Trouble in Paradise

Ok, so this is the newly UPDATED fanfiction (as of 26th March 2008). To all the readers who have made this story a favourite I would advise you to try and read from the start once again. I have changed the story now (And I'll be updating the first few chapters I totally despise them right about now) and I'll be still updating the story with some new chapters too. Please read and review, they're always nice to read and get your comments/views across. Thanks in advance.

Chapter One – The Truth Hurts

"You had enough!?"

Hearing the blade sink into the ground, the General looked up and saw the Pirate leaning against his blade looking almost bored. He wiped a bit of sweat from his brow but aside from that he didn't even seem short of breath. His eyes travelled over the women in front of him who was breathing quick and shallow and was knelt down on the warm grass, clutching her weapons tightly in her hands. As though this answered his question, Gan Ning turned his back on here and walked towards the shade of the trees.

Rising to her feet, the women watched him walk away feeling angry but also ashamed of herself. She had only managed to train with him for about six rounds before she was caught off guard and was forced down to the ground by the Pirate. He didn't care whether she was a female or not, or whether she had even trained before. She was a new recruit, his recruit for that matter and he wasn't going to let anybody slack off. Not under his watch.

Ling Cai was the women's name. She was still watching the Pirate with cerulean eyes that seemed to flash with shame as she threw her twin daggers down to the ground, where they quivered ominously beside Gan Ning's blade. She stared at the glinting reflection from the Sun before turning her blonde head away from them, and instead looked at the Pirate's back once more. She wiped the perspiration that was forming in little beads, off her face and walked towards him. He was lying by the side of the small stream of sparkling clean water that ran through the Wu Capital of Jian Ye, washing his face with the cool water.

He didn't seem to notice that Cai was slowly making her way towards him, watching the pink petals fall gracefully from the trees above them. She stopped a few yards behind them and instead of watching the blossoms; she surveyed the numerous tattoos the Pirate had. The intricate patterns and designs seemed to mesmerise Cai as her eyes traced the tattoos…The pain he must have endured whilst getting them burnt on to his skin would have been excruciating and yet she had a faint idea that he did not care much. She personally wouldn't have gone through the torture, but that was only her opinion.

The splash of water made Cai come out of her trance and she glanced back down at the Pirate who was splashing water all over his face once again. He leant back to enjoy the cool breeze and saw her standing there, staring at him. Gan Ning raised one eyebrow and was seemingly perturbed at finding her just standing there.

"What?" He asked without hesitation, staring back at his low ranking general. Ling Cai managed to keep her mouth shut to refrain from saying something that could land her in some deep trouble with him. She also became aware that her left hand had clenched tightly. She had no right to go chatting back to him; she had no right to even question him. She was ranked underneath him and therefore couldn't do so much as look at him funny…She did however, feel grateful that he chose that very second to look away from her and therefore he missed the fact that she was restraining herself from yelling at him.

"You can sit down you know," Ning said, raising an eyebrow once again as she continued to stand there, though he was glad she was no longer staring directly at him as though he was something on show. She seated herself a few yards away from him and glanced over her shoulders to see their weapons still gleaming in the brilliant sun-light. Ning smiled and then looked back across the glistening waters of the river. Cai picked up a blossom petal and started to shred it. She enjoyed the tranquillity of the outdoors, when there was no war or battle waging. It was so calming to hear the birds singing melodically, and the trees gently whisper to each other as a warm breeze passed through.

"I can't say that's been your best training session over the last few weeks." Gan Ning started, leaning back against the rough bark of the tree once again and stretching his legs out placing his hands behind his head. Ling Cai looked into the cool but clear depths of the stream as he was speaking feeling the same shame as earlier beginning to creep up again. Gan Ning scratched his head before continuing with his speech. "You've been lacking some-what in your skill for the past few days. Something you need to tell me? Or are you just letting me win each and every round?"

The shame she was feeling was reflected in her eyes as she glanced up at him, and anger was pouring in from all sides too. She was hurt by his comment but she did not want to him to see that. She looked away quickly; Gan Ning didn't seem to notice the emotion burning in her eyes. Ling Cai wasn't entirely a newcomer anymore. She had been with Wu for around six months now and nearly every single day was devoted to training with Gan Ning…And she had thought inside that she was doing better, her confidence was beginning to build up a little and then Gan Ning had destroyed that, tore it down almost as quickly as it came…So much for emotional barriers.

"I'll give you some credit, you've managed to put some fight and skill into our training sessions and at some point you've got me wanting a break but not today. Today has been poor. There's been no effort whatsoever; if it had been a real duel I would have killed your three times over." At this point, Gan Ning found it best not to look at the General and he looked at his golden bells instead. He was being incredibly harsh…He knew that, but it was something that needed to be voiced, not just kept inside. This girl had potential, he knew it and so did she, he just had to scrape it out of her that was all.

"Stop it." Ling Cai said suddenly, her voice trembling. Gan Ning turned his head quickly towards her and saw that she still wasn't looking at him. He actually thought that she had misheard her until she spoke again, in a voice that was of forced calmness.

"Stop undermining me."

She chanced a glance up at him and saw that look of shock had crossed his once calm and relaxed features. The fact that she had spoken out of turn had come as a surprise and it took moments for him to register what had actually happened.

"I'm not undermining you I'm simply speaking words of truth." He added quietly, still staring in disbelief. Since the six months that she had been by Gan Ning's side she had never once spoken out of turn, or barely spoke at all. Ling Cai did not speak again. It seemed as though her tongue had refrained her from speaking and so she sat with her arms folded across her chest staring awkwardly at the glittering water.

"You're still feeling angry…Or maybe ashamed of your abysmal performance? Well here's a chance to redeem yourself Lady Cai." Gan Ning had risen to his feet and passed her as he pulled his blade from out of the ground and held it firmly in his right hand. "Come on; show me that you can do this. Prove it to me."

Ling Cai didn't need anymore encouragement then that. She leapt to her feet as though the grass had suddenly scalded her and picked up her daggers from where she had thrown them down before pointing them threateningly at the Pirate standing in front of her, almost leering at her.

"Well you're a little more enthusiastic, I'll give you…."

Ling Cai darted forward with both power and speed, not even bothering to wait for him to finish his sentence. Gan Ning only just managed to block her attack that it caused him to stagger backwards slightly. He regained his footing and aimed to block every swing that was coming at him from various places. Every time she swung, her would move back a step to avoid the glinting metal of her daggers. Her attacks were exceptionally quick and relentless, the energy and force she was putting behind every attack did not cease. The emotional constraints were now snapped and everything seemed to be pouring out. The anger, mingled with shame was attached to each swing, and finally she was able to break Gan Ning's guard and with amazing agility, she was able to swerve underneath his arm and press the end of her left dagger against his lower-back, the right hand had moved upwards and was placed just in front of his neck. He let out a low grunt and kept his blade in front of him unable to do much else.

Heart still beating furiously, adrenaline still surging through her blood, she remained in the same position for a few more seconds to make sure he understood the victory, to let it sink in before she stepped aside and dropped her arms to her side. Gan Ning turned slowly to face her, glad to see that she had not left any visible wounds on his tanned skin. He was no longer looking dispirited or disappointed with her performance last time, but a grin flickered across his features and he nodded his head. "Now that's what I'm talking about,"

"If you were to perform like that on the battle-field, the enemy doesn't stand a chance." Gan Ning continued, watching Ling Cai with interest. She inclined her head towards him as if in a bow. "Training's over for today, I'll expect to see you here tomorrow as usual."

The Pirate lifted his scimitar over his shoulder and walked casually away without a backwards glance, exiting the gardens (and their training grounds) no doubt heading to the banquet hall for their usual feast. Instead of following, Ling Cai flopped back down on the grass still feeling the rhythmic beat of her heart against her ribcage. She laid her daggers at the side of her before laying down herself. The grass was warm and oh so comfortable on her back, facing the mass of pink blossoms above her. The sun gently shone through the shallow gaps allowing her to bask in the gentle warmth of the rays. It was such a peaceful and tranquil day and this is how she wanted it to stay. Forever.

Nevertheless, she knew deep inside that that was impossible. The land had been divided into three powerful forces, Sun Quan with Wu, Cao Cao with Wei and Liu Bei with Shu. She knew in the future that she would no doubt face both Wei and Shu, and when that time came she would be ready. She would not show any mercy, she would fight for the sake of Wu, for the sake of the Pirate she served.

Her eyes snapped open, they had been itching with tiredness but she sat up whilst her eyes ached to shut once again. Six months worth of training, six months of being with Gan Ning and the anger she had felt towards him had completely evaporated, and a completely different emotion had replaced it.