True To Your Heart [2]
True To Your Heart
Part II
by SwordSkill

Author's Notes: Just to say that Wang Lin is an original character of mine. Hope you're enjoying the fic so far! I have great plans for this fic...


The vendor of the stall leaned over and said, "Are you waiting for somebody, Mulan? You've been standing there for quite some time."

"I'm waiting for General Shang...have you seen him?"

Wang Lin, the vendor, shook her head. "No. Maybe he's busy with his military affairs."

"Well, he said he'd come," said Mulan, trying to keep the impatience out of her voice. She had been standing on the front of the market for almost half an hour, and Shang hadn't shown up yet.

"You'd better buy your things now while he's not here," said Wang Lin. "Waiting for him won't make him come if he's not coming."

"I suppose." Mulan took her basket and looked at the vendor's produce. "I'll have that tofu there, and some of those radishes."

Mulan went from stall to stall, finishing her market list while keeping an eye for Shang. She asked all the vendors if they had seen Shang and all said no. Soon, everyone was whispering about Shang and her.

"The general and she? Is that legal?"

"Hey Mulan, what did you to him when you were being a boy there at the war?"

With a basket full of fish, meat, and vegetables, she came back to Wang Lin's stall, thoroughly embarrassed.

Wang Lin tsked sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Mulan. I kept my eyes peeled while you were gone, but...

"He's not coming," said Mulan, anger seeping in her voice. "I should have known."

"Now don't be too hard on yourself," said Wang Lin. "Men are all like that."

"Then that proves how foolish I was to think that he was different." Mulan slung her basket over her shoulder and stalked home.

***********************************************

Fa Li was out of the house, sweeping up the leaves that were scattered on the ground. She felt proud that someone had noticed Mulan and given her attention, unlike what the Matchmaker said. What did that Matchmaker know, anyway?

"Mama, I'm back," she heard Mulan said.

"Mulan!" Fa Li looked up from her work, expecting her daughter beaming. Instead, she saw a sullen and frustrated look on her daughter's face.

"Where's General Shang?" asked Fa Li suddenly.

Mulan shrugged.

Fa Li got the message. "He stood you up, Mulan?" she asked.

Mulan said listlessly, "Something like that." She slowly went in the house, and Fa Li shook her head and sighed.

Grandma was even worse. All she did was get one look from Mulan and she immediately said, "That general stood you up, didn't he?"

When Mulan didn't pay attention and went to her room, Grandma called out, "I knew it. I knew it. That boy wasn't even worth your time.

Mulan threw herself to bed, determined to feel sorry for herself and to lick her wounds. There she was, some...some sick puppy waiting for Shang to come by. She certainly made a fool of herself, getting all excited over some obnoxious, red-caped general, who just seemed annoyingly handsome and kind. If he only didn't have such a nice smile...but oh no, not that again! No. I'm not going to think of him, I'm not going to think of him. But the more she tried to veer her thoughts away from him, the more his image came back.

Baby, I see your future and it's tied to mine.
I look in your eyes and see you searching for a sign.

"Oh, go away!" she yelled at the mental picture of Shang.

"Mulan?" She heard her father's surprised voice outside the door.

"Oh Papa, I didn't mean to..I wasn't talking to you," she apologized as her father opened the door.

Fa Zhou looked at Mulan's sorry state and said, "I heard that Shang..."

"Yeah, yeah," said Mulan tiredly. "He stood me up."

"No, that wasn't it," said Fa Zhou. "I just heard that Shang had to do some extra work off at the Imperial Palace and that's why he couldn't meet you."

Mulan bolted up form her despondency. "He did? How did you know? Did he send an errand boy for a message or did he send one of the carrier pigeons?"

"Well, try 'He's standing at the door waiting for you.'"

Mulan jumped up, then she sat down as quickly. "Oh my goodness. What am I going to do?"

Fa Zhou said, "Well, don't you want to see him?"

"Well yes, but just a minute ago I was feeling sorry for myself and I was really..."

"Mad at him."

"Exactly. Won't you do the same thing?"

"Yes, I'd feel kind of mad at first, but I'd give whoever it is a second chance." Fa Zhou looked at her. "Besides, it's not that bad, is it?"

"Well, no..."

"Then what are you waiting for, my daughter? Go."

"I guess it's worth a try." Mulan slowly stood up and walked at the door of her room. Then she stopped, turned, and said, "Do I look all right?"

Fa Zhou smiled and assured her, "Like a cherry blossom fresh in the morning."

Mulan couldn't help grinning as she said, "Thanks, Papa," and skipped out of the room.

Her gait slowed down by the time she reached the gate though. She wasn't sure how she was going to react to Shang. She opened the gate and stepped outside.

Shang was sweating profusely and his face looked like a ripe tomato. When he saw Mulan his eyes widened and he said, "Mulan, I..."

"Shang, are you all right?" asked Mulan, concern flooding into her eyes. "You don't look very well."

Shang shook her head and said, "I'm fine. Ran all the way from the Palace to the marketplace and to here. Tried to get as fast I could."

"Oh, that wasn't really necessary..."

Shang's dark eyes looked into hers and said, "But it was. The Emperor had some extra instructions for me regarding the troops and I kind of overtimed. When he was done, I ran to the marketplace, but you weren't there. A vendor told me that you had finished your shopping and you got mad and went back to your house. So I ran as fast as I could to say that...well, I'm sorry. And I really am."

Mulan balanced her thoughts. "It was embarrassing, Shang," she said coldly, secretly relieved.

"Yeah, but..."

"And a girl has feelings, you know." Now Mulan was venting all she had.

A spark ignited in Shang's eyes. "Well, a guy has too."

That stopped Mulan. At his advantage, Shang dove in.

"I know it really caused you some humiliation, but think about it. I would have done all in my power to meet you, but the Emperor...well, his power is a lot greater than mine.

Mulan stifled a grin.

"Look, I'm really sorry." Shang looked completely dejected. "But I'll make it up to you, I promise. If you even want, I'll take those green-minded people that humiliated you and give them ten lashings each."

"Shang! Don't be ridiculous."

"I just want you to forgive me and give me a second chance."

Mulan sank into her thoughts. It had been embarrassing, but it would be rather silly if she turned him down just because he couldn't go. Besides, he had tried to do his best and had taken the time to tell her what happened. But it would make her look even more like a puppy enslaved to Shang...helpless, no mind of her own...wouldn't it? But look at Shang. He has an even greater pride than she has, and he had swallowed it down. She had never seen him this humbled before. Surely that must mean something...

But you'll never fall
'Til you let you go.
Don't be so scared
Of what you don't know!

"Well," she said cautiously, "all right. But you promise you'll make it up to me."

"Yes, yes!" Shang looked so comical trying to keep his joy in check. "What about...uh...what about lunch at that new dimsum restaurant down the road?"

Mulan laughed. "First it's the market, and then it's lunch. What do you think I am, a glutton?"

"Okay, what about a stroll down the lake...about four...if you're not busy this afternoon?"

"The question is, are you busy this afternoon?" Mulan enjoyed making Shang squirm.

"I'm going to ask the Emperor for a few hours off, don't worry. If he doesn't, I'll promise that I'll work out the hours I missed some other day."

Mulan's face softened. "You really have it down hard there, don't you? And I'm not exactly making it any easier for you."

"No, you're great. I have something to look forward to after work." Shang flashed a grateful smile and said, "I'll have to go now. Thanks and goodbye! See you at four!"

"Yeah, I'll see you at four too," she said softly, and waved as she saw him dash to the Palace in bliss.

Copyright © SwordSkill 2000