Chapter 2: Monks

Buffy sighed as she looked at Mulan. "Sorry," she said. Mulan had been trying to set the tea set back down on the table when disaster had happened. And as a result, the Matchmaker had said the match was off that neither she or Mulan were desirable. Buffy had of course rolled her eyes at that.

"It's okay," Mulan replied. "At least you don't have to worry about going through that now."

Suddenly they, the rest of the Hua family, along with the entire village, stopped in their tracks. All eyes turned toward the single-lane road that led into their small village. They could see billowing sand kicked into the air by what appeared to be a small parade of riders.

A few of the younger children raced ahead to see what was happening and turned around. "Soldiers!" they shouted as they ran back.

Just then, the drumming stopped and the dust settled. There, standing in front of them, were a magistrate and six soldiers. The men looked at the villagers from atop their horses, their faces hidden by masks. With a signal from the magistrate, several of them jumped down and began to post pieces of paper to various houses.

"Citizens! Citizens!" the magistrate shouted, as if he hadn't already gotten everyone's attention. "We are under attack from northern invaders. Our land is at war! By edict of His Imperial Majesty the Son of Heaven, every family must contribute one man to fight! One man from every house!" He pulled out a scroll and unrolled it. From where she stood, Mulan could see that the writing on the scroll was a long list of names. "Wang family! Chin family! Du family! Hua family!"

Mulan and Buffy looked at each other. They knew what that meant, Zhou had just been conscripted, for her was the only male in the family.

Zhou made his way through the crowd. He walked with his head held high and without the use of his cane. Approaching the magistrate and two of the soldiers who had remained on horseback, he bowed. "I am Hua Zhou," he said as he rose back up. "I served the Imperial Army in the last battle against the northern invaders."

The magistrate looked down at Zhou. "Have you no son old enough to fight?" he asked.

"I am blessed with two daughters," Zhou answered. "I will fight."

The magistrate considered the man before him. Finally, the magistrate nodded to the soldier nearest him. The young man reached into his bag and pulled out a set of papers that would mark Zhou for service. He held it out.

Buffy and Mulan watched as Zhou reached out his own hand. His fingers brushed the parchment and were about to close around the paper when his leg gave out. He gave a muffled shout as he fell to the ground. Lying at the feet of the magistrate's horse, Zhou's eyes closed in horror. His waistcoat had fallen open, revealing the binding on his leg that now, due to the fall, was unraveling.

Spotting her father's cane lying on the ground where he must have left it, Mulan moved to take it.

But Li put a hand on her daughter's shoulder, stopping her. "You must not," she whispered. "That will only humiliate him further."

"Really," Buffy said shaking her head. "There is nothing to be ashamed of."

As the magistrate resumed reading the names of the village families, a younger soldier dismounted and offered his hand to Zhou. Zhou refused.

Grasping his scroll tightly in his hand, he painfully pushed himself to his feet.

Then he limped away, his head high.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

A sense of impending doom hung over the Hua household. They had managed to ignore the events of the afternoon for the rest of the day, but now, as they gathered around the dinner table, the tension was thick.

Mulan played with her food. She had no appetite. Beside her, Xiu took a half-hearted bite and then put down her food. She wasn't hungry, either.

Li hadn't even bothered to take a plate. She sat with her eyes locked on Zhou. Unaware, or choosing to ignore the looks from his wife and daughters, Zhou ate with gusto.

Buffy also ate, but not nearly as much as she normally would have. While yes, she wasn't related to the Hua family, she still felt bad about their situation.

"You're a war hero," Li said, her words soft as she broke the silence. "You've already made many great sacrifices—"

Zhou didn't let her finish. He knew what she was going to say. "Are you suggesting our family not comply with the Imperial edict?"

The words were out of Mulan's mouth before she could stop them. "But how can you fight when you can barely—"

Zhou's fist slammed onto the table, stopping Mulan midsentence. Fury filled his face. Buffy, his wife and daughters looked at him aghast. He had always been a man who prided himself on restraint and keeping his calm. "I am the father!" he said, his voice booming through the small room. "It is my place to bring honor to our family on the battlefield. You are the daughter." He paused; his eyes boring into Mulan. "Learn your place!" Pushing himself to his feet, Zhou limped from the room.

Buffy watched him leave, she wanted to find him, console him as one warrior to another. But she had learned enough that it was better to not do it.

Li stood up and walked over to Xiu, Buffy and Mulan's side of the table. She grabbed Mulan's hand and then Xiu's. "We must be strong," she said. She paused. And then her eyes welled and her hands shook. Even she could not follow her own orders. "This time he will not return," she said, letting the tears fall. Her shoulders slumped and she sank to the ground, overcome by emotion. "How will we survive without him?"

Buffy looked at the distraught mother and then at her friends. She knew what she had to do. She stood quietly and left the table.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The house had grown quiet. The sounds of her mother's sobs had faded, and her sister, tears drying on her cheeks, had fallen into a restless sleep as Mulan tiptoed into the living area. She found Buffy at the large cabinet that stood in the corner. "What are you doing?" she whispered.

"It is time I repaid the hospitality your family has shown me," Buffy whispered back.

"No," Mulan replied. "I am doing this, for my father."

"And I am a Slayer," Buffy said. "I know that term means nothing to you. But I was born to fight." She slowly she opened the cabinet doors. They squeaked slightly. There she saw two sets of armor and swords. She looked at Mulan confused.

"I had a brother once," Mulan explained. "He died in the same invasion that my father fought in. Maybe we can both bring honor to my family?"

Buffy nodded. "The problem I see is that how will we explain both of us away."

"Yes, that could be a problem," Mulan agreed. She thought for a second then smiled. "You are Mei Chi. A family friend from a neighboring village, the only son of your family. You weren't home when the soldiers came."

Buffy nodded as she pulled the swords free from the display and handed one to Mulan.

After throwing a few things in a small satchel Buffy and Mulan dressed in the armor left the house.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"You okay?" Buffy asked. She could tell that Mulan was tired and hungry.

"Beyond the same thing you, I am sure, are feeling. it feels like we've been riding for days," Mulan admitted looking at her friend.

"Yeah," Buffy said. "Other than riding with you, I've never been on a horse this much."

Soon they found themselves riding through a bamboo forest. The tall grass rose into the air, its bark smooth. Sunlight filtered through the green canopy, bathing the ground in dim light.

When they finally stopped for the day, Buffy made a small fire at the base of an enormous sleeping Buddha statue. They heated up one of the last bits of rice they had and ate the morsels.

"I really hope we get there soon," Buffy admitted. "My body is saying this is not enough food."

In no time their meal was over, and with hunger still gnawing at their bellies, they crawled into the large open palm of the Buddha and lay down, cuddled together for warmth. Above, they saw the stars twinkling in the sky.

"Have you ever looked to see if you could find your world in the night sky?" Mulan asked.

"Many times," Buffy answered. "And I always wonder what Dawn is doing. Is she safe?"

"I'm sure she is," Mulan said looking at the blonde woman lying next to her. As she stared at Buffy, she could feel her heart start pounding within her chest. She was slowly beginning to wonder if she was falling in love.

Exhaustion eventually took over and they fell asleep.

The next day they made their way along a snowy mountain pass. Their teeth chattering with cold, they hunched as close to their horse's necks as they could, but even the large horses provided little warmth.

As they came around a bend in the pass, Mulan's eyes narrowed.

"What?" Buffy said as she looked at bird that had little to no feathers, it's beak chattering.

"I saw that bird where we camped," Mulan answered as the bird stood in the middle of the snowy pass. It appeared to be trying to block their way. "You," she said. "What do you want?"

The bird let out a sad squawk.

Dismounting, Buffy and Mulan approached the bird, which looked sickly and pathetic.

"Please," Mulan said, this time her voice gentle, "move aside." The bird did not move. She glanced at Buffy.

Buffy lifted her foot and tried to nudge the bird. To her surprise, her foot was met with resistance. "Okay that's weird," she admitted. "I'm stronger than the strongest man and yet this bird is surprisingly strong enough to resist me."

The bird still did not move.

Letting out a shout, Buffy pushed once more. This time she managed to edge the bird off the path and close to where the pass dropped off.

Buffy and Mulan grabbed their horse's reins and led them past the bird. They looked over their shoulder and saw that the bird was still standing there, watching them go.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy let out a sigh, the last of their rice had run out and now Mulan as well as both of their horses were weakened with hunger. It was only a matter of time before she too began to feel weakened by hunger. Leaving the mountains behind, Buffy had taken the reins of Mulan's horse as Mulan sat low in the saddle and led them down the path.

The sun was just beginning to sink toward the horizon when Buffy caught sight of a town in the distance.

"Are you okay?" Buffy asked as Mulan sat up a little straighter, her stomach rumbling in anticipation.

"I will be," Mulan answered. By the time they approached the outskirts of the town, the horses were cantering and she was smiling.

Buffy noticed when they got of their horses and walked them through the new town that every set of eyes that followed them were dark and suspicious.

They tied their horses to a post outside the only tavern in the town tavern and walked inside.

The room was dark and smoky, filled with the smell of roasted meat, ale, and dirty men. Buffy and Mulan kept their heads down. Scanning the room from beneath lowered lids, Buffy spotted a small table at the far end. She nudged Mulan and they made their way over and slumped onto two chairs.

Suddenly, the large burly innkeeper appeared next to the table, eyes cold and arms crossed over his chest. "We have noodles with pork or pork with noodles," he said with a grunt.

"That will be fine," Buffy said, trying to keep her voice deep and low like a man's. The innkeeper didn't move. He kept standing there, looking down at Buffy and Mulan.

"Pay before you eat," he said, holding out his hand.

Buffy and Mulan glanced at each other. They didn't have any money regretfully. Mulan reached into her bag and pulled out a small cloth pouch. She handed it to the innkeeper.

"What is this?" he asked, looking down at the pouch, which looked even smaller in his huge hands.

"Tea," Mulan said.

The innkeeper raised one bushy eyebrow. "Well, this must be my lucky day," he said. Then, turning to the rest of the room, he called out, "These soldiers want to pay with tea!"

The room erupted in cruel laughter.

"It's all that we have," Buffy admitted.

The innkeeper shook his head. "No," he said. "You two have more than that. Your swords, for instance." He nodded at the weapon resting at their side. "Your armors. I hear you both have handsome horses outside. Trade all three and you can eat like an emperor for a year."

"How about this," Buffy slowly stood. She didn't come near his height, but because she was a Slayer she didn't need to. "I will beat any person here who wants to challenge me to arm wrestling."

"It's not worth it," Mulan whispered, she was afraid that might try and rob her and her friend. Getting to her feet, she grabbed her things—and the tea—and pulled Buffy out of the tavern.

Jumping up on their horse's backs, they urged them into a run.

"I could have taken them, you know that," Buffy said later that evening as they sat in front of a fire, trying to warm their hands.

"I know," Mulan replied with a groan as she pulled off her father's boots. The rags she had stuffed in the shoes to help them fit better came out tinged red.

Buffy's eyes went wide at the blisters that lined Mulan's feet. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't know," Mulan admitted. "Maybe if we beg forgiveness, my family will take me back…" she said.

Buffy sighed. She knew Mulan was right, unless they found the army soon, they weren't going to make it, better to turn around and hope Mulan's family would let them come back. Then she spotted the bird sitting on a nearby log, the same bird that had blocked their path before.

Mulan's stomach rumbled. "Is that hideous bird too ugly to eat?" she asked Buffy.

In answer, the bird let out a loud squawk.

Mulan's stomach rumbled again. She reached for her sword. She was pushing herself to her feet when she heard footsteps behind her. "Do you hear that?" she whispered to her friend.

Buffy stood as she reached for her own sword. Distracted by the footsteps they turned, giving the bird a chance to hop to safety.

"Greetings!"

The sound of a man's voice bounced off the trees. Wrapping their fingers around the hilt of their swords, Buffy and Mulan turned, the weapons raised in front of them. Two monks, with long beards and ragged cloaks, were looking at her from across the fire.

"Be at ease, my friends," the monk with the darker hair said. "We are simply monks traveling the world, doing good deeds to ensure happiness and keep chaos at bay." The other monk nodded and flashed Buffy and Mulan a smile. The dark-haired man went on, pointing at the smiling monk. "This is Brother Ramtish. I am Brother Skatch. We bring you food and fellowship."

Buffy glanced at Mulan; she couldn't believe their luck. And when the two monks brought the food out, they dropped their weapons and grabbed a plate and some rice and sat down.

Watching them, Ramtish chuckled. Turning, he looked at Skatch. "I think they're the politest starving people I've ever seen."

Skatch nodded. "Yes, they are gentlemen of remarkably good manners." He reached toward his bag. "Brother Ramtish, I say we celebrate this repast with a taste of wine."

Skatch poured a drink and offered it to Buffy.

"Thank you," Buffy said, shaking her head. "But I do not drink."

"Thank you," Mulan said. "But neither do I."

"Soldiers who don't drink?" Skatch repeated. "Brother Ramtish, there's something peculiar about our dining companions."

Buffy and Mulan stopped chewing as both monks turned and gazed at them searchingly.

Skatch went on, "Do they look like any soldier you've ever seen?"

"They do not," Ramtish answered.

Buffy and Mulan glanced at each other as they swallowed the rest of the rice. Then, clearing her throat, Mulan tried to explain away their doubts. "Well, technically," she began, being sure to keep her voice low, "We are not soldiers yet. This is my father's sword and armor."

"And this is my father's," Buffy added. "We are conscripts for the Imperial Army in the fight against the northern invaders."

Skatch's eyes narrowed but he nodded. "Yes, the northern invaders," he said, taking a deep drink from his cup. "Led by Böri Khan. We heard they were back."

"He was angry before they killed him," Ramtish said, taking his own drink with a chuckle. "Imagine how furious he is now?"

The two monks shared a laugh, and another drink, before Skatch returned his attention to Buffy and Mulan. "So, what's your names, soldiers-to-be?" he asked.

"I represent the Hua family," Mulan answered.

"And I represent the Mei family," Buffy added.

"You two don't have first names?" Skatch probed.

Mulan glanced at Buffy. She cursed herself. She had thought of a first name for Buffy, but not herself. frowned. "My first name is…Jun," she told him.

"And I am Chi," Buffy added.

"Well, Hua Jun and Mei Chi," Skatch said, stretching out the names, "I'm going to be honest with you both. I can't see either of you lasting a day in the army. You two are going to be eaten alive." From where he sat, Ramtish nodded in agreement. "If you're going to be a soldier, you've got to be a man."

Mulan's breath hitched in her throat and she hoped her cheeks weren't flushing red. "What makes you think we're not men?"

Skatch laughed. "You two act like boys," he answered. He mimicked her careful placement of food in her mouth. "You've got to look like a man, smell like a man, act like a man!"

Buffy smiled a sickly-sweet smile. "And how does a man act?" she asked.

"For one thing, he doesn't eat like a woman. Men eat like it's the last meal they'll ever have." Skatch mimed shoveling food into his face, even lapping his tongue at the air as though licking a bowl. "You two walked into that tavern tonight like you were hiding something."

Buffy stood her eyes blazing, the Slayer within her itching for a fight.

"When a real man enters a room, he owns that room. It's his territory. You might not announce it, but you've got to believe it." Skatch told them as he pounded his chest.

"Ha!" he yelled. Then he gestured to Mulan to stand by him. "Show me."

"How about this instead," Buffy growled and she leapt into a roundhouse and kicked Skatch knocking him down. "You have just messed with the wrong person."

Skatch seemed pleased. "Yes!" he cried. "That's it! You don't go looking for trouble, but you don't back away from it, either. Especially from a snaggletoothed, foul-odored innkeeper." His hand whipped forward, grabbing for Buffy's sword. She hit him with the palm of her hand knocking him back.

"I will tell you what I will do," Buffy said as she glared at Skatch.

She was interrupted by Ramtish, who let out a loud burp and hit his chest with his fist. "Brother Skatch," he said, "these men are trying to eat their dinner and you're blabbering on like a woman."

Skatch held his hand to his heart. "Apologies, Hua Jun. Apologies, Mei Chi," he said. "Please—let us sit. Relax. Enjoy your meal."

"Chi," Mulan whispered and nodded.

Buffy glanced at Mulan and then sat down as Skatch joined Ramtish.

Running his hand through his dark hair, Skatch smiled at his friend as Ramtish refilled both their cups. A few drops spilled over, staining the ground where they fell a light red.

Mulan's eyes narrowed as she watched the two men tilt back their cups and drink deeply.

"There are many paths to truth," Skatch said, in response to the judgment he saw in Mulan's eyes.

Silence settled over the small clearing as the two monks stared into the flickering flames of the fire and Buffy and Mulan stared at them.

Since they didn't appear to be going anywhere, Mulan figured she should at least make conversation. "You said there was another thing."

"Pardon?" Skatch said, looking up from his cup.

"You know," Mulan prompted. "About being a man. Another thing Chi and I should know?"

Skatch frowned, and Ramtish nudged him. The pair shared a look that Buffy and Mulan couldn't quite read before Ramtish said, "Oh, go on. You might as well tell them now."

For a moment, Skatch hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Here's the most fundamental thing of all." He paused, his eyes locking first with Buffy and then with Mulan's. "A real man never refuses a drink."

"Chi," Mulan said knowing if they refused now that the monks might figure out their secret. So, taking a deep breath, Buffy and Mulan grabbed their cups, brought it to their lips…and drank the contents down in one long gulp.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Skatch looked down at the young soldiers, who were now lying beside the fire. They were out cold. The liquid had done its trick. The moment they had spotted the young men, Skatch had known they would be easy marks.

Lifting a hand, Skatch rubbed his now hairless chin. The fake beard he had been wearing was hanging underneath his chin, giving his skin a chance to feel the fresh air. Turning, he saw Ramtish strapping Buffy's sword to the back of her horse's saddle while Skatch was doing the same with Mulan's. The huge animals shifted on their feet, clearly aware that something strange was going on.

"We have the horses and the swords," Ramtish said. He nodded at the warriors on the ground. "Let's strip them and take their armor."

Not waiting for Skatch's permission, Ramtish leaned down and reached to unlace the Buffy's armor. But before he could finish, a loud, ugly bird appeared out of nowhere. Ramtish swung his arms around, trying to keep the bird at bay. But the creature kept coming, its eyes wild and sparse feathers flying. With a shout, he managed to swat the bird, sending it soaring.

But it doubled back immediately, attacking again. This time, Ramtish didn't bother with his hand. Instead, he reached down and unsheathed his own sword. It whooshed through the air as he brought it up, the tip pointing directly at the oncoming bird.

This time, the bird stopped.

"Brother?" Skatch asked, watching the interaction with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. He wasn't sure why the bird seemed so protective of the warriors, but it was clear the creature wanted Ramtish nowhere near them. "Leave their armor. And their swords."

Ramtish looked over, surprise on his face. "What?" he said. He and Skatch had been working together for years. Never once, in all that time, had Skatch left something of value behind when there was something of value to be had.

"There's something about these young men I like," Skatch said, shrugging. His eyes lingered on the warriors. "They're underdogs, like ourselves," he added.

"Speak for yourself," Ramtish retorted. "As dogs go, I prefer to think of myself as a champion."

Skatch laughed as he hooked his fake beard around his ears and pushed it back into place. "Leave them the donkeys, too," he added. "Since I am in a very generous mood." Then, grabbing one of the horse's reins, he led the big animals out of the clearing. Ramtish took one last longing look at the armor and weapon and then, with a sigh, followed with the other horse.

Behind them, the warriors lay, their breath heavy, their eyes still closed.