A Lovely Present: Chapter Four

Always Yours

I own neither Kung Fu Panda, nor Disturbia (music vid). May be explicit, may not be, depends on your definition. WARNING! If the idea of two people being in love, regardless of species, age, or gender bothers you, DO NOT READ!! You have a back button, STFU and use it. If you don't mind that, then enjoy!

Also, if you like this story, it's all because of Awerewolf. He's the one who made me brave enough to write it, and was wonderful enough to beta it. If there was a way to thank him for all the encouraging things he wrote, it's not one I have the money for, so I hope dedicating this fiction to him and letting him know that his Tai/Po is on its way is enough. Thank you so much for all your kindness and for being you. Rock on!

One more thing, I'm back to school, barely had time to update, so if I'm not on for a few days, please don't go committing sepuku. Thanks.

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Ch. 4

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A/N: Makes references to 'Secret' from Mixed Nuts, so read that first!

"Wow, I gotta admit, for an old guy, you know how to put on one Hell of a show! Gosh, now I feel all hot and uncomfortable! Tee he! Okay, so you played my game, and now you get your prize. When you get back to the Palace, Po will wake up. By the way, if you ever wanna look me up again, I have a fine collection of slaves and would love to watch that again, the name's Rihanna. Just gimme a shout out!" called the voice mockingly sweetly.

Oogway shut his eyes, trying to ignore the voice that had snuck past his carefully constructed peace, destroying him from within. When he opened them again, he found the Furious Five and Shifu were with him at the entrance of the Hall of Heroes.

Still panting with emotions he had not know for too long, Oogway pushed past his followers and tossed open the doors to the Hall, finding Po laying in the middle of the room.

He raced to the panda's side and rolled him onto his back, hands shaking as he whispered, voice hoarse from crying, "Po, Po, please, speak to me. Say something, please, let me know you're alive."

Jade eyes fluttered open, to Oogway's immense relief, as Po looked around, frightened.

"Wh-how? M-Master?" Po stuttered, unclenching his fist to find his box and key unharmed.

"Po, I am so sorry for what you went through, what I put you through. I never should have let my pride get the best of me, and I'll understand if you never want to see me again," mumbled the tortoise, avoiding gazing into Po's wide eyes as he heard Shifu tell his students to leave them be, ushering the group to their quarters.

And Po saw red.

Face scrunching up in rage, Po leapt up, shouting, "Sorry? Is that all you have to say for yourself? I offer myself to you so many times, knowing you wanted me, and you deny me? But, when some crazy shows up, you're all ready to go? I can't believe you! Is your skull as thick as you freaking shell?"

"I don't know, anymore," Oogway replied, head tilted downward to conceal his tears.

"You don't know?" Po repeated, face relaxing, nagging voice of reason telling him Oogway had no other choice.

Po sighed heavily as he spoke, tone solemn and flat, "Look, I think I need some time alone. I'm going away for a while and don't try to stop me. I – when I get back, I'll let you know what's going on, okay?"

The tortoise merely nodded, knowing that he had to let Po make decisions on his own. He was startled from his thoughts as a heavy box was dropped in his lap, a key on a golden chain held out to him by none other than Po.

"No matter what happens," Po began, wrapping a hand around Oogway's. "this and what it symbolizes will always belong to you."

And with that, he left the Jade Palace and made his way down to his father's restaurant.

Master Oogway numbly placed the key in the slot, noting how perfectly it fit, and turned. The lid of the box snapped open, a miniature stage arising from within, two perfectly sculpted figurines made from sapphire and ruby stood atop the mirrored platform, one a tortoise and the other a panda, standing on opposite sides of the reflective glass, reaching out to each other, Po underhand and Oogway overhand, so that the flats of their pointer fingers, or claw, in Master Oogway's case, barely touched. As they began to spin, a soft melody wafted through the air, and Oogway realized Po must have put extra coils, sort of like a conveyor belt, onto the music bar for the song lasted several minutes before it began again, bringing fresh rounds of tears to the old master's eyes.

"It's a beautiful work of art," commented Crane as he cautiously approached the saddened being.

"Po made this for me, and I hurt him," Oogway breathed, unable to find the strength to help one of his students.

Crane placed a gentle claw on Oogway's shoulder, sighing softly as he did so.

"You didn't have any other choice, Master. She would have damned his soul. You were willing to give your honor for him, and if that isn't love, I don't know what is. It may be out of my place to say this, but I really think you're overreacting. Po is upset, as are we all, but once he has had a moment to breathe, I'm sure he will realize the same. Who knows, in a couple months, we might all be laughing at this, having Mantis make really bad jokes about how the only person more stubborn than Tigress is you when it comes to Po. Heh, I'm sure he's fine, and I know he'll come back. Trust me, my room's right next to his, I've heard him muttering in his sleep about you. He loves you more than anything, and he's not gonna let this get in his way. Oh, sure, he'll be sore about it for a while, but he'll get over it in no time and go back to the lovable oaf we all wish would stop making sound effects when he trains."

And, for the first time in too long, Oogway laughed, replying, "Thank you, young Master Crane. Shifu chose well when he opted to train you."

Crane blushed as he stood back, giving a quick bow to his master before turning in for the night.

Tucking the music box and key into a space on an oaken shelf in his room, Master Oogway allowed himself to sleep, dreams pleasant and uninterrupted.

Meanwhile, Po had reached his father's noodle shop and ranted the entire story to him, waving his hands in the air for emphasis as he paced back and forth in the empty restaurant. His father had quietly listened, nodding occasionally, but otherwise making no remarks, knowing his son needed a chance to fume.

"And then I told him I'd make a decision when I got back, gave him the music box and the key, told him that it, and what it symbolizes, will always belong to him, but now, I'm not sure what I should do!" Po shouted, grabbing his ears and plopping down on the floor.

Mr. Ping looked thoughtful for a moment before declaring, "Well, then, there's no way around it, son. You have to go back and apologize. And before you get in a huff, no, it's not because he's Grand Master Oogway. It's because you obviously love him, just as he obviously loves you, and if you love each other, than you should be able to realize the sacrifice he made, or was willing to make, for your safety. He was willing to give his honor to insure your life, Po. If that isn't love, I don't know what is. But, if he hurts you again, the new, limited time special will be fresh tortoise soup! And you can tell him I said so!"

Po laughed softly as he nodded in understanding. Oogway really did love him, he had just not known how to show it. He wasn't perfect, after all.

"Okay, dad, but can I crash here, tonight? I'm way too tired to make the trek back up those stairs, not to mention the questions and such," Po requested, giving a tired yawn to accentuate his point.

Mr. Ping looked around nervously, before a call echoed in the small room, coming from upstairs, "Tzu, when are you coming to bed? I'm anxious to hear some more of those family recipes!"

Po's face gleamed with understanding, a smirk crossing his face as he teased, "So, do I start singing, 'Daddy and Tai Lung sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G' now, or after you give him those 'recipes'?"