Ch. 26

Oh crap, the funny disappeared again…

Disclaimer: "If I kissed you, I'd have to kill you."

Zhang He knelt impassively on the floor at Sima Yi's feet like a well-trained pet—which, for all intents and purposes, he was. The strategist was busily at work on one plan or another, and barely noticed the other man's presence, except to occasionally reach down and stroke Zhang He's head. Zhang He, for his part, did his best to fight the nausea he felt at being touched. He stared blankly at a wall, trying to ignore the ache in his throat and jaw, trying to ignore the hand that was playing with his hair. Sima Yi put the quill down and looked at him. "You know," he said. "This doesn't have to be as bad as you make it out to be. If only you would allow yourself to enjoy things a little, I think you'll find that I'm not nearly as terrible as you believe. In fact, if you would just cooperate, I might be willing to make things a little more pleasant for you. All you have to do is admit that you enjoy the time we spend together. At the very least, you could pretend. Who knows? Perhaps, after a while, you may find yourself not having to pretend. You might just learn to like me."

Zhang He wisely said nothing, as he had not been given permission to speak. He wouldn't have known what to say, anyway. He never did, around this man who was as apt to kiss him as cut him, depending on his mood. And one could never tell what kind of mood he was in; he was as wildly unpredictable as he was brilliant. Something that pleased him one day would trigger a violent outburst of temper the next. So Zhang He held his tongue, and continued staring at the wall. Fingers closed gently around his chin, turning his head and raising him up to face Sima Yi, who kissed him tenderly. Zhang He tensed; the last time Sima Yi had given him a seemingly harmless kiss like this one, he had bitten down without warning on Zhang He's tongue, releasing him only after it had started to bleed. He kept perfectly still, not daring to pull away, and refusing to kiss back. That was the one thing Zhang He would never do. Sima Yi could do anything he wanted to his "pet's" body, but he could not get a kiss out of him. It angered him, and Zhang He knew that this was foolish, but a man had to have his limits. Sima Yi dug his fingers into Zhang He's already aching jaw, sending a sharp pain and a clear message. Zhang He got the message, but still refused. He would die before he would kiss this man. Sima Yi pushed him away, shoving the general back onto the floor. "Get out," he snarled. Zhang He didn't have to be told twice.

- - - - - - - -- - - - - -- - - -- - -- - - --- - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Safely in his room, the nausea had returned. He sent Ling Yi to get a bucket, and she had come back with it just in time. Leaning over it, he vomited up the semen he'd been forced to swallow earlier. From the corner of his eye, he saw Ling Yi blanch and turn her face away, though she still stood by him and held his hair back. He weakly gripped the chair he was resting against, shaking lightly. He vomited again, sinking to his knees. When it was finally over, he wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and drew in deep breaths. "I'm sorry you had to see that." He said to his servant, who was still turned away and very pale. Her mouth worked as she tried to say something, but after a while, gave up. There was nothing for her to say.

BAD CROW! STOP WRITING ANGST! THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A ROMANTIC COMEDY! Gah, I'm sorry, guys! The angst will be over soon, I promise! Next chappie: Ling Yi deals with self-hatred and attempts to bargain for her master's freedom…by offering herself in his place.