Disclaimer: I don't own Disney's Mulan or any of its characters, plotlines, etc.

Author's Note: My goodness! I didn't expect such a response for this little story of mine. I'm always grateful for feedback, positive or negative, and you readers have exceeded my expectations. A thousand thanks, and be assured that the next chapter won't be as long in arriving.


Chapter Four: The Real Mulan

Shang groaned, turning over for the fiftieth time in his bed. How much longer would it take her?

It was both a blessing and a curse to receive word from Mulan. His hope for their continued contact had been re-ignited, but the anticipation of the event was now almost worse. Four weeks had passed since he had seen her, and he had known few more agonizing times in his life. If she had broken her word, his respect for her might have been dampened a little...very little. As it was, after he had received the letter, the visions of Mulan returned to him even more glowing than before.

Oh, this was going to be difficult. Maybe only a few more days would end his apprehension.

He remembered her in her matchmaker dress. Although the porcelain doll Mulan didn't look exactly like the Mulan he had known for so long, she certainly was stunning. A few tendrils of hair clung to the nape of her neck, and one strand curled in front of her smooth, golden complexion. The light color scheme formed a pleasant contrast with her dark eyes. Her lovely round mouth...dammit. He had to stop thinking like this! How was he going to face her with these thoughts coursing through his head?

To his shame, he had begun dreaming about her...about their having a life together. He wished he could stop, but his dreams didn't seem to want to obey his orders. The dreams weren't totally indecent...yet. But they were growing progressively worse. Now, instead of picturing her nuzzling the hollow of his collarbone, in his dreams she traced the outlines of his shoulder blades, then the muscles in his back. Her nails pinched along his ribs and...

"Argh!"

Shang bolted upright, and went immediately to fetch a cup of water. His brother, who had heard him, watched his antics from his bedroom door, shaking his head as if worried for Shang's sanity.


Khan neighed impatiently, tossing his head as he struggled to make his way through the crowd without running anyone down inadvertently. Mulan knew that Shang's estate was near the city, though not exactly in the center of all this confusion. Mulan, farm girl that she was, had never seen a crowd this big since that day in the Imperial City...well, that and the thousands of Huns charging at her down the slope. Somehow, this managed to be almost as intimidating.

The wares the merchants were selling could easily catch the eye of the very wealthy, even nobility. Brightly-colored women swept languidly along the streets, eyeing those below them in rank with disdain. Men wearing loaded money belts strutted along, heads held high. Shy boys with gold glinting on their embroidered outfits stayed close to their guardians, peering out every now and then to look at the baubles and charms offered them.

"Goodness," murmured Mulan. "I wonder if he ever shops here. Khan, look out!" Two little girls broke away from their father and ran out in front of the horse. Mulan, luckily skilled in riding, reined in Khan before any harm could come to them. The father came forward, thanking her profusely, but stopped with a frown when he noticed that she was alone. He retreated into the general hubbub without another word.

"Uh-oh," said Mulan, looking pained. "I really should have waited. Or maybe gone as Ping."

Grandma had managed to dissuade her from dressing up as a man, an idea that Mulan had come up with to appease curiosity about a woman riding by herself in the streets. Instead, Mulan carried her training clothes in her saddlebags and rode in a dress, the one she had fit into when she had dressed Yao, Ling and Chien-Po as concubines.

Cri-Kee chirped encouragingly, and Mulan tried to forget about the numerous problems that she faced. It wasn't easy. She had found her way to the city all right, following part of the route that had led her north from Wu Zhong. It would take most of the day at a steady canter to reach Shang's home, so Mulan took care to pack provisions, as well as have money on hand for a stay at an inn. The problems arose once she thought of what would happen once she arrived there. Should she have written ahead of time? Would the Li family disapprove of her showing up on their doorstep? How would she stay at an inn discreetly, without making herself seem like a flirt out to win a husband?

Finally, about a half mile from town, she saw a pair of impressive gates with carved dragon handles.

"Is this the Li estate?" she asked a passerby.

"Sure enough," he said, glancing at her up and down in disdain. "And who, pray tell, are you?"

Mulan dismounted.

"I," she said, trying to look older and wiser than she felt, "am Fa Mulan."

If she had expected a similar reaction to her name as she'd had among the two soldiers, she was disappointed.

The man gave an impatient grunt. "Get in line," he snorted, and moved away from her.

Indignant, Mulan called after him, "What do you mean by that?"

He sniggered. "Just look."

Mulan's mouth opened slightly as she took in a bizarre sight.

Before Shang's house loitered a gaggle of young maidens, presumably all of prime marrying age. There were all kinds of figures, dresses and complexions, but each was very obviously on display, like a basket of ripe fruit awaiting a purchaser. Beside them stood a colorful array of escorts, from dignified older matrons to impatient fathers or uncles. As she tied Khan to a nearby tree and approached the scene, she heard several of the girls quarreling.

"I'm Fa Mulan!"

"You overstuffed pomegranate! I'm Fa Mulan!"

"I got here first!"

"You can't have saved China! You're so skinny you'd blow over in a gust of wind!"

The ladies were too dignified to push each other, but there was certainly some jostling as they all strained to approach the gates. Mulan had no such pretensions, and skillfully wended her way through the pack of women to reach the entrance to Shang's house.

Only when she went closer did Mulan see what was stopping them.

A tall, lean young man stood in front, barring the gates.

"No visitors," he was saying firmly, in a hoarse voice that suggested he had been repeating this phrase for some time now.

"Have you seen him?" A young girl came over with her mother and looked at Mulan interestedly.

"Not in a while," Mulan said vaguely. The girl looked disappointed. Then her face brightened. "But you have seen him?"

Mulan had to grin at her face. "Only once or twice." She seemed sweet enough; it looked like she had been dragged here at the will of her parents. "You?"

"Oh, no!" She blushed and looked down. "I—I'm only here on my father's request, I—well," she lowered her voice, "I don't really like pretending to be someone I'm not. But I'll do it for my family."

"I know the feeling," said Mulan sympathetically.

"So, what's he like?" asked the girl.

"Don't be silly," her mother snapped. "No one here's seen him, or will likely see him. We can't get past that annoying younger brother."

"He's a good man," Mulan said, not knowing what else to say. "He's loyal, he's brave, he's a born commander, and he has a way of being strict in a kind of older brother way."

"She's making it up," scoffed an older girl knowingly.

Mulan raised an eyebrow. "Try me."

"I hear he wears his shirt partially open when he's practicing his moves," giggled another.

Mulan couldn't help a smug smile. "You mean, he doesn't remove it altogether?"

She was rewarded by a shriek.

"Never! That would be too scandalous...I think I'd collapse!"

"I'm sure you would," muttered Mulan, trying to elbow her way to the very front. At last, she got to the head of the line and found the way blocked.

The man she was facing had a rounder face than Shang and wasn't as muscular, but there was something about his sharp eyes that reminded Mulan of her friend.

"And why are you here?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

Mulan felt very foolish. "I—I'm Fa Mula—"

He jerked his thumb in the opposite direction. "Back of the line, along with your eleven identical twins."

"But I am!" cried Mulan. "I am here to see Li Shang! He's going to give me practice in weapons training!"

He paused, examining her closely. Airily he replied, "You're not Fa Mulan."

She put her hands on her hips. "Oh? And how do you know?"

"You haven't come prepared for training."

Mulan wished more than ever that her grandmother hadn't insisted on the dress.

"I brought my clothes. They're in my saddlebags. Please..."

He shook his head authoritatively. "Absolutely not. Be off, you charlatan, and leave the poor man in peace."

Mulan's countenance darkened. If she couldn't gain his trust, her warrior skills would never improve...and she might never see Shang again. "I warn you, I do have combat skills," she said, hoping that her glare would help her out.

The man wasn't impressed. "I am the one issuing the challenges today."

Mulan remained where she was. "I am here with Li Shang's permission. If you do not let me enter, I will be forced to fight you." Please, take the bait...

He laughed. "What are you going to do? Fling your fan at me?" Fed up, he took her by the shoulder and gave Mulan a slight shove.

"Ah!"

Her high kick caught him in the jaw.

Mulan abruptly backed away from the man, shocked at her actions. She hadn't actually meant to hit him! It had happened so—so suddenly. With her moment of hesitation, though, she lost the advantage, and she found herself fighting for her balance as he rolled to his feet and advanced on her.

Lunging at him, Mulan made a calculated miss and grabbed hold of one of the gate knockers. She pushed with all of her strength. The gate inched open just as Shang's brother came at her again.

It was a sweeping blow, meant to finish off an unworthy opponent before she could regain her equilibrium. Mulan, however, did not mean to go down without a fight, and her reaction to him caught him off guard. The bunch of bachelorettes that had been standing so close to the door now hastily made room for the two combatants who were taking measured hits at each other.

Mulan won round one when she dodged a straight jab and leaned against the open door. Grabbing the arm he had nearly punched her with, she helped him through the opening.

They struggled further, just inside the gates, but she had the element of surprise. She wrestled him down on his back, pinned his arms to his sides, and stated in front of the dozens of gawking girls, "I am Fa Mulan!"

Out of the blue, a shy voice answered, "I'm Bao Ssu."

Mulan smiled at the girl she had been conversing with earlier. "Nice to meet you."

Immediately after that, a man in brown who was presumably a servant scurried over the small rise that marked the beginning of the estate.

"Sir! Master Li! One of them has made her way in!"

"Oh, for the love of..." came a voice that made Mulan's heart leap. A dark head appeared over the rise and Shang caught sight of her.

In a flash, Mulan took stock of what she looked like: daintily dressed, without an escort, with a muddied hemline, holding down a man who was a respected member of the Li household.

Terrific. All we need is a huge pot of rice and a wet fish.

What could she possibly say now? "I've come for my training, even though I'm two weeks late?" "Sorry for attacking your dear brother?"

Li Shang was staring at her, openmouthed.

Embarrassed, Mulan let her opponent up.

The man scrambled to his feet, glaring at her. "Brother, she's breached the perimeter!"

Without a word, Shang strode to the gates and heaved them shut. He then looked at Mulan, totally ignoring the man that lay by her feet.

"Mulan? Are you all right?"

She nodded wordlessly.

He broke into a grin and gave her shoulder a fervent squeeze before he remembered where he was and stepped back. "Sorry. Ahem. It's, it's very good that you came."

"Careful, Shang, she might hit!" warned the man, groaning as he tried to rise. "When I blocked her way—"

"You tried to keep her out?" Shang growled. He looked down at his brother in profound disapproval.

"She didn't look like a warrior," explained the young man, oblivious his brother's anger.

"And what about when she was beating you into the ground?" Shang demanded. "Did that give you a clue?"

"Uh..." he looked sheepish.

Shang shook his head and strode over to the man, helping him up. Once he did, he gave him a punch in the shoulder. "This, Fa Mulan, is Tang, my younger brother."

Brushing himself clean of dust, Tang made a small bow. "Deepest apologies, Fa Mulan. I am glad that you've arrived at last."

His eyes narrowed, even though his voice was pleasant. Mulan felt as if every hair on her head were being scrutinized.

In a low voice, Shang said, "Don't be glib."

"You are mistaken. I was merely attempting to show respect for the woman who has so obviously captured my elder brother's attention." His smile widened, but the sharp look didn't leave his face.

This was something that Mulan was unused to. Once Shang had finished sizing someone up, he let that person know immediately what he thought. Li Tang, though, seemed to reserve judgment indeterminately, and she wasn't sure at all what kind of an impression she had made on him.

Fortunately, Mulan knew better than to blush at Tang's statement. "Li Shang is very generous," she said coolly. "His training will help improve my fighting skills tenfold."

"Ah, but would the illustrious Fa Mulan really need to improve?" he said sardonically.

"Tang!" said Shang sharply.

"I had a good deal of luck my first time around," Mulan admitted. "Shang has said that I show promise, but I still do not possess the minute warrior skills that can only come with extensive training. To win my victories, I have so far needed to outthink my enemy rather than outfight him. That may not be the case in the future." It was her turn to regard him. She risked being seen as impudent, and said daringly, "Are you quite finished with your interrogation, sir?"

Tang's eyes widened.

"See?" Listening to the glee in Shang's voice made Mulan certain that she had made the right decision. "She's all right."

At last, Tang said grudgingly, "She's all right. Come on, I'll help you put away your saddlebags." He couldn't resist a parting shot. "Tell me, do you always fight in a dress?"

"Only when defeating Shan Yu," said Mulan sweetly.

"Ah, yes, he told me all about that," said Tang, darting a quick, teasing look in Shang's direction. "And did she make a splendid concubine, brother?"

"Shang!" crowed a voice from inside the house, saving the fortunate Tang from a painful drubbing. "Why haven't you come to dinner?"

Mulan and Shang looked at each other, Mulan with an apologetic expression. Shang, however, gazed on her so happily that Mulan thought it might be worth angering Lady Li to be on the receiving end of that glance. "I'm coming, Mother. I am sorry for the late notice, but we will be receiving a guest for the meal." Mulan smiled back, and Shang, seeming even more elated, said, "You'll have to tell me what your favorite dinner is, for the next time you come here."


There was no sound except for the occasional clink of a teacup as someone set it down. The Li house was totally silent. Every so often, the servants would enter to bring food for their guests—one dish after another, Mulan noticed. She restrained her eyes from bulging at the sight of such an elaborate meal. It was difficult to know how to reply when Shang voiced his regret that they hadn't prepared something better.

"This is magnificent," answered Mulan. She couldn't resist adding, "And even if it weren't, I think I'd survive. I've been fed soldiers' fare, after all."

"A bowl of rice isn't that bad," said Shang, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"It is if you've spilled dinner for the whole camp!" Mulan shot back. "I couldn't stand the sight of rice for a month afterwards."

He laughed. "I've often wondered how you used your excellent strategic skills to create such chaos."

"Oh, yes, excellent," said Mulan sarcastically. "You wouldn't believe how hard I worked to think up the clever plan of 'avoid Yao's fist and if it goes into Ling's stomach accidentally, at least you're safe.'"

Shang nearly choked on his soup. Lady Li raised both eyebrows.

"Ouch," he said. "Were you hurt?"

"Not that day," said Mulan. "There was a small...misunderstanding. It ended with the entire camp in chaos...not a very good first day for you, Captain. Oh! Sorry, General."

Shang winced. "I should have told you about the promotion," he said. "It's just that at the time, you were going to be heading for my house soon, anyway, and I wanted to tell you in person."

"Yes, sir," said Mulan, her eyes twinkling.

The look in Shang's eyes at that moment puzzled her greatly. He was staring at her intensely, all traces of humor gone.

"Did I say something wrong?" asked Mulan, hoping she hadn't overstepped her boundaries with their banter.

"No," said Shang, his voice unexpectedly hoarse. "It's—it's just good to see someone smiling so freely in this house. There has been little laughter over the past month."

Mulan bowed her head in understanding.

"You are certainly very intimate with my son," Lady Li broke in. "How well did you know him before you were found out?"

Mulan looked at Shang. "I—please tell me if I presume too much—I believe we were just starting to become friends," she said. "We had come to trust and rely on each other."

"She saved my life," said Shang quietly.

Lady Li seemed not to know what to say. At last, she found her voice. "Where and with whom are you staying?" she asked at last. "I assume you did not travel alone."

"I am staying at the Red Ox Inn," Mulan answered guardedly.

"Of course Fa Mulan would not travel without a parent or guardian to watch over her," Tang added composedly, his gaze flickering in her direction.

Oh, here it comes. He knows that I...wait. A guardian?

"Of course!" she exclaimed, a tad too enthusiastically. "That is, my chaperone did accompany me as far as this house, but I am afraid he is a bit reclusive. I think it might be too late to begin training, so I shall leave for the inn soon and will return in the morning."

"There's no need," Shang cut in. "You may stay here, and I can teach you how to fight in low light." He looked hard at her. "Your...chaperone...may meet you here, if he is anxious for your safety."

"That would be helpful," said Mulan, wondering what that look meant.

"That's settled, then," said Lady Li briskly. "Fa Mulan, a servant will show you to your rooms and make sure there is a hot bath awaiting when you come in from your practice. Try not to keep her out too late, Shang." She nodded, and all rose from the table.


He met her near a circle of barren earth at nightfall. They stood apart, eyeing each other as if for the first time.

He cleared his throat. "Fa Mulan," he said sternly.

Mulan tensed. It was the voice that he used when he was upset with her.

"Sir?" she asked, out of habit.

He sighed. "I know that you only practice deception when you must, but please do not lie to my mother. You are traveling alone, not with any guardian. Please do not think we will behave badly toward you for coming here unescorted. I am the master of this house, now, and all within will treat you as they would treat any man who came through these doors."

Mulan hesitated. She didn't want to reveal Mushu until she had his consent, but she didn't want her captain to lose faith in her. "Shang, I...I actually am traveling with a guardian."

There was a pause.

"I beg your pardon?" he asked, clearly surprised. "You mean to tell me that you have a reclusive relative waiting for you at the inn and who is willing to let you spend the night alone in my house?"

Mulan took one step closer. "Not a relative, Li Shang. A guardian."

"Oh," he said, sounding unsure.

"You are right, however, in saying that he is not waiting at the inn. I'm not sure where he is, as a matter of fact. Please, do not ask me any more. I don't wish to reveal him until he wants me to."

"This...this guardian," said Shang hesitantly, "has he recently been awakened?"

"He has been with me ever since my sojourn to the Wu Zhong camp," said Mulan honestly.

"Then he has...helped you in the past?"

"Absolutely," said Mulan. "He has been a great companion and friend, though a bit mischievous at times."

Another pause.

"During training?" Shang asked.

"Of course."

"And at the mountain pass?"

"I couldn't have set the avalanche rolling without him."

With some irritation, Shang asked, "So it was his idea?"

"No." Mulan was taken aback.

"And getting the arrow—I assume you had some help in that?" He was clearly fuming. "What else are you hiding from me, Fa Mulan? Did he dress up those soldiers? Distract Shan Yu before he came to finish me off? Defeat the great Hun himself?"

"I can't believe you're saying this!" said Mulan, indignant and deeply wounded. "First, you imply that I'm a habitual liar, and then you accuse me of taking credit for someone else's work! No wonder you won't accuse me of being here inappropriately—you have so many other insults up your sleeve that you hardly need another!"

"I hardly know you!" Shang argued. "I thought I did, but then..."

"But then what?" asked Mulan angrily. "Then you found out I had a guardian?"

He was silent.

In a dangerous voice, she said, "Speak now, sir."

"It—it was before," he said.

"When you thought I was spinning a tale for your mother."

"It was when I knew you were not coming here."

Mulan drew a sharp breath. That was not the answer she had expected, and certainly not in the hurt voice in which Shang was speaking.

"I thought you were a man, Mulan; you aren't. I thought you acted alone during the last war; you've obviously had help. I thought that you would come in two weeks—I thought you had shown up at my door when a girl pretended to be you—you've had almost forty people pretending to be you here this week!"

Mulan stepped closer. "And you're blaming me for every single one of those incidents?"

"How am I supposed to know what to think when what I know about you is constantly changing?"

"You know, my guardian helped me as much as you!" she said. "Without him, our company would never have reached the battle front in time to stop Shan Yu. Also, the falcon would have alerted the Huns to your presence and they would have made short work of you." He started to say something, but she cut him off. "And I'm wondering why you think I had so much help in camp, since for the first two weeks—and you can be sure he was with me—I made every mistake that I possibly could!"

"Fine." The anger in his voice was receding. "Mulan?"

"Yes?" said Mulan, not quite ready to calm down.

"Did—was there really trouble in your village?"

"You know, your nose makes a great target in this light."

"Just tell me, please."

"If you want a report—"

"Then there was trouble."

"Thirteen men. Raiders. One escaped in the darkness; the rest you'll have at your disposal in three days. Soldiers Shueh and Nau will add their reports to mine. Now will you believe me? Because I'm not wasting any more time—"

"I believe you. Also, I apologize for doubting you." He sighed, but spoke again before she could interrupt him. "I know it's not your fault. It's just made me realize how little knowledge I actually have about you, about what you've been through. Fa Mulan is a tricky creature, as much by others' will as by her own."

"She doesn't mean to be," answered Mulan. "Most often, she is forced into it. Mulan would gladly have been a woman in training if she would have received equal treatment with the men. She would have loved to tell you about her guardian if she thought he would allow it, especially at some points..."

"Such as?"

Mulan felt her face grow hot. "Such as the time when you thought that I gave away our position."

He looked startled. "That was him? Why did he—"

"It was a careless mistake," said Mulan.

"He ignited a rocket by mistake," Shang repeated, disbelieving.

"He might have coughed." Mulan flinched, realizing that she had given away too much.

"You have a dragon as a guardian?"

Mulan smiled. "I'm not saying a word."

Shang looked to the left and right, as if sensing an attack. "Is he here?"

"I don't know."

Shang walked close enough for Mulan to see his raised eyebrow. "Wouldn't he be hard to miss?"

Mulan giggled.

"What?"

Mulan stepped nearer and stood on tiptoe, so that they were nearly nose to nose. "I refuse to tell you."

"I suppose I deserve that."

"Yes, indeed."

"Thank you for putting up with me. I really don't merit your attention." He stepped back, looking abashed. "I spent the entire afternoon making you as welcome as I could, and I managed to blow it all in about twenty seconds because I couldn't keep quiet about my frustration with our circumstances. And now, I'm in even bigger trouble than I was when you first came, because you are even more amazing than I remembered you."

"I am neither more nor less than I ever was," said Mulan simply. "If you need to be sure of something about me..." She held out her hand and grasped his forearm. He returned the grip.

They were clasping arms as they had done at the Tung Shao Pass, when she had reached out for him from her horse. There had been neither captain nor soldier, neither woman nor man, just Mulan and Shang, holding steady as the world churned around them. It had broken them apart before. Not this time.

For many moments, they stood together in silence.

All of a sudden, Shang tugged on her arm, trying to pull her off balance. Mulan lost her footing but tucked into a neat roll. She tried to kick behind Shang's knee but he dodged in time. She fended off the coming practice blows as she got to her feet, and then they began to spar in earnest.

Mulan recognized Shang's gesture for what it was. It wasn't aggressive, merely challenging. It was a sign of trust and affection.

They were friends again.


"I can't believe I forgot to pack nightclothes," Mulan groaned as they both staggered back to the house, panting and sweaty. "I'll just put on my dress again, I suppose..."

"Nah," said Shang. "My mother wasn't much bigger than you when she was younger; she still keeps some of her old clothes. I'm not sure why; I would say it's one of those inexplicable mysterious things that women do, but I'm sure you'd correct me."

"It's not mysterious at all," said Mulan. "I've seen my mother do it. Not only is our clothing quite expensive, but as we age, we begin to feel very self-conscious. I think my mother keeps her old garments in hopes that one day she'll be able to fit into them and look young again."

"Ah," said Shang. "Interesting. I wouldn't have thought of it that way." Gently, he poked her beneath her ribs. "I suspect that you wouldn't have that problem."

Mulan hissed through her teeth at his touch.

"Mulan!" Shang backed away. "I'm sorry; please forgive me. I did not mean to be so familiar, I just..."

"You weren't," said Mulan, struggling for breath. "We're companions again, now. It's just that you happened to poke one of the bruises I got fighting those miscreants from Yu-Wen."

Shang looked concerned.

"It's just a bruise," Mulan said truthfully.

"Are you really all right?"

Mulan laughed. "You know, if you had been this concerned for me when you gave me that black eye, I might have survived the initial training better."

Shang reddened.

Mulan nudged him. "You don't have to be so careful around me," she said. "You and I are fine on the battlefield, but when I'm here, as Mulan, you treat me like porcelain." She poked the bruise herself. "I won't break, Li Shang."

He relaxed—was that a sigh of relief? "Feel free to remind me of that. I'm still combining Fa Ping and Fa Mulan in my mind. Ah, here we are. Mother? Can Mulan borrow a nightdress?"

"In the back room," called Lady Li.

Mulan sighed in relief at how well he was handling this. "Will you help me pick one out? I'm not very good with these things."

"Uh..."

Mulan smiled at him. "Or you could wait here, if you'd rather."

"Oh, I'd much rather go with you," Shang assured her. "It's just that some of them...some of them my mother had made for my father."

"Your father wore nightgowns?" Mulan joked.

He gave her a light punch on the shoulder. "Silly. No, some of them are my for my father's appreciation, if you will. And since I wish you to remain under the illusion that I am not a complete scoundrel, you should probably pick one out yourself."

Mulan laughed. "Come on. You are a gentleman, and I trust you."

"Oh, now I have to be good about it."


She lay asleep, curled up into a ball, though there were plenty of covers. He wondered if she were unused to the colder temperatures farther north. He'd ask a maid to bring in another brazier the next time she came. Then she would be comfortable, and her cheeks would be rosy again.

Shang couldn't help stealing into her room to admire her. The covers were up to her neck, so he didn't have any qualms about seeing her. Besides, his gaping once she had changed was quite enough. Shang was sure that it was the first time he had upset his tea since he was ten. He would never hear the end of it from his brother, and doubly so, if he should be discovered now.

He bent down in spite of himself, visually tracing the curve of her jaw, the dent that her nose made against the pillow, the smallness of her hands even through several layers of blankets.

"You have made me sure of you again," he said softly. "I wish I could make you think well of me."

There was no answer. He had hoped that she was sound asleep.

"There is one thing, though, that I don't know, and I'm afraid to ask it while you're awake, so I'll practice now." He checked her breathing. It was slow and regular. "Do you care for me?"

A few moments passed, and then Mulan murmured something about lightning and thunder before snuggling deeper into the blankets.

Shang shook his head and stood up. She must still be dreaming. He really should go; he had risked enough by being here. "Sleep well. I will."

In fact, Shang got the most peaceful sleep that he'd had in months. His slumber was so sound that he didn't notice the pitter-patter of rain begin against his roof.


A/N: For those wanting more information on the clay soldier aspect of this story, I suggest doing a web search for "Xian terra cotta warriors".