Warning: heavy yaoi lime
Chapter Three: Reflection of a Boy
The next week, they spent their time playing board games in the morning, retreated to the garden to read books and travel to town to shop. At night, Ping would perform at different tea houses, and Shang would accompany him to watch. Sometimes their parents went too, enjoying Ping's performances. They stole kisses in between and sneak off in the town garden behind trees for heated passions when no one was looking.
Zhou sat at the table sipping his tea in silence, enjoying the stillness of the quiet morning. He enjoyed the tranquil and peace of his life and knew it would not last long. He opened his eyes to see his longtime friend joining him at the table. His wife came out of the kitchen and set down breakfast before the other man and disappeared back into the kitchen to prepare lunch with Grandmother.
"It is nice." General Li murmured as he inhaled his green tea, savoring the bitter scent.
"Yes, it is," Zhou softly replied as he placed his cup down. He had long finished his breakfast and visited the family shrine out in the garden. He was always an early riser and rose with the sun. "Summer is coming to its end. It had been a nice long warm weather we have been having."
"I agree. I thank you for allowing my son and myself to rest here before we get too busy."
"Yes. Our sons are getting along rather famously." Zhou said as he looked across the table at his friend. They were oblivious to their sons' secret rendezvous, not caring how much they had spent together. "I admit, I was afraid that you and your son would not take so kindly to my son's unique way."
"Think nothing of it, Zhou. Shang and I have enjoyed opera and frequently visit each time we pass a town given if there's a show. To be honest, old friend, Ping is far the best nan dan I've ever seen. You should be honored. I would not be surprised if his skills reach the Emperor's ear and receive a request soon."
"That would bring the family a great honor the day that happens." Zhou agreed and sipped his tea once again.
Silence fell upon them, and they enjoyed their breakfast in peace. Until a loud shout shattered their resolve and they both sweatdropped, turning their heads to see Ping bounce across the garden with Shang in a chase.
"Wa! I did not hide your sword sheath!" Ping cried as he ran toward the entrance and disappeared beyond it, heading the barn.
Shang shouted after the smaller man, "Liar! You were admiring it last night!"
"I returned it to your room!" Ping shouted from the barn.
The two women looked up to the window to see Ping fly past by. Grandmother chuckled under her breath, "admiring it, my ass."
"Mother! What are you on about?" Zangjun asked.
The old woman waved the bok-choy leave in the air, "nothing we need to be bothered about."
"If they had grown up together, it would have been a different story," Zhou muttered. Both of his sons were quiet and reserved with occasional squabbles growing up, being far apart in age. However, between Shang and Ping, they were much more lively.
Ping laughed as he leaned back against the wooden structure of the stable, waiting for Shang to catch up. The captain skidded and turned the corner right into Ping's arms and panted, "Where is it?" He muttered, allowing the smaller man to kiss his way up his neck. He grasped the small waist and brought Ping closer, so there were no spaces in between them.
"I told you, I left it in your room. It might have gotten knocked off the bed last night when you pulled me down."
"Ah," Shang chuckled, remembering the night before where they had sneaked into his room and made out until they fell asleep. He looked around the stable, seeing their horses in the stalls, watching them. "What's the plan for today?"
Ping drew back from nibbling Shang's collarbone and observed the light hickey he left. "Oh, since I do not have any plan for tonight or errands to run. Let's go to the valley." He winked and walked past Shang to the horses and patted the massive black horse's snout as it came over the pen to greet Ping. "Do you want to go out today, Khan?"
The horse nickered. Shang shook his head in amusement and went over to his horse in the next pen and together they both prepared their horses for the journey. "The valley your grandmother mentioned the other night?" He asked as they led the horses out of the stable.
"Where are you headed?" Zhou called out to them.
Ping waved to his father, "I'm showing Shang around the valley."
"Be careful out there," Zhou called after them.
"Valley, they said?" Grandmother asked as she popped her head out from the kitchen.
"Yes." Zhou turned to her as she ambled out of the kitchen.
She crackled, "wondered when they would go. Don't expect them to be back until late."
General Li frowned at the woman and turned to his friend, "What does she mean?"
"I am not sure. She's always saying things that no one really knows. It is best not to question her."
They reached the valley an hour later, far from the town and Ping got off his horse and started to walk along the creek, allowing Khan roam nearby. Shang followed suit and got off his own horse and let it go to graze. He joined Ping's side, and they both walked silently together, admiring the view.
"It's a beautiful place," Shang commented as he glanced around.
"Grandmother often take my brother and me here to gather the chestnuts from the trees. Autumn is coming, you can really tell out here." Ping pointed out to the trees, and he gestured to the mountain, "the trees go high here, and if fall comes, they start to turn at the top, and it gives us the warning to prepare for winter. It's not happening yet but soon. It's in the wind." He turned to Shang and grabbed his hand, "come on! Let me show you my favorite spot." He quickly tugged Shang away from the creek and over the meadow and into a small grove of magnolia trees. The blossoms were still in the trees, and the orchard itself was shady and beautiful with soft moss underneath everywhere. Shang sharply inhaled as Ping let go and danced in a circle among the magnolia tree. He could see why his parents would have wanted to name Ping 'Mulan' if he was born a girl. The name Mulan came from the magnolia blossoms, and it truly defined Ping. He even smelled like the said flower.
Ping preferred to wear light-colored pants with pale cotton or stain changshan and darker sash around his slender waist. Today was no different from other days, he chose to wear white pants and pale purple changshan and black sash. He looked beautiful with his long flowing hair down his back, half of it tied up in a small topknot. The magnolia blossom fell down around him.
Shang settled to sit against the tree and watched with pleasure as Ping danced in the shade of the trees. It was peaceful, and he was getting his own private show from the beautiful nan dan. He could not believe how much he had fallen for someone like Ping. He had never thought in a million dynasties that he would ever fall for a man. But that night, the first time he saw Ping on the stage, decked in gold and pearls, looking every bit like a goddess and hearing his soprano voice, he fell, hard.
Ping laughed and fell to his knees beside Shang and laid down, resting his head on the muscular thighs, looking up at Shang with shining eyes. "What are you thinking?" In the past week together, sneaking off and stealing kisses and groping in secret, Ping found himself falling for the handsome captain, enjoying his company and strong protective arms. He never thought he was ever lonely until now and feared the day to come when the captain had to leave.
"You." Shang softly replied as he brushed the long hair, enjoying the soft feeling of the silky strand. Everything about Ping screams perfect female, yet he was a male. "Do you wish you were born a woman?"
Ping hummed at the question and rested his hands on his chest. "There were times that I wished I was a woman, then I realized. I might have been as horrible as a woman." He turned his head, "I have that kind of bad luck. Think about it, I would have disappointed my parents being a girl, not being able to sit perfectly still, do everything that is required to be a perfect bride. I speak up, I run, and I love riding." He sat up and faced Shang, grinning, "Imagine this; me, going down the matchmaker and stumbling about everything before the matchmaker. My tea would not make it in the cup, I would have cheat notes on my arm, and it will become wet, and the matchmaker might have gotten the ink on herself and making an absolute fool of herself and maybe set herself on fire, and it would be all my fault." Shang chuckled as he rubbed his hand across Ping's thigh softly. Ping sighed, "I am not perfect as a man, I am small, weak and I can't even lift and swing the sword. I can't shoot a target with a bow or fight barehanded, and I would've been killed immediately in the front line. I am not perfect as a woman either. I am somewhere in between. I've come to accept myself and grateful that there is a way that I can bring honor to my family rather than disgrace them. Like my grandmother says, the gods are playing a joke."
"Perhaps. The joke is including me." Shang murmured as he leaned in and captured Ping's lips and kissing him softly. He drew back slightly that he spoke against Ping's lips, "of all the women I should've been able to fall for, it a man in a dress with the voice of an angel that I fell for. And I don't care." He kissed again, harder than last with passion. Ping reached up and laced his fingers into Shang's hair, undoing his topknot. Shang's hair fell down around his shoulder, and he pulled Ping onto his lap, undoing the top button to gain access to Ping's slender neck, nibbling his way down.
Ping moaned as he threw his head back, loving the feeling of kisses down his neck and gentle teeth scraping against the sensitive spots. He softly groaned as he felt his pants become uncomfortable and tight. He felt his body shifted and found himself lying on the soft moss and Shang hovering above him. He smiled up at the handsome man, reaching up to caress his sharp angular feature. "I think… no. I love you."
Shang's eyes widened at the admission and saw the truth in Ping's eyes and smiled. He felt the same, "I love you too." He leaned down and kissed him again, his hand roaming the slender waist and going down to reach the bulge in the center, massaging the stiffening member. Ping was smaller and smoother than Shang was, but the captain did not care, he loved every bit of Ping and groaned as Ping pushed himself against his hand. He moved them to work at the frog clasp of Ping's top, revealing his pale, slender torso that had a hint of muscle tone. His waist narrowed and flared like a woman, giving away to long slender legs. He quickly undid Ping's sash and pushed the pants down.
Ping gasped as the air hit his bare skin and looked down to see Shang running his hand down his chest. His fingers paused to tease his nipples before going down over the flat abs and circling around his belly button. He swallowed as the large hand trailed down, following the thin hair trail that led to his groin. He moaned as the hand cupped him, enveloping him in warmth. They had fondled and groped, but only through their clothes and this was the first time Shang was seeing him naked and exposed. He threw his head back as Shang started to slowly rub up and down his manhood, every once in a while teasing the tip by swiping a finger over the weeping top.
"Please, Shang… please…" He begged softly as the sensation started to roll throughout his body from head to toes. He grasped the moss on the sides and clenched. Shang smiled as he watched Ping's expression as he gave him the hand job.
"What?" Shang asked, watching Ping's expressive face.
"Please, it's so good," Ping murmured.
Shang smirked and moved his head down and inhaled Ping's scent. It was clean with a musky scent and the perfume of magnolia blossom. He groaned when his member became hard in his pants, becoming uncomfortable. He kept his hand motion in rhythm and Ping's hips were rising to meet his thrust. He leaned down and allowed the tip into his mouth and closed over it, letting his mouth take over.
"Oh!" Ping's eyes shot open, and he looked down to see Shang's mouth over his member. He gasped as the hot feeling of Shang's mouth doing the work and rolled his head back as the intense feeling shot through his body. He let out a weak cry as the sensation kept going, coiling tighter and tighter. He felt his sacks clench and grasped Shang's hair, "Shang… I'm… oh!" He saw stars behind his eyelids when Shang sucked tighter around his member and went faster. Ping let out a cry as his body spasmed, releasing the tension in rolling waves. He clenched his hands in the moss and Shang's hair as his member throbbed in Shang's mouth, filling up with his release.
Shang swallowed and licked his lips, surprised at himself for giving a head and looked to see Ping boneless sprawled out on the moss and panting. He leaned over and kissed, allowing the smaller male taste himself. Ping reached around and held onto Shang, kissing until they were out of breath.
Ping realized Shang must also be in a state too and pushed him up to sit up. He smiled at the larger man and pushed Shang down to lie back and with deft fingers, he opened up his tunic and traced his muscles, his cool fingers dancing over the hot skin that was beginning to become slick with sweat. He inhaled Shang's scent, strong and masculine, of vanilla and sandalwood soap and his own scent. Shang watched as Ping lean down and lick across his muscle and tease his nipple before taking it in his mouth. He groaned at the sensation, never having realized that it felt good. He had always thought it was something women felt and not men. Ping had proven him wrong again and felt the small hand going down his abdomen, teasing and dragging the nails, giving him goosebumps. He heard the soft bell of laughter and opened his eyes to see Ping undoing his sash and pulling his pants down, freeing his straining member.
Ping gasped softly as Shang's member stood to attention. It was large and thick and dark pink, weeping at the tip. He reached out and touched it, wrapping his fingers around the girth and finding that he could not fully wrap his fingers around. He looked up to see Shang watching him intently and smiled. He wanted to pay back for what Shang had done to him and glanced down to the large throbbing member in his hands. He leaned down and licked the tip with his tongue, tasting the saltiness of the precum. Shang groaned and rolled his head back, feeling the warm wet appendage lap him while the slender hands stroked him.
"Faster, Ping." He moaned as he felt that the speed wasn't enough for him. Ping opened his mouth and allowed as much he could get Shang's thickness in without choking. He could not get it all in but wrapped the rest with his hands and started to bob his head. Every once in a while, he would lick around the tip and teased the top before returning to the rhythm. Shang groaned and stroked Ping's hair, assisting with the speed and murmuring encouragement.
Ping smiled inwardly, feeling powerful bringing a strong man to weakness with such sensual act and freed one of his hand to fondle the sack that was beginning to tighten under his ministration. Shang gasped as the sensation was spreading throughout his body in tingling warmth and rolling waves. He clenched Ping's head and urged him to go faster. Ping complied and soon, he tensed as the coil within him released, sending powerful waves of tingling through his body. He bucked his hips several times into Ping's mouth. Ping held on as the member throbbed and spewed salty fluid into his mouth and swallowed as much he could but it was so much that some dribbled out from the corner of his mouth. He sat back up and grinned at Shang, his arm across his eyes as he panted.
Shang peeked under his arm to see Ping licking the corner of his mouth and wiping the remaining of the semen fluid and licking them off his hands. He felt his member throbbed at sight and sat up, grabbing Ping's hands and kissing his lips with fervent passion, tasting himself. He gathered the naked young man into his arms and laid back, holding him close. They sighed together and allowed the speckles of sunlight warm them through the ceiling of the magnolia trees. They fell asleep together in each other arms.
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Ping walked back to his house from the Opera House, just finishing up with the meeting with the master about the upcoming performance. They would need to start practicing soon. He frowned as he saw people gathered on the street outside his family's property. They lived on the edge of the town, and the street led eastward to the road that connected to the other roads leading to other towns and the Imperial City. He rushed to find his father standing in front with his mother. General Li and Captian Shang were nowhere to be seen.
Earlier that morning, they all were enjoying breakfast and Ping, and Shang was squabbling over the chess game, arguing about who cheated and who did not. It was a good amusement until a messenger showed up and handed the letter to General Li. He had read the message, and with a stoic look on his face, he stood up and left, gesturing for Shang to follow. Shang gave Ping one last look and left. The messenger also handed Ping another letter, and he read it, finding that he was being summoned to the Opera House for a meeting. He got up and bowed to his parents, explaining where he was needed. He knew General Li was summoned elsewhere and worried if it were serious.
The sound of drums filled the air as Ping reached his parents' side and he asked quietly, "what is happening?"
Zhou shook his head and clasped his son's shoulder. "Not a piece of good news."
Ping gasped as legions of soldiers being led by General Li and Captain Li in full regalia armors came in from the east side. They all paused as they entered the street and a scrawny man in a blue robe, a governor from the Emperor upon the horseback opened his mouth, his loud screeching voice announced, "Citizen! I bring a proclamation from the Imperial City! The Huns have invaded China!" Ping paled and looked to Shang, their eyes met, and the captain gave a tiny shake of the head with a hint of a frown. Ping swallowed and covered his mouth with the blue scarf around his neck with his hand for comfort. The man continued, "by order of the Emperor, one able-bodied man from every family must serve in the Imperial Army." He pulled out the list and started naming family.
Ping looked up to his father who looked somber and standing tall. "Father?"
Zhou looked down to his son who could have been his daughter. He shook his head, "no." It was a simple command, and Ping gasped.
"The Fa Family!" Ping shot a look to the scribe and felt his father's hand leave his shoulder, attempting to walk without the assistant of the cane and straining not to hobble. The older man was nearly red in the face as he reached up to take the conscription paper. The scribe sneered down at Zhou and asked, "You have a son, right?" His beady eyes shot to Ping. Shang started, and his father shot his hand out to stop him.
Zhou started resoundingly to the scrawny scribe, "I am ready to serve the Emperor."
"I remember you. Lieutenant Fa, you retired because of your leg. Your son is going, not you." The scribe grabbed the conscription and pointed to Ping, "Come here!"
Ping paled as he stepped up to stand next to his father, "how old are you?"
Zhou looked angry but held his tongue as he waited. He did not want to send his son to war. Ping wasn't suitable, and he knew his eldest son was being conscripted into a different army for his wife's family since there was no son for that side of the family. He cursed the gods silently for taking both of his sons at the same time.
Ping replied softly, "sixteen."
Shang's eyes widened and shot a look at the young man, not realizing how old Ping was the entire time. He had assumed Ping was older, perhaps eighteen or so. He swallowed hard and watched as Ping took the conscription note and helped his father back to the house. He saw Ping look over his shoulder and caught the unshed tears in the lovely eyes. He frowned and turned his head away, following his father into the town.
General Li noticed his son's behavior when it came to Ping and softly told him, "It had to be done. I know Zhou would not want Ping to serve in the Imperial Army. That kid would not make it on the front line."
Shang frowned and turned to his father, "then assign him to my legion so I can protect him! The Fa family had been generous to us, we should do them a favor in return!"
"I did not realize how passionate you would be for Ping. In short two weeks of knowing him, you both have become very close. I have suspected," General Li murmured and saw his son pale, confirming his suspicion, "I see. There is no room for that kind of feelings in the army, especially during the time of war." He took a moment to study his son. "Very well, I will make sure he is assigned to your legion. You are going to be training your own batch while I go to the front line."
"Father!" Shang exclaimed and drew back, remembering that he was a soldier and not a child anymore, "I apologize," and bowed his head.
"Remember! Do not allow your emotions to lead you to the wrong choices. What done is done." He pulled the horse's rein and trotted off. Shang sighed and followed after his father with one last look to the Fa house.
Ping knelt beside his father in the master bedroom. His father had exhausted himself and was beyond grief that he was losing both of his sons to war. He looked over to Ping and held his hand, "Ping, I tried. I do not want you to go. You belong in the opera house, not in the Imperial Army."
"Father. You tried to teach me when I was younger. I will do my best." Ping softly replied and looked down to the conscription note. He was to report to the Mushung Camp in the morning, it was several hours ride to the camp, and he would have to leave several hours before dawn.
Zhou looked over to his wife and gestured for her to go to the cabinet in the corner of the room. Ping looked over to see his mother open up to reveal his father's armors. "Take my armors and my sword. Let the ancestors protect you as well. The gods made you who you are for a reason, and I believe you will find your way. I am proud of you, son. Try it on and let your mother and grandmother help to adjust it to fit you. You will need to leave early in the morning."
Ping nodded and stood up and approached his mother. His grandmother handed him the clothes and Ping silently undressed and dressed in the heavy rough fabric, the material scratched his delicate skin. His mother reached up and pulled his long hair in a tight topknot and tied it off. Ping quietly gasped as he was donned in the armor and allowed his grandmother and mother to adjust the straps and tied it on him. Soon, he was fully dressed, and his father looked over at him and gave a sad smile. "I will honor you, father." Ping fisted his right hand into his left palm and bowed. He turned and allowed the women to take the armors off and set it aside. He would need to sleep.
Sleep did not come easily to him. The sky wailed and wept that night. Ping slipped out of his bed and stole away into the garden and to the shrine. He entered the family shrine and sat there, looking at his reflection against the smooth polished stone with his ancestors' names etched in them.
He bowed his head and opened his mouth and sang softly, "look at me… I will never pass for a perfect soldier." He glanced up to see his reflection, his beautiful face staring back, "or a perfect son. Can it be? I am not meant to play this part?" He stood up and walked around the shrine as his hand trailed along the wall where the scenes of his family history were painted upon. Small stone guardians sat on the top of each pillar around the circular room. "Now I see, that if I were truly to be myself, I would break my family's heart." He thought of Shang, and a tear fell from his eye. "Who is that boy I see?" He paused before the large polished stone that was taller than he was, it held the most ancient of his family's ancestors.
"Staring back at me? Why is my reflection someone I don't know? Somehow I cannot hide who I am." He turned and left the shrine, letting the down pouring rain drench him. He walked along the garden trail and over the small bridge into the willow's grove. He looked around and recalled the first night he was with Shang. "Though I tried. When will my reflection show who I am inside?" He shook his head and left the grove to make his way back to the house. He paused at the large stone dragon at the head of the garden and climbed onto it and in between the dragon's legs. "When will my reflection show who I am, inside?" He let his voice trail off, drowned out by the rain and thunder. He curled up tight into a ball and allowed tears to fall, mingling with the rain.
His grandmother glanced out of her window, watching her grandson wander the garden. She barely could hear his beautiful voice in the rain and understood his sorrow. She looked up to the sky, "Ancestors, please watch over Ping. You allowed him to be born that way, protect him and let him find his path."
References/notes in this chapter:
'Reflections' song, rights reserved to Disney, were slightly altered to fit for this story.
