Disclaimer: I don't own Kung Fu Panda or any of that sort.

I'm so, so, so, so sorry for the very, very long delay of this particular chapter. I had lots of things to do and I can't do much about it. Thanks so much to so many people that has reviewed this particular story. For that, I'm grateful. I'm also sorry that I had to kill Po in the previous chapter. I know that many of you love the loveable and adorable fat panda but I just had to do it. Can't change what has been done.

Chapter 22

I was given this journal by my newfound brother, Leo, to write my feelings about everything that had happened. I don't know why. He said that I can't and shouldn't bottle up all of my emotions, and I need to let it all out. Because I couldn't find anybody to talk to openly, ever since…Po's death, he told me to write in this journal.

Why do I even bother writing all this? It's pointless! However, Byakko kept telling me to give it a shot and encouraged me to write. So, here I am.

For the past few days, the palace and valley have been in mourning, not to mention shocked at the death of the Dragon Warrior. The Dragon Warrior is gone, the one who had given me a chance at a new life; a true friend. Shifu had given a speech to everyone about what had happened and explained about my existence and the battle. The villagers couldn't believe what they were hearing! Some said that the old master had gone crazy and spirits were playing tricks on his mind. What are they thinking!

The palace wasn't spared either. It has been affecting the Furious Five's training regimen. They missed Po's cooking and his jokes to ease the tension during training. Monkey has stopped baking cookies, Mantis hasn't cracked a single joke this whole week (it's annoying, actually), Crane doesn't practice calligraphy because nobody admires his work anymore, Viper has stopped putting on make-up after she cried the whole night, and Tigress is even more grumpy than usual.

How can the death of a single giant panda affect so many souls? How?

For me, it was the worst. I have lost my best friend and had grown less and less intimate towards Tigress. We barely talked much the whole day and I didn't kiss her like every other night before we slept. We didn't make out or gone out together as a couple. I-

"Hello?" A voice spoke at his papered material door.

Tai Lung stopped writing and quickly hid his journal under his mat in the utmost manner that he nearly broke the vase in his room. The vase nearly fell off the table but he managed to grab is before it shattered into millions of pieces.

He breathed a sigh of relief and asked the intruder for identification. "Who is it?"

"It-it's me, Tigress," the female warrior said through the closed door.

Tai Lung got up to unlock the door and stood face to face with Tigress. Both of them locked gazes for a moment as they struggled with what to say to the other. Tai Lung boldly caressed her cheeks slowly and turned away.

"What is it?" the snow leopard demanded as he sat cross-legged on the floor.

Tigress was taken aback by his rudeness and raw emotions but she didn't want to break the environment that was screaming for help. She knew that too much was at stake and she should choose her words wisely before speaking her mind.

"I…um…" she stammered.

"Spit it out. I'm kinda busy," Tai Lung spat at her with annoyance.

"Is that how you feel?!" Tigress snapped in with tirade at the snow leopard's attitude but stopped completely while clamping her mouth with shock. Oh no…wrong words.

Tai Lung looked at Tigress dismally and his expression fell. "Yes, for now yes. I'm still grieving over his death but I can't take this anymore. I don't see how this could work out."

"It can and it will," Tigress sat beside Tai Lung and put her paws on his cheeks. "Listen, Tai Lung, we are all devastated by Po's death, but life goes on. Don't you think that Po would want that as well? Don't you think that Po would want us to be happy?" Tigress slowly smiled at him.

Tai Lung was having mixed feelings and he didn't know what to do. Move on? Continue with life? Accept his death like it was nothing?

It's called moving on… Byakko interrupted.

I know that, smart ass… Tai Lung retaliated. "So," he finally found his voice. "We…continue with life?"

"Yes." Tigress smiled back at him. "I know Po means a lot to you but we can't keep such a big gap between us. I love you. I know you love me as well but it cannot happen if you continue to be this way."

Tai Lung sighed heavily and nuzzled at her head with love. "How long have you been keeping this feeling?"

"For a few days," Tigress answered his question. "I kinda gathered the Five and we had a talk."

"Leaving me behind?" Tai Lung stopped his nuzzling and looked at her with distinctive eyes.

"I'm sorry," that was all Tigress could say.

Tai Lung closed in on her lips and she embraced him, leaning in for the kiss. It lasted for a long, breathless moment as both cats caressed each other's bodies and explored. Tigress broke the kiss and breathed in deeply.

"That's the Tai Lung I know and love. Welcome back," the female warrior spoke.

"Could you, um, come back later tonight?" Tai Lung asked. "I'm, ah, kinda busy with something."

"Like what?" Tigress raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing."

"Then I can stay."

"No!"

"Why?"

"Just…" Tai Lung trembled at her annoyance once again. "Just come back tonight. I promise to get back where we left off. I'll even give you three rounds tonight; maybe more, not sure."

Tigress got up and started to leave. "Three rounds?"

"Um, ah, yes…. I hope…" Tai Lung sheepishly answered her.

"I better," Tigress closed the door and let the snow leopard be by himself to do whatever he wanted to.

Three rounds!? Byakko brought up the issue. What are you, a machine? Might as well go for four. No, better yet, five!

I'll be dead by that time, or go in a coma. I'm tired, okay? You better not interfere tonight, Tai Lung warned.

Would never dream of it…

He took his journal and continued that day's entry.

Scratch whatever I just said. The big gap between us had just closed up and will have three rounds tonight. Three! Heh, hope I can make it. Shifu apparently had handled the situation well enough. According to a hidden scroll that Shifu had found, it was said that after the death of the Dragon Warrior, peace will return to the valley and the whole of China for the next 500 years or so.

I don't know if that's true or not but this was what he had said. The scroll-

"Hello?" Another voice broke the snow leopard's concentration.

Tai Lung fumed at the disturbance and asked, "What?"

"It's me," a low voice spoke and Tai Lung immediately recognized who it was.

"Can you come back later? I'll go to your room," Tai Lung called out.

"No. Now," the voice was relentless and very commanding, which was rightfully what his personality was.

Tai Lung gave up and opened the door. Leo was fully recovered from his injury and finally wore some new clothes, a finely embroidered orange shirt and dark blue trousers.

"What is it?' Tai Lung asked the lion impatiently so he can finish up his day's entry in the journal without any more delay and get over with it.

"About us," Leo answered him.

"What about it?" Tai Lung spoke without looking at him.

"About Hoong Long, Ma and Ba."

Tai Lung ears perked up as he listened attentively to his brother. That caught his attention immediately and he wanted more. "Please, do go on." He sat next to him.

"You want to know from the start or the middle?" Leo jokingly said to him.

"What are you? A joker? Your jokes are so lame that I have to laugh at how stupid it is," Tai Lung said smugly and crossed his arms playfully.

Leo smiled at his brother. It had been a long time that he had anyone else to protect. Other than Ssu Lin, there was nobody at all but now, he had Tai Lung to protect, or maybe, to spoil him. That was what brothers did, right? At least he has something to live for.

Duty as the older brother I guess, he thought. Why I didn't realize it sooner? I would have saved him from that atrocious prison that old turtle had built.

"Are we going to monologue to ourselves? If yes, I'm not interested," Tai Lung dismally said.

"Fine," Leo looked pensive towards him. "You were the second child to the family but things didn't go well. After your birth, an earthquake came and it was the worst that China had ever encountered. The earth spilt in half and residents had to be evacuated as soon as possible before everything went to hell. Ba took you under his protection while I was protecting Ma. Things didn't go as expected and both of you were crushed under the debris of bricks. I tried to find you and Ba but I never did. I tried every day, every night, every week! But, I still couldn't find you."

Leo stopped a moment as he relived the past that he wanted to forget since that fateful day. Tai Lung also sensed his uneasiness and wanted him to stop but the lion continued on, without hesitation.

"Mum was devastated by the loss," Leo added in after the long pause. "We continued on with our lives as we waited patiently for any news about both of you. Be it a corpse, soul, spirit, anything; just as long as we knew what happened but, nothing. In the end, Mum was affected by a sickness; I'm not sure what it was. She was unable to work, as nobody wanted her service. They didn't want to hire a sick woman. Thus, I had to labor, day and night, for various jobs. Until…"

The mighty lion closed his eyes and lets out a breath of despair without finishing his sentence. Tai Lung looked away from him as his eyes darted out towards his open window...

The beautiful sound of the leaves ruffling between each other was in harmony as cool air blew right through them. Birds chirped with each other as they communicated in their own language. Silence filled the air as the two big cats stopped their conversation, not realizing that there was an awkward moment and tension between them.

"You know," Tai Lung broke the silence. "I'm sure Mum and Dad had lived a good life. Though I don't know them much as you do but, I definitely know that they were good in their soul."

Leo grinned at the snow leopard's comment. "Just like Mum. Always the optimistic person; nothing bogs Mum down, absolutely nothing. Even when she was terribly sick, she was always smiling and kept telling me that things will be alright."

"Yeah…Thanks for the visualization," Tai Lung looked down.

"I wish Mum was here…" Leo slowly hugged his brother affectionately.

Tai Lung was taken aback but he accepted the small gesture of bonding between him and Leo. What he wouldn't do to see his parents back again and…Po… The ex-convict hugged Leo hard as he felt his heart being fulfilled to the fullest. Finally, the Arcana of Temperance was accomplished.

The Temperance is the Arcana after Death, Byakko slowly spoke in his heart.

Yeah, yeah. How many times do you have to say that? Tai Lung replied in an annoyed tone.

I'm merely fulfilling your heart and I think it's high time that I go…

"What?!" Tai Lung suddenly shouted on top of his lungs out of nowhere. Leo got a shock of his life as he examined the snow leopard with concerned eyes.

"Don't scream like that!" Leo shot in. "Geez…A guy could get a heart attack and I'm not as young as you are."

"Um, could you excuse me a moment?" Tai Lung twitched as he got up and opened the door. "I have some personal business to handle and I kinda want to be alone."

Leo's mind clicked on to something and he looked at him, surprised. "You want me to go out, now? As in right now?"

"Yes, right now," Tai Lung said.

"Oh well, a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do…" Leo casually walked out and looked at Tai Lung. "Don't take too long, okay? Dinner will be ready soon."

"Whatever," he pushed his brother out of his room.

"Oh, and another thing," Leo turned. "Try not to make a mess. I do not intend to clean it up."

Tai Lung gave him a death glare; if looks could kill, that was it. He slammed the door. "What was he thinking?!" he hissed under his breath.

Something else, obviously, Byakko spoke exuberantly.

"No. Out. Now," he commanded.

Once again, the serene white tiger appeared after the cool mist had dissipated in the clear air. Byakko looked as healthy as ever before and he smiled back at Tai Lung.

"What do you mean you have to go?" Tai Lung asked impatiently to his persona.

"I have to go. That's all," Byakko shrugged.

"No. That's not what I meant. Why do you have to leave me, and why can't you stay. Meanwhile, Leo's persona can."

"Oh, that," Byakko nodded. "That is different. When a persona stays for too long over the past few years before even fulfilling their destiny, they stay till the owner dies."

"And you?" Tai Lung raised an eyebrow a Byakko for the lack of information.

"I'm different," the white tiger added and walked around the snow leopard with insight. "You've fulfilled your heart's desires and I'm not needed anymore. I was merely a guide to your heart. The Temperance means to modify or strengthen by adding a new component to an existing area in your life. It represents moderation and balance, culminating in the creation of a centered and well-rounded being."

"So?"

Byakko sighed and put a paw over Tai Lung's heart. "Two distinct beings function as one. Tigress had accomplished that. Friendship that compromises of understanding between each other: Po. Internal level where you confront your deepest desires: Leo, as a family. Last but not least, yourself. You threw away the shadow that burdens you but by accepting it, you bring it under your control. Perfect harmony with oneself is the main lesson of Temperance."

Tai Lung tried to consume everything Byakko had said. He had finally realized that he was complete and should move on with life. There was nothing more that Byakko needed to do; he had finally understood him.

However, the fact that Byakko was leaving him caused him great pain. Tai Lung was actually quite fond with his persona and wanted it to stay, but, not all wishes came true.

"The first time I heard your voice," Tai Lung suddenly spoke. "I thought I was crazy... I didn't want you but after all that we've been through, I…" he paused. "I love you, and I'm going to miss you."

Byakko turned to Tai Lung and kindly nuzzled him. It gave him a few licks here and there and heaved its whole body on Tai Lung, making him fall on his back

They stared at each other for the longest time and Byakko finally spoke, "I'll stay on a little longer. Why don't you continue your journal? I'll always be by your heart." With that said, the white tiger dissipated in a mist of cool smoke.

Tai Lung lay there for a moment and finally got to his senses. The journal on his table was half written and begged to be finished by the snow leopard. He took the journal and started to add some final details on to the parchment before he was called for dinner.

"Wonder who's gonna prepare dinner?" he asked himself. Tai Lung shrugged and handled his writing inventory at its point tip to continue his entry.

The scroll was apparently quite well hidden from Shifu but he managed to salvage it out from the library. Master Shifu didn't reveal much about its content to us or to the villagers but he had ensured the people that peace will once again fall on the valley.

That actually got me thinking. If the valley is at peace and no badass villain is going to come and take over the Dragon Scroll, what's the point of having the Five around anymore? Other villages are at peace as well. So, they don't need their service until the next round. Hmm…I have a feeling this is going somewhere in a different direction.

Now, I wonder who the next Dragon Warrior will be. I really wish Po was here. I missed talking to him about stuffs. The day he took the scroll from me, I still couldn't believe he could move that fast. He literally stood in front of me in a blink of an eye. The panda sure-

"In a blink of an eye?"

Tai Lung jumped out of his skin when he heard the ghostly voice from behind him. He quickly turned around to meet the intruder in his room but he almost wished he hadn't.

Once again, some things can never be explained, no matter how hard anyone tried. Tai Lung's first reaction was brimming tears of joy when he saw the soul. He never thought that he would see him back again, even after the tragedy but right here, right now; he was there, together with another familiar face. Tai Lung trembled at the sight and finally choked out a word. "Po…?"

--

Okay, that was it. You guys got something here instead of Po being dead but all questions will be answered later on. Please don't protest against me with a pitchfork and flames. I'm sorry for what I did. Just had to do it. I'll be away for quite a while later on but I will try to update ASAP. Thanks for everything guys! Cookies!!