Okay…I didn't think I got enough reviews for my last chapter, but I guess that was the price I had to pay for writing such a long one. I should probably shorten them in future… I thank my reviewers, Lily Potter and TerryPhi for reviewing anyway, and I hope I get more of them in future. Maybe this chapter will inspire some. Well, here's Chapter 10 for everyone reading right now!

Enjoy!

Sun Shang Xiang leaned against her window frame and blissfully gazed at the beautiful scenery of the Imperial Gardens she beheld in front of her a few miles away. It was very late afternoon, and the maids were beginning to prepare dinner in the kitchens. The flowers outside seemed to have grown even lovelier to her lately. Why she felt so, she'd no idea, yet she knew that it was a good change for her to experience such rare sensations. And she understood that it wasn't just her who'd changed- for indeed, the entire Wu kingdom had undergone more than several changes. It had now been over two whole weeks since The Two Qiaos had arrived at Jian Ye Palace, and Shang Xiang had noted that almost everyone she knew was no more exactly the same since. They had either transformed completely- or just had the smallest possible effect that two beautiful young ladies could have had on anyone.

Huang Gai never ended his boring, tiresome lectures now without breathing a highly unconvincing theatrical sigh before declaring, "If I hadn't been concerned of what those dear girls would think of me, I don't know what I would have done." Zhou Tai, who was seldom seen to show the slightest trace of a smile, could now be heard laughing heartily several halls away. Ling Tong, who was famed for his obnoxious reputation as a practical joker, suddenly possessed a more thoughtful, considerate character of late. Taishi Ci had developed a strange liking to flowers, and Lu Meng had astonishingly grown very interested in reading, while Lu Xun was heard to exclaim, "How beautiful things are at this hour!" more than once a day.

But who overwhelmed Shang Xiang most of all was, of course, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu. She couldn't describe how any more than inwardly stating that 'there's definitely something different about those two. I just can't put my finger on it.' Ce and Yu were miraculously still basically unchanged, but they'd become unusually strange in several small ways. Whatever the reason, and Shang Xiang had a very shrewd idea what it was-she just didn't like to think of it- she was determined to find out how. What was so different about them? And why? Why?

"Shang Xiang?"

Shang Xiang whipped around at the sound of the familiar voice she'd been struggling to avoid for days.

Just as she expected, Gan Ning stood mere feet away, one hand scratching the back of his hair.

Immediately, Shang Xiang began panicking.

"Oh- uh, hey! What's up? Um…what on earth are you doing here?"

For some strange reason, those last words stung Ning in a way no one would have liked to describe. He was completely taken aback.

"Fine," he said defiantly, trying to cover up his hurt. "You've just been running from me for ages, so I was going to ask if you were lonely or something, and if you felt like cruising on my new ship, but whatever. Forget it. I know where I'm not wanted."

And he started to leave her bedroom. Before he was almost out, however, he did turn his head and mutter,

"Princess."

He'd uttered the word as though it was something vulgar. And he shut the door with a bang upon leaving.

Shang Xiang groaned and collapsed onto her bed. How did she always manage to totally mess everything up? What was the matter with her? Why couldn't she just stop her sharp tongue and anxious feelings from getting the better of her? She could have slapped herself. She was just unsure of whether she was the one who deserved to.

Da Qiao sighed as she turned another page to the romantic novel she'd been reading for the past hour. In the time that she'd stayed in Wu, she felt that she could live here forever. Clearly, that was what someone else wanted, too. She wriggled her toes deeper into the warm, fluffy blankets she was burrowed in, her hair spread all over her pillow. From time to time, she reminded herself to thank Zhou Yu for picking out the book for her from the library, when she'd asked him for one which would make her feel 'special'. It was so interesting, she found herself absorbed into it from the moment she first opened it. She found that she could somehow easily relate to the characters, from the way they felt about each other and all the dramatic actions they'd performed. She hadn't the vaguest idea why she felt so, though.

She found her mind suddenly jumping to the time when, so many days ago, she'd been having trouble that dreadful headache. At once, her cheeks prickled, and the familiar sensation of her blushing took over her face, as she remembered how Sun Ce had 'made her feel better', as she liked to refer to what he'd done in her head.

Da shut the book she held in front of her and closed her eyes. She could almost feel his fingers running through her hair right now…

"Hiya, Sis!"

Da's eyes snapped open. Yes, there was Xiao standing in her doorway, and within seconds, she stood there no longer, but had leapt up onto the bed beside her older sister. She rolled onto her belly.

"Hey, Xiao," answered Da, smiling. "What have you been up- hey!"

Xiao had playfully snatched up the book from Da's hands and was now carelessly breezing through the pages.

"Watcha reading?" she asked, puzzled at how her sister could read such a large, heavy book that contained no pretty pictures.

"Nothing, nothing at all," Da lied, plucking it from Xiao's fingers and tossing it aside. Heaven knew what Xiao would think if she read some of the pages in there.

"So, what have you been doing?" she asked, ignoring Xiao's pout at having the book snatched from her.

Xiao brightened instantly, and sat up to tell her. "Oh, I was just gonna tell you! Yu and I are going to fly kites," she announced, eagerly.

It was only then that Da noticed a very sheepish Zhou Yu pacing impatiently outside Da's room. When he caught sight of Da watching him, he smiled and waved, embarrassed. Da could tell that he was no less nervous than Xiao was excited.

"Oh, I see," she laughed. "Well, have fun."

Xiao's face fell.

"What, you're not coming?" she whined. "Why not?"

The truth was, Da was rather tempted to join them. But she'd remembered just in time how Yu had brightened up a whole hour of her day with that wonderful book, and she knew all too well that he'd much prefer having Xiao to himself. The two have them had developed a very fine fondness for each other over the days, and Da didn't want to ruin one of the few chances they had of being alone. Even if Xiao couldn't understand why Yu was so keen for them to be on their own, Da felt she was obliged to repay him for his consideration.

"No, I really don't think I should. Besides, I've just got to finish this great book," she told Xiao firmly, holding it up so that Yu could take the hint. He did, and smiled gratefully. "But I think you two should enjoy yourselves. And…don't hold anything back!" she added, looking at Yu meaningfully.

Yu knew that Da meant the last sentence for him. But what was she trying to convey when she said not to hold anything back? If anything, that confused him even more.

Xiao, on the other hand, hadn't even paid attention to her words, let alone tried to figure them out.

"Well, okay. But remember, you're coming with us next time!" she insisted, clambering off the bed clumsily and making her way towards Yu.

Da laughed.

"Shoo, now. I've got to finish my book."

And she stole a glance at Yu. As she'd expected, his face had completely lit up at the words 'next time'.

Sun Ce slowly walked along the corridor that led to Da's bedroom. He reminded himself once more that this was what he'd wanted to do. This was what he wanted to show her. His feelings for her had strengthened during the time of her stay. And he felt that the same went for her- if her feelings for him were anything like the ones he experienced for her. Which was exactly what he was set on finding out right now. Quan was out hunting; Yu had informed him earlier that Xiao had insisted on their flying kites together, and Shang Xiang was off sulking in her room, or whatever it was she did when she was alone after she and Quan had one of their little 'disagreements'. So he figured he could never have had a better chance than this to have her to himself and talk to her about what was on his mind.

When he reached her room, he debated with himself for a few seconds on whether or not he should knock. The door was already slightly ajar. He was sure she would be more careful than that about guarding her privacy if she wanted to be alone. Deciding against knocking, he cautiously pushed open her door.

"Da?" he called tentatively before entering.

"Oh- wait! Just... just a minute!" came her hurried reply.

Ce hastily drew back, wondering why she sounded so panicked.

In a moment, the door swung open, and there she stood, with her hair down, a bit pink in the face and slightly breathless, yet smiling. Her eyes were shining as she looked at him.

It's almost as if she was waiting for me…

Ce gave his head a little shake. Now, why on earth would she do that?

They just stared at each other for a long time. Then it suddenly occurred to Ce that he'd never seen her look more stunning before... Well, maybe except for when he first met her.

At last, Ce remembered why he was even there in the first place. He decided to come right to the subject. Otherwise, he knew he'd never be able to stop looking at her.

Clearing his throat, which made her give a startled little twitch, he said,

"Uh-Da…I wanted to take you somewhere- somewhere really special to me… and- and talk. If that's okay with you," he added quickly.

Her face registered interest.

"Oh…well, sure! Of course I'll come. Where are we going?"

A smile formed on Ce's face. She was definitely going to like this.

"You'll see."

"We're here."

Ce helped her down from his horse. They'd grown somewhat accustomed to riding on the same horse- probably because they'd never ridden on separate ones since they'd known each other. Not that they ever rode horses much. It was just like a natural way of doing things- something of a habit.

Da looked around in the semi-darkness. She saw that the stars and the moon were out. Just beneath the sky flowed a magnificent river. Its waters clearly reflected the sky above, thereby causing it to shimmer like a diamond. The several, powerful silver beams of moonlight struck its silently gushing ripples, causing it to glisten heavenly.

Truly, the view was beyond breathtaking.

"It's beautiful," Da exclaimed in wonder, as they walked closer towards it.

"Just like you."

What the hell made me say that?

Strangely, he didn't really care as much as he normally would have.

Da turned her face towards him in pure surprise. Then she quickly looked away, trying to hide her flaring cheeks from him.

Not only was the sparkling lake lovely, but the entire area was just as captivating as what it surrounded, what with the beautiful bushes containing a wide variety of precious flowers, fruit trees and lush, tall green grass.

"It's Chang Jiang River," Ce informed her. "Um…do you wanna sit down?"

"Sure," she replied and seated herself on the smooth sand of the banks, which was glittering as though thousands of flecks of gold were embedded in it.. "I can see why this place is so special to you," she remarked, watching him sit beside her.

"Yeah. I used to come here ever since I was kid and learned how to ride. It was my favorite- well, I used to call it my 'thinking-place'.

Da giggled.

"So, how many other girls have you brought here besides me?" she said good-humoredly, with a mischievous smile.

She said it just to tease him, but was puzzled to see him put on a pensive face and reply,

"Actually, you're the only one."

Only? Not first, but only? Does he…mean anything by that?

She highly doubted it, but she hoped that he did.

"Wow," she whispered. "I-I wasn't really expecting… that answer from you."

She was sure he'd have taken it the way she'd meant it- as a joke. After all, wasn't he the one who was always making them? Then why the sudden change in behavior? Why was he more serious than she'd ever seen him before?

Ce didn't know what to say to this, so he just reached for her hand and gently possessed her slight, soft fingers in his, as though he couldn't help it. It was like how he'd always told Quan and Shang Xiang when they were children, that there was something magical about Chang Jiang River. Only now, he wasn't sure whether the magic was from the river or from her.

Da didn't even bother to remove her hand from Ce's. Instead, she inched even closer to him.

"Did you...want to talk to me about something?"

She finally dared to look at him. She couldn't begin to describe how she was feeling. It seemed that tonight, she felt that there was nowhere she'd rather be than here- with Ce.

"I did." Was all he would say.

Da didn't pursue the subject.

After several minutes of just gazing at the river, Ce decided to begin what he brought her here for. But somehow, it didn't seem to come out. Which was odd, even more so because he couldn't remember why he'd brought her here, to this unbelievable spot, to talk.

"Da?"

"Mmm?"

"I wanted to ask… if you feel the same way I do sometimes when I…" his voice trailed off when he looked at her.

Da had turned her head to him, and was staring at him with half-lidded eyes, a gentle smile spread across her pure, perfectly angelic face. Her bright, deep innocent green eyes were speaking to him, telling him all he needed to know, showing him all he wanted to see, and her hand stayed in his without making any signs to break free. This was the longest she'd looked at him without blushing and looking away. Ce suddenly lost the urge to ask her what he felt he should.

"Well?" she asked demurely.

"You're beautiful."

Da finally lowered her eyes shyly, her cheeks deepening their usual hue whenever she was around him.

"You're always saying that," she whispered. She didn't know what else to say to him on such a moment. "You're always…"

Her smile faded when she looked up again. Ce was wearing a most odd, peculiar expression on his face as he gazed at her. One she'd never seen before yet. It was one of awe and surprise, mixed with realization and something like... tenderness? And strangely, gratitude, for something... But what?

"Ce?"

"Da, shhh…" he put his finger on her lips.

A feeling of warmth surged through Da from the moment Ce touched her. And another feeling- she couldn't understand what. She was suddenly filled with an undeniable urge to tell him something.

"Oh Ce, I…"

Before she could finish, Ce lifted her face in his hand to his and kissed her. He kissed her for everything he'd come to feel for her. He kissed her in memory of the first time he'd seen her, and for all the times he'd wanted to hold her in his arms, just like this, but hadn't allowed himself to for fear of what she might say, or do. He kissed her for the way he knew she'd forever changed him. He kissed her to let her know about how much he…well, felt for her.

Da's mind had gone blank from the moment Ce's lips touched hers. Then, a thousand or more thoughts sprang inside her head, reminding her of all that her father had taught her, ordering her to pull away, screeching at her that what she was doing was wrong. These thoughts swarmed in her mind, but lasted for no more than a few seconds, before Ce's arms wrapped around her waist and gently pulled her against him. The moment Ce drew her nearer, those irritating words either evaporated, or were carelessly dismissed, and all she could think of was Ce's warmth, which she'd noted from the moment she first touched him, Ce's lips, which were pressed so gently, yet so passionately on her own, and how wonderful she felt being so close to him, so securely and softly held in his embrace. And how she knew, for the first time, how much she'd always wanted this, but never accepted it the way she did now, with all of her heart and all her soul. She slowly enclosed her arms around his neck and leaned closer to him, while returning his kiss in the same way as she accepted it.

As Ce held Da closer to him while they shared their first kiss, he couldn't help wondering, aside from how beautiful and perfect she felt, nestling in his arms right now, how ironic the moment was. It was definitely odd, however fantastic and great, because he'd brought her here to talk.

Ahhh… Hope that satisfies you, Lily Potter! And all you readers out there, of course. Please don't forget to review, for all my hard work! lol, don't worry, you'll find out what went on with Yu and Xiao in the next chapter! Until then though, see ya!