AN. So here we have another chapter. Skipping forward about a year, it's time to see how well Tien's doing with Chiaotzu's training :D

Chapter Seven

Chiaotzu stood motionless at the edge of the training square, his face expressionless but his eyes fixed intently on the boy in the middle of that wide expanse of flat white stone. Tien, now four years of age, looked very small out there by himself, his arms held rigidly at his sides, his eyes flitting from Chiaotzu to Master Shen and back again.

"Now, boy, show us what Chiaotzu has taught you."

"Y-yes, Master."

Tien's voice was soft and Chiaotzu's stomach clenched, anxiety filling him. He wanted to reach out with his mind, to comfort and encourage, but knew that Shen would feel the interaction and intrude, forcing them to hide any hint of their emotions within their own minds.

Tien closed his eyes, his eyebrows drawing together in a frown of concentration. He held out his palms and summoned a ball of his ki, pulling his hands apart so it grew to a fair size, fluctuating as he breathed, his face becoming very still. Chiaotzu felt a quiet soaring pride as the boy successfully manipulated his ki, forcing it to grow, then shrink, then separate to sit in each palm as he flattened his hands and moved them apart. Tien closed his fists and the ki disappeared, returning to its original source inside the small triclops.

"Impressive."

Shen stepped into the ring, his hands held behind his back, his face inscrutable. Tien straightened and bowed, but his gaze slid sideways to meet the eyes of the telepath behind their master. Chiaotzu risked a small smile as Shen's back was turned, the only sign of encouragement he could show.

"Now, show me telepathy."

Tien's eyes widened fractionally, then he jerked his head in a nod and sat down crosslegged on the stone slabs of the square. Shen paused as Chiaotzu's stomach sank. Tien was most comfortable using telepathy while in a typical meditative position but Shen typically expected his students to show no outward sign that they were casting their mind out. Tien's movement would be a let down after such an impressive demonstration of ki control.

Tien rested his hands on his knees and closed all three eyes, a sign of how focused he was. Usually when practicing with Chiaotzu he would leave the third eye in his forehead open so he could see a little of the room around him, preferring to have some vision than none at all. Chiaotzu watched, seeing the small signs of effort that marked the triclops' face; a tightening of his lips, a miniscule twitch of his eyebrows, the slight clenching of his eyelids.

"Softer," Shen said. "You'll never get into my mind if you just barrel in."

Tien nodded once and his hands clenched into small fists as he tried to be gentler with his mind. Chiaotzu couldn't help himself, spreading his own mind out until it encountered the tentative tendrils of Tien's. The triclops was throwing his mind without a clear coordination behind it, the movements clumsy and halting. Chiaotzu tried to hold back any emotion and, ensuring the connection was shielded as best he could manage, sent a short message to the boy.

You're doing well, I'm proud of you.

Tien relaxed ever so slightly and the shaking frightened tendrils of his energy softened and became more limber, easily moving towards Shen.

"Better."

Tien flinched and gasped, and Chiaotzu felt his skin go cold. He tried to reach out with his mind again but Shen's energy forcefully repulsed him, blocking any attempt to find out what was going on. Tien jolted, his face screwing up and his body tightening, shoulders raising around his ears and chin ducking to his chest. Chiaotzu watched helplessly, silent as tears started to streak down the boy's cheeks, that narrow chest heaving with barely suppressed sobs.

"M-master," Chiaotzu tried, but fell silent again as Shen held up one hand. The old man advanced on the triclops, the boy starting to shudder, his small hands rising to fight off an invisible attacker.

He felt a spike in the centre of his mind, a sharp biting pain accompanied suddenly by the boy's scream.

Nii-chan! Help me!

Instinct and emotion took over. He ran forward, flinging himself between the small boy and their master, his arms wide and his mind slamming down protective walls around Tien's, cutting off the tendrils of Shen's mind where they were digging deep into the boy's psyche.

There was a long silence as he suddenly realised what he had done, his eyes widening as he looked up at the furious glare of the old man.

"M-master, I'm s-sor-"

He was slammed to the side, his mouth suddenly full of blood, his eyes slitted shut against the burst of pain that sparked from his cheek and spread through his whole body. He skidded to a stop on the hard stone, unable to find the strength in his arms to lift himself up, horror filling him. It had been a long time since he had been struck like that; he usually tried so hard to do what he was told.

"Nii-chan!"

Everything seemed to freeze. He managed to lift his head, turning to see the triclops trying to run to him only to be caught by his thin upper arm with one strong hand. The boy was lifted upwards, his feet kicking at empty air, his free hand stretched desperately towards Chiaotzu.

T-Tien-kun…no…

Tien's head snapped to the side as Shen slapped him, a short cry echoing around the square. Drops of blood flew from his lips, shining crimson in the sun, to splatter on the white stone.

Tien reared back his free hand, fury sparking hot and bright in his three eyes, and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Dodonpa!"

A beam of red fire shot from his fingertip, burning the face of the man who held him. Shen recoiled in surprise, unharmed by the ray but sufficiently shocked to release the triclops who landed easily on his feet and sprinted to Chiaotzu's side.

Chiaotzu's mouth dropped open as Tien reached him, taking his arm, shaking him slightly.

"Nii-chan, are you okay? Get up, Chiaotzu, please get up!"

Chiaotzu managed to get to his hands and knees, pain making his breath hitch and catch in his chest, and looked in shock at the boy crouched at his side.

"Tien…that was…that was… You have to…"

He couldn't get the words out; his mouth wouldn't cooperate with him. He instead connected the link between them, the mental bond that needed only the thought to open.

Tien, get up, turn around. You need to apologise. Master will kill us if you don't.

Tien shot a look at the man standing in the square, fear in his stance but fury still burning bright in his eyes. Shen was facing them, cleaning his glasses on his surcoat, his eyes fixed on the boy.

"He has promise," Shen said. "I will include Tao in his training to make sure he becomes strong and fast." His voice lowered, became ominous. "But I warned you of that nonsense."

In the blink of an eye he was suddenly over them and Chiaotzu was unable to stop himself from straightening and wrapping his arms around Tien, clenching his eyes shut as he turned and pulled the triclops against his chest, his body once again a shield between Shen and the boy. He waited for the pain to strike again, for the blow to fall, but was surprised when he heard Shen scoff.

"You can't protect him forever, Chiaotzu. Soon Tienshinhan will be bigger than you and then what will you do? Best let him learn to stand on his own two feet now, before he's too old to learn."

"He's too young now," Chiaotzu said, not turning around, too afraid. His eyes opened and he found himself looking directly into the two normal eyes of his little brother. Tears were shining there, a hopeless sorrow that tore at something deep inside him. "Please, Master, go easy on him. I'll help you train him, he'll be the strongest student in the Crane school, in the whole world, just please don't hurt him."

There was a long silence. Eventually Shen spoke, his voice sending cold shards of fear through Chiaotzu's heart.

"Pain builds stamina. Get out of my sight."

Chiaotzu tried to get to his feet but found his legs trembling and unsteady. Tien draped one of the telepath's arms over his shoulders, casting a fearful look at Shen as he supported Chiaotzu from the square, heading to their room to regroup.

AN. Oh god I'm so mean, geez Louise. Who is Louise? Mother of an old school friend! But of no relevance here. Next, for the fallout! Please leave a review if you'd like. I'm really getting into this writing thing and the idea that anyone's reading this except me is foreign and bizarre (despite having written semi-popular stories in the past!) but incredibly encouraging. Thank you!