Chapter 8: China beginning to fall
Tin Zao was on his royal seat admiring the sounds of men and women's cry in pain as the solders stood in back of them whipping their backs with a hard whip. He held out his hand for the men to stop and to let the couple talk. "So....know will you pay what you owe?" Tin asked harshly.
"Please my lord we have no money we gave you the little that we have.....please sir....have mercy!" The man begged.
Tin Zao rubbed his chin and then had an evil glare in his eyes; he began to walk down towards the man and his crying wife. He began to look at the lady who was around the age of 20. He started to admire her look, the long black hair, the shape of her figure. He placed his hand under her chin to bring her face towards him and as he looked into her scared face she began to tremble and tears rolled down her face. But as Tin was to say something the man took his wife into his arms and held her close, away from Tin Zao.
He calmed himself down and smiled at the couple, "Well if that is all that you have to offer me then I want nothing to do with you....guards take them to the dungeons and make sure they pay for what they have done to me and China!"
"Yes sir" said the guard and did as he was told. The two screamed and begged, but Tin Zao ignored them and walked back over to his chair and began to sit down and wait for the other solders who were loyal to him to come back and give him news on current events. But as he waited he looked back on the time of the death of the parents of Mulan and he began to laugh. "Men!" he called out.
They resued up into a line and waited for what he was about to order. "You have done me well and China at that....you killed the parents of Fa Mulan and her husband to be but we have not killed her yet.....I want her dead! Do not fail me!"
They all bowed down and obeyed the direct order and began to head out.
~*~
Mulan woke up at the sound of horses; she walked over to the opening of the tent and peered out to see that Shang and the many of the men were coming back from what they had planned the following night. Mulan wrapped the blanket around her body and headed back inside and got dressed real fast. As she ran outside she approached Shang. "Shang?" Shang turned around a little stunned that she was still at the camp. "Where were you last night?"
Shang began to chuckle to himself, "What are you my mother now?"
"I was just asking a question..."
"Well how about it's none of your business. Plus I thought that you were going to leave?"
"Well I changed my mind....I'm staying here just to annoy you...." Mulan said sarcastically. She smiled and began to walk away. Shang rolled his eyes and continued to take care of his horse.
"It looks like your little girl friend is staying with us...." Commented Wang, who in return just got a slap across the head.
"She's not mine..."
"Oh...but she can be...and you know that Shang...you'll fall in love with her before you know it and you wont stop thinking about her....." Wang began to laugh to himself for his own amusement.
"Wang!" Shang said with force that made Wang stop. "I want nothing to do with her...besides I have the ladies down at the pub."
"Shang! Shang!" screamed Loong as he ran over to the two men.
"What is it Loong?"
"China, everything....Tin Zao is truly the emperor now and he's destroying everything....I've seen it, the burned down houses the families have been taken and even killed if they do not pay him."
"What do you mean? Why would he do that?" Asked Wang.
"Because that's the kind of man he is....it sounds like he's trying to destroy China and tries to become all powerful but instead he doesn't know what he's doing......" Shang began to ignore the whole subject after what he stated and began to walk away.
"Shang, I heard that he made an alliance with Mongolia as well and that they will come swiftly covering our lands.....Shang we have to do something...." Shang stopped and turned around to look at his friends.
"What can we do? Nothnig that's what....its none of our business now...we are not solders of China anymore..."
"We have the skills...."
"It doesn't matter it won't change anything....we are who we are and that's that...besides no one cares about us they don't even know about us anymore...."
"Well if you won't help then I'm going...."
"We have to stick together....No one is on our side......" Shang argued.
"Well what about Mulan?"
"What about her?" he asked.
"She's on our side......" Loong said simply. Shang sighed and nodded his head.
"You can't be the hero Loong, we got what we ever wanted right here..."
"No....you got what you wanted...for me...I have another life back where I use to live long ago..." Said Loong.
Shang threw up his arms in disbelief, "Not this again...man she's probably married or having kids...."
"You don't know that Shang, you know nothing about love, a long time ago you did but now....now it's like I don't even know you anymore..."
"You know nothing about me!" Shang screamed.
"Guys...calm down this isn't the time for this!" Wang said as he tried to clam his friends down.
"I know that your wrong about all this....I'm leaving and I'm going to find her." Loong addressed as he then walked back over to his horse.
"Loong, its suicide....you'll get killed out there, you are no longer a part of China...please listen to me Loong." Shang begged for his friend to stay but he was getting no where. He knew what would happen if they found him, and he was in no mood to lose a friend.
As Loong got up on his horse Shang held his reins so he could talk to him and possible get some sense into Loong's head. "Loong if they find you they will kill you and what if you never find her, it would be all for nothing then..."
Loong sighed and gathered up on his reins and looked at Shang and calmly said, "At least I tried...that's all I care about...and if I have to fight them off then so be it...." Loong smiled at his friend trying to give him some reassuring. Shang slowly let go of the reins and looked up at his friend. He held out his hand and Loong clasped it, and they shook.
"Be safe my friend...." Was all Shang could say. Loong nodded and began to gallop off into the woods. Shang, Wang, and all the men watched Loong as he went off, they knew what he was trying to do but thought of never doing it themselves, but they all silently wished for their friend and comrade to be safe during his journey.
As the afternoon came along it was silent throughout the whole camp in fear for Loong's sake and even for theirs. Shang stayed at his desk staring at the map that lay in front of him, so many memories kept poping into his head, thinking about his family the war and then the moment that he saw Mulan and then it instantly becoming Mulan and Bao together. His thoughts trailed off him when Zhao came into his tent.
"Hey...." Said Zhao.
"Hi"
"I heard about what happened....I also heard what he said to you and you said to him and well yea I pretty much know the whole thing but how you taking it?"
"I don't know...I wished he never left but then a little part of me understands but thinks it's insane." Answered Shang.
"Well that's Loong for you....." Zhao and Shang chuckled a bit then got silent. "So....I saw Mulan, I take it she'll be staying with us then?"
"Haha we'll see, she'll probably leave in a day or two...she'll get aggravated with me and want to leave then."
"Well don't make it hard on her...I mean you know how it is with no family to be with, you feel all alone...Maybe you should take into consideration what Loong said?" suggested Zhao very carefully so not to get on Shang's bad side.
"What do you mean I...?"
"Shang! Easy listen to your self I was just suggesting something you don't have to bit my head off for it" Zhao said trying to make his friend understand and calm down.
Shang sighed and nodded, "Sorry...."
"Oh...I was talking to Mulan and Tang today I saw them in the little garden that Tang was making....Tang was saying how he has been trying to find some new clothes for Mulan since she really has nothing now....and well he was going to go with her but he had things to do and I told him that I couldn't because I don't know her and so we decided that....well... you should probably....you know... go with her...." Said Zhao a little unsure how Shang was going to take what he said, since he did have a temper and was cranky about that stuff especially if it had something to do with Mulan.
Shang began to laugh historically, "Please tell me that you're kidding!" Zhao kept a straight face and looked at Shang and shook his head. "I can't go with her....she doesn't need anything!" Shang said trying to get out of it as best as he could.
"Shang! She needs cloths and they got some clean ones at the pub...."
"Yea but what if....you know.... it would be weird and...."
"And that's why you need to go with her and help her...she lost everything..." He knew that Shang didn't want to but Zhao knew that in some way that he would have to get them to get along.
"Fine I'll take her...when do we go?" Shang asked.
"Oh...well that would be right about now...." Loong said a matter of factly.
Shang sighed and began to get up and walk out of the tent, "Thanks..." He said sarcastically. Zhao smiled and walked with Shang as he headed to Mulan's tent.
"It shouldn't be that bad...Tang already talked to all of them up there to find some stuff and get it ready for her....all you have to do is take her there and wait for her to try it all on, then your done." Zhao explained trying to make it seem not as bad.
"You make it sound so easy and like its nothing but you're not the one going over there..." Shang made notice to Tang and Mulan that they were outside and asked if they could come in.
"What is Shang doing here?" Mulan whispered to Tang.
"He's the one taking you...."
"He's what?!" Mulan said shocked. She didn't really want to go with him all he does is give her a hard time.
"Well I'm not particularly happy about it myself, Mulan."
"Well are you ready?" Tang asked.
"I guess." Mulan said with very little expression.
~*~
As they got ready to head into the forest and to the pub Shang cut in front of her and said, "When we get there I want you to go quick I have people up there who know me and...."
"You don't want to be seen with me because of the other girls I know...." Said Mulan not caring what it mattered to him or not all she wanted to do was to get it, try it on then leave and never talk to him again or at least for awhile.
Shang felt a little bad about that she knew what he wanted and that she knew that he didn't like her but he brushed the thought of that away and resumed cantering.
Once they got there both her and Shang were shown up to a room where on the bed a pile of six to ten pieces of clothing were laid. Shang made himself comfortable on a chair and watched as she carried the clothing into the bathroom, which was nicely decorated. It had been at least ten minuets now and Shang was getting restless. "Are you almost done?"
"Yea...I'm on the last one but I need some help I cant get this to close.....do you think that you can help me?" She asked. Shang rolled his eyes and stood by the door.
"What do you want me to do?" Asked Shang.
"Here come in...." Mulan said. Shang opened the door to see that most of her back was exposed and she looked over at him and told him what to do. Although he was listening, he still couldn't get over the fact that he was seeing her bare back. He cleared his throat and began to take the two sides and of the cloth that needed to be hooked together. As he began to take the bottom two he tried not to touch her skin but the dress was meant to be a little tight so there was no way he couldn't. It was silly really he didn't know why he felt so weird helping her get the dresses all hooked up it wasn't like he never felt soft skin before but she was different for some strange reason. As he finished, he watched as she turned around towards him and look at him for his suggestion or comment. "What do you think?" She asked.
Shang looked at her as she was in the light purple dress and he examined her from head to toe, it was just the way the dressed looked on her that made her seem more beautiful, he could see that it also brought out her eyes. "It looks good on you...."
"Really?" Mulan paused; she thought he was going to say something insulting or something? But yet he didn't. "You're not going to say that it looks bad on me or that it makes me look fat or any kind of rude comment?" She asked to make sure.
Shang rolled his eyes and looked down at her, "Yes....you look fine...can we please go now?"
"Yea...but do you think you would be able to help me carry all the dresses?" Mulan asked kindly but she figured that she would probably have to carry them herself.
"Yea...sure..."
"Thanks..." Mulan took about half the clothing and gave it to Shang then took the other half and followed him out of the room. As they walked out Mulan noticed that almost all the girls who were in a corner were all staring at Shang and winking at him and he just smiled and nodded. Mulan felt a little uncomfortable seeing that he must have had done stuff with all of them. Mulan ignored it and went on and began to tie all the clothing down on Khan, as did Shang but only on Khan as well.
"You know them I take it?" Mulan asked.
"Why would you say that?" Shang asked as if he didn't know what she was talking about.
"Oh...come on Shang I'm not stupid....I know that you probably did shit with all of them..."
"Why does it matter to you what I do and what I don't?" Shang asked curious, seeing if maybe she was jealous.
"It doesn't...it just that....well I thought that you were better then that that's all?"
"Better? What the hell is that suppose to mean? What if I'm happy with what I do? I like my life the way it is?" Shang didn't care what she thought, he seemed happy with how his life was going just the fact that his friend left him and Mulan was now with him and the group made things a little harder.
"I mean don't you want a wife someone that you can share your life with? I mean what ever happened to us? You never same back, you never wrote to me?" Mulan began to complain.
"Mulan....I told you...."
"But not everything.....Shang, all I want is an explanation...." Mulan said as she cut in on what he was saying.
"I did..."
"What?"
"After I had disobeyed the Emperor and he told us that we had to leave I went to go see you but when I did you were with whom I guessed was Bao....so I figured you moved on so I left and I moved on as well." Shang explained softly.
Mulan stopped with what she was going to say and just looked into Shang's eyes, she at first didn't know weather to believe him or not but then she looked into his eyes and she knew that he wasn't lying. "Oh..." She lowered her head and continued to pack everything up. "Sorry"
"Hey it's alright I'm happy now...." Shang said in defense. Mulan just lowered her head and hopped onto Khan's back.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Tonight I will probably be working on the other chapter right now I have to go to work so it gives you guys some time to read and write reviews hehehe. I hope you enjoyed!
Tin Zao was on his royal seat admiring the sounds of men and women's cry in pain as the solders stood in back of them whipping their backs with a hard whip. He held out his hand for the men to stop and to let the couple talk. "So....know will you pay what you owe?" Tin asked harshly.
"Please my lord we have no money we gave you the little that we have.....please sir....have mercy!" The man begged.
Tin Zao rubbed his chin and then had an evil glare in his eyes; he began to walk down towards the man and his crying wife. He began to look at the lady who was around the age of 20. He started to admire her look, the long black hair, the shape of her figure. He placed his hand under her chin to bring her face towards him and as he looked into her scared face she began to tremble and tears rolled down her face. But as Tin was to say something the man took his wife into his arms and held her close, away from Tin Zao.
He calmed himself down and smiled at the couple, "Well if that is all that you have to offer me then I want nothing to do with you....guards take them to the dungeons and make sure they pay for what they have done to me and China!"
"Yes sir" said the guard and did as he was told. The two screamed and begged, but Tin Zao ignored them and walked back over to his chair and began to sit down and wait for the other solders who were loyal to him to come back and give him news on current events. But as he waited he looked back on the time of the death of the parents of Mulan and he began to laugh. "Men!" he called out.
They resued up into a line and waited for what he was about to order. "You have done me well and China at that....you killed the parents of Fa Mulan and her husband to be but we have not killed her yet.....I want her dead! Do not fail me!"
They all bowed down and obeyed the direct order and began to head out.
~*~
Mulan woke up at the sound of horses; she walked over to the opening of the tent and peered out to see that Shang and the many of the men were coming back from what they had planned the following night. Mulan wrapped the blanket around her body and headed back inside and got dressed real fast. As she ran outside she approached Shang. "Shang?" Shang turned around a little stunned that she was still at the camp. "Where were you last night?"
Shang began to chuckle to himself, "What are you my mother now?"
"I was just asking a question..."
"Well how about it's none of your business. Plus I thought that you were going to leave?"
"Well I changed my mind....I'm staying here just to annoy you...." Mulan said sarcastically. She smiled and began to walk away. Shang rolled his eyes and continued to take care of his horse.
"It looks like your little girl friend is staying with us...." Commented Wang, who in return just got a slap across the head.
"She's not mine..."
"Oh...but she can be...and you know that Shang...you'll fall in love with her before you know it and you wont stop thinking about her....." Wang began to laugh to himself for his own amusement.
"Wang!" Shang said with force that made Wang stop. "I want nothing to do with her...besides I have the ladies down at the pub."
"Shang! Shang!" screamed Loong as he ran over to the two men.
"What is it Loong?"
"China, everything....Tin Zao is truly the emperor now and he's destroying everything....I've seen it, the burned down houses the families have been taken and even killed if they do not pay him."
"What do you mean? Why would he do that?" Asked Wang.
"Because that's the kind of man he is....it sounds like he's trying to destroy China and tries to become all powerful but instead he doesn't know what he's doing......" Shang began to ignore the whole subject after what he stated and began to walk away.
"Shang, I heard that he made an alliance with Mongolia as well and that they will come swiftly covering our lands.....Shang we have to do something...." Shang stopped and turned around to look at his friends.
"What can we do? Nothnig that's what....its none of our business now...we are not solders of China anymore..."
"We have the skills...."
"It doesn't matter it won't change anything....we are who we are and that's that...besides no one cares about us they don't even know about us anymore...."
"Well if you won't help then I'm going...."
"We have to stick together....No one is on our side......" Shang argued.
"Well what about Mulan?"
"What about her?" he asked.
"She's on our side......" Loong said simply. Shang sighed and nodded his head.
"You can't be the hero Loong, we got what we ever wanted right here..."
"No....you got what you wanted...for me...I have another life back where I use to live long ago..." Said Loong.
Shang threw up his arms in disbelief, "Not this again...man she's probably married or having kids...."
"You don't know that Shang, you know nothing about love, a long time ago you did but now....now it's like I don't even know you anymore..."
"You know nothing about me!" Shang screamed.
"Guys...calm down this isn't the time for this!" Wang said as he tried to clam his friends down.
"I know that your wrong about all this....I'm leaving and I'm going to find her." Loong addressed as he then walked back over to his horse.
"Loong, its suicide....you'll get killed out there, you are no longer a part of China...please listen to me Loong." Shang begged for his friend to stay but he was getting no where. He knew what would happen if they found him, and he was in no mood to lose a friend.
As Loong got up on his horse Shang held his reins so he could talk to him and possible get some sense into Loong's head. "Loong if they find you they will kill you and what if you never find her, it would be all for nothing then..."
Loong sighed and gathered up on his reins and looked at Shang and calmly said, "At least I tried...that's all I care about...and if I have to fight them off then so be it...." Loong smiled at his friend trying to give him some reassuring. Shang slowly let go of the reins and looked up at his friend. He held out his hand and Loong clasped it, and they shook.
"Be safe my friend...." Was all Shang could say. Loong nodded and began to gallop off into the woods. Shang, Wang, and all the men watched Loong as he went off, they knew what he was trying to do but thought of never doing it themselves, but they all silently wished for their friend and comrade to be safe during his journey.
As the afternoon came along it was silent throughout the whole camp in fear for Loong's sake and even for theirs. Shang stayed at his desk staring at the map that lay in front of him, so many memories kept poping into his head, thinking about his family the war and then the moment that he saw Mulan and then it instantly becoming Mulan and Bao together. His thoughts trailed off him when Zhao came into his tent.
"Hey...." Said Zhao.
"Hi"
"I heard about what happened....I also heard what he said to you and you said to him and well yea I pretty much know the whole thing but how you taking it?"
"I don't know...I wished he never left but then a little part of me understands but thinks it's insane." Answered Shang.
"Well that's Loong for you....." Zhao and Shang chuckled a bit then got silent. "So....I saw Mulan, I take it she'll be staying with us then?"
"Haha we'll see, she'll probably leave in a day or two...she'll get aggravated with me and want to leave then."
"Well don't make it hard on her...I mean you know how it is with no family to be with, you feel all alone...Maybe you should take into consideration what Loong said?" suggested Zhao very carefully so not to get on Shang's bad side.
"What do you mean I...?"
"Shang! Easy listen to your self I was just suggesting something you don't have to bit my head off for it" Zhao said trying to make his friend understand and calm down.
Shang sighed and nodded, "Sorry...."
"Oh...I was talking to Mulan and Tang today I saw them in the little garden that Tang was making....Tang was saying how he has been trying to find some new clothes for Mulan since she really has nothing now....and well he was going to go with her but he had things to do and I told him that I couldn't because I don't know her and so we decided that....well... you should probably....you know... go with her...." Said Zhao a little unsure how Shang was going to take what he said, since he did have a temper and was cranky about that stuff especially if it had something to do with Mulan.
Shang began to laugh historically, "Please tell me that you're kidding!" Zhao kept a straight face and looked at Shang and shook his head. "I can't go with her....she doesn't need anything!" Shang said trying to get out of it as best as he could.
"Shang! She needs cloths and they got some clean ones at the pub...."
"Yea but what if....you know.... it would be weird and...."
"And that's why you need to go with her and help her...she lost everything..." He knew that Shang didn't want to but Zhao knew that in some way that he would have to get them to get along.
"Fine I'll take her...when do we go?" Shang asked.
"Oh...well that would be right about now...." Loong said a matter of factly.
Shang sighed and began to get up and walk out of the tent, "Thanks..." He said sarcastically. Zhao smiled and walked with Shang as he headed to Mulan's tent.
"It shouldn't be that bad...Tang already talked to all of them up there to find some stuff and get it ready for her....all you have to do is take her there and wait for her to try it all on, then your done." Zhao explained trying to make it seem not as bad.
"You make it sound so easy and like its nothing but you're not the one going over there..." Shang made notice to Tang and Mulan that they were outside and asked if they could come in.
"What is Shang doing here?" Mulan whispered to Tang.
"He's the one taking you...."
"He's what?!" Mulan said shocked. She didn't really want to go with him all he does is give her a hard time.
"Well I'm not particularly happy about it myself, Mulan."
"Well are you ready?" Tang asked.
"I guess." Mulan said with very little expression.
~*~
As they got ready to head into the forest and to the pub Shang cut in front of her and said, "When we get there I want you to go quick I have people up there who know me and...."
"You don't want to be seen with me because of the other girls I know...." Said Mulan not caring what it mattered to him or not all she wanted to do was to get it, try it on then leave and never talk to him again or at least for awhile.
Shang felt a little bad about that she knew what he wanted and that she knew that he didn't like her but he brushed the thought of that away and resumed cantering.
Once they got there both her and Shang were shown up to a room where on the bed a pile of six to ten pieces of clothing were laid. Shang made himself comfortable on a chair and watched as she carried the clothing into the bathroom, which was nicely decorated. It had been at least ten minuets now and Shang was getting restless. "Are you almost done?"
"Yea...I'm on the last one but I need some help I cant get this to close.....do you think that you can help me?" She asked. Shang rolled his eyes and stood by the door.
"What do you want me to do?" Asked Shang.
"Here come in...." Mulan said. Shang opened the door to see that most of her back was exposed and she looked over at him and told him what to do. Although he was listening, he still couldn't get over the fact that he was seeing her bare back. He cleared his throat and began to take the two sides and of the cloth that needed to be hooked together. As he began to take the bottom two he tried not to touch her skin but the dress was meant to be a little tight so there was no way he couldn't. It was silly really he didn't know why he felt so weird helping her get the dresses all hooked up it wasn't like he never felt soft skin before but she was different for some strange reason. As he finished, he watched as she turned around towards him and look at him for his suggestion or comment. "What do you think?" She asked.
Shang looked at her as she was in the light purple dress and he examined her from head to toe, it was just the way the dressed looked on her that made her seem more beautiful, he could see that it also brought out her eyes. "It looks good on you...."
"Really?" Mulan paused; she thought he was going to say something insulting or something? But yet he didn't. "You're not going to say that it looks bad on me or that it makes me look fat or any kind of rude comment?" She asked to make sure.
Shang rolled his eyes and looked down at her, "Yes....you look fine...can we please go now?"
"Yea...but do you think you would be able to help me carry all the dresses?" Mulan asked kindly but she figured that she would probably have to carry them herself.
"Yea...sure..."
"Thanks..." Mulan took about half the clothing and gave it to Shang then took the other half and followed him out of the room. As they walked out Mulan noticed that almost all the girls who were in a corner were all staring at Shang and winking at him and he just smiled and nodded. Mulan felt a little uncomfortable seeing that he must have had done stuff with all of them. Mulan ignored it and went on and began to tie all the clothing down on Khan, as did Shang but only on Khan as well.
"You know them I take it?" Mulan asked.
"Why would you say that?" Shang asked as if he didn't know what she was talking about.
"Oh...come on Shang I'm not stupid....I know that you probably did shit with all of them..."
"Why does it matter to you what I do and what I don't?" Shang asked curious, seeing if maybe she was jealous.
"It doesn't...it just that....well I thought that you were better then that that's all?"
"Better? What the hell is that suppose to mean? What if I'm happy with what I do? I like my life the way it is?" Shang didn't care what she thought, he seemed happy with how his life was going just the fact that his friend left him and Mulan was now with him and the group made things a little harder.
"I mean don't you want a wife someone that you can share your life with? I mean what ever happened to us? You never same back, you never wrote to me?" Mulan began to complain.
"Mulan....I told you...."
"But not everything.....Shang, all I want is an explanation...." Mulan said as she cut in on what he was saying.
"I did..."
"What?"
"After I had disobeyed the Emperor and he told us that we had to leave I went to go see you but when I did you were with whom I guessed was Bao....so I figured you moved on so I left and I moved on as well." Shang explained softly.
Mulan stopped with what she was going to say and just looked into Shang's eyes, she at first didn't know weather to believe him or not but then she looked into his eyes and she knew that he wasn't lying. "Oh..." She lowered her head and continued to pack everything up. "Sorry"
"Hey it's alright I'm happy now...." Shang said in defense. Mulan just lowered her head and hopped onto Khan's back.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Tonight I will probably be working on the other chapter right now I have to go to work so it gives you guys some time to read and write reviews hehehe. I hope you enjoyed!