A/N: So here's a chapter. A really late chapter, but… Well, I have to admit that my speed with writing chapter has fallen. I really don't know what has happened. It is Christmas that is taken my time? My dear Christmas, how could you? Anyway, I will try to get my speed up again.
Again, no I don't own Kung Fu Panda. Why do I have to admit it all those times? Nah, just kidding. I don't believe any of us here own Kung Fu Panda. But imagine if there was one person…
And look who I brought back! Kang! Haven't we just missed that big guy?
Behind The Golden Eyes, The Dress
Po watched as his master walked with his hands behind his back. Back and forth, back and forth he went. The red panda never stopped a single time, and Po's eyes were after so long time moving automatically. Po took his paw to his head, groaning. "Too much walking… Making me dizzy…"
Shifu didn't hear him and continued what he was doing. Back and forth, back and forth…
"You know, you can always just visit her." Po softly said after some time. Master Shifu immediately stopped walking, and stared at the Dragon Warrior.
"Excuse me?"
"I said; you can always visit her. You are not the only one who misses Tigress."
Master Shifu blinked; the panda had taken him by surprise. "Po, I… It's not as simple as you think it is." He said, starting to wonder why he even was telling the panda this.
"Come on! We just have to find that Dragon-City, it's a really nice name by the way, and then we'll just ask after Tigress! If we start walking now, then we'll…"
"Panda, listen! We can't just go after like that." Shifu rubbed his forehead. Didn't this panda know anything?
Po stared at him with big, round eyes. "Why not? I am sure that she would like a visit."
"Because, Po, there are certain rules that must be obeyed and…"
"Rules? What rules?" Po was now in his excited mood. He wanted to know everything about kung fu, and if there were some awesome rules about visiting, then he would know them.
Shifu closed his eyes, annoyed by his student's behavior. "They are not for you to hear, Po. Now, please go back to train with the others."
"But…"
"Now, Po." Shifu watched as his student slowly left. The red panda sighed again. Something was definitely wrong, and something told him that it was about Tigress. What had she gotten herself into now?
"It's actually rather interesting." Lu Chu told the tiger, looking at the scenario under them. The big gorilla was trying to catch some children that had sneaked into the palace's area. Kang was the one who had been chosen to gather the kids and bring them back to their parents. But it didn't really work well for him.
On the roof, a tiger and a mountain cat were watching. Lu Chu had been the first to notice the distressed gorilla, and had told Tigress. The kung fu master hadn't even thought about going down and help Kang; why stop the kids' fun? Instead she had convinced Lu Chu, well, maybe not exactly convinced. Tigress had just climbed onto the roof alone, and there didn't go many minutes before Lu Chu had asked for her help to get up there too. The maid didn't like to be alone.
"When do you think he will succeed?" Lu Chu asked Tigress after some time.
Tigress glanced down at the gorilla again. "Never." She replied flatly. "Not with that tactic." They both watched as Kang finally picked up one rabbit, then he walked away with it, put it on the ground, and then he went back to the other children to catch one more. But just when he turned his back to the rabbit, the child ran back to the others. And so it continued.
"Should we tell him…?" Lu Chu asked, unsecure of what she should do.
"No, let the kids have some fun." Tigress said, her mouth turning into a little smile. It was a nice day, after all. She was finally out of bed after being sick in three days. Lu Chu had taken good care of her, and Master Mei-Hua had often visited her, checking up on her student's health.
Tomorrow, Tigress would start her training again, but today she just had a day off. And what could be better than spending it with watching something entertaining?
Luckily for the felines, it wasn't raining today. They still had to wear their warm cloaks, but else the weather was fine.
"Master Tigress, look! It's him again!"
Tigress followed the maid's glance and then she saw him too. Enlai was walking towards Kang, but stopped when he spotted the two on the roof. "Well, that's not something you see every day. A nice day to climb, isn't it? I haven't seen you in some days, Master Tigress. Have you been missing me?"
"Like I miss the pain of a broken bone. So what brings you out here, gardener?" Tigress sneered to him from the roof.
"I was ordered to help a servant by the name Kang with gathering some children."
Lu Chu spoke to him for the first time. "I wish you good luck, gardener."
Enlai bowed to them, catching Tigress' eyes. She looked back without a blink. When he turned around to help Kang, Tigress leaned towards Lu Chu and whispered into her ear. "I never expected you to be polite to a monster, Lu Chu."
"Well, we can't watch Kang do that all day. And seeing a monster trying to control some children could be just as entertaining." The maid said without her green eyes leaving the male tiger.
Tigress laughed and was nearly surprised by the sound. She couldn't remember the last time she had done that. Then she became quiet again. "He's name is Enlai, just so you know." She said after some time.
Lu Chu stared surprised at her. "Do you hate him, Master Tigress?"
The tiger shook her head. "No. He is pushing my nerves, but I do not hate him." Tigress said quietly. Some of the children laughed, and Tigress looked down to see Enlai scooping up the kids. They were clearly enjoying having the male tiger's attention, and one of them started to pull his ear. Enlai just chuckled and continued to carry the children until the big gate closed behind them.
Kang was frozen on his place, dropping his jaw. How could the tiger have done it that easily?
"Is he trying to imitate a fish?" Lu Chu asked, pointing at the stunned gorilla. Again, Tigress had to chuckle.
"He's good with children." She suddenly said, thinking about Enlai.
Lu Chu smiled to her. "He sure is, Master Tigress. Maybe he isn't really a monster after all."
"Maybe, but he still annoys me." Tigress told her maid. The gate opened and Enlai was back again.
"Master Tigress, could we please go back inside? It's getting cold and you have just been sick."
Tigress didn't move her eyes from the gardener. "I will help you inside, Lu Chu, but then I need to talk with him." She told her.
Lu Chu nodded, and soon she was climbing through a window. When Tigress was close enough to the ground, she jumped down to land safely on her four legs. Enlai didn't move, he just stared at her, waiting.
When she was close enough, he spoke to her as the first. "So are you feeling better, Master Tigress?"
"As you can see."
"I can't help but ask; why are you even talking to me right now? You don't seem like you would like to be around me." The male tiger asked her, his eyes sparkling.
Tigress looked at her feet, then into his face again. "I came here to apologize. I have been rude against you, and I can't help but feel guilty for my behavior."
"Well, I can't say that I have been showing you that respect you deserve. Also I apologize." The two tigers bowed to each other, forgetting what had happened between them earlier.
"So no training for you today?" He asked as they walked into the garden.
"No, I have a day off. But I will have to study the city's history again; there is still a lot I haven't read about yet." Tigress tried not to sigh by the thought.
"Did you know that they are still alive? The dragons, I mean." Enlai suddenly said.
Tigress glanced at him, the surprise visible in her golden eyes. "They are? I didn't know…"
"Not many does. But of course the Elders are aware of it. Every time a decision has to made, they ask the dragons for help."
"But I read that that the dragons died. How can they be alive now?" Tigress asked, interested in the subject.
"They don't really have a body in blood and flesh. Peoples says that they are living in another world, but sometimes they visit ours, but only when it necessary." He told her.
Tigress looked him into the eyes. "How do you know all that?"
Enlai chuckled amused. "I have good ears."
"So the dragons are still keeping an eye on the Elders?" Tigress asked him, imagining that some was spying on her right now.
"The Elders are terrified of them. That's why they never break the rules; they now the dragons will punish them." Enlai told Tigress, chuckling slightly.
Tigress thought about her new information for a moment. Master Mei-Hua scared? Tigress just couldn't imagine it. Suddenly, a part of her wished to see those powerful dragons. Would they ever reveal themselves for her?
"When will you start?"
Blinking, she turned her head towards Enlai. "Again, please?"
"When will you start with your questions?" The male tiger repeated.
A smile spread on Tigress' face, when she remembered their deal.
"You let her be alone with him?"
"Well, I couldn't exactly stop. But of course she is fine, Piao. Master Tigress is a kung fu master." Lu Chu pointed out.
The antelope wasn't convinced. "I'll tell you, that gardener can't be trust. And one day, just wait, one day you will all see what a monster he is and then I'll be the one to say: what did I told you?"
"You shouldn't worry about that, Piao. I am keeping an eye on him." A new voice sounded in the room.
"Master Tigress! I should have known that you have been the first to notice his suspicious behavior. And may I praise your perfect, soundless presence? It is clear that Master Lynx teaching have paid off." The servant quickly said, while he and Lu Chu bowed for the tiger.
"Thank you, Piao. Have you seen, Master Mei-Hua? I would like to talk with her about my training."
Before any of them could answer, the door swung open to reveal the said master. Tigress Lu Chu and Piao immediately bowed.
"There you are, Tigress. I've been looking for you. There is something I need to talk with you about." Master Mei-Hua told her student.
Piao leaned his body towards the maid. "What a coincidence." He whispered into Lu Chu's ear.
"How do you think she will react?" The mountain cat whispered back.
"I don't know, but believe me when I say that I don't want to be there when she finds out." The two servants glanced at the tigers that just left the room without hearing their conversation.
As Tigress walked through the many halls, she couldn't control her curiosity any more. "Master Mei-Hua, what was it that you would…"
"You'll see when we are in your room." Mei-Hua said shortly while she walked toward the destination Tigress silently following her.
Master Mei-Hua was the one to open the door that lead to Tigress' room. The younger tiger stepped inside first unsure of what to do, but then she noticed the dress that was lying on her bed. She glanced at her master, questions in her eyes. What was going on?
"You see, Tigress, in three days the Dragon City will celebrate you being a master in the Dragon Palace." She smiled proud to her student.
"A festival?" Tigress asked. She had never been the one for parties.
"Yes, you can say that. And I would like you to wear this." She showed her the dress. Tigress had never seen it before. It was not the one she had hidden in her closet. This one was red, with gold and black dragons covering it. It was beautiful made, but still Tigress was sure on the decision she had made long time ago.
"I don't wear dresses, Master Mei-Hua." Tigress told her master with a steady voice.
The smile didn't leave the older tiger's face. "But I am asking you to do it, Tigress." Her voice was soft, but Tigress could feel that her master wasn't going to let her decide.
"Master, I don't really like dresses." Tigress defiantly wasn't happy about this conversation.
Mei-Hua's face eyes locked into hers. "You seemed to be pretty interested in them some days ago."
Tigress could feel how her entire being went into defensive mode. Mei-Hua was a good master, but this wasn't something she would let her decide. "I find dresses unnecessary. I would be pleased if I just could wear the clothes that I usually wear."
"As my student, Tigress, you're representing me. And if asks you to wear a dress, then you'll do it. Understand?" The softness was gone, replaced with a voice that was stone hard. Gold met gold, when the two tigers stared each other in the eyes. A fight about power was going on, now without a word spoken.
Tigress was used to such fights, but usually she could just stare at her opponent and then she would win. But now it wasn't going that easy. As she stared into the golden eyes, a power overwhelmed her. The strength she had got when she was mad was gone, and she felt like she was going to sink down on knees any second. Tigress realized that she wasn't strong enough, and no matter how much she was against it, she had to turn her glance away.
The fight was over and she had lost. Master Mei-Hua was standing as the winner. "Do you understand, Tigress?" She repeated.
"Yes, Master Mai-Hua. I'll wear the dress." Tigress said, looking down at the ground to avoid her master's eyes.
"Thank you, Tigress. I don't like to discuss with you, so next time you'll not act like you did before. It is not the right way to behave as a master." The hardness was gone, and her face was soft again, but still serious.
Tigress bowed, feeling like she was being talk to like a little child. But Mei-Hua was her and master and she had to obey her. "Yes, Master."
"Tigress, I don't want you to be mad at me, so let's forget this episode."
The student nodded without a sound, and the smile came back to Mei-Hua's face. "Good. I am sure that you will enjoy the festival. Now, get some rest, we will resume your training tomorrow."
"Yes, Master Mei-Hua."
When the older tiger reached the door to leave, she suddenly stopped and turned back to Tigress. "You must know, Tigress, that I don't lose. Remember that." The voice wasn't threatening, but soft like it normal was. "I'll see you later." She closed the door and left Tigress alone.
There went long time, before Tigress started to move again. She was just too stunned. She had just witness a part of Master Mei-Hua that seen had never seen before. Tigress was sure that the master hadn't lied when she talked about losing.
Still in shock, she sat down on her bed beside the dress. She carefully touched the fabric. Was she really going to wear this? Now she knew that she could say no. If Mei-Hua wanted her to do it, then she must do it.
Her mind thought of a red panda. Shifu. He wouldn't have forced her like Mei-Hua had done, would he? Tigress tried to remember, but she got the feeling that it wasn't the best memories she had with him. What had happened?
Tigress curled into a ball, feeling blaming glances on her. Could she just pretend that this hadn't happened? Could she still be thinking that Mei-Hua was the nicest person she had ever met? Tigress just didn't know the answers.
She feared how her life in the Dragon Palace would be after this, but what could she do when she couldn't remember what had happened before she had met Mei-Hua?
A/N: Oh…. Now it's getting exciting. And there is going be so much more. Just wait! Well, I hope you liked it.