Ch. 11

Disclaimer: "We always have this argument about how I take too long to get ready. I'm sorry, but I have to do things to myself before I can leave the house; that's just how it is. So he's adopted this new strategy. He says, 'I'll be waiting in the car.' He seems to think this will make me hurry up. It just leaves me time to call my friends."

Zhang He felt like a teenager whose mom had walked in on him, which was odd, since he was 29, and his mother had been dead for two years. Ling Yi was waiting for him outside the door, having informed him that she wished an audience with him before fleeing the room. He hurried frantically to pull on a pair of black and gold embroidered silk pants while an amused—and still naked---Gan Ning sat on the edge of the bed and watched, chuckling. Zhang He mock-scowled at him. "It's really not that funny, Gan Ning. You can stop laughing any time now. Really." The other man shook his head, still snickering. "No, I can't, and yes, it really is." Zhang He playfully lobbed a random article of clothing in Gan Ning's direction, which landed on his head and got caught in the spiky hair. He raised his eyebrows as he pulled the garment off his face and held it up for inspection, revealing it to be a pair of silky, navy blue under-shorts. Extremely short under-shorts. "Nice," he commented, throwing a lewd glance at Zhang He. "Is this what you wear to get a guy's attention?"

Zhang He snatched the garment out of the pirate's hands, blushing furiously and trying not to smile. "No," he shot back. "I wear the purple ones when I'm trying to get a guy's attention. Or the black ones. The blue just happen to match a lot of my clothes." Gan Ning's eyebrows almost disappeared into his hair. "You have these in multiple colors? You'll have to model them for me." Zhang He took one look at the bawdy grin on his lover's face, and blushed even harder, a similar grin spreading across his own countenance. "You're not being very helpful, you know. You could help me look for a top." He continued to rummage through his wardrobe, forcing his way through the forests of apparel with growing frustration. "I could," Said Gan Ning with a congenial shrug, never losing his grin. "But then I wouldn't get to stare at you running around half-naked while you get all sweaty. And where would the fun in that be, eh? Besides, seven days ago, you were on a battlefield without a shirt. Why do you need one now?"

Zhang He sighed and flipped his hair over his shoulder as he finally found the matching robe that went with his pants. "Because we've already traumatized my servant enough, and I think she'd appreciate it if I refrained from exposing myself to her anymore than I already have. She becomes anxious very easily, you know, and the poor dear is stressed enough as it is. She isn't coping with…well, you…very well at all. The silly thing has been in an absolute tizzy ever since I brought you back, seems utterly convinced that you're going to bring me to ruination. I swear, sometimes she takes the oddest notions into that clever head of hers…anyway, she seems to have something really urgent on her mind, so I don't know how long this will take or when I'll be able to get back here. If it turns out I'm delayed for a while and you get bored, feel free to poke around in my room, since obviously, you can't leave. I've got some books on that shelf over there, but they're mostly on art and poetry, so you may not be interested." He pulled his hair into it's usual ponytail, then reached into a small, ornately decorated box and selected a thin gold ribbon. Tying in it a bow with perfect precision, he turned to admire himself in the full-length mirror and smiled at the glamour of his own image.

He caught Gan Ning's reflection smirking in the background, and whirled on him. "What, may I ask, is so very amusing?" Zhang He demanded. Gan Ning shook his head slowly, laughing a little. "You," He said. "You're just stepping outside to talk to your servant, and you're fussing over your appearance like you're going to a formal dinner party. It's totally pointless and unnecessary." He paused thoughtfully, then added, "It's actually rather cute. Completely mental, of course, but still cute." Zhang He tossed his hair with an exaggerated sigh. "Just because I am not going anywhere special, it is no excuse not to look my best. It is a source of personal pride, knowing that I look beautiful at all times. I'll admit it; I do make a point of dressing to leave an impression. When someone thinks of me, I like them to remember exactly what I was wearing that day. I simply cannot leave my room unless I look presentable, even if I'm only stepping out for a minute or two." At some point during the course of this little speech, Gan Ning had gotten up from the bed and now stood behind Zhang He, resting his hands on the taller man's hips. Zhang He watched from the mirror as Gan Ning ran his hands lightly over his silk-clad chest, feeling the rough, calloused fingers brushing his skin through the thin material. He shivered, and leaned heavily into him, closing his eyes and relishing the sensation of their bodies being molded against each other.

"You weren't listening to a word I said, were you?" He didn't really mind, but he felt he should at least feign annoyance. Gan Ning shook his head, eyes dark and mischievous. "Nope," he confirmed, lips brushing Zhang He's ear. "Not a word." He watched as the reflection of Gan Ning's hands traveled down his chest and started to go lower. Before he could get anywhere interesting, there was a knock at the door. "My lord?" Came Ling Yi's muffled voice from through the wood. "My lord? I do hate to press you, but it is rather important that we speak." Zhang He sighed and rolled his eyes, ignoring the death glare Gan Ning was shooting at the door. "I'll be out in a minute," he called. He slid out of Gan Ning's arms, shrugging apologetically at the disappointed pirate. "That Wench of yours is really cutting into my fun." He grumbled, still staring blackly at the spot where her voice had issued from. Zhang He smiled patiently. "To be fair, Gan Ning, you're really cutting into her work." This earned him a grumpy pout, which made him giggle. "Oh, come on," he said, giving him a quick kiss as he walked past him and to the door. "I'll be right back. And then we can pick up where we left off." The pout disappeared, replaced by a lecherous grin. "Fine then, go. But hurry back." Zhang He left the room smiling.

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Ling Yi, however, was not smiling, and one look at her expression was enough to sober him up. "My lord," she said, frowning. "I realize it is not my place to comment, but I feel there is something we need to discuss before we move on to the main reason for this meeting." Zhang He flicked at his bangs nervously. "You may speak freely," he told her. He had the feeling he was going to regret that. He heard Ling Yi take a deep breath. "Very well then, my lord. During my last…intrusion, I noticed something rather disturbing. Well, several somethings, actually, but I hardly think we need to bring that up. I observed that the prisoner had been untied. Master, that pirate fellow is a very dangerous man. I think it is extremely imprudent to leave him unrestrained, as well as an unnecessary tempting of fate." Zhang He flicked at his bangs again, avoiding Ling Yi's eyes. He held his hands up in a gesture of self-defense. "Now, Ling Yi," he started. "I know you think I'm courting danger, but---" He was surprised to find his sentence cut off by a harsh bark of laughter. Ling Yi rarely laughed, and it was usually not a good sign when she did. "Forgive me, my lord," she said, struggling to breathe between peals of mirth. "But this goes far beyond courting danger. This is sleeping with danger, then untying it and leaving it alone in your room. You have long since surpassed merely courting it."

He winced. He hated to admit it, but she did have a very good point. It was probably not the best idea to leave Gan Ning alone in his room; especially since he couldn't leave guards outside without running the risk of them discovering the truth about him and his "captive". Still, he couldn't bring himself to tie him back up, it just seemed so…wrong. Agitated, he began repetitively running his fingers through his ponytail in an effort to soothe himself. "You're right," he said, "I know you're right, but honestly, I think it's okay. I really don't believe he'll try anything…actually, no. I know he won't. Not without telling me first, anyway." Ling Yi stared up at him. "And how, exactly, do you know this?"

Zhang He cringed before answering, realizing how utterly naïve and gullible it would sound. "He…ah…told me." He was giving his ponytail his full attention now, not daring to look at his servant. There was an extremely long silence, and finally, Zhang He looked up to see if Ling Yi was all right. She wasn't. She was staring at him like he'd grown an extra had, and her eyelid had started twitching again. In the back of his mind, he began to wonder if perhaps his actions were beginning to take a toll on the child's physical and mental health. Probably. "Ling Yi, don't look at me like that. I know how ridiculous it sounds…" She shook her head in disbelief. "No my lord, I really don't think you do. But forget about that for now, there are more important things to discuss. Lord Sima Yi questioned me about your 'guest' this morning." Zhang He immediately lost interest in his hair. "What? What did he say? What did you tell him?" She smiled, obviously pleased with him for finally taking interest in his own affairs. "Well," She began. "You'll be happy to know that I was able to formulate a reasonable cover story. I told him that you were keeping him for interrogation, and that you were finding difficulty extracting information. This gives about three months to decide what you're going to do with him before you are expected to report back to lord Sima Yi with the results of your interrogation. Although it seems to me you've already decided. I suppose you'll want to be keeping him for a while? And you'll be wanting him unharmed as well, correct?" He nodded, stunned and grateful that she was being so understanding. "The way I see it, my lord, you have three options: You can get the information and bring it back to Lord Sima Yi. This will allow your…friend…to return safely to Wu." Zhang He frowned. "What are the other options?" She hesitated. "Well…you could convince him to defect to Wei. He would be a valuable addition, and would automatically be protected." He brightened considerably at that. How wonderful it would be, Gan Ning forever by his side! Before he could progress into a full-fledged daydream, his thoughts were interrupted by Ling Yi. "My lord," She said hastily. "I doubt you would get him to agree to this. And you are overlooking the most logical option." He cocked his head to one side, listening attentively. "What option is that?"

"Kill him." Zhang He stared at her, eyes wide. "Wh-what! Ling Yi, what are you talking about?" She sighed. "I know it sounds harsh, my lord, but it really is the best way. Keeping him alive is a dangerous move. He knows about you now. He may tell others. You seem to already be somewhat attached to him, making you vulnerable; making him a liability. A weakness. He cannot be kept safely here for long. He will not join Wei, and you cannot go with him to Wu. He is a loose thread, my lord, and he needs to be cut." Zhang He opened his mouth to protest, and could not find the words. His mind raced furiously. "We- we could run away together," he said, soft and uncertain. "We could go to Nanman…or...or…" Ling Yi looked suddenly distraught. "You could leave, my lord. What about me? I am no soldier; I am not used to travel. I would not survive outside these walls. Will you leave me here, then? Discard me and leave me without purpose, to live out my days in shame and triviality? And do not forget, lords Sima Yi and Cao Cao have terrible tempers. If you leave, do you not think they will take vengeance on me for your betrayal? No, my lord, they will kill me in your stead, but only after I am tortured until I beg for death. Besides, to flee is the coward's way, and neither you nor the pirate be cowards. You would not live a happy existence, and neither would I."

Zhang He was taken aback; these things had not crossed his mind. His bright hope for the future and become bleak and distant. "My lord," She continued gently. "It really is the best thing to do. You still have about three months together; enjoy them as fully as you can. When your time runs out, all you have to do is wait until he sleeps. Then you can make it quick and painless, and he will never even know." His mind was reeling. He could not think. He could not speak. He could not accept what she was saying, refused that it could be true. "My lord," she pressed, voice soft and gentle, yet utterly merciless and implacable. "He can die in your arms, my lord. You can be the last thing he sees and hears, your name the last words on his lips before he falls asleep. You can make it a happy ending; make his last moments as perfect as humanly possible. And think about this, my lord: If you kill him, he will die beautiful. You will never have to see him grow old, or his splendor fade. You can keep him in your mind's eye, where he will forever be as he was. Wouldn't that be lovely, master? Wouldn't you like that?" Zhang He put his hands over his face. He felt as if he were drowning. Was that really what he wanted? He didn't know. Maybe. He looked up, lower lip quivering. When he spoke, his voice trembled. "Ling Yi, I- I need to think this over. This is too much right now, I just can't…can't…" He sighed. "I just can't. I'm going to be in the garden for a while. Please got to the shrine and make an offering on my behalf. Ask the gods for guidance. Ask them for…for a way out." Ling Yi nodded briskly. "Very good, my lord. I was going down to the shrine tonight anyway."

ZHANG HE HAS MAN-PANTIES! IN THREE DIFFERENT COLORS! BWAHAHAHAH! …((Crickets chirp)) …Yeah. Not a lot to say about this chapter, except that it was a pain in the patella to write. I did enjoy writing Ling Yi in this, though. We finally got to see how pragmatic she really is, and got a first hand look at those manipulation skills of hers. Damn, she's good, neh? Or maybe that's bad… And Zhang He being a glamour queen is always entertaining, as is pervy Gan Ning. Speaking of which, what's gonna happen to poor Ning? Come on, Zhang He! Don't fall for that silly logic stuff! True love conquers all! …Well, maybe not all. Like bad breath, for example. And now that I've completely ruined the mood, I'll sign off. Wait, no, I forgot! I'm going to upgrade the rating to M, because it really should be. When I put chapter 12 up, I'll change the rating. I'm waiting because I don't want the three or four people who read this thing to be looking around for it and not know where it went. Now I'm signing off. Ta-ta!