Author's Note: Finally after all these days of anticipation.. THE FINAL CHAPTER! (Please excuse any grammer mistakes; I've been feeling under the weather lately and I really didn't spell check this.)
Disclaimer: I do not own Mulan or any character from Mulan. I only own Li Xieng.

Chapter 13: Never Leave My Side. (The Final Chapter)

It had been three weeks that Mulan and Shang hadn't spoken to each other. Mulan although she was upset, felt very nostalgic and missed Shang dearly. And of course, there was not one day Shang didn't go without of Mulan. He didn't concentrate those three weeks at work, especially when it came to setting up the new camp that was a few miles near the city. Shang would always pass by the Fa family house before he went home, to see if he could at least talk to Mulan, but no luck. He had even tried several times to visit Mulan, but she refused to even see him. One day though, Shang passed by the Fa family house during the late afternoon. As he glanced over the estate, he saw Mulan about to go inside the house.
"Mulan!" he cried out as he stopped his horse. Mulan stopped and turned around. They both gazed upon each other for long time. Shang smiled, but Mulan couldn't help but smirk. She turned around and walked inside the house. Once Mulan went inside the house, she locked it. She leaned against the door and slid down. She simply couldn't handle being away from Shang so long, but she had too much pride to even confront him. Shang felt rejected to see that Mulan didn't even want to say anything to him. He mounted his horse and slowly took off...

When Shang arrived home, he found his sister waiting for him by the front door. She greeted him eagerly, but he muttered his hello as he walked his horse to the stables. He slumped as he walked inside the house and went straight to his bedroom to change and lie down. Even though Shang was in a very depressing mood, Xieng had been at her best. She stopped having that bitter old attitude of everyday and was always in a joyous mood. After while, Xieng walked in Shang's room as she saw her brother lying down, daydreaming.
"Shang" she called out softly, "It's time for dinner."
Shang looked at his sisters with sad eyes and then looked away.
"I'm not hungry, Xieng." he said dully. Xieng smirked when she heard her brother say that.
"I made your favorite" she said eagerly "Lo Mein and Dumplings!"
Shang rolled his eyes.
"I'm NOT hungry." he said annoyed. Xieng sighed and sat by his bed and looked at him.
"Please Shang. You barely eat every day." she pleaded. "Just join me for dinner and maybe we could talk." Shang shook his head saying no. But Xieng didn't give up. She continued to insist until he gave in. Xieng served dinner as her brother kneeled in silence. Throughout the whole meal, both siblings didn't say anything, until Xieng broke the awkward silence.
"You miss her don't you?" she asked as she raised her eyebrow.
Shang stayed silent.
"Look at the bright side, we -" she began
"There IS no bright side." Shang muttered.
"There is." Xieng continued as she smiled. "It's two of us again, like the good old times"
"Whatever." Shang muttered as he got up and left his unfinished meal on the table.
Xieng frowned as she saw her brother walk away to his room. She hated seeing him like this every single day. She knew what she had to do.

The next morning, in the Fa residence, Mushu sneaked into Mulan's room. He pulled her covers and yelled out "WAKEY WAKEY! It's a be-you-tiful day!" Mulan groaned and kept sleeping. Mushu frowned. "I'm gonna whip this girl into shape. She ought to be feeling better without old pretty boy around!" he whispered to Cri-Kee. Mushu climbed to the window and pull the shades open, letting the sun shine in. Mulan groaned and sat up as she rubbed her eyes.
"Can't you let me sleep?" she mumbled
Mushu ran towards the bed and climbed on.
"Of course not, baby girl, its beautiful day out! The sun is shining, it's a day to do something productive!" Mushu exclaimed.
"Not really..." Mulan said sadly.
Mushu groaned as he looked at Mulan.
"Just get your butt out of bed and get dressed." Mushu said dissatisfied as he left the room.
Mulan rolled her eyes and got up to do what Mushu had told her to.
As soon as Mulan changed and greeted her parents good morning, Mushu waited for her outside.
"So what do you want to do today?" Mushu asked happily as Mulan walked outside.
"Nothing. I guess help my parents, since I haven't done that these days." she said without enthusiasm.
"Oh c'mon! You don't even live here anymore!" he yelled out.
"I guess so...I'll just be by the garden then." she replied as she slowly walked to the garden and sat by the Magnolia tree.
"Maybe she does need Pretty Boy in her life" Mushu told Cri-Kee. Cri-Kee chirped and agreed.
"But I still don't like that boy!" he exclaimed. Cri-Kee rolled his eyes and followed Mushu as he approached Mulan.
"So I do feel kind of guilty about this." Mushu said dully. Mulan looked at Mushu sadly and sighed.
"Don't. Things will take it turns eventually." she said
"But -" Mushu said but soon was cut off as soon as he saw Fa Li. He hid behind Mulan as Fa Li approached Mulan.
"Mulan" she said softly "You have company."
Mulan raised her eyebrow and asked who, but before Fa Li even answered, a young woman stepped out from behind Fa Li. It was Xieng.
"Me." said Xieng. "I came to talk to you."
"I'll leave you girls alone." said Fa Li as she walked away.
Xieng sat next to Mulan and took a deep breath.
"Look Mulan" she began.
Mulan looked up and stared at Xieng. For the first time, Xieng didn't refer to her as Fa Mulan, just Mulan.
"I'm really not fond of you, but my brother loves you." she continued
"And I love him." Mulan added. Xieng shook her head agreeing.
"Yes, well, can you please come home? My brother has been miserable without you." she said as she looked down.
Mulan sighed and said "I don't know, I mean -"
"Please. Just do it for my brother. After all your dispute with him was all my fault. It wasn't really his fault." she pleaded. Mulan sighed again and didn't say a word. Seeing her reaction, Xieng sighed, got up and began to leave."
"Wait!" Mulan cried out. Xieng turned around and looked at Mulan as she began to walk towards her.
"Why do you hate me so much?" Mulan questioned her sister in law. Xieng didn't know what to do or say, so she continued to walk away. Mulan didn't let her go so easily. She stood in front of her in order to block her way.
"You're in my way, Mulan." she said annoyed.
"I won't let you go until you tell me why." she said sternly. Xieng sighed and groaned.
"Fine." she said seriously. Mulan looked upon her with eager eyes as she waited for her to respond.
"It's that - you're so...perfect!" she cried out.
Mulan raised her eyebrow. "Perfect?" she asked.
Xieng cleared her throat.
"Yes, PERFECT. I mean c'mon, you saved China, you got away with from being arrested, you brought honor to your family, you managed to capture my brother's heart, I mean look at you! You're so beautiful, you're like one flawless Asian girl!" she cried out again.
Mulan stared at Xieng for a long time and bursted out laughing. Xieng looked at her oddly as she saw her sister in law laughing.
"Uh, why are you laughing?" she asked oddly. Mulan tried to catch her breath and wiped her tears from laughing.
"Me? Perfect? HA! Who are you trying to impress?" she asked as she tried to control her laughing. Xieng looked at her awkwardly.
"Xieng, PLEASE. I am far from perfect. I'm clumsy, I'm too outspoken, I'm insecure at times, I mean for my Ancestor's sake, my mom still nags about me! and you think I'm perfect?" she said as she laughed. "And about your brother, well it wasn't easy to 'capture his heart'"
Xieng stood in front Mulan very surprised.
"Trust me, Xieng, I may be different from other girls, but the out of ordinary different. " she continued.
"Ohh...well. Yeah." Xieng said embarrassed. "I think I'll go now, but um, just think over what I told you." Mulan sighed and crossed her arms as she saw Xieng walk away slowly.
"Soooo, you're staying here, right?" said Mushu as he climbed on her shoulder .
Mulan smirked as she looked down.
"That's something I have to think about." she said softly.
Mushu saw Mulan's sadness return on her face again. He sighed.
"Well, like I said before, I DON'T like that boy, but, whatever makes you happy, I'll be there for you." Mushu told Mulan as he smiled.
Mulan gave Mushu a crooked smiled and thanked her guardian.

Night fell once again, and at the Li House, everything was silent. Xieng once again convinced her brother to join her for dinner, however he still barely at anything.
"Shang, please, eat something!" Xieng pleaded her brother.
Shang didn't say a word and just stared at his plate.
"You rather eat my over-salted porridge than your sister's food?" said a voice from behind. Shang swiftly turned around and saw that it was Mulan who had returned.
"Mulan!" he cried out as he got up and ran towards his wife. He picked her up and spun her around. "You came back."
"Well obviously, I did. My parents couldn't handle the fact that I was staying at their place and not doing chores." she said sarcastically.
"I'll leave you two alone" Xieng said softly as she got up and left.
"I've missed you so much." Shang said as he smiled
"And so have I." Mulan responded
Shang and Mulan embraced each other for a while and kissed each other passionately.
"I sure didn't miss this dump." said Mushu who was behind Mulan. The couple stopped kissing and looked down at Mushu was pretty annoyed.
"Mushu!" Mulan protested.
"Even I missed having his annoying self around" said Shang as he chuckled.
"Annoying self? See this is why I don't like you!" Mushu said as he hissed at Shang. Shang rolled his eyes and smiled.
"You see what I got to put up with Cri-Kee? The NERVE!" he whispered to Cri-Kee.
Shang caressed Mulan's face as he went in for a kiss.
"Never leave my side, Mulan" he whispered softly.
"I won't Shang." Mulan whispered back. "I promise"

Closing Notes: It took me a month and four days to complete this story. I really couldn't finish it without many readers who have been reviewing my story. It makes me happy to just to know that many of you have enjoyed it.

Special thanks to the following:

Bao Li Na - How could I ever thank you for being the first person to read my story when I thought it was going down the drain. xD lol. Thank you so much for showing such great interest in my story. I really am happy you enjoyed it. I hope to finish reading all of your work soon, because they all look so tempting to read! xD

I-Love-Mulan13 - I have definitely enjoyed emailing you here on and I am so happy to see you really liked my story and have definitely enjoyed the conversations we've had throughout this course of writing. You have a lot of potential in your story! Keep up the good work! I definitely look forward to see more of your work.

Levy120 - Levy! How could I thank you for reading my story? "Reviews make me a happy writer" (Certainly I agree with you) Thanks for pointing out several flaws in story, I really do hope I improved throughout the rest of the story and I'm looking forward to reading yours! D

Starzinmieyez: Oh! I certainly hope you're not disappointed with the ending! But anyway, thanks for all of your reviews and keeping up with the story! =)

And to everyone else, thank you for following my story! I appreciate all the reviews I've gotten from people and I really hope you guys will like what I have coming up next! =)
xoxo
-Miliyamu xD