A/N: Sorry for the long wait between updates. Finally got chapter five up!

oooOooo

Chapter 5

Wisps of white smoke rose in curls from the stick of incense that lay in the bronze bowl, freshly lit. Hua Zhou knelt before the wooden tablets bearing the names of the family ancestors and prayed for their guidance, both for him and his unusual daughter.

It had never bothered him that she was different from other girls. He always enjoyed those evenings that he practiced his moves with his little daughter beside him, imitating him. Clever, curious and smart, she was never afraid to express herself. She spoke her mind without hesitation and always had something intelligent to say. With no son to pass his knowledge on to, he'd been gratified that his only daughter wanted to learn and felt proud to see that she'd taken his lessons to heart. She had become quite good; and maybe one day she would have her own son that she could pass on the knowledge to. It could be his legacy, even if her son didn't bear his family name.

But as she drew closer to womanhood he became concerned about her complete involvement with martial arts and lack of interest in domestic activities, duties that she would be expected to fulfill as a wife. She had managed to pass the matchmaker's test, much to their relief. But they knew that the woman disliked their daughter and disapproved of her ways. They worried that any match she made for her would not be done with care, for Lady Chen believed that Mulan was wayward.

And, he had to admit, she was too free-spirited. He knew without asking that she was the girl that General Li's son had spotted in the forest. She just didn't seem to be able to sit still or remain inside. Like a spirited wild horse she had a need to keep moving and an inability to remain within the confines of their gates, or even their town. Something in her nature required her to venture out further and further, a sense of adventurousness that compelled her to explore and discover. It was a quality that would be valued and nurtured in a son; but was worrisome in a daughter.

Things would have been easier had she been born male, he thought with a sigh.

And now he pondered her sudden and puzzling new habit of walking around the garden balancing a wooden bucket on her head.

Finished with his prayers, he ventured out of the temple and made his way down the hill and back to the house, where his wife and mother had lunch prepared already. He took his seat and glanced at his daughter's empty place.

"Where is Mulan?"

"She is getting washed and will be right along. She was out practicing all morning," Hua Li added the last part with a sigh.

"Our Mulan is more apt to become another Maiden of Yueh rather than a traditional wife," Grandma remarked as she served him rice.

"I know, Ma. Unfortunately most men want a demure and dutiful wife, not the Maiden of Yueh," he answered with a frown.

"Don't lose hope," his mother answered with a mischievous glint in her eye. "There may yet be a young man out there who would be happy to have a Maiden of Yueh. And even his father would be just as pleased."

oooOooo

The center of town was bustling when Shang stepped outside and joined his father, who seemed slightly nettled about something. He turned to his son when he approached and nodded."I trust you slept well, Li Shang."

"Yes, sir. And you?"

"Yes," his father affirmed half-mindedly.

"Everything is alright then, Father?" he asked, eyeing him warily.

"Fine, fine," he answered, but he seemed annoyed and distracted.

Shang fell silent and remained standing beside him, gazing at the passersby and wondering what was up with the general. He wondered if bad news had come from one of the scouts. But if that was the case, General Li would have gathered several of his men to apprise them of the situation, including him. No, that wasn't what was bothering his father.

As he stared at the throng of villagers walking through the street it suddenly occurred to him that several women were out. He thought they were supposed to be safe inside.

Captain Lau appeared shortly after, making his way toward them through the crowd of people. Upon approaching he saluted the general hand over fist. Then he cocked his head toward two women who were passing. "I thought the women were supposed to stay inside? So they'd be safe."

General Li waved a hand and shook his head without a word.

"Soldiers follow orders," the captain remarked with a chuckle, answering his own question and winking at Shang. "Women don't."

The young man pondered the captain's remark, thinking of Mulan and how it would be impossible to make her follow orders. His first encounter with her occurred because she was wandering around in the forest alone instead of staying inside like she was supposed to. A smile slowly crept to his lips. He imagined she wouldn't be so interesting if she was obedient and demure.

"No sign of Sun Ji-li or the other scout yet, General Li. But the perimeter of the village is well patrolled and we're ready for when Shan-Yu's troop arrives."

"Very good. I'm sure that they're close. One of Shan-Yu's scouts has already been here. A falcon."

Shang started and turned to his father in surprise.

"The falcon you and Hua Mulan saw," his father added, nodding to him. "Many of the nomads from the steppe use falcons for tracking and scouting. Shan-Yu is one of those."

Captain Lau saluted once more as the general dismissed him and disappeared down the street, leaving father and son alone again.

"I understand you've visited her a few times."

Heat enveloped Shang's face as he met his father's gaze with his own, unsure how to best answer him. He supposed any response was going to get him in trouble and opted for honesty.

"Yes, sir. I saw her practicing martial arts…and I offered to help her with some moves…"

Shang blinked at the general in disbelief as he began to laugh heartily. He rested a hand on his shoulder and gestured for him to walk with him.

"That's better than anything I ever came up with, Shang."

"But it's true, sir."

Another rumble of laughter emerged from his father's belly. They reached the edge of town and General Li gestured for him to stop. He leaned in to speak with him confidentially, glancing back toward where they had come from.

"Be careful, Li Shang. As a man, no one will care that you've broken the rules. But it is different for a young girl. And she is the daughter of not only a highly known and respected general, but my very good friend. You must not do anything to shame her. It's understandable that you would be drawn to her. Men have needs…but there are other women for that."

His face felt like it was on fire. "Father, I never…"

The general chuckled again and slapped him lightly on the back. "Not yet. But you'll want to."

Shang bowed his head, at a loss as to what to say.

"The matchmaker in this town is quite nasty. I just had a run-in with her right before you came out. She's looking to get her claws into you and she had nothing but foul words for Hua Mulan. Of all the inappropriate times, too. I don't agree with anything that she says; but it's important that you be aware that people already view her as different. If the behavior of the two of you comes under scrutiny, it could make things very difficult for her."

"Did she already take the test?"

"Yes, and she passed it. But that woman still looks down on her."

Shang hesitated for a moment before he spoke up again. "Father, I consider her a friend. And she considers me one…since our families are friends…"

"Young men and women aren't friends, Li Shang. That's just the way it is. Sometimes, if we're lucky, we can be friends with our wives."

With that final statement by the general, the discussion ended. They walked back to the main hall in silence. A scout from the troop that was stationed along the outer perimeter to the north stood outside of the building, waiting for them, Captain Lau by his side.

"I've come from Sun Ji-Li, General," he began, saluting. "There are forty men from the enemy troop, approaching from the north…"

"Forty? Are you sure that's it?" Captain Lau asked.

The general held up his hand, silencing his captain so the scout could finish his report.

"That is Sun Ji-Li's report. Also, he said that he can't be sure, since he's never met Shan-Yu, but he didn't see anyone that matched the description you gave him."

General Li frowned. "This is disturbing news, but not at all surprising. Shan-Yu must be up to something. They're sending a small group in to tire us out."

"And then the rest of the army will come in and try to demolish us," Captain Lau added.

"That or they sent this group to keep us occupied while the rest of the army circumvents this area and goes straight to the Imperial City. In which case the group headed this way is merely a diversion. I might do the same thing if I was in his place. Shan-Yu is a clever and formidable opponent; I won't underestimate him again. Captain Lau, dispatch two scouts back toward the Imperial City and tell them to warn General Kong that Shan-Yu's army may already be on their way to his position."

"Will they get there in time?"

"If my suspicions are correct, Shan-Yu had to take the long way in order to circumvent this valley. Our scout will be taking a shortcut, through easier terrain. But he must move fast. In the meantime, we will move part of our troop out to the south and intercept Shan-Yu's army in the mountains. The rest of the troop will stay here and defend this village. Dismissed."

oooOooo

Xiao Long came to the house again that night, acting as protector while Hua Zhou went off to meet with General Li once more. Nearest that Mulan could gather from her reticent father, the Imperial troop was splitting up, part of them moving out to intercept the larger enemy force, which had done the unexpected, while the rest stayed and protected the village.

But her father seemed reluctant to talk about it, and she sensed that it wasn't because he was disturbed at the news, although that was a part of it. It had something to do with her. She knew she wasn't like other girls and that it worried him and the rest of her family; but she didn't know how to act any different than who she was. At least she'd managed to pass the matchmaker's test; whether the woman would find her a match was another story. Lady Chen was a nasty witch of a woman and Mulan knew she disliked her.

Do I even want to be a bride? she asked herself sadly. I would make a terrible wife.

Sometimes she really did wish that she could be what other people expected her to be.

Her thoughts drifted to Shang and she wondered if he would be moving off into battle somewhere out there when the troop was split up. He was a skillful and gifted soldier; but in every battle there was the risk that a soldier wouldn't return, no matter how artful a warrior. And though he made up for it somewhat in cockiness, he was still young and inexperienced.

Leaving her room again she took a lit candle and walked out of the house in her bare feet, drifting across the courtyard to the outer gate. If Shang was leaving with half of the troop she wanted to see him before he left.

Hours passed while she waited at the gate, keeping anxious vigil. The candle that she held had burned out by the time he finally appeared, returning from his watch in the forest. His jaw dropped when he saw her.

"Mulan."

He hurried toward her.

"What are you doing out here? You should be inside."

"I thought you might be leaving…with the other half of the troop," she blurted out, feeling foolish all of a sudden, and bowed her head. "I wanted to say goodbye."

She was greeted with silence and she chanced to look up at him, her cheeks flaming with embarrassment. He was staring at her in astonishment.

"I heard from my father…" she began.

He shook his head. "My father wants me to stay here. I guess…it's the first time I'm going into battle. He wanted me to remain where the terrain is easier."

Shang seemed ashamed of that and she almost laughed giddily. It was so silly for him to be embarrassed about his inexperience; he was only seventeen after all and he'd been at the Imperial Academy all this time, not at war with his father. But she supposed it was his male pride.

"That's very wise of him," she told him, her voice reassuring.

"I suppose."

"Well, I should be getting inside."

"Mulan…I won't be able to practice with you anymore…"

"Of course not. You'll be busy defending the village. But I'm practicing on my own."

He grinned and her heart melted as she beheld that crooked smile of his. It made him look so cute.

"Glad to hear it."

She wasn't prepared for what he said next.

"My father says that young men and women can't be friends…"

"Oh…"

"I still consider you a friend though, Mulan."

"So do I."

"But I…I probably won't be able to come and visit anymore…I mean, I can come with my father when he visits…"

She nodded, understanding. Tradition and custom were both staring her in the face again.

"Well, good luck, Shang. I'll see you when you visit with your father then."

"Goodnight."

"Bye."

She turned and hurried off without looking back. Grandma was waiting up for her once again, tapping her foot as she entered the house. But she was grinning.

"It's a good thing you made it inside before your father got home, Mulan," she quipped, winking at her.

Mulan nodded wearily. "Goodnight, Grandma."

"What is it, child?"

"Nothing. I'm just tired."

"You can't hide the truth from me. Come and sit with me again. I'll make tea."

"I'm not in the mood for tea, Grandma."

"Fine. You can keep me company while I have some. We must talk about that young man of yours."

"He's not mine and I know it isn't proper," she sighed, not wanting to hear a lecture about it. "But you don't need to worry. He won't be coming around anymore. The enemy is about to descend on us and he's going to be busy. And we all have more important things to worry about."

"Yes, and I'll bet he was given a talking to for visiting with you on his own, too."

Her grandmother laughed at her incredulous expression and gestured for her to sit while she boiled water.

"I've been around for a long time. I know what goes on."

When the tea was ready Grandma joined her at the table, setting two cups down.

"Do you believe that young men and women can't be friends?" Mulan asked her, a twinge of sadness in her heart. She had come to enjoy Shang's company and friendship. He was the first person who was close in age to her that she'd felt comfortable talking to, and who not only didn't put her down for practicing martial arts, but helped her. It disappointed her that they couldn't continue their friendship.

Grandma gazed at her thoughtfully for a few moments. "Given the way things are, yes. I agree that's true. I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, but it's the way it is. There are rules that guide behavior and people harshly judge those who don't obey them. And young men and women are not to consort alone, not until they're married. People gossip. No matter how innocent your relationship with the young man they will jump to conclusions and you will invite dishonor upon yourself. I know it's not easy for you, Mulan. You're not like other young girls."

"I know. I see how much Father worries too. He wishes I had been born a boy."

She shook her head. "No. He believes that things would have been easier if you had been born a boy. He loves you just as you are. As for your young man, he too likes you just as you are. And he will be back with his father. I have no doubt about that."

They fell silent as they heard the sound of the front door opening, signaling her father's return. He saw the light and came into the room.

"What are you both doing up still?"

"Mulan and I are having tea. How are things in town?"

"The village is well protected, but it's imperative that you all stay inside the gates from now on. The enemy will be here soon and they are ruthless."

Her father gazed at her pointedly and she nodded obediently. Things were going to be different from now on.