Round Two Knockout [Open]

[Adam]

Through the gaps in the trees of the dense forest, the sound of a struggle broke out. Several men seemed intent on injuring just one, yet even with their superior numbers, they found it difficult to keep him down. One block then another, before eventually his guard failed and the lone figure fell to the ground, a trail of blood following him from his nose and onto the ground beside him.

*CRACK*

“Ugh-!”

It certainly didn’t sound good as Lu Xiu writhed in agony on the floor, clutching at his recently kicked ribs as he moved onto his back. Gasps and the escaping sounds of pain that drew from his voice gave rise to the notion he was hurt, pretty badly, especially when realising that the man on the ground was the son of the great Wei general, Lu Bu.

Once more he moved his body onto his side, closing his eyes as he tried to hide away from the onslaught, but yet again he felt that impact to his body.

*CRACK*

“-Agh-! Uhh-! Uhh-! Uhh-!”

He was winded bad, gasping for breath at the most recent strike to his body, which left his lungs bruised and desperate for oxygen.

The situation was unfortunate for Lu Xiu as moments earlier he looked to cut through the forest landscape to reach the next city, intent on finding his way to either Liu Bei’s or Sun Ce’s lands. To show his self as a friend in the hostile country, he wore the colours of Wei, yet there was his undoing as a group of bandits soon pounced on the former Wei officer

“I hear Cao Cao pays well to get his officers back in one piece.”

“Really? I heard he leaves them to rot…”

“I’m not even-! Ugh!”

Xiu tried to ensure he was not an officer, but all that occurred was the increased annoyance of the bandits who wished to make a quick, easy penny. One of the three rose him from his position, gripping him by his armour and then slamming him into a tree.

Their guard broke as with a moment of silence, the sound of a snapping twig was heard, the adrenaline and instincts took a hold of the young warrior and with a moment of resolute desire to live beyond that day, he gripped the bandit’s own clothing, pulled him towards himself and then landed a sweetly timed headbutt to the nose.

With two others to deal with, he let go of the falling and injured bandit, hoping inside that the snapped twig was a sign of hope. On wobbly feet, he tried to keep his composure, to lash out at the others, but he was badly beat up… he… he…

*THUD*

He fell to the floor, losing his consciousness.

[Ao Ai]

In an ironic twist of fate just a short distant away from the bloody confrontation and quite unaware of it a peaceful carriage made its slow way threw the forest along a often uses path. There progress was slow but it was better than using the main road and being stopped by solders every few miles. Besides the young lady inside preferred the quite and serenity she found in traveling threw the woodland. It was a quite and unremarkable day for her sitting in her fathers carriage and reading a book to pass the time. The only sign this was an unusual young women was that this book was one titled "the art of the assassin."

Ao Ai was not alone as would be unbefitting a young noble women. She was accompanied by her maid, her driver and one youthful bodyguard who had probably never been in a real fight. This area had been quite for months so they were unworried as they escorted there lady to a house hold of a family friend a few miles away. Nothing seemed amiss until a cry of pain broke the incessant silent and tedium of the journey. Not wanting trouble the driver began to speed up fearing trouble, however he was not to get his wish.

"Stop at once." Ao Ai commanded, making her self heard clearly without even shouting, in her sharp court trained accent. She rapped once on the door with her hand to make her point. Unable to refuse despite the danger the driver brought the carriage to a slow stop amid the trees. Her guard looked worried but followed her as she opened the door, hitching up her long skirt to make the jump to the ground. She was hardly dressed appropriately for a walk in the woods, trussed up in her fine noblewomen dress. However she was unwilling to drive away while someone might be injured and in need of help. Besides she was not as defenseless as she looked. She had two daggers concealed under her clothes which she never went anywhere without. Some women had there safety blankets she had her knives which she found far more practical in this world.

"I think it was in this direction?" She said sounding a little unsure, however at that moment a loud 'THUD' came from the direction she had just indicated. Drawing his blade her guardsmen lead the way with her only a step behind. Despite her confining apparel she still made good time, showing a grace and quickness that defied her frail appearance. Up ahead they spotted 4 men, two of who seemed to be in the process of assaulting one man. Before her guardsmen could prevent them they knocked this man off his feet after a moment he seemed to lose consciousness. Ao Ai knew the type of people she had meet here, bandits only out for themselves, she had always despised such men.

"Hey look lads, we got ourselves a bonus. Bet she would fetch a pretty penny too, or if not she has other uses ay." One of the men said, smiling and displaying a set of rotten teeth. He and his still mobile friend approached them ready for a fight. Her guardsmen was only able to fend of the one while his rotten toothed friend reached over to grab Ao Ai by her slender waist. This proved a tactical mistake. Quick as a striking cobra she withdrew a knife she had hidden inside her long sleeves. Not even giving the man a chance to reach for his own blade she stabbed him repeatedly in the chest. Her guardsmen meanwhile had given the bandit a bloody nose for his trouble, proving himself more competent than she had expected.

"You bitch." The living bandit exclaimed spraying blood and broken teeth from his mouth. Lucky for him while angry he seemed to have some sense, with his still injured friend in hand he lurched away deeper into the wood. Ao Ai not wanting to have to hurt anyone else let them go, her guard unwilling to leave her side let them be. He was too busy staring at her hands anyway, which were now soaked in blood. She however didn't seem to care, it was far from the first time for her. She was more concerned about the man these bandits had been assaulting. From his dress he was clearly no simple traveler.

"Go and fetch Li Mi my maid will you." She asked her guardsmen as she knelt by the side of the fallen warrior. She felt a little ashamed she had never even asked his name, they spent many hours together in the same carriage. Obediently he left to do her will, leaving her to tend to the fallen warrior. She was no doctor but she didn't think his injuries too serious, at least she hoped not.

Ao Ai decided the best thing to do was to roll him over onto his side, which was no easy to task for her as he easily outweighed her. Some how she managed it then she reached for a handkerchief. Wetting it with some water from her canteen she dabbed it over the mans face washing the blood away. While no doctor she had received some first aid training for her tutors. Thinking it best she placed the canteen to his lips gently trying to get him to drink.

[Adam]

He had given a few hits in return, but ultimately he was forced to fall from grace. He was no superman, and to think otherwise would be ridiculous in such times. His father was no invincible, turned from battle by the three brothers, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. It could be argued that the three bandits were nothing more than ruffians, holding no military merit other than using brute force, therefore making them insignificant compared with the three brothers,

Lu Xiu briefly knew of the girl’s presence, before finally the onslaught of before brought a brief blackout. He heard the snapping of a twig and the rustle of the incoming steps on the uneven ground. In that space of time before hearing and falling, he’d dealt with one of the bandits himself, a firm head butt enough to knockout the thug.

It was no soap opera, and he soon began to respond to the world after only a few seconds. With an awkward groan he felt his body shifted onto its side and with the softly but sternly spoken words to someone else, it was apparent it was a female.

The first cold dab of a water soaked handkerchief touched his masculine features, drawing a short gasp of pain from the attentions to his cuts, bruises and injuries. He was not too badly caught up, a swollen and so to be black eye developing, a bleeding nose and a cut lip, but without their arrival, it was certain it could and would have been far worse.

With the flask to his mouth, he took water in, withdrew a few sips, until some forced itself down the wrong way and he shifted his body, to push the canteen from his face and cough several times. He continued to a cough several more times, before like the warrior he was, he started to get the strength back to get up. Once more his body was shifted, but not via another’s physical aid, this time he turned himself to his chest and pushed off the ground to raise his body to first his knees and then to his feet.

“You really saved me, thanks.”

What was strange of all as he weakly got to his feet, slowly but surely, was his complete lack of eye contract, instead he seemed to be looking over Ai’s shoulder, interesting more at what was going on there. In fact it was the bandit Xiu had struck to the face, slowly he was getting to his feet with a knife in hand and his intent was clearly on hurting the girl as payback.

Xiu smirked, he had it covered and for a moment the presence of the girl, the guard of her’s and the incoming maid served little purpose in the final confrontation.

[Ao Ai]

While the fallen warrior drank and began to revive she took a better look at him. Since he didn't seem to be in any further direct danger she felt her curiosity rising. He seemed to be of a similar age to herself, although perhaps a little older, but she had never seen him before. These woods were not generally dangerous but it was uncommon to find a soldier wondering around by himself. She knew her father would be loathed to send any of his men out on single patrol. Maybe this man served a lord who was just less kind, or maybe he was lost. It didn't occur to her that he might be a spy of some kind. For one thing he was wearing a uniform, she tried to get a better look at it. That brought back some unpleasant memories, in sharp contrast to today, it had been the first time she had blood on her hands.

Many years ago at a place called Chang Ban. She had been just a small girl fleeing with her father and many of the people of Jing province. They had been safe or so the thought protected by Liu Bei, but it had not been so safe. They had been caught by men wearing the same uniforms as this man, they had killed many innocent and soldiers alike. She remembered that she had been ordered to stay inside the carriage but she had seen from the window what those man had done. After a while her father had ordered the wounded in with her, she had tended them just as she had this man. Very few had survived that day. This man was a servant of Cao Cao, the ruler of the central plains.

"You really should not be moving around yet, you will just make your injuries that much worse." Ao Ai tried to tell the young warrior as he pushed himself to his feet. She frowned, why did men always have to be so stubborn when it came to this sort of thing. Still she didn't try to physical restrain him, instead standing with him. She placed one bloody hand on his chest trying to offer him at least a little support, also stop him doing anything rash, like walking off in this state. She knew warriors like to pretend they were invincible but she had seen enough die to know that was a bare faced lie. No one took a beating like that an just shrugged it off, who did he think he was Lu Bu.

She was well aware now that he a minion of Cao Cao, but she didn't hold it against him. He was probably just serving him to give him family a steady income. Besides who was to say lord Cao Cao was worse than any of the other lords, they all killed people when you boiled away all the reasons and excuses they were all the same. If they really put the good of the people ahead of themselves they would just surrender and save all the people all the pointless battles to decided who was king of the castle. She much preferred her own way of dealing with such people, a single blade in the dark saved many lives in the end.

"I am lady Ao Ai, don't worry your safe here, please sit, my maid will be along shortly to treat you." She said trying to persuade the warrior to see sense and keep him calm. For all she knew he could have a concussion after taking a blow to the head, she didn't want him to be confused. His eyes seemed unfocused looking behind her for some reason. She was quite unaware of the bandit now getting to his feet behind her. She had assumed he was quite out of it himself. Instead all of her attention was focused on the young warrior, she was dressed in his court dress and quite unarmored against any weapons. Her guardsmen had gone to fetch her maid leaving them alone in the clearing with the bandit.

[Adam]

The warrior never did look away from the rising form of the bandit. He took his time to ensure that he was of a good enough state to defend the girl, whilst also making sure he did not give the rebel fighter the same chance to recover. Even as she gave her name, he did not speak, always anticipating that inevitable strike forward at her unguarded back.

“Lu Xiu, an honour, my lady.”

He gave a polite response before he was forced to react to the bandit’s movements, who had stumbled forward several steps and was preparing a stab forward towards the maiden. Xiu stepped towards Ao Ai, grabbing onto her shoulders and pulling her towards him. He was strong, but soft with his touch, ensuring she didn’t get too offended by his actions. He was careful once she was closer to him, moving his body to shift her further away from the man, and leave Xiu central to the two.

Of course he’d let her go and turn to face him, already forced to bend his body out and away from the incoming stab, now directed towards his own body. The warrior son of Lu Bu, gripped the vulnerable arm of the attacker by locking his own arm around it, kicked his legs out from under him and forced the man’s head into the floor with his free left arm. The man’s head struck the ground hard on the back, stunning him.

Xiu took control, putting the man into a headlock and with his legs, wrapped and secured them onto the bandit’s right arm, the one which would have the dagger, or be closest if it had fallen to the ground in the fight.

[Ao Ai]

Quite unfamiliar with the famous warriors of the north Ao Ai didn't recognize the name as she otherwise might have. Instead she was simply pleased too find he seemed to be alright and polite as well, that was a nice change. In her experience soldiers tended to be rather direct and some times rude as well, perhaps he was an officer then. All at once she found herself wanting to talk to him, to ask him about the places he had seen in his time serving the lord of Wei. She had little interest in war stories, but stories of traveling, the places he had seen. She had always wanted to travel around the country, maybe he could tell her something of this.

"Oh your quite welcome by the way" Ao Ai remarked glad that he had been polite and thanked her as well, compliments were always appreciated. She noticed he was still looking just over her shoulder, she raised an eye brow, about to ask him why when he grabbed her gently by the shoulder. She was a little startled but didn't react as he swung her around out of the way of the incoming blade she had not yet noticed. She stumbled, if she had been wearing her court shoes she surly would have fell, but her balance was very sharp after her intense training. Keeping her feet she was just about able to see another man grappling with Lu Xiu. The other bandit she realized with a start, he wasn't knocked out after all. She was such a fool, some assassin she was to be surprised by a common bandit, even if she had been distracted it was no excuse. She was a little glad Lu Xiu wasn't looking at now, as she was red with embarrassment, an perhaps a little shock.

It did not occur to her to try to help out this time. For one thing she didn't want him to think she was anything else than what she appeared, for another he really didn't seem to need any help. The bandits might have had the better of him when it was three against one but now it seemed quite different. She was impressed by Lu Xiu he made it look so easy even after just being knocked down himself. He must indeed be an officer, she had heard Cao Cao chose only the best warriors to be his officers. Yet to her surprise he had not yet killed the bandit, perhaps he was just trying to incapacitate him, she thought that was quite charitable all things considered. Of course he had just tried to stab her in the back, so she wasn't about to object if Lu Xiu changed his mind about that.

"You saved me as well, thank you." She found herself saying, not sure if Lu Xiu could hear her over the sounds of his struggle. Still she had to say it just to get threw her surprise at what had just happened. She was used to fighting in the dark when no one could see her, this was quite different and she had felt unprepared. At least Lu Xiu seemed to have things quite well in hand, or at least by his legs in this case.

[Adam]

With a hard landing the two fell to the ground, Xiu clearly in some degree of control, whilst the bandit found himself shocked and winded. The warrior had the bad teethed man in the beginnings of a hold, using his feet to ensure the hand did not grab onto the knife and using such a position to push away and pull the enemy with him. Extra distance would be vital and with that small victory, he moved his self more, putting the man into a proper headlock, encasing the neck between his forearm and bicep of his right arm and then locking it in with his left arm, which crossed over and held onto the elbow.

“Gahrr!” Xiu Grunted as he put all his effort into strangling his opponent on the ground, who had by now struggled so much that Xiu was under his body and the warrior’s legs had wrapped around his legs. It seemed he had time and place to respond to Ai’s words “It’s nothing, really –ughh!- the least I could do.”

The horrible moment came and Xiu felt his voice catch in his throat, unable to speak a word as he felt and saw the jerks of desperation from the bandit; his arms jolting up his body to try and get Xiu off him, before they’d slip out of complete weakness. Again it’d happen, but with the co-operation of his legs for the last few seconds of his life, as slowly he passed from the world.

A few more seconds passed before Xiu loosened his grip and sighed a breath of relief, letting the limp body roll off him. He did not rise yet, enjoying the rest his battered body so desperately wanted.

[Ao Ai]

Ao Ai had seen plenty of death in her young life. Starting at Chang Ban, but it had not been so bad then, she had only seen the results, the wounded and dying. Then she had worked some of it herself, striking in the darkness she had killed more than her fair share of scum that preyed on the innocent. It had always been easy, quick clean, they had mostly not even known what was happening. They had not cried out or, suffered as that bandit had as the lie was choked out of him. It was...different watching it happen like that, she was actually a little shocked as how badly it affected her. She didn't watch, looking away as the life passed out of the mans eyes. She didn't pity him, he had after all been trying to kill him, she just wished. No she didn't know what she wished only, that this had not had to happen, even if she knew it had been completely necessary. The world was such a horrible messed up place at times, it had its beauty, but it had this side as well, they sadly went hand in hand.

After his victory, the young warrior seemed to collapse once again, either exhausted or because of his previous injury, she wasn't a good enough nurse to tell either way. Still he had saved her, an been hurt in the process she knew that much. She went to his side to check he was alright, or at least not in too much pain.

"That was very brave, you didn't even have a weapon." She said half scolding him for acting rashly while half praising his bravery in saving her. She almost wished he had let her handle it, she was armed even if her blades were hidden. Yet since he had won it was probably better this way, since he didn't know what she really was capable of. A good assassin was after one that no one knew the identity of, it made her far safer as well as her family. Besides really she knew nothing about this man, other than that he served Cao Cao. At that moment her maid and her guardsmen arrived back.

"My lady are you hurt?" Was the first thing Li Mi said rushing over and taking her hands, which were still covered in the bandits blood. It was a little cruel to ignore the man, but she was just doing her duty, which was first and foremost to Ao Ai. She waved her maid away, not wanting to get her covered in blood either.

"Its ok Li Mi, it isn't my blood. No i want you to help me take care of this warrior. He helped save my life just now." She said, stepping back to allow her maid a little space. She also didn't want to crowd the warrior, she knew men could be a little 'difficult' when it came to accept help, even if they needed it.

[Adam]

It was unlike Lu Xiu to be left so exhausted and beat up, usually he was the one dishing out the ass whooping and finishing it in style, but instead he had been forced into a brawl and left for dead, at least until Ao Ai had turned up. Within he thanked her for his life, knowing without her appearance and aid, he wouldn’t have survived for more than half an hour, and that was only if he was particularly fortunate.

On the ground his chest moved up and down in a steady, consistent rhythm, which showcased the energy and determination he had put into removing the dangerous bandit from their lives for good. His face showed it all really, the closed eyes, the sighs he exhaled; it was quite clear he did not enjoy having the kill someone, but instead he acknowledged it as a necessary evil, something he had to do to protect both the lady and him.

Slowly his eyes opened to be greeted with her pleasant face, it was a stark contrast to the strategic advisors, soldiers, dead bodies and war that he was more accustomed to, it could even be noted he looked at her for a moment too much than was probably normal, but in either case his lips opened to speak, showing ever increasing signs of the fight as his bottom lip increased in its swollen state, with each passing minute.

“I’ve learnt to use whatever at my disposal, my dad used to be really strict when it came to me becoming a general and above all a warrior.” He said ‘used to’ like one would to describe a deceased person. “I think he wanted me to become the next Lu Bu, or something outlandish like that.”

He broke eye contact with her, lady Ai explaining the situation to her maid and asking for help with Xiu, whilst the named man, begun to once more rise from the floor, with even more frailty than he had previous. It would take him several seconds longer than a normal fit and ready individual, but he’d make it to his two feet, showing again he had remarkable resilience.

“Please, I believe in repaying a debt owed, my life was saved and therefore I did all I could to return that favour. I wish for no special treatment, nor do I deserve such, my lady is far too fair to be idle too long in such a place, especially with one such as myself.

He was no ordinary soldier, surely an officer by his words, but yet his tattered clothing, his lack of noticeable rank and troops and his position so far out of the Wei territory would surely bring a clash of thoughts, all linking into the question: what was he doing there and who was he really.

[Ao Ai]

Ao Ai bit her lip she worried about him. He had just been threw a lot, even going out of his way to save her. She was worried that he was now just being noble, like some great warrior out of the story. His body still bore clear signs of the beating he had taken yet she insisted on getting to his feet. What if he collapsed a few miles off into the forest all alone once they had left him? well she was never going to leave now an allow that to happen. A little kindness saved lives, while his was no longer in danger he did look like he could use a little kindness just now. Fortunately she just was of those 'goody two shoes' people whose conscience didn't allow her to leave when people needed her help. she didn't need any karmic reward, although she would not turn one down if it was coming her way. Her family was neutral in the conflict ravaging the land so she had no reason not to help a wounded soldier if he needed assistance.

"Well your certainly something special even if your not Lu Bu." Ao Ai said smiling as she once again tried to support the warrior as he got to his feet. She knew he might not appreciate that but it was not going to prevent her from trying. Her guard knew better than to object as did her maid, she made a habit of doing this sort of thing. besides they both knew her secret, she might look like an innocent young flower, but she could take care of herself.

Besides which this solider had so far offered no explanation of what he was doing here alone, out side of Wei territory. While he might not want to tell her, she always loved a good story. She wasn't going to miss that if he ever got around to explaining. But maybe she needed to probe for it a little bit, she was too curious to let something like that go without a fight. Besides she felt he still owed her at least that much.

Meanwhile he said something silly about how she should not waste her time with him....really men? what better things did he think young noble had to do with there time. It really was mostly tea parties and listening to long speeches, this was almost the high point of her day. It was the nights that she enjoyed when she could put on her black outfit and run out into the wilds.

"Don't be silly, after all you have been threw you deserve a rest, at least for one night, i insist. Now a mansion owned by some friends of my family is near by. We were on our way there in fact when we came across you. Why don't you come with us and tell us what brings you here. Really its the least i can do." Ao Ai said going only one step short of insisting, she could be quite a stubborn young women at times when she had made her mind up about something. Although she could understand he might be reluctant if he was on some kind of secret mission. If he were of course he would have a damn hard timing talking himself out of it without revealing as much.