((SXH: Okay! So I just wanted to tell you guys that I will now be posting about once a week after the 20th chapter. I hope you all like this chapter like you liked the rest. So that's it…ENJOY!))
Disclaimer: I do not own Dynasty Warriors or the character. I am simply a fan. The only thing I own is the storyline and Little Ying.
Warning: Cursing, lots of violence, and sexual suggestions.
Enjoy!
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To Hell & Back Again
Chapter 19: Confrontation
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Zhou Yu lifted himself on his elbows and rubbed his newfound knot on his head. He looked down and was met with Cao Pi's pained expression. Zhou Yu sat up, sitting on the prince's lap, and rubbed his head. He looked down at Cao Pi, who was now rubbing his forehead as well, and silently asked what the hell that was.
Reading his gaze, Cao Pi answered, "I have no idea." Zhou Yu stood up and offered Cao Pi a hand. He took it and, with help, stood. "I suppose I should go see what that was." Just as Cao Pi was about to open the door, there was a knock.
"Lord Cao Pi! Your assistance is needed on deck immediately!" said a man on the other side. Cao Pi scowled.
"Why?" Cao Pi asked stubbornly.
"Please, Your Highness! It is an emergency!" With that, they could hear the soldier run down the hall. Cao Pi scowled harder and looked at Yu.
"Stay here. Do not open the door for anyone," Cao Pi ordered.
"You cannot order me to do anything," Yu replied, but there was no bite to it.
"Stop that. I am only going to look and see what is going on. When I return, I will inform you of what is happening," Cao Pi said. Yu looked unconvinced.
"Fine. But, if you do not get back here soon, I will go find you," Yu warned. Cao Pi made no argument, leaving the room in silence.
Zhou Yu waited there in the silence. Nothing but the sound of waves and the creaking of the rocking ships could be heard. He scanned the room, taking in his temporary surroundings. It was a very plain room, aside from the extravagant bed. There was nothing strange about it. But, that in itself was strange. He was supposed to be in the prince's private quarters. Weren't princes supposed to have an entire room filled with beautiful and expensive items? So why was only the bed covered in fine silks?
Sadly, Yu soon realized what was going on. This wasn't the prince's room. It must be a joint room, judging by the door a few feet away from the end of the bed. It must have been either Zhen Ji's room or... Yu didn't even want to finish that thought.
Zhou Yu laid down upon the silken sheets. He desperately wanted to leave. But... where would he go? He had left Wu of his own will and Diao would be furious if he turned up on her doorstep. Yu gave up on any thought of leaving. This was the only place he was welcome and the only place he could go.
Yu's mind wondered to the conversation he and Cao Pi just shared. To Yu, something didn't seem right about it, in more than one way. For starters, Cao Pi sounded like he was ordering around his personal servant. It was way too possessive for Yu. Made him feel like an object. Then Yu had asked Cao Pi to return soon, and made himself sound like an upset and angry wife. Wife... The thought set a stone in the pit of Yu's stomach. Yu didn't want to be married, not this soon... In fact, he never wanted to get married again.
Another thing that did not seem quite right was that it seemed Cao Pi left something. Zhou Yu sat up on the bed, looking about the room to confirm his suspicion. When his eyes met with the prince's sword next to the door, all Zhou Yu could think of was: That forgetful... Suddenly, Yu's ears were met with faint shouting. He couldn't make out what it was, but he knew it was not good. He looked back at the sword and said, "That Idiot!"
Pulling on a rode, Zhou Yu ran up to the deck, bypassing all the servants and guardsmen, who were running around frantically. Once he got up there, he was met with a terrible sight.
The Wu troops were assembled on land, fighting with the utmost ferocity. He watched as they ripped through the Wei troops with no mercy. Yu could tell from where he was the difference between the Wu and Shu troops. The Shu troops focused mainly on defensive tactics, while the Wu troops were ferocious and unforgiving.
All Yu could do was stand there, petrified in fear and sickening realization. This is what he had forgotten. He felt the stone in his stomach grow even bigger and heavier. Guilt and dread filled him, making his feet stick to the ground. Zhou Yu felt all the boats tip a little as another, foreign boat rammed into them. From where Zhou Yu was, he could see the boat stacked with straw and smell the pungent scent of oil.
Yu felt the wind pick up, and he turned his head to the alter. There Zhuge Liang was praying. The older man opened his eyes only for a moment. In that moment, their eyes met, utter shock forming in Zhuge Liang's expression only seconds later. Then the man seemed like he wished to stop the winds, but it was too late. The boat that crashed into Wei's fleet of ships was lit aflame. With this newfound wind, the flames spread, growing uncontrollably. Yu could only watch as the fire swirled around poor unfortunate soldiers and innocent servants. Yu felt sick. This was my fault! I told them how to do this! I let them do this! I didn't warn anyone! Yu thought frantically.
As if it were a remedy, the overwhelming smell of smoke brought Yu out of his mind set, making Yu remember about Cao Pi. Yu covered his mouth with the cloth of his robe and made his way away from the main ship. Soon Yu found Zhang He, who seemed thrilled by the flames that lit some of his comrades ablaze.
"Zhang He!" Yu called out.
"Yes?" Zheng He answered, not halting in his assault. Yu watched as the feminine man cut through some of the troops Zhou Yu used to command. They were the same men who he had faced many battles with. They were his friends. Some noticed Yu's presence, and to Yu's horror, he could see the pain of betrayal in their eyes. A few stepped away from Zheng He to fight him. Zhou Yu took a moment before speaking again.
"Where is-!" Before Yu could say anymore, one of his former subordinates charged at him with a pike. Zhou Yu unsheathed the sword, effectively blocking the attack. Another soldier that slipped past Zheng He charged toward him as well. In a split second, Zhou Yu weighed his options and made a decision.
Yu stood there until the last possible moment, waiting for the soldier to his right. As soon as the soldier was sure he was going to pierce Zhou Yu through the middle, Zhou Yu twisted out of the way like a dancer. He moved to where his back faced the man's blade. He felt the sting as he his skin was sliced open. He snapped the blade part off the one behind him and brought the sword sheath up to the neck of the second soldier. The blow knocked the second unconscious. Lastly, without hesitation, Yu picked up the second pike, twirled it several times before bringing down the blunt end of it to the first soldier's temple.
"Where is Cao Pi?" Yu asked, dropping the pike and picking up the broken one, while strapping the prince's sword to his back. When Zhou Yu looked at Zhang He, he noticed the man had stopped fighting and was gawking at him. Yu hated it when people did that. "I will not repeat myself, Zheng He," Yu warned. That seemed to get Zheng He to stop starting and answer.
"He is on the next ship, to your left," Zheng He answered.
"Thank you!" Zhou Yu called back as he left. Zheng He merely giggled maniacally in return as he used his agility to dodge oncoming attacks.
Yu made his way to the next ship, spinning his staff and knocking down those who believed him to be the enemy and those who mistook him for one. Yu worked his way to the next ship, trying his best after nit training for a month. As he made his way, he stumbled from time to time but took note of how easy it was to knock the enemy out. He didn't ever remember if being so easy before. Being a servant has done wonders for my strength it seems. However, it has taken a toll on my balance with a staff. Yu thought.
"Finally, Zhou Yu caught sight of Cao Pi, with a spear in hand, leading the front line. Yu unstrapped the sword from his back, and fought his way closer to Cao Pi. "Cao Pi!" Yu yelled over the roar of the flames. Cao Pi turned to look and saw Yu instantly.
"Yu?!" Cao Pi whispered to himself. Cao Pi cut down all in his way to get to Zhou Yu. When Cao Pi was about ten feet away, Yu tossed the prince's sword to him. Cao Pi grabbed it out of the air and automatically began to fight even fiercer. The two of them fought Wu troops until Cao Pi broke away from the fight. He grabbed Yu's wrist and pulled him away as well.
Cao Pi tugged Yu away, shouting orders at the troops. "Do not allow them to follow us!" Cao Pi gripped Zhou Yu's wrist and dragged him towards another boat. Zhou Yu protested and begin to struggle until the two were on the bridge to the main ship.
"Stop! That hurts," Yu yelled, before he finally pulled out of the man's harsh grip. Cao Pi whipped around to face him.
"We have to get you on the main ship, before you get hurt," Cao Pi argued. Yu continued his struggle, trying to loosen the prince's grip. "Stop fighting me and hurry!" Yu glared at him.
"I am not a fragile woman! I can take care of myself!" Yu snapped.
"Now is not the time to argue," Cao Pi bit out. "Why are you fighting me, your ally, in the middle of a war? Look around!" You hesitantly looked around. He cringed at the sight of his former comrades' blood staining the ship's wood. "Do you truly want to participate in this bloodshed?" It was true. He hated bloodshed. That was why he chose a staff to fight with. He hated slaughter, so he always knocked his enemies out.
Yu's shoulders slumped in defeat. "You are right," Yu replied after a few minutes of silence. Cao Pi held out his hand, and Yu was actually reaching out to take it. Unfortunately, before Yu could grasp his hand, the boats began to rock and shake violently.
Cao Pi stumbled backwards on to the main boat. Sadly, Zhou Yu wasn't so quick the bridge was set ablaze, blocking Yu's path. Then Zhou Yu heard a loud cracking, like the wood was breaking under pressure. He felt it under his feet more than anything. The next crack was right under his feet and had him falling on his face. The cracking sounds came sooner and more often now. Yu struggled to get to the other side, opposite of Cao Pi, dropping his makeshift staff.
Suddenly, Yu heard a loud crashing sound and got a sudden weightless feeling. Yu had almost been there. He had been only inches away from the edge and he was falling. Time, at that point, began to slow down. Yu could feel his fingers brush the edge. He could feel despair unlike any he had every felt. He closed his eyes, knowing what it was. He was going to die.
Then he felt a hand grasp his and pain shoot through his shoulder. However, he no longer felt like he was falling. He opened his eyes to the utmost unexpected site.
"What're ya doin'? Said the person Zhou Yu had wanted to avoid. Zhou Yu stared up in fear at the face on his childhood friend, Sun Ce. "I know ya like to hang around as long as you can, but I'd never thought ya'd take it this far." Yu scowled at the comment.
"Let go of me, you jackass!" Zhou Yu roared. "Unhand me!" Ce sighed and kept his grip.
"Now if I do that, ya'd fall to your death," Ce retorted.
"I would rather die than let your filthy hands touch me!" Yu shouted. Ce shook his head and began to pull Zhou Yu up despite his protests and struggles.
"Come on. You really don't mean that, do ya?" Ce asked. When Yu was raised up enough, Ce took hold of his waist. Yu gasped when he felt Ce's rough, dirt covered hand touch his wound. Noticing the wound, Ce gently pulled him up the rest of the way and off to his right. Once all the way up, Yu pushed Ce away. Yu stood up and looked Ce in the eye.
"Get away from me," he ordered, in a low and threatening voice.
"You're hurt," Ce stated.
"So? What else is new?" Yu snapped. Sun Ce was taken aback. He had never seen Yu so irritable before. "We are in the middle of a battlefield. What else do you expect?" Zhou Yu could not keep the venom out of his voice. He couldn't let go of everything that Sun Ce had done to him. It was still so fresh in his mind.
"Zhou Yu!" came Cao Pi's voice from the main boat. Ce turned his head to look, and he scowled at the sight of the prince.
"Did he hurt you? I'll murder 'im!" Ce began, pulling out his weapon to attack.
"No!" Zhou Yu blocked the way. Ce stared at him, puzzled as to why he would step in the way. "He did not touch me..." The relief on Ce's face made the fury burn inside of him. Before he could stop himself, Yu began to speak his mind. "But why do you care?" Ce's eyes shit up to look at him again.
"Yu? Are you al' right?" Ce asked. Yu just proceeded, acting as though Ce had said nothing. He stepped to the side again, not liking to be near the edge with Ce in front of him.
"Why would you care if he hurt me? Heh, it is not like you cared if I ever came back either," Yu went on. Ce put away his weapon and grabbed his friend's shoulders.
"Zhou Yu, you're talking nonsense. I've always cared about you. And-" Ce stopped, interrupted by Yu.
"So you say giving away my things is caring about me? Taking away the only possessions I have left and giving them to your-" Yu stopped, wincing at the harshness in his own words and ill for the ones he was about to speak. He shrugged off Ce's hands from his shoulders. "Giving them to your whores!" Sun Ce's eyes grew wide.
"Yu, you misunderstand, I-" Ce tried, dropping all carelessness.
"I completely understand," Yu countered. Ce backed up, a small look of defeat in his eyes.
"I thought you were dead," Ce whispered, not low enough for Yu to miss it though.
"That just shows hoe little faith you had in me. I was completely loyal to you. That entire month I was a servant. I only thought about you and how to get back to you!" Zhou Yu ranted. He felt tears brimming in his eyes, and a chill go through his body, one that hit him down to his very bones. "I trusted you. But you... you had the audacity to show me false love. You're no better than my deceased wife!" The venom in Yu's voice was so vehement that Sun Ce could feel the painful sting of guilt in his heart.
"I'm sorry, Yu," Ce replied, stepping closer to him. "I'm so sorry for everything." Ce touched Yu's arm, steadily getting closer. "But I want you to know, I really do love you." At this, Zhou Yu snapped. He pulled away from Ce, reared his fist back, and let all his power fly with the fist into Ce's face.
"Like hell you do!" Yu roared. Ce reeled back, holding his mouth. He pulled his hand back from his mouth and spit into it. Blood and a couple of teeth pooled into his hand. Rage filled Ce's eyes as he took hold of his weapon and raised it over his head.
As if fate was on Zhou Yu's side, a soldier rammed into Sun Ce's side. Again, Ce was knocked off his balance. The soldier quickly recovered and began running again, yelling at everyone. "Run! It's Lu Bu!" the soldier screamed. Hearing this, Yu whipped around to look where the soldier had come. His eyes widened drastically when he saw Lu Bu's horse, Red Hare, barreling toward them. How did he recover so quickly?
Ce, too, was scared as he reached for Yu's arm again. Yu hit him again, this time in the stomach. He grunted in pain and stepped away from Yu. He stood back and looked at Yu, really looked at him and gave him his worst scowl.
"I see nothing will make you come with me. But since you insist on this foolishness, then you are my enemy," Ce said. He poised his weapon, ready to fight.
"Sun Ce. I do not consider this to be foolish. What I find foolish was believing that could be loved by you, or by anyone. However, that does not mean that I do not care about you. I do care," Yu replied, his anger dimmed. He felt a little calmer hearing the clomping of the horse getting closer. "It is because I care that I have to leave. If I stay with you, I will be constantly reminded on how I cannot have you. I will not be happy unless I leave." Red Hare was getting closer and closer. On instinct, Yu began to raise his right hand. "It is because of this I have to say," Yu went on. Lu Bu was now only three yards away from them now. "Goodbye."
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SXH: So? What do you think?
Lu Bu & Diao Chan: *silent*
Zhou Yu: *indifferent*
Sun Ce: *shocked*
Zhang Liao: Do we … have to answer?
SXH: No. But I would like to know what you think about it.
Everyone: …
SXH: *irked* ANSWER ME! D:
Zhang Liao: Alright! It was different!
Zhou Yu: I liked it. *sipping his tea calmly*
SXH: What did you like about it?
Zhou Yu: I got to beat the shit out of Sun Ce.
Sun Ce: Zhou Yu!?
Diao Chan: Well, I don't really care either way. So long as he's out of my hair, I am fine with it.
SXH: Shut up, Diao. You can't go ruining the next chapter!
Diao Chan: I do what I want whenever I want.
SXH: Doing that can get you killed, you know that right?
Lu Bu: That doesn't matter. What matters is that we have a deadline to meet again. This section of the story is almost over. At least behave until the end.
SXH & Diao Chan: … Fine.
Lu Bu: We hope you have enjoyed this chapter and tell us what you think with a review. Stay tune for the 20th chapter of To Hell & Back Again.
SXH: *horrified* You stole my line!
Lu Bu: You were misbehaving.
SXH: That's not fair! Why doesn't she get punished?!
Lu Bu: She's not a child.
SXH: AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!
