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. AND a special mention to the wonderful Walt Disney for the creation of the song A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes' from the classic movie Cinderella, the lyrics are added in for atmosphere :) I also added in some original characters, Umeko, Barako and Haruka as their first mention in this chapter.

Main characters:

Da Qiao: Daikyou

Xiao Qiao: Shoukyou

Sun Ce: Son Saku

Zhou Yu: Shuu Yu

Other characters in Chapter 3 are as follows:

Cai Wenji: Sai Bunki

Bao Sanniang: Hou Sanjou

Guan Suo: Kan Saku (mention)

Getsu Ei: Yue Ying (mention)

Tei Hou: Ding Feng (mention)

Author's notes: You guessed it right, SonnyCows. Shoukou is Sun Shang Xiang :) Well done to you :) Here we go the next chapter is here...the ball draws ever closer but how did the girls cope after Valentine's Day, so this chapter will outline this. Will Da Qiao still be able to win Sun Ce's heart despite this development (even though we already know who Shoukou-chan is)? Ah...you will have to find out much much later :). But for now, please accept this new chapter, thank you! PS. The song lyrics are in italics in this chapter's plot.

Chapter 3 - Plans and Dreams before the Ball

Before long, we were days from the ball and the hours seemed to be ticking by more slowly than ever. Sai Bunki-chan and Hou Sanjou-chan were becoming busier in their preparations so we couldn't spend a lot of time together as much as we wanted to. The plum and cherry blossom trees have begun to blossom and the days were getting longer and warmer.

But I felt really uneasy and troubled all this while and it was starting to affect my concentration in my schoolwork. I spaced out more often. I lost my appetite a couple of times. And all the wonderful words and music I was so used to writing and playing no longer comforted me as much...instead they made my heart ache whenever I thought about Son Saku-kun...

Ever since I gave Son Saku-kun my chocolates and saw him with Shoukou-san, he seemed to disappear whenever I was around. He didn't turn up when I was charged in cleaning up the home room after school. His visits to the library became almost non-existent. And he didn't come by the music room when I went to practice.

It pained my heart since I was so used to his presence. I missed his smile, the twinkle in his eyes and his sheepish laughter. Son Saku-kun didn't like me after all…he liked that girl with the different school uniform, Shoukou-san...with her dazzling big green eyes, her short silky auburn hair and her sweet cheerful smile. It saddened me further…and I felt a bit sick in the stomach because I still couldn't get the image of Son Saku-kun's handsome face out of my head...

I made Otousan, my sister and best friends worried to no end over my change in behaviour because I could feel their concern pouring out in waves.

Otousan was a wonderful cook but not even his delicious meals could arouse my appetite. I was far too anxious to eat anything. He was so worried that he even considered taking me to our family doctor since I hadn't eaten anything substantial during our family meals. It took a near fainting spell at school to make sure I had a full meal at dinner to ease Otousan's fears.

Shoukyou did her best to try and cheer me up by keeping me company at bedtime. She always made sure to enter my room after I finished my homework for the day. She and I would play karaoke with some of my favorite songs on my IPod speakers right into the night. The music did soothe me and I couldn't be more grateful to have her beside me as we ended up having pillow fights in a fit of giggles just like when we were little girls. Yet it also made me realize that I wasn't alone in my troubles. Poor Shoukyou seemed to be receiving the same cold shoulder treatment from Shuu Yu-kun ever since she gave him her chocolates...like Son Saku-kun, he disappeared whenever she was around...and it was made worse when the older girls continued to make fun of her, making her think Shuu Yu-kun did see her as an immature little girl like they saw her. It made me regret of the times that I couldn't be there for her in school so I did my best to comfort her with all I could when we both were at home.

My best friends tried to keep my mind away from Son Saku-kun with outings on at least one day of the weekends that followed. Hou Sanjou-chan wouldn't mention a word about Kan Saku-kun out of consideration for my feelings. But after a while, I told her not to worry because I knew how much she liked him and wanted to sing praise about him. We would go window shopping in various parts of the city, go out for lunch and candy tours in the nearby cafes and shops or just sit among the blooming cherry trees to talk about the upcoming Hanami festival in early April after my participation in the piano nationals. Sai Bunki-chan and Hou Sanjou-chan were so confident that I would win the nationals hands-down but I wasn't so sure...but still, it would be nice to be in a shower of the lovely cherry blossom petals once it was all over...

For that moment, I felt myself returning to normal...somewhat...

It was finally Friday...only one more night until the Royal Masquerade Ball. My best friends, little sister and I strolled about in the city after school and had just ordered some soft ice cream cones. We sat on the benches in the children's park, eating our cones and watching the young kids play in the playground. My mind stopped working when I saw a couple sharing a soft cone together. It was as if Fate was taunting me...that I could never have what they had...and it brought up thoughts of Son Saku-kun...

I was so preoccupied in thinking of Son Saku-kun that I didn't feel my ice cream melt into a puddle on the sandy ground.

"Uh... Daikyou-chan...your ice-cream's all melted...here, take a tissue," Hou Sanjou-chan stopped eating and passed me a tissue before gesturing to her second uneaten ice cream cone in her paper stand, "You can have my other cone if you want."

"No, Hou Sanjou-chan...I'm not really hungry..." I wiped my hand clean from the sticky goo, "Thanks for the offer though..."

"Cheer up, Daikyou-chan...everything will be fine once Saturday is here..." Sai Bunki-chan consoled encouragingly.

"Speaking of Saturday, we still have to shop for our dresses, onechan. Last weekend, my friends took me to this super cute boutique named Princess Paradise that sells really pretty fairytale themed dresses at quite reasonable prices. Umeko-chan and Barako-chan already had their dresses ready. But I was waiting for you so that we can go together," Shoukyou nuzzled against my shoulder. I felt my heart warm at her thoughtfulness, "I'm sure Otousan will be pleased that we wouldn't go to one of those fancy branded boutiques to get the dresses and everything else for the ball. Not to mention that those snobby shop assistants wouldn't let us try them on since we're still students and their prices are way off our budget even with Otousan's money..."

"This boutique sounds interesting. Do you know anything else about it, Shoukyou-chan?" Hou Sanjou-chan asked curiously as she ate her second cone.

"This boutique is owned by Umeko-chan's onesan, Haruka-san, who's just starting out as an amateur fashion designer. It just recently opened so it's not terribly busy now. But I have a feeling it'll be a matter of time before it'll get noticed by the media and hounded by fashion magazines. Haruka-san said that she's willing to give us discounts since I'm good friends with Umeko-chan. It was a lucky thing since I was so lost on where to go for shopping when I'm the one between us who has the better knowledge on the latest fashion trends and boutiques," Shoukyou smiled at me and the girls, "So what do you say? Are we all up for shopping tomorrow morning?"

"I wish I could join you but I promised Kan Saku-kun that I would work with him and Getsu Ei-sensei from tomorrow morning to help plan the menu for the buffet and get started on my desserts before the other Culinary Club members arrive for the event," Hou Sanjou-chan's smile grew wider and her eyes twinkled with excitement, "I would do anything to please my darling and he said he's going to give me something special at the ball!"

We giggled at her excitement before I turned to Sai Bunki-chan,"What about you? Are you coming?"

"If you don't mind, I'd like to join you two," San Bunki-chan added, "Tei Hou-sensei said that we need to wear something black for the event. I went through my wardrobe yesterday and all I have are violets, yellows, pinks and blues. I think it's high time I shopped for a nice black dress. But I will need to get to school after that so that I can attend the final rehearsal for the night."

"Onechan? Are you still up for it?"

I smiled at the concern shining in my sister's bright eyes and squeezed her hand in assurance, already feeling better. Shopping was more fun with company, "Yeah. It has been ages since we had a proper shopping trip. Where and what time should we meet up?"

"Hmm...tomorrow is White Day so the shops will be likely get crowded around midday. Shoukyou-chan, where is this boutique located?" Sai Bunki-chan inquired.

"It's actually not far from the park we are currently in, Sai Bunki-chan. But we still have to go through the Wonder Shopping Promenade to get there though," Shoukyou pointed behind us. We briefly looked behind to see a seemingly endless row of shops along the waterfront. It's quite a popular hotspot for young people.

"I think that we should meet here tomorrow around 10 in the morning. That way, we can get to the shop in good time. I bet that it will take at least an hour for us to browse and select the suitable outfits for the ball and being early will give us a head start before the crowd comes in," Sai Bunki-chan always had a good sense of logic and timing.

"Wow...sounds like you girls have a plan!" Hou Sanjou-chan stood up to stretch after finishing off her second cone, "I'm afraid that I will have to be stuck in my caterer's uniform for the night. It's Getsu Ei-sensei's orders. Oh well, I guess I really have to beautify myself in another way to make my Kan Saku-kun have eyes on me all night!"

"Hou Sanjou-chan, I can send you pictures of our new outfits if you like. I mean, you have to recognize us in some way if you want to pass your goodies to us," Sai Bunki-chan suggested.

I watched Hou Sanjou-chan's eyes brighten and she squealed with delight, "You are so smart! Why didn't I think of that? Now I can't wait to see what you girls will be wearing! Remember, Sai Bunki-chan! You promised!"

"Yes yes, I promise! Please stop tickling me!"

"Not going to! You're fun to torment when you're naturally ticklish!"

Shoukyou smiled at me as I watched my best friends tickle each other into silliness as they laughed and giggled, "You'll like the place, onechan. I guarantee it!"

I trusted my sister's words and nuzzled against her head, "I'm sure I will, imouto...I'm sure I will..."

That night, my sister and I snuggled together in her room after I patiently waited for her to finish her homework. I was still pleasantly full from Otousan's dinner that I didn't get to start on my literature homework after finishing the rest that came before. But it was okay, literature was one of my favourite subjects and I can always work on it on Sunday and it was due on the following Thursday anyway...no big hurry.

We sat in silence as we listened to her IPod on her Hello Kitty speakers I got for her birthday last year. Not to my surprise, they were filled with princess-themed music and Disney songs to get us in the mood for tomorrow. They always put our hearts at ease and I wasn't ashamed to say that they still bring happiness, even on my darkest days. As the IPod moved to the next track, we both smiled nostalgically and sadly when we heard the instrumental of the song that was coming into play...it was Okasan's favorite song, which always left a smile on her face...I swore I could almost hear Okasan's soothing hums...

"Okasan loved that song...she always told us to never give up on our dreams..." I looked down at Shoukyou and found tears in her eyes. I held her close as she buried her head against my shoulder. I felt a bit teary-eyed myself but I held them back because Shoukyou depended on me for comfort. After a while, she gazed up at me with wet eyes, now looking quite sad. She looked so lost and helpless just like the day we found out about the accident, "It's been three years, onechan...I still miss her...I sometimes wished that this is still a terrible dream and Okasan would still be here with us..."

"And we'll always miss her, Shoukyou..." I wiped my own tears away before tending to her, "But I still love hearing this song as much as she did...isn't it the same for you, imouto?"

Shoukyou nodded, "But it still hurts, onechan..."

"I know it does. It's the same for me. It shows that you still love her and still think of her..." I kissed her forehead as soothingly as I could, "I would rather live with the pain of knowing how much I love her than to lock up the memories and be numb for the rest of my life..."

"You're so strong, onechan...I just wish things would go better for you...especially with..." I could see that Shoukyou was still afraid that I would break down when she mentioned Son Saku-kun.

"It's ok, imouto...it's fine, I won't break down when I hear his name...I should say the same for you with Shuu Yu-kun..."

We fell into a deep silence about the boys we liked...until I decided to nudge Shoukyou into her bed.

"I think it's time to turn in for the night...we have to get up early to meet Sai Bunki-chan."

"Sing to me, onechan? The song is coming on cue...I can start..." I smiled at the innocence in her voice. I knew what she wanted me to sing to her just like Okasan did.

"Go ahead..." we both hummed to the melody, allowing it to wash over us, imagining Okasan's gentle face smiling at us and calling us her precious princesses.

"A dream is a wish your heart makes..." Shoukyou sang the first line while she snuggled into her bed, clutching her pink rag doll close. I bought her that doll as a get-well present when she had the chicken pox to make her feel better. She was eight years old at that time she received and she kept it as her bedtime companion ever since, "When you're fast asleep..."

"In dreams, you will lose your heartaches..." I sang the next line as I drew the comforter over her. I smoothed the material over her shoulders, making sure it was snug around her. She always did love the times when I would put her to bed, "Whatever you wish for, you keep..."

"Have faith in your dreams and someday..." Shoukyou's eyes were starting to look sleepy but they begged me to believe in that my dream with Son Saku-kun would still come true despite what happened, "Your rainbow will come smiling through..."

"No matter how your heart is grieving...if you keep on believing..." I smiled sadly.

Shoukyou was just as hurt with Shuu Yu-kun's strange behaviour and the girls still harassing her. I kissed her forehead and wiped away the tear tracks left on her skin as I sang the last lines and watched her close her eyes.

"The dream that you wish...will come true..."

Before retreating to my room, I went to the portable speakers and turned down the volume so that the music wouldn't disturb her dreams. It was late and tomorrow was to be the most magical time of our lives...

I finally succumbed to the tantalizing waves of slumber and dreamed of a perfect world where Son Saku-kun and I were together in an effort to stave off the cold truth of him no longer liking me in reality...

To be continued...

Author's notes: Wow...I got a bit teary at the end when the girls were talking about their mom...I always felt lost whenever one of my loved ones pass away...but I would rather live with the pain and the wonderful memories than to forget them in order to make the heartbreak go away. Well I hope that satisfies your reading cravings for a while. Christmas is coming ever closer and I just might...just might, mind you...be able to finish 2 chapters as Christmas presents. Reviews are much appreciated; positive and constructive feedback would be the best presents I could receive for this holiday season:) Flamers, although not highly valued, will be used to barbeque my marshmallows! Until the next chapter(s)...kudos!