I woke up in the room and looked around. I looked down, remembering why I was here. It's only been 2 days and my heart still aches. How I miss my family so much. I wish they were here with me. Tears formed in my eyes once again.
"Don't you ever get tired of crying?" a voice said. I turned and it was Lord Lu Bu's daughter Lady Lu Lingqi. She came inside the room with a plate of food. "You cry every time you wake up. It's gonna give you a headache." I wiped my tears away.
"I'm sorry I cry so much," I replied to her. She set the plate aside and sat down next to me on the bed. "I just miss my family so much that my heart aches. The only thing I could really do is just cry." She put one hand on my shoulder. I was trying not to cry.
"I know how you feel. I felt the same way when my mother died. Your family wouldn't have wanted you to keep crying because of them. It doesn't matter if they're not here with you anymore. They're still in your heart. Come on, you should at least eat something. You haven't eaten anything since you came here." Lady Lu Lingqi told me, giving me the plate. I sniffed and nodded my head. I was really hungry.
"You're right Lady Lu Lingqi. I'm sorry for being such a crybaby." I replied to her, bowing my head down. She smiled and shook her head. I looked down at the food. There was some sweet and sour pork with rice. I then thought about how Lord Dong Zhuo said I was gonna be his bride. The thought of that brought tears to my eyes again. "I don't wanna be Lord Dong Zhuo's wife and give him a child. I don't wanna."
"Don't worry Kabanuna. My father won't allow Lord Dong Zhuo to lay one finger on you. This I promise." Lady Lu Lingqi replied to me. Lord Lu Bu is gonna help me? Oh, thank goodness! I guess that means that I have nothing to worry about then. I then smiled and wiped my tear away and turned to her.
"Okay. Thank you so much!" I replied happily. I picked up the spoon and began eating. Lady Lu Lingqi got up and headed out of my room…
Lady Lu Lingqi closed the door after she got out. She's so pure and innocent. It'd be a shame if father didn't help her out. Perhaps I should go ask him to protect her. She started walking off to find Lord Lu Bu. She found him with Lady Diao Chan. Lady Diao Chan was watching Lord Lu Bu practice martial arts. How weird to be seeing them together. Lady Diao Chan is 2 years younger than me. Oh well, I guess I have to deal with it since father's taken a liking to her. She may even become my new mother. Lady Lu Lingqi stopped thinking and went to Lord Lu Bu. He stopped training and turned to her when she came.
"Father, might it not be good if we allow Lord Dong Zhuo to have his way with Kabanuna? That girl… I feel as though I can think of her as a sister, though I know not much about her. Will you help her?" Lady Lu Lingqi asked her father.
Hmph, so even my own daughter wishes that I help Kabanuna? She thinks of Kabanuna as a sister? That is rare. Very well then. It can't be helped. I will help her out and care for her as if she is my own daughter.
"Very well. I will help her out then." Lord Lu Bu replied. Lady Diao Chan smiled and got up. Lord Lu Bu… People may not see it but you are a good person deep inside.
"I thank you, father." Lady Lu Lingqi said…
I was in the room doing nothing but sitting down when the door swung open, scaring me. I turned to the door and in came Lord Lu Bu. I was so relieved it was just him. Did Lord Lu Bu get injured again? I got up from the floor. Lady Diao Chan came in after him. Lady Diao Chan? She was carrying a towel in her hand.
"Kabanuna, listen carefully as I will only say this one time. From this moment on, you will be safe from Dong Zhuo. Do not try to escape and stay by my side." Lord Lu Bu said. Does this mean I don't have to stay in here forever? I am able to step outside too?
"O… Of course Lord Lu Bu," I replied. Lord Lu Bu came and unlocked my hand from the chain. I was so happy. "Thank you so much! I am in your debt." Lord Lu Bu said nothing but he nodded his head. He then turned to Lady Diao Chan.
"Diao Chan, do what you got to do and meet outside." Lord Lu Bu said and walked out of the room. Lady Diao Chan smiled warmly at me.
"Come on, I'll take you to the shower room." Lady Diao Chan said, taking my arm gently. She escorted me to the shower room. "When you are done showering, wear this okay? Your outfit is a bit dirty." She handed me a towel and the outfit was folded up nicely inside the towel. I nodded my head.
"Thank you, Lady Diao Chan." I replied to her. She went out of the shower room. Lady Diao Chan awaited me outside the shower room patiently. When I finished, I wore the outfit like she told me to.
It was a cute strapless purple cheongsam dress with flower designs on it. There was a bow on the right side of the dress where my waist is located. The whole dress has a laced layer around the dress part. There was also a short for me to wear and a pair of purple flat shoes.
I came out of the shower room and Lady Diao Chan was standing up waiting for me. She turned to me when I went to her.
"Wow, Kabanuna, you look lovely in that dress. Come on, let's go into my room." Lady Diao Chan said. I blushed when she complimented me but I smiled and nodded my head. She led me into her room and it was very clean. She made me sit down on her bed. She then opened her closet and there were tons of Cheongsam dresses of different colors. Wow, they're all so pretty! Lady Diao Chan then turned to me, smiling. "Kabanuna, you fit perfectly into my older Cheongsam clothing so I'm gonna give them to you."
"Oh, Lady Diao Chan, it's okay. You don't have to give me these nice clothing." I replied to her. She's so kind and nice.
"It would go to waste if I don't give them to you. You look very lovely in these dresses so I would be very happy if I gave them to you." Lady Diao Chan replied to me. I then smiled and nodded my head.
"Okay. Thank you so much, Lady Diao Chan." I replied. She got a big shoulder bag and neatly put the Cheongsam dresses of different colors in there. She also the matching flat shoes in there as well. When she finished, she handed me the bag and I took it. They're doing such nice things for me. How can I ever repay them? "Thank you. I don't know how I will make it up to you, Lady Diao Chan."
"There's no need, Kabanuna. I'm just happy you like them. Here, let me fix your hair into a bun. That way, people wouldn't get to pull your long hair back." Lady Diao Chan said. I smiled and nodded. Lady Diao Chan fixed my hair into a nice looking bun. A couple pieces of hair by my ears were too short so it was left down. "Okay, you're all set. Let's go to Lord Lu Bu now."
"Okay." I replied. We walked outside of the castle and met up with Lord Lu Bu and Lady Lu Lingqi. They were battling each other for fun and they stopped when we approached them both…
Wow, Kabanuna doesn't look bad in Diao Chan's clothing. Lady Lu Lingqi thought to herself. She smiled out to Kabanuna and Kabanuna returned the smile.
"You look very beautiful, Kabanuna." Lady Lu Lingqi complimented and Kabanuna blushed.
"Thank you Lady Lu Lingqi. You are always beautiful." Kabanuna replied. She can be cute at times.
"Thank you." Lady Lu Lingqi said. Kabanuna just smiled.
Lord Lu Bu saw Kabanuna wearing Lady Diao Chan's Cheongsam dress and had a shoulder bag with her. He already knew what was in the bag. Diao Chan would give Kabanuna her clothing to wear. Kabanuna looks very beautiful in those kinds of dresses.
"You don't fight, right Kabanuna?" Lord Lu Bu asked and Kabanuna shook her head.
"Of course not. I do not believe fighting solves anything. I'm a lover, not a fighter." Kabanuna replied to him. That is such a Kabanuna answer. She would say something like that.
"Well then, you can sit down on Red Hare and watch us practice or do what you want but do not go anywhere." Lord Lu Bu said. Kabanuna nodded her head and turned to his horse. Kabanuna smiled and walked over to his horse.
"I love horses!" Kabanuna exclaimed. Lord Lu Bu helped her get on his horse. She sat down on the saddle and watched them practice fighting one another.
While they were fighting one another to train, they heard a soldier yelling. They all turned to the soldier.
"Yuan Shao and his forces have attacked and they are halfway to Hu Lao Gate!" he yelled. What the heck? Already? Lord Lu Bu quickly stopped fighting. Those maggot peons shall pay!
"What's going on?" Kabanuna asked.
"The enemy is here." Lady Lu Lingqi replied. Kabanuna gasped in horror. Poor Kabanuna. She's about to witness the war now. Lord Lu Bu helped Kabanuna get down from his horse and he climbed on Red Hare.
"Lingqi, you and I will go out first. Diao Chan, take Kabanuna somewhere safe and follow behind us. Let's go." Lord Lu Bu said. Lady Lu Lingqi nodded her head and got on her horse. Kabanuna quickly went to them.
"Be safe, you guys." She said. They nodded their head and headed on to battle to push Yuan Shao's forces back.
Where do I take Kabanuna? Where is safe? Nowhere is safe here. Lady Diao Chan took Kabanuna and put Kabanuna on her horse. Lady Diao Chan then climbed behind her and made her horse begin running off.
"Will Lord Lu Bu and Lady Lu Lingqi be okay?" asked Kabanuna. Lady Diao Chan knew in her heart that they will be safe because they are very strong.
"They'll be okay. Don't worry too much about it, okay?" Lady Diao Chan replied. She took Kabanuna to a big bush. "Hide behind this bush, okay? As long as you're quiet, no one will know you are here. We'll come back as soon as we can, okay?" Kabanuna nodded her head. Lady Diao Chan smiled.
"Be careful okay?" Kabanuna said and Lady Diao Chan nodded her head. Lady Diao Chan then got on her horse and it galloped away.
"Yuan Shao and his forces are here already? Argh, those vermin's! Where is my future to be bride Kabanuna? Bring her here immediately!" Lord Dong Zhuo thundered and the armies looked at each other.
"We saw her with Lord Lu Bu and his daughter, along with Lady Diao Chan. Kabanuna got on the horse with Lady Diao Chan and they galloped away. Perhaps Lady Diao Chan took her to safety." An army replied.
"My future bride was with Lu Bu? Darn him! Is he trying to keep my Kabanuna away from me as well as he did so with Diao Chan? Whatever! Go find Kabanuna and bring her to me! Now!" Lord Dong Zhuo commanded and the armies began their search for Kabanuna.
"Now where would Lady Diao Chan hide Kabanuna?" said one of the army thinking hard. There were 5 of them. "I'm thinking she probably hid her somewhere by the bushes. What do you guys think?"
"I don't know. We could try looking by the bushes. Kabanuna could be there. We have to find her before Yuan Shao's forces breach Hu Lao Gate." Another one said.
They walked around, carefully looking for Kabanuna. They arrived at the area where there were most bushes.
"I have an idea," one of them whispered, "Lady Kabanuna! Where are you? Lord Lu Bu and Lady Diao Chan asked me to escort you back to them." They then heard rustling in the bushes as the armies smiled.
Out came Kabanuna, just as the army suspected she would if she was there.
"Are they alright?" she asked, walking to them. They nodded their head and pretended to escort her back. "What a relief. I was so worried." She was walking in front and the armies eyed each other as a sign to grab her hands. One of them grabbed her hands from behind and she gasped. "What are you doing?" They chained up her hands and began dragging her off to Lord Dong Zhuo.
Lord Lu Bu and Lady Lu Lingqi waited in front of the Hu Lao Gate. Suddenly, Hu Lao Gate broke down and Lord Lu Bu swung his halberd to the armies as they flew high in the air and fell down. Many armies were scared of him.
"It… It's Lu Bu! R… Run for your lives!" many armies shouted, retreating at the sight of him. Stupid maggots! Run away because your lives depend on it. Lady Diao Chan arrived by his side. Lord Lu Bu raised his halberd in the air.
"Come, I will test your might against my own!" Lord Lu Bu shouted, giving his horse a kick and his horse neighed really loud and he ran towards the enemy. Lady Lu Lingqi and Lady Diao Chan gave their horses a kick and went after Lord Lu Bu as well.
Lord Lu Bu came upon Lord Xiahou Dun. Lord Xiahou Dun turned to Lord Lu Bu. They were both on horses and they posed to fight.
"Show me what strength you've got, boy!" Lord Lu Bu shouted. Hmph. This one eyed peon is no match for the mighty Lu Bu!
"Hmph, I won't hold back! Give it your all!" shouted Lord Xiahou Dun as they charged at each other. When they reached each other, Lord Lu Bu swung his halberd not at Lord Xiahou Dun but rather at his horse and the horse fell down, causing Xiahou Dun to fly and land in the river nearby.
"And stay in there, maggot peon!" shouted Lord Lu Bu, as the current was taking Lord Xiahou Dun away. He then got off his horse. Lord Lu Bu then turned around and slashed his halberd in front of him. He cut down 3 arrows.
"Aw damn it!" Lord Xiahou Yuan said because his arrows missed.
"You're too slow you maggot peon. If only you were a bit younger. Well that matters little to me. Show me the strength your old body still possesses!" Lord Lu Bu shouted, posing to fight. Lord Xiahou Yuan began shooting arrows at Lord Lu Bu and he cut them down with his halberd. He was also closening to Lord Xiahou Yuan. Once he reached Lord Xiahou Yuan, Lord Lu Bu pushed him into the water and Lord Xiahou Yuan also got taken away by the current.
"Argh! This isn't over, Lu Bu!" he heard Lord Xiahou Yuan shouting.
"Get taken away by the current like your one eyed peon cousin!" shouted Lord Lu Bu. He felt so mighty and powerful. Many armies were afraid of him and ran away when he came close to them. "Does anyone else wish to challenge the mighty Lu Bu? Come forward!"
Despites Lord Lu Bu's effort to drive the coalition back, they entered in the Hu Lao Gate and he knew they lost Luo Yang no matter what. He met up with Lady Lu Lingqi and Lady Diao Chan. Together, they went on ahead to go get Kabanuna.
Lord Zhao Yun entered in Hu Lao Gate and killed many of Lord Dong Zhuo's men. He went more in towards the castle.
"No, let go of me!" he hear a girl yelling from a short distance. Oh no, a woman is in danger! I must go and save her no matter what!
"Hyah!" he shouted as his horse galloped towards the direction where he heard the woman. He turned and saw 5 of Lord Dong Zhuo's men dragging a girl. Her hands were chained up. Wow, she sure is beautiful. Who is this lady and why are they dragging her. I must save her at once! "Stop right there! You shall not drag this lady and chain her up like this!" Lord Zhao Yun jumped off his horse and landed in front of them.
"Attack him!" shouted one of the armies. The 5 of them charged at him at once. He moved aside and whacked one of them on the head. He grabbed another one and lifted him up. He threw the army to another one and they fell on their butts really hard and wriggled liked maggots. Lord Zhao Yun took the other one and collided his head with the other one and they became dizzy. The 5 of them got up.
"He… He's too strong! Let's just retreat!" one of them said and the 5 of them began running off. Lord Zhao Yun rushed to the young woman.
"Are you alright?" he asked, undoing the chains on her hand. She nodded her head. He then tossed the chain aside. "Do not worry, my lady! I shall protect you and make sure harm is out of your way!" She smiled at him. Dang, this girl is so beautiful and I'm not married yet. I wonder if she will consider marrying me after this battle. Lord Zhao Yun smiled back at her…
"Get away from her, boy!" shouted a powerful voice. The guy and I turned to find Lord Lu Bu on his horse. I was so happy to see them. He was with Lady Lu Lingqi and Lady Diao Chan, along with another man I don't know. "Hyah!" His Red Hare began running towards us. The guy got in front of me and posed to fight.
]'"Don't worry, I won't let this man get you!" he shouted. I got confused. But Lord Lu Bu is a good man. I was actually expecting to see him and Lady Diao Chan, along with Lady Lu Lingqi. Who is the man with them though?
"U… Um, actually I…" I began to the stranger when Lord Lu Bu kicked him and he flew and hit a tree. It looked like it hurt a lot. I gasped and covered my mouth. Lord Lu Bu grabbed my hand and made me get on the horse in front of him. Lord Lu Bu kicked the horse on the side and it began running off. I didn't even get to thank the stranger. Lady Lu Lingqi, Lady Diao Chan, and the man followed behind us. Together, we fled out of the Hu Lao Gate. I saw so much blood and it frightened me a lot. I gasped and closed my eyes, turning the other way.
"Don't open your eyes until I say so." Lord Lu Bu told me. I nodded my head and kept my eyes closed. I was pretty sure Lord Lu Bu wouldn't have wanted me to see the bloody battlefield.
It felt like forever since I've been closing my eyes. We were still riding on the horses.
"You can open your eyes again. We're out of the battlefield." Lord Lu Bu said to me. I slowly opened my eyes and there were green grass everywhere. Why did we flee the Hu Lao Gate in Luo Yang? I don't understand.
"U… Um, Lord Lu Bu, why did we leave?" I asked.
"We lost the battle. If we stay behind, we'll be killed. That's why we left Hu Lao Gate." He replied. Oh, so that's why… How sad for those who lost their lives. I didn't say anything else. Nobody did.
When it became nightfall, we halted to rest up. Lord Lu Bu helped me off his horse and I got down safely. Everyone got banana leaves and set it on the ground. How could anyone sleep like this? I guess I'll have to get used to it. I grabbed myself a few banana leaves and placed it on the ground next to Lady Diao Chan. The man I didn't know came to me.
"We haven't met yet, Kabanuna. I am Zhang Liao." He said to me. Ah, so that's his name. I smiled and he did the same.
"Hello, Lord Zhang Liao. It is an honor to meet you." I replied. Lord Zhang Liao then went off and placed a banana leaf on the ground. I took off the shoulder bag Lady Diao Chan gave me with the new clothing's and shoes. I used it as a pillow. It was kind of cold but I could manage.
It was hard for me to sleep so I got up and took my shoulder bag and wore it. I went to Lord Lu Bu's horse. It was still awake and it turned to me when I went to it.
"Hello, Red Hare," I said softly and patting its neck. Red Hare continued eating some grass while I patted his neck gently. "You must have been so sad when you were separated from your family. It's okay though. I'm separated from my family forever. They are part of the stars now. No matter how high I reach, I can never touch them. How life can be so cruel sometimes." Red Hare nickered softly and I gave it a hug on the neck. He was very soft. I smiled. "Lord Lu Bu must have taken great care of you. He's taking care of me too and I am thankful for that." Red Hare lies down and I lay down next to him and yawned, feeling sleepy. I began closing my eyes. "You and I are alike, Red Hare. We've been separated from our family but we have Lord Lu Bu to look out for us." I then drifted off to sleep…
Lord Lu Bu was still awake and he heard everything Kabanuna said to his horse. For some reason, he feels like he really cares for her. I don't know much about this girl, yet I care for her safety. I will look out for all of us. I'll be the one to protect us from danger as well. We need a place to call home. Even if I have to use someone to get land, I will do so for everyone here.
He opened his eyes when he stopped hearing her talking. He sat up and turned to his horse. He managed a little smile.
There Kabanuna was, asleep on his horse. Her head was resting on his horse's shoulder area. Red Hare was sleeping as well. Hmph, it seems they have developed a friendship as well.
Lord Lu Bu got up and placed a banana leaf as a blanket for Kabanuna. He placed his hand on her head gently.
"Worry not, Kabanuna. You will be safe as long as I am here." Lord Lu Bu said to her, even though he knows she won't hear him. He let go of his hand and walked back to his sleeping area. He lay down and began sleeping too…