Disclaimer: I don't own Koei, so I don't own Dynasty Warriors. sniff These people don't belong to me!

What did I promise you guys? The update is here! It's shorter than I expected, but it's an update. Thank you loyal reviewers- this chapters for you!

Chapter 5- Party Preparations

Sun Quan, one of the quieter members of the castle household, took his morning stroll around the castle, enjoying the newly found peace. Sun Ce had emerged from his room, and was now with Zhou Yu somewhere ('Probably in the marketplace' thought Quan). Sun Shang Xiang had also left with Lu Meng, Gan Ning and Lu Xun out to go fishing, so that didn't leave Quan with a lot to do. Normally he'd be discussing strategy with Zhou Yu or helping out in political affairs with Sun Jian, but today was just one of those days where nobody did a lot. It was a lovely lazy day, and it was fair to say that everyone enjoyed these, especially the lazy generals (namely Sun Ce, Taishi Ci and Gan Ning).

Quan turned a corner and headed towards the hall. He heard a door open and close shut, so he turned around to see none other than his 'bodyguard' Zhou Tai come out of a room. Wherever Quan was, Zhou Tai would always be near to protect him. Since saving the young prince's life a few years ago, Tai had been protective of Quan in battles and generally wherever he went outside the castle, and he felt it was his duty to do so. Not that Quan minded- at least he knew he was less likely to die on the battlefield!

"Hey Sun Quan!" Zhou Tai said as he approached his friend. "Everything alright?"

"Yeah, it's just that there's not a lot to do. Everyone's either busy or outside. Dad's gone out with Huang Gai somewhere, and I'm bored. What were you doing in there?"

"Oh just some reading. The Qiao sisters came in and asked me for some help a few minutes ago, so I'm just going to see them. You can come along if you want… it's probably best if you do, as I have no idea what they want me to do!"

Sun Quan nodded, and followed his protector to the main hall. They stood outside the double doors, and listened in. All they could hear was giggling- Xiao's giggling from the sound of it. Was it a prank they were playing? Were they up to something? Either way, Zhou Tai loved helping out (and Xiao's sweet smile had been impossible to resist!), so he twisted the door handle and opened the door. His eyes widened when he walked in.

The normally cosy looking hall had been transformed into, well, a party room! Streamers had been draped along the walls, ribbons tied around columns, and everything glistened. Tai looked around to see, at a table, Da and Xiao Qiao huddled over a large banner, both armed with large paintbrushes.

"You came to help!" Xiao put down her brush and ran over to the two generals, who were still in awe at the décor. "Grab a brush and help me and Da!" She dragged them by the arms over to the table, and handed them a brush each.

Standing over the sign, Sun Quan read the words. He nearly laughed at it. "Happy ZHOU YU day?"

Xiao giggled. "Yes! We're having a party in his honour!"

"What did he do to deserve a party?"

"Being a good husband…and……………and………………and being himself!" She used some red coloured paint to colour in the letters while Da painted some dragons on the side.

Zhou Tai and Sun Quan then watched as the Qiaos giggled to themselves. It was odd that Zhou Yu had all of a sudden become someone so special he deserved a party in his honour (not that they thought he didn't do much!). It was just that Zhou Yu didn't normally enjoy parties. He'd go along, have a drink, but didn't completely get in the party spirit. He was the total opposite to Sun Ce! Tai suspected something…

"Ladies," he asked, "are you up to something?"

Da looked up at him, and pulled a face, pretending to look disgusted! "Zhou Tai, why would us ladies pull such a trick? We are ladies of the castle, and we are elegant and smart! How could you think such a thing!" At this point Xiao was giggling so much she nearly knocked the pot of paint onto the floor, and Zhou Tai stood on the spot looking quite ashamed of himself, until Da started laughing.

"We'll let you in on something," whispered Xiao, "but you have to swear you won't tell anyone!"

"Alright then!" Quan said, moving closer so he could hear. Xiao moved closer to the pair and whispered something to them. After, she giggled some more, and returned to painting.

"Lady Xiao Qiao!" Tai exclaimed. "That's not something you'd do!"

"I know!" she replied, smiling. "What do you think?"

"Well, you'd need to make him not notice what you're doing, otherwise he just won't do it."

"Right… but how?"

While Zhou Tai was explaining a strategy to Xiao, Sun Quan went to stand next to his sister-in-law. "She's serious right?" he asked.

"Yep!" Da finished painting a small dragon. "I think she wants to loosen him up a bit, make him have fun like everyone else. She says she gets jealous when Ce dances with me, even though he's normally drunk."

"But is alcohol really going to work on Zhou Yu?"

"I don't know." Da looked into the corner of the room, where Xiao had put a dozen large barrels of wine. "We'll have to wait and see!"

Quan still couldn't believe that the sweet little Qiao sister was planning on getting Zhou Yu drunk. Zhou Yu was one of those people who only drank socially and not for the sake of it, unlike a certain elder Sun brother! The wine in the Wu castle did have the effect of making everyone tipsy with only a small glass, but it was Xiao's plan to spike Yu's drink, get him so drunk he doesn't know what's what, and enjoy himself. If Sun Ce sang and danced with anyone at a party when drunk, then surely it would work wonders for the uptight Wu strategist!

Ooh the party's soon... What's going to happen to poor Zhou Yu? We'll see! Note to you guys- next week I'm on, wait for it, half term holiday! More time spent on fanfiction! Yay! Expect a big update for then :)
Also, Happy Chinese New Year for everyone celebrating it!