Ch.6
    Mushu and Cri-Kee were in very high spirits as they strolled back into the Fa house.
    "Man did you see the way Wei Lu started turning red?" Mushu's laughter was joined by Cri-Kee's little chirps of happiness. "And the way she screamed..." A pause was necessary as Mushu wiped away a few tears. "Gimme five brotha! You da bug! You da bug!"
    But the two had to quickly duck aside as the Fa Zhou, Mulan and Shang were heard approaching. The little dragon quickly noticed something was wrong in the serious tone in which they addressed each other. And as the conversation became discernible, he could tell the cause of their trouble.
    "I regret that I must leave so abruptly." The darkness of the quickly approaching evening allowed for no more than the sight of the 3 dark human figures. The form that obviously belonged to the captain bowed to his hosts. "But I wish to accompany the town messangers and bring word of this to the emperor."
    He turned to proceed towards the stable, but Mulan stopped him.
    "Wait, I'll go with you." Giving her father with a pleading look, Mulan mustered the most responsible sounding voice she could managed. "Father, wouldn't it be honorable to accompany Shang to Xi An?"
    Fa Zhou looked skeptical. "Mulan, you would be burden on Shang." Not to mention she was only 16. Travelling with Shang without adult supervision... Tradition doesn't call for this.
    "No, actually she wouldn't be a burden," Shang eagerly added. "I...I don't think the palace guards would grant me admittance anyway. But Mulan has the Emperor's crest."
    "Yes father, the emperor said that I would always be welcomed at the palace."
    "Hmmm..." Fa Zhou was about to answer.
    "You two love birds go on ahead!" Grandma Fa burst in from behind. She stepped in between Mulan and Shang, then put an arm around each of them. "Nothing like a trip to the royal palace on a first date huh?"
    "Granny! It's not a date," Mulan nervously exchanged a glance at Shang. "This is serious. The Huns are attacking again. If only one is capable of levelling an entire city..."
    "Yeah, yeah, yeah. But you two can take him on." Granny beamed with pride. "The way you took out Shan Yu... Why with parents like you, it's a wonder how strong your children will turn out..."
    "Granny!"
    Their commotion was interrupted with a...
    "Ahem." Their two strange guests awaited their complete attention before continuing.
    "I'm sorry, we couldn't help overhearing." The black haired one, Ryo, spoke while Sage remained silent. "If you are leaving for the capital we want to go with you. We can aid you in battle if needed." In unison, the two reached into their pockets and each pulled out a small sized sphere. One was red...the other green...
    "Ryo, Sage," Mulan took a step towards them, "What are those?"
~~~~~~
"Stars, stars, shine on this earth,
For in darkness, you grant us mirth,
The hope in your light is beyond compare,
Send us your strength by way of air."

    "That's a lovely poem."
    Kayura turn around from the window in which she was gazing out. "How are you faring Anubis?"
    The warlord's face carried a sad and pained smile as his injured figure limped up to her. "I'm better now."
    Kayura turned to stare out the window again. But there wasn't much to see. The dark storm clouds had not let up. It shaded the moon, the stars... There was no light except the artificial glow of the porch light outside.
    Silence.
    "A penny for your thoughts." The red headed warrior congenially inquired.
    "A penny...What's a penny?" Kayura question.
    "I'm told it's a modern monetary unit," Anubis chuckled, "What are you thinking about so late at night?"
    "Nothing...nothing at all..."
    Anubis was dimly aware of a few sniffs before it became apparent that Kayura was crying. It was startling. She's never cried. She's always been strong. Most of the time stronger than the other warlords.
    "Kayura?" Anubis tried to put his arm around her to comfort her. He cursed in his head as his translucent arm passed through her shoulder.
    "Is something wrong Kayura?"
    From muffled sobs came the answer. "What isn't wrong Anubis?" She paused to wipe some tears away. Ashamed.
"Anubis? I'm useless now! If I'm not a priestess... I'm nothing!"
    "Kayura, that's not true, you're their leader. The warlords will always need you."
    "No!" She screamed as her tears welled up again. "They don't need me!" She wandered away from the window. She could not stand the sight of those storm clouds anymore. "I'm not their leader. YOU are!"
    "Kayura..."
    "I'll never be the leader you were! They'll never respect me as they respect you. Anubis, you sacrificed yourself to save humanity. Will I ever be able to make that kind of a sacrifice?"
    "You don't have to..."
    "You risked severe punishment from the Spirit Realm by venturing back to help us. Would I ever have that kind of courage?"
    "Kayura, listen to me. Don't sell yourself short. You're great leader."
    "Then why am I not doing anything right? Why can't I help the Ronins? Why..."
    "Lady Kayura?" A soft, timid voice sliced through her wailing laments.
    There stood Yulie, Ranma 1/2 pajamas and all.
    "Yulie, shouldn't you be in bed?" Kayura's tone softened. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
    "No, I just came down for a glass of water."
    Plastering on a smile to cover her true emotions, she took him by the hand. "I'll get you some water."
    "Get some rest Anubis," she called over her shoulders. "We'll talk tomorrow."
    Once they were in the kitchen, Kayura rummaged in the cupboards and found a glass. Yulie carefully watched her every movement.
    "Lady Kayura, were you crying?"
    "Crying?" Kayura faked a small laugh. "Crying? Of course not. What makes you think that?" She avoided making eye contact with the little boy as she filled the glass and handed it to him.
    "I don't know. I thought maybe you might be afraid too." He took a sip and then stared at the glass. "I know I am."
    "Yulie..." Kayura bent down and ruffled his hair affectionately.
    "But I remember what you said," he quickly added. "I have to be brave for the Ronins right?"
    "That's right. Be brave for them."
    She took his glass after Yulie was done and stared after him as he climbed the stairs up to his room.
    "He's right you know."
    She turned to see Anubis again.
    "You have to be brave for the Ronin's sake. Whatever fears. Whatever doubts. Forget them. Now is not the time for cowardliness or self pity. Because they need you, whether you believe it or not."
    Then he turned around and walked off, leaving Kayura to contemplate his words.
~~~~~~
    "What is that? Ryo?" Mulan asked again while Fa Zhou, Granny and Shang also looked curiously.
    Ryo and Sage said nothing. Both raised the crystal orbs above their heads.
    "Virtue!" Ryo called out.
    "Wisdom!" Sage summoned.
    The orbs in their hands responded with a bright glow. The green light engulfed Sage's figure, while red light enclosed around Ryo. When the illumination died down, everyone's eyes had to take a moment in order to adjust to the near pitch black darkness of the evening again. But when their vision cleared, they saw the two youths before them once more. Each was wearing a frame fitting body armor, each with the respective color for its owner.
    "Astounding..." Fa Zhou mindfully approached. These mysterious strangers seem to have one surprise after another.
    "How did you do that?" Shang asked suspiciously. Who were they anyway? Where were they from? And can they really be trusted?
    "This story's kinda long." Ryo gestured politely for them to return to the main room. "You'd better grab a seat and get comfy."
~~~~~~
    Still staring intently into the computer screen, Mia popped another piece of potato chip into her mouth.
    Mouth crunching and brows furrowing, she turned back to the Chinese history book that was opened before her. After flipping through the last few pages of the book, she sighed and tossed it carelessly aside. The book made a soft THUD as it came in contact with the floor which was already littered with at least half a dozen other books on Chinese history.
    "Are you having any luck?" She called over her shoulder to Dais who had volunteered to help her research after the others had gone to bed. He was brooding over another history book, carefully scrutinizing the information within.
    Dais didn't look up to answer but just signified a no with the silent shake of his heads.
    Nothing. They had come up with nothing.
    They need to access that directory, but they're nowhere close to figuring out the password...
    Mia inhaled a deep breath as she picked up the last book from the desk. After an ineffectual attempt to empty her mind of its stress, she opened book. As part of the methodical process she had been subject to all morning, all day and, what seems will be, all night, Mia began mentally reviewing over the list of clues that she has to work with.
    Whatever word grandfather used to seal the away the data has to be important and relevant to the information that they seek... The Ronins are in approximately 6th century AD China, which was nearing the end of the Six Dynasty's period.
Now what were the major historical features of that time?
    She munched on a few more chips as she continued to read. The book stubbornly repeated the same information that was given to her by the ones that she had already cast aside.
    The completion of the Great Wall?
    She typed in "Great Wall".
    Mia rolled her eyes as she received "Invalid Password" on the monitor again.
    The Hun invasion perhaps? But Mia received no luck as she continued.
    By the time she read to the legend of the great Hua Mulan she felt nearly all hope having vanished from her heart. But it was at that moment that something caught her eye.
    "Fa Mulan," it was printed in that book.
    "Dais?"
    "Yes?" The warlord mumbled, not really paying full attention.
    "What was the name of that female warrior?"
    "That would be Hua Mulan." This time he did lift his head up to face her. "But you've already tried that password right?"
    "Hua Mulan? That's what I thought, but this book says it's Fa Mulan."
    The eye brow of Dais's visible right eye arched, as he walked over to read over Mia's shoulders.
    "Right here," she pointed.
    "Hmmm..." Dais inspected as he read. "Yes, I've read of heard of this, there has been great controversy surrounding her origin. There are many renditions of the legend."
    "Her name varies as well?"
    "It appears so."
    "Is this her real name then?" Mia whispered hopefully.
    "There's only one way to find out."
    Mia held her breath as she placed she typed in what she hoped to be the last password she would have to enter.
    "Fa Mulan."
    Her finger hovered over the Enter key for a moment.
    "Here goes everything..."
~~~~~~
to be continued...