Chapter Nine: Meet the Parents

Mulan embraced her father tightly.

He smiled, his eyes glittering with unwept tears. "Now, then, I must meet this Captain of your's. I served under his father, and from what you say he is a lot like him... I was also nearly removed from the army early."

Mulan raised her eyebrows. "You, Baba? But you were always so skilled..."

"That doesn't mean I was skilled straight away, Mulan. You should understand that now."

She smiled and nodded. "Sha-I mean, Captain Li is waiting outside the gates." They rose from their seat under the tree, and went towards the gate together. "At least...he said he would wait. He must've left."

Her mother placed a hand on her shoulder. "It doesn't matter, Mulan. The most important thing is that you're her-"

"Phooey! Of course it matters. Mulan, he's just changing his clothes-he'll be staying with us for a while, it's a long way to the north and he should be properly prepared." Grandmama folded her arms defiantly. "By the way, who exactly is he? I got so excited that you brought home a man that I forgot to ask..."

"I did not bring home a man! He brought me home..." Mulan blushed slightly. "He was my captain."

Shang emerged from the guest room, dressed in black trousers, white undershirt and an overshirt with the same design as Mulan's. Mulan beamed at him, and went over to him. "Come on. My mother and father want to meet you." She grabbed his wrist and pulled him over to them.

Shang bowed. "Fa Zhou, it is an honour to meet such a fighter as yourself..."

Zhou bowed in return. "Captain Li, I have served with your father, and from what my daughter tells me, you are a lot like him. He was a great leader, you should be proud of yourself. Now, tell me..." He smiled, placing a hand on Shang's shoulder. "How awful was Mulan when she first started?"

Shang visibly relaxed. "Her first act was to cause a fight between the men."

Mulan hid her face with her hands.

"She was as awful as myself...I assume you trained her well, to help her become a hero?"

Shang smiled humbly, shaking his head slightly. "She didn't need all that much training, once she'd learnt to use her mind properly. She quickly became my best soldier." His expression turned to pride, he faced her. She smiled, blushing subtly.

"Come with me, Captain, and we'll discuss these matters..." They walked through the moon gate into the garden.

Mulan turned to her mother and grandmother. "Well?"

"He's certainly charming...and obviously cares about you a lot." Fa Li replied thoughtfully.

"Marry him and marry him quick. A man like that won't stay available for long!" Grandmother enthused.

Mulan went bright red. "I'm going to go change..." She escaped as quickly as she could.

"Mother, why must you scare the girl?"

"When you get as old as I am, you stop caring about sugar coating the truth. Besides, you're thinking the same."

Li sighed. "They would have some beautiful children..."

It felt amazingly comfortable, Shang decided, speaking with Mulan's family. He wasn't sure where Mulan herself was, but he felt a similar warmth and acceptance around these people to what he felt around her. He felt rather like he was being received as a new son, and it was made clear that he was welcome to stay with them for as long as he needed. He had gladly accepted, and was informed that all they asked was that he helped with farm work, which he was only to happy to do.

Currently he was in the garden, looking at the cherry blossoms falling around him. Mushu was sat by his side, but the little dragon only actually spoke about his pedestal. Whilst it did amuse Shang, it also irritated him, and at that moment he'd tuned it out.

"And it's so tall and high, so I'm lookin' down on all the others, and they all pray, and I'm there helpin' em out-aaaaah, it's great. Do you have any guardians? Cute girl dragons? Shaaaaaaaang?"

"Shang! Dinner is almost ready, come on." Mulan stood before him, wearing a dark purple dress, tied with a pale blue ribbon around her waist. Her hair was brushed and mostly down, although the iron lily kept her hair from her eyes.

"Uh...I...dinner...gooood..." Shang blinked, standing up. Why couldn't he get used to this? She was so pretty, especially like this.

She clucked her tongue a little. "Your hair is a mess, turn around." She redid it for him, then smiled widely. "Perfect."

"I, uh, suppose that Leng will appreciate your male hair skills, when you're married."

She burst out laughing. "Leng and I?"

"I thought that-"

"No. No, Shang. He would drive me crazy." She shook her head. "Come on. It's time for dinner."

Feeling considerably brighter, Shang consented. "You have a wonderful family, Mulan. Your father has offered to allow me to stay here for as long as I wish, helping with farm work."

She smiled. "I take it you've accepted?"

He nodded. "I will return to the north, but there's nothing for me there right now...everything I value is here." He avoided her eyes, but offered his hand to her. He felt a great regret when she refused it, but suddenly realised that this was because she was leaning against his side with her arm around his waist. He briefly closed his eyes and moved his arm so that it fitted around her.

"I'm glad you're staying...it would be too hard to just say goodbye." She said softly.

"I don't think I could ever just say goodbye."

"No, you can just tell me that I fight good."

"You're still bitter about that?"

"I wouldn't say bitter. I'd say disappointed."

"I did the right thing in the end, I came home with you..."

She smiled up at him. "I suppose I should give you some credit for that."

He smirked as they arrived for dinner. "After dinner...would you meet me in the garden?"

"Why?"

"I need to talk to you."

"We're talking now..."

"No, I mean...Are you making this difficult on purpose?"

She looked at him blankly.

"Just...please?"

"Of course..." She frowned in a perplexed way.