Difficult Love

The next morning, Po was finished cleaning the floors of the hall of heroes when Tai-Lung came in. "Hey, brother," Tai-Lung said. Po simply nodded.

"So how was the morning rush at dad's?" Po asked.

"Stressful as usual," the cat replied rubbing the back of his neck. "Hey, Po, can I ask you something?" Po nodded. "Do you think the others really like me?"

"Something tells me that you are in love with Tigress." Po teased. Tai-lung nervously rubbed his neck. "Of course they do," Po said putting away the scrub he had,"they accept you more than me." About this time, Tigress started to come in when she heard Po and Tai-Lung conversation. So she ease dropped.

"What do you mean?" Asked Tai-Lung.

"The others still don't accept me as a person. I'm not part of their family. Friends? Sure, but they aren't really open to me. They treat me like the half-brother that they abandon. They still think that the greatest title is Dragon Warrior. They don't know the hurt that comes with it. You on the other hand they'll accept because you are the true image of a warrior. Me? Well, there's this," Po said as he patted his belly.

"Oh come on, you are the Dragon Warrior. And the fat, you're much slimmer now than when I met you on the mountain. I can actually wrap my arms around you. No offense," Tai-Lung protested. It was true. While Po's belly still jiggled, he was thinner and more muscular than last time.

"Yeah, but you aren't me. They still see me as an outcast. I'm not part of this family. But you are. You have a father here, brothers and a sister, and a special cat that you love very much. I say to you what I said at the mountain. I have no family," Po said starting to walk away.

"Po," Tigress called coming out of the shadows. Tai-lung was surprised to see her. "I just want to say that I don't, nor any of us, see you as the outcast and we do see you as a part of this family." Po stood emotionless.

"Thank you, Master Tigress. That means a lot to me," Po said finally leaving.

"Be happy my brother," Tai-lung whispered as he watched Po exit the room. Then he remember Tigress was still in the room. He turned around to see her looking squarely at him. He laughed nervously. "Well, I better get to training." He said about to dash out, but Tigress barred his way.

"Don't even think about leaving. I just have one question to ask you. Who was the cat that he was talking about?" Tigress asked.

"Heh, you heard that part," Tai-lung stuttered.

"Yes, who is it?" Tigress asked fully interested and eager to know. He was quiet for a long time.

"You promise to control your anger and not tear me to shreds?"

"Can't guarantee that but I will do that if you don't tell me," Tigress threatened. Tai-lung was silent again. He finally took a long breath and said.

"It's you." Tigress stood there with her eyes wide and mouth slightly open. She finally shook her head and said.

"No it isn't."

"Yes it is."

"It can't be. No one would ever love a person like me."

"But you're a beautiful person."

"No I'm not. I'm a monster! No one loves me! Absolutely no one. So why should the person of my dreams love me!?" She shouted. Tigress realized what she said and blushed brightly. Then she started to cry. Tai-Lung immediately wrapped his arms around her and held her tight as she wept. He asked her why she was crying. "Because no one has ever loved me. Either people hate me or they are afraid of me," she said crying into his bare chest. Tai-lung lifted her chin to look her in the eyes.

"I love you. And I'm not afraid. I always thought that you were really beautiful, even when I was a criminal. But now, I love you for who you are. A loving, strong person that no one can beat." Tai-Lung said. Tigress looked down blushing.

"You're exaggerating," she said looking at their feet. Tai-Lung brought her head back up again.

"I'm not kidding. You really are," Tai-lung said looking into her eyes. Their heads slowly came closer together. Their lips met in the middle. Tai-lung tightened his grip on the female tiger. Tigress gasped a little at this, then she slowly roped her arms around the muscular cat. Their mouths soon opened and then their tongues started to fight for dominance. Tai-Lung fell in love with Tigress's purr. All too soon they parted for air. Tigress blushed terribly. Her eyes reopened as she looked into the leopard's eyes.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Why? I love you," Tai-Lung replied just as quietly.

"I know, but I want to say sorry for thinking so wrong of you. And...I love you too," Tigress replied hugging Tai-Lung tight. "Oh!" A little too tight, for she had nearly hugged his last breath out of him. She immediately released him. "Sorry I didn't mean to."

"It's alright. Nice to know that I'm dearly loved," Tai-lung said going for another kiss.

"Aww that's so sweet," said a voice. Tigress and Tai-lung's heads shot over to see Po and Shifu smiling. They let go of each other quickly and blushed in silence.

"Don't worry. We won't exploit your new-found relationship until the time you want it to be publicized. I'm so glad you two found happiness I couldn't give you. I'm proud of both of you," Shifu assured. Everyone darted their eyes at Po.

"Don't worry I wont tell. But this I will say. My plan is complete. Everyone is in peace and harmony with Tai-lung. Come on, there's a party down the mountain for you brother," Po said. As everyone went down the mountain, Tai-Lung said

"Thank you Po." With that, the brothers went down the mountain, but there was something still amiss that was left undone.

to be continued