The Red-Crowned Crane pulled another scroll from the shelf and sat it on the table of the Archives. The large room was quiet and empty, save for Crane, Zaria, and the Scrollmaster.

Crane was reading. Reading anything. He had read about the Origins of Drunken Monkey Style. He had read about the Anvil of Heavens struggle with the Mongolians three years ago, and how the Commander could not face killing the men he had once lived with. He now had scrolls about Dim Mak, or the Touch of Death.

"Don't be bummed Crane. Mei Ling's just playing hard to get" Zaria joked. Crane wasn't listening. He was too enveloped in the effects of Dim Mak; A technique that was used to paralyze an enemy with a touch to certain points.

But the truth was, he wasn't even thinking about Dim Mak. He was thinking about Mei Ling. He was thinking about how she had completely ignored him when she arrived. He was thinking about how every time he went to her dorm, she was gone. He was thinking about how every time he tried to talk to her she somehow disappeared.

I told you so.

She's just been busy! Probably…

Oh, yes, busy. Probably with another man. Probably with one of the ox's from upper class. She'd probably enjoy their-

No! She can't been socializing with a low level Crane while she needs to study and train!

Keep denying it.

I will!

Crane sighed, irritated, and said, "Hey Zaria, I'm going to go…I, uh, gotta go train…" He said nervously, walking down the aisle of the Archives.

Zaria just nodded her head and said, "Sure, see ya Crane"

Even if he never acknowledged it, the truth was Zaria was a great friend. She was a great student, especially for a second-year. Zaria had shown interest in Crane ever since he flawlessly beat the obstacle course, and had constantly checked on him since.

But that didn't help the fact that Mei Ling had been completely ignoring him. She had even acted like she knew who he was. Had he done something wrong? Ruined her ego? Were the Masters of the Jade Palace appalled at how she stuck up for a lowly janitor?

She's tired of you ird. You're yesterday's news. Like I said: She pitied you.

No…She…couldn't have.

You know I'm right.

I know.

Crane sighed, tired of fighting the facts. He walked out into the sunlight and into the courtyard. A free-form training session was going on. It was a day that Crane would usually have off, but doing nothing would make him think again. He didn't want to think right now.

He stepped into the line and bowed to the Master. He started to match the other students; they were currently following through Tai Chi poses; calming their minds, and positioning their hearts (Something that Crane needed dearly). Maybe he could calm down, and quit thinking about;

"Ah, Mei Ling, thank you for coming. The god's have presented us with a lovely day, have they not?" The Master who was leading the free-form group stopped and bowed to Mei Ling. The Mountain Cat bowed back and said, "They have. Now what did you need me for Master Sheng?"

"Ah, yes, no doubt our gracious Warden has told you about the warthog bandits in the western mountains." They were down to a whisper now but Crane had a good focus and listened intently. Warthog bandits were something Crane was all too familiar with.

"Yes, is it true that they-" The Master cut her off and said, "Yes. But we do not need to talk about that in front of the students. They would not take easy to kidnapping."

Crane's face was red now. Memories flooded back. The blizzard, the snow flurried about him. These bandits had to be the ones. Something in the wind told Crane this. He was sure of it.

"Now, I would completely trust you to go on your own Mei Ling, but it is winter. In case of a blizzard, I don't know what we would do if you were to get lost. So I ask you to take a student with you. Any student you wish. Not only will it be safer, but it will be a test and trial for the both of you"

Mei Ling nodded, "How much time do I have?"

"The sooner you depart the better. But take as much time as you need finding a partner"

She shrugged, "That part's easy, I just want to get ready"

The old steed only said, "Ah, I see, then who shall be your companion"

"That's easy. Student Crane" Crane apparently hadn't been the only one listening because everyone else in the line-up gasped.

Even the Master looked shocked, "But Mei Ling, he is a first-year! He has only been a student for a few weeks! I cannot trust him to be out in a blizzard, or to fight bandits!"

Mei Ling shrugged, "It'll be good for him. I think he'll get way better experience out in the field than being stuck in a courtyard doing Tai Chi"

"But child-" he stuttered.

She put a hand up, "Either he comes, or I don't go."

The steed, wordless and stricken merely sighed and said, "Fine. We will await your return."

She bowed to the Master as he walked off. "Class dismissed" He murmured.

Crane, beak open and completely shocked, watched as Mei Ling looked towards him and winked one eye.

Though it had been only hours since Mei Ling had decided to take a novice Kung FU student on a dangerous filed mission, Crane was already waiting at the bottom of the stairs that led to the gates of Lee Da. It was breezy and cold, bits of snow flling around the Red-Crowned Crane.

The warden had escorted Mei Ling to the bottom of the entrance. All three bowed and the pair began to leave before the warden said, "Take care of him Mei Ling. You need to be careful out there…Ou Tsuru"

The warden had pronounced his name completely wrong, but Crane smiled and nodded, "Thanks"

The pair started walking, Mei Ling holding her bag which was slung around her back with her hands. After the warden had turned back and left Mei Ling only smiled and said, "Finally! We're out of that damned prison." bumping into him playfully.

Crane was still stiff and nervous, and the least to say a bit angry. She had kind of let him think she hated him for the week and now she's happy and friendly. What the hell!

She tilted her head at him. "Hey Crane, what's wrong?"

He snorted and said, "Nothing"

She scoffed and said, "I'm not stupid Crane. You really are bad at hiding emotions"

Dammit. She's right about that. "Well, why have you been ignoring me is my first question"

"Have I?" She said innocently.

"Now you're playing stupid" He said looking at her with a dark look in his eye. Snow fell on her face, which was showing a hidden look of pride.

She only raised her chin and said, "Sorry I can't spend every moment of my time watching over the orphan"

Crane's face fell and he looked forward, quieted. Mei Ling's face also showed sadness and she opened her mouth, "I d-" but she stopped.

They were both quiet for the rest of the time. The wind picked up, the sun falling behind the mountains. The snow wasn't horrible, but it was blowing fast.

"We should…stop here" Mei Ling said quietly. There was a small cave that was dry and looked somewhat cozy.

Crane, tired of walking, was hovering off the ground and nodded softly. When they got in, Crane sat down quietly and Mei Ling pulled some sticks of wood out of her bag, "You carry sticks with you?"

"Well we aren't going to find dry sticks out there, now are we?" She said, spite hinting her words. Crane grunted in reply and let his hat fall down over his face.

Mei Ling got the fire started, it's crackling the only sound in the cave, save for the wind.. The pair was quiet, Crane listening to the wind that was picking up outside.

Crane was about to fall asleep when he heard Mei Ling say, "The Palace was beautiful."

He grunted, "Was it now." He truly didn't give a rat's ass.

"Yeah" Crane had lifted his hat back up with his wing and saw Mei Ling sitting by the fire. Her face showed sadness, her eyes miserable. Crane dearly wanted to just hold her and accept an apology. Hell, screw the apology! He just wanted to wrap his wings around her and keep her warm.

"I met the Master there. Shifu was his name. He had heard a story from his master. Master Oogway"

Crane perked up at the name. Ever since Crane had figured out Oogway was the one to heal his wing, the turtle had become a major mark in his life. Crane had asked the Master's where Oogway was, but apparently he was not to be disturbed.

"The story was of a janitor. A bird, who had summoned the bravery to make something of his life; out of nothing"

Crane smiled inside his head, "Of course he couldn't have done it without the help of a certain Mountain Cat."

She smirked a beautiful smile that made Crane flush in happiness.

But then her face fell. "But Shifu already knew the janitor. Apparently, Shifu had been great friends with the bird's father."

Crane didn't move but closed his eyed. His wings were trembling. "What else does he know?"

Crane felt a warm paw on his wing. He opened his eyes and saw that Mei Ling had reached across the cave to comfort him, "Can you please tell me Crane?"

Crane frowned angrily and stood up quickly, ripping his wing from Mei Ling's grasp, "What is there to tell! I was a boy! I couldn't do a damn thing! We were going to an old cabin, high in the mountains! We were there for three days before it got attacked. Bandits lit the place on fire, and me and father tried to escape!" Memories nailed his brain.

A log fell down above Crane's head. His father pulled him out of the way with his talons, ripping his shirt, "Ou Tsuru! Stay with me!"

Crane was terrified, but did what his father told him. They ran around flaming tables and chairs, until they saw the front door. Wood crashed down around it and his father yelled, "Come On!"

Scooping him up and wrapping him in his wings, Crane's father jumped through the window. He set him down and yelled, "Keep following me!!!"Crane heard laughter in the distance and looked at his wings. Blood splattered them. But not that of his own, but of his father's.

Crane ran after his father before falling down in the snow. His father slid in the snow and ran back. Crane watched, drowsy from smoke inhalation, as his father came closer towards him. An arrow flew above his head and struck his father in the torso, "Tsuru! Run…."

His father fell to the ground. Crane slowly rotated his head over and a club smashed down through his vision.

"When I woke up, Father was gone. The snow was red with his blood, but I thought…maybe…m-maybe…the b-band-dits t-t-took-"

Mei Ling grabbed his wing again and whispered "That's enough."

He sat back down against the wall. Looking down, Crane noticed the wet spots that soaked his torso, "Tears" He muttered. Men don't cry.

Crane looked at Mei Ling and tears were welled up in her eyes as well, "I ignored you this week…because I didn't think it was right…I didn't think it was right, how I got everything handed to me, but your life has been a living hell. Having your family killed, and then being sent to clean up shit at a martial arts academy. I didn't think it was right for a spoiled idiot like me to show off over a hard worker like you Crane" Now it was his turn to comfort. Crane pulled her towards the wall he was sitting by with his wing.

"Mei Ling, things'll happen to everyone. We'll have our ups and downs, but if you think you can fix those by running away, they'll just keep catching up with you"

Mei Ling wiped her eyes and smiled, "Thanks Crane"

He smiled back. It was quiet after that, the cave completely dark save light from the fire.

Mei Ling smiled and said, "I bet its warm under all those feathers." But Crane didn't have to say anything before Mei Ling laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. HE blushed and half wrapped a wing around her.

He knew she wasn't cold. He knew that was just an excuse.

Because she was a Mountain Cat. And she had fur.

I know, the end's dorky but I thought it sounded cute and random. Damn, 2,100 words, longest ever. My hands took over my body and just kept typing, until I had like a Writer's Orgasm. And the product: was this! Two in one night! Proud of me? I'd think so. Basically, this tied up Crane's past and gave a bit of entertainment for those of us who have no lives. Redemption 3, on the way! Fly On!