Chapter 4

Amnesia

"Tigress... put him down." Shifu slowly stepped forward.

"Why would I? Master! He's a traitor! I thought you hated him?! How is he still alive? Why are you here?" Questions rushed into Tigress' mind.

"Shh, Tigress! Animals are sleeping!" He lowered his shoulders and sighed, as he tried to calm himself. "I'll answer your questions once you set him down!"

Tigress looked back into Tai Lung's innocent eyes. "I can't..."

Shifu clenched his fists, as he brought his palm forward, and released his fingers. Tigress' fingers let go of Tai Lung, as she stumbled back.

Tigress rubbed her head, as she opened her eyes in a heap. "How did you...?"

"I'm a... traitor? Master Jin? Is there something you're hiding from me?" Tai Lung was on the ground also, as he slowly got up, feeling his bleeding side.

Shifu sighed. "Come, sit, Tigress. Tai Lung, go upstairs. I want to talk to her alone." He glared at Tigress, who was now biting her lip in great guilt.

"Yes... master." Tai Lung walked off, as he stared at Tigress, afraid.

"Tigress..." Shifu stood on top of the table Tigress was seated at. "I have much to tell you, but you have to promise not to tell the others."

Tigress squinted. "It depends on what you tell me." Shifu gave her an innocent stare. That stare did it all. "Fine, fine, I'll keep it secret. What is it?"

"Well as you already know..." Shifu looked over at where Tai Lung was last sleeping. "Tai Lung is alive. And, see..." He rubbed his head in confusion. "How can I say this without making it too complicated..."

"Master, just tell me." Tigress started to grow impatient.

"Okay, okay." He took a deep breath. "When Po defeated Tai Lung just a couple days ago, Tai Lung was blown away from the Valley of Peace. Days later, townsfolk back in a village far from the Valley of Peace reported they found a falling snow leopard. I went to see who it could be, and found it was Tai Lung." He brought his hands behind his back, as he held them both together. "It was reported that he was going to die in a matter of days, if he didn't get the proper treatment. And yes, I got it to him. I just couldn't have him... die." He breathed in, as he looked up at the ceiling. "Later we found out it knocked the memories straight out of his head. The adoption, the thousand scrolls..."

"Even his craving for the Dragon Scroll?" Tigress cut in.

Shifu sighed. "It may be possible. Well, it is very possible." He looked around, until his gaze met Tigress'. "I told him I was his father and master, because I..." He paused, as he soon sighed greatly, while he slowly closed his eyes. "Because I wanted him back."

"Master? I thought-"

"I know, I know. He's a bad animal, but now," He went back to staring at her. "We have a chance to make him new."

"But.. but is it possible that he could get his memory back?" Tigress asked scarcely.

"Yes, it is possible."

"Then why are we still here? Why are you taking care of him when you know-"

"Tigress!" Shifu glared at her, and continued. "It is possible, but I know it would never happen! Trust me, I know Tai Lung, he doesn't like to think, therefore he wouldn't regain his memory back."

Tigress started to mess with her furry ear. "So, you've been gone every morning, because you're taking care of Tai Lung? That's... that's the reason?"

"Yes. It is." Shifu perked up and changed his emotion. "But you must keep this under your skin, Tigress. If this gets out to any of the five, or Po, who knows how they would react, along with the townsfolk. The townsfolk here don't know about Tai Lung, for they just think he's one of them. So, Tigress, you have to promise me not to get the word out!" He took her hand tightly.

Tigress thought, made up her mind, and squinted at Shifu, pulling her hand away from his grasp. "Alright. I will. I... promise." She thought, when a question popped up in her head. "Wait. Why does he call you Master Jin?"

Shifu shook his head. "I do not know, I didn't introduce myself to him when he first saw me, so he automatically called me Master Jin. It stuck."

Tigress just nodded, while she looked like she was in deep thought.

A smile took Master Shifu's face, as he was still staring at her. "He... seems to be taking much interest in you."

The tigress rolled her eyes. "Kung Fu doesn't involve love."

The red panda just kept smiling. "He does not know what Kung Fu is."

"What? Master! You're saying he doesn't know..." She twitched her head over to him. She then shook her head. "He- He's seven years older than me. Don't even mention it."

"Want me to call him in?"

Tigress sighed, while she rubbed her forehead. "Yes, do so. Unless you want to talk to me more about love." She growled, as it soon turned into a purr. Wait. What?

Viper stood there on top of the steps of the Jade Palace, as she looked for Tigress. She was a bit slimy because of the water making contact with her skin. Oh, how much she hated the rain. She squinted down the steps, finding no one was on them. Where could Tigress possibly be?

The snake made her way over to the hot springs, which was now almost overflowing. No... Tigress wouldn't be taking a bath while it's raining... She blinked, as a thought filled her head. She just remembered...

'Put questions and concerns in your mind. What if he's still here...' Viper thought about the words she spoke to Tigress... maybe it made Tigress think too much... and do something she was going to regret?

"Oh... great." Viper slithered over to the steps, as she made her way down them. She knew what she was going to do, she was going to look for Tigress herself, not caring to tell the others she was leaving. Maybe Tigress could just be in the town... looking for Tai Lung? Viper knew he couldn't be in the town, or else he would attempt to take revenge. Oh well, she might as well atleast start looking, before Tigress does something they're all going to regret.