Year of the Tiger

By corset-rebellion-follower

Disclaimer: I don't own Kung Fu Panda

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Chapter 37- Aristocrat

"Clover, I'm telling you, don't do this! It's probably the WORST idea I've ever heard!" Ning said, following after his girlfriend.

"The best way to deal with a situation is to be upfront about it. I'm not backing down just because your parents are rich and powerful," she insisted.

Ning sighed, "Clover, you don't get it. Even if my dad likes your mom, which he doesn't because he's married to my mother, walking up to his face and asking him about it is the worst way you could ever handle this."

"Ning, I told you what Master Shifu said. And besides, when I went back into my Mom's trunk, I found one of the letters from your dad! I know it's kind of hard for you to accept because no one wants their dad to be lying scum, but I have to do this," she explained, taking his paws.

"Maybe you're right, and he is lying scum. But this is not a good idea!"

"Look, baby, I can handle this. I'm a big girl. Do you wanna come? That would be one hell of a family reunion."

Ning smirked. "I bet you would love that. I'll pass. You're meeting me for dinner, though, right?"

She nodded. "My treat."

"I thought the guy was supposed to pay for dinner," Ning said.

"Oh please, you know you don't have enough money. Let's just learn to accept that, 'kay?"

He sighed. "It's getting easier. I'll see you later." He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips lightly to hers for a fleeting moment. Then he quickly drew away and whispered, "I'll be waiting with baited breath."

He let go of her and started walking away. Before he was out of hearing range, she yelled at his retreating back, "Damn tease!" He turned around and smirked at her.

"You know you love it, poppet."

She rolled her eyes and turned away from him, and continued walking until she came to the huge complex that was the Tang residence. It still stood in its vermillion and green glory, but the sheer beauty of the place no longer had any effect on Clover. Now it was a place of anger and lies to her. But she would set things straight. And chew Mr. Tang out for ever, EVER trying to get her mom away from her dad.

She marched straight up to the door and clanked the huge knocker against the wood several times, and a little louder than was necessary. The door opened after a few more minutes of banging. Terra, the red fox that Clover had met last time she was there, answered the door.

She looked Clover over for a moment, then stated, "In case he didn't tell you, Ning doesn't live here anymore. Apparently you induced some sort of epiphany within him and he moved out."

"I know he doesn't live here anymore. I'm here to see Mr. Tang, if he's available."

Terra snorted. "Available? Mr. Tang is never available. But I'll take you to see him."

"You don't like him very much, do you?" Clover asked as she followed the vulpine inside.

Terra smirked. "It is my duty to make sure that Mr. and Mrs. Tang are always comfortable, and miserable."

Clover smiled. She liked this woman. Terra led her through the richly decorated halls and corridors until they came to a large door with huge gilded dragons carved into the door. Clover inwardly scoffed at the door. What a waste of money. Mom would have hated it here.

Terra knocked twice on the door, then opened it with relative ease and stepped inside, but motioned for Clover to wait. "Master, you have a visitor."

"Very well, let them in." Terra nodded at her, and Clover entered the room. Mr. Tang looked up at her. He was obviously surprised of her presence in his study, but seemed pleased as well.

"Well, if it isn't Clover! I haven't seen you since you came for dinner. How have you been?"

"Well enough," Clover replied simply. He put down the calligraphy brush in his hand and stood up.

"Please, have a seat. Sorry for being so rude, but I'm waiting for a client." She sat down in one of the chairs opposite his desk.

"So, how is my son, if you don't mind me asking? He hasn't been home in weeks, and it's worrying my wife to death."

"He's fine. He has a house and a job now," she answered.

Mr. Tang also seemed surprised at this. "Does he? That's good. Ning was always very smart, I bet he's doing well on his own."

"He is. And he's very happy. Or at least that's what he is around me."

"Well, of course he would, around a beautiful girl like you. Before he left, all he would talk about was you," he said.

Clover nodded a little. Come on, get this show on the road! It's not like he's going to start a conversation about this! "Mr. Tang, I have to talk to you about something. It's a bit of a… sensitive topic, but it's very important."

"Of course. You can ask me about anything." He put a paw on her shoulder and gently squeezed, but what was meant to be a comforting gesture made Clover want to spit in his face. She locked eyes with him.

"I know that you tried to break up my mom and dad when they were first married."

Mr. Tang didn't respond, but his eyes were frozen in fear. "… Excuse me?"

"Don't deny it, I have a witness and evidence." After a few more moments of silence.

Mr. Tang chuckled. "Clover, my dear, back then I was young and foolish. Trust me, those feelings for your mother have long since died." He picked up the brush again and dipped it ink.

"So the fact that my parents might be breaking up means nothing to you?"

His hand stilled, and ink dripped onto the paper in front of him. "Are they? Pity. They were nearly inseparable in the early years of their marriage."

"But you still thought you had a chance with her."

"Well I know better now. I'm happily married, and Shan and I have settled the matter with mutual respect."

"Really?" Clover asked, "Because he still hates your guts." Mr. Tang frowned.

"Does your mother know you're here?" he asked.

"No. But you're avoiding the conversation."

"Clover, you obviously know the whole story, and I admitted that I had feelings for your mother once upon a time, so what's more to discuss? Come, I'll send Terra for some tea. We can talk about your sister's wedding." Clover remembered what Terra had told her about making sure that the Tangs were always miserable, and didn't relish the idea of having to drink a tea-and-spit cocktail.

"No, thank you, I'm not in the mood for tea. What I want to know is if you still love my mother," she snapped.

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You most certainly are Mingxia's daughter."

The door opened again, and Terra stepped into the room. "Master Tang, you have another visitor."

"Not now, Terra, I'm busy," he muttered.

"They were insistent on seeing you in person, sir."

"Very well."

Terra left, and Mr. Tang's visitor entered the room. Clover's eyes dilated.

"MOM?"

Mingxia's looked just as shocked. "Clover, honey, what are you doing here?"

"I knew it! I knew you still liked her!" Clover yelled, pointing accusingly at Mr. Tang.

"To be completely honest, I'm just as surprised as you are that she's here," he whispered, his eyes on Mingxia. His voice was softer than before, and a lot more pleased. His eyes had softened, and a smile was ghosting the corners of his mouth.

"Ying, if you'll excuse me and my daughter for a moment. We need to talk," Mingxia said, taking Clover's wrist in her paw.

"YING? What the hell are you calling him Ying for?" Clover asked as she was pulled out of the study. The gilded door slammed shut, and Mingxia glared at her daughter.

"Will you please try and use clean language for once? And what are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? What about you? You and Dad are fighting, and you come to the house of the guy who tried to ruin your marriage?" Clover asked angrily.

"How do you know about that?" she asked fearfully.

"My godfather told me. Mom… I thought Dad was crazy for fighting with you, but… now I think he's right! You're having an affair with Mr. Tang, aren't you?"

"I would never do something like that and you know it! I love your father very much."

"Then what are you doing here? Why did you insist on seeing Mr. Tang?" Clover asked. Mingxia was silent for a moment. "Well?"

"He's not coming back. Your father. He's moved out, he won't speak to me… it's over."

Clover shook her head, tears brimming at her eyelids. "No… no… it's not over! And even if it was, why the hell would you come here? If you need someone to talk to, then you could have come to me or Tigress!"

"It is over, honey. I know it's hard to accept, but… your father and I won't be living together anymore."

"No, don't say that! I saw the picture Master Shifu drew of you guys on your wedding day!" She pulled the paper out of her pocket and quickly unfolded it, shoving it into her mother's paws. "See? You two were in love. And people who are in love for so many years don't just stop all of a sudden."

"Where did you get this?" Mingxia demanded.

"That's not the point. Mom, come with me. We'll go see Dad, we'll work this out! I bet if you showed him that drawing he'd get all nostalgic and soft. He'll realize his mistake and come home. Please, Mom. Come with me." Mingxia looked down at the drawing, running her fingers over it and tracing some of the lines of Shan's face. Then she folded it and placed it in her own pocket.

"Go ahead. I just need to have a small discussion with Ying first." Clover just watched with her mouth hanging open as her mother opened the door to the study and disappeared inside. Then she noticed that the door didn't close the whole way, and she crept over to the crack and peered into the room.

Mr. Tang and Mingxia were now seated on the couch to the left of his desk. He still had that dreamy glint in his eye, and he was smiling softly. "What are you doing here?" he asked quietly.

"I… I wanted to see you."

"Mingxia, you've wanted nothing to do with me since the moment we met. What… what made you change your mind?"

She sniffled. "I just… needed someone I could trust."

He took a silk handkerchief out of his robe and gently dabbed her eyes. "Your daughter told me about you and Shan. I'm so sorry. Shan's a complete fool." He reached over and brushed the back of his paw over her cheek. "And you're still as beautiful as the day I first saw you."

She blushed and squirmed away. "Please… my husband and I may be having marital problems, but we're still together. It would be adultery… and I can't do that to Shan. I love him."

"Mingxia, leave him. He obviously doesn't love you the way he used to. But I would love you, and cherish you every day. I would treat you the way you deserve to be treated. Like an Empress."

"But… Clover and Ning, they…"

"Technically, they aren't really related, so they would still be able to see each other. And I would treat both your girls like my own daughters." She slowly shook her head and stood up.

"No. I shouldn't have come. I have to go." He quickly intercepted her and grabbed her wrists to still her. "Release me!"

"No. I won't let you slip away again. Mingxia, I love you. I have always loved you. I'd do anything for you. Anything to win your heart." He softly kissed one of her paws. "Please. I could give you so much love. Don't walk out that door because you're scared of what others will think."

Mingxia paused. "…You want my heart?"

"Yes. I would do anything to have your love. I would pay any price, climb any mountain."

Clover sprinted away before she could hear any more. She skidded to a stop in another room and took a minute to catch her breath.

"He's in there with her, isn't he?" She jumped and screamed. Mrs. Tang was stilling in a chair, a cup of tea clutched in one paw. Clover looked her over. She didn't look angry, or sad. She looked like she didn't feel anything. "My husband is in there with your mother, isn't he?" she asked again, in her dead voice.

Clover nodded. Mrs. Tang looked down into her teacup. "You were right to be suspicious. Ying may be my husband, and Ning's father, but he'd do anything to get his paws on your mother. And if he gets his way, which he almost always does, then he'll be shipping me off to a convent and having his fun with his new wife." She took another cup off a nearby table and poured some tea into it. "Here. You're as pale as a ghost," she said, holding it out to Clover.

"Um… I'd rather not…"

"I know what Terra would do to tea if I had her make it, so I make all my tea myself. It's not poisoned either, I promise." Clover cautiously took the cup and sipped at the hot liquid.

"Thank you."

"Here, sit."

Clover sat down in the chair opposite to the snow leopardess. "Excuse me if I'm being rude, ma'am, but… I thought you hated me."

"I did, for a short time. I'm very protective of my son, you see. Any mother is going to protect her children. And I had heard about how outspoken and volatile you were… I didn't want him to get hurt."

"Well it looks like I hurt him anyway. I didn't mean to, though," she insisted.

"I believe you. You have a big heart. Few women I know would come to someone who was higher in power than them and accuse them of being unfaithful. I've known for quite some time that Ying was in love with your mother. That's why he was so polite to you at dinner. He wanted to get on your good side so that he could get to Mingxia," she explained.

Clover's eyes burned with tears. "How could this happen? Everything was going so well! Tigress and Dongwa were going to get married, I was happy with… whatever boyfriend I had at the time, and my parents were together! How… how could this happen to us?"

"Don't waste your time crying," Mrs. Tang said, "Crying won't get you anywhere."

Clover nodded and sniffled, wiping her nose on her wrist. "Sorry. If you know that Mr. Tang doesn't love you, why don't you just leave him?" she asked.

"Where would I go? My parents are long dead, and I wouldn't know how to survive on my own. I was born in a high rank—this is all I know."

"That's partly why my mom ran away with my dad. She didn't want to be trapped. She wanted to be free."

"Your mother is a very smart woman. It truly is a shame that your parents are ending their marriage. I've never seen a more harmonious couple."

Clover paused. "Mrs. Tang…"

"Yes?"

"How… how would you like to get back at your husband? For every time he brushed you off or didn't love you enough or even just annoyed you?" she asked. Mrs. Tang looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"My sister and I, we have a plan, and if you could help us, we might just be able to keep you out of that convent."

At first she didn't respond, but slowly an evil smile, much like Clover's, grew on her lips.

"Whatever you need, it's yours."

A/N: Were getting close to the ending, I can feel it... I'll be sad when it's over though. I decided not to write a fic about Shan and Mingxia, since I included so much of their past in this, and I would like to get back to the more Kung-fuey type stories rather than sequels. That also means there's probably not going to be a sequel to Matriarch. Which I am working on, I swear! I just need to spark the Trance.

Okay, so, review and tell me what you think! Holla!