Now we'll see more secrets about Musaki telling Okinawa about his birth parents!

Chapter 4: Exchanging Stories

Musaki clears his throat and fully gives Okinawa his long story about his parents and what they were like and he said, "Our parents were the best parents you can ever imagine. When me and Zeke were born, they were like everything to us."

"Yeah, they were. We both have our parents' features; I have my mom's nose and my dad's ears, smile, big head and butt." Zeke replied.

Both Okinawa and Musaki were surprised that Zeke got his dad's butt and they never really expected anything to come out of Zeke's mouth and they did a double take, thinking that he was serious and they asked, "Really?"

"Nah, I'm just messing with you guys. Our butts aren't that alike." Zeke said, snickering.

Okinawa made a little wincing face at that extent and he said, "That's kinda weird that you threw it out there, man."

"Too weird." Musaki agreed.

Okinawa nodded in agreement and he asked both of them, "Have you guys ever got separated or stayed with each other your whole lives?"

Musaki and Zeke knew about the day they had this huge raid at the Valley some years ago and it was the most painful thing they've ever experienced and Musaki asked, "You wanna take this one, Zeke?"

"Oki...I'll tell ya this. We didn't stay together that long. All I remember was this huge raid with a lot of bad guys surrounding the Valley and our mom was trying to protect me from them, but it was too dangerous to hide. So...she gave me up. It wasn't really a point to me that she didn't care about me or that she didn't love me. She really loved me to death. When I was much younger...like 3 or something, I was taken in my this family and the father was a raging jerk. I had endured a lot of beatings, scuffles...a lot of the things you'd think a kid wouldn't go through I had experienced in my life." Zeke explained.

Okinawa's heart broke as Zeke heard everything and he felt a huge sense of guilt that he wasn't there in person to protect him had he knew about it before and he said, "I'm so sorry that happened, man."

"I got placed from foster home to foster home until I got to another orphanage. Not in the Valley of Peace, but somewhere 30 miles adjacent to it. When I was 14, I found out I had a twin brother and I didn't really believe it until I came to the Jade Palace and that was when I met Musaki in person. At first, I wasn't really sure if I could trust him, but he has a way of letting me in and being there for me, even if I didn't want him to. He was like...really there for me when we defeated my gorilla foster father. It was when I trusted him a lot during that event and that was something I'll always remember." Zeke added.

Musaki remembered that moment very well and he chuckled softly and said, "Yeah, that gorilla was so brutally crazy."

"Dude, who you telling? I hated him for what he did to me in the past." Zeke responded.

Okinawa looked up at Zeke and asked, "Do you hate him now?"

"I got over him years ago." Zeke replied.

"Did you guys stuck together since that event?" asked Okinawa.

"We did...until I decided to move to Shanghai Secluded Valley a few months after 8 months since we reunited. Often times, I'd come back to the Valley of Peace to celebrate mine and Musaki's birthday or holidays. So we see each other when we can and especially when Musaki drops by for a visit in Shanghai." Zeke answered.

"Very true." Musaki stated.

Okinawa smiled at both of them and he turned to Musaki and asked, "So...what do I need to know about you?"

"Well...as you already know, my parents were killed by Tai Lung when I was three and it was one of the most devastating days of my life. Losing my twin brother was hard enough, but losing both parents...that's just a scar in my head that can never be healed. For 10 years, I was really depressed and every single ounce of confidence was not there while I was at the Bao Gu Orphanage because I had been through a lot; nightmares about losing my parents playing in my mind, bullying, loneliness...I had always thought I had no family. Well, Brutus and Shakur were my guardians and they were like my father figures to me as I grew up. Soon enough...I got over my parents death when I turned 12 after one conversation with Brutus about seeing your loved ones again soon and that they'll always be in my heart, no matter what. It really helped me move forward, but I still miss them." Musaki stated.

Okinawa blinked his eyes after hearing Musaki's story and he was surprised at how he's gotten through it for so long and he said, "That's a lot to go through. Did you ever get mad or shut anyone out? Like put a wall around yourself?"

"No. Even after all I've been through...it never occured to me. Shakur and Brutus brought me out of the dark places I've been in and helped me to gain hope and faith that there is life after tragedy. I knew better not to hold grudges or feel bitter and resentful. When I got taken in the Jade Palace when I was 13, I felt like I was home with all of those kung-fu masters I look up to a lot, especially the Dragon Warrior. He's the one I look up to the most and in all the years I've known him, I like him better as a real person...even though he can be a little bit of a nuisance at times." Musaki said, with a chuckle.

"And did you still feel like part of the family?" asked Okinawa.

"Yeah, Shifu has referred to me as the son I wished I had and most of the Five see me as their little brother that they look up to. I didn't really make a big stink about it, but I realized that they like me for my wisdom, kindhearted spirit, determination, strong will and a compassionate heart. All I've done is become down to earth. Then, when I found out that I had an uncle and cousins, it gave me a sense that I had a family the whole time and I wanted to know more about myself, so I came to Shanghai Secluded Valley when I was 15 and what I didn't know was that everyone here knew my parents, especially my dad. I quickly got back to being in that family when I met my grandparents again and since then, I've grown a lot more closer...just like we are now." Musaki answered.

Okinawa blinked twice and he said, "All my life...I've always wanted to know if I was part of a family that I look like, but it turns out that I have been all this time. From Oak Sung to Zeke...they were right in front of me and I never really noticed it."

"So...do you accept us ad your little brothers? Or do you want to start off as friends?" asked Musaki.

Okinawa chuckled in response to that and he said with a smile, "Yes to both."

He grabbed both Zeke and Musaki and gave them a noogie on their heads and Musaki grunts after that and said, "Well...it's a start."

And next...the whole family's together!