Second chapter up a lil early for CertifiedBaka! I know its about haf a page shorter, but I couldn't add any more to this one . . .

Enjoy!

Divine White Dragon – Chapter 2 – Recurring Childhood Events

"This is a very long and depressing story at first," sighed Lord Huang. "Are you sure you want to hear it?"

Zhuge Liang nodded. "If it explains."

"It was twelve years ago . . . it began when my wife's uncle died. He was the last relation to her family and no one now remained. Yue Ying, four years old, caught me kissing my wife, trying to cheer her up from the news. She never did meet my wife's parents, nor mine since they had passed on, so she took their death more lightly that we expected. Laughing, she ran in and then asked us why we had done so. My wife and I were hesitant to answer, and when Ying saw the blushes in our faces, she laughed again and then pointed to me and laughed harder as I turned redder.

"I motioned for my wife to say something, which eventually she thought of the idea – although I knew she waited for our daughter to exhaust herself from laughing – and said, 'Your father and I are best friends, child. That is why you saw us . . . doing what we were doing.'

"Then I had added, 'And I was trying to cheer up your mother. Ying, your great-uncle died.' Sighing, Ying grew depressed. My wife then said quickly to cheer her back up, 'Its okay, daughter. You and your father made me feel better.' Looking at me, she added, 'Our daughter is precious. Treat her better than you would me.' Then our daughter gave a faint smile and hugged the both of us, expressing her thanks to the Heavens that were alive for her.

"Our daughter then 'understood'. We put her back in bed and awaited the next morning's surprises. The morning was regular, and that day you came over. Your eyes were red, the top portion of your shirt soaked. That night before, young sir, your parents had died.

"Your uncle came to tell me the news and motioned that he couldn't handle you and thought you would pretend to be strong since you were a boy, but any man couldn't handle his parent's death well. After your uncle left, my wife and I tried talking to you, but you refused the both of us and went outside. Then my daughter came up to me.

"She asked, 'Daddy? Mommy? Why is Liang so sad today?'

"I couldn't lie to my daughter about anything. I replied, 'His parents died.'

"She grew depressed again, but there was nothing I could do. My wife shot a death glare at me, but my daughter was dearer to me than my wife would be. I also mentioned to her that I couldn't cheer you up and I would give her candy if she would help you feel better. She shook her head. 'He's my friend. I don't want to cheer him up for candy. I want to make him feel better, not make myself feel better.'

"My wife's words were true, our daughter was precious. She ran outside. My wife and I, curious, followed her to the gardens near our home. She went to you and the most breathtaking thing happened. She pulled herself close to you and kissed you – straight on the lips! My wife and I, surprised my our daughter-"

Zhuge Liang stood up and walked out of the room. Lord Huang stood up. "Where are you going? What are you doing?"

"I heard enough," replied Zhuge Liang, holding back tears. "I . . . never knew about the beginning, but the rest is clear to me. There is no need to portray the next events."

"Let me tell you this then!" exclaimed Lord Huang. His words grew sharper and angrier as he continued speaking: "My wife's words about my daughter being precious were proved correct time after time! When my wife died a few months after your parents died, Yue Ying kissed me on the cheek and said, 'It'll be all right in the end.' Listen to me, Zhuge Liang, if everything would be all right, then I will die content after my daughter marries a man she loves. I am more than sure Xia Huan Junzi is him!"

Zhuge Liang, annoyed by his words, walked away.

"Hey! Come back! We're not done here!" furiously snapped Lord Huang.

"I'll take the punishment later," replied Zhuge Liang, trying to lessen the sound of sniffing from his tone. "I need some time alone." He continued walking.

"Stop right there!" shouted Lord Huang, but Zhuge Liang continued walking.

X-X-X

Yue Ying, after hearing the argument outside, ran in. She found her father first and asked what had happened. "Nothing really," he replied – the first lie he ever told his daughter. He rose and then went to his room to read in peace. Yue Ying, confused, looked around and then somehow caught Zhuge Liang's trail.

Eventually she found him in one of the rooms upstairs, staring out one of the larger windows into the chaos of the land. Sitting down next to him, she asked, "Is there something wrong?" He gave no reply but shifted away from her. "What's the matter?" inquired the teenage girl, but still no reply was given. Yue Ying brushed his hair back and then pressed her lips against his she had once done as children.

Partially in disgust and somewhat pleased, he pushed her back. "What are you doing?"

Blushing, she replied, "I-I thought you were in distress!"

"Well, I was!" exclaimed Zhuge Liang. "What are you trying to prove by embracing me? That I can't get any other women and you're the only one in my life?"

Ignorant of all this, Yue Ying whimpered and pushed herself back in fright. "What's wrong with you today?"

Unwilling to respond, he stood up and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

"All this did not begin with Junzi . . ." She ran one flight downstairs, the middle floor, and pushed herself into her father's room.

Lord Huang looked up, slightly disappointed that he couldn't finish his book. "What are you doing in here? Don't you knock?"

"It's urgent," replied Yue Ying hastily. "I need to talk to you."

Lord Huang shoved the book on his bookshelf, which was practically filled with junk he was too lazy to clean out. "What is it?"

"Do you know what happened to Liang? He seems quite unsociable today."

Her father replied, "Before he stormed off on me, he was asking about why I thought that you were best suited for Junzi."

"Was Liang . . . jealous?"

"It seemed like it, but for some reason he was hesitant from responding from that portion of the mind, as if he was maybe deciding on what would happen if he did this and that. I think he does adore you in his own way, but it would be more than friends but less than lovers."

Hearing all the talk about romance from her father caused Yue Ying to shrink. She wavered, and then replied, "Well, what exactly did you talk about?"

"Its nothing that special," replied Lord Huang.

Yue Ying sighed. "Ok . . . I have a question to ask you. Do you remember that day a long time ago when you, mother and I learned that Liang's parents' died? Do you remember what happened after I . . . well . . . you know. Do you remember what happened after that?"

Confusion swept Lord Huang. "What do you mean? The rest of the day?"

"Yes."

"The rest of the day was simple," replied her father. "Well, after you kissed him, the young sir Zhuge remained neutral, not talking to anyone. His body remained at earth, his mind searching wildly for an answer. Then at the evening, his uncle was supposed to pick him up but didn't come yet. You invited him to dinner. He nodded but still did not say a word.

"Dinner was served ten minutes later. You ordered a seat for the young sir right next to you and, no doubt, tried to cheer him up more than the moon does shine, the sun does warm. You had the entire cooking, cleaning and serving staff laugh harder than I have ever seen them and ever heard. Still, no matter what you could do would make Zhuge Liang smile or talk.

"We heard a few knocks on the main entrance. You, Liang and I went to the door to see who it was, and it turned out to be Liang's uncle. When I asked him why he was late, he said that his horse kept failing him. The young sir went to his uncle and finally spoke. He said to you, 'Thank you.'

"The moment he said that, you smiled and laughed, running around all of us. All three of us men then commented you with the same simple word, 'precious.' "

Yue Ying sighed. "So you think he'll grow to forgive me?"

"Exactly what did you do?"

"Nothing!" she exclaimed.

Lord Huang stood up and stretched. "So do you want to have dinner with Junzi?"

She hesitated then asked, "What do you think of this?"

"You should accept!"

Trying not to be a disappointment to her father and not leaning to either side, Yue Ying said, "I'll tell him tomorrow then."

Lord Huang was truly overjoyed. "Wonderful, fine, great, perfect!"

"Typical . . ." Yue Ying rubbed her head. "Where are my books?"

Lord Huang went back on the shelf and took his book. "I left them in your room. You might want to get started on that report I assigned earlier."

"Right, right . . ."