Blood Stained Sea (Lu Bu)

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Rui sat silently in the palace of Hui Ji. He had become the ruler of the city but yet he was uneasy about the place. He knew the people were happier now since he had handed out money to the people and lowered the taxes as well as increased the trading business to the surrounding areas. The city was healthy and joyful but Rui's heart was unsettled.

Rui could not forget the day Lu Bu paid a visit to the city and it gravely worried him. What if the man did return and ruin the peace within the people? Rui held his face in his hands and sighed loudly. Why was being a leader so difficult?

Rui raised his head and looked at Kouji who was enjoying the attention of a lone butterfly that had gotten into the building. Rui feared for Kouji's safety since the boy had already been on the receiving end once from a cruel man. Rui's heart ached and slowly he rose from the throne and moved down towards Kouji. "Hey, do you want to go out for a small ride in the out-skirts of the city?" Rui suggested before gaining a positive reply.

Rui and Kouji moved out to the stables and fetched the horses. Rui took an older stallion whilst Kouji picked out his personal steed Akako. The two rode out but carried their weapons at their sides as they sped through the streets before leaving the crowded city of buildings to enter the open land of fields and trees. The wind soothed Rui as it touched his skin and he felt free. The two of them raced through the countryside before stopping by a river to let the horses drink.

Rui and Kouji sat next to each other on the soft new grass and watched the sky. Kouji took glances at Rui and a light blush filled his features as he looked at his captain. Kouji didn't like to admit it but he was falling for his master but was too afraid to tell him. Kouji sighed and noticed that a flock of birds flew from the trees in a panicked manner. This set both the pirates on edge and spooked the horses.

[Lu Bu]

Birds tore out of their nests and flew away at a rapid pace. Animals scurried away in fear as a sea of black emerged from the distance. Red trimmed the Black Armor of the soldiers that marched in silence as they approached the River. Then suddenly, they stopped before exiting the treeline. They made no movements or sound, but the thumping of footsteps and the clanking of armor gave sight to the massive form of Lu Bu.

He stepped out of the treeline and away from his army, they had been scouting around Hui Ji. Hiding and watching for weaknesses in the defenses. What god could have led the two small males into the Demon's Claws? Bu's dark eyes locked onto Rui and Kouji as he stepped towards them, pulling his weapons apart. He now held a vouge in each hand.

"I've been waiting for this, Pirate Lord. The chance to fight you at full strength. I will kill you here and now!"

He largely ignored Kouji, save for a glance. His powerful aura spread out across the area as he charged. That aura prodded at Kouji, knowing his weakness to it. Lu Bu charged at full speed, faster then one would expect, with each weapon held out at his sides. He brought them forward at Rui with a lunge.

Meanwhile, the sea of black and red looked on in Silence.

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Rui got up from the ground and drew his longsword when the army appeared from the tree line. He was on high alert as Lu Bu appeared and announced himself, claiming that he would destroy the Pirate King. Rui growled loudly as he braced his body for the fight that was rushing towards him. "I will not fall before you!" Rui roared as he charged towards the speeding man.

Rui wanted to spill the blood of his enemy across the fresh spring grass, he just wanted to make the nightmare go away. He feared for Kouji's safety which drove Rui onwards to strike against Lu Bu despite the clear odds. "I will make sure you never set foot here ever again in these lands!!" The echoing clang of metals clashing cried out through the air causing Kouji to cower.

Kouji trembled and ran to Akako for comfort as Rui and Lu Bu clashed in a fierce fight. "Why... why can't he just leave us alone...?" Kouji whimpered as he tried to hide his gaze by burying his face into the soft black mane of his steed. Kouji hated the fighting and for once he only wanted peace but the constant fighting was getting him no where near his dream.

[Lu Bu]

A heavy downpour began to pelt the area as the two warriors exchanged bouts. Thunder roared and lighting crashed across the near black sky. Everything seemed slow motion for Lu Bu as he swung his massive weapon around in swinging arcs.

His vouges were now reconnected and he used the large area that it covered to bring down an onslaught on top of Rui. He swung the weapon so that the blades came one after another. He twirled and span, giving it his all.

Eventually, their weapons clashed and he snarled, looking Rui in the eye. He spoke harsh words to the other male.

"You are too naive! Spirit and Virtue have no place on the battlefield! All that matters is might and I am the strongest!"

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Rui watched Lu Bu carefully as he blocked the blows with his sword. It was becoming more difficult with time and the rain did not help the footing upon the soft grass as the earth gave way beneath their feet. Being a pirate gave Rui a slightly better balance since being on a ship meant water all the time so standing on moist surfaces was easy for him.

Rui glowered back at Lu Bu and felt his heart race as the desire to kill the man grew within his heart. "You sure can speak such crap at times." Rui mocked as he tried to push against the weapon deadlock in hope of tumbling Lu Bu or making him slip in the forming mud. "You cannot tame the pirates of the South. Go home to the North where you belong!" Rui snarled as he got more violent and started using the immense strength he had been building for the past few months.

[Lu Bu]

"Not before I show you the power of a true warrior! You had better provide me with a decent challenge before you die!"

Lu Bu struggled against the surprisingly strong Rui for a few moments. He clenched his jaws and ground his teeth together in thought. It must be Rui's adrenaline kicking in. Bu narrowed his eyes before sidestepping, wondering if Rui was foolish enough to let himself fall from force of his deadlock against Fengxian.

Regardless, Bu followed up with a swipe of his weapon across Rui's back.

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Rui swiftly slammed his foot down into the mud to balance himself to avoid falling forward after Lu Bu moved to the side. Rui gritted his teeth before turning his body to move sure Lu Bu could not get behind him and he used his sword to block the attacks.

"I'm no fool when it comes to life and death! I will destroy you!" Rui hissed as he tried to throw a punch at Lu Bu's face. Rui was determined to show his might towards the bigger man. Just because Lu Bu was larger it didn't mean he could win, in the end it would come down to pure luck and wit.

[Lu Bu]

Lu Bu became furious at Rui's words. The smaller male's fist slammed into his cheek, but Bu shrugged it off like nothing. A fist was nothing compared to a blade. Power surged in his blood and his eyes became wild. With a deranged look on his face, he began a rapid attack on Rui.

He struck at Rui with anything he could use. He shoved his large plated shoulder into Rui's chest and proceeded to unleash an onslaught on Rui. He growled in a venomous tone to Rui.

"You are NOTHING compared to me! I am the ultimate warrior! YOU are mere BOY who fancies living on a ship and being FUCKED by dirty pirates!"

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Rui snarled at Lu Bu and didn't let the words get to him. He felt the cold sting of the armoured shoulder smash into his chest which knocked the wind from Rui's lungs and caused him to cough heavily. He glowered at the larger male through strands of hair that fell over his face. Rui had to act quickly to avoid further damage. He used his small size and swift reflexes to move behind Lu Bu to avoid the further attacks.

Rui managed to catch his breath and he moved in to deliver a flurry of sword strikes to Lu Bu's back. "Then put that statement to the test then! Prove you have the strength to back up your claim of being the best!" Rui growled showing that he would not back down to any man or any warrior.

[Lu Bu]

Bu cringed as Rui's blade dug into his back multiple times. The first few merely damaged his armor, but the last strike cut into his flesh. His back bled now and his body was filled with rage and hatred. He turned and attempted to uppercut Rui with his weapon, pulling it apart at the peak of the motion, and bring both Vouges down on top of the Pirate Lord.

"I have proved it many times, kid! You'll learn your place!"

With that said, Lu Bu struck out at Rui many times with his dual vogues, regardless if his uppercut attack worked or not.

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Rui bared his teeth as the large warrior used the uppercut. Rui used his sword to defend himself but the tips of the blades sliced his chest. At least he had avoided a far worse wound but as the strikes continued the damage started to mount. After a few minutes of the punishment Rui backed off to catch his breath.

Rui's arms, legs and body were badly cut up and blood trickled from the open wounds that smothered his body. He panted heavily and beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, his sword was battered and chipped from the fighting and could easily break anytime soon. Rui was on the verge of losing against Lu Bu but he desire to prove himself forced him back into the battle.

Rui charged at Lu Bu before he lunged at the man and attempted to drive the longsword into Lu Bu's shoulder or chest. Rui let out a loud battle cry as he unleashed his attack.

[Lu Bu]

Rui's blade struck Lu Bu's chest, but the heavy plate and mail there made it glance off and slide over his ribs. The light leather there was torn and a large deep gash was made from the jagged blade. Bu winced with an exhale.

With no time to waste, he dropped the vogue in his right hand and his hand shot up and wrapped around Rui's neck, squeezing hard. Bu's left hand dropped it's weapon and sent a full force punch into Rui's diaphragm.

"This is where you die!"

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Rui's eyes widened from shock as the hand grasped his throat and restricted the amount of air he could breathe. He dropped his weapon as he tried to grab hold of the wrist and dig his nails into the flesh to make Lu Bu release him but the impact of the man's other fist to the gut knocked the last of the air in Rui's lung out causing him to choke and splutter. Blood trickled from his lips since the punch has done internal damage.

Rui winced with pain but the spirit in his eyes never faded and he continued to dig his nails into Lu Bu's right hand. Rui was continuing to refuse the defeat but his time was running out.

Kouji trembled as he watched the fight. His heart ached as he witnessed Rui's condition after the punch. Kouji couldn't take it anymore, he couldn't stand the idea of having Rui die. "You leave him alone!" Kouji screamed as he ran at Lu Bu and tried to get Lu Bu to release Rui. "I'll do anything you want... just don't kill Rui!" Kouji whimpered, tears rolling down his face.

[Lu Bu]

Blood trickled down Bu's wrist from Rui's nails. He was clearly intent on winning this fight until Kouji appeared. He was in tears and he cried out to Bu, like he did that night. He pulled at his black heart and his eyes widened. His eyes narrowed and went back and forth from Kouji to Rui.

With a wet thud, he released the Pirate Lord and brought down his heavy booted foot on top of him. As Rui laid in the mud, Bu grabbed one of his discared Vouges and pointed it at Rui, the tip poking his throat. He turned to Kouji and spoke to him in a scary, but calm manner.

"Are you willing to give your life to me in order to save this man?"

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Rui yelped as he was dropped into the mud. He tried to sit up but the heavy boot held him down and caused severe pain in the area that he had been punched in. He gasped for air and spluttered loudly as more blood drizzled from his mouth. He was in a bad condition and needed medical help immediately.

Kouji looked at Rui before turning his gaze towards Lu Bu. Kouji didn't want to suffer but his loyalty to his Lord forced him to put himself in harms way in order to save his best friend. "Yes... I'd do anything to protect my Master, even if it means giving myself to you." Kouji's expression was filled with pain but Rui meant more to him than anything else in the world.