I DO NOT OWN MULAN OR SWORD OF THE STRANGER

Mulan's mind was still reeling with worry and fury even when it was her turn to draw her bow. There was so much of what had just happened that made her confused and angry. She wanted to go see Kotaro; to see for herself that he would be okay. She wanted to go see Zhou, if only to unleash as much frustration and rage as she could physically deal out. And, then there was Nanashi.

While the men finished their trek towards the archery range, they all whispered and mumbled in shock and awe at how fast Nanashi had disarmed and incompacitated Zhou. Mulan had barely registered what had happened to Kotaro by the time the snap of Zhou's wrist cracked through the chaos. And, the look Nanashi had given Zhou. Mulan wasn't naive. She knew that as an ex-samurai Nanashi had seen and done things that one could go their whole lives without, but for the first time since meeting him she saw the vistages of that samurai in his wrathful display of deadly power and precision.

"Ping!" Shang bellowed, drawing her attention back towards the task at hand. The goal, shoot through an airborne pomegranate, lodging it in the target painted on the tree behind it. More than half the men completed the exercise without fail; others were able to pierce the fruit, only missing their final target by a mere hair's width. Mulan had never shot an arrow in her life, and Shang's training style wasn't exactly hands-on. It was more of 'you see, you do.' She was trying her best, but her best wasn't good enough.

She was missing every single one; you almost had to try to be that bad. Eventually, she figured that the odds had to turn in her favor. Grandmother had taught her that. So, on her next go she closed her eyes. When she opened them again she couldn't help but gawk at her accomplishment. There, across the range, was a pomegranate pierced through its target perfectly. Alright, let's try this again, but with my eyes open, she thought to herself. Taking a deep breath, she drew her bow. Just as she was about to release her shot, a flash of red and yellow shot from her shoulder and the blink of an eye a pomegranate was pre-pierced through her arrow. Mushu-

Of course Shang chose then to walk by. "The Huns won't place themselves on your arrows for you, soldier."

Mortified, Mulan relaxed her stance and fell in on herself. Shang said nothing else and walked away to study the rest of the men, leaving Mulan to wallow under the critical scowls of the soldiers around her.

Unseen by her, Chi-Fu lingered behind the range, gleefully scribing the events of the day down in his journal.

On the other side of camp, Nanashi had finally reached the infirmary. "I can walk now," Kotaro mumbled as the two arrived at the physician's spanning tent. Several steps behind, Zhou lumbered along; a crippled predator.

Ignoring Kotaro, Nanashi made his way into the tent. "He needs your help," he said to a man about his age. Though his hair was pulled back like any other soldier, his features, although weathered and experienced, lacked the harshness most soldiers exuded, and his neutral-colored uniform was more complete with long, loose sleeves and an overcoat. Tying his sleeves up and out of the way, he motioned for Nanashi to place Kotaro down on the nearest cot.

"What happened," the physician asked.

"He was hit across the head and burned his arm on a hot pot," Nanashi explained quickly, pointing to the blistering skin on Kotaro's left bicep. Nodding, the physician turned on his heel, meaning to head for his supplies when Zhou had finally made his arrival.

"Help me first," Zhou demanded as he took a cot several spots down the row from Nanashi and Kotaro.

"What happened to you?" The physician clipped, put off by the man's demeanor.

"That low life," Zhou said, gesturing towards Nanashi with his shoulder, "broke my fucking wrist and punched me in the face," he huffed, as if he was offended that the physician couldn't tell what was wrong from one look.

The physician looked between his two patients. Looking from the young boy's wounds and then to the older man's, and then to the man that had brought the boy in.

"What happened," he asked Nanashi again, clearly looking for more details. He couldn't help the small twinge of uncertainty as Nanashi's harsh gaze diverted itself from Zhou to himself.

"He slapped my brother hard enough across his face to send him into the rice pot the chef had filled for lunch. I kept him from doing anything else."

"Alright," the physician nodded in understanding. "Stay still and try not to move your arm around," he ordered Zhou, if not a bit harshly. Zhou gargled something unintelligible, but did as he was told.

Light on his feet, the physician moved quickly through his work space acquiring bottles of medicine, salvent, and rolls of bandages. Once he had everything he needed, he grabbed a water basin and some clean rags and returned to Kotaro's cot.

"Didn't you hear me the first time? I said, help me first? Those two are the reason I'm here to begin with! Besides, the kid's useless. He's a glorified servant." Nanashi's jaw clenched, his restraint waning, but the physician stepped in.

"And didn't you hear me the first time? Stay still and shut up while your at. You're getting blood everywhere." Miraculously, the physician's words seemed to dampen Zhou's seemingly endless reserves of self-admiration and he did what he was told.

"I have to clean the dirt off first," he said kindly to Kotaro.

"Hm," Kotaro acknowledged.

Taking one of the clean rags and dipping it into the water basin at his feet, the physician gently began to clean around the bruise forming on Kotaro's cheek and then around the burn on his arm, avoiding touching the burn directly

"I'm Renshu," the physician said, trying to distract Kotaro from the pain.

"I'm Kotaro," Kotaro answered through bated breath as Renshu finished cleaning his arm. Renshu waited for an answer from the man that had brought the boy in as he reached for a salve to put on the burn. When he didn't receive one he looked up, past Kotaro's right shoulder only to find the man's attention fixated on the man that had hurt his brother. "That's Nanashi," Kotaro supplied, drawing both Nanashi's and Renshu's attention back to him.

"I would say it's nice to meet you, but no one ever comes to the infirmary for a good reason," Renshu said sheepishly.

"I'd do it again," Kotaro said proudly.

"And what would that be?" Renshu asked.

"Defend my brother's honor."

"That's not your job," Nanashi jumped in.

"Well, somebody has to," Kotaro argued, sending a pointed glare towards Zhou, causing the man to jump at the unwarranted attention.

"I don't care what people think of me," Nanashi said.

"I'd listen to your brother," Renshu said to Kotaro. "Some people aren't worth the fight. You don't have a concussion, just a nasty bruise. As far as your burn goes, it could have been worse. For the next week or so I want you to come here every morning and evening so I can change your bandages. I can also give something for the pain," he said, handing Kotaro a cup of tea brewed from some herbs he had collected earlier. "Other than that, just try to keep it as clean as possible. If it gets dirty please come by so I can clean it for you."

"Thank you," Nanashi said.

"Of course," He nodded to Nanashi. "And," Renshu added, turning back to Kotaro, "for my sake try not get into any more trouble."

"Can you fucking help me now?" Zhou barked.

Taking a deep breath, Renshu stood from his seat next to Kotaro's cot. "Bye, for now," he said kindly.

Just as the two were about to leave the tent, they heard Zhou hiss as Renshu observed his wrist. "Looks like I'll have to set it back into place before splinting it. This is going to hurt," Renshu announced with a trace of satisfaction.

Zhou's scream could be heard all the way at the bottom of the hill the infirmary sat on. "He deserved worse," Kotaro said.

"He got what he deserved," Nanashi replied. Kotaro looked at him as if he had just experienced the worst betrayal of the millenia. "Renshu was right. Not everyone is worth the fight. Zhou is-"

"Awful, the worst-" Kotaro happily supplied.

"Yeah, but he's hardly worth getting kicked out of the army for. We can't help Ping if we're not allowed to fight."

The two fell into an uncomfortable silence for several moments, until Nanashi had had enough. "What is it?" He asked Kotaro.

"I'm sorry," Kotaro whispered.

"For what?" Nanashi asked, surprised.

"For getting in the way. You're always saving me. What am I supposed to do the next time someone dishonors you like that or attacks you? Ride a horse? Make rice? I'm useless."

Gently pulling Kotaro to a stop, Nanashi looked into his eyes and said, "You're not useless. You're a kid and there are some things you can't help. Besides if you were useless don't you think I would have dumped you long before now?" He finished, trying to lighten the mood.

"That's not funny," Kotaro pouted; his brow still creased; his eyes still reflecting the dejection he felt.

"You'll wait with me at the training grounds for the rest of the day," Nanashi told him, hoping it would help.

"Seriously?" Kotaro whooped in shocked.

Nanashi nodded. "If I can't keep an eye on Zhou then I'll keep one on you. He probably won't be going back to train for the day and I don't want him harassing you while I'm gone. And this way you can watch me and the others, maybe learn something from it?" Nanashi baited.

"Agh, so boring… Having to watch you train all day…" Kotaro feigned disinterest, but Nanashi could practically see the excitement oozing from him as he picked up his pace and began to lightly bounce towards the other side of camp.

"Ping!" Shang boomed as he watched him yank Yao's foot out from under him instead of the fish they were supposed to be catching.

Looking from the bare foot in her hand to Yoa's face distorted in the water, Mulan delicately placed Yao's foot back beneath the water's surface like placing a baby back in its cradle.

"How am I supposed to help you if I can't even teach you to fish?" Shang said, his frustration mounting. One thing after another, Ping failed. It had only been two days and the young man had proven that he was inept at everything that was asked of him. He couldn't shoot an arrow to save his life, had no combat skills except the precarious ability to dodge and run away from any fight; he even lacked any stamina or strength that could have made up for his lack of talent. Shang was shocked that the man had made it this far through life. That must have been pure luck, but luck never lasts forever and it was becoming painfully obvious that it would take a miracle to get Ping into fighting shape in time to meet the General at the front. It could be months, weeks, or days; there was no time to waste on a lost cause.

Just when Shang felt his stress reaching its zenith, the universe reminded him that, somehow, things could always get worse. "Nanashi," he half-heartedly greeted the man as he arrived at the river with his younger brother. "Ping!" he called over, already having made up his mind.

"Yes, Captain," Mulan answered as she moved to stand on his other side, across from Nanashi and Kotaro who eyed her and Shang expectantly. "It has become clear that having you here," Nanashi assumed he was addressing all of them, "is only making it harder for the rest of the men to train. Ping you are not fit to be fighting in this war. Nanashi, your little brother is nothing but a hindrance to you and the other men; I can't have you hurting other soldiers before they even make it to the front. All three of you are to pack your things and leave."

"But, I can't-" Mulan began to protest.

"I don't care where you go, but you can't stay here," Shang cut her off, sparing one last glance at the three of them. The soldiers who had stopped fishing to listen to the announcement quickly averted their eyes and plunged back into the water as Shang carried his attention back to them.

"Ah, Captain," Chi-Fu chose then to alert everyone of his presence. "That's the type of leadership the General would be proud of."

In one moment Mulan looked as if she was about to crumble into the ground below her, but in the next Nanashi watched as something in her resolve hardened. "I am not leaving without the sword of Shan Yu!" She exclaimed, ignoring Chi-Fu completely. Even when Shang turned on her with the ferocity of a raging fire, Mulan stood her ground. Holding her head up, with her shoulders back, and feet firmly planted beneath her, she looked him straight in the eye. Without a single wisp of hesitation or fear she spoke again. "I am not leaving until I have the sword of Shan Yu. There is nothing that is going to stop me."

"Except a prison sentence," Shang all but promised, Chi-Fu's shadow lingering behind him. Instantly Mulan faltered, suddenly all too aware of the odds she was facing. It wasn't Shang or Chi-Fu she was afraid of. It was failure.

As Shang's withering glare bore down on her she could practically see flashes of promised pain and dishonor that awaited her and her future dance from the black of one iris to another. For the first time since assuming her false identity Mulan felt genuine fear rack her spine and could do nothing as her frame began to tremble at the consuming weight of it all.

Nanashi noticed a flash of red peak up from around Mulan's collar. The last thing Mulan needed was Mushu escalating things any further. Stepping closer, towards Mulan's back, he effortlessly shoved the dragon back into his hiding place, hiding the action by placing his hand on Mulan's shoulder.

Jolted back to the present moment, Mulan jumped at the grounding effect Nanashi had on her. All it took was a slight tug from him and she was turning on her heels, following his lead away from Shang and the rest of the men.

The group walked in silence. Even Kotaro and Mushu were too shocked to speak. Eventually, Tobimaru rushed them, barking his greeting before noticing the somber mood that hung around the air like a dense fog. Slumping his haunches and lowering his ears and tail he followed gloomily alongside Kotaro.

Once they had reached their campsite, separated from everyone elses', Mulan finally allowed herself to break. Unable to hold the tears of frustration that had been rippling along the edges of her eyelashes since turning her back on Shang, she tore down her flimsy tent with a sob. Falling to her knees, she asked no one in particular, "What am I supposed to do now?" Mushu crawled around to sit in her lap, but for once, was at a loss of what to say and simply offered his presence as comfort. When she received no response she glanced at Nanashi, still standing to the side of her right shoulder, as if he had become her guardian. "I can't go home with nothing to prove for it," she warbled to him.

"You would have died," he said.

"If anyone finds out what I've done, I'll die either way! I don't care about that! This isn't for me," Mulan gestured to herself dressed in a soldiers training uniform. "This is for my family. If I'm going to die then it's going to be fighting for the honor that my father, my family, deserves," she heaved.

"Then you have to prove them wrong," Nanashi said after a moment of deliberation. Even Kotaro seemed shocked by his decree.

"What?" Mulan asked. "You heard the Captain," she shook her head, "I can't go to prison."

"So make him regret it," Nanashi said, as if it was as simple as breathing. "Prove to him that you are valuable. I haven't known you for long, but the one thing I do know is that you have more willpower than the entirety of the Chinese military."

Even as she blushed at Nanashi's compliment, Mulan still spoke back with a stubbornness that only proved his point. "Even if that's true, what could I possibly do to change the Captain's mind now?"

"The arrow," Nanashi said plainly.

"The arrow? Like that would work," Mulan said in disbelief.

"No one has even attempted to reach it since the Captain had them all try yesterday. It might not work, but it's the only way to show him that you're worth something to this war," Nanashi explained, searching her eyes for any disagreement.

"Even if that does work, what about you and Kotaro?" Mulan asked, carrying her worried gaze to the injured boy.

"Shang knows that if he wants you he'll have to take us back too."

"What if he arrests you?"

Kotaro chuckled, his amusement reaching Nanashi and even causing the corner of his lips to curl up towards his tired eyes. "We've run from the law before. We could do it again." Kotaro said as if it was normal.

"What else don't we know about you?!" Mushu jumped in.

"Quiet Mushu," Mulan hushed him. Looking back to Nanashi, the worry lines that had creased around her eyes and frown eased until a small grin of acceptance replaced the defeated look she had worn moments before. "I'll reach that arrow. But-" she emphasized by jabbing her pointer finger into Nanashi's chest, "you'll have to tell me what you had to do to make yourself and a ten year old kid wanted-criminals."

"Deal," Nanashi agreed. "But only after you've gotten that arrow."

They waited until night had fallen; when they were sure everyone had gone to bed. Once the camp was completely shrouded in darkness, Mulan and Nanashi made their way towards the center of camp where the lodged arrow still sat above everything else.

Waiting until the two had settled themselves at the post, Kotaro, Tobimaru, and Musho silently crept their way towards the two. Nanashi would have been crazy if he thought the three would wait patiently away from the action.

Looping a weight around each wrist, Mulan tried time and time again to reach the top. But, no amount of clawing, gripping, or jumping seemed to help. After an hour or so of trying she hadn't even managed to pull herself more than halfway to the top. "This isn't working," she huffed to Nanashi, blowing a stray strand of hair out of her eyes.

"You didn't have to tell me that," he said sarcastically. Mulan's red cheeks darkened.

"What am I doing wrong? Can't you help me?" She asked, exasperatedly.

"I can't pull you to the top, and I can't reach the arrow for you. You just have to keep trying."

"I do keep trying, and it's not working!"

"Earlier you said you were willing to die for this," Nanashi said seriously. "You'll have to do this on your own and with everything that you have if you even want to give yourself the chance at facing Shan Yu." Nanashi's reminder seemed to sober her up. Taking a deep breath, draining herself of frustration and doubt, Mulan turned back to the thirty foot post. Eying the arrow far above her, she looked back to the weights hanging from each wrist. With a determined huff she tied each weight tight so the black sash looped through the weights dug into her skin unmoving. She threw the weights around the post; the two tangled on the other side, locking Mulan in place.

She began to climb. Using the loop she had made from the weights to help pull herself up, Mulan looked stronger than she had all night. She would heave the loop above her, puller herself up, and repeat. Nanashi watched as the first rays of sunshine gleamed off the sweat of her brow and the determined look she had plastered on her face. She was going to do it.

"Go Ping!" Kotaro cheered and Tobimaru barked while Mushu smiled brightly from Kotaro's shoulder. Turning from Mulan, Nanashi made sure he was facing Shang's tent directly, before taking a seat at the foot of the post, crossing his legs.

One by one, men began to leave the tents, alerted by the cheering. Once they had caught a glimpse of 'Ping,' using the last of his strength to reach the arrow they two joined in, whooping and hollering. Keeping his eye on the opening of Shang's tent, Nanashi waited for the fabric to pull back, preparing himself for any type of confrontation that this might bring on.

Just as Shang flung himself into the open, confused by the cheers that the camp had broken into, Mulan had reached the arrow and thrown it to pierce the earth a step away from Shang's feet. If Nanashi had kept his gaze up at her, he would have seen her sitting smug and confident at the top of the post, sending a silent challenge towards Shang. But, he kept his eyes steady on the Captain, sending his own challenge, ready for what the new day had to offer.