AN. Okay so here we have another chapter. Tien is now 8 years old and has been training under Shen properly for about two years. He's obsessed with being better and getting Shen's praise at all costs! Please to enjoy :)

Chapter Eleven

"Very good, Tienshinhan."

Chiaotzu watched from around the corner as Tien relaxed from his fighting stance, bowing low to Shen. Two of the three other students in the ring sat up, one holding their gut and the other hugging their wrist to their chest. The third student didn't get up, his head overhanging the edge of the square, clearly unconscious.

Tien was eight years old now and had just defeated three almost full-grown men. He was starting to show some signs of his strength, his shoulders slightly broader and his lanky limbs toning towards muscles that were, at the moment, still lean.

"You are no doubt the strongest pupil at the Crane School," Shen continued. "No one outside these walls could ever hope to match your skill."

Chiaotzu's mouth slanted as he leaned back against the wall, avoiding looking into the square. He wasn't certain that inflating the boy's ego was such a good idea. He remembered when he was the best student in the dojo and Shen had said such things about him. It clearly wasn't true now, but back then he had believed every single word and it had made him arrogant and standoffish. The revelation that he was not, in fact, the strongest fighter outside these walls had come as a crushing blow.

"Master, before we finish training today, I would like to show you something I've been working on."

Chiaotzu looked around the corner again, confused, then his mouth dropped open as Tien concentrated hard, his eyes closed and his hands clenched into tight fists. It took a minute, but eventually he slowly lifted off the hard stone floor, first his heels and then his toes until he was hovering a few inches above the ground.

Bukujutsu. The art of flying by using one's ki to levitate. The technique they had been working on and developing together.

"Wonderful, Tienshinhan!" Shen exclaimed. Actual wonder was showing on his face, as well as a cunning joy.

Tien slowly lowered himself to the ground, looking visibly tired for the first time during the training session. A slight smirk was touching those familiar features and Chiaotzu ducked back, lightly striking the back of his head against the side of the building.

He turned and headed for their room, his lower lip trembling and his stomach roiling with an unfamiliar emotion. He closed the door, wishing for a moment that he could lock it, then used his own ki to slowly lift off the floor.

He was actually much better at this technique than Tien since he was much more in touch with his own ki. He and Tien had come up with it during a late night telepathy training session; their kis battling it out in the middle of the room. Tien's telepathy wasn't his strong suit, for sure, but he entered their mental battles with enthusiasm and vigour, his natural talent for strategy showing clearly. Tien was the one who had suggested channelling their ki through their feet, almost as a joke, but Chiaotzu had managed to lift off almost immediately, so surprised when his bare feet had left the mattress that he had fallen back down straight away. Since then they spent their evenings practicing, Chiaotzu now good enough to soar in lazy circles around their room, Tien still just able to hover a few inches above the ground, his hands tight fists and his eyebrows drawn together in a pensive frown.

He flew around the room a few times, trying to settle his emotions, then came to rest in mid-air in the top corner, crossing his legs and closing his eyes, resting his hands on his lap in a relaxed fist.

He tried to calm his mind, to centre his energy and banish his emotions. He was usually very good at slipping into meditative trances, but today he was unable to manage it. He just stewed in the corner, growing increasingly frustrated, until Tien came in from training.

"Did you see me, Chiaotzu?" Tien said, pride in his voice. Chiaotzu shook his head once and floated a little higher, the one hair on his head brushing the ceiling. "I did super well. And I showed Master Shen the bukujutsu we've been working on! He was so impressed, I think he's going to make it the signature Crane School move!"

There was a short, strained silence. Then Chiaotzu managed to swallow his hurt and (oh that's what it was) betrayal and swivelled in mid-air, trying to smile. Tien's own proud smirk fell away immediately and Chiaotzu realised he clearly hadn't done a great job.

"You did see," Tien said, then rushed on, "I'm sorry, Chiaotzu, I don't know why I said that. I meant to say 'we' I really did."

Chiaotzu held up one hand and landed easily on the bed, sitting cross-legged.

"It's okay. I…I understand why you didn't. Shen's praise is addictive."

Tien fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, his eyes cast shamefully downwards.

"Did…did you hear the bit about the room?"

Chiaotzu's stomach dropped and his grip tightened slightly on his knees.

"What about the room?"

"Master Shen wants me to have the room to myself. He says I've earned it since I've been working so hard and I'm such a great fighter."

Tien's cheeks flushed with blood as his third eye darted up, searching Chiaotzu's face. The telepath tried very hard to keep his expression blank, knowing that Tien could feel the shock just below the surface of his mind.

"And what did you say?" Tien started twisting the hem of his shirt in his hands, the thin cloth stretching. Chiaotzu waited, not aware that he was holding his breath. "Tien, you can tell me anything, I won't be mad, I promise."

Tien still wouldn't meet his eyes, but did start to speak. Chiaotzu's breath released in a soft sigh as he did, relief surging through him.

"I told him I didn't want to room to myself. I said that you're still training me in telepathy and that my fighting would suffer if they moved you."

Chiaotzu's limbs loosened with relief and he leaned backward, catching his weight on his hands. He looked at Tien, unable to help the disbelief that showed clearly in his eyes. "Why would you do that?"

Tien shrugged, still stretching and twisting his shirt hem. "Because you're my brother. I love you. I'd be lonely without you here." Chiaotzu's face split in a wide smile. He held his arms out and Tien walked awkwardly into the hug, still not meeting Chiaotzu's eyes. "I'll tell him it was your idea too. I can't even really fly anyway; you're way better than I am."

Chiaotzu closed his eyes and leaned his head on the triclops' shoulder, his smile still present though his training tried to conceal it.

"It's okay, Tien." There was a short silence where Tien lifted his arms and slipped them around Chiaotzu, hugging him tight. "I love you too…"

AN. So Tien is Shen's prized pupil, best of all the rest! What else does he have to learn!? Quite a bit, it turns out. But that's another chapter for another day :P Leave a review if you'd like, it's always appreciated :D