A little bonding moment between Jo and Musaki. Hope it's cool.

Chapter 4: Checking In

Several hours later, Jo settled in Po's room and feels like he's back home. He looks at Po and asked, "So, what have you been up to?"

"Not much. Just doing some training, hanging out and whatnot. We're just basically being really busy lately and also taking it easy for a while." Po answered.

Jo chuckled and said, "That's cool."

"What about you?"

Jo sighs and said, "Well, since I left, things have going okay. I've been doing kung-fu with all you guys taught me, wrote more poems--as always-- and just living in outside parts."

"Outside parts?" asked Po.

"Well, I've been sleeping in trees, hills, caves and streets for about...4 1/2 months."

Po's jaw dropped and didn't know what to make of it. He looked at him and asked, "You had nowhere else to go?"

"Not really. There were times that I wanted to go back, but I just felt like if I go back, then that would mean I would let you and Shifu down and I couldn't take that risk."

"Are you serious? Of course we would want you back. Even if you haven't done any training, you could still come back."

"Really?"

"Like, of course."

"So, have you had any places to stay for the night?"

"21 caves."

Po's eyes widened and couldn't believe what he had hard that Jo has slept in 21 different caves. He looked at him and puts his hand on his shoulder and told him, "What would happen if I told you you were to live with us again?"

Jo sighed heavily as his eyes widened and he looked at Po and he said, "That would be cool."

"I know it would."

"The reason why I couldn't go back is that if I did, then I would be a failure. And I know Shifu doesn't tolerate it."

"Come on. Shifu is like the father you never had. Even if you made any mistakes, he would still want you around. And you can actually learn from your mistakes. But, hey, we would still have you around."

"You sure?"

"Of course! Why wouldn't we?"

Jo chuckled and said, "Thanks, Po. I always did admire you."

Po chuckled softly and said, "Sometimes I get that a lot."

Then, came a knock on the door and Po answered, "Come in."

When the door opened, in came Musaki and asked, "How's it going?"

"Pretty good." Po replied.

Jo looked at both Musaki and Po and looked as if they look alike, but they're different from each other. He asked Po, "How come you guys look alike?"

"We sometimes get that often." Po said.

"How so?"

"Well, when I first came here, someone brought me in from the Bao Gu Orphanage and I got asked, 'Do you know you look like the Dragon Warrior, but you're different from him?' and there's always questions about how I'm different from Po and it kinda became everyone's favorite question." Musaki said.

"Can you tell me why, though?"

"Well, we have some similarities between each other, but some differences. Po's overweight and I'm kinda smaller from him."

"How can you tell the difference?"

"Po's belly is huge and mine's smaller."

"Okay, what else you got?"

"Our eyes. His eyes are green and mine is sky blue or baby blue eyes. Personally, the blue eyes kinda match my personality as a way of being shy and somewhat, easy to get along with."

"Cool."

"Then, we have the age difference, even though we're half fraternal twins. Po's 21 and I'm 14. So, I'm pretty much younger from the rest of these guys."

"I know it's weird, but that's what it is when he came in to the palace, I knew that he could be something special and when you talk to him or see him, you can tell that he's an awesome person to hang out with and it made us want to hang out with him even more." Po said.

"Do you have any nicknames?" Jo asked.

"Well, I call him 'Lil' Saki' and most of the Five kinda follows it along a little. Another nickname is 'Saki', but he likes 'Lil' Saki' better."

Musaki chuckled and said, "It kinda stuck for a while and as the weeks went by as I stayed here longer, I have gotten used to it and it's been my favorite nickname ever since."

"How old were you when you got taken in?"

"13."

"Really?"

"Yep. I know it's weird, but I was waiting for someone to adopt me, even though I was sulking in my room there for 10 years."

"10 years? That's too long."

"Yeah, but I was still depressed then."

"How so?"

"Like, super-depressed."

"Anyways, how awesome will it be when Christmas Day comes?" Po asked.

"Completely. It's gonna be the first time to celebrate it with my new family after 10 years of isolation. What about you, Jo?"

"The same. I can't wait to celebrate it with you guys." Jo said, happily.

"I agree, highly."

"Hello there."

They turned around and saw Shifu standing there. They all said, "Hi, Shifu."

"How are you all doing?" he asked.

"Pretty good. Just talking and such."

"That's great. Well, I was just checking in and also to tell you something."

"What's that?" asked Jo.

"We're gonna have a Christmas get-together at the Mongolia Palace in Miju Valley. It's about 20 minutes from here and all we have to do is have a great time and stuff. They said that we're all invited and can bring a few guests there."

"That's awesome!" Po said.

"When is it?" asked Jo.

"Christmas Eve." Shifu answered.

"That's cool!"

"I can tell that you're all gonna have a great time there."

"Like, of course we will!" Musaki exclaimed.

Shifu chuckled and said, "Glad to hear it. I think it's time you all should rest up."

"All right. Good night, guys."

"Night, Musaki." Po and Jo said.

Musaki left Po's room and headed towards his room, but Shifu stopped him for a sec and told him, "Ichi, Fu and Kaguya are planning on coming over to spend Christmas with us."

"Wow. That's cool!"

"They'll be here tomorrow."

"That just made my day even more better, also with the holidays."

Shifu smiled and said, "I can see that you're all good friends."

"Like, of course. We're very cool with each other. I'm pretty sure the bond will grow stronger for this holiday season."

"That's good to hear. Good night, Musaki."

"Night, Shifu."

Musaki went into his room and Shifu chuckled softly and said, "Happy holidays...son."

Then, without another word, Shifu walked out of the hallway as it starts getting dark with a little smile on his face and also, for Jo coming in the palace to spend the holidays. He can tell that it will be a Christmas memory that will be remembered.

There's gonna be more bonding moments later on and I hope Joe 'Po' Navark likes it. Also, klonoakazeno, I'm hoping that when I get Kaguya in this fic, I hope what I do with her personality matches. I'll post more chapters so stay tuned! Merry X-MAS!!!