Chapter 24: Why?

Bao came home to be greeted by Mulan, who threw her arms around Bao's neck and gave him a kiss on the lips. "What was that about?" he asked.

"Do I have to have a reason to say hello?" she paused noticing that he seemed not to be buying it. "Ok....I am just having a good day that's all. So what's going on with the whole camp thing now?"

"Oh...well me and my men are going to be leaving in three days and then we set up at the new sight and we train, then we wait for our orders till then."

"What about Shang and his group? Aren't they going with you or something?" Mulan asked.

Bao was about to say that Shang just decided to leave and never come back or atleast that's what it seemed that, that was his plan. "He's going.... So is his men, but they left sooner then we are so he should be there in a couple days." Bao lied.

"Oh.... Why did they leave early?" Mulan wondered; it didn't seem right for him to leave early but not even that, he didn't even say goodbye.

"I don't know.... But it doesn't matter...right now I want to spend these three days with the most amazing women in the world..."

Mulan smiled and hugged him, as they hugged she felt her smile melt down, it seemed weird. She didn't know why or how, it just seemed to be wrong. They parted and became silent, Bao stared at Mulan and brought his hand to her face, he smiled at her and brought his lips to hers. Warmth filled through her, she couldn't help but take his gesture and return it by kissing back. The kiss grew harder and more passionate. Bao parted from Mulan and looked at her in the eyes as if asking for something, she knew what he was asking. She bit her bottom lip; she wasn't sure what to do. He took her by her hands and made their way to the bedroom. Bao closed the door behind them and went back to Mulan and began kissing her again. As he continued to kiss her he gradually made his way to her neck, "Bao...." she whispered.

"Shh..." he hushed her softly by placing his finger and her lips. Mulan grew quiet as told and watched him. He began to softly kiss her forehead, then her nose, then her lips. He stayed at her lips tasting them softly and slowly. She felt herself give in to the passion of the kisses. She couldn't help herself, she was scared deep inside for the fact that she never got this close to Bao before or any man for that fact. Was it right? Was she ready? Was Bao the one she wanted? Images of the day at the shrine came into her head, but Bao and his actions blocked them. She couldn't figure it out and as soon as she knew it things began to get closer and closer and soon she had no control over it any more.

Night came quick; Mulan lay in their bed, warm. Bao was next to her facing her. Mulan turned and looked at Bao, he seemed so peaceful when he slept. She grew herself closer to him, resting herself against him. She felt herself become happy until the picture of the red cloth came into her mind. She studied it mentally within her mind. She frowned things began to get confusing again, and the more and more she thought about it the more she wished this night never would have happened. She quickly yet quietly made her way to the opposite end of the bed getting ready to leave when she felt Bao's hand touch her arm. "Where you going?" he whispered yet still half asleep. Mulan didn't answer cause she didn't know what to say or do; yet her response was just her staring at him. "Is something wrong? Are you ok?"

"I don't know?" she answered. She wrapped herself with the blanket and turned towards Bao. "I'm so confused....And I don't know why....I've just been torn apart in two directions and I hate it, because when it seems like I'm doing something right, seconds later it doesn't feel right anymore."

Bao sighed, "It was too early for you?" he asked.

"I don't know?"

Bao sighed again, he was starting to really hate these conversations. "I wanted to give you what you wanted.... Your dreams." He said as he got closer to her. "I love you...I just hope you feel the same way."

"I do...." she answered, silence grew. Mulan noticed that she was hurting Bao. She hated it all. She never wanted to hurt him. "I'm sorry...I really am.... I think it's just everything that I've been going through with my parents gone and all...."

"Or Shang...You know what...maybe I should make it easier on you, maybe I should just go to camp now with my troops and leave you here where you can decide what you want to do, what you feel is truly and rightfully that right decision for you." Bao got up and began to get dressed. Mulan's heart stopped.

"Bao.... Wait..." She got up and put her robe on. She began to follow him to the next room where he began to get his things packed. "Bao.... I didn't mean...please wait..." she grabbed his arm and turned him towards her. "Please don't do this...I love you...."

"And how do I know that? You don't even know."

"Don't leave me.... Please...."

"I'm sorry.... But I'm going to leave and let you think, who you would rather be with, when or even if I come back you can tell me, but as for right now don't even tell me that you love me, cause you know nothing of love, my love, the love I wanted to share with you.....but NO Shang had blinded you all over again. Can't you just accept who he is now? He's not the same man, he moved on and you did too...years ago...with me. We are married, we're starting our lives together and all you can do is have him in the back of your mind. He's changed...he's not the same man he was three years ago, hell he was a criminal!"

"In whose eyes?"

Bao grew silent, He shook his head, "He has done nothing for you.... I have done so much for us, and this is the thanks I get? And all I ever wanted from you was your love..."

"You started acting weird after the whole war with the Emperor too....you show me off like I'm your prize or something...you never use to do that....and it was also the fact that you were acting weird because your a General now....why?"

"I don't know what your talking about...I never..."

"At the party...at the Palace."

"Well then I'm sorry if I did. Mulan the fact is that I love you and would do anything for you...But how can I when you wont return it?"

Mulan began to cry she hated it all.... She wished she could just die right there, nothing seemed to be working like she wanted it to. Bao took her face into his hands and brought her face up to him, "I love you...and always will...I really hope you make the right decision when I come back...."

"Don't leave.... Please...How will I know when your coming back? If you're coming back?"

Bao sighed, "Mulan......I really think I should go.....You need time to rest and truly make up your mind...I can't take this anymore." Mulan lowered her head and cried. Bao kissed her cheek and left.

Mulan sat there on her knees crying, she felt so broken up, messed up into this one big mess that she could not get out of. Bao was gone, and lord only knows what would happen to him. She did care for him deeply, but it was like her grandmother said even when she was a young girl, true love is always at first sight. And True love was Shang. She loved him ever since she met him, but it was when she got to know him better as a person that made her fall even more deeply in love with him. Sure Bao was her husband and there was love. Was there love between them any more? She didn't know anymore. She felt cold and alone. Bao was gone, as was Shang both off in camp. Or at least Bao was.

"Mushu!" She cried out. "Help me.... Please...." She begged.

"You called?!"

Mulan looked up and Saw Mushu right next her feet looking up at her in concern. "I've messed up...everything is going all wrong and I hate myself for it." She lowered her head into her knees and cried even more.

"I know baby.... But I'm here to tell you to think about what you saw today, you saw the red cape didn't you?" Mushu asked.

"Mulan began to nod then stopped, "Cape?"

"Yea....."

Mulan stopped it all began to make sense, "Shang's cape.... That was his.... But he doesn't...."

"I mean yea he doesn't wear it anymore.... But it was suppose to represent him for who he was and....Still is..."

"I have to find him...I need to talk to him...." Mulan got to her feet but was stopped when Mushu cut in front of her.

"You can't..."

"What do you mean I can't I know where the men were all headed towards...the Emperor told me during the party."

"No he left...."

"I know..."

"No he didn't go.... He left for good.... He decided to leave and go on some journey thing...."

"What? But Bao told me.... Why did he? How do you know about it?"

"I'm Mushu I know everything...."

Mulan rolled her eyes and sat back down on the cold floor. "Why did he leave? Does he not care."

"It's because he cares that he left. He doesn't want to hurt you or confuse you anymore, even if he does love you. He wanted you to go on with the life that you were starting and forget all about him."

"Where did he go though?"

Mushu shrugged his tiny little shoulders, "I don't know.... No one does...."

"God.... What have I done?" she cried out.

"You have gone through a lot, but right now.... You have to follow your heart and do what you think is right for you. You either stay and wait and try to decide how you really feel or go out in the middle of no where and try to find Shang." Explained Mushu.

Mulan looked at Mushu then at the open doorway, at which Bao left in. Mulan got up and began to walk towards the door, the wind blew and moved through her. She leaned on the doorway and looked up at the sky and at the shining stars that were above. She even caught a shooting star go by.

She looked back down at the pathway that went on until pitch black and she saw nothing anymore. Does she stay? Or does she go?

I know it must seem like this is going on and on...but i promise it will end soon! I just don't really know what I want to happen in the next couple chapters!