WOO-HOO!! I've hit 100 reviews! Dragon Spirit Fighter was the 100th reviewer! Yay!! I didn't think I'd actually make 100 on my first Mulan fic, but this is really cool! Thanks to everyone!

Disclaimer: why do we put these? We're on a fan fiction site... I think they know we don't own anything...

Last time:

"See?" Shang said. Putting his boots back on and standing up.

"Good." Deng nodded. "Now I can tell you're exhausted, so go get some rest." Shang opened his mouth to protest, looking at Mulan, but Deng interjected before he could say anything. "I'll come get you if anything happens. Just go!" Deng pushed Shang out of the tent. Shang had no choice but to give in again and retire to his tent.

Shang entered his tent and decided to change into new training clothes. As he was untying the sash at his waist, a small object clunked to the floor. He looked at it questioningly before reaching down to pick it up.

'I forgot about that,' he thought as he turned the small green comb over in his hand. 'I'll give it back to her later.' He set it on the table in his tent and lay down on his bed. After pulling the covers up, he laid there, thinking about Mulan. More specifically, he was thinking about how she changed him.

'How did she manage it?' He wondered. 'I didn't even realize that she was working her way into my heart as she was doing it. Just a few months ago, I wouldn't have even thought about going after her...' His mind was growing tired. The exhaustion of the past few days was finally getting to him.

'Do I love her...?' With this last though, he drifted off to sleep, only to wake up a little while later.

Deng was in the medic tent, again changing the stones around Mulan's cold body. She was still shivering, though not quite as much. At feeling her forehead, he could tell that her body temperature has risen slightly. Each time he entered the tent, Mulan was becoming more and more aware of what was around her. She would open her eyes every time Deng lifted her blankets to change the rocks.

"Where's...Shang?" She asked groggily.

"He's in his tent," Deng replied, realizing that Mulan was not awake to hear his response. He sighed and finished replacing the rocks. He took the cooled ones back to the fire and placed them in it. He then went back to the tent and saw that Mulan was awake again.

"How do you feel?" Deng asked, again feeling her forehead.

"Cold." Mulan answered, shivering.

"Yes, but you are warming up." Deng smiled at her. "Here, wrap up in this, too." He pulled her blankets back and covered her with another blanket that he had warmed over the fire. He then pulled the other blankets back over her, then asked, "Is that any better?"

"Yes," Mulan responded. "Well, a little."

"Good. Are you hungry again?"

"No, not really," Mulan yawned.

"Okay, well get some more rest." Deng smiled again and left the tent.

The troops had been given the day off by Deng to rest. He had assigned one to help him with the rocks and this man was standing near the fire. Deng noticed that no one had taken care of the horses, seeing both of them standing at the gate to the corral trying to get at the hay that was placed just on the other side of the fence.

"Go take care of the horses." Deng instructed the man. The man nodded and walked over to Khan and the stallion. After taking the bags off of the stallion and taking the tack off both horses, they were allowed into the corral. They immediately started eating the hay.

By nightfall, Mulan's temperature was back up to normal. Shang had brought her soup until she felt like she was drowning in it. Now that she was finally warm, she was able to sleep in peace. Shang was also more relaxed because he knew that Mulan was okay.

As night fell over the camp, Deng came in to the tent to tell Mulan that she could go to her own tent if she wanted to. When he walked in, he found Mulan already sleeping. He realized that Shang was also in the tent. Mulan's bed was on a raised table to make things easier for Deng. Shang was sitting on the floor, holding Mulan's hand. He was sleeping with his head on his arm.

Deng didn't want to wake him, but he knew that he had to; if any recruits saw them, they would be in trouble. Deng sighed and made his way over to Shang. He shook Shang's shoulder and Shang opened his eyes.

"I'm sorry for waking you, sir," Deng said, "but we can't allow the recruits to see you two like that."

"Yes," Shang sighed, "you are right."

"Mulan can return to her tent." Deng said, changing the subject. "Would you mind carrying her there?"

"No, of course not." Shang stood and stretched. He lifted the blankets and took the rocks out, handing them to Deng. He then gently lifted Mulan from the mat, hoping she wouldn't wake. He was relieved when she didn't and turned to walk out of the tent. Dent held the flap for him and he walked outside, into the darkness. Mulan stirred slightly at the changed in temperature, but she still didn't wake up. Shang made the short walk to her tent and Deng again held the flap open.

Shang bent down and tenderly placed Mulan on the mat in her tent. She opened her eyes slightly before closing them again and drifting back to sleep. Shang stood up and looked down at her, admiring how calm she looked when she slept. Deng cleared his throat, snapping Shang out of his thoughts. Shang nodded and made sure the blankets were covering her before leaving her to sleep.

"Be sure to get more sleep tonight." Deng told Shang. "I can tell you're still exhausted." He then walked back to his tent to try to get more sleep.

Mulan woke up to the recruits walking to breakfast. She groaned and rolled over, trying to get more sleep. Finding that she was now awake, she decided to get up. When she sat up, she realized that she wasn't in the medic tent anymore. It took her a second to recognize her tent because none of her possessions were there.

She pushed the blankets off and stood up. She was a little dizzy, but it quickly passed. Figuring that she had nothing to change into, she just kept the clothes she was wearing. She couldn't hear anymore recruits walking by and decided that they were already eating in the cook's tent.

Exiting the tent sent a cold shock through her body. It was much warmer inside the tent and she hurried along to the cook's tent, hoping to be warm again. When she entered the tent, the recruits turned and looked in her direction. She stood there awkwardly, with the deer-in-the-headlights look.

"Finish eating!" Shang snapped at them. "We have training to get done!" They quickly returned to their breakfast. Mulan got herself a bowl of rice and a cup of tea and sat down next to Shang.

"Will I be training today?" Mulan asked him quietly.

"No," Shang replied. "I would feel better if you didn't." Mulan nodded and ate her breakfast. She finished at the same time as the recruits and Shang drew them outside. Their morning training was to be archery, only they were to shoot at dummies out in a field. Mulan came to the field with them. As they walked the short distance to the field, Shang passed her and threw a jacket over her shoulders.

"Wear this, too." He said with a small smile. She was a bit surprised, as she was already wearing her own coat. She didn't refuse it, though, and she ran a few paces to catch up with him.

She could only sit and watch, giving the recruits a few unwanted pointers here and there. She grew bored just watching and wished she could practice as well, but Shang refused to allow it. Mulan yawned and leaned back on her elbows. She was sitting on the ground under a barren tree watching arrow after arrow miss the dummy; this was the first time they had to aim at something other than a tree.

By lunch, most of the recruits were able to hit their target often. Mulan was glad because this meant that they would do something different after lunch. Soon, Shang decided that it was time for lunch and the recruits put their bows back in the holders and began to walk back to the camp.

As they approached the cook's tent, Deng was standing outside looked rather worried. A man that looked like an Imperial messenger stood next to him, holding the reigns to his horse. The messenger gave a quick bow to Shang before turning to Mulan. He handed her a piece of parchment. Mulan looked at it questioningly before opening it. As she read it, her eyes grew wide and her face acquired a hurt look. She inhaled sharply and nodded at the messenger.

"Mulan...?" Shang grasped her shoulder as she turned to follow the messenger. She met his eyed with a broken look, handed him the letter and ran after the messenger. Shang held the letter for a few seconds, staring after her before it occurred to him to read the letter.

Fa Mulan,

I regret to hear of the incident with the avalanche. By Shang's request, you will be returning home. I know of your feelings for him; however I do not feel that it is safe for you there. Please understand.

Sincerely,

Your Emperor

Well? How was that? Ugh... short again, but hey! At least it's another chapter! I've had a lighter workload this week, so I was able to write more! Please remember to review and tell me what you think!