Life's Lessons (formerly titled: Untitled at the moment)
Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
Chapter 4: Lunch
Mulan and Shang washed up and sat at the table for lunch. Talk was light, not tense like the first time. Everything was going well in fact. Then Shang's charges decided to speak.
"Shang, will you tell me a story before bed tonight?" Lien asked her cousin.
"Aren't you a bit old to be getting bedtime stories, Lien?" Shang asked the young girl.
"I know that Shang. Papa told me that when I was five, but I- I've been having trouble sleeping." She looked at the table in shame. "I don't sleep well in new places, so I thought that maybe a story might help me sleep. Like it did when I was younger."
Mulan looked at Shang to see what his reaction would be.
"Lien you are going to have to get used to new places. I don't know any stories that I can tell you. Father never told me stories that would be suitable for little girls. All the stories I know are about battles long ago." Shang looked almost sad to never have had the magical stories told to young children.
"You can always tell them about Mulan." Grandmother Fa spoke up smiling at the captain.
Shang and Mulan turned bright red.
"What about her Shang? Why would a girl be a good story?" Wu asked his brother.
The way he said girl as if it was just an insignificant item irritated Shang. The boy had been around Chi-fu and other such influences too much.
"She is no ordinary girl Wu. You must learn to think before you speak. I will tell you the story tonight. For now though, we must continue with our lessons. Ready Mulan?" Shang stood and bowed to the Fas before returning to the garden.
Mulan soon joined him and he gestured for her to sit on the stone bench. "How much of the Final Admonition do you know?" Shang asked, almost fearful of the answer.
"Not much. I only passed this part last time because I had notes on my arm." Mulan admitted quietly.
"Well then, we will have to make sure you know it well enough that you will not require notes." Shang stated firmly. He began to make her quote it over and over while keeping her head down and not looking him in the eye. He knew this was what was expected of a woman, he didn't like it, but if he wanted a chance at marrying her she had to pass.
After the twentieth time, Mulan finally got through without hesitating or having to stop and think. Shang applauded lightly before making her do it again.
As the sun began to set, Shang concluded their lesson. He decided to get to know Mulan better and began to have a casual conversation. Fa Li called Mulan in to help with dinner and Shang decided to sit outside and enjoy the quiet for a little longer.
Grandma Fa soon joined the young man outside and sat on the stone bench next to him.
A/N: That seems a good place to stop for now. Don't worry, I'll work on it more often.
Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
Chapter 4: Lunch
Mulan and Shang washed up and sat at the table for lunch. Talk was light, not tense like the first time. Everything was going well in fact. Then Shang's charges decided to speak.
"Shang, will you tell me a story before bed tonight?" Lien asked her cousin.
"Aren't you a bit old to be getting bedtime stories, Lien?" Shang asked the young girl.
"I know that Shang. Papa told me that when I was five, but I- I've been having trouble sleeping." She looked at the table in shame. "I don't sleep well in new places, so I thought that maybe a story might help me sleep. Like it did when I was younger."
Mulan looked at Shang to see what his reaction would be.
"Lien you are going to have to get used to new places. I don't know any stories that I can tell you. Father never told me stories that would be suitable for little girls. All the stories I know are about battles long ago." Shang looked almost sad to never have had the magical stories told to young children.
"You can always tell them about Mulan." Grandmother Fa spoke up smiling at the captain.
Shang and Mulan turned bright red.
"What about her Shang? Why would a girl be a good story?" Wu asked his brother.
The way he said girl as if it was just an insignificant item irritated Shang. The boy had been around Chi-fu and other such influences too much.
"She is no ordinary girl Wu. You must learn to think before you speak. I will tell you the story tonight. For now though, we must continue with our lessons. Ready Mulan?" Shang stood and bowed to the Fas before returning to the garden.
Mulan soon joined him and he gestured for her to sit on the stone bench. "How much of the Final Admonition do you know?" Shang asked, almost fearful of the answer.
"Not much. I only passed this part last time because I had notes on my arm." Mulan admitted quietly.
"Well then, we will have to make sure you know it well enough that you will not require notes." Shang stated firmly. He began to make her quote it over and over while keeping her head down and not looking him in the eye. He knew this was what was expected of a woman, he didn't like it, but if he wanted a chance at marrying her she had to pass.
After the twentieth time, Mulan finally got through without hesitating or having to stop and think. Shang applauded lightly before making her do it again.
As the sun began to set, Shang concluded their lesson. He decided to get to know Mulan better and began to have a casual conversation. Fa Li called Mulan in to help with dinner and Shang decided to sit outside and enjoy the quiet for a little longer.
Grandma Fa soon joined the young man outside and sat on the stone bench next to him.
A/N: That seems a good place to stop for now. Don't worry, I'll work on it more often.