A/N: Here's the next chapter! I'm hoping to update this as often as I can, and considering I don't get days off very often, I'm using this opportunity to post chapter four. This chapter features Wen Yang and Xiahou Ba as medics! Yay, right? Woo. Sorry, this really is a pretty pathetic filler chapter, I'm trying to move things along. Ba and Yang kind of lighten the mood a little bit, I hope.
Disclaimer: I do not own Dynasty Warriors.
In his tent, Jia Chong was laying on his bed, his eyes closed and his breathing shallow. There was a sheen of sweat on his forehead and he was even paler than normal. Sima Zhao peeked inside, biting his lip. He sighed upon realizing that his friend was asleep, sitting beside the bed. "I sent word to my father, and I'm pretty sure Wen Yang will be able to help you once he returns from the battle field. You'll be okay. I'm not going to let you die."
The silence that met him didn't ease Zhao's worry. It only served to further it. He closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. "…I really don't know what I'll do if you die. I'll be totally lost. I mean, there's no one who could ever replace you…" he reluctantly opened his eyes back up, glancing at Jia and frowning. He stood. "What am I doing, sitting here? I should be trying to help more. Jeez, I really need to step things up…" he smoothed back Jia's hair affectionately, smiling faintly before making his way back outside.
Wen Yang stood outside of Sima Zhao's tent, looking anxious. When the general finally walked up, looking unusually tired, the knight was a bit hesitant to say anything. He finally did speak up, however. "My lord…you said you required assistance…?"
The Sima blinked and glanced in Yang's direction. "Hm…? Oh, yeah. I do need help. Jia Chong is injured. Why, can you help?" He asked, looking hopeful.
Yang shifted uncomfortably, but he nodded. "Yes, I can help. I think. What happened? It may be beyond my skills if he is injured very badly."
"He has an arrow in his chest. Is there any hope of him living?"
The knight's brow furrowed in thought. At last, he replied, "There's hope. Master Jia Chong is a strong person. I will do all that I can to assist. I'd hate to see an ally die." 'Not after seeing Zhuge Dan die…' he added in his head, but he didn't like to bring up that subject around the general. It was rather touchy.
"Thank you, Wen Yang. I really do appreciate this," Zhao said quietly. Wen Yang nodded, internally frowning. Lord Sima Zhao certainly was acting out of character…this was really a big deal. Yang bowed his head.
"I will go right away, and give you tidings of his condition as soon as I can," he assured the brunette before swallowing and heading to his own tent. He took off his helmet and his bulky armor, setting it beside his bed. "Jia Chong is injured, of all people. This does not bode well…" Yang gathered up his medical supplies and bit his lip, seeming to be debating something. After a few moments, he went to Xiahou Ba's tent, stepping inside. Ba was asleep on his bed, curled up. He mumbled something in his sleep, shifting.
Yang knelt beside the bed and poked the brunette rapidly, looking slightly annoyed. "…wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up," he chanted, eventually waking the sleepy warrior up. Ba opened his eyes and shrieked, shoving the knight away and scrambling to the corner of the bed. Eventually, he relaxed enough to speak.
"Jeez, Yang, what the heck are you doing?! Can't anyone get some shut-eye around here?" He crossed his arms.
Wen Yang just stood up straight and brushed himself off, shrugging. "…Lord Sima Zhao requires our assistance. Master Jia Chong is injured, and we're the only ones here who can help him. And you're going to help me help him, got it?"
"Oh. Um, okay, I guess. I don't want to see anyone die, not that Jia Chong likes me all that much," Ba slowly stood and stretched, yawning. "Mm…what should I bring? All my medical supplies, or what?"
"Probably all of them," Yang shrugged, "I'm bringing all of mine. I hope this will go alright."
"Okay. I'm sure it will," the warrior gathered up his supplies before walking out of the tent with the knight, heading to Jia Chong's tent.
Wen Yang cautiously peeked inside, frowning deeply upon seeing the sorry state of Jia Chong. The advisor was shivering and pale, which meant he probably had a fever…
"We need to be quick, or this could end really badly…" the knight said quietly, quickly preparing some herbs. "Check and see if he is hot. If so, give him this to drink. If not, begin to remove the arrow from his chest."
"Yes, sir," Xiahou Ba mock-saluted and chuckled very softly, pressing his palm to Jia Chong's forehead. "He's practically burning up, Yang. We really do need to be quick…" his expression turned serious. He took the cup that held the newly made herb mixture and carefully pulled Jia Chong into a sitting position, raising the cup and pouring the liquid into the advisor's mouth. Once Ba was sure the medicine had been swallowed, he lowered Chong back onto the pillows.
"…I told you that already, you know. There's no need to repeat everything I say," Yang prepared bandages and a small knife, going over to the bed. "Time to remove this arrow. It certainly is embedded in his chest. This won't be easy. Can you cut the arrow head off, please?"
"Yeah, sure. I wasn't repeating you for no reason, I'm just kind of surprised about how serious this is," Ba rolled his eyes and took the knife, cutting the arrow head off quickly.
"Ah, I see. I have the bandages prepared, so you're going to remove the arrow. I'll make sure he doesn't bleed out afterwards," Yang's expression remained passive, but worry shone in his eyes. Ba fell silent for awhile.
"Alright. I can do this. I hope." He bit his lip and hesitated for a moment before yanking the arrow out in one stroke. A pained shout filled the tent until Wen Yang covered Jia Chong's mouth. Ba grimaced and covered his mouth, turning. "I'll be back…." He ran outside the tent, bending over and vomiting up his breakfast.
Yang ignored the warrior and swiftly began wrapping up Jia Chong's wound, looking almost afraid. "Don't scream, please. I'm sorry, it had to be done, master Jia Chong. You'll feel better soon…"
There was no reply from the advisor. His breathing grew heavy and a bit labored, and he weakly clutched the side of his bed. Yang wiped sweat from his forehead and put pressure on Chong's bleeding wound. Eventually, he stemmed the flow of blood, and looked relieved upon the discovery of Jia Chong being asleep again. "…Sleep well. I'll be back to check on you straight in the morning."
Yang stepped outside and blinked, seeing Xiahou Ba doubled over in front of the tent. "Ba, are you squeamish?"
Ba immediately stood up straight, but when he did, he looked a bit green again. "Yeah…" he admitted, looking embarrassed. "Sorry. I don't like seeing people I know in agony like that, especially when I was the one who caused it. I'm not feeling so well…I'm going to have to go back to sleep."
"There's no need to apologize," the knight's expression softened. "Go to sleep. I will let Lord Sima Zhao know how Jia Chong is, and how you helped out."
The warrior smiled weakly in appreciation. "Thanks, Yang. I'll see you tomorrow, then." He walked towards his tent, slipping inside and falling asleep almost as soon as he laid down.
Wen Yang nervously made his way to Sima Zhao's tent, stepping inside. "…Lord Sima Zhao?"
Zhao glanced up at him from the letter he was writing, running a hand through his hair. "Hello, Wen Yang. How's Jia Chong?"
"He has a fever, but Xiahou Ba and I have successfully removed the arrow from his chest. I'll check on him again in the morning, I just thought you would like an update," Yang informed him. The general frowned faintly and nodded.
"Thank you for letting me know. I'll have to thank Xiahou Ba tomorrow. Do you mind if I see Jia Chong after you check on him?"
"No, of course not. I'm sure he'll be awake." Yang nodded and yawned. "I'm going to go to sleep for the night. Good night, Lord Sima Zhao. You really should get some sleep, or you'll be exhausted." The knight bowed his head before heading outside.
Zhao blinked a few times, slowly setting his quill down. "Yeah…you're right…" he said quietly, standing and laying down on his bed. He closed his eyes and sighed. "Good night. I really hope tomorrow is a better day…"
Eventually, he fell asleep, still frowning faintly.