Chapter 2: Warm Welcome

Ancient China

Kara blinked. She wasn't in her apartment. For that matter, she wasn't even in the present-day. She was in a private bath house - sitting in a wooden tub that was filled to the brim with steaming water and fragrant bubbles. Mulan was standing over her, holding a sponge.

"Mulan…" Kara breathed the name in awe.

"So you know my name." said Mulan, her lips curving into a smile. "Mushu told me your name is Kara."

"He's right." Kara smiled, feeling surprisingly comfortable. "Mulan, I have to ask you something."

"And what would that be?"

Kara took a handful of bubbles and smoothed it over her arms. "Is giving newcomers a bath your standard welcoming practice?"

"Only if said newcomers crash in the farmyard." deadpanned Mulan. She dipped the sponge in the sudsy water and started rubbing it all over Kara's back. Kara sighed softly… then she caught herself.

"Sorry, I just…" Kara's voice trailed off.

Mulan paused, giving Kara a chance to think. "You what?"

"I just really like back rubs." Kara hastily reframed her answer.

Mulan raised an eyebrow, a black crescent moon arched in questioning. "Uh huh. Likely story." She pressed on. "If you're infatuated with me or something, I really don't mind."

Kara thought. "I definitely admire you." She added in a stammer, "But not like that."

Mulan looked amused. "Awkward, but honest. I think you'll make a good friend."

After the bath, Kara put on one of Mulan's training outfits. It was slightly too small, but Kara didn't complain. She preferred her clothes to be somewhat form-fitting. "May I comb my hair?" she asked. "It's damp."

Mulan nodded and found a wide-toothed comb for Kara. She daydreamed of running her fingers through Kara's wavy bronze tresses, starting at the top and ending at mid-back… Stop it, Mulan!

Kara had that athletic figure Mulan could appreciate. Hair like rippling silk. Deep eyes, streaked with jade starlight, looked at the surroundings with wonder. Heaven above, she looks amazing.

Kara could sense Mulan was looking at her. Upon seeing that smile, she almost dropped the comb. "Any reason you're smiling like that?"

"Like what?" Mulan tried to deflect.

"Like you're looking at someone beautiful."

The words jumped from Mulan's mouth: "You are beautiful, Kara."

Kara blinked. A tear rolled down her cheek. There has to be a mistake. That's what Ben would say to me. But I just got dumped…

"Kara?" Mulan's voice was all caring. She wrapped her arm around Kara's shoulder. "Is something wrong?"

"Men." Kara grumbled, her tone as bitter as liquor.

Mulan remembered her own problem. "Shh, shh." She enveloped Kara in a hug and rocked back and forth. Kara let the tears fall, suffocating her sadness next to Mulan's heart. The catharsis had to happen for both of them.

After a while, Kara fell asleep. Mulan didn't want to let go. This young lady was truly special… not what she had expected… do we swing both ways?

Mushu tiptoed in, trying not to interrupt. But he tripped over Mulan's archery equipment. And his reaction was entirely too loud.

"Mushu," hissed Mulan, "be quiet!"

"Heh heh, sorry…" Mushu twiddled his claws.

Still holding Kara, Mulan confronted her travel-size guardian. "And you've got some explaining to do."

"You wanted me to cross the timestream and find a love match for you." Mushu shrugged. "You didn't say whether you wanted a man or a woman."

"Mushu…" groaned Mulan.

"What, you don't like her?"

Mulan took a deep breath. "I do like her. But I'm not sure if she feels the same way."

Mushu shifted. He didn't want any trouble. "Well, take it slow and see where it goes."