To understand this one, you guys might need to read Hideous Beast. Not really, as I would assume you could guess what happens. I wrote it for the dedicated people who read and review every chapter (Lady Zhou Ying, Helenilia, QiaoGurl, ect.) and also just for the people who read and didn't review. Because I know they exist, and are just as important.
"Hope provides comfort, and hope does not always require probability." John Perry
He walked through the gardens of the beautiful castle of which he dwelled with a stony expression. Dong Zhou was again planning and scheming, as was the ever beautiful Diao Chan. She had showed up months before, promised to both he and Zhou. Of course, both men took it in stride, expecting such things against them.
Turning around a bend, he caught sight of the beautiful fountain. But what caught his attention more was the woman dressed in the finest of purple cloth crying upon its edge. Raising a dark eyebrow he neared the weeping concubine. He was taller than her, a mighty man, and towered over her as she leaned over the edge of the fountain. She glanced up at him with wide brown eyes of shock, almost falling into the fountain.
"What is the matter woman?" he asked, in his usual subtle manner.
"Lord Bu," she murmured, and he watched with a scowl as her eyes searched the garden, probably for a story to tell him.
"You are tired of this life?" He stared down at her from over his nose, again raising an eyebrow.
"What? No my lord!" she quickly responded, quickly wiping away the tears that still fell.
"You cry then for you failed plan?" he asked, again using the subtly of the great warrior he was. Her eyes widened beyond what he of thought humanly capable before the look of fear crept upon her pretty face. Looking down at her, he realized how much he didn't like her looking at him in such a way. He usually relished in the fear of men but the look did not suit her.
"Wh-what plan my lord?" she stuttered. Chan never stuttered.
"The one to kill Zhou." Bu shrugged his impressive shoulders.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Again he shrugged. He, in all honesty didn't really care about the plan. It was only one of many. The only difference was that he liked Chan. He didn't like all those other people. "There is no plan my lord."
"I'd kill him if you wanted me to." With a final shrug, he bowed his head to her and left her with that to think about. She sat upon the edge of the fountain for hours after he left, contemplating his final words after moving past her initial shock.
- -
She lay upon his chest, marveling at his size. He was easily bigger than her, or any other man she had ever seen. His short black hair was smoothed back, and his black eyes closed with contentment. They had discussed what would happen, to her amazement. He had agreed fully to whatever she had planned, giving no real answer as to why.
"Because it is what I want," was all he would say to her question. She wouldn't complain though. Never did she complain when she was with him. He had always been gentle, careful, and compassionate to her. At least, in his own way. Giving a small smile, she closed her own brown eyes and let herself fall asleep.
-
They stood in the garden. He fully dressed in his magnificent black armor. Neither of them knew how to respond to the man standing before them. The fat man snarled at both of them, glowing a blue color in his rage. Chan yelled out a warning of the spell to come, to which the mighty Lu Bu merely shrugged away. He would not be intimidated by mere magic.
Zhou started to rant, not that Bu paid him any mind. He went on and on about his knowing of their plotting, and the pain he would administer in return. Bu ignored the fat mans rambling and looked for a way to attack that wouldn't leave Chan vulnerable. She had started her own spell and leaving her to her own defense might have been the end of her.
His chance never came. Their spells clashed. The world swirled in the most nauseating of ways. Zhou's laughter died away to gurgles, and Bu could hear Chan screaming behind him. He tried to turn to her, but his body felt like lead. He couldn't move. Then he couldn't see. He couldn't protect.
--
Chan shifted through the castle. Becoming apart of the castle had been a painful experience, but traveling as apart of the castle was confusing. She often didn't end up where she wanted, but she had always figured she had the time to waste. Finally pulling herself out of a tree, she came to the spot she wanted.
Her lord, Lu Bu stood in the same position he had when their plan had irreparably failed. His face in a twist of anger and pain, standing tall and fierce like he always did. She 'stepped' onto the cobblestone and up to her lord. Her love. She felt the pull coming from him, and hadn't known what to do. Since it was night, when Zhou was at his weakest since he was locked away in a room, she tugged at the 'string'. When it didn't do anything, she tugged a little harder.
Slowly the stone upon her lord's body started to fall away, piece by piece. He started to come to life, jerking and snarling. "My lord?" she asked. He glanced from her to his now moveable limbs, and then back to her. She saw the recognition in his eyes as all the pieces of the puzzle fell together. She watched, feeling terribly hurt, as he stiffened and his expression shielded.
"My lord? You are well?" she asked, trying desperately to hide her hurt.
"I am fine, Chan. You are as well I assume?"
"Yes. The spell backfired. I am apart of the castle now, unable to leave. But you my lord, I assume you can leave. I feel no magic upon you anymore. You should not be bound here." She searched his, looking for some form of happiness. There was none. He did not respond at all, only stared at the cobblestones beneath them. "My lord? What is the matter?"
It took a moment to look up at her, and even longer to respond. "I was unable to protect you Chan. I failed. I will not now leave you. No, never will I leave you. Return me to stone if you wish, but I shall not leave these grounds." Chan felt the tears forming at her eyes, and couldn't stop herself from gasping. He was so foolish, her mighty warrior. For, in reality, it was she who failed. It was herself who had been weak. She hadn't taken it into her own hands, killing him in his sleep. She was the one who hadn't prepared a spell. It was her fault.
But she knew he would hear none of it. The guilt in his eyes, his stern expression. He would hear none of it. So instead she grabbed him in a hug, letting the tears fall. His armor dug into her skin, and was cold to the touch. But that was fine with her. She didn't deserve his warmth. When he tentatively wrapped his own arms around her, she couldn't suppress the sobs.
She didn't know how long they would be forced under Zhou's cruel thumb, nor how the rest of the world would view them. But, at least she would have her mighty warrior. A man who didn't deserve his fate. A man she didn't deserve to support her.
This'll probably be the last one I write. I decided not to do DaxCe and YuxXiao cause they are all I write anyway. And LiangxYing is even boring-er than shang xiangxBie cause at least Shang Xiang has personality that I like. Those to are so, not even lovey dovey that I just really don't want to do them. But I have a story planned if people really want to hear it. I do have one more story planned, noncannon. We'll see if I can get it done and up.
