AN: I'm sooooooo sorry about not updating in a long time. I've been busy with getting ready for college.. In the meanwhile, I've received GREAT reviews from wonderful people:

DaughteroftheWhiteWolf, The following review has been submitted to: Embracing Hearts Chapter: 10 From: zygh () gee...this review is for chapter 11, but since i already posted one for chapter 11, I can't do it again...Anyways on with the review...Oh I must of missed that part where she saet in a diffrent seat... so some training, eh? that ought to be fun to read about, considering how much she sucks a swinging the keyblade...and riku can handle his own...haha thats funny...wouldn't it be fun if she kicks rikus' butt?...all well...I thought it was kind of funny tyat Riku did all that work to find out where they are and all he had to do is to ask her...also with all the worlds that rikus been to, you would think that he would of heard fk you before...oh what its DISNEY! and they don't use use profanity in there stories...my bad...I just notice somthing...this is a really long review, isn't?...all well better stop typing now...must stop typing...must click the submit review button...must stop...ty From: digital-tiffany () OMG! WHATS A GREAT STORY! You must continue! THis is so great! Im loving this story! So you better update i have to go now, update this wonderful story! From: Chirea(AKA)Kinko () Wow that was shortWAH oh well it was good neway, cant really complain. Thats so cute that Riku doesnt know what Fuck you means, I knew that ex-pression when i was in 3rd grade off the subject Very nice story and keep up the good work... please update soon cuzz i cant wait. Thanks. Kinko AN: Thanks for the reviews. Yeah, I know he's a little too Disney-like. I thought that it would be interesting Riku not to know what it meant. Disney does tend to do that. But, I thought.. hey, Disney wouldn't allow this into their movies or supported games. Why should I? But, alas, I have to say.. Disney.. no one talks realistically in your movies or games.. So, I guess it was kind of a point. Hmm.. I'm starting to confuse myself. Hrrrmmm.. But, anyways, thanks for your nice reviews. This motivates me to write/edit more. I like to please. And again. I"m sorry that I couldn't post earlier.. :((

Chapter 12 Mushu

There was a smell in the air: it was horse, blood, and steel. I heard several sets of footsteps heading toward us.

"I think it is one person with a horse, and something else. Wait, I know that smell. It is dragon," one swift motion he pulled out his other blade and moved me behind him. This is when I realized that I still was holding my keyblade. Pride hurting, I swerved from behind him and ran forward. One soldier, with a black horse emerged from the trees. On his shoulder sat a lizard. In the shadows of the copse I saw several yellow eyes watching.

"Who are you?" The soldier looked up at us. His eyes widened at the sight of our drawn weapons.

"I-I-" The boy stuttered. "What is your name?" I asked more sternly.

"Achoo-NO!-Ling-NO!-Ping!" He cried triumphantly.

"Ummm. Are you insane?" I asked.

"You aren't named any of those names, and you aren't male," Riku crowed cockily. Mr. Know-It-All, but he doesn't know some things. Hee hee. The girl spoke English, like us. I wondered at this because Riku said it was a place called China and didn't they speak Chinese mostly? She didn't even have a trace of an accent. I was baffled by this, but figured it came with the gift of a keyblade wielder.

"How-how could you tell?" The girl asked shyly, removing her helmet. I had to admit she was quite pretty with her black hair and ebony eyes.

"The way you carry yourself, your voice, and smell." I looked at Riku. Damn! What is he a bloodhound?! He was watching her intently, but not with wary eyes. It was a calm, and something else. I became slightly jealous. Why would I be jealous? I mean. She isn't so great if she has to crossdress. I turned my back on her and walked along the road.

"Are you a soldier?" Riku asked her.

"Yes, and no. I joined to prevent my father from going to war with the Huns, but now we are fighting something else. I don't know how to describe it except that it is a shadow with yellow eyes."

"Well, Tessa, and I will help you guys but... you help us first," the girl looked up hopefully but with a trace of wariness.

"Where is a boy named, Sora?" He continued. The girl looked at him blankly, and shrugged her shoulders. The lizard on her shoulder glared at Riku for his nonsensical questioning. The dragon suddenly looked up and past Riku to the retreating girl. There was something of an aura of power around her. Jumping off he slithered after her. Riku didn't even notice because he was paying attention to what the young woman said.

I glanced at them talking. Humpf. I never.. I sat with my back against one of the ship legs. Closing my eyes, I felt a warm breeze tickle my arm as the sun beat down upon me.
"Oookay! Who are YOU?!" A voice said out of nowhere.

"AAACK! EEEK!" I screeched out in my startlement, to find a red lizard in front of my eyes. "Oh, my..." I expressed while catching my breath. As my heart was slowing down, the lizard continued, "What kind of name is that?" "A-A-A lizard?!" "Dra-gon. I don't do that tongue thing," his tongue flickered out and quivered at the end.

"Right," I said with an emphasis on the 'I.' "I'll ask you again, what is your name?" "Tessa." "Hmmm. My name is Mushu." "Wait, I know you somehow." "How could you? We only just met. And if you don't stop with this lying mumbo jumbo, I'll fry you." "But," I began slowly- when a word popped in my mind concerning Mushu, "weren't you a summon-" I was broken off by the sound of Riku and the girl running towards me. The horse grazed out in the pasture at his leisure.

"What did you see a bug?" I had already told Riku of my insect-phobia. Big mistake! Because now, he will use it against me whenever he can.

"No, I did not," I pointedly glared at him. An smirk crossed my features as I continued, "Why did you run so fast? Had to find a place for girlie and you to f-" I was cut short by his glare. Maybe, I shouldn't say it to someone so innocent. Well, he is not THAT innocent, but he would take the insult worse than anyone else in my world.

"Mushu! You are polite to strangers, not rude," The girl reprimanded him.

"Aaah. Sorry," he apologized. But, as he slithered off, I thought I saw a hint of anticipation upon his reptilian features. Up her body he went to perch upon her shoulder like a bird. I laughed at him, while he glared at me.

"My name is Mulan," the girl said. Looking at her for a brief ten seconds, I closed my eyes as if in boredom.

"This seventeen year brat is Tessa Hikari," Riku said with a dangerous tone in his voice. "Hikari..doesn't that mean light? I mean, I don't know much about their language but in Japanese it does mean that."

"Huh," I monotonously with my eyes still closed. Riku nudged me with his foot.

"Quit being a brat and unsociable," I opened my eyes to glare at him, then closed them again in stubbornness. I could feel Mulan eyeing me uncomfortably, and Riku with disapproval. Mushu eyed me as oddly as a lizard could.

"I was a summon," he said barely audible. I heard him and obviously Riku did too for he questioned, "a summon?"

"Yes, but I don't remember for who." "Sora probably. How come you aren't still with him? You volunteered... didn't you?" I could hear the excitement in his voice and then the disappointment after Mushu said that he didn't remember enough.

"Oh, okay," Riku quietly said. Getting up, I stretched and walked promptly away.

Something was in the air. It smelled like smoke and gunpowder. The scent was strong, maybe too strong, for being out where we were.

Briefly, I noticed the shadows gather deeper within the forest's depths. There was something flitting in the trees with the darkness. It was pulsing with evil energy. The creature had yellow eyes, and black hair. He was a shadow, yet human. Above, a hawk shrieked. The man jumped out of the trees, and the hawk landed promptly on his shoulder. He was a big man with a powerful aura. He even carried himself like he knew it and had the skills to prove it. I eyed him warily. A grin broke out on his face, as he chuckled.

"Girl, come on. I won't hurt you."

"Which side are you on?"

"What kind of question is that to a stranger?"

"A logical question."

"I am fighting for China."

"Why were you in those trees?"

"You sure ask a lot of questions, girl. I was running from the dark shadows." "You don't seem to be the kind to run."

"You don't seem the kind to talk without permission." "What are you saying?" "Girl, you should learn your place and hold your tongue." "Can you back those words?" "A little girl, fight me?" He cackled. It was true, he was twice as big as I was...and more powerful. Suspicion forced me to take action upon him in the form of a test. I was angry with someone else at the moment and wanted to vent my frustrations on the nearest object.... him.

"I do not accept the challenge," he smirked. "But do keep up the attitude, girl. I like it," he continued. Suddenly straightening his head, he sniffed the air like a wolf. I relaxed a little. This man wasn't so threatening. I would soon regret my trust and my belief that there was good in everyone. Even in Mulan, I believed that she was good. It was people's actions that forced me to throw away my belief. I turned to look at what he was looking at. There was nothing, but grass waving and crickets chirping. I turned back to him.

"Wha-" "Shhh. Don't you smell that?"

"What smell?" "Hmmm.. I could have sworn. Oh, well," he paused before cautiously continuing. "So where are you from that women can speak so freely?" "The U.S."

"Vaguely familiar with it." "Huhn," I said doubtfully since this WAS another world and my origin was on another planet. "Is that your horse?" He asked. He was so interested in the horse that he didn't noticed that I frowned.

"No. It is some girl-uh-boy's."

"Hmmm."

"There you are," a voice emerged from behind me. Glancing behind, I saw it was Riku once again following me. Confidently, he walked up to stand right beside me. Up at the huge man, he shot a short glare. I poked Riku in the side, and looked up at the man.

"I swear I've seen that horse before. Maybe in the pass."

"What? Umm.. Riku this is...What is your name?" "Doesn't matter." "Doesn't matter," I echoed mockingly. Riku didn't look at me, just stared at the man. Coughing uncomfortably, I heard someone walking up to us slowly.

"The man told me something like this was going to happen. The pass, all my men killed all at once by... one individual," he said looking down coldly at me, I coughed again.

The hawk shrieked. Shadows that were kept back in the foliage, moved forward. There were several Heartless. I yelled for the man to move, but he didn't move an inch as they closed in. The man disappeared in their dark depths melding and molding, as Riku and I retreated.

Mulan quivering, jaw dropped, could only stare. I watched with awe as one shape began to form. The dark shape screamed, "I know you, Mulan! You will not interfere with my victory!" A huge foot suddenly crashed in front of me. Automatically, I swung something in my hand at the foot...The keyblade!

Riku's wing popped out, and he hovered a little. The man screamed uncouth as he swung his huge sword in an downward arch on the still Mulan. Mushu frozen in shock as it came closer. The once grazing horse neighed and pawed the air madly from where it was standing. Then Mulan and Mushu were gone.

Shortly, I saw Riku drop them in a safe distance, telling them to run. I was alone for now, because she started to argue with him. The sword rose again with a SHING.

I hit his toe, causing an exclamation of little pain. I shrugged. Think of it as pounding beef. I arched my sword up again to swing down upon the foot again, when Riku knocked me out of the way. The blade cleaved the earth behind me. Dust and dirt flying filled my vision. I could almost hear the earth shriek with anger.