Disclaimer: None of them belong to me. And by the way Xiao may seem
annoying, but wait for some more chapters before passing judgment on her.
I'll be on vacation for two weeks. See ya when I get back.
Chapter 8
Da Qiao brushed her silky hair, all the while watching Xiao Qiao in the mirror. Her sister was chatting away per usual. This time the topic was the beauty of Zhou Yu's eyebrows.
"Oh! Each one is arched so beautifully! They seem to just naturally flow. They aren't too bushy or anything. Da, you just have to see them! I swear he has to use come sort of conditioner on them, they're just so shiny that they're too die for!"
Da pondered if she plucked the offending eyebrows off Zhou Yu's face if perhaps someone would kill her and end her misery.
"And his fingernails! If you could only-"
"Xiao, would you please go fetch me a glass of water?"
"Of course Da! I'll be right back."
Her sister ran off, giving her a moment's peace to collect her thoughts. She still felt disoriented with the whole idea of the wedding looming in front of her. But that wasn't what was really bothering her. No, her usual patience was worn thin. If she had to hear about Zhou Yu one more time she would personally kill the man. Just how much was she supposed to take? Already her sister was growing farther and farther from her. Where once the two had been inseperateable, her sister now spent more and more time with her groom to be.
Da bit her lip. Not that she was upset or anything. No, she wasn't angry that she was no longer the guiding light in her sister's world. Who would want to put up with her sister's whining and tears all the time? But to be replaced by that horrible man Zhou Yu? Unacceptable.
She had heard the whispers about the man. While everyone agreed he was a master strategist and great warrior, there were rumors that he had odd sexual tastes. While she had never been able to find out what they were, she was terrified for her sister. She would find out what the man liked, then use it to ruin him. No sexual deviant was going to take her little sister and use her as a toy, not while she drew breath!
"Da! Da! Here's some water!" her sister ran up, placing the glass on the table beside her.
"Thank you." She turned to her sister and gave her a warm smile.
"No problem! I'll always be here for you." Xiao sat down at her feet. She looked around, then began to twiddle her thumbs. "I just realized I was hogging the conversation. I'm sorry sis." She paused a moment, then rushed on. "So tell me what you like about Sun Ce."
"Sun Ce?"
"The man you're marrying! Oh I bet you're just as excited as me!"
Da grimaced. Excited was the last word that came to mind. "It should be interesting," she finished lamely.
Her sister hopped to her feet, her arms thrown high into the air. "Interesting? You're marrying the man who will one day rule all of Wu, and probably China as well! Come on sis! Tell me the truth."
"He's all right I suppose." For a muscle bound idiot.
"All right? Is that all you can think to say? He's handsome!" Her sister's eyes took on a dreamy quality. It could only mean one thing. "Of course he's not quite as wonderful or handsome as Zhou Yu, but that's beside the point."
Da shrugged, using the motion to pull her hair back in matching pigtails. "He's handsome I suppose, but don't forget he's rude, and conceited, and-"
"How's he rude?"
Da felt a blush flood her cheeks. Should she tell Xiao about her horrible secret? "I...it embarrasses me to admit it." She turned away from her sister, placing the brush beside the glass of water.
Xiao's eyes became huge. "Even better! Tell! Tell! What did he do?"
Taking a deep calming breath, Da blurted out the truth. "He stole a kiss from me."
"He did? But when?" Her sister jumped up and down. "Tell me! Tell me!"
"In the garden the other day." Da shook her head. She would never venture there alone again.
Xiao bounced so fast now that her sister had to wonder if she might just burst into flames. "Did you like it?"
Pursing her lips, Da's eyes narrowed. "I honestly don't know."
"What?!" Her sister stopped her bouncing, her jaw hanging open in complete shock. "You must know how you felt!"
She remained silent as her sister sat down on the edge of her bed, one delicate hand resting gentle on her forehead.
"Did he use his tongue sis?"
Da felt her eyes widened. What was her sister talking about?
"The new bodyguards we have were talking about how men liked to slide their tongues into women's mouth." She paused. "They gave me some pointers on how to please Zhou Yu. Do you know that body part that father told us was what made a man a man? Well apparently, they like it when you put your mouth on that."
Da looked down to ensure her jaw hadn't hit the ground too hard. "Xiao, they were pulling your leg. Why would a man do something beastly like put his tongue in your mouth? And I'm considering that other topic closed. I don't know what those bodyguards have been telling you, but they obviously thought you were naive enough to believe all their lies."
"Gods truth! I swear it!" Xiao stopped and looked at her sister, "so he didn't slide you the tongue then?"
"No." If he had, I would have made sure there wasn't enough left of him to go through with the wedding. Taking the glass of water in her hand, she took a sip, hoping that her sister would take the hint and be quiet for once.
"Oh," her sister looked at her hands. "I hope Zhou Yu slides me his tongue, among other things."
The water flew out of Da's mouth and across the room. "What?!"
Giggling, the younger Qiao fell back onto the bed. "I can see it now. He'll lean over, tell me that I'm the most wonderful thing in the world, then he'll throw me on the ground, and claim my lips."
Claim her lips? "Xiao maybe-"
"He'll slide all my clothes off, straddle me, and with one powerful thrust he'll-"
"XIAO QIAO!" What was happening to her sweet little sister?
The younger Qiao jumped straight up on the bed. "What? What? Is Zhou Yu here yet?"
Da stared at her sister. Maybe Zhou Yu was a sorcerer who had put her defenseless sister under an evil spell? "You shouldn't speak of such things. You're a lady, not a harlot Xiao."
Her sister turned to her, her face so crestfallen that it brought tears to Da's eyes. Maybe if she explained things? "I'm sorry sister. It's just that you aren't married to him yet. Why don't you wait for a few weeks before you start imagining being intimate with Zhou Yu?"
Tears streamed down her sister's face. "But it's so hard! I love him so much!"
Da shook her head. "But you don't know him."
Her sister just shook her head. "Yes I do. I know him where it's important, in here."
Da rolled her eyes as her sister pointed at her heart.
"You don't believe me, do you?"
"It's not that I don't believe you, but-"
"Fine-" The usual sweet smile was gone from her sister's face. "Let's just hurry up and go meet the boys in the garden. At least someone there wants to see me."
***
Zhou Yu found himself face first in the freshly trimmed grass. It was the last place he wanted to be, especially considering that Xiao Qiao was the reason his mouth was now filled with grass, and other things that he wished not to examine too closely.
"I'm so sorry Zhou Yu!" The voice could break a thousand hearts. He knew it well.
Getting to his feet, he wiped the left over grass off. Unfortunately he couldn't wipe away the huge grass stain on the front of his shirt.
"It's all right Madam Qiao."
"Yea, don't sweat it Xiao. He has a hundred more shirts exactly like that one." Sun Ce took the last bite out of his apple, then threw the core over his shoulder.
The younger Qiao went and sat down beside Zhou Yu's best friend and oath brother. Already she was devouring a slice of bread, while his brother went to work polishing off another apple. The shirt was already forgotten as the two began talking about complete nonsense between bites of food.
*Between the two of them, they'll eat the kingdom dry in a month.* Frowning, he pushed the thought away, not wanting to consider if winter would be feast or famine just yet.
Twin laughs made him turn to where the two sat. For the thousand and second time, he pondered if Xiao Qiao and Sun Ce were related. They were so similar that it was scary. Each was so laid back and friendly that one had to wonder if they ever worried about anything. Each was incredibly loyal. And each treated him like some kind of god. It was terrifying to watch their twin innocent gazes fall on him with that mixture of love and complete trust.
"What do you think Zhou Yu?" Sun Ce smiled in the same manner as the time he had placed the dead frog under Sun Quan's pillow.
Damnation. What were they talking about? This brooded ill for his day if that smile was any indication. "I think perhaps we should ask Madam Da Qiao.
All eyes went to the woman who sat quietly on a bench. Her head came up; apparently she had been paying as much attention as him. "Whatever Xiao wants."
The sister in question jumped up and down. "I want the frilliest, most colorful dress in the whole world for the wedding! Oh I can't wait!" She ran around like a lunatic, jumping over flowers and benches alike.
He took the time to study the older Qiao. Something was bothering her, but what? Sun Ce had told him about the way he had scandalously kissed her in the garden the other day. Perhaps he should talk to her privately and try to explain things? His oath brother was just so impulsive and so infatuated with the woman that he seemed to not even know what was proper anymore. Yes, he would pull her aside and talk to her later. Perhaps tomorrow. After all, tonight was his appointment, and afterwards he tended to feel very relaxed.
As he helped pick up the mess from their picnic, he thought he saw Da Qiao glare at him.
Chapter 9 -We travel now to Wei, home of two of the most beautiful people in the world. How does Wei Yan know Zhang He? The answer is not beautiful.
*** Answers To Reviews
Yukira - Yep, Yue Ying drunk. Well that will teach her to stay around the bishies of Shu after-hours! Yes, this will end up being a Yue Ying/Wei Yan fic, at some point. *grumbles* But I have to do something to Zhuge Liang first. Come now, I wouldn't be naughty and have her cheat on her husband. ;)
Crimson Rogue- Thank you! ^_^
Lady Qiao- Hope you had fun at your cousin's house. Thanks as always for the encouragement.
Chunsa- I'm afraid my updating will be very slow for a while. I'm taking a two-week vacation to Scotland. YES! Go me! But I plan on updating at least once or twice before I leave. I'll be back by the end of July. So no one forget me! Have to admit the idea of Zilong and Jiang leading a dance came from the fourth ending for Shu. I almost didn't make it to the bathroom in time. It stuck with me, what can I say? Wei is actually coming along soon. I finally talked to Zhang He and forced him into doing a chapter. *Has Zhang He tied up to a chair* If he's good he might actually get fed while I'm gone.
Ramza Lionheart-You go off line for one lousy day and I update, a lot. :op You already know about the vacation. I doubt I'll be able to update while overseas. I really don't want to try to get my disk through the x-ray machine at customs. I'm not sure what it would do to it. Might it erase it? Wei Yan sounds the same in my fic as he does in DW4. Wei Yan SMASH! I just didn't want to put 7329847 dots on a page to show that's how he's talking. Well that and I was terrified that all his sentences would run together and no one would be able to make heads or tales of what he was saying. To be honest, I always thought he was intelligent, just not able to express it. There's actually a story behind it. A little boy at the daycare is a holy terror. We're talking acts like a 3-year-old version of Wei Yan (scared yet?). He only has half an upper palate but you can't tell by looking at him. His speech is horrid. On top of that he forgets words all the time. So it's actually easier to understand Wei Yan than it is the little boy. At the same time though, he's the only 3 year old who can write. And he writes beauty poems (considering he's 3). So he talks via his writings. I kinda can imagine Wei Yan doing that, but poor Yan doesn't know how to write..yet. *evil grin* give me time. Yue Ying is a good teacher.
Verok- Zhuge Liang is just a little mad at her. *watches Yue Ying singing drunkenly in the mud* errr, okay so he's furious. Do we blame him? Nope. *buys Zhuge Liang some aspirin*
Actually, Zhuge Liang wanted Wei Yan D-E-A-D. When Liu Bei told him no, Zhuge Liang told Wei Yan that if he ever betrayed Shu or Liu Bei that he would have Wei Yan's head by means fair or foul.
I saw! I saw! You finally updated! Good. No we don't have to send that angry mob to your house! Gee, I wonder if we can reach them in time? :op
You made the Princess cry! Even I've never done that! Shame on you! Shame on you! Then again you got Lu Xun in an adorable outfit *whistles innocently* plus he took that hat off. Go you! You need to stop reading this and post yourself! :op
Nat
Chapter 8
Da Qiao brushed her silky hair, all the while watching Xiao Qiao in the mirror. Her sister was chatting away per usual. This time the topic was the beauty of Zhou Yu's eyebrows.
"Oh! Each one is arched so beautifully! They seem to just naturally flow. They aren't too bushy or anything. Da, you just have to see them! I swear he has to use come sort of conditioner on them, they're just so shiny that they're too die for!"
Da pondered if she plucked the offending eyebrows off Zhou Yu's face if perhaps someone would kill her and end her misery.
"And his fingernails! If you could only-"
"Xiao, would you please go fetch me a glass of water?"
"Of course Da! I'll be right back."
Her sister ran off, giving her a moment's peace to collect her thoughts. She still felt disoriented with the whole idea of the wedding looming in front of her. But that wasn't what was really bothering her. No, her usual patience was worn thin. If she had to hear about Zhou Yu one more time she would personally kill the man. Just how much was she supposed to take? Already her sister was growing farther and farther from her. Where once the two had been inseperateable, her sister now spent more and more time with her groom to be.
Da bit her lip. Not that she was upset or anything. No, she wasn't angry that she was no longer the guiding light in her sister's world. Who would want to put up with her sister's whining and tears all the time? But to be replaced by that horrible man Zhou Yu? Unacceptable.
She had heard the whispers about the man. While everyone agreed he was a master strategist and great warrior, there were rumors that he had odd sexual tastes. While she had never been able to find out what they were, she was terrified for her sister. She would find out what the man liked, then use it to ruin him. No sexual deviant was going to take her little sister and use her as a toy, not while she drew breath!
"Da! Da! Here's some water!" her sister ran up, placing the glass on the table beside her.
"Thank you." She turned to her sister and gave her a warm smile.
"No problem! I'll always be here for you." Xiao sat down at her feet. She looked around, then began to twiddle her thumbs. "I just realized I was hogging the conversation. I'm sorry sis." She paused a moment, then rushed on. "So tell me what you like about Sun Ce."
"Sun Ce?"
"The man you're marrying! Oh I bet you're just as excited as me!"
Da grimaced. Excited was the last word that came to mind. "It should be interesting," she finished lamely.
Her sister hopped to her feet, her arms thrown high into the air. "Interesting? You're marrying the man who will one day rule all of Wu, and probably China as well! Come on sis! Tell me the truth."
"He's all right I suppose." For a muscle bound idiot.
"All right? Is that all you can think to say? He's handsome!" Her sister's eyes took on a dreamy quality. It could only mean one thing. "Of course he's not quite as wonderful or handsome as Zhou Yu, but that's beside the point."
Da shrugged, using the motion to pull her hair back in matching pigtails. "He's handsome I suppose, but don't forget he's rude, and conceited, and-"
"How's he rude?"
Da felt a blush flood her cheeks. Should she tell Xiao about her horrible secret? "I...it embarrasses me to admit it." She turned away from her sister, placing the brush beside the glass of water.
Xiao's eyes became huge. "Even better! Tell! Tell! What did he do?"
Taking a deep calming breath, Da blurted out the truth. "He stole a kiss from me."
"He did? But when?" Her sister jumped up and down. "Tell me! Tell me!"
"In the garden the other day." Da shook her head. She would never venture there alone again.
Xiao bounced so fast now that her sister had to wonder if she might just burst into flames. "Did you like it?"
Pursing her lips, Da's eyes narrowed. "I honestly don't know."
"What?!" Her sister stopped her bouncing, her jaw hanging open in complete shock. "You must know how you felt!"
She remained silent as her sister sat down on the edge of her bed, one delicate hand resting gentle on her forehead.
"Did he use his tongue sis?"
Da felt her eyes widened. What was her sister talking about?
"The new bodyguards we have were talking about how men liked to slide their tongues into women's mouth." She paused. "They gave me some pointers on how to please Zhou Yu. Do you know that body part that father told us was what made a man a man? Well apparently, they like it when you put your mouth on that."
Da looked down to ensure her jaw hadn't hit the ground too hard. "Xiao, they were pulling your leg. Why would a man do something beastly like put his tongue in your mouth? And I'm considering that other topic closed. I don't know what those bodyguards have been telling you, but they obviously thought you were naive enough to believe all their lies."
"Gods truth! I swear it!" Xiao stopped and looked at her sister, "so he didn't slide you the tongue then?"
"No." If he had, I would have made sure there wasn't enough left of him to go through with the wedding. Taking the glass of water in her hand, she took a sip, hoping that her sister would take the hint and be quiet for once.
"Oh," her sister looked at her hands. "I hope Zhou Yu slides me his tongue, among other things."
The water flew out of Da's mouth and across the room. "What?!"
Giggling, the younger Qiao fell back onto the bed. "I can see it now. He'll lean over, tell me that I'm the most wonderful thing in the world, then he'll throw me on the ground, and claim my lips."
Claim her lips? "Xiao maybe-"
"He'll slide all my clothes off, straddle me, and with one powerful thrust he'll-"
"XIAO QIAO!" What was happening to her sweet little sister?
The younger Qiao jumped straight up on the bed. "What? What? Is Zhou Yu here yet?"
Da stared at her sister. Maybe Zhou Yu was a sorcerer who had put her defenseless sister under an evil spell? "You shouldn't speak of such things. You're a lady, not a harlot Xiao."
Her sister turned to her, her face so crestfallen that it brought tears to Da's eyes. Maybe if she explained things? "I'm sorry sister. It's just that you aren't married to him yet. Why don't you wait for a few weeks before you start imagining being intimate with Zhou Yu?"
Tears streamed down her sister's face. "But it's so hard! I love him so much!"
Da shook her head. "But you don't know him."
Her sister just shook her head. "Yes I do. I know him where it's important, in here."
Da rolled her eyes as her sister pointed at her heart.
"You don't believe me, do you?"
"It's not that I don't believe you, but-"
"Fine-" The usual sweet smile was gone from her sister's face. "Let's just hurry up and go meet the boys in the garden. At least someone there wants to see me."
***
Zhou Yu found himself face first in the freshly trimmed grass. It was the last place he wanted to be, especially considering that Xiao Qiao was the reason his mouth was now filled with grass, and other things that he wished not to examine too closely.
"I'm so sorry Zhou Yu!" The voice could break a thousand hearts. He knew it well.
Getting to his feet, he wiped the left over grass off. Unfortunately he couldn't wipe away the huge grass stain on the front of his shirt.
"It's all right Madam Qiao."
"Yea, don't sweat it Xiao. He has a hundred more shirts exactly like that one." Sun Ce took the last bite out of his apple, then threw the core over his shoulder.
The younger Qiao went and sat down beside Zhou Yu's best friend and oath brother. Already she was devouring a slice of bread, while his brother went to work polishing off another apple. The shirt was already forgotten as the two began talking about complete nonsense between bites of food.
*Between the two of them, they'll eat the kingdom dry in a month.* Frowning, he pushed the thought away, not wanting to consider if winter would be feast or famine just yet.
Twin laughs made him turn to where the two sat. For the thousand and second time, he pondered if Xiao Qiao and Sun Ce were related. They were so similar that it was scary. Each was so laid back and friendly that one had to wonder if they ever worried about anything. Each was incredibly loyal. And each treated him like some kind of god. It was terrifying to watch their twin innocent gazes fall on him with that mixture of love and complete trust.
"What do you think Zhou Yu?" Sun Ce smiled in the same manner as the time he had placed the dead frog under Sun Quan's pillow.
Damnation. What were they talking about? This brooded ill for his day if that smile was any indication. "I think perhaps we should ask Madam Da Qiao.
All eyes went to the woman who sat quietly on a bench. Her head came up; apparently she had been paying as much attention as him. "Whatever Xiao wants."
The sister in question jumped up and down. "I want the frilliest, most colorful dress in the whole world for the wedding! Oh I can't wait!" She ran around like a lunatic, jumping over flowers and benches alike.
He took the time to study the older Qiao. Something was bothering her, but what? Sun Ce had told him about the way he had scandalously kissed her in the garden the other day. Perhaps he should talk to her privately and try to explain things? His oath brother was just so impulsive and so infatuated with the woman that he seemed to not even know what was proper anymore. Yes, he would pull her aside and talk to her later. Perhaps tomorrow. After all, tonight was his appointment, and afterwards he tended to feel very relaxed.
As he helped pick up the mess from their picnic, he thought he saw Da Qiao glare at him.
Chapter 9 -We travel now to Wei, home of two of the most beautiful people in the world. How does Wei Yan know Zhang He? The answer is not beautiful.
*** Answers To Reviews
Yukira - Yep, Yue Ying drunk. Well that will teach her to stay around the bishies of Shu after-hours! Yes, this will end up being a Yue Ying/Wei Yan fic, at some point. *grumbles* But I have to do something to Zhuge Liang first. Come now, I wouldn't be naughty and have her cheat on her husband. ;)
Crimson Rogue- Thank you! ^_^
Lady Qiao- Hope you had fun at your cousin's house. Thanks as always for the encouragement.
Chunsa- I'm afraid my updating will be very slow for a while. I'm taking a two-week vacation to Scotland. YES! Go me! But I plan on updating at least once or twice before I leave. I'll be back by the end of July. So no one forget me! Have to admit the idea of Zilong and Jiang leading a dance came from the fourth ending for Shu. I almost didn't make it to the bathroom in time. It stuck with me, what can I say? Wei is actually coming along soon. I finally talked to Zhang He and forced him into doing a chapter. *Has Zhang He tied up to a chair* If he's good he might actually get fed while I'm gone.
Ramza Lionheart-You go off line for one lousy day and I update, a lot. :op You already know about the vacation. I doubt I'll be able to update while overseas. I really don't want to try to get my disk through the x-ray machine at customs. I'm not sure what it would do to it. Might it erase it? Wei Yan sounds the same in my fic as he does in DW4. Wei Yan SMASH! I just didn't want to put 7329847 dots on a page to show that's how he's talking. Well that and I was terrified that all his sentences would run together and no one would be able to make heads or tales of what he was saying. To be honest, I always thought he was intelligent, just not able to express it. There's actually a story behind it. A little boy at the daycare is a holy terror. We're talking acts like a 3-year-old version of Wei Yan (scared yet?). He only has half an upper palate but you can't tell by looking at him. His speech is horrid. On top of that he forgets words all the time. So it's actually easier to understand Wei Yan than it is the little boy. At the same time though, he's the only 3 year old who can write. And he writes beauty poems (considering he's 3). So he talks via his writings. I kinda can imagine Wei Yan doing that, but poor Yan doesn't know how to write..yet. *evil grin* give me time. Yue Ying is a good teacher.
Verok- Zhuge Liang is just a little mad at her. *watches Yue Ying singing drunkenly in the mud* errr, okay so he's furious. Do we blame him? Nope. *buys Zhuge Liang some aspirin*
Actually, Zhuge Liang wanted Wei Yan D-E-A-D. When Liu Bei told him no, Zhuge Liang told Wei Yan that if he ever betrayed Shu or Liu Bei that he would have Wei Yan's head by means fair or foul.
I saw! I saw! You finally updated! Good. No we don't have to send that angry mob to your house! Gee, I wonder if we can reach them in time? :op
You made the Princess cry! Even I've never done that! Shame on you! Shame on you! Then again you got Lu Xun in an adorable outfit *whistles innocently* plus he took that hat off. Go you! You need to stop reading this and post yourself! :op
Nat