Whoot! Yukage is proud to present to you: Chapter Two of The Rewrite!

It's a lot shorter than the chapters of late...but I still hope you will enjoy the read!

Disclaimer: Yuu owns nothing.

The Evanescence of the Dearly Beloved

Zhou Yu's Perspective

Life.

So merciless. So cruel.

Yet so beautiful when she was near.

Death.

So comforting. So inviting.

Yet so miserable with and without her.

Xiao.

My one. My only. My world. My everything.

My wife.

The one who has given me so much happiness, so much hope, but at the same time, so much pain.

Xiao.

My greatest strength but also my one weakness in this world.

She was the reason I was born, but will she become the reason for my destruction?

Were the happy days we shared only a falsified reality? An untruthful dream?

Was it truly the Heaven's will that we shall be together?

"Xiao…"

Adrenaline pumped in my veins, seeping through every fibre of my battered and fatigued body. With a loud crash that rippled through the once silent room, the pathetic obstacle that once separated me from my beloved fell cleanly off its hinge, showering the carpet with broken pieces of paper and bamboo. I looked around.

No sign of her.

Another empty room. The twentieth empty room. The blue and gold tapestry taunted me, telling me what I already know, what I dreaded. The rich ornaments mocked at me, telling me that my goal was so close, yet so far away. Every minute I wasted means another minute Xiao is in this god-forsaken despair filled labyrinth. Alone and unprotected.

Heaven and Hell is truly a breath's away. The Bronze Bird Pavilion – Paradise for men, Hell for its captives.

What should I do?

Moving forward means accepting that Xiao may no longer be in this world. Going on means I may find proof that the Heaven has taken Xiao away from me. Staying where I am means never finding out where Xiao is.

I know she is here, somewhere within this maze of corridors. And I know she is in danger.

Wanting to vent the frustration and agitation somehow, I swung my sword around, the clatter and chimes of broken china like a choir around me. I was only vaguely aware that this was supposed to be a secret reconnaissance mission. When I opened my eyes again, I prayed, for the ten thousand millionth time, that this was a dream, that I would be back home, and that Xiao would be home with me, where she belonged.

But what I saw was carnage. Absolute Carnage. Carnage that I had inflicted myself. Again.

What would she say if she knew?

"Xiao…"

I have seen her scared, no, more than that. She was terrified, and the memory still ignites the burning feeling of agitation. The last trigger for this fear was also the fearsome Northern Lord. It was on our wedding night. Under the red veil, Xiao was crying. The demon the plagued her for so long had also decided to torment her on what should be the happiest day of her life. It was a sight I never wanted to see again.

I paled. The thought of my beloved wife, crying and struggling against the hands of the merciless Lord Cao Cao, was enough to make me, the once proud strategist of the mighty Kingdom of Wu double over in pain.

Why did I let her out of my sight?

I looked at my palm, hopelessly wishing that I did not let go of her. Why did I put my work before her? What was going through my mind at the time? I would give anything: fortune, title of being Wu's renowned strategist, even my life, to turn back time.

We have come such long way to achieve what we had. I felt reborn. I was a changed man. My past, though haunting every fibre of my body, was all but forgotten. They were all a memory – they can't hurt me. Every moment she was near even the blood seeped memories seem trivial, meaningless almost. Every sin I have committed, every life I have taken, whether justified or not, she made them all go away. And she was finally able to open up in front of people, drop the Lady Xiao Qiao façade, and be herself. This was quite a feat as the only other person she smiled in front of, truly smiled in front of, was her sister Da Qiao.

And now, I have lost that beautiful smile forever.

I can never forgive myself. Even if I were to find her, have her safely in my arms again, it cannot erase this unforgiveable sin I have committed – I have all but killed her.

Muffled sounds and dull footsteps echoed in the background. The inhabitants of the castle have probably noticed their unwelcomed intruders. Well, I wasn't exactly as quiet as I should have been. Time was running out. I was vaguely aware of my surroundings – the formidable Hei Fei castle, the heart of enemy territory. The friends that I considered family were also risking their lives to find my beloved. Every moment spent here plunges my comrades deeper into danger.

Ce. My best friend. My lifeline for so many years. My responsibility. Where my hopes and dreams once lay.

Da Qiao. A woman with little to no prior combat training, armed with only a furious ambition to rescue her little sister. She was the most important person in Xiao's life, the most treasured possession of Ce. I wonder, will Xiao forgive and could she forgive me, if I allowed something to happen to Da?

Lu Xun. My protégée. The intelligent boy who was still wet behind the ears. Too eager to prove himself; too ambitious to see his limits. Will I be responsible for his premature death? Will I take away his life before the world has fully seen his true potentials?

It was too reckless, stupid even, to let the Heir of the Kingdom, the future Queen and advisor to be exposed in such a dangerous place.I should have thought this through.

I need to hurry. I need to leave this place.

"Zhou…"

Gently, my eyes fluttered close.

Not now.

I must not lose my focus now.

Xiao's safety, Ce's safety, Da's safety, Xun's safety were at stake….

"Zhou…"

Her sweet voice was growing louder in the depth of the remains of my mind. She was close by, I was sure of it.

"Zhou, darling! Are you listening to me?"

"Of course, my dear…"

I whispered, knowing where her voice will take me. The Heavens will remind me of my grave mistake. They will let me relive, again, how one moment of indecision, one instant of negligence had cost me my dearest. My world, my everything.

"Please, at least let me listen to her voice…" I could hear my on ragged voice beg as I begin to lose myself once more, to the last moments before my life shattered right in front of me…

"It's stopped raining! Can you see that beautiful rainbow?"

I could hear her voice, as energetic as her mood seems to be. That was good. She deserved all the happiness in the world.

Xiao ran into the study, pulling me from my desk towards the window, her smile like sunshine, her hands pointing excitedly at the swirl of colours in the otherwise bluish grey sky.

"It's so beautiful isn't it; all the colours mixed together like that? I wonder, just what is on the other side of the rainbow? Do you think there is a beautiful garden full of ever blooming roses?"

She paused, her finger by her lips, her mind tinkering away in thought.

"Which reminds me, I have a riddle for you."

I smiled. I loved Xiao's riddles. Most tend to spring from her moods. Some were hilarious and very clever indeed, but some drove me insane – particularly when I have spent so long and shamed my name as the State Strategist and still cannot figure it out.

"Alright."

I braced myself.

"Here and there, everywhere. Swirls of colour are my reflection, lighter than feather I leave no explanation. High above the ground I can float. Try to catch me? You shall not. Gone like the wind, I am forever out of reach."

Blinking several times, I didn't want to state the obvious.

Xiao looked at me, her face impassive as it was smug. She so loves slowly grinding away my pride.

I give up. It is so hard to think when I was around her, her hazel eyes on mine.

"Not a rainbow is it?"

"Buzz! Wrong!" Xiao squealed, a blur of colours as she danced beside me, tickling my sides and ducking away before I could get my arms around her waist. "It's a soap bubble!"

Before, I would never have expected this from Xiao. She was the Lady Xiao Qiao, the quiet and reserved second daughter of the House of Qiao who would flinch every time someone addressed her. At first I honestly thought that she was afraid of me, my stone cold reputation as the 'cold blooded advisor' or 'a plank of wood' according to Ce doing me no favours, and not surprisingly, as it turned out, she was. And not just afraid. I terrified her. But still I couldn't give up. It was as if I was under an enchantment. She was all I could think about, all I saw. I would think of all sorts of excuses to talk to her, to see her, to breathe the same air as her.

But she seems comfortable now, her hair swaying slightly by her side as she tried to swallow a giggle as I tried to recover from my own laughing episode at her swift attack. Her emotional and physical scars were healing, leaving the 'real' Xiao Qiao underneath the brave facade. What she didn't know was that she also healed my psychological scars. I wanted to become her support, but I ended up being supported. I wanted to protect her, but I ended up being the protected. She had completed me in a way that I wanted to complete her.

I have never liked attention from women, appreciated their existence in life. This was especially true for women who would bat their eyes before me, charm me, or at least try to, with their so called feminine wiles and blatant sales of sex.

But Xiao was never like that. She was above all of that.

I mentally scolded myself for comparing her to the likes of the court women that also reside in the Wu palace. The fact that she was one of the "Beautiful Qiaos" was irrelevant. Xiao was just Xiao. Although I have to admit that my perceptions are biased as Xiao is the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on, it was her personality, her laughter, her smile that really takes my breath away.

It was everything she does. The way she had a slight spring in her step as she walked, almost like she was dancing. It was the way her lips curved as she spoke, the distinct shape her lips made as she spoke my name. It was the way she would lightly touch my cheek and breathe out, attempting to chide me while her lips pulled up to a smile whenever I felt like teasing her by calling her my 'rose without a thorn'.

I could still remember clearly the day I realised that he loved her, the day I could finally put a name to all the strange emotions that had plagued me ever since the two beauties arrived in court. I couldn't then (and still have difficulty even now) explain how the sight of the younger Qiao dancing in the courtyard as the cherry blossoms scattered around her, captivated me and kept me standing there, mouth open, the confidential strategic plans of Wu's next campaign lay exposed in my open arms.

Was it because of the moonlight reflecting off her tear soaked face, exposing the helplessness that she tried so hard to conceal? Was it because that I once felt just like her, that I was also once so caught up in despair that I simply could not see the opened door, leading me away from it all. Or is it simply because that in her belief that she was alone, she had dropped the façade and allowed me to see the vulnerable girl that was forced into a position that she neither wished for nor desired.

"Zhou,"

Xiao's child like voice snapped me out of my reverie. Her beautiful cherry-like lips were set in a cute pout. "Zhou, are you listening to me?"

I smiled, my hand reaching down, resting on her head. "Of course I was Xiao. I always listen to you."

"Is that so?" Xiao raised a delicate eyebrow, her head tilted in disbelief. "I believe, Lord Zhou Yu, that you have just told a lie." Her delicate finger pointed to my chest. Her hazel eyes tried to look stern, but she could not hide the mischievous twinkle. "You know what they say about liars: they ought to get punished."

I raised both my arms in mock defeat, thinking only of the 'punishments' Xiao had in mind, wondering whether we were thinking along the same lines, and reprimanding myself for such indecent thoughts. "Well you've caught me red handed then, my Lady Xiao Qiao."

Xiao's eyes immediately lit up. I bit back a smile as her eyes easily betrayed her emotions. I could almost imagine her high pitched triumphant squeal of "He had admitted defeat? Him? The Zhou Yu? I can't wait to tell Da about this!" No doubt Da will hear about this 'defeat' and Sun Ce, my sworn brother and best friend, would ridicule me until the young lord would find something else (or someone else, usually the older Qiao) worth his attention.

"In my defence," I continued, my eyes never once finding a reason to leave her face, "I really wanted to listen to you, but I was distracted…" I gently lifted her small hands to my lips, "…by this beautiful rose without a thorn."

As soon as the words were said, Xiao's face grew a bright shade of crimson and I could almost feel the heat radiating from her cheeks. Her slender fingers rested against my cheek in response, and I inwardly swelled at the pride that I alone knew her unique reactions.

"Zhou…"

She took a deep breath, fighting a wave of embarrassment and desire that flowed through her. "Well I've decided on your punishment." Gently she raised herself on tiptoes. "Stay with me, forever. Please." She whispered in my ear, then burying her face in my chest. Even with her ears flaming red with embarrassment, I still could not take my eyes off of her.

"Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way."

Lightly, I allowed my lips to lightly graze her forehead, knowing I was tempting my own self control.

"Zhou?" She looked up, a flash of enthralled curiosity. Her tone hinted she was unsatisfied, her eyes silently willed me to go on.

The last thing I heard was a sharp intake of breath, my own, but all my senses were swept away by the familiar warmth and comfort as my lips crushed into hers, my hands entwined in her light brown locks.

I hated losing myself in front of Xiao. I never wanted to let her see the storm of emotion raging inside me. What would she think of me then? Would I disgust her, repulse her even? Would I be just like the other suitors? Did I desire nothing but the pleasures her flesh could provide?

But the way she murmured my name as her lips moved equally urgently against my own, her hands reaching up, locking behind my neck, broke this intoxicating trance.

No. She is not ready.

I cannot make her do what she hates doing for my sake.

I took a step back and held her at arm's length.

"Sorry."

I gave an apologetic smile, untangling my hands from her hair, and gently releasing her intertwined hands from behind my neck.

"That's alright Zhou."

She looked away from my eyes, which I was grateful for, for I was fearful that her eyes would tempt me from folding her back into my arms again. She cleared her throat, her eyes still a bit dazed and her voice rasp and flustered.

"By the way, I'm going down to the market. Do you want to come with me? I have a feeling that I would find the 'second sweetest thing in the kingdom dressed in red'."

Xiao stuck out her tongue cheekily and offered me her hand, which I took immediately, encompassing her small hand with both my larger, war scarred ones.

This was a tough one.

A day with Xiao was always the more preferable option than anything.

A day out with Xiao at the markets, one of her favourite places, beats anything hands down.

But haven't tempted Fate enough for one day? What if I lose myself again, and do something to Xiao that I would seriously regret? Haven't I pushed the boundaries enough?

Plus, I really need to look at Ce's proposal regarding the unification of the smaller tribes. I promised that I would have the draft budgets done last week!

"Sorry Xiao, I can't." I answered grimly, nodding towards the towering piles of paper on my desk. It was probably a good idea, anyway, after my 'gentleman' display of self control earlier.

Seeing her lips about to turn into a heart crushing frown, I quickly amended my answer.

"Next time, I promise".

Xiao pouted, her lips slowly turning up to her signature smile, the smile she saves only for me.

"Next time then." She tilted her head again, a coy smile dancing around her lips. "You better keep your promise or I'm running out of punishments."

She turned towards the door, smiling as I still held onto her hand.

"By the way, Xiao. What is the answer to your riddle? I know it'll keep me up all night."

Her lips twitched into a cheeky uneven smile, subtly hinting her content at keeping me at her mercy.

"I should let you get back to your work…I'll bring you back something good. You like red bean flavoured rice cakes don't you?" She said evasively.

Reluctantly, I had to release Xiao's hand, albeit very slowly, feeling the silk of her skin slide against mine. As soon as her warmth left I was left with a sudden unmistakeable unease, making my heartbeat cluttered and uneven.

Something was screaming in my mind.

Xiao.

Something was going to happen if I let her go now.

"Are you sure you're alright going by yourself? I'll have Ling Tong accompany you."

Xiao poked out her tongue. "I'm not a child Zhou, I'll be fine."

But I was still not convinced. Every time Xiao had so much as left my line of vision, I would feel uneasy, fearful even, that I would never see her again. Irrational and illogical fear it was, but the feeling was never this forceful. My brow furred deep in thought as I glanced between Xiao and the 'Tower of Desolation', as I now referred to my still to sort out stack of scrolls and books.

"Come now, don't be like that. You need to do what is right, right?"

Xiao hated being the 'private business' that explained why I did not meet my deadline. She reached up and gave me a quick peck on the cheek, looking all the time surprised by her own actions.

"I'll…uh…I'll see you later, Zhou." She muttered, her face bright red. Stopping by the door, she turned, looking up tentatively, her eyes bright and longing.

"Promise that we can see each other later?" l heard her mumble before quickly ducking out, too embarrassed to hear my answer.

Really, as if there was anything I'd rather be doing!

But those turned out to be her last words.

She never came back.

Promise that we can see each other later?

"I promise, my dear."

I never heard my voice so broken, my mind shattered and torn to pieces.

I stared at my palm, the culprit who had let Xiao go, and almost saw the outline of her delicate, porcelain-like hands. Every fibre of my body ached to feel Xiao's small hands safely inside my own again, where it belongs.

"Damn it to hell!"

I did not need the loud crash, the stinging pain up my arms and splintered pieces of bamboo that stabbed unmercifully at my arm to tell me that I had destroyed the remains of the door I had previously mistreated. But I don't deserve to feel this tiny bit of discomfort. This pain was nothing compared to not knowing where Xiao is, not seeing her flit around the Wu palace, like a graceful swallow in the summer breeze. This pain was nothing compared to what Xiao could be feeling right now.

A movement of air brushed against me, a cool object rested on my throat not long after.

My eyes lazily travelled down, expecting to see the weapon ready to end my life.

This is truly starting to bore me – the Heaven's offers of death. If I could allow myself to die, would I really be at their mercy? I would have done it myself ages ago.

But instead it was a beautifully decorated flute…wielded by a very attractive woman.

"Ahem. I'd prefer you not use that language, seeing as you have trespassed onto private property, and have definitely overstayed your welcome."

Seductive and deadly. How fascinating.

"Were I so inclined," Though her voice was low and feminine, it also had a distinctive poisonous edge to it, "I could have slit your throat at least ten times by now, filthy peasant." The sentenced ended with a sneer and made my lips twitch in amusement.

No need to guess who this mysterious woman takes after.

Giving her the respect I would give to any enemy commander, I turned to face her completely. Sure, she was beautiful. Her dark brown hair pulled back from her pale oval face into a tight bun on the top of her head; cold, auburn eyes accentuated by a light shade of lilac, and a beautiful tear-like mole brought a touch of melancholy to her proud features. However, as stunning as she was, she did not hold even a fraction of Xiao's allure.

No, I shouldn't even try to compare the two.

"My apologies, but I do not intend to die here. Not until she is safe and sound."

The mysterious beauty gave a cold laugh, her mouth set at a haughty smirk. Though her eyes were dark as coal, the cold edge could not detract the attention from her beautiful features. I could definitely see why she was an inhabitant of this ostentatious castle.

"I see. It is as they say: 'a hero cannot pass the temptation of a beauty'. Does the child really mean that much to you? She can hardly pass as graceful, let alone beautiful. Is she so important that you would give up your life?"

She smirked, toying with her jade encrusted flute, her cold eyes examining me with great curiosity, anticipation and surprisingly, no hostility. It was almost as if I was her test subject; a hypothesis she wanted to prove, a mystery she wanted answers to. Her gaze hinted that she knew me, even though I was fairly sure that this was the first time we've met.

I shook my head defiantly and her eyes softened.

"Leave now and I can still spare your life. A woman is not worth your ruin. Even fate can be wrong sometimes."

That came out in less than a whisper, the tone more gentle than I would have thought possible, given her harsh looks and deadly glares.

I took a deep breath, my eyes calculating. Separating me and the doorway was approximately seven steps, nine if I was to go around this mysterious beauty, but the two excessive steps could be eliminated easily. My hand inched towards the sword at my side. I could spare three seconds, max. I would be out the door before she even hits the ground. Three seconds was a small price to pay, if it would mean three seconds that Xiao did not have to endure here.

Shifting to the balls of my feet, I closed my eyes, letting my instincts take over, knowing that I will welcome the metallic scent of death again soon…

"Zhou."

It was her again.

Xiao.

"Da once said to me "all life is precious". I know that you had to do it, but I just wish there were some other way."

It was like a spell, some kind of enchantment.

No, it was more than that.

It was not forced, coerced even. I did not feel compelled to do anything.

It was deep reaching.

It was unexplainable.

"I wish this chaotic era would end soon, bringing the end of the cycle of senseless killing. I don't like seeing blood spill, and I know you don't either. "

In my mind, Xiao gave me a small smile, willing me out of bloodlust, though her bright eyes were clouded by the sorrow that had long once plagued her features. Both her slender hands reached out for my blood stained ones, still holding tightly on to my sword, the enemy's blood dripping from the cool steel.

How could she still accept me so readily? How could she easily steer me out of bloodlust with one glance, one smile? How could I surrender so completely to her words and her vision of a future that would never come to fruition, not with the likes of people like me still prowling around?

I took a deep breath, any traces of desire to kill the woman evaporating instantly. I couldn't even remember my justifications before.

Slowly, I tried to find words to voice my answer, though I could hardly remember her question.

"Yes, she does mean this much to me. So much that my life, the Wu Kingdom, everything, is irrelevant. I'd do anything to get her back. You are right in that a woman is not worth my ruin, but Xiao is not just any woman. Xiao is Xiao. She is the one that the Heavens have gifted to me. "

The beauty sighed, a truly poignant smile touched her lips, the haughty edge vanishing, leaving a surprisingly more beautiful maiden.

"The one for you and only you. Your other half. Your perfect once in a million match."

"My world. My everything."

I nodded slowly. Did she have any relation to Xiao? Did she also know about the myth of the double sided sea shells Xiao adored?

I tried to repress a smile that threatened to twitch on my lips at the thought of Xiao's fairytale, wondering whether Xiao also managed to break the ice with this 'snow queen'.

Very likely. Xiao was the sunlight that could brighten everything, like the first sun rays of the warmth of Spring that melts away the frozen snow of Winter.

The mysterious beauty looked away, her voice distant.

"Did you know that he once said that to me? He once felt that way about me. He, too, was once filled with passion. But it's now…all just a memory, a dream…"

She gave a delicate snort of amusement. "She was right though. You do have iron will that cannot be breached. Perhaps there is some truth to her myth after all."

The cold edge returned in her gaze as she looked up again, the sadness disappearing from her face as quick as it came.

"By the way, the name is Zhen Ji, proud wife of Cao Pi." She offered suddenly, her eyes scrutinised me again, the customary smirk returning, and I wasn't sure if she was impressed by what she saw. "I guess you're the knight in shining armour, the Lord Zhou Yu." She gave a theatrical sigh. "Better late than never, I guess."

The beauty, Zhen Ji, looked around, inspecting for any eavesdroppers, dropping her voice to just above a whisper. "The child is in Lord Cao Cao's private chambers in the Western Wing. Here is the key; I 'borrowed' it from my lord." She pushed something small, bronze and cold into my hand, her eyes darting around. "Please hurry."

My head snapped up, eyes quickly scanning hers for signs of insincerity. The Lady Zhen Ji glared back, offended by this doubt but standing her ground, surprising me.

"Why?" I finally managed to choke out. "Why are you helping me? What would you gain?"

She looked back down, absently touching the jewels on her flute.

"I was once like her. Hopelessly optimistic. Hopelessly in love." She smiled, adding in an undertone, "I admit her naivety and cheerfulness do irritate, but she has rekindled the love and belief I once had in…him…" Her lips quivered in hesitation, "…The belief that she had in you."

Had Xiao placed so much faith in me?

Did I really deserve such faith?

I am sure the Lady Zhen Ji could sense my own self doubt. her voice became harsh again, edging me towards the door. She had made up my mind.

"And protect her you shall. You make sure you get her out of here if it is the last thing you do, or I will personally end your life for you. So what are you waiting for? Go. Before I change my mind."

Adrenaline was pumping in my veins again, all my hopes rekindled. I rushed down the hallway, seeing only one thing.

Xiao.

She is still alive.

Ta Da!

How's That? Any Improvements?

NO?

Tough Crowd...