A/N: Hello, everyone. Sorry, I planned on updating this sooner but I've had a ridiculous amount of homework lately. This might not be the best chapter either, but I really tried. Some of it is just filler stuff...but I've written all of it to develop the friendship between Sima Zhao and Jia Chong. And in case anyone was wondering, no, it's not slash, just friendship. Just letting y'all know.
Disclaimer: I don't own Dynasty Warriors.
"Jia! Jia!" Zhao called out, looking worried. "Where the hell did you go, moron?!" He hurried towards Wu's castle, biting his lip. He cut down any soldiers in his path, noting with growing unease that there weren't very many. Eventually, he stumbled upon the corpse of a woman. "Ah…he was here…" the Sima mumbled, sighing. "Not many other people could take Lady Lianshi down…" Curiously, he examined the room. When he saw a turquoise pendant of the JadePalace, he felt his blood run cold. "He would never just leave this. Something must've happened. Shit, shit, shit." He continued going forward through the castle, cursing the whole way.
Jia Chong slowly made his way to Ding Feng's room, looking a bit pained, yet determined. He reached for his pendant to cling to, freezing upon not finding it. "Where on earth…" he frowned. "I guess it's a sign. Perhaps, now that I've lost it, Zhao will find it. Then, my work here will be done." He chuckled bitterly upon reaching his destination, slowly walking inside.
"So you managed to get here?" the Wu officer standing in the back of the room looked at the intruder evenly, studying him. "You got past Lady Lianshi. Not without injury though, I see. I'll have to finish the job, him?" He pulled out his chakram, raising it.
"As I'll finish my own job. I must help Lord Sima Zhao realize his dream," Chong replied, drawing his own weapons.
"Haven't you already helped plenty? You really shouldn't give your life for such people. You could always just join us, you know," Feng pointed out. "There's no need to lose you life."
"I'm afraid I can't do that. Despite what you may think, I pride myself upon being loyal. I won't defect for anyone. Least of all you," the advisor kept his chin up, meeting Ding Feng's gaze evenly.
The Wu officer shrugged. "You can't say I didn't offer."
"You're right, I can't," Chong replied smoothly, smirking faintly. He feinted to the right, instead throwing his axes to the left. They slashed two incisions on his opponent's shoulder and chest.
"Tricking is for weaklings. I prefer fighting head on," Feng snarled, rearing up and swinging his giant blade in a would-be fatal blow, had Chong not jumped out of the way just in time.
"Then I suppose I'll simply have to live with the title of weakling forever in your eyes," the raven countered, chuckling softly. He dashed behind the Wu officer, burying one of his axes into Feng's back. Feng let out a guttural growl, turning and charging Jia Chong. The startled advisor tripped and fell backwards, a bit of fear in his eyes finally showing. So far, the adrenaline rushing through his body had kept his injury from affecting him too much, but now…now it was starting to hurt fairly badly. His head spun, and he was unable to concentrate on anything. He only had one axe left now. Things weren't looking too good…
Sima Zhao hurried into Ding Feng's chambers just in time to see his advisor get struck by a huge ring blade. A pained gasp made the Sima wince. He quickly drew his sword, advancing behind Ding Feng and piercing the Wu officer straight through his chest. Zhao noted the axe already buried in his enemies' chest. Feng's eyes widened in shock before he fell forward, crushing Jia Chong beneath him. Zhao shoved him away in a panic. "Jia! What the hell were you thinking?!"
Jia coughed quietly, weakly setting his second axe beside himself. "He didn't…he didn't hit me.." he wheezed. "I blocked it…"
"You're still hurt, moron!" Zhao ran a shaky hand through his hair. "Damnit, Jia."
Jia stayed silent for a few moments. "Mm…did you find the seal?" he asked softly. "I seem to have lost it."
"Well, yeah, actually. I did." The Sima nodded and held said pendant to show his friend. "Do you want it back?"
"No, no…this means you'll finally be able to…handle things on your own…" the raven closed his eyes and relaxed, exhaling.
"I can't handle things on my own! I'm not letting you die here, you asshole. Shut up and come on home. We'll save you. Don't act like you're leaving," Zhao carefully picked Jia up, carrying him out of the castle. The advisor looked embarrassed, but he leaned on his friend.
"You can handle things, though. You…really don't have to go through all this trouble…just for me," he whispered.
"But I need you. You're my best friend. Someone I can trust. Someone I can count on. So I definitely need you." Zhao sighed quietly and shook his head, looking sad. "You can't say shit like that. I know you don't like to get close to people, but please give me a chance, Jia. You're important. Don't give up."
The advisor looked at his general with slightly widened eyes, pausing before smiling weakly. "Zhao…" he chuckled almost bitterly. "I'll do my very best. And, honestly…my lord, I consider us rather close already. But…if you insist, we…we can talk as friends more often. Thank you…" He looked vaguely happy. "…I'm…feeling a bit light-headed, though…can we go b-back…?"
"Right! Yeah, of course. Sorry. No need to thank me, Jia. I really just want you to be okay." The Sima started walking again, quickening his pace.
"So it…won't interfere with my work?" his friend teased, laughing weakly.
"Well, no, not this time," Zhao mumbled, rolling his eyes and looking embarrassed. He finally walked into camp, going straight to Jia's tent. He rested the raven on his make-shift. "Just…hang on a moment. I'll contact my father for a medic, and in the mean time, I'll see if anyone here knows anything about medicine…" The general went outside, his worry finally seeping onto his face. He looked around. "…Guys, can anyone help me? Jia Chong is hurt…"
When there was no answer, the Sima sighed helplessly and hastily went to his own tent, writing a letter to his father.