Five weeks later...

Ginka sat before the great stone dragon in the watery grotto, eyes closed in meditation. No matter how hard he tried, he could not clear his mind as both Masuta and Shifu had instructed. He couldn't stop himself from thinking about all that had happened during the last few weeks when he was still in Japan.

One month ago, roughly one week after the end of the ordeal, he strolling through the beautiful gardens surrounding his home and admiring the flowers. A visitor interrupted his reverie, bringing him good news and bad news.

Naturally he'd asked for the bad news first. The guards and the Iron Tail warriors had found no trace of Izumi and Sutoraiki, or whoever had taken them. On the plus side, Chibiki, Buruto and the mercenaries had been successfully transported to prison. Just as Sakura had estimated, Buruto's record of no murders and his foiling of his comrade's attempt on a young girls life had resulted in a light sentence. Still, Izumi and Sutoraiki's disappearance had worried him. Why were they taken, and by who? Would they return? That last thought had worried him most of all.

After that had come the good news. A letter had arrived explaining Hoku's detainment in a prison separate from where the Brotherhood was imprisoned. The wolf who had delivered him declined the bounty, requesting only that they not reveal his identity. Ginka hadn't exactly felt happy about hearing this, only relieved that he'd never have to deal with Hoku again.

Sakura, the deliverer of these news, saved the best until last. The crystal he had asked her to give Yoko had worked miracles. She was alive and well. Ginka had burst out laughing from sheer relief.

"She's ready to leave at once, if that is what you wish." Sakura had said.

At that, Ginka had shaken his head. He'd spent the last week fulfilling his responsibility as the new head of the Silver Blade Clan, overseeing the initial imprisonment of Chibiki and the other prisoners until they were transported, personally thanking the Iron Tail and Crimson Flower Clans for their assistance in this whole affair, and trivial matters involving Gin No Hoseki village. Even with Master Masuta helping him every step of the way, Ginka had been in desperate need of a break.

"No." He'd said. "No. I'll go back to China with the Dragon Warrior and the Five. After everything that's happened, I could do with a vacation."

Sakura had chuckled at that. "I'll go inform Master Masuta. I have one more message for him, anyway." She'd flown off, leaving Ginka alone in the garden once more.

They never knew what had caused Masuta's miraculous recovery, though Ginka would always consider it to be one of the most wondrous nights of his life. Even Masuta did not know why he hadn't stayed dead. When the old salamander strolled into the garden at that moment, Ginka replayed the moment of his awakening in his head. He could still hear the terrified screams of his friends.

"Sensei." Ginka bowed his head. Masuta did the same.

"Lord Ginka san." Masuta replied. He had an unusually excited look on his face. "Sakura san told me that you were planning a holiday."

"I-"

"No need to explain yourself. You've earned it."

Ginka smiled a little. "It's been a week and I still can't believe you're alive."

Masuta shrugged. "Me either. I admit I'm a little disappointed that I won't be seeing my wife just yet, but it was worth it to hear the great Dragon Warrior scream like a little girl."

"Hey!" Po's indignant voice yelled from an open window. Ginka and Masuta ignored him, the former more interested in Masuta's unusually high spirits.
"What's going on?" He asked warily.

"What on earth do you mean?"

"You've had that look on your face since you showed up. Actually, you'd had it since you read the scroll you found in your robe. What was in it, anyway?"

Masuta breathed in and out. "It was a message from... I guess you could say it was from an old friend. The reason why I am in ridiculously high spirits is because for so long, I thought he was dead."

"And as it turns out, he's not." Ginka said. "And I've just stated the bloody obvious. Will you be coming with me to China?"

Masuta shook his head. "That's actually why I've come out here. On her way back here, Sakura was given a message to deliver straight to me."

"From the old friend?"

"Yes. He said he's finished his business and he's coming here to see me. We're just going to..." Masuta fiddled with his stick. "Have a little chat."

"Who is he?"

Masuta stopped fiddling and put a hand on Ginka's shoulder. "I'll explain when you return."

In the present day, Ginka gave up. He stood up and strolled out the grotto. Maybe he should ask Shifu for some extra tips on meditating. He looked towards the Jade Palace in the distance, partially shrouded in mist. He wondered how Po, Crane and Su were doing. The monks had arrived early this morning, and Shifu had requested that anyone not involved stay out of the way until their work was done. Crane should do fine. Po may need a little encouragement. As for Su, Ginka worried the most...

The two monks had borrowed the cleanest bedroom in the student barracks, Tigress's, for the frightening procedure. The bed was moved to the center of the room, and at the head they had placed an unusual apparatus. Two curved metal poles formed an arch over the place where the head would be, and in the place where the two ends met, a long, slightly glowing needle had been fixed in place.

The monks, both primates like Monkey, made sure everything was fixed securely and then turned to the worried patients. Crane was staring at the bed in undeniable fear. Po was squeezing the paw Tigress had lent him to give him courage. Viper was gently assuring the shaking Su that she was going to be okay.

The slightly taller monk did the talking. "Let me explain how this is going to work. One of you will climb onto the bed and position your head beneath the needle. As this is a delicate procedure, we will use a paralyzing technique to make sure you stay perfectly still. Once you are in place, we will slowly lower the needle until it pierces through your eye and into your brain."

Po gulped loud enough for everyone to hear.

The monk continued speaking. "Fortunately the needles are enchanted so they won't cause physical damage. However you will feel a burning sensation as it phases through your body. Once it has reached the brain, it will take between five to twenty seconds to drain the foreign chi, depending on how much is inside."

The shorter monk eyed the three afflicted with sympathy. "I understand how frightening this must be for the three of you. You especially, little one." He looked at Su as he said this. "But it is perfectly safe once you are paralyzed."

"What will you do with the foreign chi once it's removed?" Crane asked.

"Destroy it. This chi came from a particularly volatile entity and can't fall into the wrong hands."

"Good." Crane glanced at Po and Su. Both looked paler than he did. "I'm going to bite the arrow and go first."

The monks nodded and gestured for him to lie down on the bed. Being used to sleeping by standing on one leg, Crane felt very uncomfortable as he lay down. The monks adjust his body until his right eye was right under the needle. "Hold still." The shorter monk jabbed several pressure points, and then Crane was completely immobile. His eyes were wide open, and he couldn't move his eyelids.

Crane felt very afraid, now. The needle was pointing down at his eye at an angle that made it look like a tiny white dot. In a minute that dot was going to go right through his eye and into his brain.

He felt the tip of a scaly tail on his shoulder. He couldn't move his eyes to see, but he knew right away who it was. "Don't worry, it'll be fine." Viper spoke softly. "I'm here for you."

If Crane wasn't paralyzed, he would have smiled. Soon, the taller monk started slowly pushing the needle down, down towards his eye. Crane's heart raced. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Before he knew it the needle made contact. It felt like someone had dripped hot water into his eye.

He thought of the date he and Viper had planned to go on once this was over.

After that, the pain wasn't so bad.

Having given up on meditation, Ginka took to opportunity to visit Peach Tree Hill. On his way past the training hall, he encountered Yojin. The tanuki was busy doing pull ups on a bamboo pole. When he saw Ginka, Yojin dropped down and made his way over to him. "Hey, how was meditation?"

"Wet." Ginka replied honestly. The ground inside the grotto had been damp while he'd sat on it. "Any word from Po and the others?"

"Just saw them. The procedure was a success, but they're a little drained. The monks have forbidden them from training for two days."

"That's good to hear. Where's Yoko chan?" Yojin shrugged. "Well if you see her, tell her I'm at the peach tree."

"Okay." Yojin said. "Hey, have you seen a strange creature around here? I caught a glimpse of it near the student barracks. It was all black and super creepy, but when I got there, it was gone."

"I've got no idea what you're talking about." Ginka replied.

"Oh. Okay." Yojin returned to his pull ups and Ginka continued on his way, reaching the top of Peach Tree Hill five minutes later.

Technically, it should be called Peach Trees Hill, because of the little sapling that was steadily growing beside the much larger and older peach tree. Po had told Ginka that Shifu had planted the seed himself on the night of Master Oogway's death. It had been a very serene death apparently, one that had involved hundreds of peach blossom petals and the passing of a staff.

If only father's death had been that peaceful...

Ginka unsheathed the Silver Fang. Its shining reflected the sunlight, casting a shivering white circle on the bark of the older peach tree. He leaned against the peach tree and looked down over the village below. At a distance, it looked a lot like the village back home. He loved it here. Occasional bandit aside, it was worthy of its name. A part of him wished he could stay here forever.

"Yojin san told me you were here." Ginka turned round, and grinned when he saw Yoko standing there. She slowly walked over and leaned on the tree beside him. "You're thinking about your father, aren't you?"

Ginka sighed and sheathed the sword. "I'm just glad he can rest in peace."

He felt Yoko curl her arm around his. "He would have been proud. I know Masuta sensei is."

Ginka frowned a little as he remembered something.

Speaking of father...

He reached into his vest and pulled out a little scroll tied with blue string, the scroll that had been hidden inside the Silver Fang along with the life saving crystals. The scroll that had been written by his own father.

"What's that?" Yoko asked.

"I'm not sure. I'll tell you once I've read it." Ginka untied the string and started reading.

My dearest Ginka, I've left this message in the event that I am unable to say goodbye. If you are reading this, then I have ascended to the heavens. Please forgive me for leaving you like this. There is so much I haven't had a chance to tell you, but you can ask Master Masuta for more details.

Don't trust Hoku. He may seem like a coward, but underneath he's a schemer, and he's always resented me. Never forget that Masuta will always be there for you if the worst happens.

And about Yoko... I know you love her, and you are afraid of telling me this because she is of lower status, but you need not worry anymore.

As you know, you and I are the only silver foxes left in the clan. For a long time I had planned to pass leadership of the clan to Yoko's family if god forbid anything happened to you as well. Kudo and I had seen how well the pair of you had gotten along as children, and if your friendship became something more, we were hoping to betroth you. That way the clan leadership would be inherited by the right people and you would still have your happiness. We were going to discuss this on your birthday, but Kudo didn't show. I didn't want to talk about this without him. Anyway, now you know that it's okay. If you choose to, you have my permission to court, and perhaps marry, the girl you love.

Happy nineteenth birthday, Ginka.

From, Father.

Ginka took a deep breath as he rolled up the scroll again.

"What was that?" Yoko asked.

"A letter from my father. He wrote it before he died"

"What did he say?"

Tucking the scroll back into his vest, Ginka turned to face her directly. "He said goodbye... and that I didn't have to worry anymore."

"Oh." Yoko said, smiling sweetly. "Good."

With that, they kissed.

Just like Mr. Ping's brand new teacups filled with sugary brown tea, it was short and sweet.