A marriage written in the stars

Light and heat

Hello hello everybody. I knew this chapter would take a long time but I didn't expect it to take two months. Life has a way of getting in the way of things like fanfiction and stuff like that but this chapter is much longer so hopefully that makes up for it. Also my schedule is clearing up so I should update more during the upcoming holiday period...that's one month compared to two months for the people keeping track of my update rate.

Now onto my favourite piece of DW news: LIU SHAN IS NOW OFFICIALLY HOT EVERYBODY! Even I, the unabashed Liu Shan fan that I am, had found his clothing to be cool but, like, not at 100% cool so I AM SUPER DUPER HAPPY I HAVE BEEN FANGIRLING OVER HIS NEW DUDS FOR LIKE 2 DAYS ALREADY! I was so tempted, SO so tempted to change the story to reflect the new wardrobe, but I did not. Because I am lazy. And that sounds like too much work for lil' ol' me. I'd put a link to a picture but seriously you just gotta google search his name and you'll find it so I won't do that. Just know that he is SEXY now and that this author with two thumbs (not pictured) can now die happily.

I'll try not to go into another rant about Liu Shan's new clothes (because trust me, I already did that on tumblr) so I'd just like to say thanks to all of you guys for sticking around for as long as you have. I know this is not the most popular ship nor am I the best or most experienced author out there but I put a lot of heart and soul into this fanfiction so that maybe, just maybe, I can convince some people to like the ship and/or appreciate Liu Shan more. It's not the easiest thing out there to write fics about couples that aren't in the mainstream within their fandom, even less if one of the characters has such a dividing opinion in the fandom as Liu Shan does, but it's really rewarding to hear that I'm not the ONLY one who ships those two together and it's really satisfying to hear people say they like how I write a certain character.

To any fanfic writers, either writing now or thinking about writing in the future, write about the characters and the ships you like, regardless of criticism. Because if my experience currently has taught me anything, a lot of people really do appreciate the work you put in to make your story, even if it's not immediately apparent. Never forget that.

Now to conclude as always, I don't own Dynasty Warriors, I don't own KoeiTecmo, and I don't own Liu Shan's sweet new duds because GOD YOU LOOK SO GOOD I HAVE LITERALLY NEVER HAD SUCH A VISCERAL REACTION AS I DID TO SEEING YOU LIU SHAN! URGH, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO HOOOOOOT?!

Chapter 13: Light and heat

Sima Zhao was a strange man of conflicting ideals. That was the only truth that Liu Shan had been able to get from the Jin lord and it annoyed him to no end. There was a small sense of pride in his ability to read a man's face and see their true intentions, see the truth behind their poisoned lies but with Sima Zhao there was so little to tell if he was a man to be feared or not. Sima Zhao was lazy but unlike Liu Shan there was no exaggeration in his actions, no performance he had to make to convince people. His words were often without restraint, leaving him to blunder his way out of whatever sticky situation he got himself into yet there was no denying his intelligence. In times where he needed to concentrate his actions were carefully thought out, precise.

Liu Shan and Sima Zhao were playing Weiqi today, an old form of Go, partially because Wang Yuanji insisted that her lord needed to keep his mind sharp and partially because the men had already exhausted most forms of entertainment between themselves. The game was nearing its end and it was currently Sima Zhao's turn. He observed his pieces with a thoughtful expression, two fingers rubbing circles on his left temple as he considered his next move. Liu Shan's attention was on Sima Zhao, noting the small nuances on Sima Zhao's face, trying to predict his opponent's next move. Sima Zhao twirled the white stone in his right hand, moving it around the palm of his hand. When he closed his fist around the stone, Liu Shan knew he was about to make a move. Carefully, Sima Zhao placed his stone, capturing a few of Liu Shan's black stones.