Author's note:

First of,

I am so sorry that I again didn't publish on schedule. I had the chapter finished, I swear. And then faith just pushed me off of the cliff. My laptop crashed all my data was lost too, so I had to write the whole thing again in not even three days. So I apologize for the shortness of this chapter and for its most likely not good style of writing.

Now what do I have to say about this chapter.

First of all, you WILL be surprised. But now seriously. I think you could see this chapter as a prolog to the upcoming ones. But I won't say anything more or I'll ruin the surprise for you...

Enjoy!

Búmìng's life
Part 1 (Prologue)
What made him be like this?

Shut up." the lion charged at Bùmíng.

He swung powerful punches to his midsection. But he just stood there and let the lion punch him. I realized that he really knew what was going on inside of that lion. So he just stayed motionless.

"Shut up. You didn't know him. He was a good person. He didn't deserve to die. You don't even have the right to look at him. You don't care about him or us. All we are to you are another pair of strangers who lost a friend. You don't know how that feels." the lion yelled.

I heard a growl coming from Bùmíng's throat. I realized that the lion had crossed the line with his last sentence. I saw a flash of despair, followed by a raging fire of hatred and pain in his eyes.

"Okay, that's enough." he growled.

Bùmíng grabbed the lion's right arm turned one hundred and eighty degrees. He put his hip against the lion's pelvis. Then he lifted his right leg up and went down with his upper body. Catapulting him into the air, and then slamming him to the ground.

"Don't even dare say I don't know how it feels to have lost friends. I have lost so many I can't even remember half of their faces." he growled getting louder and louder by the second.

"I know how it feels. Just be happy that you and he were fortunate enough to see his end come quickly. I have seen friends and comrades get tortured to death and there was nothing I could do to end their misery. You're telling me I don't know how it feels? Look at me, you miserable, little runt. I can hear their every name in my sleep. Try living with that and know that they had to suffer much more than they should have. You should be happy his end came quickly, without pain."

He had lifted the lion by his neck with my left and was preparing to cave in the lion's head with his big right fist. I knew I had to stop him before he did. I jumped behind him and struck the point he had shown me. I made sure that I didn't use too much force. Instants before he punched, he collapsed. The lion fell to the ground coughing. Shocked by his and my actions the other lion just stared from Bùmíng to me and back.

"What did you do to him?" the lion asked me.

"I struck a pressure point and knocked him out." I explained.

"By the way, what brings you to my village?"

"We are looking for a new home. Ours was washed away during a flood. We were hoping to find work. But where are my manners, Tsu-Yang at your service, Miss…"

"Tigress, student of the Jade Palace."

"Are you perhaps, by any chance, the Master Tigress?"

"The same."

I looked at the now sobbing lion.

"My brother Miu-Tau. The death of Xin probably affects him the most, even if he doesn't share the bond of blood with him like I do."

"So he isn't…?"

"A real family member? Yes he is, he just doesn't have the same parents. Xin found him on the streets one day, next to his house as a cub. Poor guy was so thin, he could hardly breathe. He decided to help him and when he had recovered he adopted him. Xin's twin sister Muri was delighted and actually raised him as her son. One day I visited them and they told me that they had found a village that was in more secure territories and asked me if I could come along. I did and soon became an uncle for him. He always had seen Xin as his father and having lost both of them in such short while must really put him in deep despair. I'm the only family he has left…"

I am sorry to hear that…"

I kept my eyes on the young lion.

"No I am sorry. It seems we have ruined your festival mood. Would you care to have a drink or two for your help."

"No thank you. The festival is over for me anyway, since I had to knock out my mate."

The lion pointed at Bùmíng and then at me a few times.

"Oh… Well, I apologize for the inconvenience and for your troubles."

"There is no need for that. But how about you come to the Jade Palace with me. As our governor is out cold, my father is in charge of the village."

I picked Bùmíng up and with a little help from Tsu-Yang, carried him to the Palace. I also had two guards bring up Xin-Miso's body and the young Bu-Kin to the palace as well. As we were going up the stairs, I continued the conversation.

"So tell me, what is your occupation?"

"Well, that is hard to say. I have been many things. I started off as a delivery boy. The I was a house cleaner, a guard, cook, farmer and a teacher for the young one. I taught him everything he knows. He's a good student, a bit shy though, but he studies hard and always does his best."

"So he normally isn't…"

"That impulsive and direct? No he normally is quiet and prefers to listen than to talk."

We had reached the main gate and were greeted by Shifu.

"I see you have brought guests and… the body of your… mate?"

"Yes, There was a bandit attack and we stopped it. However we weren't there in time and someone already had lost their life. And when…"

"This young man here tried to help us to deal with the loss of our friend. But it developed into an argument that he ended rather quickly, after my friend here said some things that might have triggered him to act like he did. He has no wrong doings on this matter. But he may have a slight anger management problem."

"And who might you be?" Master Shifu said.

"Tsu-Yang at your service, Grandmaster Shifu. And this is my brother Bu-Kin."

Shifu nodded then looked back at me.

"Master, I have a favor to ask of you."

"Go on."

"Could we burry the fallen lion on the palace's graveyard? And let them stay here until they find a home?"

"Of course. I'll arrange everything. Put Bùmíng in his cell and wait for me in the Hall of Warriors."

I did what I had been told and put him in his cell. Then I walked back upstairs. I waited for Shifu and then had to explain everything in detail of what we had done and how it had come to this.

"I see… We'll let him wake up and then I will talk to him. But I am glad that you had a nice time."

I was dismissed and went to Fei's room. I knew she was asleep, but it calmed me down to see that she was alright. I then went into my own room and slept.

Dreamscape

I was playing tag with Fei, when I saw something on the far side of the field. We walked over to it. It was a small hut. We stepped inside. I gasped as soon as I saw what lay inside. It was Bùmíng. Fei and I ran over to him. We shook him, prevented him from breathing for a few seconds, but despite everything we did, nothing worked. I sat down in front of him. Fei was crying and hugging him. I hugged her tightly. I sensed a presence behind me and spun around, going directly into my stance. But nothing was there. I heard Fei shift into her stance. I spun around and again there was nothing there again.

"You know, you really should try and keep that temper of yours under control."

The voice came from above. Fei and I looked and saw a second Bùmíng.

"But how? I… You are over there." I stammered.

"Yes and no."

He dropped down to the ground.

"What you have here is the conscious part of my mind. The one that decides. As for me, I am his subconscious part of his mind."

"Then why are you here? In my dream?"

"You tell me, you summoned me here… So, what can I do for you?"

"I summoned you? I and how? I don't understand. How could I have summoned you?"

"Well I read about this once. A phenomenon called subconscious reboot. Whenever a person, subject A, is put into a coma, like me over there. Another person, subject B, must reactivate his conscious mind. But this only works when subject B has feelings or at least cares more than average about subject A. Which in your case would fit. But what I want to know is, why are you trying to help him? Is it just because he is a comrade in arms? Or could it be something more?"

"I don't know. I think I just want to understand him, that's all…"

"I see. I can show you his file and mission reports, if you want. But you'll have to let me control this dream."

"And how do I do that?"

"That is easy. I'll put you to the edge of death. Don't worry, if you die, you'll just wake up. But you're going to have to trust me."

Sighing deeply, I nodded.

"Do it."

He walked behind me and rapped his right arm around my neck. Then increased the force by using his left arm to apply more pressure. After seconds I felt dizzy, and then I blacked out.

"Tigress? Come on girl. Wake up. Come on!"

I gasped for air.

"Phew… That was a close one. One more minute and it could have gotten ugly."

I looked at him confused.

"Your inner self, what I am in him."

He pointed at Bùmíng.

"She wasn't very fond of the idea that an intruder had gotten into your mind without her detection. And here I am thinking the conscious you is bad news when it is angry. Your subconscious self is worse, ten times full."

"Okay. Good for you. So did it work."

"Yes it did. Follow me."

And out of nowhere a stairway appeared.

We walked down. I gasped at what I saw. It was a massive cave. Every bit of wall was covered with papers about Bùmíng. I followed Bùmíng to a table. We sat down on opposite side. A strange lamp was hanging from the ceiling. It had no flame. Bùmíng passed me an envelope.

"Open it. It contains everything that was ever done to him during his time in Ghost."

I opened the envelope and read the sheets of paper:

Name: unknown
Serial number: 1086430
Rank: Special Spec. Ops. Leader
Member of: Ghost Battalion, Canine Division, Feline Division
Ghost code: Ghost Twenty- Eight- Oh- Two
Codename: Tiger
Subject shows great promise for genetic altering and technical additions.
Subject's DNA altered with Tiger and Wolf blood.
Subject has been completely altered:
Pain region of the brain was cut out.
Muscles enhanced to three hundred percent more strength.
Higher brain capacity enabled.
The subject was enduced with a skin plating to harden his bones.
Due to an unexpected mutation the subjects DNA fused itself with the Anquillium alloyed
Replacement of eyes with Tech- Orbs, now allow the subject to see better
Upgrade to the Tech- Orbs: Thermal vision; X-ray vision; Both can only be used temporarily by the subject.
Magnificent mutation; subject can summon fog; this will show great advantage on the field.

As I read the papers, I was shocked. I thought I knew what Bùmíng meant, when he said that he had to go through a lot of suffering. But going by what I read, none of his descriptions came even close. I looked back at Bùmíng.

"I am beginning to understand, how he could be the way he was, but I still don't know what made him be that way."

"So you want to learn more about him? I can give you his mission reports."

"Is there another way to learn? I don't really understand everything that is put here on these papers. And this is only a part of his life. What about his time before and after the military?"

"I guess that there is another way…" he said thoughtfully.

"I read most of the books you have in your library. And I came across something that should help you. It should also trigger the subconscious reboot."

"And what might that be?"

"Something called the Urn of Memories. It is said to be able to let a person relive the memories of another person. Even those that he doesn't remember himself. I don't know how it works nor do I know where it is located. But if you want to learn firsthand, that will be your best shot to do it."

"The Urn of Memories? You think that it could be the answer to my questions?"

He nodded. He stood up and gestured me to follow him. We walked through an appearing door. We now were in a hall. In the middle of the hall stood a big spire.

"This may also help you." he said.

"This is a memorial spire. Bùmíng wanted the unknown souls of Ghost to be remembered and honored. All of these names are members of Ghost and are all symbols to him."

"Symbols? What kind of symbols?"

"A special kind. Heroes to be exact. All of these men are heroes. They all are KIAs.

"KIAs? What does that mean? And why does that make them heroes?"

"KIA means killed in action. They fought and died on the field of battle. Whether it was a firefight or a small situation that got out of hand. Every one of them died in the line of duty. To me they are heroes as they died for what they believed in."

He saluted the spire and said that he would do his best to keep Bùmíng alive. Then he wished me luck and told me to hurry up and find the Urn of Memories. He disappeared and then I awoke with a gasp for air. I had to go to Shifu. I got up and noticed the strain that I had put my body through. I decided to take a bath and then go to Shifu. After my bath I went to see Shifu. He wasn't in the Hall of Warriors and he also wasn't in his room either. I wandered through the palace but I couldn't find him. After a few hours I just went into the kitchen and had some tea.

"You seem troubled, daughter. Tell me, what is it that is on your mind?"

"Master… While I was sleeping, I… I had a dream."

"A dream?"

"Yes. I saw Bùmíng lying on a bed, when his spirit appeared. He told me that Bùmíng wouldn't wake up unless someone would help him wake up. He told me about an object that would help me to wake Bùmíng up."

"What object did he mention?"

"Something called the Urn of Memories. He said that it would wake up Bùmíng. Do you know what it is and where I could find it?"

"Yes I do. The Urn of Memories is a legendary kung fu artifact that is as powerful as it is old. As for its location, daughter. You are in luck as well. Master Ugway stored it away in our artifact room. He also left his notebook with his studies. I will bring them to your room. But you will have to find the way how it works. Ugway never had time to let me know…"

I nodded and left. I waited for him in my room. He came back soon. In hs hands were a urn roughly the size of my underarm and a small book. He gave me the things and wished me good luck. I put the urn on the floor and started reading Ugway's book.

The Urn of Memories is a powerful artifact. One that has the unique ability to show one the past of another. In all the ancient manuscript I found that evolved around this artifact nothing described how to use its powers. The only thing I found was a saying:
Memories are impervious to time, the souls tomb, house of those memories is not. If one wishes to see the past, he must find a witness of that time. But beware, blood and flesh will not work.
I tried to find out whom or what these "witnesses" could be, but all of my efforts were in vain. Maybe it will come to me in my sleep.
My rest has given me an idea of what these "witnesses" might be. The last line of the saying has been troubling me in the last night:
"But beware, blood and flesh will not work." I think that it has to be a personal belonging of the person of whoms past you want to relive, but I don't know if that is the key I am looking for.

As I read Ugway's studies I realized I stood before the same problem. I didn't know what these "witnesses" were. By now it was morning and like every morning Fei came into my room.

"Good morning mother." she greeted me.

"Good morning Fei. Did you have a nice sleep?"

"Yes I did. But you don't look like you did. What's wrong?"

"Nothing Fei. Come on, let's get some breakfast."

I put the book down and the two of us walked to the kitchen. Po was already preparing food when we got in. He gave us the bowls. We ate in silence.

"Say Tigress, you seem awfully thoughtful today. What's the matter?"

"Nothing Po."

"You sure? Because you normally aren't as quiet as you are now."

"Alright, if you insist I'll tell you. Last night Bùmíng's spirit visited me in my sleep He said that without help he would never wake up. He advised me to use the Urn of Memories. Shifu gave it to me, but I do not understand how it works. And so, just like Ugway I cannot use it. He thought that personal possessions are the key, but wasn't quite sure."

"Well that's an easy one to solve Tigress." Po said.

"The only way to know if a key fits is to try it out."

He did have a point so I went along.

"Okay, so if we use personal belongings, the next step is to find one of his belongings that has witnessed his life."

"I know what we can use for that."

Fei jumped up from her chair and rushed out of the room. She came back soon with a black piece of cloth. It was Bùmíng's torn shirt. Fei put it onto the table. She turned it inside out and got out a small stone from where the right shoulder. It was flat and small with some carvings on it.

"Bùmíng told me that this stone is the only thing he remembers before he went to the military. If we used this, you might be lucky."

"Thank you Fei. But please put that back into his room. I'll take the stone into my room and try to figure out how the artifact works. I'll be in my room."

I stood up and left. In my room I held Bùmíng's stone in my hand. I decided toput the stone into the urn and see what would or would not happen. As soon as the stone hit the bottom of the urn I felt a strong drowsiness come over me. I quickly laid down on my bed and soon I fell asleep.

Dreamscape

I stood in darkness, then a bright light appeared and I was in the cave Bùmíng's inner self had brought me to. As I walked along the walls, studying the pictures of my mate. I heard someone clear his throat behind me. I turned around and gasped. Right in front of me, stood an exact image of myself only it was glowing slightly. And to top things of she looked like I did, when Monkey and Mantis had poured a bucket of cold water over me. She wasn't very happy.

"What are you doing here?" she snapped.

"Are you insane to leave your part of the body. This could be a trap. What were you thinking casting yourself into this mind?"

"Put a lid on it, please will you. I'm getting a headache."

Out of nowhere Bùmíng's inner self appeared, rubbing his temples. Instants later he was pinned to the ground by my inner self. She was putting pressure on his throat.

"And what are you doing here? What game are you playing? You better give me a good reason to not choke your head off."

Surprisingly he remained very calm.

"Well for starters, kill me and we all die. We are in my mind, in my sub consciousness. If I die, I, this mind w will fall and you along with it. Now you better cool it or you'll find out just how evil I can be if I want to."

To my surprise my inner self did get off and did not do anything anymore.

"She is here because she wants to save her mate. Now you have to choices. You let it happen or you kill us both. Choice is yours…"

"Fine, but make sure to inform me the next time."

And with a growl she vanished. He looked at me and smiled.

"I told you she was worse than you. Glad you made it. How was the trip?"

"I made it, so it was successful. But could you tell me why we are in this place again?"

"You come right to the point I like that. I already started the memory viewing so we should have the memories you need. I'll run the others and by the time you're done, he should be able to wake up. Ahh. We found the first key. But before we start I'll give you a quick briefing. First these are all memories even I do not know. So stay low don't get into fights and do not do anything stupid, stick with the majority. Oh and this is a very different time you'll be in. Pretend you know the stuff and I'll put everything in the clear you don't understand. Or I'll give you all the intel now. Your choice."

"I think I'll be able to handle it." I said confidently.

He nodded and a chair appeared in front of me. I sat down and took a deep breath.

Author's note:

Sorry for the small cliffhanger but the wait will be worth it, you have my word on that. Again I apologize for the "length" of this chapter. Next chapter will hopefully be out on friday 28th, but it might be delayed. My family is in a little dispute. Mum wants to move away with us, but my sisters want to stay. So anyway it might be a week late or so. I hope you'll bare with me.

Cheers.