Chapter Ten for everybody. Schools almost over for the summer! Hurrah!

Ce slouched in his makeshift seat. A large tree had fallen years before, and where the roots and trunk met make a nice throne like seat. His arm was healing nicely, and he was allowed to do most anything again saves for take the bandages off. Lao was sure that if the bandage came off his arm would get horribly infected.

So he sat in the chair he had found and claimed as his years before with his spear impeded in the tree within arms reach. Wei had gone off and attacked Quan's camp, the battle ending but a day ago. They had yet to receive the latest message from Quan. Not that Ce worried. Quan was smart, and with Zhou Tai at his side Quan was safe. Hopefully, so was the camp.

Running a hand through his hair, which he left down since he had gotten used to not going through that routine, and craned his neck to look at the sky. It was autumn again, with some of the leaves turning gold. Fall was so hot it was sometimes hard to tell if it was. Until the nights, when it would drop temperatures gradually. Only a few of the leaves had fallen, but plenty of them were dying giving the forest top a magnificent look. Pulling at some tangles in his hair, and at the strands that got caught in the wood, he gave a small groan.

At some laughter, he leaned forward to see if his guess correct. He smiled when he was. Da made her way down a trail leading to the river, basket in hand. Ever since the night, she had seemed to open up. Not in so much of a way that it was scary, but she gradually allowed herself to live. Ce had been correct in his assessment from when she showed up. She was a wonderful companion.

Seeing her walking buddy had Ce loosing his smile. Xun had been around since the night, probably going out of his way to help her be friendly. Or something. Ce realized the problem, why he was upset. He didn't like Xun being so close to her. But Ce wasn't sure he wanted to acknowledge that. Doing so would admit that he wanted something more from the pretty Qiao. Admitting that would cause problems, for him and her, because than more instincts would emerge, and with the war going… Ending those thoughts with one more growl sent Xun's way, though he was sure Xun didn't hear, Ce reclined back and glared at the tree ahead of him.

- -

Yu quietly made his way through the camp, taking note of anything that seemed important. He stopped by the infirmary to check on any of the wounded, asked a scout for any news on Wei, and then stopped by the kitchen to see what they were up to. He was avoiding Xiao. This made his days long and boring. He couldn't, however, be upset with how much he depended on her to make the days so much better.

Ce was off pouting somewhere, so even he wasn't help. So, Yu had turned to little duties around the camp to entertain him. Not that it was doing a good job, Yu thought with disgust as he left the kitchen. Sighing, he glanced around again. What he saw surprised him into immobility. Da was marching his way, eyes locked on his, fits clenched. Her dress was a little wet, meaning she probably came from laundry.

Xun was jogging behind her, his expression worrisome. Looking back to the older Qiao Yu stiffened when she called his name. Her voice was surprisingly calm for looking as mad as she did. "Yu, I'm so glad that I found you."

"May I ask why, Da?"

"If you would rather your and my sisters relationship discussed in the open than yes, please, ask." Da met his eyes, and even with being short she seemed intimidating to Yu. As he led the way to a more private area, his reading room, he decided to blame her intimidation on the fact that she was the older sister of Xiao. Opening the door for her, and letting her enter first, he eyed the hall before following in. She stood next to the small table, hands on her hips as she watched him.

"Please, have a seat," Yu said, motioning to the cushions. She denied. Sighing, Yu asked the question. "What is it you wish to know, Da?" He couldn't really deny her any information. As the only other Qiao in the area, she had every right to know and understand his intentions and what he had already done with Xiao.

"What do you want from Xiao?"

"Ah…" Yu floundered. Da watched him, still with the stern, unforgiving expression. Only when he came up with nothing, did she supply help.

"From my understandings, you and her were close before I appeared. You are the reason she traveled past the wall, and ultimately why she is here in this camp. From what I have heard, you continued to and her were becoming close. Now, you avoid her at all turns. I want an explanation as to why you feel the need to hurt my sister in such a heartless manner," she said, still in the cool and even terms that had Yu cringing.

"She noticed?"

"Of course she did. Obviously her time with you was important, and if you hadn't noticed that then I don't think you should be a strategist in all honesty."

"I did not mean to hurt her. Never would I want to be the cause of her pain," Yu said with a quiet sigh. Her expression didn't soften. "I wished to ask you for permission to court Xiao."

"You had to end all interaction with my sister for that? You could not enjoy her company without courtship involved?" Da raised one eyebrow, taking in the request, the power she now had.

"Not entirely, but it made the temptation lessen. I did not think it would take me this long to ask you."

"Then why did it?"

"I-I was scared of rejection. I wish to honestly court Xiao, and to do so now I would need your permission. Your dislike for me was evident, and thus I had reason to fear your very plausible rejection." Yu looked around the room before his eyes again fell down on her. "So I ask you now, Qiao Da, may I court Qiao Xiao?"

Da stared up at him. She idly wondered if she would have denied him, had he asked before she had gotten over her racism. Taking a deep breath, and letting it out slowly she answered, "Would my rejection really have stopped you?"

"I think that I wouldn't have been courting Xiao, but I can only avoid her for so long. I would have, however, done everything in my power to change your mind," Yu said softly. "I wish for Xiao to be happy. To do so, she would need you and your blessings. You are, whether I like it or not, a very large part of her life."

Da slowly nodded, taking in the man that fully was Yu. "If she will have you, then, you shall have my blessings. Just, never again play with her emotions Yu," Da said with another slow nod. Yu's smile reached his eyes, which practically glowed in his happiness. He again and again promised his loyalty to Xiao, and to never again hurt her. Da paid it little mind, already knowing he would. She didn't doubt the promises, having no real reason to. "You only have my blessings if she will have you. You must go and ask her for permission to court, Yu."

"Yes."

"She was heading to the infirmary to return the dry laundry." Yu nodded and followed her out of the room. Giving her last thanks, he dashed off to plan a way to not only make up his blunder, but to also ask permission to court. He had to play by Da's rules. Da watched for a moment before turning back around and towards the kitchen. Dinner would need to be made soon.

- -

Da made her way around the men, helping wherever she could find a need for her. They were readying for war. New soldiers had appeared and readied over the small break, and Yu had spent much time planning. He had also been very good in treating Xiao, much to Da's pleasure. He seemed to always have time for her younger sister after a day of sitting behind a table with a map.

He had also been subtly leaving gifts for Xiao to find. She had asked about it to Xun, who had explained somewhat the courting ritual to Da. It hadn't seemed too different from the human way. At least, with the briefing Xun had given. Xiao was now somewhere between the kitchen and the housing. Picking up after some of the men, Da hustled to put it away. She didn't support the war, but she had to support the soldiers.

Dumping the clothes into a basket she spotted Ce. He was surveying the whole mess of men as he pulled on some armor. Da made her way to him. He didn't seem to see her until she did a small bow, a habit that hadn't died from before when she hadn't lived with them. He looked down at her, eyes slightly wide like he hadn't expected seeing her.

"Good luck out there, Ce," she said happily.

"Thank you."

"It should be easier this time, since there will be nobody to rescue," she joked lightly.

He smiled down at her, arms dropping as the armor clicked. He then seemed to remember something of importance and lost his cheerfulness that made him so endearing. "If you'll excuse me Da, I've got to speak with Yu." He nodded his head her way and walked past her. She quickly lost her smile, turning to watch him leave. She didn't know why, but it bothered her the way he brushed her off. It almost hurt.

"Hey, Da," a familiar voice caught her attention. Turning, she saw Shang Xiang grinning at her. "Come help me tie this real quick. Please." She held two strings that would hold her leather armor. It allowed more movement than metal, and was far more silent than chain mail. Quickly making her way to Shang Xiang she nodded with a smile.

"Don't mind Ce," Shang Xiang said conversationally as she let the strings go. "He's just upset that Yu found a girl before him is all. He's been pouting lately."

"Such things matter?" Da asked, raising an eyebrow as she tied the many strings.

"To the competitive kind." Shang Xiang laughed. "He's a big boy now, he'll get over it." Shang Xiang stared off in the direction Ce had all but run, brows furrowed as she contemplated the weird behavior of her eldest brother.

So Xiao's getting her happily ever after, Yu's proving Ce wrong, and Da is still lost. And how is Wei doing? I've gotten them all planned, they'll be in the next one. For those who care, I've got an Live Journal account with some drabbles about DaxCe (and some original work) up. My account name in mclaughing. Their is a link on my profile.