I decided to make a little bonding moment between Mantis and Musaki. Hopefully, it'll impress a lot.

Chapter 10: Bonding with Mantis

Later afternoon, Musaki was sitting in his room alone, taking a rest from all the training until he heard a little chirp coming through his door. He heard a knock on the door and said, "Come in."

The door opens and in comes Monkey along with Mantis on his shoulder, checking on Musaki to see how he's doing. Monkey asked, "So how's it going with you?"

"It's going okay. Just resting from all this heavy kung-fu training."

"Okay, well, Mantis wanted to tell you something."

"Really?" Musaki asked.

Mantis hopped out of Monkey's shoulder and went in Musaki's bed and into his shoulder to sort of ask him something. He looked at him and asked, "If you're not busy, do you think we can, I don't know, just.... bond with each other, get to know each other very well?"

Hearing Mantis say that realized that he can be able to interact with one of the Five, and that he can really spend time, just getting to know each other and have a brother-like bond. Without thinking about it, Musaki turned to him and answered, "Of course. I would like to hang out with you."

"Awesome. Can we do it tonight, just you and me?" asked Mantis.

"Absoultely."

A few hours later, Musaki saw Mantis waiting for him outside when the sun is starting to set and they can see some purple and yellow clouds coming in the sky. Mantis sighed peacefully to feel the wind on his face all around him. He turned around to see Musaki standing there. He asked, "You ready?"

"Yeah, I'm ready." he replied.

Mantis hopped in Musaki's shoulder and went to the Sacred Peach Tree of Wisdom to sort of interact with each other and stuff. Musaki sat down near the tree and began to talk to Mantis. He said, "This is what I like to do whenever the sun starts to set. It's a beautiful sight to see, to actually see all the colors of the sunset in the sky. Makes me feel at peace."

"I feel the same way. When I was younger, watching the sunset is pretty much my comforting position when I just want some peace alone, just to see the beauty and simply just to get away from everything. It just makes me feel better after that." said Mantis.

"Do you remember everything in your childhood?"

Mantis sighed exasperatedly and began to feel a little sad about it. Musaki saw his red eyes lowering down and his head turned away, like he's hiding something, and realizes that he should've asked him that question. He quickly said, "Sorry I asked."

"No, It's-it's okay. It's just.... my childhood isn't what I expected to be, and it's almost not normal."

"Was it traumatic?"

"No, it was a good childhood, but I suffered from family tragedy. My parents died when I was a kid, too and that was extremely hard for me. I got taken in by my grandfather and he took care of me, just like he was my own dad. As I was growing up, my heritage had been an Indian Najavo or something like that, so I didn't grow up in China until I became older. So, I just felt the same way you are, but differently. I pretty much isolated myself throughout the years, but throughout that, I just keep keep holding my head high and think about the positive and how lucky I am to be alive." Mantis said.

"I never realized that you felt that way. I can understand losing someone you love and see it in your own eyes. Just feels like a part of you has been abandoned for some reason and you can't recapture it again." said Musaki.

"Yeah, I know, man. When I was in the Furious Five, it just felt like family, only it's kinda dysfunctional, but we get along most of the time. When Po bceame the Dragon Warrior, we went from just bitter and cold, to warm, happy and compassionate. At first, we didn't like Po, but I actually started to like him and so did Viper, Monkey and Crane. His cooking was amazing, and he is so funny. Whenever we get in our lowest point, Po would always do or say something that's completely silly and ridiculous and you can't help but laugh about it, really and after a couple of seconds, we feel better after that. Tigress wasn't fond of Po, but she started to like him a lot and got used to him. We like having him around, you know? It's like the relative we never had."

Musaki smiled a little and thought about how Po changed the Five and how they really grew close to him. He turned to him and asked, "How did you feel when you first thought of me?"

"When I first met you, I thought you look like Po, but with different features; you look so small, have blue eyes and is really shy. I think back on my past and see how much of those features I had, but different. Just outgoing, funny and so likeable to be with. I look at my life now and realize that it's all good."

"That's truthful there. Sometimes, you need to smile just get rid of all the bad feelings you have. I try to smile a bit, but I always feel down for some reason. I was really different from the other animals at the orphanage and they have given me a hard time. I hardly had any friends while I was there, but I have made some friends when I was 8 or 9. We would hang out together, but the truth is, whenever my friends get adopted, I'm back on the lonely path again until I make some new ones or they make friends with me. Even people I don't know pretty much know me and heard of me, simply because I stay in my room all the time. It's been like my comfort zone."

Mantis looked at Musaki and thought about how it affects him in an emotional way the way that he never experienced before, simply because he knows Musaki for over a year and has been living here for a year, that he actually fits in with them. He smiled at Musaki and told him, "You know, you're really something special there."

"I know. I've always been afraid of being adopted by a family, thinking that they might not like me or judge me for something. Being here has made me realize that maybe it's not so bad here."

"You see, you just have to think positive. Even if you're parents aren't here, you feel there's a part of them that's always here. You have such a good heart, Lil' Saki."

"Thanks, Mantis."

Mantis reflected back on what happened to Musaki when he got unconsciousness and feels a little guilty, but angry inside. He looked at him and said, "You know, it's a miracle that you're still here. I mean-- if something happened to you, I wouldn't imagine what I would feel, just-- hurt, anger, frustration and grief. It's like you're my little brother and I have to look out for you and so does everybody else."

"Yeah, I know. I feel really blessed that I'm still standing here. And I wouldn't have to leave you guys behind and that's horrifying."

"I agree. But, still. I'm glad you're still here."

"So am I."

They both looked at the sky, turning into night-blue sky and they can see the full moon coming out. They suddenly saw an orange light coming behind them. They turned around to see Shifu, Crane and Po holding a paper lantern in the peach tree. Po asked, "What are you guys doing?"

"We're bonding with each other." said Musaki.

"You are? That's nice." said Crane.

"I take it that you two are getting along great." said Shifu.

"Of course, master. Don't we always?" asked Mantis.

They all looked at the moon and realized that it's a beautiful sight to see at night, even if it's crowded. Shifu looked at Musaki and figures that he sees a spitting image of Po, only much more different and younger. He smiled at him and he turned around to see Shifu, smiling. He asked, "What are you so happy about?"

"How you remind me of Po. If you two are twins, you'd be sleeping in the same room with him." said Shifu.

"Master, are you serious?" asked Crane.

"Kinda joking."

They all laughed hysterically and sighed softly to relieve the joke. Po looked at him and said, "Don't do that. You really had us worried there."

"We'll be inside."

Crane, Po and Shifu walked out of the Peach Tree and decided to get some shut-eye. Mantis and Musaki kept looking at the sky and enjoying themselves, bonding. They looked at each other and smiled at each other. Musaki let out a small yawn and Mantis did the same thing. He asked, "You tired, buddy?"

"Exhausted, actually. You?" asked Musaki.

"The same. Let's hit the sack."

They both got up and walked back to the palace while they're talking and laughing with each other. Musaki said, "When Shifu told me that I look like Po and said that we shared a room together, I was like 'WHAT IN THE BUCK?!'"

Mantis started laughing and Musaki did too. He said, "This was a great day."

"Yeah, I know. Thanks for bonding with me."

"Anytime."

Aww, wasn't that sweet! I'll continue on more chapters in the coming days or weeks. So, stick around!