Happy New Year! Zerowolf here another chapter. I'm so sorry for this very late chapter. Some of you may know that I wasn't home last month. Well truth be told I was supposed to get back on the 25th but that didn't go as planned. Sorry I don't want to go into the details because that would be too long. Oh and thank you guys for the feedback so far, well on with the story.

Chapter 8

Po was in the kitchen getting ready to start making his soup. He got his knife, pot and some vegetables ready. He placed the vegetables on his cutting board to open the cabinet and take out a set of different spices and also placed them on the table next to the cutting board. Rubbing his hands together he picked up a radish and began to cut it up. From radishes to carrots, Po was still at it but he was slowing down, his mind was not focused on cutting the vegetables in front of him but on Zero.

"Zero has very little chi... wouldn't that make it hard to lean Kung –Fu? So why would Oogway want me to train him, if that person he mention is Oogway after all.And that staff, what is it?" Po was so deep in thought that he had stop chopping the vegetables with his hand in the air still holding the knife. Tigress had now walked into the kitchen when she noticed Po just standing there with the knife in his hand. She walked up to him and called, "Po!?" Po was startled, he slammed the knife into the cutting board and turn around quickly with a, "Aaah!" and threw a punch at her. Tigress blocked the punch looked at him and ask, "Are you ok Po?" Po quickly dropped his hand to his side and said, "Oh, sorry Tigress, you scared me ...I mean, you know you're not supposed to sneak up on a kung Fu master." Tigress had a raised eyebrow with a smile when she said, "Your right Dragon warrior, my apologies... is it ok for you to cook with hands like that? Maybe we can get one of the palace cooks to do it." Po picked up the knife and continued to cut up the remaining vegetables, "And make Mantis have a seizure? Maybe not." Said Po, while giggling a bit. Tigress pulled out a chair and sits down before asking him, "So what's on your mind?" "Oh… Ah... Nothing, you know, just cooking. Yes that's it, just making dinner!" Po said quickly putting the vegetables in the pot of boiling water and turned around with his mouth shut while playing with his fingers. Tigress just sighed before folding her arms and called out in a serious voice, "Po!" Po sighed in defeat knowing where this was going so he added some of the other ingredients to his soup and explained everything Zero told him, but left out the part about Ching-Lan because he thought Zero would not want too many people to know that.

Tigress was sitting their thinking about what he had just said, she then opened her mouth and say, "Po I don't know... Oogway did a lot of traveling as grandmaster. Maybe it is possible for him to arrange for zero to come here but I think you should talk to master Shifu about this." Po was stirring his soup when he answered Tigress, "Yeah, maybe master Shifu can help, thanks Tigress." Tigress then nodded her head as the room became silent for a while. Tigress turned her head to Po and was watching him finish up his soup just before she asked, "Hey ...Po, do you only see me as a "Hardcore" warrior?"

Po immediately stopped what he was doing and turned around to look at her. He was shocked, what could he say at this moment and what could be the right words to say without Tigress digging her claws into him. He had many answers to her questions but one seemed like the best to him. He started to remember the moments in the prison, the hug she gave him and what she told him that day. Then the time they spend together after their battle with Shen training, meditating and just taking about random things that came to mind, they became best friends, or even more closer than they thought. He looked at her one more time and then started thinking, "Alright Po, maybe this is the perfect opportunity to tell her how you feel about her and that I see her more than just a hardcore warrior." He started playing with his fingers again then started to rub the back of his head before going to open his mouth. Tigress noticed his movements reanalyzing what she just asked him she quickly cut him off just before he says anything and said, "W-well, you know like having other feelings." Getting softer with each word she turned and watched her hands. Po just stood there with his mouth open and said, "Oh... *sigh*Tigress yes you have other feelings, well I may not know much about feelings but you sometimes laugh at my jokes, you get sad when your training doesn't go right and your smile. Come on, have you ever looked in a mirror when you smile? It's awesome!" Tigress was speechless, she was blushing a bit but didn't care if he noticed it as her eyes were focused on Po's own. It was like he had more to say but was holding back but what could it be she thought.

Po on the other hand was a little scared, he was thinking maybe he had said too much because he watched how silent she was. The room was silent for a while when that silence came to an end when a load, "What's cooking big guy!" Said Mantis jumping up on the table fallowed by the other members of the five. "Whatever it is it smells great." Said Monkey pulling out a chair and sat down with the others. Po and Tigress snap out of their thoughts when Po got back to attending to his soup, he got out seven bowls and filled them up as he said, "All finished guys!" He quickly handed the hot soup out to each of his friends when he handed Tigress her bowl, she quickly and only for him to hear said, "Thank you Po." He smiled and nodded as he took two bowls of soup and walking out of the kitchen. "Where're you going Po?" asked Crane. "Oh I'm going to give Zero his dinner." Answered Po standing in the door way. Viper raised her head she was a little worried about him so she asked, "How's he doing?" "Oh, he's ok, maybe just tired. I'll see you guys later." Po replied leaving the doorway and began to walk down the hall.

Po had reached Zero's door and just before he was going to call out to Zero the door opened. Zero was standing in the doorway with the empty bowl in his hand when he noticed Po standing there with two bowls off soup. "Oh, sorry Master Po. I was just going to the kitchen." He said standing aside for Po to walk in. "No problem just thought you would be tired that's all." Replied Po taking a seat on the floor motioning for Zero to come over. Zero took a seat opposite to him when Po handed Zero one of the bowls of soups, "Thank you Master Po... For everything." Zero said taking a sip of his soup. Po had a raised his eyebrow with a smile when he asked, "For what?" "It's been a long time since I had a friend." Answered Zero looking deep into his soup. Po smiled and said, "No Problem Zero. But man that spar between you and Tigress was Awesome." Zero raised his head and looked at Po confused saying, "You mean when I didn't even land a hit on her." "Maybe you didn't ... But when you had lost your staff and focused you were like lightning. I mean why use a staff? It looked like you can do better without it." Replied Po drinking almost half of his bowl of soup. "Well the staff is really my father's. I don't like weapons I would prefer to use my own skills if I had any." Zero said taking another sip of his soup then continued, "But for speed you should see Ching-Lan fight. She's what you would call Awesome." Po was finished with his soup and placed the bowl on the floor. He rubbed his belly and smiled at how Zero was opening up to him so he wanted to keep the conversation going. So he asked, "Tell me about your other friends. I mean, she wasn't your only friend right?" Zero had his mouth full soup looking at Po with a sad face he swallowed then answered Po's question, "Well, with my father being the clan leader, the people of the village only saw me as the future leader so they would rather show me respect and hide their true feelings ." Po was a little upset for bringing up the topic but thought maybe Zero would feel better talking about his friends and family.

Zero was finished eating but still had the bowl in his hands shaking it slowly from left and right. A smile soon came to his face when he said, "Don't get me wrong, my father was my best friend. He would always support me in anything I did…. Well what I could do but as a master... I would think he felt disappointed in me not being able to do kung Fu so well." Zero was laughing to change the mood a little then he remember and said, "Oh and there's Déshí, Ching-Lan's older brother. We made a sword handle for an old sword we found when we were kids .They grew up training with my uncle but when their training were finished for the day they would come and play with me for rest of the evening." Po had his smile back saying, "Sounds like they're good people." Happy now, Zero smiled but and said, "The best, they would always look out for me, help me when I was in trouble and keep me company when I was alone... My Two friends." Zero stood up getting to thinking about what he did to them and became serious as he continued, "I know what I did was wrong, thinking if they wouldn't get involved with me they would not get hurt because of me being weak. Master Po please, would you help me to get stronger so I can protect my friends and make my father proud?"

Po got up smiling and said, "Anything for a friend." They both smiled and nodded when Po began saying, "Ok Tomorrow we'll continue training let's get some rest." Zero nodded handing over the bowl to Po but when Po and Zero hands touched they felt a shock running through both their bodies as a small green yin-yang symbol was forming from their hands. They both pulled back their hands letting go of the bowl as it fell to the floor breaking into pieces. The noise alerted the five and they came quickly into the room when tigress called out worried, "Po, Zero, are you guys ok?!" Po quickly looked from his hand over to Tigress when he answered her, "I-I'm... I mean, we're ok I just dropped the bowl, right Zero?" Tigress looked over to Zero who was focused on his hands when he quickly put his hand behind his back and nodded yes with a smile. Crane just sighed and said, "I'll get the broom."

As the rest of the five left with him. Po looked at Zero he was going and ask him what just happen but noticed he was also confused, "Zero, I don't know what just happen but we shouldn't let the five know about this just yet, ok?" Zero lowered his head thinking somehow this is all his fault. He sighed and said, "Master Po I'm sor-" Po quickly covered his mouth just before Crane came back in the room. "Po I got the broom." He came to a stop when he noticed Po covering Zero's mouth looking at him. He had a raised eyebrow but wasn't going to ask what they were doing so he continued. "And I will leave it here by the door ok? Bye." He left them not looking back. "That was closes." Mentioned PO removing his hand. "Master Po *sigh* I-I'll clean it up." Said Zero going for the broom when Po replied, "I'll help you."

The next day Master Shifu was on his staff in the courtyard of the training hall. He looked around him to see if any of his students were around. Taking a deep breath he took out his flute from his sleeve smiling to himself but just before he started to play his ear twitched. He looked to the left when he noticed Po holding a plant pot moving slowly towards him, "Po,*sigh* the purpose of this training is stealth and being able takedown your enemy quickly." Said master Shifu pointing at the panda. Zero was on the sidelines watching them train while he was thinking what Po was going to do. "Come on Master Shifu you and I both know stealth isn't something I'm good at and besides you know the best way to hide something is in plain sight." Po replied placing the pot on the floor and getting into his fighting stance. Shifu chucked a bit twilled his flute and said, "Ok panda, let's see!" Po quickly rushed him but pointed to the sky just before send a punch at Shifu and shouted, "Look its Crane!" Using his flute he push Po's fist aside and said, "Po this isn't a game, that's not going to wo-" His ears twitched again, he quickly jump in the air dodging a wing from a passing Crane who wasted no time going back to the sky. Shifu was turning his head to get a fix on Crane's location but use his hand to block another punch from Po. Shifu landed skated back a bit from his staff. Po had a smile on his face when he ran up to him and called, "Monkey!" Po delivered a set of punch and kicks but they were ether blocked or dodged by master Shifu. Po jumped back and got himself ready to attack again. Shifu noticed this and also readied himself for a surprise attack from Monkey. One time a shadow was coming from above him so he looked up to see none other than Tigress coming in with a double palm strike. Shifu went wide eyed as he quickly dashed to the side and dodged the attack. The impact of the attack sends a cloud of dust into the air when Monkey quickly jumped out with a double kick. Shifu brought both of his arms up to block Monkey's attack sending him flying back. This was it Po rush in and called, "Mantis, Viper and Crane now!" Viper leaped out of the plant pot Po had left on the floor from the left side, out of nowhere Mantis coming in from the right and finally with Crane swooped down going for the back. Master Shifu landed and quickly recovered from Monkey's attack, with a roundhouse kick he deflected Mantis back. He then raised his flute to block viper who wrapped herself around it still in motion he let go of his flute making fly pass him. Crane came flying in he started spinning, Shifu flipped over him and with timing he touched him with one finger making him off balance changing direction. Shifu was in the air falling defenseless when he noticed Po running in readying for a roundhouse kick, knowing he could not do anything he smiled thinking, " well done my students." He then closed his eyes waiting for the blow but it didn't hit. Po made his move but just when he was just going to spin he felt a jolt run through his body then he heard, "That's it Master Po!" in his head. For that brief second he had lost his focus and missed Shifu. Shifu opened his eyes landed safe on the ground he had noticed Po had lost his focus he then used a low sweep knocking him to the ground.

The Five and Zero all ran up to him when Master Shifu said, "Good work all of you but Po what happen you lost focus for a second?" "Yeah Po we were so closes." Monkey said helping him up. Po was now on his feet rubbing his head he looked over to Zero and said, "M-Master Shifu I need to talk to you." "Ok Dragon warrior met me in the hall of heroes." Replied Shifu. Tigress then stepped forward handing him his staff and Viper his flute. "Thank you Master Tigress and Master Viper. That's it for today's training you may have the rest of the day off. Come with me Po." Said Master Shifu. They all replied in unison bowing, "Yes Master Shifu." Po looked at Zero one more time before leaving with master Shifu. "Don't worry Zero I'm going to make good on my word." Zero looked worried thinking if he just heard Po thoughts and how could this just happen but heard Tigress called out to him, "Zero where going to the kitchen, you coming?" "Oh sorry Master Tigress I'm just going to meditate here and wait on Master Po to come back." Answered Zero bowing. "That's ok Zero." Tigress said and bowed back and left him to his meditation.

That's it folks hope you like and again I'm so sorry it's late. Zerowolf out!

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