Chapter 3: Practice Makes Perfect

Po was serving customers at his dad's noodle shop when Akayda came strutting in through the door. "Hey Kay," Po greeted with a smile.

"Hey Po is Princess here?" Akayda asked with a smirk.

"Not yet maybe she decided not to show", Po said sadly. He knew Tigress was popular and he wasn't but still it would have been nice to be friends. Viper seemed nice at least she had a kind face.

"Oh don't worry Po if Princess cares a tail about her grades which she does then she will be here", Akayda said sitting down.

"Po I need more dumplings and some soup then you can finish your homework okay son", a gray gooses wearing an odd hat with a white apron and gray vest came out and saw Po and Akayda. "Oh hello Akayda I didn't know you were here sweetie. How is your mom?" he asked in a kind voice.

"Hello Mr. Ping, my mom is fine she is resting from her job so I came over here to give her some peace and quiet", Akayda said smiling.

"That was nice of you dear. How is school?" Mr. Ping asked looking at the two kids.

"Just fine", they both said.

"Alright Po remember dumplings and soup", his dad said.

"Yes, sir oh dad can I have part of the kitchen tonight someone is coming over and she needs help cooking for a class", Po said softly.

"How sweet of you to help her Po of course in fact I will close a bit early so you and her can study", Mr. Ping said disappearing into the kitchen.

"Thanks dad", Po said as he went into the kitchen to make more dumplings and soup. Two hours goes by and the place is a ghost town as Po and Akayda wait for Tigress to arrive. "Maybe she isn't coming", Po said frowning.

"Guess not sorry Po, do you think you can help me practice my dance routine?" Akayda asked. She hated asking him for she knew he was looking forward to tutoring Tigress, but Akayda knew that Tigress was a girl who cared only about herself and that was why she didn't like her.

"I'll get my guitar", Po said as she waited for him to come down stairs. Tigress and Viper were on the street looking for Mr. Ping's noodle shop.

"I told you we took a wrong turn", Tigress snapped.

"Sorry I haven't been to the restaurant in a while", Viper said in an apologetic tone.

"Now you tell me", Tigress grumbled. They turned another corner and to their amazement as they saw in bold black letters Mr. Ping's Noodle Shop.

"See told you we would find it", Viper said smiling.

"Yeah let's get inside and hope Po can have time to tutor me", Tigress said walking straight towards the restaurant. "Do you hear music?" Tigress asked when they got to the door.

"I hear singing too", Viper said as they went in. To their utter amazement Po was sitting on a chair playing a guitar singing a song as Akayda was dancing to the song.

My little darlin is a firecracker", Po sang as he strummed his guitar strings. Akayda moved her body fast as she spun and did a leap with her hands on her waist. Then slid to the right and slid to the left as she bowed. Tigress hated to admit it but Akayda did have talent and Po had a nice voice and his guitar playing was pretty good as well. She hated to break up the moment but she didn't come here to listen to a dance recital.

"Hey we are here", she called and Po stopped playing and looked up. A smile was on his face and Akayda just rolled her eyes.

"Looks like the Princess showed up after all", Akayda said smirking. "Sorry but Po is helping me with my dancing you will have to wait a few minutes", Akayda said trying to sound polite. Normally she could care less if Tigress had to wait but Po did ask her to be nice so she would try.

"I don't have time to wait", Tigress snapped.

"Then you should have been here on time", Akayda snapped back.

"We couldn't find the place!" Tigress argued.

"Sorry not our problem, Akayda said folding her arms. Tigress let out a growl as did Akayda. That was when Po got up and Viper helped him separate the two female cats.

"Akayda calm down it is okay I will help her cook and then she and her friend can leave and I will help you practice okay", Po said trying to calm the panther down.

"Yeah that is fine", Akayda said folding her arms. "Sorry that I snapped at you", Akayda said to Tigress trying to not start a fight.

"Apology accepted I am sorry too", Tigress muttered as Viper urged her to calm down as well.

"Okay now that we are all nice again what exactly do you need help with?" Po asked looking at Tigress.

"Everything", Tigress said frowning.

"Okay then let's get started. First thing when cooking is washing your paws or tail in some cases", Po said looking at Viper who blushed. Tigress rolled her eyes but did as Po instructed.

"What next?" Tigress asked.

"Okay I already made dumplings but I need to make some vegetable soup. So, first thing is get a pot of water and fill it halfway", Po began. Tigress hated water but allowed Po to lead her over to the faucet and told her when she had enough water. Then helped her carry it back over to the stove and began to light the fire. Tigress started the fire but it was way too high. "Whoa not that high you will burn the soup", Po said quickly. "Like this", Po said and lowered the fire where it was barely visible.

"Oh interesting", Tigress said. Then they moved on to vegetables and how to cut them.

"With carrots cut them in little circles and then cut the circles into fourths but make sure you wash them first", Po said as he again led Tigress to the faucet and she watched as he cleaned one carrot. Then told her to try as she used her fingers to rub the dirt off she dug to deep and was peeling the skin and Po said", No, like this see real gentle". He stood behind her and took her finger and moved it gently over the carrot where it could get clean but without cutting the skin.

"That is kind of cool", Tigress said blushing. She began to feel weird like butterflies were in her stomach as Po removed his paw. She couldn't explain it but she wished his paw was back on hers. But shook the feeling away and continued cleaning the carrots. Soon they were cut and put into the pot and they moved onto radishes and potatoes. Soon all the vegetables were in the pot and Po helped Tigress stir. "I never knew making soup was so hard", Tigress admitted.

"It can be but I will tell you what my dad always told me", Po said.

"What did your dad always tell you?" Tigress asked.

"Practice makes perfect", Po said smiling and Tigress smiled back.

"I think Tigress is having fun", Viper whispered over to Akayda.

"Yeah I guess Princess is", Akayda admitted for Tigress looked like she was having fun but Akayda was still going to watch her. For if little Princess Tigress hurt Po, then little sister was going to kick some serious Tigress tail and she didn't care how long she got suspended.

"Here take a sip to see how you did", Po said holding a wooden spoon over to Tigress. He blew on it a few times to cool it off.

"I don't know", Tigress said looking worried. Every time she ate her own cooking she got sick and throwing up in front of Po, Akayda, and Viper did not sound fun.

"Okay I will take a sip if you will", Po said grinning slyly. Not wanting him to think she was scared Tigress nodded and held her breath when Po took the first sip. "Mm mm tasty now you", Po said once again offering her the spoon. Tigress took the spoon and poured the liquid down her throat. Her taste buds were buzzing as her mouth was exploding with flavor.

"That is so good", she whispered.

"See with practice you will be a top cook in no time", Po said smiling.

"Uh thanks Po", Tigress said blushing not used to getting praise for cooking. "Come on Viper we better head home", Tigress said softly. Viper said goodbye to Po and Akayda as they headed out the door. "Thanks again for the help Po, same time tomorrow?" Tigress asked.

"I'll be here", he assured as they left.

"Well that went better than expected", Akayda said getting down from her chair. "I better get home see ya tomorrow Po", Akayda said hugging her big brother.

"Don't forget we have a history quiz tomorrow", Po told her.

"Don't worry I'll study", Akayda said waving goodbye and disappearing behind the door. Po cleaned up the kitchen and headed for bed unaware that his life would never be the same.

Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review.