Disclaimer: I don't (once again) own any characters from the movie Kung Fu Panda. If I did, I won't be working my ass off with assignments and tests in college. Though I really do wish that I own Tai Lung, Tigress and Po. I love them, especially Tai Lung. He's a cute feline, don't you agree?
I made this a long chapter. I don't know why. To Awerewolf, thanks so much for reading my fic. The next chapter is a little more on your obsession. LOL!!
Chapter 9
--
The sun slowly rose up to greet the early morning of the day so that other animals can get up to the early sunrise of the morning to attend to their daily duties. Birds were chirping happily to each other and some were even playing happily in the water fountain. Overall, today's beautiful morning was unusually gay and exciting; all except for 3 kung fu master. Yesterday night was a horrible nightmare for the three of them and decided to keep the whole incident to themselves, rather than blurting everything out.
Breakfast was essential, so everybody had breakfast in their usual place. Po had cooked some rice porridge with salted fish as a side dish for each of them. Though everybody was energetic and raring to go do their own things for the day, Tigress, Tai Lung and Po was quite the opposite. Po tried to make his usual happy-go-lucky expression but was finding it hard to do. Tigress slowly ate her breakfast while Tai Lung was playing with his food.
"It's such a nice day today," Shifu spoke, "This is one of those days where everything can go right, don't you agree Tai Lung?"
Tai Lung didn't answer the old master and was still stirring his rice porridge.
"Tai Lung?"
Still no reaction from him.
"Tai Lung?" Shifu asked again.
Tigress nudged him a bit and Tai Lung was back to reality," Huh? Uh-wha?"
"Is everything alright m'boy?" Shifu asked another deep question.
"Um…yeah. It-it's alright. It's just that….I didn't got enough sleep last night and um…yeah, I'm a little tired." He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Oh? Is that it?" Shifu said, "Then I've just the thing to cure this 'sickness'. Let's go for a picnic shall we?"
"Oh that's great Master Shifu." Crane quickly shot in.
"Excellent idea Master." Monkey joined in.
"Then it's settled and I know just the place. After breakfast gather at the courtyard. Bring whatever you need." Shifu smiled.
Great. That's the last thing I wanted to do today; go on a picnic. Tai Lung told himself.
"Oh and Po, you and I are going to prepare lunch." Shifu told Po.
"Um…Okay." Po made a weak smile.
"I'm so gonna get some sun," Viper said with excitement.
"And I'm gonna do my new flight sequence that I've been dying to try out in the wide open sky," Crane added in.
"What are you going to do Tigress?" Mantis asked her.
"Ah…whatever that comes into my mind I guess," She answered.
Tai Lung had enough of the conversation and got up, "I'm excusing myself." and walked away.
"What's with him? "Crane said.
--
Once breakfast was done, everybody was busy preparing for the picnic and Tai Lung wasn't excited at all; not one bit. He was in the hall of warriors and meditated there to clear his mind. He was cleared until Tigress broke his concentration, again.
"Is this going to be a routine for you that whenever I'm in meditation, you just have to barge right in." Tai Lung said with sarcasm.
"Explain to me what the hell happened last night," She growled, "I was nearly raped by the other 'you' and who the hell is he? Who's the other female tiger? She's the fortune teller I saw in the village yesterday. What's she doing here? How does she know you? What's with the dateline? Who's Leo? Who are Isis, Byakko and Thanatos? Are you working for them? What's their intention? What-?"
"Stop!" Tai Lung stopped her. "Too many questions and one answer, none of your business."
"Heck yeah it's my business. The other 'you' tried to do something to me and it doesn't concern me? What kind of answer is that?" She glared at him.
Tai Lung sighed and rubbed his head a little, "Do you really want to know?"
"Yes I do." She quickly said.
"Can we wait for Po?"
"No"
"Yes"
"No"
"Yes"
"No"
"Yes"
"No!" Tigress voice overcame Tai Lung's incoherent voice.
"Then no explanation," Tai Lung casually said.
She let out all of her ten claws and showed them to Tai Lung, "These friends of mine are very impatient and it's been a while that they have ever seen daylight. Either you speak with you mind or there won't be one at all."
"Threat won't work on me Tigress. I'm a threat itself. You think I'll be easily threatened by you?" he scoffed.
"And the answer is yes," she raised her right paw and stopped when she saw Po suddenly standing next to Tai Lung.
"Huh-huh-huh. Lucky for me I got here in time," Po was breathless and was having difficulties in speaking for now.
"Hmph, lucky for him too. " She turned away.
"Po's here. So answer will be given. Sit," Tai Lung commanded, "It'll be short and precise as we need to go for the picnic and-"
"Don't worry about it," Po cut in, "I told Shifu that….that…..huh….. Give me a minute," Po inhaled a big gulp of air and exhaled in one breath, leaving a trail of bad morning smell.
"Ungh…panda…" Tai Lung closed his nose. "Ever heard of mint?"
"Later. Okay back on the case. Shifu told me the meeting place and he allowed us to be a little late. He asked me lots of questions but lucky for me, I managed to dodge a lot of em'. So take your time." He sat next to Tai Lung.
"So you still want the explanation, or nothing."
"You bet I want." Tigress quickly snapped at him and sat together with the two males.
Tai Lung explained everything that he knew and some extra info that Po didn't managed to get but left out the part where he was supposed to have his terms with the dragon scroll. I shouldn't even tell that I'm planning to steal the scroll. How am I going to get it by today? I don't even know where the hell that panda keeps his valuables.
Once everything was told, Tigress tried to consume everything that Tai Lung had spilled out. "So practically you are tied to them. The other 'you', Snow, is a shadow of you, am I right?" Tigress asked.
"Technically yes," Tai Lung admitted.
"What's with the death thingy?"
"I have no idea what so ever."
Tigress eyed at him suspiciously, "One more thing you left you, the most important detail, what's with the dateline? It seems to connect with you and Vikki."
"That information…." Tai Lung looked away. Tigress eyed at him even more suspiciously and if she ever had the power to pierce his eyes with her eyes, she would have done it right then and there.
Po was sensing a serious tension between Tai Lung and Tigress and tried to loosen up the environment.
"Hey, hey. There's a beautiful plain filled with all sorts of stuff at the place where the picnic is held. We should go immediately. Yeah, yeah, as in right now. I'm dying to go there. Come on." Po pulled Tigress's arm but Tigress pulled away from him.
"Tell me now" her voice sounded impatient and she wasn't going to move away till he tells her the story.
"It's my business and not yours at all," Tai Lung got up and started to walk away.
"Come back here and talk like a true warrior," Tigress raised her voice.
Tai Lung stopped. Uh oh… Po thought to himself.
"What did you say?"
"I said, talk to me like a true warrior and not leave any secrets behind," Tigress said between clenched teeth.
Po was getting scared and was trying his best to calm them down, "Ah-ah. Hey, come on Tai Lung, I know this great place where they serve great Oolong tea and…and….ah…. Think Po! Think!
"You think I'm afraid of you?" Tai Lung moved close to Tigress. So near that she could smell his manly breath.
"Yes, unless you talk about it."
"Guys, come on. It's a beautiful day out there. Time is ticking and time won't stop for no one. So come on, let's-"
"Shut up Panda!" both of the feline said in unison.
Sigh, I lost. Note to self: never try to interrupt a conversation or argument between Tai Lung and Tigress; unless I want an early grave.
"You think you are all so good in everything you do and don't even need any help from anybody." Tigress said.
"Yes I am and I'm proud of it."
"Jerk!" Tigress crossed her arms on her chest.
Po got an idea and grabbed Tai Lung to one corner, "Hey, stop it Po!"
"No you listen buddy. This is going to go on forever if neither of you two cats gives in. I know Tigress and she's pretty hard to give in. So-"
"So you think I should?!" Tai Lung raised his voice.
"Yes!" Po was getting impatient himself. He cleared his throat and continued, "Yes, yes you should."
Tai Lung wasn't happy at all with the thought and didn't' want to give in, even the slightest. Then again, Po's right. Tai Lung thought. I'm wasting my time here already arguing with her. This is going nowhere! Argh!! Why does she have to be so hard headed!!
Just like you…… and inner voice told him.
"Huh?" he said with a confused look, "You said something?"
"Yes! I said you should tell her what your 'dateline' is and apologize already." Po shook him hard.
"Alright, alright. I'll go apologize." Tai Lung approached Tigress together with Po. Tai Lung opened his mouth but not words came out.
"Yes?" Tigress glared at him.
He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Go on……do it……there's nothing to lose……the mysterious inner voice of him told again.
He made a face and looked at Tigress, "Umm… see… umm….It's hard to explain but generally…" Tai Lung rubbed his neck.
I can't tell her the truth! It's not in their terms and the dragon warrior is here. I'll just tell her a little white lie. Yeah! That's it.
"Generally, I'm supposed to find an extremely valuable item for them but I didn't have the chance to do it. You know Master Shifu, he always wants us to train everyday and I just couldn't find the right time to get or find it." Tai Lung said.
Tigress was still looking at him.
Gulp
"Yeah, that's the story Tigress," Po said. "So right now, it's the perfect time for him to find this valuable think. Come on then."
"Where is this item?" Tigress asked and this time, she sounded concern for once. "We'll help you look for it."
That hit Tai Lung hard on his head and he nearly fell over. Holy Crap! She's offering help and I made that up. Quick! Where is it!
"It's ah-ah…it's near the mountain behind the Jade Palace." Tai Lung quickly said. "It's a certain plant that only grows there and I need to find it. Plus, the plant emits an odour that another particular plant can only recognize. The plant holds something valuable but I don't know what it is." He shrugged.
"Then it's settled," Tigress got up. "We'll help you."
But-"before he could finish, Po punched Tai Lung's arm real hard. "Don't worry buddy. We'll help you." and glared at him.
"Okay, okay." Tai Lung gave up fighting, in which was unfair to him. Two against one; what are the odds of it.
--
The three of them walked off to their rooms to pack what they needed for their oh so fun picnic. Po was the first to finish packing but in reality, he had already packed before meeting up with them. Tai Lung didn't know what to bring at first cause this is his first time ever going out to have lunch in the open outdoors. Master Shifu never once did bring him out for a picnic as he was too busy with kung fu and stuff.
Tai Lung sat in his room thinking what he should bring, "What do I bring? Food has already been prepared. Mats? No…."
"Hey," Po barged into his room. "Ya ready? Tigress is waiting for us outside."
"Um… yeah…I think I'm ready." Tai Lung got up and went out together with Po.
"Hey Tai?" Po said.
"What is it?"
"Who on earth keeps their valuables in a plant?"
"Beats me. How should I know? Maybe it's a legendary plant. You know the legends in those scrolls, one of the prime example is you Po; the dragon warrior."
"Yeah, me." Po was lost in thought. "Though it is kinda risky putting your stuff far apart from you."
Tai Lung sighed, "Po, sometimes, some of us are not as simple minded as you."
Po chuckled, "Yeah, most of the time I keep my valuables in safe box."
Those words struck Tai Lung as if a sword had pierce right through his heart. He knew where the scroll is. Po had just given him the clue. What more is there to delay? If he didn't get it by today, Tigress will have to suffer again and he does not want history to repeat itself. Is it that simple? How can Po just say such things like that out in the open?
Whatever the reason is, at least now I know where he's hiding it.
They met Tigress at the courtyard and Tai Lung pretended to forget some thing. Cheeky little leopard isn't he? All the more to love him, and hug him.
"Shoot…I forgot something. "He slapped his face.
"What is it now?" Tigress lazily said.
"I'll be right back." Tai Lung ran back in.
"Be quick about it."
Tai Lung headed directly towards Po's room; his heart racing and beating like he had just gone for a long and exhausting run. Beads of sweat ran down his cheeks while he fumbled through Po's room. Tai Lung quickly searched his cupboard, bookshelf, and cloth rack. Apparently, Po's taste of clothing is the same with Tai Lung; only his brown shorts were available; though he did saw one or two big t-shirts. Wonder why he kept those. Anyways, Tai Lung opened each and every drawer and finally found the safe box.
"Finally," he exclaimed and quickly unleashed his claws. With one fury swipe, the lock of the square box was broken and revealed the dragon scroll.
"Finally, the dragon scroll. Its mine-"he stopped short and the next thing he saw gave him a heart attack. His heart nearly skipped a beat! You would too if you were in his shoes. Outside the window of Po's room, a pair of eyes peeked through the open window. The eyes were round and black and blacked fur surrounded the eyes. Two blacked furred eyes peered through the window and gasped. Tai Lung was shaking and nearly dropped the scroll….
--
Oh my god! Another cliffhanger! Sometimes I do love to do this. Flames? Suggestion? R & R maybe? I'm short of them, so please give me some. Pretty please…with sugar and icing on top… and chocolates too.
