Awake
The next morning was warm and breezy, a perfect morning. As Tigress stirred, she reached out, grabbing Jay's paw with hers. It was warm, she turned to look at him as if he'd look back at her, although he couldn't. Was he getting sick? Tigress didn't think so. Just to be safe, before she left the room she put a wet towel on his forehead, making note to give him menthol infused tea with his liquid dinner.
Tigress left her barrack, closing the doors softly behind her and going to bath herself as she did. After washing up, she headed to the training hall, eating breakfast alone. She had woken up a little late, and her soup was room temperature, some of the larger chunks of vegetables cold on the inside. She sighed, finishing her soup and rinsing the bowl out.
Tigress made her way to the training hall, ready to attack some wooden warriors. Life was beating her down, and it was her turn to beat something right back. While she, and the other four were training, the doors to the training hall opened, just enough for a person to pass through. Tigress kept training, it was Shifu. He'd just be annoying then he'd leave. Maybe attempt to spread more of his wisdom to her. She had considered the past night to be heart felt and reassuring, but she still maintained doubts.
Everyone else stopped, and this eventually distracted Tigress. She too stopped her training, looking over to the training hall doors and seeing... her man.
He was a male; he was south china tiger; he was handsome; he was dirty, fur matted from lack of bathing. Tigress was speechless. Orange, white, and smokey grey fur patterns lined his face like battle scars, framing his brown eyes in sad squares. He stood, attempting to be erect, rather tall and rather large but physically floundering. His shoulders were straight, his paws gripping the door, claws extended. He had yet to say a word, but the five were already speechless.
Tigress ran at him, crying while she held him. He smelt dirty, his fur was greasy and thick, but she loved him. The hug was the best hug she'd ever had. He was warm, warmer then he had been for the past six days.
"I love you."
Tigress held him as tight as she could, offering a sigh of relief as he weakly kissed her. She'd never been so emotionally attached to anything, she wasn't someone to she'd tears or smile, but he was worth it; Tigress would only shed tears and do these things for him. She leaned into him and lifted her right leg into the air. Leaning into him was the worst decision she could have made, because he promptly fell to the ground, taking her with him. He fell softly, this time, and she helped him up.
"I love you too Tigress."
They stood, holding each other in the door of the training hall, the breeze from outside blowing in peacefully, carrying a quantity of pink leaves from a cherry blossom tree on its shoulders.
"We have so much to talk about Jay."
"I don't remember much, but this place is familiar."
Tigress smiled.
"Jay, you remember me don't you?"
"Of coarse I remember you! I'd never let something so beautiful escape me."
Tigress smiled again, hugging him a little tighter.
Just then, Master Shifu walked in, seeing two tigers wrapped up in a strong embrace.
Tigress let go of Jay, standing tall with her paws by her side, embarrassed her master had seen her acting like the love struck twenty-something that she was.
"I'd say training is over for today, why don't you all sit down and have a little talk, I'll be around when you need me."
Master Shifu walked away, smiling, happy Jay was back up and walking, talking and loving like he was supposed to.
After a few minutes the five and their friend had sat down at the dinner table, looking at each other happily. Jay was ignorant to almost everything, and he didn't like the way not knowing felt,
"Jay..." Tigress reached out, grabbing his paws on the table, "you've been out for the past six days, the doctor said it was from shock."
"What could have possibly..."
Jay knew what he was wearing, simple and plain white clothing, like scrubs for a doctor. They were not substantial or his uniform. The lack of a uniform suggested something.
"You're not my colonel any more Jay, the emperor fired you."
Jay shook his head in protest.
"This has to be a mistake, I'll go to the city as soon as I'm well..."
"Jay, you can't go back, none of us can. We were all banished from the city, and the emperor said he... he said he wanted our files burned so it would look like we didn't exist. He didn't want us to meet..."
"The soothsayer."
Whispered Jay under his breath.
"What?"
"When I was young, there was a big fuss about two tigers who would destroy the emperor. After the population died, and since you were hidden from me, he must have assumed that he was safe. Now, we have no ability to be near him."
"Why would we hurt him Jay?"
"Only time will tell. Although, if he dismissed me like I think he did, then I have reason to hate him."
"Jay, he said some awful things. He made me promise to keep you away from the city, keep you away from trouble, or..."
Tigress gulped, her friends leaned in closer to hear what she was going to say.
"He said he'd throw me in prison and let the worst people in China... you know."
Jay growled.
"The gaud of that fiend. Threatening you like that. Don't you worry Tigress, you're free of prison as long as I live. He won't take you away from me."
Viper awed at his words, amazed that after six days of being a vegetable this man could get right back up and keep going.
"What's going to happen to your things Jay? Not that they matter to me, but what will happen to your families money? I spent everything you had, and everything I had just getting here, there's only a little left."
Jay smiled, still holding both of her paws on the table.
"If not for you I'd let the money go, I never really needed it. Now, I have you, and you're going to live the life a girl like you deserves to live: big house, good food and comfortable beds. I'll get it back somehow."
"Do you have any friends?"
Jay smiled.
"Lord Shen, we've got a thing or two in common. We both to an extent made a species extinct, and we both have silly prophecies over out heads that label us as dangerous. He's a good guy, I can trust him."
"Anyone else?"
"Your brother."
"Who?"
Said Tigress, not knowing she had... oh. Now she remembered, she did have a brother. Viper reeled back in shock.
"Ti Lung?"
She shouted shrilly.
"You two can't be friends!"
Added Crane.
"How do you even know him?"
Added Monkey, throwing his paws into the air with disgruntled protest.
"I don't believe you."
Added Mantis, laughing and crossing his pointy arm like things.
"I worked in the prison for a while, how he's all tied up. Big guy, but I could take him."
"No you couldn't!"
"Please, I could take your master." Jay drew a big breath in, smiling. "Tigress, what has he to say about me?"
"He's been resisting."
What is... where did you get this? That's not for you."
Said Jay slickly, taking Tigress' paw and removing the wedding ring which over time she had claimed for her own; without his consent or asking.
"Not... it's not for me?"
Asked Tigress in a quiet whisper, secretly broken on the inside. He must be poising a trick on her.
"Where did you get it?"
Everyone at the table remained silent, this was a massive misunderstanding. No one wanted to step into the middle.
"It was in your pocket when I brought you to a doctor. He put all of your things in a basket and I found that."
Tigress watched as he led it up to his own face, now off of her paw.
Jay coughed quietly before he continued. Grabbing Tigress' paw, he softly put the ring back on, wrapping up her digits with his.
"This is not romantic Tigress, and I'm sorry. That ring was never supposed to be found, I was supposed to give it to you. Consider this moment to be the moment that I've given it to you, alright? Up until now this ring was mine for the giving, now it's yours.."
Tigress pinched his fur playfully, smiling as she slumped back in her chair.
"You scared me! And thank you, that was romantic."
"I love you too Tigress."
They hugged for a moment, Tigress' chair now immediately next to his.
"Master Shifu doesn't like you Jay, I don't think so."
"He'll have to learn to like me as I will learn to... be a bum."
"Jay... you're overreacting."
"No I'm not, I now make a smaller income than you, bread winner."
Jay smiled at her, leaning back in his chair.
"You say too much, you'll always be the man."
"I see it now, I'll stay home, cleaning the floor, cooking, washing, and you'll work all day to pay for me."
"You'll get your things back, I'm sure of it. I'm so happy your back Jay, I really missed you."
"Can we talk alone for a minute?"
Jay looked around, seeing the other four warriors sitting at the table.
Viper signaled with her tail for them to leave, and the boys stood up and left, Viper pushing the stragglers forward.
After the left, Jay sighed heavily.
"Tigress, I loathe you."
Said Jay, smiling at her. His smile only brought rage to Tigress. She'd give him one chance before she ripped his throat out.
"That sounds harsh, but listen: I had so much, and it's all gone now because of the influence you put over me. Know this Tigress, I love you. Those people are monsters, and you're so much more to me then they ever could have been. My life changed, and you've made it better. For a second I hated you for doing this to me, but I want this life. I was done for, and now you've made me happy."
"Jay I..."
"No Tigress, now we can be married, and live in a house like a family. You'll be comfortable, and if I get my money back, even a little, no cub of ours would ever have to work a day in their life."
"Jay..."
"You're my everything now Tigress."
"Jay I love you!"
Tigress lunged across the table, hugging him fiercely and with endless passion.
"I'm sorry I was so blunt Tigress, I love you."
"Don't worry Jay, I hate you too."
"Hush now, or I'll have to make fierce tiger love to... Master Shifu!"
Jay laughed hysterically, lying on his back on the floor with Tigress on top of him. She tried to wriggle off, but he gripped her harder, still laughing. He was caught, and he loved the way being caught felt- it was a quick glimpse into the childhood he didn't have.
"Master I.."
Tigress was cut short by her new mate, who was still laughing hysterically.
"Did you hear what I said?!"
He laughed some more, rolling around a little with Tigress still held tightly on top of him.
"I heard you."
Said Master Shifu, completely unamused.
"Oh gods that was incredible timing master, please continue to make me laugh, you're oh so good at it."
Said Jay, letting Tigress off of him and wiping his eyes.
"We need to talk to each other, man to man."
Jay snapped back to serious mode.
"Don't use cliché phrases, that's a sign of weakness."
Master Shifu began walking away, expecting the tiger to follow him. Instead, Jay reached around and kissed Tigress, a long and sexual exchange involving a little chest action. He was on her chest, and she was between his legs. They're young!
Jay let go, standing up and stumbling after Master Shifu, in the best mood he'd ever be in.
Once outside, they stopped at the palace steps, sitting down.
The silence was killing Jay, and he decided to try a fun fact.
"Did you know Tigress drinks when she's stressed?"
"I did."
Said Master Shifu, unaware why the tiger would be bringing this up.
"We went to a party, in the NorthWest City, and I accidentally drank a triple shot that was for her, I was extremely intoxicated, first drink I'd ever had. Tigress could drink three of those (nine servings) and not even be fazed! It was an amazing night."
"Is that the night you stole away my daughter's innocence?"
Jay sighed.
"What you heard was private talk. There was no stealing involved in anything we've done. She's wearing a ring now and that means were together. My loyalty should not be in question."
"She hated you when you first arrived, how in China did you make her change her mind in such a short amount of time?"
"She didn't hate me, she was upset because she wasn't impressing me like she wanted to. As a result, she was mad at me because my standards were unachievable."
"Were they?"
"Yes, my standards were very high. I expected a lot from a fellow tiger, and when you consider the results I got a lot more than I ever expected."
Master Shifu was beginning to accept Jay, he seemed nice and wasn't a bad person. The master cut right to the real meat of the questions, ready to hear real answers.
"Do you love her?"
"Yes, I've made that clear. I wouldn't have ever kissed her if I didn't know that I loved her."
He didn't hesitate to answer.
"You broke the rules to get her back."
"I killed people to get her back."
Said Jay quietly, remembering piles of dead wolves that he had stabbed out, or broken the necks of.
"You have my blessing colonel."
"No, I will never again be a colonel. I'm just Jay. Jay the scientist with a fascination for architecture, a vast understanding of government, and an objective mind."
Jay went to stand, but Master Shifu stopped him.
"There is one condition."
The master was firm, and he would be heard out.
"That is?"
Said Jay, feeling suspicious as to what it might be.
"I want you to preform your duty as husband, and provide me grand cubs within the year."
"A single year? I have conditions of my own."
Jay was puzzled, how dare this tiny red panda talk to him about honor and duty.
"Those conditions have nothing to do with me Jay."
"Yes they do, I will not have cubs until there's a house built, an ample supply of money, my health is better, and Tigress is ready. That could be more than a year."
"Money isn't everything Jay, that's a basic principle of Kung Fu."
"I'm used to owning nice things, and Tigress will live comfortably with me."
"Then move quickly, get to work, go, tell her the good news."
Said Master Shifu, waving his paw at Jay to shoo him away.
Jay had gone back in to tell Tigress the good news, and she remained waiting alone at the kitchen table, her paws intertwined nervously.
"Have I ever told you how pretty your eyes are?"
Tigress frowned.
"He said no didn't he?"
Jay smiled, lifting her chin up and looking into her face.
"He said yes."
"Really?"
Tigress stood up, feeling surprised as she wrapped her man up in a big and happy hug, amazed that her master had agreed so quickly.
"Absolutely."
Several days later, Jay was walking around the village, doing nothing in particular. He had walked past the constable office several times, wondering if he could find work there. It technically wasn't a government job. Jay knew the system, and he could work around it if he so pleased.
After walking around for another hour, Jay looked up, eyeing the Jade Palace high on the mountain, he knew Tigress was there. He still had no money, and being a leech on the palace's fortune made him feel entirely disgusting. Walking into the Constable's office, Jay entered cautiously, standing tall on the inside of the door.
The constable, a large and sleeping elephant, leaned back in his chair with a magazine over his face. Jay was considering if this village maintained a large enough population to have this office. Likely no, the village didn't have a base, so the constable was funded by the people.
This man, looking particularly lazy and old, would be a perfect target for Jay.
"Sir."
The elephant stirred, the magazine falling away from his face and he sat up, his old and big bones creaking with discontent.
"Yes yes come in! Oh! Hello master Ti... you're not Tigress."
Said the elephant, at first only seeing a tiger, instantly assuming it was Tigress.
"I know, I was curious if the post of constable was vacant."
"Ha! I'm the constable, but I am old. What is your job history?"
Jay had no proof of even going to basic school, even though he was one of the most educated men in all of China.
"I am proficient in all Chinese law, a capable fighter, and I have served in the military since my youth."
"Where did you go to school?"
Jay swallowed.
"The military academy sir."
"What's a man like you doing around here?"
"Tigress, she's my wife."
The constable raised and eyebrow, leaning forward in his seat.
"Really? I was unaware she had married."
"It was recent, I retired from military service when we became engaged."
Mentally Jay was laughing, he didn't retire, he was fired.
"What was your rank? Also, what's your name?"
"Jay sir, and my rank is-" Jay gritted his teeth, "-staff sergeant."
He had given a title that belonged to an enlisted man, he was an officer! What a mockery to be so low on the very chain he had held up. All be it, staff sergeant is a respectable position, and to Jay's advantage, the military didn't maintain records as to who their staff sergeants were. If the constable wanted to check into this, it could take a whole year to do.
"Excellent, can anyone vouch for you?"
"Tigress can, everyone at the Jade Palace."
"Master Shifu?"
"Even him."
"How strong are you?"
The constable was becoming increasingly more interested, and Jay loved this. He had the job simply because he could breath.
"I can win a match against Master Shifu."
When no one was looking, Master Shifu and Jay had a little match, the grand master thinking he'd have the upper hand and put the tiger in his place. The contrary occurred, Jay was the victor.
"Excellent! I believe you, so now I can finally retire! You'll love it down here, everything is labeled the way you'd want it to be."
After several hours of monologuing and explaining things Jay already knew, the constable removed his uniform, burning it. Jay was told where he could go and get a new one. The constable gave Jay some money from the office to pay for the uniform, and Jay went to get one. While there, he found the seamstress to be insufficient at tailoring, so he spent an hour there showing her the correct way to hem a coat so it fit to the body. She was grateful, and he had a uniform again.
The uniform was a pastel blue, double breasted brass buttons shooting down each side of the front, creating a large draping flap that enclosed the coat shut. The front was plain, and of his shoulders sat nothing. The collar was straight, wrapping around his neck and cutting down sharply at the front, allowing a loose and sloppy looking white under collar to pop through, revealing itself. The outer blue collar had several brass bars on each side slanting back toward Jay's ears, there simply for decoration. The tail of the coat fell sharply in a rectangular swatch of pastel blue fabric, a center vent separating in the middle to ease walking. The pants were dark blue, no stripes or special trims. They were tied (as Tigress wore hers) at the bottom with a fabric swatch, the same color as the pants themselves, tightly wrapping them around Jay's ankles. There were no pockets, and his hat was a thick pastel blue peaked service cap. A brass chain ran across the shiny black rim, above a symbol representing the law.
The constable had completely bailed on the valley. Apparently the former constable had family somewhere else, and he left as soon as he could. Jay returned to the office, reorganizing everything in the office, after a few hours and almost rearranging everything the way it should be, Jay heard a knock at the door. He had removed his blue coat, and now was only wearing a white shirt with tall popped collar.
Opening the door, there was a messenger from the Imperial Mail Service.
"Constable?"
"Yes."
"Package for a Tigress of the Jade Palace, drop off location is written as here. Please sign."
Jay took the scroll, signing it. The paper quickly rolled back up, and a massive cart rolled around the corner with several large boxes on it.
"All for her?"
Said Jay, taking the packages into his office. They were heavy. The cart and messenger departed, and Jay closed the office door, locking it behind him with his key. Placing one of the packages on his desk, Jay cut it open with his paw, the wooden box swinging open. Jay smiled, the box was full of yuan, and a letter. In short, the letter said that Tigress was the trustee of Jay's money, and also enclosed were his personnel possessions.
Grabbing a large portion of the money, Jay tossed the coins in a sack, tossing that on his desk. Closing the boxes of money, he moved to put them in the constables safe. There were eight boxes full of money, at least four million yuan. Closing the heavy metal door to the safe, Jay frowned.
"That's not even a quarter of all of it."
His beloved emperor had tried to rick-roll Tigress, giving her money and hoping she'd assume that was all of it.
Turning to the two large 'portable wardrobe' wooden crates, Jay opened one, seeing inside all of his clothes. Not some, all. They alone were worth a ton of money. The boxes themselves weighted quite a lot, so Jay decided he wouldn't bear their weight at all. Putting on his cap and buttoning his blue coat, Jay walked outside, away from the constable office and toward the valley's working area. There he found four large and muscular day laborers, doing nothing.
"Constable." They both tipped their hats, smiling at him weakly.
"You four, I'll pay you twenty five yuan each to carry two large wooden crates up to the Jade Palace."
"Cost more then that sir to get me up those stairs."
Said one laborer, smiling and chuckling hoarsely. His companions agreed. Jay's mood changed from neutral serious to haggling serious.
"Thirty each, and I want the crates delivered by sundown."
It was already past noon by a sizable margin, the workers would have to leave now.
"Thirty five."
Said another laborer, squinting and lighting a cigarette between his lips, puffing spoke cooly.
"Thirty two and I don't fine you for loitering."
The four grunted, each shaking Jay's paw and walking with him back to the constables office.
They had the two crates with them now, walking through the valley and up the thousand stairs. Opening the gates himself, the four placed the crates down, each being payed his fair share and leaving the palace to go blow their money.
Jay took the crates from there to the barracks, leaving them in one of the empty rooms.
From there he walked to the training hall where Tigress was working her muscles. She stopped, turning to Jay with a half smile.
"What are you wearing?"
She said, looking at him in a blue uniform, unlike anything she'd ever seen.
"I am now primary bread winner once more. May I introduce, the Valley of Peace's new constable."
Tigress smiled at him.
"How did you get that job?"
"The elephant was happy to leave, and now, once more, I am the law."
"I'm happy for you Jay."
Said Tigress, walking over to him and doing a little impromptu sparring. She'd punch, and he'd block.
"I also received a package from the emperor."
"What was in it?"
Asked Tigress, lightly roundhouse kicking his extended paw.
"My clothes, and about four million yuan."
Tigress stopped, looking at him amazed.
"Your money?"
"Some of it, he must be keeping the rest for himself."
"That's amazing Jay."
Said Tigress, smiling some more and continuing to spar with him.
"We can build that house now, after dinner I'd like to go and look at property with you."
"Can we bring Viper?"
"Sure."
Jay knocked her punch to the side, she fell into him and he kissed her softly.
"I'll go tell her, meet me at my new office when you're ready ok? Don't forget Viper."
Tigress palmed his cheek in her paw, smiling at him and kissing him softly.
"See you soon."
Jay left Tigress in the training hall, heading to the barracks where Viper was. Opening the door to the barrack, Jay traveled down the hall and knocked at the snake's door.
"Come in."
Jay opened the door, standing inside her room, leaving the door open behind him. Viper turned from her mirror, seeing Jay standing at her door.
"Hello Jay, it's good to see you feeling better. What are you wearing?"
"I'm the constable now."
"Oh, I'm so sorry."
Jay chuckled.
"Don't be, I needed a job."
"So, are you here for advice?"
"What?"
"Well, you two are really close, and I thought you might need some help."
"How?"
Viper shrugged her neck, crannies her head to one side.
"You know... emotionally. I didn't think you and her would be very good at... you know."
Jay smiled, grabbing the tail of his cost and sitting down, tossing it back so he didn't sit on it.
"Viper, the sex is amazing, for both of us. Don't you worry, I'm perfectly able and so is she."
Viper felt shocked, and embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you two had already..."
"Don't worry. Tigress and I are going to go and look at property down in the valley later, and she wants you to come with us."
"How come? I'm not a property hunter."
"I don't know, for advice I guess."
Jay smiled, remembering what Viper had been talking about moments earlier, about advice.
"Ok Jay, when will we go?"
"Tigress will come and get you."
After another hour, Tigress had come down from the Jade Palace with Viper, walking toward the constable's office.
"Tigress, Jay told me you and him had been together."
Tigress stiffened up.
"Why would he tell you that?"
"It was my fault, I brought the conversation that way."
"Oh... what did he say?"
Tigress was curious, she had the opportunity to find out how Jay felt about her in bed. Also how he described himself.
"He said it was amazing, is it?"
Tigress smiled, blushing beneath her fur as she approached her new husband's office.
"He's really-" Tigress giggled, smiling more- her blush deepening, "-he's really amazing."
After an hour of looking at large plots of unused land, the three went to head back to the palace. Viper left then, and Jay stopped at his new office to get a few things. once the two of them were inside, Tigress sat down in one of his chairs, watching her new husband pull out a few sheets of paper.
"What are those?"
Asked Tigress, still sitting in the chair, watching his eyes scan the documents surface.
"Some papers about the valley, I wanted to take them with me."
He folded them up into thirds, unbuttoning his coat slightly so he could place the papers inside a pocket. Tigress stood, preventing him from buttoning his coat back up. She kissed his neck several times, and he smiled, pulling her muzzle off of his fur and connecting it with his face.
Tigress wanted to kiss with her mouth open, and Jay let her do so, kissing back fiercely. Tigress backed him up as they kissed, his backside making contact with the wooden desk. He released her, smiling into her eyes.
"What was that for?"
Jay was being sly, he too missed the kissing and the love making he could have received while he was comatose, and now that he was up life could resume.
"You're giving me so much, I want to make you happy."
Tigress kissed his neck some more, slowly dropping down to her knees- face level with the belt of Jay's trousers. His eyes grew massive when he realized what was happening, and he grabbed her underarms, lifting her back up on her paws. Tigress squeaked and giggled when he picked her up, but she partially knew he was upset with her.
"What are you doing?"
Said Jay, laughing silently and looking at his wife with a raised eyebrow.
"Making you happy... don't you want this?"
Tigress understand then that oral sex wouldn't make her husband happy even a little.
"No! Absolutely not!"
"Why? You'd love it! I'm trying to be a good wife!"
"I kiss that mouth! I put my tongue in there! I don't want to... I don't want YOU to be doing anything like that."
"You went down on me..."
Mumbled Tigress under her breath, crossing her arms and tilting her hips in frustration.
"What did you say?"
"I said you went down on me!"
Shouted Tigress, wanting to make him hear her words.
"I..." Jay huffed out a long breath of air, rolling his head back and looking at the ceiling. His legs were crossed, and his paws gripped his desk as he leaned into it, thinking, with a very angry wife not to far away.
"I'm sorry Tigress, I just don't think it's a good idea."
"That's not fair! You're my provider, and I can't even make you happy!"
"I am happy, and you're angry and that's not fair."
"I'm very angry."
"Do you want to have angry sex?"
Tigress smiled at him, thinking about the idea.
"No, I like the idea but... I want to do something else."
"I know."
Jay hugged Tigress, feeling sad that he couldn't let her do what she wanted to do. He didn't want to say no to her, but this situation called for one. In the hug, Jay could feel Tigress grabbing at him. He moved to stop her but she only grabbed harder.
"Tigress that's uncomfortable."
Jay squirmed to get her off of him, but he was trapped between a desk and a very attractive woman.
"I'm ready for the make up sex."
"Wha-" Jay was pushed onto his back, and for the second time the last two South China Tigers had what would be regarded as 'amazing' love making. In his office, in his new office, they went at it, and yes, Tigress did get to do what she set out to do in the first place.
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