This is a small warning...get ready for the hate YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Also it finally happens! If you had been expecting it since the beginning. This is a dual chapter.

It was a busy day. I haven't really even stepped inside the shop when Zhu sent flying orders in my direction. I was quick to put on my apron and start working. Orders were yelled, ingredients flew through the air, knives diced at incredible speed it was complete chaos inside the kitchen.

Once again a chef hadn't come by the restaurant. Why this time? I was pretty sure not even Zhu knew why the rabbit hadn't showed up in the morning to work, but he also didn't care. He needed a chef and I was there for him luckily. This was the most I had ever been out of the burnt village to visit the town. Which wasn't bad, but considering how careful I had to be in this village I preferred the burnt one.

I wasn't entirely aware of why I had to keep a low profile; I just knew it was what I had to do. I never was a fan of showing my face, at least not since Zhu found me. I would never forget his expression that day. He looked so taken back, so amazed, so confused. After that the questions followed, question to which I had no reply at the time. Not that I had a reply now, but at least I don't feel so lost as to not give an answer at all.

Orders kept piling and flying out of the kitchen and keeping me distracted for the most part. It was going to be a long day.

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Tigress walked through the village she had been on a couple of days prior. She was lost in thought as the frightened face of the rabbit still lingered in her mind. Pleading eyes begged for mercy. Hands shook in horror. Then she stopped and the rabbit smiled, and as cruel fate would have it, she finished the job.

It wasn't something she was entirely proud of it; however it was a job that she had to do. It wasn't as if she hadn't handled jobs worse than that, but the fact that she had to do it for not only her comrades but for the people of China. At was a burden. It was tiring. It was horrible. She hated it. She wanted nothing to do with the peacock. Add to her growing frustrations the fact that their only hope had turned into an even bigger burden, Tigress didn't know what to do.

She was trapped in this sick game. She couldn't escape by herself. She couldn't save her friends. She couldn't save China. What kind of warrior disappointed their entire following? What kind of warrior broke their promise and killed the people that they had sworn to protect? A coward one.

The others had told her that it wasn't her fault. That they had all taken the responsibilities even of the burden. But she was their leader. She should have the answers and she didn't. She was naked in front of this entire endeavor with no chance of escaping and surviving.

She needed break. Maybe she was thinking to hard about all this. If she could lean back and just think clearly maybe she could come up with a solution for everyone. One that would benefit even Viper's unborn. Yes, that sounded about right to her. She could regroup and come up with the best strategy. She was alone in the mission today…she could totally use the time to her benefit.

It was then that she spotted a familiar eatery. The shop was filled with people and orders flying everywhere. The ruckus reminded her of Mr. Ping's during lunch rush, except it wasn't lunch rush since it had been some time ago. She however entered the establishment once more and took a seat. In no time at all she was waiting for her meal.

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After the rush I could finally throw myself back and relax a little. I was in the back part of the kitchen that led to a dark alley in the back of the shop. Murmurs where heard in the distance but I ignored them as I finished my lunch.

It had been a rush nearly the entire day and I was finally able to get some time for me. I was starving, I was tired but I felt great. I guess the familiarity of the situation made me feel better about the hours of endless work. I sat back and enjoyed the time I had to myself and to remember those times that I didn't remember but nagged at the back of my head wanting to be free. Soon, I realized, very soon I was to finally remember everything at least that was a great note for Zhu for as me, what was I to do when I finally got my memories back?

"Lóng," yelled Zhu at me. "We got an order for your noodles. Man, do those sell when you cook."

I laughed a little, "Well at least we get clients coming and that's good right?"

Zhu looked down and sighed, "It just attracts the attention of some…rather odd guests."

I crossed my arms, "She's wolves?"

Zhu turned to me and mentioned me to follow him. I did. Once we were close enough to the door Zhu mentioned me back. I did without hesitating. Zhu opened the door lightly to show the interior of the restaurant. There were tons of people still eating their meals but one in particular called my attention and was quite hard to miss. The tiger sat watching the tables around her with an inspecting eye. My eyes froze on her and my head throbbed fiercely.

"Who is she?" I asked in whisper.

"That's Shen's personal body guard/ concubine," said Zhu. "Her name is Tigress and she used to be the leader of the Furious Five."

As I heard Zhu my eyes never left the feline. There was something about her…something odd…something I couldn't quite place. It sent my head in a throbbing frenzy that only got worse by the second. Finally Zhu closed the door but I couldn't shake her image from my head.

"She wants noodle soup," Zhu said after a moment of silence.

I nodded and walked back to the kitchen to start on the soup.

ʕ´• ᴥ •`ʔ

Tigress sat admiring the bowl of noodle soup. Unlike last time she could now really take her time with her meal and she was glad for the space. Taking her spoon she gently blew on the contents and smiled a little. The nostalgic flavors soon warm her entire body, driving her into a false sense a security. She knew it was all an illusion and that she shouldn't be swayed by these things but she couldn't help it.

She took her time as she planned her strategy. Watching the people interact and be themselves for a moment had given Tigress a new reason to thrive for a better future for China. She contemplated her position. It was her and the five, four if you took out Viper, but she knew Viper could fight. Second thing she thought about was her position. Right now they lived surrounded by Shen, she needed a plan to open the palace and get the five out. However she had many setbacks, like the fact that Shen kept his eyes on them every waking moment.

Third and biggest problem was the child. Viper wouldn't leave Gongmen without her egg with her that was for certain. Tigress needed to find a balance to make all these things work in harmony. The five needed to get out regroup, come back and reclaim China. It was a horrible plan, which would involve hundreds if not thousands of deaths. She needed a way to make sure Shen would keep busy. Something radical that would entertain the peacock for at least a couple of months so that the five could regain their wits. Unlucky for her nothing really startled the peacock.

Tigress shook her head. One step at the time. She knew the five would support her if her plan was viable enough, but she couldn't depend on luck. She had to be smart for this to work. First step save the five and move away from Gongmen city. Second step would be to regroup and finally regain China. She had the man power for the plan to succeed, however how was she going to get the peacock distracted enough for the plan to work?

ʕ´• ᴥ •`ʔ

"Zhu I'm leaving," I told Zhu as I opened the door to the dark alley.

"Be careful Lóng," said Zhu showing his face and looking around the clean kitchen."You are one heck of a worker."

I smiled at the compliment, "Guess I have greatness inside of me…that and an extra bash of noodles."

Zhu shook his head but smiled, "Well I'll see you tomorrow to work."

I nodded, put on my straw hat and walked outside.

"I'm sorry mistress but we'll be closing now," said the pig in charge of the place to the kung fu master.

"Sorry I…lost track of time," she said standing.

"No worries," said the pig with a smile. "It has a tendency to happen. Not with kung fu masters but it happens."

Tigress paid and she even gave extra for the trouble of being in the restaurant for so long. The pig insisted she kept the extra money but in the end he was forced to accept it.

Tigress then walked outside the store and started to the Gongmen palace. She would be late but her day had ended up in a good note. She could feel herself gaining confidence as she strode out of the store and into the streets. Perhaps not all was lost, she thought to herself. However as she turned to head to the city she bumped into someone. The figure quickly apologized and helped her to her feet.

I stretched my hand so that the tiger could stand. She was staring at my paw as if it was a foreign object. I didn't move my paw I just allow her to understand that there was someone willing to help her, even if it was standing up. I noticed in the hours she spent in the shop not one soul had been near her, and who would. No one was crazy enough to mess with Shen's property.

ʕ´• ᴥ •`ʔ

Reluctantly she took my hand. I slowly helped her up, "I'm sorry I was in a hurry."

Tigress shook her head, "It was my fault I should have…seen where I was going."

I chuckled a little, "A kung fu master should watch better where they go."

"A kung fu master is willing to get distracted," Tigress replied.

"Yeah, in your hardcoreness is weird to…you know, perceive you as a person sometimes," I told her lowering my eyes.

Silence dragged on for a few seconds before she broke it once more, "Did you come out of this shop?"

"I'm the temporary chef," I replied.

"The one with the excellent soup?"

I chuckled, "I wouldn't say excellent." I raised my eyes to meet up her and instantly my smile fell.

It was like being torn and built. Everything around me just died as I watched those eyes…those strangely familiar eyes. So far I had yet to see something other than my father in my mental images, and even that was limited to shadows of his persona. With this I felt so odd and unable to speak. Everything was a mess that tried to spring to life in my head. I blinked several times removing the spinning images.

"Well it's an honor to cook for a master," I bowed respectfully. "Always."

With those words I turned on my heels and walked back to the burnt village.