A/N: Another cliffhanger and short-ish chapter, though this one leans more heavily on comedy.

"I'm so bored !" Zora exclaimed into the silence.

"I know right !" Qian shot back.

The prison wasn't designed for comfort- let alone pleasure. As a result the pair were incredibly and utterly bored.

"What am I meant to do in a cell ? I'd rather be kicking assassin ass-" Qian continued ranting.

"I know right !" Zora shot back. "If there was food it would be different though."

Qian was about to say 'I know right', but cocked his head to the side. "I don't see how food would make much of a difference."

"We could be having a food fight, duh !" Zora explained, as if that was the most obvious thing people did with food.

"Oh, that makes sense !" Qian exclaimed.

Mrs Tamod could not have made a better decision about pairing the pair together. They both enjoyed pranks, were childish beyond their years and were entirely and completely bored.

Zora sighed. "I bet there's food in the kitchens."

"I heard that that's where food is cooked, yeah." Qian replied, deadpan.

"Let's check it out !"

"Okay, sneaking out shouldn't be too hard, I mean they didn't even lock the door, but if we're caught we might get disqualified."

"Hmm, simple then. Allow me." Suddenly the kitsune started making several signs with his paws in rapid succession, so fast Qian couldn't even hope to keep up with them.

"Duplication Jutsu !" There was a puff of smoke and suddenly two more Zora's stood next to each other. "Hmm, that won't be good enough. Lightshifting Jutsu !" One of the Zora's disappeared in a puff of smoke, and in it's place was left another, identical copy of Qian.

"Woah ! But we just met !" Qian exclaimed, stunned by the quality.

Zora shrugged. "It's too easy. Now let's go."

And with that the pair left, leaving the clones behind.

Duyao found herself staring at the gouged out eye of her roommate. Jian had clearly been through a lot... but then again she had as well. She lay on the bottom bunk and went to sleep. Or pretended to.

The rabbit child had followed her here... he was a good son, but his father had gotten what he deserved- she hadn't expected to catch him with his pants down, or bring pain down upon the whole family. That had been the end of her quest... or so she had thought.

Once upon a time, a lifetime before the tournament Duyao had been amazing. She was the adopted daughter of the village's well-respected medic. She had had looks, charm and a good reputation. She was the most beautiful one in the village by far. But that had ended up costing her.

Maybe it had been alchohol, maybe it was just a bunch of stupid, horny kids, but she had been raped. They stole her maidenhood, and ruined her life. Not wanting to face justice her tormentors had dumped her into the river... they hadn't counted on her surviving. Duyao had been found and rescued by Mr Wo, who had brought the teenage frog to the Temple of the Drops. The place had been full of bullshit, prophecies, magic and what not ? But they had given her a home... and power. Over eight years she had travelled across the world, taking back her maidenhead and butchering those that had killed her and ruined her life. She became a monster...

But she wasn't one anymore. She had changed. She had come here to build a new life, and had put her past behind her- but at the same time her past would never leave her. Mr Wo was here, as was his latest lackey, Chang Shuimian. There had been a murder, and much to her shock Duyao had found herself seeking out the killer. I can't change what I am, can I ? Well, there's no fun if I don't try.

The one thing between Zora and Qian and a mountain of food was a gorilla. A fat, short, round gorilla arranging them into trays.

"He's taking the food away !" Zora exclaimed.

"Damn ! I left my darts back in the room !" Qian grumbled.

Zora sighed. "I guess we're going to have to do this my way !"

Qian stared as the kitsune once again repeated the process of making paw signs so fast he couldn't understand them. Then the kitsune grinned. "Sexy Technique ! Girl Jutsu !"

All the gorilla heard was an exclamation, and then turned to a beautiful vixen. She was nude, and gorgeously curved. She winked at him and blew him a heart. His jaw dropped, then he did when he felt a frying pan crash into the back of his head. He landed on his torso, his face looking dumb and dopey, his tongue hanging out on end.

Zora resumed his normal form. "Good thinking Qian ! I have no idea what I'd have done if this brute had wanted a hug !"

"The pleasure's mine. Look at his face, the poor love-struck bastard."

Zora cackled. "And now for the main event."

The two shared a look before turning back to the trays of food. "FOOD FIGHT !"

Jian couldn't help feeling slightly worried for his brother. The kitsune was a child, true and most likely couldn't do anything to his brother even if he tried... but if there was a skilled and dangerous assassin running around then there could be trouble. Moreover Qian would sooner or later leave the confines of his cell. Jian hoped it was later- but knew with almost complete certainty that it would happen the first time Qian got the chance.

Still, his brother was capable of looking after himself. Jian had to keep reminding himself that Qian was no longer a little kid. Immature, yes, a kid, absolutely not. He had seen and done things beyond his age. He was grown up... but he was still the younger brother, and try as he might Jian would never stop worrying about him. He got off his bed and decided to go and check on his little bro.

Duyao watched him tip-toe out. Gotcha !

Zora and Qian lay on the verge of unconsciousness. The kitchen was a mess, and they were too.

Qian looked like he was made of noodles, he was dripping wet, with the substance spilled and curled all over him. He was drenched in hot sauce, and was lying in a cup of tea.

Zora was not faring much better either. His mouth was stuffed with a massive dumpling. His head was covered under an upturned bowl, with the noodles spilling out over the side, giving him the appearance of having long, blonde, braided hair.

The gorilla got slowly to his feet and turned around. He was about to start shouting when a scaled hand covered his mouth and an axe split his head in two.

Footnote: Didn't see that coming now did you ? And Qian and Zora appear all out of fight... should be quite interesting, don't you think ?