Love Be a Strange Ting

I woke up before the sunrise. I never did get enough sleep back home. It was just my pattern. I woke up from the mat on the floor, looking at Krystal. She was still sleeping. I got up and went to the kitchen. I didn't know exactly what time it was, but from the way things sounded outside, it couldn't be long until sunrise. I went to the kitchen, got some water to drink, and sat there for a while alone in thought. This is my most dangerous time. When I have nothing to do but think, I often start thinking bad things or become pessimistic. Fortunately, someone came into the kitchen to halt my thought process. Krystal. "What are you doing up so early," She asked.

"I don't know. My body just wakes me up when it wants," I yawned. "Why are you up?"

"Same reason," She replied, taking a seat next to me. "What are you thinking of?"

"Many things, though I don't like doing it."

"Why?"

"I often get moody or down when I start to think for long periods of time." We were silent for about seven seconds.

"Is it possible for me to go with you when you go back home," asked Krystal.

"That has come up in my thinking. I don't know if Demi would allow that to happen. I think he would. It would make sense for him to marry us if he was going to break us apart," I thought reasonably. Then I became a little more cheerful. "And if that happens, in my world we can get a divorce." I expected her to be excited to the fact she didn't have to be with me against her will. She looked at me with a shocked and saddened look.

"Wh...why? Why would you want that?"

"Well...I mean don't you want to be with someone else or have the freedom to choose who you marry," I asked. Then she punched me. "OW! What was that for?"

"For thinking I didn't have a choice," She remarked. I was confused. "Lion, before we met, Mistress Jun told me everything about Demi and that I was going to help you. But she ASKED me if I was willing to marry a man I didn't know and trust her so that I would help him and he would care for me. I WILLINGLY went along with it." That blew my mind.

"So," I was speechless for a while. "So, you wanted to marry me?" She nodded and then hugged me.

"And I've never regretted that decision," She said sweetly. I was near to tears. "Lion, are you crying?" I wiped some of the moisture from my eyes.

"I...I'm just touched that you would be okay with that," I said. My voice was a little shaky. She hugged me with a smile. I coughed to get rid of the shakiness. "But that doesn't help with HOW you're going back with me. If I'll be able to go at all," I said a bit sad. She hugged me tighter. I smiled. "At least, I have people around me that make the stay easier."

It was a little while before people started coming in the kitchen, and Krystal and I had been silent for the most part. It wasn't until everyone was there that I realized that Po and Tigress weren't there. Krystal noticed this too. "Where are Po and Tigress," She asked.

"I saw Tigress in the Training Hall. Maybe Po's at the shop or in the village," Master Shifu said. I made a movement with my head for Krystal to follow me. We went to the Training hall to see Tigress. Po was with her, sparring. However, we were just in time to see something happen. As Tigress was making a sweeping move for Po's legs, Po fell and took Tigress with him. So there they were on each other, looking each square in the eye. I waited for them to jump off of each other. One second passed, then two, then three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, twenty. It was after thirty seconds (And that's a while for someone to REACT) that I made a sound, getting their attention. Their wide eyes just looked at Krystal and me as they jumped clear of each other. I started to walk away as they chased after me.

"It was a simple mistake! I know what it looks like but! It was my fault I didn't mean to! We can explain! You see what had happened was!" They both said at one time.

"GUYS," I exclaimed, "It's fine. I know what happened. I saw it. You guys slipped and just fell on each other. Simple as that. Nothing to infer or conclude or make assumptions on. You guys just tripped." They looked at each other then they looked away from each other.

"Right," they both said.

"Good, now excuse me, I have something to take care of," I said, leaving them. I went to my room and wrote everything in my book. Then I heard the door shut behind me. Krystal had the biggest, most excited grin on her face and she was bouncy and looked like she was about to jump into the air. I shook my head. "An accidental fall won't amount to anything. You and I both know that." She looked at me with a scowled look.

"You're just so pessimistic!"

"I'm not. I'm just realistic," I explained. "But it is significant that they stayed like that for so long." I shook it from my head. "It maybe just me and wishful thinking."

"I hope not," Krystal said, taking a seat on the bed. "I want them to be together." I looked at her with a bewildered look.

"You thought that they couldn't be together a while ago."

"Yes, but they would be a great couple if they were together."

"I hope. I'd hate to get these guys together and then have them fight every day," I sighed. Then a pillow was thrown at my head. "Hey!"

"That was for being pessimistic again," Krystal said with a cheeky smile. I smirked as I threw the pillow back. "Think positive! You'll figure out some way to get them together."

"Or maybe you will," I replied. I continued to write what was in the journal. I casually looked at the mat to see Krystal had gone to sleep. I guess some time went by because then another person was in the room.

"What are you writing?"

"AHAHAA!" I jumped into a fighting stance. Tigress was in the room. My yell woke Krystal up. I panted, catching my breath. "What?"

"What are you writing," She asked again. It took me a while to try to figure out what to say.

"It's a...my journal," I said. She was about to look at. I quickly stole it out of her reach. "May I ask why you're so curious about it?"

"I was just curious. I came inside and saw you writing inside your journal."

"That still doesn't explain why you're in here," I repeated. She nervously coughed.

"I was just making sure that you understood what happened...with Po and me," She said quietly. Both Krystal and I groaned.

"Tigress, stop making a big deal about this," Krystal said, "It was an accident. You two were just being Klutzes."

"Yeah, I guess," Tigress recovered. "So can I see the journal?" I wasn't as protective with the book with her. The book was written in English so I wasn't really worried as I gave her the book. She opened the journal and just as I expected, she couldn't understand it until Krystal popped up.

"I can't read it," Tigress said.

"Let me see," Krystal offered, taking the book. I expected the same thing, only Krystal could read it. "'I am a human. I want to clean that up so there is no confusion. Being around 19 years of age, life was a little challenging for me, like everyone. There is one thing that makes me different. I don't like being human, but who doesn't. What really makes me unique is that I don't understand human interactions and society. For example, why humans demand privacy yet post and broadcast everything private to everyone and their enemy to see. Also, why people get offended when you're truthful, both men and women. So you see, I'm an awkward person. Being of black skin in the United States of America, I'm not like most people. I have a laughable personality and I talk a lot, which is weird because I'm a kind of introvert though I can speak in front of people just fine. However, with LIFE becoming more hectic as I mature, I've become more introverted, self-conscious, and aware of the time I'm alone.' Huh, what is the 'United States of America'," Krystal asked at the end. I was too amazed to respond immediately.

"Um...It's...it's where I came from," I managed to say. "How is it that you can read that?"

"Oh, well, one time there was a merchant that came all the way from a place named England. He had come from some...oh what did he call it! Crusades! Yeah, that's it! Then he became a merchant, came to where we were, stayed a little while, and taught me a thing or two. Your writing is much simpler than his so I can understand most of it." My mouth just stayed open.

"I'm starting to like you more and more," I said.

"Why?" Tigress and Krystal asked.

"Because you keep surprising me with some new thing I didn't know about you," I smiled.

"So, what is this place like and what did you mean by 'being of black skin.'," Tigress asked. I sat down in my chair while I explained my world to them.

"Well, like I said I come from another world where I'm a human. Humans come in different skin tones."

"Really? Wow, they must be every kind of color," Krystal marveled.

"Eh, mostly everyone is a shade of brown or tan or tinted white."

"Really? Wow, that's boring," Krystal said plainly. Tigress and I laughed.

"Well, it can seem that way," I smiled. "But that's the world I live in."

"Is it true that they use high-quality make-up in your world," Krystal asked. I thought about it.

"Yes, but most don't use their natural beauty as you two," I said. Krystal blushed a bit while Tigress smirked.

"Flattery will get you nowhere," she said.

"Oh sure, and flattery didn't get Lee, the Emperor of Japan anywhere with you," I countered. They laughed for a while, but Tigress's smirk fell after a while. "I know what you're thinking. Cheer up! You'll learn more about yourself soon."

"Isn't there anything you can tell me," Tigress asked. I sighed. I could, but I wasn't sure if I would be right. I shook my head. "Can you, at least, tell me why my parents left me at the orphanage?"

"They didn't mean to. They wanted more than anything to keep you. But there was something going on in their country that would have put you in danger. They put you in the orphanage to protect you. That much I know for sure," I said. Tigress smiled. I smirked at her.

"What," She asked.

"I always like seeing you smile. It's one of the best looks you have. I know Po really appreciates seeing it," I smiled. Tigress looked away, but I could tell her cheeks were a little flushed.

"You know you're married to ME, right," Krystal butted in. I couldn't help but laugh.

"No need to remind me, dear, I remember," I said.

"So when are you planning to have children," Tigress asked so inopportunely.

"Um..."

"WHAT!" Krystal exclaimed.

"Well, it's normal for married couples to have children, correct," Tigress added.

"Tigress, you know that we've been...kind of pushed into this. We're just taking our time," I said calmly.

"Yeah, we're not having a child Now or anytime SOON!" Krystal exclaimed. I could see she was animated about childbirth.

"Now, if you're done investigating us, please take your precious tail and leave," I joked. Tigress smirked as she went out of our room. Krystal went to her mat and groaned into her pillow. "I guess you don't like children?"

"No, it's not that. The thought of having children now just...freaks me out," She said huddling her knees together. I sat next to her and rested my arm around her shoulders.

"Don't worry. Since you willingly went into this, I won't do anything that would hurt you on purpose."

"On purpose?"

"I won't lie that I may do something stupid that will hurt you accidentally. That's what scares me most about marriage. But know that I don't mean to do it on purpose. Tell me what troubles you and I will try to do my best to not do it," I said. She smiled and rested her head on my chest. I was getting goosebumps about it to tell the truth.

"Thanks, Lion," She said as she lifted her head off of me.

"You're welcome," I replied. I wrote everything in the book.

"I don't think it's safe to write things in there since I can read them," Krystal cheekily said.

"No worries, I'll just put embarrassing stuff about you in here to prevent that," I smiled evilly. She just glared at me.

"Good one," She remarked throwing the pillow at me again. I just laughed.

to be continued.

Sorry for the mix up