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

Hello, I'm back again with a third chapter... But before I begin, I just want to clarify something that I think relates to this fanfic (well, the first few chapters anyway). I personally don't believe in love at first sight, even though it seems like I've been writing about it so far... but as for mutual attraction at first sight, sure. And not just physical mutual attraction, as the characters are obviously experiencing something other than that. Whether it's exactly love or not... well, I don't believe it's there yet, but it certainly is 'like' at the very least. That doesn't have to mean it doesn't exist in this story (or real life for that matter lol).I'll leave that for you guys to decide! Here's Chapter 3, then.

Enjoy!


Sun Ce lay back on his four-poster bed, his arms behind his head. All he could think about was that sweet young girl he had met just yesterday. It had seemed like such an accident, and yet, at the same time, not an accident at all. As though it was meant to happen. And, coincidentally, Zhou Yu had actually been pestering him ever since he got back from his walk, with tales of some girl who had knocked him to the floor after colliding with him.

Now what did that remind him of? Ce remembered her eyes-the eyes that were exactly like his. The look on her face as she blushed at him. There was no one like her he had ever known. Could Yu be right about this? Could Ce be falling head over heels for that innocent, beautiful young woman? But did this girl- Da Qiao- even remember his name? Ce had never cared about girls before- not deeply. Of course, even if he had, it wouldn't have been appropriate for a young lord of his standing to get involved with any of them just now. Sure, some of them were fun, a few were even good friends to have. But she was unique. Even if she didn't remember him, he certainly did. And maybe he'd have a chance to see if she did too... He remembered well the place they'd met. And he wasn't about to forget the direction she'd pointed in in a hurry. Grinning, Ce rolled over onto his side, folded his arms and was asleep in a wink.


Try as he might, Yu couldn't get to sleep. The image of that exquisitely pretty-soon-to-be-beautiful girl flashed in his mind. Why couldn't he stop thinking about her? She was just another person, as far as he was concerned. Why should he care about her? But for some reason, he did. For some reason, he wanted to see her again. He wondered mildly if she really was alright after her fall. She certainly was able to run away quickly enough afterward. But maybe he just wanted to make sure of that. And somehow, he knew that Ce was itching to see that other girl he was talking about, too. Maybe they could... go back tomorrow?

What are you thinking, Yu, he reprimanded himself at once. You can't go see her; you don't even know where she is. And neither does Ce. Besides, you have plenty of other things to worry about right now. Just forget about her. That last bit was certainly true. Yu sighed. The training he was scheduled to go through was not to be taken lightly. Becoming Grand Strategist of Wu was no easy path. He was going to get very busy in just a few months. He might as well enjoy what free time he had left without needing to go on any excursions. Satisfied with this train of thought, Yu pulled the covers up to his chin and fell asleep at last.


"Sis, wake up! The sun's shining, it's a beautiful day outside! Come on, get up, sleepyhead!" sang Xiao Qiao excitedly.

Da Qiao opened her eyes, still half-asleep, to find her sister sitting on her lap, her face flushed with excitement, holding a tray of breakfast in her hands."Come on, sis," she whined, as she padded over to her pillow beside Da.

"Go to the bath and come have breakfast with me, come on," she ordered.

Da sighed and did as she said, swinging her legs out of the high bed. It was better not to try Xiao's patience today. After she freshened up, she plopped down on the bed beside Xiao, took a meat bun from the tray and began chewing.

"How long have you been up?" Da asked, as she noted her bright eyes and rosy cheeks. She was sure it was longer than five minutes ago.

"Hours," replied Xiao, her mouth full of fried rice and shredded beef. "Sis," she said tentatively after she swallowed. "I was thinking… Could we sneak out again? Please?"

Da lowered her eyes. She had been expecting Xiao to ask her this. And truthfully, she wasn't annoyed, upset, or afraid that Xiao upon hearing it. She had actually been thinking along the same lines as well, in hopes of seeing that young man, Sun Ce again. But this time, she was a little nervous too.

"What about Papa, Xiao?"

"We got away with it last time, we could do it again!" pouted Xiao."Come on, sis, I wanna see Zhou Yu again, and I know you want to see Sun Ce, too. We can even go together this time to come home faster, please sis, please!"

She was nearly crying now. And that decided Da that there was nothing wrong with just a little more freedom. Heaven knew that she and Xiao deserved it. And besides, she did very much want to see the only man who had ever made her blush.


"Yay!" cried Xiao, skipping through the tall grasses. "Isn't this fun, Sis?" she called to Da. She began chasing after butterflies.

"It sure is, Xiao,"answered Da, smiling. She really was enjoying their time together, but what she really wished was that Sun Ce would show up before their hour was up. She wanted to see him so much. It was most unlike her to think such thoughts, and she was slightly disturbed by the fact that they were present at all. What would her father think if he saw the two of them now? What would her mother say, were she still breathing the air of this world?

Would she be disappointed in me?

For Xiao, although not a child anymore, was still her younger sister. Da was responsible for her no matter what. And here she was, encouraging Xiao to defy their father, and accompanying her to do just what they were forbidden to do. If they were ever caught, she shuddered to imagine how their father might punish them. He had been a dear, loving father back when their mother was still alive. But her passing away had so altered him, hardened his heart... Da wasn't even sure if he still loved his daughters. Perhaps his affections for them had died along with his wife.

Of course, Da would never let Xiao receive any punishment if they were found out. She would take up all the blame herself, just like she should.

I won't fail in being Xiao's older sister. Not now, not ever.

"I wonder where Zhou Yu is, Sis," panted Xiao, slightly wearied by pouncing upon all those butterflies and chasing the dandelions. "Should we go look for him?"

"I don't think we should, Xiao," laughed Da. "I'm sure he'll show up himself."

Truthfully, Da wasn't sure whether or not Yu would show up. She did want him to though, so that she could thank him graciously for helping her sister, and see if Xiao had described him accurately. But there was one person she was hoping to see even more than Xiao's savior.

"Stay near me, Xiao. I won't have you falling out of any more trees."


"She's gotta be here somewhere, Yu," said Ce confidently. He recognized these thickets of trees! He'd been here minutes before running into Da Qiao yesterday.

Running into her...

He couldn't suppress a smile. What was with all the puns going through his head lately? It was almost as if his thoughts were hinting towards something, something he was feeling... His best friend's recurring laments interrupted his musings yet again.

"Then why the heck did you have to bring me along?" Yu groaned, giving in to his not-as-dignified self which had been begging to emerge for a while now. He could have been doing so much right now, like looking for Xiao Qiao. Not Ce's crush, as he privately liked to refer to Da inwardly, whenever she was mentioned.

"Just shut up a minute, will ya? I'm trying to think," snapped Ce, exasperated. It wasn't like Yu to lose patience so easily. Wanting to see this Xiao girl must have affected him quite a bit.

"Well, that's certainly a first," Yu muttered. Why had he agreed to this? They were so close to the place where he'd encountered Xiao, and yet Ce would probably tackle him if he made so much as a move towards it. Maybe be could prevent that if he took care of Ce right now, he thought craftily, as he fingered the hilt of the sword attached to his waist... But if would probably be futile. Ce's rock hard tonfa were securely fastened to his back, and things wouldn't turn out well for him if he made a move...

Suddenly, he spotted something he knew did not bode well.

"Uh, Ce, there's no reason in the world why this girl of yours would be anywhere near here,"said Yu, fixing the building with a studious eye. Yes, he was sure he was right in his assumptions of the who it belonged to...

"And why's that, Yu? Why wouldn't she be here?" asked Ce, in a bored tone of voice.

"Because Dong Zhou's abode is right within our sight. You know as well as I do that no decent, pretty girl would want to be caught dead here," he said, pointing to a palace some distance away.

"You're right," said Ce, defeated by this point. "Come on, let's turn and search somewhere else."

And with that, they mounted their horses and galloped away.


"Xiao, come on, we've wasted too much time. We've got to get home," Da called.

"Wait, wait! My arms are almost full!" Xiao cried, hurriedly plucking more roses and daffodils.

"No, it's too dangerous, come back!" Da insisted. She had a bad feeling about staying out too late. It was getting dark, and she could just barely see well enough to go home. They had tied the bedsheets to one of their bed's posts, so climbing back up wouldn't be difficult. But as for getting there...

"Alright, I'm coming!" chirped Xiao cheerfully, bounding up to Da, an immensely contented expression on her face, owing to the fact her arms were now full to bursting with flowers.

"Okay, good. Let's go home now," said Da, taking Xiao's hand in hers. She was careful not betray her disappointment that Sun Ce hadn't showed up.

"Home is where we will be taking you," said a rough and unfamiliar voice right behind them. The Two Qiaos froze with shock.

"Yes, the master will be pleased to have two gems like you for concubines," said another harsh voice nearby.

Concubines!

"No," whispered Da, terrified, her heart beating wildly. Anything, anything but that! She held Xiao's hand tightly in hers, drawing her closer. She would never let them take her sister away from her. They wouldn't be separated. "Please, leave us alone!" she begged.

"Yeah! What have we ever done to you?" piped up Xiao finally, who, like her sister, stood fearfully still as a statue and refused to turn and face whomever had accosted them. She had no idea what concubines were, but, judging from Da's face, they were nothing good. She clung to Da's hand with both of hers, more frightened by the moment.

The two voices laughed cruelly and mockingly.

"It's not what you've done to us that you should worry about, it's what the master'll do to you!" cackled another voice, and with that, three pairs of coarse-skinned, unpleasantly muscular arms tightly wrapped themselves around Da and Xiao as their owners- soldiers, of course, swooped down upon them. Thrashing, shrieking and struggling, The Two Qiaos were roughly carried off to Dong Zhuo's Palace.


Oh no! The Qiaos've been captured by Dong Zhuo's men! hahah What do you think'll happen next? lol So now I think I'm getting to the part of the story where all the action takes place. So, please remember to review and tell me what you think! Don't forget to read about the daring rescue!