Hello again, people! Well, I guess I don't really have much to say this time, except that this is going to be one very fluffy chapter;). So, after thanking everyone for their reviews, I present to you Chapter 14 of this fanfic.

Enjoy!

"Know what?"

"No, but I will when you tell me."

"I love you."

Da Qiao smiled with pure pleasure and gratitude, feeling the familiar hotness (which she'd quite grown to enjoy) of her blush spread across her cheeks and nose. Shutting her eyes, she leaned back in Sun Ce's arms, nestling deeper into his tender, protective embrace. Her arms enclosed around his neck, her cheek against his chest. She did so love giving her complete submission and trust to him! She loved how warm he was, how tenderly he held her relatively fragile form to him, how he'd look at and talk to her, she loved all that she felt for him...

And she loved that he'd just said what he did. Her heart was still pounding from hearing him tell her like that, so easily, yet so sincerely. She did feel the same for him, she was sure of it. But she somehow didn't know how she should let him know that. Was she to simply say it... just the way he did? Or was there another way? If there was, then what way was that? Why didn't she know? And if there wasn't, then how could she express it to him in his way? She didn't think she had the courage to yet. But... did that mean that she didn't feel the same for him after all?

No, she thought firmly. I do. I know I do. I just...don't know how to tell him yet. Maybe I can't find it in me till later, she decided, satisfied.

And when I find it, I'll tell him. I'll tell him everything, and it'll make him so happy. I hope he'll be as happy as I am now. Actually, I hope he'll be much happier. Much, much, much-

"Hey," Ce whispered suddenly, interrupting her fantasies. Not that she minded that at all. He stroked her cheek with his fingers.

"Hey, what are you thinking?"

"Nothing," she said quickly. She felt too embarrassed to tell him he'd occupied her thoughts since the first day she met him. She was glad he couldn't see her face right now.

He laughed softly. Brushing away some strands of hair from her cheek, he replied,

"Y'know, you're not that good at lying."

Da smiled.

"Yeah, you should know, considering the lie you just told me a moment ago."

Of course, she meant the 'lie' about him saying he loved her.

"Huh, you've got a point there..."

Ce grunted slightly with mild surprise as she shoved him hard in the chest. She sure was stronger than she seemed! For a girl, at least...

Twisting in his arms, she raised her face to his and pouted.

"What's that supposed to mean? That you don't?"

"Don't what?"

"You know what."

"No, but I will when you tell me," he replied at once, quoting what she'd said earlier.

Ce's eyes were narrowed playfully, mischievously. He was teasing her.

In spite of herself, Da smiled. Lowering her eyes, she blushed again.

"Well... that... that you don't really... love me."

It was a stupid question, she knew. She was sure Ce would never lie to her when he was serious- he rarely ever was! But she just wanted to make sure of that. The real reason why she'd made that sarcastic remark in the first place was for the sake of testing him. But Ce wouldn't be Ce if he couldn't wriggle out of that one easily, and he had.

Lifting her up closer against him and gently tilting her face up with his hand, he stared straight into her eyes.

"Do you?"

Da's eyes widened. She hadn't expected this from him. Oh, she did know it was coming some day, but she never dreamed it would be so soon. She couldn't reply. It wasn't that she was afraid of answering him. It was the fear of upsetting him with whatever answer she gave that made her uncomfortable. After all, no matter how exactly-the-same-as-his her feelings were, she still knew she wouldn't be able to express them as directly he did.

She suddenly realized that she wasn't able to look into his eyes, penetrating and intense, any longer.

Hating herself, she lowered her eyes to the floor. They were filling up with unbidden tears, tears she'd never shed before him in her life. She didn't want this to be the first time. She didn't want there to be a first time. She wished them to take pity on her and vanish before they spilled out. She ordered them to retreat before they did their hateful duty. Did he know? Could he see her struggling? She hoped not.

She could be thankful that he couldn't see her tears, at the very least.

Does he still want me to be near him after this? she wondered, her heart nearly breaking at the idea.

But it seemed that he did want her near him. He drew her in to him, lifted her face once more, and kissed her long and deep.

It was a sweet understanding gesture, which meant love and protection, but it also meant,

We don't have to talk about it.

Eager and grateful, Da returned the kiss and quickly warmed to it.

She held herself close to him after they broke apart, childishly afraid that if she showed any sign of letting go, he'd grow disappointed and leave her.

I'm sorry I can't tell you yet, she tried to convey to him without words.

I want to, I really do. I don't know why I can't, I'm so sorry! Please don't leave me yet, I'll try, I really will. I won't disappoint you, never, ever-

She found that she was now glad she wasn't saying all this to him. For all anyone knew, he'd get far more freaked out by all this than disappointed if he could hear her.

But instead, he just tightened his embrace ever so slightly so as to warm her against the howling wind about the banks of Chang Jiang River, and kissed her forehead. It was almost as if he could hear her silent entreaties.

A slight movement from behind Ce distracted him.

Startled, he made as if to turn, then realized it was merely the slow, rhythmic movements of his horse as it breathed in its sleep, the horse on whose side Ce had temporarily forgotten he was resting.

Looking closely at Da, he saw that she, too, was on the verge of sleep.

Ce decided against awakening her.

I've put her through enough, he thought, half guiltily, half amused.

Besides, he was getting used to her falling asleep in his arms.

All those memories brought a smile to his face. Did she always sleep like that? Or was it just when she was with him? Or when she'd had too much stress?

Ce shook his head, snickering slightly, knowing that some questions would remain unasked.

Or maybe they wouldn't. He just wasn't sure. All he was sure of was that he really did love the young woman buried in his arms right now. He had a strong feeling that she did, too: only, she was never, and could never always be as frank as he was. And that she wanted the time to be ripe when she was finally ready to admit it; she wanted the moment to be perfect, he was sure she placed value in that.

And speaking of being frank...

He remembered the agreement he'd made with Zhou Yu. They'd decided that they would inform Da and Xiao Qiao of Sun Jian's imminent return. But however, as usual, there was a problem, one he'd actually foreseen:

How the heck am I supposed to tell her?

He had no idea how he would, nor was he exactly sure how she would take it. Would she decide to go home, after all? Ce didn't want to imagine the prospect of losing her like that. And he knew that Yu, perhaps for similar reasons, hadn't summoned the courage to come clean to Xiao about it either. Yet, at least.

And he was sure of one more thing, too.

I'm gonna be having a hard time getting home.

"So, umm...Hi?"

Gan Ning raised his eyebrow.

"Hi."

Whether he was amused or confused, Sun Shang Xiang couldn't tell. And she honestly didn't care at the moment. All she cared about was leaving a better impact on him than the one she'd left on their encounter a few days earlier. She was actually stunned that he'd come to see her after those few embarrassing moments of accidental rudeness. But her mind was set this time. She begged her sharp tongue not to get the better of her. This time would be different. This time, she was going to think before she spoke, and try to be a little nicer for his sake.

After all, if Ning was nice enough to visit her so soon after that, couldn't she pay him back by being apologetically sweet and gracious?

"I, uh, came to see Quan."

All of Shang Xiang's kind and hopeful resolutions to please Ning sank somewhere in the depths of her memory, never to be roused again.

"Oh."

Her voice came out flat and emotionless.

"Right. Well, he isn't here. He's, uh, hunting. At least, that's what he said he'd be doing, so I wouldn't believe him if I were you. Quan's a liar, and jealous and nosy, so never listen to what he says if you're sure you know what's good for you. But then again, you're a pirate, so since when have you ever been sure of anything, let alone of what's good for you? Coming to see Quan of all the nice, forgiving, repentant people you can visit in the palace is further proof of that."

Ning's eyebrows ascended to his hairline. Shang Xiang immediately regretted her words. She knew she overdid it. And she'd hinted outrageously at things that wouldn't do her pride good if he worked out what she meant.

What's he gonna say to me now?

"Wow. So, what did he do to make you so mad?"

Shang Xiang blinked. Was he laughing at her? Should she find out if he was? Should she force him to tell her why? Should she curse him for being so damn irresistible, making her lose her nerve and control over her tongue so pathetically whenever he was around?

Don't. You. Dare. Not again, you idiot.

Ning was looking at her expectantly.

Taking a deep breath, she answered, in a voice she hoped against hope was casual and light-hearted,

"Are you asking me honestly?"

"Do I look like I'm using my infamous sense of humor?"

Shang Xiang flushed, but this time with relieved pleasure, because she knew Ning was genuinely interested, and was not ridiculing her.

"No, you don't. Alright, here's what happened. I was minding my own business in my room, see, and then Quan just bursts in like it's his job..."

And she narrated her whole over-two-week-old story to him without stopping for breath, or asking his opinions whenever his expression shifted from simply attentive, disapproving, shocked, or amused.

"...So what do you think? I'm right, aren't I? Isn't it Quan's fault for being such a prying, arrogant loser, and then attacking me for no good reason, blaming me for pretty much being what I am?"

She paused and took in a deep breath; the first she'd taken since beginning what Sun Quan would have proclaimed was the monologue of the century.

Ning's face was resting in the palm of his hand. He was frowning slightly, his eyes lowered, deep in thought.

"I think the guy's just trying to protect you."

Shang Xiang worked harder to suppress her snorts and screams of derisive laughter than she did to keep her strength from failing on the battlefield.

When she was sure the danger had passed, she allowed herself to scoff.

"Yeah, right. Whatever. He sure doesn't seem protective to me. That's Ce. He's the brother who cares about me. And he never, ever turns overprotective. He always knows when to turn it down. Is that Quan's problem? That he's overprotective?"

A good-natured smile formed at the corner of Ning's mouth.

"Well, no. I don't think so. I think he wants to protect you from other stuff. Stuff both he and Ce know that nothing and nobody can protect you from, but stuff that Quan's determined to try a hand at keeping away from you all the same."

"Yeah? Like what? What is he trying to protect me from that makes him such an obnoxious, overbearing creep to me?"

"Growing up."

"..."

Xiao finished her song in a very high, but well-pitched note.

Smiling, Yu began clapping, as was expected of him, laughing softly when Xiao gave him a sweet curtsey, a pleased look on her face.

"So, watcha think?" she asked him, immediately after he ceased applauding her.

"It was great. Seriously. You should go pro."

Xiao giggled.

"I'm... well- I'm not that good. Sis's better than me. She's the one who taught it to me in the first place."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. She sings it to me when I can't sleep."

"Always?"

"Yes. Ever since... well..."

Xiao mouth twitched ever so slightly, and Yu instantly realized she was recollecting her mother's death. He could have kicked himself for bringing up the subject.

"So, does it work?" he asked swiftly, changing the subject. He was very good at hiding his feelings from people, such as his unpleasant shock when her face was just about to crumple.

"Hm? Oh... oh, yes. Always does. I fall asleep almost at once."

Xiao was beginning to smile faintly already, and Yu congratulated himself on his quick wit.

"What about you?"

Yu was caught off-guard.

"Uh... what?" he asked, although he knew exactly what she wanted to know. He started growing slightly alarmed.

"Well, you know. Did your mother ever sing you a lullaby like that one?"

To her surprise, his face became subtly guarded. His vivid brown eyes stared straight ahead instead of focusing on her.

"No."

Xiao blinked.

She was rather taken aback by the briefness, even harshness in Yu's voice. But that wouldn't stop her from trying to find out what the matter was!

"So, did your sister?"

"No."

"Your father?"

"No."

"Anyone?"

"No!"

Yu rose to his feet violently, with his back to Xiao, who bit her lips in shock and repentance. Was he angry? Was the calm, gentle and patient Yu she knew actually heaving with rage? More importantly, was it her fault?

Yu turned the side of his face to her.

"I think it's time we went back," was all he would tell her before turning away.

Xiao could feel a new kind of fear spreading through her. How did Yu's voice turn so... cold? It was bizarre of her to think this way, but seeing her best friend now scared her. It was as though the Zhou Yu she knew was replaced by one that the 'good' one was used to hiding for a long, long time for the good of the people around him.

But if that was the case, what made the 'bad' one come back? What evil had she done which caused her Yu to vanish?

Yu still wasn't looking at her. And he was still quivering with that strange, unknown emotion.

This is your fault. Now it's up to you to make him feel better.

"Um... Yu? Did I... did I say something wrong? Are you upset?"

Yu didn't answer.

Xiao stood up slowly and walked a few paces up to him.

"What's the matter? Is it me? It's me, isn't it? I've said something stupid, haven't I?"

Yu lowered his head. But he still wouldn't look at her.

The corners of Xiao's eyes pricked. A lump came to her throat. She could feel her ears reddening. Yu was hurting. Because of her. Why wasn't he talking to her? Looking at her? Now what was she to do?

"Are you mad at me?" she managed to choke out.

No answer.

Tears obscurred her vision.

"Please don't be mad because of me," she whispered.

Almost instantly, Yu whipped around, rather paler than he usually was, but to Xiao's immense relief, otherwise just the same as he was before she started her talk of lullabies.

Yes, this was the 'good' Yu. Her Yu.

His eyes widened to their fullest extent when he saw the tears that had accumulated in hers, and for several seconds, all he could do was stare at her, dumbfounded.

Finally, Xiao couldn't bear it anymore.

"What?" she cried, as the tears spilled forth at last. She raised a hand to try and wipe them away.

But suddenly, Yu caught hold of her hand and held it away from her face. Then, he said what had to be the stupidest thing he ever said in his life.

"Are you crying?"

His tone was incredulous, and his face revealed astonishment at her tears.

But Xiao didn't seem to either mind or notice his idiocy. She gave a hearty sniff.

"Uh-huh," she answered.

Yu's gaze softened. It turned from astounded to tender. He was still holding her hand, but his fingers now somehow wrapped around her small, slight ones.

"Oh, Xiao," he breathed. "Why? Were you... afraid of me?"

Xiao's eyes flickered away from his momentarily. When they met his again, they didn't quite understand why his were looking down upon her in such a way that almost robbed her of her breath.

She realized he'd asked her something.

"I... I don't know," she tried her best to tell him. "But I think maybe I was."

Yu studied her face for a few more seconds, calmly brushed away her tears, then, without another word, swept her into his arms.

Xiao allowed herself to be held by him for quite a while, and when he began to release her, she leaned in towards him and hugged him with all her might. She hadn't expected this of him. But she was glad he did it.

Yu finally held Xiao at arm's length.

"Xiao, you're..." he began.

"What?" she asked again. But this time, her face was clear of any moisture, except for a few traces of tearstains here and there.

Yu hesitated.

Beautiful, he wanted to say. Once, when he and Da had been talking in the library, she'd said to him, "To be truly beautiful means to inspire love."

If that was true, then Xiao, standing here between his arms, looking into his eyes, afraid she'd angered him by unknowingly sending him back into his dreadful, tragic past, was the most beautiful person he knew.

But he knew he couldn't tell her that. Not yet.

"You're so cute," he said instead.

She smiled sweetly.

"Thanks," she whispered.

And without so much of a warning, she flew at him again, throwing her arms around him and squeezing him tight.

As Yu held her to him again, he could hear her whisper ever so faintly,

"Sorry."

Yu held her closer, surprised at his own daring.

"It's alright."

So, let me know if I'm on the right track of fluffiness! This has GOT to be my fluffiest one yet! Please, PLEASE review so that my hard work doesn't go to waste. And yes, I know Yu seems to be a little too emotional and weird in this chapter, but he's supposed to be. He's got a very dark past! Will you find out about it? Well, maybe lol. Is it crucial to the plot? Hahah I think I'll leave that one for you to figure out XP.

Thanks!