Coming Home

The battle had ended over two days ago and the Wu forces were returning to the castle that evening. A huge celebration was planned and Xiao was anxious. She couldn't wait for Zhou Yu to come back but was having a hard time deciding what to wear. Da already had her make-up and jewelry on and sat on her sisters' bed giving advice.

"Do you think he'll like the purple or the red dress?"

"Xiao I'm pretty sure Zhou Yu would just be happy to see even if you went in just that." Da told her sister. "Wear the purple, it makes your face glow when you smile."

"Thanks sis." Xiao said blushing, as she was standing in her room with only undergarments to cover her lithe body. Quickly Xiao slipped into the dress and sat down in front of her mirror to put on some make-up.

"Have you heard from Sun Ce, Da?" Xiao asked her sister.

"No, he hasn't written but then the campaign was so short. To think they were only gone a week. Don't you wish all the campaigns were this short?"

"I wish they wouldn't have to go at all."

"Well they have to but at least they're bring stability back to the land. And think Xiao, if our husbands weren't like this they would have never rescued us from Dong Zhou." Da said.

"Ya but you know I worry. Remember the last time Zhou Yu and Sun Ce came back from a campaign. Admit it, you nearly had a heart attack when Sun Ce came back with that gash across his chest."

"Fine, fine but at least it gave me a good excuse to get my husband's shirt off." Da said with a glint in her eyes as she recalled the memories.

Xiao looked at her sister with a bit of jealousy. Zhou Yu had had a gash on his arm but he had treated it himself. He never let Xiao do much for him in the way of treating injuries or cooking for him or other things that Da did for Sun Ce.

Outside a trumpet sounded announcing the return of the Wu forces. A giant cheer arose from within the castle. Da and Xiao looked at each other for a brief moment before they both went bounding for the door and took up places side by side on the balcony. They had a great view of the main gate and courtyard.

Sun Ce came into view first. He was riding a gray horse and looked tired. Da audibly gasped when she saw that Sun Ce had several bandages tied to his leg and arms. Men, many of whom were wounded, came marching in. Da went down immediately to Sun Ce as soon as he dismounted.

From the balcony Xiao watched her sister fuse over Sun Ce. Unable to watch the scene Xiao turned her attention back to the victorious column. More men came in and the number of injured really started to worry.

However it was when Zhou Tai appeared Xiao felt utter despair. Zhou Tai was one of four men who bore a stretcher. The stretcher was empty but was covered with a banner of Wu. The army only did that for when officers died. There were only 3 officers who went and if Sun Ce and Zhou Tai had come back then it meant that that banner stood for Zhou Yu. Xiao knew this, but she tried to deny it but her heart and mind knew it. Xiao simply sank down to the floor and started to cry.

It seemed the whole castle had gone very quiet and the only thing that could b heard was Xiao crying. The crowd had been cheering and celebrating unit the empty stretcher had entered the come into view. The music and joy simply stopped cold and dead, just like the man who was represented by the banner.

"Xiao…" A soft voice asked.

Xiao simply continued to cry. She just didn't care anymore.

"Let me tell her what she already knows. Zhou Yu fell while taking the city, Xiao. From what the men tell me he got shot by and arrow…"

Something clicked in Xiao's mind. The nightmare she had had was one of Zhou Yu being shot before he died.

"Da, just like my dream." Xiao stopped only long enough to say that before she went back to her mourning.

"and Cao Ren tried to charge him and his men. Zhou Yu stood his ground and fought back and drove the fighting into the city itself. Then Zhou Yu got too deep in and was swarmed. About 5 units went to try and save him but a fire broke out and all were lost by the time Zhou Tai and I broke in through the north side of the city. At least he died fighting." Sun Ce finished.

"I'd like to be alone please." Xiao choked out.

Da and Sun Ce quietly exited once Da had brought her sister inside and had her crying on the bed.

"Why?" Xiao asked herself. "Why him? Why did he have to die? Just when things looked like we could go somewhere in our relationship."

Zhou Yu's death affected everyone. Many of the men were low in spirit, the every joking Sun Ce and bubbly Xiao were quiet and solemn. Thousands, a fact that made Xiao feel a bit better, attended the funeral but she had hoped she would be attending his funeral further down the road of her life. His empty coffin was buried under a cherry tree near the outside wall of the castle.

A/N: After this chapter I'll be upping the rating to R just to be safe. You'll just have to see. Coming up next; take a guess at who comforts Xiao and will this comforter take the place of the now gone Zhou Yu?