Chapter 7: The Dragon and the Phoenix
Da Ji paused outside Masamune's chamber door. The strategist had been sent to find the one-eyed dragon as he had not arrived for breakfast. This was unusual for even Masamune, which explained why Keiji was worried. However, when Da Ji reached the door, all she heard was scribbling. The fox raised an eyebrow, her attention peeked by the sound. For once the trinkets in her hair did not make a sound as Da Ji lent against the door.
"That's not good either!"Da Ji chewed the inside her mouth when she heard Masamune's out-burst. Then something crashed softly against the door. "What could he be planning?" Da Ji wondered to herself.
--
Tiger watched with increasing worry as her lord hurled another paper ball at the door. The ninja had returned from the main hall to inform Masamune of breakfast, only to find him scribbling away. Masamune had refused to move. He insisted that he had to write a letter out, regardless if he missed breakfast or not. Tiger was still confused over the nature of the letter. The dragon had not disclosed the contents.
Masamune bent over a fresh of piece of parchment, his eyebrow furrowing lower. Tiger chewed her lip and took a deep breath. "My Lord, what are you trying to write? Maybe I could help." she offered. Masamune swung round on his chair and was about to speak when Tiger sensed an energy outside. Holding up her hand, Tiger stared at the door before looking back at her lord. The dragon blinked twice in confusion. "Da Ji is outside." Tiger mouthed in warning. Masamune nodded his thanks and tried to think of a lie.
"I was just trying to see if I could up with a plan. You know, ready for the next time I face that brat Lu Xun." Masamune falsely informed. The dragon felt like hitting himself. Is that the best I can come up with? he wondered while Tiger tried to stifle her chuckles. The pair waited in silence before Tiger nodded her head. For now Da Ji had left them in peace.
"Well my lord. I know you're not planning another attack. What are you really writing?" Tiger asked. Her voice was still low. Masamune rested his elbows on his knees and stared at the floor. Tiger waited for a while as Masamune tried to figure out how he was going to reply.
"Promise you won't laugh." He began. Tiger was taken back. The way her lord had reply made him sound like a little boy again. Granted the Date lord was the same age as herself but...Tiger gathered her thoughts and smiled as best she could.
"I promise."
--
Zhen Shao continued to shake her head while she tidied Lu Xun's room. Since the ambush on the way to Fan Castle, The Oda unit had not moved yet. The injured still needed to be treated. Mitsuhide, Ling Tong and Ma Chao had been sent by the Demon King on a scouting mission. Zhen Shao was glad that Lu Xun had not been called for the mission. He had too much on his mind.
Zhen paused in her actions and breathed deeply. When Lu Xun had told her of his feelings for the dragon general, Zhen had become confused. It was hard to work out why her lord had fallen in love with someone else, let alone another male, when he was meant to marry Sun Ce's daughter. But he has not wedding ring, no way for anyone to know about her. Maybe...Maybe it is pointless to worry. As long as my lord is happy. Zhen concluded as she continued with her duties.
Suddenly she had a strange sound by the window.
Zhen tensed, remembering hearing a sound like that before. The first time she had seen a ninja. The wu bodyguard racked her brains trying to remember the name of the blue claded ninja. "What did he call himself?" Zhen wondered, her back facing the opening window.
"Hattori Hanzo."Zhen whipped round, her mouth open in shock and surprise. Sitting on the window sill was a green-claded ninja. A coy smile was on the ninja's lips. "Am I right? You were thinking about Hanzo, correct?" The ninja asked. Zhen took a step back. She was unarmed while the Ninja was armed. Zhen bit her lip, wondering if she could reach her bow before she died. The ninja cocked her head to one-side in wonder.
"What do you want?" Zhen asked in a squeak, despite the fact she tried to show no fear. The truth was the ninja scared the daylights out of Zhen. The ninja let another coy smile be painted on her lips before she chuckled.
"Oh, how rude of me little one. I am Tiger. My Lord, Date Masamune, wishes me to send this letter to Lu Xun." Tiger informed, holding out a rolled up parchment. Zhen eyed it. Something just didn't fit with Zhen. Tiger frowned a little. "Are you not going to take it to your lord?" she asked, pushing the letter towards Zhen. The Wu bodyguard took in a deep breath and snatched the letter from the ninja. Tiger smiled again, bowing her head in a thank you. As Tiger lifted her head, she watched as Zhen was about to break the seal.
"What does the..." Zhen was cut off when Tiger harshly grabbed her wrist.
"It is not for your eyes little one. Do not open it." Tiger hissed. Zhen agreed in fear. Tiger smiled and let go of her wrist. Suddenly the chamber door slowly opened. Both Zhen and Tiger glanced over to the wooden door as Lu Xun entered.
"Zhen? Who are you talking to in here?" Lu Xun questioned. He cocked his head to one side, wondering why Zhen looked so frightened and holding a rolled up piece of parchment. Zhen snapped out of her trace and smiled warmly at her lord.
"My lord! I was only talking to..."Zhen trailed off as she turned to face the window sill. Tiger was gone. The chinese bodyguard frowned deeply before shaking her head. I can never understand ninjas. she thought before handing over the parchment to Lu Xun. "Lord Date Masamune's bodyguard delivered it. She insisted that only you read it." Zhen informed. Lu Xun quickly opened it and began to read. Zhen watched her lord carefully.
"Lord Lu Xun?"
--
Despite himself, Masamune shivered as he waited for Lu Xun. Tiger eyed the forest that surrounded them carefully, finger the hilt of her dagger. It was too dark for her liking. "If it is not too bold to say my lord, we are wondering into a dangerous area." Tiger muttered. Masamune continued to stare at the ground. His mind was whirling with thoughts. Suddenly a rustling sound was heard, causing both Tiger and Masamune to reach for their weapons.
"Show yourself!" Masamune barked. The bushes parted as Zhen tripped and tumbled out of the bush. She whined a little to herself as she rubbed her head. Lu Xun was quickly at her side, trying to find any wounds she might have gotten.
"Zhen, are you okay?" he inquired. The little bodyguard nodded her head before noticing the other two warriors. Lu Xun stood up first, helping Zhen to her feet. "Masamune." Lu Xun regarded. Masamune looked towards Tiger who nodded her head. She turned her attention to Zhen as the younger bodyguard dusted herself down.
"Zhen Shao, would you like to come with me for a moment?" Tiger questioned. Zhen eyed Tiger carefully, looking at her out stretched hand. Zhen looked at Lu Xun who nodded his head, making sure she had her weapon on her. Tiger seemed to notice it. "Don't worry Lord Lu Xun. We will merely be on guard duty. Lord Masamune does not want anyone interrupting your little meeting." she informed. Silence passed between the two warriors as they watched their bodyguards disappear into the forest.
"I'm glad you came." Masamune muttered. Lu Xun turned to watch the dragon sit down on a log. "I thought I had wasted my time writing that letter out." The dragon added almost in a sigh. Lu Xun felt his cheeks heat up.
"Why did you want to meet me? Now of all times? We're at war Masamune and you just decided to talk now..." Lu Xun shook his head. He wanted to tell Masamune everything, but something was stopping him. Masamune watched the Wu officer for a little while, his own inner turmoil driving him insane. Lu Xun stared straight at Masamune. "Did you finally take my speech to heart?"
Masamune nodded his head. "And a lot more it seems." The confusion on Lu Xun's face said more then words could. "I...had a dream. It was a strange dream, something I've never had before in my life."
"It was in a field wasn't it?"
Masamune turned to look at Lu Xun. The other male had moved and was now sitting on the same log. Masamune dumbly nodded his head. "I had the same dream too. We had been training. You had fallen asleep and when you woke up you couldn't remember anything." Lu Xun paused and touching his bottom lip. "I can still remember it." he whispered. Masamune watched the other male for sometime.
--
"Tiger..."
The said ninja glanced over to Zhen as the wu bodyguard watched the stars. "Such a strange name." Zhen commented. Tiger smiled, her attention now turned to the ground. She toyed with the strings of her mask. A habit she did whenever she was restless.
"It's not my real name. No-one but a few people know my real name." Tiger began. Zhen cocked her head to one side in wonder. "The first warrior I served, Lady NeNe, gave me that name when I wouldn't tell her. She said I had the look of a tiger." The ninja explained.
"So...what is your real name?" Zhen questioned. Tiger bit her lip. She wondered whether or not she could tell Zhen. In the end she decided to go ahead since she knew that their destinies would be woven together.
"Azumi."
Zhen smiled. "Azumi huh? Such a pretty name." she looked back up at the sky and gasped. "A shooting star! I haven't seen one of those in a while." Zhen closed her eyes quickly and made a wish. Tiger watched the whole thing, a bemused smile on her face.
She's just too sweet to be a bodyguard. Tiger thought.
--
Masamune shook his head. Lu Xun had been the one to confess everything leaving Masamune slightly dumbfounded. Lu Xun began to hate himself for even mentioning. "I suppose you don't feel the same way." Lu Xun whispered. Masamune noticed a tear trailing down Lu Xun's cheek. "I'm such a fool." Lu Xun choked out. Masamune wiped the lone tear away causing Lu Xun to jump.
"If you really wanna know...I do." Masamune smiled warmly at Lu Xun. "I do feel the same about it. It's just...very..." Masamune racked his brain for a better way to phrase his sentence. He laughed to himself. "The whole conversation sounded better in my head." Masamune admitted, scratching the back of his neck. Lu Xun chuckled to himself.
"I know what you mean." he replied. The two warriors were silent, the whole affair a little to strange for their liking. "Anyway...about the speech I gave to you..." Lu Xun was cut off when Masamune placed his hand on top of the wu warrior's hand. Lu Xun looked at Masamune, who gave the smallest of smiles.
"You were right about everything you said. We could learn so much from each other it would be crazy to be enemies." Masamune replied. Lu Xun said nothing.
Suddenly he crushed his lips against Masamune's causing the dragon to squeak in surprise. Masamune could only muse that his reaction was just like his dream. The only thought running through the dragon's mind was how soft Lu Xun's lips were when the pair fell off the log and hit the floor.
Another chapter done. Thank you to runickenaz, AZNchaos07, Royal Demon Rose, Silverone & ToastVII. Now I did create a new AMV of this pairings which is dedicated to a friend and to everyone who loves this story. The link is one my homepage at youtube