Teamwork

-I'm so excited! To think today we will have a war simulation... We must do our best!- says Shun taking his bowl

-Yes... Who knows what await us-

-More likely, where it's gonna take place?- asks Hao heading for our table...

-But will the other guys be willing to cooperate? It's not just us...- I ask seating down

-Well, I'm not so sure about that...

That guy seems to have a big influence on the boys...- scrapes his head Shun looking at Dong, entrateining his mates.

-That's true...-

While we speak an extra bowl land on the table followed by Xiao seating down, which make us all stop talking.

-What? Am I such a show?-

-Uhm... No it's just...- tries a conversation Hao

-Isn't the soup better today?- asks Xiao taking a full spoon in his mouth

"Is that supposed to be a reconciliation?"

Shun slowly begin smiling, probably getting the hint -Yes... Yes it is really good today!- he hits Xiao's shoulder laughing -Come on guys! Let's eat all together!-

...

-So, here's the plan... You all go to the front side except for me which will steal the other faction flag while they are distracted!- says a guy, trying to take the lead in our faction

-Your plan suck-

-Do you have a better one then Mister muscle?!-

-Kill all the enemies and take the flag!-

-That will never work!-

-You two are idiots!-

-So do you think to have a better idea Uh?!-

-You all shut up and listen to me!-

-Like hell that we will-

-You move away! It's my foot-

-I have a plan!-

-Shut up!-

-You want to fight uh?!-

The guys in our faction all begin yelling to eachother trying to take the lead... They only want to be noticed by the General and are not willing to be simple pawns.

-You woman! Come over here we are trying to make a plan!- someone calls me

I jump down of my tree and join the crowd in our base

-So what if we start by sending a little group on the enemy base to distract them? Then we can all attack at the sides- says a guy point his finger on the map, gesturing his plan

-Yes seems good-

-Mmh that should work- agree all the boys

-It's not gonna work- I state with crossed arms

-And what would you know about war strategy you? Just shut up and do as we say-

-What you say is trash-

-Come on, Lai'Er... She did actually meant that- intervene Hua

-No, it's exactly what I meant- -You are not helping... Lai'Er- he deadeye me

-So what? You seriously think to have a better idea Uh?-

-Not yet but I will surely come up with one... We know enough about our enemy already, we can use that time to focus on our surrounding instead.-

-Like what?-

-We know their position, their members and their weaknesses...

With just some more observation we should be able to find a way to win-

-Observation you say? This is a war nor a show! We are supposed to go and kill not stand back and watch-

-And that's why you will lose-

-You know what? Go and have your stupid sightseeing trip, we will work on the actual plan... That's why women aren't allowed in War- says the one who acts as the leader

-Fine with me- I turn around and leave

-So as we were saying... Wait where are you 4 going?!-

-To win the war honey- smiles Hua waving his hand

-You better not burden us! That room is full of fools...-

Xiao looks a bit around himself before sneaking outside the crown and run away unnoticed.

...

-So... What's your plan Lai'Er?-

-I do not have one yet-

-Do you guys think we will be ok only in 5?-

-Six-

-What?-

-We are 6, haven't you noticed Xiao? He's right beside you Wei-

-Wahhh! When the hell did that happened?! You're so sneaky man!- he jumps back in fright after noticing him

-Uhm? I didn't mean to be sneaky... Uhm... Guys what is she doing?!- he points at me climbing a tree

-Come here you all! But don't make too much noise-

Shun is the first one to reach me, while Kasuo instantly give up being to heavy

-Do you see that?- I point to the enemy base

-The flag is guarded... Of course all those plans guy's plans will fail-

-Exactly... While our flag wasn't guarded-

-Wasn't...? What do you mean? had it been already stolen?!- he frowns

-Yes- I say taking it out from my clothes

-What the hell?!-

-Shh...- I cover his mouth with an hand -It wouldn't have been safe in our base, once they all leave for the enemy base anyone could have stole it so I took it...-

-Are you thinking of using it?-

-Mhn...-

-Well... Can't be helped anymore, so... What's the plan?-

I smirk fixing my eyes on the enemy blue flag

-You'll see-

....

I come behind a soldier, guarding over the west path leading to the enemy base and hit between his shoulders with a rounded weapon

-Remember the rules... If you get hurt in a deadly way you must not talk or move until the ending Horn resounds- he nods, sighing before seating down

-We'll be taking this... Thank you for the cooperation- I take the blue bemd on his arm before going back to my roommates

-Take this Hao, switch it with yours... Let's go now-

We hide behind a fallen tree near the enemy base -Now we wait...-

-For what?-

-A diversive... We cannot handle all these soldiers alone no matter how much we came prepared-

Some noise can be heard and in a few minutes our whole faction comes out of the wood with their weapon risen high

The soldiers all rush to face them before they the get too close to the base, giving us enough space to work undisturbed

-How did you knew...?-

-I didn't knew... I just put my trust in their idiocy. Now it's time for our next move-.

...

Me, Shun, Kasuo, Wei and Hua "sneak" in to the base coming from the battlefield side instead than the back.

Doing so, the eyes of the soldiers falls upon us not noticing Hao joining them from behind dressed as someone from their faction

The soldiers left to guard the flag all stand up smirking, ready to fight

-Attack them!-

Order one so we take our time to leads the soldiers away from the flag area and Hao dashes foward to take the flag, rising it high -The game is finished!- he yells, but then a troubled expression falls on his face -Where is the horn sound...?-

Instead of and horn, we hear hands clapping as Dong comes out of a little tend toward us.

-Well well well... Don't get me wrong, you actually did pretty good Miss Ying.

But that flag was fake... I predicted this much and I beat you.

The game is not over yet but the men on your side are, taking your faction flag will be a piece of cake- he laughs looking at the soldiers from our faction getting "killed" one after the other... The guards start fighting us too

-Lai'Er! We can hold them bac,k, you go and find the real one- yells Hao, sparring with one of the Guards

-You are not going anywhere...- says Dong dashing foward... He's good!

He points his weapon to my throat

-Surrender now before you shame yourself losing to me-

-It's not that you wouldn't be a good soldier it's just that... You're too slow...- I turn around kicking his fake weapon to point a knife at his heart.

-But thank you for that, It really helped- I smirk looking toward the tend as the Horn resounds in the forest

Xiao rise high the flag, the real one, coming out of the tend with wide eyes -I did it... I... Really did it!-

-Have you predicted as much... Dong?- I whisper in his ear, things that he apparently finds pleasing smirking content -It's nice having you on top of me- his hand grabs me by the waist so I release him quickly to close the match.

-You really are my rival after all-

-Even if I just won? The difference between you an me is that I'm capable of sacrificing myself- I walk away, toward the guys who are rising Xiao up in the air with that flag still in hand.

-How did you even knew that was the fake one? This is truly amazing Lai'Er!-

-I didn't actually knew... I just tried to empathize with the Enemy's mind- I shrug my shoulders looking at Dong, he knows how poorly my faction trusts me so he built a plan around me as I would have acted on my own.

...

As we get back for our scores the General scolds our faction

-You guys did won but there was no cooperation at all! It was a total mess! Soldiers cannot afford to fight eachother instead of the enemy!

The other faction might have lost but this simulation is meant for teamwork!

I'm really disappointed in you guys! If it wasn't for Miss Ying the other faction would have won for sure!-

-We are sorry Sir!- kneel down all the guys

-Hahaha well I guess they deserved it- laughs Hua

-Let's go rest now...-