True To Your Heart [7]
True To Your Heart
Part VII
by SwordSkill

Author's Notes: Whee! Batch prophecy is currently on hold, so I finally got to do Chapter Seven!(It's the shortest chapter I've written though, I think.) Anyway, in response to one of the reviews that expressed an opinion about imperialism and all, I just wanna say that not all of the soldiers were greedy or selfish. Some of them were very willing to die; they had sincere motives. Honor does exist...or am I just to defensive of my ancestry? (shrug) Ah well, different strokes for different folks. Anyway, enjoy the fic! R/R!


Mulan hung the wet linens on the silk clothesline by the garden.

This is ridiculous. I had never felt this way before. Why did it had to happen to me? she thought as she walked back to her washing.

She wished she would never again be asked to be married to someone. It was just too unpleasant an experience.

She scrubbed the robes into the water with vehemence. Okay, so maybe I was wrong. Maybe I had been too rash with Shang. After all that's said and done, I shouldn't have been so harsh to him. Maybe we could become friends again and start all over. Maybe if he forgets Rong Lei-lei.

That's a pretty big MAYBE.

Oh, be quiet.

Suddenly, she heard two loud, quick raps by the gate.

Shang!

Don't be silly. That can't happen.

"Could someone get that, please?" she heard Mama say.

"I'll get it!" Mulan called, drying her arms. She went her way towards the gate, hoping nevertheless that it was Shang.

When she was about to reach the gate, she bumped into, who else?Grandma Fa.

"Well, you've finally finished your moping," said Grandma , looking satisfied.

"I was not moping," said Mulan regally. "Now excuse me, Grandma." She quickly scooted towards the great brown gate.

She shut her eyes, gave a little silent prayer, and breathlessly opened the gate to behold...

Rong Lei-lei, of all people.

Oh dear.

There she was in her stunning beauty, her face blemishless and her figure perfect, standing by their gate.

Mulan didn't even try to hide her annoyance. "Have we met?"

Lei-lei looked as if she had been expecting that. "Yes, I believe so," she said. "Fa Mulan, right?"

"Right," said Mulan, leaning at the gate, arms folded. "And you're...

"Rong Lei-lei."

"Of course."

No one said anything else, so Lei-lei began, "Well, I guess you know that we first met in a very awkward situation."

Mulan didn't answer.

Lei-lei acknowledged this as a yes. "And you were edgy about Shang then."

"Edgy?" said Mulan coolly.

"Well, yes, because he was with me..."

"Excuse me, but Shang and I were kaput by then. I was with a man called Kuan Ming."

Lei-lei smiled. "Yes, I remember. But that's not the point."

"Then what is?"

"The point is-"

"Did you say that to rub it in my face?" Mulan felt herself growing nasty.

Lei-lei looked quite taken aback. "Oh no, I-"

"I understand that Shang and you are quite an item now."

"But we never had anything going on."

"And that you guys are still an...wait a minute...what did you say?"

"I said, Shang and I never had anything going on."

Relief flooded Mulan in a second. So Shang never did love Lei-lei! Was it possible that he still...

"I should explain," Rong Lei-lei said. "A girl named Xiao Ling had just told me that you were once Shang's...Shang's, er..."

"And?"

"And I'm afraid that Xiao Ling was quite brusque telling me that I had butted in." Lei-lei gave a little chuckle. "Anyway, I want to put you to ease, saying that Shang never loved me or anything...he told me so himself."

"He...he didn't?" said Mulan faintly.

"Oh no. Apparently, he said it wouldn't work out."

"Oh."

"Well, I'm sorry if I...uh...made you worry or anything."

"Oh, you never did," said Mulan airily. "But thanks for telling me all the same."

"You're welcome. Now I must be going." Rong Lei-lei gave a small bow, carrying her beautiful self toward the streets. Mulan watched her walk away.

Then she shut the gate and leaned on it.

That big-mouth of a Xiao Ling, she thought. I'm going to butcher her.

Thanks.

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

Mulan paced in her room in glee.

So it wasn't too late. There was still hope!

Hope for what?

Hope to regain their friendship.

At least that was what Mulan thought.

She sat down on the mat, thinking. Somehow she wanted to do something about it. She couldn't wait until Shang came back from war. Their friendship was as precious as rubies to her, and she wanted it mended now. It may not be like the one they had, but still a friendship.

She had heard recently that a messenger would be coming to take any letters or food for the troops. This could be her chance. She could write him a letter, apologizing profusely of course, and give him time to think about. Of course she wouldn't be asking much, only a petition for friendship, and she'll leve the rest to the gods. If she was fated to be married to him, she wouldn't complain. And if she weren't...well, she'll deal with that.

She took the calligraphy brush and a piece of writing paper. She mixed the concoction for black ink, and dipped the brush into it.

She waited, brush poised over the paper. Then she bent down and wrote, Dear Shang.

Myabe it would be good to patronize a bit. Dear General Shang.

Much better.

I want to apologize for my very cold demeanor to you before you went away. I had been very much put out. But I must admit that you had hurt me deeply.

Mulan's hand shook as she remembered that afternoon. She bit her lip and continued writing.

I never had such hurtful words thrown to me. That must be what triggered my coolness to you.

Mulan felt a lump grow at her throat. She swallowed it and continued.

I felt as if I never wanted to see you again. And with Rong Lei-lei hanging with you, I felt myself being in the way. So that's what I did. I tried to avoid you as to prevent any more skirmishes that I did not appreciate.

But then I heard from Lei-lei herself that you and she never had anything going. I was relieved, I confess. I felt that you...

She glared fiercely and quickly scratched the last phrase off. She suddenly switched the topic. Things were getting a little touchy, and besides, she didn't want to ruin the letter by crying on it.

You must also have wondered about Kuan Ming. He was a gentleman, quite a dear, and he even proposed. And I turned him down.

Yes, I did. I felt that he wasn't the man for me. I feel no one is.

Mulan flinched. She felt like she had just told a lie.

I guess I've grown too independent. Well, maybe being once under your tutelage does that to a person. So it's kind of your fault too? You shouldn't train people so unfeelingly.

Mulan shuddered. Unfeelingly? Yeah, right.

You must be very busy, so I'll wrap the thing up. Now that Kuan Ming and Lei-lei don't have to provide the complications and formalities, I'd like to ask you for our friendship back.

Mulan paused. Then she scribbled furiously.

Once again, I'm sorry if I can't provide you any more than friendship. So let's forget the whole unpleasant experience, be friends again, and move on with our lives. Who knows, maybe you'll find a girl who'll love you the way you want to be loved...

A few tears threatened to spill, but she blinked them back hastily. Quickly, she wrote, So I look forward to you coming back...

Big understatement.

...and hope that things will be all right. I remain faithfully, Fa Mulan.

She pored over the letter carefully, thinking. Something was missing. Something that should remind Shang of their friendship.

"Mulan! Time for dinner!"

She hastily bent down and scribbled something. Then she folded the paper and laid it on the bed before she made her way to the other room.

Copyright © SwordSkill 2001