Chapter 15
"Master Shifu…are you going somewhere?"
Shifu turned around to see Crane and Viper standing in the center of the palace grounds, both heavily bandaged..
Shifu placed a hand on the gate to the palace. "Yes…I'm going to go and try to find Tigress and…"
"His name's Felix, master…but…there's something else…Xue Hu…He's-"
"I know…" Shifu cut Viper off. "Master Oogwei and I were the only ones here aware of Xue Hu's birth…"
"Then…what will you do if you're confronted by him?" Crane asked.
"I'll do what I must…" Shifu said simply and pushed the gate open. "Crane…you are in charge while I search for Tigress and Felix. Help Po take care of the others."
"Yes, master." Crane said, bowing.
"I'm off then…" With that, Crane and Viper watched Shifu leave.
Shifu travelled in the direction that the villagers said they saw Tigress and Felix run. After getting the general idea of where they tried to go, Shifu took off in search of the two. A while later he reached the Tread of Hope. Looking carefully he was able to determine that he was in the right direction. Foot prints and streaks in the dirt showed a skirmish and his heart sank when he was able to determine the victor. Shifu looked over the edge and wasn't able to find any safe way down.
Shifu gave a heavy sigh before looking around and studying the other footprints. From what he saw he could estimate about three to five others that were at the scene and they had split into two groups, and had gone in opposite directions. Shifu picked one set of prints and grew thankful that it led him to a climbable section in the side of the canyon wall. Carefully he scaled down the side of the canyon wall and resumed him search at the bottom.
A small ways away, Lang's eyes snapped open. He could feel it in the ground, footsteps walking towards where he and Mei Hu were sleeping. It couldn't be Xue Hu or Lie Bao because the footsteps were much too small. The fact that he just barely noticed the steps meant that not only was the owner of the footsteps really small but also very good at concealing his presence.
"Mei Hu, get up…!" Lang said in a heavy whisper, shaking the sleeping jaguar.
Mei Hu stirred and slowly opened her eyes. She pushed herself up and saw that she had been once again sleeping on top of Lang and in his embrace. She blushed. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to fall asleep…I-"
Lang placed a hand over Mei Hu's mouth and a finger to his lips, telling her to be quiet. Mei Hu blinked and listened. Her eyes widened as she heard the soft, almost non-existent footsteps. Slowly the both of them stood up to face who ever was walking towards them. As they waited, the footsteps came to a halt. Lang and Mei Hu waited with baited breath.
"My…it's been a while since I've seen your faces…" came a soft voice from behind them.
Lang whirled around and did a back sweep with his leg. Shifu leapt up and landed on a nearby tree.
"I see your instinct have gotten better, young one…but they're still not enough…" Shifu said, shaking his head as if in disappointment.
"Mei Hu, go! Find Xue Hu and stay with him!" Lang said, pushing his sister away.
"Not a chance!" Mei Hu growled, trying to resist Lang's pushes. "We can take him."
"Mei Hu, last time was different. You have to go now!" Lang almost shouted, facing Shifu again "This time there's no reason for him to hold back..."
Shifu stood there, looking indifferent, though almost a little sad. "It's not nice to push people away from you…especially those who want to help you…"
"Lang we can beat him!" Mei Hu snarled, running at Shifu.
"Mei Hu! No!"
Shifu lazily leapt up as Mei Hu stomped on the tree he was standing on and landed gently on her leg. Mei Hu stood there for a moment, surprised at the fast reaction and the calm composer Shifu had. Shifu took the chance to jump up and kick Mei Hu square in the chest, sending her flying back.
"Mei Hu!" Lang shouted and ran to her side.
"I'm going to ask you this, kids…Where is Tigress and Felix…" Shifu said, walking calmly towards them.
"We'll never tell you!" Mei Hu said, trying to sneer, though grimacing in pain as she held her chest.
"Mei Hu, you got to get out of here…I'm not letting you get caught again…"
"…What…?" Mei Hu looked up at Lang. He wasn't trying to chicken out of a fight, which in itself would be strange seeing how fight-crazy Lang could be. He was doing so that she wouldn't be locked up again. He was doing it for her.
"Run…! Please…! I'll try and hold him off as long as I can…!"
Shifu sighed. "You know what's sad…?" Lang's head snapped up as Shifu started to talk. "In a prosperous place like the Valley of Peace…poverty still plagues the place…It's sad to think that all this started with a petty theft…But you ended up assaulting several guards when they tried to stop you…"
Lang ran up and attempted to dropkick Shifu, but he merely stopped it with a hand. "I had my reasons!" He turned his head to Mei Hu. "Get out of here! NOW!"
Something in Lang's voice forced Mei Hu to obey. She quickly got up, turned her back on the two, and ran.
"Stop!" Shifu leapt over Lang and tried to go after her, but Lang got in his way. "Listen, young one…this will only be harder on the both of you if you try to resist."
"I'll resist as long as she's safe…" Lang growled.
"I commend your desire to protect your sister...but doing this isn't helping…!"
Lang shook his head. "No…I may call her my sister…but I don't see her as one…" Lang's stance tensed and Shifu knew he was about to attack. Lang lunged at Shifu and tackled him to the ground, the size difference preventing Shifu from simply pushing Lang off.
Shifu twisted and hit the hand that was holding him down at the wrist. Pain shoot through Lang's arm as he felt the bones in his wrist separate from one another and recoiled, howling in pain. Shifu leapt up and once again tried to chase after Mei Hu but once again Lang blocked him, clutching his wrist.
"You're only delaying the inevitable and making this worse for yourself!" Shifu shouted. "This all can be easier for you and your sister if you just cooperate!"
Lang snarled and kicked out at Shifu, who leapt onto his leg and then up and kicked him in the face, knocking him back. Instead of staying down, Lang struggled back onto his feet.
"Just have you and your sister give yourselves up and I promise the charges will be better!" Shifu pleaded.
"Murder and escape are already under our belts…there is no 'better'" Lang snarled. "We've both been issued a life sentence as it is…and I'm not letting her go through that…Not as long as I have my say in things…I'll do anything for the one I love…"
Shifu knew at this point there was no reasoning with Lang, and if he wanted to find Tigress and Felix, he'd have to end this fight. His eyes hardened as Lang charged at him one more time, and Shifu knew he had to make sure this was their last conflict. He made sure his next strike was the last…
Mei Hu ran through the forest towards where she knew Lie Bao and Xue Hu were when she heard a yell that sent feral birds flying. She felt her heart stop and she looked back. Mei Hu knew that Lang wouldn't take things too far…he wouldn't…he just couldn't. Dread started to fill Mei Hu's heart and she began to run back but a hand grabbed her arm. She looked back to see the owner of the hand was Xue Hu.
"There's no point going back…!"
"No!" Mei Hu pulled at her arm. "I have to go back! I have to help Lang!" She tugged frantically at her arm.
Lie Bao moved Xue Hu out of the way and slapped Mei Hu across the face. "Get a grip! ...It's too late now…"
"You can't mean he's…" Mei Hu looked from Lie Bao to Xue Hu, as if trying to see if they were lying. They weren't. "No…he can't be…no…" Mei Hu looked back at where came from, tears forming in her eyes.
"Mei Hu…you couldn't have expected that you could do this without some kind of loss…" Xue Hu said coolly.
Lie Bao, at least, had a sense of pity inside of her. "Mei Hu…" She walked up to the jaguar and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Mei Hu turned to face Lie Bao, tears falling down her face, and she buried her face in Lie Bao's shoulder as Lie Bao hugged her.
"I…couldn't even…tell him…" Mei Hu choked.
"I'm sure what ever happened your brother did it for you…you should be happy at least knowing that he'd go so far for you…" Lie Bao said soothingly.
"No…he's not just some person I think of as just a brother…" Mei Hu said, shaking as she cried. "I could never think of him as just my brother…"
Lie Bao and Xue Hu exchanged looks. No matter how much it annoyed him, Xue Hu couldn't help but feel just a little sorry for the now lonely feline.
After a while Xue Hu and Lie Bao helped Mei Hu back to their camp. They decided with Shifu in the area it was best not to go after Tigress at the moment.
Night had fallen and Mei Hu was found sitting in a tree, looking at the full moon. Mei Hu found herself remembering nights like these were Lang's favorite. She sighed and continued to stare up into the sky as Lie Bao came up to her tree.
"Mei Hu…are you ok…I brought you some food if your…hungry…" Lie Bao's voice trailed off as she heard a soft melody coming from Mei Hu.
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Moonlight high above the trees
Such a peaceful night it is
By myself I'm sitting here
the memories are clear
of love I never could reveal
There's a gentle swaying breeze
while my eyes are filled with tears
All the things you couldn't see
the love that I still feel
I never thought you'd ever leave
Silently through all the years
my heart aches 'cause you're not here
Took for granted you'd be there
I never showed I cared
and now you're only in my dreams
All the time could never heal
What I've lost and what I feel
You were taken far away
and now it's just too late
and fate has sealed my destiny
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Lie Bao felt tears in her eyes. She understood how terrible it must feel to lose someone so precious to you. So many things left unsaid. Lie Bao looked back as Xue Hu as he stood in the river to catch more fish for himself and for her. It was sad to go without having everything in your heart said. She set Mei Hu's food at the base of the tree and went towards the river.
"Hey, kitty…can I talk to you…?"
Xue Hu looked back at her and then back into the water. "Sure…I guess…"
Mei Hu watched the two before looking once again at the moon.
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Sadness cuts my heart so deep
What a life it could've been
By myself in disbelief with misery and grief
this never was supposed to be
Twilight glimmers in the stream
Soon another day begins
Wishing you were here with me
to share new memories
and all the secrets that I keep
Silently through all the years
my heart aches 'cause you're not here
Took for granted you'd be there
I never showed I cared
and now you're only in my dreams
All the time could never heal
What I've lost and what I feel
You were taken far away
and now it's just too late
and fate has sealed my destiny
Silently through all the years
my heart aches 'cause you're not here
Took for granted you'd be there
I never showed I cared
and now you're only in my dreams
All the time could never heal
What I've lost and what I feel
You were taken far away
and now it's just too late
and fate has sealed my destiny
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A/N: Song: My Destiny
By: Trish Thuy Trang