Running Around

"This is your chance to take your full revenge, honey," I smirked at Tigress. Po was talking again to Krystal, this time with Viper. I hadn't taken much notice since I already trained Po yesterday. "Today, I'll be trying to find you," I said. Tigress smirked back.

"This'll be too easy," Tigress said confidently. I revealed my evil smile.

"Are you sure," I said, "I can sense you, smell your scent, and hear very well." Tigress's confidence instantly went way. "We're going to play 'tag' again. I'll close my eyes for five seconds to give you a headstart." I knew Tigress was pretty fast so she wouldn't need much time to hide. I closed my eyes, counted to five, opened them and she was gone, but her scent was still fresh. I soon caught up with her in the Training Hall. I looked around. I could see a hint of orange underneath the tumblers. "I see you!" She dashed after I said that. I was quick on her tail. I chased her all the way to the Hall of Heroes and back to the barracks, where I couldn't smell her but could sense her as she tried to quietly sneak away. "There are only so many people here, Tigress," I shouted as I chased her down the hall of the barracks and out to the courtyard, "I'll sense you." I guess that gave her an idea because she changed directions and headed for my house. I blew the door open and ran into Krystal's room.

"Privacy!" Krystal and Viper screamed.

"Sorry, I'm trying to find Tigress," I said.

"We only heard the door open. It's not that big of a house," Po said. Then I heard the door shut. I could still see the shadow of Tigress's body as it dashed away. She must have kept out of sight by attaching herself to the ceiling. I was quickly after her. Then I realized where she was heading; down the mountain. I couldn't sense her with so many people around. Also, I didn't know how to single out the person I wanted. So by going down there, she would be attempting to blend in. There was one problem with her strategy. Tigress is the only 6'2" female tiger in the valley. It would be easy to find her.

That's what I thought. The moment I got down the mountain into the village, I lost track of her. I tried using her scent, which worked for a while until it brought me to an old lady goat. "Oh, sorry," I said.

"It's alright. CHAR!" She said out of the blue. It was weird but I dismissed it. What was even stranger was she seemed to follow me everywhere I went. I couldn't find Tigress anywhere. She wasn't at Ru's, Mr. Ping's, or anywhere. She couldn't go up the mountain because then I could single her out, but I still couldn't find her. The weird goat lady kept following me, however. I decided to rest at Mr. Ping's where Zeng just happened to be looking for me.

"Hey Zeng, what's the matter," I asked.

"Well, Master Shifu was wondering when you guys were going to be done with your training. He doesn't want the Shift Stones to be outside the palace for long."

"What do you mean," I asked.

"Well, Shifu saw Tigress take one of the Shift Stones, so he assumed that you were using them for an exercise," Zeng said. I instantly glared at the goat lady that shot out of the door.

"Tigress!" I shouted. Before she could get away, I cut her off and tagged her. "Tag! You're it."

"Hmm," She growled lowly. She shifted back into a tiger. I walked her back to the shop where I gave Zeng the Shift Stone.

"Resourceful, quick-witted, strategic, spontaneous, and well planned. You did very well, my pupil. Very well," I told her. She smiled to no end. "But you technically cheated."

"Oh sure, and you who could sense me, smell me, and have Lion Warrior powers didn't cheat at all," she countered. I chuckled lightly.

"That's also true," I agreed. Mr. Ping brought us some drinks on the house. I was off in my thinking world when Tigress out of the blue asked me.

"What was Po, Viper, and Krystal talking about?" I looked at her with a questionable look. I was slightly suspicious.

"Why do you want to know," I asked, casually seeming as if it didn't phase me.

"I saw them talking to each other when I went into your house," She said.

"I asked why you wanted to know, not what you saw," I restated. She was silent for a while.

"Just curious. Why are two girls talking to Po? And why did Po want to talk to them," She asked. Something was still off.

"Po is Po. What does it matter to a trained Kung Fu Master like yourself," I said casually sipping my drink. I could tell her mood changed.

"Are you saying I don't care about Po," she asked in a quiet menacing voice to which I calmly replied,

"No, I'm just asking why you've taken a sudden interest in the matter."

"You're beating around the bush."

"You are too." She could see that I wasn't going to break unless she told me. She finally submitted and sighed.

"I... just find it awkward that he seems to be asking the other girls something and not me. Considering the issues and the fact I'm not really... 'feminine' in the public eye, the only safe assumption is that he's talking to them about... what females like in a man." I smirked.

"You see, you're social skills are paying off," I replied.

"Lion," Tigress simply said. I knew she wanted an answer.

"To be honest, I don't know. I do know Po wanted to talk about how to treat women the last time he and Krystal talked. But I don't know what they're talking about now," I explained. "Why are you so interested in it? Why do you care if they're talking about those things?"

"I'm not... as 'hardcore' as you think I am, Lion," Tigress replied. I shrugged.

"Well, what you show is what people will think of you," I said. "Come on, let's get up the mountain."

"You can fly can't you," Tigress said.

"Oh yeah. See you." With that, I blasted away from an upset Tigress. As I got to my house, Viper and Po were already leaving it. I landed right next to Krystal, who jumped when I appeared out of nowhere. "Sorry to scare you."

"Nah, I should be used to it," Krystal smirked as my face fell. We went inside. "How did Tigress do?"

"She had me for a while. I wouldn't have found her if Zeng didn't reveal her," I said. "So, what did Po want to ask you about?"

"Nosy," Krystal remarked.

"Hey, this time, I ask for a certain tiger," I replied. Krystal stared at me with peculiarity.

"Why?"

"You know, that's exactly what I was asking," I mentioned, "Anyways, she has deduced that since Po is talking to two 'more feminine than her' people, that it was something about what females like in a man."

"Did you ask why she asked that question," Krystal questioned.

"No, I didn't want to force out anything that she would be uncomfortable with," I said. Krystal smiled.

"You really are a caring person," She said.

"If you say that," I shrugged. "So what did Po want?" Krystal shook and held her head as if it was hurting.

"He... wanted to know if girls would like his doll- I mean 'action figure' collection or would they find it weird if he went to Kung Fu festivals. The guy is a lot of work."

"I know, but he's Po," I said sympathetically.

"But he did ask one interesting question," Krystal said. "He asked if Crane and Tigress ever dated."

I replied, "Why did he ask you that?"

"He says that he found some old poems written in Crane's handwriting but addressed to Tigress." I shrugged.

"I have no clue," I replied.

"I was wondering about your story Zan. Didn't they have a relationship then?"

"Yes. Why does it matter to him?" I inquired. Krystal simply shrugged. "I doubt they actually did. (sigh) This is going to be very interesting."

So the next day after training Po, I went to Tigress, who was in the Training Hall with Master Shifu. "Master Tigress, I have a question for you," I started.

"Um... sure. Why so formal," Tigress wondered. I knew she would be curious that I called her 'master' for the first time.

"Just because this question might get me launched out of the palace. Did you use to date Crane?" I asked bluntly. Before she could answer, Shifu answered for her.

"Why yes, she and Crane use to date for a while." My eyes were bigger than ever.

"Master Shifu!" Tigress exclaimed.

"Oh, you wanted that to be a secret. My bad," Shifu apologized. Tigress groaned, pinching her nose. I patted her on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't make fun of you," I said.

"It's not you I'm worried about. It's Po and the others," Tigress remarked.

"Master Shifu, can you excuse us for a moment," I asked. The red panda bowed and went away. "So how did dating Crane go?" She was silent for a while.

"It was... okay."

"You don't sound like it was the best choice," I noticed.

"It's not that I don't like him. He and I are much alike in our..."

"Maturity, level-headedness, and training," I finished. She glared at me. I laughed sheepishly. "Sorry, continue."

"He asked me and then we were in a relationship and then we broke up," She stated simply.

"No duh," I said sarcastically. "Why did you break up?" I knew I wouldn't get more than that out of her.

"I... wanted to focus more on my training," Tigress replied.

"Uh huh, and how's that going for ya," I asked, sarcastically. She just glared at me. "What stopped him from getting you back?" Tigress was silent. "You know, I'm pretty sure that Crane is more willing to tell me." Tigress sighed.

"I think... it was Po that caused it." This made me surprised a little. I didn't think I would be right twice. "So is there any other questions you want to ask?" I smiled.

"No, but Po wanted to ask that question." Tigress looked at me with a confused look.

"Why would Po ask that?"

"You're asking me," I chuckled a bit, "That's what they were talking about yesterday."

"Okay, but why?" I smirked.

"Who knows. Maybe he wants to get to know you more," I said. Tigress looked away. I only sighed. Just then, Krystal came in.

"Hello," Krystal said, coming up to me and kissing me on the cheek. She walked away leaving me speechless in front of Tigress and blushing. Tigress just smirked.

"Looks like I'm not the only one who's in a love situation," Tigress teased. I glared at her.

"Well played tiger, well played," I replied. I returned to my house where Po was waiting for me. "Po? What are you doing here?"

"Well, I was wondering if I could ask you something," Po started, but I stopped him.

"Po, why are you asking all these questions? These serious questions," I asked. Po was silent for a moment.

"I don't know. Why does it matter," Po replied.

"Because these kinds of questions are ones that show that a person's hiding something. I'm not going to pry but still, you have me concerned, buddy."

"I know... I guess... there are a lot of things that I've done in the past that I was hoping you could help me fix. And then there's my situation in the 'love' department," Po sighed. Usually, I would be very suspicious, but this was a situation that needed a listening ear, not a critical mouth.

"I understand," I smiled cheerfully. "Cheer up! Now, what was it that you wanted to ask me?"

"Do... no... you would laugh," Po said. I rolled my eyes.

"What's your question?!" I exclaimed.

"Do you think Tigress would date someone like me," He asked. My eyes widened. "That doesn't mean I like her or anything. I'm just wondering."

"Why, though," I questioned.

"Well... haven't you been curious of whether or not she'd date someone," Po asked. This is true for many people back at home.

"Um, Po? I'm already in a relationship so I don't care about other ones," I said with a corny smile.

"Lion!"

"I think she would. Answer me honestly, do you like her," I asked. Before he could answer after his pause,

"I think he has some privacy, Lion," Tigress butted in. I was shocked I didn't sense her, but Po was blushing and shaking. But Tigress was smiling. "It's alright Po. You don't have to worry about what you said."

"That doesn't make me feel any better," Po replied.

"What did you hear," I asked. She smirked.

"That's for me to know and you to find out," She mocked me. I pouted. "I'm sorry for intruding on your conversation, but someone has come to the Jade Palace and I think Lion needs to see her."

"Why?"

"Because she said someone called Demi sent her to talk to you," Tigress smirked. I instantly got upset.

"This is where the messenger is going to die," I said satanically.

"But the others haven't seen her yet. Zeng's bringing her so everyone can meet her," Tigress said.

"What is her name," Po asked.

"Lu," Tigress replied. My eyes sprang out.

"Okay, maybe she won't die. Come on, let's see what Demi's done," I said.

to be continued.