Mantis watched in surprise as Monkey passed out small items to each of the grumbling gang members. Though he had watched his friend pass through the room, adjusting stances as if by habit, he hadn't seen the moments of thievery. The other members of the five, Po, and Shifu had mused throughout the days of their journey to Chengdu about just how talented their friend was at stealing, and Mantis knew now that they had somehow underestimated Monkey's prowess.

Monkey's expression was almost neutral, but there was stress in the lines around his eyes. Did Monkey know that he was there? Or was he afraid of the crocodile that had a tight claw on his shoulder? The gang members filtered from the room, and Monkey began to clean up after them. His movements were sure but stiff. The crocodile shut the door behind the others, and Mantis hunkered down into the shadows as the smile dropped from the croc's mouth.

"Cong," he said, his voice low. "Are you well?"

"Fine," Monkey said. There was the briefest pause, and his face tightened before he ground out, "Master."

Mantis nearly chirruped in surprise, but he contained it. That beast was Monkey's master? How could his friend say that word to such a detestable creature? Mantis narrowed his eyes as a thought occurred to him; maybe, just maybe, Monkey had no choice. What hold did that crocodile have over the playful simian that made his face so somber?

"Are you sure?" the crocodile pressed.

"I ran into some filth that needed to be taught a lesson," Monkey said tersely. "He riled me. So I threatened him."

Mantis was disgusted as the crocodile smiled, clearly pleased with the violence. But he frowned again. "What is going on inside your head, little treasure?" he asked, placing his hands behind his back and studying the monkey.

"Master?" Monkey asked.

"You came back and were so different, but in a good way. You were angry. I liked you angry. But something has clearly happened in the last few weeks to drain your anger. What is it? Are the new recruits threatening you?"

Monkey laughed, a bitter, sharp exclamation. "They are nothing to me, Master. I am not afraid of them. And even if they do threaten me, what could they hold over me? You know my secrets. There is nothing I have done in this city that you do not know! You know of my thefts, murders, and indiscretions. What could they hold over me?"

"Is somebody talking with the police?"

The simian blinked. "What?"

"There have been inquiries about the Serpents at the station. Our little agent told us so. But she was not present the day they were questioned. She was ill. Is one of the new recruits going to the police? Are they going to turn us in?" There was a pause, and the crocodile's eyes blazed with rage. "Is somebody holding something over your head?"

Monkey frowned. "I am not aware of anybody going to the police, Master. I will make inquiries if you so wish it."

"I already have others looking into it. You focus on whatever amazing trinket you're scoping out. You've been studying it for weeks, Cong. It must be a good take."

Stress appeared around the simian's eyes again, but Monkey smiled, and the lines went away. "It will be worth so much more than even the egg I brought you."

"Ah, that was a treasure. Beautiful and delicate. The Russians truly know how to craft beauty." The crocodile tapped his snout with a claw. "About what you said a moment ago."

"Master?" Monkey asked.

"What you said is true. I know all of your secrets in this city." The crocodile paused until the simian looked at him again. His steely gaze was intense, but Monkey didn't move. Mantis knew then that Monkey was a brave animal because that look was as much a threat as curiosity. "But you were not always in this city, were you Cong?"

Monkey flinched, looking down. Fear flashed into his eyes, and from where he was hidden, Mantis could see his friend try to hold it together.

"I thought we talked about this, Master," Monkey said in a small voice.

"We talked of how sorry you were," the crocodile said, a chill in his voice as he approached to stand in front of the monkey. "We talked of what a fool you were to leave your home. We talked of my forgiving you. But you never told me where you went, Cong."

"Master, that is in the past. Why must we dwell on it?" Monkey asked, anger in his tone.

The movement was fast and hard. Monkey's body hit the rack of staffs with such force that the wood cracked, spilling the weapons all over the floor. The crocodile's clawed hand was still in the air, rage in his eyes as he appraised the dazed simian on the floor. The croc took a step forward, and Monkey cowered back, terror in his face, and blood dripped from a cut over his right eye. Mantis wanted to jump out and beat the daylights out of that horrible beast for striking his friend, but he didn't have a chance.

"Oh, Cong," the crocodile sighed, his tail swishing back and forth. "I haven't had to discipline you in a long time. You know you cannot speak to me like that. I have taught you better than that, haven't I?"

Monkey nodded, pressed as far back as he could be. "Yes, Master! Yes! I'm sorry!" he squeaked, tears pooling in his terrified eyes.

The crocodile knelt down, and Mantis had the perfect view of his eyes. They were black and hard, angry and narrowed. And Mantis saw them soften, though the anger never left; it was a false softness, and to the insect's horror, Monkey began to relax, his breathing slowing down as hope filled his face. The crocodile's clawed hand reached forward and brushed away the line of blood.

"There, there," the croc cooed. "That's my little treasure. You're a good boy, aren't you?"

"No," Monkey whimpered. "I am not a good boy. I was angry at you. Forgive me, Master. Forgive me, please!"

The crocodile bared his teeth in what was supposed to be a tender smile, opening his arms in an offer of peace. Mantis wasn't fooled, but Monkey was. The simian fell forward, trembling as he clutched at the scaly hide. The crocodile stroked his back then pulled back.

"There now. You go and rest, little treasure. Go on. I'll have a recruit bring you dinner in your room."

"But Master," Monkey gasped. "You said I was forgiven."

"Now, now, you are not in trouble. But you look very tired. I want you to rest. We have a big job tonight."

Monkey relaxed, nodding complacently. There was no fight in his eyes. "Yes, Master."

The crocodile ushered him to the door then stood there, his body taut. An ox came in several minutes later.

"Fu?"

"What?"

"Cong was bleeding."

"He stepped out of line," the crocodile said coldly.

"Ah." There was a pause. "Something's up with him."

"I know," Fu said, tapping his claws against the doorframe. "He is not angry anymore. He is repentant. Afraid. And not of me. Our little Cong is a clever liar, but we will find out where he went."

"Why does it matter?" the ox asked.

Fu narrowed his eyes. "Because I think he saw somebody he knew from his other life. Why else would he shrink from his new rage? Perhaps he was angry at them. But perhaps not."

"Fu?"

"What if he was angry at himself? What if he regrets, not leaving, but coming back?" Fu slammed his open palm onto the frame. "He is mine. He belongs to me. And if I need to destroy all of his connections with his other life, his false life, I will."

"He might die along with them, especially if they cared enough to track him here," the ox said.

"What do I care if he dies on the inside?" Fu snarled. "It is his outsides I care about. I need his skills. We lost so much when he left. And I will not let him leave again."

There was a pause. "You would destroy his soul, but would you kill his body if he threatened to leave again?"

Fu didn't hesitate. "Yes. He's been with us long enough to know a lot of damaging information. We take care of loose ends. And if he needs to be snipped, I will snip him myself."

The ox nodded, and a boar hurried up a moment later. "Fu," he said. "Some new recruits have gotten out of hand. They await your judgment."

Fu pushed past the ox and stormed down the hall. Mantis felt sorry for the recruits. And he wondered what he should do. Should he try to find Monkey? After a few moments, Mantis decided that it wouldn't be the best idea. Even if he did find him today, he didn't think it was wise to let Monkey know that he was there. That Fu character really had his claws deep inside of Monkey's heart, and Mantis feared what would happen if Monkey decided that Fu needed to know of their presence in the city.

So Mantis sped through the halls back out into the day. He was going to tell the others what he'd seen and heard. They would go from there. Shifu was firm that they didn't go to the police yet as he thought there was a spy in their ranks. And Mantis now knew that he was right. It was a female, probably the secretary that had a cold when they'd gone down. Whether or not she was willingly cooperating was another matter entirely.

When he got back to the rooms, only Shifu was there, sipping tea and staring out the window. He set aside his cup and gestured for Mantis to sit on his shoulder. It was rare that Shifu allowed the littlest member of the Five to stand on him, but recently it was more common. Monkey's disappearance was hard on all of them, but especially Shifu. Their master was disturbed by how little attention he'd paid to the supposedly happiest member of the Five.

"Where are the others?" Mantis asked.

"Tigress had a scare this morning, and Po took her for dumplings," Shifu said. "Viper and Crane are at the market to get some supplies." He paused, his ear twitching. "What do you know, Mantis? You are back much earlier than we expected."

Mantis didn't want to hurt his master, but he had no choice. He told Shifu of all he had seen and heard. Shifu said nothing, sipping his tea, but his hands trembled at the description of Monkey's relationship with the abusive crocodile. He was angry, that much Mantis could tell. But he didn't say a word until Mantis was done with his tale.

"I don't like that Fu fellow," Mantis said quietly. "He's got a hold on Monkey. I don't understand that."

Shifu hummed. "You are right, but you do not know how right you are, Mantis."

"Master?"

"Exactly," Shifu said softly. "You said that Monkey called Fu Master, but the other gang members didn't. And you said that Fu claimed Monkey as his own."

Mantis shifted uneasily. There was a note in Shifu's voice that set his instincts on edge. "What do you mean?"

Shifu plucked Mantis off of his shoulder. "I will be back soon. Stay here."

It was close to dusk when Shifu returned. Po was serving up a batch of noodles to the rest of the Five, and Shifu sat down with them, setting aside a scroll. He took a full bowl from Po and began to eat. A dark cloud seemed to hang over his head, and there was no talk as they ate. When the bowls were cleaned, Shifu took up the scroll.

"Mantis, did you tell them everything you told me?"

"Yes," Mantis replied.

"You have bad news," Tigress surmised, her tail flicking back and forth nervously.

"Very. Have any of you ever heard of blood money?"

Tigress, Crane, Viper, and Mantis shook their heads, but Po scowled and nodded. Shifu was surprised.

"You do, Dragon Warrior?"

"Yeah. A distant cousin was wrapped up in a scandal over it. I made my dad tell me."

"Well, then I will explain for the others."

Po nodded, and Shifu opened the scroll. "You all have had relatively good upbringings. Tigress, you were an orphan, but would you complain of your childhood with me?"

"No, Master," Tigress said fondly.

Shifu nodded. "Not everybody has such luck, as I told Po weeks ago. I did not have such a good upbringing. But from what Mantis told us, I fear that Monkey had it even worse." He took a deep breath. "I believe that Monkey was purchased by this Fu to be his slave."

There was shocked silence. Then Po nodded. "Blood money. He must have bought Monkey from a desperate woman who needed money more than a son."

"Indeed," Shifu said softly. "And from the way Monkey is acting with Fu, I fear that he was very, very young when he was purchased. He sees Fu as a sort of father figure, as twisted as their relationship seems."

"What do we do?" Viper asked, her tongue flicking out briefly.

"This complicates matters," Shifu said. "We cannot just take Monkey back to the Jade Palace with us. From the way Fu was talking, he will make sure Monkey stays with him this time. We have to free him."

"How?" Crane asked.

"We have to buy him from Fu."

"Buy him?" the bird exclaimed. "But the way Fu talks, Monkey is priceless! How will we convince him to let us buy him?"

"I do not know," Shifu said. "But Mantis, you will go and map out the entire base. Find out where each and every gang member sleeps, including Monkey. I want to know each and every room, every member that calls the gang family. We will start there. Do not let Monkey see you. Do not let anybody see you."

"And the rest of us?" Crane asked.

"We have to bide our time," Po said, cutting across Shifu. "This isn't some easy thing. Blood money is serious. If we act too soon, Monkey will die like my cousin. If we act too late, there will be no Monkey left to save."

"So now we wait?" Tigress asked softly.

"Now we wait," Shifu agreed.