The Stranger

Thanks so much everyone! I'm sorry this chapter is so late! I had massive writers block, but I think this chapter turned out okay..at least I hope so!

Chapter 7: Love Everlasting

Zhou Yu pulled at the high collar on his robes. It really was uncomfortable. How was he supposed to even MOVE in the long flowing robe? The material may have been red and white silk, but that did not help the fact that all of his movements were stunted by the long garments. Perhaps this is what a woman felt like in a kimono? He shifted on the stone bench he sat under, looking around the exquisite garden with amazement. Not even Lord Yamato had kept a garden as beautiful as this!

His mind turned to the problem in Japan. Should he really be dallying here when he had a country to save? What of Hanako, his sworn sister? He could not leave her and her family in the jaws of that tiger! He reached out his hand and caught a peach blossom that had come loose in the wind. He could not leave his home just because of his own personal vendetta for his past. It was cruel, and he considered himself as horrible as Inosuke for even considering such a thing.

He turned at the sound of light footsteps and the rustle of silk garments. Xiao Qiao, the one who claimed to be his wife, took a seat next to him on the bench and stared at the flower in his hands. She smiled at the flower, twirling her hair around her finger. "You know, before you left, you told me that the peach flower fit me better than any other type of flower?" Zhou Yu gave a pained smile. "You said the flowers bright colors and radiant beauty reminded you of me." She touched the petals softly, feeling the silky texture with her porcelain hands.

"I am reminded of you when I see this flower," Zhou Yu said, placing the flower in her hands. "But it is not because of its beauty or brightness." He lifted her chin gently to look in her eyes. "Its because of all the flowers in the tree, it was the only one who had the courage to go with the wind." Xiao Qiao blushed and looked down at the flower.

"You are the same, yet you are different from my Zhou Yu..." She hesitated, then grasped his forearm with a dainty hand. "Are you sure that you cannot remember anything of your time with us?"

"No, I am sorry," He watched as her face braced in effort not to cry. "I can not remember anything that makes sense. The images I can remember from dreams or other happenings have all blurred together, and I cannot distinguish one from another." Xiao stood up, the silk of her dress rustling. She grabbed his arm with sudden purpose, pulling on him as she ran to the stable.

"I'm going to take you swimming Zhou Yu." His eyes widened in surprise.

"Swimming?" She tugged him into the stable, as a stable hand readied her mare.

"Yep!" She tied back her sleeves and leapt onto the horse when it was ready, grasping the reigns. Zhou Yu got on behind her hesitatingly. "I'm taking you to our secret spot! But don't tell Da, she would never get over how improper it is." She snapped the reins and her steed, Voyaging moon, took off. Xiao Qiao handled the brown steed with practiced grace, alarming Zhou Yu slightly. Had this girl been like this when he originally married her? Or had she changed when he disappeared? He couldn't help but wonder what made him fall in love with her, although he was starting to feel rather odd towards her himself.

He grabbed onto her waist in alarm as she turned sharply through a mass of long vines along the road. He gasped at the sight before him. A waterfall emptied into a pool that stretched beneath them, sparkling from the sunlight that reached through the vines. They dismounted and stripped the mare of her burdens, and with a toss of her mane, she trotted to a patch of grass. Xiao Qiao pulled off her dress with unabashed movements, leaving her shoes and socks on a dry rock. Her white silk slip shone as she pulled her hair ornaments out and undid the braid that held her long hair.

With a squeal of delight, she took a running leap and jumped into the pool, the slip dancing behind her. Zhou Yu watched the water apprehensively, unconsciously holding an apprehensive breath. When she surfaced he sighed, taking a seat on the rocks and pulling off his shoes and socks. "Come on Yu! Hurry up!" Xiao Qiao yelled, beaming. "It's a little cold, but I'm sure you can handle it!" He pulled off the stuffy robes, leaving nothing but his pants on and took a running leap into the water.

Pain shot up and down his arm, rocked from the constant swirling of the waves. Blinded by the constant sea water he struggled to stay afloat, although he was unsure if he was above water, or below. He shot to the surface, choking on water. Xiao Qiao swam over to him worried look clouding her features as he choked.

"Are you alright?" He choked something out in the foreign tongue, before he realized what he had done.

"I am alright." His voice sounded choppy and unrefined as he mulled over what had just happened. It was a memory, he was positive. Perhaps it was of how he came to Japan in the first place. "Thank you Xiao Qiao, for showing me this place." He gave her a charming smile.

Xiao Qiao blushed and spun in a circle, "Hurray! Zhou Yu smiled at me!" She laughed happily as birds left their nests in surprise at the loud noise. His smile turned into a chuckle, and before he could stop himself, he leaned forward and placed a kiss on Xiao's cheek.

Perhaps he could stay here a bit longer. At least until the storm season lets up. After all, with the resistance against Inosuke, Zhou Yu was confident that he would never harm Empress Himiko.

TBC...

Yes its short. But, its better than nothing, right? Please review if you have time! Sorry for the grammar mistakes, I didn't have time to revise it this time. I apologize if I have offended anyone by that. And PLEASE check out my oneshot, 'Accident' if you have time. It's a Zhou Yu/Sun Ce (or the other way around if it matters to you) and I worked really hard on it. So if you have time, please read and review the little one shot.