Sorry for the delay, but wow this time I got more reviews for my fanfic. (
I'd like to thank the wonderful people who gave me their valuable points of
view: Lynn, Traum, YunCyn, ToughSpirit, Angel452, Jade (three reviews),
Jeanine (Great to hear from you. I'll Email you) and last but not least
Karla.
This chapter is supposed to be funny. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Chapter 4: The Guardian's Guardian
Mulan cringed under the blankets, her legs felt sore and her whole body was trembling as if she were uncovered at the top of the snowy mountains. The cold weather she had been exposed to the previous night, made her catch a cold. It was already time to prepare herself for another long day awaiting for her.
Mulan's stomach wouldn't tolerate the food she was supposed to eat for breakfast, so she simply skipped the meal.
Shang looked tired, all night he had been restless and he barely slept a couple of hours. Eyecups marked under his eyes, he was not in a mood to stand the pranks of his men.
To make his day worse, Lao Tsung approached to him greeting, "Good morning, Sir. Long night, wasn't it yesterday?"
Shang feigned he hadn't understood what he meant with long night and replied coldly, "Good morning, Lieutenant."
"You look tired, Sir," Lao remarked, "Perhaps you should rest and leave me in charge of this day's training."
"That won't be necessary."
"I understand," a malicious smirk spread across his features, "If I had spent the night with Fa Mulan I would find myself restless as well."
The lieutenant had crossed the limits of Shang's patience and he was not going to let him escape with that one. "What do you mean?" Shang yelled, "How dare you disrespect her?"
Lao Tsung let out a cynic laughter, and said, "Please, I'm not the one who spends all day insulting her and watching every move she makes." He made a pause to laugh and continued, "Besides, I'm not the one who came from the lake wrapped in a towel before she followed."
Shang narrowed his eyes and lifted Lao by his collar. How dare he think such things? It had been an accident, both had been at the same place at the wrong time, but things had certainly not gone any further. "Listen, you idiot, it was just an accident. I didn't see her and she didn't see me. Nothing happened between us. She's an honourable woman and I wouldn't even think of it. I warn you, if you go and create a gossip about us and spread it over China, I swear you'll say goodbye to your rank here." He let the lieutenant down and walked away.
Lao dusted his clothes and muttered, "Have it your way then."
The first exercise of the day was to run around the fields carrying heavy weights over their shoulders.
Mulan could barely stand on her feet when she lifted the weights; still, she did her best to keep the pace with the other soldiers. She could not take it anymore, dizziness made her fall limply on the ground.
Lieutenant Lao Tsung was the person closest to her, so he put his weights aside and offered his hand to help her up. "You look ill," he pointed out.
Mulan nodded. "I feel terri." she put a hand on her mouth to sneeze.
"Bless you, miss," Lao said placing his hand on her forehead to check if she had a fever. "You should rest and recover your strength."
His nearness annoyed Mulan; she didn't consider it necessary for him to be only five inches away from her so she just backed away politely.
"Go to your tent. I will deal things with General Insensitive."
Without thinking twice, Mulan headed to her tent. On the way she thought about Lao's last words saying Shang was insensitive. 'It's not like he's that mean,' she reminded herself, 'he is so unpredictable indeed, but he's definitely not insensitive.' She knew him better.
Mulan was covering herself with the blankets, when Lao Tsung appeared inside carrying a bowl filled with water.
"If you want to decrease your temperature, you shouldn't cover yourself with those blankets," he chided her playfully.
"But it's so cold," she replied.
"Just lie down and rest," he commanded softly as he removed the blankets from her body. Then he squeezed a wet piece of cloth to place it on her forehead.
Suddenly, Shang stormed into Mulan's tent furious like that day they first met. "What's going on in here?" he demanded.
Lao Tsung stood up and answered coolly, "Mulan is sick." Shang crossed his arms, the frown on his face refused to change, "And what the hell do you have to be doing here, Lieutenant?"
"I'm just being helpful when other people don't even dare to ask how she feels," Lao snapped, "I'm not like you!"
"Go back to your duties at once!" Shang ordered, "I will take care of her!"
The lieutenant narrowed his eyes at Shang revealing all the loathing he had against him; he walked out of the tent grumbling words which Li Shang decided not to give much importance.
Mulan was surprised Shang had not yelled at her, she guessed he must have pitied her for being ill and weak. Instead, proving Lao Tsung was completely wrong of him being insensitive, Shang kneeled next to Mulan and silently took her hand; he toughed her pulse with his fingers to check her temperature. The way his fingers and touched her gently unconsciously made a heavy sigh escape from her lips. Shang's angry frown had softened at the sight of her looking so pale and her eyes sad because of the fever. It was strange those two had not started one of their silly arguments.
"Why didn't you tell me you weren't feeling well?" Shang inquired; his voice remained serene.
She smiled lopsidedly and answered, "I thought I could stand the exercises."
He smiled back at her, "You are stub." he decided not to tease her for once, "You are supposed to tell me if you feel sick."
"I'll keep that in mind for the next time."
"I'm gonna get you some tea, so you can feel better."
"Thanks." Inside, she was wondering why all of a sudden he had turned so helpful, did it have to do with some silly competition between him and Lao Tsung? Well, but Mulan didn't mind at all the sudden change in his mood.
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Fa Zhou lit some incense inside the Fa family's shrine and kneeled. He prayed faithfully the ancestor for Mulan's safety. She had been gone for a week now, and they missed her as if years had gone by. He raised his eyes and stared at the tiny dragon standing proud on the marble pedestal. The man chuckled and shook his head. The Great Stone Dragon had crumbled into pieces when Mulan left home the first time to take his place in the Imperial Army, and by strange reason, that little dragon in the incense furnace had moved to the empty pedestal in the shrine when Mulan returned from war. "What a coincidence," Fa Zhou whispered and turned to leave, "Guardians."
When the shrine was completely lonesome, a cloud of blue and white smoke scattered around the place until it took the form of an ancient man holding his cane. "Cri-kee, awaken," he commanded and the sculpture of a cricket gained life.
The old spirit smiled fondly, his eyes shrinking while he laughed. "I want you to wake up Mushu," he said.
Cri-kee nodded and hopped to Mushu's pedestal. When he was about to ring the gong the eldest ancestor halted, "Wait!" He cleared his throat and continued, "I don't need to wake up the whole shrine, so, would you mind just hitting him with the stick?"
Cri-kee shrugged, a mischievous grin growing on his face. It wasn't such a bad idea. He chirped something that meant, "Not at all. It will be my pleasure."
The elder ancestor burst into laughter. "Proceed."
Obeying his order, Cri-kee hit the dragon's head with the stick. Mushu woke up rubbing his head and complaining while the first ancestor cried his eyes out laughing. "What in the name of Buddha is going on in here?" The dragon asked but no answer came from part of the ancestor or the giggling cricket. "Yeah laugh all you want, but you're not heroes like me," bragged Mushu puffing his chest proudly and pointing at himself, which only made their laughs grow louder.
"Ok," Mushu shouted, "Would you be mature enough to shut up?!" Still, it was not enough.
So Mushu just watched them laugh with arms crossed waiting until the first ancestor finally turned serious, "Ok, I want you to watch over Mulan."
"You mean she went to war again?"
"Indeed."
"What?" She just got home.," Mushu exclaimed, "Well, that's my babe, always ready to start a brand new adventure, but you know she can't go out without her dear guardian, right?"
"I don't want you to get her into trouble," the ancestor warned glowering at Mushu who was repeating what he said, "Is that clear?"
Mushu rolled his eyes, "Crystal."
The ancestor rubbed his chin and turned his eyes to the ceiling pensively, then he turned again to Mushu, "There's this new lieutenant."
Mushu interrupted, "Oh no! Don't tell me she's fixed her eyes on him." He put his claws on his head frustrated, "She was supposed to end up with Shang!" "Let me finish!" the ancestor said sternly.
"Ok, ok, continue."
"Well, he has been trying to approach Mulan, but there's something about him that makes me think of him untrustworthy," the spirit went on, "so try to maintain Mulan away from him."
"No problem, Sir," Mushu replied anxiously, "Can I go now?" He turned to the steps and started to walk away.
"Not so fast," the ancestor called.
Mushu spun on one foot to face his authority and inquired, "now what?"
"Don't you get Mulan in trouble because if you do, I'm gonna have to take severe measures."
"Ok, ok," Mushu replied, "I get it."
Once again he was on his way out of the shrine when the first ancestor added, "Wait for Cri-kee!"
"What?!"
"Uh huh," the spirit said, "he's going to be your guardian."
Mushu's jaw dropped and his round eyes opened wide. He raised his index finger to protest but the ancestor wouldn't allow him.
"Yes he will. He's going to make sure you don't mess things."
"But."
"No buts," the ancestor chided him, "if you're not going to agree I'm going to have to send someone else in your place." He pointed out to the lifeless animal sculptures standing on the pedestals.
Mushu rolled his eyes and shrugged, "You leave me no choice."
"Very well then, you may go," approved the ancestor.
Mushu walked down the stairs, his back flinched with disappointment, and he knew he could do the task appointed to him without any help. Cri-kee hopped proudly next to him, as if mocking the dragon.
Mushu made sure they were far enough from the shrine to say, "Listen, gong- ringer, it doesn't matter if the ancestor sent you to guard me, either way I'm the boss, is that clear?"
Cri-kee chirped something in reply.
The dragon yelled irritated, "but I'm not the gong-ringer anymore. That's history you know."
Cri-kee snapped something in his language that meant, "I'm gonna tell the ancestor how you're treating me."
"Sure go ahead and cry to the first ancestor," Mushu shook his head, "Come on grow up!"
"I can't believe he did this to me," Mushu complained to himself, "What have I done to deserve this? I'm a good guardian.no, I'm the best guardian they have. The guardian's guardian.pff.couldn't he come up with a more silly idea?"
Cri-kee burst into soft giggles.
"Shut up, you gong-ringer," Mushu hissed.
This chapter is supposed to be funny. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Chapter 4: The Guardian's Guardian
Mulan cringed under the blankets, her legs felt sore and her whole body was trembling as if she were uncovered at the top of the snowy mountains. The cold weather she had been exposed to the previous night, made her catch a cold. It was already time to prepare herself for another long day awaiting for her.
Mulan's stomach wouldn't tolerate the food she was supposed to eat for breakfast, so she simply skipped the meal.
Shang looked tired, all night he had been restless and he barely slept a couple of hours. Eyecups marked under his eyes, he was not in a mood to stand the pranks of his men.
To make his day worse, Lao Tsung approached to him greeting, "Good morning, Sir. Long night, wasn't it yesterday?"
Shang feigned he hadn't understood what he meant with long night and replied coldly, "Good morning, Lieutenant."
"You look tired, Sir," Lao remarked, "Perhaps you should rest and leave me in charge of this day's training."
"That won't be necessary."
"I understand," a malicious smirk spread across his features, "If I had spent the night with Fa Mulan I would find myself restless as well."
The lieutenant had crossed the limits of Shang's patience and he was not going to let him escape with that one. "What do you mean?" Shang yelled, "How dare you disrespect her?"
Lao Tsung let out a cynic laughter, and said, "Please, I'm not the one who spends all day insulting her and watching every move she makes." He made a pause to laugh and continued, "Besides, I'm not the one who came from the lake wrapped in a towel before she followed."
Shang narrowed his eyes and lifted Lao by his collar. How dare he think such things? It had been an accident, both had been at the same place at the wrong time, but things had certainly not gone any further. "Listen, you idiot, it was just an accident. I didn't see her and she didn't see me. Nothing happened between us. She's an honourable woman and I wouldn't even think of it. I warn you, if you go and create a gossip about us and spread it over China, I swear you'll say goodbye to your rank here." He let the lieutenant down and walked away.
Lao dusted his clothes and muttered, "Have it your way then."
The first exercise of the day was to run around the fields carrying heavy weights over their shoulders.
Mulan could barely stand on her feet when she lifted the weights; still, she did her best to keep the pace with the other soldiers. She could not take it anymore, dizziness made her fall limply on the ground.
Lieutenant Lao Tsung was the person closest to her, so he put his weights aside and offered his hand to help her up. "You look ill," he pointed out.
Mulan nodded. "I feel terri." she put a hand on her mouth to sneeze.
"Bless you, miss," Lao said placing his hand on her forehead to check if she had a fever. "You should rest and recover your strength."
His nearness annoyed Mulan; she didn't consider it necessary for him to be only five inches away from her so she just backed away politely.
"Go to your tent. I will deal things with General Insensitive."
Without thinking twice, Mulan headed to her tent. On the way she thought about Lao's last words saying Shang was insensitive. 'It's not like he's that mean,' she reminded herself, 'he is so unpredictable indeed, but he's definitely not insensitive.' She knew him better.
Mulan was covering herself with the blankets, when Lao Tsung appeared inside carrying a bowl filled with water.
"If you want to decrease your temperature, you shouldn't cover yourself with those blankets," he chided her playfully.
"But it's so cold," she replied.
"Just lie down and rest," he commanded softly as he removed the blankets from her body. Then he squeezed a wet piece of cloth to place it on her forehead.
Suddenly, Shang stormed into Mulan's tent furious like that day they first met. "What's going on in here?" he demanded.
Lao Tsung stood up and answered coolly, "Mulan is sick." Shang crossed his arms, the frown on his face refused to change, "And what the hell do you have to be doing here, Lieutenant?"
"I'm just being helpful when other people don't even dare to ask how she feels," Lao snapped, "I'm not like you!"
"Go back to your duties at once!" Shang ordered, "I will take care of her!"
The lieutenant narrowed his eyes at Shang revealing all the loathing he had against him; he walked out of the tent grumbling words which Li Shang decided not to give much importance.
Mulan was surprised Shang had not yelled at her, she guessed he must have pitied her for being ill and weak. Instead, proving Lao Tsung was completely wrong of him being insensitive, Shang kneeled next to Mulan and silently took her hand; he toughed her pulse with his fingers to check her temperature. The way his fingers and touched her gently unconsciously made a heavy sigh escape from her lips. Shang's angry frown had softened at the sight of her looking so pale and her eyes sad because of the fever. It was strange those two had not started one of their silly arguments.
"Why didn't you tell me you weren't feeling well?" Shang inquired; his voice remained serene.
She smiled lopsidedly and answered, "I thought I could stand the exercises."
He smiled back at her, "You are stub." he decided not to tease her for once, "You are supposed to tell me if you feel sick."
"I'll keep that in mind for the next time."
"I'm gonna get you some tea, so you can feel better."
"Thanks." Inside, she was wondering why all of a sudden he had turned so helpful, did it have to do with some silly competition between him and Lao Tsung? Well, but Mulan didn't mind at all the sudden change in his mood.
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Fa Zhou lit some incense inside the Fa family's shrine and kneeled. He prayed faithfully the ancestor for Mulan's safety. She had been gone for a week now, and they missed her as if years had gone by. He raised his eyes and stared at the tiny dragon standing proud on the marble pedestal. The man chuckled and shook his head. The Great Stone Dragon had crumbled into pieces when Mulan left home the first time to take his place in the Imperial Army, and by strange reason, that little dragon in the incense furnace had moved to the empty pedestal in the shrine when Mulan returned from war. "What a coincidence," Fa Zhou whispered and turned to leave, "Guardians."
When the shrine was completely lonesome, a cloud of blue and white smoke scattered around the place until it took the form of an ancient man holding his cane. "Cri-kee, awaken," he commanded and the sculpture of a cricket gained life.
The old spirit smiled fondly, his eyes shrinking while he laughed. "I want you to wake up Mushu," he said.
Cri-kee nodded and hopped to Mushu's pedestal. When he was about to ring the gong the eldest ancestor halted, "Wait!" He cleared his throat and continued, "I don't need to wake up the whole shrine, so, would you mind just hitting him with the stick?"
Cri-kee shrugged, a mischievous grin growing on his face. It wasn't such a bad idea. He chirped something that meant, "Not at all. It will be my pleasure."
The elder ancestor burst into laughter. "Proceed."
Obeying his order, Cri-kee hit the dragon's head with the stick. Mushu woke up rubbing his head and complaining while the first ancestor cried his eyes out laughing. "What in the name of Buddha is going on in here?" The dragon asked but no answer came from part of the ancestor or the giggling cricket. "Yeah laugh all you want, but you're not heroes like me," bragged Mushu puffing his chest proudly and pointing at himself, which only made their laughs grow louder.
"Ok," Mushu shouted, "Would you be mature enough to shut up?!" Still, it was not enough.
So Mushu just watched them laugh with arms crossed waiting until the first ancestor finally turned serious, "Ok, I want you to watch over Mulan."
"You mean she went to war again?"
"Indeed."
"What?" She just got home.," Mushu exclaimed, "Well, that's my babe, always ready to start a brand new adventure, but you know she can't go out without her dear guardian, right?"
"I don't want you to get her into trouble," the ancestor warned glowering at Mushu who was repeating what he said, "Is that clear?"
Mushu rolled his eyes, "Crystal."
The ancestor rubbed his chin and turned his eyes to the ceiling pensively, then he turned again to Mushu, "There's this new lieutenant."
Mushu interrupted, "Oh no! Don't tell me she's fixed her eyes on him." He put his claws on his head frustrated, "She was supposed to end up with Shang!" "Let me finish!" the ancestor said sternly.
"Ok, ok, continue."
"Well, he has been trying to approach Mulan, but there's something about him that makes me think of him untrustworthy," the spirit went on, "so try to maintain Mulan away from him."
"No problem, Sir," Mushu replied anxiously, "Can I go now?" He turned to the steps and started to walk away.
"Not so fast," the ancestor called.
Mushu spun on one foot to face his authority and inquired, "now what?"
"Don't you get Mulan in trouble because if you do, I'm gonna have to take severe measures."
"Ok, ok," Mushu replied, "I get it."
Once again he was on his way out of the shrine when the first ancestor added, "Wait for Cri-kee!"
"What?!"
"Uh huh," the spirit said, "he's going to be your guardian."
Mushu's jaw dropped and his round eyes opened wide. He raised his index finger to protest but the ancestor wouldn't allow him.
"Yes he will. He's going to make sure you don't mess things."
"But."
"No buts," the ancestor chided him, "if you're not going to agree I'm going to have to send someone else in your place." He pointed out to the lifeless animal sculptures standing on the pedestals.
Mushu rolled his eyes and shrugged, "You leave me no choice."
"Very well then, you may go," approved the ancestor.
Mushu walked down the stairs, his back flinched with disappointment, and he knew he could do the task appointed to him without any help. Cri-kee hopped proudly next to him, as if mocking the dragon.
Mushu made sure they were far enough from the shrine to say, "Listen, gong- ringer, it doesn't matter if the ancestor sent you to guard me, either way I'm the boss, is that clear?"
Cri-kee chirped something in reply.
The dragon yelled irritated, "but I'm not the gong-ringer anymore. That's history you know."
Cri-kee snapped something in his language that meant, "I'm gonna tell the ancestor how you're treating me."
"Sure go ahead and cry to the first ancestor," Mushu shook his head, "Come on grow up!"
"I can't believe he did this to me," Mushu complained to himself, "What have I done to deserve this? I'm a good guardian.no, I'm the best guardian they have. The guardian's guardian.pff.couldn't he come up with a more silly idea?"
Cri-kee burst into soft giggles.
"Shut up, you gong-ringer," Mushu hissed.