A/N- I know it's been so long since I updated this but don't worry I haven't abandoned it! It's just that it's taken me a while to get my facts straight in this. I wanted to make sure that I didn't sound like the idiot I truly am :) Anyway, I hope you like the chapter!

Chapter 5: Running From It All

Looking up into the sunset sky Sun Shang Xing sighed with content. She held on tight to the ex-pirate from behind as they rode further and further towards the boatyard in one of the nearby towns that Gan Ning had docked his boat. As the horse galloped Shang thought about what would happen next on her journey. It had been a quick progression of events- she had been stopped from going to Shu by Ning, and now she had found someone she could love. And he loved her back, which gave her confidence in herself that she was doing the right thing. She felt at ease with Ning- he was her best friend, and now that friendship had blossomed into something more Shang intended to keep it this way. She was happy and so was he. She didn't care much about what everyone else thought about it. They had all tried to send her away to a loveless marriage with someone who would become an enemy if Wu were ever to succeed in unifying China, and she couldn't care less. As long as she had her Gan Ning that was all that mattered…

Gan Ning sat at the front of the horse, and he could feel Shang's grip on him tightening. He smiled to himself as he heard the Wu princess sigh deeply and rest her head on his back- could he blame her for being this tired? Emotionally she was drained and he just wanted to get her somewhere where she could rest, and be safe from anyone who was going to send her to Shu. The fear of someone following them kept getting to him, so quite often he'd grasp the reigns tight, tell Shang Xiang to hold on, and make the horse start galloping at a faster pace. He really didn't want to get caught doing this- he feared that if Sun Jian ever found out he'd be punished severely, and the last thing he ever wanted to happen was to lose his rank and the position he loved so dearly. As much as he loved the pirate life he didn't want to go back to it, especially after discovering the other side of life.

Now he could see the docks approaching in the distance. "Shang? Are you asleep?"

"No…" Shang Xiang straightened her back and sat up properly on the horse instead of slouching onto Ning's back at an awkward angle. "I'm just thinking…"

"Oh… what about?"

"Life in general. It's taken such a huge turn for the better thanks to you." She hugged him. "Thank you."

Gan Ning smiled and touched one of her hands with his. "You don't need to thank me Shang, just knowing that you're happy is all the thanks I need." Shang Xiang snuggled up next to him, resting her head on his muscular shoulders. She didn't need anyone or anything else… she was in a state of bliss this way. Sure, she missed her family and the other generals, but all she had missed was Ning as she was in the carriage. Now she had him, but would it last? They weren't exactly in a hurry to get back to Wu and face the wrath of Sun Jian, but where would they go? Not in Wu that was for sure. Too many local people knew what Sun Shang Xiang and Gan Ning looked like for them to stay in secret, and if they went to Shu Liu Bei would almost certainly recognise them from the many meetings that had taken place between the two kingdoms. It was like there was no place for them to go… unless…

"Er, Ning? Where are you planning on taking us?"

Ning looked forwards at the ever nearing waters. "We can't stay here, you know that?" Shang nodded in reply. "So, I was thinking maybe we could go somewhere a bit further away…"

"How far away?"

"I was thinking maybe Wei… I mean, it's far enough to get you away from Liu Bei and your father, and you'll be safe with me. I won't let anyone hurt you ever, I promise."

"Don't worry," she said softly into his ear. "I know that already."

The sky grew a warmer shade as the pair made it to the shipyard. Ning stopped the horse just outside one of the large boats and spoke to a rough looking man holding in his hand an old spear. The men exchanged a few words and a piece of paper was passed to Ning. Shang tried peering over his shoulder to read what it was, and she could see from her very limited view that it was a map, and quite a large one at that. It showed in detail all of the rivers that flowed through China, as well as locations of the important areas. She was nervous… Wei was a dangerous place, especially for a young woman such as herself. Her father had always told her to watch out for men like Cao Cao, the type of man who 'grabbed the pretty women and treated them like they were nothing'.

She watched as Gan Ning jumped off the horse and let it towards one of the boats. It looked familiar, and Shang Xiang recognised it as one of Gan Ning's boats that he had bought with him when he joined the Wu army. It had been cleaned up this time, and all marks of battle had gone.

"Remember my baby Shang?" Ning pointed towards the ship. "This ship's been with me since I was just a pirate… I thought we could take it. It's a strong ship so it'll take us far. What do you think?"

Sun Shang Xiang nodded and smiled. She'd been on that ship before when Ning had first joined Wu and taken her own little tour around it- it was quite large with a few rooms in it. She had first thought that maybe he'd stolen it from first appearances but she'd quickly learnt that he had worked hard for it as a pirate. She took Ning's hand as he helped her off the horse, and they walked slowly over to the ship.

"I'll just take the horse onto the ship okay?" Shang Xiang nodded in reply and let Ning go over to the ship. She leant on the edge of one of the fences that had been put up near the waters edge and sighed. Was this to be the start of her new life? Maybe so, but she'd miss her family. Gan Ning was all she had now- she had to trust him, not that she didn't. She loved the guy, of course she trusted him!

Suddenly she heard a faint sound in the background… horse hooves… The sound grew louder and it sounded like it was quickly approaching. Shang felt the ground shake as the hooves stomped heavily upon it and she looked in the distance it was coming from. As soon as she saw the figure approach the colour drained from her face. What was HE doing here? She quickly turned around and ran into the ship to the stables. On her way she bumped into Ning, who was now confused as to why she was running with a panicked look on her face.

"Hey Shang!" he said as she ran into his arms. "What's the matter?" He raised his brow a little and lowered the tone of voice. "Sun Jian isn't here already is he?"

She shook her head. "No, but someone like that is here! What are we going to do? He can't make me go back!"

"Who?"

"Look for yourself!"

"Okay I'll go and see… you just stay behind the side of the ship and I'll go see. I'll be back as soon as I can." He planted a kiss on her forehead before leaving her in order to investigate. Shang ran over to the side of the ship and knelt down, just so that she could see what was going on. She watched as Gan Ning walked off the ship and saw the approaching person…

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Ning shouted as he ran over.

"I followed you here in case you did anything stupid, and now you're leaving?" Lu Xun replied. "And now you're stealing Shang Xiang away?"

"You mean saving her from that Shu pig?"

Xun pointed towards the boat. "And I suppose you've hidden her on that boat of yours?"

"What's it to you? Shouldn't you be back in the castle thinking of another strategy of yours?"

To Ning's surprise Lu Xun jumped off his horse and started running towards the ship. "Do you realise how bad this will make us look? Liu Bei doesn't get his bride and a war will start!"

Ning caught up to Lu Xun just as he was near the ship and slammed him against the side of it. Xun cried out a little bit in pain as the larger ex-pirate held him against it. "I will NOT let you take her away, never! I swear if you even try it you'll be paying for it for the rest of your life!" Xun tried to struggle but Ning was far too strong. "And don't even think about telling anyone back at Wu- I know people who can easily do my dirty work for me…"

Shang Xiang stood up from where she was hiding and showed her face to Lu Xun, who was looking upwards. "Please Xun, you can't tell them!" she pleaded desperately. "I love Ning- I can't let him go! No one can send me to Shu; I just won't like it there. I don't want to be near Liu Bei at all, let alone marry him. It's Ning I want to be with, no one else. You have to understand!" She ran off the ship and over to him. "Please…"

"But what about your father… surely he'll be mad!" Xun said as Ning started to loosen his grip slightly. "He'll be even angrier when he finds out that I know about this!"

Ning stared Xun straight in the eyes. "He won't need to find out- you just need to keep your mouth shut."

"So I'm meant to keep quiet about this and keep it all a secret while everyone is worrying about where you are? How do you think Jian will react to the news that the guards give him? They know you took Shang Xiang Ning, they won't lie to him."

"No, they won't. That's why you're going to tell them that there was a raid on the carriage and, I don't know, Shang Xiang ran away from it all. Or some bandits stole her. NOT that I took her." Ning let go of the young strategist and watched as he rubbed his shoulders from where the two large hands had been. He turned to Shang Xiang who had moved closer to his side. He carefully placed an arm around her and held her closer, reassuring her.

Lu Xun straightened his hat slightly and looked at the 'couple'. "So where are you two planning on going on your little journey?"

"That's nothing to do with you Lu Xun," Shang said as she leant against Ning. "We won't tell you."

"But what if something happens to you? We'd have no way of finding out. You guys could be dead tomorrow for all we know! How would Sun Jian find out? Would he ever find out? He's your father Sun Shang Xiang- are you not thinking about him at all?"

"Xun- he was the one who sent me away! I won't be able to forgive him for a while yet… I don't want him to worry too much but I'll be safe with Ning. I always am…"

"I still don't know about this…" Xun looked at them worryingly. "It's not the best thing you've thought of Ning!"

Ning simply rolled his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"It's too risky! I mean, why can't you just take Shang back to Wu and beg Jian to let her stay? Maybe he will give in and call it off…."

"Come on Xun! What are the chances of that happening, and be serious! My life in Wu would be over full stop! Stealing away a princess is a serious offence…" He held Shang Xiang tighter. "I don't want to ruin my chances, and it's too late now. Our minds are made up." Slowly he and Shang Xiang backed away and walked back onto the ship, leaving Lu Xun standing there. The slow walk turned into a run as the princess and ex-pirate quickly ran on board and untied the knot that was tying the ship to the docks. Lu Xun watched as the ship slowly floated, but he couldn't just let them leave like that! Using what energy was left in him he ran as fast as he could and jumped onto the side of the vessel, clinging onto the edge for dear life.

He pulled himself up and held onto the side tightly, looking at the horrified pair. "You can't leave though! Liu Bei will be angry and he could declare war on Wu- we don't need this!"

"I do Lu Xun!" Shang Xiang cried out. "Can't you see? I suppose you don't care because you're a strategist, too wound up in your battle plans and strategies to care about the effects they have on the people!"

The young strategist repositioned himself on the edge, but he couldn't pull himself fully over. "Please, just think about this! It's not too late to go back…"

"I'm sorry Lu Xun…" Shang Xiang sighed, looked at Gan Ning, and walked over to Lu Xun. He was still struggling trying to prevent himself from falling. For a second Lu Xun thought that she was going to offer a hand and help him on board, but to his surprise she made a fist and smacked it on his hands. He howled out in pain as his grip came loose and he plummeted into the deep water below. The ship cruised away from where he bobbed up and down above the surface of the Chang Jiang, and it was then that Lu Xun knew it was definitely too late to stop them now.

Back on the deck Gan Ning suspired deeply as he watched the sunset from the opposite side. It looked as if it was going to be a beautiful and peaceful night, and he knew he could sleep easy knowing that his true love was at his side. As he looked at the warm fiery sun he felt two arms come from behind him and wrap themselves around his torso. He held Shang's two arms and pulled her in front of him, pulling her into a warm and gentle embrace. Less than twenty four hours ago they were just really good friends, and yet now, due to unfortunate circumstances, their friendship had blossomed into something more- a lot more. This journey was going to be an eventful one…