The Christmas Spirit
Chapter 5: Melony Goodness
With two days left till christmas, Shifu was ready to do whatever he could to get Ichi into the christmas spirit; but he was also happy to be able to spend time with him, he wanted to make a real bond with him. But while waiting in the hall of warriors, he couldn't help but think of how he did with Tai Lung. Just remembering him gave Shifu a bad chill, what if somehow... he turns Ichi the same way? He couldn't stand seeing the valley of peace in flames, but he also couldn't stand to see his own son be the cause, "I have to change it, I have to do my best to change that outcome."
"What outcome?"
Shifu turned to see Ichi behind him, he looked confused at what Shifu said; he took a stern look and said, "It's nothing, are you ready to go?"
"Yeah, lets get going!" Ichi said, smiling
Shifu felt happy to see him smile, he even chuckled at how enthusiastic he was; when they came to the valley Shifu asked, "What would you like to do first?"
"Um, well..."
"What's wrong?" Shifu asked
"It's just... I don't know what to do," Ichi answered. "I'm actually nervous, I never thought this would happen."
Shifu's ears fell in disappointment as he said, "I'm sorry, I guess I'm an unfit father."
"That's not it, I'm just happy that we could do this," Ichi assured. "If you like we can do something you want to do first."
"Very well, why don't we... talk?"
"Okay."
The two started walking and waited for the other to form a conversation, Shifu was a little nervous; he had no idea what to talk about, besides training he never really knew how to talk about other things. Then an idea popped into his head, he asked, "Why do you read so much?"
"I like to read." Ichi replied
"I know, but why always read that manga of yours?" Shifu asked
"Oh, cause they're alot better," Ichi explained. "They have epic fight scenes, plots that are complex and interesting, and the characters make you feel like you're them. Not to mention all the hot girls in each story."
"So the characters remind you of yourself?"
"Yeah, but I think I remember this one character that was like you."
"Like me?" Shifu asked
"Yeah, the character was a father with a son, but after his son did something terrible he felt like it was his fault," Ichi answered. "He never showed any emotion to people, but then he met someone. The father thought of helping him and felt like the person was similar to his son, but he seemed different. The person had a strong positive feeling but also had a dark secret that made him distant, but the father was willing to do anything to make him happy."
Shifu felt as if Ichi was talking about the both of them, he actually thought that he made up that story; but he felt happy that he knew how he felt, it felt as if he could really do something good. He grabbed Ichi's hand and said, "Come, I want to bring you somewhere special."
Ichi raised an eyebrow in confusion, he followed him from the valley to the wudang mountains; but he seemed confused about their destination, "This is the pool of sacred tears, why take me here?"
"I want you turn the water to ice." Shifu insisted
"Huh, are you sure about that?" Ichi asked
"Yes, I am."
Ichi nodded and concentrated on his new power, he only poked the water and it instantly turned to ice; he still didn't know what was going on so he asked, "Shifu, why would you ask me to do this?"
"I thought you said you wanted to ice skate," Shifu said, smiling. "I thought this was the perfect place."
"Really, ok then," Ichi said, stepping on the ice. "Could you help me, this is my first time ice skating so I don't know how."
"Neither do I, but I think there's a certain way to do it."
Shifu slid on the ice and formed a fighting stance, but it looked different; he moved on the ice like it was the ground itself, and his moves were elegant and graceful. Ichi was at awe, he smiled and said, "That's so cool, I had no idea you could do that!"
"You'd be amazed what you can do as a master," Shifu said, smiling. "It's easy as 1, 2...!?"
Shifu lost his footing and slipped on the ice, Ichi went over to him but ended up falling as well; when they were close Shifu said, "3, I guess it's not that easy."
"It's funny, even you can't do somethings," Ichi said, smiling. "I feel at ease now, knowing that I'm with someone who's perfect is a little nerve racking."
Shifu chuckled at his son's comment, which then led to the both of them laughing together; when they got up they started to skate again, Ichi was happy to have fun with Shifu. They both showed a magnificent grace that would've given them applause, and they were happy just to be together in the end. When they were done Ichi melted the ice and turned it back to normal, he then asked, "So, what do we do now?"
"Didn't you want something else?" Shifu asked
"Oh yeah, melon bread!" Ichi exclaimed
When they got back to the valley, Ichi bought bags that carried nearly two dozen pounds of melon bread; Shifu was surprised and nervous, when they sat on top of the thousand steps he watched as Ichi started to eat. He could tell from the color in his cheeks that he liked it, "Delicious, I so needed this!"
"Why did you buy so much?" Shifu asked
"Oh, I thought everyone would want to taste it," Ichi said, handing him one. "You can have it, it's really good."
Shifu smiled and took the bread in his hands, but when he took a bite Ichi said, "No, not like that!"
"What?"
"You're doing it all wrong," Ichi argued. "You have to take small bites, then you have to chew slowly to savor the taste. Once you do that, you'll find the best taste ever!"
Shifu had no idea why Ichi was getting into it so much, but after doing what he said he felt a large sensation; he could feel his cheeks turning red from the taste of the melon bread, now he knew why Ichi wanted to try this and said, "This is really good."
"Told you, and the filling just makes it even better!" Ichi agreed
The two just smiled and ate again, while the snow fell they felt as if this was the best day ever; but Shifu still had a little regret, Ichi could see it and asked, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, I think I'll have another." Shifu lied
But Ichi pulled the bag away and said, "Not until you tell me the truth."
Shifu sighed, "I was thinking about Tai Lung, for a while I thought that you might become the same as him. From what you told me before about not doing anything with you, I actually thought it might come true."
"You're such a dumbass!"
"Excuse me?" Shifu asked
"Don't you know that something like that will never happen, you're thinking about it way to much," Ichi explained. "You have to stop living in the past, you have to persist in the present and believe in the future. That's how you have to live!"
Shifu knew what he meant, but that still didn't stop him from whacking Ichi on the head with his flute; he smiled and said, "Thank you, Kage. But you don't have to curse to prove your point."
"I can see that now, you're welcome." Kage answered, he then switched with Ichi who said, "Ow, maybe he should have his own body, getting hurt for no reason sucks."
"I bet it does." Shifu said, trying to grab another melon bread
But Ichi moved away and said, "What do you say?"
"You can't be serious?"
"You have to be serious if you want the melony goodnes." Ichi smirked
"Please?"
Ichi just smiled and gave one to Shifu, then the two ate together again; Shifu was happier than ever before, not because of the bread, but because he was able to have a son like Ichi, "I'll think about it."
"What?"
"I guess celebrating christmas wouldn't be so bad, so I'll think about joining." Ichi said, smiling
"That's all I can ask from you, that and something else." Shifu replied
"What would that be?" Ichi asked
"Why did I bother to even ask?"
It only took a few minutes, but everyone watched as Ichi came out in a santa clause outfit; it was the same as Po's, and only his right ear stuck out from his hat. It turned out that Po and the others made a bet, Po bet that if Shifu could get Ichi into the christmas spirit he'd have to wear a santa outfit, Unfortunately for Ichi... Po won, "Why am I wearing this, I only said that I'd think about it."
"But that's still a maybe, so I won!" Po said, smiling. "You look real cute, Ichi."
Ichi blushed in embarrassment, but he also showed flames of rage circling him as he said, "Po, you're gonna burn!"
In the end, Po ran laps around the palace trying to run from Ichi's flames; everyone just laughed and watched the show.
To be continued
Never mess with the flames of rage, and melon bread rules! Chapter 6 coming soon.