Disclaimers: Don't ask, don't own, don't sue. Xiu Soi I own.
Chapter 8
The morning light hit her eyes again as she stirred from her slumber. She felt her eyes sting as she tried to block the sunlight from her eyes. Where was she again? Oh yeah…
She had just cried herself to sleep that night…She stayed in her bed, refusing to get up. She didn't have a face to show them after her pathetic outburst last night…
Well, what she said was true, wasn't it? She shook it from her mind as she got up from the bed. She was still wearing the clothes she had at the festival. She changed into a dirty brown turtle-neck sweater and shorts. As she laced her rubber shoes, her mind drifted through the memories that she had shared with the Wu officers in the past weeks. There was much laughter, warmth, and even if Sun Ce was a total jerk sometimes, she came to like him. Tears stung her eyes at the thought that all of it was a lie.
"You know that's not true"
She bolted up and was greeted by a figure by her window. It was another androgynous being like Kayriel, only this one had short silver hair, black and white robes. She also noted that it was blindfolded.
"Who are you? Were you sent by Kayriel? Are you here to make my life more miserable?" She challenged the being.
"I am not here to bring you further pain, Soi…" the being replied serenely.
"Oh, I get it. You're here to give me another choice" she scoffed.
"No…not that either"
She stood up and faced the being. "What do you want then?"
It stood up from the sill and walked towards her. It brought its hand up to her face and wiped her tears away.
After that, it wordlessly withdrew its hand and went back to its position. Soi held her hand to her cheek and looked at the being, puzzled. "You came here…just to do that?
The being nodded. "Also…" it added "to lift the veil of hatred and mistrust from your eyes…"
"What veil? My eyes can see and it clearly sees that I do not belong here."
"Tell me…how do you know?"
"I just know"
"So you know…" it added carefully "but you don't FEEL that way don't you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Knowing is to use your mind…while feeling is to use your heart."
"I have no heart."
"But you do Soi…you're just afraid to admit it…" It stood up, and felt the interior of the room with its hands. "Tell me, what happens when one of your senses is incapacitated? Let's say your sense of sight…what will happen to the others?"
"Easy. They will automatically be extra sensitive so as to fill the absence of the other."
"Correct…if you fail to see then your sense of hearing, touch, taste, smell will become more powerful…same goes for everything…that's how balance is achieved. And if you shut your mind…you will hear the quiet voice of your heart, telling you the truth…"
"You're so like Kayriel… You speak in riddles…I don't get it"
It looked up thoughtfully. "Tell me…why do we close our eyes when we kiss…? Why do we close them when we dream? Why do we close them when we want solace…?"
"It's instinct."
"Not just that…answer what you feel, not how you think."
She closed her eyes. She once again pictured the comet, Lu Xun's gentle eyes, Zhou Yu's smile and the peoples faces.
"It's because…the most beautiful things cannot be seen by our eyes alone…"
The being nodded. She opened her eyes again. "But what does that have to do with me? You're just screwing my mind like Kayriel did!"
"That is because you try to understand but do not listen…when Kayriel gave you those choices…are they the only choices present?"
Soi fell silent and thought about it. She answered slowly "No…there are always more than two choices…sometimes emotions blocks us from realizing that…but…"
"And why is that, Xiu Soi?"
"Wait a moment! Who are you really? What do you want?"
"If I told you who I am, will that make a difference? Will you be able to save yourself? Will you be able to save your world? Will you be able to learn your destiny?"
"No! All I'm saying is that I'm sick and tired of you people, whoever you are, try to dictate me! I'm tired of you all saying that I have only two choices when there are more! I'm tired of you saying that the world will be in chaos because of my and my stupid mistakes! Let me tell you, I won't make those mistakes! And even if I did, it can always be remedied! There are no fixed paths! We have one destination and its up to us to carve out that path for ourselves! Who are you to tell me that I don't have what it takes!"
The being smiled. "You answered your own questions, Soi…"
"That doesn't mean that I trust you! What is your motive for helping me? What do I have to pay for this so called 'kindness'?"
"All I want in return…is for you to open your heart to the truth, and at the same time, close your eyes when you dream…when in doubt, block out all senses, except the one that matters most…"
Soi was dumbstruck as the wind blew and the being disappeared from her very eyes. She sat down and tried to catch her breath. What…?
After a while, she stood up again and walked around the castle. She remembered all the times they spent on the courtyard, rooftop and dining table. Of how Ling Tong and Gan Ning would try to outdo each other, and how Huang Gai would always give them a 30 minute lecture whenever they, Xiao, Shang and her, would try to sneak one of his bombs for a closer look. How Sun Ce would pull all the pranks and how Zhou Yu would be sigh like a mother…
The spot where Zhou Tai tried so hard to go easy on her and how Quan cheered for her…Of how Taishi Ci would not go easy on her and always made her land on her behind. Of Lu Xun and Da Qiao, how worried they were every time she would lock herself in her room for hours, miss either lunch or dinner.
She stopped and closed her eyes.
We close our eyes when we dream…because it's beautiful when you see the world with no biases but your own…sometimes we have to block all other senses and use the one that matters most, in order to see what's true,…and we need to close our eyes because they sometimes fool us…
All the feelings came flooding back to her and then she knew…no doubt about it.
It was not a lie. She opened her eyes and smiled. Bless her uncanny sensitivity! But...would they forgive her…?
She had to find out. She raced towards the dining hall and found that it was empty. Puzzled, she ran towards the other parts of the castle, yet still, no sign of the officers were seen.
She saw a serving girl cleaning the hall. She approached her and asked "Excuse me…? Good Morning…"
The serving girl saw her and instantly bowed. But before this happened, she caught the maid and made her look at her. She smiled at the sweet little thing.
"None of that remember?"
"My apologies, my lady"
She sighed. Anyway… "Where are the other officers?"
"Oh, they left. Three of their territories were under siege and had to dispatch everyone…"
"Oh…even Shang, Xiao and Da?"
"Yes my lady"
She sighed. This was, after all a warring era.
"When did they leave?"
"At dawn milady…"
Great. She thanked the serving maid and went to the palace gates.
"Hey, s'up guys?"
"Oh, Lady Soi! Everything is going fine!" one of the guards beamed.
"I was just wondering…all the officers left, right? Who's going to protect the castle?"
"Ah, due to the siege, the whole army had to be mobilized…2 out of the three locations were attacked by Cao Cao's forces. They needed all the help they can get so they left the palace guards and reserves to protect the castle. But do not fret, Lady Soi. The Cao Cao's forces has their hands full with Lu Bu's forces and our own…the kingdom of Shu is still new and will not risk an attack, and besides, how can they know that the city lacks troops? We don't really need it…Wu's walls are strong!"
Soi smiled at the guard, yet she couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"Perfect. Everything is going according to plan…" Sima Yi smirked as their lookouts have reported that most of Wu's troops have left the city. They have left it unguarded, just like we planned"
"I have to admit, Sima Yi, that your strategies are indeed brilliant."
"It was nothing my lord. All I did was to spread rumors that you yourself and lord Cao Pi will lead the attack so that the ignorant Sun Ce will strike there at full force and would leave things here unguarded. And it will take them 10 days to reach their destination…and once they defeat the bait and find out that it was all a ruse, they will not be able to come back in time"
"And making one of the soldiers wear father's armor was a bit sneaky…"
Sima Yi merely waved his fan.
Zhen Ji scoffed. "I still can't see why we should go through all this trouble for the so-called 'Falling Star'"
"My Lady, I am afraid that your envy has no place here. The Falling Star is a valuable asset. If we can recruit her in our ranks, the morale in our soldiers and the support of the people will rise. We have the Han emperor yet since the Falling Star have appeared, we are on equal footing with Wu. We have to get both to ensure victory! Or perhaps, you're just jealous because she bested you in beauty and grace? Everybody wants her, a girl, and not you, who is a full woman…"
"Shut up!"
"I cannot see how you can hate something so beautiful!" Zhang He said mournfully.
"She hates everything more beautiful than her" Xiahou Yuan quipped.
Zhen Ji shot him a deadly stare and he smirked.
"Yet how do we know that the Falling Star is there? For all we know, she could be with them" Xiahou Dun asked.
"Improbable. Sun Ce is not so much of a fool to bring their most important asset to the battlefield and on such a long march! I ask you, do we bring the Emperor along when we go to battle?" Sima Yi impatiently asked.
"No…"
"Then that answers your question." He turned towards the direction of Wu. "Just wait Falling Star…we are coming."
As Soi swallowed the last of her breakfast, a soldier came rushing in through the doors.
"Lady Xiu Soi!"
She stopped and stared at the guard. "What's wrong?"
He caught his breath and looked up at Soi, fear and urgency in his eyes. "Cao Cao's forces were spotted several miles from here! My lady, we do not know how this happened, but please escape! It is apparent that they are after you!"
Soi sat there, dumbstruck. A siege…? Here? The citizens…the people!
She looked down from the window and saw that everyone was in a state of panic. "How many are there?" she asked quietly.
"Estimated number of troops are about 50,000! 5 units all in all!"
"How many do we have?"
"We only have 5,000 among us! 2 units all in all!"
Oh S#IT! The only capable people that are here are the guards and reserves…they don't have the experience!
She looked down at the city. She loved this place…and they loved it here…and the people…
Make a choice….
A choice.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. There must be a way!
"My lady, a carriage will be prepared for your escape. Cao Cao's forces not arrive here until nightfall!"
Nightfall…A choice…"How long will Sun Ce and the others get here?"
"They left with 30 day's worth of food my lady. It will take them 10 days to reach their destination and another ten to get back. The defense of the territories were expected to last not more than 10 days, as the siege was started 10 days ago"
They'll never get here in time…A choice…Then, she remembered.
Block out all senses…except the one that matters most…She opened her eyes. She turned towards the soldier. "Escape from that arrogant son of a bitch? I don't think so. I'm not going to hand Wu over to him without a fight!"
"But lady, it is you—"
"That he wants? Sure. He does. But Wu would be a wonderful addition to his collection of cities. And seeing this is the seat of power of the Sun Family, one he gets his hands on this city, morale will go low and that will be a slap in the face of the Sun Family! And no one has the right to step on Sun Ce but me!"
"My lady…?"
"I will fight if I have to. First things first…the safety of the people. Get them underground, out of their houses, especially the one who are close to the walls! And gather the reserves pronto!"
She looked at the guard and saw that he was staring at her funny. "What are you still standing around for! Pick your ass up and move! We don't have much time!"
With that, the guard suddenly remembered the order and rushed out of the room. Soi looked out the window. "Is this the choice…? If it is, I have no regrets."
It was almost nightfall and Cao Cao's forces were drawing near.
The soldiers were quite puzzled over lady Xiu Soi's orders. First, she ordered all people to go underground or hide anywhere, but not in their houses. She then ordered some soldiers to pour water on the parts that were close to the walls, the ground, even the houses. Then she ordered them to smear grease on the upper half of the wall.
She then ordered to all of them to gather all the bottles and strongest liquor they could find. Next, she also ordered for them to cut all the grass they can find, scatter it around the walls outside and pour alcohol over it. She then told them to cut some strips of cloth. She also decreed that all gunpowder and firecrackers be brought but not to gather it outside where it will be exposed. She also had a carriage ready and was harnessed to the horses, but no driver nor passenger. She made it run away from the city, opposite the direction of Wei. The only sane order that she gave was to dig pits.
Soi strapped the arrows on her back and grabbed the spear. She looked at it and then up at the sky.
"If you're asking me what my answer is, it's this: I don't know exactly what's going on, but that won't stop me from defending Wu! I will fight for the only family I've ever known, even at the cost of my life! I will fight for my love and no force anywhere can stop me from doing so, you hear me?"
She walked outside and felt the chill of the night air on her face. "Let's go"
She walked towards the reserves, newbies all of them. Some were eager, anxious and scared. She cleared her throat and said in a loud voice for everyone to hear "This is the game plan: no one, and absolutely no one will attempt to go out of the gates nor the walls! We will focus on defense! Most of our jobs will be to extinguish possible fire attacks! If ever they try to burn the gates, extinguish or reinforce the gates! No one is getting in nor out! Barricade them with everything that you can! I will handle the walls! We will hold out until Sun Ce and the others arrive! First priority is the safety of the people! Second is to minimize the damage to the city! Third are you guys! I don't want any of you taking stupid risks and playing hero! One slip up from one of you and we are so dead, got it?"
She was awarded with a nod from the soldiers. She smiled. "Now, any questions?"
"What about you my lady? Your safety?"
She stopped. She didn't even consider it…She shook her head. "No. Priority are you guys, the people and the city. Sun Ce all left you to me and I intend to for him to find you still in the state when he left you: intact and alive. You, the people, Wu."
She turned her back to them. "They will think that we are unprepared and weak…and they will be careless. We have the upper hand. We must show that we are weak, and then catch them off guard with our strength!"
"My Lady!"
"Yes…?"
"To bless our troops for the battle…may you grace us with one song?"
"I don't think we have time…"
"Please my lady! The heaven's will surely hear our prayer if you sing for us!"
"To grant us courage and strength!"
The soldiers shouted and cheered. Soi looked around. Once again, hopeful faces surrounded her. She smiled and let the words flow from her mouth:
kimi ga seou itami no hate ni wa
miushinatte ita kanousei ga matte ite
namida mo sugu ni wasurete shimatte
atarashii kairaku ni oboreru mon sa
(At the end of the pain that you are burdened with
The possiblity that you've lost sight is waiting for you
Soon forgetting your tears
You'll indulge in a new pleasure
hametsu wo mezasu rekishi no sutoorii
kimi to futari naraba
sore hodo kowaku wa nai
(A story of history heading toward destruction
When it's just you and I
It's not that scary)
zetsubouteki na sekai wa ima mo
ikinobiyou to agaki tsuzukeru yo
sukuiyou no nai keshiki mo kitto
ayatsuri you de bara iro ni mieru
(Even now this hopeless world
Continues to struggle to survive
Certainly with some manipulation
The hopeless landscape will appear to be rose colored)
She stopped and smiled. "That's all you're getting! If you want to hear the rest, you have to survive!"
They cheered and headed out. Soi took a deep breath and shouted the battle cry "BRING IT ON WEI!"
"Everything is going according to plan…" Sima Yi smirked, as they reached Wu. It was night time, and a soldier rushed towards them. "My Lord! Our scouts have spotted a carriage leave the city earlier! Some of them have already given chase!"
"I'm on it, father" Cao Pi answered as he pushed his horses to run. He was followed by Zhang He and an angry Zhen Ji.
Cao Cao smiled as he surveyed the city's walls "Not bad…"
"A fine gift along with the Falling Star" Sima Yi nodded. He waved his fan around. "Once we get both her and the Emperor, no one would dare defy us! With the Imperial Family and a goddess by our side, we will undobtedly win this war!"
"Your strategy, as always, are brilliant Sima Yi." Cao Cao nodded.
"Alright men! Bring the rams!"
After a few hours, the rams were brought, with soldiers manning them.
As the men pushed the rams towards the gate, some of them were suddenly fell into the pits that were dug earlier.
"My Lord! Problem with the rams!"
"What? They fell into the pit? Cao Cao shouted.
Sima Yi scoffed. "A minor setback my lord…there is no one inside but idiots! They are nothing without their officers"
As he spoke, some things came flying towards the rams. They heard a series of breaking sound and within seconds, the rams exploded.
"What?" Sima Yi bellowed. And as he looked up at the walls, he saw none other than her…the Falling Star.
"Impossible! She's in a carriage far away from here!" Sima Yi exclaimed. He caught her smirk at him and shouted.
"How dare you trample on the grounds of Wu! You shall all pay for disrespecting the Falling Star!"
Instantly, some of the soldiers screamed.
"The Falling Star!"
"She's going to kill us with her divine hand! Run for your lives!"
Most of the soldiers fled, their morales dropping.
"Come back here you fools!" Cao Cao shouted. Damn! Right now, Cao Pi and the others are chasing an empty carriage…Now most of the soldiers fled.
"My lord! The estimated soldiers that remained with us are about 45, 000"
"Ha! We can still handle it! But first, we would have to return to camp in order to regroup and strengthen the morale of the soldiers! And also, await the return of master Cao Pi"
Cao Cao agreed and headed back to camp.
The first day had been successful, and her scare tactics worked, but can she hold on for 29 more days?
Soi looked up. "If there is anyone out there…I beg of you…"
She bowed down and closed her eyes. "Give me strength."
TBC
Author's notes: I love Pierrot! This song was "Barairo no Sekai" by the artists and translations were by mognet. It came from the anime "Getbacker" and I thought it was so appropriate! Major battle of wits between Sima Yi and Soi coming next chapter! 5,000 versus 45,000? How will Soi pull this off? Comments, suggestions and the like will make the story more interesting! I'm so open! You can even request something if you want! Thanks for the reviews!