Chapter 1 - Out of My Mind (by Colbie Caillat)

The once shining bright weather was quickly changed to that of a storm. As the moments passed, the winds grew strong and stronger, running through the trees and somehow breaking off the branches. No one should have been out in the storm, and no one in their right mind was, that is, except for Mulan.

Mulan was running on Khan. Running away from home, running away from the drama, running away from the heartache, running away from Shang. She was just couldn't take the words Shang had said to her out of her mind, though she wanted to.

"You know," he was yelling at her now, "I can't even see why I fell for you and why I even love you. I treat you differently from what every other husband would have treated you like, and this is how you repay me? I just don't understand you Fa Mulan."

Mulan shook her head. It hurt too much to think about it. Yet the image stuck in her head so vividly, and she cried even harder than before. But lately, things had been different: he was not acting the same, she was crying more, and worst of all, she was not in love with him the same way she was.

It all ended so quickly. She was so shocked when he walked out without even saying goodbye or give any warning that he was leaving. Mulan had no inkling as to him leaving but she knew it was because he needed space, because he was angry, and because of her. She was crying, though she wanted to avoid it but, but she could not help it. Mulan loved Shang and always would, no matter what. During her trip outside her house, she tried figuring out where things went wrong, where things changed, how it all came tumbling down at once, but it was to no avail.

The whole time Mulan was contemplating whether or not to go. She did not want to leave but after being alone in the house, she knew she would not be emotionally well. As she ran, she wondered if she had made the right decision. Running away would give her peace and quiet, no matter where she went. And deep deep deep down inside, Mulan had a feeling, or to her a fantasy, that Shang would see her gone and follow her, if he even knew where she was. Mulan sighed. She made up her mind: she was not going back home until he apologized.

It was not like her to be crying. It was not like her to be running away without giving a fight or her input into the argument. But truthfully she had not been herself lately. It was not like Shang was seeing another woman and committing adultery, because he came home every day. However, unlike the peaceful evening that they would usually have, smiling turned into screaming and screaming turned fighting. And who could live like that every other day? Mulan certainly could not. She wondered what happened to her once loving husband. She figured that he had a rough day at work. But something else was bothering him, Mulan knew that. The talk about her and him would not go away, it never would for as long as they lived and their ancestors existed. There was no turning away or pretending not to hear. The talk usually sounded somewhere along these lines: "Mulan seduced him at camp", "He is not half the General as his father", or "Mulan is barren". One could only take such talk for so long without exploding in anger and losing control. While Mulan heard it only in the village, poor Shang probably dealt with it every day.

But there was not much Mulan could say. There was not much she could do. All she could do was be there for him, but his rampages made it even harder to do so. It got harder and harder each day for her stay, but her heart was what made her want to stay. It remained with Shang. It always did. And Mulan believed, though her mind told her otherwise, all she needed was time. All it took was time. But what Mulan feared was just exactly how long it would take.

Throughout the trip, one thing Mulan was not thinking about was where in the world she was going. As she ran on Khan, she realized that she had been going around in circles with no sense of direction or purpose. But she knew where she had to go, and who she had to talk to, was her parents. Oh she would not want to tell them at first but after a while, she would let it out. She was not ready to share her problems just yet, but Mulan knew she had to eventually. After trying to work it out with Shang herself and not receiving any cooperation on his part, she knew had to have her parents act as their marriage ref or at least.

Right now she cared about where Shang was but at the same time, she also worried he would not be able to find her because she did not leave a note. Mulan sighed. For once she needed to worry about herself instead of other people. Mulan knew that Shang would know that she would be coming home and nothing would stop her.

Mulan couldn't help it. Their memories continuously played through her mind as she ran away:

[After climbing into the palace rooms] "What are we doing?" Shang asked incredulously as they climbed into the rooms of the Emperor's concubines. He looked around at all the women who giggled in his presence.

Mulan turned around and angrily sighed from his lack of knowledge and perhaps in jealousy at the looks he was receiving from the women. "Don't even think you are getting any of these women Shang," she said warningly and too disrespectfully to her Captain. But of course she was a bit angry with him from earlier so she had a right to.

In fact, Shang did not even really noticed. He chuckled at her warning. "Don't worry," he whispered as they finally stepped out, "You're the only woman in my life at the moment."

Mulan smirked and thought at the time, "If only that were true."

…

There was a quick rasping at her window. It sounded almost as if there were being rocks thrown at her window. Mulan slowly opened her window to find a nervous, yet anxious Captain standing at her window.

"Come outside with me!" He whispered a bit loudly.

"Why?" Mulan asked and looked outside the window to see if anyone was around and more importantly if her parents were awake.

"It's a beautiful night," he answered, "And I don't want you to miss it." Shang then smiled his famous heart melting smiles that made women go weak at the knees, though Mulan would not admit it.

Mulan smiled. "Fine," she whispered as she climbed out of her window, "but we have to be quiet because my parents are asleep."

Shang smirked and whispered as they walked out to the garden, "Something tells me, they already know." He chuckled and extended his hand to her so as to lead her in a dance.

…

"Shang I swear," Mulan angrily said as she ran up to see him, "if we keep meeting like this I'm going to have to tie you up to a tree until you stay." They both laughed.

"Well I actually meant to meet you and hoped for it honestly." They both smiled and blushed when their eyes met. "I'm actually wondering if I could stay the week," Shang asked, "I have military duties to perform here and instead of staying at an inn, I was wondering if your family would be so kind as to let me stay for a week. I can do some of the chores to help you out and buy some of the meals and compensate you…"

Mulan waved it off, "You should know that you are always welcome at my home." And she truly meant that.

…

"Where in the world are you going now?" Shang asked angrily, trying to run after her.

"Stop following me and stay away from me!" She angrily yelled at him, not even turning back.

"I don't think I ever can do that," he yelled back.

Mulan immediately stopped and turned around to face him. Unbeknownst to them both, they both started walking towards each other until they met half way.

"Shang, I…" Mulan started but was stopped by Shang, who gently silenced her with a kiss: her first kiss.

…

"Where are we going?" she asked her new husband and newly appointed General.

"Don't you trust me?" he asked and smiled.

Mulan smirked. "You know that I do. I'm still not sure if you trust me though."

Shang laughed. "Still not over that palace incident? Well I can assure you, I fully trust you now. I mean figures, I married you didn't I? Plus, I followed your lead at the palace and I followed you home, where I eventually proposed to you and trusted you with my life when I married you."

"Well aren't you so amazing?" Mulan giggled. "Will you please tell me where we're going before I kill you? Or at least take this blindfold off my face?"

Shang laughed. "Look you're safe alright? I'm holding onto you so you won't fall off the horse. If we get attacked, be sure that I will protect you till my dying breath, and you can always take off the blindfold then."

"I will always love you," she told him.

Shang whispered in her ear, "I know."

Mulan angrily hit him.

He chuckled and answered, "But you should know that I will always love you too."

…

And Mulan cried again. She tried and tried and tried, but she could not help it. Mulan was so in love with him, that when she finally left him, she did not know what to do. She never expected she would be in this position. Mulan figured they would have their fights, but this was not at all what she wanted or figured it would lead up to. She scoffed. No matter where she ran to, Shang would always be on her mind.

By now the winds were much worse. They were blowing in her face, and she cried in pain as they whipped her face. Riding against the winds was not something Sun Tzi or anyone in that matter would suggest. Khan whinnied in pain and exhaust from all the work he was doing.

But the winds seemed to carry a voice in them. "Mulan!" they said.

Mulan turned around to see if anyone was behind her and looked around to see if anyone was there. But she saw no one.

"Mulan!" they cried out again.

Once again Mulan turned around but saw no one in sight.

"Mulan!" they bellowed again.

Once again Mulan turned around to find no one, but as soon as she turned back around, she had to dodge a fallen branch, carried by the wind. Cursing her luck, Mulan swore to not turn around again.

"Mulan!" the winds roared again, and Mulan could not help but turn around to where she saw Shang riding not too far behind her. "Mulan!" he yelled faintly at her.

"Shang!" she screamed back, but trying to hold back her excitement for she was still angry with him.

"Mulan! Look out!" he screamed. Still wishing it was a bit more romantic than that, Mulan cursedly turned around and saw the incoming thick tree branch. In mid turn, her head hit the branch, knocking her down off the horse to hit her head on the ground.

"Mulan!" Shang yelled in horror and immediately jumped from his horse. Khan, faithfully staying with his master, immediately turned around to come to her rescue.

"Shang?" Mulan weakly asked, fighting to keep her eyes open and clear.

Shang grabbed her hand and held it, while gently massaging her face. "Mulan, I'm so sorry! I'm sorry! You'll be alright I promise. I'll get help." But Mulan could barely keep her eyes open, as she was feeling dizzy. "Just hold on," he said, "Hold on!"

That was all she heard before she fell unconscious. And then, there was darkness.

A bright light hit Mulan's eyes as soon as she opened them. While trying to readjust her eyes to her surroundings, her eyes were able to make out four figures, with only three she recognized. "Where am I?" Mulan asked weakly.

"You're in your room," a man's voice boomed. "How are you feeling?"

Immediately Mulan sat up in her bed, but put a hand to her head feeling the rush of blood. "I feel fine, but a bit dizzy." She moaned in pain and the man helped her ease in back.

"That's good," he replied. "That is what can happen after your little incident. Do you know who these people are?"

Mulan reopened her eyes and hit the bright light out of her gaze, making her vision a lot better and easier to have. She sighed and exhausted replied pointing at each figure, "That is my mother, my father, my grandmother, and you are a doctor."

Each person in the room gave a sigh of relief. The doctor smiled and answered, "Good. I feared that you would have a loss of memory."

"How is she?" Another man asked, his voice very familiar yet unknown to her.

"She's fine," Fa Zhou said to him, "Come in my son."

"Son?" Mulan thought. She was not aware that she had a brother.

A handsome, tall, and muscular man walked into the room. From the expression on his face, you could tell he was very concerned and worried. He immediately sat on her bed and gently stroked her arm. "Mulan, how are you feeling?" he asked fearfully.

Mulan smiled. "I am quite well. Thank you for your concern brother."

A look of worry and fear passed over everyone's face. But no one dared to say anything about it.

"Mulan," he chuckled. "Very funny, but I'm not your brother."

Mulan threw him a peculiar look and replied, "I'm sorry, but I don't think I remember you."

DUN DUN DUN!!!!! haha this is my my final story! I kind of got a bit tired of my other stories, but do not worry, I will finish them! I have been saving this story for quite a while now and I wanted to release it already! So here is my story and please please review and tell me what you think about it! Thank you!