A/N: I lied. I will not let them beat me down by deleting one of my fics! On with the next chapter of Era's Wind!

Finally moved to a different archive! - Although I have yet to post more recent chapters…

I am a horrible updater. I hope none of the phrases are too clichéd…

To avoid confusion, I will say this outright, at the very beginning. This chapter is a patchwork of memories, woven into a chapter. I hope you don't get lost. (My fics are always a bit drabbly…) If you do, please tell me. And please forgive any short-comings!

Paper Wings

Memories of a "Pear Flower" re-enact in a dreamer's subconscious.

Propped on her elbows, Hua Li tilted her head to one side, a beaded hairpin clinking with the movement. A faint smile on her carmine lips, she twirled an emerald-green blade of grass between her fingers. The late-summer sun warmed the heavy air, drawing a sleepy feel over the inhabitants of the small prefecture.

A heated flush slowly powdered her light skin. She reached for the closed fan lying beside her, snapping it open. Sending a gentle breeze across her face, Hua Li spoke out.

"Yun… It's so hot out. You don't have to practice spear today, you know."

The continuous whirring of the rapidly spinning spear stopped, and the corner of Zhao Yun's mouth twitched with humour. Pushing a damp lock of hair out of his face, he sprawled out on the grass.

"A headband is to keep the hair off of your face," Hua Li said whilst playfully pushing the aforementioned strip of dark cloth up, before lightly batting the folded fan on his nose.

Zhao Yun smiled back at her, pulling a hairpin from her neatly arranged hair, holding it out of her reach.

"You! Give me that back, or I'll…"

Her pale-green sleeve brushed across his face as she attempted to reach her hair ornament.

"Nyaa..."

A smile crept across her lips, "Or I'll tickle you!"

After many minutes of tickling, and laughter from both, the beaded pin was returned to Hua Li's hair.

Deep in slumber, Zhao Yun shifted over, turning onto his side. His lips moved slightly, breathy words muffled by tangled sheets.

Zhao Yun delicately cradled the kite, with its papery wings, in his hands. The long, ribbon tail trailed over his arm, fluttering like a crimson butterfly. Hua Li walked beside him, the long string in her hand.

"Hold on tight to the string, Li Li."

He set off running, with the kite perched on his fingers. The strong breeze reached out its arms, lifting the paper kite up. The kite swooped, birdlike, with its papery wings pale against the slate-silver clouds.

"Yun, the breeze is too strong for me to hold the kite…"

Zhao Yun took hold of a length of scarlet string, twining it in his fingers. Together, they piloted the paper-winged kite.

"It's so beautiful," Hua Li breathed, entranced.

"But you are prettier," he replied.

Zhao Yun drew her into a close embrace, and she leaned her dark head against his shoulder, a light smile lingering on her lips.

How do I tell you?

A demeanor of melancholy settled on Zhao Yun's features, a grim frown set on his face. Not that it made him look ugly, some of the shameless girls whispered.

"You are…preoccupied."

He blinked with surprise, turning to the girl kneeling next to him.

"Why would you think that?"

Hua Li's gentle eyes locked glances with his, "Because… I know you," before turning her head away.

Zhao Yun touched her slim hand, but made no response. Whistling wind swept copper leaves by, crinkling and rustling. Minutes of still silence passed.

Tell her.

But…

Now.

Words tumbled haltingly from his lips, voice cracking with hesitation and indicision.

"I…This…The…"

Hua Li raised her head slightly. The glance she gave Zhao Yun was all he needed. She understood, even though she didn't want to.

"I understand. When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow." He glanced at her, "Will…Will you see me off?"

Thin rays of early sun peeked over shadowed hills, the prefecture still shrouded in restful slumber. A young horse whinnied and tossed his mane, a silvery flash in the early dawn.

"Hua Li… Will you wait for me?"

"I will."

She gazed at the back of the young man she loved, standing motionless until he faded out of her sight. "War rips hearts apart, tears homes down and ruins cities. But still we fight."

Then she sighed softly and turned away, doubting he would ever come back.

My hometown… So many years have passed since I last saw it. And now…

Desolate ruins, abandoned in haste, lay wasted below. The bloodied bodies of so many he knew slept in eternal slumber, never to move or speak again. A young girl's body lay underr a fallen beam, the pink ball she had been toying with near her head.

This is madness.

Growing uneasy, Zhao Yun moved abruptly.

The cruel eyes of one accustomed to ruthless slaughtering glinted cruelly at him, taunting his and his youthfulness.

"So, you want to fight me, little boy?"

"Bring it on."

Zhao Yun's spear flashed silver as he charged forwards.

"Ung…"

Cold sweat dripped down Zhao Yun's back. He was going to die at the filthy hands of this Yellow Turban. With a loud ring, the skilled swordsman broke the deadlock, knocking the young man off-balance.

"This ends now, boy."

Does death hurt? My Hua Li…

A sharp cry.

Emerald eyes widened in shock when the intricately-carved blade sank into the form of the one he loved.

"No!"

A/N: Did I lose anyone?Ugh, chapter 10 is going to be a pain to write. I'vegotten a bit rusty, and I've written myself into a plothole rut.(Hehehe...A bit of a pun there.)Thank you, patient readers, for waiting many long weeks for this update! I really think I need to rewrite this fic. Thanks, Adamantina, for the beautiful reviews. I will continue to update on FFN! I hope… Until chapter ten, then!