((SXH: Finally! It's done. I finished it in one night! This chapter and the next are dedicated to Sand Dun! Thank you for telling me and getting rid of my writer's block! This chapter is a little boring so bear with me here. I hope that everyone enjoys this chapter along with the next.))

Warning: Nothing really...

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the storyline and Little Ying...

Enjoy!

Chapter 5: Settling In

When Yu awoke again, it was morning. He looked down, wanting to see the small girl, but she wasn't there. He shot up to a sitting position, panic flooding through him. Yu swung his feet over the bed and stood. He ignored the wave of dizziness and looked around the room. He didn't see her anywhere.

The medics were just coming in and saw his get up. They ran over to him, trying to get him to lie back down. Zhou Yu pushed them out of the way as he headed for the door.

"Sir, you can't leave!" one of the medics said urgently.

"I have to," Yu said back. "I don't have time to waste!" Next thing he knew, his arm was wrapped up in a splint and said arm was put into a sling.

"There," said a very stubborn medic. "You can go, cut come back if you feel any worse!" The medics backed off and allowed him to run away from the hospital wing. They already knew who he was looking for. Lu Bu had already told them about the situation.

Yu ran down many halls of the building. He searched frantically for the child but couldn't seem to find her anywhere. Soon, he found himself running to Lu Bu's room. He was running so fast that he was almost a blur. He crossed paths with many of the other officers, even Liao.

Liao was walking peacefully down one of the many halls. Suddenly, he felt a gust of wind pass him. He looked back to see Yu running in a sort of panic. Zhang Liao was dumbfounded. Yu was running so quickly, Liao believed for a moment that it was actual wind that passed him.

Liao rubbed the back of his head and smiled. His ankle seems better. I thought the medics said that it wouldn't be better for another week or two. Oh well. At least he's okay. : He thought. He must be looking for Little Ying.

Yu was running so fast that he stumbled to a stop in front of Lu Bu's open bedroom door. He nearly passed it so he put his hand on the doorframe to help him stop and keep his balance.

"Lord Lu Bu, I-" he stopped himself when he saw Lu Bu on his bed with the little girl asleep in his arms.

"What is it?" he asked, looking for an explanation. Yu looked at the little one again and the back at her holder. Not wanting to anger him again, he bowed his head.

"I apologize. I awoke earlier and didn't see her anywhere. I came looking for her," Yu explained. He only got a grunt in response. Yu mentally scowled at that but didn't say anything. There was a silence between the two that grew even more uncomfortable by the minute. Then Lu Bu did something that shocked them both.

"It seems as though your ankle has made a full recovery," Lu Bu commented. Yu raised his brow. Was the mighty Lu Bu really trying to strike up a decent conversation? Yu waited a moment before replying.

"Yes, it seems it had," he said. The silence grew awkward between them. It was so dense that Ying shifted in her sleep. "Sir?"

"Hm?" Lu Bu replied.

"I was wondering if you would like me to teach her anything," Yu said while looking at the girl in the larger man's arms.

"Now that you mention it, there are a few things," Lu Bu said, scratching his head with his free hand. "Right now, I want you to teach her the basics. I'll handle her military training." Yu gaped at him. He was going to teach a six year old how to fight. Zhou Yu shook his head at the thought.

"Alright. So that it helps her, I must ask: How much does she already know?" Yu replied.

"You will have to ask her that. Believe it or not, I haven't been able to spend time with her at all," Lu Bu said. Yu looked confused.

"Why?" Yu asked honestly.

"She's a servant. Do I really need to explain?" Yu thought about this for a few minutes. He didn't understand it at all. Though, if that was all that was keeping him away, then it could be fixed.

"She doesn't have to be," Yu blurted out. Lu Bu's attention was now fully on him. Yu felt all his nerves go into overdrive. He felt Lu Bu's eyes scan him over. He was looking, waiting for Yu to explain. Yu built up all his courage and made himself speak again. "She doesn't have to be," Yu repeated, softer than he wanted. "If you love her so much, then why no adopt her? Then she would be safe from abuse of the soldiers," he continued.

Yu watched as Lu Bu gently pet the girl's head. "You would also have more time with her," Yu went on. The fierce man looked pleased at that. "You would also have more rimes like this."

"I know," Lu Bu said suddenly. "But I can't. If I did, I would have to take her to the battlefield with me. You were in the military; you know that if there was no one at home to protect the child, then the child must join the parent on the battlefield. I don't want that..." Yu's eyes were wide with shock. This place was very much different than his home.

"No," Yu said softly. "It is different in the Wu territories..." Yu trailed off. He dared to sit on the bed in front of Ying. "If the child had friends, whose parents liked them enough, and then the child would stay with that family if their parents were incapable of taking care of them. So if a child didn't have a mother or their mother was sick, and their father was in the army, the child would stay with friends until said father returned. And vice versa..." Yu looked down at the small girl. "What about her birth mother?"

Lu Bu stared at the man before him. He couldn't believe this man was trying to help him. He looked at Zhou Yu's eyes, and saw something akin to love in them, as Yu stared at Little Ying. Did this man really love Little Ying like a daughter?

Lu Bu found it very hard to look away from his companion's eyes. Then Yu looked up and met his eyes. "What about her birthmother?" Yu repeated. Lu Bu swallowed the lump that started to form in his throat.

"Dead. She died giving birth to Ying," he said finally.

"Oh. I'm so sorry," Yu replied looking back down at the girl. Lu Bu just grunted, not knowing what to say.

"No one could take care of her. Then you came along... I thought it was the perfect thing to do," Lu Bu found himself saying. He scratched the back of his head nervously. "Besides, I needed someone fast since we are going to war soon."

"Oh. I see," Yu said. The two sat there in silence, thinking of what to do. Yu thought, but couldn't think of anything helpful, so he changed the subject. He would think about it later. "Tell me. Why did you choose me? I mean aside from convenience." Lu Bu looked taken aback. He really didn't expect that question to be asked.

Zhou Yu could see the man was struggling with the question. He merely raised an eyebrow as he watched the man search his mind for a suitable answer. "I heard from Zhang Liao that it was because my eyes are similar to Little Ying's," Yu added. He saw the larger man stiffen. He heard the man mummer something close to 'Damn that bigmouthed idiot.'

"That's not the only reason," Lu Bu replied a little too quickly.

"Really now? And what other qualities did you find was suitable for me to teach and care for this girl?" Yu inquired, smirking. He could practically see the gears in Lu Bu's head going into hyper drive.

"Well... um... Your will power. You now, since you stood up against me and Dong Zhuo... Um, your stubbornness; for not apologizing to Diao. I still expect you to do that," Lu Bu said. Yu stared at him expectantly. Now it was Lu Bu's turn to surprise him. "And the way Ying seems to want you around. She obviously wants you to stay..." Lu Bu trailed off, not wanting to say anymore. Yu consider this for a moment.

"I'll accept that answer for now," Yu stated and got up. "I'll leave you two alone. I've got to go find Zhang Liao and ask him where I'll be staying. Good-bye." Lu Bu said nothing.

After a while of looking, Zhou Yu found the man outside. Zhang Liao saw him and joined him inside.

"Good afternoon, Lord Zhou Yu," Liao said.

"Good afternoon, Lord Zhang Liao," Yu replied politely.

"What brings you out here?"

"I wanted to know what room I will be staying in," Yu said, walking with Liao.

"Oh. That. Well, I haven't got a room set up and ready yet," said Liao. "My apologies."

"It's alright," Yu said kindly. "But it's still a problem."

"Um... I could let you stay in my room while we get yours ready, if that is fine with you," Liao offered.

"Lord Liao, I couldn't possibly intrude," Yu answered.

"No. I insist. Actually, I wouldn't mind sharing a room. Besides," Liao continued, "I think it's better than staying with other officers that are just like the pig that used to run this place." Yu smiled at the older man.

"Are you really desperate to get me into your room?" Yu asked.

"Um, well... I um..." Yu laughed at the man's stuttering.

"Then I guess I will have to stay with you," Yu smiled brightly.

"Really?" Liao asked. Yu nodded a yes. "Great! That's great."

I also wanted to know what rooms I'm not allowed in," Yu went on. Zhang Liao thought about it for a moment.

"Well, I suggest you never go into any of the other officers' rooms without permission," Liao said.

"Lord Zhang Liao?" Yu said.

"Yes?"

"That's common sense," Yu informed. The 'oh...' look crossed Liao's face and Yu laughed.

"I suppose that is common sense," he laughed, nervously. "Never go in Diao's room," Liao went on. Zhou Yu laughed again.

"Also common sense," Yu chided.

"Yeah, and obvious," Liao smiled. "I guess that's it, for now. Though, on certain occasions, like meetings, you might not be allowed in those rooms."

"That it?" Yu asked, stopping.

"Yes. Now would you like to be taken to our room or a bath first?" Liao asked looked Zhou Yu up and down.

"Bath, please!" Yu answered immediately. Zhang Liao laughed at the quickness of his answer.

"Alright, I'll send a servant with clothes and the towels should already be there," he said. He found a servant that wasn't busy and gave them instructions to find clothes that would suit Yu. Zhang Liao bid Zhou Yu farewell, and Zhou Yu was led off to the baths.

SXH: Alright... I know this chapter was a little boring but just bare with me. I've got the next chapter already written and am going to post it soon.

Zhang Liao: Yay! I get to room with Zhou Yu!

SXH: *eyes widen* CREEPER! BIG BROTHER, SAVE ME!

Lu Bu: *points halberd at Liao*

Liao: Oh... Shit... *runs*

Lu Bu: There. He's gone.

SXH &Lu Bu: We hope you enjoyed and please review!