Sorry for that Striga ^-^; I'm just too typerhappy. XD
Sorry also for taking so long. My PC's Wi-fi screwed up and is now not working anymore. So I have to post this from my sister's PC X_X Besides, I had to rewrite some of the Chapters thanks to Two Officers being developed for DW8 XD
ENJOY! ^-^
Two days before this, Lu Bu has built a small force of his own. Having lost the power struggle that ensued after he assassinated Dong Zhuo, he had been forced to wander from place to place. He guided them to the east, passed Luo Yang. Among them were Umi Mari, Tao and Zhang Liao, all formidable warriors. During a break of aimless wandering, the vacant force camped in an abandoned town. Most of the houses lay in ruins or were completely raided. Mhi Hayoli was standing in the trampled fields. Saddened by the view presented to her, she sighed deeply troubled. Within her hands she held a small bundle made of leather. She strokes her fingers gently over the silk ribbon that held it closed. “Milady?”, a voice called out to her. Surprised, she turned around and saw Zhang Liao approaching. “My apologies. I did not mean to alarm you.”, he said and bowed slightly. Mhi Hayoli was blushing and pressed the leather bundle close to her heart. She looked to the ground and shook her head. “No, no! I...It’s... ...alright...” Nervously, she tried to avoid looking at him. Zhang Liao sighed and looked around, but he could not spot Tao or Umi Mari. “I wished to thank you properly for tending to my weapons, Milady. With all this disorder spreading however, I found it hard to find the time.” He looked at his two halberds and was quite delighted over their sharpness and shine. She still wasn’t looking at him, but spoke nervously. “I...I am ...glad... ...th...that I... ...could...be of...h...help, my lord...”, she answered stuttering. Zhang Liao wondered if she was frightened by him. The girl looked very anxious and avoided to look at him. “I am sorry if my presence scares you, milady.”, he apologized, “I am not even sure why some people are frightened by me or tell those kinda rumors.” Mhi Hayoli suddenly turned around to him. She waved her hands and shook her head. “Ah...no...no! Th...This is not it!”, she stated nervously, “I...it’s just... ...I...I am not used...to speak...with men at all... ...” Her face was still bright red and her gaze wandered off to the ground again, saddened by the thoughts running through her mind. “Really? Why is that?”, he wondered. The girl sighed slightly and tried to compose herself before explaining. “Well... ...My mother... ...she...used to tell me... ...not to speak with men until I was of age... ...I grew up without a father... ...so... ...she was all I had at that time... ... ... ...Until she passed away as well... ...” “I’m sorry to hear that... I did not mean to open old wounds.”, Zhang Liao apologized and bowed slightly. She smiled and shook her head appreciating the thought. “No need to apologize, my lord... ...I may have lost both my parents... ...but I still have my Guardians, Umi Mari and Tao... ...and my little girl Pai Quan...” Worries started to fill her heart as she thought about her. Zhang Liao remembered that little girl with endless energy and joy, but he did not know that they were family. “So that girl is your daughter, then. I did not know.”, he said a bit surprised. “She is not...not in that way... ...I adopted her, when she came to my town... ...Her parents died during the Yellow Turban rebellion... She does not speak much about it, though... ... ...I wonder if she is well...” “I am sure she is.”, he tried to comfort her, “That little girl seemed like a formidable fighter to me.” “Yes...”, she answered him, still lingering in uncertainty, “Mari, Tao and even Pai Quan... They are all warriors... ...” Slowly she relaxed around him, but her hands still shivered a little. She did not realize how her worries overpowered her nervousness. Suddenly both Tao and Umi Mari approach them on horseback. A bit surprised of the two standing together like this, Mari gazed at them quite awkward. Reality caught up with her, however, and she reported to Liao at once. “Hey.”, she yelled a bit frustrated, “We’ve got a problem, Liao. Bandits are blocking off the road ahead. Lu Bu is mobilizing the rest of the gang.” “Understood.”, he answered. Mhi Hayoli listened to her guardian’s announcement and bound the leather satchel on her belt scarf. “I’m coming, too.”, she stated. “Mhi Ha?!”, Umi Mari was shocked, “What are you saying?!” “I know it will be dangerous, but... I just don’t want to be the only one without use or purpose anymore... I...I wish to help... ...Even if it scares me...” “Mhi Ha...”, Tao was concerned for his bond sister. He knew where her thoughts and actions might lead her. “Would you give it back to me, Mari? Please...”, she asked with a begging stare at her guardian. “Are you sure? You gave it to me, because you wished to distance yourself from war, after all...” Mari wished to be sure that her nestling was thinking this through. Mhi Hayoli nodded with a smile. “I cannot run from it anymore... There is...something I have to...see... ...Something I have to do... ...I wish to end this war...more than anything else... ...I wish for it to end...” Mari realized that there was no talking her out of it anymore. Liao was a bit confused about this conversation. He looked at Umi Mari climbing from her horse and pulling a whip made of strong leather. It was covered with multiple rings that were decorated with sharp iron scales. She handed the whip to the girl with a rather serious expression. “But you are not going alone.”, she stated and pressed the whip into her hands, holding them in her own, turning around to the horses, “Tao...” “Mari?”, Mhi Hayoli interrupted her, “If it is okay with you, may I join master Zhang Liao on this assault?” “What?”, she was answered with surprise by all three. Umi Mari sighed and smiled. “You’re starting to worry me, girl, but he’s reliable at least.” She turned around to him with a serious glare: “You keep her save, got it?” Zhang Liao seems to have no real talk in this matter, so he nodded agreeing and met her glare with determination and assurance. “Thank you, sister...”, Mhi Hayoli smiled with gratitude, “Don’t worry, I will not slow him down or get in his way. I promise.” The woman nodded and jumped back on her horse, turning it around towards the road ahead. “Let’s go.”, she said to Tao and headed out. The knight however seems to look at his sister still captivated in worries. “Come on, Tao!”, Mari yelled to get his attention. He finally turned his steed around, still starring back at her. “Be...save...”, it growled from deep beneath the helmet. Mhi Hayoli nodded towards him before he headed out. “I am not sure that I understand what lead you to this decision, milady. However, I shall keep my word and protect you from harm.” Zhang Liao readied his halberds and moved out as well, followed by Mhi Hayoli. “I am sorry...”, she stuttered nervously, “...if this seemed like we forced you into this, my lord... ...But I really do believe that I can find the answer by seeing you battle...” “What answer do you seek, then?”, he wondered as they approached the road. “The answer on why I could not fight... I need to know...and...I need to face my fears...”
The two ran onto the street and followed the soldiers towards the upper road. Abandoned houses and burned down trees and fields lined the path before them. “Alright.”, Lu Bu yelled his orders from atop of his Red Hare, “My forces will take the camp directly in front of us. Mari, you take your men to the northwest. Zhang Liao will go to the northeast. Nobody is blocking the road from Lu Bu!!” The groups gathered and then spread out to each side. Zhang Liao and his men, as well as Mhi Hayoli went to the northeast. Many of the soldiers were surprised to see the young lady following Liao over the battlefield. Bandits jumped from hiding spots in the ruins and ambushed them constantly. “Slaughter them all!”, they yelled with mocking laughter. “I am Zhang Liao! And I have come to fight!”, Liao yelled back at them, charging right into their ranks. Mhi Hayoli followed him, but kept her distance to not walk right into his slashing attacks. “This whip brings back so many bad memories...”, she spoke while unfolding it, “I once trained with Tao under the branches of my families peach trees...and I wounded him badly... ...That was the first time when I laid my weapon down.” She cracked the whip with a swing around her position. The crack was lout and echoed far over the ruins. Spikes ripped into the cloth of the bandits’ simple armor. Three of them stumbled backwards in pain, for the iron scales have teared through their skin as well. She was concerned and hesitated to take another swing. Zhang Liao however slashed through them like a wild band of tigers. She admired his determination and loyalty, or maybe his merciless way of fighting. Mhi Hayoli watched him and his men fight. The way they battled was different from how he did. “Argh! Fall back, boys!”, one of the leaders yelled and pulled back. Liao looked at the girl and was confused. She smiled gently and yet seemed so upset. “Milady? Are you alright?” “Yes...”, she nodded and sighed, “I think I understand now... ...why I was unable to be a strong warrior...like Tao or Mari...” She took a deep breath and held onto her whip. The group moved on and she started explaining to Liao with hesitation and shame. “I realize now that I was selfish...” “How so?”, he wondered. “Tao trained me to defend myself... But I was afraid of hurting people... That is why I failed and wounded him... ...The second time that happened was during an invasion of bandits in my hometown... ...I wanted to protect my family...but...I did not want to hurt people... ... ...I managed to fend of the bandits trying to enter my house, but I wounded Tao once more in the process... ... ...That is why I gave up on it entirely... ...But I never gave up on my wish for the world to be restored to peace... ...Mari, Tao and even Pai Quan fought so many times to help my wish to be realized... ...I relied always on them to do the fighting, while I was just praying, waiting and hoping... ... ...I was so selfish...” Zhang Liao stopped for a moment and turned to her. “No...”, he answered, “You are just a soul of kindness...born in a world it was not meant to be in...” “...Maybe so...”, she said with a light smile on her lips, “My lord, why do you fight?” “I fight to become stronger.”, he explained, “I want to perfect my skills in the art of war. However, killing people is something that I cannot avoid in times like these... ...although, I wish for more honorable battle.” “I see...”, she understood and smiled anew, “That is what I thought.” “Hm?” “The way you fight on the battlefield is different to that of my guardian siblings. Mari fights with such anger... Tao battles others as if he wishes them to acknowledge his power... You, my lord, however... You fight with such determination and control... I never have seen anything like it...” He smiled and bowed slightly. “I am honored, milady. Shall we move on?” She agreed and they headed out again. Following the road they came across the farmlands of this abandoned town. Archers attacked from the high grounds and rooftops. The soldiers covered themselves with shields. Liao ran through the arrow storm. Mhi Hayoli followed him and went towards the houses. She knocked the fragile, rotten wood pillars over, making the roofs collapse. Liao charged at the high grounds and scared the archers away with a violent roar. Yet again an ambush troop surrounded them. “Take them all out!”, the commander yelled. This time Mhi Hayoli engaged the battle more openly. She tried her best to aim for the legs and hands of the bandits. Zhang Liao came to her aid when she got surrounded by them. His appearance made these thugs tremble in their boots. The commander tried to duel him and was slain. Still a bit shaken by this, Mhi Hayoli turned away. Liao walked over to her when the bandits started fleeing to their last outpost in the north. He sighed deeply, thinking that he might have scared her, just like the rumors tell. “Forgive me, milady... I guess it must be pretty frightening to watch me fight.” She swallowed the pity she felt for these evil men and looked at him, shaking her head. “No...”, she said weak, “It’s just... ...I can’t bring myself to not pity these men... ...To not feel sorry for them... ...What this chaos made out of them...” “Yes... It is sad...”, he answered and tried to comfort her, “...but I am sure that peace will come. And the chaos will end.” She smiled, filled with hope that he might be right. That is what she was trying to fight for now, so she has to move on as well. Together the two marched with the soldiers towards the northern outpost. Lu Bu and Umi Mari already were attacking the base and tearing the bandit force apart. Thugs could be seen running in panic and hysteria outside the gates and into the mountains to the west. Zhang Liao and Mhi Hayoli joined them in the fight and soon the bandits were eradicated.
Umi Mari, Tao, Mhi Hayoli and Zhang Liao rode alongside each other after the troops had rested and the travel went on again. “I see...”, Mari muttered and sighed, “Well, I can’t say that I am all happy about this, but it is your decision, girl. If you wish to fight than I can hardly hold you back.” “Hm...”, Tao sighed deep, worried about this. “I’ll be fine, I promise... A...and I will train hard, too... So...so don’t be worried...”, Mhi Hayoli assured them. “Alright...”, Mari agreed hesitant, “...but you have to stay close to one of us three, got it? No running into the frontlines on your own.” “Three?”, Liao wondered. “Of course, I mean you as well!”, she pointed out, “You’re the only man I can entrust her to, Master Zhang Liao. Besides, she seems to have found quite a liking to you, too.” “Mari!”, Mhi Hayoli yelled embarrassed and blushed. The Firestorm laughed heartily to her reaction. “If it is your wish, then I shall agree.”, Liao stated, “I, too, wish that no harm befalls her.” “My lord...”, Mhi Hayoli was quite flustered and embarrassed by his words, but happy nonetheless. Right at that moment a messenger on horse appeared on the front and delivered a note to Lu Bu. Curious of what that was supposed to be, Mari rode towards him. “Be right back.”, she said before overlapping several units of foot soldiers. Tao stayed silent and watchful of the surroundings, ready to react on any new bandit activity. “Milady?”, Zhang Liao then addressed Mhi Hayoli who turned to him, “May I be so bold to ask... ...What do you think of me?” His gaze was a little grim as he stated his question. Mhi Hayoli blushed slightly again and smiled. “Uh... ...I like your hat, my lord.”, she answered sincerely. He smiled and pulled his hat a bit embarrassed over his eyes. “He...that’s not what I meant...”, he muttered, but smiled delighted, though.
The messenger was a spy send by someone from within Cao Cao’s camp, who brought him secret information about the capital city. Lu Bu viewed this as a good opportunity to seize Yan Province for his own. Despite not having recovered from the scars of its previous battle, Yan Province was once again thrust into chaos. Xiahou Dun had been entrusted with the defense of Yan Province at Puyang and eagerly went forth to meet Lu Bu in battle. Once they learned of Lu Bu’s sudden attack, Xiahou Yuan, Hanleng and Yue Jin also raced to Xiahou Dun’s side. Pai Quan was among the officers that were to aid in this battle as well. With mixed feelings about the possibility to face her family on the battlefield, she stood beside these four and readied every spark of courage that she had to offer.
Please be gently with my romantic writing. I am not a romance novelist XD