AN: Ok, so here is chapter 2. Hope you enjoy it. Im trying to explore the characters of Shang and Mulan before i get into the proper story- the way I think this will work is every alternate chapter will be from Shang's perspective, and likewise with Mulan. Just seems more interesting to me that way :)
Woah its getting late. I have work tomorrow so i will shut up and post this now.
Almost forgot- please review! Thanks :)
Shang lay on his back in the dark, gazing at the roof of his tent without really seeing. Sleep would not claim him, and this puzzled him. Had he not just rid himself of the one person holding back the troop? Training would now run a lot smoother for all of them, now that he wouldn't have to spend so much time correcting Ping's mistakes. Soon they would be heading out to join his father at the front, where they belonged. Where he knew his destiny would finally lead him.
There would be no more of Chi Fu's sneers and looks of contempt as he noted down all of the mishaps and accidents that recently seemed to be happening almost daily during training. He was suddenly reminded of the cannon incident that had destroyed Chi Fu's tent, and smiled grimly. Had Shang not been so angry at Ping's sheer incompetence and the danger he had put the others in, he would have laughed. He had no idea what Chi Fu was writing in that notebook of his, but he knew for sure that he wasn't singing his praises. He was well aware that the councillor thought him inept and undeserving of his title as Captain. Well that was fine. Shang thought the same of him. Why the Emperor had appointed him he would never know.
All he knew for sure, or hoped, at least, was that without Ping, they could finally make some progress, and that infuriating councillor would lay off. He should have been rejoicing.
So why wasn't he? Shang had always had confidence in his actions. He could make snap decisions and always know he had made the right choice. But this time things were different. He could not shake the hurt, betrayed expression on the young recruit's face out of his head. The reproach in Ping's eyes burned through Shang's mind. He could imagine the disgrace he would be in- being sent home from the army indicated weakness and dishonour. So instead of satisfaction of weeding out the most incompetent soldier he had ever laid eyes on, he felt a nagging sense of guilt and doubt. Perhaps he should have given him another chance...
He suddenly realised how foolish he sounded. "Enough of this," he muttered crossly to himself. He was going soft in the head. He shifted onto his side and pulled the thin blanket around his shoulders and closed his eyes.
There were no second chances in the army.