Hi! this is my first ever fanfic. The pairing is Ma chao and Xing cai (weird, no?) I know it's not very good but please put up with it (even if it might send you to sleep in boredom) and it drags on so comments on how to improve would help...thank you!

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Chapter 1

Hero

"Oh my God! I can't believe I have to deliver these strategy scrolls to Zhuge liang!" Xing cai exclaimed as she ran with a pile of bamboo scrolls she can barely see over. It was very late and the full moon grazed the night sky.

"Argh! Guan ping was there, why didn't father tell him to do it?! or at least help. It's so dark!"

Xing cai was a girl of just 17 years of age, with sleek dark hair and haunting brown eyes. She has the rare combination of a strategic mind to match Lu xun's, a fierce warrior who fights like a veteran like her father but has a pure, soft innocent beauty which even Zhen ji envies of, yet unlike the other warrior girls, she never bragged about her looks.But as of now, she is tired and seriously peeved about her task.

Then as she ran across the paved terrain she came across a half finished section of the castle wall and stopped. That section was missing several blocks so what was left was a section that resembles some steps. Hmm..If Zhuge liang's quarters is on the otherside of this vast castle grounds, then all I need to do is go up along these walls and follow on until I'm there.

So she climbed up the make-shift steps and ran along the top of the walls like a phantom thief with her goods. It was such a clear beautiful night; the cool breeze stroked her face, it was so calm, then she thought of Guan ping, That selfish idiot!!

"I'm so gonna kill Guan ping when I ge--!?"

She tripped on an awkwardly placed block and was now falling 30 feet. C-crap! The scrolls! If she lets go of the bamboo scrolls to land safely, the scrolls will shatter, meaning the battle strategy will be lost or she injures herself but saves the battle strategy and possibly the entire Shu Han.

Xing cai embraced herself for the impact and pain.

"The ground!! I'm gonna hit th--!"

The pain or impact never came. Instead, she landed into strong arms.

"Are you alright, Miss?"

She opened her eyes and met golden ones. Xing cai blushed as she made out a handsome face and trademark helmet in the twilight. Her heart skipped a few beats.

"M-Ma chao!? W-why..."

"I saw someone run along the wall and thought it was an assassin for Zhuge liang so I went to investigate, but it turned out to be you. Then I saw you fall and now I'm glad I've caught you in time." He said with a handsome smile.

His smile sent Xing cai's heart into a beating frenzy. Still clutching the valuable scrolls Xing cai felt safe in the strong arms of her hero, never wanting the moment to end. She then noticed a gash on Ma chao's hand since he wasn't wearing his arm guards, he must have injured it while saving her.

"Y-your hand.."

"Oh this? it's nothing."

"Don't be silly! It'll get infected. Here."

She tore a strip from her skirt and took Ma chao's hand and bandaged it.

"Xing cai..."

"It's the least I can do, thank you for saving me...See you around."

She stood up and gazed into her savior's eyes for a moment before returning to the task at hand leaving Ma chao. He watched the retreating figure in the distance with a heavy heart. Looking down at his bandaged hand he sighed. Xing cai...

As she ran she felt her heart grow heavy, blood rushed to her face, butterflies danced in her stomach. No! It can't be happening! It's not happening! But she knew what has happened.

She has fallen for Ma chao.

Wait! There's no way! He's out of my league and he is 15 years my senior, such things are unacceptable! Xing cai tried to shake the thoughts out of her mind. Besides, he is one of the Tiger generals and is compared to the mighty Lu bu! She felt a tinge of sadness at this thought. No! Forget it! I'm here. She approched Zhuge liang's quarters. But was greeted by a familiar face.

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There it is, first chapter. Who's that familiar voice? Find out in the next chapter!