Yes, I am not dead. I've just been busy and my muse is on extended vacation. Again. This time it's not with pay though. And Lightbird, (and probably a few other silent minds who read that), the arrow as I originally wrote it was not poisoned. If any effects were writing to sound like it, I was referring to infection, and how deadly one open wound could be (and still can be) in imperial Asia (as well as the rest of the world). If requested, I'll throw in a poisoned arrow if you really want it though.

As usual, Im still jobless and do not own the actual concept of Mulan. I'm just playing with her right now. Thanks for those who I haven't lost in my state of being dead recently.

An arguments conclusion

My fever breaks a day later, but I am still injured. Walking is slower than normal, and my right arm is stiff. I was nearly forced into wearing a sling, but upon testing, I couldn't fight as well. Shang was forced to try this. He barely held back, to his credit. It is settled through a long argument that it would be wrapped, but I have to then allow someone to follow me around to act like my right hand.

Then, because of that decision, another argument starts because they cannot decide who will do it. It's not like I am this stubborn female who needs perfection nor will I accept help. In frustration, I walk out of the room and wait outside the tavern, trimming my now long nails with a dagger. A heavy weight settles down next to me but I do not need the low light increased to know who it is.

"Arguing finally got to you to?" He sighs. "It got me when I came here." That certainly screamed he wanted to be here. Go high morale. "Then when the full moon hits you can leave. They won't need you then." Upon waking, I was rather cheerful, and then I got annoyed, but still slightly cheerful. Now I feel like crap. Yay, I guess, that the emperor is forcing help upon us by unwilling saviors. I wish we didn't need the help.

The three quarters moon glows with an eerie halo above the camp, and glows over the walls onto the center tavern we're in. A shadow is created of me because of it and falls onto May, right inside the building. She beams at me a moment and goes back to arguing. "You aren't enough to save the camp if there is another wave after I leave."

I look at him over my good shoulder. "I know. That's why they are deserting this camp and going to the Market Fair location. I have already spoken to the Leader there and it's all been approved for their arrival."

I can hear ribs shift when he shifts position. "How will they accept a Chinese hero who attracts the most interesting of the opposition of civilized government?" I shrug. "They won't." Shang apparently has no good response to that. The moon is turning red, as we talk. The harvest moon is near.

"Where will you go?" I had a feeling that was the next question. "Probably back to my old village. The Huns usually do not attack the same village twice, no matter who was in there, especially someone as low as 'Chinese hero' is on the food chain." An owl hoots like he agrees.

"Is that what you think you are only?" I have to keep turning around to look at him so I just sit now. "What else am I?" Some time ago, I could read his unreadable expressions. "I guess nothing then." The arguing is reaching a crescendo, therefore something is about to be reached. "What happened to the empress of Fa Mulan?" I remember her, kind of. "Her empire grew on breaking legs." I smiled. Tis not often that the great Shang wonders.

I am sick of others arguing with me. No, they are not even arguing with me, they are arguing about me. I will not have that happen. The door doesn't fly open, like I want it to, as this clicks in my whirling head and just standing there, I am ignored. I stand there, keep tapping my foot. Yup, no one recognizes me besides May. Shang leans into the door way to count the seconds till they do. I can see him counting in his head.

"Everyone shut up." I am pissy now. They are even smart enough to recognize it. Cute. Chien Po is slightly red from embarrassment, while Yao and Ling are just red. May intelligently keeps a blank face. "I will not be argued about. Ever. I am not going to be ordered to do with my life what other people recommend only. Ever since the army has arrived here, I have been undermined with decisions I have no notion of. You people are visitors, not my mother, nor the emperor. Till the full moon, this is my camp, not yours."

The guys are surprised. Perhaps I have been rather submissive. "Mulan, you are injured." May and Chien Po are the only ones to speak. "Yes Chien Po, I am injured, not dead. Therefore, I will stay out of direct guard duty, and direct possible conflicts. Shang will do those. I claim the defense of the camp, and the rationing of the supplies. Like I have always done. You three have guard duty now. Go." They stand, and bow. Silently, they leave. I want to go back to my original domain. I am going to go cook something. May helps me, happily whistling.

It has taken us a long time to get used to our nocturnal schedule, but it takes us no time to fall into the kitchen rhythem. For a little while, the nocturnal camp acts like it did in the original village, before it was burnt down. It's like there are no walls around us with armed guards. One difference is that Shang isn't being treated like an emperor. He is acting like a younger man in the army instead of a general.

There is even minor rear pinching. Playfully, I punch out the drunks who do. Some one even brings out their instruments and encourages people to dance. May barely gets me to in the middle of a trip to retrieve dirty dishes and Shang watches with amusement as I balance them all and still dance gracefully despite my stiff shoulder.

Now when it comes to the bow, a very 'Ling' like foot pushes me, and very 'Yao' like arms catch the tray. Conveniently, Shang catches me. Judging grins, it was an 'accident'. Shang and I raise eyebrows, and grab pitchers of water set out on the bar top. Chien Po finds it funny to see his other two friends soaked by the two they are trying to match up. I have not have much opportunity to be coy, but I believe its natural charm that lets me do it then as I grab my tray.

As I try to go back to drop off the dishes again, and this time I make it into the kitchen, I feel another offensive hand near my rear. I reach down to grab the offending hand, and it isn't there. Looking a little to neutral, Shang is by me. We are relatively secluded in the little corridor between the commons, bar and kitchen, so he is a pretty good candidate for it. I can hear May giggle behind us further back into the kitchen.

Setting down my tray, I lean back against the wall behind me. "You did that, didn't you." I meet his eyes, sparkles rivaling each other. He raises a perfect eyebrow and steps closer. "I could have." I half smile. "Really." Again, he steps closer, and I step more in the direction of the kitchen door. I reach out with my right hand to get the tray, and I can feel my body protest. My left is close to the door. The tray is nearly into my possession.

Shang grabs it before I can and holds it above my head. I huff at him and grin, despite myself. "You are enjoying this aren't you." He nods, and comes ever closer. The lack of other people I am beginning to notice. The door is now also in my grasp.

Shang's minor rush towards me stops that, and I have a door handle in the middle of my spine. Part of me debates where the fact that it swings out is good or not. He takes my flailing left hand to have me keep my balance. I doubt intertwined fingers lets one regain balance quicker though. Lips upon lips I also doubt give aid.

So…like? Hate? Are you still going to review even though I deserted people for quite a while?

I'M SORRY!

This has been an I'M SO SORRY update from Saturns Darkness