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 7 are as follows:
Cai Wenji: Sai Bunki
Xiahou Ba: Kakou Ha
Guo Jia: Kaku Ka
Cao Cao: Sou Sou
Bao Sanniang: Hou Sanjou
Jiang Wei: Kyou Yi
Author's notes: Wow! 2 more faves and 2 more follows and even more reviews! Welcome aboard, ArtisticIce and Hibiki's Echo! Thank you so much! This is more than I could ask for :) I'm glad that my writing skills in romance weren't lost after all this time, well...here it is...the chapter that dictates the broken spell aka the unmasking...what will happen? Who is the masked boy who's been by Da Qiao's side all night? How will this night end...don't look at me, please read on!
Chapter 7 - The Spell is Broken
We gasped and pulled apart as if we broke from a trance but our hands were still joined. The grandfather clock tolled 11 more times as loud applause rang around us, congratulating and praising the wonderful song. Kyou Yi-kun stood up from the piano and joined Kakou Ha-kun's side and bowed together, sending the audience into a further frenzy. With another short bow, the two boys left the stage to join the audience.
"My princess..." I turned back to see my masked prince looking at me nervously, the blush still evident on his cheeks, "I...I'm sorry...I don't know what came over me..."
"M-Me too...I..." I was so lost for words...I wanted the kiss to happen but yet at the same time, I didn't...I've never felt so confused...so conflicted in my whole life...
Sou Sou-sensei was back on the staircase, his mask in his hands.
"Drumroll, please! Prepare to unmask yourself at your free will, everyone!" he gestured to the drummers, "When you are ready!"
At the end of the drum roll, I could hear incredulous laughter and shouts as the participants unmasked themselves.
I turned to where Sai Bunki-chan was still sitting with the boy on the bench. She had a mild look of surprise over her face before the smile once again graced her lips. The boy had already unmasked himself. It was Kaku Ka-kun, the star actor of our Drama Club! I couldn't hear from what he was saying to her but it must had been something sweet since her pale cheeks turned red and she clutched the pink roses closer to her chest as he kissed the back of her hand.
Then I saw Shoukyou and her mysterious dance partner, already unmasked. I gulped in surprise.
"Shuu Yu-kun?!"
It was indeed Shuu Yu-kun! No wonder I thought he looked so familiar. Only he could have that striking flair of elegance. Shoukyou looked absolutely gobsmacked and her face turned an intense shade of red. She was about to bolt away when he caught her by the arms. I watched as she initially struggled before Shuu Yu-kun kissed my sister gently on her cheek as he cupped her face. I had never seen such panic crossing over his face. He was always so calm and collected. I was pretty sure he said that he liked liked her because the shock disappeared from my sister's face only to be replaced disbelief...then unbridled joy. She returned Shuu Yu-kun's embrace and the joyous look on his face wasn't hard to mask. I watched him pick her up and twirled her around, planting another kiss on her cheek. I could see the older girls seething with jealousy in the sidelines. I hoped they finally got the message that Shuu Yu-kun really did like my sister to bits. They both looked so cute together...
But that meant that Son Saku-kun was here at the ball too! I knew the boys were inseparable and were best of friends...but where could he be?
I turned my attention back to my mysterious prince who looked even more nervous than before. His gloved hand that was holding mine was shaky.
"I'll go first..." he offered as he pinched the edge of the mask, preparing to slide it away from his face, "Here goes..."
When the mask was fully removed, he dropped it carelessly whereupon it clattered onto the floor, forgotten. My intrigued smile disappeared and turned to one of shocked disbelief.
I clapped my free hand to my mouth, failing to block the shocked gasp wrenched from my chest. Standing before me was-
"Son Saku-kun?!"
It really was him! I couldn't believe my eyes!
"Yes...it's me."
He was with me the whole time?! Our talk in the school gardens...the waltzes we shared...the intimate slow dance...and when we nearly kissed...I...
"My princess...now that you know who I am...do you accept me?"
But...but...he was supposed to be with Shoukou-san! The girl with the green eyes and the short auburn hair! The girl who made him laugh and smile! Did he ditch her and break her heart too?! I looked around the hall and I didn't see her anywhere. All of a sudden, I pictured Shoukou-san looking broken as she cried her heart out in painful loneliness and betrayal...now she was suffering because of me...he betrayed her...
The one thing I couldn't stand was betrayal...even if it happened to another...
Suddenly all the euphoria I had within me vanished and was replaced by two hard emotions I rarely felt before...anguish and anger. I pulled my hand roughly from his. Frustrated tears came to my eyes and fell down my cheeks. Son Saku-kun looked shocked and tried to reach for my hand again. But I took a step back, shaking my head...it was all wrong...he played me...he played with my heart...he toyed with my feelings...and I fell for it...I was such a fool!
"My princess...wha-"
"Go away...go away!"
"Listen to me! I already know who you are under the crimson mask!" I flinched at Son Saku-kun words. As he approached a step forward, I took a step back, "It is you who I truly like! What I feel for you is all real! Please believe me!"
"No, you're a liar! Don't come near me!" I screamed at him, "You hurt me!"
I knew I was creating a commotion as the other party-goers and teachers looked on at with unease. Poor Shoukyou looked frightened and Shuu Yu-kun looked aghast at the situation. The two girls who were with Shoukyou came with surprised looks on their faces. I could see Sai Bunki-chan and Hou Sanjou-chan running to up to the couple to see what the commotion was. Their looks of worry and shock filled their faces. I was too deep in my angry tears to care of the repercussions that were sure to come. I didn't care of the slight hurt crossing over Son Saku-kun's face...
"What do you mean? I didn't-"
"How dare you play with my feelings! You're supposed to be with the girl you liked, not me! Shoukou-san made you laugh and smile and this is how you repay her love! You betrayed her! Did you break her heart and then come after me, playing with other girls who like you?! All dressed up, knowing that come Monday, I'll no longer look like I did tonight! I may have wished to see you smile from afar so that I can let go of you and let you pursue your true happiness...but you...you're so selfish to make fun of me like this..."
"What? I don't understand-"
"Of course, you don't understand! You are a heartbreaker! You're the lowest of the low! I hate you!"
"I..." my conscience twisted at the broken word uttered from Son Saku-kun's mouth. His eyes were filled with intense sadness...the same sadness back in the school gardens...
"Please...just go...go away..." those were the only words I said. It scared me inside that they sounded cold and cruel...
"Onechan! I'm sorry, Shuu Yu-kun...I...we have to go..."
"Shoukyou-chan! There's a good explanation for all of this! Please listen!" Shuu Yu-kun's voice was trembling...how unlike him...
"No! Please let me go! I have to get to onechan!" I broke at the timid and scared tone of my little sister. I imagined her roughly breaking away from the boy she liked just to come to me.
"Shoukyou-chan!" Shuu Yu-kun shouted after her.
"Shouykou-chan, what happened?" I heard a girl's voice call after my sister, "What's wrong?!"
"I'm sorry! I can't be around you two right now! I have to get to onechan! She needs me!"
"I...why...I thought...I thought we had a chance..." I winced at Son Saku-kun's soft voice. It was filled with hopeless defeat...
"Onechan, we have to go. Otousan will be waiting for us..." I felt Shoukyou's hand tugging mine. I saw intense hurt fully blossoming over Son Saku-kun's face. Now he would finally feel the hurt I felt...it served him right...and it made me feel better...for a while, "Onechan...let's go..."
"Wait!-"
"No! Don't come near me ever again...I can't bear to even look at you...I never want to see you again!"
With those last words, I followed my sister to exit the hall. I tried hard to ignore the thumping sounds of someone falling onto his knees behind me and soft frustrated sobs behind me...I couldn't turn back...knowing of the heartbreaking destruction I caused to the boy I still liked with my heart...
I heard more footfalls behind me. It was Sai Bunki-chan and Hou Sanjou-chan. I could hear murmurs from the spectators around me until it was quiet. We finally outside the theater and near the driveway. My feet hurt terribly and my eyes burned with more tears. I collapsed onto my knees on the hard pavement as I cried my heart out. My mask finally fell onto the ground along with my tears. As I wept, I felt strong and slender arms around me.
"Daikyou-chan..." I looked up to see Hou Sanjou-chan holding me and she was crying along with me. So was Sai Bunki-chan and my sister...what had I done? I made them all cry...this wasn't supposed to happen...
As I cried, the adrenaline faded away, leaving behind a heavy painful feeling striking my heart. Then the realization that I had hurt Son Saku-kun's spirit in my rage hit me back like a ton of bricks. All the poisonous hateful things I said about him pierced my soul. I wanted to scream and hurt myself...to punish myself for saying such unthinkable things to him...
But most of all, I was a horrible person...a terrible sister...an inconsiderate friend...I was wrong...Son Saku-kun wasn't the lowest of the low...I was...
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" I blurted out as I clung onto Hou Sanjou-chan, "I ruined everything! I'm so sorry!"
"Onechan..." I felt her hands cupping my face and her frantic kisses on my forehead in a failed attempt to calm me down, "Onechan! You're hyperventilating!"
"Daikyou-chan! Stay calm...you need to breathe!"
I vaguely heard a car honk and someone getting out of the car.
"Girls! What happened here?!" Otousan...oh God...he saw us...
"Otousan!"
"Kyou-ojisan!"
I could hear chatters and murmurs around me. Everything was a blur around me as I felt myself carefully guided into Otousan's car. I chanced to look outside the car window...behind Sai Bunki-chan and Hou Sanjou-chan, I made out Son Saku-kun and Shuu Yu-kun running towards us. My heart shattered upon looking at their faces...they were filled with heartbreak and extreme sadness and each boy was clutching something in his hand...but Otousan sped away before I could look further...what had I done...what had I done?!
I still couldn't stop crying as I felt Shoukyou's arms around me.
"Onechan...please stop crying...you're scaring me..." Shoukyou's voice was trembling. I pulled away and felt my sister's soft wrap gently wiping away my tears. My contact lens were starting to hurt too, "Onechan..."
"It wasn't supposed to end like this! This one magical night! It went all wrong! Son Saku-kun's is with Shoukou-san and now he broke her heart as he did mine! I know I said I hate him but I know in my heart that it's not true! I was so angry that he betrayed her and hurt me..and...I still want him to like me! I ruined everything for you and Shuu Yu-kun! I'm so sorry!"
"Onechan..." I felt my sister's arms tighten around me and I felt terrible when she cried harder, "I'm so sorry...it's all my fault too! If I hadn't pestered you about the ball and make you come, you wouldn't feel so sad right now..."
"No, never! It's not your fault, Shoukyou...it's never your fault...it's too late for me..." I pressed my cheek against her forehead. It was then I noticed that the beautiful golden comb was nowhere to be seen on her lovely hair...it was gone! "Imouto! Your golden comb is missing!"
Shoukyou's hand flew to her bun and she gasped. She whimpered and her hands shook, her eyes wide and frightened...
"Onechan...you picked it out for me...why...I lost it...how...onechan..."
"Imouto...it's ok...it's ok...here, lie down on my lap...you look pale..."
As she laid down on my lap, she looked down at my feet. To my shock, she shot up, her face even paler than before.
"Imouto! What's wrong?!"
"Onechan...your left shoe!" Shoukyou exclaimed as she pointed to my feet. There was only shoe attached to my right foot...the left one was bare, "It's missing!"
"I'm sorry, girls...it's too late to turn back now..." Otousan said apologetically, "We're too far from the school to turn around..."
We both looked at each other in horror. It was too late to turn back to look for the missing precious trinkets...my left shoe and my little sister's comb. Otousan was right... he had already driven miles away from the school. I felt my sister tremble as she cried in my shoulder, saying "sorry, sorry" over and over again. I resumed crying as well while I hugged her close. Right now, my heart hurt more than the red blisters covering my feet...
"This was not what I expected to see, girls...what happened to you two? You girls looked so happy and beautiful when we left the house earlier today..."
Otousan looked at us in confusion. I guessed the sight of us crumpled on the driveway in tears had shocked him to the core. We were so happy that we went but now we felt like this was the worst day we ever had.
We couldn't think of anything to say at first, never had our hearts felt so hurt...I looked to Shoukyou...the exhaustion of the day was catching up to her and she looked so tiny and drained. She looked up to me with her large eyes, asking me for more comfort. I opened my arms and she dove into them without hesitation, nuzzling against my shoulder. I patted her hair and pressed my cheek against her head. I felt guiltier since I was the cause of her sorrow and hurt...
"What happened, my darlings?"
"It was all my fault, Otousan...for ruining our special night..." I finally forced the words out of my mouth because they were true. Shoukyou's happiness with Shuu Yu had been compromised because of me...and Son Saku-kun...I had never hated myself more than this moment...
"What do you mean, sweetheart?" Otousan frowned, his concerned eyes imploring me to elaborate further. But he couldn't know...and I had no energy to give an explanation. I just wanted to shut myself in and try to forget the whole night that transpired...
"That's all there is to know, Otousan...please just accept it...it was all my fault..." I gently pushed Shoukyou back and kissed her forehead, "Otousan, can I go to bed now?"
"Sure, sweetheart...but...don't you want some hot milk to help calm you down perhaps?"
"I'm not thirsty...I...I just want to go to sleep now..." I felt the burning in my eyes...
"Onechan?" Shoukyou looked anxious.
I must have looked so broken because she flinched when I looked at her, "I'm sorry, imouto...for being such a terrible sister to you...I don't deserve to be your onechan..."
I quickly ran up the staircase, my right shoe clattering with each step I took. I gasped in relief as soon as I entered my room and locked the door. I hyperventilated as more tears trickled down my cheeks, my heart was aching terribly...my mind kept on replaying Son Saku-kun running towards me...calling to me...his face filled with such anguish...I slid down the door until I crumpled onto the floor. I heard footfalls echoing behind the door and heard insistent knocks on the door. The door handle jingled. Shoukyou must had been trying to open it with no luck...
"Onechan! Onechan!" I shook my head...I didn't deserve her comfort or her love...I ruined everything for her, "Onechan! Open the door! It's not your fault! It was mine! Please come out! I'm scared for you! You're still the best sister I have! Come out! Come out!"
Then I heard gentle hushing sounds and more crying outside...it must be Otousan comforting her...I imagined Otousan guiding her to her room to recover from the night...
I pushed the remaining shoe away from my sore and reddened feet...kicking it away from me as far as I could...the red rhinestones glittered menacingly. They didn't look lovely anymore...instead they remind me of the shards of my already broken heart.
I shrugged off the dress and tossed it in a pile...I had a feeling I won't wear it ever again...I pulled off the hair jewels and tossed them unceremoniously into a spare container...they were an impractical bother to me anyway...I swiped off the contact lenses and threw them away...my glasses were more comfortable...
I changed into a loose T-shirt and some lose sweatpants before collapsing onto my bed. A fresh wave of tears bombarded my eyes, making them burn and sting...
I was not a princess anymore...
I no longer felt beautiful...
And I would never be again...
...I was nothing...
To be continued...
Author's notes: (getting death glares from you guys...) I'm going to be hung for this, aren't I...my heart was pounding by the time I finished writing and editing this chapter...it killed me to do it and you probably didn't expect it but I'm sticking to the direction I have set out the write the moment I drafted this...life can be so confusing especially when you're a teenager so this is what I'm trying to portray. Remember that Da Qiao doesn't outright know who Shoukou (Shang Xiang) really is and emotions can cloud rationale so that's why I justify for her reaction. It was hinted..but I always figured that Da Qiao has such a proper manner of things that this was what how I thought she would react. I promise that there IS a conclusion in all of this but is it going to be a happily ever after for her? You'll have to find out soon enough...until next time, please leave reviews and feedback, flamers will be sorted in my junkmail folder.