snarky_panda (snarky_panda) wrote in mulanficspace, @ 2007-07-21 01:11:00 |
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Current mood: | content |
Current music: | Psyche |
30 Kisses: Mulan and Shang, Part Twelve
Written for the 30_kisses challenge.
Title: Celebrations, Part 3: Tradition
Author: snarky_panda
Fandom: Mulan
Pairing: Li Shang/Fa Mulan
Theme: #8, our own world
Disclaimer: All characters, etc. from the Disney movie belong to Disney.
“It’s not right,” Lady Li had chided him the day right after the Double Ninth Festival, wagging a finger. “That girl doesn’t do anything she’s supposed to. Nothing good can come of it, Shang. A woman becomes part of her husband’s family when she marries. That’s the way it should be, the way it’s always been. Yet she remains so attached to her own family, even after six months of marriage. She makes no effort to be a part of yours.”
“She is trying, Mother. It’s difficult for her. Mulan isn’t used to such a large family and she was always very close with her family. She was an only child…”
“And spoiled rotten. I bet it was her idea to spend the holiday alone with you.”
Shang hadn't answered.
“I’ll take your silence as an affirmative. And you continue spoiling her by letting her have her way.”
“You don’t have to make things even more difficult for her either,” he had replied finally with a sigh.
“I? What did I do wrong?”
“Nothing. But you could refrain from frowning at her every time you see her.”
“Hmph. If you were still a little boy talking to me in this way I’d smack you. But with your father gone...”
Her shoulders had sagged almost imperceptibly as she trailed off and Shang had immediately felt guilty.
“Mother, I’m sorry…”
“You’re the man of the house now and you’re in charge,” she’d continued, finishing her thought. “But don’t get so involved with your wife that you forget your duties to this family, Shang. All of us. It’s not as if the two of you are living in your own world together, able to shut out everyone and everything else. We’re still important and you have a responsibility to us.”
“I know, Mother. And I apologize about the festival. From now on we’ll spend all of the holidays with the entire family. I promise.”
Shang sighed, shaking off the memory of that quarrel with Lady Li as he heard the door to their chamber open. Mulan stepped back into the room, finished with her walk, and padded over to him, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek.
“You didn’t have to wait up for me.”
“I wanted to,” he answered, wrapping his arms around her. “I hate seeing you so upset. And I don’t want us to go to bed angry.”
She smiled. “I’m sorry for being moody. I’ll try harder with your mother,” she murmured, snaking her arms around his waist.
He kissed her forehead tenderly.
“Maybe she’ll stop frowning at you so much then.”
She laughed and leaned against him, resting her cheek against his chest.
“Thank you,” she sighed.
“For what?”
“Saying that.”
(Link here to continue)