Disclaimer: I do not own Dynasty Warriors by KOEI. If they did, I would let them live in my apartment for all eternity. All I own is the plot plus the romantic sap and teenage drama that comes with it.

Main characters:

Da Qiao: Daikyou

Xiao Qiao: Shoukyou

Sun Ce: Son Saku

Zhou Yu: Shuu Yu

Other characters in Chapter 2 are as follows:

Cai Wenji: Sai Bunki

Bao Sanniang: Hou Sanjou

Guan Suo: Kan Saku (mention)

Yue Ying: Getsu Ei (mention)

Ding Feng: Tei Hou (mention)

?: Shoukou (which Dynasty Warriors character is it?)

Author's notes: Here we go, the next chapter is here and boy did it take forever to get it right. I decided to post it early since I have work on Sunday. The third chapter should be up and running in the following week or possibly earlier if I don't get too much work in between. Thank you to JeeJeeMay and Sonnycows for taking the time to review my first chapter. It really makes me happy that you guys welcome me back so warmly in the Dynasty Warriors realm :). I will be checking back into the story every now and them to see which parts need correcting and/or expanding to make story plot more coherent and interesting.

JeeJeeMay: Yeah, I know it's a long time since I did a story of this pairing...or a Dynasty Warriors story for that matter. I'm glad that you like the concept in this story. Cinderella has always been one of my favourite fairytales :) In regards of Da Qiao describing herself for being plain, I was pretty surprised myself when I finished writing that part. I guess it's because in her character portrayals, I always saw Da Qiao as a prudent girl who doesn't realize how beautiful she is. What she expressed is what I think it's something that many teenage girls go through, the stage of feeling insecure when they still look good themselves, myself included. But yes, I will do my best to make her blossom for the ball when the chapter for it comes :)

Sonnycows: I'm so happy that you love my stories and so glad that you thought my writing brings justice to the characters. I try my best :)

Chapter 2 - A Terrible Valentine's Day

It turned out that Sai Bunki-chan and Hou Sanjou-chan already knew about the school ball but were not participating as party guests like my sister and I.

Sai Bunki-chan was an official member of the school orchestra and held a great reputation as an exceptionally skilled harp player, having attended a good number of orchestra national competitions and harp recitals since her junior high school years. Tei Hou-sensei often praised her musical prowess and saw her as a potential star in the future. Although she wasn't a party person, she volunteered to attend the event as one of the musicians to provide musical entertainment for the night. She had spent many of her days with the orchestra, practicing her parts for the musical ambience and songs for the early hours and the chosen main score that was to be played for the waltz, which was to be the highlight of the night. She wouldn't tell me what it was but from the way she smiled, it must be something to look forward to on the night.

Hou Sanjou-chan was a valued member of the Culinary Club in school since her late years in junior high school. Even though she had a voracious appetite and a notorious sweet tooth, she truly was a talented baker and many students liked her cakes and sweets, myself included. And it was also partly because her new boyfriend Kan Saku-kun was also a star member of the club as a budding chef. He was such a polite and sincere boy so I was positive that he would treat her well. So they and the rest of the members were helping to provide the food and beverages for the evening buffet. Getsu Ei-sensei saw the great culinary potential in her but would often get annoyed when her gluttony and eating habits get the best of her. I could only hope that she could will herself from gorging the food before the guests on the night.

All in all, everything was going well…until the arrival of Valentine's Day.

Sai Bunki-chan and Hou Sanjou-chan eventually found out about my crush for Son Saku-kun, courtesy of Shoukyou, and confronted me about it. After sheepishly confirming their suspicions, Hou Sanjou-chan strongly suggested that I should make chocolates to convey what I felt for him, which was what I did under her guidance. My sister also joined in to make her own batch of chocolates for Shuu Yu-kun.

I glanced down on my homemade chocolates. I made bite-sized milk chocolates in the shape of basketballs and placed them in a small scarlet foldable box tied with a gold ribbon on top with a small basketball charm. I wasn't sure what exact flavours Son Saku-kun would prefer but I hoped that he would like them…and accept what I feel for him.

"Wow, you and Shoukyou-chan are great students. I'm so proud as your sensei! Daikyou-chan, your chocolates look soooo good!" Hou Sanjou-chan said with praise.

"But what if Son Saku-kun doesn't accept them...I don't know..." I lowered my eyes, gripping the box of chocolates to my chest, "I can't take it if he doesn't like me..."

"I'm sure Son Saku-kun will like them, Daikyou-chan," I felt Sai Bunki-chan's gentle hand on my arm, her pretty face in an encouraging smile, "You made these chocolates with love in your heart and they are far better than any store bought chocolates."

"Onechan, you just need a bit of courage. Just go up to him and give them to him. I will eventually have to do the same with Shuu Yu-kun...so you're not alone in doing it," Shoukyou said as she held her own box of chocolates nervously. I didn't fully see what she made but I sincerely hoped that Shuu Yu-kun would appreciate her efforts, "I know you can do it, onechan."

"The same to you, imouto...good luck with Shuu Yu-kun."

But it was easier said than done. Son Saku-kun was constantly chased by other girls who wanted to give chocolates to him too. Their boxes looked glitzy yet I could tell that some of them contained very high quality chocolates. A part of me told me not to go through with giving the chocolates in case I would make a fool of myself. But on the other hand, I didn't want my hard work on making the chocolates go to waste and I couldn't face myself if I didn't accomplish what I set out to do. My best friends and little sister were so encouraging and I wouldn't want to disappoint them for not trying. I decided to wait until after school to give my chocolates to him.

I later heard that Shoukyou did manage to give her Valentine's chocolates to Shuu Yu-kun. My gut instinct told me that she was successful by the obvious blush on her face when I asked her how the meeting went as soon as final period was over. It was such a cute sight. Yet at the same time, I could've sworn I saw a flash of hurt in her eyes, which I noted also suspiciously looked red-rimmed...I hoped that the older girls who harrassed her for liking Shuu Yu-kun didn't bully her...it would only mean that I couldn't be there for her again...

After promising the girls to meet back in the music room after my task, I began my arduous search for the boy of my dreams. I finally found Son Saku-kun in the sports hall, practicing his three pointers. He was such a wonderful athlete. He smiled at me upon seeing me and ran up to me. I blushed as he stood centimetres before me. He was so close…I could feel his stare on me...

"Daikyou-chan! What a surprise to see you here."

"Here…" I held out the box of chocolates, not daring to look at him in the eye, "I…I…I made them for you…Happy Valentine's Day, Son Saku-kun…"

"Daikyou-chan…"

I could feel the box taken from my trembling fingers. I dared to peek up and saw him looking at the chocolates with an unreadable expression on his handsome face.

"Daikyou-chan…I…thanks…" he smiled at me but he looked a bit strained...I gulped...it wasn't a good sign, "Daikyou-chan, there's something I need to tell you-"

"Son Saku!"

We both looked to see another girl in the sports hall. She was dressed in a different school uniform from ours. She also looked very cheerful and pretty. She had short auburn hair with the brightest green eyes like emeralds. I watched as she laughed and ran to Son Saku-kun and hugged him tightly. Son Saku-kun looked so happy as he swung her around. After a while, Son Saku-kun placed her back onto the ground.

"Shoukou! What a surprise to see you here! Finding your way around the school alright?"

"I'm fine, you know I always find my way around. I can't wait to be here next year."

It was then I realised that Shoukou-san must be a very special girl who made him laugh and smile in this way…this was what Son Saku-kun was going to tell me. My hopes were shattered...my heart felt like breaking into splinters…I wasn't the one for him after all…I'm not that girl...

"Hello here…you must be a friend of Son Saku. You look like a very nice girl," the other girl smiled at me brightly and shook my hand, "I'm Shoukou. What's your name? I hope that we can become good friends."

"D-Daikyou, Shoukou-san…uhm…" I suddenly felt awkward around them…they looked so perfect together...I shouldn't be here...I was a third wheel to them...I had to get out...I couldn't breathe, "I have to go…I'm sorry to bother you and Son Saku-kun…"

Then I ran away so that they couldn't see the tears in my bespectacled eyes…Son Saku-kun…I'm sorry I couldn't be the perfect girl for you...

I sprinted back to the music room as fast as I could, ignoring the curious looks from the other teachers and students. I burst the door open and found the girls looking expectantly at me. Their faces fell upon seeing the tears in my eyes.

"Daikyou-chan! What happened?! Why are you crying?" Hou Sanjou-chan hugged me as I cried against her shoulder, "Valentine's Day isn't a day for tears…what's wrong?!"

"Onechan! I don't understand…." my little sister took out a small handkerchief and gave it to me to wipe my eyes.

"Daikyou-chan...I don't see your box of chocolates; that means Son Saku-kun has accepted them. Why the tears?" Sai Bunki-chan looked confused as she gripped one of my hands.

I sniffled as I tried to catch my breath, "Son Saku-kun...he doesn't like me!"

"What?!"

"He already has another...he has Shoukou-san!" I collapsed to my knees, the exhaustion from the run and the efforts to keep my tears at bay caught up to me. Hou Sanjou-chan didn't relinquish her hold on me, which I was so grateful for otherwise I would've collapsed fully, "She's perfect! She's beautiful and she made Son Saku-kun laugh and smile! He looks so happy with her! I know she must be a nice person but it hurts knowing that she's the one for him!"

"Onechan..." I felt Shoukyou's head against my shoulder, her eyes sad and confused, "Surely it must be some mistake..."

I shook my head. I remembered vividly what I saw...Shoukou-san and Son Saku-kun looking so blissful together.

"I already gave my chocolates to him. I couldn't tell if he liked them or not...but I'm convinced that he can't like me now that she's in his life..." I wiped the rest of my tears away, slowly calming down from my outburst but the pain in my chest lingered, "What am I going to do now?"

"You're still coming to the ball, right?" I looked up at Hou Sanjou-chan, who looked a bit worried yet hope was shining in her eyes, "I mean I know I have Kan Saku-kun with me but it wouldn't be the same without you there. I'm intending to save you girls the best bits from the buffet. I'll be making my world-famous strawberries and cream mini-cupcakes you like so much. It'll be such a waste if I don't have my best friends to share them with..."

"No one appreciates the music I play better than you do, Daikyou-chan," Sai Bunki-chan also had an identical hopeful look in her round eyes, "Truth be told, I joined the orchestra for the ball only because I know my best friends are going to be there...you simply have to come to listen...please?"

"Onechan..." I turned to Shoukyou who completed the circle, "We promised we go together. It's our dream to dress up as princesses for that one night. Even though I'm hoping to find Shuu Yu-kun there, all I ever truly want is for us to spend time together and to help you blossom into the beautiful girl that you are…to become Cinderella for that special night. Onechan. Don't forsake it because of what happened today...please?"

Three hopeful pleading faces queued in my line of vision. Despite the pain in my heart, I felt so fortunate to have supportive best friends and a caring little sister. I gave a small smile, which mirrored on their faces the moment they saw it.

"Of course I'm still going to the ball..." I took a deep breath before continuing, "I made a promise to my best friends and darling little sister and I intend to keep it…"

I found myself glomped from all directions. As I basked in their loving warmth and friendship, my mind stubbornly wouldn't erase the image of Shoukou-san wrapped in Son Saku-kun's embrace...

I could only hope that these happy feelings my best friends and little sister were giving me would be enough to survive on until the school ball...

To be continued...

Author's notes: I felt terrible by the time I finished writing and editing this for hurting Da Qiao like that, so please don't kill me just yet...this is only the beginning! You probably noticed at the beginning that I added a Japanese styled name at the bottom of the names' list without naming the actual character. Can you guess who that is?

Anyhow keep your eyes peeled for the next chapter! I have to eat now...am out of energy...