Chapter 10: Leave

Yun Lu sat on a chair and propped her head up with a fist on the table. "Dammit, when's Uncle gonna be back," she asked with a bored look.

"Do you actually think he will?" asked Ma Chao.

"Yep. He's dad's sworn brother, he can't just abandon us like that!"

"Hmph…really now?"

"Of course I'll come back!" Han Sui entered the tent. "How could you think of me like that??" He walked over to Yun Lu and ruffled her hair.

"Uncle!" Yun Lu gave her uncle a hug. "You're finally back!"

"What took you so long, Uncle?" asked Ma Chao, a tone of suspicion in his voice.

"I got held up back there. They had guards, everywhere! I had to hide until they left to run away. And you guys had already gone!"

"We wouldn't be here if we stayed around there any longer," replied Ma Chao.

"Whatever, at least we're all back, safe and sound," said Yun Lu, ending their little argument.

Hmm, Mengqi is still suspicious of Uncle. Well, I wasn't sure whose side he was on when Mengqi told me him and Cao Cao were friends once. But I think I'll trust Uncle, he's like our dad since our real one died…actually, Uncle's nicer. So really, I think Uncle's still on our side, Mengqi's just over suspicious.

At night, Yun Lu couldn't sleep. This happened very often, she could never fall asleep the first time, always had to get up in the middle of the night, walk around or do something else, before attempting to sleep again.

Yun Lu kept turning over in her bed. In the end, she gave up, walked out of her tent and grabbed a sword for safety. She sauntered around the camp. From what she could see, only the night guards and herself were awake. She breathed in the cold night air.

Hmmm, maybe I should get myself a nice cup or warm milk.

"Yun Lu," a figure walked up to her. "Can't sleep again?" Yun Lu recognised the voice to be her brother's and turned to him.

"Yeah, as usual." Yun Lu replied. "How about you? Why are you awake, you're a deep sleeper."

And snorer. And you sometimes roll off the bed and fall to the floor with a great thud.

"Uncle worries me," Ma Chao replied simply. The siblings continued to walk around the outskirts of the camp in silence.

"I don't think Uncle has defected," Yun Lu said, breaking the silence. "You shouldn't suspect him, you'll only make Uncle have a reason to defect." Ma Chao thought in silence. "So, what are we gonnna do now Ma Chao? Go home?"

"I don't know!" growled Ma Chao angrily. He then shook his head and apologised. "Sorry, the responsibilities of being a commander of an army are crushing. Especially now, since we've lost. I'm not suited to being one. And Uncle might have defected! I have no idea what to do!" he sighed. "I wish father was here."

While they walked, Yun Lu spotted a tent, its lights still on.

"Ma Chao, why is Uncle still awake?"

"He has company too," said Ma Chao, observing movements of more than one figure.

"Teehee, maybe they're having a sleepover!" joked Yun Lu.

"This is no time to be joking Yun Lu. Looks like they're plotting to me." Ma Chao dragged Yun Lu over to the tent.

"What are we doing?" she whispered.

"Eavesdrop, what else?" replied Ma Chao. Yun Lu copied her brother and pressed her ear against the tent.

'We've got to do this tonight and kill Ma Chao while he's asleep.'

'Slip past his guards and get into the tent. Then we show Lord Cao Cao…'

'Ma Chao's head.'

'Li Kan, Ma Wan, you two go.' It was Han Sui's voice.

'Understood sir!'

Ma Chao sighed.

"See, I was right Yun Lu."

Yun Lu swore in her mind.

I can't believe it! Not only has Han Sui defected, he's gonna assassinate Mengqi as well! Dammit dammit dammit! Didn't Uncle think of us like his own kids? What has come to this world? Everyone's disappearing from my life. First it was my mum, then dad, Tie, Xiu and now Uncle! How could he do that?

"They are all going to die," hissed Ma Chao, slowly drawing out his sword. Yun Lu did the same and together they stormed the tent.

"If you guys want to kill me so much, how about now?" Ma Chao said through gritted teeth.

"I can't believe you actually agreed to do this…" Yun Lu glared at the man she had thought of as family. "Han Sui."

But the five other generals barred the way.

"We won't allow you to harm Lord Han Sui!" said the Li Kan waving his sword at Ma Chao.

"Get out of my way!" With a swipe, Ma Chao killed him. "Yun Lu, take care of that man while I – " he killed Liang Xiang straight after. "Finish this one off."

"Right." While Yun Lu kept Ma Wan occupied, Ma Chao walked up to Han Sui, the other two generals, Yang Qiu and Hou Xuan stayed back, fearing for their lives.

"Forgive me Mengqi, I…had no choice," said Han Sui as he blocked Ma Chao's strike. "Sorry." Ma Chao continued to pound Han Sui with his sword until Han Sui faltered. Ma Chao landed a slash on his cheek. Han Sui drew his fingers along the gash and stared, as if stunned at the blood.

"Your apology I do not accept," said Ma Chao.

Han Sui smiled sorrowfully. "Yes, of course." He regretted what he had done. Not because he was about to die, but because he had earned the scorn of both Ma Chao and Yun Lu. He bowed his head to receive the deathblow as Ma Chao raised his sword. Yun Lu had just taken care of Ma Wan and looked across to Han Sui.

NO!

And as if Yun Lu's thoughts were reached him, Ma Chao sheathed his sword.

"Just leave. I don't want to see you ever again!" shouted Ma Chao. "We have no links now. You are not my father's sworn brother, nor are you our Uncle, got that?"

Han Sui nodded and left the tent with the two remaining generals, glad that they had escaped death at the hands of Ma Chao.

"Goodbye." With that, Han Sui disappeared from their lives.

"So…he's gone now isn't he?" asked Yun Lu.

"Well, I do hope we don't meet him in battle," replied Ma Chao.

"That slash you left on his face, was it deep?"

"Deep enough for a permanent scar. And I've decided, we're going to pack up tomorrow and head home to Xiliang."

Yun Lu jumped from her chair. "Yeah!" While doing so, she accidentally stumbled over the dead body of Ma Wan. "Ah crap, someone needs to clean this up."

I thought my brother would mercilessly kill Unc – I mean Han Sui. I've always thought of him like that, someone who would kill a person if they were gonna harm him or anyone he cares for. Well, at least now I know Mengqi's kind enough to let Han Sui off, even if he was going to kill him. All those times we've lived and fought together, I wouldn't have been able to kill him…Ma Chao's thoughts must've been the same.

Heh, he's humane enough.

"Aww dammit, I though a little war would break out between Ma Chao and Han Sui. Thought it could save me the bother of taking that baby horse out," thought Cao Cao when he heard the news that Han Su had failed to return with Ma Chao's head. "Wei Kan, Yang Fu! Take 20000 troops and seize Xiliang. I want Ma Chao to have no home to run to!" Cao Cao sat back and cackled. Wei Kang and Yang Fu bowed and took their leave.

"What the hell was that cackling? It's so creepy," commented Yang Fu.

"Yeah, I totally agree," answered Wei Kang.

A/N: Hi. Thank you to all who have reviewed!!! Please keep doing so. It makes me happy =D

And now that it's holidays, I should be able to update sooner. Thanks and R&R.