The Clean Up (open)

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Rui walked through the streets of Hui Ji with a pained expression. The people were hurt from their wounds that had been delivered from the guard dogs of Wang Lang but he could see the joy filling their eyes. The people had lost hope when the news came that Rui had been killed but now the ghost walked among them as their new leader. Hui Ji belonged the pirate who had to fake death in order to save his people.

Today was the start of the clean up operation to bring the life back to the city and people. He used the help of the people, guards and his pirate crew to tidy up the streets and buildings to make the place look better. Rui also lent a hand to help remove the broken pieces of wood and netting from the docks to make it safer.

Kouji was left with the job to organise the money within the palace and it was soon discovered that Wang Lang had horded money for himself but Kouji knew the true place the money needed to be. He sent out some of the pirates he trusted the most to delegate the money among the poorer of the people and also to donate the remaining money to the schools in the area.

Kenshi was left to guard Wang Lang in the prison and he enjoyed how the bug squirmed about and begged for freedom. Kenshi knew that Rui would save the final fate of the man for later once the city was back in order.

There was a long way to go yet to restore the city to its once former glory but so far Rui was fully committed to the city and the people. Rui was determined to prove that he was a leader and could rival the world about their beliefs upon pirates. He would prove that pirates had hearts and leadership skills and were far from the stories of bloodlust and terror.

[Lu Bu]

Lu Bu silently rode into the gates of Hui Ji after getting into an argument with the guards. In the end, his rank always won out over mere guards. The newly commissioned Han Captain, being Lu Bu, moved into Hui Ji with a small bodyguard unit of Lancers. Their task was to PEACEFULLY discern why Pirates captured a city from a Han-Appointed Governor.

The signs of war scarred the city and wounded groaned in the background. He observed everything closely around him while his unit slowly trotted towards the Central Plaza, looking for the Pirate Lord. Meanwhile, he scoffed and spoke aloud to his Lancer Bodyguards.

"This place is one big slum. As expected from Pirates."

They chuckled silently at the large warrior's jest. Lu Bu saw what looked like a pirate and stopped his party, yelling at the Pirate in an angry tone.

"YOU! Your a pirate,right? Where is your boss?"

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

The young pirate turned around and stared at the large man. He tilted his head a little before shrugging his shoulders. "He might be down at the docks cleaning." The pirate replied to Lu Bu before the man returned to washing the wall and door of a house with a few of the children who lived there.

It was clear that the pirates were actually tidying up the city and trying to make it better. Little by little the city in areas was almost completely restored to its former glory before the incident involving Wang Lang came and removed the beauty.

Rui was still working at the harbour and had cleared most of the netting and wood so was making a start upon the merchant warehouses.

[Lu Bu]

"Hmph!", Bu growled as the man returned to his task.

He waved his hand forward and the entourage continued on to the docks. People stopped and stared at the well dressed party. Lu Bu's Army was different from the Han, they wore pitch black with vibrant deep reds and shiny plate armor which were adorned with spikes, paying homage to Lu Bu's suit of armor.

They were clearly out of place as they arrived at the docks. Bu wondered where the pillaging and raping went as he noticed more pirates actually cleaning debris and rubble. He rode up to the largest group of pirates and raised his voice again.

"Sea dogs! Where is the Pirate Lord responsible for waging war on the Han?!"

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Rui heard a loud voice and some of the pirates scattering away from the crowd of men who had arrived. Rui narrowed his eyes and noticed Lu Bu within the crowd. The bitter taste of hate filled his mouth as he remembered when they last met and he had also gotten the story from Kouji upon what had happened to the boy that cold night.

Rui stormed towards Lu Bu before stopping in front of the large man and he glowered at him. "Why have you entered my city?!" Rui snarled like a wolf defending its territory. He was uneasy about having such a man within his lands and already he was being blamed for turning his back upon the Han. "The only person who turned their back upon the Han was Wang Lang, that dog tried to kill this city so I stopped him with the help of Lord Zhuge Liang. I saved the Han!" Rui growled, telling the truth about what had happened.

Rui was showing that he was not the little man anymore, he was a leader and owned Hui Ji so Lu Bu was trespassing upon his land. Rui's overall physical size could not match Lu Bu but his spirit could rival almost anyone.

[Lu Bu]

Lu Bu let a wicked smirk grace his lips and his eyes flashed with entertainment. He paused for a moment before urging Red Hare towards the smaller man. He stopped the massive crimson steed before Rui, a large shadow being cast down over the entirety of the Pirate Lord. Lu Bu's dark eyes bore into Rui's brightened ones, he could see the spirit crackling like fire in the night.

"Hmph, so your the leader of these thugs. I figured I would come face to face with you again one day. Here I find you attacking a vital port city of the Han Empire and throwing the Prefect into his own dungeon!", he finished the last part with a growl.

"I have been sent by Grand General He Jin to find out why you have STOLEN a city from the Emperor! You say that you have saved the Han, yet the Courts received no claims of abuse by Wang Lang! He paid his tributes to the Son of Heaven and no word reaches the Eunuch's ears of treachery here!"

Suddenly, his voice got low and hostile, his eyes narrowed and his body became tense.

"What do you have to say about your crimes?"

In truth, Lu Bu cared little for the Han. He had his own sinister agenda, but he did not mind working for He Jin, that's the only reason he remained loyal. The man slew Yellow Turbans himself and got his blade bloody. He gave Lu Bu a feast, gold, and military rank. It may seem unfair to Rui, but the Han would not have it's cities assaulted by Pirates....no matter the reason.

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Rui rolled his eyes and placed his hands on his hips before sticking his tongue out at Lu Bu with a sly smirk to follow. "What do you have to say about your crimes... BAH! The Han is blind as always, you guys couldn't even handle the Yellow Turbans much less your own people. Pirates can do way better than any of you, but I already know the Han is too scared to be shown up."

Rui couldn't care about Red Hare, he had been around horses before and they didn't worry him in the slightest. "Just go home before I personally throw you out of my city. If you need proof that I own this city in the name of the Han then go ask Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang rather than whining about it here." Rui sneered as he turned to walk away from Lu Bu so he could return to cleaning. Rui was showing a large back bone for once and he was going to make sure that Lu Bu knew his place.

[Lu Bu]

Lu Bu snarled with irritation. Did Rui not realize that Bu's report held Hui Ji's fate in the balance? Lu Bu could ask the Court to supply him with troops in order to take back Hui Ji, which would end with total devastation of Rui's Pirates. The boy clearly did not know how the Han worked.

However, Lu Bu decided to make his demands now. He was getting frustrated....and that led to other things that Kouji already knew of. He chuckled mentally and replied to Rui.

"Those country bumpkins have no business here. Do you truly wish to incure the wrath of the Han? All it would take is my word and you will have the Han Troops at your door! And let me remind you that while you were down here pillaging and raping, The Han was fighting rebels! I ended that Rebellion myself by taking Zhang Jiao's head! What have you done?"

He let that sink in for a moment before sliding off of Red Hare and walking quietly up to Rui's turned back. He gripped the boy's small shoulder in his large palms, squeezing them roughly. He began to speak quietly into Rui's ear.

"I told you before, your spirit has no use on the battlefield. If you resist the Han, we will destroy you...easily. Liu Bei will not save you, he is related to the Emperor. Give me Wang Lang and perhaps I could convince the Han to be merciful to you...."

If you refuse me.....your pirates will be finished.....and you will fall into my grasp. Kouji already knows of my power, do you wish to test me? Do you honestly think you can win?"

His aura rose and lapped at Rui's soul. It pulled at the boy's body and smothered his body. It was not visible to anyone, but it could be felt by some. Kouji had been lured by it's intoxicating power. Bu wondered of it's effects on Rui.

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Rui let out a heavy sigh and looked at Lu Bu. "The Han is a joke, don't think I can't see it's falling apart. So what if you killed Zhang Jiao, big whoop! I saved this city from Wang Lang you blind fool and you clearly haven't hung around my ship long enough to see that things are different and much more stable than this country."

Rui scoffed at the large man and tried to shake his shoulder free from the tight grasp. Rui could feel the dark aura but his desire to stand and fight for what he believed in made him survive against the choking evil. Rui was getting ready to turn upon the large man but he heard a familiar voice.

"Wang Lang's fate will be decided by the people, not you. Han clearly claims it's for the right of the public and the people within their country but so far the Han is even more evil and corrupt than the Yellow Turbans." The voice spoke and a large man strolled out from the gathering crowd. An immensely large oar rested against his shoulder as he stepped right up to Lu Bu.

"Touch my big brother again and I'll dip you in the water." Kenshi growled as he tried to defend Rui. Kenshi was not a man to be under-estimated and his pulsing muscles displayed his physical power.

[Lu Bu]

Lu Bu scoffed and turned away from the two. He mounted Red Hare once more with the swift speed of a seasoned cavalryman. He settled into the saddle and spoke one last time to the Pirates.

"You can't see the bigger picture. I hope that I am the one to end your lives. Men! We ride!"

With that said, he spurred Red Hare away from the docks. He and his men rode through the cities at a gallop, their hooves thundering against the ground. They would return to Luo Yang and report to the Courts of the Pirate's reply.

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Rui could tell a bigger fight would be heading his way soon enough but the pirates were strong and he knew they could make the Han think about their decision to turn upon them. Rui, Kenshi, Kouji, Asa Khan and Wei Ning were all the mighty crew of the Red Siren so they would not roll over and die so easily. "There are bigger threats to the Han compared to me and that man will not break me, not now not ever!" Rui growled before he felt the tender touch of Kenshi's hand upon his shoulder.

"Be calm Rui. We can handle this and we still have Wang Lang. This game is far from over." Kenshi chuckled as he made Rui return to cleaning the city. Kenshi then departed to return to the palace to finish off what he needed to do.