Welcome me back, all my wonderful readers! I do hope you have forgiven me (as you always have) for not updating this story in months and months again! Though in my defense, I didn't take as long as I did last time, if that makes things better! Lol, Anyways, I would like to thank everybody who read and reviewed the last chapter- I'm glad it was such a hit, with nearly everyone telling me that they could sympathize with Da's situation and hoped the best turned out for her. So, if your review wasn't signed, and I wasn't able to get back to you, thank you! ^.^
Moving on to things that are equally important, as I'm sure most (if not all) of you know by now, Dynasty Warriors 8 has been announced! Now, before I speak my thoughts on this new development, let me first say that I'm just as excited about this game as the next Dynasty Warriors fan, and I simply can not WAIT to see what the Two Qiaos look like now! To be honest, Da's had virtually the exact same costume for nearly 4 years now, and I think it's high time Koei revamped her design considerably. I've seen Zhou Yu's new look, and I absolutely love it, so I'm hoping I can say the same for the other three main characters in this story. Having said all that, I do feel like Koei's been releasing Dynasty Warriors games left and right without restraint- is it just me, or does it feel like Dynasty Warriors 7 came out just last year? Oh wait, it did lol. Plus Dynasty Warriors 7: Empires was barely announced before Koei dropped this bomb (which is an awesome one nonetheless lol) on us. Plus it is odd that I was talking about the relatively new (at the time) DW7 in just the last chapter, and am discussing the latest game in this one. Well, all I can say is, I will trust that Koei knows what it's doing!
I know I've kept you reading this A/N too long already, but I would like to say one more thing before I shut up- I'm sure most of you have noticed that I posted a new story a few months ago in the Tekken category. That story is a oneshot, and is the first story I've written outside of my Dynasty Warriors work, and it would mean worlds to me if you, like the supportive readers I know you to be, could please go check it out! I would appreciate you clicking on the link if it was just to read the A/N at the beginning, because that note was written for all of you! I really want to know what you think of it, and whether you think I am suited to writing about that franchise more.
Now, you will be relieved to know, I will finally put an end to yet another rambling A/N, and allow you to read to your heart's content! To all my patient readers, here's Chapter 32!
Enjoy.
The morning sun's rays were gently caressing his face. His eyes were closed, but he'd been drowsily awake for nearly an hour, but he wished that he wasn't. He wanted to return to the comfort and blissfulness sleep had to offer. The wound in his chest didn't bother him so much now, but his torso wasn't about to lose the way it heavily bore down on his body like a bundle of wooden logs anytime soon. He knew that even the slightest movement on his part could stir up the pain he was unfortunately getting used to. That was why he lay stock-still, his breaths carefully measured. Who would have thought he would end up like this? He, The Little Conqueror, The Red Cyclone, reduced to a pathetic, defenseless lump of flesh-!
But he couldn't stress over this; it would do him no good. He had to get better. He had to recover from this so that he could leave, so that he could return to whence he came. Too long had he been worrying over matters that were not worth countless hours of sleep. It was time to move on. Time to forgo all his connections with this place. Time to erase past hurts, past promises.
Gradually, as any lingering chance of slipping back into slumber began to escape him, he became aware that he was not the only person in his room. He could discern someone else's breathing amid his own, could sense a person's presence by his bed. A shadow was suddenly cast across his face, blocking the sunlight which was bathing his eyelids.
He frowned. He had been enjoying the warm sunlight. Who did this person think they were, what right did they have to keep the sun from him?
Irritated, Sun Ce forced his eyes open.
Zhou Yu was sitting by the bed, a quizzical smile on his face, his hands resting on the arms of his chair.
Ce blinked, speechless, as though doing so would clear his vision to reveal that no one was there, that he was hallucinating.
"Well? I come all this way for a friend, and the lazy man isn't even pleased to see me," Yu admonished.
After Ce was certain that Yu was not, after all, a figment of his imagination, his face broke out into a smile, and he allowed himself to indulge in just a little laughter at the pleasure of seeing his best friend again.
"What the hell are you doing here?" he demanded incredulously between laughs, his eyes sparkling with delight. Finally, someone he could trust!
"I could ask you the same question," Yu chided. "What do you think you're playing at, letting yourself get barreled with arrows? The Sun Ce I know wasn't nearly so careless."
"Ah, well," Ce lamented ruefully, "I can't say you're wrong. I guess I just didn't wanna miss out on feeling like an idiot for once. And it was just one arrow, mind you. I'm not quite that stupid yet."
"Serve you right," said Yu in mock severity. "Anyone would have been able to spy a single arrow emerging towards them from a pitch-black sky when they weren't even on the battlefield. You're losing your touch. You might as well-"
"Shut up, shut up," Ce snorted with laughter, raising a hand a few inches off the bed, another clutching protectively at his side. "You're gonna make my wound split again, you ass." But he was enjoying himself hugely.
"Takes one to know one," Yu grinned, but he relented and allowed Ce to compose himself.
It took a few more moments for Ce to catch his breath. Then, the atmosphere slipped out of its jolly tone and assumed a more serious note.
"How do you feel, brother?" Yu asked, solemnly now, when he felt it was safe for Ce to talk.
Ce smiled humorlessly, and gestured to himself in response, laying limply in bed. He looked out of place and restless, just as he felt.
"You know. I'm... Dealing with it. Maybe not too well, but it's better than being dead, I can tell you that."
"Yes, I can imagine," said Yu sympathetically. "You must be going out of your mind, cooped up in a room like this."
"It sucks," Ce agreed, once again glad to have someone around who could understand him. "You wouldn't believe how many times I've dreamed that I was all right, that I was out hunting, or training, or fighting, or just doing something that didn't involve being in one place for more than an hour. No, less than an hour. You know I was never really one to relax, Yu, I was never calm or peaceable, no, I always wanted in on some action, something that required moving around. Only time I would ever relax was when-"
He stopped there and looked away.
Yu was silent for a couple of minutes, waiting for Ce to speak again.
Then, Ce turned his head back toward him and smiled again, pleasantly this time.
"How have things been back home? How's Pop doing?"
"Fine. You've given everyone a good deal to worry about, however," Yu answered. "Shang Xiang was hysterical before we finally got her to understand that you weren't in danger any longer."
"Well, I wish they didn't have to go through that," Ce groaned. "At least this'll stop her fighting with Quan for a bit, though, if nothing else does."
"I would imagine that that ought to be the least of your concerns for now, Ce," Yu said gravely. "How long did they prescribe you bed-rest for? Do you feel as though your wound's healing as quickly as you'd like?"
"It could never heal as quick as I'd like," Ce snapped vindictively, more at his wound than anything else. "But they're getting the job done, I guess. I'll be outta here before I know it. At least that's what I wanna believe."
"As do I," Yu added.
Ce's slight frown melted away and he smiled at that.
"I'm glad you're here," he said, grudgingly expressing his gratitude. "But, how come Pop didn't come instead? I thought the message was sent for him."
"I asked to be sent," said Yu. "You didn't think I wouldn't want to see for myself how you were, did you? And Father did want to come. But I thought I would be the wiser choice. I'm better able to reign in my anger at Cao Cao for what he allowed to happen to you, right under his nose."
"Yeah," Ce agreed, before lapsing into silence once more.
Yu watched him, inwardly congratulating himself at not betraying any information about Sun Jian's condition. He didn't like to think about how Ce would react if he knew.
"Still, though, Yu," Ce said apologetically, "It bombs that this dragged you from your work. I know how much it means to you-"
"No need for you to worry about that," Yu said swiftly. "You just focus on getting better. Besides, Lu Xun's got everything under control. He'll come through. And I was planning to leave anyway. Remember? In fact, I'd already obtained Father's permission to leave the very next day when news of your injury arrived. This new development just sped up my arrival."
"Oh," said Ce, as the memory of the desperate letter he'd sent to Yu only days ago dawned on him. "Right. No, I remember."
A guilty lump came to his throat here, and he stopped. Yu waited, but Ce was staring at the ceiling, lost in thought, and as the minutes passed it didn't seem as though he was going to say any more.
"I saw Da when I arrived," Yu volunteered finally.
And eyebrow of Ce's twitched, as though trying to rid itself of an irksome fly. But he said nothing.
"She was the first person I met yesterday, in fact. I must say, it's been wonderful to see her again. She looks lovely. I can barely-"
"I suppose she brushed you off as if she barely knew you too, didn't she?" Ce interrupted suddenly. "Acted like you were nothing to her, or something? Don't worry. I got the same thing as well. Which was nothing."
"On the contrary," Yu replied quietly. "Da was overjoyed to see me again. As was I. It's been too long, after all."
Furious, Ce faced Yu and fixed him with his glare.
"Oh, yeah? Well, don't let her fool you. It's all just a facade. I've experienced it first-hand, alright? You're just gonna get hurt if you let her get to you again."
With that, he turned away once more, his fists clenched by his sides.
Yu waited a reasonable amount of time before speaking again.
"How are you, Ce? I mean, really how are you?"
He received no answer. Unperturbed, Yu went on.
"You don't seem upset about this injury alone. Something else has been bothering you. I wonder, could it have anything to do with the letter you sent me?"
Ce was silent for a few more seconds. Then he spoke again, sounding defeated this time.
"And so what if it was? It doesn't mean anything anymore, Yu. There's no point in me beating myself up over this."
"Why is that?" Yu asked softly.
Ce exhaled, then winced slightly and cursed, rebuking himself. He'd been ignoring the strain he was putting on his chest.
"Why else do you think?" he spat, smarting from the pain of his wound. "She's the one responsible for this. She was the one who was playing me for a fool the whole time, and I like a stupid sheep followed her onto that terrace where I got shot. She must have told Cao Cao everything he wanted to hear just so she could get rid of me. Wouldn't that be convenient? Too bad her plan backfired. But I guess someone like her couldn't give up that easily, so I'm just gonna be prepared for the worst."
He said all this very fast, in a voice that expressed more betrayal and hurt than anger or hatred.
Yu raised an eyebrow, perplexed by Ce's admission.
"I find that very difficult to believe, Ce. Surely you don't believe it yourself. What reason would Da have to endanger you like this?" he reasoned.
"Because with me out of the way, no one would ever find out about our past! The whole thing was a set-up so that she could marry her dear 'Lord Cao Cao' in peace," Ce snarled.
He refrained from saying anymore. His throat was getting constricted due to the thoughts running through his mind, and he wanted nothing to do with the new pain that threatened to overcome him, the pain that wasn't physical, the pain that wasn't of the body but of the heart. The pain that he wouldn't be able to bear so well. It was the only thing that could truly break him, and he wasn't about to let it consume him, let it plunge him into sadness.
So, Ce firmly shut his mouth and turned his face to the side again.
"Look Ce," Yu ventured quietly, "I realize you can't help but hold Da responsible because she was the one who was with you at the time. But didn't it cross your mind that maybe, someone was playing the both of you at the same time? That you were both pawns in a third person's scheme to take you out? After all, there are more than just a few people in this land who view you as a threat and would love to see you eliminated. Don't you agree they might have used her?"
Yu could tell that Ce was pondering this. He waited for a bit, barely disguising his hopefulness.
"Doesn't seem very likely," Ce muttered at last.
Yu sighed. Why should even being shot in the chest with a poisoned arrow diminish Ce's stubbornness?
"What could Da have said to you that day, Ce?" Yu asked, almost imploring an answer. "What could she have told you the day that she left which turned you against her so vehemently, for over a year? Did she wound your pride? Say she hated you? What could have been worse than that?"
"Look, just drop it, Yu," Ce ordered wearily, taking a deep breath and carefully raising a hand to rub his temples. He closed his eyes for a moment. "It really doesn't matter what she said, alright? That... has nothing to do with any of this I reached out to her as well as I could these past weeks. All I got was indifference. I'm done trying to figure her out, okay? Even if she wasn't responsible for my 'mishap'. Even if she was innocent. I'm done with her, and that's that."
Yu rose to leave.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Ce," he said somberly. "But I'm not done with her. I mean to help her however I can. Even you can't believe she's truly happy where she is right now. You must see that this isn't what she wants."
"Well, however you feel about her is your own business and your own right," said Ce, evading the last part of what Yu said. "I can't change that and I'm not going to. I sent you that letter hoping you'd be able to help Xiao, and-"
"Oh, I've seen Xiao," Yu said softly, a smile spreading across his face as he said it. It was as though a ray of pure happiness suddenly illuminated his features.
Ce abruptly turned to look at him, struck by what he'd said, as well as by the loving caress his voice had adopted. Seeing the enlightened look on his friend's face, he gaped.
"You have?! Well, why didn't ya say so! What happened? Was she happy? You didn't tell her about me, did-"
"That all can wait, Ce," Yu said with loud authority, drowning out Ce's questions. "First you need to recover. There'll be plenty of time to discuss Xiao afterward. So, though I'm no physician, I do have the knowledge to recommend plenty of bed rest and liquid ingestion. It's been," and here Yu smiled at Ce fondly, once again experiencing the rush of relief at his sworn brother being in no danger of slipping away from those who loved him, "truly refreshing to see you again, Ce. Rest well."
He extended a hand to him.
Ce reached up to clasp it, smirking as he did so. "You sly, evasive bastard," he teased, "Keeping me in the dark about her, are ya? Wonder what happened that you don't feel like telling your own-"
"Enough now!" said Yu, but he was laughing. "They ought to bandage your mouth next. I'm off. I'll see you soon enough, Ce."
Ce chortled, letting his hand go.
"See ya, man."
Yu made it as far as the navy curtains. He took hold of them with one hand, ready to part the two and step out. Then-
"How is she?"
Yu smiled, shutting his eyes as he savored the precious new memories of his beautiful, golden girl.
"Perfect."
"I'm happy for you."
"As I wish to be for you."
Silence.
It was now or never.
"She wants to see you again. She wants to prove her innocence to you."
More silence.
"Would you deny her one last request, Ce? Could you really be so cruel?"
Yu waited. But Ce's silence was unbroken.
Yu sighed in defeat. He had done the best he could have taking Ce's condition into consideration, and that was at least some small comfort to him. He parted the curtains to walk through.
"Wait."
Da Qiao paced back and forth as she waited in the hallway. Her hands were clasped together and her brow was furrowed in anticipation and nervousness.
What news was Yu going to bring her? What was transpiring between the two of them?
She was thankful that nobody was about, otherwise they would surely be baffled by her nervy behavior. And then disaster would certainly follow. Da had tried to sit calmly and placidly several times, but her feet wouldn't stay still. She hoped no one else had decided to visit Ce so early in the morning, otherwise she didn't know what explanation to give them regarding her antics.
But luckily for her, this was unlikely. Everyone had by now been informed of the arrival of Wu's future Grand Strategist, as well as of the close relationship he shared with Wu's heir. They had briefed him on the young lord's improving condition, and he replied that he would be paying his friend a visit as soon as the former had rested. Therefore, everybody would know better than to interrupt the two of dignitaries as they caught up with each other. And, Da prayed, nobody would ever suspect that The Beautiful Warrior Zhou would knock on Lady Da Qiao's door before he paid the aforementioned visit. Certainly, it was quite odd that the two reserved, intellectual persons were so well-acquainted with each other... but the Lord Cao Cao was not present to either make note of this or to express disapproval, so there was nothing anyone had to make of it.
Da took a deep breath and held it as she recounted what had happened between Ce and herself the day before. She didn't want her mind to repeat the awful accusations he had hurled at her. But she wasn't going to abandon her new resolve to stand and face any rough trial she might have to for the sake of winning back his trust. She would never go against her priority to protect those she loved. She was going to be strong and remember every single word he had said to her- because that was what he thought of her now, and she needed to know what he was thinking to that she could change it. However much it hurt her, she would not run away. She would fight it.
Still... she never knew that mere words could hurt her so much... but they did, and ultimately because they'd been uttered by him.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
I finally understand how I made you feel that day, Ce. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
After what seemed like an eternity, the curtains down the hall parted and Yu emerged.
Da virtually pounced on him.
"Well? What did he say? What happened? Is he all right?" she gushed breathlessly, her words coming out in a rush.
Her eyes were wide and fearful, fearful of what he had to tell her, and her heart leapt to her throat.
Yu raised his hands in a gesture to placate her.
"Calm down, Da. I won't tell you anything unless I think you're capable of hearing it."
"I'm sorry," she said at once, contrite. But his words struck her as foreboding, as though he had bad news to give her. She struggled to hide her apprehension. "I've just been a bundle of nerves for so long, I can't help it. Please tell me what happened, Yu. I can hardly bear it."
"I will, I will," Yu said reassuringly. He looked tired, Da noticed guiltily. "Let's first sit down and collect ourselves."
So they sat side by side, and Da managed to hold her tongue for the few minutes that Yu stared at the ceiling in thought before speaking.
"I spoke to him about what you wanted, Da. It wasn't easy, but... I did get him to agree to see you one more time."
Da's eyes brightened at once and her face lit up with joy.
"But," Yu went on hurriedly, before she could get her hopes up, "I don't know how much that's going to help, Da. He seems pretty resolved to never reach out to you again."
Da's face fell as quickly as it had lifted. She looked away, crushed.
"I knew it," she said, sounding resigned. "I told you, Yu. I told you he'd never forgive me. He won't to listen to anything I have to say. He must have agreed just to make you happy."
"Now, I don't know if that's true," Yu replied, smiling wryly. "But we can't be sure, of course."
Da looked at him miserably.
"Does he still think I'm to blame for what happened to him?" she asked, her voice sounded choked.
Yu considered her question seriously.
"No, I don't believe he ever really did, Da. What he said to you was probably just an attempt to distance himself you again. Yes, in his anger, he may have felt it was true for a while... but after his mind cleared, I think he kept telling himself so, simply because it was what he needed to believe if he was going to cut off all ties with you."
To his surprise, Da's eyes brimmed over.
"So he does want to cut off ties with me," she said heavily. "Of course he does. What made me expect anything else?"
She looked so dejected, Yu's heart went out to her. He reached an arm around her shoulders and held her close, sad that this was all the comfort he had to offer her, when she deserved so much more.
"How did he seem to you, Yu?" she asked softly after they had been sitting that way for a minute. "He wasn't in too much pain, was he? He seemed like he was getting better?"
"No, I don't think he was hurting badly. He's far from fully healed, of course. But he's strong, Da. He's doing well. There's no need for you to worry."
"Oh, thank goodness," she said fervently. "He was in so much pain when I saw him, Yu. It was as if it hurt him to take breaths. I could barely look at him."
Yu smiled at her tenderly, surveying the concern etched in her beautiful face and wondering how this was the same girl Ce had accused of being cold, of being conniving, of trying to hurt him.
"I know this is going to sound unreasonable to you," Da admitted, "but I almost feel as if... as if I am responsible for what happened to Ce. In fact, I know I am. Even if I didn't know what was going to happen, I was the one who asked him to follow me to the terrace. I told you, that was when Cao Cao ordered the archers to... to shoot him. So in a way, Ce's right about it being my f-"
"Enough, Da. We'll have none of that," Yu cut her off harshly. "You didn't know any better. All you were trying to do was tell him the truth, and help Xiao. I won't have you blaming yourself for this, do you understand?"
Da hung her head. Yu knew he had not entirely convinced her that she was blameless but it didn't matter. In time, she would see how none of it was her fault.
"So... when will I be able to see him?" Da asked in a small voice, trying to mask her eagerness. But Yu could see it all over her face- he could even see it in the way her hands were gripping her seat, as though she was waiting to bolt up and rush to his room right that second.
It was amazing for Yu to see how many things Xiao had really learned from her sister. These habits may not be part of Da's personality anymore, but they certainly manifested themselves in her every time she her composure was on edge.
"You can't see him right now, sweetheart" Yu said kindly. "He's more tired than he's letting on. The nurses need to attend to him, we need to be sure he's getting all the care he needs."
"Oh, I know that, Yu," Da sighed, crestfallen. "It's just that I wish I could be the one to care for him. There's so much I wish I could do for him, and I can't because he won't have me around. It just hurts me to see how much pain he's in; and it hurts worse to know that he blames me for it. Plus, Cao Cao could very well be done with his meeting with Queen Himiko. He might be back any day now. He could be back tonight. How will I be able to see Ce then? I won't let Cao Cao hurt him again. Not ever," she finished determinedly.
"I know, Da. I'm right beside you. But I think it's best we give him some time. There was... something strange in the way he agreed to see you. I don't know how he did, especially since he was refusing to have anything to do with you minutes ago. I'm not saying we should take that as a bad sign, but... Well, I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out when you see him."
But Da now looked more frightened than anything else.
"Now I almost don't want to see him," she gave a broken laugh. "But I know I have to. I need to hear everything he has to say to me. I've pushed him away for too long. He deserves to be heard."
It had been bothering Yu for too long now, he had to ask her.
"Da, what did you say to Ce before you and Xiao left Jian Ye Palace?" Yu asked suddenly.
Da looked up at him in surprise, thrown off by his question.
"I need to know. I don't think Ce's ever forgotten it, and it doesn't seem like he ever will. What could you possibly have said that was so harsh?"
Da flushed with shame and regret. She lowered her eyes. Oh, what wouldn't she give for a second chance, what wouldn't she give to erase those awful words she'd spoken-!
"Did you insult him, Da?" Yu asked in low, gentle tones. "Did you reject his love?"
When Da had mustered the courage to look Yu fully in the eyes again, the tears really were running down her face.
"Oh, I did worse than that, Yu," she sobbed. "I said more than just derogatory things about him and his love. I insulted everything- everything he loved, everything he stood for. I insulted Lord Sun Jian, Shang Xiang, and Sun Quan. I said such unforgivable things about them... I told him he was a fool for believing I ever had feelings for him. I said that I was just amusing myself with him, that I knew we could never last. I even-" but here Da's courage failed her and her voice broke. She lowered her face but kept her eyes on Yu.
"I even insulted you, Yu," she whispered, abashed.
Yu gave a nod. Da had told him all he needed to know.
"I see," he said, sounding, to Da's surprise, not in the least bit angry or hurt, but comprehending. "So you had hurt his pride, but it wasn't as I thought. You insulted his crowning glory. I can understand how he was able to let you go after that."
Da's lips trembled.
"I'm sorry, Yu," she moaned. "It seemed like all I could do at the time. There was no other way he would have let me go, I know he would have fought against it otherwise. But I didn't realize I was effectively digging my own grave. I didn't realize I'd see him again, and have him hate me for everything I did. I'm so sorry I said those things about you, too. I didn't mean them. I didn't mean anything."
"No, don't apologize, Da," Yu said warmly. "You really had no other choice. You were very brave, taking all of that upon yourself, especially when you were all alone in your endeavors."
Da managed a watery smile.
"I wasn't alone, though," she said reminiscently. "I had Xiao, and I had you, supporting me through it all. Even though you didn't like what had to happen, even though you didn't know why I would do it. You still trusted that I would do the right thing, just like I asked you to."
He returned her smile.
"Well, who was I to refuse my sister a promise?"
Da made a sound between a hiccup and a laugh, and gave his hand a grateful squeeze.
They both sat in silence for a while, letting the memories of a year past wash over them, both of them accepting that there was nothing either of them could have done differently, however much they wanted to...
"But you know, Da, I think I do know why you did what you did," Yu broke the silence abruptly. "I didn't back then, but I do now."
Da snapped out of her reverie, and gave him a puzzled look.
"What?"
Yu fixed her with his gaze so that she was unable to look away, unable to hide anything from him. He had been drawing closer and closer to this conclusion for a while now. And this was when he could finally confirm his suspicions, when he could be sure that he was right about what he believed happened between his father and sister.
"The reason why you went along with Father's wishes. The reason why you wouldn't tell me what he told you."
Da's face shifted from confused, to panicked.
"What... what do you-"
Yu suddenly placed a hand on Da's shoulder, as though to steady her for the blow she would receive from what he was going to tell her next.
"Da, I don't want to concern you with more than you can handle," he said urgently. "But I know you would want to be informed of this. And I know that if anyone has a right to be told, it's you."
He took a deep breath. Even thinking about it caused him physical pain, let alone speaking of it.
"Da, when word of Ce's injury received us, Father suffered a serious stroke. He's fighting for his life as we speak."
Da's face crumpled immediately. Her hand covered her mouth as fresh tears cascaded down her face. Her shoulders shook, but she managed to stay composed as she wept.
"Oh, Yu," she breathed. "Oh, no... You didn't- you didn't tell Ce?"
"No, of course not," Yu reassured her, watching her reaction for any signs of shock. "It would have seriously deteriorated his progress."
"Good," Da whispered. "Good. Oh, Yu! This is terrible... I wish- I wish-"
She choked on her words; Yu instinctively stood up and took her face in his hands, placing a protective kiss on her forehead. He held her head under his chin as she cried.
Yu immediately regretted breaking the news to her. All he had done was cause her more pain. He couldn't help but comfort her in this way, this way that seemed so natural, the way he had done all those years ago with the other one, the one who was now lost to him forever...
But he knew he had to gain control of his emotions and find out the truth.
"You knew, didn't you Da? You knew about him. That was what he told you to make you leave. He told you about his heart."
Still sobbing into shoulder, Da nodded. There was no point in concealing information from him now, no reason to keep Lord Sun Jian's secret. Doing so would cause more harm than good. Besides, Yu already knew. And it felt so good to finally confess to someone the terrible truth Sun Jian had confided in her, especially when she had been carrying it inside her, with no one to divulge it to, ever since that day.
"I knew there had to be a good reason why you left," Yu exhaled, his voice contorted with relief. "I knew you could never do anything wrong for Xiao. I trusted you then, and I never lost my trust in you once. I knew you would be able to give me an answer for your actions someday."
Yu was thrilled, thrilled that his faith in her had paid off, thrilled that he had not been wrong to entrust Da wholeheartedly with the girl he loved.
Da broke away to look up at him, and was startled by the fondness on his face, the protectiveness and pride in his eyes as he stared down at her. There also appeared to her an indomitable pain buried deep in his eyes, a pain that hurt even herself. Could he be silently mourning Sun Jian's possible fate?
It must be that. What else could hurt Yu so profoundly? I can't think of a single thing.
"I wanted to tell you about it, Yu," Da struggled to say normally. "And I wanted so desperately to tell Ce. But how could I? I promised I wouldn't, I gave Lord Sun Jian my word, and I couldn't go back on that. He had his reasons for not telling anyone, he said-"
"There's no need to justify your actions, Da. I'm astounded that you possessed the strength to go through with the whole thing without saying a word. You could teach warlords a thing or two. And if I'm completely honest with you, I must say I can't imagine how you were able to cope with all of this."
"It hasn't been easy," Da confessed, lowering her eyes. "But all that doesn't matter now. I'm just glad you're here to listen to me. I'm glad you're on my side."
"Of course I am," Yu smiled. "There's no way you could have done what Ce says you did, and I know he thinks so himself. He just hasn't been listening to reason. Now, you listen to me, Da. You can't give up on him. I know that somewhere, deep down inside of him, Ce is still as in love with you as he always was. You just him to lower his defenses against you. Once he does, you can tell him all, and then- What?"
For Da had been shaking her head the whole time Yu brought up Ce's love for her.
"What is it?" he repeated, perplexed.
"I'm not going to do it, Yu. Yes, I'll go see him and convince him I never wanted him hurt. I'll earn his trust back. But I can't let him love me anymore. I can't let him know how I feel either, I can't hurt him like that again. Cao Cao would never let him walk free if he suspected for even a second that-"
"So what you're trying to do is protect him, is it?" Yu interrupted. "And since when had that been your responsibility? If anything, it's Ce's duty to protect you now. You've faced far too many ordeals on your own. Now that I'm here, I'm taking matters into my own-"
"But you can't! If Cao Cao finds out, he'll know your feelings for Xiao, and he'll try hurting you too! Please, Yu, let me handle this, let me-"
"So now you're just going to protect everyone, Da, are you?" Yu demanded, and to her horror, Da saw that he was getting angry. "First Xiao, then Ce, and now me? How many people are you going to take it upon yourself to protect, Da? Why not let someone take care of you for a change? Why not let someone else protect you?"
He had not raised his voice once while speaking, but there was such sternness contained within his words as Da had never heard before.
"I'm ordering you to look after yourself. This whole thing isn't your responsibility anymore. In fact, it never should have been. But I'm here now, and I'm here to help. Understand?"
Da tried to appear contrite and shamed into acquiescence, but that was very hard to do with a thankful smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"Yes," she managed to say happily.
"Good." Yu was pleased. "Now, go and rest. I'm sure this has taken a good deal out of you. You need to save your energy for when you see Ce tomorrow. As you said, we can't waste too much time where Cao Cao is concerned."
Da swallowed nervously, and nodded.
"Think about what you need to say to him, Da. I know you can't go wrong, but it pays to be prepared."
Da was about to agree, but then something occurred to her.
"Wait, but what about you? If I rest, won't you be bored, or lonely?"
"Yes, well," Yu replied, his amber eyes twinkling. "It's still relatively early in the morning, and I had promised Xiao I would visit her from time to time. So I see no reason in not doing so now, before too many people start to miss me."
"Oh!" said Da, her face reddening. Suddenly, she felt embarrassed. "Right. Well then, give her all my love! Tell her how much I miss her. And you better make her happy!"
"Don't worry," Yu laughed. Then, without warning, he gathered Da into his arms and whirled her about once, as she laughed in surprised delight. He hugged her affectionately, happy at being given the chance to be there for his sister now.
"You're a good, sweet woman," he told her warmly, honesty echoing in every timbre of his voice. "You deserve the very best happiness the world has to offer anyone. Never forget that."
"I won't ever," Da promised.
Much like her sister before her, though she was unaware of it, Xiao Qiao paced in circles around her room, her cheeks flushed and her eyes bright with excitement. Her heart was pounding in her lips were quivering because she could hardly contain herself as she awaited her beloved. Yu had told her, just before he left a few days ago, that he would visit her on this day to tell her all about Ce's condition, and about how her sister was dealing with it. And also because-
But Xiao blushed hard at remembering just what he'd said afterward.
"And also because being parted from you for long would surely rob me of my sanity, my love."
Xiao couldn't suppress a giggle. She'd tried to, but it just hadn't worked. She knew she ought to be fretful for Ce's sake, and she was, but that other, more powerful feeling just superseded all others. Oh, how she couldn't wait to see him again! But where was he? He promised he'd come before long. He said he would leave right after meeting with Ce, and she knew he wouldn't break his word. She wanted to hear about him. She wanted to know how Da was. But she wanted, almost more than anything, to be with him once more. She longed for his blessed embrace, she wanted to feel him hold her again, to have his warm, loving arms around her, to have his lips on her brow, to hear him tell her that he couldn't be without her...
Then, never escaping her alert ears, came the clip-clopping sounds of hoofs.
Not even bothering to peep out of her window at the visitor, for she knew full well who it was, Xiao rushed out of her room and flew down the stairs.
With an overjoyed cry upon pushing open the doors of the manor and beholding who it was, she didn't stop until she had wholly flung herself right into the waiting arms of the man she loved.
There you all go! I really hope I've made it up to you guys with this chapter. Interestingly enough (and correct me if I'm wrong) I think this might have been the first chapter in a long time to feature all of the original four protagonists, and solely the protagonists, at that! Yes, Yu may have been given more 'screen-time' (so to speak) than the others, and Xiao may have received the least, but I still got them all in there! Plus, she's probably the happiest out of any of them right now, bless the cute little thing. This is also the first time since Chapter 28 that we are reintroduced to Ce's point of view! At least in the beginning anyway, lol. And who doesn't love hearing the story told in Ce's words, huh?!
Anyways, I do hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please do leave a review or comment concerning how you feel about it. I also want to add that this fanfic is now officially over 6 years old! I've got to say, I never thought it would still be in progress after so much time! Thank you all for your support of this story, and I hope it stays around for a long time to come :).