~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ~
Chapter Eight ஓƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒஓ
~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ~

There was the silence he didn't expect after the kiss. As they both exhaled softly when she pulled away, Po's eyes remained close during, and after, as his mind tried to grasp what happened. Did she just kiss me? He thought to himself. Or is it a dream? One way to find out.He finally opened his eyes, to be greeted by reality; she was still leaning across the table, smiling at him gently. Man, who knew someone so hardcore, had the softest lips?

"So... that was not a dream?" He asked in a daze.

The room gained more light, after she added a chuckle. "Which would you rather? Dream..." She reached out and held his cheek. "...or reality?"

"Uh..." He couldn't stop staring into her eyes. "Could it be possible to have it as both?"

"A dream turned into reality can't really be defined as a dream anymore." She said softly.

"Darn." He pretended to be disappointed, but it stopped as soon as they leaned in for another kiss, which was quicker than the first, but didn't lack Such warmth and love he felt in the one previous. "So... does this mean you feel the same way?"

"If I didn't feel the same way, would I have kissed you?" He blushed a little at her very good point. "So, let me ask this," she pulled away properly, and almost sank into her chair, her arms folding across her chest. "So these feelings, they've been going on before you defeated Shen?" He nodded. "But you felt they were just a crush, and then after defeating Shen, which was six months ago, you knew they were for definite?" Another nod. "It took them six months to find out?" A third nod. "Well… I guess we thought of the subject- and by we, I exclude Monkey and Mantis out of it- we thought of this topic at different times." Her folded limbs fell apart, and her paws found each other on her lap. "There was more to the reason Shifu sent me to the neighbouring village on his behalf; when I wasn't sitting in the middle of arguments, or in meetings, I would be meditating, thinking of these feelings I have for you too, wondering how this would turn out if we went down this path, and how much light could be there…" they both smiled. "I now realize we both see the same amount of light."

"What will Shifu think when he finds out?" Po asked in a nervously chuckle.

"Don't worry about him," their paws found each other again. "I went to him about these feelings before the trip, because I had never felt like this before towards anyone. After the battle with Shen, I kept asking myself why I took the shot for you. There had to be more of a reason to do something like that, and during the time I was away, I found the answer. I did it because… I love you too." He smiled grew bigger. That cloud nine feeling was starting to kick in big time! "Shifu won't kill you… yet. I'd watch him like a hawk though."

Po chuckled. "Gotcha." And they resumed to their dinner, and Po soon started filling Tigress in on all that she had missed. Most of the things she missed out on was based in the Valley, but what really reeled her in was the extent Monkey and Mantis went to get Crane involved.

"Speaking of," Tigress picked up her plate, now with nothing but small traces of food and soy sauce, and brought it to the sink. She began rinsing the dish, before filling a basin with warm water and soap. "I believe revenge is an order? Though this situation has helped us both, they still need to be taught a lesson."

"Well," Po got up and did the same as Tigress. She moved a little to the side, and they washed their dishes together. "I haven't really thought of what I was gonna do for payback."

"Hmm…" Tigress reached for a dry cloth, and began drying. "I have something. Call it copy-cat if you will…" she smirked evilly as Po's eyes widened, his ears flattened across his head, and stopped in mid wash. "But those two need a taste of their own medicine." It was only then he smiled back.


The next morning, Viper made her way down the hall slowly, listening out slowly for anything abnormal. What she did pick up, was the sound of muffled, but audible laughter, from three separate beings, coming from the kitchen. She quickly made her way to the kitchen, where Po, Tigress, and Crane were seen, doing various things, but sharing the same expression; Po was cooking breakfast, which wasn't even done, and the aroma was overpowering enough to make her mouth water; Tigress just finished making tea and was bringing the pot over to the table; and Crane was at the table, setting out the cutlery to each of their five seats… with an additional sixth seat.

"What's going in here?" She asked, but couldn't help but smile at Po and Tigress, as he helped her get the tea cups she had forgotten. Both were smiling at each other, but she knew there and then these smiles were not like before… these ones had deeper meanings. Not to mention last night, when Viper and the others got home, Viper happened to check Po's room before going to bed, to find Tigress sleeping in the panda's embrace. "What are you guys hiding from me huh? What's with all the laughing?"

"Best way to put it is," Po looked at Tigress, who nodded, turned to Viper, and told her that Master Shifu was returning very soon.

"And Po's makeover has been resolved just in time I see." Viper smiled, but then looked down at the floor, her smile suddenly gone. "Tigress, I'm really sorry for our behavior yesterday. We didn't want you to get freaked out and-"

Tigress laughed. "It's fine Viper. Especially now, seeing that Po's makeover has ended." Her ears flickered. "Someone else's is just about to begin."

Viper tilted her head slightly. "I don't understand…" She paused, and then gasped as she looked at Crane. "You didn't!" He started laughing, and then she looked at Po and Tigress. "You guys didn't!"

Po covered his mouth to stop himself from dying from laughter, and gave Tigress and Crane the 'shush' gesture as they her footsteps coming from the hallway…

"Hello students," Shifu came in, his hat on his head, and bag on his back. "Lovely morning… where you should be training out in no?"

"Sorry Master," said Crane, coughing slightly. "Just a lot of stuff has been going on."

The old Master eyed Po slowly. "I'm sure." Po stared back bravely, his knees about to buckle beneath him… if it wasn't for Shifu catching sight of Tigress. "So Tigress, how did the situation in the neighboring Valley go?"

"It went as you would expect of me Master." Tigress replied. "Both sides managed to tie loose ends, and built a bridge to get over the situation."

"Good… and the other duties?" He briefly eyed Po again, but this time, Tigress held his paw to give comfort. "What light was seen on either side?"

"The same amount." Tigress replied, and Po began to immediately think of what she said the night before, as he smiled at her. The same amount of light… I wonder who gave her that idea of thinking our situation that way? He thought.

"As I hoped." Shifu smiled while taking off his hat and bag, before looking around suspiciously. "I believe we are missing Monkey and Mantis…" Crane coughed again, and excused himself. "Where are they?"

"Still asleep." Viper looked at the other three slowly. "I'll call them." She slithered to the doorway, and looking down the hall in case she saw the two making their way up. When she didn't, she took a deep breath. "Monkey! Mantis! Master Shifu's back! Get up! Your gonna miss breakfast." She back away from the door and took to her seat, and looked up at Crane as Shifu took his seat at the head of the table, facing the doorway. "I don't know how I'm gonna react," she whispered to Crane. "Let alone Master Shifu!"

Crane chuckled after they all heard movement from the barracks. "We'll find out now." They all resumed to what they were doing previous while they waited. Tigress turned to Shifu, about to ask if he wanted tea, when Monkey and Mantis finally entered.

"Sorry we slept in Master," Shifu turned to Monkey as he spoke, and froze instantly. The others glanced at the two, whatever the angle their heads were at. "We didn't realize we slept through the gong..." the primate's voice slowly trailed off, as he looked around at the others. "Uhh... what?" Crane's wings covered his beak; Tigress bit down on her lips as she reached behind her to meet with Po's paw in a tight hold, as he closed his eyes and turned to her, trying his best to compose himself normally (but was slowly failing at). Shifu's eye twitching was the only thing that needed to set Viper off, and she stared off into the corner, finding a simple cobweb mighty interesting, as she held her lips together, trying to stop the tears from escaping (also failing, but a little quicker than Po).

"What's so funny?" Mantis asked suspiciously, jumping onto Monkey's shoulder.

"Nothing!" Crane managed to get out, before holding his beak closed again.

Tigress cleared her throat, and raised a brow to them. "Have you two looked in the mirror recently?"

Viper exhaled through the nose. "Your looking a little... pale."

Po inhaled, turned to face them at long last, and nodded in agreement. "Yeah," he said. "Not to mention the redness around your eyes... have you been sleeping alright?"

"Wha..." The primate and insect suddenly looked at each other, wide eyed, and then at Po. "You didn't." They hissed.

Po quickly checked if Shifu was still looking their way, and upon finding out that for once, the elder panda was at a loss for words, he wrapped an arm around Tigress, smirking evilly as she smiled innocently. "I did." He said. "Two can play at that game." As soon as that sentence was finished, Monkey sprinted down the hall, with Mantis clinging onto his shoulder. They heard doors being swung open, fumbling of objects, and then a shout of surprise from the two that carried all the way to the kitchen, making the cutlery shake with the volume.

"MASTER!" They cried as they came running back, finding Viper crying tears of laughter, Crane trying to breathe between snorts, Po and Tigress holding each other up throw their laughing, and poor Master Shifu looking traumatized. "WE CAN EXPLAIN EVERYTHING!"

The End


Hope you enjoyed it guys! I had so much writing this story! I wish it didn't end :(

I wanna wish everyone a late happy new year! I hope 2016 brings happiness, and prosperity to each and everyone of you! Roll on January 29th! KFP 3 here we come! 27 days to go!

~Cookie~