Chapter 10: Time to Chose
Zhen Shao looked round the darkened court-yard of Odawara castle. When the coast was clear, the little bodyguard led Lu Xun's horse out into the open. Zhen stiffened suddenly when she heard footsteps on the cobbles and slowly turned round. She let out a long breath as Lu Xun hurried closer to her. "Quickly my lord. We'll have to make up time to the meeting place." Zhen warned, keeping a tight grip on the reins of the horse.
Lu Xun said nothing as he mounted the horse. Zhen grabbed her bow and arrows before darting off to open the court-yard door. She was thankfully she had been in so many night time battles. Her eyes were so use to the dark, it made it easier for her to see. Once Lu Xun was outside of the court-yard, Zhen shut the door quietly and locked the door. The two slipped off into the night.
--
Masamune urged his horse on as Tiger caught up effortlessly beside him. The two had not said a word to each other as they continued on their way. Suddenly Tiger's left eye twitched again and she slowed down. Masamune raised an eyebrow, tugging on the reins of his horse. "Tiger? What's wrong?" Masamune called as Tiger continued to glare down the path they had come from. Despite the fact that Tiger was dressed in black, Masamune could just make out her figure.
"Lord Masamune, you must continue on." Tiger replied. Masamune chewed his lip but urged his horse on to resume it's journey. Tiger's eyes narrowed as she growled a little behind her scarf. "Hanzo, don't you ever give up?" Tiger whispered to herself before disappearing into the darkness. The deep disliking she had for Ieyasu's shadow surfaced as Tiger readied herself for a attack. Not long after Hanzo appeared from the shadows. He seemed confused, wondering why he of all people had lost Masamune's trail.
"Something's...not right." Hanzo grumbled. He waited, keeping his eyes peeled incase some-one like Fuma Kotaro made his grand enterance. But the night was silent. Hanzo paused before returning his sights to finding Masamune's trail. He took a step forward then out of the blue something slammed into his stomach. The action sent Hanzo flying backwards and in a dazzed state. He did not hear the sound of running feet move away.
--
Lu Xun let out another sigh and took his hat off his head. Zhen watched as her lord played with the two red ribbons before turning her sights back to the forest. Lord Masamune? Where are you? Zhen wondered when a rustling was heard around them. Zhen readied her bow and arrow as Lu Xun leapt to his feet. The rustling got louder as Masamune lead his horse into the clearing. Not long after Tiger made her enterance.
"Sorry about being late." Masamune mumbled, tying his horse's reins to a tree branch. He turned to face Lu Xun who let his hat drop to the floor. "I think we may have a slight problem." he added. Tiger nodded her head quickly causing both Zhen and Lu Xun to panic slightly. Masamune glanced at his bodyguard. "Who was following?" he inquried. Tiger took her time, removing the black scarf from around her mouth.
"Hanzo." she replied then turned her attention to Zhen. "Little one, perhaps we should leave on guard duty." she stated. Zhen nodded her head, a firm look in her eyes. The two bodyguards left their lord's.
--
Hanzo shook his head. Whatever had hit him came with force. It had knocked the wind out of the ninja and Hanzo cursed the creature who attacked him. Slowly stand up, the blue-cladded ninja took in the area around him.
Nothing. It was silent.
Hanzo cursed again when he could not find Masamune's trail. The ninja turned round, taking one last look round before heading back to the castle. How was he going to explain all of this to Da Ji?
--
Masamune stared at Lu Xun in shock. The former Wu Officer refused to look at the dragon, sensing that perhaps he may have angered his beloved. Lu Xun had blurted out how the relationship could not work and then there was silence after. "Are you saying this was a waste of our time? That this ment nothing to you?" Masamune began, his voice low. Lu Xun's head snapped round to look at him and he shook his head feverishly.
"No, I never ment it to sound like that! It's just..." Lu Xun's eyes teared up slightly as he turned away. "During this war someone's going to find out. With you fighting for Orochi and me fighting for Lord Nobunaga, then..." Lu Xun turned his eyes back to Masamune whose eye had softened. "I don't want to end up putting your life or Zhen and Tiger's life in danger." Lu Xun explained.
"I see your point." Masamune began. The cocky smirk that Lu Xun had come to love was back on Masamune's lips. "Which is why I came up with a plan." Masamune chuckled. Lu Xun cocked his head to one side. Masamune rubbed a finger his nose and turned his attention to the sky. "Maybe...Maybe the best way for us to be together is to run away. Whatcha say?" The dragon stated. Lu Xun paused to think.
The idea was just like the one he had thought of earlier that day. "But without an army we wouldn't stand a chance against Orochi or Lord Nobunaga." Lu Xun pointed out. He watched as Masamune lay down on the floor and placed his arms behind his head. Lu Xun smiled a little. The warrior slowly shifted to the floor before lying down next to Masamune. Lu Xun blushed a little as he lay his head on Masamune's armor cladded chest. The dragon wrapped his arm around his beloved.
"Don't worry. I do have a unit that is loyal to me and me alone. We'll make it Lu Xun. You, me, Zhen and Tiger. Nothing's gonna stop us." Masamune responded. Lu Xun closed his eyes and smiled.
--
Tiger kept her eyes peeled as she sat on a high branch in a lone tree. The small encounter with Hanzo had left her on edge and antsy. Then again any encounter she had with Hanzo had always left her antsy. Clutching her right hand, Tiger noticed a slight brusie on her knuckle. Damn it! she growled.
"A-Azumi?"
Zhen's voice broke through Tiger's musing. The ninja looked down to see Zhen staring back up at her. "Yes Zhen?" she inquried. Zhen said nothing at first. The little bodyguard took a deep breath and began to climb up the tree. Tiger smiled warmly at her sister and held out her hand. Zhen smiled back, took Tiger's hand and was pulled up to sit on the branch.
"Was that ninja really following you?" Zhen asked once she was comfortable. Tiger was silent before nodding her head. Zhen bite her lip. "Then he knows what is happening. He'll tell Orochi and our lords will be in danger." Zhen paniced. Tiger placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Azumi?"
"I managed to cut Hanzo off before he could get any further. I covered up Lord Masamune's trail as best as I could. Hanzo has not found out about our lord's meetings. We're safe for now Zhen." Tiger reassured. Zhen smiled a little but returned to chewing on her lip thoughtfully. Tiger frowned. "Zhen, Lord Masamune has already thought of a plan. We're all going to run away, start a new life somewhere else."
Zhen turned back to Tiger. "Lord Lu Xun was thinking of something like that this morning. Perhaps they really are soul-mates." Zhen smiled. Tiger nodded her head, ruffling Zhen's hair as she did.
--
Lu Xun sat up rubbing his head. Lying on the floor wasn't the most comfortable of places but it would have to do. Masamune continued to watched Lu Xun as the other male, now shirt-less, tucked his kness under his chin. "So, you're saying we have to chose a side." Lu Xun whispered. Masamune followed Lu Xun's lead and sat up. He placed a hand on Lu Xun's bare back. The other male's skin seemed to shine in the moon-light.
"It's the only way Lu Xun. You and I both know that." Masamune replied in a almost pleading tone. Lu Xun streatched his legs, a sigh escaping his lips. The air was tense before Lu Xun spun and hugged Masamune's torso. The action caught Masamune by surprise and sent the pair falling to the floor again. "Oof!" Masamune groaned. The dragon glanced down Lu Xun whose face was buried in the dragon's chest. Masamune felt tears fall from Lu Xun's eyes.
"Then if I have to chose, I chose to be with you." Lu Xun's muffled voice stated. Masamune watched as the warrior raised his head. "I have nothing left of my old kingdom. I know that serving Lord Nobunaga will not replace the emptiness I feel for both you and the Wu Kingdom. I'll leave everything to be with you." Lu Xun chocked out. Masamune smiled and hugged Lu Xun back.
--
Zhen sat behind her lord as the pair made their way back to the castle. The two were silent, Lu Xun urging his horse on faster. " Lord Lu Xun...did Lord Masamune talk to you about a plan?" Zhen suddenly asked. Lu Xun glanced over his shoulder briefly and nodded his head.
"Yes Zhen. He told me that maybe running away to start a new life would be better for both of us." Lu Xun replied returning his sights to the road ahead. Zhen cocked her head to one side. The castle was coming up in front of them and it looked as though no-one was awake. Lu Xun sensed that Zhen was waiting for more to be said. "I told him I would leave the Oda forces to be with him." He added. Lu Xun was startled when Zhen hugged her lord tightly.
"My lord, I am happy that you have chosen your path. I will loyally follow you wherever the path takes you." Zhen informed with a small bow of her head. Lu Xun pulled on the horse's reins, signalling the horse to stop. He watched as Zhen slid down to the floor and dashed towards the doors of the castle court-yard.
"Azumi already told you, didn't she?" Lu Xun inquried, amused at Zhen's sudden show of emotion. Zhen pushed the door open before looking at her lord and nodded her head. Lu Xun dismounted from his horse and led the beast inside. "I knew you would follow me. I never doubted it for a second." He added. Zhen closed the door as quickly and quietly as she could before joining her lord's side.
"We'll make it Lord Lu Xun. I know we will." she smiled.
Thanks to runickenaz, www.blond-girl & AZNChaos07 for their reviews.