Raven: nothing to say here; but because you've all been whining about me being so slow (and I don't really blame you: P) I have made this chapter longer than the others or something. And don't expect anything else from me too fast alright?
…
Chapter ten: Tigress and Daiyu
The atmosphere was tense, he could feel it, the poor cub had no idea what was going on and he was scared, he didn't like the black feline holding him and the other spotted one next to her was even scarier to him.
He looked at the only familiar face, Tigress. She looked very worried, almost scared.
The cub squirmed, wanting to go to Tigress, he didn't like the Black Panther; when he realized he couldn't escape, he started sniffing, trying to grasp the tiger master not 50 meters away.
Then the feline holding him; shook him hard, it hurt his neck and he whimpered in fear. The black feline and Tigress were shouting at each other, he did not understand the conversation and he didn't want to, all he wanted was to be in Tigress's warm embrace, he didn't like this one's cold touch. It sent a chill down his spine.
His eyes widened in fear when the female shouted "You wench! I'll make you remember!" he saw the black jade lift her paw and come down at him, about to hit him. He shut his eyes…
…
"NO!"
"WHAAA!" a shrill scream pierced the air.
Droplets of blood trickled down to the ground.
Daiyu grinned and retracted her claws from Po's arm… she licked the blood off of her paw, "Hm, he tastes sweet"
Hearing the cub's screams, Tigress's pupils dilated, adrenaline pumped in her veins, her facial expression took on a fierce snarl and before even she can comprehend, she was racing towards Daiyu.
But Tai Lung got in her way, he went to give her a punch but she dodged quickly, gave a roar of fury and attacked.
Daiyu chuckled, "Interesting" she watched Tigress fight Tai Lung, the panther noticed the tiger's ire; she was attacking the leopard savagely, not at all like she usually fights. She still used kung fu moves, but there were no punches or kicks; instead, Tigress clawed at the leopard, even snapping her jaw at times.
The panther innocently petted Po on the head, as if she didn't just dig her claws into his flesh; the baby cried, helpless, adding gas to Tigress's anger.
Daiyu chuckled, and trailed a finger over Po's wound; when she did, the wound was gone…. "Can't have you die from blood loss yet" she told the baby.
She noticed Tai Lung started to tire and snorted, she jumped on the top of the jade palace walls, Tigress noticed this and turned to see when she pushed Tai Lung away enough "Get over here!" she snarled, her voice deeper than usual.
She dodged another attack from the leopard and ran towards Daiyu on all fours, Daiyu smirked and dodged the tiger's attack, doing a back flip and sprinted on the palace's roof.
Tigress snarled and followed her quickly.
The black jade smirked and set Po down quickly, jumping out of the way as Tigress landed where she was, standing over Po protectively; her fur standing on edge in fury. Tigress looked down at her cub for a moment, noticing that his wound wasn't there, relief filled her as she held him close and looked back at Daiyu, snarling.
Tai Lung came after them, stopping when Daiyu held up her hand.
For a second it seemed as if the world froze for a few minutes.
…
The three stood motionlessly. Tigress and Daiyu never taking their eyes off each other; now that she knew that Po was safe with her, Tigress contained herself, but newfound hate for Daiyu burned in her amber eyes.
"Remember now?" Daiyu asked, tapping her chin.
Tigress narrowed her eyes but didn't answer.
"Very well then, let's settle this, the old fashion way." Daiyu said; her face stony, she took off her robe, underneath was a dark purple shit and black pants, a simple kung fu outfit.
"Tai Lung, company is on the way… go" she told him and the leopard nodded, sprinting off.
Tigress narrowed her eyes "What?"
Did she mean the others?
She wasn't sure but she had no time to think as a kick aimed her way, Tigress grabbed Po and dodged; she couldn't fight… not with Po in between them… she needed to get him somewhere safe...
Tai Lung had left, so all she had to worry about was Daiyu…
"Get over here and fight like a real warrior!" The panther snarled as she landed on all fours on the roof, her stance menacing as she glared down at Tigress.
The tiger growled at her and set Po down, in an empty box near a small old shack next to the palace.
Knowing that Po was safe for the moment, she flexed her claws and jumped up on the roof after Daiyu.
The two warriors glared each other down, unmoving for a moment… as if to predict the one another's moves…
"I still don't understand Daiyu, what has Po or any of the others ever done to you for you to do this to them?" Tigress demanded, emotionless; taking a fighting stance, her muscles tensing.
Daiyu chuckled, "They became friends with you" she simply stated and before Tigress managed a reply, she sprinted forward, her long claws stretched forward to rip the tiger apart.
Tigress dodged, grabbing her paw and went to throw a punch but Daiyu caught it, she tried a kick but the stealthy panther slipped away and charged at Tigress again, throwing a clawed hand towards her, she managed to catch Tigress's cheek as the tiger kicked Daiyu away.
The jade caught herself and landed on her feet, skidding a few meters back.
A few red drops fell to the ground as Tigress wiped her wounded cheek free of crimson.
The two felines snarled as they charged at each other again.
Punches, claws and kicks landed for a while, dodging and attacking; the battle went on for a bit, until Daiyu jumped away from Tigress, panting slightly but she crouched low and with a snarl, small yellow glowing orbs started forming just on the tip of her fingers until they reached the size of ping-pong balls.
With a swipe of her hand, the yellow spheres of energy shot towards Tigress at lightning speeds, leaving a trail of yellow light behind them; with a gasp, the tiger barely managed to leap out of the way. As she dodged the orbs exploded like bombs behind her, reaching a fairly large radius of a few meters.
Daiyu kept throwing her deadly magic at Tigress as the tiger tried to dodge. But there were too many and some of the orbs hit her head-on as they exploded near her and even on her.
She yelled in pain and was thrown backwards, coming to a stop as she landed on her belly, slipping on the edge of the jade palace roof, half of her body off the side; she grunted and climbed back up on the roof with slight difficulty.
"Damn you…" Tigress growled and Daiyu replied with a sneer "It's your fault!" Daiyu yelled as she shot more magic at Tigress.
…
Po hid in the box, scared to come out… where was Tigress?
He heard loud explosions, yells and punches and kicks being thrown; he didn't like those noises. The cub peeked out of the box. The sun was almost completely set, a few rays just barely touching the horizon. He looked up, the loud noises were coming from there and for a second he heard Tigress's yell.
He needed to find her; the cub looked around; making sure no other bad person was around to hurt him. He braved the danger and climbed out of the box; he looked up again… he somehow knew the stripped feline was up there… he needed to get up there… but how?
The baby cooed and smiled when his sight caught a long snake like metal thing, it zigzagged and went all the way up to the roof. That was his ticket up; the rain pipe.
He climbed up the first line and held it as firmly as a baby panda could; trying not to fall, he soon reached the second line…
…
The two felines clashed once more, Daiyu threw a punch but Tigress caught it as she did the same, only for Daiyu to catch her hand as well; The panther's hands were glowing yellow… her Chi was starting to burn Tigress's paws…
The tiger master grunted in pain as their hands sizzled slightly but never broke eye contact.
She looked deep into Daiyu's eyes… she saw the hate clearly burned inside her…
"You… destroyed… my life!" Daiyu snarled as they pushed forward towards one another, trying to overpower each other.
"What?" Tigress's eyes widened as she gritted her teeth, her paws burned and her feet shifted back slightly as Daiyu pushed forward.
…
It was sunset; a young feline sat in a small flowery meadow, picking off a lily as she hummed to herself.
"Hey Tigress!" a voice giggled, the young tiger looked behind her to see a young black panther wave at her, she waved back, "Hey Daiyu!" the five year old tiger waved back, a grin plastered on her face.
The tiger ran across the small meadow towards her friend, behind the panther was a large building…
'Mao orphanage' was written in large words over the door as many young felines entered.
"Race ya there!" the panther said and they both ran towards the orphanage as the bell rang, signaling it was time to go inside.
.
"Roar! I'm a ninja!" the panther grinned and jumped on the tiger as they wrestled around playfully. "I'm! I-I'm a… um…" Tigress thought for a moment as they paused for a sec, "I'm a kung fu warrior!" she grinned and jumped on Daiyu and continued their playing, chasing each other and wrestling.
"Hey you two time for bed! No more playing around!" they heard an older mountain lion scold them; she was their nanny.
"Okay" they chorused and climbed into their beds. After a while the light shut; Daiyu sneaked over to Tigress's bed, "Hey Tigress" she nudged the sleepy tiger cub, "What is it?" Tigress yawned; "I took one of the story books from the library! The one they didn't let us read!" she whispered and took out a flashlight.
"But isn't stealing bad?" young Tigress asked, "I'm not stealing it! I'm borrowing it! I'll take it back in the morning!" young Daiyu said and opened the book; "Oh okay!" Tigress smiled and got comfortable as they started reading.
.
"Hey Daiyu?" Tigress muttered as the two picked flowers in the field.
"Hm?" was Daiyu's reply.
"We'll be friends forever right?"
Daiyu thought about it, "They told me that forever is long time" she then grinned at Tigress, "Yup! We're gonna be friends forever and ever!"
Tigress grinned but then gasped in surprise as she was pushed to the ground, the panther giggled, "Tag! You're it!" she laughed and ran away.
Tigress laughed too as she got up and began chasing her.
…
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Tigress gritted her teeth, the flashbacks coming full thrust like Daiyu's power. She was weakening as Daiyu's Chi invaded her body.
"Oh yeah? Then here's a little reminder! Remember that day at the Mao orphanage? That's where it all started!" the panther snarled.
…
A leopard rang the bell, signaling that it was the day that some lucky kids were going to get adopted.
"Oh boy! You think we're gonna be lucky?" Tigress asked as the two ran down the hallway of the large building; "I hope so!" Daiyu said.
The two looked around, seeing many adults that have come to adopt a child. "Good luck Tigress!" Daiyu said and ran off in a random direction, hoping to find a parent.
Tigress didn't know where to go; "Uh… hey Daiyu wait!" she ran after the panther but couldn't spot her in the crowd.
.
Daiyu looked around and spotted two felines, one of them was a lioness, the other a panther –just like her- 'They are the ones!" she thought to herself and skipped happily towards them.
"Hello!" she smiled and the two soon to be parents smiled back, "Why hello there young lady!" the male panther greeted and gave her a smile as the two adults kneeled down to talk to the cub.
.
Tigress looked for Daiyu, "Daiyu! Daiyu where are you?"
She soon spotted a black cub, Tigress smiled "Daiyu!" she happily ran towards the panther, seeing two adults with her.
"She found parents?" Tigress grinned "I better go tell her good luck!" she said and ran to her friend.
But she tripped and fell. She fell in between Daiyu and the two adults.
"Oomph!" Tigress shook her head and sneezed from the dust on the ground, apparently the two adults found that 'cute'
"Are you alright dear?" The lioness asked her as the two kneeled next to the tiger cub.
Daiyu noticed how the two adult felines immediately turned their heads to Tigress instead of her… soon they began talking to her, like Daiyu wasn't even there.
After they were done, they walked away from the two girls, Daiyu decided to eavesdrop and she gasped with what she heard.
"Oh the little tiger cub is so cute! Taka, can we adopt her instead?" the lioness told her husband; he thought about it but nodded, making Daiyu give a soft gasp…
"Daiyu?" Tigress came up behind her; the panther looked at Tigress…
They liked Tigress better than her.
Daiyu glared at the tiger cub as she stared in confusion; the panther cub pushed her down and ran away, tears in her eyes.
"Daiyu what's wrong?" Tigress yelled but the two adults turned to her attention, "Hello again little lady" the male panther smiled, "Hello" Tigress said, "You seem like a fine young cub, we were thinking… that maybe you would like to come live with us?" the lioness asked, a warm smile on her face.
This is what Tigress always wanted… for someone to look her way… to adopt her…
But the cub shook her head, "I'm sorry but my friend needs me!" Tigress said and ran towards the direction Daiyu did.
…
Daiyu snarled "You just HAD to come along and ruin my chance at being happy! The second you showed up they immediately looked your way! Completely forgetting I was right in front of them! You ruined my chances of having parents! That was the only time an adult had looked my way! And you destroyed it!" the panther yelled.
Tigress couldn't hold it any longer, Daiyu managed to overpower her… Daiyu yelled and punched Tigress's stomach, leaving a dent in the roof under her body as Tigress gasped in pain.
"How… was that… my… fault? They made their choice… not… me!" Tigress gasped as Daiyu grabbed her throat.
"That wasn't the only time!" she roared and threw another punch to her gut, grabbing the tiger master by the collar of her shirt.
…
Young Tigress was sad… Daiyu didn't want to talk to her anymore and became really mean to her since that day…
She had no friends since then…
Daiyu had made friends with the bullies of the orphanage and picked on her often. She was often punished for that but never wavered from bullying her…
"Hey scared-y-cat!" Tigress heard Daiyu yell, she tensed and fearfully turned to look at the black panther… three more bullies had come up behind her.
Daiyu grabbed Tigress by the collar of her shirt, "You're in OUR spot! Leave or I'll make you!" she snarled, baring her fangs.
Tigress narrowed her eyes… she was tired of Daiyu pushing her around lately… she didn't like it at all.
"No! I was here first!" Tigress shot back and slapped Daiyu's hand away from her shirt. The panther snarled, "Oh yeah? Then I'll make you!"
Daiyu jumped at Tigress.
The two got into a harsh fight, not at all like the play fights they used to have… this one had biting, kicking, punching and clawing as the other kids watched either fearfully or cheered on…
But tigress was stronger than Daiyu and she pinned her down, punching her in the face repeatedly.
The other 3 bullies pitched in the fight and Tigress grew aggressive; her temper flaring.
She had taken all of them down. Releasing strength she didn't know she had before.
The 3 bullies and Daiyu were bleeding and Tigress turned to the other kids, snarling, they grew scared and they all ran away, a few ran to the nannies to tell on her.
…
"You humiliated me in front of the others!" Daiyu shouted, choking the tiger, "You humiliated yourself!" Tigress gasped as she kicked the panther off, tensing her muscles to attack when the moment is right.
"You were the one who attacked me! And because of you they thought I was too dangerous for the Mao orphanage and sent me to the Bao Gu Orphanage because there was no other predator there for me to fight with!" Tigress yelled, "Everyone thought I was a monster there!"
Daiyu chuckled, "You are, in a way, a monster! At least I have the satisfaction of making at least a part of your life hell too!" she sneered.
Tigress growled and charged at her, they fought brutally, droplets of blood hitting the ground,
"Is this why you're here? To get revenge from our childhood?" Tigress shouted.
Daiyu roared, "Yes! That and another reason! You took my place as an honorable kung fu warrior!"
…
It was the time where young teenagers trained to become kung fu warriors…
Tigress had trained hard during the time after Shifu had adopted her from the Bao Gu orphanage.
Today was when all the young warriors from miles around came to Gomen city to fight their way to the top. From the thousand warriors-in-training, only 500 of them will make it to be true warriors.
Many young warriors fought each other until one of the two was unconscious. The winner was one step closer to become a master.
It was soon Tigress's turn…
She was nervous and looked at her master for comfort… but she found none, "Tigress, do not show fear; if you do your enemy will have an advantage!" Shifu had told her sternly.
The 13 year old tiger swallowed the lump in her throat and proceeded to the arena when her name was announced…
She waited for her opponent's name to be called… and much to her horror… it was…
On the scoreboard… was her name written next to an all too familiar one…
TIGRESS VS DAIYU
Was written on it as clear as day… her eyes widened and she saw those two green orbs glowing in the darkness of the dark doorway; soon, Daiyu herself stepped into the light.
"Nice to see you again, Tigress!" 14 year-old Daiyu sneered as the young tigress gave a low growl "I can't say the same" was her reply.
The bell rang and the match began… the crowd cheered and the two fought…
In a certain part of the match… Daiyu threw dust in Tigress's eyes, blinding her for a second as she then punched her in the gut with her fingers that should have caused damage to her.
But Tigress only staggered a bit, coughing slightly; she had been punching the ironwood trees for 6 years, her body had hardened to an extent and she was not affected much.
To Daiyu's shock, where her opponent should have been knocked out; Tigress charged at Daiyu and attacked.
Soon Tigress had her pinned to the ground.
Tigress had won the match.
"And TIGRESS has taken one step closer to becoming a kung fu master!" the announcer said as the crowd cheered.
"NO!" 14 year-old Daiyu punched the ground and glared hard at Tigress, "I'll kill you!" she roared and ran to her, even if the match was over.
The security guards, in which were there for exactly that purpose, restrained the angry panther and took her away, "You stole my life Tigress! I'll have my revenge!" were Daiyu's last words before she was taken away.
Tigress's ears flattened as her master approached her, she looked at him and he nodded "Come." Shifu said and she did as told; following him home.
…
"I was meant to be one of the great, powerful kung fu masters of the valley of peace! I was the one who was supposed to have friends and family! I was the one who was supposed to be loved! But YOU took that all away from me! ALL OF IT!" Daiyu roared as the two fought.
Tigress was having a hard time keeping up with her, the amount of Chi Daiyu was releasing and speed she had was overwhelming for the tiger master.
"And after that match, the master I was assigned to was useless if I couldn't win against you! I left and tried to find the right master for me; I found an old woman, a wolf, she taught me to call out my Chi and use it against my enemies and heal myself as well!" she said, grinning like a maniac.
She then lifted her paws in the air, speaking a command in a language Tigress did not understand; suddenly branches and roots shot out of the ground under the tiger, tangling around her limbs and torso.
Tigress struggled in between the roots and branches but didn't manage to get free as they tightened around her painfully; she groaned in pain but refused to scream.
"It's your damn fault!" Daiyu repeated; her paws glowed yellow as she tightened her fists, at the same time the roots tightening around Tigress, to the point where she almost couldn't breath.
"What are you talking about…?" the tiger master gasped, glaring down at the black jade, "I never did anything to you for it to be my fault; you were just never meant to get the things you wanted!"
Daiyu's pupils dilated in fury, "Shut up!"
"My life became a living hell because of you! You ridiculed me and caused me to be alone all this time! Nobody had ever loved me! I never had any friends or felt the love of a parent! It's all YOUR FAULT!" Daiyu screeched in the tiger's face and threw a punch at Tigress, empowered by her magic.
Tigress spit out blood, realizing that when Daiyu punched her the hold on the roots loosened a bit…
"No… it wasn't… my fault… you had the chance… to be happy… many times… but you chose… to ease your jealousy… and get your revenge, instead of trying to make your life better! You made your life hell… all by yourself!" Tigress gasped out, glaring at Daiyu.
Thos words made Daiyu's pupils shrink in fury and an incredible amount of hate.
Daiyu roared and lifted her claws, "DIE!"
…
Raven: holy shit that took a while… blah… I'm out of juice; I hope I satisfied you enough. Now you understand why Daiyu hates Tigress etc.
Note: Mao means CAT in Chinese, so the Mao Orphanage was filled with feline cubs ONLY.
I was curious as to why Tigress was the only predator in the Bao Gu orphanage when Po was explaining to the bunnies about her past. So I thought this up :P
And if anyone knows, please tell me what "Bao Gu" means?