Becky: How about keep reviewing about my story?...Thank you Phoenix
Feather…want more cookies? ToughSpirit…you're still my loyal reviewer.
Canadian Chick…I hope you like this chapter…Mushu had to make an appearance
in the story because he is the funniest character and fanfiction is not
the same without his jokes, so I think you won't have to flame me. Lol.
Thanks Araxie for your wonderful point of view. Lady1Venus: I can assure
you're right…it's gonna be hard for Shang to keep his eyes from Mulan. Lol.
Thanks for reviewing. Thank you Sue…are you going to update? Thank you
zoonamoonlight, I'm glad people like my work. Thank You, Thank
You…ohhh(sorry I've been listening too much Alanis Morrisette). Thank You
Lira, Thank you Concetta . Lol. See you. Now Enjoy the story. You guys
rock! Thank you all.
Chapter 3:
Fa Zhou and Mulan arrived to Camp Wu Zhong before dawn. Many men were already waiting to be settled. Mulan spotted Yao and Ling wrestling, and Chien Po trying to set them apart…she wondered why those two were fighting now. Mulan suppressed a giggle.
"What's so funny?" her father asked.
"Nothing."
They continued their way looking for Shang.
Fa Zhou found him studying a map inside his tent. He looked so focused and so worried. Fa Zhou wondered if he should interrupt him. He excused himself for disturbing.
Shang turned around and noticed Mulan's father was outside the tent. "Come in Sir."
Fa Zhou bowed his head and said, "Good day, General Li Shang."
Shang stood up and replied, "Good morning, Sir." He bowed hi head also, as a sign of respect.
"Are you busy?"
"Not really," Shang answered, " I was just searching for a route to reach the Huns faster…I hope they don't reach the Imperial City first."
Fa Zhou cleared his throat…so he was busy then. "May I speak to you?"
"Sure."
"Well, as you know my daughter was asked to serve the Imperial Army," The elder man went on, "and obviously she accepted the request, but I wasn't very sure of authorizing her to risk her life again." Shang was listening carefully. Fa Zhou took a deep breath wondering if he was making the explanation too long for him. "Mulan is probably the most stubborn girl you'll ever know so she convinced me she had to come because it was her turn to take care of the Fa family's honor." Shang nodded and Fa Zhou continued, "Mulan has told me you are a very responsible young man and I was wondering if I could trust you too keep a close eye on her please."
Shang simply nodded again, someone had to take care of the girl and he considered it an honor. On the other side, he was glad Mulan's father didn't despise him for leaving her alone in the mountains when she was discovered, although he had his reasons. "I won't let her get wounded again nor will I let anyone bother her."
"Thank you." Fa Zhou patted Shang's back affectionately. "I knew I could trust you."
Meanwhile, Mulan was waiting outside Shang's tent. Arms crossed to her chest while she tapped her foot nervously on the ground. She hated the idea, because she didn't want Shang to think she was a fearful girl who needed a man's protection.
"I want you to behave," Fa Zhou said as he walked out of Shang's tent.
Mulan rolled her eyes, he really didn't have to remind her about her behavior, and she was not a child anymore. "I know father," she fumed.
Fa Zhou kissed his daughter's forehead. "I want you to return home like you did the last time."
Mulan sighed. Of course she was going to return back home as safely and triumphantly as she did the first time she left home to take her father's place.
"Goodbye father."
"Take care, Mulan."
With those last words Fa Zhou departed.
Mulan remained silent and lost in her own thoughts until she was interrupted by a tall young man she knew so well.
"Hello Mulan," he greeted. She could sense some hesitation in his voice but still he sounded confident. Her first reaction to his words was a slight red blush from her cheeks and on to her ears.
"Oh…Hi…General Li Shang." She bowed her head at him.
Shang looked down at her puzzled. She really didn't need to call him General Li Shang, to her he was simply Shang. He preferred things like they were at the start; when she used to be more …well not so proper.
When Mulan returned to her normal posture she noticed a smirk on Shang's features.
"I remember you used to call me Shang before," Shang spoke up, "Why all of the sudden you're so formal?"
Mulan smiled at him and answered matter of factly, "That was when I used to be Ping, you know…things were very different…now you know you are a woman…"
He knew what she was going to say so he just cut her off. "No that's fine with me, you can call me however you please."
For a long time both of them avoided to look into each other's eyes, and for a wonderful yet so brief moment their eyes met. Immediately, Mulan turned her eyes in another direction and nodded.
"Um…Shang," Mulan suggested, "I will call you General when we are with the other soldiers so it doesn't lead to wrong impressions."
"Oh."
"But you can still call me Mulan either way."
"Very well Mulan."
There was a long pause of silence between them. Mulan really didn't know how to start a conversation with him for she thought all the subjects she could think of would appear stupid and silly for a fine man such as Shang. And his silence didn't help much. As for Shang, he had no idea of what kind of things he should talk with a woman; it was easier to talk to her when she was Ping. He felt strange around her; he got used to Ping and all of a sudden he turned out to be a she. The young general didn't know how was he supposed to act nor what to say…she was so unpredictable. What if he insulted her when he had no desire to do so? The simple reason of her being a woman made things more complicated. Shang could curse and spit in front of her when he thought she was a man. What if he acted like a fool? Things had changed and he had to be polite an respectful when he was among her. He was taught to be a gentleman but no one really advised him how to deal with a woman.
After the uncomfortable silence Mulan asked, "What did my father tell you?"
"He asked me to please take care of you because you're his only daughter and…"
Mulan interrupted him; she really didn't need to hear the whole story again, "Ok, just forget about everything he said to you. I can take care of myself."
"Mulan, even if your father wouldn't have come all the way here and tell me he trusted me your safety," Shang continued, " I would've taken care of you without his orders."
Mulan thought twice before speaking, maybe she shouldn't say it but anyways she said it in the friendly way; "Come on, I was still a woman when I used to be Ping and no one had to baby sit me." At least no human being, but Mushu and Cri-kee helped her all the way.
Shang sighed thinking that Fa Zhou was so right about his daughter…she was really the most stubborn woman he'll ever meet.
"Mulan things are very different now," Shang went on, "People are conscious that you are a woman and I must prevent unpleasant situations from occurring."
Mulan let out a laugh. "I doubt such situations could take place," she assured, "I can handle them really."
"You really are a stubborn woman," Shang though out loud. As soon as he finished, he regretted about his last words…how could he? He had no right to judge her.
He was surprised when Mulan broke into giggles. "I know." She continued laughing while he stared at her. She was crazy too but under that she was a fascinating and witty young lady.
"And you're out of your mind," he added seeing that his comments didn't affect her at all.
"I really don't care," she replied through soft chuckles.
Shang found her laugher rather graceful and so natural, because it came from inside of her, not a laugh faked neither to please others nor to conceal fury. It was pure laughter. He stared at her as she continued laughing like if there were no problems or worries to think of.
He thought that maybe he should be at least half as she was: laugh and enjoy life even if there will be hard circumstances to face sooner or later. Shang turned his eyes away from her until she realized he was looking at her and stopped laughing abruptly…she didn't want him to think she was stupid.
Mulan cleared her throat. "Well, I won't make you waste more time."
"No, you can come here and laugh every once in a while." He couldn't believe he had actually said that.
Shang's serious self returned. "This day is going to be a tough day of training young lady."
"I see you haven't changed when it comes to making us suffer," Mulan teased.
Shang chuckled in response to her comment. Was he really so harsh and stone hearted?
So laughing wasn't that hard when she was around. After his father's death Mulan had been the only person with whom he shared those short but sincere chuckles.
The first day of training began. The sun burned their skins and the weather was hot. Everyone complained that their clothes were all sticky because of the sweat. The recruits lined up and listened to the General's instructions. To begin the routine, the first exercise of the day was carrying the heavy weights on their backs and walk around Camp Wu Zhong (Probably the most exhausting exercise of the day). Mulan bent down to lift her weights, she tried to pick them but they were too heavy. She turned around to and took a deep breath; she had done that before a hundred times before…she caught Shang undoing his robe, he was so hot. She fixed her eyes on the weights again, just in time when he gazed at her from faraway to check on how she was doing. After a few attempts he managed to lift the weights. Mulan got to talk to Yao, Ling, and Chien Po while they walked around Camp. Of course, she didn't miss the chiding from her commanding officer for not being fully concentrated on what she was supposed to concentrate. "Soldiers you are not here to socialize." And so they quietly continued their way.
Anyway, Mulan and her old friend caught up with their conversation during their lunch break. The four of them talked mostly about their business during the past months, and recalling the concubine incident.
In the afternoon, they had a little archery practice. The new recruits obviously had a hard time trying to do things right, and they found it impossible to get acquainted.
The last exercise of the day was retrieving the arrow from the tall pole in front of Shang's tent.
When night fell, all Mulan wished for was a long night of peaceful and revitalizing sleep.
Her legs arched for walking the long distances and her whole body was sore. After preparing her tent, she disposed herself to rest. But first, she took off her socks and shoes.
"Your socks smell like perfume especially after a long training day," she heard a voice say.
It was definitely him.
"Don't you dare laugh," Mulan replied. She turned around and saw Mushu with arms grossed and Cri-kee resting on his shoulder. Mulan caught him by surprise and threw her socks at him.
"Delicious," Mushu said in response to her aggression.
"I don't stink!"
"No you don't but maybe you should take a shower…at least do it for Shang."
"Knock it off, I don't stink."
"Suit yourself."
Mulan laughed. She was so glad Mushu had gone all the way to keep her safe…and who knows? Maybe he could give her advice about dealing with Shang. For now, she just wanted to enter the world of dreams.
Becky: Thank you Phoenix Feather…want more cookies? ToughSpirit…you're still my loyal reviewer. Canadian Chick…I hope you like this chapter…Mushu had to make an appearance in the story because he is the funniest character and fanfiction is not the same without his jokes, so I think you won't have to flame me. Lol. Thanks Araxie for your wonderful point of view. Lady1Venus: I can assure you're right…it's gonna be hard for Shang to keep his eyes from Mulan. Lol. Thanks for reviewing. Thank you Sue…are you going to update? Thank you zoonamoonlight, I'm glad people like my work. Thank You, Thank You…ohhh(sorry I've been listening too much Alanis Morrisette). Thank You Lira, Thank you Concetta . Lol. See you. Now Enjoy the story.
Chapter 3:
Fa Zhou and Mulan arrived to Camp Wu Zhong before dawn. Many men were already waiting to be settled. Mulan spotted Yao and Ling wrestling, and Chien Po trying to set them apart…she wondered why those two were fighting now. Mulan suppressed a giggle.
"What's so funny?" her father asked.
"Nothing."
They continued their way looking for Shang.
Fa Zhou found him studying a map inside his tent. He looked so focused and so worried. Fa Zhou wondered if he should interrupt him. He excused himself for disturbing.
Shang turned around and noticed Mulan's father was outside the tent. "Come in Sir."
Fa Zhou bowed his head and said, "Good day, General Li Shang."
Shang stood up and replied, "Good morning, Sir." He bowed hi head also, as a sign of respect.
"Are you busy?"
"Not really," Shang answered, " I was just searching for a route to reach the Huns faster…I hope they don't reach the Imperial City first."
Fa Zhou cleared his throat…so he was busy then. "May I speak to you?"
"Sure."
"Well, as you know my daughter was asked to serve the Imperial Army," The elder man went on, "and obviously she accepted the request, but I wasn't very sure of authorizing her to risk her life again." Shang was listening carefully. Fa Zhou took a deep breath wondering if he was making the explanation too long for him. "Mulan is probably the most stubborn girl you'll ever know so she convinced me she had to come because it was her turn to take care of the Fa family's honor." Shang nodded and Fa Zhou continued, "Mulan has told me you are a very responsible young man and I was wondering if I could trust you too keep a close eye on her please."
Shang simply nodded again, someone had to take care of the girl and he considered it an honor. On the other side, he was glad Mulan's father didn't despise him for leaving her alone in the mountains when she was discovered, although he had his reasons. "I won't let her get wounded again nor will I let anyone bother her."
"Thank you." Fa Zhou patted Shang's back affectionately. "I knew I could trust you."
Meanwhile, Mulan was waiting outside Shang's tent. Arms crossed to her chest while she tapped her foot nervously on the ground. She hated the idea, because she didn't want Shang to think she was a fearful girl who needed a man's protection.
"I want you to behave," Fa Zhou said as he walked out of Shang's tent.
Mulan rolled her eyes, he really didn't have to remind her about her behavior, and she was not a child anymore. "I know father," she fumed.
Fa Zhou kissed his daughter's forehead. "I want you to return home like you did the last time."
Mulan sighed. Of course she was going to return back home as safely and triumphantly as she did the first time she left home to take her father's place.
"Goodbye father."
"Take care, Mulan."
With those last words Fa Zhou departed.
Mulan remained silent and lost in her own thoughts until she was interrupted by a tall young man she knew so well.
"Hello Mulan," he greeted. She could sense some hesitation in his voice but still he sounded confident. Her first reaction to his words was a slight red blush from her cheeks and on to her ears.
"Oh…Hi…General Li Shang." She bowed her head at him.
Shang looked down at her puzzled. She really didn't need to call him General Li Shang, to her he was simply Shang. He preferred things like they were at the start; when she used to be more …well not so proper.
When Mulan returned to her normal posture she noticed a smirk on Shang's features.
"I remember you used to call me Shang before," Shang spoke up, "Why all of the sudden you're so formal?"
Mulan smiled at him and answered matter of factly, "That was when I used to be Ping, you know…things were very different…now you know you are a woman…"
He knew what she was going to say so he just cut her off. "No that's fine with me, you can call me however you please."
For a long time both of them avoided to look into each other's eyes, and for a wonderful yet so brief moment their eyes met. Immediately, Mulan turned her eyes in another direction and nodded.
"Um…Shang," Mulan suggested, "I will call you General when we are with the other soldiers so it doesn't lead to wrong impressions."
"Oh."
"But you can still call me Mulan either way."
"Very well Mulan."
There was a long pause of silence between them. Mulan really didn't know how to start a conversation with him for she thought all the subjects she could think of would appear stupid and silly for a fine man such as Shang. And his silence didn't help much. As for Shang, he had no idea of what kind of things he should talk with a woman; it was easier to talk to her when she was Ping. He felt strange around her; he got used to Ping and all of a sudden he turned out to be a she. The young general didn't know how was he supposed to act nor what to say…she was so unpredictable. What if he insulted her when he had no desire to do so? The simple reason of her being a woman made things more complicated. Shang could curse and spit in front of her when he thought she was a man. What if he acted like a fool? Things had changed and he had to be polite an respectful when he was among her. He was taught to be a gentleman but no one really advised him how to deal with a woman.
After the uncomfortable silence Mulan asked, "What did my father tell you?"
"He asked me to please take care of you because you're his only daughter and…"
Mulan interrupted him; she really didn't need to hear the whole story again, "Ok, just forget about everything he said to you. I can take care of myself."
"Mulan, even if your father wouldn't have come all the way here and tell me he trusted me your safety," Shang continued, " I would've taken care of you without his orders."
Mulan thought twice before speaking, maybe she shouldn't say it but anyways she said it in the friendly way; "Come on, I was still a woman when I used to be Ping and no one had to baby sit me." At least no human being, but Mushu and Cri-kee helped her all the way.
Shang sighed thinking that Fa Zhou was so right about his daughter…she was really the most stubborn woman he'll ever meet.
"Mulan things are very different now," Shang went on, "People are conscious that you are a woman and I must prevent unpleasant situations from occurring."
Mulan let out a laugh. "I doubt such situations could take place," she assured, "I can handle them really."
"You really are a stubborn woman," Shang though out loud. As soon as he finished, he regretted about his last words…how could he? He had no right to judge her.
He was surprised when Mulan broke into giggles. "I know." She continued laughing while he stared at her. She was crazy too but under that she was a fascinating and witty young lady.
"And you're out of your mind," he added seeing that his comments didn't affect her at all.
"I really don't care," she replied through soft chuckles.
Shang found her laugher rather graceful and so natural, because it came from inside of her, not a laugh faked neither to please others nor to conceal fury. It was pure laughter. He stared at her as she continued laughing like if there were no problems or worries to think of.
He thought that maybe he should be at least half as she was: laugh and enjoy life even if there will be hard circumstances to face sooner or later. Shang turned his eyes away from her until she realized he was looking at her and stopped laughing abruptly…she didn't want him to think she was stupid.
Mulan cleared her throat. "Well, I won't make you waste more time."
"No, you can come here and laugh every once in a while." He couldn't believe he had actually said that.
Shang's serious self returned. "This day is going to be a tough day of training young lady."
"I see you haven't changed when it comes to making us suffer," Mulan teased.
Shang chuckled in response to her comment. Was he really so harsh and stone hearted?
So laughing wasn't that hard when she was around. After his father's death Mulan had been the only person with whom he shared those short but sincere chuckles.
The first day of training began. The sun burned their skins and the weather was hot. Everyone complained that their clothes were all sticky because of the sweat. The recruits lined up and listened to the General's instructions. To begin the routine, the first exercise of the day was carrying the heavy weights on their backs and walk around Camp Wu Zhong (Probably the most exhausting exercise of the day). Mulan bent down to lift her weights, she tried to pick them but they were too heavy. She turned around to and took a deep breath; she had done that before a hundred times before…she caught Shang undoing his robe, he was so hot. She fixed her eyes on the weights again, just in time when he gazed at her from faraway to check on how she was doing. After a few attempts he managed to lift the weights. Mulan got to talk to Yao, Ling, and Chien Po while they walked around Camp. Of course, she didn't miss the chiding from her commanding officer for not being fully concentrated on what she was supposed to concentrate. "Soldiers you are not here to socialize." And so they quietly continued their way.
Anyway, Mulan and her old friend caught up with their conversation during their lunch break. The four of them talked mostly about their business during the past months, and recalling the concubine incident.
In the afternoon, they had a little archery practice. The new recruits obviously had a hard time trying to do things right, and they found it impossible to get acquainted.
The last exercise of the day was retrieving the arrow from the tall pole in front of Shang's tent.
When night fell, all Mulan wished for was a long night of peaceful and revitalizing sleep.
Her legs arched for walking the long distances and her whole body was sore. After preparing her tent, she disposed herself to rest. But first, she took off her socks and shoes.
"Your socks smell like perfume especially after a long training day," she heard a voice say.
It was definitely him.
"Don't you dare laugh," Mulan replied. She turned around and saw Mushu with arms grossed and Cri-kee resting on his shoulder. Mulan caught him by surprise and threw her socks at him.
"Delicious," Mushu said in response to her aggression.
"I don't stink!"
"No you don't but maybe you should take a shower…at least do it for Shang."
"Knock it off, I don't stink."
"Suit yourself."
Mulan laughed. She was so glad Mushu had gone all the way to keep her safe…and who knows? Maybe he could give her advice about dealing with Shang. For now, she just wanted to enter the world of dreams.
Becky: Thank you Phoenix Feather…want more cookies? ToughSpirit…you're still my loyal reviewer. Canadian Chick…I hope you like this chapter…Mushu had to make an appearance in the story because he is the funniest character and fanfiction is not the same without his jokes, so I think you won't have to flame me. Lol. Thanks Araxie for your wonderful point of view. Lady1Venus: I can assure you're right…it's gonna be hard for Shang to keep his eyes from Mulan. Lol. Thanks for reviewing. Thank you Sue…are you going to update? Thank you zoonamoonlight, I'm glad people like my work. Thank You, Thank You…ohhh(sorry I've been listening too much Alanis Morrisette). Thank You Lira, Thank you Concetta . Lol. See you. Now Enjoy the story.