I don't own anything in Dynasty Warriors. It belongs to Koei.

Hello, my fellow fans of fiction! lol So, this fanfic is based on my favorite DW couple: Ce and Da and my second favorite, Yu/Xiao. It's my first ever, and I really hope I do as good as all the others I've read, even though I'm presently a novice when it comes to writing (being young and all :P). It is pretty OOC as you'll notice while reading it… I'm sure I'll improve as I get older (if this story's still around by then). Anyways, please read&review! And by the way, I've played around (not too much) with most of the characters' ages, which you might also notice lol. Hopefully no one's too opposed to that! And just a note on the their appearances: everyone looks the way they did in DW5. Well, here's Chapter 1 for you, I guess!

Enjoy!


Sun Ce stared blankly through the clear, polished glass of his firmly shut window. His eyes were painfully used to the breathtaking beauty of the Imperial Gardens of Wu down below. They couldn't move him as they would have others. But it didn't matter- for at the moment, it was doubtful that anything could. For Sun Ce was thinking, and seriously at that, something that did not happen frequently. He was thinking, for once about himself. In his entire life of exactly nineteen years, he had never suffered from want. But lately, he felt that there was something missing in his life. What could it possibly be? He hadn't the faintest idea. After all, what didn't he already possess? He'd achieved everything that ordinary young men living in Han Dynasty China could only dream of: character, lordship, strength, wealth, victorious battles, looks... And yet, he still didn't feel like he had it all. He wondered why that was. Maybe it was his turning nineteen that instigated such thoughts... voice nearby jerked him out of his reverie.

"What are you thinking, Ce?"

Ce turned to see his best friend and sworn brother Zhou Yu slumped against the doorframe with his arms crossed, watching him intently through narrowed brown eyes. Anyone else would have asked Zhou Yu how long he'd been standing there for- but Ce decided against it. Yu could be as silent as breathing when he wanted to, and it came of no surprise to Ce to find him there.

"Not much. Or at least, nothing really important," Ce replied, in an attempt at his usual carefree, easy-going attitude. He grinned at Yu, but then turned abruptly away from him, and resumed his gazing out of the window.

Yu raised his eyebrows. It certainly didn't seem like nothing important to him.

"You still tired from your birthday party last night? That's understandable, seeing how most of the kingdom showed up," questioned Yu, more curiously than usual, as well as somewhat concerned. Ce looked as though he was gravely pondering matters over- never a normal thing. And it usually didn't bode well.

"Nah, I was just wondering... Yu, did you ever feel like you wanted something real bad, but didn't know what it was, or how to get it – and you never felt like you wanted it before, whatever it is, but just knew that you had to have it no matter what getting it took, and …"

"Whoa, whoa, slow down! I know I'm going to be Grand Strategist in a few years, but I don't think I could keep up with you even then," The seventeen year-old exclaimed, raising in hands before him, baffled. "Say the first thing again."

"Never mind," Ce gave a shuddering sigh. "I'm probably just wound up from last night, like you said. Whatever it is I'm looking for, I don't think I'll ever find it…"

Ce didn't even know where to begin. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to find what he felt he needed. Perhaps it might just...find him...

Yu looked at his sworn brother with sympathy, trying and failing to get to the root of his problem. It was of no use attempting to figure things out if Ce refused to open up to him. For Ce had grown a little quieter of late. That was surprising enough in itself. It was a bit unsettling to see him sit in silence for so long without cracking a joke or two.

"Hey, why don't you go hunting to cheer yourself up?" he suggested. Hunting never failed to bring the young Wu heir's spirits up.

"Know what? I think I will."


"What are you thinking, Sis?"

At the sound of her sister's voice, Da Qiao started. Then she sighed, and turned away from the window, sitting down on the magnificent red bedspread, and beside Xiao Qiao. Something had changed within her recently. Something made her want to do more than just exist under her roof like she'd done all her life. Being one of the two Duchesses of Jiang Dong was hardly a happy life, as most girls would presume. Instinctively, she began smoothing the younger girl's hair out- an age-old habit of hers that she was barely conscious of now.

"Nothing, Xiao. It's just the same old thing… Don't you hate it when men from all over the land come to ask for our hands in marriage? It's disgusting, feeling their eyes burn into our skin like that…"

The younger Qiao sister wrinkled her nose. She and Da would discuss this subject constantly, but the more either of them brought it up, the more it seemed like it was the first time they would talk about it.

"Tell me about it. And they don't even know us, and they're twice our age. Eww…"

Xiao knew full well that as old as they were, it was common for men to marry as many times as possible to proportionately younger girls each time. It ensured that their family tree would continue for generations. But that fact gave her no comfort as long as she knew they were going to use her and her sister to make it happen.

"Xiao… We've never left these grounds all our lives. I don't know what lies beyond them, even though I've heard all those stories about it from the maids and guards. For sixteen and a half years, I never stepped out of our mansion gates. Neither have you in fourteen."

"Fourteen and a half."

Da smiled in spite of herself. Her sister always cheered her up, even if it was unintentionally at times.

"Fourteen and half," she agreed. "I'm sorry. Sometimes I forget how fast you're growing."

Xiao giggled.

"You always say that. So do all the maids."

"Well, it's true! I can't believe how quickly time flies..." Da stopped, upset again. "And all those years, we've been living exactly the way we are now. I guess it wasn't so bad when Mama was alive... I remember everyone being happier then. But then she left us. And we were left alone."

Xiao nodded, listening and thinking hard. Truthfully, she couldn't remember those times as well as Da did. But if her sister said they were happier ones, then they were.

"But why think about this all of a sudden, Sis?"

"I don't know... It feels more and more like we're imprisoned here. I can't even remember the last time Papa held us in his arms, he wants us married as soon as possible. As if he's trying to get rid of us. I just want out." said Da softly.

Xiao replied, "Then why don't you, Sis?" An plan had been formulating in the young girl's mind as she watched Da speak.

"It isn't as easy as it sounds."

Truthfully, Da didn't even believe her sister could be serious. Xiao was known to get worked up and excited at times, and Da was sure that this was one of those moments when a splendid idea would enter her head, but be abandoned seconds later when she found any fault in it.

"Yes, it is! I could tie all the bed sheets together, and lower you out the window! Our mansion isn't that high, y'know, and you aren't heavy!" cried Xiao excitedly.

Da looked at her sister incredulously.

"Are you sure you can, Xiao?" she managed to whisper. Da knew that even she herself couldn't have thought of anything better. She regarded her sister with pride, gratitude and surprise all at once.

"Sure I am! Anything for you, Sis! Once you're out of the house, you can climb out the gates from the back. They won't know you're there if you don't use the doors. You go first, then me. Deal?"

All Da could do was embrace her sister warmly.


Ce climbed off his horse and looked around the forest. His eyes took in the tall, sturdy trees, the long wild grasses, and the harmless critters and birds he didn't have the heart to kill. going about their duties. No, there weren't any deer there. Exhaling, he hoisted his arrows higher on his shoulder, gripping his bow tighter in disappointment.

Maybe he should try somewhere else. Just when he turned to re-mount his horse, he caught sight of a fine buck sprinting away from the corner of his eyes. It had probably been hiding, in wait for him to leave. His own trademark mischievous grin flashed across his face. Without further ado, he began chasing after it.


Da breathed in the sweet spring air, shutting her eyes, her heart singing. Freedom felt wonderful, even if it was just for an hour. Upon opening her eyes dreamily, she saw a beautiful butterfly flapping its wings right above her face. She held her hand out to it, but the very moment she did so, it started to fly away, as though it didn't trust her. Upset, she began to give chase.


The buck was now clearly within Ce's grasp. All he needed to do was run a few feet more before he reached for his bow... Just then, the deer gave a sharp turn, and Ce collided with something else, something much lighter and softer than a deer could ever be.


Da was knocked down to the ground, hard. Her breath caught in her throat as she hit the floor, and she was winded as something much heavier then she was landed on top of her, making her gasp in pain and shock. She didn't know where the butterfly had gone, nor did she care at the moment. Her eyes were shut as she struggled not to shout, even as the weight on top of her vanished immediately as someone raised himself off her at once.

As she opened her slowly, slightly frightened with her head spinning, she found herself face-to-face with who had to be the handsomest man she had ever seen. He seemed to be easily six feet tall- his eyes were a deep green – just like her own eyes.

He had a long, straight nose positioned above perfectly shaped masculine lips. He had a goatee too, and, bizarrely, Da thought it seemed to complete his face well.

But what interested her most of all was his expression, the way he was looking at her as if she was the most important person in the world. Whenever men had come to 'see' Xiao and herself, their eyes showed nothing but lust and desire. But this man's eyes had the look of pure disbelief, and also revealed warmth. Da had learned over the years that a person's eyes could give alot of insight as to who they were. His told her that he was a proud, yet kind-hearted person. Something else within them also suggested that he was very humorous, and was prone to laughing frequently. His expression was one of astonishment as he looked at her, not of hunger in the least. Da felt her cheeks grow hot- something they had never done before. What was the matter with her?

As for Ce, he found himself staring at a young woman, who was, no doubt, the most beautiful person he had ever set eyes on. She had the sweetest, most innocent face he could have imagined anyone could have. The hue of her eyes was the exact same as his.

Her nose was slender, and she had the most delicate, perfect lips he had seen on a woman.

Her hair looked as though it were long, pulled into an elegant knot at the back of her head, leaving two little braids that reached her shoulders and bangs that fell over her forehead. It was thick and black, maybe a few shades darker than his, and luxurious and glossy. Ce had a mad impulse to touch it. Tearing his eyes away from her hair and towards her face, he saw that it was reddening rapidly. Could she actually be blushing at him? Ce blinked and quickly leapt to his feet.

"Uh, I'm- I'm really sorry, Miss, I didn't mean to… Please, let me help you up," he said, extending his hand to her. Having no other way of getting to her feet, Da held his hand, quite surprised at how warm his fingers felt. He lifted her up at once, with surprising strength. He made her feel like she was as light as a feather. Up close, he looked even more handsome, and Da didn't lose that hotness of her cheeks. They stared at each other for a long time. Finally, Ce realized that he was still holding her hand, and she hadn't removed it from his. Embarrassed, he dropped it.

Say something, you idiot, he urged himself. He couldn't think why it was so important for him to do so, though. "Hey, I'm Sun Ce, by the way... Or well, just Ce would be fine. What's your name?" Well, at least you don't sound as nervous as you feel, thought Ce. At once, he wondered, why should he even be nervous about anything? The feeling was unfamiliar...

"I'm Da. Da Qiao. It's... uh, it's nice to meet you."

Her voice was slightly shaky, and her fingers were twisting together. It made Ce feel a bit better to know that she was as nervous as he was.

"So, you're here because?" Ce felt more comfortable and confident already.

"Well, I was just walking." Even Da started losing her uneasy feeling, although she never stopped blushing (was she really blushing? She never had before, so she couldn't tell). And she had been walking, so that wasn't a total lie.

But Ce could tell there was more to it than that. However, he didn't want to pursue the subject, if she didn't wish to reveal any more about herself.

"In this area? It's known all over as popular hunting ground. You couldn't just be walking here unless you lived close by..."

He stopped, realizing he sounded too prying. Of course, he had no right to know where she lived...

But strangely, Da didn't seemed to mind at all.

"You're right. I live somewhere right over there," she answered truthfully, pointing eastward to show him.

Why was she telling him this? Well, not that he had a problem with it, but it seemed so peculiar that she was trusting him enough to show him her home. She was looking up at him expectantly, and blinked a few times. Again, he noted just how lovely she was as he stared back...

"Uh, I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but I just wanna tell you that you're- well, gorgeous."

He couldn't help himself saying it. He just felt she should know.

Da's blush grew, if possible, even brighter. She lowered her eyes, too shy to say anything to this.

So are you.

"Thank you," she managed to say at last.

Ce could see that, in spite of herself, she was growing just a little uncomfortable. He decided he'd better give her the chance to leave if she wanted to.

"Well, I hope- uh, I mean I guess I'll be seeing you around," he said, smiling.

The most vivacious, refreshing smile Da had ever seen. Her heart began pounding, taking her aback again. It was so audible, she wondered if he could hear it.

Smiling back, she said, "I hope so."

Still smiling at him, she turned on her heel, and practically ran back to where she'd pointed earlier.

As Ce watched her run, numerous thoughts burst forth in his mind.

Could I have found it? Found her?

Little did he know he wasn't the only one thinking those thoughts.


So, watcha think? Good? I hope so! Anyways, next chapter might be up in a few weeks. Please read and review!