Finally an update that I didn't proof/type at 2:30AM. :P I'll try and update once a week again... at least until I run out of chapters ;;

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"So, you want to come?" I asked, sitting on the edge of Ning's large ship. After I left Tong lying on the ground in pain, I saw Gan Ning leaving the hall for his ship, and he invited me over. I had just asked him if he wanted to head for Nan Zhong with us.

"Sure, OK," Ning agreed. "I've been to Nan Zhong a couple times before, and me and the Nanman King Meng Huo are good friends."

"That's great!" I said eagerly. "Are the Nanmans peaceful?"

"Sure, unless they think you're attacking them," Ning replied. "When I ran away from Huang Zu when I was like 17, I hid in Nan Zhong, and the people there thought I was an invader. Lucky for me, though, they figured out I wasn't any threat to them and they saved my butt big time."

"One thing you gotta remember about them is that the Nanmans are like one gigantic family," Ning added. "So if you kill one of them, you're gonna be in some serious trouble."

"Do you think the Nanmans will recognize you?" I asked. "If they do, that'll make things a lot easier for our forces!"

"Eh... the Nanman King's not really that smart, but since you don't really see that many guys who look like me, it's possible," Ning answered. "By the way, who else is going? Is it just gonna be me and you?"

"Nah, we got two more coming, but I dunno who yet," I replied. Technically, I wasn't lying... OK, OK, I was! But who cares!? MY LIFE IS A LIE!!

"Alright, cool. Keep me posted," Ning said. "That reminds me, I promised your brother Sun Ce I'd spar with him this afternoon, so I'll catch ya later, OK?"

"Sure!" I replied. "See ya around!"

"Later," Ning said. He looked around, made sure nobody was watching, and kissed me. "See ya!" He ran off, leaving me on his boat. I had to slap myself to get rid of the dazed expression I knew was plastered to my face, and headed back to the castle.

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"Okay, guys! Listen up!" Xiao said, dragging me and Da into the room she and Zhou Yu shared. "Tongie's birthday is coming up, and I want to do something nice for him!"

"I'm not too good in the merrymaking department," Da admitted. "And besides, didn't Lord Sun Quan say that we couldn't--"

"Sis, when are you gonna learn that rules are meant to be broken!? Anyway, I KNOW Sun Quan said "No Parties" but who says he has to know about it?" Xiao asked.

"Xiao Qiao, rules are instated for a reason, and we have no right to viol-- MMPH!" Da whined, when I clamped my hand over her mouth. "Da, has being married to my brother taught you NOTHING about the fun of breaking rules?" I asked.

"Shang Xiang? Are you in here?" I heard Quan yelling from outside the door.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, I'm in here!" I yelled.

Quan came in and looked at the three of us suspiciously, (particularly me, since my hand was still preventing Da Qiao from talking) and said, "Shang Xiang, have you decided who your generals are for tomorrow?"

"Yeah, Gan Ning, Ling Tong, and, uh... Xiao, did you ever ask Zhou Yu if you could come?" I asked.

"He said OK!" Xiao agreed. "There we go, a full team! Me, Gan Ning, Xiao Qiao, and Ling Tong!" I said.

Quan rolled his eyes. "Fine. Be up and ready tomorrow morning! Start making preperations as soon as you can!"

"Yeah, yeah, OK," I said. Quan left and I let go of Da Qiao. "Sis, I don't care what you say, I'm going!" Xiao pouted.

"I have no objections!" Da protested. "If you want to go along, that's fine by me!"

Xiao looked puzzled. "Sis? Are you feeling OK?" she asked.

"Yes, I'm fine," Da replied. "I've just decided that you two are right, for once."

"We are?" Xiao and I asked simutaneously.

"Indeed," Da said. "I need to start, um, living it up on the wild side!"

"Alright, sis!" Xiao said. "What do you have in mind?"

Da thought for a second, then giggled. "Ooh, I've got it! Follow me!" She hurried out the door. Me and Xiao exchanged glances and headed after her.

We arrived at the set of chamberpots on the 1st floor of the palace. "Why are we here?" Xiao asked. Da smiled evilly and grabbed the signs that read "MEN" and "WOMEN" off the doors, then switched them.

"Sis, that's like, mega-lame," Xiao complained. "That's not a prank! Who's going to fall for that?" I asked.

"Humph! You'll see!" Da promised. "I've got 18 years of pranks to catch up on! Mark my words!" She stomped off.

Not even 5 seconds after she walked off, Lu Xun came along and innocently walked into the room marked "MEN", but was really the women's room. Xiao and I exchanged glances and waited for the explosion.

"Am I in the wrong room?" Lu Xun asked, from inside the room. Da and I exchanged evil glances and we swapped the signs, so the rooms were once again properly labelled. I pushed Xiao into the restroom and waited.

"Lady Xiao! What are you doing in the men's room!?" Lu Xun yelped, shocked.

"This isn't the men's room!" Xiao said. "It's the women's room! Sis changed the signs around, and we tricked you!"

"I'm in the WOMEN'S room!?" Lu Xun cried. "AAAAAAAHHH!" I watched as the young strategist ran screaming out of the women's room, and after seeing Da quickly reverse the signs, slammed right into my brother, who was holding his tonfas.

Lu Xun sat up sheepishly and looked up at Ce. "You use the women's room, Lu Xun?" Ce asked, snickering. "HAH! I can't wait to tell everyone!"

"NO!! WAIT!! IT WAS A TRICK!!" Lu Xun wailed. "LADY DA QIAO DID IT!! I BLAME HER!!"

"Tch! First you get caught in the women's room, now you're blaming my sweet innocent wife!? I'll kill you!" Ce yelled angrily, chasing after Lu Xun. "GET BACK HERE AND I'LL PULVERIZE YOU UNTIL YOU ARE NOTHING MORE!!"

"Ummm... wanna go get ready for tomorrow?" I asked Xiao, who was innocently watching.

"Okay!" Xiao agreed, and we headed off.

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Woohoo, yay for meeee. Now go revieeeeew... or I keeeeeeell youuuuuu!!

Just kidding, but I wanted to continue the long vowel chain. ;D

Ahh, lemme give you guys something else to read while waiting for tomorrow's update... more of my rambling. :D Anybody like Angels and Airwaves? I found this all-piano version of my favorite song ever, The Adventure, and it's so incredibly gorgeous it makes me wanna start crying. I dunno why!! But it's good, I recommend you check it out. Go to Google Video and search for "Angels and Airwaves, The Adventure, Piano".

Ummm... I'm also updating my DW High School story (which has been dead since Christmas) and I'm trying to make it live again. Haha. I wrote a quick Ling Tong/SSX fic too, so if you're bored or miss the melodious style of my writing you can go check that out if you like. :D

Anyway, review as always, all feedback is welcome, I get all farty and bloaty from a foamy latte (whoever can tell me where that quote comes from earns a chapter dedicated to them) and peace out:D