Thanks for the reviews! Might change the title? I don't know. Looks like Zhuge Liang will be in it almost as much as Yue Ying, so... A lot from the novel in this chapter. Maybe a little from the game ROTKVIII. Not much info in the game about when Zhuge Liang joins Shu. Most of this is probably a lot like the novel. Especially the end part. I couldn't translate some of the things into simpler terms, so it sounds all... textbooky. This chapter may be confusing if you haven't read the chapters in the novel about Zhuge Liang. I'll try to explain some things. May be confusing even if you have read them...I dunno.

Disclaimer: I do not own Koei or their characters. Or Romance of the Three Kingdoms, novel and game.

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CHAPTER 2 START

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It had been a year since Yue Ying had married Zhuge Liang. They now lived near Xiang Yang on a farm that Liang and his brother, Zhuge Jun, ran. During this time, Ying learned much from the things Liang taught her and from the books he had. Her fighting skills had improved greatly as well and she could now easily beat Liang in a duel. One day, as she was outside training, Pang Tong rode up on his old donkey, Daisy.

"Hey! Where's the hermit at?"

"I think he went fishing today with Master Cui Zhou Ping," answered Ying.

"Fishing? Why does he always go fishing? I can't stand just standing by a river or pond for hours on end watching a line. You almost never catch anything either."

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"Ah... Well, tell him I stopped by the next time you see him. Bye bye!" waved Pang Tong and continued on down the road to the city.

x-x-x

An hour after Pang Tong had stopped by, Zhuge Liang appeared walking down the road towards his home, carrying his fishing pole, a bucket of worms he had dug up earlier, and another bucket containing the few fish he had caught. Yue Ying was still outside training when he returned.

"Master Liang! You have just missed Lord Pang Tong. He came by about an hour ago."

"Did he? What did he want?"

"He did not say. He just told me to tell you that he stopped by."

"Very well. I will see what it is he wants tomorrow then. I have caught enough fish for supper tonight, so I will go and start to prepare it." Ying smiled and nodded, though after he walked by her, she grimaced. They had had fish for supper every night since she had been here or at least the nights Liang was there. He occasionally left to go who knows where and stayed gone for different periods of time.

x-x-x

The next morning, Yue Ying was outside feeding the chickens. As she was doing so, Zhuge Liang walked out of the house and into the stables. When he came out, he was leading his donkey, Burro.

"I am going to visit Pang Tong. I should be back by lunchtime," he told Ying, who nodded. Just as he mounted, a horse came galloping up the road and stopped in their yard. The man riding it dismounted and walked a few steps towards Zhuge Liang, who turned his donkey towards the man to look at him and asked,

"Xu Shu? Why are you here?"

"Zhuge Liang! I must hurry, but I must tell you something before I go. I have been serving under Lord Liu Bei, but my mother has been imprisoned by Cao Cao. To save her, I must serve under him. Before I left Liu Bei, I told him of you. He is in dire need of a warlord to held him achieve his goals. I expect he will be coming soon to ask for your help. I hope you will not refuse your aid and with consent to use your great talents to help him," replied Xu Shu. Yue Ying looked at Zhuge Liang. He looked quite annoyed at what this man had said.

"And so you have made me a victim of the world's sacrifice." Zhuge Liang turned his donkey and continued his journey to find Pang Tong. Xu Shu looked saddened at this, but didn't say anything. He remounted his horse and hastened to Cao Cao. Yue Ying had a look of confusion on her face. Why did Zhuge Liang sound annoyed at this? Didn't he want to use his talents to help the world?

'I suppose I will find out when this Lord Liu Bei comes...' she thought and threw a few more handfuls of food out for the chickens before going back into her house.

x-x-x

A few days later, Zhuge Liang had gone on one of his errands again. Yue Ying suspected this was mostly so that he had a better chance of missing Liu Bei's visit. She was outside in the stables brushing Burro. Zhuge Liang had left him behind this time and walked to wherever he was going, another way to make his trip longer and increase his chance of missing Liu Bei. As she was doing so, three men came up leading their horses. One walked up to the door of the house and knocked on the door. The boy Zhuge Liang had hired to help with the chores answered it.

"Hello, sir. What is it you want?" asked the boy. The man who had knocked on the door answered,

"I am Liu Bei, General of the Han Dynasty, Lord of Yi Cheng, Imperial Protector of Yu Zhou, and uncle of the Emperor. I have come to speak with Master Zhuge Liang."

"Umm... I cannot remember so many titles..."

"Then simply tell him that Liu Bei has come to speak with him."

"Master Liang left earlier this morning."

"He did? Where did he go? When will he be back?"

"I do not know. I am not even sure that his wife knows where he has gone or when he will be back." One of the men who had come with Liu Bei spoke up.

"Brother, I think we should return since he is not here. We do not know when he shall be back."

"You're right, Guan Yu. Let's go back," said Liu Bei. He turned to the boy and continued. "Please tell Master Liang that Liu Bei stopped by." The boy nodded and the three men left.

x-x-x

Ten days later, Zhuge Jun, who had been away on a few errands as well, had returned to the farm. Since he was back to take care of the farm, Zhuge Liang went off somewhere with Cui Zhou Ping. Yue Ying was inside the house sweeping the floors when a knock came at the door again. Zhuge Jun went to answer the door and she hid in the nearest room to eavesdrop.

"Hello, good sir. Might you be Master Zhuge Liang?" it was Liu Bei and his two companions again. Zhuge Jun shook his head.

"No, I am his younger brother, Zhuge Jun."

"Is your brother home?"

"No, he left only yesterday with Master Cui Zhou Ping."

"Where have they gone?"

"Who can say? They may take a boat and sail around the lakes, or go to gossip with the priests in some remote mountain temple, or wander off to visit a friend in some far away village, or be sitting in some cave with a lute or chessboard. Their goings and comings are uncertain and nobody can guess at them." Liu Bei sighed,

"What poor luck I have! I have failed to meet the master twice!"

"Brother, since the master is once again not here, might I suggest going back home?" asked the man Liu Bei had called Guan Yu before.

"Why don't we stay a bit longer?" said Liu Bei and turned back to Zhuge Jun. "Can you tell me if your brother is skilled in strategies and studies works on war?" Zhuge Jun hesitated before answering.

"I... do not know." It was obvious to Yue Ying that he was trying not to say to much about Zhuge Liang incase he wanted nothing to do with this Liu Bei. The other man with Liu Bei grumbled.

"The wind and snow is getting worse, brother. Let's go!"

"Perhaps we should, Zhang Fei." Liu Bei said and once again turned to Zhuge Jun. "I shall return in a few days. But may I borrow some ink and paper so I can leave a note for your brother?" Zhuge Jun nodded and produced the items he asked for. Liu Bei sat down and wrote his note. After finishing, he gave it to Zhuge Jun and went outside, followed by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Zhuge Jun also followed to see them off. Yue Ying crept out of the room she was hiding in and went to the window. She watched the men say their farewells before they left. This Liu Bei fellow must really want Zhuge Liang's help if they had come two times and even said they were coming again.

x-x-x

Three days after Liu Bei's second visit, Zhuge Liang had returned from his outing with Cui Zhou Ping. He was now taking a nap in one of the back rooms. Zhuge Jun was outside lazing around. It was winter, so there wasn't much work to be done, and the few things needed to be done had already been finished. Yue Ying had nothing to do either, so she had snuck a book out of the room Zhuge Liang was sleeping in and had gone into the front room to read. Awhile after she had started to read, she heard Zhuge Jun talking to someone. She once again crept to the window and looked out. Liu Bei and his two companions had returned.

"Is your brother home today?" asked Liu Bei.

"Indeed. He returned early this morning, but I'm afraid he is taking a nap at the moment. I can wake him if you wish," answered Zhuge Jun. Liu Bei shook his head,

"No, I will wait until he has awoken."

"Then why don't you come and wait inside? I'll prepare some tea for you while you wait." As the four men approached the door, Yue Ying grabbed the book she had been reading and ran into a nearby room so that she wouldn't be seen. She could most likely learn more about them from a distance.

x-x-x

An hour after Liu Bei arrived, Zhuge Jun went to go see if his brother had awakened yet. Apparently he had, either that or Zhuge Jun woke him up, because in a few moments Zhuge Liang came out of the room he had been in. Liu Bei stood up and bowed.

"Master Liang. I am Liu Bei. I have heard much of your talents and request your aid. Twice I have come to visit you, and failed. Once I left a note for you as well. You may have my note." Zhuge Liang nodded.

"From your letter, I know that you grieve for both people and government. If I were not so young and possessed any talent, I would venture to question you."

"Sima Hui and Xu Shu have both spoken of you. Can it be that their words were vain?

"The two men you speak of are profound scholars. I am but a peasant, a mere farmer. Who am I to talk of politics? These two misled you when they told you of me. Why do you reject a precious jewel for a worthless pebble?"

"But your abilities are marvelous. How can you be content to allow time to pass while you idle away life in these secluded haunts? Please, remember the inhabitants of the empire and remove my ignorance by bestowing upon me instruction," said Liu Bei. Zhuge Liang sat down and thought for a moment before asking,

"What is your ambition?"

"The Han is sinking. I am weak, but I desire to restore the state to its right mind. But my ignorance is too vast, my means are too slender, and I know not where to turn. Only you can lighten my darkness and preserve me from falling. Though I am of small repute and scanty virtue, I hope you will not despise me for me worthlessness, but will leave this retreat to help me. I will assuredly listen most reverently to your words."

"I have long been happy on my farm and am fond of my leisure. I fear I cannot obey your command," Zhuge Liang said. Liu Bei sighed.

"If you will not, what will become of the people?" he cried as a few tears rolled down his face. This had proven the sincerity of his desire. Zhuge Liang stood up and answered,

"Lord Liu Bei, if you will accept me, I will help you to achieve your desires." Liu Bei immediately stopped crying and became quite happy.

"I would be honored, Master Liang," he replied. Zhuge Liang nodded and looked towards the room Yue Ying was hiding in. She had been peeking around the corner of the door the entire time and couldn't pull back in enough time to escape from being seen by him. He motioned for her to come out. As she did so, he spoke to Liu Bei.

"Lord Liu Bei, I wish to introduce you to my wife, Yue Ying." Liu Bei turned and saw her. He bowed.

"Lady Yue Ying. It is a pleasure to meet you." Yue Ying returned the bow. Zhuge Liang had picked up his war fan from off a nearby table and had begun to fan himself.

"I wish to ask you something, my lord. Would you let her join you as well? I can give account for her abilities. She is very intelligent and studies the same things as I. She can also hold her own in battle, better than I can." Yue Ying looked surprised at this. She hadn't expected for him to ask for her to join as well. Liu Bei looked at her.

"Yes, she may join as well. If you say such things about her, then it must be true," he said and continued to watch her. Zhuge Liang motioned for her to speak. She bowed and said,

"Thank you, Lord Liu Bei. It is an honor to serve under you."

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CHAPTER 2 END

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Once again not sure if this was a good chapter or not. But, as I've said in my other story once, I don't really care what other people think. If I wanna write, I'll write. If I don't wanna write, I won't.