hello again! PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR POSTING SUCH SHORT CHAPTERS!! between applying for college, getting my car fixed, and dealing with a family that has WAAAAYY too many problems ive been unable to come up with anything. on a lighter note ive finally got another reader! thank you corset-rebellion-flower for donating your time to review this humble fanfic. And of course thank you meggie6 for being a loyal reader even though my updates have become continuously shorter

The moon was now well into the sky and cast an ethereal glow on the palace as one figure stood in the courtyard. This figure ,however, didn't notice the form of a feline hiding in the shadows watching his every move with intent eyes.

Lu's brow was drenched in sweat as he switched from one stance to another.

He had spent the rest of the day practicing forms while contemplating what had transpired. 'one minute I'm on a job and the next I'm a student at the jade palace, huh' he thought 'how did I get myself into this one' he slowly shifted from one form to another 'well that Shifu is a smooth-talker'

However he was interrupted from his musings when a certain Tigress leaped out at him from the shadows to his right

He immediately broke form and jumped back narrowly avoiding Tigress' fist. "well that wasn't nice" he said as he struck an easy fighting stance.

"you may have the others fooled but I know your up to something" Tigress said as she tensed, waiting for the right moment to strike.

"oh really" Lu replied "what makes you think that"

"why else would you enroll as a student here"

"wasn't my idea"

"why should I trust you"

A small smile crossed Lu's face "you shouldn't"

Tigress leaped at him spinning into a wide kick that Lu easily dodged. She followed up with a series of punches but every one was blocked as Lu backed away.

'damned she's fast' he thought as he patiently blocked each attack waiting for an opening. He finally found it as Tigress threw a wide punch which Lu caught, he twisted her arm around her and grabbed her in a chokehold.

"don't think you've beaten me that easily" Tigress snarled as she used her free arm to elbow Lu in the stomach and break free.

"I wouldn't dream of it" Lu replied "but you know if I really tried I could have easily broken your neck if I wanted to"

Tigress felt her breath catch as she realized that he was right. "then why didn't you" she asked "I did just try to beat you and its obvious that I don't trust you".

In the blink of an eye Lu was face to face with Tigress "if there was one weed in a lush garden would you burn the entire garden simply to be rid of the weed?"

Tigress was shocked. Not only had she been beaten and told off, but had Lu just referred to HER as a lush garden?? HER…who cared only for honing her skills in kung fu? Her who had shown Lu nothing but distrust and aggression after he had saved her life? Could it be that he really thought of her like that?

As if to confirm her suspicions he leaned in and planted a small kiss on her cheek. Then before she could react he leaped away and disappeared into the shadows.

Tigress was stunned and found herself thinking about how graceful Lu was during the fight 'No' she thought 'he was just trying to get my guard down, I still cant trust him' and with that she made her way to the bunk house.

wow! Lu you sly wolf you! believe it or not I honestly didnt think that was going to happen, I was in a daze typing at three in the morning and didn't realize what I had written untill I reread it. ha... my subconcious is a genius