Hey everyone! I had A LOT of fun writing this chapter! So much fun, in fact, that I couldn't stop writing. (I drove my family absolutely nuts!) Hope you like it! Let me know what you think!

His men were singing…again. And they were singing about how much they hated marching…again. Shang rubbed a hand over his face in aggravation, feeling a headache coming on. It didn't help that he hadn't gotten much sleep thanks to a certain female, although, the look on her face that morning had been priceless…

No! He couldn't think about that right now. He had to figure out a way to cheer his men up and get them to stop singing that same song over and over and over again. Shang hated marching as much as the next man but he knew it was dangerous for them to focus on the negative. He needed his men to be in top shape, full of positive energy when they faced their enemy. If they kept thinking that they were tired and worn out from marching then they would mentally and emotionally wear themselves down as well as physically. What they needed was a distraction, something to get their mind off their sore feet…

What did men find distracting? What subject could they sing about that completely turn their minds away from the present? They couldn't really sing about victory because these men had never experienced it before. Singing about their homes would just make them homesick…He wondered if Ping ever became homesick. What would her life have been like if she had never taken her father's place in the army? What would she be like? Was she a dutiful and honorable daughter? What did she look like with her hair long and flowing down her back like a waterfall of night…Whoa, whoa! Back up there! When did his thoughts turn to her?! How had that happened?

That's when the answer to Shang's problem hit him upside the head. Women! Of course! What distracted a man more than the thought of a beautiful woman? Shang couldn't think of anything. Now, who was the perfect man to change the song to one of women? Well, the man who was the best at pranks and distractions was Ling. If anyone could pull this off, he could.

"Lieutenant Hong!" Shang called casually.

"Yes, Sir?"
"Find the soldier Ling and have him come speak to me when we set up camp for the night, please."

"Yes, Captain!"

Mulan marched between Yao and Po. Her feet were sore and her arms and back ached from carrying her pack and weapons but at least she was feeling stronger than yesterday. A good night's sleep had done wonders for her and she felt that she was doing a fairly good job keeping up. Every time they stopped for a short break, she would go back and check on Khan just to reassure herself that he was still fine and unhurt.

Yao and Po were talking about their homes and what they would be doing if they were there so Mulan didn't feel too guilty when her attention wandered away from the conversation. There was no way she was going to tell them about her home life, after all. Instead, Mulan's eyes wandered to the front of the line where she could just make out Shang's broad back as he rode his horse ahead of his army.

Her thoughts wandered to this morning and she felt her face heat up at the memory. Her mind may not remember how she ended up in that position but her body could remember the sensation of laying across his body; everywhere she was soft, he was hard with muscle. She could easily recall his masculine scent and the rough feel of his tunic under her cheek. When his arm had come around her and pulled her closer to him she had felt a lurch in her stomach and her heart had been beating so fast she had felt as though she were running a race.

Mulan was so confused. She had never felt this way about any man before. She couldn't stop looking at him, watching his muscles stretch and strain with every movement beneath his tunic. She wanted to walk close enough to him so she could feel his heat, close enough so she could touch him again. At the same time, every time she had these thoughts the fluttering in her stomach intensified and her heart beat so fast she felt sick.
Maybe she was sick. What other reason could there be for her symptoms. Maybe she had a fever still from falling in the river. That could explain it. She didn't know why her symptoms grew worse when she was around her Captain but if she stayed far enough away from him maybe they would go away entirely.

Her mind made up, Mulan began to plan where she would sleep for the night, because there was no way she was going to make Shang go without a tent just so that she could get over her fever. She should probably stay away from the other men too, to ensure that they didn't catch whatever ailment she had.

When the sun touched the horizon, outlining the distant mountains that were their destination in red and gold, Shang sent out a party of men to locate a good camp. They came back shortly and led the army to their resting place for the night.

As the men set up camp, Shang met with his Lieutenants and Chi-fu to go over their route for the next day and their battle plan for when they joined his father to fight the Huns. It took a little over an hour but in that time his soldiers had pitched all their tents and had a good meal cooked. Shang took his bowl to the campfire nearest where Ping had sent up their tent. Expecting to see her there, he was surprised to hear that none of the men had seen her since she had set up the tent and gotten her food. Yao reported that he had last seen her making her way through the camp in the general direction of the horses, but no one knew anything else.

Shang assumed that Ping had gone to check on her horse, Khan, again before settling down for the night and so he wasn't too concerned. However, when it was truly dark and all the men were retiring and she still hadn't returned, he decided it would probably be a good idea to
go and find her. Moving quickly through the dark camp, Shang made his way to where the horses were picketed and there he found her.

She had her back to Khan, who was lying down on the ground next to her so she could lean against his side. She had her blanket pulled up to her chin and was apparently planning on sleeping there, which was just absurd. He moved until he stood directly in front of her and waited for her to notice him. After a moment or two Khan whickered a greeting and she stirred and opened her eyes. He saw her focus on his feet and then her gaze moved up the length of him to his face. Even in the dark he could see the color that blazed up on her cheeks. Interesting.

"Ping, what are you doing here?"

She shifted uncomfortably on the ground under his stern gaze.

"I was just planning on sleeping with Khan tonight, Sir." She murmured, deliberately avoiding looking at him.

Shang crouched so he was on her level and dipped his head to try and catch her eye.

"But why? Khan hasn't shown any sign of injury from his dip in the river. There's nothing to be concerned about."

Ping muttered something in response but she had pulled the lower half of her face into her blanket to avoid meeting his eyes and he couldn't understand her. Impatiently he reached out, caught her chin with his fingers and forced her to look at him.

"What was that?" He asked mildly, ignoring her glare.

"I said, Sir, that I think I might still have a fever and I don't want you to catch it."

Concerned now, Shang placed his free hand on her forehead, trying to gauge her temperature. He shook his head.
"It doesn't feel like you do. Do you have any feverish symptoms?"

"Only sometimes." She murmured, "My heart starts racing and I feel…jittery…and sick."

Shang frowned, "That's probably because you're worn out. You could also be dehydrated. Have you been drinking enough?" Ping nodded in response.

"It doesn't help that you keep sleeping in odd places. What would possess you to sleep anywhere other than your tent when you're not feeling I don't know but that is where you are going to sleep tonight." He stood and held out his hand to help her to her feet.

"No."

"Excuse me?"

"No, Sir. I am not going to sleep in the tent tonight. I'm quite comfortable here." The girl repeated stubbornly.

"Like hell you are!" Shang exclaimed, "You are going to come with me and sleep in our tent."

Ping pulled her blanket tighter around herself and shook her head, "You can't make me."

"Want to place a bet on that?" Shang growled and before Ping could utter another protest, he stooped down, picked the girl up and flung her struggling form over his shoulder.

"Let go of me!" She shouted, rearing up and attempting to kick him. Shang simply wrapped an arm around her legs to pin them down and began to stride towards camp.

"You know, for a sick person you have a lot of energy." Shang remarked casually.

"Put me down! You have no right!" She pounded her fists into his back and Shang winced at the force behind her blows. Who had taught this girl how to punch!? Oh, that's right, he did.

"As your Captain, I have every right. You are being insubordinate and disobeying a direct order. Be thankful this is all the punishment you're getting."

"Let…me…go!" She shouted, punctuating each word with another punch to his shoulder blades. Having had just about enough of her ridiculous behavior, Shang did the only thing he could think to do. He spanked her.

"Ow!" Ping yelped, "How?!...What!?" She spluttered ineffectively

"If you keep hitting me, Boy, I'm going to hit you right back." Shang answered calmly, "Now quit struggling."

Ping fell silent but Shang could feel her fuming. When he reached their tent, he simply ducked inside with her still on his shoulder and then dumped her onto her sleeping mat. Ping sat up and glared at him as he stood over her.

"How could you do that!?" She hissed in outrage, "I can't believe you actually…you…" She was so angry and embarrassed she was at a loss of what to say.

"Spanked you? You were acting like a disobedient child. You got what you deserved." Shang answered coolly, before turning to his own sleeping mat. Deciding to torture her a little more, Shang shucked off his tunic, pretending not to notice the small gasp she tried to smother.

"W-wha-what are you doing?" she stuttered behind him. Hiding his self-satisfied smile, Shang turned to face her; taking in her averted eyes, flushed cheeks, and twisting fingers. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"What? I always sleep without a shirt. It's more comfortable, I find. Besides, we're both men here so what's to be embarrassed about?"

"R-right." She muttered, still avoiding looking at him, the flush on her face slowly spreading down her neck. Shang idly wondered how far down it went, then shook that thought away. Unsure how long he'd be able to control himself looking at her, he lay down with his back to her saying, "Get some sleep; and don't even think about trying to leave. I'll just drag you back."

Get some sleep? Mulan thought, staring at the man lying next to her. Yeah, right!

Whoo-hoo! Shang is showing his evil side! How's that for a long chapter, huh? Gosh this really was so much fun to write, I'm still smiling! R&R everyone. You know how much I love to hear from you, the best reviewers in the world!