Warning: This fic is me taking my favorite pairing and making it as cynical as possible. Still, I hope you enjoy it.

Fire and Water

If she is proud and fierce like fire, then he is calm and wise like water.

1. Distance:

Sitting here, in this dry, arid land, I can't help but remember his face, his touch, his smile... I never thought that family could kill you like this, mentally or physically.

2. Secret:

"I cannot stay here, she'll..." "Shhh... Just a little longer..."

3. Admiration:

I watched him at that desk, working so hard even though he'd been through so much. I may have been a little girl then, but even I could see what a great man he was. Not many would give up everything for a dead friend.

4. Honor:

"I hear that most of those bureaucraps tend to take multiple wives... It doesn't have to be like this... Why don't I become your second wife?" "Are you serious? I'm too old... I'd just be holding you back, keeping you from seeing someone better..."

5. Blind:

The fires may have cooled, but my heart will freeze. Damn you... You just had to go and die, leaving the two of us here... I loved you, I loved you more than anything... Couldn't you see that?!

6. Share:

"You... Love him, don't you...?" "Wha-? Sis, I... I..." "All I want is for him to be happy. If he can be happy standing by your side, then I'll be happy." "But, aren't you the one that's marri...?" "We can share."

7. Dirty:

"I've seen how you look at him. Only a whore would take another woman's husband, sister!"

8. Happiness:

I held him close, my arms wrapped around his arm. Our friends would surely have heart attacks if they saw us, but, really, he's just so hugable!

9. Worry:

They won't let me join him on the field. I can fight as well as any man! Say what you will but he'll need my strength out there! I... How can I stay here at home while he goes out to risk his life?!

10. Decision:

"I've... I've accepted the arrangement. I will marry Liu Bei." "You can't be serious. He's lived half his life, and you've barely seen a quarter of yours." "You gave me a similar answer once, when I told you what I really wanted. Don't give me this bullshit again."

11. Valor:

Every time big brother was in trouble, he'd always be there to watch his back. Everyone thinks that he's a great hero, but I know so.

12. Kindness:

Gan Ning and his cronies always called me 'that tigress,' instead of 'that girl.' One day, right in front of those prick's noses, he handed me a flower, calling me: "the Begonia with the scent of heaven and leaves of steel."

13. Betrayal:

"No... I won't let you die out there... You may have planned this out, but the enemy is just too large and strong, I..." With a kiss, he cut me off. My eyes widened as I realized what was happening. After all, I'm not his wife.

14. Love:

My husband attacked my friends, my countrymen, my family, and now he has lost. Now I stand here, knowing that I can never return home. I'll never visit his grave again. But, hell, the river's right here. I don't need to see his grave, when, with one jump, I can see my beloved's face once more!

Note: The number of "lines" represent the maximum number of years Heaven decided to keep those two lovers from seeing each other. (Zhou Yu very likely knew or knew of Shangxiang since she was born, so it's their maximum age discrepancy.)