A rainy morning found the Jade Palace and the Lee Da Academy locked in a joint training session in the Jade Palace's hallowed halls.
"It's very sporting of you, to let us practice together," said Master Ros (master of Lee Da, for those of you who have forgotten) to Shifu. "Especially considering the most recent results of the tournament."
It had been two weeks since Tigress had sprained her ankle, and in her absence, the Lee Da Academy had made up lost ground, with Mei Ling defeating Po and Z besting Monkey at the acrobatics competition. Currently, the Jade Palace and Lee Da were tied with 8 points apiece, and Tian Na was trailing with 6.
"Well, I figure my students will benefit just as much as yours from this," Shifu replied amiably, clapping Master Ros on the back.
"It feels great to have you back," Viper said to Tigress as they completed a joint form. "The training hall just felt so… empty without you."
"It feels great to move again," Tigress replied, squaring off against Orri, one of the Rough Rhinos. Tigress drank in her surroundings; the familiar din of combat and camaraderie sharpened her perception and sent shivers down her spine. "I feel alive."
"It is good to see the old Tigress again," Z said over his shoulder as he held Monkey's never-ceasing barrage of limbs at bay. "I could hardly bear to see your beautiful and noble self riddled with grief and depression."
Get off the stage, you sap… Tai Lung thought to himself, baffled by Z's shameless flirting. But I'm glad too. Oh Tigress, for a while I thought I had really lost you…
Thump
"Eyes front, hon," Mei Ling chirped as she walloped Tai Lung in the stomach. "You've gotta be awake to play around with with me!"
"Ergh, remind me to never get on your bad side…"
It's nice to finally see everyone getting along, Shifu thought to himself. Especially in light of all the recent drama…
Amidst the morning's activity, no one noticed as Master Zuihan quietly made his way out of the guest dormitories and down the steps into the Valley of Peace.
Concealed beneath a hooded cloak, Master Zuihan bowed his head against the rainy wind blowing across the Valley. He came to the mouth of a secluded alleyway, took a furtive glance around, and convinced that no one was looking, ducked into the shadows.
"You're late," stated a deep male voice from deeper down the alley.
"I am deeply sorry," Master Zuihan said, a note of intimidation in his voice. "I… I hope I haven't inconvenienced you."
"No matter," muttered the invisible interlocutor. "You've done well to get as far as you have."
"Y-yes," Master Zuihan continued, voice quavering slightly. "Master Shifu and the others are c-completely convinced that the only reason Tian Na is in the Jade Palace is for the tournament."
"So they don't expect anything?"
"N-not at all."
"Good. The time is drawing near to execute… the plan."
"S-so soon?" Master Zuihan asked the darkness of the alley. "I thought we were going to take this slowly."
"Zuihan," the voice boomed, "I allowed you to become master of the Tian Na Organization under one condition, and that was that you obey every order I give you."
There was a flash of movement from the back of the alley, and suddenly a wolf with snow-white fur was upon Master Zuihan.
"Do not forget who you're dealing with," the wolf said menacingly. "I decide who lives, and who dies. If I tell you to execute the plan, you execute the plan."
"Y-yes, of c-course," Master Zuihan murmured, visibly trembling. "I am your humble servant, Übel.
"Never forget you allegiance," Übel admonished, and as quickly as he had come, the white wolf was gone.
Master Zuihan let out a deep sigh of relief.
Gods above, he scares me…Master Zuihan thought miserably. But he's right. I owe a lot to him, and it's not exactly like I can question his authority and still hope to live to see tomorrow. Right, no way to have my cake and eat it too… Damn… I need a drink.
Later-
In the fading evening light, Tai Lung settled into a warm bath in, well… the bathhouse.
Thank the Gods that the Jade Palace has hot baths, Tai Lung thought to himself as he reclined in the large tub of water. I am most certainly the luckiest leopard in the world…
Tai Lung closed his eyes and began to doze off, and was thus entirely unaware when Z walked through the bathhouse door. The steamy haze in the room camouflaged Tai Lung's silver fur, and Z didn't realize that the bath was already occupied until he had already climbed into the water, quite nearly on top of a sleepy snow leopard.
Tai Lung jolted awake, only to find himself sitting opposite a surprisingly calm and collected panther.
"W-what the hell!" Tai Lung exclaimed, quickly covering as much of himself as he could with his (admittedly rather thin) tail.
"Oh, come on," Z said good-naturedly. "Can't we all be adults here?"
"Z," Tai Lung breathed incredulously, "We are sitting in the same bath together!"
"Yes, well, I hadn't exactly planned on my bath turning out like this either," Z said rather sardonically, "but since I'm here, do you want me to wash your back?"
"You're kidding me," Tai Lung said, shifting uncomfortably.
"Not at all," Z replied sincerely. "Besides, there's something I've been wanting to ask about you and Tigress."
I see, Tai Lung thought to himself. He just wants to grill me about my relationship with her. Well, it's not going to work.
"Forget it, Z," Tai Lung said flatly. "Look, just leave for a second so I can get dressed, and then you can have the bath. I'll turn around."
"As you wish," Z said mildly, and got up to leave. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your take of things), Z didn't realize that Tai Lung had left a bar of soap right next to the bath. As Z climbed out, he stepped on the soap, his foot slid out from under him, and the surprised panther toppled back into the bath, directly on top of Tai Lung.
"What the hell are you doing?" Tai Lung shouted as he struggled underneath Z's lithe form.
"Sorry Tai," Z said sheepishly, and sat up. "I didn't expect there to be a bar of soap there."
Tai Lung was about to reply when a knock came at the bathhouse door. Both males fell silent.
"Um, Tai Lung?" said the voice of Tigress from behind the door. "C-can I come in for a moment?"
Tai Lung and Z looked at each other, but said nothing.
That's strange, Tigress thought to herself. I could have sworn he said he was going to take a bath. Oh well. Maybe I'll just take a bath myself...
"What do we do now?" Tai Lung whispered desperately.
But then, the bathhouse door slid open. Tigress, wrapped in nothing but a towel, walked in, but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Tai Lung and Z. In the bath. Together. Naked.
Both Tai Lung and Z blushed furiously.
"T-T-T-Tigress!" Tai Lung stammered. "This really isn't what it looks like!"
"Ah, i-indeed," Z continued, just as flustered. "This is the simple product of a logistical error!"
"Ahem… er, well…" Tigress mumbled, lost for words.
After what seemed like an eternity of awkward silence, Tigress spoke.
"I could almost understand it if you cheated on me with Mei Ling," Tigress (who had now turned a deeper shade of crimson) said to Tai Lung. "But I never expected to see this…"
With a long-suppressed giggle, Tigress turned quickly and left the bathhouse, shutting the door promptly behind her.
Z and Tai Lung remained silent for a few more moments.
"Now look what you did!" Tai Lung said angrily to Z.
"What are you so worried about?" Z said rather nonchalantly. "She didn't even seem concerned."
"Of course she did," Tai Lung shot back. "Now she probably thinks I'm gay!"
"How do you know you're not?" Z said in a husky voice, and moved himself closer to Tai Lung.
"Don't say that! We're in a goddamn bath together!" Tai Lung yelled, and flailed around in the water.
"Only joking, Tai," Z said, bursting into a fit of laughter. He got up quickly, and wrapped a towel around himself before leaving the bathhouse.
Jeez, Tai Lung sighed to himself as he sat back in the now-otherwise-vacant bathtub. I am most certainly the unluckiest leopard in the world…
Tigress sat on her bed, still feeling hot and prickly from the scene she'd just witnessed.
Just my luck, Tigress lamented to herself. I finally work up the courage to ask Tai Lung if he wants me to wash his back, and then this happens…
As she considered the whole scenario more and more, Tigress began to snicker, which soon turned into full-blown laughter. She fell asleep with the ghost of a smile still on her face.