A/N – As usual, unbeta-ed, but don't let that deter you from reading! I would really appreciate it if you could read and review.

"Pirates!"

Yao immediately looked up from the map he was scouring. He and his crew were on their way to South-East Asia to procure spices for their emperor. They were not far from their destination, Malacca, off the coast of a small country, Malaysia. "How long do we have?" he asked a crew member, Ling, who was rushing along the hallway, on the way to protect his ship.

"Minutes!" he gasped.

"What?" Yao was horrified.

"We had seen the ship ages ago, but we had thought it was friendly," Ling told him. "It was only moments ago they raised the Jolly Roger!"

"Damn!" Yao swore. "Carry on your business, and make sure no one's harmed."

"Yes, sir!" Ling saluted before rushing off.

Indeed, within minutes, Yao's ship was overcome by pirates. They raided his ship, stripping it off its treasures. Yao was silently thankful they hadn't had the opportunity to trade with the Malaysians yet, or all their spices would be taken as well. Yao and his crew could only watch helplessly as their ship was stripped off their wealth.

A regal-looking blonde pirate, who Yao assumed was the captain, was supervising the pirates' raid. He had to approve all the goods that were taken onto his ship.

When they were done and getting ready to leave, the captain hopped off his seat on the deck of Yao's ship. "Wait," he said.

The pirates paused and turned to him for further instruction.

"We said we would take every single treasure on this ship," the captain said. "And that includes you, captain," he said, pointing a finger directly at Yao.

"What?" Yao sputtered. "This is preposterous! I can't leave my ship!"

"Well, I guess we'll have to make do with this then," the pirate captain said off-handedly, gesturing towards the back of Yao's ship. "I'm sure my crew will be pleased by his presence in my ship."

To Yao's horror, a pirate appeared, clutching his younger brother, Kiku, who was looking utterly terrified by the progression of events.

"No!" Yao cried. He couldn't allow the pirates to take his beloved younger brother. "I'll go! I'll go!"

The captain could not hide a smirk.

"Just… just let me say goodbye to him," Yao said grimly.

The captain nodded. "Take your time – we have all day." Then he gestured for his pirates to return to their ship, and they shuffled out.

Yao made his way over to his little brother, who was shaking. "Kiku, listen to me."

Kiku looked up at his older brother, trembling.

"This ship is under your command from now on. The crew has to listen to your every command. Go to Malacca and trade with them, then bring the spices back to our country."

Kiku nodded. "But what about you?"

"I'll be fine," Yao assured him, although he himself was not assured. "We probably will never see each other again, so this is goodbye."

"No…" Kiku breathed.

Yao gave him an encouraging smile and hugged him tightly. "Goodbye, Kiku." He then turned to his crew and saluted them.

"Are you ready to go now?" the captain asked.

"Yes," Yao replied sullenly and followed the captain to his ship, trying to block his view of Kiku's devastated face.

On the pirate's ship, Yao was introduced to the crew.

"I am Captain Arthur Kirkland," introduced the captain. "And this is my trusty crew." The crew managed a chorused grunt in greeting before resuming their business.

Yao managed a smile at them.

Arthur started walking, and Yao followed him.

"Breakfast is at 6am, lunch is at 12pm, and dinner is at 6pm," Arthur continued. "Normally, you would dine with the crew, but as you are my special guest, you will dine with me in my quarters."

Yao nodded. Well, that didn't sound too bad.

"As for sleeping arrangements," Arthur smirked at Yao. "You can choose to sleep with the crew, or sleep with me. Your choice."

Yao looked thoughtful. How bad could sleeping with the crew be? But he glanced around and saw no less than ten of them leering suggestively at him. "I'll sleep with you," he grudgingly said. "But don't you dare try anything on me!"

Arthur lifted his hands in mock-surrender. "I wouldn't dare," he snickered.

At about 5pm that day, a crew member visited Yao in Arthur's cabin. Yao was bored out of his mind, not being allowed anywhere on the ship. He had taken the liberty to examining Arthur's possessions while the captain was away.

"Greetings," the crew member said. "I am Gilbert, and I have been asked to deliver this to you." He pushed a package into Yao's arms.

"What is it?" Yao asked curiously.

"Open it," Gilbert told him.

Yao opened the brown package to reveal a light-blue, sleeveless, silk cheongsam, one which the pirates procured from his own ship.

"You are to wear that when you dine with the captain tonight," Gilbert said.

Yao was appalled. He was not going to wear women's clothes! "And if I refuse?"

Gilbert chuckled evilly. "As the captain says, 'You'll be dining with the crew… naked,'" he leered.

Yao willed his face to remain indifferent, but he was seething inside. "Well, then tell the captain to expect me at 6pm."

"Very well," said Gilbert, before leaving.

Yao walked to the bathroom, clutching the cheongsam in his hands in anger. How dare the captain order him around?

He had an hour to get ready. He didn't want to be late lest the captain ordered something ridiculous of him. He stepped into the cheongsam, but didn't know quite how to button the frog clasps on the dress – they were for females to put on, not him, and he couldn't be bothered to learn how to fasten them. Needless to say, it took him a while to put on the cheongsam and make it look presentable, and by the time he was done, it was 5.45pm.

When Yao stepped out of the bathroom, he noticed a pair of light-blue heels that matched the cheongsam left outside the bathroom. No doubt, Gilbert had forgotten to give them to him earlier on and had sneaked in to leave the shoes there.

Yao slipped his feet into the heels, wondering how the captain knew his foot size. He didn't have time to dwell in that for when he tried to walk in them, he grimaced at how painful his feet felt. How could girls wear these shoes all the time? After stumbling around the room, he decided to just sit down and wait for Arthur.

At precisely 6pm, Arthur entered the room. His eyes lit up seeing Yao in the cheongsam he had picked out for him.

As soon as Arthur entered, Yao quickly stood up and bowed to Arthur.

"You look beautiful," Arthur breathed, as he took a seat opposite Yao.

Yao blushed. In all his life, he had never been complimented that way before. "Thank you," he said softly before taking his seat.

Then, the food came in, and they ate together. Arthur made small talk, trying to get to know the Asian beauty better. Yao, on the other hand, answered Arthur's questions curtly. He had no inclination towards someone who would rip him from his homeland, his family. Or so he thought.