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CHAPTER EIGHT – Coming and Going

A/N: Look at all the reviews!! Thank you to lobs-stacey-ters and serilia for their reviews. BIG BIG BIG thanks to my loyal reviewers Dragon Spirit Fighter, sumayyah, choc-cookie, Angel452 and narfgirl.

I'd also like to give a HUGE thank you to JoEbLoG for his...interesting review. Okay, just for you...

MiniEllie's Vow: I promise to update at least every week and I'll be nice...even though I'm nice all the time already. :D

Oh yeah...just one other thing...does everybody prefer Tao to Shang? I'm trying to bring Shang into it more but, when you review, can you just say whether you prefer Tao or Shang, I just need to know for future chapters and stuff. Thanks!!

"Guys!" A cheery voice rang out to them, their fears and doubts gone in an instant.

"Chien-Po!" Everyone yelled back. Chien-Po stepped towards them, his beaming face glowing. He was holding a bunch of keys in one hand and a bloody sword was swinging at his waist.

"Thank God! Where the hell have you been?" Ling cried. Both he and Yao had woken up when the first big bang came.

"What do you mean?" Chien-Po snapped and then his gaze fell on Mulan. "Mulan! You're okay!" Chien-Po ran over to her and inserted the key into her cell door.

"Hey! Just because she was captured by Huns, she gets out the cell first!" Fung protested. He banged his cell bars angrily. Ignoring him, Chien-Po flung open Mulan's cell door and pulled her into a big bear hug.

"You're okay! You're okay!" Chien-Po cried. He lifted Mulan off her feet and swung her around in the air, just like he had done when she had met in her village.

"Yeah, I'm fine...just a little dizzy now," Mulan said. Chien-Po placed her back on the floor and grinned at her.

"We were so worried about you and-" He paused, puzzled. "How come you're in the dungeon with the rest of them?"

"Chien-Po! Before you start asking Mulan questions, do you mind letting us out first?" Shang yelled. "I'm the General! You should have let me out first!"

"Aaw, gee Shang. I hope you use your new position for some good, not flaunting it," Yao snapped, irritably. Shang glared at him, remembering the day back in Wu Zhong when Yao yelled at everybody. It seemed years ago; despite the fact it was only about two or three days ago.

"Okay, okay," Chien-Po unlocked Shang, then Fung, Yao and, finally Ling. Just as Ling stepped out, another deafening crash was heard from the floor above. The force of the crash caused dust to fall from the dungeon ceiling's rafters. Everyone winced as the dust landed in their hair.

"Okay, we should get moving," Mushu said.

"Yeah, I think you're right," Ling replied, immediately after Mushu. They all hurried out the dungeon, up the stairs out of the 'dismal' part of the Palace into the brightly lit, painted and furnished part of the Palace.

"There they are!" A gruff voice yelled. They all turned to see five Huns approaching them, waving their swords or loading their bows with arrows.

Fung pushed Mulan out of the way as arrows rained down on them then he, Shang, Yao and Ling charged forward to fight the Huns as Chien-Po and Mulan untied a nearby curtain and let it swing open. This unfolded and neatly settled over the Huns. The Huns yelled and struck out, wondering what the hell had happened to them. Shang took this advantage and plunged his sword into five different places behind the curtain. The yelling and struggling stopped as a trickle of red blood flowed out from behind the curtain. Mulan pulled a face.

"Nice trick," Shang grinned at her. Mulan smiled back, her head still filled with pictures of dying Huns. She knew that they deserved it as they had killed hundreds of people before but she couldn't help but feel sorry for them. "Are you all right?" Shang asked her.

Fung, Yao, Ling and Chien-Po had gone ahead to scout around for more Huns. This wasn't a hard task as thuds, crashes and screams were still echoing around the Palace.

Mulan nodded.

"I know you feel sorry for the Huns, but, to be honest, they sort of had it coming. Remember they captured you..." Shang said, trying to comfort her. She nodded again and looked into Shang's eyes. They were still the same, deep black with warmth and security in them...and yet...she couldn't help but shudder when she saw his blood-stained sword out of the corner of her eye. "He's still a killer...no matter what he says or does. He's in the army Mulan, he has to kill people. Even you did...at the Tung Shao Pass and here...where you killed Shan-Yu," Mulan's thoughts paused. "You're a killer too..."

"Mulan? I don't think we can hand around much longer. There still are loads of Huns and we have no idea where the Emperor is," Shang said, interrupting her thoughts.

"Sure," Mulan replied. Smiling, Shang took her hand and they ran down the corridor together. They skidded around the corner to see Fung battling a Hun with swords, Yao and Ling were firing arrows with bows, quivers and arrows Chien-Po had lent them and Chien-Po had two Huns in each elbow-joint and was bashing their heads together. Both Mulan and Shang burst out laughing when they saw this.

Mulan suddenly whirled around to see a Hun above to bring a sword down on Shang's head. She kicked him in the chest, causing him to cry out. Shang heard this and whipped around, drawing his sword. He sank his sword into the Hun's chest. Blood spurted out, splattering over Mulan and Shang's clothes. A little bit disgusted, Mulan wiped it off her face as Shang did the same.

"Thanks," Shang smiled at her.

"No problem," She answered, her own smile growing. A cry of pain brought both of them back to the situation.

Yao was lying on the floor, a Hun standing on him, crushing his spine. Fung shot two arrows simultaneously at the Hun, who didn't seem affected by them. Chien-Po came up from behind and knocked the Hun off a choking Yao. Mulan ran forward to help Yao up, only to be knocked down by another Hun, who had appeared from nowhere. Standing up, Mulan brought her foot up to kick the Hun, when he grabbed her foot and span her around, making her ankle twist and yell to come from her. She wrenched herself out of his grip, her ankle weak and stinging. Picking up a sword from the floor, Mulan parried several blows then lashed out, her sword tip driving into the Hun's side. Just like the other Hun, he did not seem affected by this. Mulan backed away as the Hun came towards her, barring her teeth. He brought his sword down on her head, as she gripped her sword with two hands, blocked the blow aimed for her head and then smashed her sword into his chin, forcing him back and he lost his grip on the sword, which clattered to the floor. She threw her sword at him, aiming straight for the heart. It was a good throw; it hit the Hun straight in the heart. He collapsed backwards, his hair lying on his shoulders, blood leaking fiercely from his side. Sickened, Mulan went forward and looked down at her dead enemy. He seemed to be smiling.

"That's weird..." She thought. She took his sword from the floor and placed it in his hand, curling his limp fingers around the hilt.

"You're nice to your opponents," Fung said from behind her. He was leaning on a wall, strands of matted hair falling out his bun and blood-stained hands holding the hilt of a sword stained in red. He was smiling mischievously at her with one eyebrow raised. The remaining Huns were being dealt with by Shang and Ling. Chien-Po had Yao slung over his shoulders and was kicking out at anyone who came near him.

"I guess he needed a bit of honour in his death,"

"He did. He was killed by the heroine of China," Fung smiled. Mulan grinned back. "Either that or you feel sorry for him..."

"I do,"

"Is it because of Tao? Has he changed your way of looking at Huns?"

"What? Are you kidding? Believe me, I hate Huns. They're so dumb. They invade countries for no reason and disturb everyone. Tao wasn't a Hun, that's why he's my friend," Mulan said, walking past Fung. Fung watched her bend down next to another Hun, who resembled the one she had just killed. "Poor Mulan. She shouldn't have to live the life of a warrior," Fung thought.

"Mulan! Mulan!" Mushu yelled. He and Cri-Kee ran towards her, they had been scouting around to see where people were. "Guys! The Emperor's in his throne room, with Lao Ren and Kai Bo! I think you better get up there!"

The whole lot of them dashed up the corridor, round corners, down more corridors. It was a good thing Shang knew the inside of the Palace well, otherwise they would have been running around for hours, not knowing where the hell they were.

Just as they approached the throne room, Mulan saw, out of the corner of her eye, a corridor leading to a balcony, where a man lay.

"Tao!" Mulan murmured to herself. She left the group, ran down the corridor to where Tao lay. No one noticed she had left.

::::

Mulan burnt her knees as she skidded into a kneeling position next to Tao. He was bleeding in his side and two arrows were sticking out his arm.

"Oh my god...Tao! Tao! Can you hear me?" Mulan bent over his face and pinched his cheek. This brought Tao back to consciousness.

"Whoa!" He grabbed Mulan's hand in an iron-strong grip.

"Tao?" Mulan asked, wriggling her hand out of his.

"Mulan? Oh god, what are you doing here?" He noticed the blood on her clothes. "What happened to you?" He sat up suddenly then groaned. Mulan pushed him back down.

"I had a few encounters with Huns. I'm okay, so don't ask. What happened to you?" She gestured to the arrows sticking out his arm.

"I was leaving...and they saw me...they obviously knew I was going...and they shot me. They left me out here...to die probably," Tao winced at the memory. Mulan closed her eyes in frustration.

"I should never have told you to go," She said, more to herself than to him.

"No, you were right. I'll...I'll never be an Imperial again. I shouldn't try to think I can change now," Tao sighed. Mulan pulled the sash from her training outfit off and began ripping it into pieces. (A/N: She has two sashes around her waist, one for holding it together and...I just needed to add another one so she can help Tao!)

"What are you doing?"

"What do you think?" Mulan snapped, impatient. "Lie back and keep still," She gently pulled one arrow out his arm and then wound a strip of fabric around it to slow the bleeding down.

Another crash from above her caused a piece of wood to fall, shattering on the balcony, spreading wood fragments around. Mulan began to cough; the wood dust and splinters were tickling and aggravating her throat. Hurriedly, she pulled the other arrow out and bandaged that up too as well as the wound in his side.

"Tao, can you walk? I can't carry you, I'm not strong enough!" Mulan cried, over the crashes, screams and sword sounds. Tao got up, gripping Mulan around the shoulders. Supporting him, Mulan ran down the corridor to the nearest door leading to outside.

Once outside, Tao let go of Mulan, shuddering as he supported himself on two feet. Mulan looked at him sadly.

"I've got to go now. I don't belong here...anymore," Tao turned away from him and started to walk away.

"Tao..." Mulan called after him. He turned back to her, her hair waving in the breeze. She looked so beautiful, even if she was just in her army training clothes. "Will I ever see you again?"

"I don't know. But, I'll always hold you here..." He brought two hands up to his heart.

Mulan smiled. "Is that the pendant?"

"You know what I mean..."Tao smiled, then leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Bye..." He whispered. Then he turned away and simply melted into the evening darkness.

"Bye..." She whispered after him. She stood there watching where he had disappeared, her heart sinking every second. "Tao does love me...do I love him? What about Shang? ...I'll find out some other time..."

"Mulan!" Looking up, she saw Fung standing on a balcony, yelling at her. "What are you doing? Get up here!"

"Okay!" Mulan yelled back and watched as Fung disappeared back inside the Palace. The noise was dying now. Mulan turned back to where Tao had been standing and smiled to herself. Then, she ran back into the Palace.

::::

The battle was completely over. Lao Ren and Kai Bo had been captured and the Huns which had not been killed had either been captured or fled. They were now clustered in the throne room. Everyone looked a mess, with the exception of the Emperor.

Shang, Fung, Ling and Chien-Po were bruised, injured and blood was splattered over their clothing. Their swords were covered in blood and all their arrows were gone from their quivers. Yao had been taken to doctor as soon as he had entered the throne room, on the Emperor's orders. Ling had a scratch down his left cheek where a Hun had lost his sword and had decided to improvise. Fung's hair was sticking up on ends and as his ribbon had been yanked out by a Hun; his hair was hovering above his shoulders. Shang looked normal, his armour was in place and his cape wasn't torn or ripped. He looked as un-ruffled as he did in everyday-life, despite being soaked in blood. Mulan's training clothes were sprayed in blood as well, but otherwise she looked normal, apart from the sad look on her face. Shang had noticed this as soon as she entered the room but decided to keep quiet about it.

Lao Ren and Kai Bo had been handcuffed on their hands and wrists. They both had sullen looks on their faces and were refusing to say anything to anybody. Two Imperial guards were holding each arm on each Hun, totalling four altogether.

The Emperor was sitting in on his chair as his proper throne had been destroyed. The Emperor was heart-broken about the loss of his chair as, he claimed, it had been in the family for generations.

The whole of the West Wing was unaffected, though most of the Palace had been partially destroyed. The throne room had been the least affected of other wings, as it was the centre on the front Wing and you had to go through a maze full of corridors to get there. The furniture had been upturned and several bodies of Huns and Imperial guards were littering the floor as no one had removed them yet. Shang wasn't surprised at this. Blood was slowly creeping along the floor, a mixture of Hun and Imperial. Shang couldn't look at this without feeling slightly disgusted and guilty.

"I think you know what's going to happen to you now," The Emperor said. Lao Ren glared back at him, his mouth clamped shut. Kai Bo was staring at the floor, shuffling his feet. "I've arranged for your execution to be tomorrow, as well as the many Hun prisoners we have captive in the dungeon. It was foolish of you to try and take my throne, you should have realised that we have many armies been formed and trained throughout China. Ever since the Shan-Yu invasion, I have been more cautious and more protective of my country. Did you really think that you could take my throne?" This was a long speech for the Emperor, who seemed to be getting angry. Shang found this unusual, normally nothing disturbed the Emperor enough to get him going, not even the Shan-Yu invasion.

"I wasn't going to," Lao Ren answered grimly. "I was going to let Tao do it..." Lao Ren gnashed his teeth together in evident anger. "God, I was such a fool to trust the son of the Emperor. Son of the Emperor...son of a bitch!" Lao Ren spat, a small oyster of white froth forming on the floor.

"Thank god, he's gone now," Kai Bo commented. Lao Ren nodded, an evil grin spreading across his face. The Emperor's bushy eyebrows shot up, his face creased and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Sorry?"

"We left Tao to die on a balcony. He always was a waste of time; he could never have been a Hun. His technique was crap, he was weak and had too much feeling and emotion inside him," Lao Ren smirked at the Emperor. Then, he turned to a silent and white-faced Mulan. "Aaw...look at you...white-faced at the thought of your dear Tao gone," Lao Ren mocked her. Mulan's eyebrows rose and her face was slowly turned back to her normal peachy colour, empathized by her flushing and permanently-reddy pink cheeks.

"What?"

"We all know how he felt for you...," Lao Ren's voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Don't try to hide it...we all know that he was in love with you!"

"What?!" Everyone said. Fung, Shang and Ling's mouths had dropped open and Chien-Po's eyes went wide. Mulan flushed.

"Why do you think he never hurt you?" Lao Ren went on. The heat was spreading up Mulan's cheeks like fire burning wood.

"That's enough!" The Emperor barked, coming out of his grieving silence for Tao. "Guards! Take them downstairs!" Everyone knew downstairs meant 'to the dungeon'.

The four guards dragged the Huns out the room, four more following for extra security. Lao Ren grinned evilly at Mulan, who couldn't help giggling at. Just for a split second, Kai Bo grinned back at her, before he was pulled out the throne room. Mulan, puzzled, stared at door which he had just left through.

"Mulan?" The Emperor called over to her. She looked over at him, his tired face showing sadness. "Has Tao gone?"

"No," She answered. "He was left on the balcony but then I treated him with some make-shift bandages," Despite everything, she began to grin. A mightily relieved Emperor grinned back at her.

"What happened to him?" Fung asked.

"He got shot by a Hun, twice. Then he had some wounds around his waist. It wasn't that bad, but he was losing a lot of blood," Mulan replied, then walked to a nearby chair and flopped down on it. Following her lead, Shang collapsed onto a couch next to Fung. Chien-Po turned an up-turned chair onto its legs then sat down on it, ignoring the creaking and the fact it was started to sag in the middle. Ling slumped onto another comfy chair, leaning his head back on the cushions. A sigh escaped his lips.

"I've been thinking..."He started. Everyone turned to him. "I want to get married..."

Everyone looked at each other and then burst out laughing. Offended, Ling sat up and frowned at everyone.

"What? How is it funny? It's not like I'm the first am I? Yao's betrothed and someone else has an eye on someone else!" He snapped, glaring at Shang who, previously had been laughing his head off, but was now glowering at him.

"Who?" Mulan asked. Embarrassed, Shang hung his head but Fung swooped in and managed to save Shang from dying of embarrassment.

"Why do you want to get married?" Fung asked Ling, who was aiming a satisfied smile at Shang. Mulan was still looking confused.

"I like the idea of having someone to love and look after," Ling suggested, a dreamy look crossing his eyes.

"You seriously think you're going to fall in love with a girl who's been through the match-making service?" Mulan said, scornfully. The Gang had all heard of her match-making fiasco. Shang hadn't and had no idea what she was talking about.

"I might. You never know, most people who get married via the matchmaking service end up falling in love,"

"That's it, exactly! They 'end up' falling in love. Wouldn't you rather marry for love?" Mulan put forward. Ling shrugged.

"No offence people, we haven't got time for this kind of talk. The Palace is about to fall down around us and we had a dungeon full of blood-thirsty Huns. I think we should deal with those problems first," Chien-Po protested.

"Yeah, you're right," Mulan backed down. Ling stuck his tongue out at her. She stuck her own out and they both began to laugh.

"Okay," The Emperor stood up. "My builder-people will be coming soon to fix the Palace and we had better leave before they start. I suggest you go to the guest suites in the West Wing, which has not been touched by the Huns. General Li, I assume you know where to go?" The Emperor said to Shang, who nodded back.

::::

"Nice place," Mushu stuck his head out from Mulan's collar and looked around her room. Mulan couldn't help but agree with him. "This definitely beats all of your other rooms,"

Mulan ran over and dived onto the bed, which bounced back up, sending her flying into the air about 30 centimetres above the bed. Giggling, Mulan lay on her back, staring at the white ceiling.

"I think you should change," Mushu commented from where he was sitting on her dressing table.

"Huh?"

"You stink of blood,"

Mulan sat up. "Really? I didn't think blood smelt,"

Mushu shrugged. "Okay, fine. Maybe you don't smell, but you sure look bad. Go change!" He pointed at her with his index finger.

"Okay, okay. You're starting to sound like my mother," Mulan grinned. She swung herself off the bed and walked over to the wardrobe. She flung the doors open and looked at the multicoloured dresses hanging there. She sighed. "All this fussing over dresses. It's all so...stupid," She took the nearest one of the rail and stalked into the bathroom.

Mushu turned to Cri-Kee, who was sitting next to him, yawning.

"You tired, Lucky Bug?"

"Yeah..."

"Well, don't fall asleep. The Emperor dude said that a diner is being prepared now, so you better stay awake. I ain't going to stay here with you and miss out on all the food. I haven't eaten since we left Wu Zhong,"

"No one else has either," Cri-Kee commented.

"Screw the others, I'm a guardian! I should be able to eat whenever I want to," Mushu snapped.

"Don't get worked out over nothing, Mushu," Cri-Kee yawned again and lay back on the dressing table. "I'm kind of hungry too,"

"No one has eaten for a while either, Lucky Bug. Don't be so selfish," Mushu snapped, cunningly.

"Screw the others; I'm a gong-ringer! I should be able to eat whenever I want to!" Cri-Kee protested. Then, realising what he had said, he got up and glared at Mushu. He was about to start yelling, well chirping, when Mulan came back in, dressed in a blue and white-floral patterned kimono with little blue shoes. She was holding her folded training clothes and her shoes were clasped in one fist. Her face was washed but blood stains were still on her arms. The kimono stopped halfway down the forearm, so the dried blood was exposed. Mulan hadn't noticed it.

Mushu wolf-whistled. "Looking good, babe! I bet Shang will think so too!" Mulan threw her training clothes at him. Mushu leapt out the way and the clothes flopped onto the mirror which was sitting on the dressing table.

"Be quiet!" She grinned at them and pushed her hair back from her forehead. She reached over, pulled a ribbon off of the dressing table and tied her hair up, a few strands falling in front of her face. She brushed them back behind her ears.

"Babes, you might want to wash your arms," Mushu gestured to her blood-stained arm.

"Oh," She disappeared into the bathroom then reappeared a minute later, holding up her arms. "We good now?"

Mushu grinned. "Yeah, we're good,"

"Okay then. Let's go!" Mushu bounded onto her shoulder, holding Cri-Kee by the antennae. Cri-Kee chirped in protest but Mushu ignored him.

Mulan left her room, slamming the door behind her. Fung stuck his head out of his room, which was opposite Mulan's.

"Did you slam that door?" He asked. She grinned.

"Yeah. Come on, I'm staaarving!"

"Coming, coming," Fung strode out his room and Mulan looked him up and down. He was in fresh army clothes and all the blood had been wiped off. "Do these guys have any other clothes?" Mulan thought. She began to giggle. Fung raised his eyebrows.

"What?"

"Nothing," She beamed back at him, her face glowing.

"Okay then...Off we go!" Fung started walking off down the corridor, Mulan jogged after him to catch up with him.

::::

Mulan picked up a piece of rice and squished it between her chopsticks. She couldn't help but smile at it. She was brought back to her sense when a piece of rice landed on her nose. Flicking it off, she looked over at Ling, who was grinning.

"What was that?" She asked, her own smile growing.

"You looked like you needed a shock to bring you back," Ling explained. Fung wrinkled his forehead at this. Mulan giggled into her rice.

Meanwhile, Chien-Po was happily eating his fourth bowl of rice. Mulan hadn't even finished her first and Ling and Fung were on their second. Shang was also on his first; he hadn't said or eaten much all dinner. Both Fung and Mulan were worried about him, but decided to keep it to themselves.

"Is Yao better?" Mulan asked Ling, who shrugged back, his cheeks bulging with rice. Mulan giggled again.

"He's recovering," Chien-Po put in. "That reminds me, the doctor wants me to tell you all that he wants to see all of you, for your injuries,"

"I haven't got any injuries," Mulan protested. Fung prodded her upper arm, near her shoulder. She winced.

"You say you haven't got any injuries?" Fung sniggered. Mulan glared at him. "I actually haven't got any," Mulan whacked him on the head.

"You have now," She snapped, her eyes flashing but a smile growing. Fung shook his head and turned back to his rice.

"I don't like doctors," Ling said after a few minutes of silence.

"Why not?" Fung asked, a piece of meat clasped between his chopsticks paused on the way to his mouth.

"I don't know. I mean, these people actually chose a career where they look at blood all the time!" Ling said, shuddering.

"You're a soldier Ling," Fung went on.

"I know. It doesn't mean I enjoy killing, does it? Sure, I'll kill because I have to, but I don't want to. Blood makes me queasy and so does seeing corpses everywhere," He turned to Shang, who was listening intently. "You've killed people. How do you sleep at night?"

"I don't like killing people either," Shang answered. The table fell silent and Ling began to wish he hadn't brought the subject up.

After everything had been eaten, Mulan got up and stretched. "I'm going to go to the doctor now. Might as well get this over with," She glanced around the table. "Anyone coming?"

Chien-Po stood up and brushed a few stray grains of rice from his shirt. "Yeah, I'll come,"

Ling got up too. "Yeah, I guess,"

He, Mulan and Chien-Po left the room at the same time, Chien-Po talking to Mulan and Ling was munching on some egg rolls he had taken from the table.

As soon as they left, Shang turned to Fung. "Tao loves her?!"

"How did I know you were going to bring that up?" Fung said. Shang glared at him.

"This isn't funny! He can't take Mulan from me!"

"Shang, you never had her! Maybe if you had talked to her before she met Tao, things might have turned out differently," Fung said gently. Shang's head drooped forward.

"I know. But...it makes me so mad when I think of it!"

"Think of what?" Fung probed him.

"When I think of how close she is to Tao...and she barely knows him. He was a Hun! How can she...be like that to him?"

"Shang, you don't know if Mulan loves Tao. Go talk to her, it's the only way you're going to get any answers," Fung said. He picked up his chopsticks again and carried on eating, signalling the end of the conversation.

Shang watched his friend eat and felt sad. Then, he got up and strode out the room, determined to find Mulan and tell her everything.

×××

"Ow!" Mulan cried. The doctor had poured some liquid ointment onto his wound, which was now stinging and slightly smoking.

"You have to suffer for beauty, madam," The doctor smiled at Mulan.

"You call healing wounds as beauty?"

"Not really, madam. Just, that not having scars or wounds might be more beautiful than having them," The doctor gave her a large grin, rather like the one Shang had given her in the dungeon. Mulan giggled and pulled her dress sleeve back on. Then, she hopped off the bed and went into the doctor's waiting room. The Gang, minus Fung and Yao, looked up.

"I'm all right. He just put some liquid ointment on it. God, it stings," Mulan rubbed her shoulder to empathize her point.

Ling grinned. "I wouldn't let that bother you a lot. I've had to have tea, ointment and blood-loss before the guy could bandage up my leg. Now, that hurt. Stop whining Mulan," He sniggered. Mulan grinned and sat down next to him.

"I know. It doesn't hurt that bad," The couch rose slightly as Chien-Po got off it. Ling glanced at Mulan and they both grinned. Chien-Po went into the doctor's room, closing the door tightly behind him.

::::

"Tell Mulan everything. That's all we've got to do, Shang. Just tell her everything. That's not too difficult is it?" Shang paused outside the Doctors Suite of Rooms. "'...Look! Of course I feel things for her! She's a friend, and all, if any, affection I feel for her is a friend...'. My god! Why did I ever say that? At least, it's thrown her off track. She shouldn't think I feel anything for her now...well after that. Damn you Fung, you just had to make me freak out and yell! Come on Shang, it's not Fung's fault,"

Gathering up his courage, Shang pushed the doctor's door open.

Mulan was sitting on the couch next to Ling, tears glistening in her eyes, but they had not fallen. Ling was white-faced and a few tears had escaped his brimming-over eyes. Chien-Po was sitting opposite them, silent and grey. The doctor was nowhere to be seen.

"Guys? What's happened?" Shang asked, shutting the door behind them. He sat down on the couch, next to Mulan. "Guys?" He repeated.

"I'm going to die," Chien-Po replied. Shang's mouth fell open.

"What?!"

"I've got something in my head. It's been giving me all these headaches, but I always figured that it was just stress. The doctor said he's never seen anything like it before and he doesn't know how to treat it. He said the only thing he could do is...well kill me before it does because soon the pain will be unbearable,"

The whole world collapsed on Shang. He felt the weight of the sky fall onto his shoulders, then the ground opened up and swallowed him whole. The vastness of his problem left Shang speechless and white.

Just hearing the news again made a few tears drip from both Mulan and Ling's eyes. Shang noticed them and pulled Mulan into a hug. She didn't cling back to him but just rested her head on his chest and allowed a few more tears to drip down her cheeks.

Ling looked sadly on and frowned. "I have no one to hug..." He said quietly. Chien-Po heard him and pulled Ling into a big bear-hug.

"What are you doing to do?" Mulan asked from inside Shang's arms.

"I don't know. To be honest, I don't really want to think about it now," Chien-Po said.

Suddenly, the door flung open and a breathless and very excited Fung burst in.

"Hey guys! We got some visitors! Well, the Emperor's son arrived and-!" He looked around at everyone's sombre faces. "What's going on?"

As briefly as he could, Shang explained about Chien-Po as Chien-Po didn't want to explain again. Fung sank down onto the couch next to Shang, his face slowly went pale.

"Oh my god. I-I had no idea. Oh my god," Fung kept repeating 'Oh my god' until Shang slapped him.

Silence.

"Guys...I don't mean to like...interrupt? But, the Emperor said we have to go," Fung repeated.

"Right," Mulan said, her voice trembling slightly. She pulled herself out of Shang's grip and stood up, smoothing down her skirt. Shang got up after her, then did Ling, Fung and Chien-Po. They watched him worriedly.

"Guys...I really don't want to be reminded of anything now. Please, can we just go on with our normal lives? I really don't want to talk or think about it," Chien-Po pleaded.

"Yeah, that's fine. Whatever you want and remember we're all here for you," Mulan smiled at him.

"Yeah," Everyone echoed. Chien-Po grinned.

"Thanks guys,"

::::

"There you are!" The Emperor greeted them cheerily in the throne room. Standing next to him was a man who looked similar to Tao, expect slightly smaller and a little bit chubbier. Next to him was a small boy, about six years old. He had a smile on his face and he had the air of mischief around him. Mulan couldn't help but like him as soon as she saw him. "This is Ming Hua, my youngest son and Tao's brother. His son is Tiao Zao, Tao's nephew and my grandson. They were staying far away from here with Ming Hua's late-wife's brother when they heard of the Hun invasion and of the arrival of Tao. They only just arrived here,"

Ming Hua stepped forward and bowed to them all. "May I ask for your names?"

Shang moved forward, in a very General-like manner. "I am General Li Shang,"

Ming Hua nodded. "I heard about your father. I am very sorry to hear of his death," Shang nodded, grief filling his head again. He shook it clear and gestured to Fung.

"This is Loon Fung, he is my Commander and is directly below me. He is also my best friend from my childhood," Ming Hua nodded at Fung, who replied with a curt nod. Shang went on, "This is Captain Ling, Captain Chien-Po and this is Fa Mulan,"

Ming Hua's eyes lit up. "You're Mulan?"

Mulan nodded. "Yup,"

"Do you know where Tao is?" His eagerness made him sound like a little child.

She shook her head. "I'm sorry, I don't know. He left about an hour or so ago when Lao Ren and Kai Bo had been captured. He just walked away from where I was standing,"

Ming Hua's face crumpled. "I've longed to see my brother every day ever since he was taken. I thought when I heard he was back here, this was it, I was going to see him again. Now, he's gone again..." Ming Hua looked sadly at Mulan, who gave him a sad smile back.

A tugging at her skirt made her look down. "Hi! Are you the woman warrior?" Mulan grinned at the little boy. She bent down and picked him up, as he wasn't too heavy.

"Yes, I am. I do have a name though. It's Mulan. What's yours again?" She tickled the little boy under the chin. He squirmed and giggled. Ming Hua grinned, his sorrow for Tao, forgotten for a while. Shang couldn't help smiling either.

"She'd make a great mother..." Shang thought as Mulan began to laugh with the little boy.

"Stop it! Stop it!" The little boy kicked her in the stomach. It didn't hurt much so Mulan left it. "I'm Tiao Zao,"

"Flea? You're name means 'flea'?" Mulan giggled. Tiao Zao giggled too.

"Yes, it does. Baba says it's similar to Tao, my uncle," Tiao Zao smiled at Mulan. Mulan looked over at Ming Hua, who smiled back.

"You poor flea. Do you have any brothers or sisters?" She asked him.

Tiao Zao shook his head. "Nope. I think that's a good thing. I don't like having to share my stuff with people,"

Mulan flicked his forehead. "Sharing is a good thing. I'm an only child too, so technically I don't have to either. It's good, isn't it?" Mulan grinned mischievously at him. He began to laugh as Mulan put him down on the ground. He looked around and walked over to Fung.

"Are you a warrior?" He asked.

"Aaw...kids are so innocent...not to mention stupid. I'm wearing armour and carrying a sword! Kid, open your eyes!" Fung thought. He grinned at the little boy and knelt down until he was his height. "Yes, look at this," Fung drew his sword and offered the hilt to Tiao Zao, who took it, walked away from Fung and began waving it around.

"Tiao Zao, be careful!" Ming Hua called. Ignoring him, Tiao Zao carried on waving it, before it slipped and cut him on the arm. He let out a wail and dropped the sword. Everyone ran forward. Mulan looked at the cut on his arm and smiled.

"It's not that deep Little Flea," She tugged the ribbon in her hair out, letting her shiny black hair swing forward. Shang felt the breath catch in his throat. Mulan bandaged up the cut and showed it to Tiao Zao. "See? It's going to get better now. Maybe you should go to the doctor, who'll clean it with the appropriate stuff," Mulan stood up and smiled at him.

Tiao Zao grinned at Mulan and flung his arms around her. He was small for his age, like Mulan, and his arms only reached above her legs. She gave him a little hug and rubbed his back. Ming Hua went forward and prised Tiao Zao off Mulan.

"I told you to be careful, didn't I? Let's go find the doctor," Ming Hua took Tiao Zao's hand and dragged him out the room, Tiao Zao protesting the entire way. Mulan grinned.

"Where's his mother?" Fung asked the Emperor.

"She died in childbirth with him. I don't think Tiao Zao really minds. He's always admired his father more than anyone. I don't think he even knows Tao exists, except as His Uncle," The Emperor turned to Mulan. "He's going to hang around you a lot now, Mulan. He does that, he gets attached to someone then won't leave them alone,"

Mulan grinned. "That's okay. He's sweet,"

Fung sniggered. "He's cool. He's also rather silly, waving a sword around. He should have realised that it would cut him," Fung bent down and picked up his sword and put it back into his sheath.

"Don't be mean!" Ling said. "Poor kid,"

"Enough about Tiao Zao. I have information for you all," They all looked at him. "The executions of Lao Ren and Kai Bo are to happen tomorrow morning at ten 'o' clock sharp. I have also arranged a large banquet for all of you and several of my friends, officers and your families are all invited,"

"Yeah!" Ling grinned. "Think of all the pretty ladies!" Fung slapped him. "Ow!"

"Yes, Captain Ling, there will be women there. A ball will be held after dinner, you know dancing and all that stuff. This should take place probably late at night," The Emperor gave them a grin, showing perfectly straight white teeth.

"Okay, seeing as I couldn't tell her my feelings today, I'll tell her them tomorrow. That makes more sense anyway; I've got to work on what I'm going to say. Fung will give me a hand," Shang thought. He looked at Mulan, who was talking to Ling. "She would make a great mother. She's the only person I want as a wife and a mother for my children,"

A/N: DONE!! Thank god! I spent ages typing this, as I got stuck halfway. Well, please leave a review!! :D :D :D :D