Part 4: Childhood Crush

It was a beautiful late-summer day. Mai was in the garden doing taiji quan with Hua-Lan. Specifically, they were practicing "pushing hands." It was an exercise that required close proximity, almost like a simple dance. "Pay attention, Mai." teased Hua-Lan as she gripped Mai's left wrist. Mai made a quick circle with her wrist. This broke the grip and gave Mai the advantage of grabbing both of Hua-Lan's arms. Mai pulled, but Hua-Lan lifted her arms and spun into the pull, the momentum knocking Mai over. Both of them ended up on the ground, Hua-Lan on top of Mai.

"Oof!"

Fa Nainai walked out at that moment. Hua-Lan hadn't heard about the Fa matriarch's tendency towards pairing people up (or tripling people up, in the case of Kara, Mulan, and Shang). But she was about to experience it.

"Mai, is there anything you'd like for your ninth birthday?" asked Fa Nainai.

Mai got off Hua-Lan and helped her up. She blushed. "Um, not that I can think of." answered Mai. "I have enough love from my family, you don't have to give me anything."

"And a little extra love from Hua-Lan?" Fa Nainai raised an eyebrow.

Mai gagged. "Ew! Yuck! I can't do that! She's my friend!" she protested.

Fa Nainai smirked. "Suit yourself, Mai." she sang in her breathy alto. Then she hobbled back into the house.

"Hua-Lan, can you help me with something?" whispered Mai. She unsheathed her knife, which she had gotten for her last birthday. Her eyes, deep brown streaked with oceanic blue, darted around. Nobody was listening or watching.

"What do you need help with?" asked Hua-Lan. Mai sheathed her knife briefly. She held one of her two braids in one hand and made a slicing motion with the other. Hua-Lan understood. "You need me to stand watch?" Mai nodded. Grinning, Hua-Lan answered, "I can do that! My mothers taught me!" One last look around - still nobody. Mai hid behind a tree and Hua-Lan stood in front. Hua-Lan's eyes were open but not shifting - that would look suspicious. She hummed a song Kara had been singing to look even less suspicious.

Once behind the tree, Mai unsheathed her knife. She took a few deep breaths. Then she grabbed the left braid at her collarbone and held it out to the side a bit.. More deep breaths… then she began to attack the braid. As the knife sliced through the thick strands, it made a high rasping noise. Mai felt a little tickle on her neck from the gradually releasing tension, but couldn't laugh. If she laughed, her knife might slip… finally, the braid came off in her hand. The remaining length settled between her shoulder and her collarbone. Satisfied, Mai sliced off her right braid at the same length.

"Mai! I hear your Niang and Baba! Hurry up!" Hua-Lan warned. Mai tried to put her shorter hair in a bun, but couldn't manage. "How did Mama pull this off?" muttered Mai, trying to hide her worry. She settled for a low-set ponytail and tucked it into the back of her collar. Then she came out from behind the tree.

Singing came from inside the house - unmistakably Kara and Shang.

"I am the man who will fight for your honor," Shang began.

"I'll be the hero you're dreaming of," Kara echoed.

"We'll live forever, knowing together, that we did it all for the glory of love!" They finished in unison. Then the two danced out of the house. Kara took Shang's hands and twirled into his arms, then Shang lifted her. Finally, they gazed into each others' eyes and sang, "We did it all for love." They moved in and shared a kiss. That led to Kara the inevitable gagging from Mai… and the surprise of Hua-Lan saying something about the Li-Fa parents getting a room.

"Where did you hear that?" asked Kara.

"Mushu said it to Mama and Niang once." As if on cue, Mushu fell out of the tree Mai had been hiding behind. He crash-landed on his back and couldn't seem to get up. Hua-Lan helped the travel-sized dragon to his feet. Mai was itching her neck for some reason, but neither Kara nor Shang noticed.

Mushu peeked behind the tree and immediately jumped back. "Don't look behind that tree!" warned Mushu. "Oh please oh please oh please don't look behind that tree!"

"What…" Kara pushed Mushu aside and went behind the tree. She picked up two severed braids.

"Oh no." mumbled Kara. Mushu ran off. Kara held up the braids indignantly and turned to Shang. "Shang, why did you think it was a good idea to give Mai a knife?"

"The knife was Mulan's idea!" Shang got defensive.

"You were the one who commissioned the officers' weaponsmith to make it." Kara snapped back.

"Hey, can you two stop the lovers' quarrel?" Mushu interrupted. He turned to Mai. Mai realized she couldn't hide the truth any longer. She untucked her short ponytail and let it loose.

"Mai..." Kara shook her head. "Why did you do that.…"

"It was in the way of everything. And my little sister keeps grabbing it." pointed Mai.

Kara couldn't argue with that. She turned to Shang, who was… chuckling? "Shang? What's so funny?"

Shang grinned. "You know what they say: like mother, like daughter."

"At least she didn't use a full-sized sword." pointed Hua-Lan. Relieved, Kara and Shang walked away. Hua-Lan sat down next to Mai and saw an opportunity. "Mai - can I touch your hair?"

"Yes." Mai blushed as Hua-Lan started playing with the ends, brushing away loose snippets. It got better: Hua-Lan started to finger-comb Mai's hair.

"Your hair is pretty like this." said Hua-Lan. Then she blushed as well; Mai was making the most adorable sounds. Little hums and mumbles. Hua-Lan felt a weight on her shoulder. "Mai, wake up…" But at this point, Mai was getting drowsy. Mai's favorite feeling used to be hugs from her family. This was so much better.

One thought passed through both of their minds: Does she like me?

"Come on, Hua-Lan." Xiaoxing and Meilin had since arrived to get Hua-Lan home. Hua-Lan looked up from her - friend? crush? - where did their relationship stand now? "I kind of can't…" Hua-Lan's voice trailed off. She gestured to a very sleepy Mai, resting in her lap.

Mushu appeared again. He decided to tease Hua-Lan. "You like her, don't you?"

Mai sat up at Mushu's teasing. She exchanged a glance with Hua-Lan. There was no more room to deny it...

"Yes."

The two girls hugged each other and Mai planted an innocent kiss on Hua-Lan's cheek. Mai whispered, "Hua-Lan, I like you."

"I like you too…" Hua-Lan started to get teary-eyed. She didn't want to leave her friend - no, Mai was her girlfriend now. Mai wiped the tear from Hua-Lan's eyes. It was an adorable scene. That is, until Mushu decided to serenade the newest couple.

"Come, stop your crying, it'll be all right

Just take my hand, hold it tight

I will protect you, from all around you

I will be here, don't you cry…"

"Mushu, really?" Mai rolled her eyes. Mushu paid no attention. He took a deep breath and went into the next verse.

"For one so small, you seem so strong

My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm

This bond between us can't be broken

I will be here, don't you cry!"

Completely ignoring the annoyance from Mai, Hua-Lan, Meilin, and Xiaoxing, Mushu burst into the chorus.

"Cause you'll be in my heart

Yes, you'll be in my heart

From this day on, now and forevermore!

You'll be in my heart, no matter what they say

You'll be here in my heart, always!"

Meilin gave Mushu a death glare. "Do you want me to tell the Li-Fa ancestors you're being obnoxious?"

"They already know he's obnoxious." Xiaoxing shook her head in dismay. Mushu crooned a bridge, somewhat off-key. Everyone covered their ears. This performance was not well-received, but Mushu launched into the final chorus anyway.

"Ooh, you'll be in my heart

No matter what they say

You'll be here in my heart, always

Always!"

He spun around at the last note and bowed with a flourish. "Hey, Mai! When you and Hua-Lan get married, I can be the grand-guardian!"

"MUSHU!"