((SXH: Hey! I am happy to present the next chapter of To Hell and Back Again! Hope you all enjoy it and tell me what you think. It took me forever to work on it so I hope you like it!))

Disclaimer: I do not own Dynasty Warriors or its characters. I only own the story line and Little Ying.

Warning: Cursing, crying, and violence.

Enjoy!

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To Hell & Back Again

Chapter 4: Prisoner

/

Yu's body felt like it was made out of lead. His head hurt like hell just from the slightest movements he made, almost like his brain was bouncing in his head like a ball. He felt drained, yet despised laying there, wherever he was. Yu searched his body for an energy to get up or move. Finding only a little, he barely cracked opened his eyes and was blinded by sunlight. He tried block out the light as best he could with his hand, but pain shot through his arms. They hurt badly and were really stiff. As he tried to bring his hands to his face he found that they were locked to the headboard. His hands had been bound above his head all night. No wonder they hurt... Are all the people here sadistic bastards? Do they just like torturing the people they capture by give them a small taste of freedom and them capturing them again? Yu wondered.

Zhou Yu tried to rub his ears against his arms. They hurt from the sounds that he heard. The sound did nothing to lessen the pain in his head. On the contrary, they hurt even worse than before. What is that sound anyway? Yu wondered. Is that a...?! He started to panic when he realized what sound he had awoken to really was. Zhou Yu had awoken to the sound of metal scratching stone. He knew it was the sound of sharpening metal against a whetstone. He turned his head to the noise, though he was afraid of what he might see.

But, he relaxed when his eyes landed on Zhang Liao, who was sat in the corner of the room. He had merely been sharpening his weapon, without paying any attention to him. On second thought, they may not be a good thing. Liao looked up to meet his gaze.

"Oh, you are up," Liao said. Yu could tell he was less enthusiastic than last night. He seemed almost sad.

"Lord Zhang Liao, what is going on? Why am I chained?" Yu questioned. Liao frowned and stopped what he was doing, lowering his head in the process. Not so sure of what to make of it, Yu felt the prickles of uneasiness come back. "Zhang Liao?" Yu asked. When the man didn't answer him, Yu's uneasiness turned to fear instantly.

The door to Yu's right opened softly. He could not help but scowl at the person before his eyes. She was there, with her 'Oh, so sweet' smile. It was that manipulative smile that made Zhou Yu sick to his very core. He could never trust a woman who wore that smile. Especially one who wore it better than anyone he had ever seen.

"Oh, so he is awake?" Diao asked, turning to look at Liao. He nodded in confirmation.

"Yes he just woke up, Lady Diao," Liao answered. Diao opened the door more and stepped inside without even being invited in. "Though, he is stiff and aching. Can we at least unchain him?" Diao shot him a sweet look that said, 'Don't even think of something like that.'

"Now, Lord Liao, you know I cannot do that. I cannot risk him running away at a time like this," Diao explained with a sickening smile. Zhou Yu mimed puking off to the side. Liao saw it, suppressing the urge to laugh.

"What are you talking about, Lady Diao?" Zhang Liao asked. Diao's smile grew even more sickening.

"Well, we will be going to war soon, so we will need some more men," she laughed. Zhou Yu ground his teeth. Something about this woman made him hostile and disrespectful. She really rubbed his the wrong way, reminding him of someone he used to know.

"What in the world makes you think that I will help you?"Zhou Yu hissed before he could stop himself. "What makes you think that when you have already captured me for a second time, tied me up, and nearly killed me! I would never follow, or help for that matter, a person who thinks they can get what they want when they say so! Especially, when that person is a slimy, manipulative, prissy ass bitch like you." He ended his rant by spitting at her feet. Zhou Yu had no idea where it all came from. It was like the sight of her unleashed the fires of Wu within him, and there were no way to stop it.

Diao had went silent as soon as she heard this. She stared at him in shock for a long time, not knowing what to do. Finally, she hung her head and ran out of the room. Liao soon realized what she was doing and knew that it wasn't good.

"Lord Zhou Yu," Liao started. "I do not think you should have done that."

"What do you mean?" Yu growled. Yu was still furious. He would soon follow the Yuan Shou than work with her. No. He wouldn't even be working with her. He would be working for her, like the slave had had been not twenty-four hours earlier. Sadly, Yu soon found out what Liao meant. Diao returned sooner than Yu thought she would have. And worse, she brought company. I was right about one thing. She is manipulative... Yu thought.

She was so manipulative that she had strung ropes around the mightiest warrior's heart and learned how to out on a puppet show with them. Now, this puppet show was going to possibly end as a tragedy. Yu could see his fate even now. Dying at the hands of Lu Bu, like so many others have. Only, he was not on the battlefield. He would not die an honorable death. He would die as a slave who talked out of term. As the warrior approached, Zhou Yu could feel his hope slipping away from him. He could feel the malice even now. It was the less intense from last night, but Yu knew that it was now directed at him.

"Filthy scum!" Lu Bu yelled, stopping at the strategist's bed and yanked the chains around his wrists. the man was so strong that he effectively broke the chains from the headboard. "How. Dare. You. How dare you talk to Diao in such a way?" Yu squirmed, instinctively trying to get down but the pain all over his body just grew. "Apologize to her, now!" Yu held his tongue. If he was going to die. He would not yield to the demands of the person he did not truly serve

"Stop!" Diao screeched from the door. Yu narrowed his eyes at the order. Now she wants to help? Lu Bu didn't seem to hear her though. Instead, he continued to dangle Yu in the air and scream in his face.

"I told you to apologize!" he howled. Zhang Liao didn't get out of his seat; he knew better than to try and reason with Lu Bu while he was like this, even if he wanted to help the other. Zhou Yu looked over Lu Bu's shoulder and saw Diao's face. He had seen the kind of face many times before; tear-streaked face, sobs, and sorrowful features.

Yu's ex-wife had always pulled that on him to get what she wanted. Xiao Qiao had loved him until she stabbed him in the back, in more ways than one. Even to this day he didn't forgive her betrayal. But that wasn't important now. What matter now was the pain spreading over his body and he could do nothing about it. The pain in his left arm grew and grew. He yelled in pain. Meanwhile, Lu Bu was still screaming at him to apologize.

"I said now!" Lu Bu yelled. Yu frowned deeply, using his legs to try and kick the man. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to feel it, so Yu tried something else.

"And I say, never!" Zhou Yu screamed right back. Lu Bu looked taken aback a little. Yu had guess that no one had ever yelled back at him. Then, Yu screamed in pain as he was roughly grabbed on his left arm. Lu Bu squeezed it as if to let out his rage. "Stop! You are hurting me!" Zhou Yu screamed when excruciating pain went through his left arm. Yu turned pale when he heard a sickening crunch come from it. He felt nauseated, like he was going to throw up, had he had anything in his stomach to bring up.

He bit his lip to silence his screams. Blood went down his chin, but no tears, ones that he held back with all his might. Yu looked up defiantly at Lu Bu. All of a sudden, Lu Bu just stopped. Confusion filled Yu's features as Lu Bu set him on his feet carefully. He was met with pain in his ankle as soon as there was pressure on it and fell to his knees instantly. Then the burning set in. The painful hot burning like having a branding iron pressed against one's arm.

As Yu cradled his broken arm, Lu Bu spoke suddenly. Surprisingly, there was concern in his voice.

"Can you stand?" he asked. Yu couldn't speak out of surprise, confusion, and pain. He slowly tried to get up again but stumbled and fell on his right side. Lu Bu nodded in understanding. "Zhang Liao, unchain him." Liao grabbed the keys from Diao's waistband, rather disrespectfully, and unlocked the cuffs around Yu's wrists and ankles. He then moved out of the way as Lu Bu approached.

"I will take you to the hospital wing," he decided. Suddenly, Zhou Yu found himself pulled up against Lu Bu's chest tightly. As Lu Bu walked out, Yu realized that Lu Bu was holding him bridal style. Irritated by it, Yu also noticed that they were nowhere near the medical wing. So, as he waited to arrive to be treated, he silently forced himself to calm his breathing from the exertion to fight the pain and sobs. Soon he forced himself asleep, to rid his mind of the pain completely; not at all hearing Diao or anyone talking.

/

"Why did you take off his chains?" Diao asked in a panic as she watched him go down the hall. Liao was following him silently.

"I do not think he is going to run away with a sprang ankle and a broken arm," Lu Bu stated simply. Diao's panicked look grew visible quickly.

"B-But what about when he gets better?" Diao squeaked.

"By that time, I am sure he will either be gone, a loyal officer, or dead," Lu Bu said dully. Diao fell silent. Lu Bu felt the man's steady breathing against his chest, not the heaving, strained breathing only minutes before. He looked down and was met with the beautifully sleeping face of the man. Wait... beautiful?: Lu Bu thought. He shook his head and cleared his head of all those thoughts.

Though, he couldn't help thinking that the man looked so much like his Little Ying. The odd sense of not wanting to hurt the man had crept upon Lu Bu earlier, even now. This time he just went with it. He felt a small smile tug at his lips as he saw Yu sleep. When he quickly realized this he quickly frowned and kept walking, maybe just a little faster than before.

Though, that defiant expression on the man's face was something he couldn't keep out of his mind. If he remembered correctly, Zhou Yu was from Wu. He liked Wu warriors because they were not cowards like the others. They held their ground and were great fighters. They were the best challenge he faced. Now he had one in his palace. This could be interesting.

As soon as they arrived, Lu Bu immediately started to shout orders. The medics ran to get the supplies needed while Lu Bu calmly walked over to Ying's bed and set Zhou Yu on the one next to her. Ying had been awake but she hadn't been for long.

"Lord Lu Bu?" she asked in her sweet and innocent voice. Lu Bu turned to her with a smile; he had no idea that he was being watched by Liao and Diao Chan. In fact, he had forgotten their presence a while back.

"Yes, Little Ying?" he replied.

"Who's the pretty lady?" she asked. Lu Bu thought about what and how to explain it to her. The child was never very comfortable around people from different sides of the war, not that it was a bad thing. But, the fact was, Ying feared strangers. Not just that, she even feared some familiars.

"He is..." Lu Bu trailed off. Then, he got a sudden idea and decided to go with it. "He is going to take care of you. When I am gone, he will take care of you and teach you everything you want and need to know."

"He?" Ying murmured then giggled bubbly. "He's pretty for a boy! If he's taking care of me, can I call him 'Momma'?" Lu Bu laughed and watched the doctors swarm around the man.

"As long as he's fine with it," Lu Bu said without thinking and smiled to himself.

/

Yu felt his consciousness slowly come back to him. He looked around the room to see it was dark again. Figures. He thought. He tried to sit up but felt something against his side cling to him tighter. He looked down and saw it was a little girl. She was injured, covered in bandages and small cuts. She looked like she had been whipped.

He laid back down and felt the girl snuggle even closer. A smile tugged at his lips at her innocent sleeping face. Yu had no idea that he wasn't alone in the room. He had been too preoccupied with the child.

"If you are wondering, she really was whipped," said the other occupant. Yu nearly jumped out of his skin when the man spoke. His eyes zoomed over to the man and relaxed as his eyes landed on Zhang Liao again. His eyes held a look that asked, 'who could have done this to a child?' "Lu Bu believes that it was Dong Zhuo who did it." Zhou Yu raised an eyebrow. That didn't sound right. Dong Zhuo was many things, but he never saw the man touch a child. He seemed to avoid them altogether.

"You think it was someone else?" Yu inquired, his voice more raspy than he would have liked it to be.

"Yes, but I will not say any names," Liao said simply. Yu looked back down at the girl in pity. Only the coldest of heart could do this to an innocent child. Yu thought.

"That is why he stopped," Liao stated suddenly. Yu stared at the man in complete confusion. The statement had thrown off this thoughts.

"What are you talking about?" Yu questioned.

"Your eyes remind him of her," Liao replied. Yu held confusion even more clearly on his face. "Your eyes are a similar color as hers, if not the same," he explained. Yu looked at the girl and Liao slowly nodded.

"Alright. But what does this have anything to do with Lu Bu?" Yu whispered. Yu looked back at him expectantly. "Well?" Liao sighed at his persistence.

"Look a little closer," he replied. Yu glared at the man but did so anyway. Yu looked down at the beautiful girl. His eyes widened and he nearly gasped at the resemblance. "Looks just like him, does she not?"

"Is she-?" Yu stopped, unable to finish, and he turned to Liao.

"No. She is not," Liao replied to the unfinished question. "Her looks are very misleading, especially for the daughter of Dong Zhuo." At those words, Zhou Yu paled considerably.

Yu looked nervously down at the girl and then back to Liao. Liao seemed to notice the man's reaction and bowed his head. "I am sorry. I should not have brought that up." Yu stared down at the girl and unconsciously put his hand on her head. Her looks were very deceiving indeed.

"Does Lu Bu care for her then?" Getting a nod of approval, he went on. "And Diao?" There was silence. Liao shifted uncomfortably. Yu got the message. He got very angered look upon his features before they turned stoic again. "Them she needs a motherly figure..."

"Lu Bu was going to ask you to stay and be here with her while he was at war," Zhang Liao said quickly.

"Ask?" Yu inquired. The very thought made him think a little better of the warrior.

"Well, more like demand," Liao laughed nervously. Zhou Yu smiled at that, despite the fact that he was still furious about his capture. It seemed just like Lu Bu to do something like that, and he didn't even know the man that well.

"I will do it," he said suddenly. Liao stared at him in complete confusion. "I will do it. Not for Lu Bu, but for this little one," Yu declared with a smile playing on his lips. Liao smiled back.

"That is good to hear. It would do us all some good with someone like you here," he said. "You might even melt some of our cold hearts."

"You are too kind, Zhang Liao. I do not think I deserve such a compliment," Yu said, blushing lightly.

"I believe that one, who can stay in the same room as Dong Zhuo for so long and still fight back, deserves more than compliments," he shot back, with a good-hearted tone. Yu continued to smile. "Now, if you do not mind, I must leave. Even I have important work to do."

"Then, you better leave. You should not be here talking away the night with me. Go and do your work," Yu said cheerfully and waved his hand, shooing him away playfully. Zhang Liao stood and grabbed his weapon.

"Good-night, Zhou Yu," he said and walked out the door.

/

Zhang Liao was on his way to his room when he saw Lu Bu heading his way. He seemed to be heading to the hospital wing. Liao kept walking until the both of them stopped at the same time, side by side.

"He agreed to do it. Not for you but for the little girl," Liao said with his deathly calm voice.

"It does not matter. As long as Ying has someone to take care of her," Lu Bu replied curtly. Liao was silent for only a moment.

"Speaking of Ying, I have been watching her. She seems to flinch around one person in particular." Lu Bu raised an eyebrow.

"And who would that be?" Lu Bu inquired.

"I cannot be for certain, but I suggest you keep a close eye on her. Maybe you should ask her who really whipped her," Zhang Liao said. There was a very uncomfortable silence in the hall as Lu Bu just stood there. Wishing to leave the uncomfortable presence. "I will be on my way now. I do hope that Lord Zhou Yu gets well soon." The last part he mumbled to himself and walked off.

Lu Bu moved on as well, continuing the paced he had started out with. He lightly smiled at the thought of Little Ying's smile when she found out about Zhou Yu's staying.

/

Zhou Yu was still lying down with his arm over Ying. The little girl was so sweet looking. After all that had happened to him, he just wondered what he was getting himself into.

The little girl started to stir. He looked down at the little one again, waiting for her to awake. Her eyes fluttered open only for a moment and closed back. In that moment Yu almost gasped at the sight. The girl's eyes were very similar to his own. He tried to look again but she was already sound asleep. This must be the reason he chose me to look after her. But it cannot be the only reason. I cannot help but wonder what it could be. Yu thought. He looked down again to see the little one remained asleep. Yu found that his own eyes were heavy. Yu closed them and welcomed sleep easily now.

/

SXH: Yay! It's finally done! Do you have any idea how long it took to revise that piece of crap it used to be? A long time.

Zhou Yu: I'm sure it did...

SXH: You all right, Yu?

Zhou Yu: I ache all over...

SXH: I bet you do! After all the injuries that I've put you through in just the first four chapters!

Zhang Liao: I don't think that's something to brag about.

Zhou Yu: Especially since the man actually did break my arm!

SXH: Hey, you signed the contract. You can't get out of it. So suck it up and deal with it.

Zhou Yu: I have a feeling I'm going to regret this story...

Lu Bu: Me, too.

Zhang Liao: That's funny, I was thinking that we are going to see a lot of naked Zhou Yu.

Lu Bu & Zhou Yu: O_O

SXH: *covers Zhang Liao's mouth with duck-tape and ties him to a chair* Now, now, Zhang Liao. You know better than to spoil the story. Now you have to go to the Fan Room and let the boys and girl do whatever they want with you.

Zhang Liao: Mooooooo! Moh he An Oom! (NOOOOO! NOT THE FAN ROOM!)

SXH: Pardon me? I couldn't quite hear you. Oh well, it doesn't matter. *shoves him in the Fan Room where screams can be heard* Ahhh. Music to my ears~! Shall we end the chapter?

Lu Bu & Zhou Yu: O_O *hiding*

SXH: *shrugs* Suit yourself. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and will continue to read it. Don't be shy and drop off a review to tell me what you think. I've been through this chapter twice and I want to know if there are still any grammatical errors, so please tell me if there are. See you next time~!

Bye~!