Beautiful Just so you all know, while the overall rating for this is T, there will be chapters that are M for lemony freshness. If hot, steamy buttsex offends you, you can skip those chapters (there will be a warning in the beginning of those). I will include author's notes in the beginning of the next chapter that will tell you about any important developments you may have missed. Sadly, there is an OC in this, because the plot bunny demanded it. But fear not, gentle reader! The story is not about her, she's not a warrior, and you won't be told about her past or backstory. She is a secondary character, and is merely a tool to help move the plot along. If you REALLY want to know about her, you can e-mail me and I'll make up a backstory or something, but since she's not that important, iI really don't have anything like that for her and don't plan to.

Ch.1

Disclaimer: "I'm not gay…I just like having sex with other men, that's all."

Gan Ning cursed fluidly. Things were not going well at all. He had woken up tied to an unfamiliar bed with his upper body resting against the headboard in a sitting position while his arms and legs were tied spread eagled to the bed posts. Not. Good. His last memory was of being on a battlefield, locked in combat with Wei's infamous Butterfly General, Zhang He. He had been in the middle of executing a very complicated, fancy move, when the whiz of an arrow flying inches past his face completely buggered his concentration. The next thing he knew, a searing pain ripped across his chest and his ribs were on fire as his graceful opponent scored a hit with his deadly bronze claws. This realization was followed by shocking jolt as a sharp blow to the base of his skull spread sinister tendrils of white-hot agony through his head and sent him spiraling into an inky black oblivion. He moved his head slightly, wincing as a horrible pain shot up from his neck and into his poor, abused skull. He could tell that his head had been bandaged, despite the pain, and looking down at his chest, he saw that his wounds had been cleaned and dressed; although fire seemed to scorch his ribs with every breath he took.

Whoever was keeping him here wanted him alive. This could mean one of two things: A) His rescuer was some kind-hearted peasant who had seen his pirate tattoos, and, unwitting of the fact that Gan Ning had reformed, decided to help him but restrain him as a precaution, or B) His rescuer was actually a captor who knew exactly who he was and wanted him healthy for whatever horrible torture they were planning for him. He grimaced. The slashes on his chest would probably leave scars that would mar the tattoos he loved so dearly. He cursed again, louder this time.

"Tut tut. Such ugly language is most unbecoming for one so very lovely." The voice that filled his ears was a low purr, smooth as silk and dripping sensuality like honey. He knew that voice.

"Zhang He." He rasped, tongue feeling thick and heavy in his suddenly dry mouth. "Please tell me this is not your bed I'm tied to." The only response he got was a throaty chuckle as Zhang He gracefully floated into view. Trailing just a few steps behind him and to the left was someone he didn't recognize, a short young girl in her early teens with a pinched, sallow face and an irritated expression darkening her narrow features. She was dressed rather extravagantly in plum colored silk with lavender floral designs and gold embroidery on her elegant robes. Her midnight hair was tied back into two sections on either side of her head, and done up into two, classic, Chinese triple braided balls. The piercing black eyes were narrowed in contempt, and Gan Ning could've sworn he felt her condescending glare drill holes into his skull. Whoever she was, it was clear she considered him to be some primitive, lower life form, and wanted him to know it. Fine. If she wanted to be hostile and rude, he could play that way too.

"I'm not familiar with your little wench, General." At this, her eyes flashed with rage, and she tensed, preparing to let loose a barrage of caustic insults, when a look from Zhang He made her drop her gaze and keep a bitter silence. "This is my personal attendant and most trusted servant, Ling Yi. It is in your best interests to address her respectfully, for I will not force her to bite her sharp tongue a second time, nor will I be held responsible for the consequences if you should fall victim to one of her verbal floggings." Amusement touched his features and added a spark to his eyes as he said this, and a small, almost imperceptible smile ghosted across Ling Yi's lips. "I'll respect her if she respects me." Gan Ning snapped. "And besides, she started it. Glaring like a wet cat stuck on a sandbar, she was." Immediately, she smirked and brought her eyes back up to meet his. "What else is a cat expected to do when she's faced with a thieving, plundering bilge rat?"

Ooh. The little witch knew exactly what to say. Gan Ning was extremely touchy about his former pirating days, and hated when people brought it up. It was a source of personal shame for him, and his checkered past had more than once brought false accusations and misplaced suspicions down upon his spiky head. It bothered him that people couldn't separate his past from his present, and the horrid little female's bilge rat comment struck far too close to home. He sucked his breath in sharply through clenched teeth, mind too foggy with anger to think of an appropriately witty retort. Damn. Her. Zhang He's low, sexy chuckle clashed with the wench's harsh, high pitched giggled, and a furious Gan Ning screwed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth, trying to block out their laughter. He could feel a headache coming on, and desperately wished he were unconscious again.

TADAAAA! That thar were a chapter of me fic, it were! FEEDBACK! I NEED FEEDBACK! Tell me what you thought, or I'll sick Ling Yi on you! Ain't she a doll?

Ling Yi: "…You're retarded. I can't believe I'm stuck with a pathetic hack like you trying to pass herself off as my 'author'. You are an insult to fanfic writers everywhere, and you'd be doing the world a favor if you came down with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and ceased all your piteous attempts at writing, you miserable butcher of the English language."

Me: ………….. crawls into a corner and cries while rocking back and forth in fetal position

Ling Yi: sigh "She's in an insult induced state of trauma. The only way to revive her is to send her a review. Do me a favor and don't send her anything, if you encourage her, she'll only continue."