Warning! This chapter has...well, no actual smex, but almost. And some cursing. If you're cool with it, fine. If not, you'll get a summary of the important information you missed in the A/N for ch. 6. You big sissy.

Ch.5

Disclaimer: "It's all fun and games until somebody gets poked in the eye with a penis. Then it's just kinky."

Zhang He stretched and yawned as he walked through the carved mahogany doors. The meeting with Sima Yi had been almost four hours long, and had been horrendously tedious. He hadn't been able to bring himself to pay attention to the droning lecture from Sima Yi, and he knew he'd probably missed something extremely important. Yet he wasn't at all worried about being unprepared on the battlefield; he would just use his keen instinct, which had never failed him so far. Besides, if there were any plans or tactical matters he needed to be aware of, he could always count on Ling Yi to keep him informed and up to date. Right now, however, he had far more entertaining things to occupy himself with. He swung open the door and walked into his room.

Gan Ning was exactly where he'd left him, still bound and beautiful. His headband was missing, though, allowing the longish auburn hair to fall over his forehead and frame his chocolate brown eyes. Lovely. "General Gan Ning," he said, bowing courteously. "So sorry to have kept you waiting. I trust Ling Yi has made you comfortable while I was absent?" The ex-pirate stared at him, seeming to think something over. Finally, he replied, "…Yes…she's been most…accommodating." Zhang He sensed the true nature of his hesitation. He was hiding something. Clearly there had been an incident (which Zhang He strongly suspected involved the missing bandanna) that Gan Ning, perhaps to due pride, or an odd sense of fair play, meant to keep between himself and Ling Yi. He wasn't surprised; Ling Yi never did take kindly to strangers. He had hoped that, for once, she would try to play nicely, though. "I like your tattoo." Zhang He snapped back to reality. "Pardon?" "Your tattoo," Said Gan Ning, nodding his head at the orange dragon that began at Zhang He's shoulder and snaked it's way down his arm, ending just above his wrist. "I like it." "Oh…thank you." Zhang He was slightly puzzled by Gan Ning's congeniality, but decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"I admire yours, as well. They're very beautiful; true artwork." He said with an appreciative nod. Gan Ning grinned widely, delighted, and replied "You have no idea how good it is to talk to someone who appreciates tattoos they way I do." Zhang He smiled. "What can I say? I have an eye for art." Gan Ning paused and gave him a long, considering look. "You know," he said, "You're not half bad. It's a pity we're on opposing sides. Under different circumstances, we might have been friends." Or more, thought Zhang He. "Yes. Yes, we might have." He sighed. "Fate is a cruel mistress, is she not?" Gan Ning smiled and nodded knowingly. "Aye. That she is." There was a pause, and then Gan Ning asked, "General Zhang He, if I may ask, why exactly did you bring me here? Do you normally kidnap defeated enemy officers, or is this a relatively uncommon occurrence?" Ah. So we come to it at last. "Most uncommon." He chuckled, advancing towards the bed. "To be perfectly honest, general, it was one of those things that just seemed like a good idea at the time. I didn't have any real motive behind it."

At least, he added silently, none that I'm ready to tell you about yet. He smiled as he sat down on the edge of the bed, and swore he could feel an electric crackle as his skin just barely brushed Gan Ning's. The shorter man jumped, as well as the ropes would allow. His amicable attitude was gone now, the good-natured humor in his eyes replaced by wariness. Zhang He could feel something near desperation rising within his breast, the last thing he wanted to do was scare his guest. He had to reassure him, somehow. He drew back slightly, and Gan Ning relaxed somewhat. Apparently, close contact made him nervous. Zhang He would have to help him get over that. "So tell me, General Gan Ning." He made his voice a purr, low and inviting. "What's life like for you back in Wu? Do you have anyone…special?" Gan Ning looked confused now, and slightly defensive. "If you're hoping to get information out of me, you can put that notion right out of your head. I'm no traitor, so you might as well let me go and stop wasting both our time. I'm sure you realize that I can withstand torture."

Zhang He stared at him, then laughed, genuinely surprised. Is that what he thought this was about? Silly politics? And here Zhang He had thought he was just being coy. Either Gan Ning was completely clueless, or Zhang He was losing his touch. He saw Gan Ning's eyes narrow, and realized he must of thought he was laughing at him. Well, he was, but not in the way Gan Ning thought. "Fear not, my good General, Wu's secrets are safe from me," He said, still chuckling. "Information is not what I want from you." "Then what do you want?" He demanded, looking annoyed. He was adorable when he was helplessly angry, though Zhang He thought it would be wiser not to mention that. Oh well, might as well tell him the truth… "I want you." He said simply, and lowered himself next to Gan Ning, tracing over one of his many tattoos with his finger. The chocolate brown eyes widened in shock. "Wh-What are you doing?" Gan Ning panicked slightly as Zhang He's fingers wandered across his chest and brushed lightly over a nipple. "I would think that would be obvious," He said, leaning in close to Gan Ning. "I'm seducing you." He whispered the words into his ear, lips brushing the skin ever so softly.

Gan Ning shuddered, but not with fear. Zhang He nipped at his ear lobe, and Gan Ning closed his eyes and moaned softly as the Butterfly General's mouth slid over his neck and began eating passionately at where the throat and shoulder met. Zhang He felt the other man press himself closer, trying to rub against him, when suddenly he pulled away, panicked, bucking against the ropes. Puzzled and disappointed, Zhang He drew back, always a gentleman. The frantic Wu officer looked up at him, a horrifying realization dawning in his eyes. "Oh my god," he whispered, terrified. "You fuck men!"

Zhang He couldn't help it; he burst into laughter. Had he been standing up, he would have been forced to take a seat, he was laughing so hard. As he tried to regain his faculties, he heard the still shaken Gan Ning mutter, "So that's what Wench meant by sex slave…" Sex slave? Oh dear. It seemed Ling Yi had said something to give their guest the wrong impression. He would have to have a talk with her later, to be sure. Zhang He was a man of dignity and respect, and it would be both distasteful and against his nature to force someone into some kind of obscene slavery. Why on earth would Ling Yi say something like that? He would have to rebuke her for this. Right now, he needed to allay Gan Ning's unnecessary concern.

He started to move close to Gan Ning again, when the frightened general spoke up. "Listen," he said quickly, "I'm not a queer, alright? So stay away from me, faggot!" Zhang He felt his heart sink into his stomach. How could someone so beautiful say something so ugly? He supposed it was more of that duality he was so fascinated with. He was both hurt and intrigued. Gan Ning had certainly seemed to be enjoying himself a few minutes ago, hadn't he? Zhang He suspected that he was a closet case in the worst way; he was trying to hide his homosexuality from himself. Zhang He had seen the signs though, and was confident that Gan Ning just needed a little time. And some help.

"My dear General," He said, tone frostily polite. "I may be a 'faggot', as you so eloquently put it, but I am no rapist. I will not touch you without your consent." "Then let me go!" Gan Ning's eyes were panicked, but Zhang He knew it was not him he was afraid of. Gan Ning was terrified of something within himself. "I'm never going to give you my consent! I already told you, I'm not gay!" Zhang He merely smiled. "We shall see, general. We shall see." "No," Gan Ning snapped, fear turning to anger. "We won't. If you're so desperate for something to fuck, you can go fuck yourself!" There was a long, stony silence, and now it was Zhang He's turn to be angry. He had done nothing to warrant such viciousness, and he didn't appreciate being insulted. Gan Ning was scared and confused, Zhang He could certainly understand that. After all, hadn't he been, too, when he'd first had to come to terms with who he was? But he had never acted so inappropriately, and it didn't give Gan Ning the right to, not by any means. He narrowed his eyes, and his face darkened with hurt and anger. If Gan Ning wanted to be obscene and crude, he could certainly oblige.

"Very well then," He said, his voice retaining a sharp, cool edge. He reached up and undid his ponytail, allowing his thick, raven hair to fall around his face and shoulders like a curtain as it tumbled down his back and past his waist. Gan Ning's eyes widened, captivated by the other man's beauty. Zhang he moved slowly, sensually, as he reached around and undid his chest plate without looking, fingers moving with swift surety. Gan Ning licked his lips and watched, making no sound at all. Zhang He stood bare chested in front of the spellbound pirate, and ran his fingers through his glorious hair, then down his chest to the top of his pants. Slowly, ever so slowly, he began to finish undressing. Gan Ning blinked, Zhang He's spell of lust and dark promises momentarily weakened, though certainly not broken.

"What…what…" He trailed off, unable to finish his sentence, unable to do anything except watch. "I'm only doing what you so thoughtfully suggested." He said, upon seeing Gan Ning's expression of foggy incomprehension. "Fucking myself." He elaborated helpfully. Gan Ning made no protest, mouth hanging open uselessly as Zhang He stood in front of him, fully naked and magnificent. Zhang He suppressed a delicious shiver as the other general's eyes eagerly traveled up and down his body as though trying to memorize every line and curve. Zhang He kneeled on the bed, his legs on either side of Gan Ning's, making sure not to touch. For his part, Gan Ning made not attempt to struggle or complain. He merely stared, awestruck; eyes glazed with lust and breath coming in short, eager gasps. Zhang He noticed a suspicious bulge in Gan Ning's pants, confirming his suspicions that the enemy officer was not nearly as straight as he claimed to be. Oh well. Let him be contrary if he wanted to, his feeble delusion wouldn't last long anyway. Zhang He closed his eyes and began stroking himself, hearing Gan Ning's breathing quicken with excitement as he did so. No, he wouldn't last long at all.

For reasons unknown to me, this chapter simply did not want to be written. I'd start on it, get through a paragraph or two, and then something would come up and I'd have to walk away. So finally, I set aside some time, and got the whole thing done in one sitting. It was nice to have a pure, uninterrupted flow of smexiness. There's also a considerable amount of relief that comes with finishing a chapter, because I can't start on a rough draft for the next chapter until I'm done with the final draft of whatever I'm working on at the time. These first five chapters were posted all at once, but I spent about three weeks writing, rewriting, spell-checking, and grammar-checking each one. I'm only telling you this to let you know that I am not the speediest of updaters, so Ch. 6 may be a while in coming. Not that anyone cares. Silly, I know, but that's how I roll, dawgs. Tune in next week, same yaoi time, same yaoi channel! Yes, there were hidden motives behind that Batman reference. Anyhoozles, toodles!