Hey all! Okay, now, the actual battle will be in the next chapter, but otherwise I have little to say. I have 50 reviews yay! Woo hoo -x-x does a jig. x-x- Actually this chapter is longer than usual…
Guan: Why thank you! Yah that was slightly random…
Sideways: Why thank you! Thanks a bunches for reviewing!
Shadowwolf5889:Yay! Pang Tong didn't win! Woo-hoo! Soyy, I'm still happy about that. Anyways, thanks for reviewing…again.
WindsofEternity: I wrote them as I have written all the poetry/songs for this fic unless otherwise specified. Thanks!
Mrs.SleepingDragon: I guess I didn't get a chance to…sorry. Yah I know in all the chapters I wish I were Aven Yu, ah well. –xx-sighs more heavily than MSD-xx-.
Chapter 15- The Darkest Hour
Over the next 6 months of battle preparation I grew to find out that playing the zither wasn't as easy as I seemed to think. My emotions as of late were much like the instrument's notes. Up all at once and down far too quickly. I would cry and cry and snap at anyone who challenged me. My only comfort and all my confidence was in Zhuge Liang and on rare occasion Liu Bei. However, these two were often busy, especially Master Liang with this whole battle and all. Work was tedious for me and Kongming needed quiet to think effectively. So, more times than not I would either be reading or practicing my swordsmanship, which I dare say needed a lot of work. But as the battle date grew nearer by friends only became busier and I spent many a lonesome night sighing, waiting for all of this to end and wondering when it would. Often did I wish for a carefree life. It began to seem that I would not live to see the peace renewed.
One day, I grew too lonesome to stay in my tent and ventured out. The last time I was that bored was quite a bit ago, and when I had nothing to do my thoughts wandered. I remembered that day again, the one where I met Liu Bei. It was right in the middle of the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Cao Cao sent Xiahou Dun to sacrifice the lives of the innocent in order to gain fame and reward. It sickened me. My mind drifted to the long wandering with Liu Bei before we found Zhuge Liang. It seemed as if we were constantly on the move and nowhere to live or stay. Then there's the day I met Zhuge Liang. I remember his expression, his tender words, his chestnut eyes, all of then so vividly. I remember Yue Ying's funeral and the Sleeping Dragon comforting me in his own time of grief. I remember all of these things and somehow it felt like something wasn't right… My thoughts were interrupted by Zhao Yun.
"Hello my Lady."
"General Zhao Yun, it is wonderful to see you. May I inquire as to the occasion of your visit?"
"Master Kongming needs you. I know not what for. I was passing by and he asked me to find you."
"Thank you." I walked over to his tent (as we were camped a few li from Cheng Du) as I walked closer I heard the familiar tones of Zhuge Liang's zither. He hushed the strings as I entered.
"Ah, Lady Yu, as you know, the campaign is in a few days."
"Yes." He pulled a map of the Riverlands out from under a few things in his desk.
"Li Yan is stationed here in the forest. I guarantee it. I need you to capture him for me."
"Sure." He nodded.
"It should prove simple enough for you. When you are finished with that, destroy Liu Xun's camp and men. Then fight Pang De. But listen carefully to my warning. DO NOT engage Pang De head on. Fight with your allies or lure him into an ambush. I don't care as long as you don't fight him directly on your own. No matter how sure you are. When you are finished wait for the others and we will destroy Liu Zhang."
"Master Liang wh—"
"Don't ask, just trust me, please." I wasn't entirely satisfied with that answer but it would have to suffice.
"Of course."
"But now I petition you to get some rest, this battle shall be long."
"How often must I tell you that I won't sleep until you do? Last time I checked you still required it." I walked beside his chair and placed my hands on my hips feeling queenly. Master Liang stood up and erect as he always did. Somehow after that I didn't feel so superior any more. He stood a full span taller than me and we were only a small distance apart… I stared into his infamous eyes, his lovely brown eyes. I don't know how long I stood there, but eternity felt like it ended so soon.
"Now to bed with you."
"You first."
"Do I have to move you?"
"Perhaps."
"Alright…" He suddenly picked me up as if he were gong to take me out.
"HEY!" He dropped me on his bed. And we both laughed. When he turned around I yanked him down.
"Ahhhh!" Soon it turned into a poking war. We were all around the tent laughing and playing. I had never seen this side of Zhuge Liang. It intrigued me. Once I was about to push him when he got my hands. But he tripped over the bed and fell right onto it. Of course I ended up on top of him still looking into his eyes. All I wanted was to… "Alright, alright, I think it's time for bed."
"But I don't wanna."
"I'm sure you don't but that's an order. As far as I know I'm still your superior. As the Prime Minister, I command you "
"As your friend I care about you. I implore you to sleep."
"I swear you'll grey my head."
"It's just my nature Master Liang, you should know that by now."
"Yes, I suppose it is. Alright, Aven Yu, I shall get ready for bed." He stepped behind the screen and changed into his robe. It was weird to see him without his hat and in his nightclothes.
"Now off with you." He lay down in the bed and pretended to sleep. I stood there and he opened one eye. "I'm sleeping, okay?"
"How do I know you won't just get up after I leave? I'm staying until I'm sure you're asleep." He sighed and fell back on the pillow.
"Fine. There's no way of convincing you, is there?"
"Nope."
"I see. You might be here an awful long time."
"I can wait." I sat down in the chair next to his desk. Apparently, I began to fall asleep.
Before I knew it I had awoken. I looked around and recognized my surroundings as Master Liang's tent. And then I saw the culprit smiling evilly in the corner.
"Hmmm. Awake?"
"Yes. And why am I here?" He suddenly got this guilty-but-trying-to-look-innocent look on his face.
"Well..." He yawned, searching for an excuse,
"You didn't get a wink of sleep did you?"
"I got about 2 hours…"
"And you figured if you couldn't get me to leave, you'd make me fall asleep by outlasting me."
"In a word? Yes. And when you were asleep I picked you up and placed you on the bed. Luckily, you're quite the heavy sleeper." I sighed. "Come, Aven Yu, the battlefield awaits us."
