A/N- Wow, sorry that I haven't updated in so long. Some thingscame up, including term papers and complicated love lives...so yeah. Anyway,some of you asked me "wouldn't Shang be able to remember Mulan by the time two years passed?" Well, if you'll recall in Chapter 2, Shang was seen by a doctor and was diagnosed with long-term amnesia meaning that his memory loss could last anywhere from six months to six years.

Now with that out of the way, enjoy!

Chapter 5

"Mulan!" Jeeki yelled crossly.

The poor girl sighed and called back, "I'm coming."

Jeeki told her every night that he loved her, and he really, truly did. But lately, he had been raising his voice, and his temper was shorter. What had happened?

It's because I cannot conceive a child, she thought bitterly to herself.

It was not from lack of trying. They had certainly tried many times.

Perhaps it was because every time she and Jeeki made love, she did not mean it. Perhaps it was because her heart still belonged to someone else.

Oh, Jeeki was a wonderful person. He was a kind ruler and an even kinder spouse. Mulan was very blessed to be married to such a caring, gentle man. She loved him, but not in the way of husband and wife. So it was not a total lie when she told him that she loved him back.

Mulan's arm automatically reached for the worn pendant around her neck. After two years, she had not forgotten him. After two years, she still loved him. And every night she said her prayers to the gods, asking them to bring him back to her. And every morning, she woke up from horrible nightmares of the same day two years ago that destroyed her life forever.

She finally reached the throne room, and found Jeeki standing there in magnificent golden robes with his arms crossed. "There you are!" He cried impatiently. He grabbed her wrist and sat her down in the cushy chair next to his. "We have to be here to accept the gifts."

"Gifts?" Mulan asked. "What gifts?" She had undergone Empress training for two years and she still did not know what everything was about.

"The gifts from the people," Ming-Su said quietly. She was still as elegant as ever. "They offer gifts to the court of Qui-Gong so they can present their troubles or prayers to the Emperor." She nodded toward Jeeki.

Jeeki made a wonderful ruler. He was kind, fair, and true to his word. That's why his subjects trusted him. For this reason, Mulan expected many gifts.

So she ran through the checklist in her head. Back straight, chin high, eyes open, and hands folded, she thought to herself. She could see through the corner of her eye that Ming-Su was nodding her approval. But the accomplishment was hollow. She had no one to keep her back straight for.

"Jade!" Thien called. "Hurry up!"

Shing rolled his eyes as he loaded the last parcel on the carriage. "Why is she taking so long?" He grunted.

"She's a woman," Thien replied exasperatedly. "They always take long."

"Not all of them are like that," Shang replied. He was surprised that he said that. It just sort of came out…but deep down, he knew that it was true.

"Whatever. I just want to hit the road before we're the last in line to present our gift."

"Couldn't we just ditch her?"

"Absolutely not!" Jade said as she hobbled down the front steps. Shang winced, watching his impregnated wife. Every time he saw her bulging belly, he wanted to run away.

"What took you so long?" Thien asked as he helped her into the carriage.

"I wanted to look nice," She replied as a crimson color crossed her cheekbones. Shang and Thien looked at each other knowingly. She just wanted to look nice for Lord Jeeki, the handsomest of all rulers. And unlike most husbands, he did not feel threatened.

"Okay," Shang was about to close the door, when she stopped him.

"Wait, aren't you going to sit with me?"

He put on a fake expression of gentleness and love. Two years of practice had made him a pro. "Love, what if bandits were to overtake us on the road? What would I do if they took you?" I'd probably rejoice, he thought fancifully.

Jade stroked his cheek smugly. "Oh, how thoughtless of me. I'm your one and only light in the cruel, dark world. I'm sorry." And with that final word, Shang closed the door before he felt the undeniable urge to throw up.

He sat up front with Thien. The reigns were whipped and the horses started.

When they were sure that Jade was napping in the carriage, Thien turned to Shang and asked, "Still nothing?"

He shook his head. "You'd think that after two years I would remember something," Shang cried.

"I thought you said you did remember most of your past life," Thien said.

"I do, but there's some part that's missing…there's someone that I'm missing."

"You were never this frantic, Shing," Thien observed thoughtfully. "What has changed you? You used to have more patience with this matter."

"It's just—" Shang sighed and said, "I can't stand seeing Jade pregnant. Knowing that I don't love her…It's just hard to take. I need to recall my past in order to keep my sanity."

Thien put his hand comfortingly on his shoulder. "It's okay."

"No, it's not. I feel so guilty, saying that I don't love this child or my wife. It's not something that I'm supposed to say about my family."

"Oh, it's alright. You'll learn to love her."

"It's been two years, Thien. If I can't learn to love her in two years, when?"

Thien did not know the answer. The rode the rest of the time in silent contemplation.

When they finally reached the palace of Qui-Gong, Jade was awakened and helped out of the carriage. They pulled their parcel off the top of the carriage and joined the end of the queue, which wasn't very long. The wait looked only to be about twenty minutes.

When they finally made it to the front of the line, Thien led the two with the bundled parcel up to the throne. All three genuflected with their heads down, which was difficult for Jade, but she managed anyway. "Oh, mighty Lord Jeeki," Thien began. "We have traveled far to ask for your favor. Here we offer a gift for you and your bride."

Shang looked up and felt his breath catch in his throat. His heart began to beat wildly and his hands became clammy and cold. Lord Jeeki's bride was…the missing piece of his memory.

Mulan had trouble keeping her eyelids open. All the gifts brought by her husband's subjects were rather dull, despite the good intentions.

Jeeki squeezed her hand and whispered, "Last one, love."

Mulan sighed audibly and whispered back, "Thank God."

She had her head down and listened to the last of the subject's offering. "Oh, mighty Lord Jeeki, we have traveled far to ask for your favor. Here we offer a gift for you and your bride."

She looked up to see the gift when a pair of horribly familiar eyes made her breath catch in her throat. A pulse at the base of her neck fluttered wildly and sweat began to coat her palms. "Shang…" she whispered, then fainted.

A/N- AHHH! Sorry that it's so short. I have...homework. shiver Anyway, if you review, I'll try and right two chapters next time I update, okay? OKAY!