A/N: S'up, minna-san? XD Here we have my contribution to the KaRe Wave contest! (for those of you who wanna sign up, go to Rebecca85-san's forums and look it up ; ) If you don't wanna join in on all the fun, at least read and review the others, or let us know what you think on the forums; it means a lot to us, and the other submissions are great.

For the record, the title is supposed to translate out as something along the lines of 'Love of a White Tiger'; it's the only thing I could think of.. U

(Disclaimer) I don't own Bakuten Shoot, China, a brain….

Juànzhóu Yīge: Kāishǐ

Bai Hu, the white tiger of legend…

It was said to be king of all beasts, gaining its rank in the constellations due to its color at the 500th year of life; white was one of the five Chinese elements, associated with the west, therefore, the white tiger had become the Guardian of the West.

It resided in the heavens among its equals: Qing Long, the Azure Dragon of the East. Zu Que, the Vermilion Bird of the South. Xuan Wu, the Black Tortoise of the North. And Huang Long, the Yellow Dragon of the Center.

In the inky blackness of the night sky did they shine so beautifully, five silent protectorates of the empire of China.

Nothing could sway the balance of the five, the representations of all that was; The combination of the elements, wood, fire, metal, water and earth. The seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter.

All was well…

That is until the night the star that was Bai Hu, master of the West, representative of autumn and metal, flickered out; its light completely erased out of the glory of the heavens.

The Han Dynasty of China wasn't exactly a peaceful one, being plagued by many wars; yet still, art and technology flourished during this time, counterbalancing the harshness of battle.

It is this era that brought forth the gods of the other-world, descending upon the mortals who worshiped them to shed some light upon times of shadow.

During this time, in the world of mortals, there was a small village located in the far reaches of the mountains to the west of China, hidden by the land it stood upon, isolating a clan of those who claimed to be descendents of the Legendary White Tiger of the West. Those from the village, which was named after their mythical founder, were believed to have cat-like appearances and other traits quite similar to their deity's.

Life was not simple for the inhabitants, for they were a warrior clan, all (even women) trained from an early age in various style of martial arts; though this may be so, it must also be mentioned that each citizen, from child to elder, sought to maintain balance in the world. And when there is war, there must be peace.

Of all the sixty or so villagers, no one embodied the spirit of the tiger more so than Kon Rei.

As a child, he had loved the animal spirit of his village, going so far as to even dress in white, making fall his favorite season, and sleeping facing west. He read all of the village's old texts so much that they became etched in his mind, and he had adorned his clothing with the symbol of ying and yang. The boy had wisdom, patience and power of someone twice his age, and the respect that those of his generation were expected to give.

It seemed to all that the gods favored this boy…

"Rise and shine, sleepy head!" two voices sang out cheerfully into the rising sun, throwing the wooden sliding doors of the room wide open.

"Nyeeh!" the owner of the room mumbled, burrowing deeper under his blanket.

"Kiki, you'd better wake up!" Rai warned, a big grin on his face. The jade necklace he wore reflected the morning sunlight seeping in through the open window, casting a greenish glow upon the bright yellow tunic. He had his well-toned arms across his chest, folded as he awaited his slumbering friend.

"Yeah, Mao's off getting the bucket." Rei chimed in, throwing his long ebony ponytail behind him and out of the way; there was no doubting the mischievous glint in his golden eyes. The white chingsam that he wore (outlined in gold thread), had also been a victim of the morning's rays, which had stained the fabric a broad array of colors, ranging from red, pink, oranges, golds, and purples. No one asked why he wore what was usually considered women's clothes (except Rai, but he doesn't count).

They heard a snort from under the blanket,

"She wouldn't dar- AUUGH!" his screams of discomfort blended with the loud splash of water.

The two older boys looked at each other, then at their now-soggy friend.

"….. Told you."

"Argh! Dammit Mao!"

The pink-haired girl, clad in a matching dress, giggled and dashed out of the bedroom, swinging the small wooden bucket as she did so; Rei and Rai followed quickly.

The spitting mad form of Kiki stormed after them, plotting revenge.

"We warned you, you know."

"Yeah, shut up." The monkey-like boy in green grumbled, dangling upside down from a low tree branch. Sometimes, his friends really sucked.

As the petite greenette swang back and forth on the rough protection of the limb, his companions all sat back, slipping their bare feet into the cool depths of the small stream before them.

The friends had managed to escape their parents for the moment, and had chosen to take a short break at their favorite spot: a small waterfall surrounded by a lush forest at the base of a small mountain near the village. It was quiet there, with plenty of wildlife and large, flourishing plants.

"Aww, you'll be alright Kiki!" Mao laughed from a large slab of rock, tossing the boy a dumpling.

"Hmph!"

Rai was so busy laughing at his companions, that he almost didn't notice a heavy hand edging its way towards his own snack.

"Oi! Watch it Gao; you already have one!"

The burly member of their group pulled back sluggishly, disappointment spreading feverishly across his features.

Rai's scolding was light-hearted of course, they'd done this sort of thing for years; Gao had known his plan would fail.

It had all started at the age of three, when Rei and Rai had first met for their first day of martial arts training, a requirement in their village. Immediately, both boys had befriended, and engaged in their own private competition, always trying to outdo the other. Weeks later, they were paired up to practice against Gao and his partner.

One year after that, Mao and Kiki had joined the fray.

That had been 14 years ago; they'd been friends ever since.

Rei smirked unwrapping a bundle of blue cloth on his lap, and handed another dumpling to the largest of the five, "Here, I have plenty."

Rai blinked, the truth seeking into his skull, "Wait, don't tell me you made them!" he then cast a sly glance at his sister, "Geez Mao, he'd make a better wife than you would; your cooking tastes terrible!"

Rei flushed, and began to protest, accompanied by a peeved Mao.

"Oh yeah? Well why don't you try cooking for a change!"

Her big brother chuckled good-naturedly, "I was only teasing, Meimei; I'm sure you'll make a fine bride."

"Speaking of…" Kiki broke in, rolling his meat-filled bun between his hands thoughtfully, "Shouldn't you be preparing for your matchmaking? In a few days, you'll be engaged."

The female of the group huffed, "Don't remind me."

"Now, now, it can't be that bad; rumor has it that you'll be marrying Rei."

Mao sighed, "That's only a possibility; the only man our age that isn't a candidate is you, Xiongdi."

Rei sat in silence, musing over things. In truth, he really did love Mao, - they had known each other since childhood - but only as a sister. And, when asked, she had stated the same.

: Still, I'd rather marry her than any other girl here; at least I know her. :

It was unfortunate in a way, but it could be a lot worse.

"-ei? Rei?"

Rei jerked, caught off-guard, "Huh- wha?"

"We're leaving, else we end up having to do double chores." Rai smiled, offering the hand he had been previously waving in front of his friend's blank stare "and stop spacing out, it's only noon!"

"Right, sorry." He said apologetically.

As soon as he was hoisted to his feet, the cheery band of teenagers began the trek home, unaware of the dark cloud looming on the horizon.

They were about a mile outside the village when they first caught sight of an oddity, a stream of men on horseback, approaching the community. And it was then, that they could finally hear the unmistakable sound of drums.

"A bunch of them were soldiers…" Rai muttered warily, gazing off into the distance.

Kiki, who was standing on Gao's shoulders, informed, "Everyone's gathered in the square. We'd better hurry."

Without another thought, the once carefree teenagers quickened their pace tenfold, making a bee-line for their home.

There was a great hum of quiet conversation when they arrived. And, they noticed, everyone was grouped together with their respective families, looking nervous.

The others wasted no time in finding their parents, while Rei searched for his own; out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rai and Mao run up to their Grandfather, the village leader, bombarding him with questions.

"Rei." A deep voice called, grabbing his attention.

He swirled around, coming face to face with his tall and lanky uncle, his only living relative.

"Shushu, what's going on?" he hissed, trying not to be overheard by the man in the ornate robes, nor his bodyguards.

"We've been threatened by a force from the west."

"Monguls?" it seemed unlikely; if they were the ones to attack, it would come from the North.

The older man shook his head, "We wish; they're unidentified."

Swallowing hard, the long-haired teen gazed at the official sitting not too far away, who was unfurling a thick scroll from his saddle bag. He was an austere personage, who gave off an intense snobbish vibe, which only one who had lived a privileged life without intense labor could exude. His dark blue robes were crisp and neatly mended of any possible tears, making it look practically new; who knows, perhaps it was.

The neko-jin shielded his eyes from the bright afternoon sun, trying to keep the brilliant gleam reflecting off the soldiers' armor at bay.

"Then..?"

His eyes darted sharply to Rai, with whom he exchanged a concerned stare.

The official on horseback called them all to order, peering down at his scroll, "People of Bai Hu cunzhuang, I bring with me a proclamation from the Imperial city." He paused momentarily, catching all the villager's attention before continuing, "By order of the emperor, one man from every family must take their place in the Imperial Army."

Clearing his throat, he pressed on,

"The Chao family!"

Chao Hong se stepped forward gravely, leaving his wife and three children behind him as he approached the official, taking the small scroll that was offered to him.

"The Fengbao family!"

One of twin brothers approached without question, trying dismally to ignore his mother's quiet sobs; the scene was all too familiar to her, having lost her husband and brother to conflict.

"The Tan family!"

Rei and the others snapped their attention on the corner where Gao and his family stood, motionless. Soon, Gao's heavy footsteps thudded against the dirt, reaching for the scroll that would have belonged to his brother.

"The Cheng family!"

Kiki was the only male in his family, and, despite the weird glances he got from the messenger, he too received his notice; though he was small for his age, he was still able to fight.

A few other names were called out, before another heartstring was tugged.

"The Wong family!"

Elder Wong, far too old for combat, stood back as his only Grandson approached the horseman solemnly.

"Xiongdi!" Mao cried, rushing up to stand beside her brother.

The man from the capital stared down his nose at her through beady eyes, his face contorting into a snarl, "You would do well to be silent, girl."

"I-!"

"Mao…"

The young woman glanced at her brother, whose hands were clenched firmly at his sides.

"This doesn't concern you."

"But I can fight!" she retorted furiously, "Why should I stand idly by while you fight for the sake of our clan? There's-"

Before the envoy could react, Rai glared at his sibling, "Stay quiet, while our family name is still honored, sister. Keep your place at Grandfather's side; I do this alone."

Angry tears threatened to fall from the golden eyes of the girl, who turned on her heel and fled the scene. As she brushed past Rei, he could hear her restrained sobs.

Rai bowed before the man of importance, resuming his spot beside his forefather, his tan face set firmly to reveal no emotion.

However, those whom he called his closest friends could see the pain etched across his features, as plain as day.

"The Kon family!"

At this, Rai's mask slipped, revealing an expression of pain.

Rei took a step forward, ready to accept his fate; if he were to face the enemy upon the battlefield, he'd rather do it with his friends at his side.

When he was halfway to the rider however, he felt a strong hand upon his shoulder.

Looking around, he found his Uncle behind him, steadily passing him and accepting the document in his wake.

"Shushu, what-"

"Not another silly girl…!" the envoy hissed, sneering at Rei.

"You should teach these women to learn their place!" he growled, directing his comment to the men of the village, who appeared to be listening, but clearly weren't; the guy looked like a pansy anyway.

Rei stuttered, puzzled.

"But I'm not a gi-"

"Silence!" the pompous man barked, his small black eyes narrowing. To him, there stood a young lady with knee-length black hair and golden eyes, clad in a white and gold dress with red sash and black pants; an odd style for a woman, but then again, the women here were far from how normal women should be.

"Despite what you may believe, women are forbidden to join the army, on pain of death!" he growled.

At this, Rei snapped, "How can you say that, when so many are willing to sacrifice themselves for the cause? Just because the-"

Just then the strong grips of Rai and Gao held down his thin form, Kiki perched on his shoulders, covering his mouth.

"Calm down, Rei." Rai muttered in his ear.

While he struggled furiously with his friends, the messenger looked as though he too were ready to get violent.

Breathing deeply, he murmured to the eldest Kon, "Report in three days time to the Haigui Beike camp."

Wordlessly, the new-recruit bowed.

"Shushu, why did you do that?" Rei cried, bringing his hands down heavily onto the wooden table.

After the messenger and his entourage had left, in a stream of banners, the Kon's had returned to their home, seeking refuge behind the walls surrounding the gardens and their dwelling.

The man before him sipped his tea slowly, as if he were not being shouted at.

He paused a few moments, studying his nephews flushed face, "It's not the place of the young to fight in an able-bodied man's place."

"But-"

"And besides," the older man continued, "You are now seventeen years of age."

Letting the anger flow from him, like a leaf atop a river's surface, Rei sat down again, replying softly, "And that means what to me?"

His uncle turned from him, fidgeting nervously with his hands, a most unusual thing for him of all people to do.

"Uncle?" the teenager asked cautiously, peering at his guardian curiously.

"Rei, I- I meant to tell you long before but…" he heaved a great sigh.

"What I tell you will not make good hearing."

Rei felt a rush of foreboding overtake him, but he acted indifferently.

"Shortly after you were born, my brother and your mother had traveled out to visit all temples dedicated to the other four constellations of the heavens: Qing Long, Zu Que, Huang Long, and Xuan Wu. This journey was made in order to give you strength and good fortune later in life, as it is a common tradition here. However, you fell ill not long after you all left the temple to Qing Long, and were hovering between life and death. Your parents didn't have much money, so it was just your luck (or misfortune) that the head of the town the temple resides in showed up. He played the role of a trusting man, offering to pay for a doctor to examine and treat you. Your parents had thought it was too good to be true, and had signed a contract drawn up by the leader.

But there was a catch; in exchange for saving your life, he had demanded that you become the bride of his second son, once you reach the age of seventeen."

Rei stared at his relative, dumbstruck, "I'm going to be married? To a guy?"

Had this not been of great importance, he would've laughed, exclaiming about the irony and wondertale-ness of the story.

His uncle nodded solemnly, "I regret not telling you sooner."

"And why didn't you?"

"I thought you wouldn't be ready," the older one tried to reason, "you're not even ready now. But I had no choice; you are required to go through matchmaking to ensure the proper day of marriage, that your day of birth matches that of your husband's in two days."

Rei felt as though he was going to be ill. He, having to go through a matchmaking, like a girl, while the others fought bravely for the sake of their honor, and those they cherish.

It really wasn't fair.

"I-I need some time alone…" he managed to choke out, hastily standing and sliding open the door.

Instead of escaping to his waterfall hideout that he shared with the others, Rei chose to remain within sight of his home, a home that would be depressingly lonely in three days.

He weaved carefully through the gardens and the shrine to Bai Hu, coming to a rest as the bright red bridge stretching across a small stream cutting into the well-taken care of land. Around him, the air was filled with the delicately sweet scent of blossoms, floating gracefully on the wind from the towering trees, to the emerald-green ground.

He pressed his stomach against the smooth wood of the bridge; his fingers closed loosely over a fallen pink flower.

If only life could be like that blossom; simple and lovely.

But that was wishful thinking.

Not only was his best friends and uncle heading for the battlefield without him, but he also had to endure the humiliation of being mistaken for a girl, as well as being forced to go through the trials that came with marriage preparation for females in order to marry a man he hadn't even met.

He sighed, his fingers loosening.

: Could my life get any worse? :

Fallen blush pink petals drifted lazily down the river, drifting across the crystal clear surface; out of sight, out of mind.

Juànzhóu Jiéshù

Chapter Title: Juànzhóu Yīge: Kāishǐ – Scroll One: The Beginning

Juànzhóu Jiéshù – Scroll End

Han Dynasty – 206 BC – 220 AD (supposedly when 'Mulan' takes place; if this is wrong, please tell me!)

Chingsam – is this what you'd call Rei's outfit? I heard it mentioned like this before….

Bai Hu cunzhuang – something like 'White Tiger Village'

Xiongdi – brother

Meimei – younger sister

Shushu – uncle

Note: The five constellations are in Mandarin Chinese.

!Some of this isn't historically correct!

A/N: Did it seem too quick? Did it make any sense?

Meeep! I swear, Kai'll be here next chapter! O-O –dodges thrown things-