Chapter 3: Draft Day

I do not own Mulan or Sword of A Stranger

The next morning the trio woke and met the Fa family to enjoy a delicious breakfast courtesy of Fa Li. "Ahhh. That was almost better than dinner last night!" Kotaro said as he patted his full stomach.

"Well, I couldn't let you leave without a proper meal in you. It's important to keep your strength up if you want to be able to travel efficiently," Fa Li said with a sweet smile.

"Thank you very much for your hospitality. If you would house us for just a few more hours Kotaro and I would gladly help Mulan with the morning chores," Nanashi said. Mulan perked up in excitement and relief. Fa Li let out a sigh of admiration and thanks, while Fa Zhou attempted not to facepalm at the sight of his mother swooning over Nanashi.

"That is very kind of you two. Mulan can give you some chores to do before you head out," Fa Li exclaimed. The three people, and dog, in question stood and left for the court yard.

Mulan stood in front of the three, hands on her hips like a general giving out orders. "Alright, while I feed Little Brother and pay respect to my ancestors, Kotaro you can clean the floors surrounding the main compound. Nanashi, we just got some more bags of chicken feed and outs for Khan. It's on a cart just inside the gates. You can move all of those bags to the barn and feed the chickens and Khan."

"Sure give me the heavy load," Nanashi mumbled.

"Oh come on! We wouldn't want grandma thinking less of you now. Prove to her you're the man she believes you to be," Mulan laughed. She was happy to have helpers this morning, even more so to have new people to talk too. She would be the first to admit that she doesn't fit in with the girls or even guys of the town. She knew they were leaving after chores, but she was glad these strangers only showed kindness and light heartedness to her and her family. With a determined huff she said, "Alright! Everybody off, we have work to do!" The all went in different directions, save for Tobimaru and Little brother who were busy trying to catch bones Mulan had so expertly tied just beyond their noses.

About an hour later Nanashi had finished feeding Khan and the chickens, and headed over towards the two compounds to see if Kotaro needed any help. As he walked, Nanashi noticed that something seemed heavy in the air. Everything seemed eerily quiet and still, until he heard men towards the front of the estate. He jerked his head into the direction of the noise. As Nanashi turned and began to make his way to the commotion he spotted Kotaro and Tobimaru turn a corner running at full speed towards the front gates. Nanashi's muscles tensed and he too took of in a run.


When Nanashi reached the front gates, his eyes widened at the sight. Families of the town stood around armed men on horseback, part of the Imperial Army no doubt. All looked to be soldiers except for an older, skinny man swallowed in blue robes reading the announcement. "The huns have have invaded China!" Everyone gasped and murmured, but remained fairly quiet to hear what else to be said. "By order of the Emperor one man from every family must serve in the Imperial Army!" The man then proceed to read off different family names as men young and old walked up to receive their fate.

Nanashi's eyes narrowed. He understood the need for the draft, but this meant that-

His train of thought was interrupted, and proven right when the Fa family's name was called and Fa Zhou lifted his chest high before walking out into the parting crowd. "I am ready to serve the Emperor," Fa Zhou said as he bowed to receive his war certificate, but before he could reach out to the soldier in front of him, Mulan shot straight passed Nanashi and he father. Kotaro went to follow her out into the fray, but Nanashi held him back by the soldier, his eyes never leaving the scene before him.

"Father you can't go!"

"Mulan," he yelled.

"Please Sir," Mulan said to the soldier. "My father has already fought for the Emperor-"

"Silence," the sickenly annoying man, who had read the announcement yelled, as he rode his horse in front of Mulan. "You would do well to teach your daughter to hold her tongue in a man's presence," he stated to Fa Zhou.

"Mulan, you dishonor me," Fa Zhou said as he turned his head away from his daughter. Grandma Fa gently pulled Mulan off to the side as Fa Zhou finally took his draft notice, and walked back inside the estate, bypassing Fa Li and his cane.

Nanashi watched in annoyance and pity for Mulan and her family. He wanted to do something, but he knew that there was nothing he could do against the Emperor of China. "And what do you have to say," the man in blue said. Nanashi gritted his teeth at how pompous and entitled this man sounded. Everyone froze in their spots, even Fa Zhou from inside the gates. "Who are you," the man continued.

"A traveler," Nanashi purposely left out the part about being foreigners. That's the last thing this man needed to know.

"Hmph, a nomad or a refugee? Well, which one is it?" Nanashi stayed silent. " Barbarian. I figure you probably don't hold that much knowledge of politics even the world around you for that matter so I suggest that you quit your judgmental and pointless stare down," that was it, Nanashi couldn't hold his tongue anymore even he was paid to do so.

"I know that to fight a war against the Huns you are going to need as many trained fighters as possible. They may seem like savages to you, but they have managed to strike fear into everyone of their foes so far. That is not done by simply barging into a territory and using brute force to conquer it as their own. These men can manipulate the mind, soul, and body. The have been raised to be ruthless killers. They don't care if they fight a man from an established family, or a nomad. Who they kill is not subjugated to prejudice. Men, women, children; no one is safe. I may be a traveler, nomad, barbarian, or whatever you wish to call me, but it doesn't take a genius to know that the Huns are going to cause China and its people more damage than you could possibly imagine." Nanashi ranted. The man in blue looked more that angered, when his reddened cheeks began to turn the same color as his ropes.

"Are doubting the Emperor!" He yelled in disbelief.

"I doubting that you and the majority of China's military fail to fully realize how much manpower, training, and strategizing this war is going to take."

"How dare you! Guards!" the man yelled. The two men left their saddles and drew their weapons towards Nanashi. "Show the man just what the Huns have to fear."

Out of the corner of his eye, Nanashi could the Fa Family watch in horror as the soldiers lunged towards him with their blades. However, Kotaro just watched on with a proud expression. He already knew the outcome of this fight.

Each time the soldiers swiped their blades at Nanashi, he effortlessly flowed in and out of the attacks. As one man thrusted his sword towards Nanashi's torso, he side-stepped while quickly grabbing that soldiers wrist. bending it until a chilling crack was heard. Said soldier yelled in pain as he dropped his sword, only for it to be caught by Nanashi, who used the butt of the handle to knock the soldier unconscious. He turned to the other soldier only to easily parry a wild attack. The soldier was not trained well. His attack left countless openings for Nanashi, and within a matter of moments the second soldier mirrored his comrade as an unimpressive heap on the ground.

"Wha-what have you done. Those are Imperial Army soldiers! You'll have to be tried for this!" The man in blue yelled.

"You were the one who initiated the fight. Besides, I think you have more pressing matters to take care of than your run of the mill barbaric traveler. I just easily defeated both your men, if I were you I'd worry about changing your training regimen than on single man. Unless the fate of China means that little to you?" Nanashi said. He couldn't help the small grin that escaped him as he watched the conflicting emotions fly across the old man's face.

The man let out a regretful sigh. "You may get off this time, but rest assure there will come a time when you'll run out of escape plans."

The soldiers began to stir and stood from the ground. They mounted their horses, by orders of the old blue man, but kept their vengeful eyes on Nanashi. However, Nanashi paid no mind to them. He had already turned and started walking back towards the Fa estate when the man in blue asked one final question: "Who do you think you are?!" Nanashi chuckled a bit to himself.

Tilting his head over his shoulder Nanashi said,"when I find out you'll be the last to know."