Chapter Seven
It was a dark and stormy night, it was out of season, Sun Quan found himself roaming the halls of the large palace, he couldn't sleep.
His father had been killed just a few days before and he was feeling the loss heavily. His fathers dreams of ruling the land had ended for him but Sun Ce had taken it upon himself to realize them. Sun Quan was relieved he didn't want to rule the land he didn't mind fighting for that dream but he wouldn't even know where to start running a country.
He lent against a wooden paneled wall and thought for a moment looking at the ceiling he felt so lonely, he had no close relationships with anyone in Wu he was only close to his brother and sister. He didn't know why it was that way he just felt pushed to the background and never tried to fight against it.
He carried on walking the halls alone gloomily, he stopped again and sighed he should try harder to make friends. The only person he had been interested in was Gan Ning but since his feelings for him seemed to be love he had distanced himself from him.
Sun Quan walked to his brothers' room and was about to walk through the door when he heard a very distinctive voice, one that resonated through is whole body. It was Gan Ning but what was he doing in his brother room so late? He couldn't help but wonder. His hand paused over the handle for some reason he couldn't bring himself to enter instead he stood by the door and listed to the conversation unfolding on the other side of the large doors.
"Yeah I'm worried about Quan, with dad being killed and all." He heard his brother voice say he could hear Gan Nings bells jingling he was moving around the room, for some reason that lightened Sun Quan's heart a little.
"I want you to watch over him for me, I can't always be there when needs me." Sun Ce finished looking over at Gan Ning who was now standing in the middle of the room with his hands on the back of his head. He looked over at Sun Ce
"Y' want me to baby-sit?" He asked Sun Quan on the other side of the door fumed he didn't need baby sitting he was a strong fighter and more then capable of looking after himself.
"Why don't'cha pick someone else, he hates me." Gan Ning sighed Sun Ce shook his head and told him that he had decided that Gan Ning was the man for the job.
Sun Quan on the other side of the door was infuriated he felt so humiliated and Gan Ning seemed to be making out that it was such a bother. He clearly didn't want to do it and the comment about Sun Quan hating him, to him just seemed like an excuse.
"If that's what you want then I guess I'll do it." Gan Ning finally said Sun Ce smiled and nodded. Sun Quan on the other side of the door couldn't hang around for anymore of the conversation he had heard quite enough. Why would Gan Ning do something he didn't want to? Was it for his brother? He wondered as he raced away from the room. He didn't want to think about it but he couldn't stop thoughts from rolling round in his head.
He ran outside into the rain he covered his face with his hand and a cold realization hit him hard as if he were being stabbed in the chest, Gan Ning must have agreed to do it because he was in love with his brother. Sun Quans legs gave way beneath him and he crashed to the floor in a heap, the lashing rain was pelting him and it was cold but he couldn't feel any of it, he was numb, there was just to much going on, with the death of his father, his loneliness and now the realization of only ever having a one sided love, he felt like he was being pulled into darkness and turmoil with no way out.
Gan Ning left Sun Ce's room followed by Lu Meng, Lu Xun and a few other generals they had, had a late night meeting. Gan Ning yawned as he walked away from the others meetings were always so boring a pointless to him, they just needed to tell him who to kill and he'd do it but there was no point talking to him about strategy.
He walked down one of the halls to his own room, he passed a large window, something caught his eye as lightning flashed he thought he saw someone out in the rain. He walked back to the window and looked out of it waiting for the next flash of lightning.
It hit and illuminated the man again as it had the first time Gan Ning thought he saw it. The man was sitting on the floor of the court yard with his legs folded under him, his arms were dropped by his sides with his hands on the floor, he was looking up at the sky his clothes looked soaked through and the rain was still falling heavy. Gan Ning couldn't pull himself away even though he could almost feel the pain Sun Quan was emanating he couldn't help but see only beauty in it. It wasn't the first time Sun Quan had completely captivated him, he was almost always on Gan Nings mind. The lightning may have illuminated the whole courtyard but the only thing Gan Ning saw was Sun Quan.