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MUAHAHA! My chapter is done!
Zhang He was getting ready for another battle, and he was happy about it, but he was also sad at the same time. He had never been with someone, and it was starting to get to him. Everyone seemed to be happy in a relationship, and he was the only one left out. He sighed as he saw Lord Cao Cao and his wife pass by, talking and laughing happily. Why can’t I be like that? Am I doomed to be alone forever? Is there something wrong with me? Is it so wrong to be attracted to guys that the gods are punishing me? He had finished preparing for battle and walked out of his tent, his head held high, a look of determination in his eyes. We will win this fight, I will destroy Sima Yi and avenge my father’s death, even if I die soon after, I will kill him! He walked to Lord Cao Cao and requested permission to take his troops to the front-lines. Cao Cao raised a row at this request, but gave him permission all the same. Zhang He bowed down and called his troops to him for a quick rally. “You all remember the plan, right?” The soldiers nodded in unison and pulled their bows and blades closer. “Good, now remember, Sima Yi is mine, you just have to pick off his bodyguards from afar and give me the signal when it’s safe.” Yet again, the soldiers showed that they understood. “Good, dismissed!” He waited until the soldiers were out of sight before he started to cry. Even all of his guards had lovers, and they constantly talked about them. This would be a bad day, he just knew it. He would end up losing to Sima Yi, and probably dead, too.
* * * * *
Lu Bu entered Cao Cao’s camp and looked around, scoffing. “What a stupid arrangement. If someone were to lay siege on this encampment, they would all be killed.” He walked past the tents and smirked as he passed a well-kept, nicely decorated tent. “That would be Zhang He’s tent, I just know it.” “You’re right; it is Zhang He’s tent.” Lu Bu turned around to see a spear head in his face, held by a small boy no more than twelve or thirteen, not a child, yet not a man yet, either. “State your business, trespasser!” Lu Bu laughed and held his halberd at the ready. “I’m here to speak to Cao Cao, you little twerp, now get that ********’ spear out of my face before I move it for you!” He lashed out at the boy just as Cao Cao left his tent. The commander of this particular kingdom walked between the boy and Lu Bu, glaring at the older. “We’re supposed to work together to defeat Sima Yi, not our teammates. This boy is my son, so don’t you dare hurt him!” Lu Bu laughed a bit. “Yeah, well you’re as much of an enemy as Sima Yi is, you know. I’m just doing this to avenge my master’s death!” Lu Bu practically yelled at Cao Cao. “Sima Yi killed the person who taught me everything I know, and I intend to do the same to him for that.” He sat on his haunches and glared at Cao Cao. “Besides, who said I would obey your orders, eh?” The boy looked up at Cao Cao. “Father, Zhang He looked more depressed than usual today.” “I noticed that, too, son. I’ll talk to him about it later and tell him that you were worried.” “Thank you, sir.” The boy walked into the family’s tent and closed the flap behind him, but not before sticking his tongue out at Lu Bu. Lu Bu stood up and started to stomp towards Cao Cao’s tent until Zhang He was heard. “We would really appreciate your help out there, Lu Bu. That brat is the least of your worries.” Zhang He stood with his arms crossed much like a girl’s and gave Lu Bu a cold smile. Lu Bu turned around and glared at Zhang He, scoffing at his comment. “You’re right, he is the least of my worries, and Sima Yi is why I‘m here!” “Sima Yi is my problem, not yours. He killed my father exactly 12 years ago today!” “Today’s the same day he killed my master!” Lu Bu yelled back at Zhang He, pissed to no end. My master’s revenge is much more important than some random slaughter victim. “Wait, did you say that he killed your father 12 years ago today? What was his name?” It was impossible that Zhang He’s dad and Lu Bu’s master were the same person, right? All of a sudden, a familiar voice was heard, but it wasn’t usually a good sign when Cao Cao’s fighters heard this voice in particular. “Zhang He’s father was Sima He, Sima Yi and he were best friends, and Sima He was a very good father figure to me.” Pang Tong stepped into the small circle of soldiers and smiled beneath his mask. “Now, before you decide to try and kill me, the reason I am here is not to fight you, but to help you. This attack was not Liu Bei’s idea, it was all Sima Yi’s doing, and that’s why Liu Bei sent me to help you.” He lowered to one knee in front of Cao Cao and gestured for him to take a slip of paper in his hand. “This is from Liu Bei concerning his intentions in this fight.” Lu Bu stared in disbelief at Zhang He. “Sima He…was my master…how… how can I not remember you?” Zhang He smiled sweetly and pulled his hair out of the ponytail he always had it in, letting it fall, revealing just how long his hair actually was. Lu Bu continued to stare at Zhang He, trying to figure out why he couldn’t remember him. “Wait, do you have a scar that looks like a dragon on your left calf that another boy put there? A boy by the name of Jing Quo Liang?” “Yes, I do, actually.” Zhang He’s smile grew and he pulled up his left pant leg to reveal the scar, well-carved and obviously a dragon. “I loved Jing Quo so much, too.” Lu Bu lowered his gaze and smirked. “I remember you now. You were always really loud and annoying.” Zhang He stormed off, back in the direction of the fight. “If you’re going to help us, get your a** out here! I’m sick and tired of waiting around for you, dammit!” He was trying to hide his tears for fear that Lu Bu would see them and call him weak. Why does he always have to be so heartless? Why can’t he be nice for just once in the midst of such uneven odds? Those last few words made no sense together, either… In Zhang He’s mind’s eye, he saw his worst fear; Lu Bu being slaughtered and Cao Cao’s army losing to Sima Yi, himself being taken prisoner and forced to be Sima Yi’s sex slave, and Cao Lin, Cao Cao’s youngest child, the one who stood up to Lu Bu, being married to that b***h of a child Sima Yi called his sister. If they lost, he would never get to tell his crush how he felt, and that was the worst fear of them all. He wanted him to know, even if he never spoke to Zhang He again afterwards, he had to know that Zhang He had never forgotten him, even though he had forgotten Zhang He. Zhang He rubbed the scar on his left calf and started to cry softly. He heard noise in the bushes and stopped abruptly. “It’s alright, Zhang, it’s just me.” Pang Tong walked next to Zhang He and squatted down, surveying the valley below. “We’re gonna siege them here with this small army? Where’s the rest of Cao Cao’s force?” “They’re coming a bit later after their spies return.” There was a cry of happiness from the camp. “Speak of the almighty death god, they’re back!” Zhang He and Pang Tong walked back into camp to see the entire army talking and laughing. Zhang He walked up to Cao Cao and bowed respectfully. “Good news has come with their return, I hope?” “Yes, actually, Liu Bei has ended his alliance with Sima Yi and will be joining us in this fight, which means we out-number Sima Yi’s army now.” “That’s wonderful!” Zhang He stood up and smiled until he caught Lu Bu in the corner of his eye. His face fell and he walked into his tent. Lu Bu looked at Zhang He in his retreat and sighed. For once, he actually showed that he felt bad for his actions. Jeez, I didn’t mean to hurt him that badly. I’m a jerk! Please forgive me for hurting your son, master. I will try to repair the damage I have caused. Cao Cao called for all of the soldiers to ready themselves for the battle ahead, so Lu Bu went to Zhang He’s tent. “Hey, can I talk to you for a moment?” “Sure, if you promise to be nice.” “Ok, I promise.” Lu Bu walked into Zhang He’s tent and sat in the doorway. “Sorry ‘bout earlier. I’m just in a worse mood than usual.” “I appreciate the apology, but that still won’t lighten my mood. Can I tell you something without you slaughtering me?” “Depends on what it’s about. If it’s something like you want me to tell someone you like them, then no, I won’t. If it involves you saying you’re the one who killed Diao Chan, then this force will be missing an extremely skilled fighter really quickly.” “Well…” Zhang He sighed and blushed, “I…” Cao Cao bellowed for all of the soldiers to follow him, so Lu Bu stood up and walked out of Zhang He’s tent. “We can talk after we win, ok?” He smiled at Zhang He and walked towards the crowd of eager fighters. Zhang He sighed again and walked out of his tent, securely closing the flap behind him. Lu Bu looked around for the young boy from earlier and moved towards him when he finally found him. “This your first fight?” “Yes, sir, it is.” Cao Lin was obviously nervous, and he was shaking. Lu Bu whistled for Red Hair and grabbed something out of one of the bags on the horse’s side. He passed it to the boy and smirked. “Keep this with you at all times and don’t you dare lose it! It’s a good luck charm I got from a friend a long time ago, and it’s never failed me.” Master, I will watch over this boy and your son. The boy may die today, but Zhang He will come out of this alive, one way or another. Cao Lin smiled and bowed to Lu Bu in respect and thanks, slipping the pendant around his neck and tucking it under his breast plate. Lu Bu walked off and back towards Zhang He, smiling when the other caught sight of him. “Good luck today, Zhang.” “And good luck to you, too. We’ll both need it. We just barely out number Sima Yi, the odds are about one and a half to one, and we’ve got to be really careful and strategic.” “Apparently.” Cao Cao made a gesture and the soldiers started to march, moving towards an almost inevitable doom, if it weren’t for the fact that the gods were looking after all of them that day, especially the Cao Lin, Zhang He, and Lu Bu.
* * * * *
Zhang He had completely lost sight of Cao Lin, and that worried him. The boy didn’t have the courage to fight alone, especially not in such an arduous battle as Cao Lin‘s first. He had to find the boy before it was too late! He ran through the valley of fighting bodies until he saw Cao Lin and reached out to grab him by the arm when he was attacked by someone much larger than himself. He barely had enough time to block the unseen attack, and the shock of this opponent’s strength vibrated up his arm as his free hand slashed at the person’s exposed stomach, eviscerating him instantly. Most people would give up at this point and give themselves up to the death god, but not this one. The cut in his stomach only made him more eager to slaughter Zhang He. Zhang He had a hard time staying on his feet as he blocked hit after hit from the giant he was fighting. He was thrown to the ground by a particularly vicious attack and knew it was over. He curled up in a ball and rolled to the side as the giant’s spear came down, barely missing his stomach and ripping his side wide open. Zhang He screamed in agony and saw his life flash before him. My fear…my worst fear…he’ll never know how I feel. He felt a hot liquid on his face and thought it was blood but then realized that he was crying. He opened his eyes and saw that his vision was blurred and it was getting dark. He was dying, he knew it. He heard the clash of weapons and the giant’s bellow from farther than he remembered being, and that confirmed his fears. I’m going to die! I’m going to die like this, without a proper burial, just like my father! He heard the giant scream out in anguish and realized that he had been defeated. He heard Lu Bu spit and curse at the giant, heard the footsteps coming closer, and felt something lifted away from his face. Zhang He slowly turned his head and looked at Lu Bu, still crying. * * * * *
“You ok?” Lu Bu’s eyes were kind and caring, which was completely unlike him. He had tried his best to keep Zhang He in his sight, but when Zhang He bolted after Cao Lin, Lu Bu had lost him completely. Only when he heard Zhang He scream was he able to find him again. He had a hard time killing the fat lard that had attacked Zhang He, but the grotesque thing was dead now, and that was what was most important. He wrapped Zhang He in his cloak and carried him into the seclusion of a nearby tree. He set Zhang He down and asked him again. “Zhang, are you ok?” “No, I’m not ok! My side’s been split wide open!” Zhang He held his side tightly and then realized he felt only a little warmth to say that there was blood there. “Wait, that’s not possible! He split it open with his spear!” He took his hands away from his side and saw a small cut. “You probably over-reacted. I’m even scared that we’ll lose, and I’m hardly ever scared.” Lu Bu smiled a bit to try and lighten the mood. “Why did you save me? You’ve let so many other people die, but you chose to save me.” Zhang He’s face showed that he had been crying. “Why me, of all people?” “Because you’re my master’s kid, I have to or else I will dishonor him.” He moved a bit closer to Zhang He to inspect the cut and pulled a strip of white fabric out of his breast plate. He wrapped it around Zhang He’s hips and tied it off carefully. “We have to make sure it doesn’t get infected, right?” “Um, Lu Bu, can I tell you what I was going to say earlier?” Zhang He cheeks turned a dark crimson. “I think I already know, and I don’t hate you for it. You said you love Jing Quo, even though it’s been 12 years since you saw each other, right?” Zhang He nodded shyly. Lu Bu sat down next to him. “After my master was murdered for cheating on Sima Yi with your mother, or so Sima Yi put it, I changed my name. I wasn’t able to use his teaching name as proof of my apprenticeship since I didn’t kill him as my final test, so I changed my name to what it is now. If I hadn’t I would still be called Jing Quo, correct?” He smiled at Zhang He again, a happy smile that hardly anyone ever saw, save his ex-wives. Zhang He’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re Jing Quo?” “Mhm. I didn’t know you were the same Zhang He until today, too, or else I would have told you a long time ago. What I said about you being annoying earlier was to show you it was a good idea to stop the conversation. I didn’t mean to upset you.” “That’s ok.” Zhang He scooted closer to Lu Bu and rested his head on Lu Bu’s shoulder. Lu Bu grabbed one of Zhang He’s hands and kissed his wrist softly. “So, you forgive me for being a total jackass, then?” Lu Bu smiled and moved to face Zhang He, close enough to Zhang He to kiss him. “Yes, I do.” Zhang He leaned forward and kissed Lu Bu sweetly and passionately. Lu Bu pulled Zhang He closer and pressed his lips firmly against Zhang He’s, holding him so that he wouldn’t fall. Zhang He’s hands wrapped around Lu Bu’s neck. They kissed until there was a noise in the brush. They both stood up, ready to slaughter whoever the intruder was if they weren’t allies. A small group of Sima Yi’s guards circled them, Sima Yi a safe distance behind them, smirking and laughing at the two of them. “Ah, how I love to catch two lovebirds off guard. I think I’ll take the smaller of you two as a prize, eh, boys?” Sima Yi laughed maniacally as his guards pressed forward. Lu Bu growled at Sima Yi and readied his halberd, calling out in a foreign language. Zhang He recognized it as his father’s secret language, the code in which he had helped train his students in secrecy. Lu Bu charged forward, and Zhang He followed, both of them picking off the guards one by one until it was only the two of them and Sima Yi. Sima Yi laughed again and pulled his war-fan in front of him, ready to attack. Red Hair charged into the brush with Pang Tong and, for some strange reason, Sun Shang Jiang on his back. The two of them leapt off and realized that their help was no longer needed, so they excused themselves and walked towards the sound of battle. Lu Bu charged forward, knocking Sima Yi’s fan out of his hand. Zhang He cut in front of Lu Bu and pirouetted Sima Yi in the face, turned in mid-spin, and slashed with one of his claws, and caught Sima Yi in the chest, causing a very deep wound to appear. He backed away as Lu Bu smacked Sima Yi in the face with the hilt of the halberd where Zhang He had kicked him just a moment before. Sima Yi staggered backwards and leaned against a tree, shaking his head to clear it from the two consecutive blows. Zhang He kissed Lu Bu while taking hold of the halberd and ran towards Sima Yi, empailing it into the wound he had already inflicted in his previous attack. The halberd went right through Sima Yi and was shoved into the tree behind him. Lu Bu stared in shock at the fact that someone else had dared take his halberd away from him as Zhang He stood, fuming, in front of Sima Yi. “That’s to avenge the death of my father and Lu Bu’s master,” He kicked Sima Yi in the crotch, “And that’s for trying to rape me, you b*****d!” He removed the halberd with a bit of difficulty and passed it to Lu Bu. “You finish him off, honey.” Lu Bu walked up to Sima Yi, spat in his face, and slashed him in half as soon as he tried to run. He stormed into the heat of the battlefield and slaughtered any enemy that dared to get too close as Zhang He just picked off people on the outskirts. With how he felt right now, it would be bad if he became surrounded by enemies. Despite his efforts, enemies swarmed him and he had some trouble blocking and attacking quickly. He called out for Lu Bu, and his lover was there in an instant, protecting him and killing all of the soldiers after Zhang He. “Go sit where we were, ok? You’re too stressed out. I’ll get you when it’s over.” “Fine.” Zhang He stormed off into the trees, fuming over many things, mainly the fact that he was still angry at Sima Yi. He’s dead, dammit! Why can’t I move on already? He grabbed Lu Bu’s cloak, since they had forgotten it, and went down to the water. He stripped down and waded in, cleaning his wound and washing the blood off of his clothes. He put his head into the water and closed his eyes, sighing heavily. He’s right, I am too stressed out. I just need to relax for a little bit. Soon afterwards, he climbed out of the water and laid down on Lu Bu’s cloak, falling asleep in the warm sun.
* * * * *
Lu Bu walked into the trees and didn’t see Zhang He. He started to panic and then he remembered there was a pond nearby that Cao Cao had told him Zhang He likes to go retreat to. He walked to the pond and saw Zhang He naked and asleep on his cloak. Oh, yeah. I forgot that when I stormed off. He took his heavy, cold armor and clothes off and rinsed the blood off of himself before curling up next to Zhang He. Zhang He woke up because of this and jumped up, ready to attack. He realized it was just Lu Bu, apologized, and snuggled close. His body ached from both physical and emotional stress, and being next to Lu Bu was comforting. “Does this mean we’re together now, Zhang He?” “Only if you want to be with me.” Zhang He kissed Lu Bu’s chest softly and wrapped his hands around Lu Bu’s neck. Lu Bu smiled and kissed the top of Zhang He’s head. “Then we’re together.” He nuzzled the top of Zhang He’s head and closed his eyes. "It feels good out here.” “I know. That’s why I fell asleep.” Zhang He looked up at Lu Bu and smiled sweetly. Lu Bu looked down at Zhang He and pulled him into a passionate kiss, his tongue running over his lover’s lips. Zhang He opened his mouth to let Lu Bu’s tongue in and pressed himself closer. Lu Bu’s hand slowly moved down Zhang He’s side until he reached his rear. Zhang He’s skin is so soft. How’s that possible for a male? We’re supposed to have rough, calloused skin, but his…he feels like a woman…his curves, his skin, his hair…is the fact that he’s so feminine what attracts me to him? Lu Bu rested his hand on Zhang He’s rear and pressed his yearning body against his lover, wanting to do things unspeakable in mixed company to him. Zhang He felt his cheeks redden as he felt Lu Bu’s hardness against his and ended the kiss softly. “We…should probably head back to camp. People will get worried about me soon.” Lu Bu smiled and stood up, gathering his clothes up and slowly getting dressed to make sure he didn’t hurt himself in the process. Zhang He dressed quickly and stood by Lu Bu, waiting for him to finish getting dressed. Lu Bu picked Zhang He up, went and chopped off Sima Yi’s head and carried him back to camp, triumphantly strolling in with the head in his hand. Zhang He grimaced at the fact that he had just cleaned Sima Yi’s blood off of his clothes not that long before, and there was already blood on them again. Lu Bu laughed at Zhang He’s expression as he put him down and brandished the severed head above his own. “We need to celebrate Zhang He and his swift defeat of Sima Yi!” Lu Bu smiled at Zhang He and saw him blushing. He walked over and whispered in Zhang He’s ear. “You deserve the honor and credit for this one, honey.” He kissed Zhang He’s cheek, thinking that no one had seen. Pang Tong was grinning from ear to ear below his mask. “If we celebrate, Lu Bu, you have to promise me you won’t drink. You’re drunk enough as it is! I mean, we all know you wouldn’t kiss Zhang He unless you were really bombed!” Pang Tong laughed as Zhang He and Lu Bu turned an extremely dark shade of red. Lu Bu threw Sima Yi’s head at Pang Tong and cursed at him, chasing him around the camp fire. Liu Bei and Cao Cao were doing their best to ignore them, but it was just too funny of a sight, so they busted out with laughter and had a hard time sitting back up again. Lu Bu finally caught Pang Tong, but everyone knew that Pang Tong had let him. “For your information, I am not drunk! I’m in a good mood, which is rare, and Zhang He is going to share that good mood with me, hopefully for the rest of our lives!” Lu Bu was still blushing as he dropped the little man. Zhang He was trying to hide his face behind a small fan. He gestured for Lu Bu to follow him, and Lu Bu obeyed. “Jeez, hon! Tell the whole world, why don’t you?” “Fine, I will!” Lu Bu smiled wickedly and turned to the rest of the camp. “I was being sarcastic!” Zhang He tried to cover Lu Bu’s mouth. “I love Zhang He!” Lu Bu yelled loud enough for the entire encampment to hear, his arms spread wide open. Zhang He hid his face in Lu Bu’s chest and snuggled close. “You’re a jackass, Lu Bu!” “I know, but that’s why you love me, right?” “Yeah, that’s one of the reasons…” Zhang He sighed in embarrassment, knowing that none of his friends would ever let him forget this. He blushed an even darker shade of red as the whoops and hoots of happiness started. They were rooting Lu Bu on, saying that he’d be having fun that night in Zhang He’s tent. Lu Bu tried to hold him back, but it was useless. “You horny bastards! I’ve never had sex, and I’m sure all hell not going to give my virginity up in the first month, let alone the first night! You guys need a ********’ dose of a real woman!” He went around, smacking all the guys in the head and telling their girlfriends or wives to let them sleep outside that night; it was supposed to rain. The women all agreed to do so, and Zhang He stormed into his tent. Lu Bu sighed and followed him, grabbing him from behind and holding him close. “Honey, please try to calm down.” Lu Bu had never liked seeing Zhang He upset, and it wasn’t any different at this moment. He wanted to see Zhang He happy. He didn’t like seeing Zhang He like this at all. He kissed Zhang He’s neck softly. “He, are you alright now?” Zhang He nodded. He had wanted some alone time with Lu Bu, but now he just wanted to be alone. He walked away from his lover and smiled solemnly. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me.”
Ovtrlan Jeishi · Fri Aug 04, 2006 @ 01:04am · 0 Comments |
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