Kung Fu Wolf: Rising of the Moon

Chapter three: The New Task

No one's P.O.V.

Despite the kitchen being filled with twice the number of people, silence reigned. Hiro revealing that he had been an orphan all his life had left everyone speechless. The only sound to be heard was the utensils clanking around as Hiro calmly cooked a large brunch for his friends and guests.

The silence had become so uncomfortable that Mantis decided to break it with a rather unnecessary question.

"So what orphanage where you from Hiro?"

Everyone gave Mantis a disapproving look, Viper smacked him in the back of the head with her tail.

"Ow! What was that for!?" Mantis yelled, rubbing the spot where Viper had smacked him.

She hissed at him under her breath. "Why would you ask him such an insensitive question? What's wrong with you?"

"The silence is killing me!" Mantis shouted softly.

"Ever stop to think that maybe he doesn't want to talk about it?" Said Kira, sternly.

"Why wouldn't he want to talk about it? It's a perfectly legitimate question." Monkey whispered.

"But it's also an inappropriate question." Tigress whispered harshly.

Their arguments continued quietly, however unbeknownst to them Hiro heard every word.

"Cho Zhu."

Silence reigned once again as they all turned their heads to face Hiro, who just stood and continued to cook.

"You heard us?" Viper asked sheepishly.

Hiro turned his head and faced her as best he could, and smiled. "Well, the room isn't really that big, and wolves have really good ears."

Both groups of masters looked down at the table, guilty that they had brought up a subject they probably shouldn't have behind Hiro's back.

"And I spent time in Cho Zhu orphanage, Mantis. Its way, way, waaay west of here." Hiro continued as he started to put the finishing touches on the little feast he had prepared. "It was a nice place until it came under new management. I sure do miss my old matron though."

Once again the only sound to be heard was the dishes being used, until Mantis opened his mouth again.

"So what happened over there to- ouch!"

Mantis never finished he question on account of Tigress slamming her palm onto the insect.

"Once the orphanage got a new manager, the kids with fangs and claws became targets of prejudice."

Tigress's jaw almost dropped. She never would've thought that Hiro, the wolf who always had a smile on his face, would have a childhood similar to hers.

A groan drew the attention of everyone at the table, Mantis had recovered from Tigress's harsh reprimand.

"So how many kids got that raw deal?" He asked once again earning glares from the female members of the group, save for Tigress, who calmly got up and walked to the cupboard and retrieved a bowl. She walked back to the table and placed the bowl upside down on top of Mantis. Muffled shouts were heard from the bowl, but was could not lift it up as Tigress walked away again and returned with five large bags of rice which she then placed on the bowl that had Mantis trapped.

Tigress received approving nods from the girls at the table as she calmly took her seat. The boys however, clenched their jaws together so as to not say anything foolish, and moved slightly away from tiger master, with fear in their eyes.

Hiro chuckled to himself as the ordeal transpired, but answered the question anyway.

"I was the,only child who fit the description of the new manager's definition of a demon, so I was the only one who dealt with it until I ran away."

Tigress was amazed on how well he was opening up about his past like this. It would have taken her a lot longer just to talk to someone she trusted very well about such painful memories. "How old were you?" Was all she asked.

Muffled shouting could be heard from the pile of rice bags on the table, though no one could understand what was being said.

"What'd he say?" Shu Lan asked in her usual dazed voice.

Hiro brought over the food and set them in front of everyone, then proceeded to lean forward and listen to the rice.

"Its a little hard to make out, but I think he's complaining about Tigress being able to ask questions, but he can't."

"Wow, that's impressive." Commented Kira.

"Can be a disadvantage sometimes." Hiro smiled.

"And I was seven years old when I ran away from the orphanage."

"That young?" A voice said from the doorway.

All the masters looked up to see their respective grandmasters entering the kitchen. "Why would run off at such a young age, master Hiro?" Master Bi Long asked.

Hiro went to get more plates for them as he answered. "No one was going to adopt me and I got tired of being singled out as a monster. The new boss of the place never could give a good reason on why he hated me so much, but he did. So I ran." He presented the plates of the food, Buddhist delight, to Bi Long and Shifu as he finished his little story.

"And I never regretted it for an instant."

Hiro then got a plate for himself and sat down to eat. As the partook in the meal that the wolf Master had prepared the masters of the Sapphire Palace dropped their chopsticks and froze, looks of shock plastered on their faces, save for Zoyo who's face couldn't be seen. The Jade Palace masters looked up and smirked, remembering that they did something similar when they first tried Hiro's cooking. Hiro however was more concerned that What he made wasn't adequate enough for their guests.

"Is something wrong?" He asked.

Within a second the Sapphire masters began wolfing (no pun intended) down their food and simultaneously asked for...

"Seconds!"

After witnessing them enjoy their food with such gusto, Hiro was more than happy to refill their plates. Once they had gotten their second helpings they settled down to eat, slower this time.

"Gotta admit, this is without a doubt the best meal I've ever had." Kira Ni said after swallowing a rather large mouthful.

"Yeah. I still don't believe you're the Dragon Warrior, but you are a very decent cook." Chin commented.

After a series of eye rolls and groans the debate began.

"Why don't you believe he's the Dragon Warrior, Chin? He made knocking you on your ass look easy." Di Foon said with a sweet smile.

"First of all I landed on my face. And sec-" Chin tried to say but was interrupted.

"Doesn't change the fact the he beat you rather easily." Zoyo quietly stated.

Chin ignored him and continued. "Second, I don't have to believe he's the Dragon Warrior. And if I don't believe it then it's not real."

Chin received a lot of skeptical looks at his little philosophy as Hiro got up to get himself second helpings.

"So what you're saying is that if you believe in something it's gotta be real?" Tigress inquired.

"Exactly, which also means that if you can't see something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist." Chin said, eyeing Tigress once again.

"Exactly what color is the sky in the world you live in, Chin?" Tigress asked, not understanding how Chin's philosophy works.

Suddenly a frying pan came flying and collided with Chins head. All eyes turned to the source of the projectile and all eyes locked on Hiro.

"Whoops. My hand slipped. My bad." Hiro said, chuckling nervously. Everyone shrugged and continued eating like nothing had happened, Tigress however allowed herself a small smile at the wolf's antics. She was starting to imagine herself and Hiro teaming up on Chin when Hiro came back to the table with a plate of food.

"And honestly I think I get Chin's philosophy." He said, gesturing to Chins now unconscious form with his chopsticks.

"You do?" Tigress asked, curious and skeptical. "Please explain then." She requested, wanting to understand how he can understand.

"Well, I'm thinking that he thinks it a matter of personal faith. Anyone can believe what they want, and as long as they believe in something it is real to them. Hope is a perfect example. We all know that hope is not a physical thing, you can't really see it, or feel it physically. But as long as you believe, it's there."

And with that explanation Tigress finally began to understand, although not fully.

"Well said Master Hiro." Shifu declared. "Well, that's enough for me. When you're all finished you may head to the training hall, you're free to train again."

A light cheer erupted from the Five, they began to eat more quickly, excited to begin training again as another day of bed rest would most likely make them lose their minds. Tigress was going to use this opportunity to finally spar with Hiro.

"Hiro, are you needed in the village at all for any more repairs?" Shifu asked, unknowingly crushing Tigress's plans with the wolf.

"I'm not sure, I'll have to go down and check." He said picking up the plates and chopsticks and placing them in the sink as the Five and their guests left for the training hall.

"Go and see, and if there is nothing for you there come back for your training." Shifu said, putting his hands behind his back.

Hiro bowed to his master. "Yes sir." And left for the village.

Tigress's P.O.V.

Just great! I'm finally able to train again, and Hiro has got to go down to the village. Needless to say I was not happy, and to make matters worse...

"Hey Tigress, wanna train with me? I promise I'll be gentle."

...I have to deal with Chin hitting on me again.

But then again, maybe I can use him to vent out my frustrations.

"Sure, why not." I said with a evil grin. Chin started to get excited and started to put his so called moves on me, which caused me to put him in a rather excruciating arm lock.

It took me about ten seconds to make Chin scream like a girl.

...

Wait. That's unfair... to the girls.

I was in the middle of trying to tie Chins legs in a knot, when Viper pulled me away. And with the size difference between us it wasn't easy.

She pulled me over to the sparring mat at the side of the training hall.

"Lets talk." She said as she bowed to me and got in her stance.

I gave a heavy sigh, returned the bow and got in my own stance. For years this is how Viper and I had our "girl talks". It was a compromise we worked out; training and talking. Neither of us was entirely happy with it, so it worked out. Don't ask how.

"So, wanna tell me what's wrong. I thought you would be happy to be training again." She said as we began to spar. I've know Viper for a very long time, it's almost as if we really are sisters. I talk to her about things I could never talk about with anyone else. And she does the same with me.

I looked around to see if anyone was listening in on our conversation. Once I became convinced our talk would remain private, I spoke up.

"It's nothing important, just a little disappointed." I confessed.

"This wouldn't have anything to do with Hiro by any chance would it?" She asked with a somewhat sly grin that made me a little uncomfortable.

I sighed again. "I was just so looking forward to training with him. I wanted to experience the Lunar Style first hand. And now I'm starting to think that the universe is conspiring against me on the matter." Seriously I just want one fight with Hiro is that too much to ask? I want to know, personally, how strong he's become since the night I tried to really teach him Kung Fu. After Tai Lung had been beaten by Hiro, I decided that if I can't be the Dragon Warrior I'd settle for being the Dragon Warriors equal. But to do that I need to fight him myself.

...

...

Is it just me, or do I sound a little obsessed?

"Don't worry, you'll get your chance." Viper consoled.

"Yeah." I wasn't entirely convinced.

The doors suddenly burst open and Hiro came running in, out of breath, to Shifu.

Everyone stopped what they were doing once they heard the doors slam open, and kept their eyes locked on Hiro.

"Master Hiro, is there something wrong?" Shifu asked, concerned.

Hiro tried to catch his breath, and everyone started to gather around him.

"Well not really it's just-" Hiro's attention was drawn to Chin who was still nursing his legs. "What happens to him?"

"Tigress." Monkey answered simply. I shifted a little uncomfortably.

"Oh. Well anyway, there's someone here looking for help."

As if on cue, a tall black panther walked through the doors. He was well muscled and rather good looking. But what caught my attention was a sword across his back that was as long as he was tall. Whoever this guy is, he means business.

"Howdy"

Huh?

"Pleased to meet y'all. The names Marcus and I was told that you could help me."

His accent is weird.

It was deep, but it was like crawling. He was obviously from somewhere far away.

Master Shifu stepped forward. "Its good to meet you, Marcus. We would be willing to hear your plight and if we can we will help you." Marcus bowed from his waist in gratitude. "But first..."

We all looked to our master...

"Has anyone seen Master Mantis?"

Oops.

No One's P.O.V.

"They are soooooo gonna pay for this." He said, still under the bowl.

A/N. Ok that's done. I want to say that I'm a little concerned that no one wants to participate in my little contest. Its alright if no one does, but I'm still encouraging everyone to try. If anyone wants to know what the contest is, you can either PM me, or check the last chapter of my first story "Kung Fu Wolf".

Anyway, comment review, tell me how I'm doing, just be honest.

Laterz.