My friends King of 2211, Joe 'Po' Navark and Tyson the Wolf Omega wanted me to bring in some words of encouragement for Byakko. Knowing that Byakko's afraid of what other people think of him because he's a tiger that he might assassinate innocent people if he loses control. He takes some advice from someone who's been there before and knows what it's like to be called a monster.

Chapter 10: Words of Encouragement

Hours later, Byakko was back in the Sacred Peach Tree after hanging out with Po, Crane and Monkey for the first time and he never felt like he was that important to them, but he still has his fears that he'll be rejected by them and wanted to try everything he can to just be perfect, but sometimes the walls are much easier to crack based on everything he had to deal with in the past.

With Benkei dominating his life and others looking at him in fear because he is a white tiger that can't control himself and his powers, it was like he's been through a lot more hell than anything. He lets out a heavy sigh and decided to do something to get it off his chest...by singing.

I tried to be perfect
But nothing was worth it
I don't believe it makes me real
I thought it'd be easy
But no one believes me
I meant all the things I said

If you believe it's in my soul
I'd say all the words that I know
Just to see if it would show
That I'm trying to let you know
That I'm better off on my own

This place is so empty
My thoughts are so tempting
I don't know how it got so bad
Sometimes it's so crazy
That nothing can save me
But it's the only thing that I have

If you believe it's in my soul
I'd say all the words that I know
Just to see if it would show
That I'm trying to let you know
That I'm better off on my own

On my own

I tried to be perfect
It just wasn't worth it
Nothing could ever be so wrong
It's hard to believe me
It never gets easy
I guess I knew that all along

If you believe it's in my soul
I'd say all the words that I know
Just to see if it would show
That I'm trying to let you know
That I'm better off on my own

He finished off the last verse with a broken voice and he was on the verge of shedding tears and he suddenly sees an orange and black hand on his shoulder and it didn't take long to find out that it was only Tigress. Byakko was surprised to see her standing there, thinking that she might've heard him singing and asked, "How much of that did you kinda hear?"

Tigress didn't take too long to reply and said, "As much as I can tell, all of it. It sounds as if you're afraid of yourself and the world around you."

Byakko felt really sad because he knew she was right...and with good reason; he was afraid of himself and he just felt like showing it in front of her was a bad idea. He lets out a sigh and said, "I really don't feel like taking about this, okay? I've got other things to deal with."

As Byakko started to walk away, Tigress was quick to stop him with a simple yank on his tail, which made Byakko growl at the slightest form of aggression as possible. He then said to her, "Big mistake!"

Tigress angrily said to him, "Tell me the real reason!"

"BECAUSE I'M A MONSTER, A SAVAGE MONSTER/BEAST THAT DOESN'T DESERVE TO LIVE OR EXIST! OKAY? I had to endure 15 painful years of my life being called that because people see me because of my powers! You just don't know what it feels like to feel hurt, ashamed and guilty; like the world would be a better place without you! You just don't know what it feels like to me! I'm always gonna be nothing...nothing but a monster." Byakko exclaimed, while breaking down in tears.

Tigress suddenly softened her face and felt like she could relate with this kid because he had to endure so much pain from his life that it was never gonna get any better. Then, she notices some claw marks on his hands and arms and that's how she could see that this is what Byakko had to live with.

Byakko then told her, with tears in his eyes, "Do you even know what it feels like to be in a world where no one will accept you?"

Tigress suddenly got down to his level and all she could do is just grab him and hugged him tightly. It was new for Byakko to even experience and he never expected anyone to hug him before...except for Santiago. But seeing as how she deeply cares for him, he felt as if he finally deserved it and just embraced the hug.

They broke off for a second and she responded, "I do. When I was very young, a lot of the kids at the orphanage always called me a monster because of my temper and it would always hurt. I thought no one would come to even care for me until Shifu came into my life. After some training from him, I was able to try my best to compose myself and there's when he took me in the Jade Palace as my home. But I never felt loved him by him and felt like I was back to square one except no one ever saw me as a monster, which made it impossible for me to control my temper. But being in a world where no one will accept you does make you feel like you're all alone and no one will care for you...but you're not alone now."

Hearing this come out of Tigress made Byakko feel really suprised to know that he's not the only one that ever feels that way. Byakko lets out a sorrowful sigh and he said to her, "And I thought what I went through was horrible."

Tigress stoked his forehead and patted him and said, "But you can't make what had happened in your past make you the person you are now. There are people that do care for you, you just have to slow down and take a look first."

Byakko lowered his head down and he said, "All my life...I've been cut off from everyone because they thought I was the cause of my parent's death because of my powers. It's like...they don't understand what I've been through and how hurt I've always felt all these years except for Santiago...but to know that coming from someone else I barely even know...maybe you do understand me."

"Exactly. You just have to find inner peace within yourself and don't worry about what everyone else thinks of you. Just give them a chance...starting with us." Tigress said.

Byakko didn't really know what to respond, but the fact that Tigress does care for Byakko really gave him the opportunity to let his walls come down and let someone else in. He nodded his head and said, "Thank you."

For Byakko, he felt like he can connect with Tigress in an emotional level and that she's someone he can most definitely trust.

Well, wasn't that encourgaing? Next up, one-on-one with Byakko and Shifu.