Disclaimer: For the full one, see first chapter. Otherwise I own NOTHING.

Author's Note(s):

Please bear with me on the beginning chapters. There is nothing I hate more than introductions in my writings. If it seems a tad rushed, it probably is. Its my style of writing. Expect a somewhat steady one to two week update schedule through the summer. And the next following chapters are where I attempt to bring the characters together. Wish me luck!

Lend the sovereign house your aid

That unto the four corners peace may reign.

Luo Guanzhong

The Three Kingdoms

Chapter Three

Then Came the Pirates

Kudou Yohji wasn't about to wait for Omi to get back. He had his own plans. In fact, the jingling of bells announced the arrival of his latest plan.

Gan Ning was a former pirate of great renown in the south lands. He would sail from port to port with his men wearing bells to announce the arrival of the Bandit of the Silk Sails. As it happens, an old acquaintance of Kudou's.

Yohji rose and greeted his visitor, "It's been a while Gan Ning. Far too long" As old comrades they embraced one another.

Gan Ning smirked, "So says the one looking for reinforcements. I heard that you were going after the Flying General." He sniggered as he continued, "Couple of my men have bets running on how long you'll stand up to 'em before you go crying back to Sun Quan. I hope you know, the longest bet is on three days tops."

"How reassuring that I am keeping the gambling community alive in these times of strife," Yohji joked. "But all joking aside, I am going to need your help if we're going after that man."

The pirate leaned forward, intent on listening to Kudou. "The town of Xianyang is located alongside the river and with your help, we'll stand a decent chance. But of course, this is assuming you'll be willing to help me."

"What would we get out of it, Kudou? Our former lord was less than willing to share any wealth or recognition gained during the campaigns," Gan Ning replied.

Yohji smiled, "Well, I can assure you some nice positions in the military as well as compensation for your time and efforts. Other awards and honors would be coming from Sun Quan - not me. Keep in mind though, no half assing the job either. You help fight the general and then you get rewarded."

Gan Ning reclined back and closed his eyes in thought. The Flying General was renowned for his land combats. Nothing had ever been said about water warfare. He opened his eyes and smirked, "So we'll show 'em what the naval specialists of the south land are capable of. But honestly, Kudou, you should really get in on the bets. Make quite a bit if you actually beat the bastard."

Yohji laughed. Leave it to the pirates to take bets on life threatening situations.

To say that the Graceful Lord, Fujimiya Ran was not happy was an understatement. He had just received a new subordinate and was less than pleased with the man. Cao Chun was a distant cousin of his Lord Cao Cao and a man looking to displace Ran as commander of the Xianyang troops. This man had arrived at the encampment and was already creating problems.

Ran glared at the man who was seated across from him. He already despised this man. "You are here to do what again?" Ran asked the new subordinate.

"I am to act as your personal tactician for upcoming campaigns with the Wu kingdom," Cao Chun replied.

Yue Jin hid a small smirk. Few could rile up Fujimiya, but the few who could were worth the rare entertainment.

"Yue Jin."

He turned his attention to his commanding officer, "Sir?"

"Please show Cao Chun the supply tent. I wish for him to take a detailed inventory of what supplies we have and what we will be needing," Ran said still glaring at the newest officer.

"Of course, sir." Yue Jin led Cao Chun out of the tent and closed the front flap.

Ran sighed. Why did he get the difficult ones? He turned and looked at his spear and sighed again. He really needed a new horse if they were going on another campaign. Perhaps he should take up Lady Hidaka's offer of having her son find a horse for him. It would save him time. Life could be so frustrating at times.

Tsukiyono Omi was simply amazed at Lady Hidaka. She was wise as well as benevolent. Well, enough to grant strangers a stay in her household. His own mother would have told the visitors to find themselves a different place to stay lest she fetch her husband. He sighed. His mother was such a shrew at times. Granted though, he thought, many probably did look like shrews in front of one as kind as Lady Hidaka.

A simple night's rest had refreshed the youth enough to where he wanted to start on his assignment: to scout the enemy and their leaders. He walked outside but didn't spot any sign of Hidaka's son and started his stroll into town. As he followed the river he spotted the Red Hare. Praying, Omi slowly moved out of the horse's sight afraid the stallion would again spur into action. But instead it simply lay itself on the ground under an old oak tree as if it were any normal horse. Omi smiled and started on his way again; not wanting to waste this opportunity.

Hidaka Ken had started out early that morning in hopes of selling off some of their grain in the town market. He had taken out his mother's horse to pull the cart into town without the trouble that Red Hare would undoubtedly arouse. Not many were interested in grain at the moment though but that didn't bother him. He just wanted a small escape from the strangers in his home. He knew his mother was doing the kind thing, but that didn't mean he had to like it. So instead of brooding at home, he preferred to do it where his mother wouldn't see. Not very manly, but it was better than being dragged all over the countryside with Red Hare again. Even he got sick of that.

General Fujimiya Ran was on his way to visit Lady Hidaka when he had caught sight of her son. If he could speak with him here, he would save himself some time and perhaps he could finish reading reports of the enemy's movements.

He found the youth in the city's market trying to sell what looked like to be grain. He stopped in his tracks and a small smirk graced his features. The young man looked like he was, well, sulking. After the Red Hare incident, Ran couldn't help but be a tad vindictive towards his junior.

"Are you sulking in broad daylight?"

Ken snapped out of his brooding, not sulking mind you, but manly brooding to locate the owner of the voice. Once he caught sight of the Flying General he bit back his smart aleck reply.

"No, sir. I am merely thinking about some visitors."

"Very well. I shall leave you to your thoughts. But first I have a request to ask," Ran said as he looked at Ken. He suppressed the urge to laugh due to Ken's obvious suppression of some nasty comment.

"How can I help the mighty Flying General, Lord Fujimiya? I am a mere farmer taking care of his mother and her estate," the brown haired youth replied in clipped tones. Ken took great measure in being polite around this man. He didn't need to be thrown in jail or be beheaded for some stupid act of insubordination.

"Nothing too difficult. I just require some assistance in purchasing a new horse. As you have seen, Shao is becoming less fit for the field."

"It shouldn't be too hard to find a decent horse for you, my Lord."

"Thank you. Once you find one, come to the encampment and either find me or leave a message with one of my subordinates."

"Of course, sir," Ken replied.

"Well, I shall leave you to your sulking then, Master Hidaka." With a small bow of his head, Ran turned and left towards the encampment.

Ken stood silent watching the retreating form of one Flying General. He remained still until the general disappeared in the crowd and it was then that Ken let forth a mighty yell of frustration.

Having finally reached the town of Xianyang, Omi took a deep breath and slowly made his way towards the Wei military encampment. That would be where his search would begin. As he edged towards the camp, he couldn't help but smirk. This is going to be easier than he thought it would be. Perhaps they weren't expecting Wu to retaliate. If that was the case, then taking the town would be simple with a quick naval strike. His smirk was still on his face until he heard the soldiers' gossiping.

"What's the General doing? He knows that Wu is going to retaliate," a veteran soldier said.

"Who knows what Fujimiya's thinking of? He prefers to keep us in the dark until the last moment. But I'll be damned if I don't trust the man," another replied.

"True, he didn't lose too many in the last battle against Wu. But the water rats didn't know we were coming. Anybody could have had the same success if it were an ambush like that."

"He's right, you know. I don't quite trust the General. He may be gifted but I'm sure we've all seen that being gifted don't mean nothing on the battlefield. He could fall just as easily as one of us."

Omi couldn't help but be intrigued by this. The general was so new that his troops didn't believe in his abilities - they had thought the sacking of the town was a fluke. This was even better for the Wu troops. Kudou and his contingent were veterans and could quite easily overcome an inexperienced general. As he was about to go towards the officers' tents, Omi spotted the same red head he had earlier. There was something about this man that Omi didn't quite like. There was an air of danger and perhaps grace that surrounded the man. Normal men didn't have such a commanding presence.

Ran sighed as he listened to Cao Chun's detailed inventory report. My god, thought Ran, no one could have given me a more detailed inventory list if I had asked them.

Cao Chun almost smirked. Dismiss me, General Fujimiya, he thought, and you will regret ever giving me asinine assignments. Instead he schooled his face into a somewhat friendly looking smile. "My Lord, should I request the low supplied items?" he asked in a sickenly sweet tone.

Ran wanted to drag this man to the river and throw him downstream. Unfortunately since this was one of his Lord's many cousins, that would not be beneficial to his career - or life, he added. "Yes, if you could Cao Chun. But tell me something first. What do you think of our fortification of the city? Do you approve or would you do something different than I?" His answer would give Ran an idea of this man's intentions.

Cao Chun's smile almost dropped as he considered his answer. "I would do only what the council and Lord Cao Cao wishes. We are here, after all, on their behalf. Personally, I myself would do nothing to shame the council but there are many here who wish to continue down the river to pursue the Wu army." As he finished he bowed quickly and hurried off to find a merchant for purchasing the needed goods.

Ran stared at the man's retreating figure and narrowed his eyes. That man is dangerous, he decided. He kept his answer a neutral one that would neither give his intention or mind set. Ran repressed the urge to sigh. Instead he made his way over to the river embankment and silently sat down.

Omi was intrigued. The red head was indeed the Flying General. A bit different from what he and his imagination had conjured up. Instead of a brash youth, the general was calm and not afflicted with the need to impress others. Taking this camp might be a bit difficult with this sort of commander, Omi decided. Men like this were willing to wait out the enemy's resources and that would not sit well with Wu's tacticians. Wu specialized in quick strikes; not long drawn campaigns. He ran a hand through his hair and decided to head back to the farm. He needed a long time to think on this discovery.

Meanwhile, Ken's search for a military steed was going well. So well in fact, that he had discovered that almost all of the men he knew had either already sold their horses or had just given them away. He sat down next to his mother's grey horse and placed his head in his hands. This was not going well at all, he thought. The old horse nibbled at his hair but Ken did not move. Instead he just sat there looking miserable whilst the old grey creature slobbered in his hair. Maybe I should just talk mother into selling this thing, he thought to himself. Still the horse continued in its ploy to further Ken's misery.

Fujimiya Ran didn't need to listen to the gossip to know what was being said. He had seen it in the reports from the capital. The reason he was to be garrisoned here was simply because of distrust. The council did not trust many and Ran was simply too new to be trusted completely. Hence, the new tactician Cao Chun and possibly attendant Yue Jin. They were both probably ordered to keep an eye on me, Ran mused. Doesn't matter though, I have no reason to go traitor. He almost snickered at the following thought. Besides, I don't think Shao's fast enough to outrun anything right now.

To my reviewers - Thank you so much for the encouragement! It really does help me. Although that means I can't slack off ;) Do keep it up, I just might pick up the pace. I can't individually thank all of those who reviewed right now as I don't have much time but expect it next chapter. And yes, Yohji will start to make more regular appearances as does Omi! Oh, yes. They'll be back.

Next Chapter Snippet (Yet to be named but almost fully written):

"That's exactly why we wait for Omi. If he is able to find some weak point of the enemy's, we may be able to exploit it. And if the weakness is really good, we might be able to retake the city without much fuss from the Flying General. Of course, assuming there is any weakness to this general," Yohji smiled lightly.

Both men fell silent after that last comment. Both were thinking of the impending battle. One thought of the Flying General, the other thought of the rewards that would be gained.