Hi!  Thanks for reading my little fanfic.  This is my first attempt at anything like this, so I'd really appreciate any comments, suggestions, etc.  Send them to Ting-chan at Wubai@aol.com.  I encourage any constructive criticism that would help me improve my work and your enjoyment of the story.
Standard disclaimer.  I don't own the Ronin Warriors, or Mulan.  They belong to their respective creators and company, but everything else are my ideas

Ch.4
"Umm...Look Wei Lu," Shang finally managed to tug his arm out of her grasp.  "I've gotta go..."
The girl before him pouted as she crossed her arm indignantly.  "Don't tell me you're heading to the Fa's."
Shang chose to ignore her hostile tone as he began to lead Yong away.  "As a matter of fact..."
"But Shannnnnng!" Wei Lu whined, "That girl...Mulan."  The disgust in her voice was obvious.  "Did you know she failed the test with the matchermaker AGAIN?"
"I'm fully aware of that Miss Wei Lu, now please..."
He was cut off by Wei Lu's high pitched scream.
"Ahhh!  GET IT OFF OF ME!!!"  She was hopping around, vigorously shaking the skirt of her dress where a certain little cricket had climbed onto.
Shang rolled his eyes.  "Wei Lu it's just a cricket...if you'd just hold still..."
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
Shang decided to take this opportunity to slip away.  He tiptoed away with Yong from Wei Lu who was still hopping around in a maddening circle and screaming for all she was worth.
"AAAHHH...."  Wei Lu's next scream was muffled by a tomato that catapulted out of nowhere and found its target right in her opened and shrieking mouth.
"Bull's eye!!!"  Mushu did a little victory dance on the roof then paused, "Or should I say 'Bull's mouth'?"  The little dragon doubled over with laugher, then he put a finger to his side, "Sssss...Ooh, I'm hot today!"
~~~~~~
The rumbling in the darkened noon sky drove despair further into Kayura's heart.  The dim sky prognosticated a dim future.  The grim atmosphere of the impending storm indicated a grim epoch to come.  All things were a premonition of darkness...
She stared out of the window a while longer before she sat down and immersed her concentration into meditation.
~~~~~~
Shang led Yong to the gate of the Shang household.  His knock was greeted with an expression of absolute delight from Grandma Fa.  "How are ya Sweet Cheeks?"
But even her usually cheerful attitude faltered as she saw the still comatose young man on Yong's back.  Fa Zhou and Li were both called out to inspect their latest "patient."
Fa Li immediately began to tend to him after Shang move the inert body to the bed of the guest room.
Shang relaxed once he saw that the man was receiving care.  He'll be alright now.
Self consciously, he straightened up his broad shoulders and dusted off his armor.  Then looking around curiously, he noticed that someone was not present.
"Honorable Host Fa," he bowed to Fa Zhou, "May I enquire the whereabouts of your daughter?"
Fa Zhou didn't have a chance to answer as Grandma came up and replied, "Oh, she's out in town attending a guest."  She smiled mischievously before continuing, "HE just dropped by this morning."  Grandma made sure she emphasized the HE, and she watched as Shang's eyebrows arched a little.  She then turned casually to Fa Zhou, and in a conversational tone added, "You know they really do look cute together."
Fa Zhou stared at his mother not knowing what to say.
When she turned back to Shang, she could see a change in those reflective captain eyes.  "Uhh..."
Grandma smiled again, "Why don't you be a doll and go find them?  It's almost time for lunch."  As she said that she began pushing Shang towards his horse.  "Those silly kids, I hope they're not off anywhere ALONE."
"Yeah," Shang stuttered as he mounted onto Yong, "I'll...I'll bring them back for lunch."
Grandma waved as he rode off into town.
"What, may I ask, was that, Mother?"  Fa Zhou had just come out of his shock and regained use of his tongue again.  "You'll give Shang the wrong idea."
"Don't be such a worry wart," she nonchalantly waved off his statement.  "Besides, he's too shy.  I'm just trying to give our future son-in-law a little push towards Mulan."  She winked again.
Fa Zhou shook his head in disbelief.  "I think I shall go pray to the ancestors..."
~~~~~~
"Wow.  That was pretty cool," Ryo said astounded as he walked out of the opera house.
Mulan yawned.  "I'm glad you enjoyed it.  I was bored stiff until that scene with..."
"The battle scene between Sun Wu Kong and the Bull Monster?" Ryo cut her off.  "That was the bomb!"
Ryo turned to face her, walking backwards for a moment.  "Hey, and the giant pig monster that was..."
He felt himself crash into someone.  Turning around he saw that he had caused a woman to drop her basket full of vegetables.  "I'm sorry ma'am."  Ryo stooped to help her gather some of the scattered tomatoes and apples.  Mulan rushed over to assist him.
"That's alright dear, I wasn't really watching..."  The woman trailed off as she looked up and saw Mulan.
"Hello Mrs. Yi," Mulan smiled.  She bent down to reach for one of the stray apples.  But the woman grabbed it before she could get it.
"That's alright," she quickly gathered everything else into her basket before she rushed away.
Ryo stared after her curiously.  "She isn't very sociable is she?"
Mulan's eyes were to the ground.  She didn't reply.  Ryo didn't understand.
She had always been out of place here.  But after the stunt she pulled with the army, she's only been further rejected by society.  She doesn't belong here...
"Mulan!  Mulan!"  Her moment of remorse was forgotten as she saw Shang riding forth from the distance.
Mulan wanted to run up to him and throw her arms around him, which, of course, would not be the proper thing to do for the proper lady.  Mulan choose to give an affectionate wave to the handsome approaching figure instead.
"Hi Shang."  Was it her imagination or was there something strange in his expression?  He was looking inquisitively at Ryo who was standing by her side.  "Oh, allow me to introduce you two."  Mulan smiled.  "Shang, this is Ryo, an acquaintance of my family.  Ryo, this is Captain Shang.  He was my commanding officer."
"Hello, a pleasure to meet you."  Ryo bowed with a smile.  Shang didn't dismounted from his horse.  He remained silent and gave Ryo a small nod of greeting before sizing him up and down with his eagle eyes.
"Mulan...Ryo," Shang addressed them, "Grandma Fa wished for me to inform you that lunch is ready to be served.  Let us return."  At that he rode off without as much as a glance back.
Mulan stared after him, confused at his cold, and unfriendly attitude.  "Shang?"
~~~~~~
The 4 warlords, Mia and Yulie sat in a circle around the pale spirit form.  They were all silent.  Each trying to absorb and digest what Anubis had told them.
Dais was the one to break the silence.  He coughed uncomfortably.  "Anubis...so you're sure that the Ronins are in..."  He trailed off, conscious of exactly how ridicules he would sound.
Anubis nodded as he calmly finished Dais's sentence, "Ancient China."
"Why were we not taken as well?  Why are they there?"
"That is what we must find out...before it's too late."  Anubis looked at the confused faces around him.
Kayura had a pensive expression on her face.  "I just recalled something."  She addressed the warlords.  "That shockwave we were tracking in the Nether Realm...It might have some pertinence to light that transpired in this world."
Sehkmet rolled his eyes, "Kayura, you need to stop wasting your time fretting over the Nether Realm.  Our first priority is the Physical Realm right now..."
"Wait," Anubis looked inquiringly, "A shockwave?"  There was a moment of stillness as he pondered it.  "That might be the spiritual counterpart of the physical light."  Everyone's eyes followed him as he stood up and walked out of the circle.  "If that is correct, it would still be possible to investigate its attributes in the Nether Realm."  He turned his back to them.  "I will go now."
"Anubis?"  A small voice interjected.
"Yes Yulie?" he answered.
"Are the guys going to be okay?"
There was considerable pause before Anubis answered kindly and tenderly, "Of course Yulie.  Of course..."
Anubis didn't have the courage to turn around and face Yulie as he said that, afraid that his face would betray his emotions.
~~~~~~
Fa Li dipped the cloth into the wash pan of warm water.  She had just finished bandaging up a few cuts and scraps on the stranger and now decided that she should attempt to wash some of the dirt off from his face and hair which were completely soiled.
She tenderly wiped his cheeks, surprised to see a pale complexion underneath the dirty exterior.  Continuing that task, she soon removed all the grime.
Fa Li re-immersed the cloth into the water to cleanse it.  She moved back towards the young man.  Knowing that though it was not yet possible to wash his hair, she resolved that she would still attempt to wipe some of the dirt off.
She ran the cloth over his hair.  Rubbing out some of the silt and dirt...
Fa Li stared, not believing what she was seeing...
She scrubbed the cloth over his hair again...
Startled she backed away from the bed dropping the grimy cloth on the floor.  "Grandma!  Zhou!  Come quick!"
It was only a moment before her husband and mother-in-law joined her.
"What is it you're hollerin' for..." Grandma stopped as she too stared at the sight before her.
"How can this be?"
Meanwhile the stranger was awakening.  His eyelids slowly opened to revealed jade green eyes.
"Umm..."  With a groan, he pulled himself up into a sitting position.  He brought his hand up to his aching temples.  Then he turned his head to face his hosts.  Strands of his golden blond hair fell precariously over his right eye as he returned their stare with an equal amount of perplexity.