Part 2

It had been Crane's third rotation midair; deploring a slackening speed, he pushed for acceleration, racing against a plunging sun. He could have been more efficient, if it were not for the active demolition of the whole city presenting itself to him from below, deliberately slowing his pace. Tigress had sent them to scour different parts of the city, looking for a den called Du Wa.

They could have asked people where the den was, if there were people to ask. The place was barren. Eyebrow-raising barren. From above, the wide-breadth streets were empty. No merchants, no colorful stalls, no hassle of typical street commerce.

Herringbone patterned streets; colorful buildings that were large, not to mention beautiful, and every pillar and parapet were engraved with artistry; Crane guessed that this town was once one that honored handicraft, then took a dismal turn. It was like looking at ancient ruins.

Finally, he made his way to the outskirts of the city. The buildings were dispersed. One in particular stood out. It was a large, house-type building, that had no back, and instead merged into the rockface. A quick curve in his flight path and Crane took a glance at the sign.

Du Wa Fight Club

"Yes!" he whispered.

Time was poached of longevity. Without taking a second to land and rest, Crane raced back to the city. How long was I flying? The bird wasn't sure. But what he did know is that he was late. Is Tigress that type of person who's serious about deadlines? He hoped—he really hoped—that finding the fight club was enough to get him off the hook.

It was a fast flight back.

The five were to meet at the large junction – the easiest thing to spot. Because in the circular node of roads was a prominent statue of a bronze bull, that, unlike the rest of the gray city, was glimmering and new. He could vaguely see the five amass at the foot of the statue.

Inasmuch as, from land to sky, everything was devoid of life, Monkey was able to point out the only anomaly in the sky. "Look. Crane!"

Tigress jogged up to him. "What took you so long?"

Crane avoided the question. "I found it." He made an unskilled touchdown; Tigress was there to stabilize.

"Found what?" Monkey asked.

Tigress answered, "The den."

"Yeh. Du Wa fight club. What else could it be." The bird spiraled into a wheezing fit, but willed his arm to point westward. "It's by that hill place. Just follow Taiyang street, till the very very end, you'll see it there – holy crap." He gasped again, fanning himself. "I'm tired. I tried getting here really fast. Oh gosh."

"Take a breather, then." Tigress said, but ushered the group onwards. "When you're ready, catch up." And so the five, save for Crane, made haste to the fight club.

"A 'thank you' would have been great." he muttered. Perching on the foot of the statue, he watched the group dwindle into the distance.


"This is it." Crane said, landing right by the doorsteps.

Viper grinned, taking a glimpse at the entirety of the house. "Cute! It looks like my grandmother's nursery. Are you sure this is a fighting den?"

As if on cue, there was a gaggle of laughter coming from inside. The door flung open. A clump of animals debouched out, falling and making a heap of bodies. But they immediately stood and dispersed to the nearby thicket; the noise of vomit—and afterwards, the smell too—was strong. There was a silent concord between the five as they exchanged glances. And they entered.

Devoid of furnishings, flooring, or a back wall, the cottage was there for frontage. Regardless, littered on its grounds were people. Sleeping people. Tired people. Some of them spasmed, some spoke in tongues. It looked like a morgue. As they tiptoed passed the bodies, Monkey grabbed hold of Viper's neck, pressed her against his chest and handled her like a private toy. "Are they possessed?" he asked.

"No. I think this is a safehouse. I used to work in these types of shelters." Viper slithered out of Monkey's grip. "Don't call them possessed. That's really mean."

Into Du Wa was ruggedly engraved to the rock face, and right below this engravement was a cave in the limestone, its palate glowed a luring red. They crossed the room, and entered it. A sudden drop from outside's warmer climes had the five clustered together, despite the narrow passage meant to be travelled in single file. The ending resonance of yells and cheers, clinking glass, and breaking items reached them faintly, but grew.

"Look! Light." Monkey whispered, pointing there.

He scrambled even quicker, eager to escape the end of the passage that he deemed too close-fitting for his comfort.

Besides the inconvenient passersby that nearly trampled over the five, they smoothly stumbled their way out of the tunnel, and into a brighter, more spacious, antechamber; then crossing this, into a wide opening, that finally expanded to the venue.

The sudden blare of cacophony was like the relief of open noise after submerging in water. They started from high ground, on a rock out-hanging. Tigress did not want to look below, afraid that the sight was just as ruinous as it sounds, but she crept to the edge and peeked over. Her eyes widened.

The five seemed to reflect the same surprise.

"By the gods!" Crane nearly shrieked. "How are we supposed to find a rabbit in that mess?"

The question sent Tigress to a near lip-quiver. What would Shifu do?

The cave, in size, was otherworldly, and must have hollowed out the entire mountain. Through these epic dimensions, the den created a terrain of its own: There was a miniature waterfall on the very corner, a bit of fog… Candle Lights and lanterns blighted the place, mostly clustered at the largest stalactites, as if to contrive a sun.

A spotlight brought great attention to a large slab of rock that was elevated at the heart of the den – this was the arena. Girthed just at the foot of it were crowds of people. Crowds of people that were perhaps the same size as the collective inhabitants of the Valley of Peace. Nearly the entire populace of the large city twelve boroughs wide amassed here, into an impossibly tight throng. She snapped out of her amazement and turned back to the five.

"Goodness… What do we do?" Viper asked.

Tigress gathered the five, snatching them by their shoulders and heads and bringing them into a huddle. "Here's what we do. Here's our plan. We, uh... look for the rabbit."

"Great plan." Mantis said.

"You got a better idea?"

He laughed, stalling, then looked at the ground, dejected. "No not really."

She nodded. "Look, this is one of the times where we just have to, you know, improvise. Do whatever you can to find that rabbit waitress. D-don't get distracted. I'm looking at you Monkey."

"Hmm?" The simian turned, too engrossed in watching the fight below.

"Great!" Tigress rushed. "We're ready. Now let's go."

She took the first step on the planked walkway. The flimsy wood bent under her weight. The way was a spiral descent down the atrium-like cave. She proceeded, before there was a crack, then a feral shriek that halted her.

"Monkey!" Viper yelled.

Tigress turned, and nearly stepped into a hole that came out of nowhere.

"Is he okay?" Crane bolted to her.

She peeked through the hole. Monkey fell but was caught by the walkway underneath. Looking dazed, he still flashed her a smile and a thumbs up.

"May Oogway guide us." Tigress muttered.


The column of light faded from the sunroof. Suspending on the railings of the planked walkways were the brightness of lanterns. Every hour, more and more specks of candlelight broke the darkness, creating an artificial day. Tigress was rushing, counting her time by seconds. She sprinted up the stairs, then down them, searched the bars, above people's heads, between every nook and cranny of the massive atrium, and still nothing.

"Excuse me!" She fought through the limbs of passers-by, cutting in front of them, halting them.

Of course, they weren't too fond of this.

A yak pushed through the group. "Whaddya want lad-?"

"Do you guys know a rabbit? Yellow apron? She's a waitress here."

The yak grunted. "Do you know our friend wolf? Tall, fair? Sports a pink shirt?"

"No…"

"Then pretty girl, do you now realize that people don't keep track of others here?" His words slurred. "I saw you ask at least ten of my friends, so shoo. Shoo. Or stay with me and give me a lap dance."

Tigress flared her nostrils. A little endearing, his boldness. And it was enough to collect the tiger's fingers into a fist, and she was sure to punch him deep into oblivion until-

The rabbit!

The white little thing was barely a blur from the corner of Tigress's eye, but she had caught it. And she had zeroed in on it. Yellow apron, a tray on her hand… this must be her! "I'll shoo." Tigress said.

All intent was towards the waitress. With very little regard, she bodied the yak—and sent him sideways—and jostled her way past the teeming of people, making clear headway forwards.

"You!" Tigress yelled.

The little thing perked her rabbit ears. "Me?"

"Yes. You." Tigress answered. She shoved away a leopard who previously occupied the rabbit's attention, and took his spot.

Tigress eagerly fished through her duffel bag. "Listen. Are you the one-" Where is it? "the one who..." Aha! Found it! Tigress took out the scroll in one clumsy stroke; it flew skywards, making a big show with its midair unfurling and slow landing. She feigned a chuckle, before gathering the scroll in a jumbled mess. "Are you the one who gave me this letter?"

The rabbit had sent her eyes crosswise, appraising the tiger. "Who are you?"

"The person that's willing to help. I'm a student from the Jade Palace. You sent this letter, right?" She handed the letter forward.

She snatched it from her. "Yeh. No. I didn't send this letter, but damn Ju Lung did."

"Who's Ju Lung?"

"The person who made this letter – idiot didn't want to put his name in it. Thinks he might get killed."

"That's… nice to know."

"Come with me." The rabbit took Tigress's hand and ushered her passed the crowd. They stopped only at the threshold of staff territory. Facing Tigress, the rabbit continued, "Now are you sure that Ju Lung sent this to the Jade Palace or accidentally into some Cathouse?"

"What? Cathouse? No, the Jade Palace."

"Yeah okay. Cause if you lying, and he actually hired a whore to do the city saving, he ain't gonna be too thrilled."

"Why do you think I'm a- a-" Tigress couldn't bring herself to whisper a syllable of the blasphemy. "Why do you think that?"

"You seem a little too slim and pretty for the job. Can't even handle a scroll! But I ain't the one recruiting. What's your name girl?"

"Tigress."

"Didn't ask for your damn species."

"That's my name." she insisted. "Tigress."

"What type of asshole parents would call their child that? Poor girl!" Outstretching her hand into the groove, she gestured Tigress to the back. "Alright Tigress, wait in there. I'll go get Ju Lung." She scurried away.

And she continued scurrying until a feral shriek scared her to paralysis. And Mantis popped out the crowd, clamping his tiny extremities onto the rabbit and whipping her down.

"Found her! Found the damn rabbit!" He triumphed.

"No." Tigress rushed to them. "I found her! Now get off the poor woman."

Mantis groaned. He hopped off the rabbit. "Darn. Lost my twenty…"

Tigress picked the rabbit up by the head, and pushed her onwards. She looked back at Mantis. "You guys were wagering over this?"

"More like a selfish sharing of money." He took out a purse of coins. "Whoever found the rabbit first would get this load of money."

"Well, you guys need to eventually stop that. As for now," she pinched the purse and flicked Mantis, "this is mine – for punishment… purposes..."

He wiped his bloodied nose. "Bitch."

"C'mon." Tigress started rearwards, taking a torch before entering the dark cache. They managed passed the clusters of cluttered plates and stacked stocks, and eventually found themselves comfortable, hanging by the mountain of rice sacks.

The seconds of waiting were unnerving. Outlying from the ruckus after spending hours in it… it was the unsettling sort of calm.

"Mantis." she whispered.

"Yeah?"

"I forgot. You need to hangout by the door."

He was irritated. "Why?"

The answer was obvious to Tigress. Looking around, the room was dark, outside was loud. A murder could be veiled.

"If... if they're planning an ambush, I can't let both of us go down." she crept closer. "Mantis, if something goes wrong, alert the three immediately."

"Right." Mantis said. Then, he left.

Unnerved and alone, Tigress held the torch far front, and with the outwards light, sought between the nooks of the place.

Mantis' antenna twitches were distant but familiar. She held onto that.

A conversation severed itself from the crowd cacophony, starting as mumble, but grew audible.

"Get the others later." Tigress heard. This one was surely a male one, gruff and rasp—with a hint of slur.

A shadow blocked the door light: a definite contour of a bear. Tigress brought herself to stand erect, and on guard. What she didn't notice was her claws protruding out her fingers.

The bear snorted. "Your eyes glow," the silhouette moved inwards. "The glowing eyes will get you caught when you're trying to spy in the dark yah know."

Tigress brought the torchlight to him. His paunch entered the light first, then his muzzle, and then his face.

Tigress' eyes widened. Goodness.

He was towering – the trembling sort of towering. His eyes were a near body-length above hers.

Beer froth coated his snout and dripped down the sides. She stared from there, and then examined downwards, until she stopped, and she lingered at the sight of his left hand...

Well, the lack of it.

Regarding the man's merits, the question was deeply-seated in Tigress's mind. She looked away from the injury.

"I'm assuming you're Ju Lung?"

"Yes. I'm the man." Cannabis arrayed on the inner lining of his coat. He took one out. Then approached the tiger. "Who are you? A master? Student? Messenger?"

"Student." She answered.

"Hmm? Really? You look like you couldn't break a fly's leg. Now I'm sad —you can cheer me up though; light this for me?" Sitting between his lips, the blunt end of the cigar was waiting to be alight.

Tigress grunted. With the torch, she lit it.

It seared his fur. "Careful," He was quick to pull his head back. "You almost burned my face there."

"You said that there was a gang that's exporting military weapons. You said it was urgent too. That it'll happen in a few days. It's already been a few days..." Tigress started.

"Yep—"

She cut to the chase. "So, if you don't mind. Could you tell us where they are? So that I and my team could go. Now, preferably?"

He ignored her. Instead, slumped on the rice sacks, laying on it like a poor man on a pew. "So, Tigress, is it?"

"Yes." she answered.

"Weird name." Reaching out, he overturned a barrel so that a makeshift table was between them. Then popped a flask with a tough champ, and eagerly overturned the flask to a near vertical, and with an open mouth awaited its contents. Nothing. He growled, dropping the flask on the table. Clapping his hands, he continued. "Now, Tigress, let me tell you something interesting."

"We really don't have the time for this." she said, annoyed. "If you could just..."

He brought his hand up in a silencing gesture. "We have time. Lots of it actually. So let's talk, just a little bit. So that I could get to know you more."

"But-"

"The more you stall, the later we'll get out of here. So comply, or" he shrugged, "Goodbye."

Now, I'm betting you got a great look at our little town. Hmm? You like it?"

She prompted for monotony. "...Not exactly."

"Smart girl!" He chuckled. "Everyone here would agree with you. Should've seen the rebellion yesterday. All the people in the club out there were fighting. Course, that led to nothing."

"How long was this town like… like," She searched for the right words, when none came, she resorted to pointing outside, to its self-explanatory conditions. Accordingly, a fighting moose flopped on top of the arena's breastwork-perhaps dead; the crowd cheered, and gathered to pull him down. "Like that." she finished.

"Two years? Maybe three. Ever since Bohai stepped up to become provincial overseer – Bohai's the bad guy by the way. Him taxed everything, the air we breathed too. Except for this." He jiggled his flask, flaunting it. "We made sure we were given carte blanche over alcohol. Illegal trade of course!" He chuckled, and when he realized he was only impressing himself and not the straight-faced tiger, he continued. "Bohai is the devil. Does nothing in return. Our police-"

"Let me guess, they don't do anything."

He nodded. "Pretty much. All those people outside jus' going crazy? Rebellin' left and right. Nothing happens, though."

"So why don't you move?" she deadpanned.

"You are very innovative – but no! That's not how it works." Ju Lung fished from his pocket a metal shard, then tossed it onto the table. His finger pointed to its naval mark. "Was working by the pier, 'bout a year back. So I managed to know a few tons of things about this group. One of the artillaries they were handling busted." He fiddled with the metal piece. "Me took a souvenir.

"So I started an investigation like some damn detective. Followed a few people, found out the whole police force were with 'em. Government officials too. I thought this group of idiots were local…"

Tigress leaned forward.

Smoke thrust out nostrils. He took a few rounds of inhaling the cannabis, then licked and smacked his lips, then continued. "Till I started sending distress letters to neighboring cities. Did they respond? No. So I thought, well maybe they just didn't give a shit. Sent calls to even farther cities. No reply. Sent letters to the imperial army. To the not local governments. Did they reply?"

"No…?"

"Yes. Them bastards didn't."

"Maybe they were faulty messages? Maybe they weren't able to reach anyone."

"Mimi ni tako ga dekiru! Exactly what twelve other people thought – you and them bastards. So I went to the imperial city myself with a bunch of my crew, sent this huge-ass complaint to the offices. Went to the imperial army authorities, gave them the warning about unwarranted weaponry trade. Few months passed, did they do anything? Nah. And I thought 'well maybe they just dun-don't give a shit too!' So, I went to Gongmen. Right? Me heard there was a good ol' kung fu meet up. I'm pretty sure they gave a shit—"

"Don't finish that sentence." Tigress stood. "No way. The Master Council prioritizes people."

"Pfft." He spread his arms, open to her rebuttal. "Do you see any kung fu masters helping my holy ass?"

"No. But you must have done something wrong. The letter must not have gotten to them. The kung fu council is not corrupt."

"Yeh no. I gave it to one of the Masters themselves."

"Who."

"Pig. Barely tall. Has a lot of black spots all over his body. They look like nipples."

"Then I shall inform Shifu immediately after this mission, and then he will inform Master Rhino about this. And all of this could be resolved..."

"No. You won't do that honey." He stood-his lofty shadow bearing a tangible weight against Tigress. "Listen, that rhino guy might be the person behind all of this. He might have seen my letter and used it to clean his ass. I don't know and so do you."

"No." she insisted. "I've met the kung fu council personally. They are not evil. I've talked to Master Rhino, and he is not evil."

"Look, I know this is hard to swallow. Just like it's hard to swallow my – wait. How old are you?"

"Sixteen." she answered.

"Whatever. The point is that you don't know. So you met a couple of fighty-old guys playing dress-up in a conference. And so you flirted with the rhino. Are you a mind reader? Hmm?"

"No. But then why do you trust me."

Guffawing, the roll of cannabis slipped off his mouth. He picked it up, and threw it in a jar of wine, swooped the container off the ground, then chugged the jar empty. Tigress remained staring, plying her dumbfoundedness. Did he eat the cigar?

Ju Lung finished, and gasped for air. "Some ol' friend told me. Said you guys were pure. Decided to take the chance. And I'm glad the Jade Palace responded. What saddens me though," he looked at her up and down, his voice lowering by an octave, "Is that even they don't have the decency to respond well. Okay let's go!"

A/N

Again, big thanks to The Dragon Chronicle for helping me out on this chapter! He's one of the best authors in this site.

Please tell me if the characters seem like caricatures of their normal selves. I'm doing my best to write the five well so your inputs will help me out!

Thanks for reading me story