Safe Harbor

Himiko flipped through her pocket copy of a Three Kingdoms Manga that she had brought with her and tried to pinpoint a good time to ruin the man she loved. He provided enough opportunities, that was for sure. She tried to focus, the artist did such a fine job of making him looks so sexy that it was had to think of much else.

Focus, Himiko. Focus.

She sighed and flipped through a few pages. Her eyes lit up when she recognized an incident that would be perfect for her scheme.

Cao Cao attempts to assinate Dong Zhuo

SQUUEEE!! She clapped and tried to figure out how to make this work best. If he did succeed it would make him a criminal! Would that be good or bad? People would be hunting him down and he would be forced to find an ally…but who? He could run to Yuan Shao, that would be the most likely candidate.

But Yuan Shao would definately not want him around to ruin his new image. So who the hell was she going to help?

She flipped through her manga and smiled when she looked at a face that had been erased by Cao cao before he could be a threat.

Lu Bu. That was who she was going to help. He could protect Cao Cao. He could intimindate him and keep him in line. Right? Well…Zhang Liao could, that man could scare teh crap out of anyone! Unless he wasn’t as much of a badass in these earlier years.

She jumped up. So it was time to go check out the men! She watched Cao Cao try and rally his men. Don’t worry darling, I’ll be there to save you!

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Zhang Liao as a young man was just cute as could be. Himiko giggled. Who knew this skinny kid would end up making men piss their pants!

Lu Bu, on the other hand, was an intimidating monster of a man. His face however betrayed his good nature and he laughed and enjoyed himself. It was hard to really be scared of him.

So these were what she had to work with? Well….she had to let history take its course a little. Life had to shape these boys into what she needed them to be.

“Hello!”

The two men looked over at her as she sauntered up and waved. “Can we help you, miss?”

Himiko smiled. Sweet Zhang Liao! She giggled. That was just too funny! “Actually I want to help you!”

“Oh?” Lu Bu asked and sat down on a rock. “What to go to training for us?”

“You two are just so cute!” She chirped and pinched Lu Bu’s cheek.

Ding Yuan approached seeing that his two best warriors were distracted by a oddly dressed woman. Damned gypsies! “Gentlemen, what is the meaning of this!?”

Himiko frowned. “I was just talking to these two. Don’t piss me off and make me set you on fire!”

“Right.” Ding Yuan replied as she pinched the other guy’s cheek and stuck her tongue out at him.

“You deserve what’s coming to you!” She said and vanished in a puff of smoke. Rewriting history was going to be fun.

Himiko blinked and stuttered, this was not the way this was supposed to go. “W..hat?”

“You heard me.” Cao Cao gave her a scowl. “I would never touch a woman like you. That’s saying alot.”

“Everything I’ve done…it was for you. I loved you…” She stammered as he cackled.

“You did it for me because you are paid to. You’re a fool if you thought I would share my bed with you.”

She bit her lip and finally the rage began to build up. “You better reconsider…you have no idea how I can ruin you!”

“A threat?” Cao Cao pushed her away. “Go back to your magic potions and silly chants.”

“Fine.” She backed away and smirked. “You’ll pay. I’ll take everything from you…your power, your land, your officers….I’ll make you what you despise most…a vassal.”

“Really. A little late for that.” He chuckled. Stupid girl.

“It is…which is why it’s a good thing one of my silly chants can send me back in time. ”

Cao Cao watched her vanish in a puff of smoke. Stupid bitch.

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Years Earlier….
The Yellow Turban Rebellion…..

Zhang Jiao squeaked, there was an odd magical disturbance on the horizon. Were his brothers up to something? He waddled up the the fortress wall and watched the light fade as quickly as he had noticed it. His eyebrows rose as a fireball materialized and flew acorss the battlefield.

That was so damned cool. He frowned and looked at his staff. He needed a weapon upgrade, this damned thing only did parlor tricks.

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Himiko’s fireball exploded and enveloped Cao Cao’s front lines in fire. That would set him back and enable the other officers to claim glory here. Liu Bei, Sun Jian and Yuan Shao would quickly take advantage. She sat on a cliff and swung her legs liesurely wondering what would be most painful for the man who scorned her. Should he serve Yuan Shao? Sun Jian? She smiled when she thought about him serving Liu Bei and how scared that would make the Imperial Uncle.

She was here early enough that she could even allow Lu Bu to gain some ground. Wouldn’t that be fun! She had to stop Zhang Liao from joining him, that was for certain. Xu Huang was here fighting for the Yellow Turbans, so that would be easy enough to take him away. The hard ones wouldbe his family. The Xiahou brothers and the other Caos would be hard to separate from their master. Plus she really liked them all and didn’t want to hurt them. However….making them more successful than Cao Cao would definately hurt him.

She grinned. It was time to deliver a Zhang brother to Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun. Should could easily make Cao Cao’s troops flounder, and let his two officers excell. It was early enough in teh war when an officer’s accomplishemnts spoke well of him and not his commander.

So…it was time to play.

“I want you to leave her alone.”

Cao Cao raised an eyebrow at his son and crossed his arms. “Excuse me?”

Cao Ang stepped forward and refused to repeated himself. “You’re not deaf, old man.”

Cao Cao smirked at his son’s arrogance, something he hated and at the same time was proud of. “Son, give me a damned reason why.”

“I…” Ang was at a loss for words.

“What? I’m sorry I must be going deaf.”

Bastard. “I don’t want you toying with her like you do with every other woman in this country. She’s a good officer.”

“You see how she looks at Zhang Liao, do you not?” Cao Cao asked his son knowing his intentions. Chen Lian was a good officer, he was right in that aspect, but she was also only focused on one man. That man happened to be Zhang Liao.

“He’s not here right now and it’s not like he deserves her. He treats her like a child.” Ang sighed. “I want to treat her like a queen.”

“Ang, how can you love a woman who loves another man?” Cao Cao was puzzled. He never had issue with seduction or romance, any woman would crupple under his sexual prowess.

“She is beautiful and intelligent in addition to being a brave and talented officer. How…can I not?”

Cao Cao didn’t really find Chen Gong’s daughter that attractive but he was glad in some ways that his son didn’t have the same taste in women as he did. “You should make your move while Zhang Liao is away. Tell her…the truth. He will never return her love. He loved Diao Chan.”

“What?” Ang was startled by that. “She was Lu Bu’s…”

“Distraction.” Cao Cao finished the sentence. “Chen Lian is nowhere close to being Diao Chan.”

“I won’t tell her that! That’s cruel!”

“Do you want me to arrange the marriage then and force her to marry you so you can work it out later?” Cao Cao asked curiously.

“No, I just want you to keep your pervert hands off her.” Ang snorted. “I can handle the rest.”

“I hope so, you are my son after all.”

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Chen Lian was flustered. Sure she had been fending off Cao Ang’s affections for a while, but he had been so bold tonight. He heart pounded as she walked down the hallway alone, she wanted to run back to the safety of her room. He had stolen her first kiss and she had been saving that for Zhang Liao. She wanted to cry with all the emotions racing through her head.

“Something wrong, Lady Chen?”

Lian stopped and looked up at Lord Cao Cao. He looked her over and she knew if she lied he would know. “I…I’m just…thinking.”

Cao Cao cocked an eyebrow. “Must be something distressing.”

“Uh..” She couldn’t say much, she was so worked up over a simple peck on the lips!

“I can only assume my son’s good intentions have upset you?”

She gave him a startled look and blushed. He knew?

“Don’t be embarassed, Ang came to me this morning. I have to admit I approve of the union, but I do have reservations in regard to your obvious dedication to Zhang Liao.”

He knew? “General Zhang is my mentor!”

“He is much more. At least in your eyes.” Cao Cao put his arm around her and walked her over to a window. “What I am to say to you will hurt more than any arrow piercing you skin. For that I am sorry. However I do believe you need to grow up and see your path.”

She looked up at him as he sighed and stroked his goatee.

“Zhang Liao loved Diao Chan, he admitted that much to me. Her loss let a hole in his heart and he closed himself off to love. My daughter found that out the hard way. My dear, your love for him is simply foolish. He loved a woman reknowned for her beauty, charm, and grace. You are a strong woman, your strength is in your swords and mind. You couldn’t be any further from that songstress. Liao loved a lady. Ang loves a warrior. Put aside what your feel for a man who will never see you for more than a student and please…allow my son the opportunityto prove himself worthy of you.”

Lian felt his squeeze of encouragement as he turned and left her to deal with what he had told her. Liao…loved Diao Chan? Had she just been blind?

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“I was an ass.” Cao Ang offered as an apology. “I didn’t mean to act like my father. I should have never taken advantage of you like that.”

“You just gave me a small kiss…”

“I should have asked.”

“Asked?” She said curiously. “It’s not like reinforcements or a glass of wine. You can’t just ask for a kiss.”

“Chen Lian, I want you to be my wife.”

She was speechless. He looked at her with sincerity and stepped closer. She felt her heart flutter and began to shake.

“Can I kiss you? Please?”

His hand was on hers and to her own surprise she nodded. His approach was slow and he squeezed her hand while his free hand tilted her chin to meet his kiss. She watched him, to disuede herself from imagining it was Zhang Liao. His lips touched hers and she pulled back from him in panic.

“Lian…if you don’t think you can love me then tell me. I’ll be satisfied with having you by my side as an officer if it means that it will make you happy. I do whatever it takes to make you happy.”

“Kiss me again.” She whispered. And I won’t think of Liao…I’ll think of Cao Ang, my new husband.

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“Where is Chen Lian?”

Xiahou Dun continued sharpening his sword. “Well General Zhang, she got married and went to Wan Castle to be Cao Ang’s empress. He just stole a good officer. At least we can rest assured that he’ll have some sound military advice.”

“What?”

“Too Cao Cao breaking her heart to get her together with his son. She seems happy with him though. Had to get over you first, but I guess being told that you love someone who could never love you is good enough to get you into a man’s arms. Ang loved her alot, so I’m happy for the kid.”

Zhang Liao walked away. He never really liked Xiahou Dun’s approach to anything and now was one of those times. What the hell had he missed?

“Thank you.” Zhang Liao finally managed to get close enough to Guan Yu to give him his simple thanks.

“You made it difficult.” Guan Yu drank more wine. “Not too many men would have lived that long after cursing at Cao Cao.”

“I’ve lost yet another Lord. It’s hard to feel like a worthy warrior after that.” Liao replied. “I lost a friend too. A good friend.”

“He was his own undoing.” Guan Yu replied and handed him some wine. “Though I have to admit you all fought so well. Everyone was willing to fight to the death for him…well his officers anyway.”

“We lost everyone?” He was still unaware of the casualties. Other than Lu Bu who was killed next to him, he wasn’t aware of who lived or died.

“Chen Gong opted to die. That was…a loss.” Guan Yu watched Cao Cao and Liu Bei drink a toast. “Diao Chan is dead. About the only one still alive is your rear guard commander. Barely alive.”

“She’s alive?”

“Barely.” Guan Yu repeated. “Accepted defeat about as well as you did.”

xxxxxxx

“You’re late to drill practice.” Zhang Liao said flatly, his face stoic as always.

Chen Lian tried to hide her smile, she loved to hear his voice. She opened her eyes and her smile faded quickly. Cao Cao stood back by the wall watching her. The archer who has shot her stood next to him. “Sir…”

He sighed. “We lost. Lu Bu is dead. Your father…chose to die next to him.”

Of course he would. Chen Gong was a man of honor and dedication. He thought Lu Bu was the man to rule..he would not betray him and serve another. He looked at him, he wore a new blue uniform. “Did you join them before or after that happened?”

Cao Cao raised an eyebrow as the girl looked away, obviously knowing she had gone too far with that statement.

“You served under me for this long and have the nerve to ask me that?”

She did know better. He had trained her and allowed her to join his command. She knew better.

He frowned as he saw a tear roll down her cheek. He owed her some time alone to digest the bad news. “I’m here to ask if you’ll join Cao Cao as well.”

She looked at the man over near the wall and he came forward. She tried to sit up but it only ended up making her dizzy.

“You were very impressive. I’d like to extend you the same offer I did to your commnader. Will you join us?”

“No.” She said coldly.

“Lian!” Liao snapped. “Don’t be foolish.”

“General Zhang, I do believe you were alot harsher in your rejection of my offer.” Cao Cao smiled and saw the man give him a curious look. “I respected your father greatly. I am upset that he chose the path he did. I hope you won’t do the same.”

“You’ll fight under me.” a voice came from the next cot. “Just say yes and they’ll get the hell out of here.”

Lian looked over at the man with the bandaged eye that she had been conversing with the entire time she was in the infirmary. He had helped her back to her bed when she foolishly tried to leave and fell to the ground. “Who are you?”

“The brother of the man who shot you three times. Nice going Yuan, a bit of overkill.”

“She was about ready to carve up Cao Pi.” Xiahou Yuan shrugged. “I figured I’d save the kid.”

Lian was very uncomfortable now. Cao Cao kept staring at her. Liao was giving her an anxious look and the man with one eye was coming over with his robe half open.

“Dun. Your robe is open.” Cao Cao smirked.

“Least of my worries.” He mumbled. “Damn eye in my stomach is giving me hell.”

“Bit of overkill, eh brother?” Yuan mockingly asked.

“Shut up.” Dun grabbed the girl’s hand. “Do you want to end up like Diao Chan? I’ll spare you the details, but she didn’t die because of battle wounds.”

Lian looked to her mentor, the only man she had left in her life that she could trust. Her father was gone and she relied upon him so heavily for advice. Lord Lu Bu was dead, and he had been as sweet to her as he was to his own daughter. Zhang Liao was her trainer…and the man she had wholeheartedly fell in love with. He didn’t know and never would. Her father had made it clear that he would lose respect for her if she acted so feminie. He gave her no comfort now, he was giving her an aggrevated scowl.

“Listen to him, he is right.” Liao didn’t like the idea of putting his officer under the command of Cao Cao’s now disabled cousin. It seemed like a waste.

“Lady Chen, I assure you…you will be treated with honor and respect.” Cao Cao tried to shove his cousin’s robe shut as it was a statement to the contray.

“Stop trying to fondle me.” Dun snorted.

“Pity your eye wasn’t the source of your smart-ass remarks.” Cao Cao frowned.

“Shit like that is why people hate you.” Dun shot back.

“Sleep on it.” Cao Cao looked to the young woman and gave her a warm smile. “I’ll ask you again in the morning.”

“That will be your last chance.” Yuan added.

“Just make your decision now.” Dun demanded. “He’ll be drunk in the morning and not recall the offer.”

“I taught you better.” Zhang Liao stated simply. It was his one statement that would ensure she knew of his disapproval. It worked on her all too easily.

Lian nodded, he did. He taught her that a lady’s honor was well behind her when she took up a sword. There was only one way to ensure her father’s name was remembered. “Yes, Lord Cao. I will join you.”

Cal watched Lu Bu and Cao Cao discuss matters. She looked to Xiahou Dun in disbelief. “When I saved him…I didn’t expect this.”

“You recruited a valuable officer. Cao Cao is very pleased.” Dun let her adjust his eyepatch and watched her frown.

“He’s…not loyal.”

“He knows.”

“So…my orders?”

“Keep an eye on him. Elimate him if he gets carried away.” Dun squeezed her arm.

“So it begins….”

“Cal…”

“Dun, it’s what I am. I guess I’ll never be better than this.” She walked of to get her horse. She would do what she did best. Perhaps it was all she was truly capable of doing right.

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“Liao…”

Zhang Liao looked up as Lu Bu watched Cal and Diao Chan bicker. “We are servants of Lord Cao Cao now.”

Lu Bu frowned. “I was just…”

Liao patted his friend’s arm. “We have a second chance, Fengxian. He is not a tyrant like Dong Zhuo. Can you just be happy with that?”

“He’s just using us.” Lu Bu snorted. “So I want to make sure I’m a Lord he needs to keep happy.”

“Not again.” Liao sighed.

“We have an army right here.” Lu Bu ran his hand through his hair and smiled at his friend. “So…every been with a foreign girl? She’s really not bad, she knows alot.”

“Fengxian.” Liao watched the catfight begin to get a bit more violent as Diao Chan danced away from a punch Cal threw at her.

“Just keep her distracted. Chan and I have to do some planning.”

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Zhang Liao had to wonder what Lu Bu’s sex life was like, because the sleeping Roman woman next to him was far from ‘not bad’. Granted he didn’t spend all his time having sex like Cao Cao and Lu Bu seemed to do.

“What?” Cal queried as he looked at her with a look she couldn’t quite place. He was alwas an enigma to her. She didn’t know who had his loyalty even though he seemed to be a very honest man.

“I just wasn’t expecting you to…know that much.”

Cal chuckled. “Part of my training.”

“I may be outmatched then?” He asked as she looked him over.

“Your attempt to distract me from watching Lu Bu? Mmm…pretty transparent. You should stick to generaling.”

“Thanks.”

“I will cut him down. He better listen to you.”

Zhang Liao fondled her and asked. “What makes you think I’m argueing against him?”

“You’re too honorable.” She crawled back on him. “You…don’t want him to die.”

xxxxx

“Our trip got cut short.” Lu Bu stretched and pointed to his horse. “So go get my horse ready and we’ll be going.”

Cal glared at him. “I’m here to kill you if you stray, not pamper you.”

“That is why you’re still a heathen. No manners!” Lu Bu chuckled. “Guess it works for you.”

“Why are you so happy.” Cal snapped.

“You get some practice tonight!” Lu Bu tossed the orders from Cao Cao at her. “Oh…guess you better find someone who can read.”

“I CAN read.” Cal growled and threw the orders back at him.

“Right. Just nothing that matters within 500 miles.” Lu Bu looked to Liao as he announced their mission. “We get to attack a caravan and Cal gets to go slit Ma Teng’s throat.”

“Who the hell is he?” Cal asked, curious who her mark was.

I’m probably never going to advance the story to the point where Cao Cao, Xiahou Dun and Zhang Liao all die…but I have been thinking about it recently. I’ll never put it in the story, it will destroy the mood of the entire fic, but as an post here…why not?
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The news had come earlier of Zhang Liao’s injury, but his orders were to stay on the field and continue the fight. Lu Ling Qi was no great general, but when the Wei army was hit with the temporary loss of it’s best general, she would do. She stood upon the hill on her warhorse Crimson Fox and watched the development of events. Her eyes surveyed the blue guidons and she saw such familiar surnames as ‘Cao’, ‘Xiahou’, ‘Zhang’, ‘Yu’, ‘Xu’ and ‘Sima’ but they were no longer representatives of teh men she had fought alongside of in years past. She was one of the few remaining officers left from the beginning days of the three kingdoms era.

Cao Cao was dead and none of his heirs could hold a candle to the old man. That however was not what had dampered her own fighting spirit, it was the loss of her own husband that same year. As much as she tried to remain focused and continue to carry on, a part of her died with Xiahou Dun. He had become her life, she had fought for him and not a night went by when she didn’t search the bed next to her for his body. Their last kiss still lingered on her lips, the feeling of the life leaving him…his last breath captured in her mouth. She wiped away a tear, this was not the time. No, she had to advance.

“Keep the lines tight, we are going to hit them hard and sweep both lines off the field. Waste no time attacking the archers, just run them down. SAve your energy for the infantry. Understand?”

The men clanked their shields and gave a ‘Huh’ as a signal of their affirmation. She drew her swords and looked to Xu Huang across the battlefield for the signal. This would be a perfect execution of a pincer attack and she wished more than anything that the men who had taught her were here to see it. Instead her sons and daughter were here, proudly watching the woman they had grown up thinking was every part a warrior and a good general.

The fire attack began and she bellowed “CHARGE!”. The unit surged forward on her horse’s heels. The grandson of Red Hare quickly took his position three lengths from the lead wave and she took the reins in her mouth. He tended to get ahead of himself and they needed to stay close. The archers felt the thunder of the cavalry and turned to them. tehse were the bastards who shot Zhang Liao, these were the men who would bleed the most today….but it would have to wait. They had to hit the infantry to force a retreat. The archers whould be hunted down later. Every last one….

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Ling Qi raced forward and put her ever last ounce of strength and anger into the attack. The archer was already wounded and babbling, there was no need for such force. Still, with her son wacthing she decapitrated him, spraying blood over them both. She stood there shaking with rage, the adreniline refusing to subside despire her attempts to calm down.

“Mother…” Xiahou Lu bought up her horse. He was happy to see her fired up, it was something that had bee infrequent since the death of his father. It disturbed him, as well as his siblings, they had all grown up with a volatile and fiery mother…the woman who stood before him was more like her. “Zhang Hu just sent a messanger. He asked that you come to Grandpa’s tent immediately.”

She looked to him, confused. “It was just…an arrow.” She wanted affirmation. How the hell could Liao be hurt that bad? For the first time in twenty years she thought about the image of her father, Lu Bu, hanging from the gates of Xia Pi. He was invincible…and he died first. “Did he say..”

“It was just a messenger, mama.” He offered as a weak excuse and held her horse as she swung intothe saddle. “I’ll take care of things here.”

“Lu..leave it to your sister.” She grabbed his hand. “I may need you.”

He nodded. Her first born son, he was the closest to her. She would be weak with him and he was scared of what would become of her if Liao did die.

xxxx

The tent was dark and voices were hushed. Her eyes strained to see him in the dim light of dusk and the weak light of the burnt candles near him. Still, there was no mistaking h ow pale he was. “Get out.” She snapped to all of the medics and miscellaneous men in teh tent.

Liao’s weak smile greeted her. “Last thing I wanted to do was force you to deal with another loss…”

She sat down on the bed and started to cry. “I can’t be strong for you, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t need you to be.” He whispered. “I need you to promise me to look after my wife. Can you do that for me daughter?”

She began to cry and held his hand. “Yes.”

“Don’t go getting reckless.” He tried to sound stern, but his words were so quiet and weak. “I can’t imagine your pain…but you have a duty to your children. They lost a father too…”

“I lost two. I want to be selfish.” She squeezed his hand. “Liao…I love you just as much as I loved my dad…I want you to know that.”

“Thank you.” He smiled. “It was an honor to….”

She tried to look past her tears and see him but they were just clouding her judgement more. His limp hand told her what she was trying to affirm. Despite herself she let out a pained wail and slipped off the side of his cot and cried into his hand. There was no anger and shock now, not like when Lu Bu was executed. Now death was a constant in her life. Everyone was gone.

“Mama.”

She clung to Liao’s hand as Xiahou Lu tried to pull her back. Zhang Hu was next to her, being proper and stoic. How she should have been, how she could have been if her life wasn’t constantly being drained away by losing the people she loved. She let him pull her away to allow the Zhang boys to say their goodbyes. She allowed him to lead her over to a rock where her children waited, ready to be supportive. Ready to convince her that they still needed her. “I’m sorry, your grandfather is gone.”

Xiahou Feng Xian, her youngest daughter, rushed up and hugged her. Feng Xian who Dun had agreed to let her name after her father because she looked like a mini-Ling Qi. OF all her children, only one had inherited any Lu traits. She was the strongest and wanted to lend her her strength. “Sorry, you all deserve better. I just…”

“Just grieve, mama. It’s okay. We understand.” Feng Xian kissed her mother’s head and hugged her. “We understand.”

“The General was very rough today…” Fei Zhi bit her lip as she lowered her body into the water next to the other concubines of Dong Zhuo’s harem.

“He’s angry about Diao Chan.” Another added. “I saw him wacthing her and Lu Bu in the courtyard. He’s jealous!”

Mei Lin scoffed. “What would Zhang Liao have to be jealous of? He could have any woman he wanted.”

Feng Xu kept her mouth shut. She knew what had transpired between them in the courtyard. She had heard General Zhang’s accusions and saw Daio Chan stammer in disbelief. He could see right through her. “I’ll go, then. If you can’t handle a little pain.”

“Oh, let the mighty warrior go.” Mei Lin rolled her eyes. “You should stay so we don’t have to watch you practice anymore!”

Feng Xu stood up and put her robe on. One day Dong Zhuo would fall and these follish bitches would be part of someone elses harem. When that day came, she would escape and go home to her family. If they still were alive.

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“Come in.”

Feng Xu opened the door and quickly closed it. “You’ve scared away the rest of the girls.”

He looked up and recognized her face. “I shouldn’t have been so rough.”

“She should have done a better job.” She countered. “Or she should have been Diao Chan.”

He gave her a scowl. “You are the boldest woman here. I’m surprised you’re still alive.”

“I’m the daughter of a magistrate who defied Dong Zhuo. I am here because it humiliates him to have his only child a whore in a harem while he scrpaes to make a living as a farmer. You’d do me a favor if you wanted to rip me apart.”

“You might be free soon. There are forming an alliance against him.”

“I heard.” She walked up behind him and began to rub his shoulders. “Doesn’t help me, I’m already a whore.”

“Why are you here?”

“You’ve scared off the other girls. I happen to like having you to myself. About the only way a girl like me could ever get a man like you.”

He looked in the mirror in front of him and saw her in the candlelight. “I’m still in a foul mood…”

“Take my body and do what you please.”

He blew out the light and turned to her, kissing her pale lips and letting his hands find her breasts through the thin silk robe. “You’re going to fight me like you did last time.”

“Yes…” She smiled. He fingers pulling away at his robe. “I won’t go easy on you General.”

“Good.” He picked her up and carried her to the bed, ripping her robe from her. She pounced back, trying to wrap her arm around his throat. His anticipated it and pulled her leg out form under her, crushing her to the bed. She struggled while he pinned her arms down and he felt her hot breath as she grew more frustrated. “Your training session is over.”

“Dammit!” She kicked at him to try ans dislodge him but found herself assaulted by a hot, horny kiss. He broke away from her and kissed his way to her breast, nipping gently as his hands groped her legs. She trembled at his touch, he was never a mindless experience for her. “Take your spoils then…”

“Why don’t you just train with me on the field instead of in the bedroom. You’ll stand a better chance.”

“Will I?” She asked and moaned as he rubbed his strong hand across her iinner thigh and up against her crotch.

“Probably not…”

I just felt like writing a what-if on my fanfic. Alot of things went unwritten, a few written but never used. I alternate the plot in this blerb in Chapter 5. Cal stays with Wei…weird eh?
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“I hear you’re leaving.”

“I was going to tell you, in person.” Cal turned to look into Dun’s face. His expression was a mixture of disappointment, anger and confusion.

“Well now you’ll have to tell the entire Wei army, or at least all the officers.” He walked in and sat down on her cot. “What are you doing?”

“I have to do this Dun. I can’t stay here anymore, I don’t belong here.”

“You’ve had no problems with it for the past two years.” Dun waited, he knew she had
to have a good reason.

“I want to fight…..but I want to fight the right way for once. Cao Cao will have me lurking in the shadows soon, I know it. I want to forget my past Dun. I’m not proud of it. I want the chance to be a warrior, not a murderer.”

“You don’t know that he’ll ask that of you.” Dun knew it was a stupid argument on his part, they both knew their lord wouldn’t hesitate to ask her to kill someone. “But if he does it is your duty to do as your lord asks instead of running from it.”

“I want to do something for the right reasons for once. I want to know what it’s like to feel so strongly in a purpose that you’re willing to die for it.”

“And you are sure Lui Bei will be the one to lead you to this euphoric world.” Dun spat in disgust.

“Dun, I mean no disrespect to you. I don’t want to leave you, my friend.” She stopped to grab his hand. “You’ve been so good to me.”

“Everyone has, but you’re so willing to turn your back on all of us. Possibly to fight against us.” Dun shook her hand off and stormed out of the tent.

“God help me.”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

“I need to talk to you cousin.” Dun locked eyes with him and looked to the tentflap.

Cao Cao nodded. Dun was never this forcefull with him, especially infront of the other officers. Something, or someone, had aggrevated him. He followedhim outside and over to a fallen tree. “What is wrong?”

“I gave you an officer. I trained her and you…” he couldn’t broach that subject with him. Cao Cao’s sex life ws something he prefered to leave untouched. “Why the hell is it that we left it up to Liu Bei to treat her like a warrior? I know she’s a woman and a Roman, but that doesn’t devalidate what she did on the battlefield.”

Cao Cao watched her approach, he eyes avoiding them. He felt his temper flare, he could see this as only a betrayal.

“Why are we jut going to let someone else take her talent? You’re already so obsessed with Guan Yu’s devotion to Liu Bei, why do you want to just hand him another talented officer?” Dun crossed his arms and hung his head. This was pointless.

“Calpurnia.” Cao Cao snapped. “Come here.”

She looked up and ground her teeth. Liu Bei wouldn’t treat her like a dog either. “Sir, I was just coming to speak with you…”

“I know.” Cao Cao walked up to her and took her chin in his hand, feeling her jump at his touch. “I have misused you and I do not blame you for wanting to leave. I allowed myself to never look past the label I placed on you when you first arrived. I never thought someone like you could be more than, a woman. You’ve proven me wrong.”

She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as he rubbed her cheek with hs thumb. What the hell was going on? “Sir?”

“Dun is right. I should have never left it to another lord to tell you what a fine warrior you have become. I selfishly used you and for that I supposed I deserve to have him steal you from me. It may be too late, but if you remain with Wei, I will not make that mistake again.” Cao Cao saw her eyes dart to Dun. She looked for his reaction in order to read his own. He saw her begin to waver, she wanted to stay with her master. It was safe and he treated her well.

“Cal, reconsider.” Dun begged.

“I’ve always been treated as if I were expendable. That is part of my purpose…my jib description.” She pulled back from his touch, knowing that hand was only gentle when he wanted to decieve.

“You want to win, don’t you? Your people do not take kindly to defeat, or so you have lead us to believe.” Cao Cao stroked his goatee. Could he really keep his hands off her? Would he really be able to keep himself entertained with just Zhen Ji when on campaigns? “I want to unify this land and protect it from invasion. You’ve seen the pillaging, you have been the destroyer. What happened to the people you overran with your Roman armies?”

“They were assimilated.” She answered simply. “Their cultures diluted, their leaders killed…forced to become dependents of Rome.”

“You want that to happen to us?” He asked.

She knew that’ what would happen if they were invaded. She had seen it toomuch. “No.”

“Then help me to protect our country. Sure Liu Bei may sound noble, but he wants to give teh peopel control and that makes us weak. They must be governed and the strength of our leader is what will keep us at peace. Only a powerful nation will be left in peace.” Cao Cao looked to the tent where Dian Wei was watching them. “You must make your own choice.”

She nodded. Yes, Liu Bei sounded good but he was just a man and two brothers looking to stake a claim in the upcoming rebellion. Even she saw in him simpathy towards her, when she did not deserve it. Naive Liu Bei versus Cao Cao….there was no chance.

“Stay with us Cal.” Dun nudged her. “You’ve earned the respect you were looking for.”

“I want to change. I don’t want to slit throats anymore and you…” She looked at Cao Cao and saw his anger at her accusitory tone, “You will expect me to do it again.”

“Yes.” He said without reservation. “As I expect all my officers to utilize their special skills. There is no shame in wha you know how to do, what you were born to do. You are a Roman, and you have been bred, raised and trained for war. Why hold it against me for what your people did to you?”

She saw the true difference between teh forces now. Wei was what she knew, an army. Shu, they were common folk trying to make a difference.

“Stay where you belong, we are not so different you and I.” Cao Cao sighed. “we are both ruthless when we want something. I will treat you better than I have been, I give you my word.”

She looked at Dun, whose eyes begged her not to leave. “I’ll stay.”

Cao Cao smiled. Triumph! “Excellent.”

I’m on a roll. We’ll see what reaction this one gets!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

“Are you over Liu Bei yet? I’m not sticking around to listen to more whining.” Xiahou Dun leaned against the wall and looked over at the slender figure of Zhao Yun struggling to get his boots on.

“What kind of an officer would I be if I ‘got over it’?” Zilong asked and started work on the other boot.

“Well, how many lords have you served now? Yuan Shao, Gongzun San, Liu Bei…”

“Liu Bei is my one and only lord! Times were different then…” Zilong ground his teeth.

“Not really. I’ve only been loyal to Cao Cao since the Han fell.” Dun shrugged. “Just you Shu officers that can’t make up your minds.”

“I will not serve your lord.” Zhao Yun hissed as he stood up “Ever.”

“Sure.” Dun shoved him back into the chair and leaned over him. “Lets talk a little about how you like to babble in your sleep. Little things like ‘No, Lord Liu Bei! What about your wife and children!’. Yeah, I remember that little fiasco at Chang Ban pretty well.”

“It was important for our Lord to escape!”

“So his wives could die and his daughter be left behind? Well you got little retard, Liu Shan…and ursed him while you brought him back to daddy.”

“Ha Ha.” Zilong looked for a way around the Wei general. Instead the long black hair moved closer to his face.

“I was more interested in the little mewls you make like a cat in heat. ‘MMm…slower Mengqi…that’s the spot.’ ” Dun smiled as the mighty Shu hero’s face paled. “‘Don’t pull on my hair so hard….Mengqi.’ ‘OOOhhh..fuck me harder…ride me like your mare.’”

Zhao Yun felt the color drain from his face and his cheeks flush. He talked in his sleep!?! Why had no one ever said anything?! He wanted to crawl up into a ball and die.

“Seriously, you think that kid can really do you right?” Dun laughed. “You’re satisfied with a boy who never got anything but molested by his daddy?”

What? He opened an eye. “Huh?”

“Yeah, Ma Teng was a whore. Had a threeway with him and my cousin back in Chang An. He begged for it, saying all he ever got was his boy’s tight little ass. Pretty funny now that we have a face to a name.” Dun scratched his chin. “Pity he had to be an idiot. Teng was a hot and willing fuck.”

Zhao Yun tried to imagine Chao on the bottom. It just didn’t work.

“Tell me you didn’t touch Liu Bei and you might redeem something.”

“Never!” Zilong snapped. He hated that allegation.

“So just Ma Chao? Really?” Dun felt a little sorry for the guy. “He did it for you? Isn’t he younger than you?”

“What does my sex life have to do with anything!” Zhao Yun snapped.

Dun raised an eyebrow. “I’d like to see what you’ve got. I really can’t imagine you being that effective if you’re fucking boys. Do you think you can handle a real man?”

Zhao Yun blinked. “Are you…coming on to me?”

“No. I’m asking if you want to fuck. Are you deaf?”

“You?” Zhao Yun felt his hands get sweaty.

“Scared?”

“No!”

“Then take off your clothes.” Dun snorted.

See what the Yaoi fangirls think of this.
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“I’ll never work for him, I can’t believe he’s that much of an asshole to insult me like this!” Ma Chao crossed his arms and swatted away the young nurse who was tending to his wounds.

“That will be enough.” Liao said to the nurse, worried that she might be injured by the kid’s temper tantrum.

“Then shut me up!”

Liao stood and handed the nurse her things before she trotted out the door. He wasn’t about to correct him, he didn’t care. “I’m not your little boyfriend, Zhao Yun. I don’t appreciate your insubordinate tone.” With that he punched the boy. Injured or not, his mouth was the sole source of his problem.

Chao sat up in bed and invoiluntarily brought his hand to his face. [i]Damn. He hit hard. [/i] He wanted to ask how the hell they knew about him and Zilong. [i]Shit. It was just a few times…[/i] He put his hand down and growled. “I’d like to see you try that when….”

“When what? You quit crying about a few broken ribs?” Liao asked and knelt on teh bed. He grinned, seeing the kid’s obvious discomfort. That would be fun. “When you quit acting like a scared little boy who can’t handle being in the company of powerful men instead of geriatrics, pussies and butch women?”

Chao was not easily intimidated, but Zhang Liao rattled him. He had a dangerous edge to him, one you really didn’t expect out of a normally quiet,well-mannered officer. “Powerful? I’m not the ones who let a narsassistic pervert steal my empire.”

“We’ll get it back. Stop changing the subject, this is about you.” Liao crawled up over him and pinned his arms to the bed. “You and your insecurities. Cao Cao tells me your daddy liked to take it from him on his knees. Is that your style too? Want someone to saddle you up and break you?”

Chao gulped and tried to toss the man off. He was unsuccessful and the struggled just made his aching ribs hurt more. He opened his mouth to holler a line about justice, hating Cao Cao and how Zhang Liao could shove his cock in the wrong side of a mountain goat. Instead, he opened his mouth and was met with a vicious kiss from Zhang Liao.

Liao felt the conflict within the young man. The shock, the arousal, the supression of arousal, the anger and the ultimate confusion. He wondered if Ma Chao had ever been the uke. Well except for with his dad. He was surprised to find himself aroused by this hot-headed annoying boy, but there was no denying it. He genuinely wanted to fuck this kid. “Stop reacting and just lay there. Can you follow that simple order?”

Chao felt his face flush. Liao’s voice had changed, it was husky. Before he could respond the sheets were pulled back and a pair of rough, masulaine hands were rolling over his muscular torso. He jumped a little as they gently caressed his broken ribs and then reached his hips. What the hell was he doing? Was he really going to let this guy fuck him? A kiss quelled his protest before it began.

Liao pushed the silk pants down a little further, granting him access to the young man’s aroused penis. “Damn, you’re a thick bastard aren’t you?”

Chao caught his breath and raised his leg to protect himself from having his most precious appendege held by the enemy. “More than you can handle…Ugh..”

“Right.” Liao chuckled and leaned up to the struggling man’s ear and whispered. “Relax and enjoy it. This will be teh first and last time I ever go easy on you.”

The beardhairs rubbing against his face and the warm breath in his ear combined with the soft and expert stroking of his already firm cock. He was losing it. “I’ll get you back for this…”

“Promise?” Liao asked and kissed the man’s neck as he sat up. He felt Chao writhe underhim and saw a pleading look, an unspoken encouragement. “You’re lucky you got me. Anyone else would make you beg for it.”

“Ah..” Chao leaned back as Liao’s palm, slipped over the head of his cock. Shit. Why couldn’t Zhao Yun figure this out?

“Have you ever let that skiny kid in here?” Liao asked as he fingered his clenched buttocks.

“What?” Chao snapped back to reality. He couldn’t let this guy in his..”AH”

“A little lubrication and we’ll find out I suppose….”