Chapter 6

The Depart

Tigress was not sleeping, but yes, she was passed out. She couldn't believe she was killed like that! The wolf, the sword, the fight... wait. She started to remember what happened once he was about to slit her throat. She remembered it saw a small being... someone larger than mantis... but... She felt a cold sensation on her forehead. She squinted, and opened her eyes so very slowly.

"Tigress?" Crane asked cautiously, with a little shock in his voice. Tigress noticed that the rest of the Furious Five stood around her, along with Tai Lung and Po. Tai Lung's face seemed... different now. His eyes weren't like they were... in a way she couldn't explain. Po was smiling like a child, while the others were exited that she was alive. Wait... she's...

"I'm alive??" Tigress sat up, feeling herself. A sense of light came to her eyes. She looked to her left, Where Viper, Monkey, Mantis, and Crane sat beside her, smiling greatly. To her right, Po and Tai Lung.

"Po!" She smiled that he was alive. Her eyes were half open. She then laid back down slowly, and looked at Tai Lung, the traitor, who killed Master Shifu. She smiled at him. "Tai Lung... come here." Tai Lung followed, as he slowly came in closer to her, expecting a soft kiss. Tigress quickly slapped him hard, making him gasp. "You killed Master Shifu! You killed him! I know you cared for him! I know it!"

"Settle down, settle down, young Tigress, he's right here." Master Shifu slowly limped to her, smiling.

Tigress looked at him and back. "But... but how?"

"I used a rock instead of him." He looked at Master Shifu. "Thanks for being so small." He looked back at Tigress. "I've realized how horrible I was when I saw Sky be even worse than what I was like to all of you. I'm..." He looked around to the others, who were staring at him. "I'm sorry... for everything... for the past, for how I treated you..."

Tigress came up to him and slowly stroked his cheek. The hair on this skin was very soft. She smiled. "I forgive you. I completely... forgive you." The others nodded. Po even did, too. His arm was still dangling from his side though, from that nerve attack Tai Lung gave him. Tigress' face then changed. "What happened to Skyler?" She turned to her master. "How did you defeat him?"

Master Shifu gently smiled, opening one eye, for he couldn't open the other. "I got him near death, but he managed to escape before Po gave him a last blow."

Tigress was shocked now. "Then he'll come back! How can we defend ourselves?"

Po laughed. "We have Tai Lung and Master Shifu! What could happen?" He gave Tigress a light glance. "Well... if he can stay here for a while.." He then looked at Master Shifu, who was looking down, shaking his head.

Tai Lung looked at Master Shifu, who now had his hand on his wound, frowning. "Master..."

Master Shifu, now angry, cut in. "I do not forgive you. Although you've changed, that doesn't mean you can change back."

The others objected. "Master, if you would please, just let him stay and rest here for a couple days... you'll know he's changed." Tigress pleaded.

Master Shifu sighed. "I will not be a parent, for I am not, but I know he has evil in his heart, therefore I cannot grant your wish."

Tigress' eyes now changed to sorrow."Master-"

"Very well, I would be happy to leave... I don't trust myself much enough to stay here. It's very tempting to become the dragon warrior, but I will choose not to. Although it is my destined dream, and my every wish, I've now learned that I should respect the one who holds the place of the dragon warrior. But Master Shifu, I ask of you, where else may I stay? Almost everyone knows my story, therefore they know I can cause harm to them if I want to." He was messing with the soft paper that wrapped around his cut-off tail.

Master Shifu grunted. "Go anywhere you choose! Just as long as you do not change your view and turn your mind around, your thoughts will soon turn into actions! I fear if you stay here you will do something regretful to all. So please... just leave us..." Master Shifu turned around, as he bit his lip, trying not to cry, as he was about to give up his adopted child. He then thought. "If I ever see your face around this Palace again, I'll have to put you down. Atleast I'm giving you some mercy." He shut his eyes tight, as he slowly walked out.

The leopard said his goodbyes to the Furious Five, and Po. He was about to say his last goodbye to his Master: his father, but he couldn't, for it would be too much emotion for him to handle. He slowly walked outside, finding Tigress was sitting on the stairs. She seemed to be staring at the village that was partly covered by a shade of misty clouds. He slowly walked over to her, as she got up, and looked straight at him, mind made. Her eyes looked wet from many tears.

Tai Lung looked closely into Tigress' eyes as he was about to leave the Jade Palace, and journey to any place that he felt home in. The others were now inside, eating a mid-day supper: lunch. He felt like holding her hands and telling her everything he ever thought of her, but no, he had to stay strong, and just deal with letting go. He slowly sighed, looking into her eyes. He now had a scar just below his eye from Tigress in battle just last night. It looked appealing. "Tigress..." He looked to the ground, slowly building up strength. He kept thinking.. I love you, I love you, I love you... "I'll... be seeing you."

"No, you will never be seeing me again. This is your last goodbye." She sniffed desperately, shaking her head. "Remember when you winked at me right before we both passed out?" She thought, searching for something to say. "It was like the world stopped, and all I could see was you.. smiling at me." Her lips started to quiver. "I may sound immature... but you're the only one I actually think about at night when I'm trying to sleep. Every time I come outside from a hard days work, I sometimes see you in the back of my mind... looking at me... like you're doing now. Sometimes I wish for you to be there with me while I'm training... or meditating." She rambled on, as Tai Lung looked at her, eyes thick with water. She then said something that struck him. "The truth is..."

"I know." Tai Lung answered for her. "You like me."

Tigress smiled. "No, Tai Lung... I love you." She pulled him close and hugged him tightly.

A drop of water fell from Tai Lung's red eyes. "As do I, Tigress." He pulled out of the hug, as his heart skipped a beat as he kissed her softly. She was stunned at the sudden kiss, but she slowly lowered her shoulders, and held his cheeks with her two paws. The moment seemed to last forever. He pulled away finally, and stared into her eyes; her sweet, watery eyes. His lips quivered, as he repeated his last words to her, ever so softly: "As do I."

End Part 1