This seems short…but lately they all seem short…thank you so so so so much for the commentary on this fic. This one is going along nicely…but I still don't own Mulan.

Candlelit Sparks

I gesture to the midnight guards. Trying to make as little noise as possible, I wake May, another Sakura, and several other tavern mistresses of sorts to provide bedding, and wake Master Li. He insists I have more practice with the military and stays behind me. Amidst the silence of the night and waking village, their horses provide more of an alarm than a rooster. Orders are that people will stay in their homes unless otherwise notified.

Chi Fu is not with them surprisingly. Also surprisingly, most of the small army is halted a ways back, and General Li approaches me with a horse. I hold his horse for him as he dismounts. The last meeting is still fresh in our minds but never comes up. This is not the time. He is aloof, and closed up. He looks past me. "I am here for the military mistress of this region." I step back, and hand him the reigns. Silently, I lead them in, Master Li hidden now with in a house. Inwardly, I sigh.

The tavern is our destination, and May brings Shang up a drink. First we see if his troops should be ushered in. They are with or without his consent. He knows the formalities as well as I read. Impossibly silent, the village absorbs them and falls back asleep. More guards are posted around the village. In the largest sleeping room of the inn, lit with only a candle, Shang and I discuss tactics, and abilities, sitting acrost from each other. Posture is tense with unsaid words and many nervious actions. Shang and I weren't conversing because we enjoyed each others company. It was something that denial was accompanying as a companion. It does not matter, ultimatly, and no matter how much we try, one of us finds a way to bring it out.

As I begin to leave then I am given an order. "Talk to me Mulan." He pulls a chair closer to his own. "About what?" I ask. He leans forward on the table. I resume my seat, body language impossibly calm. "Why are you the military leader here? Shouldn't my cousin be?" They are related, I just realize. I can hear critical judgment beneath the sentence. Annoyed, I look away.

Quickly, I look back, eyes flashing. This point was always a sore point for me. "There is no other military expertise in the area. All the soldiers they managed to send deserted the village for the capitol, and Master Li cannot command a large number of people. He appeals too much to the people."

Speak of the cousin, the niece flies in and attaches herself to my body for a moment. All attention is on her and all Shang's attention is on the two of us. "Mulan, Mulan come quick! There is a commotion with three of the soldiers and a red lizard." Mushu is back? Forgetting Shang, I stand and rush to where she directs, down stairs, thru corridors, and to the front of the building.

For the first time in a long time, I laugh. I am smiling when the front door flies open, and Chien Po rushes in to lift me in a great hug. Ling takes his turn next. Yao is to shy to actually touch me, but he expresses happiness. Now he is to shy to punch my shoulder first, so I do start it for him. Eventually, he hugs me. May stands off to the side, watching this. I call her close to me. She gets close enough to touch me but not hug me. Introductions are made, and she warms immediately to Yao. It's funny when he sparks an interest in fighting. Eagerly, she tries to drag him off.

Walking slowly up to her, I grab her shoulder, and pull her back. I point upstairs. "Up." Eye's down cast, she trudges up the stairs. Yao promises to play the next day (thru Ling's trying to speak from Yao's frantic attempts to stop him), and happily, she goes up to bed. I wonder out loud where Mushu is. The friends separate to reveal a dragon hidden amongst their legs. I smile. He smiles. My shoulder is tapped, and Shang is frowning at me. I don't know what is wrong. Apparently, it was a sign. Chien Po, Ling and Yao leave with somber expressions.

Back in the room, it is tense again. General Li ruined the first moment with my only living friends. Mushu couldn't even talk to me. We meet eyes, heavily guarded. Our voices show enough emotions. "Speak then, oh great General. What is this lowly girl ordered to do?" To my eye twitch, Li Shang leans back, and puts his feet on the table. He takes a moment to crack his neck. "You will serve me when I take over this military base, and then come back to palace so you can be honorably discharged and never have to see ugly military life."

I want to leave and slam the door. I keep twitching my eye for a moment until I get an idea. I go to the door and call May up. She is sent to go get my maps of the terrain. The girl is bright eyed and not even sleepy. I just shake my head and mess up her hair before I close the door. I can hear a happy squeal and May trying to be sneaky while she listened to us through the door. I have to keep her in mind if we get vocal.

The maps are slammed down on the table. A still elegant yet short nail points to the village. Shang raises an eyebrow.

"We aren't in any territory. We are in the neutral land between Mongolia and China." I receive a bored look. "You have no power here." I say it with a challenge. To my happiness, Shang gets riled up and in my face. He towers over me even though there is a table between us."No one is in power here but an honor-less female and her dishonorable daughter." I debate for a moment, deciding on the choice of actions. Pacing is what I start doing. "I have a deal for you then." I spin on my heel back to him and wait for an answer.

I give up on hiding my anger within my eyes. "What?" He has a lazyboy drawl with a rich boy accent laced within those four letteres. His dark eyes meet mine, dancing almost in the candlelight. "This is a variant of a democracy. We'll ask the people where they want me." I really don't know how they will respond, nor does Shang. The challenge is on as I open the door. Over my shoulder, I tell him that he can have this room. I'm keeping my Master bedroom.

I felt compelled to update tonight…for a good reason…reviews make me blush. Like? Hate? Please tell me.

This is a 3:30 in the morning update by Saturns Darkness.