Hey everyone. I hope you all are doing OK. There's definitely enough going on to sadden even the happiest optimist, but we can get through this. Currently, I have absolutely nothing to do except work on fanfiction, my blog, a first draft of a book (hopefully my debut novel, but that's a long way from now), and cleaning. So enjoy this chapter!

I do not own Mulan.

The next day, I sat in the garden, looking at the cherry blossom trees. It was festooned with blossoms, except for one, which hadn't budded yet. Resting my chin on my knees, I said a silent prayer for Mulan. Yes, she was spunky and resourceful, but what if that wasn't enough? I knew the Huns were merciless killers. Reports of a murdered Imperial soldier had reached even our tiny village. The soldier who had been his companion claimed Shan Yu had let them both go, but then shot his comrade in the back.

There was also the fact that if Mulan was discovered, then she would be killed by our own soldiers.

Mulan couldn't die. I couldn't live without her.

"Daiyu!" Called Mama, opening the door. "I need you to pick up some soybeans and cucumbers." She handed me a basket. "Don't forget what we talked about last night."

"Yes, Mama."

In town, I was examining cucumbers for their feel and smell when I heard somebody call my name. "Daiyu!" It was Ang Dandan, the woman who ran the bath house. "The Lin family told me that Mulan was sick!"

Good. The Lins were naturally prone to gossip, which would make spreading my news easier. "Yes, she is." Thanking the ancestors that a caravan had left yesterday, I added, "she left yesterday to go south for treatment."

"Oh, my! What is it?"

I shrugged, enjoying this playacting even though I knew the stakes were high. "It's a bad skin disease. It might be contagious."

"Oh my." Dandan backed away. "Well, ah, I'll see you later."

I smiled as she scurried away.

"Daiyu!" It was Holea's mother.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"I heard your sister was sick." Ugh. She had the same fake sympathetic look her daughter did. "Has she seen a doctor?"

"No ma'am."

"Why not?"

"Because the doctor wouldn't see her."

"Ah." She grimaced and stepped back. "I see." She nodded, satisfied. "Thank you, Daiyu." Then she scurried away. Letting out a small sigh, I picked a few of the ripest cucumbers.

But the trip home was not to be uneventful. As I walked past a tea shop, something caught my basket and pulled it off my arm. I knelt down to pick up the basket, but a slippered foot stepped on the handle. I looked up, seeing Holea and her friends. "Oh. Hi."

"I heard your sister was sick," said Holea. "And that it's contagious. Shouldn't you be at home?" Her friends tittered and nodded.

"I bet that she's just embarrassed about how she ruined everything at the matchamker's," said a girl named Annchi. I knew this was all rehearsed by Holea in an attempt to hurt me and my sister.

"You know, I think you're right." Holea stared down at me, a smirk on her face. I looked down at my dusty self, then stood up.

"As a matter of fact, she's already going for advanced treatment."

"Ew!" Said Bao. "So you're infected?" She gave me a shove, sending me back down to the ground.

"I-"

"You and your sister are a disgrace," said Holea. "Now we have to wait to have our matches made, all because your sister is clumsy. And you're a sick little girl."

"Knock it off, Holea," said a voice behind me. She looked up, surprise wiping the smirk off her face.

"Kai?"

He ignored her, crouching next to me and helping me gather my things. I saw Bao's face twist. She was Holea's best friend, and had feelings for Kai, although I didn't know if it was more for his family's money or for his looks. "Sorry about that," he said quietly.

"No problem," I replied, dumping my things in the basket.

"Can I walk you home?"

"Kai," broke in Holea. "We're going to Bao's house later for dinner. You don't want to be late."

"This'll only take a little while."

"Thank you," I said, smiling. He offered the crook of his arm and I slipped my hand in.

"My sister can be sick in the head sometimes," he said as he led me off. "I'm really sorry about that. You and your sister are better than a lot of the girls in this village."

"Thanks."

"You don't have many friends, do you?" He clapped his free hand over his mouth. "Oops. That's not what I meant."

I laughed. "I don't. I just never found time. Mulan was always my friend."

"Well, would you like to hang out with me and my friends sometime?"

"Sure," I replied, hoping my surprise wasn't evident. We arrived at my house, and I pulled my hand out of his arm. "Thanks, Kai."

"What a nice boy," said Grandmama as I walked in.

"What?"

Grandmama shook her head. "Mark my words, Daiyu, you're going to be married faster than your sister."

"Grandmama," I sighed, beginning to prepare the cucumbers for dinner. "Kai's just a friend." And I need a friend right now.

The next day I was sweeping when there was a knock on the door. I opened the door to see Kai standing there. "Kai!"

"Hey, Daiyu. I was serious about you hanging out with me and my friends. We're going down to the creek. Wanna come?"

I was a little flustered, and it took a few seconds before my words would come out. "Yes! Yes, let me just ask Mama."

I came running back a moment later. "I'm free," I joked, as he led me out of the house.

We walked until we came to a secluded spot. I could hear boyish laughter. Suddenly shy, I stopped.

"Come on," said Kai. "They're great. I promise."

I sighed and followed him. There were three others boys playing in the creek, splashing each other with water. One of them looked up. "Hey, Kai! Whose this?"

"This is Daiyu, Mulan's sister. Daiyu, this is Li, Su, and Yan."

They waved. Kai waded into the pond, instantly beginning to splash them. I sat down on the bank, watching them. Feeling a little lonely, I closed my eyes, only to splutter when a spray of droplets hit my face. "Who did that?"

Su laughed and splashed me again. Laughing, I stood up and ran into the creek, cupping water in my hands and throwing it back at him.

"Look at that girl." Grandmama grinned. "She's a lot like her sister."

"What do you mean?" Asked Fa Li, looking up from her cooking. "What's she doing?"

"Playing with some of the boys down by the creek. It's good she has other friends."

Fa Li smiled. "It is good. She's growing up."