Time passed quickly and before the couple knew it, the sun was setting. It was time to head home. Mulan and Shang were walking outside to go find the boys when they heard the voice. The grainy voice they both dreaded..... Sui-Yen's

Uh oh what's she up to? Oh yeah It's my story. I can figure it out. Onwards then,

Chapter 12 adultress?

Sui-Yen walked closer to Shang almost like she didn't even acknowledge that Mulan was beside him. She put her head on his shoulder.

"It was so horrible. The trip took forever, and noone knew where you went. I missed you so." Sui-Yen tried to act even more flirty as she switched moods to a much more happier tone. I thought you'd go to ask my father permission for my hand. I'm sure he will approve." She still didn't acknowledge that Mulan was standing next to Shang. "So, what did my father say when you asked him?" She smiled again. Mulan rolled her eyes. Sui-Yen turned, finally noticing that Mulan was beside her. "How may I help you? Are you lost? The brothel is in the next town." She grinned. Mulan blinked, then she smiled and tilted her head giving a blank expression. Shang stared at her in confusion. Then in an instant she lunged at Sui-Yen, fully intent on drawing blood. But, in that instant Shang had caught her in mid-jump. Sui-Yen finally reacted by jumping back.

"She was going to attack me!" She shrieked. Shang held tight to Mulan's stomach.

"Sui-Yen, you are harassing her, leave her alone and she won't jump at you. Next time I just might not catch her." Shang replied letting his grip loosen on Mulan's stomach. Sui-Yen took yet another step back.

"You're taking HER side over mine?! Me, your fiancee. I thought you loved me." Sui-Yen said showing a hurt look. Shang knew his explanation was due.

"Sui-Yen, I'm not going to marry you. I don't love you, and I've found someone else. I'm sorry to have hurt you." Shang said just as if he had written it. There was no way to say that nicely, but he said it perfectly. Sui-Yen gave an incredulous laugh.

"How could you not love me? That's just as unbelievable as saying that you loved her." Sui-yen said gesturing to Mulan. Mulan grinned. Sui-Yen was going to love this. She stopped struggling. Shang noticed Mulan's change in actions. He let her go completely.

"Well, Sui-Yen" Shang paused, hoping that She'd catch the drift. She didn't. "I am marrying Mulan, she was the other person." Shang laid his hand on Mulan's shoulder. Sui-Yen's mouth slightly dropped. She shook her head.

"I don't believe this! You promised." She started spurting. "I-i-I'm going to talk to my aunt, she'll talk you back to your senses! Mulan's a Witch! She's got you convinced you like her when you really love me!" Sui-Yen turned and ran back into the inn, obviously lost, looking for her aunt.

"Maybe we should gather up the boys and head home. This could get messy." Mulan suggested. Shang nodded in agreement. They finally found the boys a few minutes later.

"I want to ride with Mulan, you got to ride with her last time!" Shen Long argued. Shing Ye protested.

"You always get your way. I wanna ride with her. Shang's slow." Mulan laughed and Shang tried to look like the little boy didn't just crush his pride.

"How about I ride with Shang on his horse and you two ride on Khan." Mulan suggested. Khan was gentle enough and knew well how to act around younger strangers. He wouldn't dare dart off with them. The boys considered riding together and nodded their approval. Shang allowedt he boys to get ahead of them. Khan knew his way home and would have no trouble taking the boys. Once Khan started taking the boys home, Shang decided to mount his horse and then offered Mulan a hand. Mulan hesitated.

"Does she take well to strangers?" She asked looking slightly nervous.

"Zhing's exactly like khan." Shang smiled.

"That's what I was afraid of." Mulan finally gave him her hand so that she could mount the horse. The horse took fairly well to letting the stranger on, and sitting in front. Shang allowed Mulan to sit in front but he held on to the reigns. Shang then led Zhing towards Mulan's house. They rode in silence part of the way. Mulan couldn't keep her mind from wandering down to his arms which were gently rubbing her sides when he held the reigns around her. Shang observed that the sun was setting and preparation for night was everywhere. Candles were being lit, children were running home to dinner, the vendors in the city were all heading home. Shang's town was much bigger, the vendor's stayed out. His city at night wasn't safe to ride around in for him, but here he could imagine Mulan riding her horse out at night safely. Shang let his mind wander to what his brother might be doing. Sleeping probably, he thought. He looked up at the setting sun and he then noticed that the stars were coming out. He felt Mulan's weight shift and then felt her her body lean against his. She was groggy and had fallen asleep. He could hear her rythmic breathing. He used his arms to balance her. He smiled. He had never felt more relieved in his life. Shang let one hand loose of the reigns and gently shook Mulan awake. She grumbled and leaned closer to Shang. He smiled to himself. She'll never be an easy person to wake. But he didn't care. He had the rest of his life to learn how to wake her. He tried shaking her again. This time she opened her eyes.

"Mulan, we're almost at your house. You need to wake up." Mulan sat up and yawned and stretched her arms. She looked about seeing that they were indeed, nearing her house.

"I'm sorry It's just that Shu Fang kept me up last night crying. I never realized just how tired I really was." She apologized. Shang soon rode up to the Fa family stables. Where Khan was already waiting. The boys were only a few minutes ahead of them. Mulan and Shang settled Zhing down for the night and Mulan brushed Khan lightly. Mulan then rushed into the house and straight to Shu Fang. Grandmother Fa, insisted that the baby was okay and that she had already been fed. Mulan couldn't help but worry.

Later that evening, Shang walked into Mulan's room and noticed that she was white. His breath caught in his throat. Something was wrong. She was lying on the bed with Sui-Yen lying in the bassinet. Mulan had her eyes closed. She was resting, Shang noted. He sighed with relief.

"Mulan. Wake up." he whispered, hoping she was alright. Mulan opened her eyes.

"What's wrong?" She asked looking at the concern written on his face.

"You're so pale. Are you alright?" Mulan looked at her skin. She was paler than usual.

"I'm just tired."

"What was the last thing you ate?"

"Hm." She thought. "I guess yesterday before my uncle died." She confessed. Shang walked over and helped lift her off of the bed. She got to her feet.

"Come on, you're going to starve yourself." Shang said walking with her to the dinner table.

Later at dinner. The whole family was eating and celebrating the happy news that their Mulan was going to marry Shang. The boys were debating with Fa Zhou on why the marketplace was no place for little boys. Mulan joined in the conversation and Shang just sat back and listened half-mindedly. Then he felt something warm on his leg. He looked down and noticed that it was Mulan's hand resting on his leg. He looked at Mulan curiously. She gave him a side glance and smiled. Shang wrapped his hand over hers and joined in the conversation.

"It's late, every one's had a long day. Especially, you, Mulan. You Need some sleep." Grandmother Fa demanded. "Go to bed, you too Shang." Both agreed and stood up to leave. "Go to separate rooms!" Grandmother fa called laughing. "Oh Shang I hate to do this to you but you'll be sharing the guest room with the boys." shang nodded and walked Mulan to her room. Mulan walked into her room after leaving shang. She quickly fell on the bed. Almost taking the sleeping little brother out.

Mulan was back in the sunny meadow. She looked around and spotted her magnolia tree. Under it was a blanket. She walked up to it and laid down on the blanket. She closed her eyes and felt the sunon her face.

"May I join you?" She opened her eyes and saw Shang standing above her. She nodded. Shang joined her on the blanket. "Still worried about Shu Fang?" Shang asked. Mulan shook her head.

"Here I feel so safe I konw she is okay when I'm here." And in that instant she felt her body growing lighter and she heard a noise. It was slowly getting louder.

"Stop, relax Mulan." Mulan relaxed and noticed that Shang disappeared. Mulan went back to feeling the sun for a little while longer. She then felt her body grow lighter again. The next thing she knew she was opening her eyes. It was still dark outside, but Shang was in her room rocking and humming softly to Shu Fang. Mulan sat up.

"What are you doing, Shang?" She asked rubbing her eyes. Shang looked at her.

"Shhh, go back to bed. Shu Fang is almost asleep." He whispered. Mulan then realized that the noise she heard earlier was Shu Fang crying. Shang sat down on the edge of the bed. Mulan looked at the baby. And through the darkness she could tell that she was asleep. "She's lovely." Shang commented. "Just like you." Mulan felt the blush growing. Shang stood up and put Shu Fang back in her bassinet. He then sat next to Mulan. He looked over at her and leaned in and kissed her. Mulan felt herself give in to the kiss. He wrapped his arms around her. Then they heard a knock at the door. Both were startled and jumped. Shang quickly left the room, as did Mulan. Fa Zhou and Fa Li were awakened by the knocking. But the kids grandmother and Shu Fang remained asleep. Fa Zhou opened the door. To the fa family's suprise, there were about 10 or 15 members of the town.

"Are you aware that it is early in the morning. There's no sun up yet." Fa Zhou said reasonable. One of the men looked apologetic.

"I'm so Zhou, but We were sent here by the Juin Family. They claim that your daughter is an adultress. They claim that she stole their daughter's fiancee." Fa Zhou looked at Mulan. She was just as stunned as everyone else there.

"That's a pretty severe accusation." fa Zhou added, more stern this time. "Mulan is no adultress." The man that had been talking, took a bold step inside the house and towards Mulan. Shang stepped in between them.

"We need to keep Mulan over night for observation and questioning. She may be punished." Shang walked right up in to the face of the bully.

"Now look here. Noone will lay a hand upon her.... Do you hear me?" Shang growled. The man backed off. Fa Zhou stepped in between the two men.

"This will all be settled tomorrow morning. Let us sleep. I assure you Mulan will not go anywhre. The men agreed on this and left. The family prepared for the long day ahead of them.

"Can't have one nice day can we?" Mulan sighed and headed back to bed.

There we go. A few more chapters. How is it so far? Let me know. School's starting soon......yuck school. Please review and let me know your opinion.