General Li had sent his nephew a letter which said:
"Dear Shang,
I hope youīre doing fine training those soldiers. I know you can do it. After war ends you are taking my place as the general.
Sincerely,
Your uncle."
The first thing Shang did after reading the letter, was to tell Mulan about it. She was glad to know he told her private stuff, that even Chi Fu was not allowed to see. She definately was not mad at her commanding officer anymore.
"Thank you for making it possible," said Shang as they walked to have breakfast.
Mulan turned red and asked,"Me, what did I do?"
"Well, youīve been helping me this time around, and if it werenīt for you, I wouldnīt do all this training by myself," explained Shang.
Mulan smiled,"Thatīs what friends are for."
Mulan and Shang gazed at each other for a moment, but when Mulan realized what she was doing she turned her eyes in another direction. She could feel her cheeks burning with embarassment, she wondered if he had seen the dreamy face she just did, if he noticed it she was in serious trouble. What if he suspected about her feelings?
"Well I think we better get going," suggested Shang. Mulan nodded and walked away to join her friends: Yao, Ling, and Chien Po.
One day, they were doing some fishing in the river nearby, and Mushu started to tease Mulan .
"Youīre doing great."
"Huh?"
Mulan caught a little fish and threw it to a basket in front of her.
"Indeed," said Mushu crossing his arms.
"What are you up to?" asked Mulan raising her eyebrow and bending to try to catch another fish. Those fish were swimming fast that day.
"Mr. Big Muscles and you," muttered Mushu so no one could hear.
"What were friends?"asked Mulan.
"Well, right, but after war you both could settle down in a nice little house together and...what is that youīre doing?"
Mulan bent down and then, splashed Mushu with cold water from the river.
"Enough!" said Mushu.
Cri-kee was standing next to the basket giggling.
Mushu swam to the surface and when he was safe he said,"I will have revenge."
Mulan covered her mouth and laughed wildly.
Shang saw Mulan playing around instead of working so he walked towards her and said, "Get to work young lady."
Mulan nodded and replied," Yes, Sir." She sounded so much like Ping when he said that.
Shang shook his head and Mulan noticed a smirk on his face. Oh he looked very handsome with that expression on his face, she couldnīt help herself but to simply giggle mischieviously.
"Why is it whenever you do something you are not soupposed to you make this michievious little girl face?" asked Shang smiling.
"Perhaps, the little girl I was still lives in me," replied Mulan.
"She surely does," agreed Shang. He was crossing his strong arms, then he walked away, and Mulan kept fishing; well, actually, she was pretending to fish, she was not paying much attention to what she was doing. Her thoughts drifted to Shang and the cute smirk he had just made.
Ling was standing close to Mulan and he saw she wasnīt really fishing ,"I think they told you to keep working," he teased. It was so tempting to get him wet too, so she did it. Of couse Ling was not staying with his arms crossed , so, when Mulan was finally paying attention to the fishing, he dove into the river and pulled Mulanīs foot so she would slip into the river. Mulan lost her balance, and she fell into the freezing water. Lingīs revenge plan worked out pretty well, but then he got kicked after they went out of the river.
Late in the afternoon, Mulan changed her training clothes for some lovely dress she brought with her. They had finished early with the training that day so she had all that time to rest.
"He called you mischievious," said Mushu.
"Should I be offended by the comment or what?" replied Mulan as she brushed her beautiful black her with the flower comb her mother gave her when she went to see the matchmaker.
"I should advice," Mushu went on," you should take it as a compliment as long as he was smiling."
Mulan wasnīt paying much attention to her guardianīs words, she was simply looking through the open door in her room at a tall figure standing there in front pacing back and forth nervously.
"Are you listening to me?" Mushu asked. Mulan turned to see Mushu and kissed his head. The next thing she did was to stand up and walk out of her room.
"Can you belive it?" Mushu asked Cri-kee," She completely ignored me."
Cri-kee shook his head and twisted his tiny little mouth.
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Mulan reached Shang and asked,"Is something troubling you?"
He stopped pacing and turned to face the small lady that stood in front of him. It had been a long time since he didnīt see her wearing a dress. "Sheīs beautiful," he thought to himself. Mulan looked really tiny next him, indeed, but it he didnīt seem to care about her size. Yes, she was like a little girl to him: sweet, kind, and inocent; even her eyes glowed with this special childish sparkle,which he found amazing."Let it out!" a voice inside Shang exclaimed.
"Nothingīs wrong," he finally answered," I was just wondering if we could er... just... mmm talk for a while."
Mulan nodded and walked beside her Captain.
"So where are we going?" asked Shang stopping after a few minutes of walking with no destination in mind.
"Donīt know," Mulan replied," I thought you knew where were you leading me to."
They kept walking foward.
"Just like our lives," Shang said," We never know what comes up next."
"Fate plays a big part in them," said Mulan.
Soon, they were sitting on the grass watching the beautiful sunset together; it reminded Mulan that she had to appreciate all the beautiful things in life, because she never knew if she was living another day, specially when she went to battle-
Mulan breathed in the fresh air of the forest. It was wonderful to spend those moments with the guy she loved, Shang had all the qualities she looked for in a man, but still, she wondered if she was worthy to him too. Mulan remembered the little boy she met more than a decade ago.
"Shang, did you ever met a little girl who looked like me?"
Shang was puzzled for a moment, he had no clue of what was she talking about, but then, he remembered a rosy cheeked child with Mulanīs tender and mischievious eyes.
"I guess so," he answered," she had your eyes."
Mulan smiled and questioned," How long ago?"
Shang closed his eyes to think about that day, he was ten years old by then."14 years ago."
"At the emperorīs palace?"
"Huh...yes."
"Then you were that boy! I was right!" exclaimed Mulan.
"Wait a second," Shang said," You were the little girl that fell down while we were playing tag?" Mulan blushed and nodded at the same time.
"I can still see so much about that little girl in you, Fa Mulan. I often wondered if it was you," said Shang.
"Well, Captain Li Shang, I can still see part of that sweet little boy too," said Mulan. Oh heavens, was she flirting? well, actually her voice sounded a little flirty.
Their eyes met for a moment. Shang was falling into a spell Mulanīs eyes had performed in him because he couldnīt take his eyes away from hers, they were the most beautiful eyes heīd ever seen in his whole life; they were outstanding, different from the eyes of other young ladies heīd met before, bright and passionate, besides, they were like a five year oldīs eyes, young and with sparkling fire such as fireworks. Their gaze was interrupted when Mulan touched Shangīs back with the palm of her hand and said, "Youīre it!" She ran as fast as she could and Shang went after her. He could almost reach her and when he did, he said,"You shouldnīt wear that dress, you can barely run with it."
"How was I to know that I was playing tag with you at my age," replied Mulan chuckling. She was still running away from him.
"Yeah, Yeah, little girl," Shang teased,"You say youīre old for playing this games huh? He finally reached her.
Mulan laughed until she was out of breath, she stopped abruptly to say," I started."
"I know," Shang said panting, he got tired of running. He touched her shoulder, but Mulan didnīt miss the chance to continue the game," Youīre it!"
"Ainīt fair!" Shang screamed as he ran after her.
He had lost her vy now, and it was getting dark. He didnīt even hear the sound of that graceful laughter.
"Mulan, where are you?" he asked desperately, but he didnīt get a response. It was getting darker, and they were a little far from the base. He could hear nothing. What if something happened to her. The forest was very dangerous, she could even find tigers and get killed by them if she wasnīt careful.
Suddenly,he heard some giggles coming nearby. Shang ran to search for Mulan.
Shang found her talking with her guardian, that little red dragon called Mushu, and she was caressing a fluffy, little fat panda.
"I was looking for you," said Shang sighing.
Mulan smiled at him. Oh, that smile that made him go nuts, her smile had this glow that made everything that troubled him, turn into something that was not rather important.
"Whereīs itīs mother?"asked Shang.
"I donīt know," Mulan replied," I just found him eating bamboo."
The little panda was so tender. Mulan picked some bamboo and fed the little panda , he looked so cute.
"Mulan, I think, weīd better get going back," said Shang.
"I know, itīs get getting late," said Mulan looking at the sky filled with sparkling stars,"But can we keep him?"
"You know we canīt. One of these days weīre leaving to battle and the panda will get used to you, and itīs not going to be easy to get rid of him, and we canīt take him to battle," explained Shang.
"Could you stop giving excuses and just say no?" asked Mushu as he climbed to Shangīs shoulder. It certainly was very hard to say no to Mulan when she pleaded you in that manner she did, specially Shang. "Why are you such a softy with her?"
Mulan knew she was blushing , Mushu always tried to force Shang to confess his true feelings of Mulan, but he was strong for such matters.
"Er...I ... I donīt see a reason for being hard on her," replied Shang.
"Yeah, sure."
"Mushu, knock it off," commanded Mulan nervously.
The little panda walked towards Shangīs feet, he looked so adorable. "Oh look he likes you," said Mulan.
Shang knelt and lifted the baby panda in his arms. He started to pat his fluffy, and chubby little face. Mulan watched him with loving eyes for a couple of seconds, and when he put the cub down he turned to see Mulan and she pretended she was looking somewhere else. She was passing her fingers through a lock of her black hair.
They stayed a little while playing with the panda, until itīs mother appeared and the little panda ran to her.
Shang rose to his feet and helped Mulan up. Mushu winked an eye at Mulan and Cri-kee told hiim something in his language that meant," Leave her alone." Mushu sticked his long, thin tongue at Cri-Kee.
"Race to the Bai Tao Base," Shang proposed.
"Sure," said Mulan.
They both ran as fast as they could, but their laughter was not of big help. It was like being kids again, just thinking of nothing and competing in races. Mulan was ahead Shang, but then, he caught up with her. In the end of the race, they both got at the same time to their training place. The moon looked big, and was surrounded by bright little stars.
"Mulan, I had a great time today," Shang said as they walked towards their rooms.
"Me too," agreed Mulan.
Their eyes met once again, but their gaze was interrupted when Shang said," I felt like a child when I used to run and feel so free. Racing with other kids, and when I lost some weight , I remember I felt so satisfied when I won."
Mulan interrupted," Like when I was seven years old and we didnīt know each other, but still, we had fun playing tag."
"I wouldnīt trade these moments for anything in this world," Shang went on,"Youīve been a great friend all this time." Mulan was flattered by Shangīs words, but she knew he could do better, well, only if he wanted to. "Well, Shang, you too."
Shang gently grabbed Mulanīs hand and caressed it. Mulan felt tickles inside her stomach, it was a wonderful feeling though. Shangīs hands were sweating , but it didnīt matter to Mulan.
"I..er... what I want to really tell you is..," Shang said in a shaky voice, anyway Mulanīs heartbeat was rising, hoping he could say something better than just thanking her for being his friend. Shang continued," I just want to make sure that...er...after war...I wish to make you..." Mulan was smiling but Shang got stucked and he decided to say," I want to make sure weīll still be friends. Mulanīs smile vanished. She really expected something more than just friendship, she felt so worthless to him. Was it all he wanted from her ? Just friendship? After all they had been through? After a few seconds of complete silence, Mulan spoke up,"Sure, you can always count on it." Both sighed at the exact same time. Shang let go Mulanīs hand and said," Itīs time for you to sleep." Mulan nodded, she was so disappointed; she shouldīve known better, Mulan was expecting too much from part of him. She was only a good friend to him and she could never change the fact. Maybe there was some other stupid brat with no brain who was betrothed to him.
"Goodnight Shang."
"Goodnight Mulan."
Mulan walked to her room looking down at her feet, thinking she was only a dreamer, a hopeless dreamer who would never catch Shangīs eye.
Shang was so angry with himself, he could be brave in the battlefield but when it was something that had to do with matters of the heart, he was a complete chicken. He made a fool of himself in front of Mulan. Fear of rejection from part of the girl he loved was the cause of his shyness. Shang sometimes thought she was too much for him, and he didnīt deserve her love, but yet, she had been very nice to him all this time.
Mulan threw herself on her bed, which was almost as hard as a rock. She missed her soft , comfy, and warm bed at home. "Why did it had to be him?" she muttered bitterly.
Mushu heard her words loud and clear, she sounded hurt. The little red dragon jumped next to her and passed his claws through her smooth black hair." When someone falls in love with someone else it happens for a reason."
"Then which is my reason?" Mulan asked hurted," Why do I have to love someone who will never feel the same for me?" She was sitting on the bed now, and a pure crystal tear ran down her cheek. Why was love so unfair to her?
Mushu was speechless, he didnīt know what to say to make feel assured. He took a deep breath and said," I donīt know babe, but I do know he has love feelings for you."
Mulan lied down again and thought to herself," The love you feel for a friend."
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Shang couldnīt sleep that night, he was just tossing and turning on his bed. The thought of being such a coward and not confessing his feelings was torturing him inside. Why was it so hard to admit the truth? Well, we could put fear in the first place. He was affraid of being refused, most of all. Sometimes, Shang knew he didnīt deserve such blessing; to have Mulan by his side for the rest of his life.
Shang decided to take a walk just to distract himself and to relax. The air was cold. That night, he passed by Mulanīs room. He stopped there and stared at the door. Of course he was not going to enter, just to wake her up from her sweet dreams. Instead, he just whispered softly," Be patient please, just as soon as I find the right moment, I will tell you my true feelings for you." Shang walked away and headed towards his room.
