the camp, heading toward the main clearing, finding only a few men up and awake. One was cooking a piece of meat for a late night snack and another was playing softly on a homemade flute. These were the men that could finally be awake and relaxed. The rest could now sleep. The war was over. Liao had to continuously repeat that to himself as he walked. No more fighting. No more deaths. No more sorrow.
"What of the woman?" Liao's thoughts snapped rapidly out of their train of thought. "She is sleeping well, Sir. Shall I wake her?" The General thought for a moment, narrowing the space between his eyebrows until they knitted together. "If she wakes, which she should in about an hour, brew her a cure for her hangover and send her to me. I want to see of what other use she is than battle." The General left. Liao shook his head. He could never read that man. Perhaps that was a quality...or a deadly disadvantage for him.
~*~*~*~
Jade sat in the airy spring tent, watching the flames dance on crying wicks, listening to a dying flute on the wind, and feeling the touch of warmth from the moon. This Lu person had every comfort imaginable here. She only dreamt of such things. A night outside curled up next to someone who mattered. Or as a little girl, it had reminded her of the summer nights that that littered Colorado weather. Her mother and father would set up a tent, placing each pin perfectly into the soft soil. Mink blankets and fluffy feather-down pillows would be placed around the inside. Being an only child had its benefits. She would be able to feel the thump against her arm from her mommy's heart. The vibrations from her mommy's talks would soother her to sleep. Such great memories were what kept her alive. If only she were still close to her mother.
"I see you have recovered." Lu Bu had strutted in with a chest full of bulk, footsteps left on open dirt. There were perhaps only three small places that had dirt showing. The rest were adorned with rugs and sheaths of cotton in colorful designs. The small coffee looking table this time had silked like material draped over it like clouds over the setting sun. He sat on a ruby colored pillow, his weight barely putting a dent in the stuffing of the cushion. "Welcome back from the drunken world," he snuffed at her. She merely shrugged and continued to look up at the stars through the plain orange-pink see-through material. Why should she care if she never makes it home? ~I'm probably dead~. If she dies, she dies. So what? People will get over it.
"You are starting to wear my patience thin, warrior." Quickly, her head shook violently, her ponytail (which was sloppily tied by one of the guards) swinging just as hard, "No, don't call me a warrior. I'm not." The thunderous growl neither phased nor startled her. Just another yelling from her father is what it seemed like. "So then what should I call you? Princess? Majesty? Or how about war goddess?" His eyes were hard, but they were brown, like a doe's eyes. How could that intimidate her? A light smile cracked her relaxed look, "My mother used to call me Princess Bubble-Butt."
Obviously, Lu Bu couldn't say a word for a moment. He just stared at her with a reddened face. He looses his temper quick! "Are You Mocking Me?!" All she did was just roll her eyes and smiled, "No. Why would you think THAT?" Then there was silence. Nothing but a very calm being smiling towards an intelligent one with no patience. It seemed that they were at a draw. Neither one had anymore to say really. The warrior king cleared his throat and sat, glancing across his table again.
"Maybe I should just kill you. Sentence you to execution."
"And your point would be?" She watched his eyes flow over the grace of her arms to reach her own touch of sight.
"There is no reason or fright in you. Why?"
She replied evenly. "The same reason that there is none in you either."
"And how would you know if they are similar reasons?"
"Nothing to fear."
Well she would be damned if that didn't defuse his temper for the moment. He glared and said something that sat on the very few buttons she had. "Or perhaps you would be of use to my men. They have not seen their wives or concubines for about three to four months now. A good woman would greatly reward their efforts in battle." She saw him relished in the scrunch of her nose and the ice in her eyes. "If you want your men to return home AS men, maybe you should leave me out of the picture." Just to smite him, a smirk of her own had ghosted her lips. She noticed him shrug, "Or perhaps I will make you my concubine and guard."
Now, honestly, that idea didn't sound too bad to her. She would become indispensable if she were to live here and never go home. If she held on to that position long enough, there would be time to smite him during slumber. Not to mention she would gather the sex greatly missed in her life. Yet, the idea of becoming a killer in cold blood did not suit her. So Jade held her tongue and glanced back at the stars.
"Where did you acquire such a calmness? Considering I have said less to lesser people and made them shiver with tasteless fear." Her eyes smiled at him, "My father. He taught me a lot while I was in High School. I never really took his advice until now." Gazes locked. He, for once, owned nothing in his eyes besides the pure empty. Yet something sparkled. She merely smiled, seemingly having not a care in the world. How could he be angry for so long, she slightly wondered. How could anybody be that angry and sad without have killed themselves yet? Yet the proof was sitting right in front of her, staring her back.
"My Lord," came a voice so familiar from the tent flap. It was Liao. "The dawn comes. It has barely broken the horizon. Wake the men?" Lu Bu nodded and waved a hand to Jade. She gave a single laugh and left out into the crisp morning dew. Mist wafted through the air and kissed her cheekbones and eyes. The ground still held the heat from the yesterday, so her feet became of the warmth and shifted softly in the hunter green grass.
And what of her Lu Bu? How was the mightiest warrior of the land handling the conquer of all enemies? There always was the Nanman territory of the south, but they seemed like a small challenge compared to their armies. Meng Ho as a King was somewhat foolish in battle, always putting himself on the front lines and never having the common sense to retreat when it was needed. Yet he seemed to maintain a formidable army. Then again, there was really no point in attacking the Nanman. For the first hand, they would greatly be disadvantaged because of the heat and humidity. And for the second hand, the Nanman Armor was indeed tougher than their own armor. Still, she had the guts to bet that Lu Bu would crush them in the end.
Her Love was forever studying the tactics of other war generals and masters, placing into his knowledge more lethal information. Even now, she could bet that he was doing just that. His weapons nicely polished and spick would lie at his right and left side, the war plans and strategies skewed about him, and having his place looking like it had its own war. Tonight was the only night they would be spending outside. Workers were rebuilding the Imperial at this moment. It had been destroyed due to battle. Tomorrow was the day they would begin the maybe three or four day travel home. Home was where the heart is, right?
And what of that woman? What of her home? Did it exist or was she full of lies and deceit just to stay alive? It kind of reminded her of herself when she was under Dong Zhuo's rule. Life was horrible then. But now it would become boring. As for the girl...Well, she couldn't stay in Lu Bu's good graces for long, could she? Yet when Chan had fought this stranger, she would have almost been defeated if it wasn't for Lu Bu's arrow. And she was beautiful, Chan had to admit sadly. Such a rarity around these areas was always thought of as beautiful, and this 'Jade' was most defiantly a ruby. A ruby made from fire. Then again, all fires need a life, she almost lost hers. Perhaps a bit more water or dirt might do it. Then Lu Bu will find no more interest in a corpse.
~*~*~*~
Zhang Liao had to tilt his head at the sleeping wonder. How did someone of her size finish off so much sake? Three bottles had to be the camp record. He'd bet that Wang Fei would be fairly angered at having his own record of two and a half beaten by a female...but really; Fei couldn't do anything about it now. This sleeping beauty was Lu Bu's new pet. A puppet. Though she was the General's new plaything, she didn't seem to have any strings. Authority, to her, had to be challenged. To be her principal would mean beating her at her own mind.
He looked away from her as he stood and left the tent with the quietness of night. Silence covered the area, save the crackling of bonfires going in certain places of the camp. Obviously, Lu Bu had decided to leave the area and sweep the near by forest and fields clean of any lingering enemies. Crack! A twig broke. A weapon was drawn. Clang! Lu Bu's Sky Piercer blocked the sword as Liao glared for a moment. "Your reflexes are still intact, my friend." Liao sheathed his weapon and relaxed, nodding. "Indeed, Sir."
They began their walk back from the edge of the camp, heading toward the main clearing, finding only a few men up and awake. One was cooking a piece of meat for a late night snack and another was playing softly on a homemade flute. These were the men that could finally be awake and relaxed. The rest could now sleep. The war was over. Liao had to continuously repeat that to himself as he walked. No more fighting. No more deaths. No more sorrow.
"What of the woman?" Liao's thoughts snapped rapidly out of their train of thought. "She is sleeping well, Sir. Shall I wake her?" The General thought for a moment, narrowing the space between his eyebrows until they knitted together. "If she wakes, which she should in about an hour, brew her a cure for her hangover and send her to me. I want to see of what other use she is than battle." The General left. Liao shook his head. He could never read that man. Perhaps that was a quality...or a deadly disadvantage for him.
~*~*~*~
Jade sat in the airy spring tent, watching the flames dance on crying wicks, listening to a dying flute on the wind, and feeling the touch of warmth from the moon. This Lu person had every comfort imaginable here. She only dreamt of such things. A night outside curled up next to someone who mattered. Or as a little girl, it had reminded her of the summer nights that that littered Colorado weather. Her mother and father would set up a tent, placing each pin perfectly into the soft soil. Mink blankets and fluffy feather-down pillows would be placed around the inside. Being an only child had its benefits. She would be able to feel the thump against her arm from her mommy's heart. The vibrations from her mommy's talks would soother her to sleep. Such great memories were what kept her alive. If only she were still close to her mother.
"I see you have recovered." Lu Bu had strutted in with a chest full of bulk, footsteps left on open dirt. There were perhaps only three small places that had dirt showing. The rest were adorned with rugs and sheaths of cotton in colorful designs. The small coffee looking table this time had silked like material draped over it like clouds over the setting sun. He sat on a ruby colored pillow, his weight barely putting a dent in the stuffing of the cushion. "Welcome back from the drunken world," he snuffed at her. She merely shrugged and continued to look up at the stars through the plain orange-pink see-through material. Why should she care if she never makes it home? ~I'm probably dead~. If she dies, she dies. So what? People will get over it.
"You are starting to wear my patience thin, warrior." Quickly, her head shook violently, her ponytail (which was sloppily tied by one of the guards) swinging just as hard, "No, don't call me a warrior. I'm not." The thunderous growl neither phased nor startled her. Just another yelling from her father is what it seemed like. "So then what should I call you? Princess? Majesty? Or how about war goddess?" His eyes were hard, but they were brown, like a doe's eyes. How could that intimidate her? A light smile cracked her relaxed look, "My mother used to call me Princess Bubble-Butt."
Obviously, Lu Bu couldn't say a word for a moment. He just stared at her with a reddened face. He looses his temper quick! "Are You Mocking Me?!" All she did was just roll her eyes and smiled, "No. Why would you think THAT?" Then there was silence. Nothing but a very calm being smiling towards an intelligent one with no patience. It seemed that they were at a draw. Neither one had anymore to say really. The warrior king cleared his throat and sat, glancing across his table again.
"Maybe I should just kill you. Sentence you to execution."
"And your point would be?" She watched his eyes flow over the grace of her arms to reach her own touch of sight.
"There is no reason or fright in you. Why?"
She replied evenly. "The same reason that there is none in you either."
"And how would you know if they are similar reasons?"
"Nothing to fear."
Well she would be damned if that didn't defuse his temper for the moment. He glared and said something that sat on the very few buttons she had. "Or perhaps you would be of use to my men. They have not seen their wives or concubines for about three to four months now. A good woman would greatly reward their efforts in battle." She saw him relished in the scrunch of her nose and the ice in her eyes. "If you want your men to return home AS men, maybe you should leave me out of the picture." Just to smite him, a smirk of her own had ghosted her lips. She noticed him shrug, "Or perhaps I will make you my concubine and guard."
Now, honestly, that idea didn't sound too bad to her. She would become indispensable if she were to live here and never go home. If she held on to that position long enough, there would be time to smite him during slumber. Not to mention she would gather the sex greatly missed in her life. Yet, the idea of becoming a killer in cold blood did not suit her. So Jade held her tongue and glanced back at the stars.
"Where did you acquire such a calmness? Considering I have said less to lesser people and made them shiver with tasteless fear." Her eyes smiled at him, "My father. He taught me a lot while I was in High School. I never really took his advice until now." Gazes locked. He, for once, owned nothing in his eyes besides the pure empty. Yet something sparkled. She merely smiled, seemingly having not a care in the world. How could he be angry for so long, she slightly wondered. How could anybody be that angry and sad without have killed themselves yet? Yet the proof was sitting right in front of her, staring her back.
"My Lord," came a voice so familiar from the tent flap. It was Liao. "The dawn comes. It has barely broken the horizon. Wake the men?" Lu Bu nodded and waved a hand to Jade. She gave a single laugh and left out into the crisp morning dew. Mist wafted through the air and kissed her cheekbones and eyes. The ground still held the heat from the yesterday, so her feet became of the warmth and shifted softly in the hunter green grass.