Disclaimer: I don't own Dynasty Warriors that brilliant game belongs to KOEI.
Summary: Flaunted time and time again for their extraordinary looks The Qiaos find life hard to bear. The need to get away from the world of men who treat them as exotic animals grows until they eventually try to break away. In learning to fight for themselves can they possibly earn a place amongst the hearts of men except for their looks?
Beauty Is Only Skin Deep The Most Beautiful In The LandDa and Xiao Qiao were daughters of the wealthiest man in the immediate area. Everyone thought highly of the rich yet kindly man who was ever so willing to share of some his fortune to those who had little financial benefits. As their father had a high status the Qiao sisters were immediately brought in a higher community and received the acknowledgment that only the wealthy can accumulate. Yet for them it was ever more a curse than anything else.
They were both born of an extremely beautiful woman whom their father had fallen in love with at their first meeting. Unfortunately in bringing Xiao to the world she died. Lord Qiao lamented for his loss and poured everything into his daughters. He watched, as they ever grew so much more beautiful than their mother had been yet he could still see his love in their faces. Da possessed the intellectual eyes that could avert the attention of any man from his work. Xiao held the same willing to laugh mouth that always took years from her face.
The other men in the higher society would beg him for the hands of the sisters when they reached age, yet the man refused saying that "They will be wed to the men that they love, if that be you then let it be so." So it turned to the courtship of the sisters when Da was only the young age of ten and Xiao seven. Yet ideas of what love should be was explained to them by their father so they turned away courtiers with sincere words.
As they young girls grew their beauty increased exponentially and rumours of them spread far and wide attracting yet more courtiers to the beauties. Yet they also attracted the attention off those whose attention was desperately not sought.
Xiao tried again and again to pull off the perfect cartwheel, while Da sewed some garments that had been ripped by Xiao's previous endeavours. She sang a song as she did it. Smiling every now and then as Xiao pulled off countless beautifully co-ordinated cartwheels yet kept her pursuit for perfection. If anything Da loved most about her sister it was the unwillingness that Xiao showed to give up until she got whatever she was doing right.
Xiao caught her smiling at one point then ran up to her falling beside her.
"What are you smiling at dear sister?"
"You I guess. Why do you so pursue that that can rarely be accomplished?"
Xiao looked at her as if it was a stupid question then she considered it herself. "I don't know, it just gives me something to do." Then her face lit up. "Besides I love that feeling when you accomplish something that has taken so long to achieve."
Da shook her head and returned her attention to her work. Yet she was distracted yet again as a group of young village boys ran past waving sticks like swords. There were six of them and it seemed like they were playing war. At one point a boy thrust one of the sticks forward, the other grabbed it and put it under his arm. Then he made a face of pain staggered forward and fell landing on his back, his arms spreading out to a spread eagle position. The boys jeered and Xiao clapped and laughed at the comic imitation.
The boy who had fallen smiled and stood up bowing before they began their game again. Xiao started towards the boys picking up a nearby stick when she heard a deep voice shout. She winced turning to see her father walking towards where Da was sat. The girl standing up and lowered her head, which was the proper greeting to your elders. Xiao lowered her head not wanting to bring it back up. The boys behind bowed then carried on with their game. Xiao watched them with envy, boys could do as they wished. Girls on the other hand once they reached the age of twelve had responsibilities like learning how to cook, sew and other womanly things. She was unfortunately thirteen and how she hated it.
The man who now carried a few greying hairs approached her, his lips drawn into a thin line. "Xiao, how many times must I tell you, you are a lady and ladies do not act in such foolish games."
Xiao flushed yet refused to turn away. She had always been the defiant one, wanting to be free from the society that bound her to silly little rules. No she wished not only that, but to be freed from her face that has so kept her away from being herself yet brought many men to her.
"Xiao do you here me?"
"Yes Father."
"And I will no longer see you playing foolish games."
"No Father." Her resolve diminished as she looked to the floor, her voice quietening.
"Good, now there is a man, well actually a few who have come to see you. You too Da."
Da carefully folded the clothing she was sewing and stood up. Falling in behind Lord Qiao as he walked back to the house. Xiao took up the rear as the youngest must. She glanced back enviously at the young boys before following her father in silence.
They entered the magnificently kept garden and were confronted by three men. One was a well built fellow with stout chin yet none too lovely features, the other was better with small eyes and a well trimmed goatee that protruded over his chin. The last was simply terrifying to look at. He seemed like a giant. He was wearing a large suit of armour and held what looked to be some type of heavy spear. He also wore two giant peacock feathers on the top of his head. Da glanced over at her father, and saw with relief that he was looking disdainfully at the trio, that made it all the easier to turn them away.
The men were all looking at the family. The first man who was declared as quite ugly basically stared at the sisters with his jaw dropped, the second was also looking at them but with cool calculating eyes. The third however was basically glaring at the man. Any other man would have quailed under that glare, yet not Lord Qiao, this made Xiao proud to be related to him.
"Daughters, these men have travelled far to see you. Lord Guo Si, Lord Zhang Liao, and Lord Lu Bu." He positively spat the last name out, yet it sounded familiar to Da.
The other two men bowed but the largest man didn't so much as nod his head. The second man, Zhang Liao stepped forward taking Da's hand and gently pressing his lips to it. "The reputation of your beauty has reached ears all over the land, I am glad to be one of the few who has the priviledge of seeing it myself."
The man, Lu Bu, scoffed and muttered something. Xiao being the closest to him only heard one word. Overstated. Her cheeks flared an angry red but she bit her tongue. Da smiled at Liao and bowed her head stating that she was also glad to meet him. A simple formality that meant absolutely nothing. Lord Qiao stepped in front of his daughters once again commanding authority.
"I believe gentlemen that you came to ask something of my daughters."
Liao stepped back. "Of course. We come to ask my ladies if you would accompany us to see our lord, for he has heard much of you and is eager to meet you."
Da smiled shaking her head. "I'm sorry my lord but this land is too dear for us to part with us as of yet."
Xiao turned her chocolate eyes to Liao yet they no longer held any cheer. "Anyway if your lord was so eager to meet us why didn't he come himself?"
"Xiao!" Her father exclaimed though sounding amused as well.
"I'm sorry my lords my tongue has a habit of running away on its own accord."
Liao nodded but his face had turned grave. "I'm sorry to hear that you feel that way, yet we cannot accept your answer."
Xiao's eyes narrowed as her sister's shot open, calculating the man with weariness. Lord Qiao stepped forward eyes ablaze.
"You will accept their answer. And you can tell Lord Dong Zhuo that he is to keep his eyes from my daughters lest he invoke my wrath. I have heard too many stories that displeases me about him. On that note lords I ask you to leave."
He turned from the group about to will his daughters away when a large weapon stopped in front of him at chest height. He looked into the eyes of Lu Bu now filled with excitement as he knew blood may be spilt.
"I'm afraid my Lord you will have to deal with us a while longer."
