Disclaimer: As before... Koei owns Dynasty Warriors, but the storyline came from my brain.

A/N- Mmmm, more Crazy Days goodness! I took some advice from one of the reviews (thank you for your reviews! They all make me smile) and added in another character. I think it was Super 4 C's review- thank you! I'll consider adding the others too... I'll see what I can do! ;)

Chapter 18: The Return of a Familiar Face

"Please Dad? Please?"

"Let me see…"

"Pretty please? I'll be good!" Sun Shang Xiang put on her best puppy dog expression and looked up at her father, Going one step further she put her hands up to her chin and used them like paws to make herself look cute. Trying to get her own way with Sun Jian took effort, and lots of it!

Sun Jian wasn't buying anything. "I just don't want you to get hurt again. You've only just recovered and already you want to go out and wreak havoc on Wu. Today's an important day- Ling Tong is arriving and I need everyone in the castle to welcome him- understood?"

His daughter nodded affirmatively, her earrings swinging quite violently from the force of which she was nodding. "I'll be back in time, I promise! It's not like I'm going to go far…"

"I still think you need protection…"

"Dad! I'm not a baby!" Shang pouted. "I was fine yesterday."

"That was only because I sent Gan Ning up there. If I hadn't sent him I'm sure you would've been well on your way out of the castle, am I right?" He nodded to himself as Shang Xiang smirked and looked in another direction. "See? But I guess you seem alright now. You certainly seem perkier than you were yesterday."

"So I can go? Thank you!" She hugged Jian tight and after kissing his cheek jumped around. Before Sun Jian had a chance to stop her she had already ran out of his office and on her way to enjoy her new found freedom.

"Just be careful!" Jian called out as his daughter disappeared from his sight.

As the massive Wu castle came into view the nervous young general gulped. It wasn't new to him, he had lived here before, but now he was living here too. A couple of years had passed since Ling Tong had been in these surroundings- since then he had been living with his mother in a nearby province, anything to get out of the way of Gan Ning. Tong still mourned for his father but crying wasn't going to bring him back. All he could do was return back to the castle and resume his training because, after all, he was still a general of Wu. He had to, for his father's sake.

The carriage passed the final stretch of forest and entered the castle grounds, and Ling Tong watched the last part of the journey from inside. He could still remember it all- the training grounds, the ponds, the stables- memories came flooding back to him. This was the place he grew up in and it still felt like home. Eventually the carriage ground to a halt and stopped in front of the castle gates. Finally, Ling Tong was back…

Taishi Ci glanced at the frustrated Wu strategist and tapped his fingers on the surface of the table. "Zhou Yu, just give it up."

"I WILL find the answer!" Zhou Yu slammed yet another book shut and put his head in his hands. "Why do you have such bizarre problems?"

"Have you ever heard of 'odd occurrences'? Maybe it was just a one off, meaning you won't find an answer. Can't you just for once admit defeat? Face it, I'm a lost cause!"

Yu grumbled and failed to respond. He had been given more than enough time to figure out what was wrong with Ci, and he knew that the search had been hopeless. He just wasn't used to giving up so easily. "I suppose so… I'll try another time…"

Ci shook his head. "You just don't get it do you? There is no answer, so there isn't much point in trying again. Just leave it as it is, unsolved and done with."

"But if it's unsolved then there must be a logical explanation out there?"

"You know what? I'll just leave you know. You're starting to drive me mad!" With that Taishi Ci got up out of his seat and left the room, passing Sun Ce who had just entered. Ce looked puzzled as he watched Ci leave the room muttering something under his breath.

"Hey there Zhou Yu, what's up?" Ce walked over and sat himself down in the seat previously occupied by Taishi Ci- he saw that his best friend still had his head in his hands. "Is something the matter Yu biddy?"

Zhou Yu lifted his head up and sighed. "Am I failing as a strategist?"

Ce stared at Yu in disbelief. "What? Of course you're not, that's crazy talk!"

"I hope it is… so why are you here?"

"Because I'm failing as a husband…"

Yu nodded and patted Sun Ce's back upon noticing his down expression. "It's alright; every couple has their rough patches. I know something was up with you two- what do you think is wrong?"

"Apparently we don't do enough things together as a couple, and I'm too into battles and stuff. I can't help it that I'm like that! What am I meant to do? I don't want to lose Da, she means the world to me!"

After a moment thinking Zhou Yu thought of something. "Well, whenever Xiao and I have problems I go to Huang Gai for advice. He may not be married but his words of wisdom speak more than any advice book."

"Huang Gai? Hmm… I guess I could give him a go." Ce looked down at the table and tried to imagine the rest of his life without his wonderful wife. "I need to, my marriage is at stake!"

A small breeze blew past the large tree as the sound of a carriage approached. Lu Xun knew that it was Ling Tong arriving back in the Wu capital but instead of rushing over to greet him he remained where he was, sitting at the base of the tree. The poor boy's head was a mess, especially after the previous day's events. How could he ever look Lu Meng in the face again? If only Meng hadn't gotten so close… but he had and Xun could still feel the kiss on his cheek. It made him shudder just thinking about it! So now he was avoiding Lu Meng as well as Sun Jian… word had reached him that Jian was still after his blood for the fire. Hiding was all Xun could do until things died down but now that Tong was here he had to show his face eventually. He hoped that all would be forgiven now that Sun Shang Xiang was back to her usual happy-go-lucky self- Lu Xun would have to find out…

The jingle jangle of hells sounded and grew louder and louder as Lu Xun gazed out into the distance. This was just what he needed… not. Gan Ning would only cause more unwanted trouble- trouble that Xun didn't want to be involved in this time.

"Leave me alone Ning."

"Aw, come on Xun, it's only me! Well, me and Lu Meng…"

Lu Xun froze as he felt the presence of two people standing behind him. He continued to look out, avoiding any confrontation. All he wanted to do was strangle the ex-pirate using his string of bells and throw him back out to sea.

"Lu Xun…" Lu Meng stood next to Lu Xun and joined him watching the clouds float by in the sky. "I know that this is going to be extremely awkward…"

"Awkward? Master Lu Meng… you kissed me! Awkward is not the correct word, nowhere near the correct one…"

Meng glared at the grinning Gan Ning standing next to him and punched his arm hard. Ning cried out in pain, allowing the general to continue. "I know, but Gan Ning is now paying dearly for his crime. Perhaps we can think no more of these past… events… and start getting on with things. I would hate for this to come between our working relationship."

Xun looked up towards his teacher. "So I'm still your student?" He smiled weakly as Lu Meng nodded. "Thank you, that's good to hear." He then looked up towards Gan Ning. "How are you paying for this?"

Ning grumbled and hit his string of bells. "Your teacher is blackmailing me into doing his dirty work. Yeah, that's how much of a great teacher he is!"

"I see… well, as long as you're suffering."

"Oh I see how two work! You're taking Lu Meng's side in this I gather…"

"Excuse me? You and Sun Shang Xiang attacked me and forced me into your wicked scheme! Lu Meng and I are the victims in this, not you! Quite frankly Gan Ning you deserve what's coming to you."

Lu Meng chuckled at Ning's blank facial expression. "That's my student!"

Leaning against the tree Ning looked in the other direction to see the parked carriage. "I already have enough to deal with now that Ling Tong's back I really don't need any of this!"

"But what about Shang Xiang?" asked Lu Xun. "What's going on with you two? You two managed to get pretty cosy by the looks of things."

A small blush managed to escape the ex-pirates face. "Actually I haven't seen her since last night. I don't even know what I'd say to her!" He scratched his head in thought. "I'm no good with these things!"

"I doubt that she is either." Lu Xun looked at Ning. "You do realise that Sun Jian will find out?"

"Yeah, but hopefully he won't, if someone keeps his mouth shut."

Meng smiled to himself. "That all depends on someone doing what they're told to."

"So this is the whole blackmail thing?" Xun said once he had figured out the situation between the pair. It then dawned on him that he too could use this to his advantage. "Ning?"

"What d'ya want kid?"

"I don't suppose you could go to Sun Jian and beg for forgiveness on my behalf?"

"No chance!"

"I suppose I could go to him myself and update him with news about his daughter's new love life-"

"Wait a minute!" Ning interrupted the young strategist. "Jian would kill you as he's after you already! You wouldn't go to him and tell him…"

"Believe me, that's a risk I'm willing to take."

Gan Ning felt like bashing his head against the tree until he became unconscious. Things were just getting worse and worse for him. He knew it was a bad idea to go against two of Wu's best strategists- they could think of plans that were far better than an ex-pirate's, that was almost certain/ And now Ling Tong… Tong would still be angry and Ning for killing Ling Cao. It was going to be one of those nights for Gan Ning unless things took a turn for the better, and crossing his fingers behind his back he started wishing that they would…

"Try not to use up all of your strength my Lord."

"I have more than enough strength! It's this stupid horse!"

"Right…" Zhou Tai watched as Sun Quan struggles to get onto his white steed. It was quite funny to watch Tai had to admit. The young prince had decided to wear extra robes to give others the impression that he was bulky and strong, but it wasn't working well. The extra weight was making it harder for him to get on his horse and actually go to the contest. Finally, after several minutes of trying, Quan succeeded and sat in his saddle in triumph.

"See? It was nothing!"

"Sure…"

The pair rode their horses side by side out of the stables and towards the east gate, ready to leave the castle grounds. The contest would be taking place a few miles away and Sun Quan was all hyped up and ready to go. It was unknown to Sun Jian that his second son and potential heir to the Wu kingdom was off to the contest, and yet another secret was being concealed from him.

"Wait up you two!"

Surprised, Sun Quan turned his head around and saw his sister trot over on her own white horse. "Sis! What are you doing outside? And I see you got your voice back?"

Sun Shang Xiang nodded and eyed her brother up and down. "Yeah, I managed to get out, and is it me or have you put on weight? I know I was inside all day but surely I haven't missed that much? Have you been at the meat buns again?"

"No, I have not put on weight! This is just a disguise. You see, I'm entering a strength contest in the next village and I-"

"You? In a strength contest?" Shang Xiang raised her right eyebrow. "You've got to be kidding!"

Quan pointed to his trusted bodyguard. "Zhou Tai thinks I can do it, don't you Tai?"

Shang Xiang tried her best not to laugh as Zhou Tai turned to look in another direction, wherever as long as Sun Quan didn't see the distinct look of doubt on his face. "I'm sure he does… but can I come along too? I got bored in my room."

"I guess I could use the extra support… couldn't you find anyone to hang out with?" Quan asked as the trio started on their short journey. "Not even Gan Ning?" He failed to notice the redness of his sister's cheeks as he looked forward.

"I… er… couldn't find him," she replied, blushing as she remembered the previous night. She tried to re-enact the scene in her head countless times so she could experience that same feeling again, but she couldn't exactly tell that to her brother. "I guess he was busy and there's nothing wrong with spending some quality time with my big brother, is there?"