The Incident

I was staring at the ceiling my room in the middle of the night. I guessed it was 3:00 am because that's usually the time I get up and go to the bathroom. I just stared up at the ceiling waiting for sleep to conquer me. I was sleepy and my body was weary, but something just wouldn't let me sleep. I started to become restless. Then I heard a scuffling of feet. I turned my head to see Krystal in my room. "Krystal," I said, now fully awake, "What are you doing up? The only one who should be up this late is me." I was joking but she wasn't smiling. She seemed scared and frightened, like when she first came to the Jade Palace. "What's wrong?"

"N...nothing. I just wanted to... to see if I can sleep with you," She said. I stood upright in the bed and let her sit down beside me.

"What's wrong? And don't lie to me. I know something's up," I said earnestly. I was really scared of what was bothering her.

"I... it was just a silly dream," Krystal replied, trying to act brave.

"It must have been some kind of 'silly' dream to make you come here. What was the dream?" I asked. She was silent for a while.

"We... we were in your world. All the gadgets and systems made it feel like it was paradise. But then when I looked around for you, you were with someone else. And when I tried to talk to you, you said that since we were here, we didn't need to be together and you could date who you wished. As you left with the other girl, it got really dark and I just kept falling," She started to cry and clung onto me. "I don't want you to leave me. Please don't leave or forget me when you go back home."

"Does me leaving you really scare you that much," I asked. In the immediate moment, it was a dumb question. She just told me her dream and I ask a question like that? However, thankfully, it didn't offend or outrage her.

"Yes, it does. I know we've only known each other for about a year, but I don't want you to leave me just because of how we got married. I don't want another husband or boyfriend, I want you." Man, this woman knows how to pick at a person's heartstrings. And she seems to do it unintentionally. I hugged her tightly, calming her down some.

"It's alright," I said, "I won't leave you. Though this isn't the ideal circumstances, I am committed to this relationship." She looked at me with a tear-streaked smile.

"Thank you, John," she said tenderly. The fact she said my real name made me all the more lightheaded and light-hearted.

"You can stay with me if it will help you."

"That would help," She replied. I started to get up, but she held on to me. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to get some pillows so I can sleep on the floor. It's going to wreck havoc for my back, but it's a little price to pay," I said, desperately trying to get her to smile and cheer up just a bit. But that just made her nervous.

"Actually, I was...wondering if... you and I could... sleep in the same bed." Okay, that was an elevation in the relationship level. I had no intention of doing anything touchy, but I did have a duty to comfort her.

"Are you sure you're okay with that," I asked, trying to make sure she was sure of her decision. She nodded. I didn't question it. I went back to my bed and scooted over. We were face-to-face with not much room in between. If I was sleepy, it was completely gone now! I was nervous. Hey, having a girl this close to you would make you nervous too. And yes, even if she is your wife. Krystal picked up on this.

"Don't worry, I'm nervous too. I just want to make sure you're near me," Krystal said, wrapping her arms around me. I did the same unknowingly.

"As long as I can comfort you," I said with a nervous grin. Krystal smiled.

"Good," She simply said as she rested her head into my chest. I didn't think I could sleep, but then there was blackness and then the sun was up. I was able to sleep through the night with a beautiful tigress by my side. I slowly opened my eyes to see her still there. I was about to close my eyes again until she said something.

"Tigress is here," She said without moving. I looked at the door and could see a smirking, smug Tigress leaning on the entryway.

"TIGRESS!"

"OW! That doesn't mean you can shout in my ear," Krystal complained.

"Sorry."

"Am I interrupting something," Tigress teased, "I just came to talk to Lion when-"

"How did you get in!"

"The front door doesn't have a lock. You should get that fix," She mocked me. I groaned as I got out of bed.

"Why didn't you shake me awake or something, Krystal," I asked.

"You won't let go of me in your sleep," she mumbled still resting in the bed. I blushed in front of Tigress.

"Go outside, I'll be right there," I said. When Tigress left, Krystal was sitting upright in the bed. I sat beside her. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Of course, and I'm sorry if I was clingy. I... the thought of you leaving just scares me," She said.

"Scares you or hurts you," I said to clarified. She hugged me tightly.

"I don't expect you to be there for me 24/7, but I don't want you to abandon me," She said.

"I won't," I reassured her. I kissed her on the forehead. She instantly blushed. "I'll be back," I smiled. I went out the door to see Tigress's smiling face. "You are to say nothing," I growled out. "Now, what is it that you wanted to tell me?"

"Um... actually, I don't think I can do it," She retreated. I rolled my eyes but said.

"It's okay, you don't have to tell me. Tell me when you're comfortable," I replied. I was about to walk away before she grabbed my arm.

"No, I have to do this. If I don't, it will haunt me," she said nervously.

"Let's get to somewhere more private," I suggested. We went a little way out from the house. "Now, what is it?" She was shaking.

"Do you promise not to tell ANYONE that could tell Shifu," She pleaded with me. "He would be very disappointed."

"What's wrong?"

"I don't want you to see me differently, okay?" I nodded.

"Don't worry, I won't. Now, what is it?" It was a while before she told me, and when she told me I wasn't prepared for it.

"Touched," I said the word with anger, sadness, and woe. Tigress had been young when the 'incident' occurred, about fifteen. She had been dating this smooth, punk wolf. This was her first time dating someone. However, about a month into the relationship, the wolf wanted things to get 'physical' and didn't take no for an answer. Luckily, Tigress knew enough Kung Fu to get herself out of the situation and prevent any physical damage. But I knew that this kind of thing wouldn't be just a physical thing. It would be psychological, even emotional, scarring. My mother was a specialized woman doctor that cared for things like these. I never thought I would be in the same situation she dealt with. I shook my head. This was probably the underlying reason why Tigress and Crane couldn't make it work out. She couldn't trust people. I told Krystal what she told me. She just sat in horror. "How can I fix this," I asked myself more than her.

"I don't think you can," She replied. She was right and I knew that. "What can you do?" There was absolutely nothing I could do. "Why did she tell you?"

"I have this way of making people think I'm trustworthy, which I am to a certain extent. But this is."

"What about the wolf?"

"He died in an unrelated accident, about two months after the incident." Then I thought of something else. "There's no way Po will get Tigress now. Her mind won't let her trust anyone. I might as well just write my way out of this. I just can't believe this happened. Now I really do wish Lion Warriors could go back in time."

"Lion, why are you so worried about going home? By what you've told me about it, it's not the best place," Krystal asked. She had a very good point. There's no traffic, little pollution, I have superhuman powers, I'm married, I'm with one of my favorite characters, my identity pays for itself, I don't have to worry about college loans, I have a permanent house, I can see the world if I wanted to, and I am a lion. Why was I so worried about going home? Home. Try as I might, this place is not my home. I am a pilgrim in this land. Though I wish I could stay, I can not.

But now was not the time to focus on me. I had Tigress to worry about. Po said that she had to let go of any conflicts or burdens on her for her to heal. Healing process starts now! "Tigress has to tell Shifu."

"No," Tigress exclaimed. I sighed and shook my head. We were in the courtyard and the others were out on a mission. Po was down in Mr. Ping's shop with Tai-gee. "He would be disappointed."

"No, he wouldn't. And if he is, I will kill him," I said seriously. I wasn't going to let Shifu live if he scowled Tigress for something like this. Krystal held Tigress's hand.

"I know that it's scary. I know you want to be strong, but this is something that you need to do," she explained, "We'll be with you." Tigress drew a deep breath. We went to the Hall of Heroes, where Master Shifu was.

"AH, Master Tigress, Master Lion, and Krystal. What is the matter?" He asked curiously. I could see Tigress gripping Krystal's hand tightly as Tigress knelt to Shifu's height.

"M..Master Shifu," Tigress stumbled. "I have something to tell you." Then she told him. Shifu's expression was devastating. His ears drooped down, his eyes widened, and I could see his face was riddled with... guilt instead of disappointment.

"Why didn't you tell me," Shifu asked, heartbroken. Tigress struggled to get the words out.

"Because... I didn't want to disappoint you." Shifu immediately hugged her.

"I have never, and will never be disappointed in you. You're my daughter. The only one who should be disappointed is you," Shifu said, "I should have helped you. I should have been there to save you from that that-"

"Incident," I finished. I had to be careful not to intrude too much.

"It was my fault," Shifu continued.

"No, I should have focused on training. If I had, I wouldn't have-"

"Tigress, is this why you train so much? Is this why you exert yourself too much," Shifu asked. Tigress bowed her head. "It doesn't matter. You don't have to train to make sure you won't be taken advantage of. And you don't have to train to make me proud of you." Tigress's head snapped up. "I listen and hear the stories you tell of Tai-lung and I know the sign of no parental approval. I've always been proud of you. You are the result that I could train someone right. After Tai-Lung, I didn't think I could train anyone again. I didn't trust myself to show any kind of affection. This is all my fault."

"It doesn't matter who's fault it was," I butted in. This self-blame wasn't getting us to the healing stage. "The person at fault has already paid for his actions. What matters now is that you know what happened, and you know what to do to fix." Shifu nodded as he hugged his daughter again.

"I'm sorry, Master Shifu," Tigress softly said. It sounded like she was going to cry.

"It's okay. It's not your fault," Shifu whispered. I motioned to Krystal to follow me out so we could let them heal. Before we left, I heard Tigress faintly say,

"I love you, Baba." To which Shifu replied.

"I love you too, my child." We went out the door and back to the house.

"That was... something," Was all I could say.

"Do you think they will get better," Krystal asked.

"They will. I know they will. But do let's keep this from Po. I don't know how he would react if he knew," I said. "She'll have to learn how to trust again, which is something she's already been doing with Po."

"So why didn't she tell Po then," Krystal asked.

"I don't know," I shrugged. I looked outside. It was still noon. My stomach growled very loudly.

"Wow, your stomach as a timely announcing," Krystal smirked. I think it was the only laugh I got out this entire morning. Things would get better. I could already feel it in my bones.

to be continued.