I'm so influenced by Dynasty Warriors 5 and I know somehow that this pairing is kinda weird. It's just hard to bear Xing Cai with that moron, Liu Shan/Chan. Warning, though, Ma Chao could die. But I'm not sure yet if I should. I used French words for the chapter names!

Summary: Ma Chao said that he would always love Xing Cai no matter what, but when Xing Cai marries Liu Shan their love is put to the test. However, Ma Chao is not ready to give up and fights to be with her even to the very end. (Ma Chao x Xing Cai)

My Heart Is Yours

Chapter one: Aimer; To Love

Xing Cai walked towards Ma Chao who was seated on the steps of the palace. She smiled and sat down beside him. "Ma Chao, what are you doing?" Xing Cai asked, leaning her head on his shoulder, "You look tired."

The Five Tiger general looked at her and replied, "Nothing, the training tires me out so much, that's all." He taken put his hand on her head and began to stroke her silky black hair, "But just the fact that you're here by my side and I already feel revitalized. Xing Cai, whenever I'm with you, I feel happier than I ever have or will."

"Me too, Ma Chao, I feel as if you're the only one who doesn't treat me as a child and you give me a strong feeling." she said, closing her eyes. She savored the feeling of his fingers running through her locks. "You make me feel stronger."

Ma Chao smiled. "You make me stronger everyday," Xing Cai continued, "So I am driven to protect those I love. Just like you, Ma Chao."

He seemed disturbed as she finished. Memories began to flash in his head of his entire family being murdered by that villain, Cao Cao. He remembered the pain that gripped his heart as he lost all those he loved. Ma Chao could feel once again that unbearable loneliness that only few could remove. He knew that he was not able to protect those he had loved, so if Xing Cai had felt that, then was she believing a false thing?

But as she looked at him so sweetly, the bitterness and sorrow just seemed to disappear. Then he moved his hand to her cheek and gently stroked it. What damage could the past do to the present anyway? With his love for Xing Cai, he could make everything right once more. If he loved her, then at least he could put the ghosts of his past to sleep. "Xing Cai, I love you and I vow that I will love you forever no matter what." Even if in the past he could not protect those he loved, he would protect Xing Cai from everything for sure, even if it cost him everything. For Xing Cai, there was nothing to lose.

Suddenly, she reached out and placed her hands on his cheeks and drew him closer. Ma Chao closed his eyes and leaned towards her, pressing his lips on hers. He moved his arms to embrace her.

And with that, all doubts were erased and Ma Chao was certain. He loved Xing Cai and even the past couldn't change that.

The following day, Ma Chao went to the training grounds where the soldiers were training. The sun was out, bathing the entire pavilion with warmth. Ma Chao walked up. "Master Ma Chao, would you like to spar with me?" Zhao Yun asked. Ma Chao nodded and they began.

Ma Chao was moving swiftly, hitting Zhao Yun high, low and everywhere in between, but Zhao Yun would block him. No matter whaere he would strike, so he turned to the defensive, awaiting an ample opportunity to launch a counter attack. "Master Ma Chao," his opponent spoke up, "Your movements seem a little relaxed today. You're usually tense and erratic when you fight, even in training."

"Me? There's nothing wrong." Ma Chao answered, as they both stopped holding his spear beside him, "I feel good today. That's all."

Right after that, he sped to Xing Cai who was waiting for him at the palace stairs. His heart leapt for joy when he saw her.

He ran to the top step and sat down beside her. "Ma Chao, you're here!" she beamed, as she picked up his hand and held it, "I thought that you would miss it."

"Miss what?" he asked, puzzled by what she had said.

"Of course, the sunset, silly." she laughed, as he placed his arm around her, "From here on the top step, the sunset looks really beautiful…"

And soon, the sun began to sink in the horizon, coloring the sky in different colors. It cast it's beauty into Ma Chao's eyes. He smiled at it and then looked at Xing Cai.

"The sunset is beautiful. Just like you, Xing Cai," Ma Chao said, as she leaned on him, "But your beauty will not fade unlike this which will fade into the night."

He held her hand up to his face and gently kissed it.

"But our love will last longer."

Months passed and Xing Cai and Ma Chao had grown closer to each other. Truly, they were inseparable. She would wait for him everyday in their favorite meeting place.

One night the sky was extremely clear that the full oon shone like a pearl and the stars shone in the heavens like millions of diamonds and Xing Cai was sitting on the steps of the palace alone with her thoughts, Ma Chao walked in front of her.

"Xing Cai, I knew you would be here."

She stood up immediately as she saw him approach, "Ma Chao, I thought you had training."

"We finished early," he explained, sitting down, "so I thought about giving you a present."

"What kind of a present?"

"It's a one of a kind present. Once every full moon this present shows itself and only I know where it is." He then stood up and held her hand. "Come, Xing Cai, follow me." he said, pulling her away.

"Are you taking me to the present?" Xing Cai giggled as Ma Chao laughed and ran towards the door gates of the city. They went outside.

The path outside was dark and Xing Cai became a little scared. The trees and bushes seemed darker than usual as they hid in the shadows of the night. The forest seemed frightening and looked like it wanted to swallow any intruder. The forest entrance looked like the jaws of a beast. Xing Cai tightened her grip on Ma Chao as he began to walk towards the forest.

"Ma Chao, I'm scared." she whispered.

"It's alright, Xing Cai." he said, as she moved closer to him, "You need worry because I'll protect you."

They moved through the eerily silent forest. All of nature seemed to be asleep let alone the crickets that hummed their nightly tune.

Finally, the pair reached a forest clearing where there was a small lake. Xing Cai ran up to it and looked into its depths. She could see the pale moon reflected in it. It was like a large mirror that held the moon and the entire night sky.

Ma Chao grinned and moved closer to her. He then gave a weak push, sending Xing Cai into the water. There was a small splash.

Xing Cai emerged from the water and pouted. "Ma Chao, how dare you?" she asked angrily. He looked ashamed from what he had done. "Oh, Xing Cai, I'm sorry, is the water cold?' he asked, moving closer to the water's edge. He reached his hand out to hers. She held it tightly, "Why don't you see for yourself?" she said, pulling him in.

After the splash, Ma Chao emerged from the water to see Xing Cai laughing, "I see you've outsmarted me, Xing Cai." He chuckled, looking at her. Small water droplets were running down her hair and face as well. They fell from her cheeks as she smiled sweetly at him.

She laughed too, "So, Ma Chao, is this lake that present you were talking about?" she asked.

He smiled at her, "Not yet, Xing Cai." he replied, "But when the moon's rays reach this exact spot, you'll see it."

After waiting for quite awhile, the pale rays of the moon danced upon the forest glade and suddenly, white flowers began to blossom on the dark bushes around them. Xing Cai gasped at the sight. Then the moonlight moved to the center of the lake and the lake began to glow with white light. Xing Cai looked down at the depth of the lake and saw an array of bright colors beneath them. Bright colors danced around at the lake's bottom.

"Oh Ma Chao, it's beautiful!" she beamed, wrapping her arms around him.

"Yes, it is. These flowers bloom only when the moonlight hits them and at the bottom of this lake are glimmering stones that reflect he light of the moon." Ma Chao explained as he embraced her and brought her closer, "But none of these are as beautiful as you, Xing Cai." And he leaned forward to give her a kiss.

She laughed, "Come on, ma Chao, I want to see the stones myself." With that she went under water. Ma Chao followed her.

Xing Cai stopped when they were only one or two feet away. The glimmering stones shined like a rainbow colored serpent twisting around the lake. Ma Chao then swam deeper and went straight for the stones. He chipped off a piece of it and swam back to her. The Five Tiger General motioned her to follow him and they resurfaced.

"What was that?" she asked.

With a chuckle Ma Chao held it out for her. She picked it up and admired it.

"I got it for you." Ma Chao said, "Keep it."

Xing Cai held it tightly pressing it to her bosom, near her heart, "Thank you, Ma Chao, I'll keep this present near me forever. I promise to keep it close to my heart always."

Their relationship grew stronger as the following days came. Wherever she went, Xing Cai brought the stone with her. She even had it bound to thick ribbon and wore it around her neck.

Ma Chao always visited her and would meet her on the palace steps everyday.

Those days were the happiest of both their lives.

But then tragedy came knocking one fateful night when Xing Cai was summoned to the chamber of the Prime Minister. As she entered, she was greeted by Zhuge Liang, the Sleeping Dragon.

"Good evening, Xing Cai, I know you're wondering why you are here." he told her as she closed the door behind her, "It is a matter that concerns you. Of all the women in Shu, the ruler has chosen you, Xing Cai to be his bride. You have been friends when you were young and it seems that he still likes you."

"What?" she asked shocked to hear this.

"I'm sorry, Xing Cai, but I can do nothing." Zhuge Liang murmured sorrowfully, "I know about you and Ma Chao, but this is what heaven desires and you will some day grow to love Liu Shan. I hope you can accept this duty gracefully."

She swallowed hard. All the pain around her seemed to contract her heart. Pain surged through her. She couldn't bare it.

"I…will accept, Prime Minister if it is for Shu, my father and those I love. Duty is above everything else."

Xing Cai could already feel the tears that gathered in her eyes.

Ma Chao…

A sigh came from Zhuge Liang, "You are to stay in the palace for the next week so that you may get closer with our lord. Then the wedding shall occur after the week is over." he said.

Nodding weakly, Xing Cai ran out the room with tears running down her eyes. Right then she wanted to se only one person.

Ma Chao

She needed him, but she knew that within a week she could never be with him. She ran to the palace balcony and looked up at the moon. "Oh, father please help me…" she cried, "I need to be as strong as you."

She then closed her eyes and muttered the only thing that she could think of as she held tightly the stone that hung around her neck. Sorrow raced through her.

"Ma Chao…"

How was that? Ma Chao will find out in the next chapter and the wedding will take place then. I love this pairing. Ma Chao and Xing Cai are so cute together. Stupid Liu Shan. Ah, it's his fault anyway that Shu lost the war.