Hiya people, sorry for the delay in posting, but I couldn't decide on what
to write about. I've sorted out that problem, and this is the result. This
story should end in the next 4 chapters, it might be a bit more. And MB,
sorry for not mailing you this chapter. Hope you still read this story.
BTW: R&R people please.
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It was a marvellous day. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, the butterflies were lazily fluttering from flower to flower. The only thing spoiling this day was the heavy weight on Gan Ning's mind. He couldn't think of what to do about his dilemma.
'What do I do?' he asked himself silently. 'I still love Xun, but can I trust him enough to take him back. It's been almost a week now, and I bet he's worrying, the way he always does. I need him. I'll send a messenger to tell him to leave Wu for me, or stay In Wu with Sima Yi. But whatever happens, I cannot return to Wu.' Just as he got up to return to his bodyguards, a rustle in the bushes caused him to turn sharply. "Who's there?" he asked. The sad, dejected officer that emerged didn't even bother to try and defend himself. He just walked into the clearing and sat down by the stream. "What are you doing? Aren't you going to fight me?" Gan Ning asked, totally perplexed.
"No, I'm not. Do whatever you feel like. Hit me, kill me, make your choice, God knows I deserve it. I'm such a fool. I drove away the only person who was a true friend." Ma Chao gazed intently at the water as it flowed silently.
"You think you've got problems?" Gan Ning said, more a statement that a question. He sat next to Ma Chao. "I caught my lover in the arms of another man on our anniversary."
"Lu Xun? Cheating? I didn't think he would ever do such a thing." Ma Chao said, turning to look at Gan Ning.
"How did you know my lover was Lu Xun?" asked Gan Ning, surprised.
"Oh please, everyone knows about you and Lu Xun. We were on the same team once. The way you two act when you are around each other. Only love makes people that happy. And what do you mean he was your lover? Did you two split up?"
"No, not yet. I can't stay in Wu, so I'm sending him a message asking him to leave to be with me, or stay with him. Its up to him whether we stay together or not." Gan Ning stood up to leave. At the edge of the clearing he turned. "Ma Chao, the only path to true happiness is the one your heart dictates."
"If you can't go back to Wu, there is always a place for you in Shu." Ma Chao replied.
"Thank you, I might just take you up on that offer. Until the next time we meet, farewell."
"Goodbye, Gan Ning. Good luck." Ma Chao said as the former pirate disappeared into the forest. 'True happiness? I'm never going to be happy. I chased away the one person who understood me. I'm... I'm... I don't know what I am. I need his help. I'm going back.' These were the thoughts of a weary Ma Chao as he mounted his horse to return to his home.
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Jiang Wei awoke to the most exotic aroma he had ever smelled. Zhao Yun came in with a tray full of food.
"Ah, so your awake." Zhao Yun started, but stopped as he saw the depression in Jiang Wei's eyes. "Come on, cheer up, it's not your fault Ma Chao is an under educated - "
"STOP!" The young strategist yelled, "I've had enough of you insulting Ma Chao. Every day all you do is talk about Ma Chao and insult him and I've had more than I can take! He is very confused right now, so don't start." Jiang Wei got up and dressed as Zhao Yun watched silently.
"I made you breakfast," Zhao Yun said as Jiang Wei turned to leave.
"Keep it, Zilong. I'm not hungry." And with that, he left.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sima Yi was pacing briskly, deep in thought.
'My plan is coming along nicely,' he thought to himself. 'Now, all I have to do is convince Diao Chan to elope with Lu Bu after killing Dong Zhuo, and then my plan will be complete.' He was interrupted by the Wu princess.
"Come on Sima Yi, or we'll be late for our meeting with Lu Bu and Diao Chan." Sun Shang Xiang stated before running out to the carriage.
'Oh well, here goes nothing.' Sima Yi thought as he exited the castle and joined Sun Shang Xiang in the carriage.
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There was a knock on the door, but the occupant of the room didn't answer the door.
"Lord Lu Xun, I bring news from Lord Gan Ning." The messenger called, and within seconds he was being pulled into the small room.
"What is your news?" asked Lu Xun. The messenger handed Lu Xun the scroll, which the strategist read quickly. He looked up at the messenger, tears forming in his warm hazel eyes. "Thank you. You don't know how good this is." He said as he pulled a brown leather bag out from under the bed. He scribbled a quick note and pinned it on the door, then ran out into the stables to saddle his horse.
"Going somewhere?" asked the young Qiao who was standing behind him.
"Gan Ning still wants me, I'm going to be with him." Lu Xun said, turning to face her. "But this means that the next time I see you will be in battle."
"No," Xiao Qiao said softly but firmly, "we will not meet again in battle. For I will never fight you. I will come and visit you. Sent a message when you reach your destination. But until then, I guess this is goodbye, but I'm happy for you. Follow your heart, for it will lead you to eternal happiness." She said as she hugged Lu Xun tightly.
"Goodbye Xiao. Give my regards to Da." He said as he mounted his steed and rode out into the courtyard.
"And Mine To Ning. I'll miss you!" she called, waving as he rode off into the distance.
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It was a marvellous day. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, the butterflies were lazily fluttering from flower to flower. The only thing spoiling this day was the heavy weight on Gan Ning's mind. He couldn't think of what to do about his dilemma.
'What do I do?' he asked himself silently. 'I still love Xun, but can I trust him enough to take him back. It's been almost a week now, and I bet he's worrying, the way he always does. I need him. I'll send a messenger to tell him to leave Wu for me, or stay In Wu with Sima Yi. But whatever happens, I cannot return to Wu.' Just as he got up to return to his bodyguards, a rustle in the bushes caused him to turn sharply. "Who's there?" he asked. The sad, dejected officer that emerged didn't even bother to try and defend himself. He just walked into the clearing and sat down by the stream. "What are you doing? Aren't you going to fight me?" Gan Ning asked, totally perplexed.
"No, I'm not. Do whatever you feel like. Hit me, kill me, make your choice, God knows I deserve it. I'm such a fool. I drove away the only person who was a true friend." Ma Chao gazed intently at the water as it flowed silently.
"You think you've got problems?" Gan Ning said, more a statement that a question. He sat next to Ma Chao. "I caught my lover in the arms of another man on our anniversary."
"Lu Xun? Cheating? I didn't think he would ever do such a thing." Ma Chao said, turning to look at Gan Ning.
"How did you know my lover was Lu Xun?" asked Gan Ning, surprised.
"Oh please, everyone knows about you and Lu Xun. We were on the same team once. The way you two act when you are around each other. Only love makes people that happy. And what do you mean he was your lover? Did you two split up?"
"No, not yet. I can't stay in Wu, so I'm sending him a message asking him to leave to be with me, or stay with him. Its up to him whether we stay together or not." Gan Ning stood up to leave. At the edge of the clearing he turned. "Ma Chao, the only path to true happiness is the one your heart dictates."
"If you can't go back to Wu, there is always a place for you in Shu." Ma Chao replied.
"Thank you, I might just take you up on that offer. Until the next time we meet, farewell."
"Goodbye, Gan Ning. Good luck." Ma Chao said as the former pirate disappeared into the forest. 'True happiness? I'm never going to be happy. I chased away the one person who understood me. I'm... I'm... I don't know what I am. I need his help. I'm going back.' These were the thoughts of a weary Ma Chao as he mounted his horse to return to his home.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jiang Wei awoke to the most exotic aroma he had ever smelled. Zhao Yun came in with a tray full of food.
"Ah, so your awake." Zhao Yun started, but stopped as he saw the depression in Jiang Wei's eyes. "Come on, cheer up, it's not your fault Ma Chao is an under educated - "
"STOP!" The young strategist yelled, "I've had enough of you insulting Ma Chao. Every day all you do is talk about Ma Chao and insult him and I've had more than I can take! He is very confused right now, so don't start." Jiang Wei got up and dressed as Zhao Yun watched silently.
"I made you breakfast," Zhao Yun said as Jiang Wei turned to leave.
"Keep it, Zilong. I'm not hungry." And with that, he left.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sima Yi was pacing briskly, deep in thought.
'My plan is coming along nicely,' he thought to himself. 'Now, all I have to do is convince Diao Chan to elope with Lu Bu after killing Dong Zhuo, and then my plan will be complete.' He was interrupted by the Wu princess.
"Come on Sima Yi, or we'll be late for our meeting with Lu Bu and Diao Chan." Sun Shang Xiang stated before running out to the carriage.
'Oh well, here goes nothing.' Sima Yi thought as he exited the castle and joined Sun Shang Xiang in the carriage.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
There was a knock on the door, but the occupant of the room didn't answer the door.
"Lord Lu Xun, I bring news from Lord Gan Ning." The messenger called, and within seconds he was being pulled into the small room.
"What is your news?" asked Lu Xun. The messenger handed Lu Xun the scroll, which the strategist read quickly. He looked up at the messenger, tears forming in his warm hazel eyes. "Thank you. You don't know how good this is." He said as he pulled a brown leather bag out from under the bed. He scribbled a quick note and pinned it on the door, then ran out into the stables to saddle his horse.
"Going somewhere?" asked the young Qiao who was standing behind him.
"Gan Ning still wants me, I'm going to be with him." Lu Xun said, turning to face her. "But this means that the next time I see you will be in battle."
"No," Xiao Qiao said softly but firmly, "we will not meet again in battle. For I will never fight you. I will come and visit you. Sent a message when you reach your destination. But until then, I guess this is goodbye, but I'm happy for you. Follow your heart, for it will lead you to eternal happiness." She said as she hugged Lu Xun tightly.
"Goodbye Xiao. Give my regards to Da." He said as he mounted his steed and rode out into the courtyard.
"And Mine To Ning. I'll miss you!" she called, waving as he rode off into the distance.
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