I'm on my spring break.I'll have more time to write. ( Thanks a lot to the
people who have been reading this story all along, and the people who will
read it later.
Erika, Angel452, Lynn, ToughSpirit, Sou Ming. Oh and I'd like to thank
forbidden girl and hudman for reviewing in Unhealed Wounds. It's almost a
year since I finished that story.
Chapter 7: Blind Anger
It was past midnight, Shang was checking the map and he found something strange in it. He didn't exactly memorize the locations of the rebels' camps, but he knew it was not as he had left it. Earlier that day, he had received a status report that said that the rebels were not murdering people, but they were plundering the homes stealing food, precious jewellery and cattle. At least the people were left alive, but what was worse was that sometimes they stole everything the families had. They had to get to the Imperial City as soon as possible, but the recruits were not fit enough to fight in battle still. Previous reports said that the southern troops were defeated by the rebels who claimed the Empire.
Shang heard footsteps and whispers coming from the outside, and went to check who was there. It was only Mulan, probably disposing herself to take a bath. Noticing someone was watching her, Mulan turned around, but Shang had gotten inside his tent before she could see him. She shrugged and continued his way.
'Who was she talking to?' the young man wondered, yet there was no one except for her. 'Shang you're just hearing voices, maybe you should try to rest a bit.' He lay on the blankets and closed his eyes, although he tried, he couldn't keep them shut.
Then he heard someone snickering outside, and once again he went to see who was there at such hours of the night. He had to keep that person who certainly was not Mulan from going to the lake for Mulan's sake. Ever since he found Mulan took a bath late at night, he had strictly forbidden his men to wander around very late and he took showers really early in the morning when everyone was asleep. Shang frowned displeased at the sight of Lao Tsung, shirtless losing his hair pompously.
"Rules are for everyone you know," he addressed the Captain.
"Can't anyone take a shower in private?" replied Lao.
"Not so late," Shang said walking towards him, arms crossed to his chest, "I think I was very clear when I said NO ONE."
"Don't take me wrong, but you're always inventing stupid, silly rules," Lao went on, a smirk spread wide from ear to ear on his face, "And maybe that's why your men disrespect you."
"Are you saying I'm not reasonable?" Shang snapped, "you are no one to boss me around telling me what to do or what to avoid doing for my men!" "Perhaps, I'm not the only one breaking the rules," Lao Tsung said patiently, "I saw Fa Mulan out of her tent a few minutes ago."
Shang rolled his eyes, sick of having to put up with this man, but he figured right away Lao's intentions.he had seen Mulan heading to the lake and he was disposed to take a bath himself. Anger arose inside Shang, so he grabbed the man by his collar and commanded, "I don't want you to go near her!"
Lao pulled himself from Shang's grasp and dusted himself as he replied, "What gives you the right to say who can go near her and who can't? She has a mind of her own and if she wants to be with me she has all the right to do so. She's not you're wife you know! And even if you two spent the other night together."
Clenching his fists, Shang delivered a blow on Lao's face making his nose bleed. "Don't you dare to speak like that of her.she deserves your respect!"
"If you are the General and don't respect her, why must we do so?" Lao Tsung covered his nose holding it up. Shang could not figure a reply for he was furious about the whole thing, Lao Tsung had no right to judge him nor to make up silly gossip. "I will report this to the emperor. None justified violence against your officials. This is illegal and all because of that wench!"
"Shut up!" Shang yelled, "Gather your belonging and leave! You are no longer Captain! You dishonoured your name and your country."
"What?" Lao yelled back, "You can't do that!"
"Yes I can. I am your commanding officer."
"I don't care! You are no one to me!" He hit Shang hard on the stomach, making him get out of breath.
Shang had had enough of him, as soon as he recovered himself he aimed to attack Lao Tsung. Blinded by fury, he tried to kick the Captain, but he managed to dodge. After a few attempts, finally Shang managed to make him stumble and fall. The young General didn't waste the chance and pinned him on the ground. Lao Tsung groaned struggling to get Shang off him, despite his still bleeding nose. But Shang was stronger and he began to strangle the lieutenant to the point his face was turning purple. That moment, Mulan appeared making her way towards her tent. Seeing the dreadful display both men caused, she ran to set them apart. Mushu warned her not to go but she wouldn't listen. The guardian and the cricket fought to stop her. Unintentionally, Shang blinded by his loathing for Lao Tsung hit Mulan on her breast with his elbow. Realizing what he had done, Shang released his enemy and faced Mulan whose arms covered the delicate part he had hit and eyes narrowed at Shang.
Shang's gaze was full of regret, pleading at the same time to be forgiven. In spite of them, Mulan shook her head and ran away.
The man lying on the ground chuckled triumphantly. Completely out of his mind, Shang punched Lao's face on the cheek, sending him to let out a painful screamed that reached Mulan's ears. She returned and addressed Shang irritated, "Let him go! You're going to kill him!" But Shang was too angry to listen and he pressed his strong hands around Lao Tsung's neck. Mulan jumped onto Shang's back wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
The General commanded softly, "Mulan, please get off. I don't want to hurt you."
"You've done what's worse already," she spat, "You're killing the man!"
Shang loosened the grip on Lao Tsung's neck and fought to get Mulan off until they found themselves wrestling leaving the lieutenant completely out. Obviously, Lao Tsung crawled weakly away from them. Mulan punched hard Shang's jaw making him stroke the place with his hand. She reached for Lao Tsung and helped him up.
"Mulan don't!" Shang called out as she lead the wounded man to help him stop the bleeding, "You don't know.."
Mulan shot a glare at Shang as she replied, "You will not command me!"
Shang went after her. "You must listen to me."
"I won't listen to you!" she yelled, "You know why? I'll tell you why.because you didn't listen to me!"
Shang hopelessly returned to his tent, thinking back of all the stupid actions committed by himself previously. Why did Mulan have to get in between? If she would've never tried to stop him then she wouldn't have been hurt, but maybe he would've killed Lao Tsung and probably punished afterwards. His mother once taught him violence lead nowhere, but he was convinced Lao had looked this upon himself. After all, he had been the one who disrespected Mulan.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ *+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Mulan had taken care of Lao's bleeding nose, and he recovered thanks to her aid.
Mushu scolded her for meddling into a quarrel which didn't involve her.
"I had to," Mulan justified herself, "Shang was going to kill the man!"
The guardian sighed, "Look, you know Shang. I'm sure he wouldn't have been acting like that for nothing. That man must have done something wrong."
"Whose side you're at?" inquired Mulan in annoyance.
"I was sent to protect you," Mushu went on patiently in a father-like fashion, "and there is something about Lao Tsung that makes him dangerous. Your ancestor warned me about him."
"And how come he never warned you about Shang?" Mulan spoke stubbornly blinded, "he had been the one teasing me and annoying me whenever he finds the opportunity to do so."
"It is the only way he thinks he can catch your attention."
"Why should I listen to you?" she snapped, "You don't want to see all that Shang has done to me and Lao Tsung has only been nice to me."
"I am your guardian, that's why."
"Some kind of guardian you turned out the be," said Mulan, "You should see for yourself,"
"I'm."
"Please leave me alone."
Nodding, Mushu walked out of Mulan's tent grimly and very disappointed. It seemed Mulan was under some sort of evil spell in which she wouldn't listen to the people who really cared about her, for she had never yelled at Mushu or even be seriously angry at him. Why couldn't she believe him? She knew all along he just wanted the best for her and things were different now, especially related to his feelings towards his responsibility. Mushu did no longer greedily desire his own success, he only wanted Mulan to succeed and be happy. He never intended to become annoying to her. Mushu was throwing pebbles angrily into the lake. "The ancestor was right; I only carry disgrace everywhere I go. I am a worthless lucky thing."
Cri-kee shook his head patting Mushu's back. He chirped something that meant, "It's not you. This too shall pass, she will cool off just give her time."
A lopsided grin traced on Mushu's features. "You really think so?"
"Absolutely," declared the cricket in his language.
"Thanks."
(Ehem, things eventually will return back to normal)
Chapter 7: Blind Anger
It was past midnight, Shang was checking the map and he found something strange in it. He didn't exactly memorize the locations of the rebels' camps, but he knew it was not as he had left it. Earlier that day, he had received a status report that said that the rebels were not murdering people, but they were plundering the homes stealing food, precious jewellery and cattle. At least the people were left alive, but what was worse was that sometimes they stole everything the families had. They had to get to the Imperial City as soon as possible, but the recruits were not fit enough to fight in battle still. Previous reports said that the southern troops were defeated by the rebels who claimed the Empire.
Shang heard footsteps and whispers coming from the outside, and went to check who was there. It was only Mulan, probably disposing herself to take a bath. Noticing someone was watching her, Mulan turned around, but Shang had gotten inside his tent before she could see him. She shrugged and continued his way.
'Who was she talking to?' the young man wondered, yet there was no one except for her. 'Shang you're just hearing voices, maybe you should try to rest a bit.' He lay on the blankets and closed his eyes, although he tried, he couldn't keep them shut.
Then he heard someone snickering outside, and once again he went to see who was there at such hours of the night. He had to keep that person who certainly was not Mulan from going to the lake for Mulan's sake. Ever since he found Mulan took a bath late at night, he had strictly forbidden his men to wander around very late and he took showers really early in the morning when everyone was asleep. Shang frowned displeased at the sight of Lao Tsung, shirtless losing his hair pompously.
"Rules are for everyone you know," he addressed the Captain.
"Can't anyone take a shower in private?" replied Lao.
"Not so late," Shang said walking towards him, arms crossed to his chest, "I think I was very clear when I said NO ONE."
"Don't take me wrong, but you're always inventing stupid, silly rules," Lao went on, a smirk spread wide from ear to ear on his face, "And maybe that's why your men disrespect you."
"Are you saying I'm not reasonable?" Shang snapped, "you are no one to boss me around telling me what to do or what to avoid doing for my men!" "Perhaps, I'm not the only one breaking the rules," Lao Tsung said patiently, "I saw Fa Mulan out of her tent a few minutes ago."
Shang rolled his eyes, sick of having to put up with this man, but he figured right away Lao's intentions.he had seen Mulan heading to the lake and he was disposed to take a bath himself. Anger arose inside Shang, so he grabbed the man by his collar and commanded, "I don't want you to go near her!"
Lao pulled himself from Shang's grasp and dusted himself as he replied, "What gives you the right to say who can go near her and who can't? She has a mind of her own and if she wants to be with me she has all the right to do so. She's not you're wife you know! And even if you two spent the other night together."
Clenching his fists, Shang delivered a blow on Lao's face making his nose bleed. "Don't you dare to speak like that of her.she deserves your respect!"
"If you are the General and don't respect her, why must we do so?" Lao Tsung covered his nose holding it up. Shang could not figure a reply for he was furious about the whole thing, Lao Tsung had no right to judge him nor to make up silly gossip. "I will report this to the emperor. None justified violence against your officials. This is illegal and all because of that wench!"
"Shut up!" Shang yelled, "Gather your belonging and leave! You are no longer Captain! You dishonoured your name and your country."
"What?" Lao yelled back, "You can't do that!"
"Yes I can. I am your commanding officer."
"I don't care! You are no one to me!" He hit Shang hard on the stomach, making him get out of breath.
Shang had had enough of him, as soon as he recovered himself he aimed to attack Lao Tsung. Blinded by fury, he tried to kick the Captain, but he managed to dodge. After a few attempts, finally Shang managed to make him stumble and fall. The young General didn't waste the chance and pinned him on the ground. Lao Tsung groaned struggling to get Shang off him, despite his still bleeding nose. But Shang was stronger and he began to strangle the lieutenant to the point his face was turning purple. That moment, Mulan appeared making her way towards her tent. Seeing the dreadful display both men caused, she ran to set them apart. Mushu warned her not to go but she wouldn't listen. The guardian and the cricket fought to stop her. Unintentionally, Shang blinded by his loathing for Lao Tsung hit Mulan on her breast with his elbow. Realizing what he had done, Shang released his enemy and faced Mulan whose arms covered the delicate part he had hit and eyes narrowed at Shang.
Shang's gaze was full of regret, pleading at the same time to be forgiven. In spite of them, Mulan shook her head and ran away.
The man lying on the ground chuckled triumphantly. Completely out of his mind, Shang punched Lao's face on the cheek, sending him to let out a painful screamed that reached Mulan's ears. She returned and addressed Shang irritated, "Let him go! You're going to kill him!" But Shang was too angry to listen and he pressed his strong hands around Lao Tsung's neck. Mulan jumped onto Shang's back wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
The General commanded softly, "Mulan, please get off. I don't want to hurt you."
"You've done what's worse already," she spat, "You're killing the man!"
Shang loosened the grip on Lao Tsung's neck and fought to get Mulan off until they found themselves wrestling leaving the lieutenant completely out. Obviously, Lao Tsung crawled weakly away from them. Mulan punched hard Shang's jaw making him stroke the place with his hand. She reached for Lao Tsung and helped him up.
"Mulan don't!" Shang called out as she lead the wounded man to help him stop the bleeding, "You don't know.."
Mulan shot a glare at Shang as she replied, "You will not command me!"
Shang went after her. "You must listen to me."
"I won't listen to you!" she yelled, "You know why? I'll tell you why.because you didn't listen to me!"
Shang hopelessly returned to his tent, thinking back of all the stupid actions committed by himself previously. Why did Mulan have to get in between? If she would've never tried to stop him then she wouldn't have been hurt, but maybe he would've killed Lao Tsung and probably punished afterwards. His mother once taught him violence lead nowhere, but he was convinced Lao had looked this upon himself. After all, he had been the one who disrespected Mulan.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ *+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Mulan had taken care of Lao's bleeding nose, and he recovered thanks to her aid.
Mushu scolded her for meddling into a quarrel which didn't involve her.
"I had to," Mulan justified herself, "Shang was going to kill the man!"
The guardian sighed, "Look, you know Shang. I'm sure he wouldn't have been acting like that for nothing. That man must have done something wrong."
"Whose side you're at?" inquired Mulan in annoyance.
"I was sent to protect you," Mushu went on patiently in a father-like fashion, "and there is something about Lao Tsung that makes him dangerous. Your ancestor warned me about him."
"And how come he never warned you about Shang?" Mulan spoke stubbornly blinded, "he had been the one teasing me and annoying me whenever he finds the opportunity to do so."
"It is the only way he thinks he can catch your attention."
"Why should I listen to you?" she snapped, "You don't want to see all that Shang has done to me and Lao Tsung has only been nice to me."
"I am your guardian, that's why."
"Some kind of guardian you turned out the be," said Mulan, "You should see for yourself,"
"I'm."
"Please leave me alone."
Nodding, Mushu walked out of Mulan's tent grimly and very disappointed. It seemed Mulan was under some sort of evil spell in which she wouldn't listen to the people who really cared about her, for she had never yelled at Mushu or even be seriously angry at him. Why couldn't she believe him? She knew all along he just wanted the best for her and things were different now, especially related to his feelings towards his responsibility. Mushu did no longer greedily desire his own success, he only wanted Mulan to succeed and be happy. He never intended to become annoying to her. Mushu was throwing pebbles angrily into the lake. "The ancestor was right; I only carry disgrace everywhere I go. I am a worthless lucky thing."
Cri-kee shook his head patting Mushu's back. He chirped something that meant, "It's not you. This too shall pass, she will cool off just give her time."
A lopsided grin traced on Mushu's features. "You really think so?"
"Absolutely," declared the cricket in his language.
"Thanks."
(Ehem, things eventually will return back to normal)