Alright, here's chapter 5. Ah, Xing Cai and Ma Chao are getting overly dramatic already. I'm toning down their wailing cause they're starting to sound like brats especially Xing Cai. But I still love Ma Chao and Xing Cai! Liu Shan is a selfish bastard…

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 five: Encore; To See Her Eyes Once More

He had climbed the walls of the palace and had luckily gone in unnoticed.

Ma Chao dashed in, hiding in the shadows on the palace cast upon him. His heart pounded like crazy as fear and excitement rolled upon him. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead and down his face. Any moment he could be caught, yet that just seemed to exhilarate him.

As Ma Chao made his way towards the palace, he came upon the courtyard, which was already near his destination.

"I don't know what scares me more," he muttered to himself as he took deep breaths, "Getting caught or facing Xing Cai again."

Ha had known how painful rejection was and he did not want to feel it once more, but he had moved on so hastily, he had given no thought to the consequences.

Suddenly, the shadow of two approaching guards was cast upon the large wall opposite Ma Chao.

He ducked behind another wall.

The soldiers came by and left, taking no notice to Ma Chao.

Peering over the edge, he saw that they were gone and darted off towards the palace.

Xing Cai, on the other hand, had gone to sleep already. She removed her bridal dress for something more comfortable for sleep.

She placed her hand on a lamp and lit it up with a tiny flame before moving to fix her bed which was thrown into a mess. Then while she was fixing the sheets, she saw the stone sparkling even in the dimness of the lamp light.

"I nearly threw this away…" she said, tying it around her neck once more.

Then she sat on her bed and placed her hand near the lamp, ready to extinguish it.

Just then the door creaked open and Xing Cai stood up, grabbing the lamp as she moved towards the doorway, "Who's there?"

Suddenly, a hand popped out from behind her and covered her mouth.

"Come on, be quiet, you don't want me to be caught do you?" Ma Chao ribbed as he lowered his hand from her face.

Turning around, Xing Cai saw him.

"Ma Chao," she said, "what are you doing here?"

Smiling, he removed the clip from her hair and let her ebony locks fall upon her shoulders. "I just wanted to see your eyes once more." he said, as he got the lamp from her hand, "And you shouldn't worry, for I will not be caught."

Xing Cai looked worried, "No, but what if you do?" she said, "Ma Chao, you have to leave right now before you are caught!"

"Never!" he exclaimed, "I will never leave your side!"

She looked a little puzzled and also a little happy. "Can I ask you something, Ma Chao?"

"Yes, ask me anything!"

"Why do you still love me?" she asked as tears rolled down her cheeks, "I abandoned you that evening when you came to persuade me to forget this marriage. I left you when I said yes to that vow. Yet despite all the pain I have cuase you, you still love me. Why, Ma Chao?"

Ma Chao laughed, "Because I promised you that I would love you for eternity, because I knew you were the one I love the most. Xing Cai, I have nothing left to lose, so here I am staking everything for you. Can you not see that I do not care about anything as much as I care about you? Xing Cai, when I was young, my family was taken away from me, by a vile man, when I met you, however, you made me forget that pain and furthermore, you made me feel the greatest joy in the world. Xing Cai, not only have you changed me, you have made me happier than I have ever been by loving me. And because I love you so much and because I will love you forever, I let those pains slide as I know deep within, even if you do not love me, I can still love you."

She was happy upon hearing this, "Ma Chao, I still love you and nothing can change that but I cannot back from this marriage. I cannot let my father and my ancestors down."

Ma Chao seemed a little flustered and disappointed as she said this.

Xing Cai could not look him in the eye.

All of a sudden, he extinguished the lamp and wrapped his arms around her in the darkness. Then he leaned closer to her and gave her a kiss. She couldn't believe it, but it was not important anymore for her, so she raised her arms and embraced him as well. She moved her hands to his helmet and removed it, dropping it to the ground.

Something ignited in her and flowed down towards her entire body, making her feel a whimsical emotion. It was as if all the pain she had felt had been lifted.

Then he let go and reached for the stone hanging around her neck and held it in his hands, "I will still love you forever, Xing Cai."

Then he lit the lamp once more to look at her face.

Her heart beat nervously.

They just stood there, looking deep into each others eyes. It was as if they were lost in some trance. There was only silence, but the silence felt liberating and soothing. For some reason, all the pain they had experienced began to dissolve within them and just leave a feeling of regret and longing.

But the moment was cut short.

Suddenly, soldiers barged into the room. "Cease in your place, intruder!"

Ma Chao hurriedly extinguished the lamp once more and moved, ready to fight. He ran forward and threw a punch at one of the guards.

More then came in and circled him.

There was no other way out, but to fight and Ma Chao intended to do just that.

Yay, Chapter 5 is all done! Hey, if any of you have Ma Chao x Xing Cai fics please tell me, I wanna see some too, cause I'm feeling awkwardly strange that I'm the only one who has written on this pairing. Besides, I really want to see Ma Chao x Xing Cai fics.