Story: Free To Live (chapter 5)

Authors: writer jm

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Chapter 5

Title: Healing Old Wounds

[Author's notes: Here’s the mildly anticipated next chapter of my Dynasty Warriors shoujo-ai tales! I recently acquired Dynasty Warriors Advance, so inspiration has returned!

Disclaimer: I do not own Dynasty Warriors or the historical figure within! Koei and W-Force do. I don’t want them sending Lu Bu to crush me!

Note: I’m going back to what happens after the opening scene in Chapter one. The last couple of chapters were essentially a flashback of how they got to that point. I’ll try to show this! Please don’t end up too confused. IF YOU DO, email me and try to recommend a solution and I’ll try to make it more obvious.

Personal Note: I thought it funny how much support I got in having Zhen Ji kick Lu Bu in the (insert vague reference to male parts). After treating Diao Chan like crap, I’d do more than that. (Serious) I’d like to dedicate her ‘field goal’ to all the persecuted women throughout history!

Not a whole lot of action this chapter, just fluff and romance. Next chapter’ll be more exciting.

Speaking “…”

Thoughts ‘…”
]

Chapter 5: Healing Old Wounds

The following day, Lu Bu met his end. His life was a roaring dragon; his end was a mewling lamb. No one mourned. In fact, there was a small celebration in Zhen Ji’s tent with a dozen women in attendance.

Diao Chan felt like the worst chapter in her life was over. Now, she could write the rest of her life in peace. However, with Zhen Ji serving Cao Cao, the peace couldn’t last. Still, the dancer couldn’t be happier. She was loved.

As the months progressed, Cao Cao’s friendship with Liu Bei soured. The alliance fell apart and former allies began to plot for the imperial throne. The fighting continued anew.

Liu Bei’s attempt to evacuate his people had caused Cao Cao to grasp the opportunity and attack in a seemingly moment of weakness. As a loyal general, Zhen Ji had to fight. Diao Chan had refused to wait at the camp for her love and went with her.

The battle had not gone well. Zhang Fei made his deadly stand at Chang Ban Bridge. Zhou Yun cut through the ranks while carrying Liu Bei’s child. Worst, one of Zhuge Liang’s ambushes had separated them. This had led to her desperate battle and injury.

-----

(End Flashback)

As those recent memories faded, Diao Chan began to lose consciousness. Zhen Ji felt her lovely passenger go limp. She felt panic begin to invade her mind as she grasped the arms that had so comfortably encircled her waist. The camp was close.

“You can lay on me later, songbird,” she jested, trying for a response.

There was a sleepy murmur in reply. It was one word: “nightingale,’ Diao Chan’s private nickname for her. The general smiled, but still spurred her mount to increase her speed in the race against death.

Zhen Ji stormed through the camp as if she were empress. She nearly trampled a drilling group of soldiers. As she neared the tent that their small group shared, she saw Cao Wu and Ji Jia look on worriedly.

“Take her inside, Cao Wu,” Zhen Ji commanded. The girl was serious as she carried the dancer inside the canvas walls. The general switched her attention to the red-clad woman who was waiting for command. “Fetch a medic quickly.”

The woman made to leave, but seeing the lady’s leg; she stopped. “Do you need help to dismount?”

Zhen Ji’s voice sounded more desperate than she intended. “Forget about me! Diao Chan’s injuries are far more dire!” The woman nodded and ran.

‘Now to dismount and go to my songbird’s side.’ As Zhen Ji prepared herself for a painful dismount, a couple of Diao Chan’s regular bodyguards arrived. They helped her limp into the tent and settle into a chair next to the bed. Diao Chan was being propped up by Cao Wu. The teen had broken off most of the arrow and torn open the dress. She was examining the entry point carefully.

It was an agonizing wait for Ji Jia to return with the medic. Then, the flap opened and the bodyguard came in with a medic. The gray-haired man quickly went to work on the enchantress’s wound. Ji Jia came over to the general and began to cleanse her wounds.

Zhen Ji laughed half-heartedly, “I seem to remember you doing this before…”

Ji Jia smiled weakly: “Yes. I remember Diao Chan later mentioning how jealous she felt when she saw me touching you. Of course, you evened the odds right after I left.” They both grinned at that, but their dour looks returned when a groan came from Diao Chan’s direction.

Hours later, the medic advised the exhausted Zhen Ji that Diao Chan would be fine. She sighed in relief. She didn’t know what she would do if she had not survived. A wave of guilt hit her. “It’s entirely my fault. If she hadn’t gone to battle, she wouldn’t have been injured. Even worse, I let us be separated. That’s unacceptable.”

The strong fortress that was Zhen Ji crumbled at the painful thoughts. Tears formed and she began to weep. Cao Wu, who had switched places with Ji Jia, embraced her mistress. The eyes that had looked up to the woman general for years, gave her a determined look. “It’s not your fault. She couldn’t leave your side, just like I don’t want to leave Jia’s. We know the risks we take just to stay with you. I know she loves you and so do I, big sis.”

Zhen Ji’s crying lightened to just a few tears. She nodded. “Yes, you’re right. But it’s still my responsibility to be strong for her.”

“Hey, you were hurt too. I know you did your best.” It was always hard to argue with the young girl; she had a habit of being right.

“But my best wasn’t enough.” She chocked back a sob. “I can’t let her die now that we’re together.”

Cao Wu thought for a moment. “Maybe it’s time to consider retiring from the military. Perhaps you could just be an advisor or vassal.”

“I’m not sure how Cao Cao would take my retirement. If I settle down, Cao Pi might take this opportunity to try to wed me, again.” She shuddered, involuntarily. True, she could beat him to a pulp. However, in her injured state and worrying about Diao Chan, she was afraid that she might not be able to beat him.

Ji Jia spoke up from her mistress’s side. “Maybe we should leave and find our own place to live in peace. We could make it a sanctuary.”

Zhen Ji nodded. “That would be great, but we are currently unfit for travel. Perhaps in about a month...” The lady general grunted as she stood and shuffled to the bed. Cao Wu helped her lay down by Diao Chan’s side. She caressed the porcelain skin of the enchantress.

The slumbering woman sighed happily and mumbled: “Nightengale.” Zhen Ji smiled and fell asleep herself moments later.

Diao Chan awoke the day after their return. Their recovery was slow, but allowed them to be undisturbed for several weeks, except for their bodyguards’ care and messages of worry from Cao Cao.

Cao Wu and Ji Jia were checking on them constantly. They finally gave up on asking if they wanted tea on the tenth refusal.

Zhen Ji finally got irritated. “Why don’t you two go make out or something?”

“Okay!” was Cao Wu’s immediate reply. The teen grinned as if it was the most wonderful idea ever, as she pulled her blushing girlfriend outside to find an appropriate spot.

Diao Chan laid a soothing hand on Zhen Ji’s face. “You care for them deeply, don’t you?” She said, referring to their bodyguards’ relationship.

Zhen Ji nodded. “Absolutely. I just want to help. Is something wrong with that?” She gave a mock look of incredulity.

Diao Chan giggled. “No, I just think it’s sweet how you keep giving them suggestions.” She mimicked her love’s sneaky voice. “‘Cao Wu, why don’t you help Ji Jia with her laundry?’ ‘Cao Wu, it might be more romantic if you fed her.’ ‘Ji Jia, you could kiss her with a little more fire.’”

Zhen Ji smiled. “Both of them seem so new to this sort of thing, especially Cao Wu.”

“Dating a girl?”

“Dating anyone…”

“Oh…” Diao Chan said. She looked shyly into her love’s eyes. “What about you? Have you any previous loves?”

“Well, when I was little, I used to give flowers to this one girl.” A pained look crossed her face.

“What happened to her?” Diao Chan asked softly.

“Plague. Her entire family died.” The general snuggled closer.

The dancer squeezed her waist with what little strength she had. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right.” She sighed and continued. “As I grew up, I received attention from many suitors seeking to advance their families’ status. My father was governor of Shang Cai. Anyway, I began training in music early, but when I was 8 I began learning martial arts from one of my mother’s bodyguards.”

“Did your mother approve?”

“She was hesitant at first, but her bodyguard convinced her it would be good for me.”

“Really? How?”

Zhen Ji’s face took on a conspiratorial look. “I’m not exactly sure, but both of them were smiling the next day…” Her grin said she had figured it out.

“So it wasn’t just you who was interested in women?”

“My mother was always surrounded by beautiful women. She also made sure there were a few around me too.” She sighed dreamily.

Diao Chan poked her in the ribs and gave her a fake scolding-looking. “Thinking of someone in particular?” She felt some jealousy, but it was difficult when the opposition wasn’t there and her love was tenderly caressing her face.

“There was a maid who was my age. She was really sweet. At 14, we admitted having feelings for one another.” She looked particularly depressed at saying this.

Diao Chan kissed her on the cheek. “You don’t have to talk about it, but it might help if you do.”

Zhen Ji continued on with some reluctance. “We were caught kissing by my father a few weeks later.” Diao Chan gasped. “He was suspect of my mother’s interests, but mine were made obvious. He was upset. As governor, he decided to use me in an attempt to gain influence.”

“What did he do?”

“He sent me to Yuan Shao, whose son, Yuan Xi, was looking for a wife. I was furious for being separated from her, so I isolated myself to my quarters. Xi, who was quite dense; attempted to propose to me.”

“What did you say?”

“I laughed in his face.”

“You didn’t!” Diao Chan said, shocked at the audacity of her love.

“Yes, and he was quite mad about it too. He attacked me.”

“How dare he!” The dancer growled out, which sounded rather cute to Zhen Ji. It stirred her heart to know how protective Diao Chan was.

The general could resist giving her a peck on the cheek. She definitely wanted to encourage her. “Oh, don’t worry. I had my flute at the time. He limped off to his father to have me killed.” Diao Chan’s grip tightened about her waist. “That was how I came into military service.” Diao Chan gave her a confused look. “Once Yuan Shao saw how I easily defeated his son, he was impressed with my skill. Zhang He recommended I be made an officer, since he had witnessed some of the battle.”

“How did you end up with Cao Cao?”

“At the battle of Guan Du, I saw my opportunity to leave the Yuan family behind, so Zhang He and I switched sides.”

“So are you and Zhang He friends?”

“Yes, he’s one of the few people I could trust while serving under Yuan. We both appreciate beauty and grace, so it was natural that we would get along. Not to mention, we both played by different rules.”

There was a relaxed silence. They basked in the warmth of their closeness. Then, the dancer turned to look at her love. “I’ve noticed Cao Pi giving you strange looks. Is he after you?”

Zhen Ji laughed merrily. “No, he attempted to propose and got turned down. Like Xi, his ego got the best of him and I had another opportunity to demonstrate my fighting skills.”

“Wasn’t Cao Cao furious?”

“No, he’s an opportunist and an excellent recruiter of talent. Once again Zhang He assisted me and I returned to the battlefield. That’s how destiny led me to you, my beautiful songbird.” Zhen Ji couldn’t resist the urge to capture her love’s lips in an intense kiss. Once they regained their breath, Zhen Ji asked: “What about your past loves?”

Diao Chan drifted off. “I really didn’t have any. My birth parents resented that I was born a female. They took every opportunity to remind me of my crime.” A tear formed in her brown eye. “Eventually, when I was 9, Wang Yen rescued me. At first, I was happy and enjoyed all I was taught about music and dancing. Later, I learned I was being trained to cause a rift between the tyrant and the monster.” She shuddered and more tears formed.

Zhen Ji embraced her and whispered: “It’s all right; you don’t have to continue…”

“No, you told me everything and I want you to know. You’re the one person I want to trust completely.” There was a short pause for another kiss.

“Just remember that it’s all over and you’re safe with me now.” Zhen Ji said assuring her that she was safe.

“Okay.” She took a deep breath. “At the palace, I almost completely lost myself. I danced, sang, and smiled my way into their hearts. It wasn’t long before they both began to desire me for themselves. It wasn’t long before they wanted more… I managed to avoid being alone with either of them, but this frustrated them. They became abusive. They groped me openly and slapped me. Their jealousy grew. I began to hint to Lu Bu that I could be ‘his’ if Dong Zhuo wasn’t around. It didn’t take long before he killed his adopted father and we were on the run to Xia Pi. Then, came the day you arrived. I don’t know how much longer I would have survived without you…” She began to cry.

“I love you, songbird.” Zhen Ji said, aquamarine eyes glowing with tears.

‘Those tears are for me!’ “I love you, nightingale.” She replied, as her love wiped tears from their eyes.

“Now, our future is ours alone! We can decide on how we want to live the rest of our lives and no man can stop us!”

“We mustn’t forget those two…” She motioned towards the entrance of the tent. There was giggling on the other side. “Any decision we make will affect them too.”

Zhen Ji shrugged. “Don’t worry about them. As long as we don’t separate them, they’ll be fine…” They smiled and went to eat supper. Looking back had drained them, but they felt closer than ever.

End Chapter 5

Wow, that was the longest chapter so far! Sorry, if there wasn’t enough action. I felt their back stories needed to be told. Plus, it makes me smile thinking of them cuddling together happily while their bodyguards are outside playing tag. There’ll be more exciting happenings in the next chapter or two.

I threw in a little historical truth about their parents. Zhen Ji’s father was governor of Shang Cai and Diao Chan was adopted by Wang Yen. Of course, I added a little shoujo-ai to their histories to… um… uh… I just felt like it! Okay! --; The part with the maid was the first thing to come to mind. (Kinda brings to mind Chain of Hearts, laughs nervously)

Note: I know my continuity is all messed up, but that’s why it’s fanfiction! (I haven’t received any complaints; I just want to say it.)

For the rest of you… please review my fic! This story’s become really special to me, since it was a DW fic that got me into shoujo-ai!

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