Ohayo London! Konnichi wa Tokyo! Konban wa New York! CJzilla with another chapter! In this update, Po gives Layla a gift and Commander Vachir's motives at the Jade Mountain are exposed.

As I lay waste to this city, alls CJzilla has to roar is this: R&R! Fluff or flame... I don't care.

What Is and What Is To Come

Layla sat on her soft mat, her eyes staring into the flame of the nearest candle. Po had taken a seat beside her and tried her best to read what was going through her mind. He thought he brighten her up with a gift. Snapping his fingers, Po stood, remembering the fans he bought Layla.

"Oo!" He cheered, hopping to his feet. "I got you something, Lady Layla!"

Layla perked up her ears as she watched the panda race around the room. Po dug in the drawers of the dressers before yanking out his gifts.

"Here!" His smile was two miles wide as he handed Layla his gift.

Unfortunately a pair of his underwear had gotten snagged on the fans and that's what plopped into Layla's lap. The vixen was stunned.

"Undies?" She asked holding up the underwear and looking up at Po.

The panda's eyes went wide.

"Holy-!" Po blurted out, yanking the undergarments from Layla's hand. "Sorry… Those are… mine."

He floundered with the underwear trying to get the fans that were tangled inside of them, out. Finally the two fans clanked to the floor and Po tossed his undies into the corner of his room. The panda picked the closed fans up from the floor and sat in front of the vixen.

"These are what I got you." Po flushed, glancing at the underwear in the corner. "Because I broke your first one. Not the undies…"

Layla immediately took the fans from the panda's paws. A happy look spread over her face as she flicked her wrist and opened the paper fans.

"They're not as nice as your first one but when I saw them, I thought of you." Po avoided her eyes.

"Oh, Po!" Layla gleefully smiled. "They're beautiful! And they have lilies on them!"

"Yeah." The panda twiddled his thumbs. "From that analogy of the water lily being born in mud yet being admired by great warriors because of their beauty. That and the lilies are so pretty, they reminded me of you."

Po flushed but mentally punched himself. Could he be any cheesier?!

"Oh, thank you!" Layla pulled the panda into a hug.

"You're welcome, Lady Layla." He expressed. "You've taught me a lot, so I wanted to show my appreciation."

The vixen released the panda and she tucked both fans into her sash.

"And you've taught me a lot as well, Po." Layla voiced, placing a kiss on his cheek. "And I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused."

A goofy smile spread over Po's face as he touched his cheek.

"I understand." The panda smiled. "You were sad over Master Oogway's death. Sadness causes good people to do some strange things."

The vixen sighed and looked at him. Po, like Master Oogway could forgive in a heartbeat. Layla was thankful that he was so understanding.

"How long was I out?" She questioned.

Glancing to the ceiling, the panda counted the days on his fingers.

"About two whole days." Po answered and then he glanced at his hands in his lap. "We… thought you were as good as dead."

He heard Layla shift on her mat.

"Well… to my knowledge, no one has ever survived the Wu Dai." The vixen replied. "I'm just as surprised as you that I'm alive."

Bringing his eyes up Po saw that Layla was facing him. The panda dropped his green eyes again as he felt heat rise to his face.

"I-… I am totally thrilled that you're alive, though." Po mentally slapped himself.

Could anything stupider come out of his mouth? Then he heard the vixen giggle.

Tigress was wide awake and listening in. From out in the hallway, she sat with her back pressed to the wall, silently listening through the open door. Was she spying? Nah. She was observing in secret. But the female tiger was intently curious. She wondered where his solitary and solemn conversation between Po and Layla would lead.

"What's wrong?" Layla placed her hand on his. "You're very quiet."

Po nervously tugged on one of his ears, eyes still cast on his lap.

"It's-… I feel… I dunno… Kinda weird." He answered honestly.

"Uh-huh." She allowed him to continue.

Clicking his tongue, the panda looked up at the beautiful Kung Fu master.

"When you and Tai Lung were fighting… at first you guys seemed to be a team and then you chance sides…" Po continued, his honest green eyes hazed over with confusion. "I mean, I know now that you were fighting for our side but… I'm getting a weird feeling."

The young panda sighed, his nose scrunched in frustration since he couldn't find the words.

"You mean if I was with the Jade Palace all along, why did I attack your friends, right?" Layla expressed.

"Kinda." Po scratched his head.

"Well, I felt that I was with the Jade Palace when I freed Tai Lung." The vixen explained as she sat straight and crossed her legs. "But I was only tricking myself into thinking Shifu was corrupt to excuse the feelings of failure I had. I did wrong and I reality finally hit when I saw you and Tai Lung fighting."

Po made a face.

"What a jerk." The panda folded his arms. "Tai Lung's a big fat jerk for using the Wu Dai on you. Didn't he know that the Wu Dai Nerve Strike is deadly?!"

Layla closed her eyes.

"He was angry and he let that guide his actions." The vixen explained. "Tai Lung doubtlessly felt betrayed that I didn't take the Jade Palace when I had the chance. And he alluded to jealousy."

Po looked at her funny.

"Jealousy? Over what?" The young panda questioned.

And Layla's face grew bright pink.

"I believe Tai Lung thinks that I am in love you." She answered frankly.

Po's face went dark, dark red.

"W-wha-…?!" His voice grew high.

The vixen opened her yellow eyes, knowing that the panda was flushing because she could feel the heat from his face. She held back an amused laugh, knowing it was only going to fluster Po more. Layla waited for the panda to calm down a little.

Again Po's hands got icy, his mouth ran desert dry and he started sweating bullets. The room felt like it was a hundred-million degrees and his throat was pinched shut. The panda nervously clicked his tongue trying to rewet his mouth. He pulled his hand behind his head and avoided Layla's yellow eyes.

"I-… uh… Oh, boy…" Po trailed off, feeling stupider and more nervous by the minuet.

Layla's eyes were heating up his body and the panda was hungry for an answer. Did she love him?

"Well… do… you?" Po peeked over at the vixen. "L-l-l-lo-o-o-ove m-me, I mean…"

She gave him a funny look.

"Of course." Layla blinked.

Po's face was bright, bright apple red as the shock started to settle in.

And from out in the hall, you could almost hear Tigress' heart break and drop to the bottom of her stomach.

"Just not in the way Tai Lung thinks I love you." Layla clarified.

His thought process deflated.

"All right, all right." The panda held up his hands and shaking his head. "I'm confused. You… don't love me… the way… Tai Lung thinks you love me? But you love me. What are we talking about?"

Layla laughed at the perplexed look on young Po's face.

"Tai Lung believes that I care for you as I care for a lover." The vixen explained and she watched the panda's face flush a darker hue. "I do care for you, but not as a lover."

"Oh." Po felt his face cool off.

The vixen watched the panda, seeing that his face fell straight.

"Po." Layla touched his paw. "I'm in love with Tai Lung."

Now that changed the subject and Po gave her a wild look.

"What?" He commented, twisting a finger in his ear, thinking he didn't hear her right. "I'm sorry… WHAT?"

Layla's yellow eyes twinkled.

"I love Tai Lung." She repeated. "It's taken careful sifting through my most inner feelings and I have concluded that I've fallen hard for my best friend. Perhaps you've done the same?"

Po looked up from his lap and cocked his head.

"What do you mean?" He asked, his big, innocent eyes shinning with curiosity.

Layla smiled knowingly.

"Since my arrival here, I couldn't help but observe an honest and strong relationship that was just blooming into love." The gray vixen commented. "Only in a magical place like the Jade Mountain could such a wonderful thing occur."

The fox still didn't answer Po's question.

"Sure, sure." The panda gestured, eager to hear more. "Who am I in love with?"

His innocent question sent a huge laugh through Layla's body, though she stifled it. How could you not know who you're in love with?

From out in the hallway, Tigress held her breath. Part of the tiger willed Layla to say her name, the other part screamed in objection. If Po knew Tigress was in love with him, how would that change their friendship? She couldn't risk it! Tigress had to stop the fox before she spilled her most guarded secret.

Hopping to her feet Tigress made a not-so-polite entrance into the room.

"Layla!" The south China tiger cheered, way out of character. "You're alive! Wow! You survived the Wu Dai! Amazing! Po, I think there's some fresh lemon cookies in the kitchen."

At the mention of food, the panda lit up.

"Lemon cookies? Sweet!" Po jumped to his feet and flew to the door, passing Layla a quick glance. "You can tell me who I'm in love with, later! I've got some cookies to eat!"

And just like that, in a flash of black and white fur, the panda was gone.

Tigress stood, peeking around the doorframe and watched Po race toward the kitchen.

"Eavesdropping? Is that the way of a Furious Five fighter, Tigress?" By the vixen's tone, Tigress could tell that she was joking.

"Yes!" The female tiger spat, spinning on her heel to Layla, her distrust and jealousy over the fox rearing again.

Then Tigress saw that her tail was bristled. Snatching her black and white tail from behind her, Tigress quickly licked her hand and smoothed out the flustered frizz in her fur. But then she realized that she was caught listening in and coyly tucked a strand of invisible hair behind her ear.

"I-I mean… no." The female south China tiger gulped.

Layla watched the lovesick girl in front of her.

"I know you love him, Tigress." The vixen stood, calmly looking at the younger fighter. "And I know that's why you fight so hard every day."

Tigress looked the older Kung Fu master in the eye.

"Yes." She narrowed her eyes at the vixen. "And you almost cost me his friendship."

Layla nodded.

"I deserve that." She expressed. "And I apologize. But the bond between you and Po was strengthened by my underhanded behavior. Do you trust Po's loyalty thoroughly now?"

Still, the tiger's eyes were narrowed as her tail flicked.

"I've never questioned Po's loyalty to the Jade Palace." Tigress almost growled.

Layla gave a smile.

"Then don't you think Po would be trusted with your secret?" The vixen stated. "The young panda would display loyal friendship regardless if you told him you love him. You're afraid of losing his companionship aren't you?"

Tigress' eyes fell to the floor but she gave a stiff nod.

"Don't be." Layla motioned. "Besides, Po's commitment to the Jade Mountain and to those he cares about proves your fears wrong. His devotion knows no bounds. Imagine what a fine husband Po would make."

Tigress' eyes went wide and her face was red with a huge flush; even her stripes disappeared at Layla's comment. The vixen giggled, holding her hand to her mouth in an effort to stop her laugh.

"Po is special and I can see why you guarded him like a priceless jewel and I feel sorry for the next girl to walk in and flirt with him, but all the same to you; you break his heart and I break your face." Layla's tone took a dark turn.

At first Tigress was taken aback but then she managed a quick smile.

"Fine." The female tiger stretched out her arm.

Layla took her hand in a shake.

Just then they heard clumsy plods of a goose's webbed feet on the hardwood floor. Running down the hallway and stopping in front of the door, the messenger goose Zeng was out of breath.

"Lady Layla." He panted. "Master Shifu would see you in the Hall of Heroes right away."

Tigress flexed an eyebrow.

"Very well." Layla nodded and stepped toward the door.

With one last look to Tigress, the vixen walked down the hallway and out to the pavilion.

"Zeng." Tigress stopped the goose from following. "What's going on?"

The brown goose gulped, not sure whether to tell the beautiful yet dangerous Tigress what was going on.

"Commander Vachir has returned to the Jade Palace, Master Tigress." Zeng replied.

He was about to step toward the door but Tigress persisted.

"Again? I don't understand. Why did Vachir leave Chorh-Gom and come here twice?" The female tiger questioned. "Tell me, Zeng; what's his purpose here?"

Again the goose's face twisted with the news. Finally Zeng just gave in.

"Commander Vachir is holding Lady Layla responsible for Tai Lung's escape, Master Tigress." He bowed his head before looking back up at her. "He is demanding that Lady Layla take Tai Lung's place in the Chorh-Gom Prison."

Tigress' head jerked back.

"No. Master Shifu would not allow it." The female south China tiger returned.

Zeng nodded.

"Master Shifu is fighting Vachir anyway he can, but it appears that his hands are tied." The goose responded. "Lady Layla aided Tai Lung in his escape, thus sharing in Tai Lung's crime. She's guilty, Master Tigress."

Tigress was shocked and she stood there in a stupor.

"I must get Po." She voiced and bolted toward the kitchen.

Layla made it to the Hall of Heroes. Her arm hurt and she held it tenderly inside of the front of her robe. The vixen's thoughts wandered to Tai Lung. Where was he? Did he know that she was alive? Unlikely, because then the cocky snow leopard would be fighting his way through the Jade Palace in order to see her. Layla prayed with all her being that he didn't do something foolish after her "death". Then her ears caught a heated argument coming from inside the Hall of Heroes.

A loud tap of a staff was heard.

"Lady Layla SAVED us all from Tai Lung's wrath!" It was Master Shifu.

Layla stepped into the Hall of Heroes to see Shifu almost forehead to forehead with the javan rhino commander of Chorh-Gom Prison. Prison guards stood on either side of the hall, obediently yet passively standing through the argument.

"I don't CARE if she is a Kung Fu master!" The huge Commander Vachir bellowed at Master Shifu. "Tai Lung was the same, was he not?! Regardless of what title or power someone has, justice WILL be done! She STARTED all of this! That fox is as guilty as Tai Lung is!"

The argument was interrupted by Layla, her anger toward the disrespectful rhino bubbling to her mouth.

"You dare talk to the Supreme Kung Fu Master like that you meat-headed prison slug?" The vixen's voice was icy and her yellow eyes narrowed.

Vachir's head shot up. As soon as the rhino spotted her his eyes narrowed and he snapped his fingers. At their commander's order, over a dozen brawny javan rhino guards jumped toward Layla, weapons pointing threateningly at her body. Vachir's actions only infuriated the vixen more. Layla's fists itched to teach that pigheaded rhino a lesson. Shifu's irritated sigh cut through the silence.

"I do not approve, Commander Vachir!" The red panda Kung Fu master tapped his staff again. "I will not let you take Lady Layla to Chorh-Gom."

The javan rhino commander turned his head to Master Shifu.

"If the world went by your governing justice, Master Shifu, then Tai Lung would still be reigning terror on the Valley of Peace." Vachir nearly spat. "The people don't feel safe with Tai Lung's escape by this woman's hand. It's my duty to lock her up like the criminal she is!"

Just then Po and the rest of the Furious Five came flying into the Hall of Heroes. When Po's eyes came to the Chorh-Gom guards pointing their spears at Layla, the panda stepped forward.

"All right." He grew defensive and inadvertently puffed out his chest. "The Dragon Warrior says drop the spears or heads are gonna roll."

The guards glanced at each other before letting their spears relax. The javan rhinos stepped to the side and allowed Po and the Furious Five to come to Master Shifu's side.

"What's wrong, Master Shifu?" Crane asked as Viper slithered off of his back and to the floor.

"Yeah, what's going on?" Mantis hopped on Monkey's shoulder.

Everyone but Tigress and Lady Layla were confused.

"Why is he here again?" Po pointed at Vachir. "And what the heck's with all the guards?"

A waterfall of questions followed but Master Shifu held out his hand. Immediately the room silenced. The red panda dropped his head.

"Commander Vachir is here to escort Lady Layla to… Chorh-Gom." Shifu whispered.

Crane, Viper, Monkey and Mantis then knew what was going on. But Po was still trying to figure this out.

"What? Why?" The panda's eyes were wide.

Vachir glared down Po.

"Lady Layla aided Tai Lung in his escape." Vachir snorted. "Now tell me, Dragon Warrior... is she not guilty?"

corset-rebellion-follower: Well, Po and I are a lot alike and sometimes exactly the same. Writing humor for the panda isn't hard for me at all.

Wolf Mystic: Relax. Tai Lung is my favorite character and he's not done with my fic yet.

silentXtears9331: Rock on with the awesomeness! I hope you liked this update.

R&R! LONG LIVE ROCK!