Alright, this here is my third one up. As I said before, I don't like Liu Bei, but I think it shows the start of their relationship. It also has a lot of the awesome Sun Ce in it, so I actually like this one (no, I actually just like this one cause I think its good).


"Your true traveler finds boredom rather agreeable than painful. It is the symbol of his liberty - his excessive freedom. He accepts his boredom, when it comes, not merely philosophically, but almost with pleasure." Aldous Leonard Huxley


The inky clouds covered the once lovely blue sky. The warm summer rain effectively soaking everything. She had already discarded the newspaper and used every foul word she had learned from her brothers and their friends on her evil shoes. She was absolutely positive any woman who wore them willingly was beyond stupid, and if the shoes had had a soul they would have sold it to the devil.

The platform sandals, although added a nice amount of height, made running hard. Not that she would normally run from the nice summer rain, but she really had not other choice. She wore a simple, but expensive dress shirt with a matching skirt since she had been going for an interview for a job.

Her once lovely, combed and straightened brown hair was now a mixture of being soaked and clinging to her face to curling wildly from the humidity the rain always brought. Her aqua eyes squinted to see through the rain, and she sighed when she spotted a familiar arch where she was to wait for her brother. She sped up a little, only to trip over her own two feet.

She cursed the shoes again as her eyes shut and she braced herself for the fall. Instead she met the solid form of a body, large hands spanning her hips holding her steady. Her hands were placed, from what she could tell, on his (it could only be a guy) chest and she didn't want to open her eyes. She hadn't realized she had been so cold!

"Are you alright?" he asked, hands not moving.

"Oh! Yes! Thank you," she sputtered, realizing she was almost trying to cuddle with a stranger. Face glowing red she quickly tried to put a modest amount of space between her and him. It took but a second and some misplaced weight for her to realize her shoe wasn't where she had hoped it was. She fisted her hands in his shirt as her face collided with his chest. She felt him chuckle more than she heard it as he held her steady up. Using him for support she kicked her shoe until it was under her foot again. Now leaning back, she rubbed her stinging nose while mumbling an apology.

"You are alright?" he asked again.

"Yeah, I'm fine. These evil shoes, however, won't be when I finally get home," she said with a heavy glare sent to her feet. Her eyes shot back to his face when he gave a deep laugh.

"I am Liu Bei," he announced with a slight bow. She stepped back, staring at the man. His green shirt was damp and wrinkled, his jeans in a similar state. His dark brown hair looked as if it had been smoothed back, but now fell around his face. He had high cheek bones, with almond shaped, walnut colored eyes. She caught the amused gaze then, and she blushed horribly again.

"I'm Sun Shang Xiang," she rushed through her introduction, giving a stiff bow. As she straightened she played with a loose string on her jacket while avoiding his face.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Sun." He only smiled, throwing her off guard. She was so used to her friends and brothers she had been expecting a teasing remark. "Are you meeting somebody here?"

"What?" she gasped, her eyes widening. The man seemed so harmless she had totally forgotten the whole 'Stranger Danger' lectures her father had all but preached to her when she was younger. A tomboy at heart, growing up rough-housing, she knew full well how to defend herself. Her brothers and father had it no other way. But the problem was that she was so small, coming to Liu Bie's shoulders in platform shoes. She knew full well how to throw a perfect punch, but the problem was landing it so it would hurt against a man that could easily overpower her.

"I only worry Ms. Sun. My brothers should be here soon enough. I do not want to leave you alone unprotected," he said, eyeing her.

"I know how to take care of myself! Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I'm weak," she huffed, crossing her arms and glaring at him. She knew she still look like a seventeen year old, her face and height never keeping up with her age.

His eyes widened before he gave an honest smile once again. "Of course then, Ms. Sun." Sun Shang Xiang bit the inside of her cheek, unsure whether or not to yell at him some more. Taking a deep breath she calmed down, finding that she wanted to believe he trusted he words and believed her. That he wasn't a sexist pig like so many others. She sighed, letting the air out, and leaned against the wall, keeping an eye on him just to be safe.

Minutes later she was tapping her fingers against her thigh and blowing at some hair that clung to her nose. Biting back a sigh she tapped a puddle with her shoe and played with the ripples until she lost interest in that too. Biting her bottom lip, she glanced back at her company hoping for some, possibly lasting, entertainment. What she saw caught her breath.

He stood perfectly still, save for what the wind ruffled. His eyes were closed, he head slightly tilted back. He had the sweetest, smallest smile on his handsome face. His hands rested in his pockets, his thumbs hooked in his belt loop. Looking at the picture of calm acceptance, possibly in enjoyment, she couldn't help but compare him to those close to her.

Particularly she couldn't help but compare him to her elder brother. He was a cheerful, confident man who made many friends in his life. He was popular, in that he was great and he pushed others to be great as well. He was also very active, playing football, soccer, and horse back riding all through high school and college. Now he traveled the world in the army. But, as she watched Liu Bei, she realized she had seen the same expression of content on him.

Some of the others as well, like Gan Ning, and even sometimes on Taishi Ci, or her beloved father. Tilting her head to the side, and pushing her hair out of her face (wishing for her beloved head band) she studied the man again, looking for something deeper. Instead she heard the splash of tires. Looking to the road she saw a Ford truck coming down the road.

"Um," she started, making him break his trance to star at her with another smile, "I think that's my ride. Will you be… um … okay?"

"I will be find, Ms. Sun. Thank you for your concern. My brothers are probably just arguing over directions. This is our first time being in Jiang Dong. Have a good evening." He bowed, which Sun Shang Xiang copied as the Ford truck stopped. Waving goodbye, she opened the passenger door to see Sun Ce staring at Liu Bei.

Mumbling a hello, she buckled up. She knew she'd be grilled for answers later, but at then she turned the music up and stared at the rain out the window. She glanced back at the archway, with a secret wish to see the strange Liu Bei again, before turning to study her similar brother.

Sorry its so short guys. So, that takes out most of the hard ones. Zhuge Liang won't be easy, but I have the story planned enough that I can write it out. Finding the quotes is a little difficult, but I enjoy looking for them (I like quotes). Lets see if I can keep up with my record and get another one out within a day! (I probably just jinxed myself...)

Tooldles