I apologize for the long wait but I pulled it off. Not exactly how I wanted it, but at least you get an update right? Maybe I'm losing my touch. Still I hope you like it. Read and review please.

Chapter 19

Over the course of the week, Lang stayed and trained with the temple, even to a point that Shifu had asked Lang to accompany him for a short trip to heighten his abilities.

"He matched us evenly and over powered us through brute strength and you want to hone him some more?" was Mantis' response to the announcement, remembering when they had fought as they went to check on Chor Ghom Prison.

"Lang displays an excellent knack for kung fu and it'd be a shame to see such talent go unguided. Plus without proper guidance one may stray from the path and true reason for learning kung fu, one example being the issue we have before us with Xue Hu…" Shifu glanced at Tigress and then turned to Mantis. "And Mantis, your defeat was not because he was stronger or more skilled but it was your inability to cope with such erratic and bold moves that you aren't used to when sparring with any of the others."

"But master," Felix cut in, "if you're complimenting Lang's fighting style, why try and hone it into something more refined? Isn't Lang's battle lust what makes him so strong?"

Shifu shook his head. "I do not wish to change his fighting style, merely broaden his understanding of kung fu, allowing new paths to open up to him and allowing him to become stronger with that knowledge."

Shortly after that, Lang and Shifu prepared for the trip and left the temple.

Days later, during a short break from training and classes, Tigress found Felix napping on the roof of the bunk house. She smiled to herself and leapt up onto the roof and walked up to Felix, sitting down next to him when she got close enough.

"You seem comfortable…" Tigress purred, resting her head on Felix's chest.

Felix smiled as he felt Tigress' head on his chest and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Well without Lang here challenging us to fights every other second you do end up getting more relaxation."

Tigress laughed slightly. "Although you seemed to enjoy the sparring just as much as he did."

"A good challenge is nice as long as one's life isn't on the line." Felix smirked. He opened an eye to peer down at Tigress. "I'm sure you're happy he's gone. Now he can't barrage into your room looking for a fight while we're about to-"

Tigress quickly reached up and clamped Felix' mouth shut, blushing deeply. "Let's not go remembering that…"

Just then, the front door swung open and a goose ran in. "Please help! They're back!"

"Dad?" Po came running out, towards the front gate to meet his goose of a father. "What's going on?"

"Those three from before! They're b-"

"Mr. Ping! You have to move, now!" Tigress shouted, but she was too late.

There was a loud bang on the front gate and it broke open, the splintering door hitting Mr. Ping in the back and knocking him out.

"Dad!" "Mr. Ping!"

Behind the now wrecked door stood Xue Hu, Lie Bao, and Mei Hu.

"I told you it was that spot…" Mei Hu growled, pulling back the fist she had used to break through the door.

"Yes yes, the perfect technique…we get it…" Lie Bao murmured.

"Po, get your dad into the bunk house!" Tigress shouted, leaping down from the roof in front of the trio. "Mantis, see what you can do to help out Mr. Ping!"

Po quickly ran over and scooped up his father and ran into the bunk house, Mantis following close behind.

"The rest of you go too…" Felix said, landing next to Tigress.

"What? But then it'd be three on two. It's not good to overestimate yourself." Monkey said, looking from Felix and Tigress to the three opposing them.

"I wouldn't be too worried about that…" Felix glanced at Lie Bao.

Lie Bao caught Felix glance and shrugged. "I'm just here so no one gets in the way of kitty's fight…The other one on the other hand…" Everyone's eyes turned to Mei Hu.

"Like hell!" Mei Hu growled, gritting her teeth. "It's because of you I no longer have Lang." Mei Hu snarled at Tigress. "But seeing that Xue Hu has priority…" She turned her gaze to Felix. "I'll have to settle with the next best thing…"

"Wait a second…!" Tigress shouted. "Lang isn't dead like you think! He's just-"

"I don't want to hear your excuses!" Mei Hu shouted. "I'll show you what it's like…TO LOSE SOMEONE YOU LOVE!" Mei Hu screeched, running at Felix with the full intention to kill.

"Felix!" Tigress cried out as Mei Hu started assaulting him.

But before Tigress could move, Xue Hu was already upon her. "You're fight is with me, dear mother!" Xue Hu snarled, throwing a punch.

Tigress quickly dodged and immediately tried to counter-attack.

"Tigress!" The others started to run forward but in a flash Lie Bao was in front of them.

"Don't even think about it…" Lie Bao growled.

"You can't fight all of us!" Viper hissed.

"Stay out of this!" Felix called out, ducking under Mei Hu's punch, grabbed a handful of her shirt, and swung her around, slamming her into the ground. "This isn't something you three need to be involved in!"

"But you guys need our help!" Viper tried to reason as Mei Hu kicked Felix off of herself.

"Does it really seem that way?" Lie Bao murmured.

"What…?"

Viper, Crane, and Monkey watched Felix and Mei Hu as they fought. Neither was really losing or winning, if anything it seemed like Felix was leading Mei Hu around, keeping her from getting in the middle of Xue Hu and Tigress' fight. Tigress also didn't seem to be in need of help. Watching Felix and Lang fight so many times had taught her to look outside of textbook based fights. As Xue Hu tried to claw at Tigress' face, she tilted herself so that his claws would just barely miss her face. In turn she grabbed his wrist, keeping him from pulling away and elbowed him in the chest. As Xue Hu clutched at his chest, Tigress slung him over her shoulder and flipped him over, bring him to the ground as she stood over him.

Xue Hu swung his arm over his head and knocking Tigress off her feet. Tigress caught herself just before she hit the ground and kicked out at him, her foot making contact with Xue Hu's chin. Xue Hu skidded across the ground but got back up as soon as he stopped. Tigress flipped up into the air and swung her leg down onto Xue Hu's shoulder, slamming him down against the ground.

"You're done, Xue Hu. Stop this now…" Tigress said firmly.

Xue Hu growled and shoved Tigress off of himself and got up, ready again, until a hand rested on his shoulder, holding him back. Xue Hu tensed and looked around to see Lie Bao standing behind him.

"She's right, Xue Hu. At this rate you're going to lose…"

Xue Hu snarled and swatted Lie Bao's hand off of his shoulder. "I'm not just going to give up, Lie Bao! She betrayed me and my dad!"

"You've got it wrong, Xue Hu. I didn't betray you…if anything Tai Lung betrayed us. By taking you away from me while he was on the run, it's no surprise you ended up on your own." Tigress said softly, walking up to Xue Hu.

"It makes no difference! You weren't there for either of us! You could've! You could've looked!"

"No I couldn't, Xue Hu. After Tai Lung was captured we had no idea where to look. I was also still too young to travel alone!"

"I don't care! I-"

Before Xue Hu could retort, Lie Bao spun him around and hit him, hard, in the cheek.

Xue Hu staggered back and fell at Tigress' feet. "What do you think you're doing, Lie Bao?!"

"That's enough, Xue Hu…" Lie Bao said softly. "You're not thinking…"
"What's there to think about?!" Xue Hu roared. "My mother's standing right in front of me and you want me to just forget about the pain of being alone just like that?!"

"But you're not alone, Xue Hu…" Lie Bao knelt down in front of Xue Hu. "I'm here aren't I?"

"But I…"

"But nothing. Isn't it about time you let this go? You've met your mother. Does she honestly look like someone who would abandon her child? Isn't it possible that it was you who was wrong?"

For a long while Xue Hu merely sat there looking at Lie Bao, stunned. Then, Xue Hu pushed himself up and brushed himself off. "Mei Hu, we're going…Mei Hu…?" Xue Hu turned around to see where Mei Hu had gotten to and saw her still fighting with Felix. "Mei Hu! We're done! Stop now!"

"NO!" Mei Hu shouted, taking another swipe at Felix. She then turned to Xue Hu to reveal tears streaming down her face. "Because you were going after your mother THIS guy," she pointed at Felix, "stopped you! Because he stopped you, you broke me and Lang out of prison! Because we felt we owed you we decided to help you, and because we helped you Lang is now gone!" She rounded on Felix. "Since you're too busy with your dear mother I'll just have to settle with this one!" She charged at Felix.

"Mei Hu, stop this! You've got it wrong! Lang isn't-!" Tigress tried to explain but Mei Hu cut her off with a shout.

"Lang!"

Mei Hu heard someone land behind her and grabbed her arm just as she was about to punch Felix. She whipped around. "Don't you dare stop m-…Lang?!"

"She said stop, sis…" Lang said gently, keeping a firm grasp on Mei Hu's wrist.

Mei Hu relaxed immediately and fell to her knees, still looking up at Lang. "You…I thought you died…"

"Please…and leave my helpless sister to try and fend for herself?" Lang smirked, kneeing down next to Mei Hu.

"Lang…I've been…thinking…I'm actually starting to feel uncomfortable with you calling me that…" Mei Hu mumbled.

"What…but I've been calling you that for years…" Lang said, confused.

"Lang…please, just call me what I am to you."

Lang thought for a second. "How 'bout 'love'?"

Mei Hu looked at Lang in disbelief but when he didn't falter she blushed but put up a strong, uncaring front. "If you must…"

Lang smirked and hugged Mei Hu, who accepted it immediately, face buried in his neck.

Tigress walked up to Felix who looked up at her from where he sat watching the scene in front of him. "Of course NOW she decides she doesn't want to kill me…"

Tigress simply smiled sweetly.