A General's Son

Chapter 7

Chan woke up late the next day. When his mother saw him emerging from his room she was not pleased.

"You're not ready yet!" she gasped. "Get back in there and get dressed!" she ordered. Chan didn't even have a chance to respond before he found himself being pushed back into his room.

He found the formal robes Mulan had picked out for him hanging in the closet. He quickly put them on and reemerged. Satisfied with his appearance Mulan rushed on to check Shang's progress.

"Oh and go tell Mei that we're ready to leave when she is!" she yelled over her shoulder. Chan grudgingly trudged next door to deliver his mother's message.

He wondered briefly what would happen if he "accidentally" fell in the mud puddle he saw, but then banished the thought. The things his mother would do to him were too terrible to imagine.

He knocked on the door and Mei answered.

"Oh hello, Chan. My, don't you look nice," she said.

"Thanks," he said numbly, feeling more uncomfortable in these clothes with every passing minute. "My mom wanted me to tell you that we're ready to leave when you are."

"We're almost ready here. Will you do me a favor and go tell Sun that it's almost time to go? I have to help Yao, he's having a bit of trouble." Chan nodded. He could hear Yao in the background, cursing his clothes and all who made them.

Chan walked to Sun's room, a place he had never been before. He nervously knocked on the door, not sure what to say when she answered. Luckily, all she said was "Come in." He opened the door a crack, not knowing what would be inside.

"Uh…Sun? It's Chan. Your mom wanted me to tell you…" He looked around, and not seeing Sun anywhere stopped talking.

"I'm back here," he heard her say, "Behind the dressing screen. I'll be right out."

" Oh. Okay," he said, glancing around her room. It was pretty much as he expected a girl's room to look. It was basically the same as everyone else's, but with more pink and flowery designs.

"So what was it my mom wanted you to tell me?" asked Sun, still behind the screen.

"Just that they're leaving soon," said Chan. Sun sighed.

"I shouldn't be much longer. It's just that this dress takes so long to put on right. I hope it's worth it. I mean all the time it took for them to measure me, and then having pins stuck in me, and now having to put it on." She sighed again. "It probably won't even look that good."

Chan didn't know what to say to that. After several minutes, Sun emerged.

"Well," she said nervously, "What do you think?"

"It was worth it," blurted out Chan before he could stop himself.

Sun looked beautiful. She wore a long, turquoise robe, which faded gently to pink at the bottom. A scarlet sash was wrapped around her waist, accentuating her figure and matching the color on the inside of her sleeves. Her hair was in an elaborate bun, allowing all to see the beauty of her face, which became even more beautiful as she smiled.

"You think so?" she asked, " So I look all right?" Chan had to swallow several times.

"Yes," he croaked. Clearing his throat in embarrassment he continued. " I mean you look better then all right. You look…beautiful," he finally managed to say. Sun flushed red, not expecting Chan, of all people, to say such things about her.

"Well, uh, thank you," she stammered. "You look nice also. I'd better go, they're waiting for me." She walked past him hurriedly, trying to hide the blush that was creeping across her cheeks. Chan could have kicked himself.

"Sun, wait!" he called, walking hurriedly to catch up with her. She paused, and remembering her manners reluctantly turned to face him. Chan was about to speak when Mei called.

"Sun! Hurry up, we're leaving!" she yelled.

"I must go," said Sun softly, retreating down the hallway.

Chan was left standing there, cursing himself and his inability to express his feelings. How hard is it, he scolded himself, to just say Sun, I…But even in his own head he could not form the words.

A note from the author: Sorry that was really short. I'll make it up to you by posting really soon, either tomorrow or the day after. If I don't you have permission to send me flaming reviews. Today's fun fact: Sun's outfit is based on a statue I have. It's of an Asian woman holding a fan and a parasol. I got it at an antique store, and the woman in the statue is wearing the exact same robe that I wrote about. It's a beautiful statue that pretty much inspired Sun's character. Anywho, now I wish you happy reading! (Oh yeah, and review!)