~ Cherry Blossoms ~ (3/3) - J/E, J/L&P

[dwgm]

And here's the last part of my potcfest story. As always, my deepest thanks to hereswith for editing.

Part One and Part Two, in case you missed them, and here's part three...



~ Cherry Blossoms, continued...


"Stowed away!" Elizabeth smiled. "I often wished to do so when I was that age – and with the very pirate they imposed upon! How wise of them to seize the day."

Jack, predictably, preened a bit, but said, "I doubt it would've been quite the same with little miss Governor's daughter, though. The Chinese have some rather different ideas about sport than we barbarians. All to do with a woman havin' unlimited yin and a man only so much yang. It's a man's duty to acquire all the yin essence he can before… er… expending his yang essence. If you get me drift."

Elizabeth displayed an arched brow. "Am I correct in thinking the woman has the advantage with this arrangement?"

"Aye. In spades." He shook his head. "Ten days it took, sailin' to Panang and back. And ten nights. About did me in. Maybe if there hadn't been two of 'em…"

"But you had no hesitation, using them in such a way?"

"Of course I did! Bloody hell, when I think of some of the punishments the Chinese've invented. They've got us beat in that game, hands down. And Sao Feng was already suspicious of me – the lasses hadn't been as discreet as they might have been, back in Singapore. That's mainly why I was picked for that little run to Panang – I was working as a navigator and diplomatic liaison on the Fairlie at the time, a favor for the captain who was an old friend. We were due to head west again in a fortnight, but the way things were going that wouldn't be soon enough, so they sent me off in this pretty little junk, with a small fortune in quality arms in the forward hold and Sao Feng's bits of cherry blossom in the aft cabin. I didn't discover the two lasses until close to the end of the first day. They'd dressed as boys and hid straightaway on boarding. I was hopping mad when I found 'em, gave 'em a right good tongue-lashing, said we'd have to head back the next morning. And there they stood, lookin' all humble and contrite. Never seen better actresses in any theater."

"They weren't sorry, then?"

Jack snorted. "Hardly. Had me fooled, at first, though. I told 'em to get their backsides into the cabin and stay there, and I'd sleep on deck, with the rest of the crew. I told 'em they’d have no supper as well, but then got to thinkin' Sao Feng wouldn't want 'em to starve. So I'm bringin' 'em a bowl of rice and some fresh fish we'd caught, and here they've got these little lamps lit, and they're prettily disposed on the cot, not a stitch of clothing between 'em."

"Naked?" Elizabeth exclaimed, round-eyed.

"Aye. But very artfully so. I should've turned right around and locked 'em in, but somehow I couldn't stop starin'. And then, before I knew it, they'd locked me in, and taken the bowls of grub and set 'em aside -- seems it weren't fish and rice they was hungry for."

Elizabeth couldn't help chuckling at the picture thus conjured. "Jack! You seized the day, too?"

"The day seized me!" he protested. "Oh, they were innocent in some ways, but much more knowledgeable than the average western girl. And that eager to learn, short of what they knew was rightfully Sao Feng’s to teach. As I said, they about did me in over the next ten days."

"So you didn't take them back."

"Not much use after that first night – there’s no secrets on a boat that size. I figured I’d as soon be hung for a sheep as for a lamb. So by day I taught them seamanship -- Sao Feng had been a bit remiss in that department -- and by night my yang was fairly overwhelmed with yin. It was a memorable voyage."

"And the money? You said it was both?"

"Fella that bought the arms paid in bullion and jewels. Then we met the Fairlie on our way into Singapore harbor and they hustled me off the junk, tout d'suite – the girls had told Sao Feng they'd gone to visit their old amah, but he'd discovered the truth by the time we got back. A hasty departure was called for—"

"As is so often the case," Elizabeth observed.

"Precisely. Barely had time to give 'em a last kiss, and completely forgot the packet of jewels in me coat! I later considered that it was just recompense for keepin' the lasses entertained all that time, but I doubt Sao Feng saw it in quite that light."

Chuckling, Elizabeth pushed Jack over, onto his back, and rolled on top of him. "You are dreadful!"

"Am not!"

"You are! And I find that I am filled with envy of those girls' maiden voyage."

Jack smirked. "Is that right?"

"Yes. And I also find this theory of yin and yang most intriguing. Are you prepared to elucidate, Captain Sparrow?"

"A hands-on demonstration, as it were?" Elizabeth shivered in delight at Jack's wandering touch, and his eyes held a distinct glint as he murmured, "My yang is entirely at your yin's disposal, love."



~.~

Comments

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it.