"It was this morning on my way to school." She said while patting his forehead with a rag. "Kenji came over to walk me to school and when we got outside, I kind of ran into him." She said with a guilty smile. "He said something about my eyes and called me Rinrei… Who is that?" she questioned looking at her kenpo master for an answer.
Long let out a heavy sigh. "Rinrei was the name of my baby sister. She died about 10 years ago. Uriko and Shina's eyes went wide at his statement, then they both dropped their heads. Shina felt bad for being so hasty and Uriko for bringing it up.
"But what does Uriko have to do with your sister?" Gado asked finally breaking the silence. Uriko's head popped back up wondering the same thing.
"Well for one thing my sister would be about Uriko's age had she still been alive. For another Rinrei's eyes were the same shape and shades of brown as Uriko's. In fact, if Rinrei were here today, the two likely could have easily passed as siblings." He looked over to Uriko who was now looking sympathetically at Shenlong.
"Oh Shenlong, I'm so sorry." She said softly while brushing some hairs from his face.
"R-rinrei…" Shenlong managed to force from his lungs. His eyes were cracked open, but just barely. He was hallucinating, caught between a dream and reality. When Uriko spoke to him, his mind saw her as Long's little sister, who he also saw as his own.
"Rinrei, I'm so sorry I couldn't save you." He stuttered out and tears trickled from his eyes. Uriko continued to rub his head to comfort him and keep him calm.
"It's ok Shenlong… I know you did everything you could. Now its my turn to help you." She said softly with a smile. In his mind's eye she was the little girl from his memory, then was suddenly a teenage version of herself. He reached a hand up to pat her head and rubs the side of her face.
"You've grown I see." His eyes darted around in his head and his tears stopped, a smile formed on his face that let her know he was still all right. Long had come over to keep an eye on him incase his mental state should turn for the worst.
"Yea, I'm strong now so you don't have to worry anymore." She rubbed his arm and sat close to him.
"Long has been teaching me to fight, so now I'm strong like you two." She looked at him and smile. But her smile dropped when she saw a depressed expression on Shenlong's face.
"Long… he's your real brother. I'm just a clone." He muttered and turned away from her. Uriko put a hand on his shoulder and looked up at her teacher for answers.
"Shenlong was created from my DNA by Busuzima." He informed her. She thought for a moment and came to a shaky thought.
"If he was created from your DNA that means he's just as connected to your sister as you are right? I mean her DNA is just as similar to his as it is to yours, isn't it?" She proposed. Long pondered the thought for a moment then nodded in agreement.
"I suppose you're right Uriko. Even if she did not get to spend time with him like she did with me, he has some of my memories. So in his reality, she was very much his little sister, and they shared many joyful days together." Uriko's eyes lit up at his response.
"You hear that Shenlong? You're just as much her brother as Long was." She said in a soft yet cheerful tone.
"But I wasn't really there for you." He looked back at her through his shaky lids.
"That doesn't matter now. What matters is that you're here now." She said with her eyes beginning to well. She felt so sorry Shenlong's suffering and wanted to help him. Perhaps they could help each other. She always wanted a brother and he desperately wanted to be there for his sister.
"Maybe you can be my brother… I mean if you want. My name is Uriko now and even though I wasn't there for you either… well, I would like to be." She said softly. She looked to him for an answer, forgetting that he was less than half conscious; she was full of anticipation. But when he didn't move, she took her hand from his shoulder and turned away. She started to get up to retrieve more cool water, but before she made a move, a large palm found its way to the top of her head. She turned to se him facing her with closed eyes and a big smile.
"You know what kiddo…" He rubbed her head, then moved his hand to lightly brush her chin with his knuckle. "That sounds like a pretty good idea." Uriko's entire world seemed to light up. Her eyes watered as she lunged in to hug him around his neck. A single tear fell down his cheek as he held her close and rubbed the top of her back.
"Thank you brother." She said as she pulled away from him and laid him back down on the pillow. She left to get more water and he drifted off to sleep. When she got back he was sound asleep. She smiled and sat on the floor and rested her head on his arm before drifting off to sleep as well. As Long walked back into the other room Shina gave him a puzzled look.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to let them get so friendly? This is Shenlong after all. I've never known him to be very…. gentle. Know what I mean?" She said with concern. She started to go get the young girl to move her, but was stopped by her father.
"Let them be." He said lightly. "This may actually be good for both of them."
"Indeed. Shenlong has been tormented by the fact that his memories were fabricated and that he never had a real family. A little sister might be exactly what he needs." The older man agreed. Shina nodded and sat back down. As soon as she did the sound of squealing tires was heard out side. Gado looked out of the open window only to see a giant white rabbit, with what had to be the mother of all first aid kits, leaping up toward him. He ducked back just barely avoiding a collision with her. Alice entered the room and franticly looked around for her sister.
"WHERE'S URIKO? IS SHE HURT?" She said the moment she transformed back into her human form. Long motioned toward the hallway with his head and Alice quickly snapped her's around to see her sister sleeping against someone on a couch. When she stepped closer and realized exactly who that someone was, she almost transformed again.
"URIKO GET AWAY FROM HIM!" She shrieked snapping the teenager awake, and Shenlong back into half consciousness. In his dream, some unseen intruder had just interrupted his time with his sister.
"SHHHH!" Uriko hissed at her sister. "Alice calm down he's sleeping and I think he's going to be alright. He doesn't have a concussion and his fever has broke… WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Alice had not listened to a single word the girl said. Her only concern was getting her sister away from this man.
"I said get away from him!" Alice demanded pulling on her sister's arm, but she refused to move.
"Stop it Alice! He's hurt and I'm helping him!" She glared at her sister. "If you don't want to help him fine I'll do it myself but I am not leaving!" Her voice was stern and final.
"You don't know him Uriko. He's a monster and you have no idea what he's capable of, now let's go!" The usually chipper Alice was dead serious for a change, but Uriko didn't care. He had done nothing wrong since she meet him and was not about to abandon him because Alice didn't like him.
"He's not a monster!" She shouted quietly trying not to raise her voice so close to the sleeping man's head. "He's lost and alone, but Maser Long and Mr. Gado agree that I may be able to help him. And maybe… he can even help me…" She snatched her arm away, and sat back down next to him and hugged onto one of his arms. Alice dropped her medical supplies and she stepped over to her defiant sister.
"You don't want his help! You wouldn't want to be anywhere near him if you knew what he was involved in!" She said getting closer and closer.
"It doesn't matter! Now back off!" Shenlong began to grit his teeth. Uriko noticed that his body was getting really warm. In his dream Alice was one of Tylon's lackeys trying to take his sister from him.
"No…. You can't take her... I will protect my little sister this time no matter what..." he was beginning to sweat and his muscles were tense.
"Just look at him Uriko! He's unstable he could go off at any minute and I don't want you near him when he does! Now come on!" She grabbed her sister's leg and started to pull as hard as she could.
"LET GO! YOU'RE UPSETTING HIM THAT'S WHY HIS FEVER'S BACK!" Uriko grabbed onto the couch itself not wanting to pull Shenlong from his spot. He began to struggle in his sleep, as he could feel her being pulled away from him.
"Stop…." He muttered
"Uriko get away from that guy!" Alice continued to pull harder and harder.
"NO ALICE! Why can't you understand that he needs me right now?" She fought back.
"You can't have her…" he gritted his teeth.
"He doesn't need you, Uriko for all you know he could rip your head off the moment he wakes up!" She partially transformed her leg muscles bulged as she struggled to keep a hold of her sister's leg.
"Yes he does! He needs his little sister!" She snarled
"You're NOT his sister you're MINE! He's just a monster!" She shrieked
"DON'T SAY THAT! HE CAN HEAR YOU!" She warned.
"I wont lose her again…." His body began to shake. He was reaching his hand out for her's.
"Alice, stop this! He's half conscious and thinks someone is taking his sister from him. I don't know what's going to happen if you don't stop right now!" Uriko was desperately trying to get her sister to stop, but to no avail. She grabbed Shenlong's hand and he seemed to calm down a little. But Alice was not about to let up even a little.
"I DON'T CARE!" She screeched finishing her transformation and yanking her sister's leg as hard as she could.
"ALICE STOP! YOU'RE MAKING THINGS WORST!" a low growl rolled out of Shenlong's throat as her hand started to slip from his. His teeth were sharpening and Stripes were appearing on his skin. Uriko realized what was about to happen and knew no matter what she could not let go of him!
"MASTER LONG! MR. GADO, PLEASE DO SOMETHING! IF I LET GO HE'S GOING TO TRANSFORM!" Everyone had been staying out of it because they didn't know what exactly to do. But now one thing was clear if Shenlong transformed in his current state he could very well kill someone.
"Gado we have to do something NOW!" Long said brashly.
"Right! SHINA LET'S MOVE!" The older man roared as all three of them transformed and went to pin down Alice.
Alice looked up to see a tiger and lion bearing down on her but used her powerful legs to launch Long across the room and land scissor kick on Gado's crown, knocking him into Long. Shina leapt over her father and aimed to kick Alice in the face but was meet with a windmill drop kick. Alice's twisting body wrenched Uriko's hand out of Shenlongs. A low roar escaped his mouth and his body was straining with his unconscious transformation. Uriko transformed her hands and used her claws to hold firmly to the couch and the floor so she could stay close to him and try to keep him calm.
"Shenlong. Brother. I'm still here don't worry I… AHH" She cried out a little as Alice was now furiously pulling at her extended leg. Uriko tried to claw her way back to Shenlong, but inch-by-inch Alice was pulling her away. Shenlong reached a clawed hand out to her; she grabbed his hand and held on tight.
"Rinrei… Uriko…" He growled in desperation.
"I'm still here, don't worry." Alice yanked again and her hand slipped from his a little more every time.
"Uriko I'll protect you… I swear it…" He growled
"I'm still here Shenlong. Umph. Shenlong!" She was desperate to keep contact with him. But Alice was doing everything in her power to break that contact.
"Uriko… no…" He called in desperation, as he could only feel her fingertips, and here her voice. Uriko was getting desperate at this point. She frantically kicked at her sister's hands and clawed at the floor with her free hand, but it was proving to be of no use. Alice grabbed her other leg and dropped into a low squat. She was tensing the muscles in her legs and making sure to keep a firm grip on her captive.
"ALICE, DON'T DO THIS! I'M BEGGING YOU, PLEASE STOP!" She cried out, but it was of no use. Alice was determined to do what she had to, to protect her sister from this monster. Shenlong let out a number of low growls as Uriko's fingers moved desperately to stay with his.
"Shenlong… Brother…. I need you to stay calm. Ok? I'm still here, Ok. Shenlong." She tried to calm him, but his transformation was still happening.
"Shenlong… Shenlong… SHENLONG!" 'No….' Alice pushed off the ground with all of her stored energy and tore Uriko from him. The few seconds they were in the air, felt like a silent eternity. The moment Uriko left the ground, her sister released her grip on her legs. Uriko felt like she was floating in slow motion. Able to see everything from Gado helping Shina on the other side of the room, to her sister somersaulting below her and standing ready to catch her only a few feet away. The one thing that she couldn't fallow was Shenlong; he moved like a blur. When she hit the ground, everything sped back up. Shenlong had transformed and leapt over her. Alice tried to jump over his charge but was too slow. He caught one of her feet in his jaws and threw her into a wall close to where Long was laying still dazed. The impact took the breath out of her. She collapsed on the floor unable to move or breath; she could only watch as Shenlong stalked over to her on all fours. His claws were fully extended and his fangs were tipped red with blood from her leg. Long looked at his clone hoping to redirect his gaze but noticed something that chilled his bones. Shenlongs eyes were not their usual red, in fact they had no color at all, only the whites of his eyes were visible as his pupils were rolled up into his head.
"He's still asleep!" Long shouted into the room. But by this point Shenlong was still too close for Gado to reach him in time, and though Shina was fast, she was still disoriented from Alice's kick. The white rabbit only looked in horror as he came closer and closer. Tears rolled from her eyes as she could feel the murderous intent pouring out of him.
Shenlong was right on top of her at this point and faced down at her bearging his fangs. He took a deep breath and let out a thundering roar that seemed to block all other sounds. Alice couldn't hear anything; not cars on the street, or people scrambling about the building, or even Long's attempts to call his double out of this nightmare. He raised a hand high above Alice. The shadow of his claw fell directly over her throat. Alice shut her eyes in preparation for what would surely be the last thing she would ever feel in this world. But when nothing happened she opened her eyes to see Uriko kneeling in front of her. She had one hand stopping Shenlongs arm from coming down on her sister's neck like a guillotine. Her face was buried in his chest and her other hand was on his shoulder.
"It's ok Shenlong. I'm still here." She struggled to keep her shaking voice as calm and soothing as possible. "I told you, didn't I? I'm strong now; you don't have to worry because I can protect both of us. So please brother calm down. I'm so tired."
Her words comforted him and he retracted his claws as far back as they would go. He sat back and dropped his arm around Uriko and held her as he remembered holding Rinrei so many years ago. After a few moments of quiet and everyone gathering themselves, Shenlong let go and continues walkin on all fours. Uriko climbed onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck as he turned from his would be prey and walked back toward the couch. He slowly dropped to his stomach to the floor, and then laid his head on his arms. Uriko stayed with him rubbing his head until she felt his body relax. His nightmare was over and now he was simply sleeping. The Gado pair had managed to sit up, and were in awe at the strange sight, especially Shina. She had never seen this side of him before and was genuinely amazed by what she had just witnessed. Uriko stood and walked over toward her sister and Master to ensure they were all right. Long helped Alice to sit up straight so she would not lose feeling in her side. Shina decided to go check on the sleeping tiger and handed Uriko her sister's medical supplies as she passed. The young girl took them and examined the elder sister's wounds.
"It looks like only a couple bruised ribs and some small punctures on your calf." She said while pulling out a bottle of peroxide and some bandages.
"You won't need stitches, but you should probably keep this bandaged for a couple of days so it can heal properly and not get infected. Alice looked at her sister amazed
'When did she learn all of this?' She wondered as her little sister mended her leg like a professional. She looked down at her leg, then at her sister's legs and saw they were scratched and bruised.
'Did… did I do that to her?' She bit her lip and winced at the thought of harming her baby sister. 'That must have really hurt…. If that's the case, then does that mean…'
"He was protecting you… from me…" She said sorrowfully. Uriko looked up at her sisters tear streaked face. She grabbed her hands to comfort her and rubbed the back of her hand.
"It's ok now Alice. I know you were trying to do what you thought was best, but you need to trust me some time." She said softly. The elder sister could barely contain herself. If not for her aching ribs, she would have attacked her sister with one of her signature hugs. Urkio was mildly amused by the fact that for once she wouldn't have to fight her sister off of her.
"It's not you I don't trust, it's him." She said glaring Shenlong's direction.
"Well, I do trust him." She said kindly looking in the same direction as her sibling.
"Uriko you don't know how dangerous he is. He almost killed Tylon and Busuzima when everything was going on with the XCG marks appearing on the zoanthropes. Not to mention, I doubt anyone really knows anything about his past. God only knows what he could be involved in now." Alice said in an accusing tone. Uriko was visibly disgusted by what her sister was saying. Not because of what she says he's done, but because she was being so judgmental. She stood and turned toward Shenlong.
"Master Long do you have enough room for my sister to rest until she gets her strength back?" She asked with a blank expression. Alice went wide-eyed at the disregard for what she had just said.
"Uriko what are you going to…" She was cut of by a look of disappointment from her sibling. Alice had only ever seen that look on their mothers face when one of the daughters had messed up royally.
"Alice after you rest up a bit, I think its best you go home. I will call mom and let her know I will be there later. You clearly don't want to help Shenlong or even try to understand me, so it's best if you go home to recover since you're not as strong as the others." Her voice trembled a little as she was trying to keep from yelling at her sister. She looked back to her master who was already fully recovered from Alice's kick.
"I have a guest room you can use Alice and some ointments that should take care of the pain." He said calmly as he helped her to her feet.
Alice was at a loss for words. Could her baby sister really be in control of this entire situation? Impossible, there was no way she could comprehend the sins of the man she was so eager to defend. Unable to voice these thoughts she quietly watched her sister go sit on the couch next to Shina and her new brother.
"Shina…" Alice was hit by a sudden wave of pain from her side. She gritted her teeth as the leopard stood and moved toward her.
"Can you please talk some sense into her? Maybe she will listen to you." Her voice was strained from the pain. Long took her to the room where she could rest, while Shina returned to sit by Uriko. There was a silence between them for what felt like hours, until Shina finally couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer.
"How did you do that?" The older woman asked bluntly. Urkio flinched at the sudden interrogation.
"What… what do you mean?" She asked nervously, finally taking a moment to let the day's excitement sink in.
"I mean… Shenlong is one of the most powerful Zoanthropes in the world, and among the most dangerous." Urko sighed and rolled her eyes in anticipation of another lecture about how scary Shenlong was, but was surprised when it never came.
"How did you, a teenage girl manage to calm him down when he was going berserk like that?" She had to know what was it about this little girl that he cared for so much.
"I'm not really sure. This morning I ran into him, literally, and when I looked at his face… his eyes were so full of pain. I wanted to help him but I didn't know anything about him, not even who he was." She said while looking down at him. Shina was listening intently to the young girls tale. It all sounded like something out of some twisted story.
"Then I heard all the noise coming from the library and thought Master Long was in danger, but that wasn't the case. When I showed up, there he was again, still with that same pain written across his face, only much more excruciating. He couldn't even stand up, I was so scared for him." Her voice shuttered at the thought. A few things perplexed Shina. How could such brief encounters, one of which he wasn't even conscious for, cause such a strong connection?
"But you still don't really know anything about him, and you trust him?" She asked hesitantly.
"Well I can't really explain it, he said something about my eyes before he ran off." She said shaking her head. Now that she thought about it, it really didn't make much sense. Shina lay back against the wall and looked down to the sleeping man trying to put this puzzle together.
"Ms. Gado, do you trust him?" She asked trying not to sound too forward. This time Shina flinched, before looking back him.
"I guess I do, I mean he can be a real pain some times, and it's hard to be around him sometimes simply because he is so powerful. I push myself to measure up to him even though he never really tries to show the gap in our strength. I guess I just want to impress him." She was beginning to blush, knowing that the only reason she could even manage to say these things was because he was lying right in front of her but couldn't hear her. This was the closest she had ever come to telling him how she really felt. Uriko noticed a gleam in her eyes as she talked and wondered what her connection to him was.
"Despite all of his flaws, I know I'm safe when I'm around him. He can be a jerk, but in all the time I have known him, he has never judged me or put me down. He really understands me in ways I only ever thought my father would." Gado quickly looked up from across the room when Shina mentioned him, causing both of the girls to giggle at him.
"So yea, I guess do really trust him." She said with a smile.
"Well that's good enough for me too. Besides I could use someone like that in my life. At home it's just my mom, and me but Alice comes home so much she might as well still live there." Her head hung low at the thought of returning home.
"Don't get me wrong I love my mom and my sister more than anything, but they always treat me like a baby for some reason. Between mom's over protectiveness and Alice's… Alice-ness, I feel suffocated most of the time. Then theirs Master Long…" her voice trailed off. Shina thought training with him would help her deal with such an over bearing family.
"Is Long like a brother to you too?" She asked cheerfully, but was surprised when Uriko's face only turned sour.
"Not even close! Unless being like a brother means babying me the way mom and Alice do." She sighed heavily. At this point Shina was starting to feel bad for the girl.
"What do you mean? I have asked Long countless times to train me, but he always turns me down." This time it was Shina who turned her head in depression. Uriko was growing more and more perplexed. Which one of them did she have feelings for?
"I am honored to be taught by Master Long, but he refuses to continue advancing my training, even though I'm ready. He says it would only encourage violence and that I would end up fighting more. He doesn't think I'm responsible or mature enough to handle it, so he keeps me doing the basics every week." Both of them sighed in unison.
"He said the same thing to me." Shina said sorrowfully.
"The same thing?" Uriko raised an eyebrow looking at her elder.
"Yes, the EXACT same thing." She responded, and then they sighed again.
"So I guess he's never going to advance my training." She was genuinely depressed about her training at this point. All of her hope had just left the room. She then turned her thoughts back to Shenlong.
"Ms. Gado, why do others hate him so much? Even Kenji got nervous when we saw him this morning even though his brother Yugo trains with him at the gym." She asked with genuine curiosity in her eyes. Shina's demeanor changed to a more serious expression.
"Well you see, everything your sister said was true. Shenlong almost killed Tylon and the scientists that worked for him because of what they did to him. That, and he's involved in some pretty dangerous stuff here in the city." Uriko was in disbelief at what she was hearing. How could a man who cared so much about someone be capable of such things?
"I know it all sounds bad… ok, it is pretty bad. But he's still a good person. I honestly don't blame him for wanting to take out those monsters at Tylon's facility." She said through gritted teeth.
"They seriously messed with his mind, implanting and manipulating memories. They wanted him to suffer; they wanted to make him a weapon. No one deserves that. He may be a clone but he's still alive with a heart and a mind! He deserves to live his own life, and the people who did this to him should never be allowed to do it to anyone else!" Shina was trembling with anger at the thought of what he must have been through. The younger girl, found herself feeling even worst for Shenlong than she had before. True he was dangerous to those who have hurt him but what about those he cared for? She looked at Shina as her eyes started to water with sympathy for the blue tiger.
"Shina calm down. They're gone and he's safe now." Gado was now standing against the wall opposite of Shina.
"Young lady it is true that he may be troubled in many ways, but he is also fiercely loyal. Since everything that happened with Tylon he has made a real life for himself. Even though it may not be one that most people approve of its still his own life he's living and that's what is most important." He said proudly.
"Honestly, you couldn't have picked a better brother than this man. He may be rough around the edges but he will keep you safe, make you strong, and will never have to question his intentions." He said looking at both Uriko and his daughter.
Just that quickly, all of Uriko's doubts were gone. She smiled and bound out the room.
"I'm gunna go check on my sister. She's been back there for a while and its about to start getting dark." She said heading toward the guest room.
"Shina, why don't you go with her? I will keep an eye on him." Gado suggested to his daughter. She nodded and followed the young girl through the apartment. Gado stepped over his sleeping friend and sat on the couch, letting out a long sigh.
"You know Stripes you're a pretty luck guy." He said turning his head to face the window. "I just hope you know that."
Shenlong didn't move, but Gado knew he had actually been awake for the last few minutes. He stood up and smoothly changed to his human form and stayed looking out the window as well.
"This is gunna be a drag, isn't it…" he said simply.
"Not really. What are you gunna do about the kid? She respects you and looks at you like a brother now. If you don't treat this delicately you could do some real damage to that girl." Gado said in an informative tone.
"In my deam, I saw Rinrei again. Then she grew up and looked just like that girl. She told me her name was Uriko, right?" He looked at the older man through the corner of his eye.
"Yep. That's her name Stripes. Mitsuko's little girl I think." He said rubbing his chin.
"That boar from the north end docks?" He said in a disgusted tone. "Didn't she adopt Yugo's girl as a daughter too?" he asked staring back out the window with a turned down face.
"Right again." Gado chuckled. "And she's a real handful just like her momma. You might as well accept Uriko as a sister. If you don't Mitsuko is going to kill you for what all has happened today AND for letting down her youngest child."
"After that dream of mine theirs definitely no getting rid of her. That's for sure… Wait. What do you mean what happened today? The last thing I remember was going after Long on the roof, and then I was out and dreaming." He turned to face the man.
"Well for one thing, you were actually half conscious during that dream of yours. You were even talking to her. But things got serious when her sister showed up and saw her with you." His demeanor was deadly serious, and Shenlong was trying to remember what happened in his dream. He looked over at the claw marks in the floor and noticed the trace scent of blood in the air.
"Did I end up hurting Uriko?" He asked mournfully.
"Not exactly…" Gado's response made his head shoot up in both relief and confusion.
"Then what happened?" He asked impatiently. Gado sighed and folded his arms.
"You almost killed her sister." He said flatly. Shenlong searched his memory for when this could have happened.
"She tried to take Uriko from your side by force, and she resisted. The rest of us tried to stop her, but she was blinded by her need to get the girl away from you, and you protected her. Literally tooth and claw." His tone was like that of a doctor informing a patient they had cancer.
"I remember now. Rinrei had grown up into Uriko and we were happy, but then we were in one of Tylons labs and couldn't move. Someone was trying to tear her away from me. It was Busuzima, he was trying to drag her away and she was crying out to me. When she let go something got loose. A tiger jumped from my body, it was blue and had these red eyes. It threw that scaly bastard against a wall and was going to finish him off for good. But just before he could everything stopped. I could move. Uriko came over to me with the tiger by her side. That's when I became one with the tiger again. Busuzima was gone and so was the lab. It was only me and Uriko in a clearing by a stream. It was great." He said letting his head fall back and closing his eyes.
"Sorry to inform you Stripes, but that tiger, was you. And that lizard you were going to finish off was actually a big, fluffy, white, bunny. You were about to take her head off when Uriko stopped you. That must have been when everything became peaceful in your dream. She rode on your back over to the spot you were sleeping." He ended with a light laugh. Shenlong blinked rapidly at the last part of the statement.
"I definitely don't remember that!" He grumbled. Gado smirked in amusement at Shenlong's irritation.
While all of this was going on, Uriko and Shina were back in the room with Alice and Long. She had woken up and was talking with Long about how to deal with Uriko becoming more and more difficult to control.
"Long I don't understand what is going on with that girl." She said sadly with her hand on her cheek.
"She doesn't appreciate what me you and even our mom do for her. Then she goes and chooses a mad man as the one she wants to be her brother." She vented her frustrations to the Kempo master.
"Your sister is high strung to say the least, but it is that same stubbornness of hers that will insure she has a great future." He said trying to calm her down.
"Not if she keeps making these reckless decisions! Why couldn't she have picked you to be her brother? You're a good role model, and you two already train every weekend. But all she does is complain about how you won't teach her." She pouted and folded her arms.
"I suppose I could try to be more brotherly toward her. Perhaps sway her away from Shenlong." He suggested shakily. Alices face lit up at the idea.
"That would be perfect!" She beamed. Long smiled nervously before hearing a tap at the door.
"Alice, are you awake?" Uriko asked popping her head in from behind the door, with Shina right behind her.
"Yes Uriko, I'm up. I talked to mom and she wants me to bring you back home with me." She said sternly.
"Did you tell her I was here helping someone?" She asked accusingly.
"Yes, but when I told her it was Shenlong she became furious. If we're not home before too long who knows what she's going to do." She said getting up from the bedside.
"We need to go NOW!" She demanded. The sisters glared at one another, and Long decided to speak up.
"Uriko, I think it would be best if you went with your sister." He said calmly placing his hand on Alice's shoulder. Shina was visibaly bothered by such intimate contact between the two.
"I'm sorry Master Long but I will not go until Shenlong is back on his feet. Alice I will come straight home afterwards." She said before walking back down the hall. Alice sighed and ran out of the room after the younger girl. Long looked up to meet eyes with Shina, but she only glared at him before following the other females down the hall.
"You know I don't like to be mocked, Mufasa!" Shenlong spat before walking toward the front door.
"Calm down Stripes, sorry but that's what happened. That little girl was on your back like a horsey." Gado chuckled.
"Whatever old man, I'm out of here. You still comin tonight?" He asked looking back over his shoulder.
"Yea, I'll be there, but I hope your wrong about it being Shina." The older man said with a heavy tone.
"Yea, same here." Shenlong responded before grabbing the doorknob.
"You're up!" Uriko's voice called from the hallway. She ran over to Shenlong to examine him.
"Are you sure you should be moving around so soon?" She asked concerned trying to take a look at his head. Shenlong was taken back at first, but it wasn't the shock he felt before. This time, he felt much more relaxed. When Shina came into the room, everything seemed perfect.
"Yea Kitten, I'm good." He said setting a hand atop the young girls head. She giggled a little bit at being called Kitten.
"Are you gunna end up treating me like a baby too?" She asked sadly.
"No, I don't have the time or patients to deal with any babies." He said jokingly." You may be young, but you're definitely no baby, and that means I'm not gunna go easy on you. Got that?" He said with a smirk, and poking her on the forehead. The young girl grinned from ear-to-ear.
"Yes Sir!" She said doing a mock solute before rushing him with a hug. He looked down at her with a light smile, while petting the back of her head.
"Aww, how sweet." Shina said while trying to hold back a laugh behind her hand, standing at the end of the hallway. "You really are a big softy, huh Shen." He looked up to see Shina standing with a devilish smile on her face. Right behind her was Alice, with an enraged look on her expression on her face, trying to push her way past the stronger woman. When Shenlong and Uriko saw Alice both of their smiles dropped into sickened expressions.
"I think I'm gunna get out of here." Shenlong said flatly.
"Same here..." Uriko said in the same tone. "Mind if I hang out with you for a bit?" She asked light heartedly.
"HELL NO!" Alice screamed from the hall before starting a tirade behind Shina. Long was doing his best to calm her down before things got worst.
"Yea sure, I'm gunna grab a bite to eat before I have to go take care of a few things." He said turning back toward the door. Long came down the hall and was trying to calm Alice down again.
"Hey Gados, you two want in? My treat." He said gladly.
"Yea, I could go for a bite before my night gets going." Shina said wit a light smile.
"Not me Stripes. I'm gunna go ahead and arrange for a couple trucks to help move all of your crap tomorrow." He said walking toward the door. "But I can drop you all off on the way back across town."
"Thanks for that old timer." Shenlong joked.
"Thanks dad." Shina added trying not to laugh at the "old timer" comment.
"Yea, yea, don't forget who's the one with the car Stripes." He said pointing back to himself with his thumb.