Chapter- 10: The Hurtful Slap

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Po led Tigress to her room. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to control her emotions.

"Tigress, please control yourself." Po said, as both sat down the bed.

"I can't believe he did that, Po! I trusted him because he's my own student, and he... he just betrayed me?"

"He can't do such thing. I think there's a reason behind it." Po said.

"I don't care! He broke his promise and he is going to pay for that!"

"Tigress, please calm down. I can't see you like this." He replied. "Please don't get too rude on him. We can solve the problem by a discussion too."

"Po, you think anything can get solved now?! Things are already messed up. I wonder how Woo can dare to lie to me! Do I mean nothing to him now?! I was trying to be nice to him, but I think he has forgotten the way I treated him when he was a child. Now, I am going to use the same way again to put him back on the track, the Hard way." She said angrily, clenching her fist.

"Tigress, I know what he did was wrong. But you should also let him take his decisions. You won't control him for his whole life, will you? There will be a time when you won't be there judge his decision." Po said. "And I am sure he did that for a right reason. Wrong things aren't always done for a wrong reason, the reasons could be right."

"I agree with you, Dragon Warrior." She said, not wanting to argue with him. "But you know, it's my responsibility to keep my student on track. And sometime the hard way is needed to make him realize his mistakes. By the way, I know about Woo more than you do. I lived with him for 4 years."

"But Tigress-" Po started. Tigress raised a hand to stop him.

"That's it, Po. This is between me and my pupil. And I don't want you to include in it." She said. "I'll handle him tomorrow." She said. "You better go to your room, Dragon Warrior."

"But-"

"GO!"

Po sighed and stood up to leave the room. "Why do Tigress sometime acts like a child?" He asked to himself. "I am not sure if she will ever achieve her inner peace."

Next Morning...

Tigress slammed opened the door of Woo's room.

"Is something wrong, Master Tigress?" he asked.

"Is something wrong? Huh? Is something wrong?" She said coming face-to-face with him. "IS SOMETHING WRONG?!"

"W-What happened?"

"YOU tell me what happened!" She yelled. "I mean that last night's event."

Woo's heart beat faster. He figured out that she has found out everything, that's what he was afraid of.

"What are you talking about? I don't know." He said, looking away.

"You don't know? Huh? You don't know?" she grabbed his chin. "Then look into my eyes and say it!" But Woo refused to make an eye-contact. "This means you're lying." She grabbed him by the neck, her eyes glowing like hot coals. "How dare you break your promise?! Looks like you've forgotten the way I treated you those years ago. Wanna remember?"

"N-no... please... l- listen to me... I can explain..." he said, unable to breathe. She let go of his neck, he panted.

"What is left to explain?!" she said, grabbing his upper-head fur and lifting his head up, so she can give an open strike to his chest. She unleashed her claws. "Let's remember the old sweet memories, cub. The hard way."

Po and the Four were in the kitchen.

"Where is Tigress and Woo?" Monkey asked.

"AAAAAAHHHH!" They heard a scream.

"Oh man, I expected that!" Po said, as they rushed to Woo's room and opened the door to see Woo on the ground with a claw mark at his chest and Tigress ready for another blow.

"What's going on over here?!" Po shouted angrily. Po and the three pulled Tigress away from Woo, while Viper helped him up.

"Let me go, Po!" Tigress shouted.

"No, I won't let you kill him!" Po shouted.

"He deserves this! He should get punished for his insolence!"

"No, there's no need! Just calm down, Tigress!"

Tigress managed to push away the three. Po now had enough. He did something really, really unexpected.

BHAM!

Tigress held her cheek, her eyes widened. Po had just... SLAPPED HER!

"You're gone crazy?! Po yelled, gripping her shoulder. Everyone's eyes on the two. "You should bewared of you're doing, Tigress! How could you strike him like that?! Disparate your ages, he is nearly 20 years younger that you, Tigress!"

"19 years." Mantis corrected.

Po rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. He is 19 years younger than you! What if you gave him a serious injury?!" Tigress was just too shocked to say something. "And if you want to show off your strength, then show it off on me! Go ahead, hit me, Tigress!" Po said, holding up her paw. Tigress just yanked her paw back. She just stood silently. She couldn't hit the Dragon Warrior, although she usually loved hitting him, but this was a different situation. She just walked away angrily, stopping at the door and looking back at Po, filled with anger. Po's heart almost stopped beating when he saw tears in Tigress's eyes that were showing how hurt she was. He truly loved her, and couldn't stand seeing tears in the eyes of his love, especially because of him. He had hurt her feelings. "I'll not forget this insult, Dragon Warrior!" and she stomped out, tears rolling down her cheek. Po closed his eyes and sighed. Maybe he did too much, but just tried to ignore.

Po walked to Woo and wiped his tears. "Don't cry, Buddy. I say sorry on behalf of Tigress." Po said. Woo shook his head.

"No, I am sorry, Po. You got in a fight with her because of me." Woo said in a regretful tone. "She was just doing what she must do... in the hard way. But it was all my fault. But you gotta believe me, everything I did, I did for a reason."

"It's okay. By the way, I don't know if Tigress will ever achieve inner peace or not." Po said. "You need first aid, Woo. Then tell us what you needed to say."

The four stayed there with Woo, while Po left the room. He stood outside Tigress's room. He sighed and looked at his paw that he used to slap her. He needed to apologize to her before it's too late. No matter how much strictness she shows to him, to her student and her comrades, to everyone; she was their grandmaster after all, he should have thought before doing something so insolent. He knocked at her door. No response. He knocked again, but still no response. "Tigress, are you in?" He asked, but still nothing. Po opened the door and entered in. The room was dark; Tigress was sitting on her bed in a meditative pose, facing the wall. Maybe she was trying to meditate, but unable to. "Sorry for coming in without asking." Po said, lightening up a lantern so he can see her clearly.

"There's no need. You don't need a permission for coming in, Dragon Warrior. Well, why are you here?"

Po sighed. "I needed to apologize to you."

"For what?" She asked.

"For... slapping you in front of everyone." Po replied. "I admit it was insolent to slap the grandmaster of the Jade Palace in front of everyone. And, please forgive me."

"Yeah, right. First insult someone and then say sorry. Nice." She said sarcastically.

"I am serious, Tigress." Po said.

"And so am I." She said, getting up from her bed and facing him. "There's no need to be sorry. I know I was being rude, but I was doing that for my student's own good, okay? You thought I was killing him, huh? So that's what is left for me to do? I told you, Po, I know him more than you do. But you think your responsibility as a friend is more important than mine as a teacher, huh?" She said, trying to stay calm. "Its okay, Po. Go; hang out with your friend." She said, turning her back at him.

"Tigress, if this one slap of mine hurts you that much, then what about when you stroke Woo with your claws?" Po asked, facing her. "Look Tigress, it doesn't matter who you are, everyone has feelings."

"You're here to apologize, or teach me your wise lessons?" She asked with a bit of frustration, turning back to him again.

"I am here to apologize, Tigress. But that was just extra info."

"Alright. But what if I do not forgive you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Po pressed his lips on hers. Tigress's eyes widened.

"So, now?"

"Yeah, right. Okay, I forgive you." Tigress said, wiping her lips with her paw.

"And you should at least give Woo a chance to explain. He can't do something like that without any reason reasonable enough."

Tigress thought for a moment. "Okay, Po. I will let him explain. But if I didn't found his reason sensible enough, I'll not forgive him, okay?"

"Ok."

To Be Continued...

I am sure Woo did that for a reason. And you'll find the reason in next chapter.

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