Thanks Lynn102, .Aurorablu., 1-2-3-sakura-3-2-1, Kokari, youkaigirl64, Firalyn Tiatra, sparkle00, Windflight, jeweljade, and Broadway Belle!

The story of Mulan has been modified many times by different cultures. There's probably a Indonesian and Laotian version too. My story is based off of the Vietnamese version, which is why it is so similar to Mulan. This is about all the Mulan interaction that's going to happen, so sorry if you guys were expecting more.

Chapter V: An Astonishing Find

Sakura awoke groaning slightly. Every muscle in her body ached. She had a sparing match with Li the night before, with the same ring of men, the same bets, and the same result. Five months had passed already without any sign of the rebels. The other men had become restless and bored, but she was welcoming the quiet.

Glancing through her tent flap she noticed that it was still a couple of hours before dawn. Knowing she couldn't get back to sleep, she threw on some clothes and crept outside. She picked a scenic spot overlooking the full moon. Sighing, she wondered if her father and Touya were alright. Fighting back a wave of homesickness and tears, she closed her eyes, but leapt up when she felt a hand against her shoulder. Whirling around her alarmed emerald eyes melt concerned amber ones.

"Couldn't sleep either?" Syaoran asked. Sakura nodded in reply.

"Would you like some company? Unless you want to be alone," he added quickly.

"Please," she begged. "I need someone to distract me." The two of them spoke of their thoughts and other small talk, and then watched the sunset in silence.

Letting out a quiet sigh Syaoran broke the silence. "I used to do this often at my home. Whenever things got hectic or if I got lonely, I would just sit outside in my garden and watch the sun rise." He let out a small chuckle. "You live in the next town over. Maybe we could have been friends."

Sakura laughed softly, "Yeah maybe." In reality, as a girl, she would have been expected to remain at home, either tending the household or doing her chores, but most certainly not running around with a boy. It was lucky she even learned of sword play or strategy. Sakura allowed herself to remain sitting, content in Li's presence.

Syaoran wished to question Kinimoto more about his past when a voice interrupted him.

"Commanders! The rebels have been spotted in a village south of here!" a soldier reported. Getting the okay from the other officers, Sakura and Syaoran leapt on their horses in pursuit accompanied with a small scouting team.

Approaching the village, Sakura frowned. She could smell smoke and charred wood. Shoving down the initial panic to turn away she entered the village. It was still burning from rebel fire.

"They must have stolen the supplies and then burned the village," Syaoran bitterly said. Sakura concurred, subtly guiding her horse into a wide distance from the dancing flames.

"I'll look in this direction," Sakura said and headed off towards the village square. A soft sound met her ears. Nearly imperceptible sounding, she slowly got off her horse wondering where the noise was coming from. Drawing her sword she made sure there were no foes around her, but froze in front of a burning inferno.

A tall house loomed in front of Sakura, flames pouring out from the windows. For an instant, Sakura could hear the screams of her mother, who was killed rescuing her from a house fire. Sakura escaped the flames with a small burn on her back but she could never overcome her fear of fire. Now she faced the blaze, but instead of the screams of her mother, she was really hearing those of a small child. Before she could reconsider her actions, she rushed inside.

Confused and disoriented she could only see thick, black smoke. Forcing herself to stay low to the ground, she crawled on her hands and knees and followed the sobbing voice. Coughing because of the lack of air, she suddenly spied the child curled at the top of the stairs against the banister. With shock she realized that the stairs were about to collapse.

"Jump!" she screamed out with outstretched arms. Standing, the child gave a tremendous leap straight into Sakura's arms. Quickly, Sakura rushed out just as the stairs, and then the house collapsed. Breathing heavily she swept the bangs from the youngster's face.

"It's a girl!" she realized as she stumbled to her knees. Laying the girl, who had fainted, carefully on the ground, she could see Syaoran running towards her.

"I didn't see any survivors where I looked. Are you okay?" he asked with concern. She gestured to the girl in front of him.

"Give her some water," she instructed him. Syaoran held his canteen of water to the girl's lips as she drank eagerly. Sakura checked to make sure the little one had no broken bones or other injuries. She gave a grateful sigh, glad to see that the girl was perfectly fine. She looked to be about two years old. Sadly her mother and father had perished in the flames. Glancing up at the smoldering ruins, Sakura was overjoyed that she managed to save a life instead of taking one and she knew that though her fears were not gone, it was a step closer to conquering them.

"Baba… Mama…" the girl weakly called out.

"We should take her back," Syaoran said. As he was bending down to pick her up, a loud wail met both their ears. Suddenly he was glomped (or tackled ) from behind by a whirlwind dressed in red.

"Oh save me, save me!" a girl screeched out. "Oh the rebels are everywhere!"

Sputtering, Syaoran choked out, "The rebels are gone, now let go of me!"

The girl did so, and smiling inconsiderately she replied, "Oh my hero!" and promptly latched onto his arm. Syaoran, being the gentleman he was, assisted her onto his horse and began to lead the both of them back to the campsite. Rolling her eyes, Sakura gently picked up the little girl and slowly trailed Syaoran. Kero obediently trotted behind.

"It was just horrible!" the girl narrated dramatically. "I had just gone to feed my poor, ill grandmother when the whole village just burst into flames. My name is Yukina by the way," she added.

Syaoran groaned quietly as the girl chatted to him, and only to him the whole way. Sakura, on the other hand, could only guess that she had no grandmother and that the whole ploy was to snare the attentions of her friend.

"This girl must have a weak spot for men in uniform," she surmised.

At the campsite, the two survivors were taken to the medic tent to check for injuries. Both came out healthy, but the doctor kept the little girl in for overnight observation. Sakura, worried about the child, checked in a couple of times during the examination.

Yukina was questioned on what exactly happened during the attack, a story she all too eagerly told. Mainly full of her exaggerated heroic actions, the others could discern through her lies that a rebel army had blitzed the town and stolen all the supplies. Yukina, unfortunately, did not know any information about the little girl. The moment the medical soldiers released her she promptly latched her "claws" back onto Syaoran.

"I have no place to go to," she purred seductively to Syaoran. "Maybe I should stay here for now."

Syaoran replied, "We have scouts looking at nearby villages to take you and the other girl in. You're welcomed to stay until then."

"With you?" Yukina added coyly.

Crossly, Sakura interrupted this sickening spectacle. "She can take my tent and I'll sleep outside," she added swiftly seeing the girl's eyes light up.

Surprised Syaoran glanced over at his friend. "You can't sleep outside. Winter is coming and the nights are supposed to be freezing over here."

Sakura thought for a moment. She was used to warmer climates due to the fact that her town was in the southern area of the country. However, under no circumstance was she going to be rooming with Li! She protested his every argument, until he reached into her tent and pulled her belongings out and placed them into his tent. She sighed inwardly, grateful that she had packed the items necessary for her to appear as a man securely into the secret compartment of her knapsack.

"It'll be a tight squeeze sometimes, but it'll be better than you sleeping outside," he said with authority. "No more arguments," he added when she was about to open her mouth to protest again. Conceding defeat, she left to gather the rest of her things and to get the tent ready for Yukina. Sakura could see the vixen pouting slightly as she placed the rest of her items into Li's tent.

Reassessing the situation, Sakura could see that her usually routine would not change much. She always wore her bindings throughout the whole day and even at night, just in case of a surprise attack and she made sure her "questionable" belongings were also hidden. She of course, couldn't change in front of Li, and she would probably have to leave the tent whenever she or he did.

Night fell, and she and Li got ready to sleep. She had already changed in the bushes outside and as quick as she could she lied on the ground and drew the blanket over her. Seeing Li about to take his shirt off, she quickly turned over to face the tent wall. She blushed heavily. From the fluttering of the candle light she could see his shadow cast against the white canvas. Long, lean arms, flat torso, strong legs… Sakura mentally slapped herself to stop her wandering eyes.

"Are you uncomfortable?" Syaoran questioned his friend, who seemed to be buried very deep under the blankets.

"A little," he could hear a soft voice from under the mound. "I guess with an older sister, you learn not to walk around shirtless or anything. I'm not used to dressing around other people."

Syaoran chuckled softly. "Yeah with four older sisters, you learn quickly to knock on a door before you enter their room. They really value their privacy," he said with a laugh. "Okay, you can look now." He smiled as he heard a soft laugh from the embarrassed soldier.

"Thanks Li, for putting up with me and letting me stay here."

Syaoran looked up to meet the eyes of Kinimoto. For an instant, he lost himself in those emerald orbs. Blinking rapidly, he smiled and wished his friend a goodnight as Kinimoto fell asleep. Laying down he didn't sleep immediately but continued to wonder about his new bunkmate. When he did sleep, he continued to see those mysterious eyes in his dreams.

Please review,
Grignard