Disclaimer: Disney owns "Mulan".

A/N: Thank you for the kind comments! I hope you will enjoy this chapter as well.

Chapter Two

The day the first letter from Shang arrived began as just another ordinary day. Mulan rose from bed relatively early, ate a modest breakfast and turned to her chores. She brought her father his morning tea to where he sat peacefully on the bench under the trees in the garden. Fa Zhou accepted the steaming cup gratefully and smiled at his daughter.

"Thank you, Mulan" he said kindly and took a long sip.

"The tastiest tea is the one that you brew for me in the morning" he said with a smile as he sat the cup on the bench beside him. Mulan smiled and poured some more liquid into it.

"Thank you, father".

Fa Zhou studied his daughter's movements.

"You haven't heard from Captain Shang yet?" he asked quietly.

Mulan turned to him with a faint smile.

"Baba, only three weeks have passed since he came to return your helmet. I assure you that Shang will write once he finds the time".

But the words were said only half-heartedly. Truth be told, Mulan felt great anxiety at the mere mentioning of the lack of correspondence between her and Shang. Each day for the past two weeks, after a quick lunch, Mulan would make her way towards the Village square in hope that she should come across the messenger on his way to deliver her the most anticipated letter. And each day she would return home empty handed after a long stroll through the Village market. Sometimes she would return with ripe apples, sometimes with a bag of rise, but never with a letter. Mulan was beginning to think that perhaps Shang was too busy to even think of writing her a couple of lines.

Fa Zhou, who knew his daughter very well, placed a comforting hand on her slender shoulder.

"I am certain that Captain Shang will not let us down" he said and winked.

Mulan blushed crimson and frowned.

"Baba" she said reproachfully as Fa Zhou laughed.

"All right" he said and caressed her head, "I mean no harm".

"I know" Mulan said quietly and turned to leave, her hands full with the tea cup and the teapot. Half way through the garden she spotted her grandma trotting towards her with her arms flailing. The old lady held something in her hand.

"Mulan!" She cried and waved, "It's here! The letter from Shang arrived!"

Mulan nearly dropped the things she held in her hands in her excitement.

"It has?" She asked and laid the teapot and the cup on the grass. She took the letter, noting with great satisfaction that it was quite long, and sat down. Grandma Fa stood expectantly over her. Mulan lifted her head and smiled.

"Grandma" she said, "I'll tell you everything once I finish reading".

Grandma Fa grinned triumphantly and nodded.

"I'll be in the kitchen" she winked and turned towards the house.

Once Grandma Fa was safely enclosed inside, Mulan turned her attention the letter and began reading:

Mulan,

I hope that my letter finds you and your family in good health.

Allow me to apologize for not writing for so long. I could not, unfortunately, get a hold of ink and paper for two weeks!

As soon as I left your lovely home, I made for the village in which my younger sister lives with her husband and two sons. As I have mentioned before, she is now the only family that I have left; I have no grandparents and our mother died when I was ten. Needless to say that my sister took the news of our father's death in the worse way possible; she barricaded herself in her room for three days. As her husband was not at home at the time, I became both mother and father for my sister and my two little nephews until she could think coherently and consent to taking food. I spent a week at her house until my brother in law, who is a silk tradesman, returned from his business in the surrounding villages and I could depart for my home in peace.

As soon as I arrived at home I received an urgent message that the Emperor wishes to see me so I left for the Imperial City as soon as I could. When I arrived, the Emperor notified me that though the war is over and the enemy is defeated, the army should not relax. He ordered me to return to camp immediately and promoted me to General. I left the Palace that very night.

It took me some time but I am now, finally, at the Moo-Shung Camp and writing these lines to you!

Will it be considered rude if I come to visit you tomorrow before dinner?

I have ordered the messenger to wait and return with your reply.

I hope that I am forgiven,

Shang.

Mulan sprang to her feet, the cup and the teapot forgotten on the green grass, and ran towards the house. Inside, the messenger was having tea and rice cake with her mother and grandmother. He rose and bowed as she entered.

"I shall have the answer ready in a minute" she cried as she ran towards her room.

Mulan grabbed a sheet of paper, ink and a brush and began writing feverishly.

Shang was bent over a big map in his tent when the messenger returned with Mulan's answer.

"General" he said and saluted.

"At ease" Shang answered and reached out to take the letter from the soldier's hand.

"Thank you" he added and smiled, "nice family, aren't they?"

The soldier smiled as well and relaxed.

"Oh, yes, sir!" he said longingly "And Fa Li makes the most delicious rice cake I've ever tasted".

Shang smiled broadly and nodded.

"Thank you, you are dismissed".

The soldier saluted again and exited the tent.

As soon as Shang made sure that he was indeed alone, he untied the crimson ribbon that bound the scroll and placed it on the table. The letter was skillfully written and the parchment had a distant smell of lilies. Shang brought it to his face and took a deep breath; the intoxicating smell filled the tent. He leaned against the table, smiling to himself, and began reading:

Shang,

There was certainly no need to ask for my forgiveness, since you have done nothing wrong! I simply assumed that you must be very busy and that you would surely write once you get the chance. I am, in fact, very grateful for your letter, which indeed found me and my family in good health.

I hope that your sister is feeling better; she is very lucky to have such a kind, considerate brother as yourself. I am certain that your honorable father and your ancestors are proud of you.

Allow me to congratulate you on your new rank, General! The Emperor could not have chosen a better man for the job. I am positive that you would do the uniform much honor!

You are always welcome to visit and stay for dinner, of course. My grandmother has already started cooking and forced me to ask your opinion on rice cakes (you don't have to answer!).

We have a little festival tomorrow in the village square in the afternoon; I shall meet you there.

Until tomorrow,

Mulan.

Shang finished reading and smiled. Mulan will wait for him at the festival!

He opened his sack that lay on the floor and took a little golden phial out of it. He bought it off an old merchant in the Imperial City who told him that it was a lovely present for his lady. Shang blushed then, but didn't correct the toothless, smiling merchant and bought the little phial that contained some sweet-scented perfume. He decided that he would give this to Mulan when they are alone in the garden and perhaps…perhaps then he would ask?

No. Tomorrow would be too soon. They need time to know each other a bit better before he reveals his intentions; though he was quite positive that everyone already knew what they were.

No, tomorrow is indeed too soon. Shang took a deep breath and placed both the phial and the letter on the table. He straightened, flexed his shoulders and adjusted his armor a bit.

Until tomorrow, then.