A/N:Sup y'll!I dunno why,but I just love writing for this section so much!It may just be because it's the 2nd section where I get the most feedback from or it may be other reasons which I'll kindly go over...ahem,later on.Anywho,this is a sad,humerous,dramtic and yes,actiony fic about...well...you read the summary!I just remember that one scene in "Hong Kong Nights" when Laoshi was looking out over the sea and Fu Dog was saying (in voice over) how it had somehow changed him.So I thought to myself?Self,what if I showed the completely made-up reason behind it and made it into a story.Well,enough chitter chatter,here it is!

Six Years After Dragon Steel And A Decade After The Last Phoenix...

The soft hum of a pulse monitoring machine droned on incessantly,as Laoshi lay on his back on the thin paper-sheeted hospital bed,with his eyes constantly transfixed out the window where everything was in constant motion as the feeling of spring gently but rapidly fell upon the large and ever industrious city of New York.Sighing wistfully,the aged Dragon perked his earslightly to the sound of a group of people approaching his door and instantly tried to appear more cheery then acutally felt,because he didn't want to appear troubled in any way.

"Dad!"Mrs.Long cried rapturously,as the trio consisting her,Mr. Long,a just recent colledge graduate Haley and a nine-year-old Skyler plus Fu Dog came bursting through the front door,"Oh,the moment I heard you were admitted in,"her voice was pinched with obvious signs of worry,as she wrapped her arms around him in a quick but almost constricted embrace,"You really gave me a scare,I thought something horrible had happened and...oh...I know I'm overeacting!But I'm just so happy to..."

"Ayi-yah!Dear,it is alright."Laoshi nearly sceerched raspily,with his face turning from it's normal colour to a deep cerulean,as he was finally able to pry her strong grip off of him,"I apperciate the enthusasim,"he tried to tell her calmly,regaining his regular composure,"But I will only be here for a short while,or at least,that's when everyone here keeps telling me."

"Um,honey,you're Father's right,"Mr. Long interjected assuasively,as he placed his hands on her arms and tried to get her to back away some and set down in a nearby chair,"Some minor sharp painsaren't offically classifed as life-threatening,"but he abruptly turned his attention back to his Father-in-law after his wife had settled down some and inquired him concernedly,"They didn't think it had anything to do with you're kindneys,or liver,or anything...did they?Although I'm sure it's not that."

Laoshi had been planning on closing up his shop and retiring to Miami for the rest of his days with Fu Dog,who had been more then anxious to get out of the big city and out into a place where they wouldn't have to worry anymore over the duties of being a mentor for the whole 'American Dragon' rountine and have all the time in the world by themselfs.

Since Haley had been going to colledge and had been rather focused on moving to a smaller community to become a Doctor,he had agreed to take over temporarily as it.But now that Skyler was getting older and had always been interested in the job,Laoshi had been fairly anxious to talk with Jake.But all that had been put on hold,whenhe had started experiencing short but painful aches and cramps in his side.He had merely putten it off,but through the week it had only gotten worse.So finally,he had admitted himself the previous Morning and had now been therefor almost a day and a half.

"When do you think they'll get the test results back,Grandpa?"Haley asked him curiously,as she tried to restrain Skyler from trying to use the bed control as a remote control,"It must be a bummer not knowing what's wrong with yourself,espeically if you've been having it for a week now."

"That's not important right now,"Laoshi repiled insouciantly,waving his hand dismissfully at the subject that had been weighing him down for the last thirty hours,"So tell me,"he forced himself to smile at her casually,"Have you majored in you're degree for doctoring yet?"

They all stayed and chattered about various things,while a Nurse came in and told them that the tests conducted eariler were going to take a another day to determine.Everyone stayed for a while longer,butas soon as they started to pile out after about an hour,the feeling of uncertainess but knowingness set in,as heheld in his breath and then released.Raising his burnt umber eyes to the doorway where Jake,who had come by as soon as he had been contacted,Laoshi cleared his throat discreetly and deliberately to draw his oldest Grandson's attention,

"Jake,before you leave,there is something I feel I need to tell you."

The Twenty-two-year-old young man paused from exiting the doorway,as heturned to look at his Grandfather unsurely,"There's something more you're not telling us,"he chidded suspiciously,while arching a brow and folding his arms over his chest,"There's more...right?"

"Yes,"Laoshi nodded correspondingly,he loweredhis eyes to a chair a few feet from his bed side and gestured for Jake to have a seat,"But it isn't medical nonsense.You know that Skyler will someday take over as the American Dragon,"he went on once Jake had walked over and sat down,"Well,you know who will have to train him...don't you Jake?"

Jake's eyes filled with astonishment,it was true that he knew that since he had to attend to the Phoenix's and Haley was following her path,that again it had been decided that Skyler would be the next American Dragon.But that hadn't meant he'd thought of training him himself,he supposed he could,but the whole rule about family and the fact that the Dragon Council still breathed down hisneck every so often.Had made him thinkthat Skyler would have been trained by a hand/claw picked Dragon with more of a supposed 'good influence' and maybe a bit of a better history.

"But,"Laoshi continued on suddenly and sharply,arching his brows inward as he always did when he was serious,"There is something I need to tell you,before all of that begins and before my time comes to an end..."

Jake was about to make a snap remark on his Grandfather's last sentence,but for reason decided againist it,as sad as it was he realized that he was right and that the time had come to start debating about the future.With his and Rose's recent marriage,their commitment to over nearly sixty Phoenix's and everyone else having their own pressing matters to attend to,everything was on the brink of change and transformation.

"I understand,Gramps."He told him imperturabley,carefully keeping any sort of surprised or angered feelings in check andturning his glance sideways away from his Grandfather or the continuous pulse monitor machine,"I'll do what I can for Sky,"he said in a low voice,slowly turning his gaze back to his Grandfather,"So,what did you want to tell me?It's not something that has to do with surrending Fu to the pound,does it?"

"No,I'm afraid not young one,"Laoshi chuckled a bit at his Grandson's attempt to make it less tense between the two,"Although it would sure keep him out of trouble,"he sighed tentatively,as soberness fell over them just as quickly as it had washed away,as he then spoke to Jake completely straightfowardly,"Jake,it's time I tell you what happened the day I meet the Dark Dragon and other important things leading up to where I got today,which I think will have an impact on you're life."

Very curious.I wonder what Laoshi has up his sleeve to tell Jake?Well,only one way to find out,you'll just have to stay tuned and read more!Which upon reading the next ch,in fact,will lead you to the knowledge of knowing what will happen further along the way.Well,c yaz!

LP