This next chapter is dedicated to Joe 'Po' Navark. Hope you like what I did here. Nothing like running to an old friend when you're out and about.


Chapter 7: Costumes and Christmas Surprise

In the village, Musaki was walking his way towards most of the village to find some Christmas presents for his Jade Palace family and his relatives, while finding some attire for the Christmas Ball and things of that nature. And after that, he was on his way to check on his cousins to see how they're doing on his holiday season because that's the major important factor.

He walked into this clothing store to find something he would wear on this ball and he definitely wanted to look presentable but not too over the top. He went through several different racks of clothes to find what looks good and then, he found the one...a grey silver vest with white and red pants and he sees it as holiday festive and said, "Now this is completely cool."

"I'll say."

Suddenly, he sees his friend Jo standing there and he lets out a chuckle and said, "Jo...what's up?"

Jo comes over and gives Musaki a little fist bump and he said, "Pretty good. Heard that Master Shifu's giving out a Christmas Ball at the palace."

Musaki was a ltitle bit speechless as to how Jo knew about that and he said, "How did you...?"

Jo chuckled softly and said, "Isn't that obvious? Shifu told me that today when he saw me walking through the village. That's why I came here...to find something that I can wear so I won't have to look too weird."

"Weird?" asked Musaki.

"You know, I don't want to look too strange in an event like this." Jo explained.

Musaki stared at the badger for a second and he couldn't find one strange thing about Jo in every which way possible and he looks up at him and said, "You're not strange or weird to me."

"You think so?" asked Jo.

Musaki smiled and said, "I know so."

As much as Jo was fully appreciated to hear this from Musaki, he still felt like he was unusual in many ways than none, but didn't want Musaki to know he still feels the same way yet. Jo then clears his throat and asked, "You think they got anything decent?"

"They might." Musaki replied.

While Jo searches around, Musaki went into a fitting room and tried on his new attire and when he looked in the mirror after having it on, he definitely feels like a totally different person, though a little cooler. He chuckled softly and said to himself, "Now that's me."

"Hey, Musaki?" Jo asked.

Musaki turns around and stepped outside of the dressing room and Jo looked up at his outfit in awe and he said, "Whoa...that's pretty cool."

"Thanks. Not too fancy or anything, right?" asked Musaki.

Jo nodded his head in response and he said, "Nope. It suits you."

Musaki chuckled softly at this response and he then asked, "Not too weird, right?"

"No."

Musaki smiled at him for a second and he said to Jo, "Thanks."

Musaki then noticed Jo holding a certain outfit that consists of a pair of grey silver pants, red and white shirt and a grey sash on his hand and he asked, "That's what you're gonna wear?"

"I was kinda thinking about it, but I wasn't really sure about it." Jo replied.

"Just do what you think is best for you. It doesn't matter what everyone else thinks." Musaki replied.

Jo wasn't sure how to respond to that, but he knew that Musaki was right about it. He's trying his best to not care what anyone thinks of him or how others would want him to be in order to please them for their sake. One look at this outfit and he wanted to come as he is and he went ahead onto the fitting room and gives it a shot.

By the second he came out of there with those holiday outfits on, Jo looks to Musaki to give the notice and said, "How do I look?"

Musaki couldn't help but be impressed with his attire and he replied, "Looking good, Jo."

"Be honest." Jo added.

"It really does look good. You'll definitely be the best dressed dude in the ball." Musaki added.

"Thanks."

Soon enough, Musaki paid for the attire for the ball and as soon as he walked out of the store with Jo, he looked at him and said, "So, I'll see you later?"

"Yeah, I'll see you at the gathering." Jo said, before taking off.

After Jo left, Musaki still found plenty of time to head over to do some Christmas shopping for his family and after hours of shopping, Musaki made his way to his Uncle Mako's place to see how he and the rest of the kids are doing. As soon as he went inside, Samurai was about to head out and he said, "Hey, Sammy."

"Hey, Saki. Sorry I can't stay. I got some work to do at the Noodle Shop." Samurai added.

"What all you have to do?" asked Musaki.

"Not much. All I have to do is make sure everything's all set up for the Noodle Feast, like put together the dishes, clean up the shop...but other than that, nothing much. Should be done in about an hour or so." Samurai said.

Musaki smiled at this and he said, "Well, good luck with that."

After Samurai departed, Musaki went in and he saw Mako sitting down on the couch, just trying to take it easy for a bit and he walked towards him and he said, "Hey, Uncle."

Mako looks up and he sees his beloved nephew standing there and he lets out a smile and said, "Xing-Fu...how ya doing?"

"Good. You look kinda exhausted." Musaki said, as he sat down on the floor.

Mako sits up and motions Musaki to sit next to him, which he kindly obliges and he tells his nephew, "I'm all tired out. I just needed some rest after work. How are you doing?"

"Fine. Just looking forward till Christmas." Musaki replied.

Mako nodded his head and he said, "Max said he wants a little brother for Christmas."

Musaki was surprised and also excited for him to know that Max is gonna be a big brother and he asked, "You sure he's up for the task?"

"We went to the orphanage today and I saw Max playing with two orphans there and that's when I knew that he's gonna be a great brother to these kids. Ms. Faye had asked about you though." Mako added.

Musaki smiled at that and he said, "I kow she's doing good. There are a lot of orphans in this time of year that don't have a home or a family yet."

Mako agreed with that and he said, "There were three orphans that I wanted to adopt and after today, it could be Max's christmas gift, so...don't tell Max this."

"Okay." Musaki whispered.

"I'm gonna bring them into my house and they'll spend the holiday week with him and the others. They're gonna stay until Christmas and when that comes...they'll go from orphans to a part of our family." Mako said, in a hushed tone.

Musaki widened his eyes at that idea and he said, "That is a great idea."

"All the more to have Max's christmas special." Mako added.


Was that cool or was that cool? Jo is owned by Joe 'Po' Navark. Stick around for more!